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Leviticus
Chapter 1
1
Yahweh called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying,
2
"Speak to the people of Israel and tell them, 'When any man from among you brings an offering to Yahweh, bring as your offering an animal, either from the herd or from the flock.
3
If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he must offer a male without blemish. He is to offer it at the entrance of the tent of meeting, so that it may be accepted before Yahweh.
4
He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and then it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for himself.
5
Then he must kill the bull before Yahweh. Aaron's sons, the priests, will present the blood and sprinkle it on the altar that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
6
Then he must skin the burnt offering and cut it to pieces.
7
Then the sons of Aaron the priest will put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire.
8
Then Aaron's sons, the priests, are to place the pieces, including the head and the fat, on the wood that is on the fire that is on the altar.
9
But its inner parts and its legs he must wash with water. Then the priest will burn everything on the altar as a burnt offering. It will produce a sweet aroma for me; it will be an offering made to me by fire.
10
If his offering for the burnt offering is from the flock, one of the sheep or one of the goats, he must offer a male without blemish.
11
He must kill it on the north side of the altar before Yahweh. Aaron's sons, the priests, will sprinkle its blood on every side of the altar.
12
He is to cut it into pieces with its head and its fat, and the priest must place the pieces on the wood that is on the fire that is on the altar,
13
but the inner parts and the legs he must wash with water. Then the priest will offer the whole, and burn it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, and it will produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh; it will be an offering made to him by fire.
14
If his offering to Yahweh is to be a burnt offering of birds, then he must bring as his offering either a dove or a young pigeon.
15
The priest must bring it to the altar, wring off its head, and burn it on the altar. Then its blood must be drained out on the side of the altar.
16
He must remove its crop with its contents, and throw it beside the altar on the east side, in the place for the ashes.
17
He must tear it open by its wings, but he must not divide it into two parts. Then the priest will burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It will be a burnt offering, and it will produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh; it will be an offering made to him by fire.
Chapter 2
1
When anyone brings a grain offering to Yahweh, his offering must be fine flour, and he will pour oil on it and put incense on it.
2
He is to take the offering to Aaron's sons the priests, and there the priest will take out a handful of the fine flour with the oil and the incense on it. Then the priest will burn the offering on the altar as a representative offering. It will produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh; it will be an offering made to him by fire.
3
Whatever is left of the grain offering will belong to Aaron and his sons. It is very holy to Yahweh from the offerings to Yahweh made by fire.
4
When you offer a grain offering without yeast that is baked in an oven, it must be soft bread of fine flour mixed with oil, or hard bread without yeast, which is spread with oil.
5
If your grain offering is baked with a flat iron pan, it must be of fine flour without yeast that is mixed with oil.
6
You are to divide it into pieces and pour oil on it. This is a grain offering.
7
If your grain offering is cooked in a pan, it must be made with fine flour and oil.
8
You must bring the grain offering made from these things to Yahweh, and it will be presented to the priest, who will bring it to the altar.
9
Then the priest will take some from the grain offering as a representative offering, and he will burn it on the altar. It will be an offering made by fire, and it will produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh.
10
What is left of the grain offering will belong to Aaron and his sons. It is very holy to Yahweh from the offerings to Yahweh made by fire.
11
No grain offering that you offer to Yahweh is to be made with yeast, for you must burn no leaven, nor any honey, as an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
12
You will offer them to Yahweh as an offering of firstfruits, but they will not be used to produce a sweet aroma on the altar.
13
You must season each of your grain offerings with salt. You must never allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be missing from your grain offering. With all your offerings you must offer salt.
14
If you offer a grain offering of firstfruits to Yahweh, offer fresh grain that is roasted with fire and then crushed into meal.
15
Then you must put oil and incense on it. This is a grain offering.
16
Then the priest will burn part of the crushed grain and oil and incense as a representative offering. This is an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
Chapter 3
1
If someone offers a sacrifice which is a fellowship offering of an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he must offer an animal without blemish before Yahweh.
2
He will lay his hand on the head of his offering and kill it at the door of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron's sons the priests will sprinkle its blood on the sides of the altar.
3
The man will offer the sacrifice of a fellowship offering by fire to Yahweh. The fat that covers or is connected to the inner parts,
4
and the two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the loins, and the lobe of the liver, with the kidneys—he will remove all of this.
5
Aaron's sons will burn that on the altar with the burnt offering, which is on the wood that is on the fire. This will produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh; it will be an offering made to him by fire.
6
If the man's sacrifice of a fellowship offering to Yahweh is from the flock; male or female, he must offer a sacrifice without blemish.
7
If he offers a lamb for his sacrifice, then he must offer it before Yahweh.
8
He will lay his hand on the head of his sacrifice and kill it before the tent of meeting. Then Aaron's sons will sprinkle its blood on the sides of the altar.
9
The man will offer the sacrifice of fellowship offerings as an offering made by fire to Yahweh. The fat, the entire fat tail cut away close to the backbone, and the fat that covers the inner parts and all the fat that is near the inner parts,
10
and the two kidneys and the fat that is with them, which is by the loins, and the lobe of the liver, with the kidneys—he will remove all of this.
11
Then the priest will burn it all on the altar as a burnt offering of food to Yahweh.
12
If the man's offering is a goat, then he will offer it before Yahweh.
13
He must lay his hand on the head of the goat and kill it before the tent of meeting. Then the sons of Aaron will sprinkle its blood on the sides of the altar.
14
The man will offer his sacrifice made by fire to Yahweh. He will remove the fat that covers the inner parts, and all the fat near the inner parts.
15
He will also remove the two kidneys and the fat that is with them, which is by the loins, and the lobe of the liver with the kidneys.
16
The priest will burn all that on the altar as a burnt offering of food, to produce a sweet aroma. All the fat belongs to Yahweh.
17
It will be a permanent statute throughout your people's generations in every place you make your home, that you must not eat fat or blood.'"
Chapter 4
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
2
"Tell the people of Israel, 'When anyone sins without wanting to sin, doing any of the things that Yahweh has commanded not to be done, and if he does something that is prohibited, the following must be done.
3
If it is the anointed priest who sins so as to bring guilt on the people, then let him offer for his sin which he has committed a young bull without blemish to Yahweh as a sin offering.
4
He must bring the bull to the entrance of the tent of meeting before Yahweh, lay his hand on its head, and kill the bull before Yahweh.
5
The anointed priest will take some of the blood of the bull and take it to the tent of meeting.
6
The priest will dip his finger into the blood and sprinkle some of it seven times before Yahweh, before the curtain of the most holy place.
7
Then the priest will put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense before Yahweh, which is in the tent of meeting, and he will pour out all the rest of the blood of the bull at the base of the altar for burnt offerings, which is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
8
He will cut away all the fat of the bull of the sin offering; the fat that covers the inner parts, all the fat that is attached to the inner parts,
9
the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the lobe of the liver, with the kidneys—he will cut away all this.
10
He will cut it all away, just as he cuts it off from the bull of the sacrifice of peace offerings. Then the priest will burn these parts on the altar for burnt offerings.
11
The skin of the bull and any remaining meat, with its head and with its legs and its inner parts and its dung,
12
all the rest of the parts of the bull—he will carry all these parts outside the camp to a place that they have cleansed for me, where they pour out the ashes; they will burn those parts there on wood. They must burn those parts where they pour out the ashes.
13
If the whole assembly of Israel sins without wanting to sin, and the assembly is unaware that they have sinned and done any of the things which Yahweh has commanded not to be done, and if they are guilty,
14
then, when the sin they have committed becomes known, then the assembly must offer a young bull from the herd for a sin offering and bring it before the tent of meeting.
15
The elders of the assembly will lay their hands on the head of the bull before Yahweh, and the bull will be killed before Yahweh.
16
The anointed priest will bring some of the blood of the bull to the tent of meeting,
17
and the priest will dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before Yahweh, before the curtain.
18
He will put some of the blood on the horns of the altar that is before Yahweh, which is in the tent of meeting, and he will pour out all the blood at the base of the altar for burnt offerings, which is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
19
He will cut off all the fat from it and burn it on the altar.
20
That is what he must do with the bull. Just as he did with the bull of the sin offering, so will he also do with this bull, and the priest will make atonement for the people, and they will be forgiven.
21
He will carry the bull outside the camp and burn it as he burned the first bull. This is the sin offering for the assembly.
22
When a ruler sins without intending to sin, doing any one of all the things that Yahweh his God has commanded not to be done, and he is guilty,
23
then his sin which he has committed is made known to him, he must bring for his sacrifice a goat, a male without blemish.
24
He will lay his hand on the head of the goat and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before Yahweh. This is a sin offering.
25
The priest will take the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings, and he will pour out its blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering.
26
He will burn all the fat on the altar, just like the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings. The priest will make atonement for the ruler concerning his sin, and the ruler will be forgiven.
27
If anyone of the common people sins without intending to sin, doing any of the things which Yahweh has commanded him not to be done, and when he realizes his guilt,
28
then his sin which he has committed is made known to him, then he will bring a goat for his sacrifice, a female without blemish, for the sin that he has committed.
29
He will lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and kill the sin offering at the place of burnt offering.
30
The priest will take some of the blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. He will pour out all the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.
31
He will cut away all the fat, just as the fat is cut away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings. The priest will burn it on the altar to produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh. The priest will make atonement for the man, and he will be forgiven.
32
If the man brings a lamb as his sacrifice for a sin offering, he will bring a female without blemish.
33
He will lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and kill it for a sin offering at the place where they kill the burnt offering.
34
The priest will take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings, and he will pour out all its blood at the base of the altar.
35
He will cut away all the fat, just as the fat of the lamb is cut away from the sacrifice of peace offerings, and the priest will burn it on the altar on top of the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. The priest will make atonement for him for the sin he has committed, and the man will be forgiven.
Chapter 5
1
The person who is a witness or has seen or knows about some matter—if he hears the curse but sins by not testifying, he will bear the guilt of his iniquity.
2
Or if anyone touches anything God has designated as unclean, whether it be the carcass of an unclean wild animal or the carcass of any unclean livestock or unclean creatures that move along the ground, even though he was not aware of what he had done, he has become unclean and is guilty.
3
Or if he touches the uncleanness of someone, whatever that uncleanness is, and if he is unaware of it, then he will be guilty when he learns about it.
4
Or if anyone swears rashly with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatever it is that a man swears rashly with an oath, even if he is unaware of it, when he learns about it, then he will be guilty, in any of these things.
5
When someone is guilty in any of these things, he must confess whatever sin he has committed.
6
Then he must bring his guilt offering to Yahweh for the sin that he has committed, a female animal from the flock, either a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering, and the priest will make atonement for him concerning his sin.
7
If he cannot afford to buy a lamb, then he can bring as his guilt offering for his sin two doves or two young pigeons to Yahweh, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.
8
He must bring them to the priest, who will offer one for the sin offering first—he will wring off its head from its neck but will not remove it completely from the body.
9
Then he will sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, and he will drain the rest of the blood out at the base of the altar. This is a sin offering.
10
Then he must offer the second bird as a burnt offering, as described in the instructions, and the priest will make atonement for him for the sin that he has committed, and the person will be forgiven.
11
But if he cannot afford to buy two doves or two young pigeons, then he must bring as his sacrifice for his sin a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering. He must not put oil or any incense on it, for it is a sin offering.
12
He must bring it to the priest, and the priest will take a handful of it as a representative offering and then burn it on the altar, on top of the offerings made by fire for Yahweh. This is a sin offering.
13
The priest will make atonement for any sin that the person has committed, and that person will be forgiven. The leftovers from the offering will belong to the priest, as with the grain offering.'"
14
Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
15
"If anyone sins and acts unfaithfully in regard to the things that belong to Yahweh, but did so unintentionally, then he must bring his guilt offering to Yahweh. This offering must be a ram without blemish from the flock; its value must be appraised in silver shekels—the shekel of the sanctuary—as a guilt offering.
16
He must satisfy Yahweh for what he had done wrong in connection with what is holy, and he must add one-fifth to it and give it to the priest. Then the priest will make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering, and that person will be forgiven.
17
If anyone sins and does anything that Yahweh has commanded not to be done, even if he was unaware of it, he is still guilty and must carry his own guilt.
18
He must bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, worth the current value, as a guilt offering to the priest. Then the priest will make atonement for him concerning the sin he has committed, of which he was unaware, and he will be forgiven.
19
It is a guilt offering, and he is certainly guilty before Yahweh."
Chapter 6
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
2
"If anyone sins and acts unfaithfully against Yahweh by deceiving his neighbor regarding something held in trust, or was left in his care, or about something that was stolen, or if he has oppressed his neighbor,
3
or he has found something that his neighbor lost and lies about it, or if he swears falsely, or in any matters like these by which people sin,
4
and if he has sinned and is found to be guilty, he must restore whatever he took by robbery or oppression, or that which was entrusted to him, or that which was lost but that he had found.
5
In addition, in any matter in which he swore falsely, he must restore it in full and he must add one-fifth of the value of it and pay it all to the owner on the day that he is found guilty.
6
Then he must bring his guilt offering to Yahweh, a ram without blemish from the flock that is worth the current value, as a guilt offering to the priest.
7
The priest will make atonement for him before Yahweh, and he will be forgiven concerning whatever he has become guilty of doing."
8
Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
9
"Command Aaron and his sons, saying, 'This is the law of the burnt offering: The burnt offering must be on the hearth of the altar all night until morning, and the fire of the altar will be kept burning.
10
The priest will put on his linen clothes, and he will also put on his linen underclothes. He will pick up the ashes that are left after the fire has consumed the burnt offering on the altar, and he will put the ashes beside the altar.
11
He will take off his garments and put on other garments to carry the ashes outside the camp to a place that is clean.
12
The fire on the altar will be kept burning. It must not go out, and the priest will burn wood on it every morning. He will arrange the burnt offering as required on it, and he will burn on it the fat of the peace offerings.
13
Fire must be kept burning on the altar continually. It must not go out.
14
This is the law of the grain offering. The sons of Aaron will offer it before Yahweh before the altar.
15
The priest will take up a handful of the fine flour of the grain offering and of the oil and the incense which is on the grain offering, and he will burn it on the altar to produce a sweet aroma as a representative offering.
16
Aaron and his sons will eat whatever is left of the offering. It must be eaten without yeast in a holy place. They will eat it in the courtyard of the tent of meeting.
17
It must not be baked with yeast. I have given it as their part of my offerings made by fire. It is most holy, as the sin offering and the guilt offering.
18
Every male among the descendants of Aaron may eat of it, as decreed forever throughout your generations, taken from the fire offerings made to Yahweh. Whoever touches them will become holy.'"
19
So Yahweh spoke to Moses again, saying,
20
"This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they will offer to Yahweh on the day when each son is anointed: a tenth part of an ephah of fine flour as a regular grain offering, half of it in the morning and half of it in the evening.
21
It will be made with oil in a baking pan. When it is soaked, you will bring it in. In baked pieces you will offer the grain offering to produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh.
22
The anointed priest from among his sons will offer it. As commanded forever, it must be burned up completely to Yahweh.
23
Every grain offering of the priest will be completely burned up. It must not be eaten."
24
Yahweh spoke to Moses again, saying,
25
"Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, 'This is the law of the sin offering: The sin offering must be killed at the place where the burnt offering is killed before Yahweh. It is most holy.
26
The priest who offers it for sin will eat it. It must be eaten in a holy place in the courtyard of the tent of meeting.
27
Whatever touches its meat will become holy, and if the blood is sprinkled on any garment, you must wash it, the part that was sprinkled on, in a holy place.
28
But the clay pot in which it is boiled must be broken. If it is boiled in a bronze pot, it must be scrubbed and rinsed clean in water.
29
Any male among the priests may eat some of it because it is most holy.
30
But any sin offering whose blood is brought into the tent of meeting to make atonement in the holy place must not be eaten. It must be burned with fire.
Chapter 7
1
This is the law of the guilt offering. It is most holy.
2
They must kill the guilt offering in the place for killing it, and they must sprinkle its blood against every side of the altar.
3
All the fat in it will be offered: the fat tail, the fat that is over the inner parts,
4
the two kidneys and the fat on them, which is next to the loins, and what covers the liver, with the kidneys—all this must be removed.
5
The priest must burn these parts on the altar as an offering made with fire to Yahweh. This is the guilt offering.
6
Every male among the priests may eat part of this offering. It must be eaten in a holy place because it is most holy.
7
The sin offering is like the guilt offering. The same law applies to both of them. They belong to the priest who makes atonement with them.
8
The priest who offers anyone's burnt offering may have for himself the hide of that offering.
9
Every grain offering that is baked in an oven, and every such offering that is cooked in a frying pan or in a baking pan will belong to the priest who offers it.
10
Every grain offering, either dry or mixed with oil, will belong equally to all the descendants of Aaron.
11
This is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings which people will offer to Yahweh.
12
If anyone offers it in order to give thanks, then he must offer it with a sacrifice of cakes made without yeast, but mixed with oil, of cakes made without yeast, but spread with oil, and of cakes made with fine flour that is mixed with oil.
13
Also for the purpose of giving thanks, he must offer with the sacrifice of his peace offering cakes of bread made with yeast.
14
He is to offer one of each kind of these sacrifices as a contribution presented to Yahweh. It will belong to the priests who sprinkle the blood of the peace offerings onto the altar.
15
The person presenting a peace offering for the purpose of giving thanks must eat the meat of his offering on the day of the sacrifice. He must not leave any of it until the next morning.
16
But if the sacrifice of his offering is for the purpose of a vow, or for the purpose of a freewill offering, the meat must be eaten on the day that he offers his sacrifice, but whatever remains of it may be eaten on the next day.
17
However, whatever meat of the sacrifice remains on the third day must be burned.
18
If any of the meat of the sacrifice of one's peace offering is eaten on the third day, it will not be accepted, neither will it be credited to the one who offered it. It will be a disgusting thing, and the person who eats it will carry the guilt of his sin.
19
Any meat that touches an unclean thing must not be eaten. It must be burned with fire. As for the rest of the meat, anyone who is clean may eat it.
20
However, an unclean person who eats any meat from the sacrifice of a peace offering that belongs to Yahweh—that person must be cut off from his people.
21
If anyone touches any unclean thing—whether uncleanness of man or of unclean animal or of some unclean, detestable thing—and if he then eats some of the meat of a sacrifice of peace offering that belongs to Yahweh, that person must be cut off from his people.'"
22
Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
23
"Speak to the people of Israel and say, 'You must eat no fat of cattle, sheep, or goats.
24
The fat of an animal that died without being a sacrifice, or the fat of an animal torn by wild animals, may be used for other purposes, but you must certainly not eat it.
25
Whoever eats the fat of an animal that men can offer as a sacrifice by fire to Yahweh, that person must be cut off from his people.
26
You must eat no blood whatsoever in any of your houses, whether it is from a bird or an animal.
27
Whoever eats any blood, that person must be cut off from his people.'"
28
So Yahweh spoke to Moses and said,
29
"Speak to the people of Israel and say, 'He who offers the sacrifice of a peace offering to Yahweh must bring part of his sacrifice to Yahweh.
30
The offering for Yahweh to be made by fire, his own hands must bring it. He must bring the fat with the breast, so that the breast may be waved as a wave offering before Yahweh.
31
The priest must burn the fat on the altar, but the breast will belong to Aaron and his descendants.
32
You must give the right thigh to the priest as a contribution from the sacrifice of your peace offerings.
33
The priest, one of Aaron's descendants, who offers the blood of the peace offerings and the fat—he will have the right thigh as his share of the offering.
34
For I have taken from the people of Israel, the breast of the wave offering, and the thigh that is the contribution from the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and they have been given to Aaron the priest and his sons as their regular share.
35
This is what has been consecrated for Aaron and his descendants from the offerings for Yahweh made by fire, on the day when Moses presented them to serve Yahweh in the work of priest.
36
This is the share that Yahweh commanded to be given them from the people of Israel, on the day that he anointed the priests. It will always be their share throughout all generations.
37
This is the law of the burnt offering, of the grain offering, of the sin offering, of the guilt offering, of the consecration offering, and of the sacrifice of peace offerings,
38
about which Yahweh gave commands to Moses on Mount Sinai on the day that he commanded the people of Israel to offer their sacrifices to Yahweh in the wilderness of Sinai.'"
Chapter 8
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
2
"Take Aaron and his sons with him, the garments and the anointing oil, the bull for the sin offering, the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread.
3
Assemble all the assembly at the entrance to the tent of meeting."
4
So Moses did as Yahweh commanded him, and the assembly came together at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
5
Then Moses said to the assembly, "This is what Yahweh has commanded to be done."
6
Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water.
7
He put the tunic on Aaron and tied the sash around his waist, clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him, and then he tied the ephod around him with the finely-woven waistband and bound it to him.
8
He placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim.
9
He set the turban on his head, and on the turban, in front, he set the golden plate, the holy crown, as Yahweh had commanded Moses.
10
Moses took the anointing oil, anointed the tabernacle and everything in it and set them apart to Yahweh.
11
He sprinkled the oil on the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its utensils, and the washbasin and its base, to set them apart to Yahweh.
12
He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head and anointed him to set him apart.
13
Moses brought Aaron's sons and clothed them with tunics. He tied sashes around their waists and wrapped linen cloth around their heads, as Yahweh had commanded him.
14
Moses brought the bull for the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull that they had brought for the sin offering.
15
Moses killed it, and he took the blood and put it on the horns of the altar with his finger, purified the altar, poured out the blood at the base of the altar, and set it apart for God in order to make atonement for it.
16
He took all the fat that was on the inner parts, the covering of the liver, and the two kidneys and their fat, and Moses burned it all on the altar.
17
But Moses burned the bull, its hide, its meat, and its dung outside the camp, as Yahweh had commanded him.
18
Moses presented the ram for the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram.
19
He killed it and sprinkled its blood against every side of the altar.
20
He cut the ram into pieces and burned the head and the pieces and the fat.
21
He washed the inner parts and the legs with water, and he burned the whole ram on the altar. It was a burnt offering and produced a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh as Yahweh had commanded Moses.
22
Then Moses presented the other ram, the ram of consecration, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram.
23
Aaron killed it, and Moses took some of its blood and put it on the tip of Aaron's right ear, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.
24
He brought Aaron's sons, and he put some of the blood on the tip of their right ear, on the thumb of their right hand, and on the big toe of their right foot. Then Moses sprinkled its blood against every side of the altar.
25
He took the fat, the fat tail, all the fat that was on the inner parts, the covering of the liver, the two kidneys and their fat, and the right thigh.
26
Out of the basket of bread without yeast that was before Yahweh, he took one loaf without yeast, and one loaf of oiled bread, and one wafer, and placed them on the fat and on the right thigh.
27
He put it all in the hands of Aaron and in the hands of his sons and waved them before Yahweh as a wave offering.
28
Then Moses took them from off their hands and burned them on the altar for the burnt offering. They were a consecration offering and produced a sweet aroma. It was an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
29
Moses took the breast and waved it as a wave offering to Yahweh. It was Moses' share of the ram for the priests' ordination, as Yahweh had commanded him.
30
Moses took some of the anointing oil and the blood that was on the altar; he sprinkled these on Aaron, on his clothes, on his sons, and on his sons' clothes with him. In this way he set apart Aaron and his clothes, and his sons and their clothes to Yahweh.
31
So Moses said to Aaron and to his sons, "Boil the meat at the entrance to the tent of meeting, and there eat it and the bread that is in the basket of consecration, as I commanded, saying, 'Aaron and his sons will eat it.'
32
Whatever remains of the meat and of the bread you must burn.
33
You must not go out from the entrance of the tent of meeting for seven days, until the days of your ordination are fulfilled. For Yahweh will consecrate you for seven days.
34
What has been done this day—Yahweh has commanded to be done to make atonement for you.
35
You will stay day and night for seven days at the entrance to the tent of meeting, and keep the command of Yahweh, so you will not die, because this is what I have been commanded."
36
So Aaron and his sons did all the things which Yahweh had commanded them through Moses.
Chapter 9
1
On the eighth day Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel.
2
He said to Aaron, "Take a calf from the herd for a sin offering, and a ram without blemish for a burnt offering, and offer them before Yahweh.
3
You must speak to the people of Israel and say, 'Take a male goat for a sin offering and a calf and a lamb, both a year old and without blemish, for a burnt offering;
4
also take an ox and a ram for peace offerings to sacrifice before Yahweh, and a grain offering mixed with oil, because today Yahweh will appear to you.'"
5
So they brought all that Moses commanded to the tent of meeting, and all the assembly of Israel approached and stood before Yahweh.
6
Then Moses said, "This is what Yahweh commanded you to do, so that his glory may appear to you."
7
Moses said to Aaron, "Come near the altar and offer your sin offering and burnt offering, and make atonement for yourself and for the people, and offer the sacrifice for the people to make atonement for them, as Yahweh has commanded."
8
So Aaron went near the altar and killed the calf for the sin offering, which was for himself.
9
The sons of Aaron presented the blood to him, and he dipped his finger into it and put it on the horns of the altar; then he poured out the blood at the base of the altar.
10
However, he burned the fat, the kidneys, and the covering of the liver on the altar as a sin offering, as Yahweh had commanded Moses.
11
The meat and the hide he burned outside the camp.
12
Aaron killed the burnt offering, and his sons gave him the blood, which he splashed against every side of the altar.
13
Then they gave him the burnt offering, piece by piece, together with the head, and he burned them on the altar.
14
He washed the inner parts and the legs and burned them on top of the burnt offering on the altar.
15
Aaron presented the people's sacrifice—a goat, then took it as the sacrifice for their sin and killed it; he sacrificed it for sin, as he had done with the first goat.
16
He presented the burnt offering and offered it as Yahweh had commanded.
17
He presented the grain offering; he filled his hand with it and burned it on the altar, along with the morning's burnt offering.
18
He killed also the ox and the ram, the sacrifice for the peace offering, which was for the people. Aaron's sons gave him the blood, which he sprinkled against every side of the altar.
19
However, they cut out the fat of the bull and the ram, the fat tail, the fat that covers the inner parts, the kidneys, and the covering of the liver.
20
They took the parts that were cut out and put these on the breasts, and then Aaron burned the fat on the altar.
21
Aaron waved the breasts and the right thigh as a wave offering before Yahweh, as Moses had commanded.
22
Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them; then he came down from offering the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offering.
23
Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, then came out again and blessed the people, and the glory of Yahweh appeared to all the people.
24
Fire came out from Yahweh and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people saw this, they shouted and lay facedown.
Chapter 10
1
Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, each took his censer, put fire in it, and then incense. Then they offered unapproved fire before Yahweh, which he had not commanded them to offer.
2
So fire came out from before Yahweh and devoured them, and they died before Yahweh.
3
Then Moses said to Aaron, "This is what Yahweh was talking about when he said,
'I will reveal my holiness to those who come near me.
I will be glorified before all the people.'"
Aaron did not say anything.
4
Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, "Come here and carry your brothers out of the camp from before the tabernacle."
5
So they came near and carried them, still wearing their priestly tunics, out of the camp, as Moses had instructed.
6
Then Moses said to Aaron and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons, "Do not let your hair on your heads hang loosely, and do not tear your clothes, so that you may not die, and so that Yahweh may not be angry with all the assembly. But allow your relatives, the entire house of Israel, to mourn for those whom the fire of Yahweh has set ablaze.
7
You must not go out from the entrance of the tent of meeting, or you will die, for the anointing oil of Yahweh is on you." So they acted according to Moses' instructions.
8
Yahweh spoke to Aaron, saying,
9
"Do not drink wine or strong drink, you, or your sons who remain with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, so you will not die. This will be a permanent statute throughout your people's generations,
10
to distinguish between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean,
11
so that you may teach the people of Israel all the statutes that Yahweh has commanded through Moses."
12
Moses spoke to Aaron and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his remaining sons, "Take the grain offering that remains from the offerings to Yahweh made by fire, and eat it without yeast beside the altar, for it is most holy.
13
You must eat it in a holy place, because it is your share and your sons' share of the offerings to Yahweh made by fire, for this is what I have been commanded to tell you.
14
As for the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution, you must eat them in a clean place, you and your sons and daughters with you, for they are given as your assigned portion and your sons' assigned portion out of the sacrifices of the fellowship offerings of the people of Israel.
15
As for the thigh of the contribution and the breast of the wave offering, they must bring them with the offerings of fat made by fire as a wave offering before Yahweh. They will be yours and your sons' with you as a share forever, as Yahweh has commanded."
16
Then Moses asked about the goat for the sin offering, and found that it was burned up. So he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the remaining sons of Aaron; he said,
17
"Why have you not eaten the sin offering in the area of the tabernacle, since it is most holy, and since Yahweh has given it to you to take away the iniquity of the assembly, to make atonement for them before him?
18
Look, its blood was not brought inside the tabernacle, so you should certainly have eaten it in the tabernacle area, as I commanded."
19
Then Aaron answered Moses, "See, today they made their sin offering and burnt offering before Yahweh, and this thing has happened to me today. If I had eaten the sin offering today, would it have been pleasing in the sight of Yahweh?"
20
When Moses heard that, he was satisfied.
Chapter 11
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,
2
"Speak to the people of Israel, saying, 'These are the living things which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth.
3
You may eat any animal that has a split hoof and that also chews the cud.
4
However, some animals either chew the cud or have a split hoof, and you must not eat them, animals such as the camel, because it chews the cud but does not have a split hoof. So the camel is unclean to you.
5
Also the rock badger, because it chews the cud but does not have a split hoof, it is also unclean to you.
6
The rabbit, because it chews the cud, but does not have a split hoof, is unclean to you.
7
The pig, although it has a split hoof, does not chew the cud, is unclean to you.
8
You must not eat any of their meat, nor touch their carcasses. They are unclean to you.
9
The animals living in the water that you may eat are all those that have fins and scales, whether in the ocean or in the rivers.
10
But all living creatures that do not have fins and scales in the ocean or rivers, including all that move in the water and all the living creatures that are in the water—they must be detested by you.
11
Since they must be detested, you must not eat of their meat; also, their carcasses must be detested.
12
Whatever lives in the water and does not have fins and scales is detestable to you.
13
These are the birds you must detest—and you must not eat because they are detestable: the eagle, the vulture, and the black vulture,
14
the kite, any kind of falcon,
15
every kind of raven,
16
the horned owl and the screech owl, the seagull, and any kind of hawk.
17
You must also detest the little owl and the great owl, the cormorant,
18
the white owl and the barn owl, the osprey,
19
the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, and also the bat.
20
All winged insects that walk on four legs are detestable to you.
21
Yet you may eat any of the flying insects that also walk on four legs if they have jointed legs for hopping on the ground.
22
You may also eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket, or grasshopper.
23
But all the flying insects that have four feet must be detested by you.
24
You will become unclean until evening by these animals if you touch a carcass of one of them.
25
Whoever picks up one of their carcasses must wash his clothes and remain unclean until evening.
26
Every animal which has a split hoof that is not completely divided or which does not chew the cud is unclean to you. Everyone who touches them will be unclean.
27
Whatever walks on its paws among all the animals that walk on all four legs, they are unclean to you. Whoever touches such a carcass will be unclean until the evening.
28
Whoever picks up such a carcass must wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening. These animals will be unclean to you.
29
Of the animals that creep on the ground, these are the animals that will be unclean to you: the weasel, the rat, every kind of large lizard,
30
the gecko, the monitor lizard, the lizard, the skink, and the chameleon.
31
Of all the animals that creep, these are the animals which will be unclean to you. Whoever touches them when they are dead will be unclean until evening.
32
If any of them dies and falls on anything, that thing will be unclean, whether it is made of wood, cloth, leather, or sackcloth. Whatever it is and whatever it is used for, it must be put into water; it will be unclean until evening. Then it will be clean.
33
For every clay pot into or onto which any unclean animal falls, whatever is in the pot will become unclean, and you must destroy that pot.
34
Any food that could be eaten but has water on it from such a pot is unclean. Any liquid that is for drinking from such a pot is unclean.
35
Anything that one of their carcasses falls on becomes unclean; if it is an oven or small stove, it must be broken to pieces. They are unclean and they must remain unclean to you.
36
A spring or cistern for collecting water remains clean; but anyone who touches their carcass is unclean.
37
If any part of their carcass falls upon any seeds for sowing, those seeds will still be clean.
38
But if water is put on the seeds, and if any part of their carcass falls on them, then they will be unclean to you.
39
If any animal that you may eat dies, then he who touches the carcass will be unclean until evening.
40
Whoever eats any of that carcass must wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. Anyone who picks up such a carcass will wash his clothes and be unclean until evening.
41
Every animal that creeps on the ground is detestable; it must not be eaten.
42
Whatever crawls on its belly, and whatever walks on all four legs, or whatever has many feet—all the animals that creep on the ground, these you must not eat, for they are detestable.
43
You must not make yourselves detestable with any living creatures that creep; you must not make yourselves unclean with them and you must not be made unclean by them.
44
For I am Yahweh your God. You are to keep yourselves holy, therefore, and be holy, because I am holy. You must not defile yourselves with any kind of animal that moves about on the ground.
45
For I am Yahweh, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You must therefore be holy, for I am holy.
46
This is the law regarding the animals, the birds, every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the ground,
47
for which a distinction is to be made between the unclean and the clean, and between the living things that may be eaten and the living things that may not be eaten.'"
Chapter 12
1
Yahweh said to Moses,
2
"Speak to the people of Israel, saying, 'If a woman conceives and gives birth to a male child, then she will be unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during the days of her monthly impurity.
3
On the eighth day the flesh of a baby boy's foreskin must be circumcised.
4
Then the mother's purification from her bleeding will continue for thirty-three days. She must not touch any holy thing or come into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are finished.
5
But if she gives birth to a female child, then she will be unclean for two weeks, as she is during her impurity. Then for sixty-six days she will be purified from her bleeding.
6
When the days of her purification are finished, for a son or for a daughter, she must bring a one year old lamb as a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or dove as a sin offering, to the entrance of the tent of meeting, to the priest.
7
Then he will offer it before Yahweh and make atonement for her, and she will be cleansed from the flow of her blood. This is the law regarding a woman who gives birth to either a male or a female child.
8
If she is not able to afford a lamb, then she must take two doves or two young pigeons, one as a burnt offering and the other as a sin offering, and the priest will make atonement for her; then she will be clean.'"
Chapter 13
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,
2
"When anyone has on the skin of his body a swelling or scab or a bright spot, and it becomes infected and there is leprosy in his body, then he must be brought to Aaron the high priest, or to one of his sons the priests.
3
Then the priest will examine the disease in the skin of his body. If the hair in the diseased area has turned white, and if the disease appears to be deeper than just on the skin, then it is leprosy. After the priest examines him, he must pronounce him unclean.
4
If the bright spot in his skin is white, and the appearance of it is no deeper than the skin, and if the hair in the diseased area has not turned white, then the priest must isolate the one with the disease for seven days.
5
On the seventh day, the priest must examine him to see if in his opinion the disease is not any worse, and if it has not spread in the skin. If it has not, then the priest must isolate him seven days more.
6
The priest will examine him again on the seventh day to see if the disease is better and has not spread farther in the skin. If it has not, then the priest will pronounce him clean. It is a rash. He must wash his clothes, and then he is clean.
7
But if the rash has spread in the skin after he has shown himself to the priest for his cleansing, he must then show himself to the priest again.
8
The priest will examine him to see if the rash has spread farther in the skin. If it has spread, then the priest must pronounce him unclean. It is leprosy.
9
When leprosy is in someone, then he must be brought to the priest.
10
The priest will examine him to see if there is a white swelling in the skin, if the hair has turned white, or if there is raw flesh in the swelling.
11
If there is, then it is leprosy, and the priest must pronounce him unclean. He will not isolate him, because he is already unclean.
12
If the leprosy breaks out widely in the skin and covers all the skin of the person with the disease from his head to his feet, as far as it appears to the priest,
13
then the priest must examine him to see if the leprosy has covered all his body. If it has, then the priest must pronounce the person who has the disease as clean. If it has all turned white, then he is clean.
14
But if raw flesh appears on him, he will be unclean.
15
The priest must look at the raw flesh and pronounce him unclean because the raw flesh is unclean. It is leprosy.
16
But if the raw flesh turns white again, then the person must go to the priest.
17
The priest will examine him to see if the flesh has turned white. If it has then the priest will pronounce that person to be clean.
18
When a person has a boil on the skin and it has healed,
19
and in place of the boil there is white swelling or a bright spot, reddish-white, then it must be shown to the priest.
20
The priest will examine it to see if it appears deeper under the skin, and if the hair there has turned white. If so, then the priest must pronounce him unclean. It is leprosy, if it has developed in the place where the boil was.
21
But if the priest examines it and sees that there is no white hair in it, and that it is not under the skin but has faded, then the priest must isolate him for seven days.
22
If it spreads widely in the skin, then the priest must pronounce him unclean. It is an infectious disease.
23
But if the bright spot stays in its place and has not spread, then it is the scar of the boil, and the priest must pronounce him clean.
24
When the skin has a burn and the raw flesh of the burn has become a reddish-white or white spot,
25
then the priest will examine it to see if the hair in that spot has turned white, and if it appears to be deeper than the skin. If it has, then it is leprosy. It has broken out in the burn, and the priest must pronounce him unclean. It is leprosy.
26
But if the priest examines it and finds that there is no white hair in the spot, and it is not under the skin but has faded, then the priest must isolate him for seven days.
27
Then the priest must examine him on the seventh day. If it has spread widely in the skin, then the priest must pronounce him unclean. It is leprosy.
28
If the spot stays in its place and has not spread in the skin but has faded, then it is a swelling from the burn, and the priest must pronounce him clean, for it is nothing more than the scar of the burn.
29
If a man or woman has an infectious disease on the head or chin,
30
then the priest must examine the person for an infectious disease to see if it appears to be deeper than the skin, and if there is yellow, thin hair in it. If there is, then the priest must pronounce him unclean. It is an itch, leprosy on the head or the chin.
31
If the priest examines the itching disease and sees that it is not under the skin, and if there is no black hair in it, then the priest will isolate the person with the itching disease for seven days.
32
On the seventh day the priest will examine the disease to see if it has spread. If there is no yellow hair, and if the disease appears to be only skin deep,
33
then he must be shaved, but the diseased area must not be shaved, and the priest must isolate the person with the itching disease for seven more days.
34
On the seventh day the priest will examine the disease to see if it has stopped spreading in the skin. If it appears to be no deeper than the skin, then the priest must pronounce him clean. The person must wash his clothes, and then he will be clean.
35
But if the itching disease has spread widely in the skin after the priest said he was clean,
36
then the priest must examine him again. If the disease has spread in the skin, the priest does not need to seek for yellow hair. The person is unclean.
37
But if in the priest's view the itching disease has stopped spreading and black hair has grown in the area, then the disease has healed. He is clean, and the priest must pronounce him clean.
38
If a man or a woman has white spots on the skin,
39
then the priest must examine the person to see if the spots are a dull white, which is only a rash that has broken out in the skin. He is clean.
40
If a man's hair has fallen out of his head, he is bald, but he is clean.
41
If his hair has fallen out of the front part of his head, and if his forehead is bald, he is clean.
42
But if there is a reddish-white sore on his bald head or forehead, it is leprosy that has broken out.
43
Then the priest must examine him to see if the swelling of the diseased area on his bald head or forehead is reddish-white, like the appearance of leprosy in the skin.
44
If it is, then he is leprous and is unclean. The priest must surely pronounce him unclean because of his disease on his head.
45
The leprous person who has the disease must wear torn clothes, his hair must hang loosely, and he must cover his face up to his nose and call out, 'Unclean, unclean.'
46
All the days that he has the infectious disease he will be unclean. Because he is unclean with a disease that can spread, he must live alone. He must live outside the camp.
47
A garment that is contaminated with leprosy, whether it is a wool or linen garment,
48
or anything woven or knitted from wool or linen, or leather or anything made with leather—
49
if there is a greenish or reddish contamination in the garment, the leather, the woven or knitted material, or anything made of leather, then it is a leprosy that spreads; it must be shown to the priest.
50
The priest must examine the item for leprosy; he must isolate anything that has leprosy for seven days.
51
He must examine the leprosy again on the seventh day. If it has spread in the garment or anything woven or knitted from wool or linen material, or leather or anything in which leather is used, then it is harmful leprosy, and the item is unclean.
52
He must burn the garment, or anything woven or knitted from wool or linen material, or leather or anything made with leather, anything in which the leprosy is found, for it can lead to disease. The item must be completely burned up.
53
If the priest examines the item and sees that the leprosy has not spread in the garment or material woven or knitted from wool or linen, or leather goods,
54
then he will command them to wash the item in which the leprosy was found, and he must isolate it for seven more days.
55
Then the priest will examine the item after the item where there was leprosy was washed. If the leprosy has not changed its color, even though it has not spread, it is unclean. You must burn the item, no matter where the leprosy has contaminated it.
56
If the priest examines the item, and if the leprosy has faded after it was washed, then he must tear out the contaminated part from the garment or from the leather, or from the woven or knitted material.
57
If the leprosy still appears in the garment, either in the woven or knitted material, or in anything made of leather, it is spreading. You must burn any item that has the leprosy.
58
The garment or anything woven or knitted from wool or linen material, or leather or anything made with leather—if you wash the item and the leprosy is gone, then the item must be washed a second time, and it will be clean.
59
This is the law about leprosy in a garment of wool or linen, or anything woven or knitted from wool or linen material, or leather or anything made with leather, so that you may pronounce it clean or unclean."
Chapter 14
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
2
"This will be the law for the leper on the day of his cleansing. He must be brought to the priest.
3
The priest will go out of the camp to examine the leper to see if the leprosy is healed.
4
Then the priest will command that the one to be cleansed must take two live, clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop.
5
The priest will command him to kill one of the birds over fresh water that is in a clay pot.
6
The priest will then take the live bird and the cedar wood, and the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, and he will dip all these things, including the live bird, in the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water.
7
Then the priest will sprinkle this water seven times onto the person who is to be cleansed from the leprosy, and then the priest will pronounce him to be clean. Then the priest will release the living bird into the open fields.
8
The person who is being cleansed will wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and bathe himself in water, and then he will be clean. After that he must come into the camp, but he will live outside his tent for seven days.
9
On the seventh day he must shave all his hair off his head, and he must also shave off his beard and eyebrows. He must shave off all his hair, and he must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water; then he will be clean.
10
On the eighth day he must take two male lambs without blemish, one female lamb a year old without blemish, and three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering, and one log of oil.
11
The priest who cleanses him will stand the person who is to be cleansed, along with those things, before Yahweh at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
12
The priest will take one of the male lambs and offer it as a guilt offering, together with the log of oil; he will wave them for a wave offering before Yahweh.
13
He must kill the male lamb in the place where they kill the sin offerings and the burnt offerings, in the area of the tabernacle, for the sin offering belongs to the priest, as does the guilt offering, because it is most holy.
14
The priest will take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the tip of the right ear of the person who is to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.
15
Then the priest will take oil from the log and pour it into the palm of his own left hand,
16
and dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and sprinkle some of the oil with his finger seven times before Yahweh.
17
The priest will put the rest of the oil in his hand on the tip of the right ear of the person to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. He must put this oil on top of the blood from the guilt offering.
18
As for the rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand, he will put it on the head of the person who is to be cleansed, and the priest will make atonement for him before Yahweh.
19
Then the priest will offer the sin offering and make atonement for him who is to be cleansed because of his uncleanness, and afterward he will kill the burnt offering.
20
Then the priest will offer the burnt offering and the grain offering on the altar. The priest will make atonement for the person, and then he will be clean.
21
However, if the person is poor and cannot afford these sacrifices, then he may take one male lamb as a guilt offering to be waved, to make atonement for himself, and one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering, and a log of oil,
22
together with two doves or two young pigeons, such as he is able to get; one bird will be a sin offering and the other a burnt offering.
23
On the eighth day he must bring them for his cleansing to the priest, to the entrance to the tent of meeting, before Yahweh.
24
The priest will take the lamb for an offering, and he will take with it the log of olive oil, and he will wave them as a wave offering before Yahweh.
25
The priest will kill the lamb for the guilt offering, and he will take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the tip of the right ear of the one who is to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.
26
Then the priest will pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand,
27
and he will sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before Yahweh.
28
The priest will then put some of the oil that is in his hand on the tip of the right ear of the one who is to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, the same places where he put the blood of the guilt offering.
29
He will put the rest of the oil that is in his hand on the head of the one who is to be cleansed, to make atonement for him before Yahweh.
30
He must offer one of the doves or young pigeons, such as the person has been able to get—
31
one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, along with the grain offering. Then the priest will make atonement for the one who is to be cleansed before Yahweh.
32
This is the law for a person in whom there is leprosy, who is not able to afford the standard offerings for his cleansing."
33
Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,
34
"When you have come into the land of Canaan which I gave to you as a possession, and if I put leprosy that spreads in a house in the land of your possession,
35
then he who owns the house must come and tell the priest. He must say, 'There seems to me to be something like leprosy in my house.'
36
Then the priest will command that they empty the house before he goes in to see the evidence of leprosy, so that nothing in the house will be made unclean. Afterward the priest must go in to see the house.
37
He must examine the leprosy to see if it is in the house walls, and to see whether it appears greenish or reddish in the depressions in the wall's surface.
38
If the house does have leprosy, then the priest will go out of the house and shut the door to the house for seven days.
39
Then the priest will return again on the seventh day and examine it to see if the leprosy has spread in the walls of the house.
40
If it has, then the priest will command that they take out the stones in which the leprosy has been found and throw them into an unclean place outside the city.
41
He will require all the inside walls of the house to be scraped, and they must take the contaminated material that is scraped off outside the city and dump it into the unclean place.
42
They must take other stones and put them in the place of the stones that were removed, and they must use new clay to plaster the house.
43
If leprosy comes again and breaks out in the house in which the stones have been taken away and the walls have been scraped and then replastered,
44
then the priest must come in and examine the house to see if leprosy has spread in the house. If it has, then it is harmful leprosy, and the house is unclean.
45
The house must be torn down. The stones, timber, and all the plaster in the house must be carried away out of the city to the unclean place.
46
In addition, whoever goes into the house during the time it is closed up will be unclean until evening.
47
Anyone who has lain down in the house must wash his clothes, and anyone who ate in the house must wash his clothes.
48
If the priest enters the house to examine it to see whether the leprosy has spread in the house after the house was plastered, then, if the leprosy is gone, he will pronounce the house clean.
49
Then the priest must take two birds to cleanse the house, and cedar wood, and scarlet yarn, and hyssop.
50
He will kill one of the birds over fresh water in a clay jar.
51
He will take the cedar wood, the hyssop, the scarlet yarn, and the live bird, and dip them in the blood of the killed bird, into the fresh water, and sprinkle the house seven times.
52
He will cleanse the house with the blood of the bird and with the fresh water, with the live bird, the cedar wood, the hyssop, and the scarlet yarn.
53
But he will let the live bird go out of the city into the open fields. In this way he must make atonement for the house, and it will be clean.
54
This is the law for all types of leprosy and things that cause it, and for an itch,
55
and for leprosy in clothing and in a house,
56
for swelling, for a rash, and for a bright spot,
57
to determine when any of these cases is unclean or when it is clean. This is the law for leprosy."
Chapter 15
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,
2
"Speak to the people of Israel, and say to them, 'When any man has an infected fluid that comes out of his body, he becomes unclean.
3
His uncleanness is due to this infected fluid. Whether his body flows with fluid or is stopped up, it is unclean.
4
Every bed on which he lies will be unclean, and everything on which he sits will be unclean.
5
Whoever touches his bed must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until evening.
6
Anyone who sits on anything on which the man with the flow of infected fluid sat, that person must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and he will be unclean until evening.
7
Anyone who touches the body of the one who has a flow of infected fluid must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until evening.
8
If the person who has such a flow of fluid spits on someone who is clean, then that person must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and he will be unclean until evening.
9
Any saddle which he who has a flow rides upon will be unclean.
10
So whoever touches anything that was under that person will be unclean until evening, and anyone who carries those things must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water; he will be unclean until evening.
11
Anyone the man with the discharge touches without washing his hands with water must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and he will be unclean until evening.
12
Any clay pot that the one with such a flow of fluid touches must be broken, and every container of wood must be rinsed in water.
13
When he who has a flow is cleansed from his flow, then he must count for himself seven days for his cleansing; then he must wash his clothes and bathe his body in running water. Then he will be clean.
14
On the eighth day he must take two doves or two young pigeons and come before Yahweh at the entrance to the tent of meeting; there he must give the birds to the priest.
15
The priest must offer them, one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, and the priest must make atonement for him before Yahweh for his flow.
16
If any man has an emission of semen, then he must bathe his whole body in water; he will be unclean until evening.
17
Every garment or leather on which there is semen must be washed with water; it will be unclean until evening.
18
If a man lies with a woman and there is an emission of semen, both of them must bathe with water and be unclean until evening.
19
When a woman has a flow of blood, her impurity will continue for seven days, and whoever touches her will be unclean until evening.
20
Everything she lies on during her period will be unclean; everything that she sits on will also be unclean.
21
Whoever touches her bed must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water; that person will be unclean until evening.
22
Whoever touches anything that she sits on must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water; that person will be unclean until evening.
23
Whether it is on the bed or on anything on which she sits, if he touches it, that person will be unclean until evening.
24
If any man lies with her, and if her impure flow touches him, he will be unclean for seven days. Every bed on which he lies will be unclean.
25
If a woman has a flow of blood for many days that is not in the time of her impurity, or if she has a flow beyond the time of her impurity, during all the days of the flow of her uncleanness, she will be as if she were in the days of her impurity. She is unclean.
26
Every bed on which she lies all during her flow of blood will be to her just like the bed on which she lies during her impurity, and everything on which she sits will be unclean, just like the uncleanness of her impurity.
27
Whoever touches any of those things will be unclean; he must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and he will be unclean until evening.
28
But if she is cleansed from her flow of blood, then she will count for herself seven days, and after that she will be clean.
29
On the eighth day she will take to her two doves or two young pigeons and bring them to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
30
The priest will offer one bird as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, and he will make atonement for her before Yahweh for her unclean flow of blood.
31
This is how you must separate the people of Israel from their uncleanness, so they will not die due to their uncleanness, by defiling my tabernacle, where I live among them.
32
This is the law for anyone who has a flow of fluid, for any man whose semen goes out of him and makes him unclean,
33
for any woman who has a menstrual period, for anyone with a flow of fluid, whether male or female, and for any man who lies with an unclean woman.'"
Chapter 16
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses—this was after the death of Aaron's two sons, when they had gone near to Yahweh and then died.
2
Yahweh said to Moses, "Speak to Aaron your brother and tell him not to come at just any time into the most holy place inside the curtain, before the atonement lid that is on the ark. If he does, he will die, because I appear in the cloud over the atonement lid.
3
So here is how Aaron must come into the most holy place. He must enter with a young bull as a sin offering, and a ram as a burnt offering.
4
He must put on the holy linen tunic, and he must put the linen undergarments on himself, and he must wear the linen sash and linen turban. These are the holy garments. He must bathe his body in water and then dress himself with these clothes.
5
He must take from the assembly of the people of Israel two male goats as a sin offering and one ram as a burnt offering.
6
Then Aaron must present the bull as the sin offering, which will be for himself, to make atonement for himself and his family.
7
Then he must take the two goats and set them before Yahweh at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
8
Then Aaron must cast lots for the two goats, one lot for Yahweh, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
9
Aaron must then present the goat on which the lot fell for Yahweh, and offer that goat as a sin offering.
10
But the goat on which the lot fell for the scapegoat must be brought alive before Yahweh, to make atonement by sending him away as a scapegoat into the wilderness.
11
Then Aaron must present the bull for the sin offering, which will be for himself. He must make atonement for himself and for his family, so he must kill the bull as a sin offering for himself.
12
Aaron must take a censer full of coals of fire from off the altar before Yahweh, with his hands full of finely ground sweet incense, and bring these things inside the curtain.
13
There he must put the incense on the fire before Yahweh so that the cloud from the incense may cover the atonement lid over the covenant decrees. He must do this so he will not die.
14
Then he must take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the atonement lid. He must sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times before the atonement lid.
15
Then he must kill the goat for the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the curtain. There he must do with the blood as he did with the blood of the bull: He must sprinkle it on the atonement lid and then before the atonement lid.
16
He must make atonement for the holy place because of the unclean actions of the people of Israel, and because of their rebellion and all their sins. He must also do this for the tent of meeting, where Yahweh lives among them, in the presence of their unclean actions.
17
No one must be in the tent of meeting when Aaron enters it to make atonement in the most holy place, and until he comes out and has finished making atonement for himself and for his family, and for all the assembly of Israel.
18
He must go out to the altar that is before Yahweh and make atonement for it, and he must take some of the bull's blood and some of the goat's blood and put it on the horns of the altar all around.
19
He must sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and set it apart to Yahweh, away from the unclean actions of the people of Israel.
20
When he has finished atoning for the most holy place, the tent of meeting, and the altar, he must present the live goat.
21
Aaron must lay both his hands on the head of the live goat and confess over him all the evil deeds of the people of Israel, all their rebellion, and all their sins. Then he must put that sinfulness on the head of the goat and send the goat away in the care of a man who is ready to lead the goat into the wilderness.
22
The goat must carry on himself all the people's evil deeds to a solitary place. There in the wilderness, the man must let the goat go free.
23
Then Aaron must go back into the tent of meeting and take off the linen garments that he had put on before going into the most holy place, and he must leave those garments there.
24
He must bathe his body in water in a holy place, and put on his normal garments; then he must go out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering for the people, and in this way make atonement for himself and for the people.
25
He must burn the fat of the sin offering on the altar.
26
The man who let the scapegoat go free must wash his clothes and bathe his body in water; after that, he may come back into the camp.
27
The bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, must be carried outside the camp. There they must burn their hides, flesh, and dung.
28
The man who burns those parts must wash his clothes and bathe his body in water; after that, he may come back into the camp.
29
It will always be a statute for you that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you must humble yourselves and do no work, whether the native born or a foreigner who is living among you.
30
This is because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you from all your sins so you will be clean before Yahweh.
31
It is a solemn Sabbath of rest for you, and you must humble yourselves and do no work. This will always be a statute among you.
32
The high priest, the one who will be anointed and ordained to be high priest in his father's place, must make this atonement and put on the linen garments, that is, the holy garments.
33
He must make atonement for the most holy place; he must make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar, and he must make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly.
34
This will always be a statute for you, to make atonement for the people of Israel because of all their sins, once in every year." This was done as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Chapter 17
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
2
"Speak to Aaron and to his sons, and to all the people of Israel. Tell them what Yahweh has commanded:
3
'Any man from Israel who kills an ox, lamb, or goat in the camp, or who kills it outside the camp, in order to sacrifice it—
4
if he does not bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting to offer it as a sacrifice to Yahweh before his tabernacle, that man is guilty of bloodshed. He has shed blood, and that man must be cut off from among his people.
5
The purpose of this command is so that the people of Israel will bring their sacrifices to Yahweh at the entrance to the tent of meeting, to the priest, to be sacrificed as fellowship offerings to Yahweh, instead of offering sacrifices in an open field.
6
The priest will sprinkle the blood on Yahweh's altar at the entrance to the tent of meeting; he will burn the fat for it to produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh.
7
The people must no longer offer their sacrifices to goat idols, for which they act as prostitutes. This will be a permanent statute for them throughout their people's generations.'
8
You must say to them, 'Any man of Israel, or any foreigner who lives among them, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice
9
and does not bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting in order to sacrifice it to Yahweh, that man must be cut off from his people.
10
If any person of the house of Israel, or any foreigner who lives among them consumes any blood, I will set my face against that person who consumes blood and I will cut him off from among his people.
11
For the life of an animal is in its blood. I have given its blood to you to make atonement on the altar for your lives, because it is the blood that makes atonement, for it is the blood that atones for the life.
12
Therefore I said to the people of Israel that no one among you must eat blood, neither may any foreigner who lives among you eat blood.
13
Anyone of the people of Israel, or any of the foreigners who live among them, who hunts and kills an animal or bird that may be eaten, that person must pour out its blood and cover the blood with earth.
14
For the life of each creature is its blood. That is why I said to the people of Israel, "You must not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every living creature is its blood. Whoever eats it must be cut off."
15
Every person who eats an animal that has died or that has been torn by wild animals, whether that person is native born or a foreigner living among you, he must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and he will be unclean until the evening. Then he will be clean.
16
But if he does not wash his clothes or bathe his body, then he must carry his guilt.'"
Chapter 18
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
2
"Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, 'I am Yahweh your God.
3
You must not do the things that the people do in Egypt, where you lived previously. You must not do the things that the people do in Canaan, the land to which I am taking you. Do not follow their customs.
4
My laws are what you must do, and my commandments are what you must keep, so that you walk in them, because I am Yahweh your God.
5
Therefore you must keep my decrees and my laws. If a person obeys them, he will live because of them. I am Yahweh.
6
Do not approach any close relatives to uncover nakedness, I am Yahweh.
7
Do not uncover the nakedness of your father by uncovering the nakedness of your mother; she is your mother, you must not uncover her nakedness.
8
Do not uncover the nakedness of your father's wives; it is your father's nakedness.
9
Do not uncover the nakedness of your sister, whether she is the daughter of your father or the daughter of your mother, whether she was born in your home or distant from you.
10
Do not uncover the nakedness of your son's daughter or your daughter's daughter, for their nakedness is your own nakedness.
11
Do not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife's daughter, brought up in your father's family, since she is your sister.
12
Do not uncover the nakedness of your father's sister; she is your father's relative.
13
Do not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister, she is your mother's relative.
14
Do not uncover the nakedness of your father's brother, that is, you must not approach his wife; she is your aunt.
15
Do not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law; she is your son's wife; you must not uncover her nakedness.
16
Do not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife; that is your brother's nakedness.
17
Do not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter; and you must not take her son's daughter or her daughter's daughter to uncover her nakedness; they are relatives; that is wickedness.
18
You must not marry your wife's sister as a second wife and uncover her nakedness while your first wife is alive.
19
Do not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness during the impurity of her uncleanness.
20
Do not have sexual relations with your neighbor's wife and defile yourself with her in this way.
21
You must not give any of your children to put them into the fire, so that you sacrifice them to Molech, because you must not profane the name of your God. I am Yahweh.
22
Do not lie with other men as with a woman; that is detestable.
23
Do not lie with any animal and defile yourself with it. Neither should any woman present herself to an animal to lie with it; that is a perversion.
24
Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, for in all these ways the nations are defiled, the nations that I will drive out from before you.
25
The land became defiled, so I have punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.
26
You, therefore, must keep my commandments and decrees, and you must not do any of these detestable things, neither the native-born Israelite nor the foreigner who lives among you.
27
For these detestable things are what the people who lived in the land before you committed, and now the land is defiled.
28
Therefore be careful so that the land does not vomit you up also after you have defiled it, as it vomited out the people who were before you.
29
Whoever does any of these detestable things, the persons who do such things will be cut off from among their people.
30
Therefore you must keep my command not to practice any of these detestable customs which were practiced here before you, so that you do not defile yourselves by them. I am Yahweh your God.'"
Chapter 19
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
2
"Speak to all the assembly of the people of Israel and say to them, 'You must be holy, for I Yahweh your God am holy.
3
Everyone must respect his mother and his father, and you must keep my Sabbaths. I am Yahweh your God.
4
Do not turn to worthless idols, nor make for yourselves molten gods. I am Yahweh your God.
5
When you offer a sacrifice of fellowship offerings to Yahweh, you must offer it that you may be accepted.
6
It must be eaten the same day you offer it, or on the next day. If anything remains until the third day, it must be burned up with fire.
7
If it is eaten at all on the third day, it is a foul thing; it must not be accepted,
8
and everyone who eats it must carry his own guilt because he has defiled what is holy to Yahweh, and that person must be cut off from his people.
9
When you reap the harvest of your land, you must not completely reap the corners of your field, neither will you gather all the gleanings of your harvest.
10
You must not gather every grape from your vineyard, nor gather the grapes that have fallen on the ground in your vineyard. You must leave them for the poor and for the foreigner. I am Yahweh your God.
11
Do not steal.
Do not lie.
Do not deceive each other.
12
Do not swear by my name falsely and profane the name of your God. I am Yahweh.
13
Do not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired servant must not stay with you all night until the morning.
14
Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but fear your God. I am Yahweh.
15
Do not cause judgment to be false. You must not exalt the poor nor favor the great. Instead, judge your neighbor justly.
16
Do not walk around spreading slander among your people, but seek to protect your neighbor's life. I am Yahweh.
17
Do not hate your brother in your heart. You should rebuke your neighbor frankly, and do not bring sin upon yourself because of him.
18
Do not take vengeance or hold any grudge against any of your people, but instead love your neighbor as yourself. I am Yahweh.
19
You must keep my commands.
Do not try to breed your animals with different kinds of other animals.
Do not mix two different kinds of seeds when planting your field.
Do not wear clothing made of two kinds of material mixed together.
20
Whoever lies with a slave girl who is promised to a husband, but who has not been ransomed or given her freedom, must be punished. They must not be put to death because she was not free.
21
A man must bring his guilt offering to Yahweh to the entrance to the tent of meeting—a ram as a guilt offering.
22
Then the priest will make atonement for him with the ram for the guilt offering before Yahweh, for the sin that he has committed. Then the sin which he has committed will be forgiven.
23
When you come into the land and have planted all kinds of trees for food, then you must regard the fruit they produce as forbidden to be eaten. The fruit must be forbidden to you for three years. It must not be eaten.
24
But in the fourth year all the fruit will be holy, a sacrifice of praise to Yahweh.
25
In the fifth year you may eat the fruit, having waited so that the trees might produce more. I am Yahweh your God.
26
Do not eat any meat with blood still in it.
Do not practice divination or sorcery.
27
You will not round off the corners of the hair on the sides of your head or shave off the edge of your beard.
28
Do not cut your body for the dead or put tattoo marks on your body. I am Yahweh.
29
Do not disgrace your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the nation will fall to prostitution and the land will become full of wickedness.
30
You must keep my Sabbaths and honor the sanctuary of my tabernacle. I am Yahweh.
31
Do not turn to sorcerers or spiritists. Do not seek them out, or they will defile you. I am Yahweh your God.
32
You must rise before the gray-headed person and honor the presence of an old man. You must fear your God. I am Yahweh.
33
If a foreigner lives among you in your land, you must not do him any wrong.
34
The foreigner who lives with you must be to you like the native-born Israelite who lives among you, and you must love him as yourself, because you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.
35
Do no injustice when measuring length, weight, or quantity.
36
You must use just scales, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin. I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
37
You must obey all my decrees and all my laws, and do them. I am Yahweh.'"
Chapter 20
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
2
"Say to the people of Israel, 'Anyone among the people of Israel, or any foreigner who lives in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech, must certainly be put to death. The people in the land must stone him with stones.
3
I also will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people because he has given his child to Molech, so as to defile my holy place and profane my holy name.
4
If the people of the land close their eyes to that man when he gives any of his children to Molech, if they do not put him to death,
5
then I myself will set my face against that man and his clan, and I will cut him off and everyone else who acts like a prostitute as he did in order to act like a prostitute with Molech.
6
The person who turns to sorcerers and spiritists so as to prostitute themselves with them, I will set my face against that person; I will cut him off from among his people.
7
Therefore consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am Yahweh your God.
8
You must keep my commands and carry them out. I am Yahweh who sets you apart as holy.
9
Everyone who curses his father or his mother must surely be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother, so his blood is upon him.
10
The man who commits adultery with another man's wife, that is, anyone who commits adultery with his neighbor's wife—the adulterer and the adulteress must both certainly be put to death.
11
If a man lies with his father's wife, he uncovers his father's nakedness. Both the son and his father's wife must certainly be put to death. Their blood is upon them.
12
If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them must certainly be put to death. They have committed perversion. Their blood is upon them.
13
If a man lies with another man, as with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must surely be put to death. Their blood is upon them.
14
If a man marries a woman and also marries her mother, this is wickedness. They must be burned, both he and the women, so that there will be no wickedness among you.
15
If a man lies with an animal, he must surely be put to death, and you must kill the animal.
16
If a woman approaches any animal and lies with it, you must kill the woman and the animal. They must certainly be put to death. Their blood is upon them.
17
If a man takes his sister, a daughter of his father or a daughter of his mother, and he sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness, it is a shameful thing. They must be cut off in the sight of the children of their people. He has uncovered the nakedness of his sister and he must carry his guilt.
18
If a man lies with a woman during her menstrual period and has uncovered her nakedness, he has uncovered her flow, the fountain of her blood. Both the man and woman must be cut off from among their people.
19
You must not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister, or your father's sister, because you would disgrace your close relative. You must carry your own guilt.
20
If a man lies with his aunt, he has uncovered his uncle's nakedness. They will bear responsibility for their sin, and they will die childless.
21
If a man marries his brother’s wife, that is abhorrent. He has uncovered his brother's nakedness; they will be childless.
22
You must therefore keep all my statutes and all my decrees; you must obey them so that the land into which I am bringing you to live will not vomit you up.
23
You must not walk in the statutes of the nations that I will drive out before you, for they have done all these things, and I detest them.
24
I said to you, "You will inherit their land; I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey. I am Yahweh your God, who has separated you from the other peoples.
25
You must therefore distinguish between the clean animals and the unclean, and between the unclean birds and the clean. You must not make yourselves detestable with unclean animals or birds or with any creature that crawls along the ground, which I have separated as unclean from you.
26
You must be holy, for I, Yahweh, am holy, and I have separated you from the other peoples, for you belong to me.
27
A man or a woman who is a sorcerer or spiritist must certainly be put to death. The people must stone them with stones. Their blood is upon them.'"
Chapter 21
1
Yahweh said to Moses: "Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them, 'No one among you should make himself unclean for those who die among his people,
2
except for his closest relatives—his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, his brother,
3
or his virgin sister who is dependent on him, since she has no husband—for her he may make himself unclean.
4
But he must not make himself unclean for other relatives and so defile himself.
5
Priests must not shave their heads or shave off the corners of their beards, nor cut their bodies.
6
They must be holy to their God and not disgrace the name of their God, because the priests offer Yahweh's food offerings, the bread of their God. Therefore the priests must be holy.
7
They must not marry any woman who is a prostitute and who is defiled, and they must not marry a woman divorced from her husband, for he is holy to his God.
8
You will set him apart, for he is the one who offers bread to your God. He must be holy to you, because I, Yahweh who makes you holy, am holy.
9
Any daughter of any priest who defiles herself by becoming a prostitute disgraces her father. She must be burned.
10
The one who is the high priest among his brothers, on whose head the anointing oil has been poured, and who has been consecrated to wear the special garments of the high priest, must not wear his hair loose or tear his clothes.
11
He must not go anywhere that a dead body is present and defile himself, even for his father or his mother.
12
The high priest must not leave the sanctuary area of the tabernacle or profane the sanctuary of his God, because he has been consecrated as high priest by the anointing oil of his God. I am Yahweh.
13
The high priest must marry a virgin as his wife.
14
He must not marry a widow, a divorced woman, or a woman who is a prostitute. He will not marry these kinds of women. He may only marry a virgin from his own people,
15
so he will not defile his children among his people, for I am Yahweh, who makes him holy.'"
16
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
17
"Speak to Aaron and tell him, 'Whoever of your descendants throughout their generations has a bodily defect, he must not approach to offer the food to his God.
18
Any man who has a bodily defect must not approach Yahweh, such as a blind man or a man who is unable to walk, one who is disfigured or deformed,
19
a man with a crippled hand or foot,
20
a man who has a hump in his back or is abnormally thin or short, or a man with a defect in his eyes, or with a disease, sore, scabs, or whose testicles have been crushed.
21
No man among the descendants of Aaron the priest with a bodily defect may come near to perform the offerings made by fire for Yahweh. Such a man has a bodily defect; he must not come near to offer the bread of his God.
22
He may eat the food of his God, whether some of the most holy or some of the holy.
23
However, he must not enter inside the curtain or come near the altar, because he has a bodily defect, so that he does not defile my holy place, for I am Yahweh, who makes them holy.'"
24
So Moses spoke these words to Aaron, to his sons, and to all the people of Israel.
Chapter 22
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
2
"Speak to Aaron and to his sons, tell them to keep away from the holy things of the people of Israel, which they set apart to me. They must not profane my holy name. I am Yahweh.
3
Say to them, 'If any of your descendants throughout your generations approaches the holy things that the people of Israel have set apart to Yahweh, while he is unclean, that person must be cut off from before me: I am Yahweh.
4
None of the descendants of Aaron who is leprous or has an infection flowing from his body may eat any of the sacrifices made to Yahweh until he is clean. Whoever touches anything unclean through contact with the dead, or by contact with a man who has a flow of semen,
5
or whoever touches any creeping animal that makes him unclean, or any person who makes him unclean, whatever kind of uncleanness it may be—
6
then the priest who touches anything unclean will be unclean until evening. He must not eat any of the holy things, unless he has bathed his body in water.
7
When the sun has set, he will then be clean. After sunset he may eat from the holy things, because they are his food.
8
He must not eat anything found dead or killed by wild animals, by which he would defile himself. I am Yahweh.
9
The priests must follow my instructions, or they will be guilty of sin and could die for profaning me. I am Yahweh who makes them holy.
10
No one outside the priest's family, including guests of a priest or his hired servants, may eat anything that is holy.
11
But if a priest buys any slave with his own money, that slave may eat from the things set apart to Yahweh. The priest's family members and slaves born in his house, they also may eat with him from those things.
12
If a priest's daughter married someone who is not a priest, she may not eat any of the holy contribution offerings.
13
But if a priest's daughter is a widow, or divorced, and if she has no child, and if she returns to live in her father's house as in her youth, she may eat from her father's food. But no one who is not in the priestly family may eat from the priest's food.
14
If a man eats a holy food without knowing it, then he must repay the priest for it; he must add one-fifth to it and give it back to the priest.
15
The people of Israel must not profane the holy things that they have raised high and presented to Yahweh,
16
and cause themselves to carry the sin that would make them guilty of eating the holy food, for I am Yahweh who makes them holy.'"
17
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
18
"Speak to Aaron and his sons, and to all the people of Israel. Say to them, 'Any man from the house of Israel, or an alien living in Israel, when they present a sacrifice—whether it is to fulfill a vow, or whether it is a freewill offering, or they present to Yahweh a burnt offering,
19
if it is to be accepted, they must offer a male animal without blemish from the cattle, sheep, or goats.
20
But you must not offer whatever has a blemish. I will not accept it on your behalf.
21
Whoever offers a sacrifice of fellowship offerings from the herd or the flock to Yahweh to fulfill a vow, or as a freewill offering, it must be unblemished to be accepted. There must be no defect in the animal.
22
You must not offer animals that are blind, disabled, or maimed, or that have warts, sores, or scabs. You must not offer these to Yahweh as a sacrifice by fire on the altar.
23
You may present as a freewill offering an ox or a lamb that is deformed or small, but an offering like that will not be accepted for a vow.
24
Do not offer any animal to Yahweh that has bruised, crushed, torn, or cut testicles. Do not do this within your land.
25
You must not present the bread of your God from the hand of a foreigner. Those animals are deformed and have defects in them, they will not be accepted for you.'"
26
Yahweh spoke to Moses and said,
27
"When a calf or a sheep or a goat is born, it must remain seven days with its mother. Then from the eighth day on, it may be accepted as a sacrifice for an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
28
Do not kill a cow or ewe along with its young, both on the same day.
29
When you sacrifice a thank offering to Yahweh, you must sacrifice it in an acceptable way.
30
It must be eaten on the same day that it is sacrificed. You must leave none of it until the next morning. I am Yahweh.
31
So you must keep my commandments and carry them out. I am Yahweh.
32
You must not profane my holy name. I must be acknowledged as holy by the people of Israel. I am Yahweh who makes you holy,
33
who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am Yahweh."
Chapter 23
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses:
2
"Speak to the people of Israel, and say to them, 'These are the appointed festivals for Yahweh, which you must proclaim as holy assemblies; they are my regular festivals.
3
You may work for six days, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, a holy assembly. You must do no work because it is a Sabbath for Yahweh in all the places where you live.
4
These are the appointed festivals of Yahweh, the holy assemblies that you must announce at their appointed times:
5
In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is Yahweh's Passover.
6
On the fifteenth day of the same month is the Festival of Unleavened Bread for Yahweh. For seven days you must eat unleavened bread.
7
The first day you must set apart to gather together; you will not do any of your regular work.
8
You will present a food offering to Yahweh for seven days. The seventh day is an assembly set apart to Yahweh, and on that day you must not do any regular work.'"
9
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
10
"Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, 'When you have come into the land that I will give you, and when you reap its harvest, then you must bring a bundle of the firstfruit of the grain to the priest.
11
He will raise the bundle of grain before Yahweh and present it to him, for it to be accepted on your behalf. It is on the day after the Sabbath that the priest will raise it and present it to me.
12
On the day when you raise the bundle of grain and present it to me, you must offer a male lamb one year old and without blemish as a burnt offering to Yahweh.
13
The grain offering must be two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to Yahweh, to produce a sweet aroma, and with it a drink offering of wine, a fourth of a hin.
14
You must eat no bread, nor roasted or fresh grain, until the same day you have brought this offering to your God. This will be a permanent statute throughout your people's generations, in every place that you live.
15
Beginning from the day after the Sabbath—that was the day you brought the bundle of grain as the wave offering—count seven full weeks.
16
You must count fifty days, which would be the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you must present an offering of new grain to Yahweh.
17
You must bring out of your houses two loaves made from two-tenths of an ephah. They must be made from fine flour and baked with yeast; they will be a wave offering of the firstfruits to Yahweh.
18
You must present with the bread seven lambs one year old and without blemish, one young bull from the herd, and two rams. They must be a burnt offering to Yahweh, with their grain offering and their drink offerings, an offering made by fire and producing a sweet aroma for Yahweh.
19
You must offer one male goat for a sin offering, and two male lambs a year old for a sacrifice, as fellowship offerings.
20
The priest must wave them together with the bread of the firstfruits before Yahweh, and present them to him as an offering with the two lambs. They will be holy offerings to Yahweh for the priest.
21
You must make a proclamation on that same day. There will be a holy assembly, and you must do no ordinary work. This will be a permanent statute throughout your people's generations in all the places where you live.
22
When you reap the harvest of your land, you must not completely reap the corners of your fields, and you must not gather the gleanings of your harvest. You must leave them for the poor and for the foreigner. I am Yahweh your God.'"
23
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
24
"Speak to the people of Israel and say, 'In the seventh month, the first day of that month will be a solemn rest for you, a memorial with the blowing of trumpets, and a holy assembly.
25
You must do no ordinary work, and you must offer a sacrifice made by fire to Yahweh.'"
26
Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
27
"Now the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It is to be a holy assembly, and you must humble yourselves and present to Yahweh an offering by fire.
28
You must do no work on that day because it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for yourselves before Yahweh your God.
29
Whoever does not humble himself on that day must be cut off from his people.
30
Whoever does any work on that day, I, Yahweh, will destroy him from among his people.
31
You must do no work of any kind on that day. This will be a permanent statute throughout your people's generations in all the places where you live.
32
This day must be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you must humble yourselves the ninth day of the month at the evening. From evening to evening you are to observe your Sabbath."
33
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
34
"Speak to the people of Israel, saying, 'On the fifteenth day of the seventh month will be the Festival of Shelters for Yahweh. It will last seven days.
35
On the first day there must be a holy assembly. You must do no ordinary work.
36
For seven days you must offer a sacrifice made by fire to Yahweh. On the eighth day there must be a holy assembly, and you must make a sacrifice offered with fire to Yahweh. This is a solemn assembly, and you must not do any ordinary work.
37
These are the appointed festivals for Yahweh, which you must proclaim as holy assemblies to offer sacrifice by fire to Yahweh, a burnt offering and a grain offering, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its own day.
38
These festivals will be in addition to the Sabbaths of Yahweh and your gifts, all your vows, and all your freewill offerings that you give to Yahweh.
39
Regarding the Festival of Shelters, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruits of the land, you must keep this festival of Yahweh for seven days. The first day will be a solemn rest, and the eighth day will also be a solemn rest.
40
On the first day you must take the best fruit from the trees, branches of palm trees, and leafy branches of thick trees, and willows from streams, and you will rejoice before Yahweh your God for seven days.
41
For seven days each year, you must celebrate this festival for Yahweh. This will be a permanent statute throughout your people's generations in all the places where you live. You must celebrate this festival in the seventh month.
42
You must live in small shelters for seven days. All who were born in Israel must live in small shelters for seven days,
43
so that your descendants, generation after generation, may learn how I made the people of Israel live in such shelters when I led them out of the land of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.'"
44
In this way, Moses announced to the people of Israel the appointed festivals for Yahweh.
Chapter 24
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
2
"Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil beaten from olives to be used in the lamp, that the light may burn continually.
3
Outside the curtain before the covenant decrees in the tent of meeting, Aaron must continually, from evening to morning, keep the lamp lit before Yahweh. This will be a permanent statute throughout your people's generations.
4
The high priest must always keep the lamps lit before Yahweh, the lamps on the lampstand of pure gold.
5
You must take fine flour and bake twelve loaves with it. There must be two-tenths of an ephah in each loaf.
6
Then you must set them in two rows, six in a row, on the table of pure gold before Yahweh.
7
You must put pure incense along each row of loaves as a representative offering. This incense will be an offering made by fire for Yahweh.
8
Every Sabbath day the high priest must regularly set out the bread before Yahweh on behalf of the people of Israel, as a sign of an everlasting covenant.
9
This offering will be for Aaron and his sons, and they are to eat it in a place that is holy, for it is a portion from the offerings to Yahweh made by fire."
10
Now it happened that the son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the people of Israel. This son of the Israelite woman fought against a man of Israel in the camp.
11
The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the name of Yahweh and cursed God, so the people brought him to Moses. His mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, from the tribe of Dan.
12
They held him in custody until Yahweh himself should declare his will to them.
13
Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
14
"Take the man who has cursed God outside the camp. All who heard him must lay their hands on his head, and then the entire assembly must stone him.
15
You must explain to the people of Israel and say, 'Whoever curses his God must carry his own sin.
16
He who blasphemes the name of Yahweh must surely be put to death. All the assembly must certainly stone him, whether he is a foreigner or a native-born Israelite. If anyone blasphemes the name of Yahweh, he must be put to death.
17
If anyone strikes down another human being, he must certainly be put to death.
18
If anyone strikes down someone's animal, he must pay it back, life for life.
19
If anyone injures his neighbor, it must be done to him as he did to his neighbor:
20
fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. As he has caused an injury to a person, so must it also be done to him.
21
Anyone who kills an animal must pay it back, and anyone who kills a person must be put to death.
22
You must have the same law for both the foreigner and the native-born Israelite, for I am Yahweh your God.'"
23
So Moses spoke to the people of Israel, and the people brought the man outside the camp, the one who had cursed Yahweh. They stoned him with stones. The people of Israel carried out the command of Yahweh to Moses.
Chapter 25
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying,
2
"Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, 'When you come into the land that I give you, then the land must be made to keep a Sabbath for Yahweh.
3
You must plant your field for six years, and for six years you must prune your vineyard and gather the produce.
4
But in the seventh year, a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land must be observed, a Sabbath for Yahweh. You must not plant your field or prune your vineyard.
5
You must not conduct an organized harvest of whatever grows by itself, and you must not conduct an organized harvest of whatever grapes grow on your unpruned vines. This will be a year of solemn rest for the land.
6
Whatever the unworked land grows during the Sabbath year will be food for you. You, your male and female servants, your hired servants and the foreigners who live with you may gather food,
7
and your livestock and also wild animals may eat whatever the land produces.
8
You must count off seven Sabbaths of years, that is, seven times seven years, so that there will be seven Sabbaths of years, totaling forty-nine years.
9
Then you must blow a loud ram's horn everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month. On the Day of Atonement you must blow a ram's horn throughout all your land.
10
You must set apart the fiftieth year to Yahweh and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It will be a Jubilee for you, in which property and slaves must be returned to his own clan.
11
The fiftieth year will be a Jubilee for you. You must not plant or conduct an organized harvest, and you must not gather the grapes that grow on the unpruned vines.
12
For it is a Jubilee, which will be holy for you. You must eat the produce that grows by itself out of the fields.
13
You must return everyone to his own property in this year of Jubilee.
14
If you sell any land to your neighbor or buy any land from your neighbor, you must not cheat or wrong each other.
15
If you buy land from your neighbor, consider the number of years and crops that can be harvested until the next Jubilee. Your neighbor selling the land must consider that also.
16
A larger number of years until the next Jubilee will increase the value of land, and a smaller number of years until the next Jubilee will decrease the value, because the number of harvests the land will produce for the new owner is related to the number of years before the next Jubilee.
17
You must not cheat or wrong one another; instead, you must honor your God, for I am Yahweh your God.
18
Therefore you must obey my decrees, keep my laws, and carry them out. Then you will live in the land in safety.
19
The land will yield its produce, and you will eat your fill and live there in safety.
20
You might say, "What will we eat during the seventh year? Look, we cannot plant or gather our produce."
21
I will command my blessing to come upon you in the sixth year, and it will produce harvest enough for three years.
22
You will plant in the eighth year and continue to eat from the previous years' produce and the stored food. Until the harvest of the ninth year comes in, you will be able to eat from the provisions stored in the previous years.
23
The land must not be sold to a new permanent owner, because the land is mine. You are all foreigners and sojourners on my land.
24
You must observe the right of redemption for all the land that you acquire; you must allow the land to be bought back by the family from whom you bought it.
25
If your fellow Israelite became poor and for that reason sold some of his property, then his nearest relative must come and redeem what his brother has sold.
26
If a man has no relative to redeem his property, but if he has prospered and has the ability to redeem it,
27
then he may calculate the years since the land was sold and repay the balance to the man to whom he sold it. Then he may return to his own property.
28
But if he is not able to get the land back for himself, then the land he has sold will remain in the ownership of the one who bought it until the year of Jubilee. At the year of Jubilee, the land will be returned to the man who sold it, and the original owner will return to his property.
29
If a man sells a house in a walled city, then he may buy it back within a whole year after it was sold. For a full year he will have the right of redemption.
30
If the house is not redeemed within a full year, then the house in the walled city will become the permanent property of the buyer throughout his generations. It is not to be returned in the year of Jubilee.
31
But the houses of the villages that have no wall around them will be considered as the field of the land. They may be redeemed, and they must be returned during the year of Jubilee.
32
As for the cities of the Levites, the houses owned by the Levites in the cities they possess may be redeemed at any time.
33
If one of the Levites does not redeem a house he sold, then the house that was sold in the city where it is located must be returned in the year of Jubilee, for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their property among the people of Israel.
34
But the fields around their cities may not be sold because they are the permanent property of the Levites.
35
If your fellow countryman becomes poor, so that he can no longer provide for himself, then you must help him as you would help a foreigner or a sojourner so that he may live among you.
36
Do not take from him interest or usury, but honor your God so that your brother may keep living with you.
37
You must not give him a loan of money and charge interest, nor sell him your food to earn a profit.
38
I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, in order that I might give you the land of Canaan, and that I might be your God.
39
If your fellow countryman has become poor and sells himself to you, you must not make him work like a slave.
40
Treat him as a hired servant. He must be like a sojourner. He will serve with you until the year of Jubilee.
41
Then he will go away from you, he and his children with him, and he will return to his own clan and to his fathers' property.
42
For they are my servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. They will not be sold as slaves.
43
You must not rule over them severely, but you must honor your God.
44
As for your male and female slaves, whom you can obtain from the nations who live around you, you may buy slaves from them.
45
You may also buy slaves from the foreigners who are living among you and from their clans who are with you, who have been born in your land, and they may become your property.
46
You may provide such slaves as an inheritance for your children after you, to hold as property, and make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your brothers among the people of Israel severely.
47
If a foreigner or someone living temporarily with you has become wealthy, and if one of your fellow Israelites has become poor and sells himself to that foreigner, or to a member of a foreigner's clan,
48
after your fellow Israelite has been bought, he may be bought back. Someone in his family may redeem him.
49
It might be the person's uncle, or his uncle's son, who redeems him, or anyone who is in his clan. Or, if he has become prosperous, he may redeem himself.
50
He must bargain with the man who bought him; they must count the years from the year he sold himself to his purchaser until the year of Jubilee. The price of his redemption must be figured in keeping with the rate paid to a hired servant, for the number of years he might continue to work for the one who bought him.
51
If there are still many years until the year of Jubilee, he must pay back as the price for his redemption an amount of money that is in proportion to the number of those years.
52
If there are only a few years to the year of Jubilee, then he must bargain with his purchaser to reflect the number of years left before the year of Jubilee, and he must pay for his redemption in keeping with the number of years.
53
He is to be to the purchaser like a man hired year by year. The purchaser is not to rule over him severely.
54
If he is not redeemed by these means, then he must serve until the year of Jubilee, he and his children with him.
55
To me the people of Israel are servants. They are my servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.'"
Chapter 26
1
"You must make no idols, and you must not lift up a carved figure or a sacred stone pillar, and you must not place any carved stone image in your land to which you bow down, for I am Yahweh your God.
2
You must keep my Sabbaths and honor my sanctuary. I am Yahweh.
3
If you walk in my laws and keep my commandments and obey them,
4
then I will give you rain in its season; the land will yield its produce, and the trees of the field will yield their fruit.
5
Your threshing will continue to the time of the grape harvest, and the grape harvest will extend to the planting season. You will eat your bread to the full and live safely where you make your home in the land.
6
I will give peace in the land; you will lie down with nothing to make you afraid. I will take the dangerous animals away from the land, and the sword will not pass through your land.
7
You will chase your enemies, and they will fall before you by the sword.
8
Five of you will chase away a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand; your enemies will fall before you by the sword.
9
I will look at you with favor and make you fruitful and multiply you; I will establish my covenant with you.
10
You will eat food stored a long time. You will have to bring out the stored food because you will need the room for the new harvest.
11
I will place my tabernacle among you, and I will not detest you.
12
I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.
13
I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, so that you would not be their slaves. I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you to walk standing up straight.
14
But if you will not listen to me, and will not obey all these commandments,
15
and if you reject my decrees and detest my laws, so that you will not obey all my commandments, but break my covenant—
16
if you do these things, then I will do this to you: I will inflict terror on you, diseases and fever that will destroy the eyes and will drain away your life. You will plant your seeds in vain, because your enemies will eat their produce.
17
I will set my face against you, and you will be overpowered by your enemies. Men who hate you will rule over you, and you will run away, even when no one is chasing you.
18
If after all this you do not listen to me, then I will punish you seven times as severely for your sins.
19
I will break your pride in your power. I will make the sky over you like iron and your land like bronze.
20
Your strength will be used up in vain, because your land will not produce its harvest, and your trees in the land will not produce their fruit.
21
If you walk against me and will not listen to me, I will bring seven times more blows on you, in proportion to your sins.
22
I will send wild animals against you, which will rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and make you so few in number that your roads will be desolate.
23
If in spite of these things you still do not accept my correction and you continue to walk in opposition to me,
24
then I will also walk in opposition to you, and I myself will punish you seven times because of your sins.
25
I will bring a sword on you that will execute vengeance for breaking the covenant. You will be gathered together inside your cities, and I will send a plague among you there, and then you will be delivered into the hand of your enemy.
26
When I cut off your staff of food, ten women will be able to bake your bread in one oven, and they will distribute your bread by weight. You will eat but not be satisfied.
27
If you do not listen to me despite these things, but continue to walk against me,
28
then I will walk against you in anger, and I will punish you even seven more times as much for your sins.
29
You will eat the flesh of your sons; you will eat the flesh of your daughters.
30
I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars, and throw your corpses on the corpses of your idols, and I myself will abhor you.
31
I will turn your cities into ruins and destroy your sacred places. I will not be pleased with the aroma of your offerings.
32
I will devastate the land. Your enemies who will live there will be shocked at the devastation.
33
I will scatter you among the nations, and I will draw out my sword and follow you. Your land will be devastated, and your cities will be ruined.
34
Then the land will enjoy its Sabbaths for as long as it lies desolate and you are in your enemies' lands. During that time, the land will rest and enjoy its Sabbaths.
35
As long as it lies desolate, it will have rest, which will be the rest that it did not have with your Sabbaths, when you lived in it.
36
As for those of you who are left in your enemies' lands, I will send fear into your hearts so that even the sound of a leaf blowing in the wind will startle you, and you will flee as though you were fleeing from the sword. You will fall, even when no one is chasing you.
37
You will stumble over each other as though you were running from the sword, even though no one is chasing you. You will have no power to stand before your enemies.
38
You will perish among the nations, and your enemies' land will itself devour you.
39
Those who are left among you will waste away in their iniquity, there in your enemies' lands, and because of their fathers' iniquities they will waste away as well.
40
Yet if they confess their iniquity and their fathers' iniquity, and the unfaithfulness that they committed against me, and also their walking against me—
41
which caused me to turn against them and I brought them into the land of their enemies—if their uncircumcised hearts become humbled, and if they accept the punishment for their sins,
42
then will I call to mind my covenant with Jacob, my covenant with Isaac, and my covenant with Abraham; also, I will call the land to mind.
43
The land will be abandoned by them, so it will be pleased with its Sabbaths while it lies desolate without them. They will have to pay the penalty for their iniquity because they themselves rejected my decrees and detested my laws.
44
Yet despite all this, when they are in their enemies' land, I will not reject them, neither will I detest them so as to completely destroy them and do away with my covenant with them, for I am Yahweh their God.
45
But for their sakes I will call to mind the covenant with their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, so that I might be their God. I am Yahweh."
46
These are the commandments, decrees, and laws that Yahweh made between himself and the people of Israel at Mount Sinai through Moses.
Chapter 27
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses and said,
2
"Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, 'If anyone makes a special vow to Yahweh, use the following valuations.
3
Your standard value for a male from twenty to sixty years old must be fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary.
4
For a female of the same ages your standard value must be thirty shekels.
5
From five years to twenty years old your standard value for a male must be twenty shekels, and for the female ten shekels.
6
From one month old to five years your standard value for a male must be five shekels of silver, and for a female three shekels of silver.
7
From sixty years old and up for a male your standard value must be fifteen shekels, and for a female ten shekels.
8
But if the person making the vow cannot pay the standard value, then the person being given must be presented to the priest, and the priest will value that person by the amount the one making the vow is able to afford.
9
If what is vowed is an animal that people can give as an offering to Yahweh, any part of that animal that is given to Yahweh becomes holy.
10
The person must not exchange it or substitute a good one for a bad one, or a bad for a good one. If he substitutes one animal for another, both it and the substitute become holy.
11
However, if what is vowed is an unclean animal that people cannot give as an offering to Yahweh, then the person must bring the animal to the priest.
12
The priest will value it, by the market value of the animal. Whatever value the priest places on the animal, that will be its value.
13
If the owner wishes to redeem it, then a fifth of its value is to be added to its redemption price.
14
When a man sets apart his house as a holy gift to Yahweh, then the priest will set its value as either good or bad. Whatever the priest values it, so it will be.
15
But if the owner who set apart his home wishes to redeem it, he must add a fifth of its value to its redemption price, and it will belong to him.
16
If a man sets apart to Yahweh some of the fields of his property, then the valuation of it will be in proportion to the amount of seed required to plant it—a homer of barley will be valued at fifty shekels of silver.
17
If he sets apart his field during the year of Jubilee, the valuation of it will stand.
18
But if he sets apart his field after the year of Jubilee, then the priest must calculate the value of the field by the number of years that remain until the next year of Jubilee, and the valuation of it must be reduced.
19
If the man who set apart the field wishes to redeem it, then he must add a fifth to the valuation, and it will belong to him.
20
If he does not redeem the field, or if he has sold the field to another man, it cannot be redeemed any more.
21
Rather, the field, when it is released in the year of Jubilee, will be a holy gift to Yahweh, like the field that has been completely given to Yahweh. It will belong to the priest.
22
If a man sets apart a field that he has bought, but that field is not part of his family's land,
23
then the priest will figure the valuation of it up to the year of Jubilee, and the man must pay its value on that day as a holy gift to Yahweh.
24
In the year of Jubilee, the field will return to the man from whom it was bought, to the one whose property the land is.
25
All the valuations must be set by the weight of the sanctuary shekel. Twenty gerahs must be the equivalent of one shekel.
26
No one may set apart the firstborn among animals, since the firstborn already belongs to Yahweh; whether ox or sheep, it is Yahweh's.
27
If it is an unclean animal, then the owner may buy it back at the valuation of it, and a fifth must be added to that value. If the animal is not redeemed, then it is to be sold at the set value.
28
But nothing that a man devotes to Yahweh, from all that he has, whether man or animal, or his family land, may be sold or redeemed. Everything that is devoted is very holy to Yahweh.
29
No ransom may be paid for the person who is devoted for destruction. That person must be put to death.
30
All the tithe of the land, whether grain grown on the land or fruit from the trees, is Yahweh's. It is holy to Yahweh.
31
If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth to its value.
32
As for every tenth of the herd or the flock, whatever passes under the shepherd's rod, one-tenth must be set apart to Yahweh.
33
The shepherd must not search for the better or the worse animals, and he must not substitute one for another. If he changes it at all, then both it and that for which it is changed will be holy. It cannot be redeemed.'"
34
These are the commandments that Yahweh gave at Mount Sinai to Moses for the people of Israel.
Numbers
Chapter 1
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the wilderness of Sinai. This happened on the first day of the second month during the second year after the people of Israel had come out from the land of Egypt. Yahweh said,
2
"Conduct a census of the whole congregation of the men of Israel by their clans, by their ancestral households. Number them by name. Count all the males man by man,
3
who is twenty years old or older. Count all who can fight as soldiers for Israel. You and Aaron must record the number of men in their armed groups.
4
A man from each tribe, a clan head, must serve with you as his tribe's leader. Each leader must lead the men who will fight for his ancestors' household.
5
These are the names of the leaders who must fight with you:
From the tribe of Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur;
6
from the tribe of Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai;
7
from the tribe of Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab;
8
from the tribe of Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar;
9
from the tribe of Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon;
10
from the tribe of Ephraim son of Joseph, Elishama son of Ammihud;
from the tribe of Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur;
11
from the tribe of Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni;
12
from the tribe of Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai;
13
from the tribe of Asher, Pagiel son of Okran;
14
from the tribe of Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel;
15
and from the tribe of Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan."
16
These were the men appointed from the people. They led their ancestors' tribes. They were the leaders of the clans in Israel.
17
Moses and Aaron took these men, who were recorded by name,
18
and they assembled the whole community together on the first day of the second month. The men twenty years old and older registered their ancestry by name, by their clans, by their ancestral households. They were numbered man by man.
19
Then Moses recorded their numbers in the wilderness of Sinai, as Yahweh had commanded him to do.
20
From the descendants of Reuben, Israel's firstborn, from the records, by their clans, by their ancestral households, the names of all the men twenty years old or older, able to go to war, were counted man by man.
21
They counted 46,500 men from the tribe of Reuben.
22
From the descendants of Simeon, from the records, by their clans, by their ancestral households, the names of all the mustered men twenty years old or older, able to go to war, were counted man by man.
23
They counted 59,300 men from the tribe of Simeon.
24
From the descendants of Gad, from the records, by their clans, by their ancestral households, the names of all the men twenty years old or older, able to go to war, were counted.
25
They counted 45,650 men from the tribe of Gad.
26
From the descendants of Judah, from the records, by their clans, by their ancestral households, the names of all the men twenty years old or older, able to go to war, were counted.
27
They counted 74,600 men from the tribe of Judah.
28
From the descendants of Issachar, from the records, by their clans, by their ancestral households, the names of all the men twenty years old or older, able to go to war, were counted.
29
They counted 54,400 men from the tribe of Issachar.
30
From the descendants of Zebulun, from the records, by their clans, by their ancestral households, the names of all the men twenty years old or older, able to go to war, were counted.
31
They counted 57,400 men from the tribe of Zebulun.
32
From the descendants of Ephraim son of Joseph, from the records, by their clans, by their ancestral households, the names of all the men twenty years old or older, able to go to war, were counted.
33
They counted 40,500 men from the tribe of Ephraim.
34
From the descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph, from the records, by their clans, by their ancestral households, the names of all the men twenty years old or older, able to go to war, were counted.
35
They counted 32,200 men from the tribe of Manasseh.
36
From the descendants of Benjamin, from the records, by their clans, by their ancestral households, the names of all the men twenty years old or older, able to go to war, were counted.
37
They counted 35,400 men from the tribe of Benjamin.
38
From the descendants of Dan, from the records, by their clans, by their ancestral households, the names of all the men twenty years old or older, able to go to war, were counted.
39
They counted 62,700 from the tribe of Dan.
40
From the descendants of Asher, from the records, by their clans, by their ancestral households, the names of all the men twenty years old or older, able to go to war, were counted.
41
They counted 41,500 men from the tribe of Asher.
42
From the descendants of Naphtali, from the genealogical records, by their clans, by their ancestral households, the names of all the men twenty years old or older, able to go to war, were counted.
43
They counted 53,400 from the tribe of Naphtali.
44
Moses and Aaron counted all these men, together with the twelve men who were leading Israel, each from his ancestor's household.
45
So all the men of Israel from twenty years old and older, all who could fight in war, were counted in each of their ancestral households.
46
They counted 603,550 men.
47
But the Levites were not counted according to their ancestors' tribes
48
because Yahweh had said to Moses,
49
"You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the total of the people of Israel.
50
Rather, assign the Levites to care for the tabernacle of the covenant decrees, and to care for all the furnishings in the tabernacle and for everything in it. The Levites must carry the tabernacle, and they must carry the tabernacle's furnishings. They must care for the tabernacle and make their camp around it.
51
When the tabernacle is to move to another place, the Levites must take it down. When the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites must set it up. Any stranger who comes near the tabernacle must be killed.
52
When the people of Israel set up their tents, each man must do so near the banner that belongs to his armed group.
53
However, the Levites must set up their tents around the tabernacle of the covenant decrees so that my anger does not come upon the people of Israel. The Levites must perform the duties of the tabernacle of the covenant decrees."
54
The people of Israel did all these things. They did everything that Yahweh commanded through Moses.
Chapter 2
1
Yahweh spoke again to Moses and Aaron. He said,
2
"Each one of the people of Israel must camp around his standard, with the banners of their fathers' houses. They will camp around the tent of meeting on every side.
3
Those will be camping on the east of the tent of meeting, where the sun rises, they are the camp of Judah by their armed groups, and they are camping under their standard. Nahshon son of Amminadab is the leader of the people of Judah.
4
The number of the host of the people of Judah is 74,600.
5
The tribe of Issachar must camp next to Judah. Nethanel son of Zuar must lead the army of Issachar.
6
The number of the host of the people of Issachar is 54,400 men.
7
The tribe of Zebulun must camp next to Issachar. Eliab son of Helon must lead the army of Zebulun.
8
The number of the host of the people of Zebulun is 57,400.
9
All the number of the camp of Judah is 186,400. They will set out first.
10
On the south side will be the camp of Reuben under their standard. The leader of the camp of Reuben is Elizur son of Shedeur.
11
The number of the host of the people of Reuben is 46,500.
12
Simeon is camping next to Reuben. The leader of the tribe of Simeon is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.
13
The number of the host of the people of Simeon is 59,300.
14
The tribe of Gad is next. The leader of the people of Gad is Eliasaph son of Deuel.
15
The number of the host of the people of Gad is 45,650.
16
The number of all the men assigned to the camp of Reuben, according to their divisions, is 151,450. They will set out second.
17
Next, the tent of meeting must go out from the camp with the Levites in the middle of all the camps. They must go out from the camp in the same order as they come into the camp. Every man must be in his place, by his banner.
18
On the west side will be the divisions of the camp of Ephraim under their standard. The leader of the people of Ephraim is Elishama son of Ammihud.
19
The number of the host of the people of Ephraim is 40,500.
20
Next to them is the tribe of Manasseh. The leader of Manasseh is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.
21
The number of the host of the people of Manasseh is 32,200.
22
Next will be the tribe of Benjamin. The leader of Benjamin is Abidan son of Gideoni.
23
The number of the host of the people of Benjamin is 35,400.
24
All those numbered in the camp of Ephraim is 108,100. They will set out third.
25
On the north will be the divisions of the camp of Dan. The leader of the people of Dan is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.
26
The number the host of the people of Dan is 62,700.
27
The people of the tribe of Asher camp next to Dan. The leader of Asher is Pagiel son of Okran.
28
The number the host of the people of Asher is 41,500.
29
The tribe of Naphtali is next. The leader of Naphtali is Ahira son of Enan.
30
The number of the host of the people of Naphtali is 53,400.
31
All those numbered in the camp with Dan is 157,600. They will go out from the camp last, under their banner."
32
These are the descendants of Israel, numbered according to their ancestral households. All those counted in their camps, by their divisions, are 603,550.
33
But the Levites were not counted along with the people of Israel, as Yahweh had commanded Moses.
34
The people of Israel did everything that Yahweh commanded Moses. They camped by their banners. They went out from the camp by their clans, in the order of their ancestor's households.
Chapter 3
1
Now this is the history of the descendants of Aaron and Moses when Yahweh spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.
2
The names of Aaron's sons were Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
3
These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests who were anointed and who were ordained to serve as priests.
4
But Nadab and Abihu fell dead before Yahweh when they offered to him unacceptable fire in the wilderness of Sinai. Nadab and Abihu had no children, so just Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests with Aaron their father.
5
Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said,
6
"Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest for them to help him.
7
They must perform the duties on behalf of Aaron and the whole community before the tent of meeting. They must serve in the tabernacle.
8
They must care for all the furnishings in the tent of meeting, and they must help the tribes of Israel to carry out the tabernacle service.
9
You must give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They are wholly given to help him serve the people of Israel.
10
You must appoint Aaron and his sons as priests, but any foreigner who comes near must be put to death."
11
Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said,
12
"Look, I have taken the Levites from among the people of Israel. I have done this instead of taking each firstborn, who opens the womb, from among the people of Israel. The Levites belong to me,
13
for all the firstborn belong to me. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I set apart for myself all the firstborn in Israel, both men and animals. They belong to me. I am Yahweh."
14
Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai. He said,
15
"Count the descendants of Levi in each family, in their clans. Count every male who is one month old and older."
16
Moses counted them, following the word of Yahweh, just as he was commanded to do.
17
The names of the sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
18
These are the names of the sons of Gershon, by their clans: Libni and Shimei.
19
The sons of Kohath, by their clans: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
20
The sons of Merari, by their clans: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites, listed clan by clan.
21
The clans of the Libnites and the Shimeites come from Gershon. These are the clans of the Gershonites.
22
All the males from a month old and older were counted, totaling 7,500.
23
The clans of the Gershonites must camp on the west side of the tabernacle.
24
Eliasaph son of Lael must lead the clans of the descendants of the Gershonites.
25
The family of Gershon must care for the tent of meeting including the tabernacle. They must care for the tent, its covering, and the curtain used as the entrance to the tent of meeting.
26
They must care for the courtyard hangings, the curtain at the courtyard entrance—the courtyard that surrounds the sanctuary and the altar. They must care for the ropes of the tent of meeting and for everything in it.
27
These clans come from Kohath: the clan of the Amramites, the clan of the Izharites, the clan of the Hebronites, and the clan of the Uzzielites. These clans belong to the Kohathites.
28
8,600 males have been counted aged one month old and older to perform the duties of the sanctuary.
29
The Kohath clans must camp on the south side of the tabernacle.
30
Elizaphan son of Uzziel must lead the ancestral households of the Kohathites.
31
They must care for the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the holy things that are used in their service, the curtain, and all the work around it.
32
Eleazar son of Aaron the priest must lead the men who lead the Levites. He must supervise the men who perform the duties of the holy place.
33
Two clans have come from Merari: the clan of the Mahlites and the clan of the Mushites. These clans have come from Merari.
34
6,200 males have been counted aged one month old and older.
35
Zuriel son of Abihail must lead the ancestral households of Merari. They must camp on the north side of the tabernacle.
36
The descendants of Merari must care for the framing of the tabernacle, the crossbars, posts, bases, all the hardware, and everything related to them, including
37
the pillars and posts of the courtyard that surround the tabernacle, with their sockets, pegs, and ropes.
38
Moses and Aaron and his sons must camp on the east side of the tabernacle, in front of the tent of meeting, toward the sunrise. They are responsible for performing the duties of the sanctuary and the duties of the people of Israel. Any foreigner who approaches the sanctuary must be put to death.
39
Moses and Aaron counted all the males in the clans of Levi who were aged one month old and older, just as Yahweh commanded. They counted twenty-two thousand men.
40
Yahweh said to Moses, "Count all the firstborn males of the people of Israel who are aged one month old and older. List their names.
41
You must take the Levites for me—I am Yahweh—instead of all the firstborn of the people of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of the firstborn of the livestock of the descendants of Israel."
42
Moses counted all the firstborn people of Israel as Yahweh had commanded him to do.
43
He counted all the firstborn males by name, aged one month old and older. He counted 22,273 men.
44
Again, Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said,
45
"Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel, and take the Levites' livestock instead of the people's livestock. The Levites belong to me—I am Yahweh.
46
For the redemption of the 273 firstborn sons of Israel who exceed the number of the Levites
47
you must collect five shekels for each of them. You must use the shekel of the sanctuary as your standard weight. The shekel equals twenty gerahs.
48
You must give the redemption money that you paid to Aaron and his sons."
49
So Moses collected the redemption money from those who exceeded the number of those redeemed by the Levites.
50
Moses collected the money from the firstborn of the people of Israel. He collected 1,365 shekels, weighing with the shekel of the sanctuary.
51
Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and to his sons. Moses did everything he was told to do by Yahweh's word, as Yahweh had commanded him.
Chapter 4
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron. He said,
2
"Conduct a census of the male descendants of Kohath from among the Levites, by their clans and ancestral households.
3
Count all the men who are thirty to fifty years old. These men must join the company to serve in the tent of meeting.
4
The descendants of Kohath must take care of the most holy things reserved for me in the tent of meeting.
5
When the camp prepares to move forward, Aaron and his sons must go into the tent, take down the screening curtain that separates the most holy place from the holy place and cover the ark of the testimony with it.
6
They must cover the ark with a piece of fine leather. They must spread a cloth that is completely blue over it. They must insert the poles to carry it.
7
They are to spread a blue cloth on the table of the bread of the presence. On it they must put the dishes, spoons, bowls, and jars for the drink offering. Bread must always continue to be on the table.
8
They are to spread over them a scarlet cloth and cover the same with hides of fine leather. They must insert poles to carry the table.
9
They must take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand, along with its lamps, tongs, trays, and all the jars of oil for the lamps.
10
They must put the lampstand and all its accessories into a covering of fine leather, and they must put it on a carrying frame.
11
They must spread a cloth of blue on the gold altar. They must cover it with a covering of fine leather, and then insert the carrying poles.
12
They must take all the equipment for the ministry, with which they serve in the sanctuary, and wrap it in a blue cloth. They must cover that with the hides of fine leather and put the equipment on the carrying frame.
13
They must clear away the ashes of fat from the altar and spread a purple cloth on the altar.
14
They must put on the carrying frame all the equipment that they use in the work of the altar. These objects are the firepans, forks, shovels, bowls, and all the other equipment for the altar. They must cover the altar with fine leather hides and then insert the carrying poles.
15
When Aaron and his sons have completely covered the holy place and all its equipment, and when the camp moves forward, then the descendants of Kohath must come to carry the holy place. If they touch the holy instruments, they must die. This is the work of the descendants of Kohath, to carry the furnishings in the tent of meeting.
16
Eleazar son of Aaron the priest oversees the care of the oil for the light, the sweet incense, the regular grain offering, and the anointing oil. He oversees the care of the entire tabernacle and all that is in it, the holy place and its equipment."
17
Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron. He said,
18
"Do not allow the Kohathite tribal clans to be cut off from among the Levites.
19
So do this for them that they may live and not die, when they approach the most holy things: Aaron and his sons must go in, and assign each man to his work and his responsibility.
20
But the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy place, even for a moment, or they must die."
21
Yahweh spoke again to Moses. He said,
22
"Conduct a census of the descendants of Gershon also, by their ancestor's families and by their clans.
23
Count those who are thirty years old to fifty years old. Count all of them who will join the company to serve in the tent of meeting.
24
This is the work of the clans of the Gershonites, when they serve and what they carry.
25
They must carry the curtains of the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, its covering, the covering of fine leather hides that is on it, and the curtains for the entrance to the tent of meeting.
26
They must carry the curtains of the court, the curtain for the doorway of the court's gate, which is near the tabernacle and near the altar, their ropes, and all the instruments for their service. Whatever should be done with these things, they must do it.
27
Aaron and his sons must direct all the service of the descendants of the Gershonites, in everything that they transport, and in all their service. You must assign them to all their responsibilities.
28
This is the service of the clans of the descendants of the Gershonites for the tent of meeting. Ithamar son of Aaron the priest must lead them in their service.
29
You must count the descendants of Merari by their clans, and order them by their ancestor's families,
30
from thirty years old and older up to fifty years old. Count everyone who is going to join the company and serve in the tent of meeting.
31
This is their responsibility and their burden in all their service for the tent of meeting. They must care for the framing of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts, and sockets,
32
along with the posts of the courtyard around the tabernacle, their sockets, pegs, and their ropes, with all their hardware. List by name the articles they must carry.
33
This is the service of the clans of the descendants of Merari, what they are to do for the tent of meeting, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest."
34
Moses and Aaron and the leaders of the community counted the descendants of the Kohathites by the clans of their ancestor's families.
35
They counted them from thirty years old and older up to fifty years old. They counted everyone who would join the company to serve in the tent of meeting.
36
They counted 2,750 men by their clans.
37
This was the list of the clans of the Kohathites who served in the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to Yahweh's command that was given through Moses.
38
The descendants of Gershon were counted in their clans, by their ancestor's families,
39
from thirty to fifty years old, everyone who would join the company to serve in the tent of meeting.
40
All the men, counted by their clans and their ancestor's families, numbered 2,630.
41
Moses and Aaron counted the clans of the descendants of Gershon who would serve in the tent of meeting. In doing this, they obeyed what Yahweh had commanded them to do through Moses.
42
The descendants of Merari were counted in their clans by their ancestor's families,
43
from thirty to fifty years old, everyone who would join the company to serve in the tent of meeting.
44
All the men, counted by their clans and their ancestor's families, numbered 3,200.
45
This was the list of the clans of the descendants of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to Yahweh's command that came by the hand of Moses.
46
So Moses, Aaron, and the chiefs of Israel counted all the Levites by their clans in their ancestral families
47
from thirty to fifty years old. They counted everyone who would do work in the tabernacle, and who would carry and care for the items in the tent of meeting.
48
They counted 8,580 men.
49
At Yahweh's command, Moses counted each man, keeping count of each by the type of work he was assigned to do. He counted each man by the kind of responsibility he would bear. In doing this, they obeyed what Yahweh had commanded them to do through Moses.
Chapter 5
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said,
2
"Command the people of Israel to send away from the camp every leper, everyone who has an oozing sore, and whoever is unclean through touching a dead body.
3
Whether male or female, you must send them out of the camp. They must not defile the camp, because I live in it."
4
The people of Israel did so. They sent them out of the camp, as Yahweh commanded Moses. The people of Israel obeyed Yahweh.
5
Again Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said,
6
"Speak to the people of Israel. When a man or woman commits any sin such as people do to one another, and is unfaithful to me, that person is guilty.
7
Then he must confess the sin that he has done. He must completely pay back the price of his guilt and add to the price one-fifth more. He must give this to the one he has wronged.
8
But if the wronged person has no close relative to receive the payment, he must pay the price for his guilt to me through a priest, along with a ram to atone for himself.
9
Every contribution, everything the people of Israel have set apart, which they have brought to the priest, will belong to him.
10
The offerings of every person will be for the priest; if anyone gives anything to the priest, it will belong to him."
11
Again, Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said,
12
"Speak to the people of Israel. Say to them, 'Suppose that a man's wife turns away and is unfaithful to her husband.
13
If a man lies with her and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband, and her impurity is undetected even though she defiled herself, and there is no witness against her, since she was not caught in the act,
14
nevertheless, a spirit of jealousy might still inform the husband that his wife is defiled. However, a spirit of jealousy might falsely come on a man when his wife is not defiled.
15
In such cases, the man must bring his wife to the priest. The husband must take an offering required on her behalf, a tenth of an ephah of barley flour. He must pour no oil on it and put no frankincense on it, because it is a grain offering of jealousy, a grain offering for remembering, as a reminder of the iniquity.
16
The priest must bring her near and place her before Yahweh.
17
The priest must take a jar of holy water and take dust from the floor of the tabernacle. He must put the dust into the water.
18
The priest will set the woman before Yahweh and he will untie the hair on the woman's head. He will put into her hands the grain offering of remembrance, which is the grain offering of jealousy. The priest will hold in his hand the bitter water that can bring a curse.
19
The priest will put the woman under an oath and say to her, 'If no other man has lain with you, and if you have not gone astray and committed uncleanness, then you will be free from this bitter water that can bring a curse.
20
But if you have gone astray, though you are under your husband's authority and you have defiled yourself, and some other man has had sexual relations with you,
21
then, (the priest must cause the woman to swear an oath that can bring down a curse on her, and then he must continue speaking to the woman) 'Yahweh will make you into a curse that will be shown to your people to be such. This will happen if Yahweh causes your thigh to waste away and your abdomen to swell.
22
This water that brings the curse will go into your stomach and make your abdomen swell and your thighs waste away.' The woman is to reply, 'Amen. Amen.'
23
The priest must write these curses on a scroll, and then he must wash away the written curses into the bitter water.
24
The priest must make the woman drink the bitter water that brings the curse. The water that brings the curse will enter her and become bitter.
25
The priest must take the grain offering of jealousy out of the woman's hand. He must hold up the grain offering before Yahweh and bring it to the altar.
26
The priest must take a handful of the grain offering as a representative offering, and burn it on the altar. Then he must give the woman the bitter water to drink.
27
When he gives her the water to drink, if she is defiled because she has committed a sin against her husband, then the water that brings the curse will enter her and become bitter. Her abdomen will swell and her thigh will waste away. The woman will be cursed among her people.
28
But if the woman is not defiled and if she is clean, then she must be free. She will be able to conceive children.
29
This is the law of jealousy. It is the law for a woman who goes astray from her husband and is defiled.
30
It is the law for a man with a spirit of jealousy when he is jealous of his wife. He must bring the woman before Yahweh, and the priest must do to her everything that this law of jealousy describes.
31
The man will be free from guilt for bringing his wife to the priest. The woman must bear any guilt she might have."
Chapter 6
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said,
2
"Speak to the people of Israel. Say to them, 'When a man or a woman consecrates himself to Yahweh with the special vow of a Nazirite,
3
he must abstain from wine and strong drink. He must not drink vinegar made from wine or from strong drink. He must not drink any grape juice or eat fresh grapes or raisins.
4
In all the days of his consecration, he must eat nothing that is made from the grape vine, including everything from the seeds to the skins.
5
During all the time of his vow of consecration, no razor is to be used on his head until the days of his consecration to Yahweh are fulfilled. He must be set apart to Yahweh. He must let the hair grow long on his head.
6
During all the time that he sets himself apart to Yahweh, he must not come near a dead body.
7
He must not make himself unclean even for his father, mother, brother, or sister, if they die. This is because he is consecrated to God, as everyone can see by his long hair.
8
During all the time of his consecration he is holy, reserved for Yahweh.
9
If someone very suddenly dies beside him and defiles his consecrated head, then he must shave his head on the day of his purification—on the seventh day he must shave it.
10
On the eighth day he must bring two doves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
11
The priest must offer one bird as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering. These will atone for him because he sinned by being near the dead body. He must consecrate his head again on that day.
12
He must set himself apart to Yahweh for the days of his consecration. He must bring a male lamb one year old as a guilt offering. The days before he defiled himself must not be counted, because his consecration was defiled.
13
This is the law about the Nazirite for when the time of his consecration is complete. He must be brought to the entrance of the tent of meeting.
14
He must present his offering to Yahweh. He must offer as a burnt offering a male lamb one year old and without blemish. He must bring as a sin offering a female lamb one year old and without blemish. He must bring a ram as a fellowship offering that is without blemish.
15
He must also bring a basket of bread made without yeast, loaves of fine flour mixed with oil, wafers without yeast rubbed with oil, together with their grain offering and drink offerings.
16
The priest must present them before Yahweh. He must offer his sin offering and burnt offering.
17
With the basket of unleavened bread, he must present the ram as a sacrifice, the fellowship offering to Yahweh. The priest must present also the grain offering and the drink offering.
18
The Nazirite must shave his consecrated head at the entrance to the tent of meeting. He must take the hair from his head and put it on the fire that is under the sacrifice of fellowship offerings.
19
The priest must take the boiled shoulder of the ram, one loaf of bread without yeast out of the basket, and one wafer without yeast. He must place them into the hands of the Nazirite after he has shaved his consecrated hair.
20
The priest must wave them as an offering before Yahweh, a holy portion for the priest, together with the breast that was waved and the thigh that was the contribution for the priest. After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.
21
This is the law for the Nazirite who vows his offering to Yahweh for his consecration. Whatever else he may give, he must keep the obligations of the vow he has taken, to keep the promise indicated by the law of his consecration.'"
22
Again Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said,
23
"Speak to Aaron and to his sons. Say, 'You must bless the people of Israel in this way. You must say to them,
24
"May Yahweh bless you
and keep you.
25
May Yahweh make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you.
26
May Yahweh look on you with favor
and give you peace."'
27
It is in this way that they must give my name to the people of Israel. Then I will bless them."
Chapter 7
1
On the day that Moses completed the tabernacle, he anointed it and set it apart to Yahweh, together with all of its furnishings. He did the same for the altar and all its utensils. He anointed them and set them apart to Yahweh.
2
On that day, the leaders of Israel, the heads of their ancestor's families, offered sacrifices. These men were leading the tribes. They had overseen the counting of the men in the census.
3
They brought their offerings before Yahweh. They brought six covered carts and twelve oxen. They brought one cart for every two leaders, and each leader brought one ox. They presented these things in front of the tabernacle.
4
Then Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said,
5
"Accept the offerings from them and use the offerings for the work in the tent of meeting. Give the offerings to the Levites, to each one as his work needs them."
6
Moses took the carts and the oxen, and he gave them to the Levites.
7
He gave two carts and four oxen to the descendants of Gershon, because of what their work needed.
8
He gave four carts and eight oxen to the descendants of Merari, in the care of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. He did this because of what their work required.
9
But he gave none of those things to the descendants of Kohath, because theirs would be the work related to the things that belong to Yahweh that they would carry on their own shoulders.
10
The leaders offered their goods for the dedication of the altar on the day that Moses anointed the altar. The leaders offered their sacrifices in front of the altar.
11
Yahweh said to Moses, "Each leader must offer on his own day his sacrifice for the dedication of the altar."
12
On the first day, Nahshon son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah, offered his sacrifice.
13
His sacrifice was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. Both of these objects were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.
14
He gave one gold dish that weighed ten shekels and was full of incense.
15
He gave as a burnt offering one young bull, one ram, and a one-year-old male lamb.
16
He gave one male goat as a sin offering.
17
He gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs that were a year old, as the sacrifice for a fellowship offering. This was the sacrifice of Nahshon son of Amminadab.
18
On the second day, Nethanel son of Zuar, leader of Issachar, offered his sacrifice.
19
He offered as his sacrifice one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. Both of these objects were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.
20
He also gave one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.
21
He gave as a burnt offering one young bull, one ram, and a one-year-old male lamb.
22
He gave one male goat as a sin offering.
23
He gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs that were a year old, as the sacrifice for a fellowship offering. This was the sacrifice of Nethanel son of Zuar.
24
On the third day, Eliab son of Helon, leader of the descendants of Zebulun, offered his sacrifice.
25
His sacrifice was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. Both of these objects were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.
26
He also gave one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.
27
He gave as a burnt offering one young bull, one ram, and a one-year-old male lamb.
28
He gave one male goat as a sin offering.
29
He gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs that were a year old, as the sacrifice for a fellowship offering. This was the sacrifice of Eliab son of Helon.
30
On the fourth day, Elizur son of Shedeur, leader of the descendants of Reuben, offered his sacrifice.
31
His sacrifice was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. Both of these objects were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.
32
He also gave one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.
33
He gave as a burnt offering one young bull, one ram, and a one-year-old male lamb.
34
He gave one male goat as a sin offering.
35
He gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs that were a year old, as the sacrifice for a fellowship offering. This was the sacrifice of Elizur son of Shedeur.
36
On the fifth day, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, leader of the descendants of Simeon, offered his sacrifice.
37
His sacrifice was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. Both of these objects were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.
38
He also gave one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.
39
He gave as a burnt offering one young bull, one ram, and a one-year-old male lamb.
40
He gave one male goat as a sin offering.
41
He gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs that were a year old, as the sacrifice for a fellowship offering. This was the sacrifice of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.
42
On the sixth day, Eliasaph son of Deuel, leader of the descendants of Gad, offered his sacrifice.
43
His sacrifice was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. Both of these objects were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.
44
He also gave one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.
45
He gave as a burnt offering one young bull, one ram, and a one-year-old male lamb.
46
He gave one male goat as a sin offering.
47
He gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs that were a year old, as the sacrifice for a fellowship offering. This was the sacrifice of Eliasaph son of Deuel.
48
On the seventh day, Elishama son of Ammihud, leader of the descendants of Ephraim, offered his sacrifice.
49
His sacrifice was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. Both of these objects were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.
50
He also gave one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.
51
He gave as a burnt offering one young bull, one ram, and a one-year-old male lamb.
52
He gave one male goat as a sin offering.
53
He gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs that were a year old, as the sacrifice for a fellowship offering. This was the sacrifice of Elishama son of Ammihud.
54
On the eighth day, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, leader of the descendants of Manasseh, offered his sacrifice.
55
His sacrifice was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. Both of these objects were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.
56
He also gave one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.
57
He gave as a burnt offering one young bull, one ram, and a one-year-old male lamb.
58
He gave one male goat as a sin offering.
59
He gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs that were a year old, as the sacrifice for a fellowship offering. This was the sacrifice of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.
60
On the ninth day, Abidan son of Gideoni, leader of the descendants of Benjamin, offered his sacrifice.
61
His sacrifice was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. Both of these objects were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.
62
He also gave one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.
63
He gave as a burnt offering one young bull, one ram, and a one-year-old male lamb.
64
He gave one male goat as a sin offering.
65
He gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs that were a year old, as the sacrifice for a fellowship offering. This was the sacrifice of Abidan son of Gideoni.
66
On the tenth day, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, leader of the descendants of Dan, offered his sacrifice.
67
His sacrifice was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. Both of these objects were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.
68
He also gave one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.
69
He gave as a burnt offering one young bull, one ram, and a one-year-old male lamb..
70
He gave one male goat as a sin offering.
71
He gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs that were a year old, as the sacrifice for a fellowship offering. This was the sacrifice of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.
72
On the eleventh day, Pagiel son of Okran, leader of the descendants of Asher, offered his sacrifice.
73
His sacrifice was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. Both of these objects were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.
74
He also gave one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.
75
He gave as a burnt offering one young bull, one ram, and a one-year-old male lamb.
76
He gave one male goat as a sin offering.
77
He gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs that were a year old, as the sacrifice for a fellowship offering. This was the sacrifice of Pagiel son of Okran.
78
On the twelfth day, Ahira son of Enan, leader of the descendants of Naphtali, offered his sacrifice.
79
His sacrifice was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. Both of these objects were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.
80
He also gave one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.
81
He gave as a burnt offering one young bull, one ram, and a one-year-old male lamb.
82
He gave one male goat as a sin offering.
83
He gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs that were a year old, as the sacrifice for a fellowship offering. This was the sacrifice of Ahira son of Enan.
84
This was the dedication offering for the altar on the day that it was anointed: the chiefs of Israel set apart the twelve silver platters, twelve silver bowls, and twelve gold dishes.
85
Each silver platter weighed 130 shekels and each bowl weighed seventy shekels. All the silver vessels weighed 2,400 shekels, by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel.
86
Each of the twelve gold dishes, full of incense, weighed ten shekels by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. All the gold dishes weighed 120 shekels.
87
They set apart all the animals for the burnt offerings, twelve bulls, twelve rams, and twelve year-old male lambs. They gave their grain offering. They gave twelve male goats as a sin offering.
88
From all their cattle, they gave twenty-four bulls, sixty rams, sixty male goats, and sixty male lambs a year old, as the sacrifice for the fellowship offering. This was for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.
89
When Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with Yahweh, he heard his voice speaking to him. Yahweh spoke to him from above the atonement lid on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim. He spoke to him.
Chapter 8
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said,
2
"Speak to Aaron. Say to him, 'The seven lamps must give light in front of the lampstand when you light them.'"
3
Aaron did this. He lit the lamps on the lampstand to give light toward the front of it, as Yahweh had commanded Moses.
4
The lampstand was made in this way and Yahweh showed Moses the pattern for it. It was to be hammered gold from its base to its top, with hammered cups like blossoms.
5
Again, Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said,
6
"Take the Levites from among the people of Israel and purify them.
7
Do this to them to purify them: Sprinkle the water of atonement on them. Make them shave their entire body, wash their clothes, and purify themselves.
8
Then have them take a young bull and its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil. Let them take another young bull as a sin offering.
9
You will bring the Levites in front of the tent of meeting and assemble the whole community of the people of Israel.
10
When you bring the Levites before Yahweh, the people of Israel must lay their hands on the Levites.
11
Aaron must offer the Levites before Yahweh, as a wave offering from the people of Israel so that they may do the service of Yahweh.
12
The Levites must place their hands on the heads of the bulls. You must offer one bull for a sin offering and the other bull for a burnt offering to me, to atone for the Levites.
13
Present the Levites before Aaron and before his sons, and lift them up as a wave offering to me.
14
In this way you must separate the Levites from among the people of Israel. The Levites will belong to me.
15
After that, the Levites must go in to serve in the tent of meeting. You must purify them. You must offer them as a wave offering.
16
Do this, because they are entirely mine from among the people of Israel. They will take the place of each firstborn, the first issue of the womb, of all the descendants of Israel. I have taken the Levites for myself.
17
All the firstborn from among the people of Israel are mine, both man or animal. On the day that I took the lives of all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I set them apart for myself.
18
I have taken the Levites from among the people of Israel instead of all the firstborn.
19
I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons. I have taken them from among the people of Israel to do the work of the people of Israel in the tent of meeting. I have given them to atone for the people of Israel so that no plague will harm the people when they come near to the holy place."
20
Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of the people of Israel did this with the Levites. They did everything that Yahweh had commanded Moses concerning the Levites. The people of Israel did this with them.
21
The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothing, and Aaron presented them as a wave offering to Yahweh and he made atonement for them to cleanse them.
22
After that, the Levites went in to do their service in the tent of meeting before Aaron and before Aaron's sons. This was as Yahweh had commanded Moses about the Levites. They treated all the Levites in this way.
23
Yahweh spoke again to Moses. He said,
24
"All of this is for the Levites who are twenty-five years old and more. They must join the company to serve in the tent of meeting.
25
They must stop serving in this way at the age of fifty years. At that age they must not serve any longer.
26
They may help their brothers who continue to work at the tent of meeting, to perform their duties, but they must serve no more. This is how you must deal with the Levites in all their responsibilities."
Chapter 9
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they came out from the land of Egypt. He said,
2
"Let the people of Israel keep the Passover at its fixed time of year.
3
On the fourteenth day of this month, at evening, you must keep the Passover at its fixed time of year. You must keep it, follow all the regulations, and obey all the decrees that are related to it."
4
So, Moses told the people of Israel that they should keep the Festival of the Passover.
5
So they kept the Passover in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at evening, in the wilderness of Sinai. The people of Israel obeyed everything that Yahweh commanded Moses to do.
6
There were certain men who became unclean by the body of a dead man. They could not keep the Passover on that day. They went before Moses and Aaron on that same day.
7
Those men said to Moses, "We are unclean because of the dead body of a man. Why do you keep us from offering the sacrifice to Yahweh at the fixed time of year among the people of Israel?"
8
Moses said to them, "Wait for me to hear what Yahweh will instruct about you."
9
Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said,
10
"Speak to the people of Israel. Say, 'If any of you or your descendants are unclean because of a dead body, or are on a long journey, he may still keep the Passover to Yahweh.'
11
In the second month on the fourteenth day at evening, they will eat the Passover meal. They must eat the Passover lamb with bread that is made without yeast and with bitter herbs.
12
They must not leave any of it until the morning, or break any of its bones. They must follow all the regulations for the Passover.
13
But any person who is clean and is not on a journey, but who fails to keep the Passover, that person must be cut off from his people because he did not bring the offering that Yahweh requires at the fixed time of year. That man must carry his sin.
14
If a stranger lives among you and keeps the Passover to Yahweh, he must keep it according to the statute of the Passover and according to its rule. You must have one statute both for the sojourner and for the one who was born in the land."
15
On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant decrees. At evening the cloud was over the tabernacle. It appeared like fire until morning.
16
It continued that way. The cloud covered the tabernacle and appeared like fire at night.
17
Whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tent, the people of Israel would set out on their journey. Wherever the cloud stopped, the people would camp.
18
At Yahweh's command, the people of Israel would travel, and at his command, they would camp. While the cloud stopped over the tabernacle, they would stay in their camp.
19
When the cloud remained on the tabernacle for many days, then the people of Israel would obey Yahweh's instructions and not travel.
20
Sometimes the cloud remained a few days on the tabernacle. In that case, they would obey Yahweh's command—they would make camp and then travel on again at his command.
21
Sometimes the cloud was present in camp from evening until morning. When the cloud lifted in the morning, they journeyed. If it continued for a day and for a night, only when the cloud lifted would they journey on.
22
Whether the cloud stayed on the tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, for as long as it stayed there, the people of Israel would stay in their camp and not travel. But whenever the cloud was taken up, they would set out on their journey.
23
They would camp at Yahweh's command, and they would travel at his command. They obeyed Yahweh's command given through Moses.
Chapter 10
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said,
2
"Make two silver trumpets. Hammer the silver to make them. You must use the trumpets to call the community together and to call the community to move their camps.
3
The priests must blow the trumpets to call all the community together in front of you at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
4
If the priests blow only one trumpet, then the leaders, the heads of the clans of Israel, must gather to you.
5
When you blow a loud signal, the tribes camped on the east side must begin their journey.
6
When you blow a loud signal the second time, the tribes camped on the south side must begin their journey. They must blow a loud signal for their journeys.
7
When the community gathers together, blow the trumpets, but not loudly.
8
The sons of Aaron, the priests, must blow the trumpets. This will always be an ordinance for you throughout your people's generations.
9
When you go to war in your land against an adversary who oppresses you, then you must sound an alarm with the trumpets. I, Yahweh your God, will call you to mind and save you from your enemies.
10
Also, at the times of celebration, both your regular festivals and at the beginnings of the months, you must blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices for your fellowship offerings. These will act as a reminder of you to me, your God. I am Yahweh your God."
11
In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud was lifted from the tabernacle of the covenant decrees.
12
The people of Israel then went on their journey from the wilderness of Sinai. The cloud stopped in the wilderness of Paran.
13
They made their first journey, following Yahweh's command given through Moses.
14
The camp under the banner of Judah's descendants went out first, moving out their individual armies. Nahshon son of Amminadab led Judah's army.
15
Nethanel son of Zuar led the army of the tribe of Issachar's descendants.
16
Eliab son of Helon led the army of the tribe of Zebulun's descendants.
17
The descendants of Gershon and of Merari, who cared for the tabernacle, took down the tabernacle and then set out on their journey.
18
Next, the armies under the banner of Reuben's camp set out on their journey. Elizur son of Shedeur led Reuben's army.
19
Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai led the army of the tribe of Simeon's descendants.
20
Eliasaph son of Deuel led the army of the tribe of Gad's descendants.
21
The Kohathites set out. They carried the sanctuary's holy equipment. Others would set up the tabernacle before the Kohathites arrived at the next camp.
22
The armies under the banner of Ephraim's descendants set out next. Elishama son of Ammihud led Ephraim's army.
23
Gamaliel son of Pedahzur led the army of the tribe of Manasseh's descendants.
24
Abidan son of Gideoni led the army of the tribe of Benjamin's descendants.
25
The armies that camped under the banner of Dan's descendants set out last. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai led Dan's army.
26
Pagiel son of Okran led the army of the tribe of Asher's descendants.
27
Ahira son of Enan led the army of the tribe of Naphtali's descendants.
28
This is the way that the armies of the people of Israel set out on their journey.
29
Moses spoke to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite. Reuel was the father of Moses' wife. Moses spoke to Hobab and said, "We are traveling to a place that Yahweh described. Yahweh said, 'I will give it to you.' Come with us and we will do you good. Yahweh has promised to do good for Israel."
30
But Hobab said to Moses, "I will not go with you. I will go to my own land and my own relatives."
31
Then Moses replied, "Please do not leave us. You know how to camp in the wilderness. You must watch out for us.
32
If you go with us, we will do for you the same good that Yahweh does to us."
33
They journeyed from the mountain of Yahweh for three days. The ark of the covenant of Yahweh went before them for three days to find a place for them to rest.
34
Yahweh's cloud was over them in the daytime as they journeyed.
35
Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say, "Rise up, Yahweh. Scatter your enemies. Make those who hate you run from you."
36
Whenever the ark stopped, Moses would say, "Return, Yahweh, to Israel's many tens of thousands."
Chapter 11
1
Now the people complained about their troubles as Yahweh listened. Yahweh heard the people and became angry. Fire from Yahweh burned among them and consumed some of the camp on its edges.
2
Then people called out to Moses, so Moses prayed to Yahweh, and the fire stopped.
3
That place was named Taberah, because Yahweh's fire burned among them.
4
Some foreign people began to camp with Israel's descendants. They wanted better food to eat. Then the people of Israel began to weep and say, "Who will give us meat to eat?
5
We remember the fish that we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic.
6
Now our appetite is gone, because all we can see is this manna."
7
Manna was like coriander seed. It looked like resin.
8
The people walked around and gathered it. They ground it in mills, beat it in mortars, boiled it in pots, and made it into cakes. It tasted like a delicacy baked with olive oil.
9
When the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna also fell.
10
Moses heard the people weeping in their families, and every man was at the entrance to his tent. Yahweh was very angry, and in Moses' eyes their complaining was wrong.
11
Moses said to Yahweh, "Why have you treated your servant so badly? Why are you not pleased with me? You make me carry the load of all these people.
12
Did I conceive all these people? Have I given them birth so that you should say to me, 'Carry them closely to your chest as a father carries a baby?' Should I carry them to the land that you swore to their ancestors to give them?
13
Where can I find meat to give to all this people? They are weeping in front of me and are saying, 'Give us meat to eat.'
14
I cannot bear all these people alone. They are too much for me.
15
Since you are treating me this way, kill me now—if I find favor in your eyes—do not let me see my misery."
16
Yahweh said to Moses, "Bring to me seventy of Israel's elders. Be sure that they are elders and officers of the people. Bring them to the tent of meeting to stand there with you.
17
I will come down and talk with you there. I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will bear the burden of the people with you. You will not have to bear it alone.
18
Say to the people, 'Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow you will indeed eat meat, for you have wept and Yahweh has heard. You said, "Who will give us meat to eat? It was good for us in Egypt." Therefore Yahweh will give you meat, and you will eat it.
19
You will not eat meat for only one day, two days, five days, ten days, or twenty days,
20
but you will eat meat for a whole month until it comes out of your nostrils. It will disgust you because you have rejected Yahweh, who is among you. You have wept before him. You said, "Why did we leave Egypt?"'"
21
Then Moses said, "The people I am with are 600,000 footmen, and you have said, 'I will give them meat to eat for a whole month.'
22
Should we kill flocks and herds to satisfy them? Should we catch all the fish in the sea to satisfy them?"
23
Yahweh said to Moses, "Is my hand short? Now you will see whether or not my word is true."
24
Moses went out and told the people Yahweh's words. He gathered seventy of the people's elders and positioned them around the tent.
25
Yahweh came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses. Yahweh took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but only on that occasion and not again.
26
Two men remained in the camp, named Eldad and Medad. The Spirit also rested on them. Their names were written on the list, but they had not gone out to the tent. Nevertheless, they prophesied in the camp.
27
A young man in the camp ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp."
28
Joshua son of Nun, Moses' assistant, one of his chosen men, said to Moses, "My master Moses, stop them."
29
Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all of Yahweh's people were prophets and that he would put his Spirit on them all!"
30
Then Moses and the elders of Israel went back to the camp.
31
Then a wind came from Yahweh and brought quail from the sea. They fell near the camp, about a day's journey on one side and a day's journey on the other side. The quail surrounded the camp about two cubits above the ground.
32
The people were busy gathering quail all that day, all the night, and all the next day. No one gathered less than ten homers of quail. They shared the quail all through the camp.
33
While the meat was still between their teeth, while they were chewing it, the anger of Yahweh was kindled at them. He attacked the people with a very great disease.
34
That place was named Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had craved meat.
35
From Kibroth Hattaavah the people traveled to Hazeroth, where they stayed.
Chapter 12
1
Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married.
2
They said, "Has Yahweh spoken only with Moses? Has he not spoken also with us?" Now Yahweh heard what they said.
3
Now the man Moses was very humble, humbler than anyone else on earth.
4
Right away Yahweh spoke to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam: "Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting." So the three of them went out.
5
Then Yahweh came down in a pillar of cloud. He stood at the entrance to the tent and called Aaron and Miriam. They both came forward.
6
Yahweh said, "Now listen to my words.
When a prophet of mine is with you,
I will reveal myself to him in visions
and speak to him in dreams.
7
My servant Moses is not like that.
He is faithful in all my house.
8
I speak to Moses directly, not with visions or riddles.
He sees my form.
So why are you unafraid
to speak against my servant, against Moses?"
9
Yahweh's anger burned against them, and then he left them.
10
The cloud rose from over the tent, and Miriam was suddenly leprous—she was as white as snow. When Aaron turned toward Miriam, he saw that she had leprosy.
11
Aaron said to Moses, "Oh, my master, please do not hold this sin against us. We have spoken foolishly, and we have sinned.
12
Please do not let her be like a dead newborn whose flesh is half consumed when it emerges from its mother's womb."
13
So Moses called out to Yahweh. He said, "Please heal her, God, please."
14
Yahweh said to Moses, "If her father had spit in her face, she would be disgraced for seven days. Shut her outside the camp for seven days. After that bring her in again."
15
So Miriam was shut outside the camp for seven days. The people did not journey until she had returned to the camp.
16
After that, the people journeyed from Hazeroth and camped in the wilderness of Paran.
Chapter 13
1
Then Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said,
2
"Send some men to examine the land of Canaan, which I have given to the people of Israel. Send a man from every tribe of their ancestors. Each man must be a leader among them."
3
Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran, so that they might obey Yahweh's command. All of them were leaders among the people of Israel.
4
These were their names: from the tribe of Reuben, Shammua son of Zakkur;
5
from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat son of Hori;
6
from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh;
7
from the tribe of Issachar, Igal son of Joseph;
8
from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Nun;
9
from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti son of Raphu;
10
from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel son of Sodi;
11
from the tribe of Joseph (that is to say, from the tribe Manasseh), Gaddi son of Susi;
12
from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel son of Gemalli;
13
from the tribe of Asher, Sethur son of Michael;
14
from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi son of Vophsi;
15
from the tribe of Gad, Geuel son of Maki.
16
These were the names of the men whom Moses sent to examine the land. Moses called Hoshea son of Nun by the name of Joshua.
17
Moses sent them to examine the land of Canaan. He said to them, "Approach from the Negev and go up into the hill country.
18
Examine the land to see what it is like. Observe the people who live there, whether they are strong or weak, and whether they are few or many.
19
See what the land is like where they live. Is it good or bad? What cities are there? Are they like camps, or are they fortified cities?
20
See what the land is like, whether it is good for growing crops or not, and whether there are trees there or not. Be brave and bring back samples of the land's produce." Now the time was the season for the first ripe grapes.
21
So the men went up and examined the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob, near Lebo Hamath.
22
They went up from the Negev and arrived at Hebron. Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were there. Now Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.
23
When they reached the Valley of Eshkol, they cut down a branch with a cluster of grapes. They carried it on a staff between two of their group. They also brought pomegranates and figs.
24
That place was named the Valley of Eshkol, because of the grape cluster that the people of Israel cut down there.
25
After forty days, they returned from examining the land.
26
They came back to Moses, Aaron, and all the community of the people of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh. They brought back word to them and to all the community, and showed them the produce from the land.
27
They told Moses, "We reached the land to which you sent us. It certainly flows with milk and honey. Here is some produce from it.
28
However, the people who make their homes there are strong. The cities are fortified and very large. We also saw descendants of Anak there.
29
The Amalekites live in the Negev. The Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites have their homes in the hill country. The Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan River."
30
Then Caleb silenced the people who were before Moses and said, "Let us go up and take possession of the land, for we are certainly able to conquer it."
31
But the other men who had gone with him said, "We are not able to attack the people because they are stronger than we are."
32
So they spread around a discouraging report to the people of Israel about the land that they had examined. They said, "The land that we looked at is a land that eats up its inhabitants. All the people whom we saw there are people of great height.
33
There we saw the Nephilim, descendants of Anak, people who came from giants. In our own sight we were like grasshoppers in comparison with them, and this is what we were in their sight, too."
Chapter 14
1
That night all the community wept loudly.
2
All the people of Israel criticized Moses and Aaron. The whole community said to them, "We wish we had died in the land of Egypt, or here in this wilderness!
3
Why did Yahweh bring us to this land to die by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become victims. Is it not better for us to return to Egypt?"
4
They said to one another, "Let us choose another leader, and let us return to Egypt."
5
Then Moses and Aaron lay facedown before all the assembly of the community of the people of Israel.
6
Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were some of those sent to examine the land, tore their clothes.
7
They spoke to all the community of the people of Israel. They said, "The land that we passed through and examined is a very good land.
8
If Yahweh is pleased with us, then he will take us into this land and give it to us. The land flows with milk and honey.
9
But do not rebel against Yahweh, and do not fear the people in the land, for they are bread to us. Their protection will be removed from them, because Yahweh is with us. Do not fear them."
10
Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of Yahweh appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel.
11
Yahweh said to Moses, "How long must this people despise me? How long must they fail to trust me, despite all the signs of my power that I have done among them?
12
I will attack them with plague, disinherit them, and make from your own clan a nation that will be greater and mightier than they are."
13
Moses said to Yahweh, "If you do this, then the Egyptians will hear about it, because you rescued this people from them by your power.
14
They will tell it to this land's inhabitants. They have heard that you, Yahweh, are present with this people, because you are seen face to face. Your cloud stands over our people. You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night.
15
Now if you kill this people as one man, then the nations that have heard this report about you will say,
16
'Because Yahweh could not take this people into the land that he swore to give them, he has killed them in the wilderness.'
17
Now, I beg you, may the power of my Lord be great. For you have said,
18
'Yahweh is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He forgives iniquity and transgression. He will by no means clear the guilty when he brings the punishment of the ancestors' sin on their descendants, to the third and fourth generation.'
19
Pardon, I plead with you, this people's iniquity because of the greatness of your covenant faithfulness, just as you have always forgiven this people from the time they were in Egypt until now."
20
Yahweh said, "I have pardoned them in keeping with your request,
21
but truly, as I live, and as all the earth will be filled with my glory,
22
all those people who saw my glory and the signs of power that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness—they have still tested me these ten times and have not listened to my voice.
23
So I say that they will certainly not see the land about which I made an oath to their ancestors. Not one of them who despised me will see it,
24
except for my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly. I will bring him into the land where he had gone, and his descendants will take possession of it.
25
(Now the Amalekites and Canaanites lived in the valley.) Tomorrow turn and go to the wilderness by the way of the Sea of Reeds."
26
Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron. He said,
27
"How long must I tolerate this evil community that criticizes me? I have heard the complaining of the people of Israel against me.
28
Say to them, 'As I live—this is Yahweh's declaration—as you have spoken in my hearing, I will do this to you:
29
Your dead bodies will fall in this wilderness, all you who complained against me, you who were counted in the census, the whole number of the people from twenty years old and upward.
30
You will certainly not go into the land that I promised to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
31
But your little ones who you said would be victims, I will take them into the land. They will experience the land that you have rejected!
32
As for you, your dead bodies will fall in this wilderness.
33
Your children will be shepherds in the wilderness for forty years. They must bear the punishment for your acts of rebellion until the end of your corpses in the wilderness.
34
According to the number of the days during which you examined the land, forty days, you will bear the punishment for your sins for forty years, one year for every day, and you will know my opposition.
35
I, Yahweh, have spoken. I will certainly do this to all this evil community that is gathered together against me. They will be completely cut off in this wilderness, and here they will die.'"
36
So the men Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made the entire community grumble against Moses by spreading a bad report about the land—
37
these men who had brought out a bad report about the land were struck down, and they died of a plague before Yahweh.
38
Of those men who had gone to spy out the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh remained alive.
39
When Moses reported these words to all the people of Israel, they mourned very deeply.
40
They rose up early in the morning and went to the top of the mountain and said, "Look, we are here, and we will go to the place that Yahweh has promised, for we have sinned."
41
But Moses said, "Why are you now violating Yahweh's command? You will not succeed.
42
Do not go, because Yahweh is not with you to prevent you from being defeated by your enemies.
43
The Amalekites and Canaanites are there, and you will die by the sword because you turned back from following Yahweh. So he will not be with you."
44
But they arrogantly went up into the hill country; however, neither Moses nor the ark of the covenant of Yahweh left the camp.
45
Then the Amalekites came down, and also the Canaanites who lived on those hills. They attacked the Israelites and beat them down all the way to Hormah.
Chapter 15
1
Then Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said,
2
"Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, 'When you go into the land where you will live, which Yahweh will give to you,
3
you are to prepare an offering by fire to Yahweh, either a burnt offering or a sacrifice to fulfill a vow or a freewill offering, or an offering at your feasts, to produce a pleasing aroma for Yahweh from the herd or the flock.
4
You must offer to Yahweh a burnt offering as well as a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of oil.
5
You must also offer with the burnt offering, or for the sacrifice, one-fourth of a hin of wine for the drink offering for each lamb.
6
If you are offering a ram, you must prepare as a grain offering two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a third of a hin of oil.
7
For the drink offering, you must offer a third of a hin of wine. It will produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh.
8
When you prepare a bull as a burnt offering or as a sacrifice to fulfill a vow, or as a fellowship offering to Yahweh,
9
then you must offer with the bull a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with half a hin of oil.
10
You must offer as the drink offering half a hin of wine, as an offering made by fire, to produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh.
11
It must be done this way for each bull, for each ram, and for each of the male lambs or young goats.
12
Every sacrifice that you prepare and offer must be done as described here.
13
All who are native-born must do these things in this way, when anyone brings an offering made by fire, to produce an aroma that is pleasing to Yahweh.
14
If a sojourner is staying with you, or whoever may live among you throughout your people's generations, he must make an offering made by fire, to produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh. He must act as you act.
15
There must be the same law for the community and for the foreigner who stays with you, a permanent law throughout your people's generations. As you are, so also must be the sojourner staying with you. He must act as you act before Yahweh.
16
The same law and decree must apply to you and to the foreigner who is staying with you.'"
17
Again Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said,
18
"Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, 'When you come into the land where I will take you,
19
when you eat the food produced in the land, you must lift up a contribution to Yahweh.
20
From the first of your dough you must offer a loaf to lift it up as a contribution, a contribution from the threshing floor. You must lift it up in this way.
21
You must give to me a lifted contribution throughout your people's generations from the first of your dough.
22
You will sometimes sin without intending to do so, when you do not obey all these commands that I have spoken to Moses—
23
everything that I have commanded you through Moses from the day that I began to give you commands and onward throughout your people's generations.
24
In the case of unintentional sin without the community's knowledge, then all the community must offer one young bull as a burnt offering to produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh. Along with this must be made a grain offering and drink offering, as commanded by the decree, and one male goat as a sin offering.
25
The priest must make atonement for all the community of the people of Israel. They will be forgiven because the sin was an error. They have brought their sacrifice, an offering made by fire to me. They have brought their sin offering before me for their error.
26
Then all the community of the people of Israel will be forgiven, and also the foreigners who are staying with them, because all the people committed the sin unintentionally.
27
If a person sins unintentionally, then he must offer a female goat a year old as a sin offering.
28
The priest must make atonement before Yahweh for the person who goes astray and sins unintentionally. That person will be forgiven when atonement has been made.
29
You must have the same law for the one who does anything unintentionally, the same law for the one who is native born among the people of Israel and for the foreigners who are staying among them.
30
But the person who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native born or a foreigner, blasphemes me. That person must be cut off from among his people.
31
Because he has despised my word and has broken my commandment, that person must be cut off completely. His iniquity will be on him.'"
32
While the people of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering wood on the Sabbath day.
33
Those who found him brought him to Moses, Aaron, and all the community.
34
They kept him in custody because it had not been declared what should be done with him.
35
Then Yahweh said to Moses, "The man must surely be put to death. All the community must stone him with stones outside the camp."
36
So all the community brought him outside the camp and stoned him to death as Yahweh had commanded Moses.
37
Again Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said,
38
"Speak to the descendants of Israel and command them to make for themselves tassels to hang from the borders of their garments, to hang them from each border by a blue cord. They must do this throughout their people's generations.
39
It will be a special reminder to you, when you may look at it, of all my commandments, to carry them out so that you do not look to your own heart and your own eyes and prostitute yourselves to them.
40
Do this so that you may call to mind and obey all my commandments, and so that you may be holy, reserved for me, your God.
41
I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to become your God. I am Yahweh your God."
Chapter 16
1
Now Korah son of Izhar son of Kohath son of Levi, along with Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, descendants of Reuben, gathered some men.
2
They rose up against Moses, along with other men from the people of Israel, 250 leaders of the community who were men of reputation in the community.
3
They assembled themselves together to confront Moses and Aaron. They said to them, "You have gone too far! All the community is set apart, every one of them, and Yahweh is among them. Why do you lift up yourselves above the rest of Yahweh's community?"
4
When Moses heard that, he lay facedown.
5
He spoke to Korah and all his companions, "In the morning Yahweh will make known who belongs to him and who is set apart to him. He will bring that person near to him. The one he chooses he will bring near to himself.
6
Do this, Korah and all your group. Take censers
7
tomorrow and put fire and incense in them before Yahweh. The one whom Yahweh chooses, that man will be set apart to Yahweh. You have gone too far, you descendants of Levi."
8
Again, Moses said to Korah, "Now listen, you descendants of Levi:
9
is it a small thing for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the community of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do work in Yahweh's tabernacle, and to stand before the community to serve them?
10
He has brought you near, and all your kinfolk, the descendants of Levi, with you, yet you are seeking the priesthood also!
11
Therefore you and all your company have gathered together against Yahweh. Who is Aaron that you grumble against him?"
12
Then Moses called for Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they said, "We will not come up.
13
Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness? Now you want to make yourself ruler over us!
14
In addition, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, or given us the fields and vineyards as an inheritance. Now do you want to blind us with empty promises? We will not come to you."
15
Moses was very angry and said to Yahweh, "Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, and I have not harmed any of them."
16
Then Moses said to Korah, "Tomorrow you and all your companions must go before Yahweh—you and they, and Aaron.
17
Each of you must take his censer and put incense in it. Then each man must bring before Yahweh his censer, 250 censers. You and Aaron, also, must each bring your censer."
18
So every man took his censer, put fire in it, laid incense in it, and stood at the entrance to the tent of meeting with Moses and Aaron.
19
Korah assembled all the community against Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the tent of meeting, and Yahweh's glory appeared to all the community.
20
Then Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron:
21
"Separate yourselves from among this community that I may consume them immediately."
22
Moses and Aaron lay facedown and said, "God, the God of the spirits of all humanity, if one man sins, must you be angry with all the community?"
23
Yahweh replied to Moses. He said,
24
"Speak to the community. Say, 'Get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.'"
25
Then Moses rose up and went to Dathan and Abiram; the elders of Israel followed him.
26
He spoke to the community and said, "Now leave the tents of these wicked men and touch nothing of theirs, or you will be consumed by all their sins."
27
So the community on every side of the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram left them. Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the entrance to their tents, with their wives, sons, and their little ones.
28
Then Moses said, "By this you will know that Yahweh has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own accord.
29
If these men die a natural death such as normally happens, then Yahweh has not sent me.
30
But if Yahweh creates something new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that they possess, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you must understand that these men have despised Yahweh."
31
As soon as Moses finished speaking all these words, the ground opened under those men.
32
The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, their families, and all the people who belonged to Korah, as well as all their possessions.
33
So they and all that they possessed went down alive into Sheol. The earth closed over them, and they perished from among the community.
34
All Israel around them fled from their cries. They exclaimed, "The earth may swallow us up also!"
35
Then fire flashed out from Yahweh and devoured the 250 men who had offered incense.
36
Again Yahweh spoke to Moses and said,
37
"Speak to Eleazar son of Aaron the priest and let him take up the censers out of the flames, for the censers are set apart to me. Then let him scatter the burning coals at a distance.
38
Take the censers of those who lost their lives because of their sin. Let them be made into hammered plates as a covering over the altar. Those men did offer them before me, so they are set apart to me. They will be a sign of my presence to the people of Israel."
39
Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers that had been used by the men who were burned up, and they were hammered out into a covering for the altar,
40
to be a reminder to the people of Israel, so that no outsider who was not descended from Aaron should come up to burn incense before Yahweh, so they might not become like Korah and his group—just as Yahweh had commanded through Moses.
41
But the next morning all the community of the people of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron. They said, "You have killed Yahweh's people."
42
Then it happened, when the community had assembled against Moses and Aaron, that they looked toward the tent of meeting and, behold, the cloud was covering it. Yahweh's glory appeared,
43
and Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting.
44
Then Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said,
45
"Go away from in front of this community so that I may consume them immediately." Then Moses and Aaron lay down with their faces to the ground.
46
Moses said to Aaron, "Take the censer, put fire in it from off the altar, put incense in it, carry it quickly to the community, and make atonement for them, because anger is coming from Yahweh. The plague has begun."
47
So Aaron did as Moses directed. He ran into the middle of the community. The plague had quickly started to spread among the people, so he put in the incense and made atonement for the people.
48
Aaron stood between the dead and the living; in this way the plague was stopped.
49
Those who died by the plague were 14,700 in number, besides those who had died in the matter of Korah.
50
Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the tent of meeting, and the plague ended.
Chapter 17
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said,
2
"Speak to the people of Israel and get staffs from them, one for each ancestral tribe, twelve staffs. Write each man's name on his staff.
3
You must write Aaron's name on Levi's staff. There must be one staff for each leader from his ancestors' tribe.
4
You must place the staffs in the tent of meeting in front of the covenant decrees, where I meet with you.
5
It will happen that the staff of the man whom I choose will bud. I will cause the complaints from the people of Israel to stop, which they are speaking against you."
6
So Moses spoke to the people of Israel. All the tribal leaders gave him staffs, one staff from each leader, selected from each of the ancestral tribes, twelve staffs in all. Aaron's staff was among them.
7
Then Moses deposited the staffs before Yahweh in the tent of the covenant decrees.
8
The next day Moses went into the tent of the covenant decrees and, behold, Aaron's staff for the tribe of Levi had budded. It grew buds and produced blossoms and ripe almonds!
9
Moses brought out all the staffs from before Yahweh to all the people of Israel, and each man took his staff.
10
Yahweh said to Moses, "Put Aaron's staff in front of the covenant decrees. Keep it as a sign of guilt against the people who rebelled so that you may end complaints against me, or they will die."
11
Moses did just as Yahweh had commanded him.
12
The people of Israel spoke to Moses and said, "We will die here. We will all perish!
13
Everyone who comes up, who approaches Yahweh's tabernacle, will die. Must we all perish?"
Chapter 18
1
Yahweh said to Aaron, "You, your sons, and your ancestor's clan will be responsible for all sins committed against the sanctuary. But only you and your sons with you will be responsible for all sins committed by anyone in the priesthood.
2
As for your fellow members of the tribe of Levi, your ancestors' tribe, you must bring them with you so they may join you and help you when you and your sons serve in front of the tent of the covenant decrees.
3
They must perform your duties and the duties of the whole tent. However, they must not come near to anything in the holy place or connected with the altar, or they and also you will die.
4
They must join you and perform the duties connected with the tent of meeting, for all the work connected with the tent. A foreigner must not come near you.
5
You must perform the duties for the holy place and for the altar so that my anger does not come on the people of Israel again.
6
Look, I myself have chosen your fellow members of the Levites from among the descendants of Israel. They are a gift to you, given to me to do the work connected to the tent of meeting.
7
But only you and your sons may exercise the priesthood regarding everything connected with the altar and everything inside the curtain. You yourselves must fulfill those responsibilities. I am giving you the priesthood as a gift. Any foreigner who approaches must be put to death."
8
Then Yahweh said to Aaron, "Look, I have given you the duty of handling the contributions lifted up to me, and all the holy offerings that the people of Israel give to me. I have given these offerings to you as a consecrated portion and to your sons as your assigned portion for all time.
9
This will belong to you from the most holy things that are kept from the fire. From every offering of theirs—every grain offering, every sin offering, and every guilt offering—they are set apart to you and to your sons.
10
These offerings are very holy; every male must eat it, for they are holy to you.
11
These are the contributions that will belong to you, set apart out of all their gifts of the wave offerings of the people of Israel. I have given them to you, your sons, and your daughters, as your portion forever. Everyone who is ceremonially clean in your family may eat any of these offerings.
12
All the best of the oil, all the best of the new wine and grain, the firstfruits that the people give to me—all these things I have given to you.
13
The first ripe produce of all that is in their land, which they bring to me, will be yours. Everyone who is clean in your family may eat these things.
14
Every devoted thing in Israel will be yours.
15
Every first issue of the womb, all the firstborn that the people offer to Yahweh, both of man and animal, will be yours. Nevertheless, the people must certainly redeem every firstborn son, and they must redeem the firstborn male of unclean animals.
16
Those that are to be redeemed by the people must be redeemed after becoming one month old. Then the people may redeem them for the price of five shekels of silver, by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel, which equals twenty gerahs.
17
But the firstborn of a cow, or the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat—you must not redeem these animals; they are set apart to me. You must sprinkle their blood on the altar and burn their fat as an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to Yahweh.
18
Their meat will be yours. Like the breast and the right thigh that are lifted as an offering, their meat will be yours.
19
All the holy contributions that the people of Israel present to Yahweh, I have given to you, and to your sons and to your daughters with you, as a continual share. It is an everlasting covenant of salt, a binding covenant forever, before Yahweh for both you and your descendants with you."
20
Yahweh said to Aaron, "You will have no inheritance in the people's land, nor will you have any share of property among the people. I am your share and inheritance among the people of Israel.
21
To the descendants of Levi, look, I have given all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the service that they provide in working at the tent of meeting.
22
From now on the people of Israel must not come near the tent of meeting, or they will be responsible for this sin and die.
23
The Levites must do the work connected to the tent of meeting. They will be responsible for any iniquity regarding it. This will be a permanent law throughout your people's generations. Among the people of Israel they must have no inheritance.
24
For the tithes of the people of Israel, which they offer as a contribution to Yahweh—it is these that I have given to the Levites as their inheritance. That is why I said to them, 'They must have no inheritance among the people of Israel.'"
25
Yahweh spoke to Moses and said,
26
"You must speak to the Levites and say to them, 'When you receive from the people of Israel the tenth that I have given to you from them for your inheritance, you will present a contribution from it to Yahweh, a tenth of the tithe.
27
Your contribution must be considered by you as if it were a tenth of the grain from the threshing floor or of the production from the winepress.
28
So you also must make a contribution to Yahweh from all the tithes that you receive from the people of Israel. From them you must give his contribution to Aaron the priest.
29
Out of all the gifts you receive, you must make every contribution to Yahweh. You must do this from all the best and the holiest things that have been given to you.'
30
Therefore you must say to them, 'When you present the best of it, then it must be credited to the Levites as the product from the threshing floor and the winepress.
31
You may eat the rest of your gifts in any place, you and your families, because it is your pay in return for your work in the tent of meeting.
32
You will not bear any sin by eating and drinking it, if you have presented to Yahweh the best of what you have received. But you must not profane the holy offerings of the people of Israel, or you will die.'"
Chapter 19
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said,
2
"This is a statute, a law which Yahweh is commanding you: Say to the people of Israel that they must bring to you a red heifer without flaw or blemish, and which has never carried a yoke.
3
Give the heifer to Eleazar the priest. He must bring it outside the camp, and someone must kill it in front of him.
4
Eleazar the priest must take some of its blood with his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the tent of meeting.
5
The heifer must be burned in his sight—its hide, its flesh, and its blood with its dung, must be burned.
6
The priest must take cedarwood, hyssop, and scarlet wool, and throw it all into the middle of the burning heifer.
7
Then he must wash his clothes and bathe in water. Then he may come into the camp, where he will remain unclean until the evening.
8
The one who has burned the heifer must wash his clothes in water and bathe in water. He will remain unclean until the evening.
9
A man who is clean must gather up the heifer's ashes and put them outside the camp in a clean place. These ashes must be kept for the community of the people of Israel. They will mix the ashes with water for purification from sin, since the ashes were from a sin offering.
10
The one who gathered the heifer's ashes must wash his clothes. He will remain unclean until the evening. This will be a permanent law for the people of Israel and the foreigners who stay with them.
11
Whoever touches the dead body of any man will be unclean for seven days.
12
Such a person must purify himself on the third day and on the seventh day. Then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself the third day, then he will not be clean on the seventh day.
13
Whoever touches a dead person, the body of a man who has died, and does not purify himself—this person defiles Yahweh's tabernacle. That person must be cut off from Israel because the water for impurity was not sprinkled on him. He will remain unclean; his uncleanness will remain on him.
14
This is the law for when someone dies in a tent. Everyone who goes into the tent and everyone who is already in the tent will be unclean for seven days.
15
Every open container with no cover becomes unclean.
16
In the same way, anyone outside a tent who touches someone who has been killed with a sword, any other dead body, a human bone, or a grave—that person will be unclean for seven days.
17
Do this for the unclean person: Take some ashes from the burnt sin offering and mix them in a jar with fresh water.
18
Someone who is clean must then take hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle it on the tent, on all the containers inside the tent, on the persons who were there, and on anyone who touched the bone, the one who was killed, the one who died, or the grave.
19
On the third day and on the seventh day, the clean person must sprinkle the unclean person. On the seventh day the unclean person must purify himself. He must wash his clothes and bathe in water. At evening he will become clean.
20
But anyone who remains unclean, who refuses to purify himself—that person will be cut off from the community, because he has defiled Yahweh's sanctuary. The water for impurity has not been sprinkled on him; he remains unclean.
21
This will be an ongoing law concerning these situations. The one who sprinkles the water for impurity must wash his clothes. The one who touches the water for impurity will become unclean until evening.
22
Whatever the unclean person touches will become unclean. The person who touches it will become unclean until evening."
Chapter 20
1
So the people of Israel, the whole community, went into the wilderness of Zin in the first month; they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.
2
There was no water for the community, so they assembled together against Moses and Aaron.
3
The people complained against Moses. They said, "It would have been better if we had died when our fellow Israelites died in front of Yahweh!
4
Why have you brought Yahweh's community into this wilderness to die here, we and our animals?
5
Why did you make us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this horrible place? There is no place for seed, figs, vines, or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink."
6
So Moses and Aaron went away from in front of the assembly. They went to the entrance of the tent of meeting and lay facedown. There Yahweh's brilliant glory appeared to them.
7
Yahweh spoke to Moses and said,
8
"Take the staff and assemble the community, you, and Aaron your brother. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and command it to flow with water. You will produce water for them out of that rock, and you must give it to the community and their livestock to drink."
9
Moses took the staff from before Yahweh, as Yahweh had commanded him to do.
10
Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock. Moses said to them, "Listen now, you rebels. Must we bring water out of this rock for you?"
11
Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, and much water came out. The community drank, and their livestock drank.
12
Then Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust me or honor me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, you will not bring this assembly into the land I have given them."
13
This place was called the waters of Meribah because the people of Israel had quarreled with Yahweh there, and he showed himself to them as holy.
14
Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: Your brother Israel says this: "You know all the hardship that has found us.
15
You know that our ancestors went down to Egypt and lived in Egypt a long time. The Egyptians treated us harshly and also our ancestors.
16
When we called out to Yahweh, he heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. Look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the border of your land.
17
I am asking you to let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard, nor will we drink the water in your wells. We will go along the king's highway. We will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed your border."
18
But the king of Edom replied to him, "You may not pass through here. If you do, I will come with the sword to attack you."
19
Then the people of Israel said to him, "We will go along the highway. If we or our livestock drink your water, we will pay for it. Just let us walk through on foot, without doing anything else."
20
But the king of Edom replied, "You may not pass through." So the king of Edom came against Israel with a strong hand with many soldiers.
21
The king of Edom refused to allow Israel to cross over their border. Because of this, Israel turned away from the land of Edom.
22
So the people journeyed from Kadesh. The people of Israel, the whole community, came to Mount Hor.
23
Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, on Edom's border. He said,
24
"Aaron must be gathered to his people, for he will not enter the land that I have given to the people of Israel. This is because you both rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah.
25
Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor.
26
Take Aaron's priestly garments off him and put them on Eleazar his son. Aaron must die and be gathered to his people there."
27
Moses did as Yahweh commanded. They went up Mount Hor in the sight of all the community.
28
Moses took Aaron's priestly garments off him and put them on Eleazar his son. Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down.
29
When all the community saw that Aaron was dead, the entire house of Israel wept for Aaron for thirty days.
Chapter 21
1
When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was traveling by the road to Atharim, he fought against Israel and took some of them captive.
2
Israel vowed to Yahweh and said, "If you give us victory over these people, then we will completely destroy their cities."
3
Yahweh listened to Israel's voice and he gave them victory over the Canaanites. They completely destroyed them and their cities. That place was named Hormah.
4
They traveled from Mount Hor by the road to the Sea of Reeds to go around the land of Edom. The people became very discouraged on the way.
5
The people spoke against God and Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread, no water, and we hate this miserable food."
6
Then Yahweh sent poisonous snakes among the people. The snakes bit the people; many people of Israel died.
7
The people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned because we have spoken against Yahweh and you. Pray to Yahweh for him to take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people.
8
Yahweh said to Moses, "Make a snake and attach it to a pole. It will happen that everyone who is bitten will survive, if he looks at it."
9
So Moses made a bronze snake and attached it to a pole. When a snake bit any person, if he looked at the bronze snake, he survived.
10
Then the people of Israel traveled on and camped at Oboth.
11
They traveled from Oboth and camped at Iye Abarim in the wilderness that faces Moab toward the east.
12
From there they traveled on and camped in the Valley of Zered.
13
From there they traveled on and camped on the other side of the Arnon River, which is in the wilderness that extends from the border of the Amorites. The Arnon River forms the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.
14
That is why it says in the scroll of the Wars of Yahweh,
"... Zahab
in Suphah, and the valleys of the Arnon,
15
the slope of the valleys that lead toward the town of Ar
and lie along the border of Moab."
16
From there they traveled to Beer, the well where Yahweh said to Moses, "Gather the people together for me to give them water."
17
Then Israel sang this song:
"Spring up, well!
Sing about it,
18
about the well that our leaders dug,
the well the nobles of the people dug,
with the scepter and their staffs."
Then from the wilderness they traveled to Mattanah.
19
From Mattanah they traveled to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth,
20
and from Bamoth to a valley in the land of Moab. That is where the top of Mount Pisgah looks down on the wilderness.
21
Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites saying,
22
"Let us pass through your land. We will not turn into any field or vineyard. We will not drink the water from your wells. We will travel by the king's highway until we have crossed your border."
23
But King Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his border. Instead, Sihon gathered all his army together and went out into the wilderness against Israel. He came to Jahaz, where he fought against Israel.
24
Israel attacked the army of Sihon with the edge of the sword and took their land from the Arnon to the Jabbok river, as far as the land of the people of Ammon. Now the border of the people of Ammon was fortified.
25
Israel took all the Amorite cities and lived in all of them, including Heshbon and all of its villages.
26
Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab. Sihon had taken all his land from his territory to the Arnon River.
27
That is why those who speak in proverbs say,
"Come to Heshbon.
Let the city of Sihon be rebuilt and established again.
28
A fire blazed from Heshbon,
a flame from the city of Sihon
that devoured Ar of Moab,
and the owners of the high places of Arnon.
29
Woe to you, Moab!
You have perished, people of Chemosh.
He has made his sons to be fugitives
and his daughters to be prisoners
of Sihon king of the Amorites.
30
But we have conquered Sihon.
Heshbon is devastated all the way to Dibon.
We have defeated them all the way to Nophah,
which reaches to Medeba."
31
So Israel began to live in the Amorites' land.
32
Then Moses sent men to look at Jazer. They took its villages and drove out the Amorites who were there.
33
Then they turned and went up by the road of Bashan. Og king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his army, to fight them at Edrei.
34
Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Do not fear him, because I have given you victory over him, all his army, and his land. Do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon."
35
So they killed him, his sons, and all his army, until none of his people were left alive. Then they took over his land.
Chapter 22
1
The people of Israel traveled on until they camped in the plains of Moab near Jericho, on the other side of the Jordan River from the city.
2
Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3
Moab was very afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was in terror of the people of Israel.
4
The king of Moab said to the elders of Midian, "This multitude will eat up all that is around us as an ox eats up the grass in a field." Now Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.
5
He sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor, at Pethor which is by the Euphrates River, in the land of his nation and his people. He called him and said, "Look, a nation has come here from Egypt. They cover the face of the earth and they are right now next to me.
6
Please come now and curse this nation for me, because they are too strong for me. Perhaps then I can manage to attack them and drive them out of the land. I know that those you bless will be blessed, and that those you curse will be cursed."
7
So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian left, taking payment for divination. They came to Balaam and spoke to him Balak's words.
8
Balaam said to them, "Stay here tonight. I will bring you what Yahweh says to me." So the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam that night.
9
God came to Balaam and said, "Who are these men who came to you?"
10
Balaam answered God, "Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent them to me. He said,
11
'Look, the people who have come from Egypt cover the surface of my land. Now come and curse them for me. Perhaps I will manage to fight them and drive them out.'"
12
God replied to Balaam, "You must not go with those men. You must not curse the people of Israel because they have been blessed."
13
Balaam rose up in the morning and said to Balak's leaders, "Go back to your land because Yahweh refuses to allow me to go with you."
14
So the leaders of Moab left and went back to Balak. They said, "Balaam refused to come with us."
15
Balak sent again more leaders who were even more honored than the first group.
16
They came to Balaam and said to him, "Balak son of Zippor says this, 'Please let nothing stop you from coming to me,
17
because I will pay you extremely well and give you great honor, and I will do whatever you tell me to do. So please come and curse this people for me.'"
18
Balaam answered and said to Balak's servants, "Even if Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Yahweh, my God, and do less or more than what he tells me.
19
Now then, please wait here tonight too, so that I may learn anything further that Yahweh says to me."
20
God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them. But only do what I tell you to do."
21
Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the leaders of Moab.
22
But because he went, God's anger was kindled. The angel of Yahweh placed himself in the road as someone hostile to Balaam, who was riding on his donkey. Balaam's two servants were also with him.
23
The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the road with his drawn sword in his hand. The donkey turned off the road and went into a field. Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back to the road.
24
Then the angel of Yahweh stood in a narrow part of the road between some vineyards, with a wall on his right side and another wall on his left side.
25
The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh again. She went against the wall and pinned Balaam's foot against it. Balaam struck her again.
26
The angel of Yahweh went further and stood in another narrow place where there was no way to turn to either side.
27
The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she lay down under Balaam. Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
28
Then Yahweh opened the donkey's mouth so she could talk. She said to Balaam, "What have I done to you that induced you to strike me these three times?"
29
Balaam replied to the donkey, "It was because you acted so stupidly with me. I wish there were a sword in my hand. If there were, by now I would have killed you."
30
The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life long to this present day? Have I ever been in the habit of doing such things to you before?" Balaam said, "No."
31
Then Yahweh opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the road with his drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed down and lay facedown.
32
The angel of Yahweh said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Look, I have come as someone hostile to you because your actions before me have been wicked.
33
The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away from me, I would certainly have killed you and spared her life."
34
Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh, "I have sinned. I did not know that you stood against me in the road. So now, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back."
35
But the angel of Yahweh said to Balaam, "Go on ahead with the men. But you must only speak the words that I tell you." So Balaam went with the leaders of Balak.
36
When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at a city in Moab at the Arnon, which is on the border.
37
Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not send men to you to summon you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?"
38
Then Balaam replied to Balak, "See, I have come to you. Do I now have any power to say anything? I can only say the words that God puts into my mouth."
39
Balaam went with Balak, and they arrived at Kiriath Huzoth.
40
Then Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep and gave some meat to Balaam and the leaders who were with him.
41
In the morning, Balak took Balaam up to the high place of Baal. From there Balaam could see only a part of the Israelites in their camp.
Chapter 23
1
Balaam said to Balak, "Build seven altars here for me and prepare seven bulls and seven rams."
2
So Balak did as Balaam requested. Then Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on every altar.
3
Then Balaam said to Balak, "Stand at your burnt offering and I will go. Perhaps Yahweh will come to meet me. Whatever he shows me I will tell you." So he went away to a hilltop with no trees.
4
Then God met Balaam, and Balaam said to him, "I have built seven altars, and I have offered up a bull and a ram on each one."
5
Yahweh put a message in Balaam's mouth and said, "Return to Balak and speak to him."
6
So Balaam returned to Balak, who was standing by his burnt offering, and all the leaders of Moab were with him.
7
Then Balaam began to speak his proverb and said,
"Balak has brought me from Aram,
the king of Moab from the eastern mountains.
'Come, curse Jacob for me,' he said.
'Come, denounce Israel.'
8
How can I curse those whom God has not cursed?
How can I denounce those whom Yahweh does not denounce?
9
For from the top of the rocks I see him;
from the hills I look at him.
See, there is a people who live alone
and do not consider themselves as just an ordinary nation.
10
Who can count the dust of Jacob
or number even only one-fourth of Israel?
Let me die the death of a righteous person,
and let my life's end be like his!"
11
Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but look, you have blessed them."
12
Balaam answered and said, "Should I not be careful to say only what Yahweh puts in my mouth?"
13
So Balak said to him, "Please come with me to another place where you can see them. You will only see the nearest of them, not all of them. There you will curse them for me."
14
So he took Balaam into the field of Zophim, to the top of Mount Pisgah, and built seven more altars. He offered up a bull and a ram on each altar.
15
Then Balaam said to Balak, "Stand here by your burnt offering, while I meet with Yahweh over there."
16
So Yahweh met Balaam and put a message in his mouth. He said, "Return to Balak and give him my message."
17
Balaam returned to him, and look, he was standing by his burnt offering, and the leaders of Moab were with him. Then Balak said to him, "What has Yahweh said?"
18
Balaam began his prophecy. He said,
"Rise up, Balak, and hear.
Listen to me, you son of Zippor.
19
God is not a man, that he should lie,
or a human being, that he should change his mind.
Has he promised anything without doing it?
Has he said he would do something without carrying it out?
20
Look, I have been commanded to bless.
God has given a blessing, and I cannot reverse it.
21
He has not looked upon disaster in Jacob,
and he has not seen trouble in Israel.
Yahweh their God is with them,
and the shout of the king is among them.
22
God brought them out of Egypt
with strength like that of a wild ox.
23
There is no sorcery that works against Jacob,
and no divination harms Israel.
Now it must be said about Jacob and Israel,
'Look what God has done!'
24
Look, the people rise like a lioness,
as a lion emerges and attacks.
He does not lie down until he eats his victim
and drinks the blood of what he has killed."
25
Then Balak said to Balaam, "Do not curse them or bless them at all."
26
But Balaam answered and said to Balak, "Did I not tell you that I must say all that Yahweh tells me to say?"
27
So Balak replied to Balaam, "Come now, I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God for you to curse them there for me."
28
So Balak took Balaam to the top of Mount Peor, which looks down on the wilderness.
29
Balaam said to Balak, "Build me seven altars here and prepare seven bulls and seven rams."
30
So Balak did as Balaam had said; he offered up a bull and a ram on each altar.
Chapter 24
1
When Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel, he did not go, as at the other times, to use sorcery. Instead, he looked toward the wilderness.
2
Balaam raised his eyes and saw that Israel was camped, each in their own tribe, and the Spirit of God came on him.
3
He received this prophecy and said,
"This is the declaration of Balaam son of Beor,
the declaration of the man whose eyes are wide open,
4
the declaration of the one who hears the words of God,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who bows down with his eyes open.
5
How delightful are your tents, Jacob,
the place where you live, Israel!
6
Like valleys they spread out,
like gardens by the riverside,
like aloes planted by Yahweh,
like cedars beside the waters.
7
Water will flow from their buckets,
and their seed will have abundant water.
Their king will be greater than Agag,
and their kingdom will be honored.
8
God will bring him out of Egypt.
He will have strength like a wild ox.
He will eat up the nations who fight against him.
He will break their bones to pieces.
He will shoot them with his arrows.
9
He crouches down like a lion,
like a lioness. Who dares disturb him?
May everyone who blesses him be blessed;
may everyone who curses him be cursed."
10
Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam and he struck his hands together in anger. Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, but look, you have blessed them three times.
11
So flee home now. I said I would greatly reward you, but Yahweh has kept you from getting any reward."
12
Then Balaam replied to Balak, "I said to the messengers that you sent to me,
13
'Even if Balak gave me his palace full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond Yahweh's word and anything bad or good, or anything at all that I might want to do. I can say only what Yahweh tells me to say.' Did I not say this to them?
14
So now, look, I will go back to my people. But first let me advise you about what this people will do to your people in the days ahead."
15
Balaam began this prophecy. He said,
"This is the declaration of Balaam son of Beor,
the declaration of the man whose eyes are wide open.
16
This is the declaration of someone who hears words from God,
who has knowledge from the Most High,
who sees visions from the Almighty,
who bows down with open eyes.
17
I see him, but he is not here now.
I look at him, but he is not near.
A star will come out of Jacob,
and a scepter will rise out of Israel.
He will shatter Moab's leaders
and destroy all the descendants of Seth.
18
Then Edom will become a possession of Israel,
and Seir will also become their possession,
enemies of Israel,
whom Israel will conquer with force.
19
Out of Jacob a king will come who will have dominion,
and he will destroy the survivors of their city."
20
Then Balaam looked at Amalek and began his prophecy. He said,
"Amalek was once the greatest of nations,
but his end will be eternal destruction."
21
Then Balaam looked toward the Kenites and began his prophecy. He said,
"The place where you live is strong,
and your nest is in the rocks.
22
Nevertheless you Kenites will be consumed by fire
when Assyria carries you away captive."
23
Then Balaam began his final prophecy. He said,
"Woe! Who will survive when God does this?
24
Ships will come from the coast of Cyprus
;
they will attack Assyria and will conquer Eber,
but they, too, will end in destruction."
25
Then Balaam got up and left. He returned to his home, and Balak also went away.
Chapter 25
1
Israel stayed in Shittim, and the men began to prostitute themselves with women of Moab,
2
for the Moabites had invited the people to the sacrifices to their gods. So the people ate and bowed down to Moabite gods.
3
The men of Israel joined in worshiping Baal of Peor, and Yahweh's anger was kindled against Israel.
4
Yahweh said to Moses, "Kill all the leaders of the people and hang them up before me to expose them in the daylight, so that my fierce anger may turn away from Israel."
5
So Moses said to the judges of Israel, "Each of you must kill his people who have joined in worshiping Baal of Peor."
6
Then one of the men of the sons of Israel came and brought among his family members a Midianite woman. This happened in the sight of Moses and all the community of the people of Israel, while they were weeping at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
7
When Phinehas son of Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, saw that, he rose up from among the community and took a spear in his hand.
8
He followed the man of Israel into the tent and thrust the spear through both of their bodies, both the man of Israel and the woman. So a plague that God had sent on the people of Israel stopped.
9
Those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand in number.
10
Yahweh spoke to Moses and said,
11
"Phinehas son of Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, has turned my rage away from the people of Israel because he was passionate with my zeal among them. So I have not consumed the people of Israel in my jealousy.
12
Therefore say, 'Yahweh says, "Look, I am giving to Phinehas my covenant of peace.
13
For him and his descendants after him, it will be a covenant of an everlasting priesthood because he was zealous for me, his God. He has atoned for the people of Israel."'"
14
Now the name of the man of Israel who was killed with the Midianite woman was Zimri son of Salu, a leader of an ancestor's family among the Simeonites.
15
The name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Kozbi daughter of Zur, who was head of a tribe and ancestral household in Midian.
16
So Yahweh spoke to Moses and said,
17
"Treat the Midianites as enemies and attack them,
18
for they treated you like enemies with their deceitfulness. They led you into evil in the case of Peor and in the case of their sister Kozbi, the daughter of a leader in Midian, who was killed on the day of the plague in the matter of Peor."
Chapter 26
1
It came about after the plague that Yahweh spoke to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron the priest. He said,
2
"Count all the community of the people of Israel, from twenty years old and up, by their ancestor's families, all who are able to go to war for Israel."
3
So Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke to them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho and said,
4
"Count the people, from twenty years old and up, as Yahweh commanded Moses and the people of Israel, who came out of the land of Egypt."
5
Reuben was the firstborn of Israel. From his son Hanok came the clan of the Hanokites. From Pallu came the clan of the Palluites.
6
From Hezron came the clan of the Hezronites. From Karmi came the clan of the Karmites.
7
These were the clans of Reuben, who numbered 43,730 men.
8
Eliab was a son of Pallu.
9
Eliab's sons were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. These were the same Dathan and Abiram who were in the company of Korah when they rebelled against Moses and Aaron and rebelled against Yahweh.
10
The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah when all his company died. At that time, fire devoured 250 men, who became a warning sign.
11
But Korah's line did not die out.
12
The clans of Simeon's descendants were these:
Through Nemuel, the clan of the Nemuelites,
through Jamin, the clan of the Jaminites,
through Jakin, the clan of the Jakinites,
13
through Zerah, the clan of the Zerahites,
through Shaul, the clan of the Shaulites.
14
These were the clans of Simeon's descendants, who numbered 22,200 men.
15
The clans of Gad's descendants were these:
Through Zephon, the clan of the Zephonites,
through Haggi, the clan of the Haggites,
through Shuni, the clan of the Shunites,
16
through Ozni, the clan of the Oznites,
through Eri, the clan of the Erites,
17
through Arod, the clan of the Arodites,
through Areli, the clan of the Arelites.
18
These were the clans of Gad's descendants, who numbered 40,500 men.
19
Judah's sons were Er and Onan, but these men died in the land of Canaan.
20
The clans of Judah's other descendants were these:
through Shelah, the clan of the Shelanites,
through Perez, the clan of the Perezites, and
through Zerah, the clan of the Zerahites.
21
The descendants of Perez were these:
Through Hezron, the clan of the Hezronites,
through Hamul, the clan of the Hamulites.
22
These were the clans of Judah's descendants, who numbered 76,500 men.
23
The clans of Issachar's descendants were these:
Through Tola, the clan of the Tolaites,
through Puah, the clan of the Puites,
24
through Jashub, the clan of the Jashubites,
through Shimron, the clan of the Shimronites.
25
These were the clans of Issachar, who numbered 64,300 men.
26
The clans of Zebulun's descendants were these:
Through Sered, the clan of the Seredites,
through Elon, the clan of the Elonites,
through Jahleel, the clan of the Jahleelites.
27
These were the clans of the Zebulunites, who numbered 60,500 men.
28
The clans of Joseph's descendants were Manasseh and Ephraim.
29
The descendants of Manasseh were these:
through Makir, the clan of the Makirites (Makir was Gilead's father),
through Gilead, the clan of the Gileadites.
30
Gilead's descendants were these:
Through Iezer, the clan of the Iezerites,
through Helek, the clan of the Helekites,
31
through Asriel, the clan of the Asrielites,
through Shechem, the clan of the Shechemites,
32
through Shemida, the clan of the Shemidaites,
through Hepher, the clan of the Hepherites.
33
Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons, but only daughters.
The names of his daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah, and Tirzah.
34
These were the clans of Manasseh, who numbered 52,700 men.
35
The clans of Ephraim's descendants were these:
Through Shuthelah, the clan of the Shuthelahites,
through Beker, the clan of the Bekerites,
through Tahan, the clan of the Tahanites.
36
The descendants of Shuthelah were, by Eran, the clan of the Eranites.
37
These were the clans of Ephraim's descendants, who numbered 32,500 men. These were Joseph's descendants, counted in each of their clans.
38
The clans of Benjamin's descendants were these:
Through Bela, the clan of the Belaites,
through Ashbel, the clan of the Ashbelites,
through Ahiram, the clan of the Ahiramites,
39
through Shephupham, the clan of the Shuphamites,
through Hupham, the clan of the Huphamites.
40
The descendants of Bela were Ard and Naaman. From Ard came the clan of the Ardites, and from Naaman came the clan of the Naamites.
41
These were the clans of Benjamin's descendants. They numbered 45,600 men.
42
The clans of Dan's descendants were, by Shuham, the clans of the Shuhamites. These were the clans of Dan's descendants.
43
All the clans of the Shuhamites numbered 64,400 men.
44
The clans of Asher's descendants were these:
Through Imnah, the clan of the Imnites,
through Ishvi, the clan of the Ishvites,
through Beriah, the clan of the Beriites.
45
The descendants of Beriah were these:
Through Heber, the clan of the Heberites,
through Malkiel, the clan of the Malkielites.
46
The name of Asher's daughter was Serah.
47
These were the clans of Asher's descendants, who numbered 53,400 men.
48
The clans of Naphtali's descendants were these:
Through Jahzeel, the clan of the Jahzeelites,
through Guni, the clan of the Gunites,
49
through Jezer, the clan of the Jezerites,
through Shillem, the clan of the Shillemites.
50
These were the clans of Naphtali's descendants, who numbered 45,400 men.
51
This was the complete count of men of Israel: 601,730.
52
Yahweh spoke to Moses and said,
53
"The land must be divided among these men as an inheritance according to the number of their names.
54
To the larger clans you must give more inheritance, and to the smaller clans you must give less inheritance. To every family you must give an inheritance according to the number of men who were counted.
55
However, the land must be divided by random lots. They must inherit the land according to the names of their ancestors' tribes.
56
Their inheritance must be divided among the larger and the smaller clans, distributed to them by random lot."
57
The Levite clans, counted clan by clan, were these:
Through Gershon, the clan of the Gershonites,
through Kohath, the clan of the Kohathites,
through Merari, the clan of the Merarites.
58
The clans of Levi were these:
the clan of the Libnites,
the clan of the Hebronites,
the clan of the Mahlites,
the clan of the Mushites,
and the clan of the Korahites.
Kohath was Amram's ancestor.
59
The name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, a descendant of Levi, who was born to Levites in Egypt. She bore to Amram their children, who were Aaron, Moses, and Miriam their sister.
60
To Aaron were born Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
61
Nadab and Abihu died when they offered before Yahweh unacceptable fire.
62
The males who were counted among them numbered twenty-three thousand, all males one month old and up. But they were not counted among Israel's descendants because no inheritance was given to them among the people of Israel.
63
These are the ones who were counted by Moses and Eleazar the priest. They counted the people of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.
64
But among these there was no man who had been counted by Moses and Aaron the priest when the descendants of Israel were counted in the wilderness of Sinai.
65
For Yahweh had said that all of those people would certainly die in the wilderness. There was not a man left among them, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
Chapter 27
1
Then to Moses came the daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher son of Gilead son of Makir son of Manasseh, of the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. These were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah, and Tirzah.
2
They stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and before all the community at the entrance to the tent of meeting. They said,
3
"Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among the company that gathered themselves together to oppose Yahweh, in the company of Korah. He died for his own sin, and he had no sons.
4
Why should our father's name be taken away from among his clan members because he had no son? Give us a possession among our father's relatives."
5
So Moses brought their case before Yahweh.
6
Yahweh spoke to Moses and said,
7
"Zelophehad's daughters are speaking correctly. You must certainly give them a possession as an inheritance among their father's relatives, and you must ensure that their father's inheritance passes on to them.
8
You must speak to the people of Israel and say, 'If a man dies and has no son, then you must cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter.
9
If he has no daughter, then you must give his inheritance to his brothers.
10
If he has no brothers, then you must give his inheritance to his father's brothers.
11
If his father has no brothers, then you must give his inheritance to his nearest relative in his clan, and he must take it for his own. This will be a law established by decree for the people of Israel, as Yahweh has commanded me.'"
12
Yahweh said to Moses, "Go up this mountain of Abarim and see the land that I have given to the people of Israel.
13
After you have seen it, you, too, must be gathered to your people, like Aaron your brother.
14
This will happen because you two rebelled against my command in the wilderness of Zin during the strife of the congregation. There, when the water flowed from the rock, in your anger you failed to honor me as holy before the eyes of the whole community." These are the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.
15
Then Moses spoke to Yahweh and said,
16
"May you, Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all humanity, appoint a man over the community,
17
a man who may go out and come in before them and lead them out and bring them in, so that your community is not like sheep that have no shepherd."
18
Yahweh said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom my Spirit lives, and lay your hand on him.
19
Place him before Eleazar the priest and before all the community, and command him before their eyes to lead them.
20
You must put some of your authority on him, so that all the community of the people of Israel may obey him.
21
He will go before Eleazar the priest to seek my will for him by the decisions of the Urim. It will be at his command that the people will go out and come in, both he and all the people of Israel with him, the whole community."
22
So Moses did as Yahweh had commanded him. He took Joshua and placed him before Eleazar the priest and all the community.
23
Moses laid his hands on him and commanded him to lead, as Yahweh had commanded him to do.
Chapter 28
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses and said,
2
"Command the people of Israel and say to them, 'You must offer sacrifices to me at the appointed times, the food of my offerings made by fire to produce a sweet aroma for me.'
3
You must also say to them, 'This is the offering made by fire that you must offer to Yahweh—male lambs a year old without blemish, two each day, as a regular burnt offering.
4
One lamb you must offer in the morning, and the other lamb you must offer in the evening.
5
You must offer a tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with one-fourth of a hin of beaten oil.
6
This is the regular burnt offering that was commanded at Mount Sinai to produce a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
7
The drink offering with it must be one-fourth of a hin for one of the lambs. You must pour out in the holy place a drink offering of strong drink to Yahweh.
8
The other lamb you must offer in the evening along with another grain offering like the one offered in the morning. You must also offer another drink offering with it, an offering made by fire, to produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh.
9
On the Sabbath day you must offer two male lambs, each a year old without blemish, and two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with oil, and the drink offering with it.
10
This is to be the burnt offering for every Sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and the drink offering with it.
11
At the beginning of each month, you must offer a burnt offering to Yahweh. You must offer two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old without blemish.
12
You must also offer three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour as a grain offering mixed with oil for each bull, and two-tenths of fine flour as a grain offering mixed with oil for the one ram.
13
You must also offer a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering for each lamb. This is to be the burnt offering, to produce a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
14
The people's drink offerings must be half a hin of wine for a bull, a third of a hin for a ram, and one-fourth of a hin for a lamb. This is to be the burnt offering for every month throughout the months of the year.
15
One male goat as a sin offering to Yahweh must be offered. This will be in addition to the regular burnt offering and the drink offering with it.
16
During the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, comes Yahweh's Passover.
17
On the fifteenth day of this month a feast is to be held. For seven days, bread without yeast must be eaten.
18
On the first day, there must be a holy assembly to honor Yahweh. You must not do regular work on that day.
19
However, you must offer a sacrifice made by fire, a burnt offering to Yahweh. You must offer two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, without blemish.
20
Along with the bull, you must offer a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, and along with the ram, two-tenths.
21
With each of the seven lambs, you must offer a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil,
22
and one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for yourselves.
23
You must offer these in addition to the regular burnt offering required each morning.
24
As described here, you must offer these sacrifices daily, for the seven days of the Passover, the food of the offering made by fire, a sweet aroma for Yahweh. It must be offered in addition to the regular burnt offering and the drink offering with it.
25
On the seventh day you must have a holy assembly to honor Yahweh, and you must not do regular work on that day.
26
Also on the day of the firstfruits, when you offer a new grain offering to Yahweh in your Festival of Weeks, you must have a holy assembly to honor Yahweh, and you must not do regular work on that day.
27
You must offer a burnt offering to produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh. You must offer two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old.
28
Offer also grain offering to go with them: Fine flour mixed with oil, three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for each bull and two-tenths for the one ram.
29
Offer a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for each of the seven lambs,
30
and one male goat to make atonement for yourselves.
31
When you offer those animals without blemish, along with their drink offerings, this must be in addition to the regular burnt offering and the grain offering with it.
Chapter 29
1
In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you must have a holy assembly to honor Yahweh. You must not do regular work on that day. It will be a day when you blow trumpets.
2
You must offer a burnt offering to produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh. You must offer one young bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, each without blemish.
3
You must offer with them their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the ram,
4
and one-tenth for each lamb of the seven lambs.
5
You must offer one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for yourselves.
6
Make these offerings in the seventh month in addition to all of the offerings you will make on the first of each month: the special burnt offering and the grain offering to go with it. These must be in addition to the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offerings. As you make these offerings, you will obey what has been decreed to produce a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
7
On the tenth day of the seventh month you must have a holy assembly to honor Yahweh. You must humble yourselves and do no work.
8
You must offer a burnt offering to produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh. You must offer one young bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old. They must each be without blemish.
9
You must offer with them a grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the one ram,
10
and a tenth of an ephah for each of the seven lambs.
11
You must offer one male goat as a sin offering. This will be in addition to the sin offering of atonement, the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and their drink offerings.
12
On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you must have a holy assembly to honor Yahweh. You must not do regular work on that day, and you must celebrate the festival for him seven days.
13
You must offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire to produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh. You must offer thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old. Each must be without blemish.
14
You must offer with them a grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three-tenths of an ephah for every bull of the thirteen bulls, two-tenths for each ram of the two rams,
15
and a tenth of an ephah for each of the fourteen lambs.
16
You must offer one male goat as a sin offering in addition to the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and the drink offering with it.
17
On the second day of the assembly, you must offer twelve young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, each without blemish.
18
You must make with them a grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, making as many offerings as were commanded.
19
You must offer one male goat as a sin offering in addition to the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and their drink offerings.
20
On the third day of the assembly, you must offer eleven bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, each without blemish.
21
You must make with them a grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, making as many offerings as were commanded.
22
You must offer one male goat as a sin offering in addition to the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and their drink offerings.
23
On the fourth day of the assembly, you must offer ten bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, each without blemish.
24
You must make with them a grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, making as many offerings as were commanded.
25
You must offer one male goat as a sin offering in addition to the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and their drink offerings.
26
On the fifth day of the assembly, you must offer nine bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, each without blemish.
27
You must make with them a grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, making as many offerings as were commanded.
28
You must offer one male goat as a sin offering in addition to the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and their drink offerings.
29
On the sixth day of the assembly, you must offer eight bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, each without blemish.
30
You must make with them a grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, making as many offerings as were commanded.
31
You must offer one male goat as a sin offering in addition to the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and their drink offerings.
32
On the seventh day of the assembly, you must offer seven bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, each without blemish.
33
You must make with them a grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, making as many offerings as were commanded.
34
You must offer one male goat as a sin offering in addition to the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and their drink offerings.
35
On the eighth day you must have another solemn assembly. You must not do regular work on that day.
36
You must make a burnt offering, an offering made by fire to produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh. You must offer one bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, each without blemish.
37
You must offer their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs, making as many offerings as were commanded.
38
You must offer one male goat as a sin offering in addition to the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and their drink offerings.
39
These are what you must offer to Yahweh at your fixed festivals. These must be in addition to your vows and freewill offerings. You must offer these as your burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings, and fellowship offerings.'"
40
Moses told the people of Israel everything that Yahweh had commanded him to say.
Chapter 30
1
Moses spoke to the leaders of the tribes of the people of Israel. He said, "This is what Yahweh has commanded.
2
When a man makes a vow to Yahweh, or swears an oath to bind himself with a binding promise, he must not break his word. He must keep his promise to do everything that comes out of his mouth.
3
When a young woman living in her father's house makes a vow to Yahweh and binds herself with a promise, while within the house of her father,
4
if her father hears the vow and the promise by which she has bound herself, and if he says nothing to reverse her, then all her vows will remain in force, and every pledge by which she has bound herself will stand.
5
But if her father overrules her when he hears about it, none of her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand; Yahweh will forgive her because her father has forbidden her.
6
If she marries a husband after she makes a vow or her lips uttered a rash promise by which she has bound herself,
7
and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her, then her vows will stand, and the pledges by which she bound herself will stand.
8
But if her husband stops her on the day that he hears about it, then he cancels the vow that she has made, the rash talk of her lips with which she has bound herself, and Yahweh will forgive her.
9
But any vow of a widow or a divorced woman will stand against her.
10
If a woman made a vow in her husband's house or bound herself by a promise with an oath,
11
and her husband hears of it but he says nothing to her and he does not oppose her, then all her vows will stand, and every pledge by which she bound herself will stand.
12
But if her husband cancels them on the day that he heard about them, then whatever came out of her lips about her vows or promises will not stand. Her husband has canceled them, and Yahweh will forgive her.
13
Any vow and any binding oath to afflict her, her husband may make it stand or her husband may cancel it.
14
But if her husband says nothing to her from day to day, then he confirms all her vows and binding promises that she has made, and they will stand, because he has said nothing to her on the day that he heard of them.
15
If her husband cancels his wife's vow after he has heard about them, then he will be responsible for her guilt."
16
These are the statutes that Yahweh commanded Moses to announce—statutes for what is between a man and his wife and between a father and his daughter when she is in her youth in her father's family.
Chapter 31
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses and said,
2
"Take vengeance on the Midianites for what they did to the people of Israel. After doing that, you will die and be gathered to your people."
3
So Moses spoke to the people. He said, "Arm some of your men for war so they may go against Midian and carry out Yahweh's vengeance on it.
4
Every tribe throughout Israel must send a thousand soldiers to war."
5
So out of Israel's thousands of men, one thousand from each tribe were provided from the clans of Israel, twelve thousand men armed for war.
6
Then Moses sent them to battle, a thousand from every tribe, along with Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, and with some articles from the holy place and the trumpets in his possession for sounding signals.
7
They fought against Midian, as Yahweh had commanded Moses. They killed every man.
8
They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their dead: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor, with the sword.
9
The army of Israel took captive the women of Midian, their children, all their cattle, all their flocks, and all their goods. They took these as plunder.
10
They burned all their cities where they lived and all their camps.
11
They took all the plunder and prisoners, both people and animals.
12
They brought the prisoners, the booty, and the spoil to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the community of the people of Israel. They brought these to the camp in the plains of Moab, by the Jordan near Jericho.
13
Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the leaders of the community went to meet them outside the camp.
14
But Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who came from serving in the battle.
15
Moses said to them, "Have you let all the women live?
16
Look, these women caused the people of Israel, through Balaam's advice, to commit faithlessness against Yahweh in the matter of Peor, when the plague spread among Yahweh's community.
17
Now then, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known a man by lying with him.
18
But keep alive for yourselves all the young girls who have not known a man by lying with him.
19
All of you who have killed anyone or touched anyone who was killed must stay outside the camp for seven days. On the third day and the seventh day you must purify yourselves and your captives.
20
You must purify every garment and everything made of animal hide and goats' hair, and everything made of wood."
21
Eleazar the priest said to the soldiers who had gone to war, "This is a decreed law that Yahweh has commanded Moses:
22
The gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, and lead,
23
and everything that resists fire, you must put it through the fire, and it will become clean. You must then purify those things with the water of cleansing. Whatever cannot go through the fire you must cleanse with that water.
24
You must wash your clothes on the seventh day, and then you will become clean. Afterward you may come into Israel's camp."
25
Then Yahweh spoke to Moses and said,
26
"You and Eleazar the priest and the heads of the community's ancestral clans are to count all the plundered things that were captured, both men and animals.
27
Divide the plunder into two parts. Divide it between the soldiers who went out to battle and all the rest of the community.
28
Then levy a tax to be given to me from the soldiers who went out to battle. This tax must be one out of every five hundred, whether persons, cattle, donkeys, sheep, or goats.
29
Take this tax from their half and give it to Eleazar the priest for a contribution to Yahweh.
30
Also from the people of Israel's half, you must take one out of every fifty—from the persons, cattle, donkeys, and sheep—from all the animals. Give these to the Levites who perform the duties of my tabernacle."
31
So Moses and Eleazar the priest did as Yahweh had commanded Moses.
32
Now the booty that remained of the spoil that the men of war had plundered was 675,000 sheep,
33
seventy-two thousand cattle,
34
sixty-one thousand donkeys,
35
and thirty-two thousand women who had not known a man by lying with him.
36
The half that was kept for the soldiers numbered 337,000 sheep,
37
and the tax for Yahweh of the sheep was 675.
38
The cattle were thirty-six thousand, from which the tax for Yahweh was seventy-two.
39
The donkeys were 30,500 from which the tax for Yahweh was sixty-one.
40
The persons were sixteen thousand women, from which the tax for Yahweh was thirty-two.
41
Moses took the tax that was to be a contribution presented to Yahweh. He gave it to Eleazar the priest, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
42
As for the people of Israel's half that Moses had taken from the soldiers who had gone to war—
43
the community's half was 337,500 sheep,
44
thirty-six thousand oxen,
45
30,500 donkeys,
46
and sixteen thousand women.
47
From the people of Israel's half, Moses took one out of every fifty, both of people and animals. He gave them to the Levites who performed the duties of Yahweh's tabernacle, as Yahweh had commanded him to do.
48
Then the officers of the army, the commanders over thousands and the captains over hundreds, came to Moses.
49
They said to Moses, "Your servants have counted the soldiers who are under our command, and not one man is missing.
50
We have brought Yahweh's offering, what each man found, articles of gold, armlets and bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and necklaces, to make atonement for ourselves before Yahweh."
51
Moses and Eleazar the priest received from them the gold—all the articles of craftsmanship.
52
All the gold of the contribution that they gave to Yahweh—the offerings from the commanders of thousands and from the captains of hundreds—weighed 16,750 shekels.
53
Each soldier had taken plunder, each man for himself.
54
Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from the commanders of thousands and captains of hundreds. They took it into the tent of meeting as a reminder of the people of Israel for Yahweh.
Chapter 32
1
Now the descendants of Reuben and of Gad had large numbers of livestock. When they saw the land of Jazer and Gilead, the land was a wonderful place for livestock.
2
So the descendants of Gad and Reuben came and spoke to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the leaders of the community. They said,
3
"This is a list of places we have surveyed: Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon.
4
These are the lands that Yahweh attacked before the community of Israel, and they are good places for livestock. We, your servants, have a lot of livestock."
5
They said, "If we have found favor in your eyes, let this land be given to us, your servants, as a possession. Do not make us cross over the Jordan."
6
Moses replied to the descendants of Gad and Reuben, "Should your brothers go to war while you settle down here?
7
Why discourage the hearts of the people of Israel from going over into the land that Yahweh has given them?
8
Your fathers did the same thing when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to examine the land.
9
They went up to the Valley of Eshkol. They saw the land and then discouraged the hearts of the people of Israel so that they refused to enter the land that Yahweh had given them.
10
Yahweh's anger was kindled on that day. He took an oath and said,
11
'Surely none of the men who came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and up, will see the land about which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, because they have not completely followed me, except for
12
Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, and Joshua son of Nun. Only Caleb and Joshua have completely followed me.'
13
So Yahweh's anger was kindled against Israel. He made them wander around in the wilderness for forty years until all the generation who had done evil in his sight was destroyed.
14
Look, you have risen up in your fathers' place, like just more sinful men, to add to Yahweh's burning anger toward Israel.
15
If you turn away from following him, he will again leave Israel in the wilderness and you will have destroyed all this people."
16
So they came near Moses and said, "Allow us to build fences here for our livestock and cities for our families.
17
However, we ourselves will be ready and armed to go with Israel's army until we have led them into their place. But our families will live in the fortified cities because of the other people who still live in this land.
18
We will not return to our houses until every one of the people of Israel has obtained his inheritance.
19
We will not inherit the land with them on the other side of the Jordan, because our inheritance is here on the east side of the Jordan."
20
So Moses replied to them, "If you do what you say, if you arm yourselves to go before Yahweh to war,
21
then every one of your armed men must cross over the Jordan before Yahweh, until he has driven out his enemies from before him
22
and the land is subdued before him. Then afterward you may return. You will be guiltless toward Yahweh and toward Israel. This land will be your possession before Yahweh.
23
But if you do not do so, look, you will have sinned against Yahweh. Be sure that your sin will find you out.
24
Build cities for your families and pens for your sheep; then do what you have said."
25
The descendants of Gad and Reuben spoke to Moses and said, "Your servants will do as you, our master, commands.
26
Our little ones, our wives, our cattle, and all our livestock will stay there in the cities of Gilead.
27
However, we, your servants, every man who is armed for war, will cross over before Yahweh to battle, as our master says."
28
So Moses gave instructions concerning them to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua son of Nun, and to the leaders of the ancestor's clans in the tribes of the people of Israel.
29
Moses said to them, "If the descendants of Gad and Reuben cross over the Jordan with you, every man who is armed to battle before Yahweh, and if the land is subdued before you, then you will give them the land of Gilead as a possession.
30
But if they do not cross over with you armed, then they will acquire their possessions among you in the land of Canaan."
31
So the descendants of Gad and Reuben answered and said, "As Yahweh has said to us, your servants, this is what we will do.
32
We will cross over armed before Yahweh into the land of Canaan, but our possessed inheritance will remain with us on this side of the Jordan."
33
So to the descendants of Gad and Reuben, and also to the half tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph, Moses gave the kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and of Og, king of Bashan. He gave to them the land, and distributed to them all its cities with their borders, the cities of the land around them.
34
The descendants of Gad rebuilt Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer,
35
Atroth Shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah,
36
Beth Nimrah, and Beth Haran as fortified cities with pens for sheep.
37
The descendants of Reuben rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,
38
Nebo, Baal Meon—their names were later changed, and Sibmah. They gave other names to the cities that they rebuilt.
39
The descendants of Makir son of Manasseh went to Gilead and took it away from the Amorites who were in it.
40
Then Moses gave Gilead to the Makirites, the descendants of Manasseh, and his people settled there.
41
Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, went and captured its towns and called them Havvoth Jair.
42
Nobah went and captured Kenath and its villages, and he called it Nobah, after his own name.
Chapter 33
1
These were the movements of the people of Israel after they left the land of Egypt by their armed groups under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.
2
Moses wrote down the places from where they left to where they went, as commanded by Yahweh. These were their movements, departure after departure.
3
They traveled from Rameses during the first month, leaving on the fifteenth day of the first month. On the morning after the Passover, the people of Israel left openly, in the sight of all the Egyptians.
4
This happened while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, those whom Yahweh had killed among them, for he also made judgments against their gods.
5
The people of Israel set out from Rameses and camped at Sukkoth.
6
They set out from Sukkoth and camped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness.
7
They set out from Etham and turned back to Pi Hahiroth, which is opposite Baal Zephon, where they camped opposite Migdol.
8
Then they set out from opposite Pi Hahiroth and passed through the middle of the sea into the wilderness. They traveled three days' journey into the wilderness of Etham and camped at Marah.
9
They set out from Marah and arrived at Elim. At Elim were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees. That is where they camped.
10
They set out from Elim and camped by the Sea of Reeds.
11
They set out from the Sea of Reeds and camped in the wilderness of Sin.
12
They set out from the wilderness of Sin and camped at Dophkah.
13
They set out from Dophkah and camped at Alush.
14
They set out from Alush and camped at Rephidim, where no water was found for the people to drink.
15
They set out from Rephidim and camped in the wilderness of Sinai.
16
They set out from the wilderness of Sinai and camped at Kibroth Hattaavah.
17
They set out from Kibroth Hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth.
18
They set out from Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah.
19
They set out from Rithmah and camped at Rimmon Perez.
20
They set out from Rimmon Perez and camped at Libnah.
21
They set out from Libnah and camped at Rissah.
22
They set out from Rissah and camped at Kehelathah.
23
They set out from Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher.
24
They set out from Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah.
25
They set out from Haradah and camped at Makheloth.
26
They set out from Makheloth and camped at Tahath.
27
They set out from Tahath and camped at Terah.
28
They set out from Terah and camped at Mithkah.
29
They set out from Mithkah and camped at Hashmonah.
30
They set out from Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth.
31
They set out from Moseroth and camped at Bene Jaakan.
32
They set out from Bene Jaakan and camped at Hor Haggidgad.
33
They set out from Hor Haggidgad and camped at Jotbathah.
34
They set out from Jotbathah and camped at Abronah.
35
They set out from Abronah and camped at Ezion Geber.
36
They set out from Ezion Geber and camped in the wilderness of Zin at Kadesh.
37
They set out from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, at the edge of the land of Edom.
38
Aaron the priest went up Mount Hor at Yahweh's command and died there in the fortieth year after the people of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fifth month, on the first day of the month.
39
Aaron was 123 years old when he died on Mount Hor.
40
The Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the southern wilderness in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the people of Israel.
41
They set out from Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah.
42
They set out from Zalmonah and camped at Punon.
43
They set out from Punon and camped at Oboth.
44
They set out from Oboth and camped at Iye Abarim, on the border of Moab.
45
They set out from Iye Abarim and camped at Dibon Gad.
46
They set out from Dibon Gad and camped at Almon Diblathaim.
47
They set out from Almon Diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim, opposite Nebo.
48
They set out from the mountains of Abarim and camped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.
49
They camped by the Jordan, from Beth Jeshimoth to Abel Shittim in the plains of Moab.
50
Yahweh spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho and said,
51
"Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, 'When you cross over the Jordan into the land of Canaan,
52
then you must drive out all the land's inhabitants before you. You must destroy all their carved figures. You must destroy all their cast metal images and demolish all their high places.
53
You must take possession of the land and settle in it, because I have given you the land to possess.
54
You must inherit the land by lot, according to each clan. To the larger clans you must give a larger share of land, and to the smaller clans you must give a smaller share of land. Wherever the lot falls to each clan, that land will belong to it. You will inherit the land according to your ancestors' tribes.
55
But if you do not drive out the land's inhabitants before you, then the people you allow to stay will become like objects in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will make your lives difficult in the land where you settle.
56
Then it will happen that what I now intend to do to those people, I will do also to you.'"
Chapter 34
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses and said,
2
"Command the people of Israel and say to them, 'When you enter the land of Canaan, the land that will belong to you, the land of Canaan and its borders,
3
your southern border will extend from the wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom. The eastern end of the southern border will be on a line that ends at the southern end of the Salt Sea.
4
Your border will turn south from the hill of Akrabbim and pass along through the wilderness of Zin. From there, it will run south of Kadesh Barnea and continue to Hazar Addar and further to Azmon.
5
From there, the border will turn from Azmon toward the brook of Egypt and follow it to the sea.
6
The western border will be the coastline of the Great Sea. This will be your western border.
7
Your northern border will extend along a line that you must mark out from the Great Sea to Mount Hor,
8
then from Mount Hor to Lebo Hamath, then on to Zedad.
9
Then the border will continue to Ziphron and end at Hazar Enan. This will be your northern border.
10
Then you must mark out your eastern border from Hazar Enan south to Shepham.
11
Then the eastern border will go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain. The border will continue along the east side of the Sea of Kinnereth.
12
Then the border will continue south along the Jordan River to the Salt Sea and continue down the eastern border of the Salt Sea. This will be your land, following its borders all around.'"
13
Then Moses commanded the people of Israel and said, "This is the land that you will receive by lot as a possession, which Yahweh has commanded to give to the nine tribes and to the half tribe.
14
The tribe of the descendants of Reuben, following the assignment of property to their ancestor's tribe, and the tribe of the descendants of Gad, following the assignment of property to their ancestor's tribe, and the half tribe of Manasseh have all received their land.
15
The two tribes and the half tribe have received their possession beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, toward the sunrise."
16
Yahweh spoke to Moses and said,
17
"These are the names of the men who will divide the land for your inheritance: Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun.
18
You must choose one leader from every tribe to divide the land as their possession.
19
These are the names of the men:
From the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh.
20
From the tribe of the descendants of Simeon, Shemuel son of Ammihud.
21
From the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad son of Kislon.
22
From of the tribe of the descendants of Dan a leader, Bukki son of Jogli.
23
From the descendants of Joseph, of the tribe of the descendants of Manasseh a leader, Hanniel son of Ephod.
24
From the tribe of the descendants of Ephraim a leader, Kemuel son of Shiphtan.
25
From the tribe of the descendants of Zebulun a leader, Elizaphan son of Parnak.
26
From the tribe of the descendants of Issachar a leader, Paltiel son of Azzan.
27
From the tribe of the descendants of Asher a leader, Ahihud son of Shelomi.
28
From the tribe of the descendants of Naphtali a leader, Pedahel son of Ammihud."
29
Yahweh commanded these men to divide the land of Canaan and to give it to each of the tribes of Israel as their possession.
Chapter 35
1
Yahweh spoke to Moses on the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho and said,
2
"Command the people of Israel to give some of their own shares of the inheritance that they possess to the Levites. They must give them cities to live in and pastureland surrounding those cities.
3
The Levites will have these cities to live in. The pastureland will be for their cattle, their flocks, and all their other animals.
4
The pasturelands around the cities that you will give to the Levites must extend from the city walls for one thousand cubits in every direction.
5
You must measure two thousand cubits from outside the city on the east side, and two thousand cubits to the south side, two thousand cubits to the west side, and two thousand cubits to the north side. This will be the pasturelands for their cities. The cities will be in the center.
6
Six of the cities that you will give to Levites must serve as cities of refuge. You must provide these as places to which a person who has killed someone can flee. Also provide forty-two other cities.
7
The cities that you give to the Levites will total forty-eight. You must give their pasturelands with them.
8
As for the cities which you will give from the possession of the children of Israel, from tribes with many you shall take many, and from tribes with few you shall take few. Every tribe according to its inheritance shall give some of his cities to the Levites."
9
Then Yahweh spoke to Moses and said,
10
"Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, 'When you cross over the Jordan into the land of Canaan,
11
then you must choose cities to serve as cities of refuge for you, a place to which a person who has killed someone unintentionally may flee.
12
These cities must be your refuge from the avenger, so that the killer will not die without first standing trial before the community.
13
You must choose six cities as cities of refuge.
14
You must provide three cities beyond the Jordan and three in the land of Canaan. They will be cities of refuge.
15
For the people of Israel, for the foreigner, and for the sojourner, these six cities will serve as a refuge to which anyone who kills someone unintentionally can flee.
16
But if an accused man has struck his victim with an instrument of iron, and if his victim dies, then the accused is indeed a murderer. He must certainly be put to death.
17
If an accused man has struck his victim with a stone in his hand that might kill the victim, and if his victim dies, then the accused is indeed a murderer. He must certainly be put to death.
18
If an accused man has struck his victim with a wooden weapon that might kill the victim, and if the victim dies, then the accused is indeed a murderer. He must certainly be put to death.
19
The avenger of blood must put the murderer to death. When he meets him, the avenger of blood must put him to death.
20
If he strikes another in hatred or throws something at him, while hiding to ambush him, so that the victim dies,
21
or if he strikes him down in hatred with his hand so that the victim dies, then the accused who struck him must surely be put to death. He is a murderer. The avenger of blood may put the murderer to death when he meets him.
22
But if an accused man suddenly hits a victim without premeditated hate or throws something that hits the victim without lying in wait
23
or if he throws a stone that could kill a victim without seeing the victim, then the accused was not the victim's enemy; he was not trying to hurt the victim. But this is what to do if the victim dies anyway.
24
In that case, the community must judge between the accused and the avenger of blood on the basis of these rules.
25
The community must rescue the killer from the power of the avenger of blood. The community must return the accused to the city of refuge to which he had originally fled. He must live there until the death of the current high priest, the one who was anointed with the holy oil.
26
But if the killer at any time goes beyond the border of the city of refuge to which he fled,
27
and if the avenger of blood finds him outside the border of his city of refuge, and if he kills the killer, the avenger of blood will not be guilty of murder.
28
This is because the accused man should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. After the death of the high priest, the killer may return to the land where he has his own property.
29
These laws must be statutes for you through all your people's generations in all the places where you live.
30
Whoever kills any person, the murderer must be killed, as testified to by the words of witnesses. But one witness's word alone may not cause any person to be put to death.
31
Also, you must not accept ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of murder. He must certainly be put to death.
32
You must not accept ransom for the one who has fled to a city of refuge. You must not in this way allow him to reside on his own property until the high priest dies.
33
Do not pollute in this way the land where you live, because blood from murder pollutes the land. No atonement can be made for the land when blood has been shed on it, except by the blood of the one who shed it.
34
So you must not defile the land in which you live because I am living in it. I, Yahweh, live among the people of Israel.'"
Chapter 36
1
Then the leaders of the ancestors' families of the clan of Gilead son of Makir (who was Manasseh's son), who were from the clans of the descendants of Joseph, came and spoke before Moses and before the leaders who were the heads of the ancestor's families of the people of Israel.
2
They said, "Yahweh commanded you, our master, to give a share of land by lot to the people of Israel. You were commanded by Yahweh to give the possession of Zelophehad our brother to his daughters.
3
But if his daughters marry men in another tribe of the people of Israel, then their share of land will be removed from our ancestor's share. It will be added to the share of the tribes that they join. In that case, it will be removed from the assigned share of our inheritance.
4
In that case, when the year of Jubilee of the people of Israel comes, then their possession will be joined to the possession of the tribe that they have joined. In this way, their possession will be taken away from the possession of our ancestors' tribe."
5
So Moses gave a command to the people of Israel, at Yahweh's word. He said, "What the tribe of Joseph's descendants says is right.
6
This is what Yahweh commands concerning Zelophehad's daughters. He says, 'Let them be married to whom they think best, but they must marry only within the clan of the tribe of their father.'
7
No possession of the people of Israel must change from one tribe to another. Each one of the people of Israel must continue with the possession of his ancestor's tribe.
8
Every woman of the people of Israel who has a possession in her tribe must marry someone from the clans belonging to her father's tribe. This is so that everyone of the people of Israel may own an inheritance from his ancestors.
9
No share may change hands from one tribe to another. Everyone of the tribes of the people of Israel must keep his own inheritance."
10
So Zelophehad's daughters did as Yahweh had commanded Moses.
11
Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milkah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, married descendants of Manasseh.
12
They married into the clans of the descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph. In this way, their inheritances remained in the tribe to which their father's clan belonged.
13
These are the commands and the decrees that Yahweh gave by Moses to the people of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.
Deuteronomy
Chapter 1
1
These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain of the Jordan River valley over against Suph, between Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab.
2
It is eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea.
3
It happened in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spoke to the people of Israel, telling them all that Yahweh commanded him concerning them.
4
This was after Yahweh had attacked Sihon the king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth at Edrei.
5
Beyond the Jordan, in the land of Moab, Moses began to announce these instructions, saying,
6
"Yahweh our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying, 'You have lived long enough in this hill country.
7
Turn and take your journey, and go to the hill country of the Amorites and to all the places near there in the plain of the Jordan River valley, in the hill country, in the lowlands, in the Negev, and by the seashore—the land of the Canaanites, and in Lebanon as far as the great river, the Euphrates.
8
Look, I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land that Yahweh swore to your fathers—to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob—to give to them and to their descendants after them.'
9
I spoke to you at that time, saying, 'I am not able to carry you myself alone.
10
Yahweh your God has multiplied you, and, look, you are today as the multitude of the stars of heaven.
11
May Yahweh, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as you are, and bless you, as he has promised you!
12
But how can I myself alone carry your loads, your burdens, and your disputes?
13
Take wise men, understanding men, and men of good repute from each tribe, and I will make them heads over you.'
14
You answered me and said, 'The thing that you have spoken is good for us to do.'
15
So I took the heads of your tribes, wise men, and men of good repute, and made them heads over you, captains of thousands, captains of hundreds, captains of fifties, captains of tens, and officers, tribe by tribe.
16
I commanded your judges at that time, saying, 'Hear the disputes between your brothers, and judge righteously between a man and his brother, and the foreigner who is with him.
17
You will not show partiality to anyone in a dispute; you will hear the small and the great alike. You will not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God's. The dispute that is too hard for you, you will bring to me, and I will hear it.'
18
I commanded you at that time all the things that you should do.
19
We journeyed away from Horeb and went through all that great and terrible wilderness that you saw, on our way to the hill country of the Amorites, as Yahweh our God had commanded us; and we came to Kadesh Barnea.
20
I said to you, 'You have come to the hill country of the Amorites, which Yahweh our God is giving to us.
21
Look, Yahweh your God has set the land before you; go up, take possession, as Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has spoken to you; do not be afraid, neither be discouraged.'
22
Every one of you came to me and said, 'Let us send men ahead of us, so that they may search out the land for us, and bring us word about the way by which we should attack, and about the cities to which we will come.'
23
The advice pleased me well; I took twelve men of you, one man for every tribe.
24
They turned and went up into the hill country, came to the Valley of Eshkol, and scouted it.
25
They took some of the produce of the land in their hands and brought it down to us. They also brought us word and said, 'It is a good land that Yahweh our God is giving to us.'
26
Yet you refused to attack, but rebelled against the commandment of Yahweh your God.
27
You complained in your tents and said, "It is because Yahweh hated us that he has brought us out of the land of Egypt, to give us into the hand of the Amorites to destroy us.
28
Where can we go now? Our brothers have made our heart to melt, saying, 'Those people are bigger and taller than we are; their cities are large and are fortified up to the heavens; moreover, we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.'"
29
Then I said to you, 'Do not be terrified, neither be afraid of them.
30
Yahweh your God, who goes before you, he will fight for you, like everything that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes,
31
and also in the wilderness, where you have seen how Yahweh your God carried you, as a man carries his son, everywhere you went until you came to this place.'
32
Yet in spite of this word you did not believe Yahweh your God,
33
who went before you on the way to find a place for you to make camp, in fire by night and in a cloud by day.
34
Yahweh heard the sound of your words and was angry; he swore and said,
35
'Surely not one of these men of this evil generation will see the good land that I swore to give to your ancestors,
36
except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it and I will give him and his descendants the land that he has stepped on, because he wholly followed Yahweh.'
37
Also Yahweh was angry with me because of you, saying, 'You also will not go in there;
38
Joshua son of Nun, who stands before you, he will go in there; encourage him, for he will lead Israel to inherit it.
39
Moreover, your little children, the ones you said would be victims, who today have no knowledge of good or evil—they will go in there. To them I will give it, and they will possess it.
40
But as for you, turn and take your journey into the wilderness along the way to the Sea of Reeds.'
41
Then you answered and said to me, 'We have sinned against Yahweh; we will go up and fight, and we will follow all that Yahweh our God has commanded us to do.' Every man among you girded on his weapons of war, and you were ready to attack the hill country.
42
Yahweh said to me, 'Say to them, "Do not attack and do not fight, for I will not be with you, and you will be defeated by your enemies.'
43
I spoke to you in this way, but you did not listen. You rebelled against the commandment of Yahweh; you were arrogant and attacked the hill country.
44
But the Amorites, who lived in that hill country, came out against you and chased you like bees, and crushed you in Seir, as far as Hormah.
45
You returned and wept before Yahweh; but Yahweh did not listen to your voice, nor did he pay attention to you.
46
So you stayed in Kadesh many days, all the days that you stayed there.
Chapter 2
1
Then we turned and took our journey into the wilderness by the way to the Sea of Reeds, as Yahweh had spoken to me; we went around Mount Seir for many days.
2
Yahweh spoke to me, saying,
3
'You have gone around this mountain long enough; turn northward.
4
Command the people, saying, "You are to pass through the border of your brothers, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir; they will be afraid of you. Therefore be careful
5
not to fight with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not even enough for the sole of a foot to step on; for I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.
6
You will purchase food from them for money, so that you may eat; you will also buy water from them for money, so that you may drink.
7
For Yahweh your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand; he has known your walking through this great wilderness. For these forty years Yahweh your God has been with you, and you have lacked nothing."'
8
So we passed by our brothers, the descendants of Esau who live in Seir, away from the Arabah road, from Elath and from Ezion Geber. Then we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.
9
Yahweh said to me, 'Do not trouble Moab, and do not fight with them in battle. For I will not give you his land for your own possession, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot, for their possession.'
10
(The Emites lived there previously, a people as great, as many, and as tall as the Anakim;
11
these also are considered to be the Rephaim, like the Anakim; but the Moabites call them the Emites.
12
The Horites also lived in Seir previously, but the descendants of Esau succeeded them. They destroyed them from before them and lived in their place, like Israel did to the land of his possession that Yahweh gave to them.)
13
"'Now rise up and go over the brook Zered.' So we went over the brook Zered.
14
Now the days from when we came from Kadesh Barnea until we crossed the brook Zered, were thirty-eight years. It was by that time that all that generation of the men fit for fighting were gone from the people, as Yahweh had sworn to them.
15
Moreover, the hand of Yahweh was against that generation in order to destroy them from the people until they were gone.
16
So it happened, when all the men fit for fighting were dead and gone from among the people,
17
that Yahweh spoke to me, saying,
18
'You are today to pass over Ar, the border of Moab.
19
When you come near opposite the people of Ammon, do not trouble them or fight them; for I will not give you any of the land of the people of Ammon as a possession; because I have given it to the descendants of Lot as a possession.'"
20
(That also is considered to be a land of the Rephaim. The Rephaim lived there previously—but the Ammonites call them Zamzummim—
21
a people as great, as many, and as tall as the Anakim. But Yahweh destroyed them before the Ammonites, and they succeeded them and lived in their place.
22
This Yahweh also did for the people of Esau, who live in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites from before them, and the descendants of Esau succeeded them and have lived in their place even until today.
23
As for the Avvites who lived in villages as far as Gaza, the Caphtorim, who came from Caphtor, destroyed them and settled in their place.)
24
"'Now rise up, go on your journey, and pass over the Valley of the Arnon; look, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to possess it, and fight with him in battle.
25
Today I will begin to put the fear and terror of you on the peoples that are under the whole sky; they will hear a report about you and will tremble and be in anguish because of you.'
26
I sent messengers from the wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon, king of Heshbon, with words of peace, saying,
27
'Let me pass through your land; I will go along the highway; I will turn neither to the right hand nor to the left.
28
You will sell me food for money, so that I may eat; give me water for money, so that I may drink; only let me pass through on my feet;
29
as the descendants of Esau who live in Seir, and as the Moabites who live in Ar, did for me; until I pass over the Jordan into the land that Yahweh our God is giving us.'
30
But Sihon, king of Heshbon, would not let us pass by him; for Yahweh your God had hardened his mind and made his heart obstinate, that he might defeat him by your might, which he has now done today.
31
Yahweh said to me, 'Look, I have begun to deliver up Sihon and his land before you; begin to possess it, in order that you may inherit his land.'
32
Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz.
33
Yahweh our God gave him over to us and we defeated him and his sons and all his people.
34
We took all his cities at that time and completely destroyed every city—men and the women and the little ones; we left no survivor.
35
Only the livestock we took as booty for ourselves, along with the spoil of the cities that we had taken.
36
From Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and from the city that is in the valley, all the way to Gilead, there was not a city too high for us. Yahweh our God gave them into our hands.
37
It was only to the land of the descendants of Ammon that you did not go, as well as all the side of the Jabbok River, and the cities of the hill country—wherever Yahweh our God had forbidden us to go.
Chapter 3
1
Then we turned and went up the way to Bashan. Og, the king of Bashan, came and attacked us, he and all his people, to fight at Edrei.
2
Yahweh said to me, 'Do not fear him; for I have given you victory over him and have put all his people and his land under your control. You will do to him as you did to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.'
3
So Yahweh our God also gave us victory over Og the king of Bashan, and all his people were put under our control. We struck them down until not one survivor remained for him.
4
We took all his cities at that time. There was not one of the sixty cities that we did not take from them—all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan.
5
These were all cities fortified with high walls, gates, and bars; this was besides very many unwalled villages.
6
We completely destroyed them, as we did to Sihon king of Heshbon, completely destroying every city—men and the women and the little ones.
7
But all the livestock and the spoil of the cities we took as booty for ourselves.
8
At that time we took the land out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan, from the Valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon
9
(Mount Hermon is called Sirion by the Sidonians, and the Amorites call it Senir)
10
and all the cities of the plain, all Gilead, and all Bashan, all the way to Salekah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan."
11
(For of the remnant of the Rephaim, only Og king of Bashan had remained. Look! His bed was a bed of iron. Was it not in Rabbah, where the descendants of Ammon live? It was nine cubits long and four cubits wide, the way people measure.)
12
"This land that we took in possession at that time—from Aroer, that is by the Valley of the Arnon, and half the hill country of Gilead, and its cities—I gave to the Reubenites and to the Gadites.
13
The rest of Gilead and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, I gave to the half tribe of Manasseh. (All the region of Argob in Bashan was called the land of Rephaim.
14
Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, took all the region of Argob to the border of the Geshurites and the Maakathites. He called the region, even Bashan, by his own name, Havvoth Jair, to this day.)
15
I gave Gilead to Makir.
16
To the Reubenites and to the Gadites I gave territory from Gilead to the Valley of the Arnon—the middle of the valley is the territory's border—and to the Jabbok River, which is the border with the descendants of Ammon.
17
Another of its borders is also the plain of the Jordan River valley, from Kinnereth to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Salt Sea) to the slopes of Mount Pisgah eastward.
18
I commanded you at that time, saying, 'Yahweh your God has given you this land to possess it; you, all the men of war, will pass over armed before your brothers, the people of Israel.
19
But your wives, your little ones, and your livestock (I know that you have much livestock), will stay in your cities that I have given you,
20
until Yahweh gives rest to your brothers, as he has to you, until they also possess the land that Yahweh your God is giving them beyond the Jordan; then will you return, every man of you, to your own property that I have given you.'
21
I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, 'Your eyes have seen all that Yahweh your God has done to these two kings; Yahweh will do the same to all the kingdoms where you go over.
22
You will not fear them, for Yahweh your God is the one who will fight for you.'
23
I earnestly appealed to Yahweh at that time, saying,
24
'O Lord Yahweh, you have begun to show your servant your greatness and your strong hand; for what god is there in heaven or in earth that can do the same works as you have done, and the same mighty acts?
25
Let me go over, I beg you, and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, that good hill country, and also Lebanon.'
26
But Yahweh was angry with me because of you; he did not listen to me. Yahweh said to me, 'Let this be enough for you—speak no more to me about this matter:
27
go up to the top of Pisgah and lift up your eyes westward, northward, southward, and eastward; look with your eyes, for you will not go over the Jordan.
28
Instead, instruct Joshua and encourage and strengthen him, for he will go over before this people, and he will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.'
29
So we stayed in the valley opposite Beth Peor.
Chapter 4
1
Now, Israel, listen to the laws and the decrees that I am about to teach you, to do them; so that you may live and go in and possess the land that Yahweh, the God of your fathers, is giving you.
2
You will not add to the words that I command you, neither will you diminish them, so that you may keep the commandments of Yahweh your God that I am about to command you.
3
Your eyes have seen what Yahweh did because of Baal Peor; for all the men who followed the Baal of Peor, Yahweh your God has destroyed them from among you.
4
But you who clung to Yahweh your God are alive today, every one of you.
5
Look, I have taught you laws and decrees, as Yahweh my God had commanded me, that you should do so in the midst of the land which you are going into in order to possess it.
6
Therefore keep them and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear about all these statutes and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'
7
For what other great nation is there that has a god so near to them, as Yahweh our God is whenever we call upon him?
8
What other great nation is there that has laws and decrees so righteous as all this law that I am setting before you today?
9
Only pay attention and carefully guard yourself, so that you do not forget the things that your eyes have seen, so that they do not leave your heart for all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children.
10
On the day that you stood before Yahweh your God at Horeb, when Yahweh said to me, 'Assemble me the people, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.'
11
You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain. The mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness.
12
Yahweh spoke to you out of the middle of the fire; you heard the voice with its words, but you saw no form; you only heard a voice.
13
He declared to you his covenant that he commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments. He wrote them on two tablets of stone.
14
Yahweh commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and rules, so that you might do them in the land that you are crossing over to take possession of it.
15
So watch yourselves carefully—for you saw no kind of form on the day that Yahweh spoke to you at Horeb out of the middle of the fire—
16
that you do not corrupt yourselves by making a carved image in the form of any figure, in the likeness of male or female,
17
the likeness of any animal on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the heavens,
18
the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, or the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth.
19
You must not lift your eyes up to the heavens and look at the sun, the moon, or the stars—all the host of the heavens—and be drawn away to worship them and adore them—those things of which Yahweh your God has given a share to all the peoples under all the heavens.
20
But Yahweh has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be to him a people of his own inheritance, as you are today.
21
Yahweh was angry with me because of you; he swore that I would not go over the Jordan, and that I would not go into the good land that Yahweh your God is giving to you as an inheritance.
22
Rather, I must die in this land; I must not go over the Jordan. But you will go over and possess that good land.
23
Pay attention to yourselves, so that you do not forget the covenant of Yahweh your God, which he made with you, and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of anything that Yahweh your God has forbidden you to make.
24
For Yahweh your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God.
25
When you beget children and children's children, and when you will have been in the land for a long time, and if you corrupt yourselves and make a carved figure in the form of anything, and do what is evil in the sight of Yahweh your God, to provoke him to anger—
26
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that you will soon utterly perish from off the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess; you will not prolong your days in it, but you will be completely destroyed.
27
Yahweh will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations, where Yahweh will lead you away.
28
There you will serve other gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, hear, eat, nor smell.
29
But from there you will seek Yahweh your God, and you will find him, when you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.
30
When you are in distress, and when all these things will have come on you, in those later days you will return to Yahweh your God and listen to his voice.
31
For Yahweh your God is a merciful God; he will not fail you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers that he swore to them.
32
Ask now about the days that are past, which were before your time, since the day that God created man on the earth, ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether there has been anything so great as this, or has anything like it ever been heard?
33
Did ever a people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and live?
34
Or has God ever attempted to go and take for himself a nation from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, as everything that Yahweh your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
35
To you these things were shown, so that you might know that Yahweh is God, and that there is no one else besides him.
36
Out of heaven he made you to hear his voice, so that he might instruct you; on earth he made you see his great fire; you heard his words out of the midst of the fire.
37
Because he loved your fathers, he chose their descendants after them, and brought you out of Egypt with his presence, with his great power;
38
in order to drive out from before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land as an inheritance, as today.
39
Know therefore today, and lay it on your heart, that Yahweh is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no one else.
40
You will keep his statutes and his commandments that I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land that Yahweh your God is giving you forever."
41
Then Moses selected three cities on the east side of the Jordan,
42
so that anyone might flee to one of them if he killed another person accidentally, without being his enemy previously. By fleeing to one of these cities, he might survive.
43
They were: Bezer in the wilderness, the plain country, for the Reubenites; Ramoth in Gilead, for the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, for the Manassites.
44
This is the law that Moses placed before the people of Israel;
45
these are the covenant decrees, laws, and ordinances that he spoke to the people of Israel when they came out of Egypt,
46
when they were east of the Jordan, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, in the land of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who had lived at Heshbon, whom Moses and the people of Israel had defeated when they came out of Egypt.
47
They took his land as a possession, and the land of Og king of Bashan—these, the two kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan toward the east.
48
This territory went from Aroer, on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, to Mount Siyon (or Mount Hermon),
49
and included all of the plain of the Jordan River valley, eastward beyond the Jordan, to the Sea of the Arabah, to the slopes of Mount Pisgah.
Chapter 5
1
Moses called to all Israel and said to them, "Listen, Israel, to the statutes and the decrees that I will speak in your ears today, that you may learn them and keep them.
2
Yahweh our God made a covenant with us at Horeb.
3
Yahweh did not make this covenant with our ancestors, but with us, all of us alive here today.
4
Yahweh spoke with you face to face on the mount out of the middle of the fire
5
(I stood between Yahweh and you at that time, to reveal to you his word; for you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up the mountain). Yahweh said,
6
'I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
7
You will have no other gods before me.
8
You will not make for yourself a carved figure nor any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water below.
9
You will not bow down to them or serve them, for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God. I punish the ancestors' wickedness by bringing punishment on the children, to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
10
and showing steadfast love to thousands, to those who love me and keep my commandments.
11
You will not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain, for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain.
12
Observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy, as Yahweh your God commanded you.
13
For six days you will labor and do all your work;
14
but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your God. On it you will not do any work—not you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your animals, nor any foreigner who is within your gates. This is so that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.
15
You will call to mind that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm. Therefore Yahweh your God has commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.
16
Honor your father and your mother, as Yahweh your God has commanded you to do, that you may live a long time in the land that Yahweh your God gives you, and so that it may go well with you.
17
You will not murder.
18
You will not commit adultery.
19
You will not steal.
20
You will not give false witness against your neighbor.
21
You will not covet your neighbor's wife, you will not covet your neighbor's house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.'
22
These words Yahweh spoke in a loud voice to all your assembly on the mountain out of the middle of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness; he did not add any more words. He wrote them down on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.
23
It came about, when you heard the voice out of the middle of the darkness, while the mountain was burning, that you came near to me—all your elders and the heads of your tribes.
24
You said, 'Look, Yahweh our God has shown us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the middle of the fire; we have seen today that when God speaks with people, they can live.
25
But why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of Yahweh our God any longer, we will die.
26
For who besides us is there among all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speak out of the middle of the fire and lived, as we have done?
27
As for you, you should go and listen to everything that Yahweh our God says; repeat to us everything that Yahweh our God says to you; we will listen to it and obey it.'
28
Yahweh heard your words when you spoke to me. He said to me, 'I have heard the words of this people, what they said to you. What they said was good.
29
Oh, that there were such a heart in them, that they would honor me and always keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their children forever!
30
Go say to them, "Return to your tents."
31
But as for you, stand here by me, and I will tell you all the commandments, the statutes, and the decrees that you will teach them, so that they may keep them in the land that I will give them to possess.'
32
You will keep, therefore, what Yahweh your God has commanded you; you will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
33
You will walk in all the ways that Yahweh your God has commanded you, so that you may live, and so that it may go well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land that you will possess.
Chapter 6
1
Now these are the commandments, statutes, and decrees that Yahweh your God has commanded me to teach you, so that you might keep them in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess;
2
so that you might honor Yahweh your God, so as to keep all his statutes and commandments that I am commanding you—you, your sons, and your sons' sons, all the days of your lives, so that your days may be prolonged.
3
Therefore listen to them, Israel, and keep them, so that it may go well with you, so that you may greatly multiply, in a land flowing with milk and honey, as Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has promised you would do.
4
Listen, Israel: Yahweh our God, Yahweh is one.
5
You will love Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.
6
The words that I am commanding you today will be in your heart;
7
and you will diligently teach them to your children; you will talk about them when you sit in your house, when you walk on the road, when you lie down, and when you get up.
8
You will tie them as a sign upon your hand, and they will serve as frontlets between your eyes.
9
You will write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
10
When Yahweh your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, that he would give you, with large and very good cities that you did not build,
11
and houses full of all kinds of good things that you did not make, cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant, you will eat and be satisfied—
12
then be careful so that you do not forget Yahweh, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
13
You will honor Yahweh your God; him you will worship, and you will swear by his name.
14
You will not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you—
15
for Yahweh your God in the midst of you is a jealous God—if you do, the anger of Yahweh your God will be kindled against you and he will destroy you from the surface of the earth.
16
You will not test Yahweh your God as you tested him at Massah.
17
You will diligently keep the commandments of Yahweh your God, his solemn commands, and his statutes, that he has commanded you.
18
You will do what is right and good in the sight of Yahweh, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and possess the good land that Yahweh swore to your fathers,
19
to drive out all your enemies from before you, as Yahweh has said.
20
When your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What are the covenant decrees, the statutes, and the other decrees that Yahweh our God commanded you?'
21
then you will say to your son, 'We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt; Yahweh brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand,
22
and he displayed signs and wonders, great and severe, on Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his house, before our eyes;
23
and he brought us out from there, so that he might bring us in, to give us the land that he swore to our fathers.
24
Yahweh commanded us to always keep all these statutes, to fear Yahweh our God for our good, so that he might keep us alive, as we are today.
25
If we keep all these commands before Yahweh our God, as he has commanded us, this will be our righteousness.'
Chapter 7
1
When Yahweh your God brings you into the land that you go to possess, he will drive out many nations before you—the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites—seven nations greater and mightier than you.
2
It is Yahweh your God who gives them over to you when you defeat them, and then you must completely destroy them. You will make no covenant with them, and show them no mercy.
3
Neither will you arrange any marriages with them. You will not give your daughters to their sons, and you will not take their daughters for your sons.
4
For they will turn away your sons from following me, so that they may worship other gods. So the anger of Yahweh will be kindled against you, and he will destroy you quickly.
5
This is how you will deal with them: You will break down their altars, dash their stone pillars in pieces, cut down their Asherah poles, and burn their cast idols.
6
For you are a nation that is set apart to Yahweh your God. He has chosen you to be a people for him to possess, more than all the other peoples that are on the face of the earth.
7
Yahweh did not set his love upon you or choose you because you were more in number than any people—for you were the fewest of all peoples—
8
but because he loves you, and he wished to keep the oath that he had sworn to your fathers. This is why Yahweh has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.
9
Therefore know that Yahweh your God—he is God, the faithful God, who keeps covenants and faithfulness for a thousand generations with those who love him and keep his commandments,
10
but repays those who hate him to their face, to destroy them; he will not be lenient on whoever hates him; he will repay him to his face.
11
You will therefore keep the commandments, the statutes, and the decrees that I command you today, so that you will do them.
12
If you listen to these decrees, and keep and do them, it will happen that Yahweh your God will keep with you the covenant and the faithfulness that he swore to your fathers.
13
He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the fruit of your ground—your grain, your new wine, and your oil—the calves of your herds and the young of your flocks in the land that he swore to your fathers to give you.
14
You will be blessed more than all other peoples; there will not be a childless male or a barren female among you or among your livestock.
15
Yahweh will take away from you all sickness; none of the evil diseases of Egypt that you have known will he put on you, but he will put them on all those who hate you.
16
You will consume all the peoples whom Yahweh your God will give over to you, and your eye will not pity them. You will not worship their gods, for that will be a trap for you.
17
If you say in your heart, 'These nations are more numerous than I; how can I dispossess them?'—
18
do not be afraid of them; you will call to mind what Yahweh your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt;
19
the great sufferings that your eyes saw, the signs, the wonders, the mighty hand, and the outstretched arm by which Yahweh your God brought you out. Yahweh your God will do the same to all the peoples whom you fear.
20
Moreover, Yahweh your God will send the hornet among them, until those who are left and who hide themselves from you perish from your presence.
21
You will not be frightened at them, for Yahweh your God is among you, a great and fearsome God.
22
Yahweh your God will drive out those nations before you little by little. You will not defeat them all at once, or the wild animals would become very many around you.
23
But Yahweh your God will give you victory over them when you meet them in battle; he will greatly confuse them until they are destroyed.
24
He will put their kings under your power, and you will make their name perish from under heaven. No one will be able to stand before you, until you have destroyed them.
25
You will burn the carved figures of their gods—do not covet the silver or the gold that covers them and take it for yourself, because if you do, you will become trapped by it—for it is an abomination to Yahweh your God.
26
You will not bring any abomination into your house and start to worship it. You will utterly detest and abhor it, for it is set apart for destruction.
Chapter 8
1
You must keep all the commands that I am giving you today, so that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that Yahweh swore to your fathers.
2
You will call to mind all the ways that Yahweh your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, in order that he might humble you, that he might test you to know what was in your heart, as to whether you would keep his commandments or not.
3
He humbled you, and made you hunger, and fed you with manna, which you had not known and which your fathers had not known. He did that to make you know that it is not by bread alone that people live; rather, it is by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of Yahweh that people live.
4
Your clothing did not wear out and fall off you, and your feet did not swell up during those forty years.
5
You will think about in your heart, how, as a man disciplines his son, so Yahweh your God disciplines you.
6
You will keep the commandments of Yahweh your God, so that you might walk in his ways and honor him.
7
For Yahweh your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out into valleys and among hills;
8
a land of wheat and barley, of vines, fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of olive trees and honey.
9
It is a land in which you will not eat bread in poverty and in which you will not lack anything; a land whose stones are made of iron, and out of whose hills you may dig copper.
10
You will eat and be full, and you will bless Yahweh your God for the good land that he has given you.
11
Be careful that you do not forget Yahweh your God, by failing to keep his commandments and his rules and statutes that I am commanding you today.
12
Otherwise, when you eat and are full, and when you build good houses and live in them, your heart will be lifted up.
13
Be careful when your herds and flocks multiply and when your silver and gold increase, and all that you have is multiplied,
14
then your heart becomes lifted up and you forget Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
15
Do not forget him who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water, who brought you water out of the rock of flint.
16
He fed you in the wilderness with manna that your ancestors had never known, so that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end,
17
but you may say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand acquired all this wealth.'
18
But you will call to mind Yahweh your God, for it is he who gives you the power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is today.
19
It will happen that, if you will forget Yahweh your God and walk after other gods, worship them, and reverence them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish.
20
Like the nations that Yahweh is making to perish before you, so will you perish, because you would not listen to the voice of Yahweh your God.
Chapter 9
1
Hear, Israel; you are about to cross over the Jordan today, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourself, and cities that are great and fortified up to heaven,
2
a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you have heard people say, 'Who can stand before the sons of Anak?'
3
Know therefore today that Yahweh your God is he who goes over before you like a devouring fire; he will destroy them, and he will subdue them before you; so will you drive them out and make them to perish quickly, as Yahweh has said to you.
4
Do not say in your heart, after Yahweh your God has thrust them out from before you, 'It was because of my righteousness that Yahweh has brought me in to possess this land,' for it was because of the wickedness of these nations that Yahweh is driving them out from before you.
5
It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you are going in to possess their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that your God is driving them out from before you, and so that he may make come true the word that he swore to your ancestors, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
6
Know therefore, that Yahweh your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people.
7
Remember and do not forget how you provoked Yahweh your God to anger in the wilderness; from the day that you left the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against Yahweh.
8
Also at Horeb you provoked Yahweh to anger, and Yahweh was angry enough with you to destroy you.
9
When I went up the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant that Yahweh made with you, I stayed on the mountain for forty days and forty nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water.
10
Yahweh gave to me the two tablets of stone written with his finger; on them was written everything just like all the words that Yahweh announced to you on the mountain out of the middle of the fire on the day of the assembly.
11
It happened at the end of those forty days and forty nights that Yahweh gave me the two tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant.
12
Yahweh said to me, 'Arise, go down quickly from here, for your people, whom you brought out of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have quickly turned aside out of the path that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a cast figure.'
13
Furthermore, Yahweh spoke to me and said, 'I have seen this people; they are a stubborn people.
14
Let me alone, so that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven, and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they.'
15
So I turned around and came down the mountain, and the mountain was burning. The two tablets of the covenant were in my hands.
16
I looked, and behold, you had sinned against Yahweh your God. You had molded for yourselves a calf. You had quickly turned aside out of the path that Yahweh had commanded you.
17
I took the two tablets and threw them out of my hands. I broke them before your eyes.
18
Again I lay facedown before Yahweh for forty days and forty nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all your sin that you had committed, in doing that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, so as to provoke him to anger.
19
For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure with which Yahweh was angry enough against you to destroy you. But Yahweh listened to me that time also.
20
Yahweh was very angry with Aaron so as to destroy him; I prayed for Aaron also at the same time.
21
I took your sin, the calf that you had made, and burned it, beat it, and crushed it and ground it very small, until it was as fine as dust. I threw its dust into the stream that came down from the mountain.
22
At Taberah, at Massah, and at Kibroth Hattaavah, you provoked Yahweh to wrath.
23
When Yahweh sent you from Kadesh Barnea and said, 'Go up and take possession of the land that I have given you,' then you rebelled against the commandment of Yahweh your God, and you did not believe or listen to his voice.
24
You have been rebellious against Yahweh from the day that I knew you.
25
So I lay facedown before Yahweh those forty days and forty nights, because he had said that he would destroy you.
26
I prayed to Yahweh and said, 'O Lord Yahweh, do not destroy your people or your inheritance whom you have redeemed through your greatness, which you have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
27
Call to mind your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; do not look at the stubbornness of this people, nor at their wickedness, nor at their sin,
28
so that the land from where you brought us should say, "Because Yahweh was not able to bring them into the land that he promised to them, and because he hated them, he has brought them out to kill them in the wilderness."
29
Yet they are your people and your inheritance, whom you brought out by your great strength and by the display of your power.'
Chapter 10
1
At that time Yahweh said to me, 'Carve two tablets of stone like the first, and come up to me on the mountain, and make an ark of wood.
2
I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets that you broke, and you will put them in the ark.'
3
So I made an ark of acacia wood, and I carved two tablets of stone like the first, and I went up the mountain, having the two tablets in my hand.
4
He wrote on the tablets, like the first writing, the Ten Commandments which Yahweh had spoken to you on the mountain out of the middle of the fire on the day of the assembly; then Yahweh gave them to me.
5
I turned and came down from the mountain, and put the tablets in the ark that I had made; there they are, as Yahweh commanded me."
6
(The people of Israel journeyed from Beeroth Bene Jaakan to Moserah. There Aaron died, and there he was buried; Eleazar, his son, served in the priest's office in his place.
7
From there they journeyed to Gudgodah, and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land of streams of water.
8
At that time Yahweh chose the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, to stand before Yahweh to serve him, and to bless people in his name, as today.
9
Therefore Levi has no portion nor inheritance of land with his brothers; Yahweh is his inheritance, as Yahweh your God spoke to him.)
10
"I stayed on the mountain as at the first time, forty days and forty nights. Yahweh listened to me that time also; Yahweh did not wish to destroy you.
11
Yahweh said to me, 'Arise, go before the people to lead them on their journey; they will go in and possess the land that I swore to their ancestors to give to them.'
12
Now, Israel, what does Yahweh your God require of you, except to fear Yahweh your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, and to worship Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
13
to keep the commandments of Yahweh, and his statutes, which I am commanding you today for your own good?
14
Behold, to Yahweh your God belongs heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth, with all that is in them.
15
Only Yahweh took pleasure in your fathers so as to love them, and he chose you, their descendants, after them, more than any of the other peoples, as he does today.
16
Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and no longer stiffen your necks.
17
For Yahweh your God, he is God of gods and Lord of lords, the Great God, the Mighty One and the Fearsome One, who favors no one and takes no bribes.
18
He executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and he shows love for the foreigner by giving him food and clothing.
19
Therefore love the foreigner; for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
20
You will fear Yahweh your God; him will you worship. To him you must cling, and by his name will you swear.
21
He is your praise, and he is your God, who has done for you these great and fearsome things, which your eyes have seen.
22
Your fathers went down into Egypt as seventy persons; now Yahweh your God has made you as many as the stars of the heavens.
Chapter 11
1
Therefore you will love Yahweh your God and always keep his instructions, his statutes, his decrees, and his commandments.
2
Notice that I am not speaking to your children, who have not known nor have they seen the punishment of Yahweh your God, his greatness, his mighty hand, or his outstretched arm,
3
the signs and deeds that he did in the midst of Egypt to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and to all his land.
4
Neither did they see what he did to the army of Egypt, to their horses, or to their chariots, how he made the water of the Sea of Reeds overwhelm them as they pursued after you, and how Yahweh has destroyed them until today,
5
or what he did for you in the wilderness until you came to this place.
6
They had not seen what Yahweh had done to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab son of Reuben, how the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, their households, their tents, and every living thing that followed them, in the middle of all Israel.
7
But your eyes have seen all the great works of Yahweh that he did.
8
Therefore keep all the commandments that I am commanding you today, that you may be strong, and go in and possess the land where you are going over to possess it,
9
and that you may prolong your days in the land that Yahweh swore to your fathers to give to them and to their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey.
10
For the land, where you go in to possess it, is not like the land of Egypt, from where you came, where you sowed your seed and watered it with your foot, like a garden of herbs;
11
but the land, where you go over to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinks water of the rain of the heavens,
12
a land that Yahweh your God cares for; the eyes of Yahweh your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.
13
It will happen, if you will listen diligently to my commandments that I command you today, to love Yahweh your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,
14
that I will give the rain of your land in its season, the former rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil.
15
I will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be full.
16
Pay attention to yourselves so that your heart is not deceived, and you turn aside and worship other gods and bow down to them;
17
so that the anger of Yahweh is not kindled against you; and so that he does not shut up the heavens so that there will be no rain, and the land will not yield its fruit, and so that you perish quickly from off the good land that Yahweh is giving you.
18
Therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and soul, bind them as a sign on your hand, and let them be as frontlets between your eyes.
19
You will teach them to your children and talk about them when you sit in your house, when you walk on the road, when you lie down, and when you get up.
20
You will write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates,
21
that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that Yahweh swore to your ancestors to give them for as long as the heavens are above the earth.
22
For if you diligently keep all these commandments that I am commanding you, so as to do them, to love Yahweh your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cling to him,
23
then Yahweh will drive out all these nations from before you, and you will dispossess nations larger and mightier than yourselves.
24
Every place where the sole of your foot will tread will be yours; from the wilderness to Lebanon, from the river, the Euphrates River, to the western sea will be your border.
25
No man will be able to stand before you. Yahweh your God will lay the fear of you and the terror of you upon all the land that you tread on, as he has said to you.
26
Look, I set before you today a blessing and a curse:
27
the blessing, if you obey the commandments of Yahweh your God that I command you today,
28
and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of Yahweh your God, but turn aside from the way that I command you today, to go after other gods that you have not known.
29
It will happen, when Yahweh your God brings you into the land which you go to possess, that you will set the blessing on Mount Gerizim, and the curse on Mount Ebal.
30
Are they not beyond the Jordan, west of the western road, in the land of the Canaanites who live in the Arabah, over against Gilgal, beside the oaks of Moreh?
31
For you are to cross over the Jordan to go in to possess the land that Yahweh your God is giving you, and you will possess it and live in it.
32
You will keep all the statutes and the decrees that I set before you today.
Chapter 12
1
These are the statutes and the decrees that you will keep in the land that Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess, all the days that you live on the earth.
2
You will surely destroy all the places where the nations that you will dispossess worshiped their gods, on the high mountains, on the hills, and under every green tree.
3
You must break down their altars, dash in pieces their stone pillars, and burn their Asherah poles. You must cut down the carved figures of their gods and destroy their name out of that place.
4
You will not worship Yahweh your God like that.
5
But to the place where Yahweh your God chooses out of all your tribes to establish his name, that will be the place where he lives, and it is there that you will go.
6
It is there that you will bring your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, and the offerings presented by your hand, your offerings for vows, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks.
7
It is there that you will eat before Yahweh your God and rejoice about everything that you have put your hand to, you and your households, where Yahweh your God has blessed you.
8
You will not do all the things that we are doing here today; now everyone is doing whatever is right in his own eyes;
9
for you have not yet come to the rest, to the inheritance that Yahweh your God is giving you.
10
But when you go over the Jordan and live in the land that Yahweh your God is causing you to inherit, he will give you rest from all your enemies round about so that you live in safety.
11
Then to the place where Yahweh your God will choose to cause his name to live there—there you will bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, and the offerings presented by your hand, and all your choice offerings for vows that you will vow to Yahweh.
12
You will rejoice before Yahweh your God—you, your sons, your daughters, your male servants, your female servants, and the Levites who are within your gate, because he has no portion or inheritance among you.
13
Pay attention to yourself that you do not offer your burnt offerings at every place that you see;
14
but it is at the place that Yahweh will choose among one of your tribes that you will offer your burnt offerings, and there you will do everything that I command you.
15
However, you may kill and eat animals within all your gates, as you desire, receiving the blessing of Yahweh your God for all that he has given you; the unclean and the clean persons both may eat of it, animals such as the gazelle and the deer.
16
But you will not eat the blood; you will pour it out on the earth like water.
17
You must not eat within your gates from the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, or the firstborn of your herd or flock; and you must not eat any of the meat you sacrifice along with any of your vows that you make, nor that of your freewill offerings, nor that of the offering you present with your hand.
18
Instead, you will eat them before Yahweh your God in the place that Yahweh your God will choose—you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, and the Levite who is within your gates; you will rejoice before Yahweh your God about everything to which you put your hand.
19
Pay attention to yourself so that you do not abandon the Levite as long as you live on your land.
20
When Yahweh your God enlarges your borders, as he has promised you, and you say, 'I will eat flesh,' because of your desire to eat meat, you may eat meat, as your soul desires.
21
If the place where Yahweh your God chooses to establish his name is too far from you, then you will kill some of your herd and your flock that Yahweh has given you, as I have commanded you; you may eat within your gates, as your soul desires.
22
Like the gazelle and the deer are eaten, so you will eat of it; the unclean and the clean persons may eat of it alike.
23
Only be sure that you do not consume the blood, for the blood is the life; you will not eat the life with the meat.
24
You will not eat it; you will pour it out on the earth like water.
25
You will not eat it, so that it may go well with you, and with your children after you, when you will do what is right in the eyes of Yahweh.
26
But the things that belong to Yahweh that you have and the offerings for your vows—you will take these and go to the place that Yahweh chooses.
27
There you will offer your burnt offerings, the meat and the blood, on the altar of Yahweh your God; the blood of your sacrifices will be poured out on the altar of Yahweh your God, and you will eat the flesh.
28
Observe and listen to all these words that I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the eyes of Yahweh your God.
29
When Yahweh your God cuts off the nations from before you, when you go in to dispossess them, and you dispossess them, and live in their land,
30
pay attention to yourself that you are not trapped into following them, after they are destroyed from before you—trapped into investigating their gods, into asking, 'How do these nations worship their gods? I will do the same.'
31
You must not worship Yahweh your God in that way, for everything that is an abomination to Yahweh, things that he hates—they have done these with their gods; they even burn their sons and their daughters in fire for their gods.
32
Whatever I command you, observe it. Do not add to it or take away from it.
Chapter 13
1
If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and if he gives you a sign or a wonder,
2
and if the sign or the wonder comes about, of which he spoke to you and said, 'Let us go after other gods, that you have not known, and let us worship them,'
3
do not listen to the words of that prophet, or to that dreamer of dreams; for Yahweh your God is testing you to know whether you love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
4
You will walk after Yahweh your God, honor him, keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and you will worship him and cling to him.
5
That prophet or that dreamer of dreams will be put to death, because he has spoken rebellion against Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and who redeemed you out of the house of bondage. That prophet wants to draw you out of the way in which Yahweh your God commanded you to walk. So completely remove the evil from among you.
6
Suppose that your brother, the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is to you like your own soul, secretly entices you and says, 'Let us go and worship other gods' which you have not known, neither you nor your ancestors—
7
any of the gods of the peoples that are round about you, near to you or far off from you, from the one end of the earth to the other end of the earth.'
8
You must not give in to him or listen to him, and you must not permit your eye to pity him, and you must not spare him or conceal him.
9
Instead, you will surely kill him; your hand will be the first on him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.
10
You will stone him to death with stones, because he has tried to draw you away from Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
11
All Israel will hear and fear, and will not continue to do this kind of wickedness among you.
12
If you hear anyone say about one of your cities, that Yahweh your God gives you to live in:
13
Some wicked fellows have gone out from among you and have drawn away the inhabitants of their city and said, 'Let us go and worship other gods that you have not known.'
14
Then you will examine the evidence, make search, and investigate it thoroughly. When you discover that it is true and certain that such an abominable thing has been done among you, then you will take action.
15
You will surely attack the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, completely destroy it and all the people who are in it, along with its livestock, with the edge of the sword.
16
You will gather all the spoil from it into the middle of its street and will burn the city, as well as all its booty, as a burnt offering for Yahweh your God. The city will be a heap of ruins forever; it must never be built again.
17
None of those things set apart for destruction must stick in your hand. This must be the case, so that Yahweh will turn from the burning of his anger, show you mercy, have compassion on you, and make you increase in numbers, as he has sworn to your fathers.
18
He will do this because you are listening to the voice of Yahweh your God, to keep all his commandments that I am commanding you today, to do that which is right in the eyes of Yahweh your God.
Chapter 14
1
You are the people of Yahweh your God. Do not cut yourselves, nor shave any part of your face for the dead.
2
For you are a nation that is set apart to Yahweh your God, and Yahweh has chosen you to be a people for his own possession, more than all peoples that are on the surface of the earth.
3
You must not eat any abominable thing.
4
These are the animals that you may eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat,
5
the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, and ibex, and the antelope, and the mountain sheep.
6
You may eat any animals that parts the hoof, that is, that has the hoof divided in two, and that chews the cud.
7
Nevertheless, you must not eat some animals that chew the cud or that have the hoof divided in two: the camel, the rabbit, and the rock badger; because they chew the cud but do not part the hoof, they are unclean to you.
8
The pig is unclean to you as well because he parts the hoof but does not chew the cud; he is unclean to you. Do not eat pig meat, and do not touch their carcasses.
9
Of these things that are in water you may eat: whatever has fins and scales;
10
but whatever has no fins and scales you must not eat; they are unclean to you.
11
All clean birds you may eat.
12
But these are the birds that you must not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the osprey,
13
the red kite and black kite, any kind of falcon.
14
You must not eat any kind of raven,
15
and the ostrich, and the night hawk, the sea gull, any kind of hawk,
16
the little owl, the great owl, the white owl,
17
the pelican, the osprey, the cormorant.
18
You must not eat the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, and the bat.
19
All winged, swarming things are unclean to you; they must not be eaten.
20
You may eat all clean flying things.
21
You must not eat of anything that dies of itself; you may give it to the foreigner who is within your gates, that he may eat it; or you may sell it to a foreigner. For you are a nation that is set apart to Yahweh your God. You must not boil a young goat in its mother's milk.
22
You must surely tithe all the yield of your seed, that which comes out from the field year after year.
23
You must eat before Yahweh your God, in the place where he will choose to make a dwelling for his name, the tithe of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock; that you may learn to always honor Yahweh your God.
24
If the journey is too long for you so that you are not able to carry it, because the place where Yahweh your God will choose to establish his name is too far from you, then, when Yahweh God blesses you,
25
you will convert the offering into money, tie up the money in your hand, and go to the place that Yahweh your God will choose.
26
There you will spend the money for whatever you desire: cattle, sheep, wine or strong drink, or for whatever you desire. Then you will eat there before Yahweh your God and rejoice, you and your household.
27
The Levite who is within your gates—do not abandon him, for he has no portion nor inheritance with you.
28
At the end of every three years you will present all the tithe of your produce in the same year, and you will store it up within your gates;
29
and the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the foreigner, and the fatherless, and the widow who are within your gates, will come and eat and be satisfied. Do this so that Yahweh your God may bless you in all the work of your hand that you do.
Chapter 15
1
At the end of every seven years, you must cancel debts.
2
This is the manner of the release: Every creditor will cancel that which he has lent to his neighbor; he will not demand it from his neighbor or his brother because Yahweh's cancellation of debts has been proclaimed.
3
From a foreigner you may demand it; but whatever of yours is with your brother your hand must release.
4
However, there should be no poor among you (for Yahweh will surely bless you in the land that he gives you as an inheritance to possess),
5
if only you diligently listen to the voice of Yahweh your God, to keep all these commandments that I am commanding you today.
6
For Yahweh your God will bless you, as he promised you; you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.
7
If there is a poor man among you, one of your brothers, within any of your gates in your land that Yahweh your God is giving you, you must not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother;
8
but you must surely open your hand to him and surely lend him sufficient for his need.
9
Be careful not to have a wicked thought in your heart, saying, 'The seventh year, the year of release, is near,' so that you will not be stingy in regard to your poor brother and give him nothing; he might cry out to Yahweh about you, and it would be sin for you.
10
You must surely give to him, and your heart must not be sorry when you give to him, because in return for this Yahweh your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you put your hand to.
11
For the poor will never cease to exist in the land; therefore I command you and say, 'You must surely open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor in your land.'
12
If your brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you and serves you for six years, then in the seventh year you must let him go free from you.
13
When you let him go free from you, you must not let him go empty-handed.
14
You must liberally provide for him out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, and out of your winepress. As Yahweh your God has blessed you, you must give to him.
15
You must remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and that Yahweh your God redeemed you; therefore I am commanding you today to do this.
16
It will happen that if he says to you, 'I will not go away from you,' because he loves you and your house, and because he is well off with you,
17
then you must take an awl and thrust it through his ear to a door, and he will be your servant for life. You must do the same with your female servant.
18
It must not seem difficult for you to let him go free from you, because he has served you for six years and given twice the value of a hired person. Yahweh your God will bless you in all that you do.
19
All the firstborn males in your herd and your flock you must set apart to Yahweh your God. You will do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock.
20
You must eat the firstborn before Yahweh your God year by year in the place that Yahweh will choose, you and your household.
21
If it has any blemish—for example, if it is lame or blind, or has any blemish whatever—you must not sacrifice it to Yahweh your God.
22
You will eat it within your gates; the unclean and the clean persons alike must eat it, as you would eat a gazelle or a deer.
23
Only you must not eat its blood; you must pour its blood out on the ground like water.
Chapter 16
1
Observe the month of Aviv, and keep the Passover to Yahweh your God, for in the month of Aviv Yahweh your God brought you out of Egypt by night.
2
You will sacrifice the Passover to Yahweh your God with some of the flock and the herd in the place where Yahweh will choose to make a dwelling for his name.
3
You will eat no leavened bread with it; seven days will you eat unleavened bread with it, the bread of affliction; for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste. Do this all the days of your life so that you may call to mind the day when you came out of the land of Egypt.
4
No yeast must be seen among you within all your borders during seven days; nor must any of the meat that you sacrifice in the evening on the first day remain until the morning.
5
You must not sacrifice the Passover within any of your city gates that Yahweh your God is giving you.
6
Instead, sacrifice at the place where Yahweh your God will choose to make a dwelling for his name. There you will perform the sacrifice of the Passover in the evening at the going down of the sun, at the time of year that you came out of Egypt.
7
You must roast it and eat it at the place that Yahweh your God will choose; in the morning you will turn and go to your tents.
8
For six days you will eat unleavened bread; on the seventh day there will be a solemn assembly for Yahweh your God; on that day you must do no work.
9
You will count seven weeks for yourselves; from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain you must start counting seven weeks.
10
You must keep the Festival of Weeks for Yahweh your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand that you will give, according as Yahweh your God has blessed you.
11
You will rejoice before Yahweh your God—you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, the Levite who is within your city gates, and the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow who are among you, at the place where Yahweh your God will choose to make a dwelling for his name.
12
You will call to mind that you were a slave in Egypt; you must observe and do these statutes.
13
You must keep the Festival of Shelters for seven days after you have gathered in the harvest from your threshing floor and from your winepress.
14
You will rejoice during your festival—you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, the Levite, and the foreigner, and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates.
15
For seven days you must observe the festival for Yahweh your God at the place that Yahweh will choose, because Yahweh your God will bless you in all your harvest and all the work of your hands, and you must be completely joyful.
16
Three times in a year all your males must appear before Yahweh your God at the place that he will choose: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, at the Festival of Weeks, and at the Festival of Shelters. No one will appear before Yahweh empty-handed.
17
Rather, every man will bring a gift as he is able, that you might know the blessing that Yahweh your God has given to you.
18
You must make judges and officers within all your city gates that Yahweh your God is giving you; they will be taken from each of your tribes, and they must judge the people with righteous judgment.
19
You must not take justice away by force; you must not show partiality nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous.
20
You must follow after justice, after justice alone, so that you may live and inherit the land that Yahweh your God is giving you.
21
You must not set up for yourselves an Asherah, any sort of pole, beside the altar of Yahweh your God that you will make for yourself.
22
Neither must you set up for yourself any sacred stone pillar, which Yahweh your God hates.
Chapter 17
1
You must not sacrifice to Yahweh your God an ox or a sheep in which is any blemish or anything bad, for that would be an abomination to Yahweh your God.
2
If there is found among you, within any of your city gates that Yahweh your God is giving you, any man or woman who does what is evil in the sight of Yahweh your God and transgresses his covenant,
3
anyone who has gone and worshiped other gods and bowed down to them, either the sun, the moon, or any of the host of heaven—nothing that I have commanded—
4
and if you are told about this, or if you have heard of it, then you must make a careful investigation. If it is true and certain that such an abomination has been done in Israel, this is what you should do.
5
You must bring that man or woman, who has done this evil thing, to your city gates, that very man or woman, and you must stone that person to death.
6
At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, will he who must die be put to death; but at the mouth of only one witness he must not be put to death.
7
The hand of the witnesses must be the first to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people; and you will remove the evil from among you.
8
If a matter arises that is too hard for you to judge—perhaps a question of one kind of bloodshed or another, of one kind of lawsuit or another, or of one kind of wound or another—matters of controversy within your city gates—then you must go up to the place that Yahweh your God chooses.
9
You must go to the priests, the descendants of Levi, and to the judge who will be serving at that time; you will seek their advice, and they will give you the verdict.
10
Then you must do according to what they order you to do, at the place Yahweh will choose. Be careful to do all that they teach you.
11
Follow the law they teach you, and do according to the decisions they give you. Do not turn aside from what they tell you, to the right hand or to the left.
12
Anyone who acts in arrogance, listening neither to the priest who is standing to serve before Yahweh your God nor to the judge—that man will die; you will completely remove the evil from Israel.
13
All the people must hear and fear, and act arrogantly no more.
14
When you have come to the land that Yahweh your God gives you, and when you take possession of it and begin to live in it, and then you say, 'I will set a king over myself, like all the nations that are round about me,'
15
then you must surely set as king over yourself someone whom Yahweh your God will choose. You must set as king over yourself someone from among your brothers. You must not put a foreigner, who is not your brother, over yourself.
16
But he must not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt so that he may multiply horses, for Yahweh had said to you, 'You will never return that way again.'
17
He must not take many wives for himself, so that his heart does not turn away. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.
18
When he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he must write for himself in a scroll a copy of this law, from the law that is before the priests, who are Levites.
19
The scroll must be with him, and he must read in it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to honor Yahweh his God, so as to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to observe them.
20
He must do this so that his heart is not lifted up above his brothers, and so that he does not turn away from the commandments, to the right hand or to the left, so he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his descendants in the midst of Israel.
Chapter 18
1
The priests, who are Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, will have no portion nor inheritance with Israel; they must eat the offerings of Yahweh made by fire as their inheritance.
2
They must have no inheritance among their brothers; Yahweh is their inheritance, as he said to them.
3
This is the share given to the priests, given to them from the people who offer a sacrifice, whether it be an oxen or a sheep: the shoulder, the two cheeks, and the inner parts.
4
The firstfruits of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the first of the fleece of your sheep, you must give him.
5
For Yahweh your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand to serve in the name of Yahweh, him and his sons forever.
6
If a Levite comes from any of your towns out of all Israel where he is living and desires with all his soul to come to the place Yahweh will choose,
7
then he must serve in the name of Yahweh his God as all his brothers the Levites do, who stand there before Yahweh.
8
They must have similar portions to eat, besides of what comes of the sale of his family's inheritance.
9
When you have come into the land that Yahweh your God is giving you, you must not learn to observe the abominations of those nations.
10
There must not be found among you anyone who sacrifices his son or his daughter in the fire, or anyone who uses divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer
11
or one who casts spells or a sorcerer or a spiritist or one who seeks the dead.
12
For whoever does these things is an abomination to Yahweh; it is because of these abominations that Yahweh your God is driving them out from before you.
13
You must be blameless before Yahweh your God.
14
For these nations that you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery and divination; but as for you, Yahweh your God has not allowed you to do so.
15
Yahweh your God will raise up for you a prophet from among you, one of your brothers, like me. You must listen to him.
16
This is what you asked from Yahweh your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, saying, 'Let us not hear again the voice of Yahweh our God, nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.'
17
Yahweh said to me, 'What they have said is good.
18
I will raise up a prophet for them from among their brothers, just like you. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will speak to them all that I command him.
19
It will happen that if anyone does not listen to the words of mine that he speaks in my name, I will require it of him.
20
But the prophet who speaks a word arrogantly in my name, a word that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that very prophet must die.'
21
This is what you must say in your heart: 'How will we recognize a message that Yahweh has not spoken?'
22
You will recognize a message that Yahweh has spoken when a prophet speaks in the name of Yahweh. If that thing does not occur nor happen, then that is something that Yahweh has not spoken and the prophet has spoken it in arrogance, and you must not be afraid of him.
Chapter 19
1
When Yahweh your God cuts off the nations, those whose land Yahweh your God is giving you, and when you come after them and live in their cities and houses,
2
you must select three cities for yourself in the middle of your land that Yahweh your God is giving you to possess.
3
You must build a road and divide the borders of your land into three parts, the land that Yahweh your God is causing you to inherit, so that everyone who kills another person may flee there.
4
This is the instruction concerning the one who kills another and flees from there in order to save his own life—the one who unintentionally kills his neighbor without hating him at the time of the accident.
5
For example, if a man goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood, and he chops with the ax to cut down a tree, and the ax head slips off of the handle and strikes his neighbor and kills him—then that man must flee to one of these cities and save his life.
6
Otherwise the avenger of blood might go after the one who took a life, and in the heat of his anger overtake him, if the distance is too great, strike him and kill him, even though that man did not deserve to die, since he had not hated his neighbor in the past.
7
Therefore I command you to select three cities for yourself.
8
If Yahweh your God enlarges your borders, as he has sworn to your ancestors to do, and gives you all the land that he promised to give to your ancestors;
9
if you keep all these commandments to do them, which I am commanding you today—commandments to love Yahweh your God and to always walk in his ways, then you must add three more cities for yourself, besides these three.
10
Do this so that innocent blood is not shed in the midst of the land that Yahweh your God is giving you for as an inheritance, so that no bloodguilt may be on you.
11
But if anyone hates his neighbor, lies in wait for him, rises up against him, and mortally wounds him so that he dies, and if he then flees into one of these cities—
12
then the elders of his city must send and bring him back from there, and turn him over to the hand of the avenger of blood, so that he may die.
13
Your eye must not pity him; instead, you must completely remove the bloodguilt from Israel so that it may go well with you.
14
You must not remove your neighbor's landmark that they set in place a long time ago, in your inheritance that you will inherit, in the land that Yahweh your God is giving you to possess.
15
One sole witness must not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any matter that he sins; at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, must any matter be confirmed.
16
Suppose that an unrighteous witness rises up against any man to testify against him of wrongdoing.
17
Then both men, the ones between whom the controversy exists, must stand before Yahweh, before the priests and the judges who serve in those days.
18
The judges must make diligent inquiries; see, if the witness is a false witness and has testified falsely against his brother,
19
then must you do to him, as he had wished to do to his brother; and you will remove the evil from among you.
20
Then those who remain will hear and fear, and will from then on commit no longer any such evil among you.
21
Your eyes must not pity; life will pay for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
Chapter 20
1
When you march out to battle against your enemies, and see horses, chariots, and a people more numerous than you, you must not be afraid of them; for Yahweh your God is with you, he who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
2
When you are about to enter into battle, the priest must approach and speak to the people.
3
He must say to them, 'Listen, Israel, you are going to battle against your enemies. Do not let your hearts faint. Do not fear or tremble. Do not be afraid of them.
4
For Yahweh your God is the one who is going with you to fight for you against your enemies and to save you.'
5
The officers must speak to the people and say, 'What man is there who has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, so that he does not die in battle and another man dedicates it.
6
Is there anyone who has planted a vineyard and has not enjoyed its fruit? Let him go home, so he will not die in battle and another man enjoy its fruit.
7
What man is there who is betrothed to a woman but has not yet married her? Let him go home so that he does not die in battle and another man marry her.'
8
The officers must speak further to the people and say, 'What man is there who is fearful or fainthearted? Let him go and return to his house, so that his brother's heart does not melt like his own heart.'
9
When the officers have finished speaking to the people, they must appoint commanders of armies over them.
10
When you march up to attack a city, make those people an offer of peace.
11
If they answer peaceably and open their gates to you, all the people who are found in it must become forced labor for you and must serve you.
12
But if it makes no offer of peace to you, and instead makes war against you, then you must besiege it,
13
and when Yahweh your God gives you victory and puts them under your control, you must strike every man in the town with the edge of the sword.
14
But the women, the little ones, the livestock, and everything that is in the city, and all its spoil, you will take as booty for yourself. You will consume the booty of your enemies, whom Yahweh your God has given to you.
15
You must act in this way toward all the cities that are very far from you, cities that are not of the cities of these following nations.
16
In the cities of these peoples that Yahweh your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must keep alive nothing that breathes.
17
You must completely destroy them: the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, as Yahweh your God has commanded you.
18
Do this so that they do not teach you to act in any of their abominable ways, as they have done for their gods. If you do, you will sin against Yahweh your God.
19
When you will besiege a city for a long time, as you wage war against it to capture it, you must not destroy its trees by wielding an ax against them. For you may eat from them, so you must not cut them down. For is the tree of the field a man whom you should besiege?
20
Only the trees that you know are not trees for food, you may destroy and cut down; you will build siege works against the city that makes war with you, until it falls.
Chapter 21
1
If someone is found killed in the land that Yahweh your God is giving you to possess, lying in the field, and it is not known who has attacked him;
2
then your elders and your judges must go out, and they must measure to the cities that are around him who has been killed.
3
Then the elders of the town nearest to the dead man's body must take a heifer from the herd, one that has never been put to work, and that has not borne the yoke.
4
Then they must lead the heifer down to a valley with running water, a valley that has been neither plowed nor sown, and there in the valley they must break the heifer's neck.
5
The priests, descendants of Levi, must come forward, for Yahweh your God has chosen them to serve him and give blessing in the name of Yahweh and to decide every case of dispute and assault by their word.
6
All the elders of the city that is the nearest to the killed man must wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley;
7
and they must answer to the case and say, 'Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it.
8
Forgive, Yahweh, your people Israel, whom you have redeemed, and do not put guilt for innocent bloodshed in the midst of your people Israel.' Then the bloodshed will be forgiven them.
9
In this way you will completely remove the innocent blood from your midst, when you do what is right in the eyes of Yahweh.
10
When you go out to do battle against your enemies and Yahweh your God gives you victory and puts them under your control, and you take them away as captives,
11
if you see among the captives a beautiful woman, and you delight in her and wish to take her for yourself as a wife,
12
then you will bring her home to your house; she will shave her head and cut her nails.
13
Then she will take off the clothes she was wearing when she was taken captive and she will remain in your house and mourn for her father and her mother a full month. After that you may go to her and be her husband, and she will be your wife.
14
But if you take no delight in her, then you may let her go where she wishes. But you must not sell her at all for money, and you must not treat her like a slave, because you have humiliated her.
15
If a man has two wives and one is loved and the other is hated, and they have both borne him children—both the beloved wife and the hated wife—if the firstborn son is of her that is hated,
16
then on the day that the man causes his sons to inherit what he possesses, he may not make the son of the beloved wife the firstborn before the son of the hated wife, the son who is actually the firstborn.
17
Instead, he must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the hated wife, by giving him a double portion of all that he possesses, for that son is the beginning of his strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him.
18
If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and who, even though they correct him, will not listen to them;
19
then his father and his mother must lay hold on him and bring him out to the elders of his city and to the gate of his city.
20
They must say to the elders of his city, 'This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.'
21
Then all the men of his city must stone him to death with stones; and you will remove the evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and fear.
22
If a man has committed a sin worthy of death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree,
23
then his body must not remain all night on the tree. You must surely bury him the same day; for whoever is hanged is cursed by God. You must not defile the land that Yahweh your God is giving you as an inheritance.
Chapter 22
1
You must not watch your fellow Israelite's ox or his sheep go astray and hide yourself from them; you must surely bring them back to him.
2
If your fellow Israelite is not near to you, or if you do not know him, then you must bring the animal home to your house, and it must be with you until he looks for it, and then you must restore it to him.
3
You must do the same with his donkey; you must do the same with his garment; you must do the same with every lost thing of your fellow Israelite's, anything that he has lost and you have found; you must not hide yourself.
4
You must not see your fellow Israelite's donkey or his ox fallen down in the road and hide yourself from them; you must surely help him to lift it up again.
5
A woman must not wear what pertains to a man, and neither must a man put on women's clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to Yahweh your God.
6
If a bird's nest happens to be in front of you on the road, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs in it, and the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you must not take the mother along with the young.
7
You must surely let the mother go, but the young you may take for yourself. Obey this command so that it may go well with you, and that you may prolong your days.
8
When you build a new house, then you must make a railing for your roof so that you do not bring blood on your house if anyone falls from there.
9
You must not plant your vineyard with two kinds of seed, so that the whole harvest is not confiscated by the holy place, the seed that you have sown and the yield of the vineyard.
10
You must not plow with an ox and a donkey together.
11
You must not wear fabric made of wool and linen together.
12
You must make yourself fringes on the four corners of the cloak with which you clothe yourself.
13
Suppose a man takes a wife, and he goes to her, and then hates her,
14
and then accuses her of shameful deeds and puts a bad reputation on her, and says, 'I took this woman, but when I came near to her, I found no proof of virginity in her.'
15
Then the father and mother of the girl must take proof of her virginity to the elders at the city gate.
16
The girl's father must say to the elders, 'I gave my daughter to this man as a wife, and he hates her.
17
See, he has accused her of shameful things and said, "I did not find in your daughter the proof of virginity." But here is the proof of my daughter's virginity.' Then they will spread the garment out before the elders of the city.
18
The elders of that city must take that man and punish him;
19
and they must force him to pay a fine of one hundred shekels of silver, and give them to the father of the girl, because the man has caused a bad reputation for a virgin of Israel. She must be his wife; he may not send her away during all his days.
20
But if this thing is true, that the proof of virginity was not found in the girl,
21
then they must bring out the girl to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city must stone her to death with stones, because she has committed a disgraceful action in Israel, to act as a prostitute in her father's house; and you will remove the evil from among you.
22
If a man is found lying with a woman who is married to another man, then they must both die, the man who was lying with the woman and the woman herself; and you will remove the evil from Israel.
23
If there is a girl who is a virgin, betrothed to a man, and another man finds her in the city and lies with her,
24
take both of them to the city gate, and stone them to death. You must stone the girl, because she did not cry out, even though she was in the city. You must stone the man, because he violated his neighbor's wife; and you will remove the evil from among you.
25
But if the man finds the betrothed girl in the field, and if he seizes her and lies with her, then only the man who lies with her must die.
26
But to the girl you must do nothing; there is no sin worthy of death in the girl. For this case is like when a man attacks his neighbor and kills him.
27
For he found her in the field; the betrothed girl cried out, but there was no one to save her.
28
If a man finds a girl who is a virgin but who is not betrothed, and if he seizes her and lies with her, and if they are discovered,
29
then the man who lay with her must give fifty shekels of silver to the girl's father, and she must become his wife, because he has violated her. He may not send her away during all his days.
30
A man must not take his father's wife as his own; he must not take away his father's marriage rights.
Chapter 23
1
No man whose genitals are crushed or cut off may enter the assembly of Yahweh.
2
No illegitimate child may belong to the assembly of Yahweh; as far as to the tenth generation of his descendants, none of them may belong to the assembly of Yahweh.
3
An Ammonite or a Moabite may not belong to the assembly of Yahweh; as far as to the tenth generation of his descendants, none of them may belong to the assembly of Yahweh.
4
This is because they did not meet you with bread and with water on the road when you had come out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram Naharaim, to curse you.
5
But Yahweh your God would not listen to Balaam; instead, Yahweh your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because Yahweh your God loved you.
6
You must never seek their peace or prosperity, during all your days.
7
You must not detest an Edomite, for he is your brother; you must not abhor an Egyptian, because you were a foreigner in his land.
8
The descendants of the third generation that are born to them may belong to the assembly of Yahweh.
9
When you march out as an army against your enemies, then you must keep yourselves from every evil thing.
10
If there is among you any man who is unclean because of a nighttime accident, then he must go out of the army's camp; he must not come back into the camp.
11
When evening comes, he must bathe himself in water; when the sun goes down, he will come back inside the camp.
12
You must have a place also outside the camp to which you will go;
13
and you will have something among your tools to dig with; when you squat down to relieve yourself, you must dig with it and then put back the earth and cover up what has come out from you.
14
For Yahweh your God walks in the midst of your camp to give you victory and to give your enemies into your hand. Therefore your camp must be holy, so that he may not see any unclean thing among you and turn away from you.
15
You must not give back to his master a slave who has escaped from his master.
16
Let him live with you, in whatever town he chooses. Do not oppress him.
17
There must be no cultic prostitute among any of the daughters of Israel, neither must there be a cultic prostitute among the sons of Israel.
18
You must not bring the wages of a prostitute or the wages of a dog into the house of Yahweh your God for any vow; for both these are abominations to Yahweh your God.
19
You must not lend on interest to your fellow Israelite—interest of money, interest of food, or the interest of anything that is lent on interest.
20
To a foreigner you may lend on interest; but to your fellow Israelite you must not lend on interest, so that Yahweh your God may bless you in all that you put your hand to, in the land which you are going in to possess.
21
When you make a vow to Yahweh your God, you must not be slow in fulfilling it, for Yahweh your God will surely require it of you; it would be sin for you not to fulfill it.
22
But if you will refrain from making a vow, it will be no sin for you.
23
That which has gone out from your lips you must observe and do; according as you have vowed to Yahweh your God, anything that you have freely promised with your mouth.
24
When you go into your neighbor's vineyard, you may eat as many grapes as you desire, but do not put any in your basket.
25
When you go into your neighbor's ripe grain, you may pluck the heads of grain with your hand, but do not put a sickle to your neighbor's ripe grain.
Chapter 24
1
When a man takes a wife and marries her, if she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found something shameful about her, then he must write her a certificate of divorce, put it into her hand, and send her out of his house.
2
When she has gone out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife.
3
If the second husband hates her and writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it into her hand, and sends her out of his house; or if the second husband dies, the man who took her to be his wife—
4
then her former husband, the one who had first sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after she has become unclean; for that would be an abomination to Yahweh. You must not cause the land to become guilty, the land that Yahweh your God is giving you as an inheritance.
5
When a man takes a new wife, he will not go to war with the army, neither may he be commanded to go on any forced duty; he will be free to be at home for one year and will bring joy to his wife whom he has taken.
6
No man may take a mill or an upper millstone as a pledge, for that would be taking a person's life as a pledge.
7
If a man is found kidnapping any of his brothers from among the people of Israel, and treats him as a slave and sells him, that thief must die; and you will remove the evil from among you.
8
Be careful regarding any plague of leprosy, so that you carefully observe and follow every instruction given to you which the priests, the Levites, teach you; as I commanded them, so you will act.
9
Call to mind what Yahweh your God did to Miriam as you were coming out of Egypt.
10
When you make your neighbor any kind of loan, you must not go into his house to fetch his pledge.
11
You will stand outside, and the man to whom you have lent will bring the pledge outside to you.
12
If he is a poor man, you must not lie down with his pledge in your possession.
13
You must surely restore to him the pledge by the time the sun goes down, so that he may lie down in his cloak and bless you; it will be righteousness for you before Yahweh your God.
14
You must not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is of your fellow Israelites or of the foreigners who are in your land within your city gates.
15
Each day you must give him his wage; the sun must not go down on this unsettled matter, for he is poor and is counting on it. Do this so that he does not cry out against you to Yahweh, and so that it not be a sin that you have committed.
16
The parents must not be put to death for their children, neither must the children be put to death for their parents. Everyone must be put to death for his own sin.
17
You must not twist the justice that is due the foreigner or the fatherless, nor take the widow's cloak as a pledge.
18
Remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and that Yahweh your God rescued you from there. Therefore I instruct you to obey this command.
19
When you reap your harvest in your field, and if you have forgotten an omer of grain in the field, you must not go back to get it; it must be for the foreigner, for the fatherless, or for the widow, so that Yahweh your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
20
When you beat the olives off your olive tree, you must not go over the branches again; it will be for the foreigner, for the fatherless, or for the widow.
21
When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you must not glean it again. What is left over will be for the foreigner, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
22
You must call to mind that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I instruct you to obey this command.
Chapter 25
1
If there is a dispute between men and they go to court, and the judges judge them, then they will acquit the righteous and condemn the wicked.
2
If the guilty man deserves to be beaten, then the judge will make him lie down and be beaten in his presence with the ordered number of blows, according to his wickedness.
3
The judge may give him forty blows, but he may not exceed that number; for if he should exceed that number and beat him with many more blows, then your fellow Israelite would be humiliated before your eyes.
4
You must not muzzle the ox when he threshes the grain.
5
If brothers live together and one of them dies, not having any son, then the wife of the dead man must not be married off to someone else outside the family. Instead, her husband's brother must go to her and take her to himself as a wife, and do the duty of a husband's brother to her.
6
This is so that the firstborn that she bears will succeed in the name of that man's dead brother, so that his name will not perish from Israel.
7
But if the man does not wish to take his brother's wife for himself, then his brother's wife must go up to the gate to the elders and say, 'My husband's brother refuses to raise up for his brother a name in Israel; he will not perform the duty of a husband's brother to me.'
8
Then the elders of his city must call him and speak to him. But suppose that he insists and says, 'I do not wish to take her.'
9
Then his brother's wife must come up to him in the presence of the elders, take off his sandal from his foot, and spit in his face. She must answer him and say, 'This is what is done to the man who does not build up his brother's house.'
10
His name will be called in Israel, 'The house of him whose sandal has been taken off.'
11
If men fight with each other, and the wife of one comes to rescue her husband out of the hand of him who struck him, and if she stretches out her hand and takes him by the private parts,
12
then you must cut off her hand; your eye must have no pity.
13
You must not have in your bag different weights, a large and a small.
14
You must not have in your house different measures, a large and a small.
15
A perfect and just weight you must have; a perfect and just measure you must have, so that your days may be long in the land that Yahweh your God is giving you.
16
For all who do such things, all that act unrighteously, are an abomination to Yahweh your God.
17
Call to mind what Amalek did to you on the road as you came out of Egypt,
18
how he met you on the road and attacked those of you at the rear, all who were feeble in your rear, when you were faint and weary; he did not honor God.
19
Therefore, when Yahweh your God has given you rest from all your enemies round about, in the land that Yahweh your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you must not forget that you must blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.
Chapter 26
1
When you have come into the land that Yahweh your God is giving you as an inheritance, and when you possess it and live in it,
2
then you must take some of the first of all the produce of the land that you have brought in from the land that Yahweh your God is giving you. You must put it in a basket and go to the place where Yahweh your God will choose to make a dwelling for his name.
3
You must go to the priest who will be serving in those days and say to him, 'I acknowledge today to Yahweh your God that I have come to the land that Yahweh swore to our ancestors to give us.'
4
The priest must take the basket out of your hand and set it down before the altar of Yahweh your God.
5
You must say before Yahweh your God, 'My ancestor was a wandering Aramean. He went down into Egypt and stayed there, and his people were few in number. There he became a great, mighty, and populous nation.
6
The Egyptians treated us badly and afflicted us. They put hard labor on us.
7
We cried out to Yahweh, the God of our fathers, and he heard our voice and saw our affliction, our labor, and our oppression.
8
Yahweh brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, with great fearsomeness, with signs, and with wonders;
9
and he has brought us to this place and has given us this land, a land that flows with milk and honey.
10
Now look, I have brought the first of the produce of the land that you, Yahweh, have given me.' You must set it down before Yahweh your God and worship before him;
11
and you must rejoice in all the good that Yahweh your God has done for you, for your house—you, and the Levite, and the foreigner who is among you.
12
When you have finished giving all the tithe of your harvest in the third year, that is, the year of tithing, then you must give it to the Levite, to the foreigner, to the fatherless, and to the widow, so that they may eat within your city gates and be filled.
13
You must say before Yahweh your God, 'I have completely removed from my house the things that belong to Yahweh, and have given them to the Levite, to the foreigner, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all your commandments that you have given me. I have not transgressed any of your commandments, neither have I forgotten them.
14
I have not eaten any of it in my mourning, nor have I put it somewhere else when I was unclean, nor have I given any of it in honor of the dead. I have listened to the voice of Yahweh my God; I have obeyed everything you have commanded me to do.
15
Look down from the holy place where you live, from heaven, and bless your people Israel, and the land that you have given us, as you had sworn to our fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.'
16
Today Yahweh your God is commanding you to obey these statutes and decrees; you will therefore keep them and do them with all your heart and with all your soul.
17
You have declared today that Yahweh is your God, and that you will walk in his ways and keep his statutes, his commandments, and his decrees, and that you will listen to his voice.
18
Today Yahweh has declared that you are a people who are his own possession, as he had promised you, and that you are to keep all his commandments,
19
and he will set you high above all the other nations that he has made, and you will receive praise, fame, and honor. You will be a people that is set apart to Yahweh your God, just as he said."
Chapter 27
1
Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people and said, "Keep all the commandments that I command you today.
2
On the day when you will pass over the Jordan to the land that Yahweh your God is giving you, you must set up some large stones and plaster them with plaster.
3
You must write on them all the words of this law when you have passed over, so that you may go into the land that Yahweh your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, promised you.
4
When you have passed over the Jordan, set up these stones that I am commanding you about today, on Mount Ebal, and plaster them with plaster.
5
There you must build an altar to Yahweh your God, an altar of stones; but you must raise no iron tool to work the stones.
6
You must build the altar of Yahweh your God of unworked stones; you must offer burnt offerings on it to Yahweh your God,
7
and you will sacrifice fellowship offerings and will eat there; you will rejoice before Yahweh your God.
8
You will write on the stones all the words of this law. Write them very plainly."
9
Moses and the priests, the Levites, spoke to all Israel and said, "Be silent and listen, Israel: Today you have become the people of Yahweh your God.
10
You must therefore obey the voice of Yahweh your God and obey his commandments and statutes that I am commanding you today."
11
Moses commanded the people the same day and said,
12
"These tribes must stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people after you have passed over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.
13
These are the tribes that must stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
14
The Levites will answer and say to all the men of Israel in a loud voice:
15
'May the man be cursed who makes a a carved image or a cast metal figure, an abomination to Yahweh, the work of the hands of a craftsman, and who sets it up in secret.' Then all the people must answer and say, 'Amen.'
16
'May the man be cursed who dishonors his father or his mother.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen.'
17
'May the man be cursed who removes his neighbor's landmark.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen.'
18
'May the man be cursed who misleads the blind on the road.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen.'
19
'May the man be cursed who uses force to take away the justice due to a foreigner, fatherless, or widow.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen.'
20
'May the man be cursed who lies with his father's wife, because he has taken away his father's rights.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen.'
21
'May the man be cursed who lies with any animal.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen.'
22
'May the man be cursed who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father, or with the daughter of his mother.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen.'
23
'May the man be cursed who lies with his mother-in-law.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen.'
24
'May the man be cursed who kills his neighbor secretly.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen.'
25
'May the man be cursed who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen.'
26
'May the man be cursed who does not confirm the words of this law, that he will obey them.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen.'
Chapter 28
1
If you listen carefully to the voice of Yahweh your God so as to keep all his commandments that I am commanding you today, Yahweh your God will set you above all the other nations of the earth.
2
All these blessings will come on you and overtake you, if you listen to the voice of Yahweh your God.
3
Blessed will you be in the city and blessed will you be in the field.
4
Blessed will be the fruit of your womb, the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your livestock, and the increase of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.
5
Blessed will be your basket and your kneading trough.
6
Blessed will you be when you come in, and blessed will you be when you go out.
7
Yahweh will cause your enemies who rise up against you to be struck down before you; they will come out against you one way but will flee before you seven ways.
8
Yahweh will command the blessing to come on you in your barns and in all that you put your hand to; he will bless you in the land that he is giving you.
9
Yahweh will establish you as a people that is set apart for himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of Yahweh your God, and walk in his ways.
10
All the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of Yahweh, and they will be afraid of you.
11
Yahweh will make you very prosperous in the fruit of your womb, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your ground in the land that he swore to your fathers to give you.
12
Yahweh will open to you his storehouse of the heavens to give the rain for your land at the right time, and to bless all the work of your hand; you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow.
13
Yahweh will make you the head, and not the tail; you will be only above, and you will never be beneath, if you listen to the commandments of Yahweh your God that I am commanding you today, so as to observe and to do them,
14
and if you do not turn away from any of the words that I am commanding you today, to the right hand or to the left, so as to go after other gods to serve them.
15
But if you do not listen to the voice of Yahweh your God, so as to keep all his commandments and his statutes that I am commanding you today, then all these curses will come on you and overtake you.
16
Cursed will you be in the city, and cursed will you be in the field.
17
Cursed will be your basket and your kneading trough.
18
Cursed will be the fruit of your womb, the fruit of your ground, the calves of your herds, and the lambs of your flocks.
19
Cursed will you be when you come in, and cursed will you be when you go out.
20
Yahweh will send on you curses, confusion, and rebukes in all that you put your hand to, until you are destroyed, and until you perish quickly because of the evil of your deeds by which you will have abandoned me.
21
Yahweh will make the plague cling to you until he destroys you from off the land that you are going in to possess.
22
Yahweh will attack you with infectious diseases, with fever, with inflammation, with drought, with sword, with scorching winds, and with mildew. These will pursue you until you perish.
23
Your skies that are over your head will be bronze, and the earth that is under you will be iron.
24
Yahweh will make the rain of your land into powder and dust; from the heavens will it come down on you, until you are destroyed.
25
Yahweh will cause you to be struck down before your enemies; you will go out one way against them but will flee before them seven ways. You will be tossed to and fro among all the kingdoms of the earth.
26
Your dead body will be food to all the birds of the heavens and to the wild animals of the earth; there will be no one to frighten them away.
27
Yahweh will attack you with the boils of Egypt and with ulcers, scurvy, and itch, from which you cannot be healed.
28
Yahweh will attack you with madness, with blindness, and with mental confusion.
29
You will grope about at noonday like the blind grope in the darkness, and you will not prosper in your ways; you will be always oppressed and robbed, and there will be no one to save you.
30
You will betroth a woman, but another man will seize her and rape her. You will build a house but not live in it; you will plant a vineyard but not enjoy its fruit.
31
Your ox will be killed before your eyes, but you will not eat its meat; your donkey will be forcibly taken away from before you and will not be restored to you. Your sheep will be given to your enemies, and you will have no one to deliver you.
32
Your sons and your daughters will be given to other peoples; your eyes will look for them the entire day, but will fail with longing for them. There will be no strength in your hand.
33
The produce of your land and of all your labors—a nation that you do not know will eat it up; you will always be oppressed and crushed,
34
so that you will become insane by what you have to see happen.
35
Yahweh will attack you in the knees and legs with severe boils from which you cannot be cured, from the bottom of your feet to the top of your head.
36
Yahweh will take you and the king whom you will place over yourself to a nation that you have not known, neither you nor your ancestors; there you will worship other gods of wood and stone.
37
You will become a source of horror, a proverb, and a byword, among all the peoples where Yahweh will lead you away.
38
You will take much seed out into the field, but will gather little seed in, for the locusts will consume it.
39
You will plant vineyards and cultivate them, but you will neither drink any of the wine, nor even gather in the grapes, for worms will eat them.
40
You will have olive trees within all your territory, but you will not anoint yourself with the oil, for your olive trees will drop their fruit.
41
You will have sons and daughters, but they will not remain yours, for they will go into captivity.
42
All your trees and the produce of your ground—the locusts will take them over.
43
The foreigner who is among you will rise up above you higher and higher; you yourself will come down lower and lower.
44
He will lend to you, but you will not lend to him; he will be the head, and you will be the tail.
45
All these curses will come on you and will pursue and overtake you until you are destroyed. This will happen because you did not listen to the voice of Yahweh your God, so as to keep his commandments and his regulations that he commanded you.
46
These curses will be on you as signs and wonders, and on your descendants forever.
47
Because you did not worship Yahweh your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart when you were in prosperity,
48
therefore will you serve the enemies that Yahweh will send against you; you will serve them in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in poverty. He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he destroys you.
49
Yahweh will bring a nation against you from far away, from the ends of the earth, like an eagle flies to its victim, a nation whose language you do not understand;
50
a nation with a fierce face that does not respect the aged and does not show favor to the young.
51
They will eat the young of your livestock and the produce of your land until you are destroyed. They will leave for you no grain, new wine, or oil, no calves of your herds or the lambs of your flock, until they have caused you to perish.
52
They will besiege you in all your city gates, until your high and fortified walls come down everywhere in your land, walls in which you had trusted. They will besiege you within all your city gates throughout all the land that Yahweh your God had given you.
53
You will eat the fruit of your own body, the flesh of your sons and of your daughters, whom Yahweh your God gave you, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemies will oppress you.
54
The man who is timid and very delicate among you—he will be envious of his brother and his own dear wife, and of whatever children he has left.
55
So he will not give to any of them the flesh of his own children that he is going to eat, because he will have nothing left for himself in the siege and in the distress with which your enemy will oppress you within all your city gates.
56
The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not venture to put the bottom of her foot on the ground for delicateness and tenderness—she will be envious of her own dear husband, of her son, and of her daughter,
57
and of her own newborn that comes out from between her legs, and of the children whom she will bear. She will eat them in private for lack of anything else, during the siege and in the distress with which your enemy will oppress you within your city gates.
58
If you do not keep all the words of this law that are written in this book, so as to honor this glorious and fearful name, Yahweh your God,
59
then Yahweh will make your plagues terrible, and those of your descendants; they will be great plagues, of long duration, and severe diseases, of long duration.
60
He will bring on you again all the diseases of Egypt that you were afraid of; they will cling to you.
61
Also every sickness and plague that is not written in the book of this law, those also Yahweh will bring on you until you are destroyed.
62
You will be left few in number, although you were like the stars of the heavens in number, because you did not listen to the voice of Yahweh your God.
63
As Yahweh once rejoiced over you in doing you good, and in multiplying you, so he will rejoice over you in making you perish and in destroying you. You will be plucked off the land that you are going into to possess.
64
Yahweh will scatter you among all peoples from the one end of the earth to the other end of the earth; there you will worship other gods that you have not known, neither you nor your ancestors, gods of wood and stone.
65
Among these nations will you find no ease, and there will be no rest for the bottoms of your feet; Yahweh will give you there a trembling heart, failing eyes, and a soul that mourns.
66
Your life will hang in doubt before you; night and day you will be afraid and will have no assurance of your life.
67
In the morning you will say, 'I wish it were evening!' and in the evening you will say, 'I wish it were morning!' because of the fear in your hearts and the things your eyes will have to see.
68
Yahweh will bring you into Egypt again by ships, by the route about which I had said to you, 'You will not see Egypt again.' There you will offer yourselves for sale to your enemies as male slaves and female slaves, but no one will purchase you."
Chapter 29
1
These are the words that Yahweh commanded Moses to tell the people of Israel in the land of Moab, words that were added to the covenant that he had made with them at Horeb.
2
Moses called to all Israel and said to them, "You have seen everything that Yahweh did before your eyes in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his servants, and to all his land—
3
the great sufferings that your eyes saw, the signs, and those great wonders.
4
But until today Yahweh has not given you a heart to know, eyes to see, or ears to hear.
5
I have led you for forty years in the wilderness; your clothes did not wear out on you, and your sandals did not wear out on your feet.
6
You did not eat any bread, and you did not drink any wine or other strong drink, so that you might know that I am Yahweh your God.
7
When you came to this place, Sihon, the king of Heshbon, and Og, the king of Bashan, came out against us to fight, and we struck them down.
8
We took their land and gave it as an inheritance to the Reubenites, to the Gadites, and to the half tribe of Manasseh.
9
Therefore keep the words of this covenant and do them, so that you may prosper in everything that you do.
10
You stand today, all of you, before Yahweh your God; your chiefs, your tribes, your elders, and your officers—all the men of Israel,
11
your little ones, your wives, and the foreigner who is among you in your camp, from him who cuts your wood to him who draws your water.
12
You are here in order to enter into the covenant of Yahweh your God and into the oath that Yahweh your God is making with you today,
13
so that he may make you today into a people for himself, and that he may be God for you, as he spoke to you, and as he swore to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
14
For it is not only with you that I am making this covenant and this oath—
15
with everyone standing here with us today before Yahweh our God—but also with those who are not here with us today.
16
You know how we lived in the land of Egypt, and how we came through the midst of the nations through which you passed.
17
You have seen their disgusting idols made of wood and stone, silver and gold, that were among them.
18
Make sure there is not among you any man, woman, clan, or tribe whose heart is turning away today from Yahweh our God, so as to go worship the gods of those nations. Make sure there is not among you any root that produces poison fruit and wormwood.
19
When that person hears the words of this curse, he will bless himself in his heart and say, 'I will have peace, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.' This would destroy the wet together with the dry.
20
Yahweh will not pardon him. Instead, the anger of Yahweh and his jealousy will smolder against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book will come on him, and Yahweh will blot out his name from under heaven.
21
Yahweh will set him apart for disaster out of all the tribes of Israel, in keeping with all the curses of the covenant that are written in this book of the law.
22
The generation to come, your children who will rise up after you, and the foreigner who comes from a distant land, will speak when they see the plagues on this land and the diseases with which Yahweh has made it sick—
23
and when they see that the whole land has become sulfur and burning salt, where nothing is sown or bears fruit, where no vegetation grows, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboyim, that Yahweh destroyed in his anger and wrath—
24
they will say together with all the other nations, 'Why has Yahweh done this to this land? What does the heat of this great anger mean?'
25
Then people will say, 'It is because they abandoned the covenant of Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, that he made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt,
26
and because they went and served other gods and bowed down to them, gods that they had not known and that he had not given to them.
27
Therefore the anger of Yahweh has been kindled against this land, so as to bring on it all the curses that are written in this book.
28
Yahweh has uprooted them from their land in anger, in wrath, and in great fury, and has thrown them into another land, as today.'
29
The secret matters belong alone to Yahweh our God; but the things that are revealed belong forever to us and to our descendants, so that we may do all the words of this law.
Chapter 30
1
When all these things have come on you, the blessings and the curses that I have set before you, and when you call them to mind among all the other nations where Yahweh your God has banished you,
2
and when you return to Yahweh your God and obey his voice, following all that I am commanding you today—you and your children—with all your heart and with all your soul,
3
then Yahweh your God will reverse your captivity and have compassion on you; he will return and gather you from all the peoples where Yahweh your God has scattered you.
4
If any of your exiled people are in the farthest places under the heavens, from there Yahweh your God will gather you, and from there he will bring you.
5
Yahweh your God will bring you into the land that your forefathers possessed, and you will possess it again; he will do you good and will multiply you more than he did your forefathers.
6
Yahweh your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, so you will love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.
7
Yahweh your God will put all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate you, those who persecuted you.
8
You will return and obey the voice of Yahweh, and you will do all his commandments that I am commanding you today.
9
Yahweh your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your ground, for prosperity. For Yahweh will again delight in making you prosperous, as he rejoiced over your fathers.
10
He will do this if you will obey the voice of Yahweh your God, so as to keep his commandments and regulations that are written in this book of the law, if you turn to Yahweh your God with all your heart and all your soul.
11
For this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, neither is it too far for you to reach.
12
It is not in heaven, so that you should have to say, 'Who will go up for us to heaven and bring it down to us and make us able to hear it, so that we may do it?'
13
Neither is it beyond the sea, so that you should have to say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us and make us to hear it, so that we may do it?'
14
But the word is very near to you, in your mouth and your heart, so that you may do it.
15
See, today I have placed before you life and good, death and evil.
16
If you obey the decrees of Yahweh your God, in which I am commanding you today to love Yahweh your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments, his regulations, and his statutes, you will live and multiply, and Yahweh your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess.
17
But if your heart turns away, and you do not listen and are drawn away and bow down to other gods and worship them,
18
then I declare to you today that you will surely perish; you will not prolong your days in the land that you are passing over the Jordan to go into and possess.
19
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life so that you may live, you and your descendants.
20
Do this so as to love Yahweh your God, to obey his voice, and to cling to him. For he is your life and the length of your days; do this so that you may live in the land that Yahweh swore to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them."
Chapter 31
1
Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel.
2
He said to them, "I am now one hundred twenty years old; I can no more go out and come in; Yahweh has said to me, 'You will not go over this Jordan.'
3
Yahweh your God, he will go over before you; he will destroy these nations from before you, and you will dispossess them. Joshua, he will go over before you, as Yahweh has spoken.
4
Yahweh will do to them as he did to Sihon and to Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, which he destroyed.
5
Yahweh will deliver them over to you, and you will do to them according to all that I commanded you.
6
Be strong and of good courage, fear not, and do not be afraid of them; for Yahweh your God, he it is who goes with you; he will not fail you nor abandon you."
7
Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, "Be strong and of good courage, for you will go with this people into the land that Yahweh has sworn to their ancestors to give them; you will cause them to inherit it.
8
Yahweh, he it is who goes before you; he will be with you; he will not fail you nor abandon you; do not be afraid, do not be discouraged."
9
Moses wrote this law and gave it out to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of Yahweh; he also gave copies of it to all the elders of Israel.
10
Moses commanded them and said, "At the end of every seven years, at the time fixed for the cancellation of debts, during the Festival of Shelters,
11
when all Israel has come to appear before Yahweh your God in the place that he will choose for his sanctuary, you will read this law before all Israel in their hearing.
12
Assemble the people, the men, the women, and the little ones, and your foreigner who is within your city gates, so that they may hear and learn, and so that they may honor Yahweh your God and keep all the words of this law.
13
Do this so that their children, who have not known, may hear and learn to honor Yahweh your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess."
14
Yahweh said to Moses, "Look, the day is coming when you must die; call Joshua and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, so that I may give him a command." Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tent of meeting.
15
Yahweh appeared in the tent in a pillar of cloud; the pillar of cloud stood over the door of the tent.
16
Yahweh said to Moses, "Look, you will lie down with your fathers; this people will rise up and act like a prostitute going after the strange gods that are among them in the land where they are going. They will abandon me and break my covenant that I have made with them.
17
Then, on that day, my anger will be kindled against them and I will abandon them. I will hide my face from them and they will be devoured. Many disasters and troubles will find them so that they will say on that day, 'Have these disasters not come upon us because our God is not in our midst?'
18
I will surely hide my face from them on that day because of all the evil that they will have done, because they will have turned to other gods.
19
Now therefore write this song for yourselves and teach it to the people of Israel. Put it in their mouths, so that this song may be a witness for me against the people of Israel.
20
For when I will have brought them into the land that I swore to give to their ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey, and when they have eaten and become satisfied and prosperous, then they will turn to other gods and they will serve them and they will despise me and they will break my covenant.
21
When many evils and troubles come upon this people, this song will testify before them as a witness (for it will not be forgotten from the mouths of their descendants). For I know the plans that they are forming today, even before I have brought them into the land that I swore to them."
22
So Moses wrote this song the same day and taught it to the people of Israel.
23
Yahweh gave Joshua son of Nun a command and said, "Be strong and of good courage; for you will bring the people of Israel into the land that I swore to them, and I will be with you."
24
It happened that when Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book,
25
that he commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and he said,
26
"Take this book of the law and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of Yahweh your God, so that it may be there as a witness against you.
27
For I know your rebellion and your stiff neck; look, while I am still alive with you even today, you have been rebellious against Yahweh; how much more after my death?
28
Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, so that I may speak these words in their ears and call heaven and earth to witness against them.
29
For I know that after my death you will utterly corrupt yourselves and turn aside out of the path that I have commanded you; disaster will come on you in the following days. This will happen because you will do what is evil in the sight of Yahweh, so as to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands."
30
Moses recited in the ears of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song until they were finished.
Chapter 32
1
Give ear, you heavens, and let me speak.
Let the earth listen to the words of my mouth.
2
Let my teaching drop down like the rain,
let my speech distill like the dew,
like the gentle rain on the tender grass,
and like the showers on the plants.
3
For I will proclaim the name of Yahweh,
and ascribe greatness to our God.
4
The Rock, his work is perfect;
for all his paths are just.
He is the faithful God, without iniquity.
He is just and upright.
5
They have acted corruptly against him.
They are not his children. It is their disgrace.
They are a perverted and crooked generation.
6
Do you reward Yahweh in this way,
you foolish and unwise people?
Is he not your Father, the one who has created you?
He made you and established you.
7
Call to mind the days of ancient times,
think about the years of generations past.
Ask your father and he will show you,
your elders and they will tell you.
8
When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance—
when he divided all of mankind,
he set the boundaries of the peoples
according to the number of the children of Israel.
9
For Yahweh's portion is his people;
Jacob is his apportioned inheritance.
10
He found him in a desert land,
and in the barren and howling wilderness;
he shielded him and cared for him,
he guarded him as the apple of his eye.
11
As an eagle that guards her nest
and flutters over her young,
Yahweh spread out his wings and took them,
and carried them on his pinions.
12
Yahweh alone led him;
no foreign god was with him.
13
He made him ride on high places of the land,
and he fed him the fruits of the field;
he nourished him with honey from the rock,
and oil from the flinty crag.
14
He ate butter from the herd and drank milk from the flock,
with fat of lambs,
rams of Bashan and goats,
with the finest of the wheat—
and you drank foaming wine made from the blood of grapes.
15
But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked—
you grew fat, you were too fat, and you had eaten your fill—
he abandoned the God who made him,
and he rejected the Rock of his salvation.
16
They made Yahweh jealous by their strange gods;
with their abominations they angered him.
17
They sacrificed to demons, which are not God—
gods they had not known,
gods that recently appeared,
gods your fathers did not fear.
18
You have deserted the Rock, who became your father,
and you forgot the God who gave you birth.
19
Yahweh saw this and he rejected them,
because his sons and his daughters provoked him so.
20
"I will hide my face from them," he said,
"and I will see what their end will be;
for they are a perverse generation,
children in whom is no faithfulness.
21
They have made me jealous by what is not god
and angered me by their worthless things.
I will make them envious by those who are not a people;
by a foolish nation I will make them angry.
22
For a fire is kindled by my anger
and is burning to the lowest Sheol;
it is devouring the earth and its produce;
it is setting on fire the foundations of the mountains.
23
I will heap disasters on them;
I will shoot all my arrows at them;
24
They will be wasted by hunger and devoured by burning heat
and bitter destruction;
I will send on them the teeth of wild animals,
with the poison of things that crawl in the dust.
25
Outside the sword will bereave,
and in the bedrooms terror will do so.
It will destroy both young man and virgin,
the nursing baby, and the man of gray hairs.
26
I said that I would scatter them far away,
that I would make the memory of them to cease from among mankind.
27
Were it not that I feared the provocation of the enemy,
and that their enemies would judge mistakenly,
and that they would say, 'Our hand is exalted,'
I would have done all this.
28
For Israel is a nation devoid of counsel,
and there is no understanding in them.
29
Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this,
that they would consider their coming fate!
30
How could one chase a thousand,
and two put ten thousand to flight,
unless their Rock had sold them,
and Yahweh had given them up?
31
For our enemies' rock is not like our Rock,
just as even our enemies have concluded.
32
For their vine comes from the vine of Sodom,
and from the fields of Gomorrah;
their grapes are grapes of poison;
their clusters are bitter.
33
Their wine is the poison of serpents
and the cruel venom of asps.
34
Is not this plan secretly kept by me,
sealed up among my treasures?
35
Vengeance is mine to give, and recompense,
at the time when their foot slips;
for the day of disaster for them is near,
and the things that are to come on them will hurry to happen."
36
For Yahweh will give justice to his people,
and he will pity his servants.
He will see that their power is gone,
and no one remains, either slaves or free people.
37
Then he will say, "Where are their gods,
the rock in whom they took refuge,
38
the gods who ate the fat of their sacrifices
and drank the wine of their drink offerings?
Let them rise up and help you;
let them be your protection.
39
See now that I, even I, am God,
and that there is no god besides me;
I kill, and I make alive;
I wound, and I heal,
and there is no one who can save you from my might.
40
For I lift up my hand to heaven
and say, 'As I live forever, I will act.
41
When I sharpen my glittering sword,
and when my hand begins to bring justice,
I will render vengeance on my enemies,
and I will pay back those who hate me.
42
I will make my arrows drunk with blood,
and my sword will devour flesh
with the blood of the killed and the captives,
and from the heads of the leaders of the enemy.'"
43
Rejoice, you nations, with God's people,
for he will avenge the blood of his servants;
he will render vengeance on his enemies,
and he will make atonement for his land, for his people.
44
Moses came and recited all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Joshua son of Nun.
45
Then Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel.
46
He said to them, "Fix your mind on all the words that I have witnessed to you today, so that you may command your children to keep them, all the words of this law.
47
For this is no trivial matter for you, because it is your life, and through this thing you will prolong your days in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess."
48
Yahweh spoke to Moses on that same day and said,
49
"Go up into this range of the mountains of Abarim, up Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, opposite Jericho. You will look at the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel as their possession.
50
You will die on the mountain that you go up, and you will be gathered to your people, as Aaron your fellow Israelite died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people.
51
This will happen because you were unfaithful to me among the people of Israel at the waters of Meribah in Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because you did not treat me with honor and respect among the people of Israel.
52
For you will see the land before you, but you will not go there, into the land that I am giving to the people of Israel."
Chapter 33
1
This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the people of Israel before his death.
2
He said:
Yahweh came from Sinai
and rose from Seir upon them.
He shined out from Mount Paran,
and he came with ten thousands of holy ones.
In his right hand were flashes of lightning.
3
Indeed, he loves the peoples;
all his holy people are in your hand,
and they bowed down at your feet;
they received your words.
4
Moses commanded us a law,
an inheritance for the assembly of Jacob.
5
Then there was a king in Jeshurun,
when the heads of the people had gathered,
all the tribes of Israel together.
6
Let Reuben live and not die,
but may his men be few.
7
This is the blessing for Judah. Moses said:
Listen, Yahweh, to the voice of Judah,
and bring him to his people again.
Fight for him;
be a help against his enemies.
8
About Levi, Moses said:
Your Thummim and your Urim belong to your faithful one,
the one whom you tested at Massah,
with whom you struggled at the waters of Meribah,
9
who said about his father and mother, "I have not seen them."
Neither did he acknowledge his brothers,
nor did he take account of his own children.
For he guarded your word
and kept your covenant.
10
He teaches Jacob your decrees
and Israel your law.
He will put incense before you
and whole burnt offerings on your altar.
11
Bless, Yahweh, his possessions,
and accept the work of his hands.
Shatter the loins of those who rise up against him,
and those of the people who hate him, so that they do not rise up again.
12
About Benjamin, Moses said:
The one loved by Yahweh lives in security beside him;
Yahweh shields him all the day long,
and he lives between Yahweh's arms.
13
About Joseph, Moses said:
May his land be blessed by Yahweh
with the precious things of heaven, with the dew,
and with the deep that lies beneath.
14
May his land be blessed with the precious things of the harvest of the sun,
with the precious things of the produce of the months,
15
with the finest things of the ancient mountains,
and with the precious things of the everlasting hills.
16
May his land be blessed with the precious things of the earth and its abundance,
and with the good will of him who was in the bush.
Let the blessing come on the head of Joseph,
and on the top of the head of him who was prince over his brothers.
17
The firstborn of an ox, majestic is he,
and his horns are the horns of a wild ox.
With them he will push the peoples,
all of them, to the ends of the earth.
These are the ten thousands of Ephraim;
these are the thousands of Manasseh.
18
About Zebulun, Moses said:
Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out,
and you, Issachar, in your tents.
19
They will call the peoples to the mountains.
There will they offer sacrifices of righteousness.
For they will suck the abundance of the seas,
and from the sand on the seashore.
20
About Gad, Moses said:
Blessed be he who enlarges Gad.
He will live there like a lioness,
and he will tear off an arm or a head.
21
He provided the best part for himself,
for there was the leader's portion of land reserved.
He came with the heads of the people.
He carried out the justice of Yahweh
and his decrees with Israel.
22
About Dan, Moses said:
Dan is a lion cub
that leaps out from Bashan.
23
About Naphtali, Moses said:
Naphtali, satisfied with favor,
and full of the blessing of Yahweh,
take possession of the land to the west and south.
24
About Asher, Moses said:
Blessed be Asher more than the other sons;
let him be acceptable to his brothers,
and let him dip his foot in olive oil.
25
May your city bars be iron and bronze;
as long as will be your days, so long will your security be.
26
There is no one like the God of Jeshurun,
who rides through the heavens to your help,
and in his majesty on the clouds.
27
The eternal God is a refuge,
and underneath are the everlasting arms.
He thrust out the enemy from before you,
and he said, "Destroy!"
28
Israel dwelt in safety.
Jacob's spring was secure
in a land of grain and new wine;
indeed, let his heavens drop dew on him.
29
Your blessings are many, Israel!
Who is like you, a people saved by Yahweh,
the shield of your help,
and the sword of your majesty?
Your enemies will come trembling to you;
you will trample down their high places.
Chapter 34
1
Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. There Yahweh showed him all the land of Gilead as far as Dan,
2
and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, to the western sea,
3
and the Negev, and the plain of the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar.
4
Yahweh said to him, "This is the land that I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have allowed you to look at it with your eyes, but you will not go over there."
5
So Moses the servant of Yahweh, died there in the land of Moab, as the word of Yahweh promised.
6
Yahweh buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth Peor, but no one knows where his grave is to this day.
7
Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died; his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.
8
The people of Israel mourned for Moses in the plains of Moab for thirty days, and then the days of mourning for Moses were finished.
9
Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. The people of Israel listened to him and did what Yahweh had commanded Moses.
10
There has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom Yahweh knew face to face.
11
There has never been any prophet like him in all the signs and wonders that Yahweh sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land.
12
There has never been any prophet like him in all the mighty, fearsome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.
Joshua
Chapter 1
1
Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of Yahweh, that Yahweh spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' chief assistant, saying,
2
"Moses, my servant, is dead. Now therefore, arise, cross over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them—to the people of Israel.
3
I have given you every place where the sole of your foot will walk. I have given it to you, just as I promised to Moses.
4
From the wilderness and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea, where the sun goes down, will be your land.
5
No one will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not abandon you or leave you.
6
Be strong and courageous. You will cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their ancestors I would give to them.
7
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go.
8
This book of the law must not leave your mouth. You must meditate on it day and night so that you can be careful to do all that is written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go."
10
Then Joshua commanded the leaders of the people,
11
"Go through the camp and command the people, 'Prepare provisions for yourselves. In three days you will cross over this Jordan and go in and possess the land that Yahweh your God is giving you to possess.'"
12
To the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said,
13
"Call to mind the word that Moses the servant of Yahweh, commanded you when he said, 'Yahweh your God is giving you rest, and he is giving you this land.'
14
Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock will stay in the land that Moses gave you beyond the Jordan. But your mighty warriors will go over with your brothers and help them
15
until Yahweh has given your brothers rest just as he has given it to you. Then they also will take possession of the land Yahweh your God gives them. Then you will return to your own land and possess it, the land that Moses the servant of Yahweh gave you beyond the Jordan, where the sun rises."
16
Then they answered Joshua, saying, "All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.
17
We will obey you just as we obeyed Moses. Only may Yahweh your God be with you, as he was with Moses.
18
Whoever rebels against your commands and disobeys the words you have commanded them will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous."
Chapter 2
1
Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two men out from Shittim as spies. He said, "Go, look over the land, especially Jericho." They went away and came to the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab, and they lodged there.
2
It was told to the king of Jericho, "Look, men of Israel have come here to spy on the land."
3
The king of Jericho sent word to Rahab and said, "Bring out the men who have come to you who entered your house, for they have come to spy on the whole land."
4
But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She replied, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.
5
They left when it was dusk, when it was time for the city gate to shut. I do not know where they went. You will probably catch them if you hurry after them."
6
But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax that she had laid out on the roof.
7
So the men pursued them on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan. The gate was shut as soon as the pursuers went out.
8
The men had not yet lain down for the night, when she came up to them on the roof.
9
She said, "I know that Yahweh has given you the land and that the fear of you has come upon us. All those who live in the land will melt away before you.
10
We have heard how Yahweh dried up the water of the Sea of Reeds for you when you came out of Egypt. We also heard what you did to the two kings of the Amorites on the other side of the Jordan—Sihon and Og—whom you completely destroyed.
11
As soon as we had heard it, our hearts melted and there was no courage left in anyone—for Yahweh your God, he is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
12
Now then, please swear to me by Yahweh that, just as I have been kind to you, you will also deal kindly with my father's house. Give me a sure sign
13
that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters and all their families, and that you will deliver our souls from death."
14
The men said to her, "Our life for yours, even to death! If you do not speak about our business, then, when Yahweh gives us this land we will be merciful and faithful to you."
15
So she let them down out through the window using a rope. The house in which she lived was built into the wall of the city.
16
She said to them, "Go in the hills and hide or the pursuers will find you. Hide there for three days until the pursuers have returned. Then go on your way."
17
The men said to her, "We will be be free from the oath you made us swear to if you do not do this.
18
When we come into the land, you must tie this scarlet rope in the window through which you let us down, and you will gather into the house your father and mother, your brothers and all your father's household.
19
Whoever goes out of the doors of your house into the street, their blood will be upon their own heads and we will be guiltless. But if a hand is laid upon any who is with you in the house, his blood will be on our head.
20
But if you speak about our business, we will be free from the oath you made us swear."
21
Rahab replied, "May what you say be done." She sent them away and they left. Then she tied the scarlet rope in the window.
22
They left and went up into the hills and they stayed there three days until their pursuers returned. The pursuers searched all along the road and found nothing.
23
The two men returned and crossed over and came back to Joshua son of Nun, and they told him everything that had happened to them.
24
They said to Joshua, "Truly Yahweh has given this land to us. All the inhabitants of the land are melting away because of us."
Chapter 3
1
Joshua got up early in the morning, and they set out from Shittim. They came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and they camped there before they crossed over.
2
After three days, the officers went through the middle of the camp;
3
they commanded the people, "When you see the ark of the covenant of Yahweh your God, and the priests from the Levites carrying it, you must leave this place and follow it.
4
There must be a distance between you and it of about two thousand cubits. Do not come close to it, so that you can see which way to go, since you have not gone this way before."
5
Joshua said to the people, "Consecrate yourselves tomorrow, for Yahweh will do wonders among you."
6
Then Joshua said to the priests, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass in front of the people." So they picked up the ark of the covenant and went in front of people.
7
Yahweh said to Joshua, "This day I will make you a great man in the eyes of all Israel. They will know that as I was with Moses, I will be with you.
8
You will command the priests who carry the ark of the covenant, 'When you have come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you must stand still in the Jordan River.'"
9
Then Joshua said to the people of Israel, "Come here, and listen to the words of Yahweh your God."
10
And Joshua said, "By this you will know that the living God is among you and will drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites.
11
Look! The ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth crosses over ahead of you into the Jordan.
12
Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man from each.
13
When the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of Yahweh, the Lord of all the earth, touch the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, and even the waters that flow down from upstream will stop flowing and they will stand in one heap."
14
So when the people set out from their tents to cross over the Jordan, the priests who carried the ark of the covenant went ahead of the people.
15
As soon as those who were carrying the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who carried the chest were dipped in the edge of the water—now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of the harvest—
16
the waters that flowed down from upstream stood up in one heap. The water stopped flowing from a great distance. The waters stopped flowing from Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, all the way down to the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea. The people crossed over near Jericho.
17
The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of Yahweh stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan until all the people of Israel crossed over on dry ground.
Chapter 4
1
When all the people crossed over the Jordan, Yahweh said to Joshua,
2
"Choose twelve men for yourselves from among the people, one man from each tribe.
3
Give them this command: 'Take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan where the priests are standing on the dry ground, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you will spend the night tonight.'"
4
Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had chosen from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe.
5
Joshua said to them, "Go over before the ark of Yahweh your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel.
6
This will be a sign in your midst for you when your children ask in days to come, 'What do these stones mean to you?'
7
Then you will say to them, 'The waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones will be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.'"
8
The people of Israel did just as Joshua commanded, and they picked up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, as Yahweh said to Joshua. They set the stones up according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel. They carried the stones with them, over to the place where they camped and they set them down there.
9
Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan River, in the place where the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the covenant stood. The memorial is there to this day.
10
The priests who carried the ark stood in the middle of the Jordan until everything that Yahweh commanded Joshua to tell the people was completed, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people hurried and they crossed over.
11
When all the people had finished crossing over, the ark of Yahweh and the priests crossed over before the people.
12
The tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh passed before the people of Israel formed up as an army, just as Moses said to them.
13
About forty thousand men equipped for war passed before Yahweh, for battle on the plains of Jericho.
14
On that day Yahweh made Joshua great in the eyes of all Israel. They honored him—just as they honored Moses—all his days.
15
Then Yahweh spoke to Joshua,
16
"Command the priests who carry the ark of the testimony to come up out of the Jordan."
17
So, Joshua commanded the priests, "Come up out of the Jordan."
18
When the priests carrying the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came up out of the middle of the Jordan, and the soles of their feet were lifted up out on dry ground, then the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed its banks, just as they were four days before.
19
The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month. They camped in Gilgal, east of Jericho.
20
The twelve stones that they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal.
21
He said to the people of Israel, "When your descendants ask their fathers in times to come, 'What are these stones?'
22
tell your children, 'This is where Israel crossed over the Jordan on dry ground.'
23
Yahweh your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you, until you had crossed over, just as Yahweh your God did to the Sea of Reeds, which he dried up for us until we passed over,
24
so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of Yahweh is mighty, and that you will honor Yahweh your God forever."
Chapter 5
1
As soon as all the kings of the Amorites on the west side of the Jordan, and all the kings of the Canaanites, who were along the coast of the Great Sea, heard that Yahweh had dried up the waters of the Jordan until the people of Israel had crossed over, their hearts melted, and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel.
2
At that time Yahweh said to Joshua, "Make flint knives and once more circumcise all the sons of Israel."
3
Then Joshua made himself flint knives and he circumcised all the sons of Israel at Gibeath Haaraloth.
4
This is the reason Joshua circumcised them: All the males who had come out of Egypt, including all the men of war, had died in the wilderness along the way, after they came out from Egypt.
5
Though all the males who came out of Egypt were circumcised, still, none of the boys born in the wilderness on the way out of Egypt had been circumcised.
6
For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness until all the people, that is, all the men of war who had come out of Egypt, died, because they did not obey the voice of Yahweh. Yahweh swore to them that he would not let them see the land that he had sworn to their ancestors that he would give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey.
7
It was their children that Yahweh raised up in their place that Joshua circumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.
8
When they were all circumcised, they remained where they were in the camp until they healed.
9
Then Yahweh said to Joshua, "This day I have rolled away the disgrace of Egypt from you." So, the name of that place has been called Gilgal until this present day.
10
The people of Israel camped at Gilgal. They kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month, in the evening, on the plains of Jericho.
11
On the day after Passover, that same day, they ate some of the produce of the land, unleavened bread and roasted grain.
12
The manna stopped on the day after they ate the produce of the land. There was no longer manna for the people of Israel, but they ate the produce of the land of Canaan that year.
13
When Joshua was near Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing in front of him; he had drawn his sword and it was in his hand. Joshua went to him and said, "Are you for us or for our enemies?"
14
He said, "Neither. For I am the commander of the army of Yahweh. Now I have come." Then Joshua lay facedown on the ground to worship and said to him, "What does my master say to his servant?"
15
The commander of Yahweh's army said to Joshua, "Take off your sandals from your feet, because the place you are standing is holy." That is what Joshua did.
Chapter 6
1
Now all the entrances to Jericho were closed because of the army of Israel. No one went out and no one came in.
2
Yahweh said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hand, its king, and its mighty warriors.
3
You must march around the city, all the men of war going around the city one time. You must do this for six days.
4
Seven priests must carry seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day, you must march around the city seven times, and the priests must sound blasts on the trumpets.
5
Then they must sound a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet all the people must shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat. The soldiers must attack, each one going straight ahead."
6
Then Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests carry seven trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark of Yahweh."
7
He said to the people, "Go over and march around the city, and the armed men will go ahead of the ark of Yahweh."
8
Just as Joshua had said to the people, the seven priests carried the seven trumpets of rams' horns before Yahweh. As they advanced, they gave a blast on the trumpets. The ark of the covenant of Yahweh followed after them.
9
Armed men walked before the priests, and they made a blast on their trumpets, but then the rear guard walked up behind the ark, and the priests blew their trumpets continually.
10
But Joshua commanded the people, saying, "Do not shout. No sound must leave your mouths until the day I tell you to shout. Only then you must shout."
11
So he caused the ark of Yahweh to go around the city one time that day. Then they entered their camp, and they stayed the night in the camp.
12
Then Joshua got up early in the morning, and the priests picked up the ark of Yahweh.
13
The seven priests, who were carrying the seven trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark of Yahweh, walked steadily and gave blasts on the trumpets. Armed soldiers were walking in front of them. But when the rear guard walked after the ark of Yahweh, then the trumpets gave out continual blasts.
14
They marched around the city one time the second day and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.
15
It was on the seventh day that they got up early, as dawn was breaking, and they marched around the city in the same way that was their pattern, this time for seven times. It was on this day that they marched around the city seven times.
16
It was on the seventh day, when the priests gave a blast with the trumpets, that Joshua commanded the people, "Shout! For Yahweh has given you the city.
17
The city and all that is in it will be set apart to Yahweh for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute will live—she and all the ones with her in her house—because she hid the messengers we sent.
18
But as for you, be on guard about taking the things set apart for destruction, so that after you mark them for destruction, you do not then take any of them. If you do this, you will make the camp of Israel something that must be destroyed and you will bring trouble on it.
19
All the silver, gold, and the things made of bronze and iron are set apart to Yahweh. They must go into the treasury of Yahweh."
20
So the people gave a great shout, and they blew on the trumpets. Now when the people heard the trumpet sound, they gave a great shout, the wall fell down flat, and every man charged straight in and captured the city.
21
They completely destroyed all that was in the city by the edge of the sword—man and woman, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys.
22
Then Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, "Go into the prostitute's house. Bring out the woman and all who are with her, as you swore to her."
23
So the young men who had been spies went in and brought Rahab out. They brought out her father, mother, brothers, and all the relatives that were with her. They brought them to a place outside the camp of Israel.
24
They burned the city and everything in it. Only the silver, gold, and the vessels of bronze and iron were put into the treasury of the house of Yahweh.
25
But Joshua allowed Rahab the prostitute, her father's household, and all that were with her to live. She lives in Israel to this day because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy on Jericho.
26
Then Joshua commanded them at that time with an oath, and he said, "Cursed is the man in Yahweh's sight who rebuilds this city, Jericho. At the cost of his firstborn son, he will lay the foundation, and at the cost of his youngest son, he will set up its gates."
27
So Yahweh was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land.
Chapter 7
1
But the people of Israel acted unfaithfully regarding the things that were set apart for destruction. Achan son of Karmi son of Zabdi son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, took some things that were set apart for destruction, and Yahweh's anger burned against the people of Israel.
2
Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which was near Beth Aven, east of Bethel. He said to them, "Go up and spy out the land." So the men went up and spied out Ai.
3
When they returned to Joshua, they said to him, "Do not send all the people up to Ai. Send only two or three thousand men to go up and attack Ai. Do not make all the people labor in battle, for they are few in number."
4
So only about three thousand men went up from the army, but these ran away from the men of Ai.
5
The men of Ai killed about thirty-six men as they pursued them from the city gate as far as to the stone quarries, and they killed them as they were going down a hill. The hearts of the people melted and became like water.
6
Then Joshua tore his garments. He and the elders of Israel put dust on their heads and lay facedown on the ground in front of the ark of Yahweh, remaining there until evening.
7
Then Joshua said, "Ah, Yahweh Lord, why have you brought this people across the Jordan at all? To give us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we made a different decision and we had stayed on the other side of the Jordan!
8
Lord, what can I say, after Israel has turned their backs before their enemies?
9
For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it. They will surround us and make the people of the earth forget our name. What will you do for your great name?"
10
Yahweh said to Joshua, "Get up! Why are you lying there on your face?
11
Israel has sinned. They have broken my covenant which I commanded them. They have stolen some of the things that were set apart. They have stolen and then also hidden their sin by putting what they have taken among their own belongings.
12
As a result, the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turned their backs from their enemies because they themselves have been set apart for destruction. I will not be with you any more unless you destroy the things that should have been destroyed, but are still among you.
13
Get up! Consecrate the people to me and say to them, 'Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow. For Yahweh, the God of Israel says, "There are things set apart to be destroyed that are still among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove from among you all the things that were set apart to be destroyed."
14
In the morning, you must present yourselves by your tribes. The tribe that Yahweh selects will come near by their clans. The clan that Yahweh selects must come near by each household. The household that Yahweh selects must come near one by one.
15
It will happen that the one who is selected and who has those things that were set apart for destruction, he will be burned, he and all he has, because he has broken the covenant of Yahweh and because he has done a disgraceful thing in Israel.'"
16
So, Joshua got up early in the morning and brought Israel near, tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was selected.
17
Joshua brought the clans of Judah near, and the clan of the Zerahites was selected. He brought near the clan of the Zerahites person by person, and Zabdi was selected.
18
He brought Zabdi's household near, person by person, and Achan son of Karmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, was selected.
19
Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to Yahweh, the God of Israel, and give praise to him. Please tell me what you have done. Do not hide it from me."
20
Achan answered Joshua, "Truly, I have sinned against Yahweh, the God of Israel. This is what I did:
21
When I saw among the plunder a beautiful coat from Babylon, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I desired them and took them. They are hidden in the ground in the middle of my tent, and the silver is under it."
22
Joshua sent messengers, who ran to the tent and there were the things. When they looked, they found them hidden in his own tent, and the silver under them.
23
They took the items from the middle of the tent and brought them to Joshua and to all the people of Israel. They poured them out before Yahweh.
24
Then Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan son of Zerah, and the silver, the coat, the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys, sheep, and his tent and all that he had, and they brought them up to the Valley of Achor.
25
Then Joshua said, "Why have you troubled us? Yahweh will trouble you today." All Israel stoned him with stones. Then they stoned the rest with stones and burned them with fire.
26
They set up over him a great heap of stones that is here until this day. Yahweh turned away his burning anger. Therefore the name of the place has been called the Valley of Achor until this present day.
Chapter 8
1
Yahweh said to Joshua, "Do not fear; do not be discouraged. Take with you all the people of war. Go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.
2
You will do to Ai and her king as you have done to Jericho and her king, except that you will take the plunder and the livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city."
3
So Joshua got up and took all the men of war up to Ai. Then Joshua chose thirty thousand men—mighty warriors—and he sent them out at night.
4
He commanded them, "Look, you will lie in ambush against the city, behind it. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you be ready.
5
I and all the men with me will approach the city, and when they come out to attack us, we will run away from them just as before.
6
They will come out after us until we have drawn them away from the city. They will say, 'They are running away from us as they did the last time.' So we will run away from them.
7
Then you come up out of your place of hiding, and you will capture the city. Yahweh your God will give it into your hand.
8
When you capture the city, you will set it on fire. You will do this when you obey the command given in the word of Yahweh. See, I have commanded you."
9
Joshua sent them out, and they went to the place of ambush, and they hid between Bethel and Ai to the west of Ai. But Joshua slept that night among the people.
10
Joshua got up early in the morning and got his soldiers ready, Joshua and the elders of Israel, and they attacked the people of Ai.
11
All the fighting men who were with him went up and approached the city. They came near the city and camped on the north side of Ai. Now there was a valley between them and Ai.
12
He took about five thousand men and set them in ambush on the west side of the city between Bethel and Ai.
13
They positioned all the soldiers, the main army on the north side of the city, and the rear guard on the west side of the city. Joshua spent that night in the valley.
14
It came about when the king of Ai saw it, he and his army got up early and rushed out to attack Israel at a certain place that was overlooking the Jordan River valley. He did not know that an ambush was waiting to attack from behind the city.
15
Joshua and all Israel let themselves be defeated before them, and they fled toward the wilderness.
16
All the people who were in the city were called together to go after them, and they went after Joshua and they were drawn away from the city.
17
There was not a man left in Ai and Bethel who had not gone out to pursue Israel. They abandoned the city and left it open as they pursued Israel.
18
Yahweh said to Joshua, "Point that spear in your hand toward Ai, for I will give Ai into your hand." Joshua held out the spear that was in his hand toward the city.
19
The soldiers hiding in ambush quickly rushed out of their place as he reached out with his hand. They ran and entered the city and captured it. They quickly set the city on fire.
20
The men of Ai turned and looked back. They saw the smoke from the city rising into the sky, and they could not escape this way or that. For the Israelite soldiers who had fled into the wilderness now turned back to face those who were pursuing them.
21
When Joshua and all Israel saw the ambush had captured the city with the smoke rising, they turned around and killed the men of Ai.
22
The others came out from the city against them, so that they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side and some on that side. Israel attacked the men of Ai; none remained of those who survived or escaped.
23
They kept the king of Ai, whom they captured alive, and they brought him to Joshua.
24
It came about when Israel had finished killing all the inhabitants of Ai in the field near the wilderness where they pursued them, and when all of them, to the very last one, had fallen by the edge of the sword, all Israel returned to Ai. They attacked it with the edge of the sword.
25
All those who fell that day, both men and women, were twelve thousand, all the people of Ai.
26
Joshua did not draw back his hand with which he had reached out while holding his spear, until he had completely destroyed all the people of Ai.
27
Israel took only the livestock and the plunder from the city for themselves, just as Yahweh had commanded Joshua.
28
Joshua burned Ai and turned it into a heap of ruins forever. It is a devastated place to this day.
29
He hanged the king of Ai on a tree until evening. When the sun was going down, Joshua gave the command and they took the king's body down from the tree and threw it in front of the city gate. There they set up a great heap of stones on top of it. That heap remains there to this day.
30
Then Joshua built an altar to Yahweh, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal,
31
just as Moses the servant of Yahweh had commanded the people of Israel, as it was written in the book of the law of Moses: "An altar from uncut stones, on which no one has wielded an iron tool." He offered on the altar burnt offerings to Yahweh, and they sacrificed peace offerings.
32
There, in the presence of the people of Israel, he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses.
33
All Israel, their elders, officers, and their judges stood on both sides of the ark before the priests and Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of Yahweh—the foreigner as well as the native born—half of them stood in front of Mount Gerizim and the other half stood in front of Mount Ebal. They blessed the people of Israel, just as Moses the servant of Yahweh had commanded them at first.
34
Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law, the blessings and the curses, just as they had been written in the book of the law.
35
There was not one word from all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not read in front of the assembly of Israel, including the women, the little children, and the foreigners who lived among them.
Chapter 9
1
Then all the kings who lived beyond the Jordan in the hill country, and in the lowlands along the shore of the Great Sea toward Lebanon—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and the Jebusites—
2
these gathered themselves together under one command, to wage war against Joshua and Israel.
3
When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,
4
they acted with a cunning plan. They went as messengers. They took worn-out sacks and put them on their donkeys. They also took old wineskins that were worn, torn, and had been repaired.
5
They put old and patched sandals on their feet, and dressed in old, worn-out clothing. All the bread in their food supply was dry and moldy.
6
Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, "We have traveled from a very far country, so now make a covenant with us."
7
The men of Israel said to the Hivites, "Perhaps you live near us. How can we make a covenant with you?"
8
They said to Joshua, "We are your servants." Joshua said to them, "Who are you? Where did you come from?"
9
They said to him, "Your servants have come here from a land very far away, because of the fame of Yahweh your God. We have heard a report about him and about everything that he did in Egypt—
10
and everything that he did to the two kings of the Amorites on the other side of the Jordan—to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan who was at Ashtaroth.
11
Our elders and all the inhabitants of our country said to us, 'Take provisions in your hand for the journey. Go to meet them and say to them, "We are your servants. Make a treaty with us."
12
This is our bread, it was still warm when we took it from our houses on the day we set out to come to you. But now, see, it is dry and moldy.
13
These wineskins were new when we filled them, and look, now they are leaking. Our garments and our sandals are worn out from a very long journey.'"
14
So the Israelites took some of their provisions, but they did not consult with Yahweh for guidance.
15
Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live. The leaders of the people also swore a vow to them.
16
Three days after the Israelites made this covenant with them, they learned that they were their neighbors and that they lived nearby.
17
Then the people of Israel set out and came to their cities on the third day. Their cities were Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim.
18
The people of Israel did not attack them because their leaders had taken an oath about them before Yahweh, the God of Israel. The whole community was grumbling against their leaders.
19
But all the leaders said to all the people, "We have taken an oath concerning them by Yahweh, the God of Israel, and now we cannot harm them.
20
This is what we will do to them: To avoid any wrath that may come on us because of the oath we swore to them, we will let them live."
21
The leaders said to their people, "Let them live." So, the Gibeonites became cutters of wood and drawers of water for all the Israelites, just as the leaders said about them.
22
Joshua called for them and said, "Why did you deceive us when you said, 'We are very far from you', when you live right here among us?
23
Now, because of this, you are cursed and some of you will always be slaves, those who cut wood and draw water for the house of my God."
24
They answered Joshua and said, "Because it was told to your servants that Yahweh your God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land before you—so we were very afraid for our lives because of you. That is why we did this thing.
25
Now, look, you hold us in your power. Whatever seems good and right for you to do to us, do it."
26
So Joshua did this for them: He delivered them out of the control of the people of Israel, so that the people of Israel did not kill them.
27
That day Joshua made the Gibeonites cutters of wood and drawers of water for the community, and for the altar of Yahweh, to this day, in the place that Yahweh chooses.
Chapter 10
1
Now when Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai and had completely destroyed it (just as he had done to Jericho and its king), he also heard how the people of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were living among them.
2
The people of Jerusalem were very afraid because Gibeon was a large city, like one of the royal cities. It was larger than Ai, and all its men were mighty warriors.
3
So Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent a message to Hoham king of Hebron, to Piram king of Jarmuth, to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon:
4
"Come up to me and help me. Let us attack Gibeon because they have made peace with Joshua and with the people of Israel."
5
The five kings of the Amorites—the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon—came up, they and all of their armies. They encamped near Gibeon, and they attacked it.
6
The people of Gibeon sent a message to Joshua and to the army at Gilgal. They said, "Hurry! Do not withdraw your hands from your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us. Help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who live in the hill country have gathered together to attack us."
7
Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the men of war with him, and all the mighty warriors.
8
Yahweh said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them. I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to stop your attack."
9
Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched all night from Gilgal.
10
Yahweh confused the enemy before Israel, and Israel killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon and pursued them on the road going up to Beth Horon, and they killed them on the road to Azekah and Makkedah.
11
As they ran away from Israel, down the hill from Beth Horon, Yahweh threw large stones down from heaven upon them all the way to Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than who were killed with the sword by the men of Israel.
12
Then Joshua spoke to Yahweh on the day Yahweh gave the men of Israel victory over the Amorites. This is what Joshua said to Yahweh before Israel,
"Sun, be still at Gibeon,
and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon."
13
The sun stood still,
and the moon stopped moving
until the nation took vengeance
on their enemies.
Is this not written in the Book of Jashar?
The sun stayed
in the middle of the sky;
it did not go down
for about a whole day.
14
There has been no other day like it before or after it, when Yahweh obeyed the voice of a human being. For Yahweh was waging war on behalf of Israel.
15
Joshua and all Israel with him returned to the camp at Gilgal.
16
Now the five kings had escaped and hidden themselves in the cave at Makkedah.
17
It was told to Joshua, "They have been found!—the five kings hidden in the cave at Makkedah!"
18
Joshua said, "Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave and place soldiers there to guard them.
19
Do not stay yourselves. Pursue your enemies and attack them from the rear. Do not permit them to enter into their cities, because Yahweh your God has given them into your hand."
20
Joshua and the sons of Israel had finished slaughtering them with a very great slaughter, until they were almost completely destroyed; only a few survivors who escaped reached the fortified cities.
21
Then the whole army returned in peace to Joshua at the camp at Makkedah. No one dared to say one word against any of the people of Israel.
22
Then Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave and out of the cave bring to me these five kings."
23
They did as he said. They brought to him these five kings from the cave—the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.
24
When they brought the kings to Joshua, he summoned every man of Israel. He said to the commanders of the soldiers who had gone into battle with him, "Put your feet on their necks." So they came up and put their feet on their necks.
25
Then Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Be strong and courageous. This is what Yahweh will do to all your enemies you are going to fight."
26
Then Joshua struck the kings. He hung them on five trees. They hung on the trees until evening.
27
When it was sunset, Joshua gave orders, and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves. They put large stones over the mouth of the cave. Those stones remain there to this very day.
28
In this way, Joshua captured Makkedah on that day and killed everyone there with the sword, including its king. He completely destroyed everyone in it. He left no survivor in it. He did to the king of Makkedah just as he had done to the king of Jericho.
29
Joshua and all Israel passed on from Makkedah to Libnah. He went into battle against Libnah.
30
Yahweh also gave it into the hand of Israel—along with their king. Joshua struck it with the edge of the sword and every person in it. He left no survivor in it. He did to its king just as he had done to the king of Jericho.
31
Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Libnah to Lachish. He camped by it and waged war against it.
32
Yahweh gave Lachish into the hand of Israel. Joshua captured it on the second day and struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it, just as he had done to Libnah.
33
Then Horam, king of Gezer, came up to help Lachish. Joshua attacked him and his army until there was not even one survivor left.
34
Then Joshua and all Israel passed on from Lachish to Eglon. They camped by it and waged war against it,
35
and captured it that same day. They struck it with the edge of the sword and they completely destroyed everyone in it, as Joshua had done to Lachish.
36
Then Joshua and all Israel passed on from Eglon to Hebron. They waged war against it.
37
They captured it and struck it with the edge of the sword, together with its king and its villages, and all the people in it. They left no survivors. Just as they had done to Eglon, they totally destroyed it and every person in it.
38
Then Joshua turned, and all the army of Israel with him, and they passed on to Debir and waged war against it.
39
They captured it, its king and all its nearby villages. They struck them with the edge of the sword and completely destroyed every person in it. They left no survivor. They did to Debir and its king as they had done to Libnah and its king and to Hebron.
40
Joshua conquered all the land, the hill country, the Negev, the lowlands, and the foothills. Of all their kings he left not one survivor. He completely destroyed everything that breathed, just as Yahweh, the God of Israel, had commanded.
41
Joshua struck them from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza, and all the country of Goshen to Gibeon.
42
Joshua captured all these kings and their land at one time because Yahweh, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.
43
Then Joshua, and all Israel with him, returned to the camp at Gilgal.
Chapter 11
1
When Jabin, king of Hazor, heard this, he sent a message to Jobab, king of Madon, to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Akshaph.
2
He also sent the message to the kings who were in the northern hill country, in the Jordan River valley south of Kinnereth, in the lowlands, and in Naphoth Dor to the west.
3
He also sent a message to the Canaanites to the east and west, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites in the hill country, and the Hivites by Mount Hermon in the land of Mizpah.
4
All their armies came out with them, a great number of soldiers, in number like the sand on the seashore. They had a great number of horses and chariots.
5
All these kings met at the appointed time, and they camped at the waters of Merom to wage war with Israel.
6
Yahweh said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid in their presence, because tomorrow at this time I am giving them all to Israel as dead men. You will hamstring their horses, and you will burn their chariots."
7
Joshua and all the men of war came. They arrived suddenly at the waters of Merom, and attacked the enemy.
8
Yahweh gave the enemy into the hand of Israel, and they struck them and pursued them to Sidon, Misrephoth Maim, and to the Valley of Mizpah to the east. They struck them until not even one survivor of them was left.
9
Joshua did to them just as Yahweh told him. He hamstrung the horses and burned the chariots.
10
Joshua turned back at that time and captured Hazor. He struck its king with the sword. (Hazor had been head of all these kingdoms.)
11
They struck with the sword every living creature that was there, and he set them apart to be destroyed, so there was not any living creature left alive. Then he burned Hazor.
12
Joshua captured all the cities of these kings. He also captured all their kings and struck them with the edge of the sword. He completely destroyed them with the edge of the sword, just as Moses the servant of Yahweh had commanded.
13
Israel did not burn any of the cities built on mounds, except Hazor. It alone Joshua burned.
14
The army of Israel took all the plunder from these cities along with the livestock for themselves. They killed every human being with the edge of the sword until all were dead. They left alive no creature that breathed.
15
Just as Yahweh had commanded his servant Moses, in the same way, Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did it. He left nothing undone of all that Yahweh commanded Moses to do.
16
Joshua took all that land: the hill country, all the Negev, all the land of Goshen, the foothills, the Jordan River valley, the hill country of Israel and its lowlands.
17
From Mount Halak near Edom, and going north as far as Baal Gad in the valley near Lebanon below Mount Hermon, he captured all their kings and put them to death.
18
Joshua waged war for a long time with all the kings.
19
Not one city made peace with the army of Israel except the Hivites who lived in Gibeon. Israel captured all the rest of the cities in battle.
20
For it was Yahweh who hardened their hearts so they would wage war against Israel, so that they might be devoted to destruction without mercy, just as he had instructed Moses.
21
Then Joshua came at that time and he destroyed the Anakim. He did this in the hill country, at Hebron, Debir, Anab, and in all the hill country of Judah, and in all the hill country of Israel. Joshua completely destroyed them and their cities.
22
None of the Anakim were left in the land of Israel except at Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod.
23
So Joshua captured the whole land, just as Yahweh said to Moses. Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel, assigned to each of their tribes. Then the land had rest from the wars.
Chapter 12
1
Now these are the kings of the land, whom the men of Israel conquered. The people of Israel took possession of the land on the east side of the Jordan where the sun rises, from the Valley of the Arnon River to Mount Hermon, and all the Arabah to the east.
2
Sihon, king of the Amorites, lived in Heshbon. He ruled from Aroer, which is on the rim of the Arnon Gorge from the middle of the valley, and half of Gilead down to the Jabbok River on the border of the Ammonites.
3
Sihon also ruled over the Arabah to the Sea of Kinnereth, to the east, to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) eastward, all the way to Beth Jeshimoth and southward, toward the foot of the slopes of Mount Pisgah.
4
Og, king of Bashan, one of the remnant of the Rephaim, lived in Ashtaroth and Edrei.
5
He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salekah, and all Bashan, to the border of the Geshurites and the Maakathites, and half of Gilead, to the border of Sihon, king of Heshbon.
6
Moses the servant of Yahweh, and the people of Israel had defeated them, and Moses the servant of Yahweh, gave the land as a possession to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh.
7
These are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the people of Israel defeated on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal Gad in the valley near Lebanon to Mount Halak near Edom. Joshua gave land to the tribes of Israel for them to possess.
8
He gave them the hill country, the lowlands, the Arabah, the sides of the mountains, the wilderness, and the Negev—the land of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
9
The kings included the king of Jericho, the king of Ai which is beside Bethel,
10
the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron,
11
the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish,
12
the king of Eglon, the king of Gezer,
13
the king of Debir, the king of Geder,
14
the king of Hormah, the king of Arad,
15
the king of Libnah, the king of Adullam,
16
the king of Makkedah, the king of Bethel,
17
the king of Tappuah, the king of Hepher,
18
the king of Aphek, the king of Lasharon,
19
the king of Madon, the king of Hazor,
20
the king of Shimron Meron, the king of Akshaph,
21
the king of Taanach, the king of Megiddo,
22
the king of Kedesh, the king of Jokneam in Carmel,
23
the king of Dor in Naphoth Dor, the king of Goyim in Gilgal,
24
and the king of Tirzah. The number of kings was thirty-one in all.
Chapter 13
1
Now Joshua was very old when Yahweh said to him, "You are very old, but there is still very much land to capture.
2
This is the land that still remains: All the regions of the Philistines, and all those of the Geshurites,
3
from Shihor, which is east of Egypt, and northward to the border of Ekron, which is considered property of the Canaanites; the five rulers of the Philistines, those of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron; the territory of the Avvites
4
in the south; all the lands of the Canaanites, from Arah that belongs to the Sidonians, as far as Aphek which is on the border of the Amorites;
5
the land of Byblos,
all of Lebanon toward the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo Hamath.
6
Also, all the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon as far as Misrephoth Maim, including all the people of Sidon—I will drive them out before the army of Israel. Be sure to assign the land to Israel as an inheritance, as I commanded you.
7
Divide this land as an inheritance to the nine tribes and to the half tribe of Manasseh."
8
With the other half of the tribe of Manasseh, the Reubenites and the Gadites had received their inheritance that Moses, the servant of Yahweh, gave them on the east side of the Jordan,
9
from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Arnon River gorge (including the city that is in the middle of the gorge), to all the plateau of Medeba as far as Dibon;
10
all the cities of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, to the border of the Ammonites;
11
Gilead, and the region of the Geshurites and Maakathites, all of Mount Hermon, all Bashan to Salekah;
12
all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei—these are what was left of the remnant of the Rephaim—Moses struck them and drove them out.
13
But the people of Israel did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maakathites, and so Geshur and Maakah live in the midst of Israel to this day.
14
To the tribe of Levi alone Moses gave no inheritance. The offerings of Yahweh, the God of Israel, made by fire, are their inheritance, as God said to Moses.
15
Moses gave an inheritance to the tribe of Reuben, clan by clan.
16
Their territory was from Aroer, on the edge of the Arnon River gorge, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the plateau by Medeba.
17
Reuben also received Heshbon and all its cities that are in the plateau, Dibon, and Bamoth Baal, and Beth Baal Meon,
18
and Jahaz, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath,
19
and Kiriathaim, and Sibmah, and Zereth Shahar on the hill of the valley.
20
Reuben also received Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, Beth Jeshimoth,
21
all the cities of the plateau, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses had defeated together with the leaders of Midian, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba, the princes of Sihon, who had lived in the land.
22
The people of Israel also killed with the sword Balaam son of Beor, who practiced divination, among the rest of those they had killed.
23
The border of the tribe of Reuben is the Jordan River; this is their boundary. This was the inheritance of the tribe of Reuben, given to each of their clans, with their cities and villages.
24
This is what Moses gave to the tribe of Gad, clan by clan:
25
Their territory was Jazer, all the cities of Gilead and half the land of the Ammonites, to Aroer, which is east of Rabbah,
26
from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpah and Betonim, from Mahanaim to the territory of Debir.
27
In the valley, Moses gave them Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, Sukkoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, with the Jordan as a border, to the lower end of the Sea of Kinnereth, eastward beyond the Jordan.
28
This is the inheritance of the tribe of Gad, clan by clan, with their cities and villages.
29
Moses gave an inheritance to the half tribe of Manasseh. It was assigned to the half tribe of the descendants of Manasseh, clan by clan.
30
Their territory was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, sixty cities;
31
half of Gilead, and Ashtaroth and Edrei (the royal cities of Og in Bashan). These were assigned to the descendants of Makir son of Manasseh—half of the people of Makir, clan by clan.
32
This is the inheritance that Moses assigned to them on the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan east of Jericho.
33
Moses did not give an inheritance to the tribe of Levi. Yahweh, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, just as he said to them.
Chapter 14
1
These are the areas of land that the people of Israel received as their inheritance in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders of the tribal clans of Israel allotted to them.
2
Their inheritance was selected by lot for the nine and one-half tribes, just as Yahweh had commanded by the hand of Moses.
3
For Moses had given the inheritance of the two and one-half tribes beyond the Jordan, but to the Levites he gave no inheritance.
4
The tribe of Joseph was actually two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. The Levites were given no portion of the inheritance in the land, but only certain cities to live in, with their pasturelands for livestock and for their own material resources.
5
The people of Israel did as Yahweh commanded Moses, so they assigned the land.
6
Then the tribe of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal. Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, said to him, "You know what Yahweh said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me at Kadesh Barnea.
7
I was forty years old when Moses the servant of Yahweh sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy on the land. I brought him a report again as it was in my heart to make.
8
But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt with fear. But I completely followed Yahweh my God.
9
Moses swore on that day, saying, 'Surely the land on which your foot has walked will be an inheritance for you and for your children forever, because you have completely followed Yahweh my God.'
10
Now, look! Yahweh has kept me alive these forty-five years, just as he said—from the time when Yahweh spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. Now, look! I am this day eighty-five years old.
11
I am still as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me out. My strength is now as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming.
12
Now therefore give me this hill country, which Yahweh promised me on that day. For you heard on that day that the Anakim were there with great fortified cities. It may be that Yahweh will be with me and that I will drive them out, just as Yahweh said."
13
Then Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron as an inheritance to Caleb son of Jephunneh.
14
Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he completely followed Yahweh, the God of Israel.
15
Now the name of Hebron formerly was Kiriath Arba. (Arba had been the greatest man among the Anakim.) Then the land had rest from war.
Chapter 15
1
The assignment of land for the tribe of the people of Judah, clan by clan, extended south to the border of Edom, with the wilderness of Zin being the farthest point to the south.
2
Their border on the south ran from the end of the Salt Sea, from the bay that faces to the south.
3
Their boundary next went out to the south of the hill of Akrabbim and passed along to Zin, and went up south of Kadesh Barnea, along by Hezron, and up to Addar, where it turned about to Karka.
4
It passed along to Azmon, went by the brook of Egypt, and came to its end at the sea. This was their south boundary.
5
The eastern boundary was the Salt Sea, at the mouth of the Jordan. The border on the north ran from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan.
6
It went up to Beth Hoglah and passed along north of Beth Arabah. Then it went up to the Stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.
7
Then the border went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor, and so northward, turning toward Gilgal, which is opposite the hill of Adummim, which is on the south side of the valley. Then the border passed along to the springs of En Shemesh and went to En Rogel.
8
Then the border went up the Valley of Ben Hinnom to the south side of the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem). Then it went up to the top of the hill that lies over the Valley of Hinnom, on the west, which is at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.
9
Then the border extended from the top of the hills to the spring of Nephtoah, and went out from there to the cities of Mount Ephron. Then the border bends around to Baalah (the same as Kiriath Jearim).
10
Then the border circled around west of Baalah to Mount Seir, and passed along to the side of Mount Jearim on the north (the same as Kesalon), went down to Beth Shemesh, and crossed over to Timnah.
11
The border went out beside the northern hill of Ekron, and then it bent around to Shikkeron and passed along to Mount Baalah, and from there it went to Jabneel. The border ended at the sea.
12
The western boundary was the Great Sea and its coastline. This is the border around the tribe of Judah, clan by clan.
13
In keeping with the commandment of Yahweh to Joshua, Joshua gave Caleb son of Jephunneh an assignment of land among the tribe of Judah, Kiriath Arba, that is, Hebron (Arba was the father of Anak).
14
Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai, descendants of Anak.
15
He went up from there against the inhabitants of Debir (the name of Debir was formerly Kiriath Sepher).
16
Caleb said, "The man who attacks Kiriath Sepher and captures it, to him I will give Aksah my daughter as a wife."
17
When Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's brother, captured it, Caleb gave him Aksah his daughter as a wife.
18
Soon after that, Aksah came to Othniel and urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb said to her, "What do you want?"
19
Aksah replied, "Do me a special favor, since you have given me the land of the Negev: Also give me some springs of water." Then Caleb gave her the upper springs and lower springs.
20
This was the inheritance of the tribe of Judah, clan by clan.
21
The cities belonging to the tribe of Judah in the extreme south, toward the border of Edom, were Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,
22
Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah,
23
Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,
24
Ziph, Telem, Bealoth.
25
Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (this was also known as Hazor),
26
Amam, Shema, Moladah,
27
Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet,
28
Hazar Shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah.
29
Baalah, Iyim, Ezem,
30
Eltolad, Kesil, Hormah,
31
Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,
32
Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon. These were twenty-nine cities in all, including their villages.
33
In the lowlands there were Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,
34
Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam,
35
Jarmuth, Adullam, Sokoh, Azekah,
36
Shaaraim, Adithaim, and Gederah (that is, Gederothaim). These were fourteen cities in number, including their villages.
37
Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad,
38
Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel,
39
Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon.
40
Kabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish,
41
Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah, Makkedah. These were sixteen cities in number, including their villages.
42
Libnah, Ether, Ashan,
43
Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,
44
Keilah, Akzib, Mareshah. These were nine cities, including their villages.
45
Ekron, with its surrounding towns and villages;
46
from Ekron to the Great Sea, all the settlements that were near Ashdod, including their villages.
47
Ashdod, its surrounding towns, including their villages; Gaza, its surrounding towns including their villages; to the brook of Egypt, and to the Great Sea with its coastline.
48
In the hill country, Shamir, Jattir, Sokoh,
49
Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir),
50
Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,
51
Goshen, Holon, and Giloh. These were eleven cities, including their villages.
52
Arab, Dumah, Eshan,
53
Janim, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah,
54
Humtah, Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior. These were nine cities, including their villages.
55
Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,
56
Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,
57
Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah. These were ten cities, including their villages.
58
Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor,
59
Maarath, Beth Anoth, and Eltekon. These were six cities, including their villages.
60
Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim), and Rabbah. These were two cities, including their villages.
61
In the wilderness, there were Beth Arabah, Middin, Sekakah,
62
Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En Gedi. These were six cities, including their villages.
63
But as for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the tribe of Judah could not drive them out, so the Jebusites live there with the tribe of Judah to this day.
Chapter 16
1
The assignment of land for the tribe of Joseph extended from the Jordan at Jericho, east of the springs of Jericho, into the wilderness, going up from Jericho through the hill country of Bethel.
2
Then it went from Bethel to Luz and passed along to Ataroth, the territory of the Arkites.
3
Then it went down westward to the territory of the Japhletites, as far as the territory of Lower Beth Horon, and then on to Gezer; it ended at the sea.
4
It was in this way that the tribes of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim received their inheritance.
5
The territory of the tribe of Ephraim, clan by clan: The border of their inheritance on the east went from Ataroth Addar as far as Upper Beth Horon,
6
and from there it continued to the sea. From Mikmethath on the north it turned eastward toward Taanath Shiloh and passed beyond it on the east to Janoah.
7
Then it went down from Janoah to Ataroth and to Naarah, and then reached Jericho, ending at the Jordan.
8
From Tappuah the border went westward to the brook of Kanah and ended at the sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of Ephraim, clan by clan,
9
together with the cities that were chosen for the tribe of Ephraim within the inheritance of the tribe of Manasseh—all the cities, including their villages.
10
They did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so that the Canaanites live within Ephraim to this day, but these people were made to do forced labor.
Chapter 17
1
This was the assignment of land for the tribe of Manasseh (who was the firstborn of Joseph)—that is, for Makir, who was Manasseh's firstborn and who himself was the father of Gilead. Makir's descendants were assigned the land of Gilead and Bashan, because Makir had been a man of war.
2
Land was assigned to the rest of the tribe of Manasseh, given to their clans—Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These were the male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph, presented by their clans.
3
Now Zelophehad son of Hepher son of Gilead son of Makir son of Manasseh had no sons, but only daughters. The names of his daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah, and Tirzah.
4
They approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders, and they said, "Yahweh commanded Moses to give to us an inheritance along with our brothers." So, following the commandment of Yahweh, he gave those women an inheritance among the brothers of their father.
5
Ten parcels of land were assigned to Manasseh in Gilead and Bashan, which is on the other side of the Jordan,
6
because the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance along with his sons. The land of Gilead was assigned to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh.
7
The territory of Manasseh reached from Asher to Mikmethath, which is east of Shechem. Then the border went southward to those living near the spring of Tappuah.
8
(The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but the town of Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the people of Ephraim.)
9
The border went down to the brook of Kanah. These cities south of the brook among the towns of Manasseh belonged to Ephraim. The border of Manasseh was on the north side of the brook, and it ended at the sea.
10
The land to the south belonged to Ephraim, and the land to the north was Manasseh's; the sea was the border. On the north side Asher can be reached, and to the east, Issachar.
11
Also in Issachar and in Asher, Manasseh possessed Beth Shan and its villages, Ibleam and its villages, the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, the inhabitants of Endor and its villages, the inhabitants of Taanach and its villages, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages (and the third city is Napheth).
12
Yet the tribe of Manasseh could not take possession of those cities, for the Canaanites continued to live in this land.
13
When the people of Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not completely drive them out.
14
Then the descendants of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, "Why have you given us only one assignment of land and one portion for an inheritance, since we are a people great in number, and all along Yahweh has blessed us?"
15
Joshua said to them, "If you are a people great in number, go up by yourselves to the forest and there clear the ground for yourselves in the land of the Perizzites and of the Rephaim. Do this, since the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you."
16
The descendants of Joseph said, "The hill country is not enough for us. But all the Canaanites who live in the valley have chariots of iron, both those who are in Beth Shan and its villages, and those who are in the Valley of Jezreel."
17
Then Joshua said to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh, "You are a people great in number, and you have great power. You must not have only one piece of land assigned to you.
18
The hill country will also be yours. Though it is a forest, you will clear it and take possession of it to its farthest borders. You will drive out the Canaanites, even though they have chariots of iron, and even though they are strong."
Chapter 18
1
Then the whole assembly of the people of Israel met together at Shiloh. They set up the tent of meeting there and they conquered the land before them.
2
There were still seven tribes among the people of Israel whose inheritance had not been assigned.
3
Joshua said to the people of Israel, "How long will you put off going into the land that Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, has given you?
4
Appoint for yourselves three men from each tribe, and I will send them out. They will set out and survey the land up and down. They will write out a description of it with a view to their inheritances, and then they will come back to me.
5
They will divide it into seven sections. Judah will remain in their territory on the south, and the house of Joseph will continue in their territory in the north.
6
You will describe the land in seven sections and bring the description here to me. I will cast lots for you here before Yahweh our God.
7
The Levites have no portion among you, for the priesthood of Yahweh is their inheritance. Gad, Reuben, and the half tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance, beyond the Jordan. This is the inheritance that Moses the servant of Yahweh gave them."
8
So the men got up and went. Joshua commanded those who went to write the description of the land, saying, "Go up and down in the land and write a description of it and return to me. I will cast lots for you here before Yahweh at Shiloh."
9
The men left and walked up and down in the land and wrote a description of it in a scroll by its cities in seven sections, listing the cities in each section. Then they returned to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh.
10
Then Joshua cast lots for them at Shiloh before Yahweh. It was there that Joshua assigned the land to the people of Israel, and to each was given his portion of the land.
11
The assignment of land for the tribe of Benjamin came up clan by clan. The territory of their assigned land was located between the descendants of Judah and the descendants of Joseph.
12
On the north side, their border began at the Jordan. The border went up to the ridge north of Jericho, and then up through the hill country westward. There it reached the wilderness of Beth Aven.
13
From there the border passed along south in the direction of Luz (the same place as Bethel). Then the border went down to Ataroth Addar, by the mountain that lies south of Beth Horon.
14
The boundary then went in another direction: On the western side it turned toward the south, heading toward the mountain across from Beth Horon. This boundary ended at Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim), a city that belonged to the tribe of Judah. This formed the border on the western side.
15
The south side began just outside of Kiriath Jearim. The border went from there to Ephron, to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah.
16
The boundary then went down to the border of the mountain which was opposite the Valley of Ben Hinnom, which was at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim. It then went down to the Valley of Hinnom, south of the slope of the Jebusites, and continued down to En Rogel.
17
It turned northward, going in the direction of En Shemesh, and from there it went out to Geliloth, which was opposite the ascent of Adummim. Then it went down to the Stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.
18
It passed on to the north of the shoulder of Beth Arabah and down to the Arabah.
19
The border passed on to the north shoulder of Beth Hoglah. The border ended at the north bay of the Salt Sea, at the southern end of the Jordan. This was the boundary on the south.
20
The Jordan formed its border on the eastern side. This was the inheritance of the tribe of Benjamin, and it was given clan by clan, border after border, all around.
21
Now the cities of the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, were Jericho, Beth Hoglah, Emek Keziz,
22
Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel,
23
Avvim, Parah, Ophrah,
24
Kephar Ammoni, Ophni, and Geba. There were twelve cities, including their villages.
25
There were also the cities of Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,
26
Mizpah, Kephirah, Mozah,
27
Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah,
28
Zelah, Haeleph, Jebus (the same as Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath. There were fourteen cities, including their villages. This was the inheritance of Benjamin for their clans.
Chapter 19
1
The second casting of lots fell to Simeon, clan by clan. Their inheritance was in the middle of the inheritance that belonged to the tribe of Judah.
2
They had for their inheritance Beersheba, Sheba, Moladah,
3
Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem,
4
Eltolad, Bethul, and Hormah.
5
Simeon also had Ziklag, Beth Markaboth, Hazar Susah,
6
Beth Lebaoth, and Sharuhen. These were thirteen cities, including their villages.
7
Simeon also had Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan. These were four cities, including their villages.
8
These were together, including the villages around these cities as far as Baalath Beer (the same as Ramah in the Negev). This was the inheritance of the tribe of Simeon, clan by clan.
9
The inheritance of the tribe of Simeon formed part of the territory of the tribe of Judah. Because the portion of land assigned to the tribe of Judah was too large for them, the tribe of Simeon received their inheritance out of the middle of their portion.
10
The third casting of lots fell to the tribe of Zebulun, clan by clan. The border of their inheritance began at Sarid.
11
Their border went up westward toward Maralah and touched Dabbesheth; then it extended to the brook that was opposite Jokneam.
12
From Sarid the border turned eastward toward the sunrise and went to the border of Kisloth Tabor. From there it went to Daberath and then up to Japhia.
13
From there it passed on eastward to Gath Hepher, and then to Eth Kazin; next it went to Rimmon and turned toward Neah.
14
The border made a turn to the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah El.
15
This region included the cities of Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem. There were twelve cities, including their villages.
16
This was the inheritance of the tribe of Zebulun, clan by clan, including these cities, including their villages.
17
The fourth casting of lots fell to Issachar, clan by clan.
18
Their territory included Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem,
19
Hapharaim, Shion, and Anaharath.
20
It also included Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez,
21
Remeth, En Gannim, En Haddah, and Beth Pazzez.
22
Their border also touched Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth Shemesh, and ended at the Jordan. There were sixteen cities, including their villages.
23
This was the inheritance of the tribe of Issachar, according to their clans—the cities, including their villages.
24
The fifth casting of lots fell to the tribe of Asher, clan by clan.
25
Their territory included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Akshaph,
26
Allammelek, Amad, and Mishall. On the west the boundary extended to Carmel and Shihor Libnath.
27
Then it turned eastward to Beth Dagon and went as far as Zebulun, and then to the Valley of Iphtah El, northward to Beth Emek and Neiel. Then it continued on to Kabul toward the north.
28
It then went on to Abdon, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon.
29
The border turned back to Ramah, and then to the fortified city of Tyre. Then the border turned to Hosah and ended at the sea, in the region of Akzib,
30
Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob. There were twenty-two cities, including their villages.
31
This was the inheritance of the tribe of Asher, clan by clan—the cities, including their villages.
32
The sixth casting of lots fell to the tribe of Naphtali, clan by clan.
33
Their border ran from Heleph, from the oak at Zaanannim, on to Adami Nekeb and Jabneel, as far as Lakkum; it ended at the Jordan.
34
The border turned westward to Aznoth Tabor and went on to Hukkok; it touched Zebulun on the south, and reached to Asher on the west and Judah on the east at the Jordan River.
35
The fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Kinnereth,
36
Adamah, Ramah, Hazor,
37
Kedesh, Edrei, and En Hazor.
38
There were also Iron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath, and Beth Shemesh. There were nineteen cities, including their villages.
39
This was the inheritance of the tribe of Naphtali, clan by clan—the cities, including their villages.
40
The seventh casting of lots fell to the tribe of Dan, clan by clan.
41
The territory of its inheritance included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir Shemesh,
42
Shaalabbin, Aijalon, and Ithlah.
43
It also included Elon, Timnah, Ekron,
44
Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath,
45
Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon,
46
Me Jarkon, and Rakkon along with the territory across from Joppa.
47
When the territory of the tribe of Dan was lost to them, Dan attacked Leshem and took it. They struck it with the sword, took possession of it, and settled in it. They called Leshem Dan, after the name of their ancestor Dan.
48
This was the inheritance of the tribe of Dan, clan by clan—the cities, including their villages.
49
When they finished the allocation of the land as an inheritance, the people of Israel gave an inheritance among themselves to Joshua son of Nun.
50
By the command of Yahweh they gave him the city for which he asked, Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim. He rebuilt the city and lived there.
51
These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders of the tribal clans of Israel assigned by lot at Shiloh, before Yahweh, at the entrance of the tent of meeting. So they finished assigning the land.
Chapter 20
1
Then Yahweh said to Joshua,
2
"Speak to the people of Israel, saying, 'Appoint the cities of refuge of which I spoke to you by the hand of Moses.
3
Do this so that one who kills a person by accident or unknowingly can go there. These cities will be a place of refuge from the avenger of blood.
4
He will run to one of those cities and will stand at the entrance of the city gate, and explain his case to the elders of that city. Then they will take him into the city and give him a place for him to live among them.
5
If the avenger of blood pursues him there, then the people of the city must not hand the one who killed him over to the authorities. They must not do this because he killed his neighbor by accident, and he had no hatred toward him in the past.
6
He must stay in that city until he has stood before the assembly for judgment, until the death of the one who was serving as high priest in those days. Then the one who had accidentally killed the person may return to his own town and his own home, to the town from which he fled.'"
7
So the Israelites selected Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (the same as Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.
8
Beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they selected Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau from the tribe of Reuben; Ramoth Gilead, from the tribe of Gad; and Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh.
9
These were the cities selected for all the people of Israel and for the foreigners sojourning among them, so that anyone who killed a person unintentionally could run to them for safety. This person would not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until the accused person would first stand before the assembly.
Chapter 21
1
Then the tribal leaders of the Levites came to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua son of Nun, and to the leaders of the families of their ancestors within the people of Israel.
2
They said to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, "Yahweh commanded you by the hand of Moses to give to us cities to live in, with the pasturelands for our livestock."
3
So by the command of Yahweh, the people of Israel gave out of their inheritance the following cities, including their pasturelands, to the Levites.
4
The casting of lots for the clans of the Kohathites gave this result: The priests—the descendants of Aaron who were from the Levites—received thirteen cities given from the tribe of Judah, from the tribe of Simeon, and from the tribe of Benjamin.
5
The rest of Kohath’s descendants received by lot ten cities from the clans of the tribes of Ephraim, Dan, and from the half tribe of Manasseh.
6
Then the people descended from Gershon were given, by the casting of lots, thirteen cities from the clans of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.
7
The people who were descendants of Merari, clan by clan, received twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.
8
So the people of Israel gave, by casting lots, these cities (including their pasturelands) to the Levites, just as Yahweh had commanded by the hand of Moses.
9
From the tribes of Judah and Simeon, they assigned land to the following cities, here listed by name.
10
These cities were given to the descendants of Aaron, who were among the clans of the Kohathites, who in turn were from the tribe of Levi. For the first casting of lots had fallen to them.
11
The Israelites gave them Kiriath Arba (Arba had been the father of Anak), the same place as Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the pasturelands around it.
12
But the fields of the city, including their villages, were already given to Caleb son of Jephunneh, as his possession.
13
To the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with its pasturelands—which was a city of refuge for anyone who killed another unintentionally—and Libnah with its pasturelands,
14
Jattir with its pasturelands, and Eshtemoa with its pasturelands.
15
They also gave Holon with its pasturelands, Debir with its pasturelands,
16
Ain with its pasturelands, Juttah with its pasturelands, and Beth Shemesh with its pasturelands. There were nine cities that were given from these two tribes.
17
From the tribe of Benjamin were given Gibeon with its pasturelands, Geba with its pasturelands,
18
Anathoth with its pasturelands, and Almon with its pasturelands—four cities.
19
The cities given to the priests, the descendants of Aaron, were thirteen cities in all, including their pasturelands.
20
As for the rest of the Kohathites who belong to the Kohathite clans of the Levites—they had cities given to them from the tribe of Ephraim by the casting of lots.
21
To them were given Shechem with its pasturelands in the hill country of Ephraim—a city of refuge for anyone who killed a person unintentionally—Gezer with its pasturelands,
22
Kibzaim with its pasturelands, and Beth Horon with its pasturelands—four cities in all.
23
From the tribe of Dan, the clan of Kohath was given Eltekeh with its pasturelands, Gibbethon with its pasturelands,
24
Aijalon with its pasturelands, and Gath Rimmon with its pasturelands—four cities in all.
25
From the half tribe of Manasseh, the clan of Kohath was given Taanach with its pasturelands and Gath Rimmon with its pasturelands—two cities.
26
There were ten cities in all for the rest of the clans of the Kohathites, including their pasturelands.
27
From the half tribe of Manasseh, to clans of Gershon, these were other Levite clans, and they gave Golan in Bashan with its pasturelands—a city of refuge for anyone who killed another unintentionally, along with Be Eshterah with its pasturelands—two cities in all.
28
To the clans of Gershon they also gave Kishion from the tribe of Issachar, along with its pasturelands, Daberath with its pasturelands,
29
Jarmuth with its pasturelands, and En Gannim with its pasturelands—four cities.
30
From the tribe of Asher, they gave Mishal with its pasturelands, Abdon with its pasturelands,
31
Helkath with its pasturelands, and Rehob with its pasturelands—four cities in all.
32
From the tribe of Naphtali, they gave the clans of Gershon Kedesh in Galilee with its pasturelands—a city of refuge for anyone who killed another unintentionally; Hammoth Dor with its pasturelands, and Kartan with its pasturelands—three cities in all.
33
There were thirteen cities in all, out of the clans of Gershon, including their pasturelands.
34
To the rest of the Levites—the clans of Merari—were given out of the tribe of Zebulun: Jokneam with its pasturelands, Kartah with its pasturelands,
35
Dimnah with its pasturelands, and Nahalal with its pasturelands—four cities in all.
36
To the clans of Merari were given from the tribe of Reuben: Bezer with its pasturelands, Jahaz with its pasturelands,
37
Kedemoth with its pasturelands, and Mephaath with its pasturelands—four cities.
38
Out of the tribe of Gad they were given Ramoth in Gilead with its pasturelands—a city of refuge for anyone who killed another unintentionally—and Mahanaim with its pasturelands.
39
The clans of Merari were also given Heshbon with its pasturelands, and Jazer with its pasturelands. These were four cities in all.
40
All these were the cities of the several clans of Merari, who were from the tribe of Levi—twelve cities in all were given to them by the casting of lots.
41
The cities of the Levites taken from the middle of the land possessed by the people of Israel were forty-eight cities, including their pasturelands.
42
These cities each had its surrounding pasturelands. It was this way with all these cities.
43
So Yahweh gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their ancestors. The Israelites took possession of it and settled there.
44
Then Yahweh gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies could defeat them. Yahweh gave all their enemies into their hand.
45
Not one thing among all the good promises that Yahweh had spoken to the house of Israel failed to come true. All of them came to be.
Chapter 22
1
At that time Joshua called the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh.
2
He said to them, "You have done everything that Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you. You have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you.
3
You have not deserted your brothers these many days, down to this present day, and you have fulfilled the duties required by the commandments of Yahweh your God.
4
Now Yahweh your God has given rest to your brothers, just as he promised them. Therefore turn and go to your tents in the land you possess, which Moses the servant of Yahweh gave you on the other side of the Jordan.
5
Just be very careful to observe the commandments and the law that Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you, to love Yahweh your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, and to cling to him and worship him with all your heart and with all your soul."
6
So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went back to their tents.
7
Now to one-half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given an inheritance in Bashan, but to the other half Joshua gave an inheritance beside their brothers in the land west of the Jordan. Joshua sent them away to their tents; he blessed them
8
and said to them, "Return to your tents with much money, and with very much livestock, and with silver and gold, and with bronze and iron, and with very many garments. Divide the plunder from your enemies with your brothers."
9
So the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh returned home, leaving the people of Israel at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan. They left to go to the region of Gilead, to their own land, which they themselves possessed, in obedience to the commandment of Yahweh, by the hand of Moses.
10
When they came to the Jordan that is in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh built an altar beside the Jordan, a very large and prominent altar.
11
The people of Israel heard about this and said, "Look! The people of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar at the front of the land of Canaan, at Geliloth, in the region near the Jordan, on the side that belongs to the people of Israel."
12
When the people of Israel heard of it, the whole assembly of the people of Israel gathered together at Shiloh to go up to make war against them.
13
Then the people of Israel sent messengers to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead. They also sent Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest,
14
and with him ten leaders, one from each of the tribal families of Israel, and every one of them was the head of a family among the clan of Israel.
15
They came to the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead, and they spoke to them:
16
"The whole assembly of Yahweh says this, 'What is this unfaithfulness that you have committed against the God of Israel, by turning this day from following Yahweh by building yourself an altar this day in rebellion against Yahweh?
17
Was the iniquity of Peor not enough for us? Yet we have not even now cleansed ourselves from it. There was a plague on the assembly of Yahweh for that sin.
18
Must you also turn away from following Yahweh at this present day? If you also rebel against Yahweh today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole assembly of Israel.
19
If the land that you possess is defiled, then you should pass over into the land where Yahweh's tabernacle stands and take for yourselves a possession among us. Only do not rebel against Yahweh, nor rebel against us by building an altar for yourselves other than the altar of Yahweh our God.
20
Did not Achan son of Zerah, act faithlessly in the matter of those things that had been reserved for God? Did not wrath fall on the entire community of Israel? That man did not perish alone for his iniquity.'"
21
Then the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh replied in answer to the heads of the clans of Israel:
22
"The Mighty One, God, Yahweh! The Mighty One, God, Yahweh!—He knows, and let Israel itself know! If it was in rebellion or in unfaithfulness against Yahweh, do not deliver us on this day
23
for having built an altar to turn ourselves away from following Yahweh. If we built that altar in order to offer on it burnt offerings, grain offerings, or sacrifices of peace offerings, then let Yahweh make us pay for it.
24
No! We did it for fear that in time to come your children might say to our children, 'What have you to do with Yahweh, the God of Israel?
25
For Yahweh has made the Jordan a border between us and you. You people of Reuben and people of Gad, you have nothing to do with Yahweh.' So your children might make our children cease to worship Yahweh.
26
So we said, 'Let us now build an altar, not for burnt offerings nor for any sacrifices,
27
but to be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we will perform the service of Yahweh before him, with our burnt offerings and with our sacrifices and with our peace offerings, so that your children will never say to our children in time to come, "You have no share in Yahweh."'
28
So we said, 'If this should be said to us or to our descendants in time to come, we would say, "Look! This is a copy of the altar of Yahweh, which our ancestors made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you."
29
May it be far from us that we should rebel against Yahweh, and today turn away from following him by building an altar for burnt offerings, for grain offerings, or for sacrifices, other than the altar of Yahweh our God that is before his tabernacle.'"
30
When Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the people, that is, the heads of the clans of Israel who were with him, heard the words that the people of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh said, that it was good in their eyes.
31
Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest said to the people of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, "Today we know that Yahweh is among us, because you have not committed this act of faithlessness against him. Now you have rescued the people of Israel out of the hand of Yahweh."
32
Then Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, and the leaders returned from the Reubenites and the Gadites, out of the land of Gilead, back to the land of Canaan, to the people of Israel, and brought back word to them.
33
Their report was good in the eyes of the people of Israel. The people of Israel blessed God and spoke no more about making war against the Reubenites and the Gadites, in order to destroy the land where they had settled.
34
The Reubenites and the Gadites named the altar "Witness," for they said, "It is a witness between us that Yahweh is God."
Chapter 23
1
After many days, when Yahweh had given rest to Israel from all their enemies that were around them, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years,
2
Joshua called for all Israel—for their elders, for their leaders, for their judges, and for their officials—and he said to them, "I am old and well advanced in years.
3
You have seen everything that Yahweh your God has done to all these nations for your sake, for it is Yahweh your God who has fought for you.
4
Look! I have assigned to you the nations that remain to be conquered as an inheritance for your tribes, along with all the nations I have already destroyed, from the Jordan to the Great Sea in the west.
5
Yahweh your God will drive them out. He will push them out from you. He will seize their land, and you will take possession of their land, just as Yahweh your God promised to you.
6
So be very strong, so that you keep and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left,
7
so you may not mix with these nations that remain among you or mention the names of their gods, swear by them, worship them, or bow down to them.
8
Instead, you must cling to Yahweh your God just as you have done to this day.
9
For Yahweh has driven out before you large, strong nations. As for you, no one has been able to stand before you to this present day.
10
Any single man of your number will make a thousand run away, for Yahweh your God, is the one who fights for you, just as he promised you.
11
Pay particular attention, so that you love Yahweh your God.
12
But if you turn back and cling to the survivors of these nations who remain among you, or if you intermarry with them, or if you come together with them and they with you,
13
then know for certain that Yahweh your God will no longer drive these nations out from among you. Instead, they will become a snare and a trap for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that Yahweh your God has given you.
14
Now I am going the way of all the earth, and you know with all your hearts and souls that not one word has failed to come true of all the good things that Yahweh your God promised about you. All these things have come about for you. Not one of them has failed.
15
But just as every word Yahweh your God promised you has been fulfilled, so Yahweh will bring on you all the evil things until he has destroyed you from this good land that Yahweh your God has given you.
16
He will do this if you break the covenant of Yahweh your God, which he commanded you to keep. If you go and worship other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of Yahweh will be kindled against you, and you will quickly perish from the good land that he has given you."
Chapter 24
1
Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and called for the elders of Israel, for their leaders, for their judges, and for their officers, and they presented themselves before God.
2
Joshua said to all the people, "This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, 'Your ancestors long ago lived beyond the Euphrates River—Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor—and they worshiped other gods.
3
But I took your father Abraham from beyond the Euphrates and led him into the land of Canaan and gave him many descendants through his son Isaac.
4
Then to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave Esau the hill country of Seir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.
5
I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians with plagues. After that, I brought you out.
6
I brought your ancestors out of Egypt, and you came to the sea. The Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Sea of Reeds.
7
When your ancestors called out to Yahweh, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians. He brought the sea to come over them and cover them. You saw what I did in Egypt. Then you lived in the wilderness for a long time.
8
I brought you to the land of the Amorites, who lived on the other side of the Jordan. They fought with you, and I gave them into your hand. You took possession of their land, and I destroyed them before you.
9
Then Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, got up and attacked Israel. He sent and called for Balaam son of Beor, to curse you.
10
But I did not listen to Balaam. Indeed, he blessed you. So I rescued you out of his hand.
11
You went over the Jordan and came to Jericho. The leaders of Jericho fought against you, along with the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. I gave you victory over them and put them under your control.
12
I sent the hornet before you, which drove them and the two kings of the Amorites out before you. It did not happen by your sword or by your bow.
13
I gave you land on which you had not worked and cities that you had not built, and now you live in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant.'
14
Now fear Yahweh and worship him with all integrity and faithfulness; get rid of the gods that your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and worship Yahweh.
15
If it seems wrong in your eyes for you to worship Yahweh, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live. But as for me and my house, we will worship Yahweh."
16
The people answered and said, "We would never abandon Yahweh to serve other gods,
17
for it is Yahweh our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight, and who preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the nations through whom we passed.
18
Then Yahweh drove out before us all the peoples, including the Amorites who lived in the land. So we too will worship Yahweh, for he is our God."
19
But Joshua said to the people, "You cannot serve Yahweh, for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions and sins.
20
If you abandon Yahweh and worship foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm. He will consume you, after he has done good to you."
21
But the people said to Joshua, "No, we will worship Yahweh."
22
Then Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen for yourselves Yahweh, to worship him." They said, "We are witnesses."
23
"Now put away the foreign gods that are with you, and turn your heart to Yahweh, the God of Israel."
24
The people said to Joshua, "We will worship Yahweh our God. We will listen to his voice."
25
Joshua made a covenant with the people that day. He put in place decrees and laws at Shechem.
26
Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the law of God. He took a large stone and set it up there beneath the oak tree that was beside Yahweh's sanctuary.
27
Joshua said to all the people, "Look, this stone will be a testimony against us. It has heard all the words Yahweh said to us. So it will be a witness against you, should you ever deny your God."
28
So Joshua sent the people away, each to his own inheritance.
29
After these things Joshua son of Nun, the servant of Yahweh, died, being 110 years old.
30
They buried him within the border of his own inheritance, at Timnath Serah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
31
Israel worshiped Yahweh all of Joshua's days, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, those who had experienced the deeds that Yahweh had done for Israel.
32
The bones of Joseph, which the people of Israel brought up out of Egypt—they buried them at Shechem, in the piece of land that Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. He bought it for one hundred pieces of silver, and it became an inheritance for the descendants of Joseph.
33
Eleazar son of Aaron also died. They buried him at Gibeah, the city of Phinehas his son, which had been given to him. It was in the hill country of Ephraim.
Judges
Chapter 1
1
After the death of Joshua, the people of Israel asked Yahweh, saying, "Who first will attack the Canaanites for us, to fight against them?"
2
Yahweh said, "Judah will attack. See, I have given them control of this land."
3
The men of Judah said to men of Simeon, their brothers, "Come up with us into our territory that was assigned to us that together we may fight against the Canaanites. We in turn will go with you to the territory that was assigned to you." So the tribe of Simeon went with them.
4
The men of Judah attacked, and Yahweh gave them victory over the Canaanites and the Perizzites. They killed ten thousand of them at Bezek.
5
They found Adoni-Bezek at Bezek, and they fought against him and defeated the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
6
But Adoni-Bezek fled, and they pursued him and caught him, and they cut off his thumbs and his big toes.
7
Adoni-Bezek said, "Seventy kings, who had their thumbs and their big toes cut off, picked up food from under my table. As I have done, even so God has done to me." They brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.
8
The men of Judah fought against the city of Jerusalem and took it. They attacked it with the edge of the sword and they set the city on fire.
9
After that, the men of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites who lived in the hill country, in the Negev, and the lowlands.
10
Judah advanced against the Canaanites who lived in Hebron (the name of Hebron was previously Kiriath Arba), and they defeated Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.
11
From there the men of Judah advanced against the inhabitants of Debir (the name of Debir was previously Kiriath Sepher).
12
Caleb said, "Whoever attacks Kiriath Sepher and takes it, I will give him Aksah, my daughter, to be his wife."
13
Othniel, son of Kenaz (Caleb's younger brother) captured Debir, so Caleb gave him Aksah, his daughter, to be his wife.
14
Soon Aksah came to Othniel, and she urged him to ask her father to give her a field. As she was getting off her donkey, Caleb asked her, "What can I do for you?"
15
She said to him, "Give me a blessing. Since you have given me the land of the Negev, also give me springs of water." So Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.
16
The descendants of Moses' father-in-law the Kenite went up from the City of Palms with the people of Judah, into the wilderness of Judah, which is in the Negev, to live with the people of Judah near Arad.
17
The men of Judah went with the men of Simeon their brothers and they attacked the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath and they completely destroyed it. The name of the city was called Hormah.
18
The people of Judah also captured Gaza and the land around it, Ashkelon and the land around it, and Ekron and the land around it.
19
Yahweh was with the people of Judah and they took possession of the hill country, but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the plains because they had iron chariots.
20
Hebron was given to Caleb (like Moses had said), and he drove out from there the three sons of Anak.
21
But the people of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem. So the Jebusites have lived with the people of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.
22
The house of Joseph prepared to attack Bethel, and Yahweh was with them.
23
They sent out men to spy on Bethel (the city that was formerly named Luz).
24
The spies saw a man coming out of the city, and they said to him, "Show us, please, how to get into the city, and we will be kind to you."
25
He showed them a way into the city, and so they attacked the city with the edge of the sword, but they let the man and all his family get away.
26
Then the man went to the land of the Hittites and built a city and called it Luz, which is its name to this day.
27
The people of Manasseh did not drive out the people living in the cities of Beth Shan and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or those who lived in Dor and its villages, or those who lived in Ibleam and its villages, or those who lived in Megiddo and its villages, because the Canaanites were determined to live in that land.
28
When Israel became strong, they forced the Canaanites to serve them with hard labor, but they never drove them out completely.
29
Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites continued to live in Gezer among them.
30
Zebulun did not drive out the people living in Kitron, or the people living in Nahalol, and so the Canaanites continued to live among them, but Zebulun forced the Canaanites to serve them with hard labor.
31
Asher did not drive out the people living in Akko, or the people living in Sidon, or those living in Ahlab, Akzib, Helbah, Aphek, or Rehob.
32
So the tribe of Asher lived among the Canaanites (those who lived in the land), because they did not drive them out.
33
The tribe of Naphtali did not drive out those who were living in Beth Shemesh, or those living in Beth Anath. So the tribe of Naphtali lived among the Canaanites (the people who were living in that land). However, the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath were forced into hard labor for Naphthali.
34
The Amorites forced the tribe of Dan out into the hill country, not allowing them to come down to the plain.
35
So the Amorites lived at Mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim, but the military might of the house of Joseph conquered them, and they were forced to serve them with hard labor.
36
The border of the Amorites ran from the hill of Akrabbim at Sela up into the hill country.
Chapter 2
1
The angel of Yahweh went up from Gilgal to Bokim, and said, "I brought you up from Egypt, and have brought you to the land I swore to give to your fathers. I said, 'I will never break my covenant with you.
2
You must make no covenant with those who live in this land. You must break down their altars.' But you have not listened to my voice. What is this that you have done?
3
So now I say, 'I will not drive the Canaanites out before you, but they will become thorns in your sides, and their gods will become a trap for you.'"
4
When the angel of Yahweh spoke these words to all the people of Israel, the people shouted and wept.
5
They called the name of that place Bokim. There they offered sacrifices to Yahweh.
6
Now when Joshua had sent the people on their way, the people of Israel went, each to his own property, to take ownership of the land.
7
The people served Yahweh during the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him, those who had seen all of Yahweh's great deeds he had done for Israel.
8
Joshua son of Nun the servant of Yahweh, died at the age of 110 years old.
9
They buried him within the border of his property in Timnath Heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
10
All that generation was also gathered to their fathers. Another generation grew up after them who did not know Yahweh or the deeds he had done for Israel.
11
The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh and they served the Baals.
12
They broke away from Yahweh, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, the very gods of the peoples who were around them, and they bowed down to them. They provoked Yahweh to anger because
13
they broke away from Yahweh and worshiped Baal and the Ashtoreths.
14
The anger of Yahweh burned against Israel, and he gave them to the raiders who stole their possessions from them. He sold them as slaves who were held by the strength of their enemies around them, so they could no longer defend themselves against their enemies.
15
Wherever Israel went out to fight, Yahweh's hand was against them to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them and they were in terrible distress.
16
Then Yahweh raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who were stealing their possessions.
17
Yet they would not listen to their judges. They were unfaithful to Yahweh and gave themselves like prostitutes to other gods and worshiped them. They soon turned aside from the way their fathers had lived—those who had obeyed the commandments of Yahweh—but they themselves did not do so.
18
When Yahweh raised up judges for them, Yahweh helped the judges and delivered them from the hand of their enemies all the days the judge lived. Yahweh had pity on them as they groaned because of those who oppressed them and afflicted them.
19
But when the judge died, they would turn away and do things that were even more corrupt than their fathers had done. They would go after other gods to serve them and worship them. They refused to give up any of their evil deeds or their stubborn ways.
20
The anger of Yahweh burned against Israel; he said, "Because this nation has broken the terms of my covenant that I had set in place for their fathers—because they have not listened to my voice—
21
I will not, from now on, drive out from before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died.
22
I will do this so that I may test Israel, whether or not they will keep the way of Yahweh and walk in it, as their fathers kept it."
23
That is why Yahweh left those nations and did not drive them out quickly and give them into the hand of Joshua.
Chapter 3
1
Now Yahweh left these nations to test Israel, namely everyone in Israel who had not experienced any of the wars fought in Canaan.
2
(He did this to teach warfare to the new generation of the people of Israel who had not known it before.)
3
These are the nations: the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived in the Lebanon mountains, from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo Hamath.
4
These nations were left as a means by which Yahweh would test Israel, to confirm whether they would obey the commands he gave their ancestors through Moses.
5
So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
6
Their daughters they took to be their wives, and their own daughters they gave to their sons, and they served their gods.
7
The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh and forgot Yahweh their God. They worshiped the Baals and the Asherahs.
8
Therefore, the anger of Yahweh was set on fire against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim. The people of Israel served Cushan-Rishathaim for eight years.
9
When the people of Israel called out to Yahweh, Yahweh raised up someone who would come to help the people of Israel, and who would rescue them: Othniel son of Kenaz (Caleb's younger brother).
10
Yahweh's Spirit empowered him, and he judged Israel and he went out to war. Yahweh gave him victory over Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram. The hand of Othniel defeated Cushan-Rishathaim.
11
The land had peace for forty years. Then Othniel son of Kenaz died.
12
After that, the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and Yahweh gave strength to Eglon king of Moab to overpower Israel.
13
Eglon joined with the Ammonites and the Amalekites and they went and defeated Israel, and they took possession of the City of Palms.
14
The people of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab for eighteen years.
15
When the people of Israel called out to Yahweh, Yahweh raised up a deliverer for them, Ehud son of Gera, a Benjamite, a left-handed man. The people of Israel sent him, with their tribute payment, to Eglon king of Moab.
16
Ehud made himself a sword that had two edges, one cubit in length; he bound it to his right thigh under his clothing.
17
He gave the tribute payment to King Eglon of Moab. (Now Eglon was a very fat man.)
18
After Ehud had presented the tribute payment, he left with those who had carried it in.
19
As for Ehud himself, however, when he reached the place where the carved images were made near Gilgal, he turned and went back, and he said, "I have a secret message for you, my king." Eglon said, "Silence!" So all those serving him left the room.
20
Ehud came to him. The king was sitting by himself, alone in the coolness of the upper room. Ehud said, "I have a message from God for you." The king got up out of his seat.
21
Ehud reached with his left hand and took the sword from his right thigh, and he stabbed it into the king's body.
22
The hilt of the sword also went into him following the blade. The tip of the sword came out of his back and the fat closed over it, for Ehud did not pull the sword out of his belly.
23
Then Ehud went out on the porch and closed the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them.
24
After Ehud had gone, the king's servants came; they saw that the doors of the upper room were locked, so they thought, "Surely he is relieving himself in the coolness of the upper room."
25
They were growing more concerned until they felt they were neglecting their duty when the king still did not open the doors to the upper room. So they took the key and opened them, and there lay their master, fallen to the floor, dead.
26
While the servants were waiting, wondering what they should do, Ehud escaped and passed beyond the place where there were carved images of idols, and so he escaped to Seirah.
27
When he arrived, he blew a ram's horn in the hill country of Ephraim. Then the people of Israel went down with him from the hills, and he was leading them.
28
He said to them, "Follow me, for Yahweh is about to defeat your enemies, the Moabites." They followed him and they captured the fords of the Jordan across from the Moabites, and they did not allow anyone to cross the river.
29
At that time they killed about ten thousand men of Moab, and all were strong and capable men. Not one escaped.
30
So that day Moab was subdued by the strength of Israel, and the land had rest for eighty years.
31
After Ehud the next judge was Shamgar son of Anath who killed 600 men of the Philistines with a stick used to goad oxen. He also delivered Israel from danger.
Chapter 4
1
After Ehud died, the people of Israel once again did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh.
2
Yahweh sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was named Sisera, and he lived in Harosheth Haggoyim.
3
The people of Israel called out to Yahweh for help, because Sisera had nine hundred iron chariots and he oppressed the people of Israel with force for twenty years.
4
Now Deborah, a prophetess (the wife of Lappidoth), was a leading judge in Israel at that time.
5
She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the people of Israel came to her to settle their disputes.
6
She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali. She said to him, "Yahweh, the God of Israel, commands you, 'Go to Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men from Naphtali and Zebulun.
7
I will draw out Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, to meet you by the Kishon River, with his chariots and his army, and I will give you victory over him.'"
8
Barak said to her, "If you go with me, I will go, but if you do not go with me, I will not go."
9
She said, "I will certainly go with you. However, the road on which you are going will not lead to your honor, for Yahweh will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman." Then Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh.
10
Barak called for the men of Zebulun and Naphtali to come together at Kedesh. Ten thousand men followed him, and Deborah went along with him.
11
Now Heber (the Kenite) had separated himself from the Kenites—they were the descendants of Hobab (Moses' father-in-law)—and he pitched his tent by the oak in Zaanannim near Kedesh.
12
When they told Sisera that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor,
13
Sisera called out all his chariots, nine hundred iron chariots, and all the soldiers who were with him, from Harosheth Haggoyim to the Kishon River.
14
Deborah said to Barak, "Go! For this is the day in which Yahweh has given you victory over Sisera. Is not Yahweh leading you?" So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him.
15
Yahweh confused Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword. And Sisera got down from his chariot and ran away on foot.
16
But Barak pursued the chariots and the army to Harosheth Haggoyim, and the whole army of Sisera was killed by the edge of the sword, and not a man survived.
17
But Sisera ran away on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the clan of Heber the Kenite.
18
Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, "Turn aside, my master; turn aside to me and do not be afraid." So he turned aside to her and came into her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.
19
He said to her, "Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty." She opened a leather bag of milk and gave him drink, and then she covered him up again.
20
He said to her, "Stand at the opening of the tent. If someone comes and asks you, 'Is anyone here?', say 'No'."
21
Then Jael (the wife of Heber) took a tent peg and a hammer in her hand and went in secretly to him, for he was in a deep sleep, and she hammered the tent peg into the side of his head until it went down into the ground, and he died.
22
As Barak was pursuing Sisera, Jael want out to meet him and said to him, "Come, I will show you the man you are looking for." So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera dead, with the tent peg in the side of his head.
23
So on that day God subdued Jabin, the king of Canaan, before the people of Israel.
24
The might of the people of Israel grew stronger and stronger against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they destroyed him.
Chapter 5
1
On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:
2
"When the leaders take the lead in Israel,
when the people volunteer—
praise Yahweh!
3
Listen, you kings! Pay attention, you rulers!
I, I will sing to Yahweh;
I will sing praises to Yahweh,
the God of Israel.
4
Yahweh, when you went out from Seir,
when you marched from Edom,
the earth shook, and the skies also trembled;
also the clouds poured down water.
5
The mountains quaked before the face of Yahweh;
even Mount Sinai quaked before the face of Yahweh,
the God of Israel.
6
In the days of Shamgar (son of Anath),
in the days of Jael,
the main roads were abandoned,
and those who walked only used the winding paths.
7
There were few rural people in Israel,
until I, Deborah, arose—
arose as a mother in Israel!
8
When they chose new gods,
there was fighting at the city gates
and yet there were no shields or spears seen
among forty thousand in Israel.
9
My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel,
along with the people who gladly volunteered—
we bless Yahweh for them!
10
Think about this—you who ride on white donkeys
sitting on rugs for saddles,
and you who walk along the road.
11
Hear the voices of those who sing
at the watering places.
There they tell again of Yahweh's righteous deeds,
and the righteous actions of his warriors in Israel.
Then the people of Yahweh went down to the city gates.
12
Awake, awake, Deborah!
Awake, awake, sing a song!
Get up, Barak,
and capture your prisoners, you son of Abinoam.
13
Then the survivors came down to the nobles;
the people of Yahweh came down to me with the warriors.
14
They came from Ephraim, whose root is in Amalek;
the people of Benjamin followed you.
From Makir commanders came down,
and from Zebulun those who carry an officer's staff.
15
My princes in Issachar were with Deborah;
and Issachar was with Barak
rushing after him into the valley under his command.
Among the clans of Reuben
there were great searchings of heart.
16
Why did you sit between the fireplaces,
listening to the shepherds playing their pipes for their flocks?
As for the clans of Reuben
there were great searchings of heart.
17
Gilead stayed on the other side of the Jordan;
and Dan, why did he wander about on ships?
Asher remained on the coast
and lived close to his harbors.
18
Zebulun was a people who despised their lives to the point of death,
and Naphtali, also, on the field of battle.
19
The kings came, they fought;
the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach
by the waters of Megiddo.
But they took away no silver as plunder.
20
From heaven the stars fought,
from their paths across the heavens they fought against Sisera.
21
The Kishon River swept them away,
that old river, the Kishon River.
March on my soul, be strong!
22
Then came the sound of horses' hooves—
galloping, the galloping of his mighty ones.
23
'Curse Meroz!' says the angel of Yahweh.
'Surely curse its inhabitants!—
because they did not come to help Yahweh—
to help Yahweh in the battle against the mighty warriors.'
24
Jael is blessed more than all other women,
Jael (the wife of Heber the Kenite),
she is more blessed than all the women who live in tents.
25
The man asked for water, and she gave him milk;
she brought him butter in a dish fit for princes.
26
She put her hand to the tent peg,
and her right hand to the laborer's hammer;
with the hammer she struck Sisera, she crushed his head.
She smashed his skull into pieces when she pierced him through the side of his head.
27
He collapsed between her feet, he fell and he lay there.
Between her feet he fell limp.
The place he collapsed is where he was violently killed.
28
Out of a window she looked—
the mother of Sisera looked through the lattice and she called out in sadness,
'Why has it taken his chariot so long to come?
Why have the hoofbeats of the horses that pull his chariots been delayed?'
29
Her wisest princesses replied,
and she gave herself the same answer:
30
'Have they not found and divided up the plunder—
a womb, two wombs for every man;
the plunder of dyed fabric for Sisera,
the plunder of dyed fabric embroidered,
two pieces of dyed fabric embroidered for the necks of those who plunder?'
31
So may all your enemies perish, Yahweh!
But your friends be like the sun when it rises in its might."
Then the land had peace for forty years.
Chapter 6
1
The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and he gave them into the hand of Midian for seven years.
2
The power of Midian oppressed Israel. Because of Midian, the people of Israel made shelters for themselves from the dens in the hills, the caves, and the strongholds.
3
It happened that any time the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people from the east would attack the Israelites.
4
They would set up their camp on the land and destroy the crops, all the way to Gaza. They would leave no food in Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys.
5
Whenever they and their livestock and tents came up, they would come as a swarm of locusts, and it was impossible to count either the people or their camels. They invaded the land in order to destroy it.
6
Midian weakened the people of Israel so severely that the people of Israel called out to Yahweh.
7
When the people of Israel called out to Yahweh because of Midian,
8
Yahweh sent a prophet to the people of Israel. The prophet said to them, "This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: 'I brought you up from Egypt; I brought you out of the house of slavery.
9
I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians, and from the hand of all who were oppressing you. I drove them out before you, and I gave you their land.
10
I said to you, "I am Yahweh your God; I commanded you not to worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living." But you have not obeyed my voice.'"
11
Now the angel of Yahweh came and sat under the oak in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash (the Abiezrite), while Gideon, Joash's son, was threshing wheat in the winepress—to hide it from the Midianites.
12
The angel of Yahweh appeared to him and said to him, "Yahweh is with you, you strong warrior!"
13
Gideon said to him, "Oh, my master, if Yahweh is with us, why then has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers told us about, when they said, 'Did not Yahweh bring us up from Egypt?' But now Yahweh has abandoned us and gave us into the hand of Midian."
14
Yahweh looked at him and said, "Go in the strength you already have. Deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?"
15
Gideon said to him, "Please, Lord, how can I deliver Israel? See, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least important in my father's house."
16
Yahweh said to him, "I will be with you, and you will defeat the entire Midianite army as one man."
17
Gideon said to him, "If you are pleased with me, then give me a sign that it is you who is speaking to me.
18
Please, do not leave here, until I come to you and bring out my gift and set it before you." Yahweh said, "I will wait until you return."
19
Gideon went and prepared a young goat and from an ephah of flour he made unleavened bread. He put the meat in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot and brought them to him under the oak tree, and presented them.
20
The angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and the unleavened bread and put them on this rock, and pour out the broth over them." That is what Gideon did.
21
Then the angel of Yahweh reached out with the end of the staff in his hand. With it he touched the flesh and the unleavened bread; a fire went up out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. Then the angel of Yahweh went away and Gideon could no longer see him.
22
Gideon understood that this was the angel of Yahweh. Gideon said, "Ah, Lord Yahweh! For I have seen the angel of Yahweh face to face!"
23
Yahweh said to him, "Peace to you! Do not be afraid, you will not die."
24
So Gideon built an altar there to Yahweh. He called it, "Yahweh is Peace." To this day it still stands at Ophrah of the clan of Abiezer.
25
That night Yahweh said to him, "Take your father's bull, and a second bull that is seven years old, and tear down the altar of Baal that belongs to your father, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it.
26
Build an altar to Yahweh your God on the top of this place of refuge, and construct it the correct way. Offer the second bull as a burnt offering, using the wood from the Asherah that you cut down."
27
So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as Yahweh had told him. But because he was too afraid of his father's household and the men of the town to do it during the day, he did it at night.
28
In the morning when the men of the town got up, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah that was beside it was cut down, and the second bull had been offered on the altar that had been built.
29
The men of the city said to one another, "Who has done this?" When they talked with others and searched for answers, they said, "Gideon son of Joash has done this thing."
30
Then the men of the town said to Joash, "Bring out your son so that he may be put to death, because he broke down the altar of Baal, and because he cut down the Asherah beside it."
31
Joash said to all who opposed him, "Will you plead the case for Baal? Will you save him? Whoever pleads the case for him, let him be put to death while it is still morning. If Baal is a god, let him defend himself when someone breaks his altar down."
32
Therefore on that day they called Gideon "Jerub-Baal," because he said, "Let Baal defend himself against him," because Gideon broke down Baal's altar.
33
Now all the Midianites, the Amalekites, and the people of the east gathered together. They crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.
34
But the Spirit of Yahweh clothed Gideon. Gideon blew a trumpet, calling out the clan of Abiezer, so they might follow him.
35
He sent messengers all throughout Manasseh, and they too, were called out to follow him. He also sent messengers to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they went up to meet him.
36
Gideon said to God, "If you intend to use me to save Israel, as you have said—
37
Look, I am putting a woolen fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece, and it is dry on all the ground, then I will know that you will use me to save Israel, as you said."
38
This is what happened—Gideon rose early the next morning, he pressed the fleece together, and wrung out the dew from the fleece, enough to fill a bowl with water.
39
Then Gideon said to God, "Do not be angry with me, I will speak one more time. Please allow me one more test using the fleece. This time make the fleece dry, and let there be dew on all the ground around it."
40
God did what he asked for that night. The fleece was dry, and there was dew on all the ground around it.
Chapter 7
1
Then Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) rose up early, and all the people who were with him, and they encamped beside the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was to their north in the valley near the hill of Moreh.
2
Yahweh said to Gideon, "There are too many soldiers for me to give you victory over the Midianites, so that Israel may not boast over me, saying, 'Our own power has saved us.'
3
Now therefore, proclaim in the ears of the people and say, 'Whoever is afraid, whoever trembles, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead.'" So twenty-two thousand people went away, and ten thousand remained.
4
Yahweh said to Gideon, "The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will make their number smaller for you there. If I say to you, 'This one will go with you,' he will go with you; but if I say, 'This one will not go with you,' he will not go."
5
So Gideon brought the people down to the water, and Yahweh said to him, "Separate everyone who laps up the water, as a dog laps, from those who kneel down to drink."
6
Three hundred men lapped. The rest of the men kneeled down to drink water.
7
Yahweh said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men who lapped, I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Let every other man go back to his own place."
8
So those who were chosen took their supplies and their trumpets. Gideon sent away all the men of Israel, every man to his tent, but he kept the three hundred men. Now the Midian camp was down below him in the valley.
9
That same night Yahweh said to him, "Get up! Attack the camp, for I am going to give you victory over it.
10
But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant,
11
and listen to what they are saying, and your courage will be strengthened to attack the camp." So Gideon went with Purah his servant, down to the guard posts of the camp.
12
The Midianites, the Amalekites, and all the people of the east settled along in the valley, as thick as a cloud of locusts. Their camels were more than could be counted; they were more in number than the grains of the sand on the seashore.
13
When Gideon arrived there, a man was telling a dream to his companion. The man said, "Look! I had a dream, and I saw a round loaf of barley bread tumbling into the camp of Midian. It came to the tent, and hit it so hard that it fell down and turned it upside down, so that it lay flat."
14
The other man said, "This is nothing other than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel. God has given him victory over Midian and all their army."
15
When Gideon heard the retelling of the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down in worship. He went back to the camp of Israel and said, "Get up! Yahweh has given you victory over the Midian army."
16
He divided the three hundred men into three groups, and he gave them all rams' horns and empty jars, with torches inside each jar.
17
He said to them, "Look at me and do what I do. Watch! When I come to the edge of the camp, you must do what I do.
18
When I blow the ram's horn, I and all who are with me, then blow your ram's horns also on every side of the entire camp and shout, 'For Yahweh and for Gideon!'"
19
So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the edge of the camp, right at the beginning of the middle watch. Just as the Midianites were changing guard, they blew the rams' horns and broke the jars that were in their hands.
20
The three companies blew the rams' horns and broke the jars. They held the torches in their left hands and the rams' horns in their right hands to blow them. They shouted out, "The sword of Yahweh and of Gideon."
21
Every man stood in his place around the camp and all the Midianite army ran. They shouted and ran away.
22
When they blew the three hundred rams' horns, Yahweh set every Midianite man's sword against his comrades and against all their army. The army fled as far as Beth Shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel Meholah, near Tabbath.
23
The men of Israel from Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh were called out, and they went after Midian.
24
Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill country of Ephraim, saying, "Go down against Midian and take control of the Jordan River, as far as Beth Barah, to stop them." So all the men of Ephraim were summoned and took control of the waters, as far as Beth Barah and the Jordan River.
25
They captured the two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and they killed Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. They went after the Midianites, and they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was on the other side of the Jordan.
Chapter 8
1
The men of Ephraim said to Gideon, "What is this you have done to us? You did not call us when you went to fight against Midian." Then they had a violent argument with him.
2
He said to them, "What have I done now compared to you? Are not the gleanings of Ephraim's grapes better than the full grape harvest of Abiezer?
3
God has given you victory over the princes of Midian—Oreb and Zeeb! What have I accomplished compared to you?" Their anger toward him died down when he said this.
4
Gideon came to the Jordan and crossed over it, he and the three hundred men who were with him. They were exhausted, yet they still kept up the pursuit.
5
He said to the men of Sukkoth, "Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian."
6
Then the officials of Sukkoth said, "Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand? Why should we give bread to your army?"
7
Gideon said, "When Yahweh has given us victory over Zebah and Zalmunna, I will thresh your skin with desert thorns and briers."
8
He went up from there to Peniel and spoke to the people there in the same way, but the men of Peniel answered him just as the men of Sukkoth had answered.
9
He spoke also to the men of Peniel and said, "When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower."
10
Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army, about fifteen thousand men, all who remained out of the entire army of the people of the East, for there had fallen 120,000 men who drew the sword.
11
Gideon went up the road taken by tent dwellers, past Nobah and Jogbehah. He defeated the enemy army, because they were not expecting an attack.
12
Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and as Gideon pursued them, he captured the two kings of Midian—Zebah and Zalmunna—and set their whole army into a panic.
13
Gideon, son of Joash, returned from the battle going through the pass of Heres.
14
He caught a young man of Sukkoth and questioned him. The young man wrote down the names of seventy-seven officials and elders of Sukkoth.
15
Gideon came to the men of Sukkoth and said, "Look at Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you mocked me and said, 'Have you already conquered Zebah and Zalmunna? We do not know that we should give bread to your army.'"
16
Gideon took the elders of the city, and he punished the men of Sukkoth with the desert thorns and briers.
17
Then he broke down the tower of Peniel and killed the men of that city.
18
Then Gideon said to Zebah and Zalmunna, "What kind of men did you kill at Tabor?" They answered, "As you are, so were they. Every one of them looked like the son of a king."
19
Gideon said, "They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As Yahweh lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you."
20
He said to Jether (his firstborn), "Get up and kill them!" But the young man did not draw his sword for he was afraid, because he was still a young boy.
21
Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, "Get up yourself and kill us! For as the man is, so is his strength." Gideon rose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna. He also took off the crescent-shaped ornaments that were on their camels' necks.
22
Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, "Rule over us—you, your son, and your grandson—because you have saved us out of the hand of Midian."
23
Gideon said to them, "I will not rule over you, neither will my son rule over you. Yahweh will rule over you."
24
Gideon said to them, "Let me make a request of you, that every one of you give me the earrings from his plunder."(The Midianites had golden earrings because they were Ishmaelites.)
25
They answered, "We are glad to give them to you." They spread out a cloak and every man threw on it the earrings from his plunder.
26
The weight of the golden earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold. This plunder was in addition to the crescent ornaments, the pendants, the purple clothing that was worn by the kings of Midian, and in addition to the chains that had been around their camels' necks.
27
Gideon made an ephod out of the earrings and put it in his city, in Ophrah, and all Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there. It became a trap for Gideon and for those in his house.
28
So Midian was subdued before the people of Israel and they did not raise their heads up again. So the land had peace for forty years in the days of Gideon.
29
Jerub-Baal, son of Joash, went and lived in his own house.
30
Gideon had seventy sons who were his descendants, for he had many wives.
31
His concubine, who was in Shechem, also bore him a son, and Gideon gave him the name Abimelek.
32
Gideon, son of Joash, died at a good old age and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, at Ophrah of the clan of Abiezer.
33
It came about, as soon as Gideon was dead, the people of Israel turned again and prostituted themselves by worshiping the Baals. They made Baal-Berith their god.
34
The people of Israel did not remember to honor Yahweh, their God, who had rescued them from the hand of all their enemies on every side.
35
They did not keep their promises to the house of Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon), in return for all the good he had done in Israel.
Chapter 9
1
Abimelek son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother's relatives at Shechem and he said to them and to the whole clan of his mother's family,
2
"Please say this, so that all the leaders in Shechem may hear, 'Which is better for you, that all seventy sons of Jerub-Baal rule over you, or that just one rule over you?' Remember that I am your bone and your flesh."
3
His mother's relatives spoke for him to the leaders of Shechem, and they agreed to follow Abimelek, for they said, "He is our brother."
4
They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-Berith, and Abimelek used the silver to hire worthless and reckless men, who traveled with him.
5
Abimelek went to his father's house at Ophrah, and upon one stone he murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal. Only Jotham was left, the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, for he hid himself.
6
All the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo came together and they went and made Abimelek king, beside the oak near the pillar which is in Shechem.
7
When Jotham was told about this, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. He shouted and said to them, "Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, so that God may listen to you.
8
The trees once went out to anoint a king over them. For they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'
9
But the olive tree said to them, 'Should I give up my abundance, by which gods and men are honored, to sway over the other trees?'
10
The trees said to the fig tree, 'Come and reign over us.'
11
But the fig tree said to them, 'Should I give up my sweetness and my good fruit, just so I could return and sway over the other trees?'
12
The trees said to the vine, 'Come and reign over us.'
13
The vine said to them, 'Should I give up my new wine, which makes gods and mankind glad, and return and sway over the other trees?'
14
Then said all the trees to the thornbush, 'Come and reign over us.'
15
The thornbush said to the trees, 'If you truly want to anoint me as king over you, then come and find refuge under my shade. If not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and let it burn up the cedars of Lebanon.'
16
Now therefore, if you have acted in truth and honesty, when you made Abimelek king, and if you have done well concerning Jerub-Baal and his house, and if you have punished him as he deserves—
17
and to think that my father fought for you, risked his life, and rescued you out of the hand of Midian—
18
but today you have risen up against my father's house and have killed his sons, seventy persons, upon one stone. Then you have made Abimelek, the son of his female servant, king over the leaders of Shechem, because he is your relative.
19
If you acted with faithfulness and integrity with Jerub-Baal and his house, then you should rejoice in Abimelek, and let him also rejoice in you.
20
But if not, let fire come out from Abimelek and burn up the men of Shechem and Beth Millo. Let fire come out from the men of Shechem and Beth Millo, to burn up Abimelek."
21
Jotham fled and ran away, and he went to Beer. He lived there because it was far away from Abimelek, his brother.
22
Abimelek ruled over Israel for three years.
23
God sent an evil spirit between Abimelek and the leaders of Shechem. The leaders of Shechem betrayed the trust they had with Abimelek.
24
God did this so the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerub-Baal might be avenged and their blood be laid on Abimelek their brother, and the men of Shechem would be held responsible because they helped him murder his brothers.
25
So the leaders of Shechem positioned men to lie in wait on the hilltops that they might ambush him, and they robbed all who passed by them along that road. This was reported to Abimelek.
26
Gaal son of Ebed came with his relatives and they went over to Shechem. The leaders of Shechem had confidence in him.
27
They went out into the field and gathered grapes from the vineyards, and they trampled on them. They held a festival in the house of their god, where they ate and drank, and they cursed Abimelek.
28
Gaal son of Ebed, said, "Who is Abimelek, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerub-Baal? Is Zebul not his overseer? Serve the men of Hamor, Shechem's father! Why should we serve Abimelek?
29
I wish that this people were under my command! Then would I remove Abimelek. I would say to Abimelek, 'Call out all your army.'"
30
When Zebul, the official of the city, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed his anger was kindled.
31
He sent messengers to Abimelek in order to deceive, saying, "See, Gaal son of Ebed and his relatives are coming to Shechem, and they are stirring up the city against you.
32
Now, get up during the night, you and the soldiers with you, and prepare an ambush in the fields.
33
Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, rise early and make a raid on the city. When he and the people with him come out against you, do whatever you can to them."
34
So Abimelek got up during the night, he and all the men who were with him, and they set an ambush against Shechem—dividing into four units.
35
Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the city gate. Abimelek and the men who were with him came out of their hiding place.
36
When Gaal saw the men, he said to Zebul, "See, men are coming down from the hilltops!" Zebul said to him, "You are seeing the shadows on the hills like they are men."
37
Gaal spoke again and said, "Look, men are coming down in the middle of the land, and one unit is coming by way of the oak of the diviners."
38
Then Zebul said to him, "Where are your proud words now, you who said, 'Who is Abimelek that we should serve him?' Are these not the men you despised? Go out now and fight against them."
39
Gaal went out and he was leading the men of Shechem, and he fought Abimelek.
40
Abimelek chased him, and Gaal fled before him. Many fell with deadly wounds before the entrance to the city gate.
41
Abimelek stayed in Arumah. Zebul forced Gaal and his relatives out of Shechem.
42
On the next day the people of Shechem went out into the field, and this was reported to Abimelek.
43
He took his people, divided them into three units, and they set an ambush in the fields. He looked and saw the people coming out from the city and he attacked and killed them.
44
Abimelek and the units that were with him attacked and blocked the entrance to the city gate. The other two units attacked all who were in the field and killed them.
45
Abimelek fought against the city all that day. He captured the city, and killed the people who were in it. He broke down the city walls and sowed it with salt.
46
When all the leaders of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the stronghold of the house of El-Berith.
47
Abimelek was told that all the leaders had gathered together at the tower of Shechem.
48
Abimelek went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the men who were with him. Abimelek took an ax and cut off branches. He put it on his shoulder and ordered the men with him, "What you have seen me do, hurry and do as I have done."
49
So every one cut off branches and followed Abimelek. They piled them against the wall of the tower, and they set the stronghold on fire, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem also died, about a thousand men and women.
50
Then Abimelek went to Thebez, and he encamped against Thebez and captured it.
51
But there was a strong tower in the city, and all the men and women and all the leaders of the city fled to it and shut themselves in. Then they went up to the roof of the tower.
52
Abimelek came to the tower and fought against it, and he came up near to the door of the tower to burn it.
53
But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelek's head and it crushed his skull.
54
Then he called urgently to the young man who was his armor-bearer, and said to him, "Draw your sword and kill me, so no one will say about me, 'A woman killed him.'" So his young man pierced him through, and he died.
55
When the men of Israel saw that Abimelek was dead, they went home.
56
So God avenged the evil of Abimelek that he did to his father by killing his seventy brothers.
57
God made all the evil of the men of Shechem turn back on their own heads and on them came the curse of Jotham son of Jerub-Baal.
Chapter 10
1
After Abimelek, Tola son of Puah son of Dodo, a man from Issachar who lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim, arose to deliver Israel.
2
He judged Israel twenty-three years. He died and was buried in Shamir.
3
He was followed by Jair the Gileadite. He judged Israel twenty-two years.
4
He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havvoth Jair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead.
5
Jair died and was buried in Kamon.
6
The people of Israel added to the evil they had done in the sight of Yahweh and worshiped the Baals, the Ashtoreths, the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the people of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines. They abandoned Yahweh and no longer worshiped him.
7
Yahweh burned with anger toward Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the Ammonites.
8
They crushed and oppressed the people of Israel that year, and for eighteen years they oppressed all the people of Israel who were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.
9
Then the Ammonites crossed over the Jordan to fight against Judah, against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was greatly distressed.
10
Then the people of Israel called out to Yahweh, saying, "We have sinned against you, because we abandoned our God and worshiped the Baals."
11
Yahweh said to the people of Israel, "Did I not deliver you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines,
12
and also from the Sidonians? The Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you; you called out to me, and I delivered you from their power.
13
Yet you abandoned me again and worshiped other gods. Therefore, I will not keep adding to the times I deliver you.
14
Go and call out to the gods that you have worshiped. Let them rescue you when you have trouble."
15
The people of Israel said to Yahweh, "We have sinned. Do to us whatever seems good to you. Only please, rescue us this day."
16
They got rid of the foreign gods among them and they worshiped Yahweh. Then Yahweh could bear Israel's misery no longer.
17
Then the Ammonites were summoned and set up camp in Gilead. The people of Israel came together and set up their camp at Mizpah.
18
The leaders of the people of Gilead said one to another, "Who is the man who will begin to fight the Ammonites? He will become the leader over all those who are living in Gilead."
Chapter 11
1
Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior, but he was the son of a prostitute. Gilead was his father.
2
Gilead's wife also gave birth to his other sons. When his wife's sons grew up, they forced Jephthah to leave the house and said to him, "You are not going to inherit anything from our father's household. You are the son of another woman."
3
So Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob, and worthless men gathered around Jephthah and they traveled with him.
4
Some days later, the people of Ammon made war against Israel.
5
When the people of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah back from the land of Tob.
6
They said to Jephthah, "Come and be our leader that we may fight with the people of Ammon."
7
Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "You hated me and forced me to leave my father's house. Why do you come to me now when you are in trouble?"
8
The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "That is why we are turning to you now; come with us and fight with the people of Ammon, and you will become the leader over all who live in Gilead."
9
Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "If you bring me home again to fight against the people of Ammon, and if Yahweh gives us victory over them, I will be your leader."
10
The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "May Yahweh be witness between us if we do not do as we say!"
11
So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him leader and commander over them. When he was before Yahweh in Mizpah, Jephthah repeated all the promises he made.
12
Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the people of Ammon, saying, "What is this conflict between us? Why have you come with force to take our land?"
13
The king of the people of Ammon answered to the messengers of Jephthah, "Because when Israel came up out of Egypt, they seized my land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, over to the Jordan. Now give back those lands in peace."
14
Again Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the people of Ammon,
15
and he said, "This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take the land of Moab and the land of the people of Ammon,
16
but they came up from Egypt, and Israel went through the wilderness to the Sea of Reeds and on to Kadesh.
17
When Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, 'Please let us pass through your land,' the king of Edom would not listen. They also sent messengers to the king of Moab, but he refused. So Israel stayed at Kadesh.
18
Then they went through the wilderness and turned away from the land of Edom and the land of Moab, and they went along the east side of the land of Moab and they camped on the other side of the Arnon. But they did not go into the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was Moab's border.
19
Israel sent messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon; Israel said to him, 'Please, let us pass through your land to the place that is ours.'
20
But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory. So Sihon gathered all his army together and camped at Jahaz, and there he fought against Israel.
21
Then Yahweh, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel and they defeated them. So Israel took all the land of the Amorites who lived in that country.
22
They took over everything within the territory of the Amorites, from the Arnon to the Jabbok, and from the wilderness to the Jordan.
23
So then Yahweh, the God of Israel, has driven out the Amorites before his people Israel, and should you now take possession of their land?
24
Will you not take over the land that Chemosh, your god, gives you? So whatever land Yahweh our God has given us, we will take over.
25
Now are you really better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he dare to have an argument with Israel? Did he ever wage war against them?
26
While Israel lived for three hundred years in Heshbon and its villages, and in Aroer and its villages, and in all the cities that are along the banks of the Arnon—why then did you not take them back during that time?
27
I have not done you wrong, but you are doing me wrong by attacking me. Yahweh, the judge, will decide today between the people of Israel and the people of Ammon."
28
But the king of the people of Ammon rejected the warning Jephthah sent him.
29
Then the Spirit of Yahweh came on Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, and passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed through to the people of Ammon.
30
Jephthah made a vow to Yahweh and said, "If you give me victory over the people of Ammon,
31
then whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the people of Ammon will belong to Yahweh, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering."
32
So Jephthah passed through to the people of Ammon to fight against them, and Yahweh gave him victory.
33
He attacked them and caused a great slaughter from Aroer as far as Minnith—twenty cities—and to Abel Keramim. So the people of Ammon were subdued before the people of Israel.
34
Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah, and there his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dancing. She was his only child, and besides her he had neither son nor daughter.
35
As soon as he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, "Oh! My daughter! You have crushed me with sorrow, and you have become one who troubles me! For I have opened my mouth to Yahweh, and I cannot turn back on my promise."
36
She said to him, "My father, you have made a vow to Yahweh, do to me everything you promised, because Yahweh has taken vengeance for you against your enemies, the Ammonites."
37
She said to her father, "Let this promise be kept for me. Leave me alone for two months, that I may leave and go down to the hills and grieve over my virginity, I and my companions."
38
He said, "Go." He sent her away for two months. She left him, she and her companions, and they grieved her virginity in the hills.
39
At the end of two months she returned to her father, who did with her according to the promise of the vow he had made. Now she had never known a man, and it became a custom in Israel
40
that the daughters of Israel every year, for four days, would retell the story of the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite.
Chapter 12
1
A call went out to the men of Ephraim; they passed through Zaphon and said to Jephthah, "Why did you pass through to fight against the people of Ammon and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house down over you."
2
Jephthah said to them, "I and my people were in a great conflict with the people of Ammon. When I called you, you did not rescue me from them.
3
When I saw that you did not rescue me, I put my life in my own hand and passed through against the people of Ammon, and Yahweh gave me victory. Why have you come to fight against me today?"
4
Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead and he fought against Ephraim. The men of Gilead attacked the men of Ephraim because they said, "You Gileadites are fugitives in Ephraim—in Ephraim and Manasseh."
5
The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim. When any of the survivors of Ephraim said, "Let me go over the river," the men of Gilead would say to him, "Are you an Ephraimite?" If he said, "No,"
6
then they would say to him, "Say: Shibboleth," and if he said "Sibboleth" (for he could not pronounce the word correctly), the Gileadites would seize him and kill him at the fords of the Jordan. Forty-two thousand Ephraimites were killed at that time.
7
Jephthah served as a judge over Israel for six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.
8
After him, Ibzan of Bethlehem served as a judge over Israel.
9
He had thirty sons. He gave away thirty daughters in marriage and he brought from the outside thirty daughters of other men for his sons. He judged Israel for seven years.
10
Ibzan died and was buried at Bethlehem.
11
After him Elon the Zebulunite served as judge over Israel. He judged Israel for ten years.
12
Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.
13
After him, Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite served as a judge over Israel.
14
He had forty sons and thirty grandsons. They rode on seventy donkeys, and he judged Israel for eight years.
15
Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim in the hill country of the Amalekites.
Chapter 13
1
The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and he gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.
2
There was a man from Zorah, of the clan of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. His wife was barren and so she had not given birth.
3
The angel of Yahweh appeared to the woman and said to her, "See now, you have been barren, and you have not given birth, but you will conceive and you will give birth to a son.
4
Now be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, and do not eat anything unclean.
5
Look, you will become pregnant and give birth to a son. No razor will be used upon his head, for the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he will begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines."
6
Then the woman came and told her husband, "A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like that of an angel of God, very terrible. I did not ask him where he came from, and he did not tell me his name.
7
He said to me, 'Look! You will become pregnant, and you will give birth to a son. So then drink no wine or strong drink, and do not eat any food that the law declares to be unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the time he is in your womb until the day of his death.'"
8
Then Manoah prayed to Yahweh and said, "Oh, Lord, please let the man of God you sent come again to us so that he may teach us what we are to do for the child who soon will be born."
9
God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came to the woman again when she was sitting in the field. But Manoah her husband was not with her.
10
So the woman ran quickly and told her husband, "Look! The man has appeared to me—the one who came to me the other day!"
11
Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he came to the man, he said, "Are you the man who spoke with my wife?" The man said, "I am."
12
So Manoah said, "Now may your words come true. What will be the rules for the child, and what will be his work?"
13
The angel of Yahweh said to Manoah, "She must carefully do everything that I said to her.
14
She may not eat anything that comes from the vines, and do not let her drink wine or strong drink or eat anything unclean. She must obey everything I have commanded her to do."
15
Manoah said to the angel of Yahweh, "Please stay for a while, to give us time to prepare a young goat for you."
16
The angel of Yahweh said to Manoah, "Even if I stay, I will not eat your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to Yahweh." (Manoah did not know that he was the angel of Yahweh.)
17
Manoah said to the angel of Yahweh, "What is your name, so we may honor you when your words come true?"
18
The angel of Yahweh said to him, "Why do you ask my name? It is wonderful!"
19
So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering and offered them on the rock to Yahweh. He did something marvelous while Manoah and his wife were watching.
20
When the flame went up from the altar toward the sky, the angel of Yahweh went up in the flame of the altar. Manoah and his wife saw this and lay facedown on the ground.
21
The angel of Yahweh did not appear again to Manoah or his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of Yahweh.
22
Manoah said to his wife, "We are sure to die, because we have seen God!"
23
But his wife said to him, "If Yahweh wanted to kill us, he would not have received the burnt offering and the grain offering we gave him. He would not have shown us all these things, nor at this time would he have let us hear such things."
24
Later the woman gave birth to a son, and called his name Samson. The boy grew up and Yahweh blessed him.
25
Yahweh's Spirit began to stir him in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
Chapter 14
1
Samson went down to Timnah, and there he saw a woman, one of the daughters of the Philistines.
2
When he returned, he told his father and mother, "I saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines. Now get her for me to be my wife."
3
His father and mother said to him, "Is there not a woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people? Are you going to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?" Samson said to his father, "Get her for me, for when I look at her, she pleases me."
4
But his father and his mother did not know that this matter came from Yahweh, for he desired to create a conflict with the Philistines (for at that time the Philistines were ruling Israel).
5
Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and his mother, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And, look, there one of the young lions came up and was roaring at him.
6
Yahweh's Spirit suddenly came on him, and he tore the lion apart as easily as he would have torn apart a small goat, and he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.
7
He went and spoke with the woman, and when he looked at her, she pleased Samson.
8
A few days later when he returned to marry her, he turned aside to look for the carcass of the lion. And, look, there was a swarm of bees and honey in what was left of the lion's body.
9
He scraped up the honey in his hands and went on, eating as he went. When he came to his father and his mother, he gave some to them, and they ate. But he did not tell them he had taken the honey out of what was left of the lion's body.
10
Samson's father went down to where the woman was, and Samson gave a feast there, for this was the custom of the young men.
11
As soon as her relatives saw him, they brought him thirty of their friends to be with him.
12
Samson said to them, "Let me now tell you a riddle. If one of you can find it out and tell me the answer during the seven days of the feast, I will give out thirty linen robes and thirty sets of clothes.
13
But if you cannot tell me the answer, then you will give me thirty linen robes and thirty sets of clothes." They said to him, "Tell us your riddle, so we may hear it."
14
He said to them,
"Out of the eater was something to eat;
out of the strong was something sweet."
But his guests could not find the answer in three days.
15
On the fourth day they said to Samson's wife, "Trick your husband so that he may tell us the answer to the riddle, or we will burn up you and your father's house. Did you invite us here in order to make us poor?"
16
Samson's wife started to weep in front of him; she said, "All you do is hate me! You do not love me. You have told a riddle to some of my people, but you have not told me the answer." Samson said to her, "Look here, if I have not told my father or my mother, should I tell you?"
17
She cried during the seven days that their feast lasted. On the seventh day he told her the answer because she pressured him very much. She told the answer to the relatives of her people.
18
Before the sun went down on the seventh day the men of the city said to him,
"What is sweeter than honey?
What is stronger than a lion?"
Samson said to them,
"If you had not plowed with my heifer,
you would not have found the answer to my riddle."
19
Then Yahweh's Spirit suddenly came on Samson with power. Samson went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty of their men. He took their plunder, and he gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle. Burning with anger, he went up to his father's house.
20
Samson's wife was given to his best friend.
Chapter 15
1
After some days, during the time of wheat harvest, Samson took a young goat and went to visit his wife. He said to himself, "I will go to my wife's room." But her father would not allow him to go in.
2
Her father said, "I really thought you hated her, so I gave her to your friend. Her younger sister is more beautiful than she is, is she not? Take her instead."
3
Samson said to them, "This time I will be innocent in regard to the Philistines when I hurt them."
4
Samson went and caught three hundred foxes and he tied together each pair, tail to tail. Then he took torches and tied them in the middle of each pair of tails.
5
When he had set the torches on fire, he let the foxes go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and they set fire to both the stacked grain and the grain standing in the field, along with the vineyards and the olive orchards.
6
The Philistines asked, "Who did this?" They were told, "Samson, the Timnite's son-in-law, did this because the Timnite took Samson's wife and gave her to his friend." Then the Philistines went and burned up her and her father.
7
Samson said to them, "If this is what you do, I will get my revenge against you, and after that is done, I will stop."
8
Then he cut them to pieces, hip and thigh, with a great slaughter. Then he went down and lived in a cave in the cliff of Etam.
9
Then the Philistines came up and encamped in Judah and spread out in Lehi.
10
The men of Judah said, "Why have you come up against us?" They said, "We have come up so we may capture Samson, and do to him as he has done to us."
11
Then three thousand men of Judah went down to the cave in the cliff of Etam, and they said to Samson, "Do you not know that the Philistines are rulers over us? What is this you have done to us?" Samson said to them, "They did to me, and so I have done to them."
12
They said to Samson, "We have come down to tie you up and give you into the hands of the Philistines." Samson said to them, "Swear to me that you will not kill me yourselves."
13
They said to him, "No, we will only tie you with ropes and hand you over to them. We promise we will not kill you." Then they tied him up with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock.
14
When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting as they met him. Then Yahweh's Spirit came on him with power. The ropes on his arms became like burnt flax, and they fell off his hands.
15
Samson found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and he picked it up and killed a thousand men with it.
16
Samson said,
"With the jawbone of a donkey, heaps upon heaps,
with the jawbone of a donkey I have killed a thousand men."
17
When Samson finished speaking, he threw away the jawbone, and he called the place Ramath Lehi.
18
Samson was very thirsty and called on Yahweh and said, "You have given this great victory to your servant. But now will I die of thirst and fall into the hands of those who are uncircumcised?"
19
God split open the hollow place that is at Lehi and water came out. When he drank, his strength returned and he revived. So he called the name of that place En Hakkore, and it is at Lehi to this day.
20
Samson judged Israel in the days of the Philistines for twenty years.
Chapter 16
1
Samson went to Gaza and saw a prostitute there, and he went to her.
2
The Gazites were told, "Samson has come here." The Gazites surrounded the place and in secret, they waited for him all night at the city gate. They kept silent all night. They had said, "Let us wait until daylight, and then let us kill him."
3
Samson lay in bed until midnight. At midnight he got up and he took hold of the city gate and its two posts. He pulled them up out of the ground, bar and all, put them on his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of the hill, in front of Hebron.
4
After this, Samson came to love a woman who lived in the Valley of Sorek. Her name was Delilah.
5
The rulers of the Philistines came up to her, and said to her, "Trick Samson to see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him in order to humiliate him. Do this, and each one of us will give you 1,100 pieces of silver."
6
Then Delilah said to Samson, "Please, tell me how is it that you are so strong, and how could anyone bind you, so you might be controlled?"
7
Samson said to her, "If they tie me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, then I will become weak and be like any other man."
8
Then the rulers of the Philistines brought up to Delilah seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied Samson up with them.
9
Now she had men hiding in secret, staying in her inner room. She said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" But he broke the bowstrings like a thread of yarn when it touches the fire. So the secret of his strength was not discovered.
10
Then Delilah said to Samson, "This is how you have deceived me and told me lies. Please, tell me how you can be overpowered."
11
He said to her, "If they tie me up with new ropes which have never been used for work, I will become weak and like any other man."
12
So Delilah took new ropes and tied him up with them, and said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" The men lying in wait were in the inner room. But Samson tore off the ropes from his arms like they were a piece of thread.
13
Delilah said to Samson, "Until now you have deceived me and told me lies. Tell me how you may be overpowered." Samson said to her, "If you weave seven locks of my hair into a fabric on a loom, and then nail that to the loom, I will be like any other man."
14
While he slept, Delilah wove seven locks of his hair into the fabric on the loom and nailed it to the loom, and she said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" He woke from his sleep and he pulled out the fabric and the pin from the loom.
15
She said to him, "How can you say, 'I love you,' when you do not share your secrets with me? You have mocked me these three times and have not told me how you have such great strength."
16
Every day she pressed him hard with her words, and she pressured him so much that he wished he would die.
17
So Samson told her everything and said to her, "I have never had a razor cut the hair on my head, for I have been a Nazirite for God from my mother's womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I will become weak and be like every other man."
18
When Delilah saw that he had told her the truth about everything, she sent and called for the rulers of the Philistines, saying, "Come up again, for he has told me everything." Then the rulers of the Philistines went up to her, bringing the silver in their hands.
19
She had him fall asleep in her lap. She called for a man to shave off the seven locks of his head, and she began to subdue him, for his strength had left him.
20
She said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" He woke up out of his sleep and said, "I will get out like the other times and shake myself free." But he did not know that Yahweh had left him.
21
The Philistines captured him and put out his eyes. They brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. He turned the millstone at the prison house.
22
But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.
23
The rulers of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to rejoice. They said, "Our god has conquered Samson, our enemy, and put him in our hands."
24
When the people saw him, they praised their god, for they said, "Our god has conquered our enemy and given him to us—the destroyer of our country, who killed many of us."
25
When they were celebrating, they said, "Call for Samson, that he may make us laugh." They called for Samson out of the prison and he made them laugh. They made him stand between the pillars.
26
Samson said to the boy who held his hand, "Permit me to touch the pillars on which the building rests, so that I can lean against them."
27
Now the house was full of men and women. All the rulers of the Philistines were there. There were on the roof about three thousand men and women, who were looking on while Samson was entertaining them.
28
Samson called to Yahweh and said, "Lord Yahweh, call me to mind! Please strengthen me only this once, God, so that I may have revenge in one blow on the Philistines for taking my two eyes."
29
Samson held on to the two middle pillars on which the building rested, and he leaned against them, one pillar with his right hand, and the other with his left.
30
Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" He stretched out with his strength and the building fell on the rulers and on all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed when he died were more than those he killed during his life.
31
Then his brothers and all the house of his father came down. They took him, brought him back and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the burial place of Manoah, his father. Samson had judged Israel for twenty years.
Chapter 17
1
There was a man in the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Micah.
2
He said to his mother, "The 1,100 pieces of silver that were taken from you, about which you spoke a curse, and which I heard—look here! I have the silver with me. I stole it." His mother said, "May Yahweh bless you, my son!"
3
He restored the 1,100 pieces of silver to his mother and his mother said, "I set apart this silver to Yahweh, for my son to make a carved image and a cast metal figure. So now, I restore it to you."
4
When he restored the money to his mother, his mother took two hundred pieces of silver and gave them to a metal worker who made them into a carved image and a cast metal figure, and they were placed in the house of Micah.
5
The man Micah had a house of idols and he made an ephod and household gods, and he hired one of his sons to become his priest.
6
In those days there was no king in Israel, and everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
7
Now there was a young man of Bethlehem in Judah, of the clan of Judah, who was a Levite. He stayed there to fulfill his duties.
8
The man left Bethlehem in Judah to go and find a place to live. As he journeyed, he came to Micah's house in the hill country of Ephraim.
9
Micah said to him, "Where do you come from?" The man said to him, "I am a Levite of Bethlehem in Judah, and I am traveling to find a place where I might live."
10
Micah said to him, "Stay with me, and be to me a father and a priest. I will give you ten pieces of silver a year, a suit of clothes, and your food." So the Levite went into his house.
11
The Levite was content to live with the man, and the young man became to Micah like one of his sons.
12
Micah set apart the Levite for sacred duties, and the young man became his priest, and was in Micah's house.
13
Then Micah said, "Now I know that Yahweh will do good for me, because this Levite has become my priest."
Chapter 18
1
In those days there was no king in Israel. The tribe of the descendants of Dan was looking for a territory to live in, for up to that day they had not received any inheritance from among the tribes of Israel.
2
The people of Dan sent five men from the whole number of their tribe, men who were experienced warriors from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to scout the land on foot, and to look it over. They said to them, "Go and look over the land." They came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and they spent the night there.
3
When they were near Micah's house, they recognized the speech of the young Levite. So they stopped and asked him, "Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? Why are you here?"
4
He said to them, "This is what Micah has done for me: He has hired me to become his priest."
5
They said to him, "Please seek the advice of God, so we may know whether the journey we are going on will be successful."
6
The priest said to them, "Go in peace. Yahweh will lead you in the way you should go."
7
Then the five men left and came to Laish, and they saw that the people were living in safety, in the same way the Sidonians lived, undisturbed and secure. There was no one who conquered them or who oppressed them in any way in the land. They lived far away from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone.
8
They returned to their tribe in Zorah and Eshtaol. Their relatives asked them, "What is your report?"
9
They said, "Come! Let us attack them! We have seen the land and it is very good. Are you doing nothing? Do not be slow to attack and conquer the land.
10
When you go, you will come to a secure people, and the land is wide! God has given it to you—a place that does not lack anything in the land."
11
Six hundred men of the tribe of Dan, armed with weapons of war, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol.
12
They went up and camped at Kiriath Jearim, in Judah. This is why people called that place Mahaneh Dan to this day; it is west of Kiriath Jearim.
13
They went away from there to the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah.
14
Then the five men who had gone to scout the country of Laish said to their relatives, "Do you know that in these houses there are an ephod, household gods, a carved image, and a cast metal figure? Decide now what you will do."
15
So they turned in there and came to the house of the young man, the Levite, at the house of Micah, and they greeted him.
16
Now the six hundred Danites, armed with weapons of war, stood at the entrance of the gate.
17
The five men who had gone to scout out the land went there and they took the carved figure, the ephod, the household gods, and the cast metal figure, while the priest stood by the opening of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war.
18
When these went into Micah's house and took the carved image, the ephod, the household gods, and the cast metal figure, the priest said to them, "What are you doing?"
19
They said to him, "Be quiet! Put your hand on your mouth and come with us, and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be priest for the house of one man, or to be priest for a tribe and a clan in Israel?"
20
The priest's heart was glad. He took the ephod, the household gods, and the carved figure, and went along with the people.
21
So they turned and went away, putting the little children, their livestock and their valuable possessions in front of them.
22
When they were a good distance from the house of Micah, the men who were in the houses near Micah's house were called together, and they caught up with the Danites.
23
They shouted to the Danites, and they turned and said to Micah, "Why have you been called together?"
24
He said, "You stole the gods that I made, you have taken my priest, and you are leaving. What else do I have left? How can you ask me, 'What is bothering you?'"
25
The people of Dan said to him, "You should not let us hear you say anything, or some very angry men will attack you, and you and your family will be killed."
26
Then the people of Dan went their way. When Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his house.
27
The people of Dan took what Micah had made, as well as his priest, and they came to Laish, to a people who were undisturbed and secure and they struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city.
28
There was no one to rescue them because it was a long way from Sidon, and they had no dealings with anyone. It was in the valley that is near Beth Rehob. The Danites rebuilt the city and lived there.
29
They named the city Dan, the name of Dan their ancestor, who was one of Israel's sons. But the name of the city used to be Laish.
30
The people of Dan set up the carved figure for themselves. Jonathan son of Gershom, son of Moses, he and his sons were priests for the tribe of the Danites until the day of the land's captivity.
31
So they worshiped Micah's carved figure that he made as long as the house of God was at Shiloh.
Chapter 19
1
In those days, when there was no king in Israel, there was a man, a Levite, living for a while in the most remote area of the hill country of Ephraim. He took for himself a woman, a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah.
2
But his concubine acted like a prostitute against him; she left him and went back to her father's house in Bethlehem of Judah. She stayed there for four months.
3
Then her husband got up and went after her in order to persuade her to come back. His servant was with him, and a yoke of donkeys. She brought him into her father's house. When the girl's father saw him, he was glad to meet him.
4
His father-in-law, the girl's father, persuaded him to stay for three days. They ate and drank, and they spent the night there.
5
On the fourth day they got up early and he prepared to go, but the girl's father said to his son-in-law, "Strengthen yourself with a bit of bread, then you may go."
6
So the two of them sat down to eat and drink together. Then the girl's father said, "Please be willing to spend the night and have a good time."
7
When the Levite got up to leave, the father of the young woman urged him to stay, so he changed his plan and spent the night there again.
8
On the fifth day he woke up early to leave, but the girl's father said, "Strengthen yourself, and wait until the afternoon." So the two of them had a meal.
9
When the Levite and his concubine and his servant rose up to depart, his father-in-law, the girl's father said to him, "See now, the day is advancing toward evening. Please stay another night, and have a good time. You can get up early tomorrow and go back home."
10
But the Levite was not willing to spend the night. He got up and left. He went toward Jebus (that is Jerusalem). He had a pair of saddled donkeys—and his concubine was with him.
11
When they were near Jebus, the day was nearly over, and the servant said to his master, "Come, let us turn aside to the city of the Jebusites and spend the night in it."
12
His master said to him, "We will not turn aside into a city of foreigners who do not belong to the people of Israel. We will go on to Gibeah."
13
The Levite said to his young man, "Come, let us go to one of those other places, and spend the night in Gibeah or Ramah."
14
So they went on, and the sun set as they came near to Gibeah, in the territory of Benjamin.
15
They turned aside there to spend the night in Gibeah. They went and sat down in the city square, but no one took them into his house for the night.
16
But then an old man was coming from his work in the field that evening. He was from the hill country of Ephraim, and he was staying for a while in Gibeah. But the men living in that place were Benjamites.
17
He raised his eyes and saw the traveler in the city square. The old man said, "Where are you going? Where are you coming from?"
18
The Levite said to him, "We are on our way from Bethlehem in Judah to the most remote part of the hill country of Ephraim, which is where I come from. I went to Bethlehem in Judah, and I am going to the house of Yahweh, but there is no one who will take me into his house.
19
We have straw and feed for our donkeys, and there is bread and wine for me and your female servant here, and for this young man with your servants. We lack nothing."
20
The old man greeted them, "Peace be with you! I will take care of all your needs. Only do not spend the night in the square."
21
So the man brought the Levite into his house and gave feed to the donkeys. They washed their feet and ate and drank.
22
While they were making their hearts glad, some men of the city, worthless men, surrounded the house, beating on the door. They spoke to the old man, the master of the house, saying, "Bring out the man who came into your house, so we can know him."
23
The man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, "No, my brothers, please do not do this evil thing! Since this man is a guest in my house, do not do this act of disgraceful folly!
24
See, my virgin daughter and his concubine are here. Let me bring them out now. Violate them and do with them whatever you like. But do not do such an act of disgraceful folly to this man!"
25
But the men would not listen to him, so the man seized his concubine and brought her out to them. They raped her and abused her all throughout the night, and at dawn they let her go.
26
At dawn the woman came and she fell down at the door of the man's house where her master was, and she lay there until it was light.
27
Her master rose up in the morning and opened the doors of the house and went out to go on his way. He could see his concubine lying there at the door, with her hands on the threshold.
28
The Levite said to her, "Get up. Let us go." But there was no answer. He put her on the donkey, and the man set out for home.
29
When the Levite came to his house, he took a knife, and he took hold of his concubine, and cut her up, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent the pieces everywhere throughout Israel.
30
All who saw this said, "Such a thing has never been done or seen from the day the people of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt to this present day. Think about it! Give us advice! Tell us what to do!"
Chapter 20
1
Then all the people of Israel—from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead also—came out, and the congregation assembled together as one man before Yahweh at Mizpah.
2
The leaders of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, took their places in the assembly of the people of God—400,000 footmen ready to fight with the sword.
3
Now the people of Benjamin heard that the people of Israel had gone up to Mizpah. The people of Israel said, "Tell us how this wicked thing happened."
4
The Levite, the husband of the woman who had been murdered, answered, "I came to Gibeah in the territory that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night.
5
During the night, the leaders of Gibeah attacked me, surrounding the house, intending to kill me. They raped my concubine, and she died.
6
I took my concubine and cut her body into pieces, and sent them into each region of Israel's inheritance, because they have committed wickedness and an act of disgraceful folly in Israel.
7
Now, all you people of Israel, give your advice and counsel here."
8
All the people arose together as one man, and they said, "None of us will go to his tent, and none of us will return to his house!
9
But now this is what we must do to Gibeah: We will attack it as the lot directs us.
10
We will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and one hundred of a thousand, and one thousand of ten thousand, to get provisions for these people, so that when they come to Gibeah in Benjamin, they may punish them for the act of disgraceful folly they committed in Israel."
11
So all the men of Israel assembled against the city, united as one man.
12
The tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, "What is this wickedness that was done among you?
13
Therefore, give us those wicked men of Gibeah, so we may put them to death, and so we will completely remove this evil from Israel." But the Benjamites would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the people of Israel.
14
Then the sons of Benjamin came together out of the cities to Gibeah to get ready to fight against the sons of Israel.
15
The people of Benjamin brought together from their cities to fight on that day twenty-six thousand soldiers who were trained to fight with the sword. In addition, there were seven hundred of their chosen men from the inhabitants of Gibeah.
16
Among all these soldiers were seven hundred chosen men who were left-handed. Each of them could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.
17
The people of Israel, not counting the number from Benjamin, numbered 400,000 men, who were trained to fight with the sword. All of these were men of war.
18
The people of Israel arose, went up to Bethel, and asked for advice from God. They asked, "Who first will attack the people of Benjamin for us?" Yahweh said, "Judah will attack first."
19
The sons of Israel got up in the morning and they moved their camp near Gibeah.
20
The men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin. They set up their battle positions against them at Gibeah.
21
The people of Benjamin came out of Gibeah, and they killed twenty-two thousand men from among Israel on that day.
22
But the men of Israel strengthened themselves and they formed the battle line in the same place where they had taken positions on the first day.
23
Then the people of Israel went up and they wept before Yahweh until evening, and they sought direction from Yahweh. They said, "Should we go again to fight against our brothers, the people of Benjamin?" Yahweh said, "Attack them!"
24
So the people of Israel went against the soldiers of Benjamin the second day.
25
On the second day, Benjamin went out against them from Gibeah and they killed eighteen thousand men from the people of Israel. All were men who trained to fight with the sword.
26
Then all the people of Israel, all the people, went up to Bethel and wept, and there they sat before Yahweh and they fasted that day until the evening and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Yahweh.
27
The people of Israel asked Yahweh—for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,
28
and Phinehas, son of Eleazar son of Aaron, was serving before the ark in those days—"Should we go out to battle once more against the people of Benjamin, our brothers, or stop?" Yahweh said, "Attack, for tomorrow I will help you defeat them."
29
So Israel set men in secret places around Gibeah.
30
The people of Israel fought against the people of Benjamin for the third day, and they formed their battle lines against Gibeah as they had done before.
31
The people of Benjamin went and fought against the people, and they were drawn away from the city. They began to kill some of the people. There were about thirty men of Israel who died in the fields and on the roads. One of the roads went up to Bethel, and the other went to Gibeah.
32
Then the people of Benjamin said, "They are defeated and they are running away from us, just as at first." But the people Israel said, "Let us run back and draw them away from the city to the roads."
33
All the men of Israel rose up out of their places and formed themselves into lines for battle at Baal Tamar. Then the people of Israel who had been hiding in secret places ran out from their places from Maareh Gibeah.
34
Ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel came out against Gibeah, and the fighting was fierce, but the Benjamites did not know that disaster was close to them.
35
Yahweh defeated Benjamin before Israel. On that day, the people of Israel destroyed 25,100 men of Benjamin. All these who died were those who had been trained to fight with the sword.
36
So the people of Benjamin saw they were defeated. The men of Israel had given ground to Benjamin, because they were trusting in the men they had placed in hidden positions outside Gibeah.
37
Then the men who were hiding got up and hurried, and they rushed into Gibeah, and they struck all the city with the edge of the sword.
38
The arranged signal between the men of Israel and the men hiding in secret would be that a great cloud of smoke would rise up out of the city.
39
When the signal was sent the men of Israel would turn from the battle. Now Benjamin began to attack and they killed about thirty men of Israel, and they said, "It is sure that they are defeated before us, as in the first battle."
40
But when a pillar of smoke began to rise up out of the city, the Benjamites turned and saw the smoke rising to the sky from the whole city.
41
Then the men of Israel turned against them. The men of Benjamin were terrified, for they saw that disaster had come on them.
42
So they ran away from the men of Israel, escaping on the way to the wilderness. But the fighting overtook them. The men of Israel came out of the cities and destroyed them where they stood.
43
They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them and trampled them down at Nohah, all the way to the east side of Gibeah.
44
From the tribe of Benjamin, eighteen thousand people died, all of them men who were distinguished in battle.
45
They turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon. The Israelites killed five thousand more of them along the roads. They kept going after them, following them closely all the way to Gidom, and there they killed two thousand more.
46
All the soldiers of Benjamin who fell that day were twenty-five thousand—men who were trained to fight with the sword; all of them were distinguished in battle.
47
But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness, toward the rock of Rimmon. For four months they stayed at the rock of Rimmon.
48
And the men of Israel turned back against the descendants of Benjamin and struck down with the edge of the sword the entire city, the animals and everything that they found. They also burned down every town in their path.
Chapter 21
1
Now the men of Israel had sworn at Mizpah, "None of us will give his daughter to marry a Benjamite."
2
Then the people went to Bethel and sat there before God until the evening, and with loud voices they wept bitterly.
3
They called out, "Why, Yahweh, God of Israel, has this happened to Israel, that one of our tribes should be missing today?"
4
The next day the people got up early and built an altar there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.
5
The people of Israel said, "Which of all the tribes of Israel did not come up in the assembly to Yahweh?" For they had made an important oath concerning anyone who did not come up to Yahweh at Mizpah. They said, "He would certainly be put to death."
6
The people of Israel had compassion for their brother Benjamin. They said, "Today one tribe has been cut off from Israel.
7
Who will provide wives for those who are left, since we have made an oath to Yahweh that we will not let any of them marry our daughters?"
8
They said, "Which of the tribes of Israel did not come up to Yahweh at Mizpah?" It was found that no one had come to the assembly from Jabesh Gilead.
9
For when the people were set out in an orderly manner, behold, none of the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead were there.
10
The assembly sent twelve thousand of their bravest men with instructions to go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead with the edge of the sword, including the women and children.
11
"Do this: Every male and every woman who has known a man by lying with him you will devote to destruction."
12
The men found among those living in Jabesh Gilead four hundred young virgins who had not known a man by lying with him, and they took them to the camp at Shiloh in Canaan.
13
The entire assembly sent a message and told the people of Benjamin who were at the rock of Rimmon that they were offering them peace.
14
The Benjamites returned at that time and they were given the women of Jabesh Gilead who had been kept alive, but there were not enough women for all of them.
15
The people had compassion on Benjamin, because Yahweh had made a division between the tribes of Israel.
16
Then the elders of the assembly said, "How will we arrange wives for the Benjamites who are left, since the women of Benjamin have been killed?"
17
They said, "There must be an inheritance for the escaped remnant of Benjamin, so that a tribe is not destroyed from Israel.
18
We cannot give them wives from our daughters, for the people of Israel had sworn, saying, 'Cursed be anyone who gives a wife to Benjamin.'"
19
So they said, "You know there is a feast for Yahweh every year at Shiloh (which is north of Bethel, east of the road that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah)."
20
They instructed the men of Benjamin, saying, "Go and hide in secret and wait in the vineyards.
21
Watch for the time when the girls from Shiloh come out to dance, then rush out of the vineyards and each one of you should grab a wife from the girls of Shiloh, then go back to the land of Benjamin.
22
When their fathers or their brothers come to protest to us, we will say to them, 'Show us favor! Let them remain because we did not get wives for each man during the war. You are innocent, since you did not give your daughters to them.'"
23
The people of Benjamin did so. They took the number of wives that they needed from the girls who were dancing and they carried them off to be their wives. They went and returned to the place of their inheritance. They rebuilt the towns and lived in them.
24
Then the people of Israel left that place and went home, each one to his own tribe and clan, and each one to his own inheritance.
25
In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
1 Samuel
Chapter 1
1
There was a certain man of Ramathaim of the Zuphites, of the hill country of Ephraim; his name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
2
He had two wives; the name of the first was Hannah, and the name of the second was Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
3
This man went from his city year after year to worship and to sacrifice to Yahweh of hosts in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests to Yahweh, were there.
4
When the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice each year, he always gave portions of the meat to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters.
5
But to Hannah he always gave a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although Yahweh had closed her womb.
6
Her rival provoked her severely in order to irritate her, because Yahweh had closed her womb.
7
So year after year, when she went up to the house of Yahweh with her family, her rival always provoked her. Therefore she used to weep and eat nothing.
8
Elkanah her husband always said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"
9
On one of these occasions, Hannah rose up after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting upon his seat by the doorway to the temple of Yahweh.
10
She was deeply distressed; she prayed to Yahweh and wept bitterly.
11
She made a vow and said, "Yahweh of hosts, if you will look on the affliction of your servant and call me to mind, and do not forget your servant, but give your servant a son, then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and no razor will ever touch his head."
12
As she continued praying before Yahweh, Eli watched her mouth.
13
Hannah spoke in her heart. Her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.
14
Eli said to her, "How long will you be drunk? Get rid of your wine."
15
Hannah answered, "No, my master, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before Yahweh.
16
Do not consider your servant to be a worthless woman; I have been speaking out of the abundance of my great concern and provocation."
17
Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace; may the God of Israel grant the request that you have asked him for."
18
She said, "Let your servant find favor in your eyes." Then the woman went her way and ate; her face was no longer sad.
19
They rose early in the morning and worshiped before Yahweh, and then they returned again to their house in Ramah. Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and Yahweh remembered her.
20
When the time came, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She called his name Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked for him from Yahweh."
21
Once again, Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to Yahweh the yearly sacrifice and pay his vow.
22
But Hannah did not go; she had said to her husband, "I will not go until the child is weaned; then I will bring him, so that he may appear before Yahweh and live there forever."
23
Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems good to you. Wait until you have weaned him; only, may Yahweh confirm his word." So the woman stayed and nursed her son until she weaned him.
24
When she had weaned him, she took him with her, along with a three-year-old bull,
one ephah of meal, and a bottle of wine, and brought him to the house of Yahweh in Shiloh. Now the child was still young.
25
They killed the bull, and they brought the child to Eli.
26
She said, "Oh, my master! As you live, my master, I am the woman who stood here next to you praying to Yahweh.
27
For this child I prayed and Yahweh has given me my petition which I asked of him.
28
I have given him to Yahweh, as long as he lives he is lent to Yahweh." Then he worshiped Yahweh there.
Chapter 2
1
Hannah prayed and said,
"My heart rejoices in Yahweh.
My horn is exalted in Yahweh.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
because I rejoice in your salvation.
2
There is no one holy like Yahweh,
for there is none besides you;
there is no rock like our God.
3
Boast no more so very proudly;
let no arrogance come out of your mouth.
For Yahweh is a God of knowledge;
by him acts are weighed.
4
The bows of the mighty men are broken,
but those who stumble are girded with strength.
5
Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread;
those who were hungry have stopped being hungry.
Even the barren one gives birth to seven,
but the woman who has many children becomes weak.
6
Yahweh kills and brings to life.
He brings down to Sheol and raises up.
7
Yahweh makes some people poor and some rich.
He humbles, but he also lifts up.
8
He raises up the poor out of the dust.
He lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
and inherit the seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are Yahweh's
and he has set the world upon them.
9
He will guard the feet of his faithful people,
but the wicked will be put to silence in darkness,
for no one will prevail by strength.
10
Those who oppose Yahweh will be broken to pieces;
he will thunder against them from heaven.
Yahweh will judge the ends of the earth;
he will give strength to his king
and exalt the horn of his anointed."
11
Then Elkanah went to Ramah, to his house. The child served Yahweh in the presence of Eli the priest.
12
Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know Yahweh.
13
The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered a sacrifice, the priest's servant would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand, while the meat was boiling.
14
He would stick it into the pan, or kettle, or cauldron, or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. They did this in Shiloh with all of Israel that came there.
15
Worse, before they burned the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man who was sacrificing, "Give meat to roast for the priest; for he will not accept boiled meat from you, but only raw."
16
If the man said to him, "They must burn the fat first, and then take as much as you want." Then he would say, "No, you will give it me now; if not, I will take it by force."
17
The sin of these young men was very great before Yahweh, for they despised Yahweh's offering.
18
But Samuel served Yahweh as a child clothed with a linen ephod.
19
His mother would make him a little robe and bring it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
20
Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, "May Yahweh give you more children by this woman because of the request she made of Yahweh." Then they would return to their own home.
21
Yahweh again helped Hannah, and again she conceived. She bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the child Samuel grew before Yahweh.
22
Now Eli was very old; he heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they were lying with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
23
He said to them, "Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil actions from all these people.
24
No, my sons; for it is not a good report that I hear. You make Yahweh's people disobey.
25
If one man sins against another, God will judge him; but if a man sins against Yahweh, who will speak for him?" But they would not listen to the voice of their father, because Yahweh intended to kill them.
26
The child Samuel grew up, and increased in favor with Yahweh and also with men.
27
Now a man of God came to Eli and said to him, "Yahweh says, 'Did I not reveal myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in bondage to the house of Pharaoh?
28
I chose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, and to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me. I gave to the house of your father all the offerings of the people of Israel made with fire.
29
Why, then, do you scorn my sacrifices and offerings, which I commanded in the place where I live? Why do you honor your sons above me by making yourselves fat with the best of every offering of my people Israel?'
30
Therefore, Yahweh, the God of Israel, declares, 'I promised that your house and the house of your father should walk before me forever.' But now Yahweh declares, 'Far be it from me to do this, for I will honor those who honor me, but those who despise me will be lightly esteemed.
31
See, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father's house, so that there will no longer be any old man in your house.
32
You will see distress in the place where I live. Although good will be given to Israel, there will no longer be any old man in your house.
33
Any one of you that I do not cut off from my altar, I will cause your eyes to fail, and I will cause grief in your heart, then all the increase of your house will die while men.
34
This will be the sign for you that will come on your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: They will both die on the same day.
35
I will raise up for myself a faithful priest who will do what is in my heart and in my soul. I will build him a sure house; and he will walk before my anointed king forever.
36
Everyone who is left in your house will come and bow down to him, asking for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread, and will say, "Please assign me to one of the priests' positions so I can eat a piece of bread."'"
Chapter 3
1
The child Samuel served Yahweh under Eli. Yahweh's word was rare in those days; there was no frequent prophetic vision.
2
At that time, Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see well, was lying down in his own bed.
3
The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of Yahweh, where the ark of God was.
4
Yahweh called to Samuel, who said, "Here I am."
5
Samuel ran to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Eli said, "I did not call you; lie down again." So Samuel went and lay down.
6
Yahweh called again, "Samuel." Again Samuel rose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Eli answered, "I did not call you, my son; lie down again."
7
Now Samuel did not yet have any experience of Yahweh, nor had any message from Yahweh ever been revealed to him.
8
Yahweh called Samuel again the third time. Again Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli realized that Yahweh had called the boy.
9
Then Eli said to Samuel, "Go and lie down again; if he calls you again, you must say, 'Speak, Yahweh, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his own place once more.
10
Yahweh came and stood; he called as at the other times, "Samuel, Samuel." Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
11
Yahweh said to Samuel, "See, I am about to do something in Israel at which the ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.
12
On that day I will carry out against Eli everything I have said about his house, from beginning to end.
13
I have told him that I am about to judge his house once for all for the iniquity that he knew about, because his sons brought a curse upon themselves and he did not stop them.
14
Because of this I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of his house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering."
15
Samuel lay down until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of Yahweh. But Samuel was afraid to tell Eli about the vision.
16
Then Eli called Samuel and said, "Samuel, my son." Samuel said, "Here I am."
17
He said, "What was the word he spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. May God do so to you, and even more, if you hide anything from me of all the words that he spoke to you."
18
Samuel told him everything; he hid nothing from him. Eli said, "It is Yahweh. Let him do what seems good to him."
19
Samuel grew up, and Yahweh was with him, and he let none of his prophetic words fall to the ground.
20
All Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was appointed to be a prophet of Yahweh.
21
Yahweh appeared again in Shiloh, for he revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by his word.
Chapter 4
1
The word of Samuel came to all of Israel.
Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines. They set up camp at Ebenezer, and the Philistines set up camp at Aphek.
2
The Philistines lined up for battle against Israel. When the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle.
3
When the people came into the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has Yahweh defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of Yahweh here from Shiloh, that it may be here with us, that it might keep us safe from the hands of our enemies."
4
So the people sent men to Shiloh; from there they carried the ark of the covenant of Yahweh of hosts, who sits above the cherubim. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
5
When the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came into the camp, all of the people of Israel gave a great shout of joy, and the earth resounded.
6
When the Philistines heard the noise of the joyful shouting, they said, "What does this loud joyful shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?" Then they realized that the ark of Yahweh had come into the camp.
7
The Philistines were afraid; they said, "A god has come into the camp." They said, "Woe to us! Nothing like this has happened before!
8
Woe to us! Who will protect us from the strength of these mighty gods? These are the gods who attacked the Egyptians with many different kinds of plagues in the wilderness.
9
Take courage, and be men, you Philistines, or you will become slaves to the Hebrews, as they have been slaves to you. Be men, and fight."
10
The Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated. Every man fled to his tent, and the slaughter was very great; for thirty thousand footmen from Israel fell.
11
The ark of God was taken, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
12
A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day, arriving with his clothes torn and earth on his head.
13
When he arrived, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching because his heart trembled with concern for the ark of God. When the man entered the city and told the news, the whole city cried out.
14
When Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he said, "What is the meaning of this uproar?" The man quickly came and told Eli.
15
Now Eli was ninety-eight years old; his eyes did not focus, and he could not see.
16
The man said to Eli, "I am the one who came from the battle line. I fled from the battle today." Eli said, "How did it go, my son?"
17
The man who brought the news answered and said, "Israel fled from the Philistines. Also, there has been a great slaughter among the people. Also, your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been taken."
18
When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell over backward from his seat by the side of the gate. His neck was broken, and he died, because he was old and heavy. He had judged Israel for forty years.
19
Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and about to give birth. When she heard the news that the ark of God was captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she knelt down and gave birth, but her labor pains overwhelmed her.
20
About the time of her death the women attending to her said, "Do not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son." But she did not answer or take what they said to heart.
21
She called the child Ichabod, saying, "The glory has gone away from Israel!" for the ark of God had been captured, and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
22
She said, "The glory has gone away from Israel, because the ark of God has been captured."
Chapter 5
1
Now the Philistines had captured the ark of God, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.
2
The Philistines took the ark of God, brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it up beside Dagon.
3
When the people of Ashdod got up early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen facedown on the ground before the ark of Yahweh. So they took Dagon and set him up in his place again.
4
But when they got up early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen facedown on the ground before the ark of Yahweh. The head of Dagon and both of his hands were lying cut off on the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon remained.
5
This is why, even today, the priests of Dagon and anyone who comes into Dagon's house does not step on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod.
6
Yahweh's hand was heavy upon the people of Ashdod. He destroyed them and afflicted them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territories.
7
When the men of Ashdod realized what was happening, they said, "The ark of the God of Israel must not stay with us, because his hand is hard against us and against Dagon our god."
8
So they sent for and gathered together all of the rulers of the Philistines; they said to them, "What should we do with the ark of the God of Israel?" They answered, "Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath." So they carried the ark of the God of Israel there.
9
But after they brought it around, Yahweh's hand was against the city, causing a very great tumult. He afflicted the men of the city, both small and great; and tumors broke out on them.
10
So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. But as soon as the ark of God came into Ekron, the Ekronites cried out, saying, "They have brought to us the ark of the God of Israel to kill us and our people."
11
So they sent for and gathered together all of the rulers of the Philistines; they said to them, "Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, so that it does not kill us and our people." For there was a deathly tumult throughout the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.
12
The men who did not die were afflicted with the tumors, and the cry of the city went up to the heavens.
Chapter 6
1
Now the ark of Yahweh was in the country of the Philistines for seven months.
2
Then the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners; they said to them, "What should we do with the ark of Yahweh? Tell us how we should send it back to its own country."
3
The priests and diviners said, "If you send back the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it without a gift; by all means send him a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and you will know why his hand has not been lifted off of you until now."
4
Then they said, "What should the guilt offering be that we are returning to him?" They replied, "Five golden tumors and five golden mice, five being the number that is the same as the number of the rulers of the Philistines. For the same plague afflicted you and your rulers.
5
So you must make models of your tumors, and models of your mice that are ruining the land, and give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps he will lift his hand from you, from your gods, and from your land.
6
Why should you harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? That was when the God of Israel dealt severely with them; did not the Egyptians send away the people, and they left?
7
Now then, prepare a new cart with two nursing cows that have never been yoked. Tie the cows to the cart, but take their calves home, away from them.
8
Take the ark of Yahweh and place it on the cart, and put the figures of gold, which you are returning to him as a guilt offering, in a box beside it. Send it off and let it go its way,
9
but watch. If it goes up the road to its own land toward Beth Shemesh, then it is Yahweh who has caused us this great harm. But if not, then we will know that it is not his hand that afflicted us; it happened to us by chance."
10
The men did as they were told; they took two nursing cows, tied them to the cart, and confined their calves at home.
11
They put the ark of Yahweh on the cart, together with a box containing the golden mice and the castings of their tumors.
12
The cows went straight in the direction of Beth Shemesh. They went along one highway, lowing as they went, and they did not turn aside either to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed after them to the border of Beth Shemesh.
13
Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley. When they lifted up their eyes and saw the ark, they rejoiced.
14
The cart came into the field of Joshua from the town of Beth Shemesh and stopped there. A great stone was there, and they split the wood from the cart, and offered the cows as a burnt offering to Yahweh.
15
The Levites took down the ark of Yahweh and the box that was with it, where the golden figures were, and put them on the great stone. The men of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices the same day to Yahweh.
16
When the five rulers of the Philistines saw this, they returned that day to Ekron.
17
These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned for a guilt offering to Yahweh—one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, and one for Ekron.
18
The golden mice were the same in number as the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five rulers, both fortified cities and country villages. The great stone, beside which they set down the ark of Yahweh, remains a witness to this day in the field of Joshua the Bethshemite.
19
Yahweh attacked some of the men of Beth Shemesh because they had looked into the ark of Yahweh. He killed 50,070 men. The people mourned, because Yahweh had given the people a great blow.
20
The men of Beth Shemesh said, "Who is able to stand before Yahweh, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from us?"
21
They sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath Jearim, saying, "The Philistines have brought back the ark of Yahweh; come down and take it back with you."
Chapter 7
1
The men of Kiriath Jearim came, took the ark of Yahweh, and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill. They set apart his son Eleazar to keep the ark of Yahweh.
2
From the day the ark remained in Kiriath Jearim, a long time passed, twenty years. All the house of Israel lamented and wished to turn to Yahweh.
3
Samuel said to the entire house of Israel, "If you return to Yahweh with your whole heart, remove the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, turn your hearts to Yahweh, and worship him only, then he will rescue you from the hand of the Philistines."
4
Then the people of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and worshiped Yahweh only.
5
Then Samuel said, "Bring together all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to Yahweh for you."
6
They gathered at Mizpah, drew water and poured it out before Yahweh. They fasted that day and said, "We have sinned against Yahweh." It was there that Samuel decided disputes for the people of Israel and led the people.
7
Now when the Philistines heard the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines attacked Israel. When the people of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines.
8
Then the people of Israel said to Samuel, "Do not stop calling out to Yahweh our God for us, so he will save us from the hand of the Philistines."
9
Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to Yahweh. Then Samuel cried out to Yahweh for Israel, and Yahweh answered him.
10
As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines approached to attack Israel. But Yahweh thundered with a loud sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were routed before Israel.
11
The men of Israel went from Mizpah, and they pursued the Philistines and killed them as far as below Beth Kar.
12
Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far Yahweh has helped us."
13
So the Philistines were subdued and they did not enter the border of Israel. The hand of Yahweh was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
14
The towns that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; Israel brought back their territory from the Philistines. Then there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15
Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
16
Each year he went on a circuit to Bethel, to Gilgal, and to Mizpah. He decided disputes for Israel in all these places.
17
Then he would return to Ramah, because his house was there; and there also he decided disputes for Israel. He also built an altar there to Yahweh.
Chapter 8
1
When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.
2
The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.
3
His sons did not walk in his ways, but chased after dishonest gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.
4
Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.
5
They said to him, "Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations."
6
But it displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." So Samuel prayed to Yahweh.
7
Yahweh said to Samuel, "Obey the voice of the people in everything they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.
8
The same deeds they have done since the day I brought them out of Egypt—abandoning me and serving other gods—they are now doing also to you.
9
Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know by what ordinances the king will reign over them."
10
So Samuel told all the words of Yahweh to the people who were asking for a king.
11
He said, "These will be the ordinances of the king who will reign over you. He will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run before his chariots.
12
He will appoint for himself captains of thousands and captains of fifties. He will make some plow his ground, some reap his harvest, and some make his weapons of war and the equipment for his chariots.
13
He will also take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
14
He will take the very best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive orchards, and give them to his servants.
15
He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give to his officers and his servants.
16
He will take your male servants and your female servants and the best of your cattle
and your donkeys; he will put them all to work for him.
17
He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves.
18
Then on that day you will cry out because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves; but Yahweh will not answer you on that day."
19
But the people refused to listen to Samuel; they said, "No! There must be a king over us
20
so that we might be like all the other nations, and so that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles."
21
When Samuel heard all the words of the people he repeated them in the ears of Yahweh.
22
Yahweh said to Samuel, "Obey their voice and cause a king to reign over them." So Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Every man must go to his own city."
Chapter 9
1
There was a man from Benjamin, a man of great wealth. His name was Kish son of Abiel son of Zeror son of Bekorath son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite.
2
He had a son named Saul, a handsome young man. There was no man among the people of Israel who was a more handsome person than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.
3
Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul his son, "Take one of the servants with you; arise and go search for the donkeys."
4
So Saul passed through the hill country of Ephraim and went through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them.
5
When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, "Come, let us go back, or my father may stop caring for the donkeys and become anxious about us."
6
But the servant said to him, "See now, there is a man of God in this city. He is a man who is held in honor; everything that he says comes true. Let us go there; maybe he can tell us which way we should go on our journey."
7
Then Saul said to his servant, "But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sack is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?"
8
The servant answered Saul and said, "Here, I have with me one-fourth of a shekel of silver that I will give to the man of God, to tell us which way we should go."
9
(Formerly in Israel, when a man went to seek the knowledge of God's will, he said, "Come, let us go to the seer." For today's prophet was formerly called a seer.)
10
Then Saul said to his servant, "Well said. Come, let us go." So they went to the city where the man of God was.
11
As they went up the hill to the city, they found young women coming out to draw water; Saul and his servant said to them, "Is the seer here?"
12
They answered, and said, "He is; see, he is just ahead of you. Hurry up, for he is coming to the city today, because the people are sacrificing today at the high place.
13
As soon as you enter the city you will find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not eat until he comes, because he will bless the sacrifice; afterwards those who are invited will eat. Now go up, for you will find him immediately."
14
So they went up to the city. As they were entering the city, they saw Samuel coming out toward them, to go up to the high place.
15
Now the day before Saul came, Yahweh had revealed to Samuel:
16
"Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you will anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He will save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked on my people with pity because their cry for help has come to me."
17
When Samuel saw Saul, Yahweh told him, "Here is the man I told you about! He is the one who will rule over my people."
18
Then Saul came close to Samuel in the gate and said, "Tell me where is the house of the seer?"
19
Samuel answered Saul and said, "I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for today you will eat with me. In the morning I will let you go, and I will tell you everything that is on your mind.
20
As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not worry about them, for they have been found. Then on whom are all the desires of Israel set? Is it not on you and all your father's house?"
21
Saul answered and said, "Am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest of the tribes of Israel? Is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this manner?"
22
So Samuel took Saul and his servant, brought them into the hall, and seated them at the head place of those who had been invited, who were about thirty people.
23
Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the portion which I gave to you, of which I said to you, 'Put it aside.'"
24
So the cook took up the thigh and what was on it and set it before Saul. Then Samuel said, "See what has been kept is set before you. Eat it, because it has been kept for you until the appointed time, from the time when I said, 'I have invited the people.'" So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
25
When they had come down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the rooftop.
26
Then at the break of dawn, Samuel called to Saul on the rooftop and said, "Get up, so I can send you on your way." So Saul got up, and both he and Samuel went out into the street.
27
As they were going to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to go ahead of us"—and he went ahead—"but you must stay here awhile, that I may announce the message of God to you."
Chapter 10
1
Then Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul's head, and kissed him. He said, "Has not Yahweh anointed you to be a ruler over his inheritance?
2
When you leave me today, you will find two men near Rachel's tomb, in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah. They will say to you, 'The donkeys that you were looking for have been found. Now your father has stopped caring about the donkeys and is anxious about you, saying, "What should I do about my son?"'
3
Then you will go on further from there, and you will come to the oak of Tabor. Three men going to God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine.
4
They will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you will take from their hands.
5
After that, you will come to the hill of God, where the garrison of the Philistines is. When you arrive at the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a lute, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; they will be prophesying.
6
The Spirit of Yahweh will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them, and you will be changed into a different man.
7
Now, when these signs come to you, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you.
8
Go down before me to Gilgal. Then I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Wait seven days until I come to you and show you what you must do."
9
When Saul turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. Then all these signs came to pass that day.
10
When they came to the hill, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God rushed upon him so that he prophesied with them.
11
When everyone who knew him before saw him prophesying with the prophets, the people said to each other, "What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul one of the prophets now?"
12
A man who was from that same place answered, "Then who is their father?" Because of this, it became a saying, "Is Saul also one of the prophets?"
13
When he finished prophesying, he came to the high place.
14
Then Saul's uncle said to him and his servant, "Where did you go?" He replied, "To search for the donkeys. When we saw that we could not find them, we went to Samuel."
15
Saul's uncle said, "Please tell me what Samuel said to you."
16
Saul replied to his uncle, "He told us plainly that the donkeys had been found." But he did not tell him about the matter of the kingdom, of which Samuel had spoken.
17
Now Samuel called the people together before Yahweh at Mizpah.
18
He said to the people of Israel, "This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel says: 'I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians, and from the hand of all the kingdoms that oppressed you.'
19
But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all of your calamities and your distresses; and you have said to him, 'Set a king over us.' Now present yourselves before Yahweh by your tribes and by your clans."
20
So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen.
21
Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by their clans; and the clan of the Matrites was chosen; and Saul son of Kish was chosen. But when they went looking for him, he could not be found.
22
Then the people wanted to ask God more questions, "Is there still another man to come?" Yahweh answered, "He has hidden himself among the baggage."
23
Then they ran and retrieved Saul from there. When he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.
24
Then Samuel said to the people, "Do you see the man whom Yahweh has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people!" All the people shouted, "Long live the king!"
25
Then Samuel told the people the customs and rules of kingship, wrote them down in a book, and placed it before Yahweh. Samuel then sent all the people away, each man to his own house.
26
Saul also went to his home at Gibeah, and with him went some strong men, whose hearts God had touched.
27
But some worthless men said, "How can this man save us?" These people despised Saul and did not bring him any gifts. But Saul kept silent.
Chapter 11
1
Then Nahash the Ammonite went and besieged Jabesh Gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you."
2
Nahash the Ammonite replied, "On this condition will I make a treaty with you, that I gouge out all of your right eyes, and in this way bring disgrace on all Israel."
3
Then the elders of Jabesh replied to him, "Leave us alone for seven days, so that we may send messengers to all the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will surrender to you."
4
The messengers came to Gibeah, where Saul lived, and told the people what had happened. All the people wept loudly.
5
Now Saul was following the oxen out of the field. Saul said, "What is wrong with the people that they are weeping?" They told Saul what the men of Jabesh had said.
6
When Saul heard what they said, the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he was very angry.
7
He took a yoke of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel with the messengers. He said, "Whoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, this is what will be done to his oxen." Then the terror of Yahweh fell on the people, and they came out together as one man.
8
When he mustered them at Bezek, the people of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
9
They said to the messengers that came, "You will tell the men of Jabesh Gilead, 'Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, deliverance will be yours.'" So the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh, and they were glad.
10
Then the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever seems good to you."
11
The next day Saul put the people in three groups. They came into the middle of the camp during the morning watch, and they attacked and defeated the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
12
Then the people said to Samuel, "Who was it who said, 'Will Saul reign over us?' Bring the men, so we can put them to death."
13
But Saul said, "No one must be put to death this day, because today Yahweh has brought about deliverance in Israel."
14
Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingship there."
15
So all the people went to Gilgal and made Saul king before Yahweh in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings before Yahweh, and Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
Chapter 12
1
Samuel said to all Israel, "I have listened to everything you said to me, and I have set a king to reign over you.
2
Now, here is the king walking before you; and I am old and gray; and, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth until today.
3
Here I am; testify against me before Yahweh and before his anointed one. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with? Testify against me, and I will restore it to you."
4
They said, "You have not defrauded us, oppressed us, or stolen anything from any man's hand."
5
He said to them, "Yahweh is witness against you, and his anointed one is witness today, that you have found nothing in my hand." They replied, "Yahweh is witness."
6
Samuel said to the people, "It is Yahweh who appointed Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up from the land of Egypt.
7
Now then, present yourself, so that I may plead with you before Yahweh about all of the righteous deeds of Yahweh, which he did for you and your fathers.
8
When Jacob came to Egypt, and your ancestors cried out to Yahweh, then Yahweh sent Moses and Aaron, who led your ancestors out of Egypt and they settled in this place.
9
But they forgot Yahweh their God; he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the armies of Hazor, into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; these all fought against your ancestors.
10
They cried out to Yahweh and said, 'We have sinned, because we have abandoned Yahweh and have served the Baals and the Ashtoreths. But now rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.'
11
So Yahweh sent Jerub-Baal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel, and gave you victory over your enemies all around you, so that you lived in security.
12
When you saw that Nahash the king of the people of Ammon came against you, you said to me, 'No, a king must rule over us'—even though Yahweh your God was your king.
13
Now here is the king whom you have chosen, whom you have asked for and whom Yahweh has now appointed as king over you.
14
If you fear Yahweh, serve him, obey his voice, and not rebel against the command of Yahweh, then both you and the king who reigns over you will be followers of Yahweh your God.
15
If you do not obey the voice of Yahweh, but rebel against the commands of Yahweh, then Yahweh's hand will be against you, as it was against your ancestors.
16
Even now present yourself and see this great thing which Yahweh will do before your eyes.
17
Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call upon Yahweh, that he may send thunder and rain. Then you will know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of Yahweh, in asking for yourselves a king."
18
So Samuel called to Yahweh; and that same day Yahweh sent thunder and rain. Then all the people greatly feared Yahweh and Samuel.
19
Then all the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to Yahweh your God, so that we do not die. For we have added to all our sins this evil in asking for a king for ourselves."
20
Samuel replied, "Do not be afraid. You have done all this evil, but do not turn away from Yahweh, but serve Yahweh with all your heart.
21
Do not turn away after empty things that cannot profit or rescue you, because they are useless.
22
For the sake of his great name, Yahweh will not reject his people, because it has pleased Yahweh to make you a people for himself.
23
As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh by ceasing to pray for you. I will teach you the way that is good and right.
24
Only fear Yahweh and serve him in truth with all your heart. Consider the great things he has done for you.
25
But if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be destroyed."
Chapter 13
1
Saul was thirty years old when he began to reign; when he had reigned forty years over Israel,
2
he chose three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with him in Mikmash and in the hill country of Bethel, while a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the soldiers he sent home, each man to his tent.
3
Jonathan defeated the garrison of the Philistines that was at Geba and the Philistines heard of it. Then Saul blew the ram's horn throughout all the land, saying, "Let the Hebrews hear."
4
All Israel heard that Saul had defeated the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become a rotten smell to the Philistines. Then the soldiers were summoned together to join Saul at Gilgal.
5
The Philistines gathered together to fight against Israel, with three thousand chariots, six thousand men to drive the chariots, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They came up and encamped at Mikmash, east of Beth Aven.
6
When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble—for the people were distressed, the people hid in caves, in the underbrush, in rocks, in wells, and in pits.
7
Some of the Hebrews went over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. But Saul was still at Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
8
He waited seven days, the time Samuel had set. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from Saul.
9
Saul said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings." Then he offered the burnt offering.
10
As soon as he finished offering the burnt offering Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet him and to greet him.
11
Then Samuel said, "What have you done?" Saul replied, "When I saw that the people were leaving me, and that you did not come within the set time, and that the Philistines had assembled at Mikmash,
12
I said, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of Yahweh.' So I forced myself to offer the burnt offering."
13
Then Samuel said to Saul, "You have acted foolishly. You have not kept the command of Yahweh your God that he commanded you. For then Yahweh would have established your rule over Israel forever.
14
But now your rule will not continue. Yahweh has sought out a man after his own heart, and Yahweh has appointed him to be prince over his people, because you have not obeyed what he commanded you."
15
Then Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin.
Then Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men.
16
Saul, his son Jonathan, and the people who were present with them, stayed in Geba of Benjamin. But the Philistines camped at Mikmash.
17
Raiders came from the camp of the Philistines in three groups. One group turned toward Ophrah, to the land of Shual.
18
Another group turned toward Beth Horon, and another group turned toward the border that overlooks the Valley of Zeboyim toward the wilderness.
19
No blacksmith could be found throughout all of Israel, because the Philistines said, "Otherwise the Hebrews would make swords or spears for themselves."
20
But all the men of Israel used to go down to the Philistines, each to sharpen his plow points, his mattock, his ax, and his sickle.
21
The charge was two-thirds of a shekel for the plow points, and the mattocks, and one-third of a shekel for sharpening axes and for straightening the goads.
22
So on the day of battle, there were no swords or spears found in the hands of any of the soldiers who were with Saul and Jonathan; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.
23
The garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Mikmash.
Chapter 14
1
One day, Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man who was his armor bearer, "Come, let us go over to the Philistines' garrison on the other side." But he did not tell his father.
2
Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree that is in Migron. About six hundred men were with him,
3
including Ahijah son of Ahitub (Ichabod's brother) son of Phinehas son of Eli, the priest of Yahweh at Shiloh, who wore an ephod. The people did not know that Jonathan was gone.
4
On each side of the pass through which Jonathan wanted to go in order to get to the Philistines' garrison, there was a rocky cliff on one side and another rocky cliff on the other side. One rocky cliff was named Bozez and the other rocky cliff was named Seneh.
5
One rocky cliff stood on the north in front of Mikmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.
6
Jonathan said to his young armor bearer, "Come, let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised fellows. It may be that Yahweh will work on our behalf, for nothing can stop Yahweh from saving by many or by few people."
7
His armor bearer replied, "Do everything that is in your heart. Go ahead, see, I am with you, to obey all your commands."
8
Then Jonathan said, "We will cross over to the men, and we will show ourselves to them.
9
If they say to us, 'Wait there until we come over to you'—then we will stay in our place and will not cross over to them.
10
But if they reply, 'Come over to us,' then we will cross over; because Yahweh has given them into our hand. This will be the sign to us."
11
So both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. The Philistines said, "Look, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves."
12
Then the men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armor bearer, and said, "Come up to us, and we will show you something." Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Follow after me, because Yahweh has given them into the hand of Israel."
13
Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armor bearer followed behind him. The Philistines were put to death before Jonathan, and his armor bearer put some to death behind him.
14
That first attack that Jonathan and his armor bearer made, killed about twenty men within an area of half an acre.
15
There was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among the people. Even the garrison and the raiders panicked. The earth quaked, and there was a great panic.
16
Then Saul's watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; the crowd of Philistine soldiers was dispersing, and they were going here and there.
17
Then Saul said to the people that were with him, "Count and see who is missing from us." When they had counted, Jonathan and his armor bearer were missing.
18
Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the ark of God here," for at that time it was with the people of Israel.
19
While Saul was talking to the priest, the commotion in the camp of the Philistines was continuing and increasing. Then Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand."
20
Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into battle. Every Philistine's sword was against his fellow countrymen, and there was very great tumult.
21
Now those Hebrews who previously had been with the Philistines, and who had gone with them into the camp, even they joined with Israel who were with Saul and Jonathan.
22
When all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hills near Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, even they chased after them in battle.
23
So Yahweh saved Israel that day, and the battle passed beyond Beth Aven.
24
That day the men of Israel were distressed because Saul had put the people under an oath and said, "Cursed be the man that eats any food until evening and I am avenged on my enemies." So none of the troops tasted food.
25
Then all the people entered the forest and there was honey upon the ground.
26
When the people entered into the forest, the honey flowed, but no one put his hand to his mouth for the people feared the curse.
27
But Jonathan had not heard that his father had bound the people with an oath. He reached out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb. He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.
28
Then one of the people, answered, "Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, by saying, 'Cursed be the man that eats food on this day,' even though the people are weak from hunger."
29
Then Jonathan said, "My father has made trouble for the land. See how my eyes have become brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.
30
How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the plunder from their enemies that they found? Because now the slaughter has not been great among the Philistines."
31
They attacked the Philistines that day from Mikmash to Aijalon. The people were very weary.
32
The people rushed greedily on the plunder and took sheep, cattle and calves, and killed them on the ground. The people ate them with the blood.
33
Then they told Saul, "Look, the people are sinning against Yahweh by eating with the blood." Saul said, "You have acted unfaithfully. Now, roll a big stone here to me."
34
Saul said, "Go out among the people, and tell them, 'Let every man bring his cattle and his sheep, and slaughter them here and eat them. Do not sin against Yahweh by eating meat with the blood.'" So each of the people brought his own ox with him that night and killed it there.
35
Saul built an altar to Yahweh, which was the first altar that he built to Yahweh.
36
Then Saul said, "Let us pursue the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light; let us not leave one of them alive." They replied, "Do whatever seems good to you." But the priest said, "Let us approach God here."
37
Saul asked God, "Should I pursue the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?" But God did not answer him that day.
38
Then Saul said, "Come here, all you leaders of the people; learn and see how this sin has happened today.
39
For, as Yahweh lives, who saves Israel, even if it is in Jonathan my son, he will surely die." But none of the men among all the people answered him.
40
Then he said to all Israel, "You must stand on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other." The people said to Saul, "Do what seems good to you."
41
Saul said, "Yahweh, God of Israel! If this sin has been committed by me or by my son Jonathan, then, Yahweh, God of Israel, give the Urim. But if this sin has been committed by your people Israel, give the Thummim."
Then Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, but the army was exonerated.
42
Then Saul said, "Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son." Then Jonathan was taken by lot.
43
Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." Jonathan told him, "I tasted a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand. Here I am; I will die."
44
Saul said, "God do so and more also to me, if you do not die, Jonathan."
45
Then the people said to Saul, "Should Jonathan die, who has accomplished this great salvation for Israel? Far from it! As Yahweh lives, not one hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he has worked with God today." So the people ransomed Jonathan so that he did not die.
46
Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.
47
When Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side. He fought against Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment on them.
48
He acted with great courage and defeated the Amalekites. He rescued Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them.
49
The sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malki-Shua. The names of his two daughters were Merab, the firstborn, and Michal, the younger.
50
The name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam; she was the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the captain of his army was Abner son of Ner, Saul's uncle.
51
Kish was Saul's father; and Ner, the father of Abner, was the son of Abiel.
52
There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul. When Saul saw any mighty man, or any valiant man, he attached him to himself.
Chapter 15
1
Samuel said to Saul, "Yahweh sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel. Now listen to the words of Yahweh.
2
This is what Yahweh of hosts says, 'I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way, when they came up from Egypt.
3
Now go and attack Amalek and completely destroy all that they have. Do not spare them, but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, cattle and sheep, camel and donkey.'"
4
Saul summoned the people and numbered them at the city of Telaim—two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.
5
Then Saul came to the city of Amalek and waited in the valley.
6
Then Saul said to the Kenites, "Go, depart, come out from among the Amalekites, so I do not destroy you along with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel, when they came from Egypt." So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.
7
Then Saul attacked the Amalekites, from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt.
8
Then he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive; he completely destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
9
But Saul and the people spared Agag, as well as the best of the sheep and cattle, fattened calves and the lambs. Everything that was good, they did not destroy. But they completely destroyed anything that was despised and worthless.
10
Then the word of Yahweh came to Samuel, saying,
11
"I regret that I have set Saul to reign as king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments." Samuel was angry; he cried out to Yahweh all night.
12
Samuel got up early to meet Saul in the morning. Samuel was told, "Saul came to Carmel and he set up a monument to himself, then turned and proceeded on down to Gilgal."
13
Then Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed are you by Yahweh! I have fulfilled the command of Yahweh."
14
Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the cattle that I hear?"
15
Saul replied, "They have brought them from the Amalekites. For the people spared the best of the sheep and cattle, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God. The rest we have completely destroyed."
16
Then Samuel said to Saul, "Wait, and I will tell you what Yahweh has said to me tonight." Saul said to him, "Speak!"
17
Samuel said, "Though you are little in your own sight, were you not made the head of the tribes of Israel? Then Yahweh anointed you king over Israel,
18
and Yahweh sent you on your way and said, 'Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are destroyed.'
19
Why did you not obey the voice of Yahweh? Why did you rush to the plunder and do what was evil in the sight of Yahweh?"
20
Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have indeed obeyed the voice of Yahweh, and have gone on the way that Yahweh sent me. I have captured Agag, the king of Amalek, and have completely destroyed the Amalekites.
21
But the people took some of the booty—sheep and cattle, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God in Gilgal."
22
Samuel replied, "Has Yahweh as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Yahweh? Obedience is better than sacrifice, and to listen is better than the fat of rams.
23
For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and stubbornness is like wickedness and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of Yahweh, he has also rejected you from being king."
24
Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned; for I have broken Yahweh's commandment and your words, because I was afraid of the people and obeyed their voice.
25
Now, please pardon my sin, and return with me so that I may worship Yahweh."
26
Samuel said to Saul, "I will not go back with you; for you have rejected the word of Yahweh, and Yahweh has rejected you from being king over Israel."
27
As Samuel turned to leave, Saul took hold of the hem of his robe, and it tore.
28
Samuel said to him, "Yahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to a neighbor of yours, one who is better than you.
29
Also, the Strength of Israel will not lie nor change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind."
30
Then Saul said, "I have sinned. But please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Turn again with me, that I may worship Yahweh your God."
31
So Samuel turned again after Saul, and Saul worshiped Yahweh.
32
Then Samuel said, "Bring Agag the king of the Amalekites here to me." Agag came to him confined with chains and said, "Surely death is bitter."
33
Samuel replied, "As your sword has made women childless, so must your mother be childless among women." Then Samuel chopped Agag to pieces before Yahweh at Gilgal.
34
Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house at Gibeah of Saul.
35
Samuel did not see Saul until the day of his death, for he mourned for Saul. Yahweh regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.
Chapter 16
1
Yahweh said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I will send you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected for myself a king among his sons."
2
Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me." Yahweh said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh.'
3
Call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you will do. You will anoint for me the one whom I tell you."
4
Samuel did as Yahweh said and went to Bethlehem. The elders of the city were trembling as they came to meet him and said, "Are you coming in peace?"
5
He said, "In peace; I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh. Prepare to set yourselves apart and come with me to the sacrifice." Then he set apart Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6
When they came, he looked at Eliab and said to himself that Yahweh's anointed was certainly standing before him.
7
But Yahweh said to Samuel, "Do not look at his outward appearance, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him. For Yahweh does not see as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks on the heart."
8
Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. Then Samuel said, "Neither has Yahweh chosen this one."
9
Jesse then made Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, "Neither has Yahweh chosen this one."
10
Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Yahweh has not chosen any of these."
11
Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Are these all the boys?" He replied, "There remains yet the youngest, but he is tending the sheep." Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and get him; for we will not sit down until he comes here."
12
Jesse sent and brought him in. Now this son was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. Yahweh said, "Arise, anoint him; for he is the one."
13
Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the middle of his brothers. The Spirit of Yahweh rushed on David from that day forward. Then Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.
14
Now the Spirit of Yahweh left Saul, and a harmful spirit from Yahweh tormented him instead.
15
Saul's servants said to him, "See now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you.
16
Let our master now command your servants who are before you to search for a man who is a skillful player on the harp. Then when the harmful spirit from God is on you, he will play it and you will be well."
17
Saul said to his servants, "Find me a man that can play well and bring him to me."
18
Then one of the young men answered, and said, "I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a strong, courageous man, a man of war, one prudent in speech, a handsome man; and Yahweh is with him."
19
So Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep."
20
Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a container of wine, and a young goat, and sent them with his son David to Saul.
21
Then David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor bearer.
22
Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my eyes."
23
Whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the harp and played it. So Saul would be refreshed and well, and the harmful spirit would depart from him.
Chapter 17
1
Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. They were gathered at Sokoh, which belongs to Judah. They had encamped between Sokoh and Azekah, in Ephes Dammim.
2
Saul and the men of Israel gathered and encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines.
3
The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side with a valley between them.
4
A strong man came out of the Philistines' camp, a man named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
5
He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was clothed in scale armor of bronze that weighed five thousand shekels.
6
He had bronze armor on his legs and a javelin of bronze between his shoulders.
7
The staff of his spear was large, with a loop of cord for throwing it like the cord on a weaver's beam. His spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. His shield bearer went before him.
8
He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me.
9
If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then will we be your servants. But if I defeat him and kill him, then you will be our servants and serve us."
10
Again the Philistine said, "I defy the ranks of Israel today. Give me a man so we may fight together."
11
When Saul and all Israel heard what the Philistine said, they were discouraged and greatly afraid.
12
Now David was the son of the Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, whose name was Jesse. He had eight sons. Jesse was an old man in the days of Saul, very old among men.
13
The three oldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle. The names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, second to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
14
David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul.
15
Now David went back and forth between Saul's army and his father's sheep at Bethlehem, in order to feed them.
16
For forty days the Philistine strong man came near morning and evening to present himself for battle.
17
Then Jesse said to his son David, "Take to your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp for your brothers.
18
Also bring these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand. Look to the well-being of your brothers, and bring back some evidence that they are doing well.
19
Your brothers are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting the Philistines."
20
David got up early in the morning and left the flock in the care of a shepherd. He took the supplies and left, as Jesse commanded him. He came to the camp as the army was going out to the battlefield shouting the war cry.
21
Then Israel and the Philistines lined up for battle, army against army.
22
David left his belongings with the keeper of supplies, ran to the army, and greeted his brothers.
23
As he talked with them, the strong man, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came out of the ranks of the Philistines and said the same words as before, and David heard them.
24
When all the men of Israel saw the man, they fled from him and were very afraid.
25
The men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? He has come to defy Israel. The king will give great riches to the man who kills him, and he will give his daughter to him in marriage, and will make his father's house free from taxation in Israel."
26
David said to the men who stood by him, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?"
27
Then the people repeated what they had been saying and told him, "So it will be done for the man who kills him."
28
Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, "Why did you come down here? With whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride, and the mischief in your heart; for you have come down here so that you might see the battle."
29
David said, "What have I done now? Was it not just a question?"
30
He turned away from him toward another, and spoke in the same way. The people answered the same thing as before.
31
When the words that David said were heard, soldiers repeated them to Saul, and he sent for David.
32
Then David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of that Philistine; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine."
33
Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are only a youth, and he a man of war from his youth."
34
But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to shepherd his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,
35
I chased after him and attacked him, and rescued it out of his mouth. When he rose up against me, I caught him by his beard, struck him, and put him to death.
36
Your servant has killed both a lion and a bear. This uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God."
37
David said, "Yahweh rescued me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear. He will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine." Then Saul said to David, "Go, and may Yahweh be with you."
38
Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze upon his head, and he clothed him with a coat of chainmail.
39
David strapped his sword on his armor. But he was not able to walk, because he had not trained with them. Then David said to Saul, "I cannot go out to fight with these, for I have not trained with them." So David put them off.
40
He took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones out of the brook; he put them in his shepherd's pouch. His sling was in his hand as he approached the Philistine.
41
The Philistine came and approached David, with his shield bearer in front of him.
42
When the Philistine looked around and saw David, he despised him, for he was only a boy, and ruddy, with a handsome appearance.
43
Then the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?," and the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
44
The Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the heavens and to the wild animals of the field."
45
David replied to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin. But I come to you in the name of Yahweh of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
46
Today Yahweh will give me victory over you, and I will kill you and remove your head from your body. Today I will give the dead bodies of the Philistine army to the birds of the heavens and to the wild beasts of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,
47
and that all this gathering may know that Yahweh does not save with sword or spear. For the battle is Yahweh's, and he will give you into our hand."
48
When the Philistine rose and approached David, then David ran quickly toward the enemy army to meet him.
49
David put his hand in his bag, took a stone from it, slung it, and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank into the Philistine's forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.
50
David defeated the Philistine with a sling and with a stone. He hit the Philistine and put him to death. There was no sword in David's hand.
51
Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword, drew it out of the sheath, killed him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their mighty man was dead, they fled.
52
Then the men of Israel and of Judah rose with a shout, and chased after the Philistines as far as the valley and the gates of Ekron. The dead Philistines lay along the way to Shaaraim, all the way to Gath and Ekron.
53
The people of Israel returned from hotly pursuing the Philistines, and they plundered their camp.
54
David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.
55
When Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the captain of the army, "Abner, whose son is this youth?" Abner said, "As you live, king, I do not know."
56
The king said, "Ask those who might know, whose son the boy is."
57
When David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.
58
Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" David answered, "I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite."
Chapter 18
1
When he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
2
Saul took David into his service that day; he did not let him return to his father's house.
3
Then Jonathan and David made a covenant of friendship because Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
4
Jonathan took off the robe that he was wearing and gave it to David with his armor, as well as his sword, bow, and belt.
5
David went out wherever Saul sent him, and he succeeded. Saul set him over the men of war. This was pleasing in the eyes of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
6
As they came home from defeating the Philistines, the women came from all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments.
7
The women sang one to another as they played. They sang:
"Saul has killed his thousands,
and David his ten thousands."
8
Saul was very angry, and this song displeased him. He said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but they have ascribed only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingship?"
9
Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.
10
The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul and he prophesied within the house. So David played his instrument, as he did each day. Saul had a spear in his hand.
11
Saul threw the spear, for he thought, "I will pin David to the wall." But David escaped from Saul's presence twice in this way.
12
Saul was afraid of David, because Yahweh was with him, but was no longer with Saul.
13
So Saul removed him from his presence and appointed him a commander of a thousand. In this way David went out and came in before the people.
14
David was prospering in all his ways, for Yahweh was with him.
15
When Saul saw that he prospered, he stood in awe of him.
16
But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.
17
Then Saul said to David, "Here is my oldest daughter Merab. I will give her to you as a wife. Only be courageous for me and fight Yahweh's battles." For Saul thought, "Let not my hand be on him, but let the hand of the Philistines be on him."
18
David said to Saul, "Who am I, and who are my relatives, or my father's clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?"
19
But at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.
20
But Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. They told Saul, and this pleased him.
21
Then Saul thought, "I will give her to him, so that she can be a trap for him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." So Saul said to David a second time, "You will be my son-in-law."
22
Saul commanded his servants, "Speak with David in private, and say, 'See, the king takes pleasure in you, and all his servants love you. Now then, become the king's son-in-law.'"
23
So Saul's servants spoke these words to David. Then David said, "Is it a small matter to you to be the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?"
24
The servants of Saul reported to him the words which David spoke.
25
Then Saul said, "Say this to David, 'The king does not desire any price for the bride except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged from the king's enemies.'" Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
26
When his servants told David these words, it pleased David to be the king's son-in-law.
27
Before those days had expired, David went with his men and killed two hundred Philistines. David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, so that he might be the king's son-in-law. So Saul gave him Michal his daughter as his wife.
28
When Saul saw, and he knew that Yahweh was with David, and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him,
29
Saul was even more afraid of David. Saul was continually David's enemy.
30
Then the princes of the Philistines came out for battle, and as often as they came out, David behaved more prudently than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly regarded.
Chapter 19
1
Saul said to Jonathan his son and to all his servants that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, took great pleasure in David.
2
So Jonathan told David, "Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning and hide yourself in a secret place.
3
I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak with my father about you. If I learn anything, I will tell you."
4
Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, "Do not let the king sin against his servant David. For he has not sinned against you, and his deeds have brought you good.
5
For he took his life in his hand and killed the Philistine. Yahweh brought about great salvation for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced. Why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?"
6
Saul listened to Jonathan. Saul swore, "As Yahweh lives, he will not be put to death."
7
Then Jonathan called David, and Jonathan told him all these things. Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before.
8
There was war again, and David went out and fought with the Philistines and defeated them with a great slaughter. They fled before him.
9
A harmful spirit from Yahweh came on Saul as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand, and as David was playing his instrument.
10
Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away from Saul's presence, so that Saul drove the spear into the wall. David fled and escaped that night.
11
Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch him that he might kill him in the morning. Michal, David's wife, told him, "If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed."
12
So Michal let David down through the window. He went and fled, and escaped.
13
Michal took a household idol and laid it in the bed. Then she put a pillow of goats' hair at its head, and covered it with the clothes.
14
When Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, "He is sick."
15
Then Saul sent the messengers to see David; he said, "Bring him up to me in the bed, so that I may kill him."
16
When the messengers came in, behold, the household idol was in the bed along with the pillow of goats' hair at its head.
17
Saul said to Michal, "Why have you deceived me and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?" Michal answered Saul, "He said to me, 'Let me go. Why should I kill you?'"
18
Now David fled and escaped, and went to Samuel in Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went and stayed in Naioth.
19
It was told to Saul, saying, "See, David is at Naioth in Ramah."
20
Then Saul sent messengers to capture David. When they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came on the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
21
When Saul was told this, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. So Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied.
22
Then he also went to Ramah and came to the deep well that is in Seku. He asked, "Where are Samuel and David?" Someone said, "See, they are at Naioth in Ramah."
23
Saul went to Naioth in Ramah. Then the Spirit of God came upon him, and as he went he prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
24
He stripped off his clothes and also prophesied before Samuel. He lay naked all that day and all that night. This is why they ask, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"
Chapter 20
1
Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah and came and said to Jonathan, "What have I done? What is my iniquity? What is my sin before your father, that he seeks to take my life?"
2
Jonathan said to David, "Far from it; you will not die. My father does nothing either great or small without telling it to me. Why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so."
3
Yet David vowed again and said, "Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes. He has said, 'Do not let Jonathan know this, or he will be grieved.' But as truly as Yahweh lives, and as you live, there is but a step between me and death."
4
Then Jonathan said to David, "Whatever you say, I will do for you."
5
David said to Jonathan, "Tomorrow is the new moon, and I ought to sit down to eat with the king. But let me go, so that I may hide myself in the field until the third day at evening.
6
If your father misses me at all, then say, 'David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city, because it is the yearly sacrifice there for all the clan.'
7
If he says, 'It is well,' your servant will have peace. But if he is very angry, then know that he has decided on evil.
8
Therefore deal kindly with your servant. For you have brought your servant into a covenant of Yahweh with you. But if there is iniquity in me, kill me yourself; for why then should you bring me to your father?"
9
Jonathan said, "Far be it from you! If I learned my father decided harm to come upon you, would I not tell you?"
10
Then David said to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if by chance your father should answer you roughly?"
11
Jonathan said to David, "Come, let us go out into the field." So they both went out into the field.
12
Jonathan said to David, "May Yahweh, the God of Israel, be witness. When I have questioned my father around this time tomorrow, or the third day, see, if there is good will toward David, will I not then send to you and make it known to you?
13
If it pleases my father to do you harm, may Yahweh do to Jonathan and more also if I do not make it known to you and send you away, so that you may go in peace. May Yahweh be with you, as he has been with my father.
14
If I am still alive, will you not show me the covenant faithfulness of Yahweh, that I may not die?
15
Do not cut off your covenant faithfulness from my house forever—not even when Yahweh cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth."
16
So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David and said, "May Yahweh require an accounting from the hand of the enemies of David."
17
Jonathan made David vow again because of the love that he had for him, because he loved him as he loved his own soul.
18
Then Jonathan said to him, "Tomorrow is the new moon. You will be missed because your seat will be empty.
19
When you have stayed three days, go down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself when this matter began, and stay by the stone Ezel.
20
I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I were shooting at a target.
21
Then I will send my young man and say to him, 'Go find the arrows.' If I say to the young boy, 'Look, the arrows are on this side of you; get them," then come; for there will be safety for you and not harm, as Yahweh lives.
22
"But if I say to the young man, 'Look, the arrows are beyond you,' then go your way, for Yahweh has sent you away.
23
As for the agreement of which you and I have spoken, see, Yahweh is between you and me forever.'"
24
So David hid himself in the field. When the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food.
25
The king sat on his seat, as usual, on the seat by the wall. Jonathan stood up, and Abner sat by Saul's side. But David's place was empty.
26
Yet Saul did not say anything that day, because he thought, "Something has happened to him. He is not clean; surely he is not clean."
27
But on the second day, the day after the new moon, David's place was empty. Saul said to Jonathan his son, "Why has the son of Jesse not come to the meal either yesterday or today?"
28
Jonathan answered Saul, "David earnestly asked permission from me to go to Bethlehem.
29
He said, 'Please let me go. For our family has a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has ordered me to be there. Now, if I have found favor in your eyes, please let me go and see my brothers.' For this reason he has not come to the king's table."
30
Then Saul's anger burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, "You son of a perverse, rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother's nakedness?
31
For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Now then, send and bring him to me, for he must surely die."
32
Jonathan answered Saul his father, "For what reason should he be put to death? What has he done?"
33
Then Saul threw his spear at him to kill him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death.
34
Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved over David, because his father had dishonored him.
35
In the morning, Jonathan went out into the field to the appointment with David, and a young man was with him.
36
He said to his young man, "Run and find the arrows that I shoot." As the young man ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
37
When the young man came to the place where the arrow that Jonathan shot had landed, Jonathan called after the young man, and said, "Is not the arrow beyond you?"
38
Then Jonathan called after the young man, "Hurry, be quick, do not stay!" So Jonathan's young man gathered up the arrows and came to his master.
39
But the young man did not know anything. Only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
40
Jonathan gave his weapons to his young man and said to him, "Go, take them to the city."
41
As soon as the young man was gone, David stood up from behind the mound, lay facedown on the ground, and bowed himself three times. They kissed one another and wept together, with David weeping the more.
42
Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, because we have both sworn in the name of Yahweh and said, 'May Yahweh be between you and me, and between my descendants and your descendants, forever.'" Then David stood up and left, and Jonathan returned to the city.
Chapter 21
1
Then David came to Nob to see Ahimelek the priest. Ahimelek came to meet David trembling and said to him, "Why are you alone and have no one with you?"
2
David said to Ahimelek the priest, "The king has sent me on a mission and has said to me, 'Let no one know anything about the business I am sending you, and what I have commanded you.' I have directed the young men to a certain place.
3
Now then what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here."
4
The priest answered David and said, "There is no ordinary bread on hand, but there is holy bread—if the young men have kept themselves from women."
5
David answered the priest, "Surely women have been kept from us for the past three days, as usual when I set out. The things belonging to the young men have been set apart even on ordinary missions. How much more today will what they have be set apart!"
6
So the priest gave him the bread that was set apart. For there was no bread there except the bread of the presence, which was removed from before Yahweh, in order to put hot bread in its place on the day it was taken away.
7
Now one of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before Yahweh. His name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul's shepherds.
8
David said to Ahimelek, "Now is there not here on hand any spear or sword? For I brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business was urgent."
9
The priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want to take that, take it, for there is no other weapon here." David said, "There is no other sword like that one; give it to me."
10
David arose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish, the king of Gath.
11
Achish's servants said to him, "Is not this David, the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another about him in dances,
'Saul has killed his thousands,
and David his ten thousands?'"
12
David took these words to heart and was very afraid of Achish, the king of Gath.
13
He changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands; he made marks on the doors of the gate and let his saliva run down his beard.
14
Then Achish said to his servants, "Look, you see the man is mad. Why have you brought him to me?
15
Do I lack madmen, so that you have brought this fellow to behave like one in my presence? Will this fellow really come into my house?"
Chapter 22
1
So David left there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him.
2
Everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented—they all gathered to him. David became captain over them. There were about four hundred men with him.
3
Then David went from there to Mizpah in Moab. He said to the king of Moab, "Please let my father and my mother go out with you until I know what God will do for me."
4
He left them with the king of Moab. His father and mother stayed with him the whole time that David was in his stronghold.
5
Then the prophet Gad said to David, "Do not stay in your stronghold. Leave and go into the land of Judah." So David left there and went into the forest of Hereth.
6
Saul heard that David had been discovered, along with the men who were with him. Now Saul was sitting in Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on a hill, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him.
7
Saul said to his servants who stood around him, "Listen now, people of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds,
8
in exchange for all of you plotting against me? None of you informs me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is sorry for me. None of you informs me that my son has incited my servant David against me. Today he hides and waits for me so he may attack me."
9
Then Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, answered, "I saw the son of Jesse come to Nob, to Ahimelek son of Ahitub.
10
He prayed to Yahweh that he might help him, and he gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine."
11
Then the king sent someone to summon the priest Ahimelek son of Ahitub and all his father's house, the priests who were in Nob. All of them came to the king.
12
Saul said, "Listen now, son of Ahitub." He answered, "Here I am, my master."
13
Saul said to him, "Why have you plotted against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread, and a sword, and have prayed to God that he might help him, so that he might rise up against me, to hide in secret, as he does today?"
14
Then Ahimelek answered the king and said, "Who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law and is over your bodyguard, and is honored in your house?
15
Is today the first time I have prayed to God to help him? Far be it from me! Do not let the king impute anything to his servant or to all the house of my father. For your servant knows nothing of this whole matter."
16
The king replied, "You will surely die, Ahimelek, you and all your father's house."
17
The king said to the guard that stood around him, "Turn and kill the priests of Yahweh. Because their hand also is with David, and because they knew that he fled, but did not reveal it to me." But the servants of the king would not put out their hand to kill the priests of Yahweh.
18
Then the king said to Doeg, "Turn and kill the priests." So Doeg the Edomite turned and attacked the priests; he killed eighty-five persons who wore a linen ephod that day.
19
He also put to the sword Nob, the city of the priests, both men and women, children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep, he put to the sword.
20
But one of the sons of Ahimelek son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David.
21
Abiathar told David that Saul had killed Yahweh's priests.
22
David said to Abiathar, "I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I am responsible for every death in your father's family!
23
Stay with me and do not be afraid. For the one who seeks your life seeks mine as well. You will be safe with me."
Chapter 23
1
They told David, "Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors."
2
So David prayed to Yahweh for help and asked him, "Should I go and attack these Philistines?" Yahweh said to David, "Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah."
3
David's men said to him, "See, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?"
4
Then David prayed to Yahweh for help yet again. Yahweh answered him, "Arise, go down to Keilah. For I will give you victory over the Philistines."
5
David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines. He led away their cattle and struck them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
6
When Abiathar son of Ahimelek had fled to David at Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.
7
Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah. Saul said, "God has given him into my hand. For he is shut in because he has entered a city that has gates and bars."
8
Saul summoned all his forces for battle, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
9
David knew that Saul was plotting harm against him. He said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod here."
10
Then David said, "Yahweh, the God of Israel, your servant has indeed heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.
11
Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? Yahweh, the God of Israel, I beg you, please tell your servant." Yahweh said, "He will come down."
12
Then David said, "Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?" Yahweh said, "They will surrender you."
13
Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, got up and went away from Keilah, and they went from place to place. It was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, and he stopped the pursuit.
14
David stayed in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul looked for him every day, but God did not give him into his hand.
15
David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life; now David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh.
16
Then Jonathan, Saul's son, got up and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God.
17
He said to him, "Do not be afraid. For the hand of Saul my father will not find you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be next to you. Saul my father also knows this."
18
They made a covenant before Yahweh. David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.
19
Then Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, "Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hakilah, which is south of Jeshimon?
20
Now come down, king! According to your desire, come down! Our part will be to surrender him into the king's hand."
21
Saul said, "May you be blessed by Yahweh. For you have had compassion on me.
22
Go, make even more sure. Learn and find out where his hiding place is and who has seen him there. It is told to me that he is very crafty.
23
So look, and learn all of the places where he hides himself. Come back to me with sure information, and then I will return with you. If he is in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah."
24
Then they rose up and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah to the south of Jeshimon.
25
Saul and his men went to seek him. But David was told of it, so he went down to a rocky hill and lived in the wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard it, he chased David in the wilderness of Maon.
26
Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men were going on the other side of the mountain. David hurried to get away from Saul. As Saul and his men were surrounding David and his men to take them,
27
a messenger came to Saul and said, "Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid against the land."
28
So Saul returned from pursuing David and went against the Philistines. Therefore that place was called Sela Hammahlekoth.
29
David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi.
Chapter 24
1
When Saul returned from chasing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the wilderness of En Gedi."
2
Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats.
3
He came to sheep pens on the way, where there was a cave. Saul went inside to cover his feet. Now David and his men were sitting far back in the cave.
4
David's men said to him, "This is the day of which Yahweh spoke when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hand, for you to do with him as you wish.'" Then David arose and quietly crept forward and cut off the corner of Saul's robe.
5
Afterward David's heart afflicted him because he had cut a corner off Saul's robe.
6
He said to his men, "May Yahweh forbid that I should do this thing to my master, Yahweh's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is Yahweh's anointed."
7
So David rebuked his men with these words, and did not permit them to attack Saul. Saul stood up, left the cave, and went on his way.
8
Afterward, David also stood up, left the cave, and called out after Saul: "My master the king." When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and showed him respect.
9
David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the men who say, 'See, David is seeking your harm?'
10
Today your eyes have seen how Yahweh put you into my hand when we were in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, 'I will not put out my hand against my master; for he is Yahweh's anointed.'
11
See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no evil or treason in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, even though you hunt my life to take it.
12
May Yahweh judge between you and me, and may Yahweh avenge me against you, but my hand must not be against you.
13
As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes wickedness.' But my hand will not be against you.
14
After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea!
15
May Yahweh be judge and give judgment between you and me, and see to it, and plead my cause and permit me to escape from your hand."
16
When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
17
He said to David, "You are more righteous than I am. For you have repaid me good, where I have repaid you evil.
18
You have declared today how you have done good to me, for you did not kill me when Yahweh had put me at your mercy.
19
For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go safely? May Yahweh reward you with good for what you have done to me today.
20
Now, I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.
21
Swear to me by Yahweh that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house."
22
So David made an oath to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
Chapter 25
1
Now Samuel died. All Israel gathered together and mourned for him, and they buried him in his house at Ramah. Then David rose and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
2
There was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel. The man was very wealthy. He had three thousand sheep and one thousand goats. He was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
3
The man's name was Nabal, and the name of his wife was Abigail. The woman was intelligent and beautiful in appearance. But the man was harsh and evil in his dealings. He was a descendant of the house of Caleb.
4
David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
5
So David sent ten young men. David said to the young men, "Go up to Carmel, go to Nabal, and greet him in my name.
6
You will say to him, 'Live in prosperity. Peace to you and peace to your house, and peace be to all that you have.
7
I hear that you have shearers. Your shepherds have been with us, and we did them no harm, and they missed nothing the whole time they were in Carmel.
8
Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Now let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we have come on a festive day. Please give whatever you have on hand to your servants and to your son David.'"
9
When David's young men arrived, they said all of this to Nabal in David's name and then waited.
10
Nabal answered David's servants, "Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants these days who are breaking away from their masters.
11
Should I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men who come from I do not know where?"
12
So David's young men turned away and came back, and told him everything that was said.
13
David said to his men, "Every man strap on his sword." So every man strapped on his sword. David also strapped on his sword. About four hundred men followed after David, and two hundred stayed by the baggage.
14
But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife; he said, "David sent messengers out of the wilderness to greet our master, and he screamed at them.
15
Yet the men were very good to us. We were not harmed and did not miss anything as long as we went with them when we were in the fields.
16
They were a wall to us both day and night, all the while we were with them tending the sheep.
17
Therefore know this and consider what you will do, for evil is plotted against our master, and against his whole house. He is such a worthless fellow that one cannot reason with him."
18
Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves, two bottles of wine, five sheep already prepared, five measures of parched grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys.
19
She said to her young men, "Go on before me, and I will come after you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal.
20
As she rode on her donkey and came down by the cover of the mountain, David and his men came down toward her, and she met them.
21
Now David had said, "Surely in vain have I guarded all that this man has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him, and he has returned me evil for good.
22
May God do so to the enemies of David, and more also, if by the morning I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him."
23
When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from her donkey and lay before David facedown and bowed herself to the ground.
24
She lay at his feet and said, "On me alone, my master, be the guilt. Please let your servant speak to you, and listen to the words of your servant.
25
Let not my master regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I your servant did not see the young men of my master, whom you sent.
26
Now then, my master, as Yahweh lives, and as you live, since Yahweh has restrained you from bloodshed, and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now let your enemies, and those who seek to do evil to my master, be like Nabal.
27
Now let this present that your servant has brought to my master be given to the young men who follow my master.
28
Please forgive the trespass of your servant, for Yahweh will certainly make my master a sure house, because my master is fighting the battles of Yahweh; and evil will not be found in you so long as you live.
29
Though men rise up to pursue you to take your life, yet the life of my master will be bound in the bundle of the living by Yahweh your God; and he will sling away the lives of your enemies, as from the pocket of a sling.
30
Yahweh will have done for my master everything he promised you, and has appointed you leader over Israel.
31
This will not cause grief or a troubled heart to my master—that you have poured out innocent blood, or because my master attempted to rescue himself. For when Yahweh will do good for my master, remember your servant."
32
David said to Abigail, "May Yahweh, the God of Israel, be blessed, he who sent you to meet me today.
33
Your wisdom is blessed and you are blessed, because you have kept me today from bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand!
34
For in truth, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, lives, he who has kept me from hurting you, unless you had hurried to come meet me, there would certainly have not been left to Nabal so much as one male baby by the morning light."
35
So David received from her hand what she had brought him; he said to her, "Go up in peace to your house; see, I have listened to your voice and have accepted you."
36
Abigail went back to Nabal; behold, he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk. So she told him nothing at all until the morning light.
37
It came about in the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, that his wife told him these things; his heart died within him, and he became like a stone.
38
It came about ten days later that Yahweh attacked Nabal so that he died.
39
When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "May Yahweh be blessed, who has avenged the scorn I have received from the hand of Nabal and has kept back his servant from doing wrong. He has turned Nabal's evil action back on his own head." Then David sent and spoke to Abigail, to take her to himself as wife.
40
When David's servants had come to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her and said, "David has sent us to you to take you to him as his wife."
41
She arose, bowed herself with her face to the ground, and said, "See, your female servant is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my master."
42
Abigail hurried and arose, and rode on a donkey with five servant girls of hers who followed her; and she followed David's messengers and became his wife.
43
Now David had also taken Ahinoam of Jezreel as a wife; both of them became his wives.
44
Also, Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Paltiel son of Laish, who was of Gallim.
Chapter 26
1
The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, "Is not David hiding in the hill of Hakilah, which is before Jeshimon?"
2
Then Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
3
Saul camped on the hill of Hakilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the road. But David was staying in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul was coming after him into the wilderness.
4
So David sent out spies and learned that Saul had indeed come.
5
David arose and went to the place where Saul had camped; he saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner son of Ner, the general of his army; Saul lay in the camp, and the people were camped around him, all asleep.
6
Then David said to Ahimelek the Hittite, and to Abishai son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, "Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?" Abishai said, "I! I will go down with you."
7
So David and Abishai went to the army by night. Saul was there sleeping inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground beside his head. Abner and his soldiers lay around him.
8
Then Abishai said to David, "Today God has put your enemy into your hand. Now please let me pin him to the ground with the spear with just one blow. I will not strike him a second time."
9
David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him; for who can extend his hand against Yahweh's anointed one and be guiltless?"
10
David said, "As Yahweh lives, Yahweh will kill him, or his day will come to die, or he will go into battle and perish.
11
May Yahweh forbid that I should extend my hand against his anointed one; but now, I beg you, take the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go."
12
So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul's head, and they got away. No one saw them or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from Yahweh had fallen on them.
13
Then David went over to the other side and stood on the top of the mountain far off; a great distance was between them.
14
David shouted out to the people and to Abner son of Ner; he said, "Do you not answer, Abner?" Then Abner answered and said, "Who are you who is shouting to the king?"
15
David said to Abner, "Are not you a courageous man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your master the king? For someone came in to destroy the king your master.
16
This thing you have done is not good. As Yahweh lives, you deserve to die because you have not kept watch over your master, Yahweh's anointed one. Now see where the king's spear is and the jar of water that was near his head!"
17
Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is that your voice, my son David?" David said, "It is my voice, my master, king."
18
He said, "Why does my master pursue his servant? What have I done? What evil is in my hand?
19
Now therefore, I beg you, let my master the king listen to the words of his servant. If it is Yahweh who has stirred you up against me, may he be pleased with an offering; but if it is human beings, may they be cursed in the sight of Yahweh, for they have today driven me out, that I should not cling to the inheritance of Yahweh; they have said to me, 'Go worship other gods.'
20
Now therefore, do not let my blood fall to the earth away from Yahweh's presence; for the king of Israel has come out to search for the one flea as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains."
21
Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, David, my son; for I will harm you no more, because my life was precious in your eyes today. See, I have played the fool and have made a very bad mistake."
22
David answered and said, "See, your spear is here, king! Let one of the young men come over and get it and bring it to you.
23
May Yahweh pay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; because Yahweh put you into my hand today, but I would not strike his anointed.
24
See, as your life was precious in my eyes today, so may my life be much valued in the eyes of Yahweh, and may he rescue me out of all trouble."
25
Then Saul said to David, "May you be blessed, David my son! You will certainly do great things and you will succeed in them." So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.
Chapter 27
1
David said in his heart, "I will now perish one day by Saul's hand; there is nothing better for me than to escape into the land of the Philistines; Saul will give up looking for me any more within all the borders of Israel; in this way I will escape out of his hand."
2
David arose and passed over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish son of Maok, the king of Gath.
3
David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, each man with his own household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite woman, and Abigail the Carmelite woman, Nabal's wife.
4
Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, so he looked for him no longer.
5
David said to Achish, "If I have found favor in your eyes, let them give me a place in one of the cities in the country, that I may live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?"
6
So that day Achish gave him Ziklag; that is why Ziklag belongs to the kings of Judah to this very day.
7
The number of days that David lived in the land of the Philistines was a full year and four months.
8
David and his men attacked various places, making raids on the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites; for those nations were the inhabitants of the land, as you go to Shur, as far as the land of Egypt. They had been living there in the land from ancient times.
9
David attacked the land and saved neither man nor woman alive. He took away the sheep and cattle, the donkeys, the camels, and the clothing. Then he returned and went back to Achish.
10
Achish would say, "Against whom have you made a raid today?" David would answer, "Against the south of Judah," or "Against the south of the Jerahmeelites," or "Against the south of the Kenites."
11
David would keep neither man nor woman alive to bring them to Gath, saying, "So that they cannot say about us, 'David did such and such.'" This was what he did all the while he was living in the country of the Philistines.
12
Achish believed David, saying, "He has made his people Israel utterly abhor him; he will therefore be my servant forever."
Chapter 28
1
It came about in those days that the Philistines gathered their armies together for battle to fight with Israel. Achish said to David, "Know for certain that you will go out with me in the army, you and your men."
2
David said to Achish, "That being the case, you will know what your servant can do." Achish said to David, "Then I will make you my bodyguard all your days."
3
Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented him and buried him in Ramah, in his own city. Also, Saul had banned sorcerers and spiritists from the land.
4
Then the Philistines gathered themselves together and came and camped at Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they camped at Gilboa.
5
When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled very much.
6
Saul prayed to Yahweh for help, but Yahweh did not answer him—neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
7
Then Saul said to his servants, "Find me a woman who is a sorceress, so that I may go to her and seek her advice." His servants said to him, "See, there is a woman in Endor who is a sorceress."
8
So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothing and went, he and two men with him. They went to the woman by night. He said, "Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me the one I name."
9
The woman said to him, "See, you know what Saul has done, how he has banned sorcerers and spiritists from the land. So why are you setting a trap for my life, to make me die?"
10
Saul swore to her by Yahweh and said, "As Yahweh lives, no punishment will happen to you for this thing."
11
Then the woman said, "Whom should I bring up to you?" Saul said, "Bring up Samuel for me."
12
When the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice and spoke to Saul, saying, "Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul."
13
The king said to her, "Do not be afraid. What do you see?" The woman said to Saul, "I see a god coming up out of the earth."
14
He said to her, "What does he look like?" She said, "An old man is coming up; he is clothed with a robe." Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and showed him respect.
15
Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me and brought me up?" Saul answered, "I am very distressed, for the Philistines are waging war against me, and God has left me and does not answer me any more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I will do."
16
Samuel said, "What then do you ask me, since Yahweh has left you, and he has become your enemy?
17
Yahweh has done to you what he said he would. Yahweh has torn the kingdom out of your hand and he has given it to someone else—to David.
18
Because you did not obey the voice of Yahweh and did not carry out his fierce wrath on Amalek, he has therefore done this today to you.
19
Yahweh will give Israel along with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. Yahweh will also give the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines."
20
Then Saul immediately fell his full length on the ground and was very afraid because of the words of Samuel. There was no strength in him, for he had eaten no food all that day, neither that whole night.
21
The woman came to Saul and saw that he was very troubled, She said to him, "See, your woman servant has listened to your voice; I have put my life in my hand and have listened to the words that you said to me.
22
Now therefore, I beg you, listen also to the voice of your woman servant, and let me set a little food in front of you. Eat so that you may gain strength for when you go on your way."
23
But Saul refused and said, "I will not eat." But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him, and he listened to their voice. So he rose from the ground and sat on the bed.
24
The woman had a fatted calf in the house; she hurried and killed it; she took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread with it.
25
She brought it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and left that night.
Chapter 29
1
Now the Philistines gathered together all their army at Aphek, and Israel camped by the spring that is in Jezreel.
2
The princes of the Philistines passed on by hundreds and by thousands; David and his men passed on in the rear guard with Achish.
3
Then the princes of the Philistines said, "What are these Hebrews doing here?" Achish said to the other princes of the Philistines, "Is not this David, the servant of Saul, the king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or rather these years, and I have found no fault with him since he came away to me to this day?"
4
But the princes of the Philistines were angry with him and said, "Send the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He will not go down with us into battle, for he will become our adversary during the fighting. For how else could he make himself acceptable to his master than by taking the heads of our own men?
5
Is this not David of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying,
'Saul has killed his thousands,
and David his ten thousands'?"
6
Then Achish called David and said to him, "As Yahweh lives, you have been good, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army is good in my view; for I have found nothing wrong with you since the day of your coming to me to this very day. Nevertheless, the princes are not favorable to you.
7
So now return and go in peace, so that you do not displease the princes of the Philistines."
8
David said to Achish, "But what have I done? What have you found in your servant as long as I have been before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my master the king?"
9
Achish answered and said to David, "I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God; nevertheless, the princes of the Philistines have said, 'He must not go up with us to the battle.'
10
So now rise up early in the morning with the servants of your master who have come with you; as soon as you are up early in the morning and have light, go away."
11
So David rose up early, he and his men, to leave in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
Chapter 30
1
It came about, when David and his men had come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid upon the Negev and on Ziklag. They attacked Ziklag, burned it,
2
and captured the women and everyone who was in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off as they went on their way.
3
When David and his men came to the city, it was burned, and their wives, their sons, and their daughters were taken captive.
4
Then David and the people that were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more power to weep.
5
David's two wives were taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelite woman, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
6
David was greatly distressed, for the people were talking about stoning him, for all the people were bitter in spirit, each man for his sons and daughters; but David strengthened himself in Yahweh, his God.
7
David said to Abiathar son of Ahimelek, the priest, "I beg you, bring the ephod here for me." Abiathar brought the ephod to David.
8
David prayed to Yahweh for direction, saying, "If I pursue after this troop, will I overtake them?" Yahweh answered him, "Pursue, for you will certainly overtake them, and you will surely recover everything."
9
So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him; they came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed.
10
But David kept pursuing, he and four hundred men; for two hundred had stayed behind, who were so weak that they could not go over the brook Besor.
11
They found an Egyptian in a field and brought him to David; they gave him bread, and he ate; they gave him water to drink;
12
and they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. When he had eaten, he gained strength again, for he had eaten no bread nor drunk any water for three days and three nights.
13
David said to him, "To whom do you belong? Where do you come from?" He said, "I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; my master left me because three days ago I fell sick.
14
We made a raid on the Negev of the Kerethites, and what belongs to Judah, and the Negev of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag."
15
David said to him, "Will you bring me down to this raiding party?" The Egyptian said, "Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or betray me up into the hands of my master, and I will bring you down to this raiding party."
16
When the Egyptian had brought David down, the raiders were spread out over all the ground, eating and drinking and celebrating because of all the booty they had taken out of the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah.
17
David attacked them from the twilight to the evening of the next day. Not a man escaped except for four hundred young men, who rode on camels and fled.
18
David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken; and David rescued his two wives.
19
Nothing was missing, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither booty, nor anything that the raiders had taken for themselves. David brought back everything.
20
David took all the flocks and the herds, which the men drove ahead of the other livestock. They said, "This is David's booty."
21
David came to the two hundred men who had been too weak to follow him, the ones the others had made to stay at the brook Besor. These men went ahead to meet David and the people who were with him. When David came to these people, he greeted them.
22
Then all the wicked men and worthless fellows among those who had gone with David said, "Because these men did not go with us, we will not give them any of the booty that we have recovered. However, each man may lead away his wife and children and go."
23
Then David said, "You must not act like this, my brothers, with what Yahweh has given to us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the marauding band that came against us.
24
Who will listen to you in this matter? For as the share is for anyone who goes into battle, so also will the share be for anyone who waits by the baggage; they will share and share alike."
25
It has been so from that day to this day, for David made it a statute and a decree for Israel.
26
When David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the booty to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, "See, here is a present for you from the booty from Yahweh's enemies."
27
He also sent some to the elders who were in Bethel, and to those who were in Ramoth of the South, and to those who were in Jattir,
28
and to those who were in Aroer, and to those who were in Siphmoth, and to those who were in Eshtemoa.
29
He also sent some to the elders who were in Rakal, and to those who were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to those who were in the cities of the Kenites,
30
and to those who were in Hormah, and to those who were in Bor Ashan, and to those who were in Athak,
31
and to those who were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men habitually went.
Chapter 31
1
Now the Philistines fought against Israel. The men of Israel fled from before the Philistines and fell down dead on Mount Gilboa.
2
The Philistines closely pursued Saul and his sons. The Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua, his sons.
3
The battle went heavily against Saul, and the archers overtook him. He was in severe pain because of them.
4
Then Saul said to his armor bearer, "Draw your sword and thrust me through with it. Otherwise, these uncircumcised will come and abuse me." But his armor bearer would not, for he was very afraid. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.
5
When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell on his sword in the same way and died with him.
6
So Saul died, his three sons, and his armor bearer—these men all died together that same day.
7
When the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, and those beyond the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel had fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled, and the Philistines came and lived in them.
8
It came about on the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.
9
They cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and sent messengers into the land of the Philistines throughout to carry the news to their idols' temples and to the people.
10
They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths, and they fastened his body to the city wall of Beth Shan.
11
When the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard of what the Philistines had done to Saul,
12
all the fighting men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth Shan. They went to Jabesh and burned them there.
13
Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and fasted for seven days.
2 Samuel
Chapter 1
1
After the death of Saul, David returned from attacking the Amalekites and remained in Ziklag for two days.
2
On the third day, a man came from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head. When he came to David he fell to the ground and bowed down.
3
David said to him, "Where did you come from?" He answered, "I escaped from the camp of Israel."
4
David said to him, "Please tell me how things went." He answered, "The people fled from the battle. Many have fallen and many are dead. Saul and Jonathan his son are also dead."
5
David said to the young man, "How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?"
6
The young man replied, "By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there Saul was leaning on his spear, and chariots and riders were about to catch up with him.
7
Saul turned around and saw me and called out to me. I answered, 'Here I am.'
8
He said to me, 'Who are you?' I answered him, 'I am an Amalekite.'
9
He said to me, 'Please stand over me and kill me, for great suffering has taken hold of me, but life is still in me.'
10
So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew that he would not live after he had fallen. Then I took the crown that was on his head and the band that was on his arm, and brought them here to you, my master."
11
Then David tore his clothes, and all the men with him did the same.
12
They mourned, wept, and fasted until evening for Saul, for Jonathan his son, for the people of Yahweh, and for the house of Israel because they had fallen by the sword.
13
David said to the young man, "Where are you from?" He answered, "I am the son of a foreigner in the land, an Amalekite."
14
David said to him, "Why were you not afraid to destroy Yahweh's anointed king with your own hand?"
15
David called one of the young men and said, "Go and kill him." So that man went and struck him down, and the Amalekite died.
16
Then David said to the dead Amalekite, "Your blood is on your head because your own mouth has testified against you and said, 'I have killed Yahweh's anointed king.'"
17
Then David sang this lament about Saul and Jonathan his son.
18
He commanded the people to teach this Song of the Bow to the sons of Judah, which has been written in the Book of Jashar.
19
"Your glory, Israel, is dead, killed on your high places!
How the mighty have fallen!
20
Do not tell it in Gath,
do not proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon,
so that the daughters of the Philistines may not rejoice,
so that the daughters of the uncircumcised may not celebrate.
21
Mountains of Gilboa,
let there not be dew or rain on you,
nor fields giving grain for offerings,
for there the shield of the mighty was defiled.
The shield of Saul is no longer anointed with oil.
22
From the blood of those who have been killed,
from the bodies of the mighty,
the bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
and the sword of Saul did not return empty.
23
Saul and Jonathan were loved and gracious in life,
and in their death they were not separated.
They were swifter than eagles,
they were stronger than lions.
24
You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
who clothed you in scarlet as well as jewels,
and who put ornaments of gold on your clothing.
25
How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!
Jonathan is killed on your high places.
26
I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan.
You were very dear to me.
Your love to me was wonderful,
exceeding the love of women.
27
How the mighty have fallen,
and the weapons of war perished!"
Chapter 2
1
After this David asked Yahweh and said, "Should I go up to one of the cities of Judah?" Yahweh replied to him, "Go up." David said, "To which city should I go?" Yahweh replied, "To Hebron."
2
So David went up with his two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel, and Abigail from Carmel, the widow of Nabal.
3
David brought the men who were with him, who each brought his family, to the cities of Hebron, where they began to live.
4
Then men from Judah came and anointed David king over the house of Judah.
They told David, "The men of Jabesh Gilead have buried Saul."
5
So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead and said to them, "You are blessed by Yahweh, since you have shown this loyalty to your master Saul and have buried him.
6
Now may Yahweh show you steadfast love and faithfulness. I also will show you this goodness because you have done this thing.
7
Now then, let your hands be strong; be courageous for Saul your master is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them."
8
But Abner son of Ner, commander of Saul's army, took Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him to Mahanaim.
9
He made Ish-Bosheth king over Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and over all Israel.
10
Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.
11
The time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
12
Abner son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
13
Joab son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. There they sat down, one group on one side of the pool and the other on the other side.
14
Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men arise and compete before us." Then Joab said, "Let them arise."
15
Then the young men got up and gathered together, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve from servants of David.
16
Each man seized his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into the side of his opponent, and they fell down together. Therefore that place was called "Helkath Hazzurim," or "Field of Swords," which is in Gibeon.
17
The battle was very severe that day and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated before the servants of David.
18
The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was swift in his feet like a wild gazelle.
19
Asahel closely pursued Abner and followed him without turning away in any direction.
20
Abner looked behind him and said, "Is that you Asahel?" He answered, "It is I."
21
Abner said to him, "Turn aside to your right or to your left, and seize one of the young men and take his armor." But Asahel would not turn aside.
22
So Abner said again to Asahel, "Stop pursuing me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I hold up my face to Joab, your brother?"
23
But Asahel refused to turn aside, and so Abner stabbed him in the body with the blunt end of his spear, so that the spear came out the other side. Asahel fell down and died there. So it came about that anyone who arrived at the place where Asahel fell down and died, he stopped and stood still.
24
But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. When the sun was going down, they came to the hill of Ammah, which is near Giah by the road to the wilderness of Gibeon.
25
The men of Benjamin gathered themselves together behind Abner and stood on the top of the hill.
26
Then Abner called to Joab and said, "Must the sword devour forever? Do you not know it will be bitter in the end? How long will it be before you tell your men to stop pursuing their brothers?"
27
Joab replied, "Just as God lives, if you had not said that, my soldiers would have pursued their brothers until the morning!"
28
So Joab blew the ram's horn, and all his men stopped and did not pursue Israel anymore, nor did they fight anymore.
29
Abner and his men traveled all that night through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, marched all the next morning, and then reached Mahanaim.
30
Joab returned from pursuing Abner. He assembled all his people, from whom were missing Asahel and nineteen of David's servants.
31
But the servants of David had slaughtered from Benjamin and of Abner's men 360 men who died.
32
Then they took up Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was in Bethlehem. Joab and his men traveled all night, and the day dawned on them at Hebron.
Chapter 3
1
Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. David grew stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
2
Sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam from Jezreel.
3
His second son, Kileab, was born to Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel. The third, Absalom, was son of Maakah, daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur.
4
David's fourth son, Adonijah, was the son of Haggith. His fifth son was Shephatiah son of Abital,
5
and the sixth, Ithream, was the son of David's wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron.
6
It came about during the war between the house of Saul and the house of David that Abner made himself strong in the house of Saul.
7
Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, "Why have you gone to my father's concubine?"
8
Then Abner was very angry at the words of Ish-Bosheth and said, "Am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah? Today I am showing faithfulness to the house of Saul, your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, by not delivering you into the hand of David. But now you accuse me of iniquity concerning this woman?
9
May God do so to me, Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David as Yahweh has sworn to him,
10
to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba."
11
Ish-Bosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.
12
Then Abner sent messengers to David to speak for him saying, "Whose land is this? Make a covenant with me, and you will see that my hand is with you, to bring all Israel to you."
13
David answered, "Good, I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require from you is that you cannot see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see me."
14
Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth, Saul's son, saying, "Give me my wife Michal, to whom I betrothed to myself at the price of one hundred Philistine foreskins."
15
So Ish-Bosheth sent for Michal and took her from her husband, Paltiel son of Laish.
16
Her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Return home now." So he returned.
17
Abner spoke with the elders of Israel saying, "In the past you were trying to have David be king over you.
18
Now do it. For Yahweh has spoken of David saying, 'By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.'"
19
Abner also spoke personally to the people of Benjamin. Then Abner went also to speak with David in Hebron to explain everything that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin desired to accomplish.
20
When Abner and twenty of his men arrived in Hebron to see David, David had a feast prepared for them.
21
Abner explained to David, "I will arise and gather all Israel to you, my master the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, so that you may reign over all that you desire." So David sent Abner away, and Abner left in peace.
22
Then the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much plunder with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron. David had sent him away, and Abner had left in peace.
23
When Joab and all the army with him arrived, they told Joab, "Abner son of Ner came to the king, and the king has sent him away, and Abner left in peace."
24
Then Joab came to the king and said, "What have you done? Look, Abner came to you! Why have you sent him away, and he is gone?
25
Do you not know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to discover your plans and learn everything you are doing?"
26
When Joab left David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah, but David did not know this.
27
When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the middle of the gate to speak with him quietly. There Joab stabbed him in the stomach and so that Abner died. In this way, Joab avenged the blood of Asahel his brother.
28
When David heard about this he said, "I and my kingdom are innocent before Yahweh forever regarding the blood of Abner son of Ner.
29
May his blood fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father's house! May Joab's house never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy or who is lame and must walk with a staff or who is killed by the sword or does not have enough food."
30
So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in battle.
31
David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, "Tear your clothes, gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner's body." Now King David walked behind the body in the funeral procession.
32
They buried Abner in Hebron. The king wept and cried loudly at the tomb of Abner, and all the people also wept.
33
The king lamented for Abner and sang,
"Should Abner die as a fool dies?
34
Your hands were not bound.
Your feet were not shackled.
As a man falls before the sons of injustice, so you have fallen."
Once more all the people wept over him.
35
All the people came to make David eat while it was still day, but David swore, "May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down."
36
All the people took notice of David's grief, and it pleased them, as whatever the king did pleased them.
37
So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not the king's desire to kill Abner son of Ner.
38
The king said to his servants, "Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?
39
Now I am weak today, though I am an anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too severe for me. May Yahweh repay the evildoer by punishing him for his wickedness, as he deserves."
Chapter 4
1
When Ish-Bosheth, Saul's son, heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands became weak, and all Israel was troubled.
2
Now Saul's son had two men who were captains of groups of soldiers. The name of one was Baanah and the other Rekab, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, who was from the people of Benjamin (for Beeroth is also considered part of Benjamin,
3
and the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have been living there until this very time).
4
Now Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son who was crippled in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up to flee, but in her hurry, Jonathan's son fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.
5
So the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rekab and Baanah, traveled during the heat of the day to the house of Ish-Bosheth, as he was resting at noon.
6
The woman guarding the door had fallen asleep while sifting wheat, and Rekab and Baanah walked in quietly and passed her.
7
So after they entered the house, they attacked him and killed him as he was lying on his bed in his room. Then they cut off his head and carried it away, traveling on the road all night to the Arabah.
8
They brought the head of Ish-Bosheth to David at Hebron, and they said to the king, "Look, this is the head of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life. Today Yahweh has avenged our master the king against Saul and his descendants."
9
David answered Rekab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite; he said to them, "As Yahweh lives, who delivered my life from every trouble,
10
when someone told me, 'Look, Saul is dead,' thinking he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news.
11
How much more, when wicked men have killed an innocent person in his own house on his bed, should I not now require his blood from your hand and completely remove you from the earth?"
12
Then David gave orders to the young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet and hung them up beside the pool at Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-Bosheth and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron.
Chapter 5
1
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "Look, we are your flesh and bone.
2
In the recent past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led the Israelite army. Yahweh said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become ruler over Israel.'"
3
So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them before Yahweh. They anointed David king over Israel.
4
David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
5
In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
6
The king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land. They said to David, "You will not come here except to be turned away by the blind and the lame. David cannot come here."
7
Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion, which now is the city of David.
8
At that time David said, "Those who attack the Jebusites will have to go through the water shaft to reach the 'lame and the blind' who are David's enemies." That is why people say, "The 'blind and the lame' must not enter the palace."
9
So David lived in the stronghold and called it the city of David. He fortified around it, from the terrace toward the inside.
10
David became very powerful because Yahweh, the God of hosts, was with him.
11
Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, carpenters, and masons. They built a house for David.
12
David knew that Yahweh had established him as king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
13
After David left Hebron and came to Jerusalem, he took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.
14
These were the names of the children who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
15
Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
16
Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
17
Now when the Philistines heard that David had been anointed as king over Israel, they all went out looking for him. But David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.
18
Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.
19
Then David asked for help from Yahweh. He said, "Should I attack the Philistines? Will you give victory over them?" Yahweh said to David, "Attack, for I will certainly give you victory over the Philistines."
20
So David attacked at Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He commented, "Yahweh has burst through my enemies before me like a bursting flood of water." So he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.
21
The Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.
22
Then the Philistines came up again and spread out once more in the Valley of Rephaim.
23
So David sought help from Yahweh again, and Yahweh said to him, "You must not attack their front, but rather circle around behind them and come on them through the balsam woods.
24
When you hear the sound of marching in the wind blowing through the balsam treetops, then attack with force. Do this because Yahweh will have gone out before you to attack the army of the Philistines."
25
So David did as Yahweh had commanded him. He killed Philistines from Geba all the way to Gezer.
Chapter 6
1
Now David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
2
David arose and went with all his men who were with him from Baalah in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of Yahweh of hosts, who sits enthroned over the cherubim.
3
They set the ark of God on a new cart. They brought it out of Abinadab's house, which was on a hill. Uzzah and Ahio, his sons, were guiding the new cart.
4
They brought the cart out of Abinadab's house on the hill with the ark of God on it. Ahio was walking in front of the ark.
5
Then David and all the house of Israel began to play before Yahweh, celebrating with instruments made of fir wood, harps, lyres, tambourines, rattles, and cymbals.
6
When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out with his hand to grab the ark of God, and he took hold of it.
7
Then the anger of Yahweh burned against Uzzah. God attacked him there for his sin. Uzzah died there by the ark of God.
8
David was angry because Yahweh had attacked Uzzah, and he called the name of that place Perez Uzzah. That place is called Perez Uzza to this day.
9
David was afraid of Yahweh that day. He said, "How can the ark of Yahweh come to me?"
10
So David was not willing to take the ark of Yahweh with him into the city of David. Instead, he put it aside in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.
11
The ark of Yahweh remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months. So Yahweh blessed him and all his household.
12
Now King David was told, "Yahweh has blessed Obed-Edom's house and everything that belongs to him because of the ark of God." So David went and brought up the ark of God from Obed-Edom's house to the city of David with joy.
13
When those who were carrying the ark of Yahweh had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.
14
David danced before Yahweh with all his might; he was wearing only a linen ephod.
15
So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of Yahweh with shouting and the sound of rams' horns.
16
Now as the ark of Yahweh came into the city of David, Michal, daughter of Saul, looked out the window. She saw King David leaping and dancing before Yahweh. Then she despised him in her heart.
17
They brought in the ark of Yahweh and put it in its place, in the middle of the tent that David had set up for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before Yahweh.
18
When David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and the fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh of hosts.
19
Then he distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both to men and women, a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people left; each one returned to his own house.
20
Then David returned to bless his family. Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet David and said, "How honored the king of Israel was today, who undressed himself today before the eyes of the slave girls among his servants, like one of the crude fellows who shamelessly undresses himself!"
21
David responded to Michal, "I did that before Yahweh, who chose me above your father and above all his family, who appointed me leader over the people of Yahweh, over Israel. Before Yahweh I will be joyful!
22
I will be even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you have spoken about, I will be honored."
23
So Michal, the daughter of Saul, had no children to the day of her death.
Chapter 7
1
It happened that after the king had settled in his house, and after Yahweh had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies,
2
the king said to Nathan the prophet, "Look, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God is staying in the middle of a tent."
3
Then Nathan said to the king, "Go, do what is in your heart, for Yahweh is with you."
4
But that same night the word of Yahweh came to Nathan, saying:
5
"Go and tell David my servant, 'This is what Yahweh says: Will you build me a house in which to live?
6
For I have not lived in a house from the day that I brought up the people of Israel out of Egypt until this present day. Rather, I have been moving about in a tent, a tabernacle.
7
In all places where I have moved among all the people of Israel, did I ever say anything to anyone from the tribes of Israel whom I appointed to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"'
8
"Now then, tell my servant David, 'This is what Yahweh of hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, so that you would be ruler over my people Israel.
9
I have been with you wherever you went. I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the great ones of the earth.
10
I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them there, so that they may live in their own place and be troubled no more. No longer will wicked people oppress them, as they did before,
11
as they were doing from the days that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Now I will give you rest from all your enemies.
"Moreover, Yahweh declares to you that Yahweh will make you a house.
12
When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up a descendant after you, one who will come out from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
13
He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
14
I will be a father to him, and he will be my son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the whipping of the sons of men.
15
But my covenant faithfulness will not leave him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
16
Your house and kingdom will be confirmed forever before you. Your throne will be established forever.'"
17
Nathan spoke to David and reported to him all these words, and he told him about the entire vision.
18
Then David the king went in and sat before Yahweh and said, "Who am I, Lord Yahweh, and what is my family that you have brought me to this point?
19
Now this was a small thing in your sight, Lord Yahweh. You have even spoken about your servant's family for a great while to come, and have shown me future generations, Lord Yahweh!
20
"What more can I, David, say to you? You have known your servant, Lord Yahweh.
21
For your word's sake, and to fulfill your own purpose, you have done this great thing and revealed it to your servant.
22
"Therefore you are great, Lord Yahweh, for there is no one like you, and there is no God besides you, as we have heard with our own ears.
23
What nation is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom you, God, went and rescued for yourself? You did this so that they would become a people for yourself, to make a name for yourself, and to do great and fearful deeds for your land. You drove out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you rescued from Egypt.
24
You established Israel as your own people forever, and you, Yahweh, became their God.
25
"So now, Yahweh God, may the promise that you made concerning your servant and his family be established forever. Do as you have spoken.
26
May your name be forever great, so the people will say, 'Yahweh of hosts is the God of Israel,' while the house of me, David, your servant is established before you.
27
"For you, Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, have revealed to your servant that you will build him a house. That is why I, your servant, have found courage to pray to you.
28
Now, Lord Yahweh, you are God, and your words are trustworthy, and you have made this good promise to your servant.
29
Now then, let it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, Lord Yahweh, have said these things, and with your blessing your servant's house will be blessed forever."
Chapter 8
1
After this it came about that David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. So David took Metheg Ammah from the control of the Philistines.
2
Then he defeated Moab and measured their men with a line by making them lie down on the ground. He measured off two lines to put to death, and one full line to keep alive. So the Moabites became servants to David and began to pay him tribute.
3
David then defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, the king of Zobah, as Hadadezer was traveling to recover his rule by the Euphrates River.
4
David captured from him 1,700 chariots and twenty thousand footmen. David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved enough of them for a hundred chariots.
5
When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand Aramean men.
6
Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became servants to him and brought him tribute. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went.
7
David took the golden shields that were on Hadadezer's servants and brought them to Jerusalem.
8
From Tebah and Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took very much bronze.
9
When Tou, king of Hamath, heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer,
10
Tou sent Hadoram his son to King David to greet him and to bless him, because David had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, and because Hadadezer had waged war against Tou. Hadoram brought with himself objects of silver, gold, and bronze.
11
King David dedicated these objects to Yahweh, together with the silver and gold that he had dedicated, which came from all the nations that he had conquered—
12
from Aram, Moab, the people of Ammon, the Philistines, and Amalek, along with all of the plundered goods of Hadadezer son of Rehob, the king of Zobah.
13
David's name was well known when he returned from conquering the Arameans in the Valley of Salt, with their eighteen thousand men.
14
He placed garrisons throughout all of Edom, and all the Edomites became servants to him. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went.
15
David reigned over all Israel, and he administered justice and righteousness to all his people.
16
Joab son of Zeruiah was the commander of the army, and Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder.
17
Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests, and Seraiah was scribe.
18
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of the Kerethites and Pelethites, and David's sons were the priests.
Chapter 9
1
David said, "Is there anyone left in Saul's family to whom I may show kindness for Jonathan's sake?"
2
There was in Saul's family a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. The king said to him, "Are you Ziba?" He replied, "Yes. I am your servant."
3
So the king said, "Is there not anyone left of Saul's family to whom I may show the kindness of God?" Ziba replied to the king, "Jonathan still has a son, who is lame in his feet."
4
The king said to him, "Where is he?" Ziba replied to the king, "Look, he is in the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar."
5
Then King David sent and had him brought out of the house of Makir son of Ammiel from Lo Debar.
6
So Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul, came to David and bowed down his face to the floor in honor of David. David said, "Mephibosheth." He answered, "See, I am your servant!"
7
David said to him, "Do not be afraid, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather, and you will always eat at my table."
8
Mephibosheth bowed and said, "What is your servant, that you should look with favor on such a dead dog as I am?"
9
Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, "All that belonged to Saul and his family I have given to your master's grandson.
10
You, your sons, and your servants must till the land for him and you must harvest the crops so that your master's grandson will have food to eat. For Mephibosheth, your master's grandson, must always eat at my table." Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
11
Then Ziba said to the king, "Your servant will do all that my master the king commands his servant." The king added, "As for Mephibosheth he will eat at my table, as one of the king's sons."
12
Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mika. All who lived in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth.
13
So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, and he always ate at the king's table, though he was lame in both his feet.
Chapter 10
1
It came about later that the king of the people of Ammon died, and that Hanun his son became king in his place.
2
David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me." So David sent his servants to comfort Hanun concerning his father. His servants entered the land of the people of Ammon.
3
But the leaders of the people of Ammon said to Hanun their master, "Do you really think that David is honoring your father because he has sent men to comfort you? Has not David sent his servants to you to look at the city, to spy it out, in order to overthrow it?"
4
So Hanun took David's servants, shaved off half their beards, cut off their garments up to their buttocks, and sent them away.
5
When they explained this to David, he sent to meet with them, for the men were deeply ashamed. The king said, "Stay at Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return."
6
When the people of Ammon saw that they had become a stench to David, the people of Ammon sent messengers and hired the Arameans of Beth Rehob and Zobah, twenty thousand foot soldiers, and the king of Maakah with a thousand men, and the men of Tob with twelve thousand men.
7
When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of soldiers.
8
The Ammonites came out and formed a line of battle at the entrance to their city gate, while the Arameans of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maakah, stood by themselves in the open fields.
9
When Joab saw the battle lines facing him both in front and behind, he chose some of Israel's best fighters and arranged them against the Arameans.
10
The rest of his people he put into the hand of Abishai his brother, and he set them out in position to fight against the army of Ammon.
11
Joab said, "If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you, Abishai, must rescue me. But if the army of Ammon is too strong for you, then I will come and rescue you.
12
Be strong, and let us show ourselves to be strong for our people and for the cities of our God, for Yahweh will do what is good for his purpose."
13
So Joab and the soldiers of his army advanced to the battle against the Arameans, who were forced to flee before the army of Israel.
14
When the army of Ammon saw that the Arameans had fled, they also fled from Abishai and went back into the city. Then Joab returned from the people of Ammon and went back to Jerusalem.
15
When the Arameans saw that they were being defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together again.
16
Then Hadarezer sent for Aramean troops from beyond the Euphrates River. They came to Helam, and Shobak, the commander of Hadarezer's army, went before them.
17
When David was told this, he gathered all Israel together, crossed the Jordan, and arrived at Helam. The Arameans arranged themselves in battle lines against David and fought him.
18
The Arameans fled from Israel, and David killed seven hundred of their men in chariots and forty thousand horsemen. Shobak the commander of their army was wounded and died there.
19
When all the kings who were servants of Hadarezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became their subjects. So the Arameans were afraid to help the people of Ammon anymore.
Chapter 11
1
It came about in the spring of the year, at the time when kings normally go to war, that David sent out Joab, his servants, and all the army of Israel. They destroyed the army of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed in Jerusalem.
2
So it came about one evening that David got up from his bed and walked on the roof of his palace. From there he happened to see a woman who was bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to look at.
3
So David sent and he asked people who would know about the woman. Someone said, "Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, and is she not the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"
4
David sent messengers and took her; she came to him, and he lay with her (for she had just purified herself from her uncleanness). Then she returned to her house.
5
The woman conceived, and she sent and told David; she said, "I am pregnant."
6
Then David sent to Joab saying, "Send me Uriah the Hittite." So Joab sent Uriah to David.
7
When Uriah arrived, David asked him how Joab was, how the army was doing, and how the war was going.
8
David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house and wash your feet." So Uriah left the king's palace, and the king sent a gift for Uriah after he left.
9
But Uriah lay down at the door of the king's palace with all the servants of his master, and he did not go down to his house.
10
When they told David, "Uriah did not go down to his house," David said to Uriah, "Have you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?"
11
Uriah answered David, "The ark, and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my master Joab and my master's servants are camped in an open field. How then can I go into my house to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? As sure as you are alive, I will not do this."
12
So David said to Uriah, "Stay here today also, and tomorrow I will let you leave." So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next day.
13
When David called him, he ate and drank before him, and David made him drunk. At evening Uriah went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his master; he did not go down to his house.
14
So in the morning David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
15
David wrote in the letter saying, "Set Uriah at the very front of the most severe battle, and then withdraw from him, that he may be hit and die."
16
So as Joab watched the siege upon the city, he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew the strongest enemy soldiers would be fighting.
17
When the men of the city went out and fought against Joab's army, some of the servants of David fell, and Uriah the Hittite was also killed there.
18
When Joab sent word to David about everything concerning the war,
19
he commanded the messenger, saying, "When you have finished telling all the things concerning the war to the king,
20
it may happen that the king will become angry, and he will say to you, 'Why did you go so near to the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?
21
Who killed Abimelek son of Jerub-Besheth? Did not a woman cast an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?' Then you must answer, 'Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.'"
22
So the messenger left and went to David and told him everything that Joab had sent him to say.
23
Then the messenger said to David, "The enemy were stronger than we were at first; they came out to us into the field, but we drove them back to the entrance of the gate.
24
Then their shooters shot at your soldiers from off the wall, and some of the king's servants were killed, and your servant Uriah the Hittite was killed too."
25
Then David said to the messenger, "Say this to Joab, 'Do not let this displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Make your battle even stronger against the city, and overthrow it,' and encourage him."
26
So when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she lamented deeply for her husband.
27
When her sorrow passed, David sent and took her home to his palace, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But what David had done displeased Yahweh.
Chapter 12
1
Then Yahweh sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said, "There were once two men in a city. One man was rich and the other poor.
2
The rich man had a great number of sheep and cattle,
3
but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and fed and raised. It grew up together with him and with his children. The lamb even ate with him and drank from his own cup, and it lay in his bosom and was like a daughter to him.
4
One day a visitor came to the rich man, but the rich man was unwilling to take one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for him. Instead, he took the poor man's ewe lamb and cooked it for his visitor."
5
David was hot with anger against the rich man, and he raged to Nathan, "As Yahweh lives, the man who has done this deserves to be put to death.
6
He must pay back the lamb four times over because he did such a thing, and because he had no pity on the poor man."
7
Then Nathan said to David, "You are that man! Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you out of the hand of Saul.
8
I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your arms. I also gave you the house of Israel and Judah. But if that had been too little, I would have given you many other things in addition.
9
So why have you despised the commands of Yahweh, so as to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your own wife. You killed him with the sword of the army of Ammon.
10
So now the sword will never leave your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite as your wife.'
11
Yahweh says, 'Look, I will raise up disaster against you out of your own house. Before your own eyes, I will take your wives and give them to your neighbor, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight.
12
For you committed your sin secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, in the sunlight.'"
13
Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against Yahweh." Nathan replied to David, "Yahweh also has passed over your sin. You will not be killed.
14
However, because by this act you have despised Yahweh, the child who is born to you will surely die."
15
Then Nathan left and went home.
Yahweh attacked the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and he was very sick.
16
David then implored God for the boy. David fasted and went inside and lay all night on the floor.
17
The elders of his house arose and stood beside him, to raise him up from the floor, but he would not get up, and he would not eat with them.
18
It came about on the seventh day that the child died. David's servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, "Look, while the child was still alive we spoke to him, and he did not listen to our voice. What might he do to himself if we tell him that the boy is dead?!"
19
But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David realized that the child was dead. He said to his servants, "Is the child dead?" They answered, "He is dead."
20
Then David arose from the floor and washed himself, anointed himself, and changed his clothes. He went to the tabernacle of Yahweh and worshiped there, and then he came back to his own palace. When he asked for it, they set food before him, and he ate.
21
Then his servants said to him, "Why have you done this? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you got up and ate."
22
David answered, "While the child was still alive I fasted and wept. I said, 'Who knows whether or not Yahweh will be gracious to me, that the child may live?'
23
But now he is dead, so why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me."
24
David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went to her and lay with her. Later she gave birth to a son, and the child was named Solomon. Yahweh loved him
25
and he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah, because Yahweh loved him.
26
Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites, and he captured the royal city.
27
So Joab sent messengers to David and said, "I have fought against Rabbah, and I have taken the city's water supply.
28
Now therefore gather the rest of the army together and camp against the city and take it, because if I take the city, it will be named after me."
29
So David gathered all the army together and went to Rabbah; he fought against the city and captured it.
30
David took the crown from their king's head—it weighed a talent of gold, and there was a precious stone in it. The crown was placed on David's own head. Then he brought out the plunder of the city in large quantities.
31
He brought out the people who were in the city and forced them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes; he also made them work at brick kilns. David required all the cities of the people of Ammon to do this labor. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem.
Chapter 13
1
It came about after this that David's son Absalom had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar, and David's son Amnon loved her.
2
Amnon was so frustrated that he became sick because of his sister Tamar. She was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her.
3
But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab son of Shimeah, David's brother. Jonadab was a very shrewd man.
4
Jonadab said to Amnon, "Why, son of the king, are you depressed every morning? Will you not tell me?" So Amnon answered him, "I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister."
5
Then Jonadab said to him, "Lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick. When your father comes to see you, ask him, 'Would you please send my sister Tamar to give me something to eat and cook it before me, so that I may see it and eat it from her hand?'"
6
So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, "Please send my sister Tamar to make some food for my sickness in front of me so that I may eat from her hand."
7
Then David sent word to Tamar at his palace, saying, "Go now to your brother Amnon's house and prepare food for him."
8
So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house where he was lying down. She took dough and kneaded it and formed bread in his sight, and then she baked it.
9
She took the pan and gave the bread to him, but he refused to eat. Then Amnon said to the others present, "Send everyone out, away from me." So everyone went out from him.
10
So Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food into my room that I may eat from your hand." So Tamar took the bread that she had made, and brought it into the room of Amnon her brother.
11
When she had brought the food to him, he took hold of her and said to her, "Come, lie with me, my sister."
12
She answered him, "No, my brother, do not force me, for nothing like this should be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing!
13
How could I be rid of my shame? What about you? You would be like one of the fools in Israel! Now, please speak to the king, for he would not keep me from you."
14
However Amnon would not listen to her, and he was stronger than she was, and he overpowered her, and he lay with her.
15
Then Amnon hated Tamar with extreme hatred. The hatred with which he hated her was even greater than the love with which he had loved her. Amnon said to her, "Get up and go."
16
But she responded to him, "No! Because this great evil of making me leave is even worse than what you did to me!" But Amnon did not listen to her.
17
Instead, he called his personal servant and said, "Take this woman away from me, and bolt the door after her."
18
Then his servant brought her out and bolted the door after her. Tamar was wearing a beautifully decorated garment because the king's daughters who were virgins dressed in such robes.
19
Tamar put ashes on her head and tore her beautifully decorated garment. She put her hands on her head and walked away, crying aloud as she went.
20
Absalom her brother said to her, "Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now keep quiet, my sister. He is your brother. Do not take this thing to heart." So Tamar remained alone in her brother Absalom's house.
21
But when King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.
22
Absalom said nothing to Amnon, for Absalom hated him for what he had done to her and how he had disgraced his sister Tamar.
23
It came about after two full years that Absalom had sheep shearers working at Baal Hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons to visit there.
24
Absalom went to the king and said, "See now, your servant has sheep shearers. Please, may the king and his servants go with me, your servant."
25
The king answered Absalom, "No, my son, all of us should not go because we would be a burden to you." Absalom begged the king, but he would not go, but he gave him his blessing.
26
Then Absalom said, "If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us." So the king said to him, "Why should Amnon go with you?"
27
Absalom pressed David, and so he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.
28
Absalom commanded his servants saying, "Listen closely. When Amnon begins to be affected by the wine, and when I say to you, 'Attack Amnon,' then put him to death. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and brave."
29
So Absalom's servants did to Amnon as he had commanded them. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man mounted his mule and fled.
30
So it came about, while they were on the road, that the news came to David saying, "Absalom has killed all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left."
31
Then the king arose and tore his clothes, and lay on the floor; all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
32
Jonadab son of Shimeah, David's brother, answered and said, "Let not my master believe that they have killed all the young men who are the king's sons, for Amnon only is dead. Absalom has planned this from the day that Amnon violated his sister Tamar.
33
So therefore let not my master the king take this report to heart, so as to believe that all the king's sons are dead, for Amnon only is dead."
34
Absalom fled away. A servant keeping watch raised his eyes and saw many people coming on the road on the hillside west of him.
35
Then Jonadab said to the king, "Look, the king's sons are coming. It is just as your servant said."
36
So it came about when he finished speaking, the king's sons arrived and raised their voices and wept. The king and all his servants also wept bitterly.
37
But Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. David mourned for his son every day.
38
So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, where he was for three years.
39
The mind of King David longed to go out to see Absalom, for he was comforted concerning Amnon and his death.
Chapter 14
1
Now Joab son of Zeruiah knew that the king's heart went out to Absalom.
2
So Joab sent word to Tekoa and had a wise woman brought to him. He said to her, "Please pretend you are a mourner and put on mourning clothes. Please do not anoint yourself with oil, but be like a woman who has mourned a long time for the dead.
3
Then go to the king and speak to him about what I will describe." So Joab told her the words she was to say to the king.
4
When the woman from Tekoa spoke to the king, she lay facedown on the ground and said, "Help me, king."
5
The king said to her, "What is wrong?" She answered, "The truth is that I am a widow, and my husband is dead.
6
I, your servant, had two sons, and they fought with each other in the field, and there was no one to separate them. One struck the other and killed him.
7
Now the whole clan has risen against your servant, and they say, 'Give into our hand the man who struck his brother, so that we may put him to death, to pay for the life of his brother whom he killed.' So they would also destroy the heir. Thus they will put out the burning coal that I have left, and they will leave for my husband neither name nor descendant on the surface of the earth."
8
So the king said to the woman, "Go to your house, and I will command something to be done for you."
9
The woman of Tekoa replied to the king, "My master, king, may the guilt be on me and on my father's family. The king and his throne are guiltless."
10
The king replied, "Whoever says anything to you, bring him to me, and he will not touch you anymore."
11
Then she said, "Please, may the king call to mind Yahweh your God, so that the avenger of blood will not destroy anyone further, so that they will not destroy my son." The king replied, "As Yahweh lives, not one hair of your son will fall to the ground."
12
Then the woman said, "Please let your servant speak a further word to my master the king." He said, "Speak on."
13
So the woman said, "Why then have you devised such a thing against the people of God? For in saying this thing, the king is like someone who is guilty, because the king has not brought back home again his banished son.
14
For we all must die, and we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God will not take away life. Rather, he devises a way for those who were driven away not to remain outcast.
15
Now then, seeing that I have come to speak this thing to my master the king, it is because the people have made me afraid. So your servant said to herself, 'I will now speak to the king. It may be that the king will perform the request of his servant.
16
Perhaps the king will listen to me and deliver his servant from the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together, out of the inheritance God gave us.'
17
Then your servant prayed, 'Yahweh, please let the word of my master the king give me relief, for as an angel of God, so is my master the king in telling good from evil.' May Yahweh your God be with you."
18
Then the king answered and said to the woman, "Please do not hide from me anything that I will ask you." The woman replied, "Let my master the king now speak."
19
The king said, "Is not the hand of Joab with you in all this?" The woman answered and said, "As you live, my master the king, no one can escape to the right hand or to the left from anything that my master the king has spoken. It was your servant Joab who commanded me and told me to say these things that your servant has spoken.
20
Your servant Joab has done this to change the course of what is happening. My master is wise, like the wisdom of an angel of God, and he knows everything that is happening in the land."
21
So the king said to Joab, "See now, I will do this thing. Go then, and bring the young man Absalom back."
22
So Joab lay facedown on the ground in honor and gratitude to the king. Joab said, "Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your eyes, my master, king, in that the king has performed the request of his servant."
23
So Joab arose, went to Geshur, and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem.
24
The king said, "He may return to his own house, but he may not see my face." So Absalom returned to his own house, but did not see the king's face.
25
Now in all Israel there was no one praised for his handsomeness more than Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head there was no blemish in him.
26
When he cut the hair of his head at the end of every year, because it was heavy on him, he weighed his hair; it would weigh about two hundred shekels, which is measured by the weight of the king's standard.
27
To Absalom were born three sons and one daughter, whose name was Tamar. She was a beautiful woman.
28
Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, without seeing the king's face.
29
Then Absalom sent word for Joab to send him to the king, but Joab would not come to him. So Absalom sent word a second time, but Joab still did not come.
30
So Absalom said to his servants, "See, Joab's field is near mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire." So Absalom's servants set the field on fire.
31
Then Joab arose and came to Absalom at his house, and said to him, "Why have your servants set my field on fire?"
32
Absalom answered Joab, "Look, I sent word to you saying, 'Come here so I may send you to the king to say, "Why did I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to still be there. Now therefore let me see the king's face, and if I am guilty, let him kill me."'"
33
So Joab went to the king and told him. When the king called for Absalom, he came to the king and bowed low to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom.
Chapter 15
1
It came about after this that Absalom prepared a chariot and horses for himself, with fifty men to run before him.
2
Absalom would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. When any man had a dispute to come to the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, "From what city have you come?" Then the man would answer, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel."
3
So Absalom would say to him, "Look, your case is good and in the right, but there is no one empowered by the king to hear your case."
4
Absalom would add, "I wish that I were made judge in the land, so that every man who had any dispute or cause might come to me, and I would bring him justice!"
5
So it came about that when any man came to Absalom to honor him, Absalom would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him.
6
Absalom acted in this way to all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
7
It came about at the end of four years that Absalom said to the king, "Please let me go and pay a vow that I have made to Yahweh in Hebron.
8
For your servant made a vow while I was living at Geshur in Aram, saying,' If Yahweh will indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will worship Yahweh.'"
9
So the king said to him, "Go in peace." So Absalom arose and went to Hebron.
10
But then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "As soon as you hear the sound of the ram's horn, then you must say, 'Absalom is king in Hebron.'"
11
With Absalom went two hundred men from Jerusalem, who were invited. They went in their innocence, not knowing anything that Absalom had planned.
12
While Absalom offered sacrfices, he sent for Ahithophel from his hometown of Giloh. He was David's counselor. Absalom's conspiracy was strong, for the people following Absalom were constantly increasing.
13
A messenger came to David saying, "The hearts of the men of Israel are following after Absalom."
14
So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, "Arise and let us flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. Prepare to leave immediately, or he will quickly overtake us, and he will bring down disaster on us and attack the city with the edge of the sword."
15
The king's servants said to the king, "Look, your servants are ready to do whatever our master the king decides."
16
The king left and all his family after him, but the king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep the palace.
17
After the king went out and all the people after him, they stopped at the last house.
18
All his servants marched with him, and before him went all the Kerethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites—six hundred men who had followed him from Gath marched with the king.
19
Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why will you come with us? Return and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and an exile. Return to your own place.
20
Since you just left yesterday, why should I make you wander all over with us? I do not even know where I am going. So return and take your fellow countrymen with you, and may steadfast love and faithfulness go with you."
21
But Ittai answered the king and said, "As Yahweh lives, and as my master the king lives, surely in whatever place where my master the king goes, there also will your servant go, whether that means living or dying."
22
So David said to Ittai, "Go ahead and continue with us." So Ittai the Gittite marched with the king, along with all his men and all the families who were with him.
23
All the country wept with a loud voice as all the people passed by over the Kidron Valley, and as the king also himself crossed over. All the people traveled on the road toward the wilderness.
24
Even Zadok with all the Levites, carrying the ark of the covenant of God, were present. They set the ark of God down, and then Abiathar joined them. They waited until all the people had passed by out of the city.
25
The king said to Zadok, "Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of Yahweh, he will bring me back here and show me again the ark and the place where he lives.
26
But if he says, 'I am not pleased with you,' look, here am I, let him do to me whatever seems good to him."
27
The king also said to Zadok the priest, "Are you not a seer? Return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan son of Abiathar.
28
See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me."
29
So Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back into Jerusalem, and they stayed there.
30
But David ascended barefoot and weeping up the Mount of Olives, and he had his head covered. Every man of the people who were with him covered his head, and they went up weeping as they walked.
31
Someone told David saying, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." So David prayed, "O Yahweh, please turn Ahithophel's advice into foolishness."
32
It came about that when David arrived at the top of the road, where God used to be worshiped, Hushai the Arkite came to meet him with his coat torn and earth on his head.
33
David said to him, "If you travel with me, then you will be a burden to me.
34
But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, 'I will be your servant, king, as I have been your father's servant in time past, so will I now be your servant,' then you will confuse Ahithophel's advice for me.
35
Will you not have the priests Zadok and Abiathar with you? So whatever you hear in the king's palace, you must tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
36
See that they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son. You must send to me by their hand everything that you hear."
37
So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city as Absalom arrived and entered into Jerusalem.
Chapter 16
1
When David had gone a short distance over the summit of the hill, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of saddled donkeys; on them were two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, and one hundred bunches of figs, and a skin of wine.
2
The king said to Ziba, "Why did you bring these things?" Ziba replied, "The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and fig cakes are for your young men to eat, and the wine is for anyone who is faint in the wilderness to drink."
3
The king said, "Then where is your master's grandson?" Ziba replied to the king, "Look, he has stayed behind in Jerusalem, for he said, 'Today the house of Israel will restore my father's kingdom to me.'"
4
Then the king said to Ziba, "Look, all that belonged to Mephibosheth now belongs to you." Ziba answered, "I bow in humility to you, my master, king. Let me find favor in your eyes."
5
When King David approached Bahurim, a man from the family of the clan of Saul came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out.
6
He threw stones at David and at all of the king's servants, in spite of the people and mighty men who were on the king's right and left.
7
Shimei called out in cursing, "Go away, get out of here, you man of blood, you worthless man!
8
Yahweh has repaid all of you for the blood you shed within the family of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. Yahweh has given the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. You have come to ruin because you are a man of blood."
9
Then Abishai son of Zeruiah, said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my master the king? Please let me go over and take off his head."
10
But the king said, "What have I to do with you, sons of Zeruiah? Perhaps he is cursing me because Yahweh has said to him, 'Curse David.' Who then could say to him, 'Why are you cursing the king?'"
11
So David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Look, my son, who was born from my body, wants to take my life. How much more may this Benjamite now desire my ruin? Leave him alone and let him curse, for Yahweh has commanded him to do it.
12
Perhaps Yahweh will look at the misery unleashed on me, and repay me with good for his cursing me today."
13
So David and his men traveled on the road, while Shimei went beside him up on the hillside, cursing and throwing dust and stones at him as he went.
14
Then the king and all the people who were with him became weary, and he rested when they stopped for the night.
15
As for Absalom and all the people of the men of Israel who were with him, they came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.
16
It came about when Hushai the Arkite, David's friend, had come to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"
17
Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with him?"
18
Hushai said to Absalom, "No! The one whom Yahweh and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, that is the man to whom I will belong, and I will stay with him.
19
Also, what man should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father's presence, I will serve in your presence."
20
Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give us your advice about what we should do."
21
Ahithophel answered Absalom, "Go to your father's concubines, whom he has left to keep the palace, and all Israel will hear that you have become a stench to your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong."
22
So they spread for Absalom a tent on the top of the palace, and Absalom went to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.
23
Now the advice of Ahithophel that he gave in those days was as if a man heard from the mouth of God himself. That was how all of Ahithophel's advice was viewed by both David and Absalom.
Chapter 17
1
Then Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Now let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight.
2
I will come on him while he is weary and weak and will surprise him with fear. The people who are with him will flee, and I will attack only the king.
3
I will bring back all the people to you, like a bride coming to her husband, and all the people will be at peace under you."
4
What Ahithophel said pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.
5
Then Absalom said, "Now call Hushai the Arkite, too, and let us hear what he says."
6
When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom explained to him what Ahithophel had said and then asked Hushai, "Should we do what Ahithophel has said? If not, tell us what you advise."
7
So Hushai said to Absalom, "The advice that Ahithophel has given this time is not good."
8
Hushai added, "You know your father and his men are strong warriors, and that they are bitter, and they are like a bear robbed of her cubs in a field. Your father is a man of war; he will not sleep with the army tonight.
9
Look, right now he is probably hidden in some pit or in some other place. It will happen that when some of your men have been killed at the beginning of an attack, that whoever hears it will say, 'A slaughter has taken place among the soldiers who follow Absalom.'
10
Then even the bravest soldiers, whose hearts are like the heart of a lion, will be afraid because all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and that the men who are with him are very strong.
11
So I advise you that all Israel should be gathered together to you, from Dan to Beersheba, as numerous as the sands that are by the sea, and that you go to battle in person.
12
Then we will come on him wherever he may be found, and we will cover him as the dew falls on the ground. We will not leave even one of his men, or him himself, alive.
13
If he retreats into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city and we will drag it into the river, until there is no longer even a small stone found there."
14
Then Absalom and the men of Israel said, "Hushai the Arkite's advice is better than Ahithophel's." Yahweh had ordained the rejection of Ahithophel's good advice in order to bring destruction on Absalom.
15
Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, "Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel in such and such a way, but I have advised something else.
16
Now then, go quickly and report to David; say to him, 'Do not camp tonight at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means cross over, or the king will be swallowed up along with all the people who are with him.'"
17
Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at the spring of Rogel. A female servant used to go and inform them what they needed to know, for they could not risk being seen going into the city. When the message came, then they were to go and tell King David.
18
But a young man saw them this time and told Absalom. So Jonathan and Ahimaaz went away quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his courtyard, into which they descended.
19
The man's wife took the covering for the well and spread it over the well's opening, and tossed grain over it, so no one knew Jonathan and Ahimaaz were in the well.
20
Absalom's servants came to the woman of the house and said, "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" The woman told them, "They have crossed over the river." So after they had looked around and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
21
It came about after they had left that Jonathan and Ahimaaz came up out of the well. They went to report to King David; they said to him, "Get up and cross quickly over the water because Ahithophel has given such and such advice about you."
22
Then David arose and all the people who were with him, and they crossed over the Jordan. By morning daylight not one of them had failed to cross over the Jordan.
23
When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and went to his house in his own city. He set his house in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in the tomb of his father.
24
Then David came to Mahanaim. As for Absalom, he crossed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.
25
Absalom had set Amasa over the army instead of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Jether the Ishmaelite
, who went to Abigail, who was the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah, the mother of Joab.
26
Then Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.
27
It came about when David had come to Mahanaim, that Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Makir son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim,
28
brought sleeping mats and blankets, bowls and pots, and wheat, barley flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils,
29
honey, butter, sheep, and milk curds from the herd, so that David and the people with him could eat. These men had said, "The people are hungry, weary, and thirsty in the wilderness."
Chapter 18
1
David counted the soldiers who were with him and appointed captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
2
Then David sent out the army, one-third under the command of Joab, another third under the command of Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and still another third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the army, "I will certainly go out with you myself, too."
3
But the men said, "You must not go to battle, for if we flee away they will not care about us, or if half of us die they will not care. But you are worth ten thousand of us! Therefore it is better that you be ready to help us from the city."
4
So the king answered them, "I will do whatever seems best to you." The king stood by the city gate while all the army went out by hundreds and by thousands.
5
The king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai saying, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man, with Absalom." All the people heard that the king had given the captains this command about Absalom.
6
So the army went out into the countryside against Israel; the battle spread into the forest of Ephraim.
7
The army of Israel was defeated there before the servants of David; there was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men.
8
The battle spread throughout the whole countryside, and more men were consumed by the forest than by the sword.
9
Absalom happened to meet some of David's servants. Absalom was riding his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak tree, and his head was caught up in the tree branches. He was left dangling between the ground and the sky while the mule he was riding kept going.
10
Someone saw this and told Joab, "Look, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!"
11
Joab said to the man who told him about Absalom, "Look! You saw him! Why did you not strike him down to the ground? I would have given you ten silver shekels and a belt."
12
The man replied to Joab, "Even if I received a thousand silver shekels, still I would not have reached out my hand against the king's son, because we all heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, 'No one must touch the young man Absalom.'
13
If I had risked my life by a falsehood (and there is nothing hidden from the king), you would have abandoned me."
14
Then Joab said, "I will not wait for you." So Joab took three javelins in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was still alive and hanging from the oak.
15
Then ten young men who carried Joab's armor surrounded Absalom, attacked him, and killed him.
16
Then Joab blew the ram's horn, and the army returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab held back the army.
17
They took Absalom and threw him into a large pit in the forest; they buried his body under a very large pile of stones, while all Israel fled, every man to his own tent.
18
Now Absalom, while still alive, had built for himself a large stone pillar in the King's Valley, for he said, "I have no son to carry along the memory of my name." He named the pillar after his own name, so it is called Absalom's Monument to this very day.
19
Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, "Let me now run to the king with the good news, how Yahweh has rescued him from the hand of his enemies."
20
Joab answered him, "You will not be the bearer of news today; you must do it another day. Today you will bear no news because the king's son is dead."
21
Then Joab said to a Cushite, "Go, tell the king what you have seen." The Cushite bowed down to Joab, and ran.
22
Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said again to Joab, "Regardless of what may happen, please let me also run and follow the Cushite." Joab replied, "Why do you want to run, my son, seeing that you will have no reward for the news?"
23
"Whatever happens," said Ahimaaz, "I will run." So Joab answered him, "Run." Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.
24
Now David was sitting between the inner and outer gates. The watchman had gone up to the roof of the gate to the wall and raised his eyes. As he looked, he saw a man approaching, running alone.
25
The watchman shouted out and told the king. Then the king said, "If he is alone, there is news in his mouth." The runner came closer and neared the city.
26
Then the watchman noticed another man running, and the watchman called to the gatekeeper; he said, "Look, there is another man running alone." The king said, "He is also bringing news."
27
So the watchman said, "I think the running of the man in front is like the running of Ahimaaz son of Zadok." The king said, "He is a good man and is coming with good news."
28
Then Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, "All is well." He bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground and said, "Blessed be Yahweh your God! He has delivered the men who lifted up their hand against my master the king."
29
So the king replied, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent me, the king's servant, to you, king, I saw a great disturbance, but I did not know what it was."
30
Then the king said, "Turn aside and stand here." So Ahimaaz turned aside, and stood still.
31
Immediately then the Cushite arrived and said, "There is good news for my master the king, for Yahweh has avenged you today from all who rose up against you."
32
Then the king said to the Cushite, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" The Cushite answered, "The enemies of my master the king, and all who rise up against you to do harm to you, should be as that young man is."
33
Then the king was deeply unnerved, and he went up to the room over the gate and wept. As he went he grieved, "My son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!"
Chapter 19
1
Joab was told, "Look, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom."
2
So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the army, for the army heard it said that day, "The king is mourning for his son."
3
The soldiers had to sneak quietly into the city that day, like people who are ashamed sneak away when they run from battle.
4
The king covered his face and cried in a loud voice, "My son Absalom, Absalom, my son, my son!"
5
Then Joab entered into the house to the king and said to him, "You have shamed the faces of all your servants today, who have saved your life today, and the lives of your sons and of your daughters, and the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines,
6
because you love those who hate you, and you hate those who love you. For today you have shown that commanders and servants are nothing to you. Today I believe that if Absalom had lived, and we all had died, then that would have pleased you.
7
Now therefore get up and go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by Yahweh, if you do not go, not one man will remain with you tonight. That would be worse for you than all the disasters that have ever happened to you from your youth until now."
8
So the king got up and sat in the city gate, and all the people were told, "Look, the king is sitting in the gate," and all the people came before the king.
So Israel fled, every man to his tent.
9
All the people were arguing with each other throughout all the tribes of Israel saying, "The king rescued us out of the hand of our enemies, and he saved us out of the hand of the Philistines, but now he has run out of the land because of Absalom.
10
Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?"
11
King David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests saying, "Speak to the elders of Judah saying, 'Why are you the last to bring the king back to his palace, since the talk of all Israel favors the king, to bring him back to his palace?
12
You are my brothers, my flesh and bone. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?'
13
Then say to Amasa, 'Are you not my flesh and my bone? God do so to me, and more also, if you are not captain of my army from now on in the place of Joab.'"
14
So he won the hearts of all the men of Judah as one man. They sent to the king saying, "Return, you and all your servants."
15
So the king returned and came to the Jordan. Now the men of Judah came to Gilgal to go to meet the king and then to bring the king across the Jordan.
16
Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite, who was from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David.
17
There were one thousand men from Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of Saul, and his fifteen sons and twenty servants with him. They crossed through the Jordan in the presence of the king.
18
They crossed to bring over the king's family and to do whatever he thought good. Shimei son of Gera bowed down before the king just before he began to cross the Jordan.
19
Shimei said to the king, "Do not, my master, find me guilty or call to mind the wrong your servant did the day my master the king left Jerusalem. Please, may the king not take it to heart.
20
For your servant knows that I have sinned. See, that is why I have come today as the first from all the family of Joseph to come down to meet my master the king."
21
But Abishai son of Zeruiah answered and said, "Should not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed Yahweh's anointed?"
22
Then David said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should today be adversaries to me? Will any man be put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?"
23
So the king said to Shimei, "You will not die." So the king promised him with an oath.
24
Then Mephibosheth son of Saul came down to meet the king. He had not dressed his feet, or trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he came home in peace.
25
So when he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, "Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?"
26
He answered, "My master the king, my servant deceived me, for I said, 'I will saddle a donkey so I may ride on it and go with the king, because your servant is lame.'
27
My servant Ziba has slandered me, your servant, to my master the king. But my master the king is like an angel of God. Therefore, do what is good in your eyes.
28
For all my father's house were dead men before my master the king, but you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right therefore have I that I should still cry any more to the king?"
29
Then the king said to him, "Why explain anything further? I have decided that you and Ziba will divide the fields."
30
So Mephibosheth replied to the king, "Yes, let him take it all, since my master the king has come safely to his own home."
31
Then Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim to cross over the Jordan with the king, and he accompanied the king over the Jordan.
32
Now Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years old. He had furnished the king with provisions while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man.
33
The king said to Barzillai, "Come over with me, and I will provide for you to stay with me in Jerusalem."
34
Barzillai replied to the king, "How many days are left in the years of my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
35
I am eighty years old. Can I distinguish between good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a burden to my master the king?
36
Your servant would like to just go over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king repay me with such a reward?
37
Please let your servant return back home, so I may die in my own city by the grave of my father and my mother. But see, here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my master the king, and do for him what seems good to you."
38
The king answered, "Kimham will go over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you, and whatever you desire from me, I do that for you."
39
Then all the people crossed the Jordan, and the king crossed over, and the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him. Then Barzillai returned to his own home.
40
So the king crossed over to Gilgal, and Kimham crossed over with him. All the army of Judah brought the king over, and also half the army of Israel.
41
Soon all the men of Israel began to come to the king and say to the king, "Why have our brothers, the men of Judah, stolen you away and brought the king and his family over the Jordan, and all David's men with him?"
42
So the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, "It is because the king is more closely related to us. Why then are you angry about this? Have we eaten anything that the king had to pay for? Has he given us any gifts?"
43
The men of Israel answered the men of Judah, "We have ten tribes related to the king, so we have even more right to David than you. Why then did you despise us? Was not our proposal to bring back our king the first to be heard?" But the words of the men of Judah were even more severe than the words of the men of Israel.
Chapter 20
1
There also happened to be at the same place a worthless man whose name was Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjamite. He blew the ram's horn and said, "We have no part in David, neither have we any inheritance in the son of Jesse. Let every man go back to his tent, Israel!"
2
So all the men of Israel deserted David and followed Sheba son of Bikri. But the men of Judah followed closely their king, from the Jordan all the way to Jerusalem.
3
When David came to his palace at Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines whom he had left to keep the palace, and he put them in a house under guard. He provided for their needs, but he did not go to them any longer. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living as if they were widows.
4
Then the king said to Amasa, "Call the men of Judah together within three days; you must be here, too."
5
So Amasa went to call Judah, but he was delayed beyond the time that the king had appointed for him.
6
So David said to Abishai, "Now Sheba son of Bikri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your master's servants and pursue after him, or he will find fortified cities and escape out of our sight."
7
Then Joab's men went out after him, along with the Kerethites and the Pelethites and all the mighty warriors. They left Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bikri.
8
When they were at the great stone which is at Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was wearing the battle armor that he had put on, which included a belt around his waist with a sheathed sword fastened to it. As he walked forward, the sword fell out.
9
So Joab said to Amasa, "Is it well with you, my cousin?" Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
10
Amasa did not notice the dagger that was in Joab's left hand. Joab stabbed Amasa in the stomach and his bowels spilled out to the ground. Joab did not strike him again, and Amasa died.
So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba son of Bikri.
11
Then one of Joab's young men stood by Amasa, and the man said, "He who favors Joab, and he who is for David, let him follow Joab."
12
Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road. When the man saw that all the people stood still, he carried Amasa off of the road and into a field. He threw a garment over him because he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.
13
After Amasa was taken off the road, all the men followed on after Joab in pursuit of Sheba son of Bikri.
14
Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maakah, and through all the land of the Bikrites, who gathered together and also pursued Sheba.
15
They caught up with him and besieged him in Abel Beth Maakah. They built up a siege ramp against the city against the wall. All the army who were with Joab were wreaking destruction to break down the wall.
16
Then a wise woman cried out of the city, "Listen, please listen, Joab! Come near me so I may speak with you."
17
So Joab came near to her, and the woman said, "Are you Joab?" He answered, "I am." Then she said to him, "Listen to the words of your servant." He answered, "I am listening."
18
Then she spoke, "They used to say in old times, 'Surely seek advice at Abel,' and that advice would end the matter.
19
We are a city that is one of the most peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the inheritance of Yahweh?"
20
So Joab answered and said, "Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
21
That is not true. But a man from the hill country of Ephraim, named Sheba son of Bikri, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Give up him alone, and I will withdraw from the city." The woman said to Joab, "His head will be thrown to you over the wall."
22
Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. They cut off the head of Sheba son of Bikri, and threw it out to Joab. Then he blew the ram's horn and Joab's men left the city, every man to his tent. Then Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.
23
Now Joab was over all the army of Israel, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and over the Pelethites.
24
Adoniram was over the men who did forced labor, and Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder.
25
Sheva was scribe and Zadok and Abiathar were priests.
26
Ira the Jairite was David's priest.
Chapter 21
1
There was a famine in David's time for three years in a row, and David sought the face of Yahweh. So Yahweh said, "This famine is on you because of Saul and his murderous family, because he put the Gibeonites to death."
2
So the king called together the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not from the people of Israel; they were from what remained of the Amorites. The people of Israel had sworn not to kill them, but Saul tried to kill them all anyway in his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah.
3
David said to them, "What should I do for you? How can I make atonement, so that you may bless the people of Yahweh, who inherit his goodness and promises?"
4
The Gibeonites responded to him, "It is not a matter of silver or gold between us and Saul or his family. In the same way it is not for us to put to death any man in Israel." David replied, "What are you saying that I should do for you?"
5
They answered the king, "The man who tried to kill us all, who schemed against us, so that we are now destroyed and have no place within the borders of Israel—
6
let seven men from his descendants be handed over to us, and we will hang them before Yahweh in Gibeah of Saul, the one chosen by Yahweh." So the king said, "I will give them to you."
7
But the king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul, because of Yahweh's oath between them, between David and Jonathan son of Saul.
8
But the king took the two sons of Rizpah daughter of Aiah, sons whom she bore to Saul—the two sons were named Armoni and Mephibosheth; and David also took the five sons of Merab
daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite.
9
He handed them over into the hands of the Gibeonites. They hanged them on the mountain before Yahweh, and they died all seven together. They were put to death during the time of harvest, during the first days at the beginning of barley harvest.
10
Then Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the mountain beside the dead bodies, from the beginning of harvest until the rain poured down on them from the sky. She did not allow the birds of the sky to disturb the bodies by day or the wild animals by night.
11
It was told to David what Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.
12
So David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh Gilead, who had stolen them from the public square of Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, after the Philistines had killed Saul in Gilboa.
13
David took away from there the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son, and they gathered the bones of the seven men who had been hanged, as well.
14
They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of Kish his father. They performed all that the king commanded. After that God answered their prayers for the land.
15
Then the Philistines went to war again with Israel. So David went down with his servants and fought against the Philistines. David was overcome with battle fatigue.
16
Ishbi-Benob, a descendant of the Rapha, whose bronze spear weighed three hundred shekels, and who was armed with a new sword, intended to kill David.
17
But Abishai son of Zeruiah rescued David, attacked the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, "You must not go to battle anymore with us, so that you do not put out the lamp of Israel."
18
It came about after this that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob, when Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the descendants of the Rapha.
19
It came about again in a battle with the Philistines at Gob, that Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.
20
It came about in another battle at Gath that there was a man of great height who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number. He also was descended from the Rapha.
21
When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah, David's brother, killed him.
22
These were descendants of the Rapha in Gath, and they were killed by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.
Chapter 22
1
David sang to Yahweh the words of this song on the day that Yahweh rescued him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul.
2
He prayed,
"Yahweh is my rock, my fortress,
the one who rescues me.
3
God is my rock.
I take refuge in him.
He is my shield, the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold, and my refuge,
the one who saves me from violence.
4
I will call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised,
and I will be saved from my enemies.
5
For the waves of death surrounded me,
the rushing waters of destruction overwhelmed me.
6
The cords of Sheol surrounded me;
the snares of death trapped me.
7
In my distress I called to Yahweh;
I called to my God;
he heard my voice from his temple,
and my cry for help went into his ears.
8
Then the earth shook and trembled.
The foundations of the heavens trembled
and were shaken, because God was angry.
9
Smoke went up from out of his nostrils,
and blazing fire came out of his mouth.
Coals were kindled by it.
10
He opened the heavens and came down,
and thick darkness was under his feet.
11
He rode on a cherub and flew.
He was seen on the wings of the wind.
12
He made darkness a tent around him,
gathering heavy rain clouds in the skies.
13
From the lightning before him
coals of fire fell.
14
Yahweh thundered from the heavens.
The Most High shouted.
15
He shot arrows and scattered his enemies—
lightning bolts and threw them into confusion.
16
Then the channels of the sea were seen;
the foundations of the world were laid bare
at the rebuke of Yahweh,
at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
17
He reached down from above; he took hold of me!
He pulled me out of the surging water.
18
He rescued me from my strong enemy,
from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.
19
They came against me on the day of my distress,
but Yahweh was my support.
20
He also brought me out to a wide open place.
He saved me because he was pleased with me.
21
Yahweh has rewarded me to the measure of my righteousness;
he has restored me to the measure of the cleanness of my hands.
22
For I have kept the ways of Yahweh
and have not acted wickedly by turning from my God.
23
For all his righteous decrees have been before me;
as for his statutes, I have not turned away from them.
24
I have also been innocent before him,
and I have kept myself from my iniquity.
25
Therefore Yahweh has restored me to the measure of my righteousness,
to the degree of my cleanness in his sight.
26
To the faithful one, you show yourself to be faithful;
to a man who is blameless, you show yourself to be blameless.
27
With the pure you show yourself pure,
but you are perverse to the twisted.
28
You save afflicted people,
but your eyes are against the proud, and you humiliate them.
29
For you are my lamp, Yahweh.
Yahweh lights up my darkness.
30
For by you I can run over a troop;
by my God I can leap over a wall.
31
As for God, his way is perfect.
The word of Yahweh is pure.
He is a shield
to everyone who takes refuge in him.
32
For who is God except Yahweh,
and who is a rock except our God?
33
God is my refuge,
and he leads the blameless person on his path.
34
He makes my feet swift like a deer
and places me on the high hills.
35
He trains my hands for war,
and my arms to bend a bow of bronze.
36
You have given me the shield of your salvation,
and your favor has made me great.
37
You have made a wide place for my feet beneath me,
so my feet have not slipped.
38
I pursued my enemies and destroyed them.
I did not turn back until they were destroyed.
39
I devoured them and smashed them; they cannot rise.
They have fallen under my feet.
40
You girded me with strength for battle;
you put under me those who rise up against me.
41
You gave me the back of my enemies' necks;
I annihilated those who hated me.
42
They cried for help, but no one saved them;
they cried out to Yahweh, but he did not answer them.
43
I beat them into fine pieces like dust on the ground,
I trampled them like mud in the streets.
44
You also have rescued me from the disputes of my own people.
You have kept me as the head of nations.
A people that I have not known serves me.
45
Foreigners were forced to bow to me.
As soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me.
46
The foreigners came trembling out of their strongholds.
47
Yahweh lives! May my rock be praised.
May God be exalted, the rock of my salvation.
48
This is the God who executes vengeance for me,
the one who brings down peoples under me.
49
He sets me free from my enemies.
Indeed, you lifted me up above those who rose up against me.
You rescue me from violent men.
50
Therefore I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations;
I will sing praises to your name.
51
God gives great victory to his king,
and he shows his covenant loyalty to his anointed one,
to David and to his descendants forever."
Chapter 23
1
Now these are the last words of David—
the declaration of David son of Jesse,
the declaration of the man who was highly honored,
the one anointed by the God of Jacob,
the sweet psalmist of Israel.
2
"The Spirit of Yahweh spoke by me,
and his word was on my tongue.
3
The God of Israel spoke,
the Rock of Israel said to me,
'The one who rules righteously over men,
who rules in the fear of God.
4
He will be like the morning light when the sun rises,
a morning without clouds,
when the tender grass springs up from the earth
through bright sunshine after rain.
5
Indeed, is my family not like this before God?
Has he not made an everlasting covenant with me,
ordered and sure in every way?
Does he not increase my salvation and fulfill my every desire?
6
But the worthless will all be like thorns to be thrown away,
because they cannot be gathered by one's hands.
7
The man who touches them
must use an iron tool or the shaft of a spear.
They must be burned up where they lie.'"
8
These are the names of David's mighty men: Josheb-Basshebeth the Tahkemonite, was the leader of the officers. He killed eight hundred men on one occasion.
9
After him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men. He was with David when they taunted the Philistines who had gathered together to do battle, and when the men of Israel had retreated.
10
Eleazar stood and fought the Philistines until his hand became weary and his hand stiffened to the grip of his sword. Yahweh brought about a great victory that day. The army returned after Eleazar, only to strip the bodies.
11
After him was Shammah son of Agee, a Hararite. The Philistines gathered together where there was a field of lentils, and the army fled from them.
12
But Shammah stood in the middle of the field and defended it. He killed the Philistines, and Yahweh brought about a great victory.
13
Three of the thirty soldiers went down to David at harvest time, to the cave of Adullam. The army of the Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim.
14
At that time David was in his stronghold, a cave, while the Philistines had established at Bethlehem.
15
David was longing for water and said, "If only someone would give me water to drink from the well at Bethlehem, the well that is by the gate!"
16
So these three mighty men broke through the army of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, the well at the gate. They took the water and brought it to David, but he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out to Yahweh.
17
Then he said, "Yahweh, far be it from me, that I should do this. Should I drink the blood of men who have risked their lives?" So he refused to drink it.
These things were done by the three mighty.
18
Abishai, brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was captain over the three. He once fought with his spear against three hundred men and killed them. He was renowned along with the three soldiers.
19
Was he not even more famous than the three? He was made their captain. However, his fame did not equal the fame of the three most famous soldiers.
20
Benaiah from Kabzeel was the son of Jehoiada; he was a strong man who did mighty feats. He killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down into a pit and killed a lion while it was snowing.
21
Then he killed a very large Egyptian man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah fought against him with only a staff. He seized the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and then killed him with his own spear.
22
Benaiah son of Jehoiada did these feats, and he was named alongside the three mighty men.
23
He was more highly regarded than the thirty soldiers in general, but he was not regarded quite as highly as the three mighty men. Yet David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
24
The thirty included the following men: Asahel brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,
25
Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
26
Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
27
Abiezer the Anathothite, Sibbekai
the Hushathite,
28
Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite;
29
Heled
son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites,
30
Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the valleys of Gaash.
31
Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
32
Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan son of Shammah the Hararite,
33
Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite,
34
Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maakathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
35
Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
36
Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, Bani from the tribe of Gad,
37
Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armor bearer to Joab son of Zeruiah,
38
Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
39
Uriah the Hittite—thirty-seven in all.
Chapter 24
1
Again the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them saying, "Go, count Israel and Judah."
2
The king said to Joab the commander of the army, who was with him, "Go throughout all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and count all the people, so that I may know the total number of men fit for battle."
3
Joab said to the king, "May Yahweh your God multiply the number of people a hundred times, and may the eyes of my master the king see it take place. But why does my master the king want this?"
4
Nevertheless, the king's word was final against Joab and against the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders went out from the king's presence to count the people of Israel.
5
They crossed over the Jordan and encamped near Aroer, south of the city in the valley. Then they traveled on through Gad to Jazer.
6
They came to Gilead and to the land of Tahtim Hodshi, then on to Dan Jaan and around toward Sidon.
7
They reached the stronghold of Tyre and all the cities of the Hivites and the Canaanites. Then they went out to the Negev in Judah at Beersheba.
8
When they had gone throughout all the land, they came back to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.
9
Then Joab reported the total of the census of the fighting men to the king. There were in Israel 800,000 brave men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were 500,000 men.
10
Then David's heart afflicted him after he had counted the men. So he said to Yahweh, "I have greatly sinned by doing this. Now, Yahweh, take away your servant's guilt, for I have acted very foolishly."
11
When David rose up in the morning, the word of Yahweh came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,
12
"Go say to David: 'This is what Yahweh says: "I am giving you three choices. Choose one of them."'"
13
So Gad went to David and said to him, "Will three years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months from your enemies while they pursue you? Or will there be three days of plague in your land? Now decide what answer I should return to him who sent me."
14
Then David said to Gad, "I am in deep trouble. Let us fall into Yahweh's hands rather than into the hand of man, for his merciful actions are very great."
15
So Yahweh sent a plague on Israel from the morning to a fixed time, and seventy thousand people died from Dan to Beersheba.
16
When the angel reached out with his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, Yahweh changed his mind because of the harm it would cause, and he said to the angel who was destroying people, "Enough! Now draw back your hand." At that time the angel of Yahweh was standing at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
17
Then David spoke to Yahweh when he saw the angel who had attacked the people, and said, "I have sinned, and I have acted perversely. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand punish me and my father's family!"
18
Then Gad came that day to David and said to him, "Go up and build an altar for Yahweh at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite."
19
So David went up as Gad instructed him to do, as Yahweh had commanded.
20
Araunah looked out and saw the king and his servants approaching. So Araunah went out and bowed to the king with his face to the ground.
21
Then Araunah said, "Why has my master the king come to me, his servant?" David replied, "To buy your threshing floor, so I can build an altar for Yahweh, so that the plague may be removed from the people."
22
Araunah said to David, "Take it as your own, my master the king. Do with it what is good in your sight. Look, here are oxen for the burnt offering and threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood.
23
All this, my king, I, Araunah, will give to you." Then he said to the king, "May Yahweh your God accept you."
24
The king said to Araunah, "No, I insist on buying it at a price. I will not offer as a burnt offering to Yahweh anything that costs me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
25
David built an altar for Yahweh there and offered on it burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. So Yahweh answered the prayer on behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was confined.
1 Kings
Chapter 1
1
When King David was old and advanced in years, they covered him with blankets, but he could not keep warm.
2
So his servants said to him, "Let us look for a young virgin for our master the king. Let her serve the king and take care of him. Let her lie in his arms so that our master the king may keep warm."
3
So they searched for a beautiful girl within all the borders of Israel. They found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.
4
The girl was very beautiful. She served the king and took care of him, but the king did not know her.
5
At that time, Adonijah son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king." So he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen with fifty men to run ahead of him.
6
His father had never troubled him, saying, "Why have you done this or that?" Adonijah was also a very handsome man, born next after Absalom.
7
He conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest. They followed Adonijah and helped him.
8
But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David did not follow Adonijah.
9
Adonijah sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened calves by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants.
10
But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.
11
Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, "Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and David our master does not know it?
12
Now therefore let me give you advice, so that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.
13
Go to King David; say to him, 'My master the king, did you not swear to your servant, saying, "Surely Solomon your son will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne?" Why then is Adonijah reigning?'
14
While you are there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words."
15
So Bathsheba went into the king's room. The king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.
16
Bathsheba bowed down and showed respect before the king. Then the king said, "What do you desire?"
17
She said to him, "My master, you swore to your servant by Yahweh your God, saying, 'Surely Solomon your son will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne.'
18
Now, see, Adonijah is king, and you, my master the king, do not know it.
19
He has sacrificed many cattle, fatted calves, and sheep, and has invited all the sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant.
20
As for you, my master the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, waiting for you to tell them who will sit on the throne after you, my master.
21
Otherwise it will happen, when my master the king lies down with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be regarded as criminals."
22
While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.
23
The servants told the king, "Nathan the prophet is here." When he came in before the king, he bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.
24
Nathan said, "My master the king, have you said, 'Adonijah will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne?'
25
For he has gone down today and sacrificed a great number of cattle, fatted calves, and sheep. He has invited all the king's sons, the captains of the army, and Abiathar the priest. They are eating and drinking before him, and saying, 'Long live King Adonijah!'
26
But as for me, your servant, Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon, he has not invited us.
27
Has my master the king done this without telling us, your servants, who should sit on the throne after him?"
28
Then King David answered and said, "Call Bathsheba back to me." She came into the king's presence and stood before the king.
29
The king made an oath and said, "As Yahweh lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all trouble,
30
as I vowed to you by Yahweh, the God of Israel, saying, 'Solomon your son will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place,' I will do this today."
31
Then Bathsheba bowed down and put her face to the ground and she showed honor to the king and said, "May my master King David live forever!"
32
King David said, "Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada." So they came before the king.
33
The king said to them, "Take with you the servants of your master, and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule and take him down to Gihon.
34
Let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel and blow the ram's horn and say, 'Long live King Solomon!'
35
Then you will come up after him, and he will come and sit on my throne; for he will be king in my place. I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah."
36
Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, "Let it be so! May Yahweh, the God of my master the king, confirm it.
37
As Yahweh has been with my master the king, so may he be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my master King David."
38
So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Kerethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride upon King David's mule; they brought him to Gihon.
39
Zadok the priest took the horn of oil out of the tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the ram's horn, and all the people said, "Long live King Solomon!"
40
Then all the people went up after him, and the people played the flutes and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth shook with their sound.
41
Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the ram's horn, he said, "Why is there an uproar in the city?"
42
While he was still speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest came. Adonijah said, "Come in, for you are a worthy man and bring good news."
43
Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, "Our master King David has made Solomon the king,
44
and the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Kerethites and the Pelethites. They have had Solomon ride on the king's mule.
45
Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon, and have come up from there rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise that you have heard.
46
Also, Solomon is sitting on the throne of the kingdom.
47
Moreover, the king's servants came to bless our master King David, saying, 'May your God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne.' Then the king bowed down on the bed.
48
The king also said, 'Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who has given a person to sit on my throne this day, and that my own eyes should see it.'"
49
Then all the guests of Adonijah were terrified. They stood up and each man went his way.
50
Adonijah was afraid of Solomon and rose up, went, and took hold of the horns of the altar.
51
Then it was told Solomon, saying, "See, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon, for he has laid hold on the horns of the altar, saying, 'Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will not kill his servant with the sword.'"
52
Solomon said, "If he will show himself a worthy man, not a hair of his will fall to the earth, but if wickedness is found in him, he will die."
53
So King Solomon sent men, who brought Adonijah down from the altar. He came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, "Go to your house."
Chapter 2
1
As the day of David's death approached, he commanded Solomon his son, saying,
2
"I am going the way of all the earth. Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man.
3
Keep the commands of Yahweh your God to walk in his ways, to obey his statutes, his commandments, his decisions, and his covenant decrees, being careful to do what is written in the law of Moses, so you may prosper in all you do, wherever you go,
4
so that Yahweh may fulfill his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, 'If your descendants carefully watch their conduct, to walk before me faithfully with all their heart and with all their soul, you will never cease to have a man on the throne of Israel.'
5
You know also what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two commanders of the armies of Israel, to Abner son of Ner, and to Amasa son of Jether, whom he killed. He shed the blood of war in peace and put the blood of war on the belt around his waist and on the sandals on his feet.
6
Deal with Joab by the wisdom you have learned, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.
7
However, show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for they came to me when I fled from Absalom your brother.
8
Look, there is with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite of Bahurim, who cursed me with a violent curse on the day I went to Mahanaim. Shimei came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by Yahweh, saying, 'I will not put you to death with the sword.'
9
Now therefore do not let him go free from punishment. You are a wise man, and you will know what you ought to do to him. You will bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood."
10
Then David lay down with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David.
11
The days that David reigned over Israel were forty years. He had reigned for seven years in Hebron and for thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
12
Then Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established.
13
Then Adonijah son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. She said, "Do you come peacefully?" He replied, "Peacefully."
14
Then he said, "I have something to say to you." So she replied, "Speak."
15
Adonijah said, "You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel expected me to be king. But things changed, and the kingdom was given to my brother, for it was his from Yahweh.
16
Now I have one request of you, and do not turn away from my face." Bathsheba said to him, "Speak."
17
He said, "Please speak to Solomon the king, for he will not turn away from your face, so that he may give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife."
18
Bathsheba said, "Very well, I will speak to the king."
19
Bathsheba therefore went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. The king rose to meet her and bowed down to her. Then he sat down on his throne and had a throne brought for the king's mother. She sat at his right hand.
20
Then she said, "I wish to ask one small request of you, for you will not turn away from my face." The king answered her, "Ask, my mother, for I will not turn away from your face."
21
She said, "Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as his wife."
22
King Solomon answered and said to his mother, "Why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Why do you not ask the kingdom for him also, for he is my elder brother—for him, for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab son of Zeruiah?"
23
Then King Solomon swore by Yahweh, saying, "May God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life.
24
Now therefore as Yahweh lives, who has established me and set me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house as he promised, surely Adonijah will be put to death today."
25
So King Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and Benaiah found Adonijah and put him to death.
26
Then to Abiathar the priest the king said, "Go to Anathoth, to your own fields. You are worthy of death, but I will not at this time put you to death, because you carried the ark of the Lord Yahweh before David my father and suffered in every way my father suffered."
27
So Solomon dismissed Abiathar from being priest to Yahweh, that he might fulfill the word of Yahweh, which he had spoken concerning the house of Eli at Shiloh.
28
The news came to Joab, for Joab had supported Adonijah, though he had not supported Absalom. So Joab fled to the tent of Yahweh and took hold of the horns of the altar.
29
It was told King Solomon that Joab had fled to the tent of Yahweh and was now beside the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying, "Go, execute him."
30
So Benaiah came to the tent of Yahweh and said to him, "The king says, 'Come out.'" Joab replied, "No, I will die here." So Benaiah returned to the king, saying, "Joab said he wanted to die at the altar."
31
The king said to him, "Do as he has said. Kill him and bury him so that you may take away from me and from my father's house the blood that Joab shed without cause.
32
May Yahweh return his blood on his own head, because without the knowledge of my father David he attacked two men more righteous and better than himself and killed them with the sword, Abner son of Ner, the captain of the army of Israel, and Amasa son of Jether, the captain of the army of Judah.
33
So may their blood return on the head of Joab and on the head of his descendants forever. But to David and his descendants, and to his house, and to his throne, may there be peace forever from Yahweh."
34
Then Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up and attacked Joab and killed him. He was buried in his own house in the wilderness.
35
The king put Benaiah son of Jehoiada over the army in his place, and he put Zadok the priest in Abiathar's place.
36
Then the king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, and do not go out from there to any other place.
37
For on the day you go out, and pass over the Kidron Valley, know you for certain that you will surely die. Your blood will be on your own head."
38
So Shimei said to the king, "What you say is good. As my master the king has said, so your servant will do." So Shimei lived in Jerusalem for many days.
39
But at the end of three years, two of the servants of Shimei ran away to Achish son of Maakah, the king of Gath. So they told Shimei, saying, "See, your servants are in Gath."
40
Then Shimei arose, saddled his donkey and went to Achish in Gath to seek his servants. He went and brought his servants back from Gath.
41
When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned,
42
the king sent and called for Shimei and said to him, "Did I not make you swear by Yahweh and testify to you, saying, 'Know for certain that on the day you go out and go to any other place, you will surely die'? Then you said to me, 'What I have heard is good.'
43
Why then have you not kept your oath to Yahweh and the command that I gave you?"
44
The king also said to Shimei, "You know in your heart all the wickedness that you did to my father David. Therefore Yahweh will return your wickedness on your own head.
45
But King Solomon will be blessed and the throne of David will be established before Yahweh forever."
46
Then the king gave a command to Benaiah son of Jehoiada. He went out and put Shimei to death.
So the kingdom was well established in Solomon's hand.
Chapter 3
1
Solomon allied himself by marriage with Pharaoh king of Egypt. He took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her into the city of David until he had finished building his own house, the house of Yahweh, and the wall around Jerusalem.
2
The people were sacrificing at the high places, because no house had yet been built for the name of Yahweh.
3
Solomon showed his love for Yahweh by walking in the statutes of David his father, except that he sacrificed and burned incense at the high places.
4
The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place there. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.
5
Yahweh appeared at Gibeon to Solomon in a dream by night; he said, "Ask! What should I give you?"
6
So Solomon said, "You have shown great covenant faithfulness to your servant, David my father, because he walked before you in trustworthiness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart. You have kept for him this great covenant faithfulness and have given him a son to sit on his throne today.
7
Now Yahweh my God, you have made your servant king in the place of David my father, though I am only a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in.
8
Your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted.
9
So give your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, so that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?"
10
This request of Solomon pleased the Lord.
11
So God said to him, "Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice,
12
see, now I will do all you asked of me when you gave me your request. I give you a wise and an understanding heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, and no one like you will rise up after you.
13
I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.
14
If you will walk in my ways to keep my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days."
15
Then Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. He came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. He offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.
16
Then two women who were prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.
17
One woman said, "Oh, my master, this woman and I live in the same house, and I gave birth to a child with her in the house.
18
It happened on the third day after I gave birth that this woman also gave birth. We were together. There was no one else with us in the house, but only the two of us in the house.
19
Then this woman's son died in the night, because she lay on him.
20
So she arose in the middle of the night and took my son from beside me, while your servant slept, and laid him in her bosom, and laid her dead son at my breast.
21
When I rose in the morning to nurse my child, he was dead. But when I had looked at him carefully in the morning, he was not my son, whom I had borne."
22
Then the other woman said, "No, the living one is my son, and the dead one is your son." The first woman said, "No, the dead one is your son, and the living one is my son." This is how they spoke before the king.
23
Then the king said, "One of you says, 'This is my son who is alive, and your son is dead,' and the other says, 'No, your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.'"
24
The king said, "Bring me a sword." So they brought a sword before the king.
25
Then the king said, "Divide the living child in two, and give half to this woman and half to the other."
26
Then the woman whose son was alive spoke to the king, for her heart was full of compassion for her son, and she said, "Oh, my master, give her the living child, and by no means kill him." But the other woman said, "He will be neither mine nor yours. Divide him."
27
Then the king answered and said, "Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him. She is his mother."
28
When all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had rendered, they feared the king, because they saw that the wisdom of God was in him for giving judgments.
Chapter 4
1
King Solomon was king over all Israel.
2
These were his officials: Azariah son of Zadok was the priest.
3
Elihoreph and Ahijah sons of Shisha, were secretaries. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder.
4
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the army. Zadok and Abiathar were priests.
5
Azariah son of Nathan was over the officers. Zabud son of Nathan was a priest and the king's friend.
6
Ahishar was over the household. Adoniram son of Abda was over the men who were subjected to forced labor.
7
Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household. Each man had to make provision for one month in the year.
8
These were their names: Ben-Hur, in the hill country of Ephraim;
9
Ben-Deker in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, and Elon Bethhanan;
10
Ben-Hesed, in Arubboth (to him belonged Sokoh and all the land of Hepher);
11
Ben-Abinadab, in all Naphoth Dor (he had Taphath the daughter of Solomon as his wife);
12
Baana son of Ahilud, in Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth Shan that is beside Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth Shan to Abel Meholah as far as the other side of Jokmeam;
13
Ben-Geber, in Ramoth Gilead (to him belonged the towns of Jair son of Manasseh, that are in Gilead, and the region of Argob belonged to him, which is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and bronze gate bars);
14
Ahinadab son of Iddo, in Mahanaim;
15
Ahimaaz, in Naphtali (he also married Basemath the daughter of Solomon as his wife);
16
Baana son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth;
17
Jehoshaphat son of Paruah, in Issachar;
18
Shimei son of Ela, in Benjamin;
19
and Geber son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan, and he was the only deputy who was in the land.
20
Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand by the sea. They were eating and drinking and were rejoicing.
21
Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.
22
Solomon's provision for one day was thirty cors of fine flour and sixty cors of meal,
23
ten head of cattle fattened in the stall, twenty head of cattle taken from the pastures, and one hundred sheep, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl.
24
For he had dominion over all the region on this side of the River, from Tiphsah as far as to Gaza, over all the kings on this side of the River, and he had peace on all sides around him.
25
Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.
26
Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.
27
Those officers provided food for King Solomon and for all who came to King Solomon's table, every man in his month. They let nothing be lacking.
28
They also brought to the proper place barley and straw for the chariot horses and riding horses, each one bringing in what he was able.
29
God gave Solomon great wisdom and understanding, and wideness of understanding like the sand on the seashore.
30
Solomon's wisdom exceeded the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.
31
He was wiser than all men—than Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, Kalkol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol—and his fame reached all the surrounding nations.
32
He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs were 1,005 in number.
33
He described the plants, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall. He explained also about animals, birds, creeping things, and fish.
34
People came from all the nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon. They came from all kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.
Chapter 5
1
Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon for he had heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father; for Hiram had always loved David.
2
Solomon sent word to Hiram, saying,
3
"You know that David my father could not build a house for the name of Yahweh his God because of the wars that surrounded him, for during his lifetime Yahweh was putting his enemies under the soles of his feet.
4
But now, Yahweh my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary nor disaster.
5
So I intend to build a temple for the name of Yahweh my God, as Yahweh spoke to David my father, saying, 'Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, will build the temple for my name.'
6
Now therefore command that they cut cedars from Lebanon for me. My servants will join your servants, and I will pay you for your servants so that you are paid fairly for everything you agreed to do. For you know there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians."
7
When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, "May Yahweh be blessed today, who has given to David a wise son over this great people."
8
Hiram sent word to Solomon, saying, "I have heard the message that you have sent to me. I will provide all the wood of cedar and cypress that you desire.
9
My servants will bring the trees down from Lebanon to the sea, and I will make them into rafts to go by sea to the place that you direct me. I will have them broken up there, and you will take them away. You will do what I desire by giving food for my household."
10
So Hiram gave Solomon all the timber of cedar and fir that he desired.
11
Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors of wheat for food to his household and twenty thousand baths of pure oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year.
12
Yahweh gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a covenant.
13
King Solomon conscripted labor out of all Israel. The forced laborers numbered thirty thousand men.
14
He sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month in shifts. One month they were in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was over the men who were subjected to forced labor.
15
Solomon had seventy thousand who carried burdens and eighty thousand who were stonecutters in the mountains,
16
besides Solomon's 3,300 chief officers who were over the work and who supervised the workers.
17
At the king's command they quarried large precious stones with which to lay the foundation of the temple.
18
So Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the men from Byblos
did the cutting and prepared the timber and the stones to build the temple.
Chapter 6
1
So Solomon began to build the temple of Yahweh. This happened in the 480th year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month.
2
The temple that King Solomon built for Yahweh was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high.
3
The portico in front of the temple's main hall was twenty cubits in length, equal to the width of the temple, and ten cubits deep in front of the temple.
4
For the house he made windows with frames that made them more narrow at the outside than on the inside.
5
Against the walls of the main chamber he built rooms around it, around both the outer room and the inner room. He built rooms all around the sides.
6
The lowest story was five cubits wide, the middle was six cubits wide, and the third was seven cubits wide. For on the outside he made offsets in the wall of the house all around so that the beams would not be inserted in the walls of the house.
7
The house was built of stones prepared at the quarry. No hammer, ax, or any iron tool was heard in the house while it was being built.
8
On the south side of the temple there was an entrance at the ground level, then one went up by stairs to the middle level, and from the middle to the third level.
9
So Solomon built the temple and finished it; he covered the house with beams and planks of cedar.
10
He built the side rooms against the inner chambers of the temple, each side five cubits high; they were joined to the house with timbers of cedar.
11
The word of Yahweh came to Solomon, saying,
12
"Concerning this temple which you are building, if you walk in my statutes and do justice, keep all my commandments and walk in them, then I will confirm my promise with you that I had made to David your father.
13
I will live among the people of Israel and will not abandon them."
14
So Solomon built the house and finished it.
15
Then he built the interior walls of the house with boards of cedar. From the floor of the house to the ceiling, he covered them on the inside with wood, and he covered the floor of the house with cypress boards.
16
He built twenty cubits onto the rear of the house with boards of cedar from the floor to the ceiling. He built this room to be the inner room, the most holy place.
17
The main hall, that is, the holy place that was in front of the most holy place, was forty cubits long.
18
There was cedar inside the house, carved in the shape of gourds and open flowers. All was cedar inside. No stonework was visible on the inside.
19
Solomon prepared the inner room inside the house in order to place the ark of the covenant of Yahweh there.
20
The inner room was twenty cubits in length, twenty cubits in width, and twenty cubits in height. Solomon overlaid the walls with pure gold and covered the altar with cedar wood.
21
Solomon overlaid the inside of the temple with pure gold, and he placed chains of gold across the front of the inner room, and overlaid the front with gold.
22
He overlaid the entire interior with gold until all the temple was finished. He also overlaid with gold the whole altar that belonged to the inner room.
23
Solomon made two cherubim of olivewood, each ten cubits high, for the inner room.
24
One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long and its other wing was also five cubits long. So from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other there was a distance of ten cubits.
25
The other cherub also had a wingspan of ten cubits. Both the cherubim were of the same dimensions and shape.
26
The height of one cherub was ten cubits and the other cherub was the same.
27
Solomon placed the cherubim in the innermost room. The wings of the cherubim were stretched out so that the wing of one touched one wall and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall. Their wings touched one another in the middle of the most holy place.
28
Solomon overlaid the cherubim with gold.
29
He carved all the walls of the house around about with figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, in the outer and inner rooms.
30
Solomon overlaid the floor of the house with gold, in both the outer and inner rooms.
31
Solomon made doors of olivewood for the entrance to the inner room. The lintel and doorposts had five indented sections.
32
So he made two doors of olivewood, and he made on them carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers. He overlaid them with gold and he spread the gold on the cherubim and palm trees.
33
In this way, Solomon also made for the temple entrance doorposts of olive wood having four indented sections
34
and two doors of cypress wood. The two leaves of the one door were folding and the two leaves of the other door were folding.
35
He carved on them cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, and he evenly overlaid gold on the carved work.
36
He built the inner courtyard with three rows of cut stone and a row of cedar beams.
37
The foundation of the house of Yahweh was laid in the fourth year, in the month of Ziv.
38
In the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished in all its parts and conforming to all its specifications. Solomon took seven years to build the temple.
Chapter 7
1
Solomon took thirteen years to build his own palace.
2
He built the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was one hundred cubits, its width was fifty cubits, and its height was thirty cubits. The palace was built with four rows of cedar pillars with cedar beams on the pillars.
3
The house was roofed with cedar that rested on beams. Those beams were supported by pillars. There were forty-five beams, fifteen in a row.
4
There were beams in three rows, and each window was opposite another window in three sets.
5
All the doors and posts were made square with beams, and window was opposite window in three sets.
6
There was a colonnade fifty cubits long and thirty cubits wide, with a portico in front and pillars and a roof.
7
Solomon built the hall of the throne where he was to judge, the hall of justice. It was covered with cedar from the floor to the ceiling.
8
Solomon's house in which he was to live, in another courtyard within the palace grounds, was designed in a similar way. He also built a house like this for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had taken as a wife.
9
These buildings were adorned with costly hewn stones, precisely measured and cut with a saw and smoothed on all sides. These stones were used from the foundation to the stones on top, and also on the outside to the great court.
10
The foundation was constructed with very large, costly stones of eight and ten cubits in length.
11
Above were costly hewn stones precisely cut to size, and cedar beams.
12
The great courtyard surrounding the palace had three rows of cut stone and a row of cedar beams like the courtyard of the temple of Yahweh and the temple portico.
13
King Solomon sent for Huram and brought him from Tyre.
14
Huram was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali; his father was a man of Tyre, a craftsman in bronze. Huram was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill to do great work with bronze. He came to King Solomon to work with bronze for the king.
15
Huram fashioned the two pillars of bronze, each eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference.
16
He made two capitals of polished bronze to set on the tops of the pillars. The height of each capital was five cubits.
17
Checker latticework and wreaths of chain work for the capitals decorated the top of the pillars, seven for each capital.
18
So Huram made two rows of pomegranates around the top of each pillar to decorate their capitals.
19
The capitals on the tops of the portico pillars were decorated with lilies, four cubits high.
20
The capitals on these two pillars also included, close to their very top, two hundred pomegranates in rows all around.
21
He raised up the pillars at the temple portico. The pillar on the right was named Jakin, and the pillar on the left was named Boaz.
22
On the top of the pillars were decorations like lilies. The fashioning of the pillars was done in this way.
23
Huram made the round sea of cast metal, ten cubits from brim to brim. Its height was five cubits, and it was thirty cubits in circumference.
24
Under the brim encircling the sea were gourds, ten in each cubit, cast in one piece with it when that basin was cast.
25
The sea stood on twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, three looking toward the west, three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east. It was set on top of them, and all their hindquarters were toward the inside.
26
The sea was as thick as the width of a hand, and its brim was forged like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. The sea held two thousand baths of water.
27
Huram made the ten stands of bronze. Each stand was four cubits long and four cubits wide, and the height was three cubits.
28
The work of the stands was like this. They had panels that stood between frames,
29
and on the panels and on the frames were lions, oxen, and cherubim. Above and below the lions and oxen were wreaths of hammered work.
30
Every stand had four bronze wheels and axles, and its four corners had supports beneath for the basin. The supports were cast with wreaths on the side of each one.
31
The opening was round like a pedestal, a cubit and a half wide, and was within a crown that rose up a cubit. On the opening were engravings, and their panels were square, not round.
32
The four wheels were underneath the panels, and the axles of the wheels and their housings were in the stand. The height of a wheel was a cubit and a half.
33
The wheels were forged like chariot wheels. Their housings, rims, spokes, and hubs were all cast metal.
34
There were four handles at the four corners of each stand, forged into the stand itself.
35
In the top of the stands there was a round band half a cubit deep, and on the top of the stand its supports and panels were attached.
36
On the surfaces of the supports and on the panels Huram engraved cherubim, lions, and palm trees that covered the space available, and they were surrounded by wreaths.
37
He made the ten stands in this manner. All of them were cast in the same molds, and they had one size, and the same shape.
38
Huram made ten basins of bronze. One basin could hold forty baths of water. Each basin was four cubits across and there was one basin on each of ten stands.
39
He made five stands on the south-facing side of the temple and five on the north-facing side of the temple. He set the sea on the east corner, facing toward the south of the temple.
40
Huram made the basins and the shovels and the sprinkling bowls. Then he finished all the work that he did for King Solomon in the temple of Yahweh:
41
the two pillars, and the bowl-like capitals that were on top of the two pillars, and the two sets of decorative latticework to cover the two bowl like capitals that were on top of the pillars.
42
He made the four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of decorative latticework (two rows of pomegranates for each set of latticework to cover the two bowl-like capitals that were on the pillars);
43
the ten stands, and the ten basins on the stands.
44
He made the large basin called the sea with its twelve oxen under it;
45
also the pots, shovels, basins, and all the other implements. Huram made them out of polished bronze, for King Solomon, for the temple of Yahweh.
46
The king had cast them in the plain of the Jordan, in the clay ground between Sukkoth and Zarethan.
47
Solomon did not weigh all the utensils because there were too many to weigh, because the weight of the bronze could not be measured.
48
Solomon had made all the furnishings that were in the temple of Yahweh out of gold: the golden altar and the table on which the bread of the presence was to be placed;
49
the lampstands, five on the right side and five on the left, in front of the inner room, were of pure gold, and the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs were of gold.
50
Solomon also had made the cups, lamp trimmers, basins, spoons, and incense burners, all of which were made of pure gold; he had sockets of gold made for the doors of the inner room (which was the most holy place), and for the doors of the main hall of the temple.
51
In this way, all the work that King Solomon directed for the house of Yahweh was finished. So Solomon brought in the things that were set apart by David, his father, and the silver, the gold, and the furnishings, and put them into the storerooms of the house of Yahweh.
Chapter 8
1
Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes, and the leaders of the families of the people of Israel, before himself in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh from the city of David, that is, Zion.
2
All the men of Israel assembled before King Solomon at the feast, in the month of Ethanim, which is the seventh month.
3
All the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.
4
They brought up the ark of Yahweh, the tent of meeting, and all the holy furnishings that were in the tent. The priests and the Levites brought these things up.
5
King Solomon and all the assembly of Israel came together before the ark, sacrificing sheep and cattle that could not be counted.
6
The priests brought in the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to its place, into the inner room of the house, to the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubim.
7
For the cherubim spread out their wings to the place of the ark, and they covered the ark and the poles by which it was carried.
8
The poles were so long that their ends were seen from the holy place in front of the inner room, but they could not be seen from outside. They are there to this day.
9
There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone that Moses had put there at Horeb, when Yahweh made a covenant with the people of Israel when they came out of the land of Egypt.
10
It came about that when the priests came out of the holy place, the cloud filled the temple of Yahweh.
11
The priests could not stand to serve because of the cloud, for the glory of Yahweh filled his house.
12
Then Solomon said, "Yahweh has said
that he would live in thick darkness,
13
But I have built you a lofty residence,
a place for you to live in forever."
14
Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing.
15
He said, "May Yahweh, the God of Israel, be praised, who spoke to David my father, and has fulfilled it with his own hands, saying,
16
'Since the day that I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, in order for my name to be there. However, I chose David to rule over my people Israel.'
17
Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
18
But Yahweh said to David my father, 'In that it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well for it to be in your heart.
19
Nevertheless you will not build the house; instead, your son, one who will be born from your loins, will build the house for my name.'
20
Yahweh has carried out the word that he had said, for I have arisen in the place of David my father, and I sit on the throne of Israel, as Yahweh promised. I have built the house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
21
I have made a place for the ark there, in which is Yahweh's covenant, which he made with our fathers when he brought them out of the land of Egypt."
22
Solomon stood before the altar of Yahweh, before all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward the heavens.
23
He said, "Yahweh, God of Israel, there is no God like you in the heavens above or on the earth below, who keeps his covenant faithfulness with your servants who walk before you with all their heart;
24
you who have kept with your servant David my father, what you promised him. Yes, you spoke with your mouth and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is today.
25
Now then, Yahweh, God of Israel, carry out what you have promised to your servant David my father, when you said, 'You will not fail to have a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful to walk before me, as you have walked before me.'
26
Now then, God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you have spoken to your servant David my father.
27
But will God actually live on the earth? Look, the entire universe and heaven itself cannot contain you—how much less can this temple that I have built!
28
Yet please respect this prayer of your servant and his humble request, Yahweh my God; listen to the cry and prayer that your servant prays before you today.
29
May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, to the place about which you have said, 'My name and my presence will be there'—in order to listen to the prayers that your servant will pray toward this place.
30
So listen to the humble request of your servant and of your people Israel when we pray toward this place. Yes, listen from the place where you live, from the heavens; and when you listen, forgive.
31
If a man sins against his neighbor and is required to swear an oath, and if he comes and swears an oath before your altar in this house,
32
listen from the heavens and act. Judge your servants, condemning the wicked and bringing what he has done upon his own head. Declare the innocent not guilty and give to him according to his righteousness.
33
When your people Israel are defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you, if they turn back to you, confess your name, pray, and seek your favor in this temple—
34
then please listen in the heavens and forgive the sin of your people Israel; bring them back to the land that you gave to their ancestors.
35
When the skies are shut up and there is no rain because the people have sinned against you—if they pray toward this place, confess your name, and turn from their sin when you have afflicted them—
36
then listen in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants and of your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk. Send rain on your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance.
37
Suppose there is famine in the land, or suppose that there is disease, blight or mildew, locusts or caterpillars; or suppose that an enemy attacks the city gates in their land, or that there is any plague or sickness—
38
and suppose then that prayers and humble requests are made by a person or by all your people Israel—each knowing the plague in his own heart as he spreads out his hands toward this temple.
39
Then listen from heaven, the place where you live, forgive and act, and reward every person for all he does; you know his heart, because you and you only know the hearts of all human beings.
40
Do this so that they may fear you all the days that they live on the land that you gave to our ancestors.
41
In addition, concerning the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel: When he comes from a distant country because of your name—
42
for they will hear of your great name, your mighty hand, and your raised arm—when he comes and prays toward this temple,
43
then please listen from heaven, the place where you live, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you. Do this so that all the peoples on earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel. Do this so they might know that this house I have built is called by your name.
44
Suppose that your people go out to battle against an enemy, by whatever way you may send them, and suppose that they pray to you, Yahweh, toward the city that you have chosen, and toward the house that I have built for your name.
45
Then listen in the heavens to their prayer and their request, and help their cause.
46
Suppose that they sin against you, since there is no one who does not sin, and suppose that you are angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, so that the enemy takes them away captive to their land, whether distant or near.
47
Then suppose that they realize they are in the land where they have been exiled, and suppose that they repent and seek favor from you from the land of their captors. Suppose that they say, 'We have acted perversely and sinned. We have behaved wickedly.'
48
Suppose that they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who captured them, and suppose that they pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their ancestors, and toward the city that you chose, and toward the house that I have built for your name.
49
Then from heaven, the place where you live, listen to their prayer and their request for help, and you will make matters right for them.
50
Forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions that they have committed against you, and make them objects of compassion before those who have taken them captive, and cause their captors to have compassion on them.
51
They are your people and your inheritance, whom you rescued out of Egypt as if from the middle of a furnace where iron is forged.
52
May your eyes be open to the humble request of your servant and to the requests of your people Israel, to listen to them whenever they cry to you.
53
For you separated them from among all the peoples of the earth to belong to you and receive your promises, just as you explained by Moses your servant, when you brought our fathers out of Egypt, Lord Yahweh."
54
So it was that when Solomon had finished praying all this prayer and request for favor to Yahweh, he arose from before the altar of Yahweh, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread out toward the heavens.
55
He stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel in a loud voice, saying,
56
"May Yahweh be praised, who has given rest to his people Israel, keeping all his promises. Not one word has failed out of all Yahweh's good promises that he made with Moses his servant.
57
May Yahweh our God be with us, as he was with our ancestors. May he never leave us or abandon us,
58
that he may incline our hearts to him, to live in all his ways and keep his commandments and his regulations and his statutes, which he commanded our fathers.
59
Let these words I have spoken, by which I have sought the favor of Yahweh, be near Yahweh our God day and night, so that he may help the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel, as every day will require;
60
that all the peoples of the earth may know that Yahweh, he is God, and there is no other God!
61
Therefore let your heart be true to Yahweh our God, to walk in his statutes and keep his commandments, as on this day."
62
So the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices to Yahweh.
63
Solomon offered a sacrifice of fellowship offerings to Yahweh: twenty-two thousand cattle and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people of Israel dedicated the house of Yahweh.
64
The same day the king set apart the middle of the courtyard in front of the temple of Yahweh, for there he offered the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar that was before Yahweh was too small to receive the burnt offering, the grain offerings, and the fat of the fellowship offerings.
65
So Solomon held the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly, from Lebo Hamath to the brook of Egypt, before Yahweh our God for seven days and also for another seven days, a total of fourteen days.
66
On the eighth day he sent the people away, and they blessed the king and went to their tents with joyful and glad hearts for all the goodness that Yahweh had shown to David, his servant, and to Israel, his people.
Chapter 9
1
After Solomon had finished building the house of Yahweh and the king's palace, and after he had accomplished all that he desired to do,
2
Yahweh appeared to Solomon a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon.
3
Then Yahweh said to him, "I have heard your prayer and your request for favor that you have made before me. I have set apart this house, which you have built, to myself, to put my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.
4
As for you, if you walk before me as David your father walked in integrity of heart and in uprightness, obeying all that I have commanded you and keeping my statutes and my decrees,
5
then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, 'A descendant of yours will never fail to be on the throne of Israel.'
6
But if you turn away, you or your children, and do not keep my commandments and my statutes that I have placed before you, and if you go and worship other gods and bow down to them,
7
then will I cut off Israel from off the ground that I have given them; and this house that I have set apart to my name, I will cast it out of my sight, and Israel will become an example to be mocked and an object of ridicule among all peoples.
8
This temple will become a heap of ruins, and everyone who passes by it will be shocked and will hiss. They will ask, 'Why has Yahweh done this to this land and to this house?'
9
Others will answer, 'Because they abandoned Yahweh, their God, who had brought their ancestors out of the land of Egypt, and they laid hold of other gods and bowed down to them and worshiped them. That is why Yahweh has brought all this disaster on them.'"
10
It came about at the end of twenty years that Solomon had finished building the two buildings, the temple of Yahweh and the king's palace.
11
Now Hiram, the king of Tyre, had furnished Solomon with cedar and cypress trees, and with gold—all that Solomon desired—so King Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.
12
Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities that Solomon had given him, but they did not please him.
13
So Hiram said, "What cities are these which you have given me, my brother?" Hiram called them the Land of Kabul, which they are still called today.
14
Hiram had sent to the king 120 talents of gold.
15
This is the account of the forced labor which King Solomon imposed to build the temple of Yahweh and his own palace, the Millo, the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.
16
Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up and taken Gezer. He burned it and killed the Canaanites in the city. Then Pharaoh gave the city to his daughter, Solomon's wife, as a wedding gift.
17
So Solomon rebuilt Gezer and Beth Horon the Lower,
18
Baalath and Tamar
in the wilderness in the land of Judah,
19
and all the store cities that he possessed, and the cities for his chariots and the cities for his horsemen, and whatever he wished to build for his pleasure in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the lands under his rule.
20
As for all the people who were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of the people of Israel,
21
their descendants who were left after them in the land, whom the people of Israel were not able to totally destroy—Solomon made them into forced laborers, which they are to this day.
22
However, Solomon made no forced laborers of the people of Israel. They were his soldiers, his servants, his officials, his officers, and commanders of his chariot forces and his horsemen.
23
These were also the chief officers managing the supervisors who were over Solomon's works, 550 of them, who supervised the people who did the work.
24
Pharaoh's daughter moved from the city of David to the house that Solomon had built for her. Later, Solomon built the Millo.
25
Three times each year Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar that he built for Yahweh, burning incense with them on the altar that was before Yahweh. So he completed the temple and was now using it.
26
King Solomon built a fleet of ships in Ezion Geber, which is near Elath on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom.
27
Hiram sent servants to Solomon's fleet, sailors who were familiar with the sea, with Solomon's own servants.
28
They went to Ophir with servants of Solomon. From there they brought back 420 talents of gold for King Solomon.
Chapter 10
1
When the queen of Sheba heard the report about Solomon concerning the name of Yahweh, she came to test him with hard questions.
2
She came to Jerusalem with a very long caravan, with camels loaded with spices, much gold, and many precious gemstones. When she arrived, she told Solomon all that was in her heart.
3
Solomon answered all her questions. There was nothing she asked that the king did not answer.
4
When the queen of Sheba saw all Solomon's wisdom, the palace that he had built,
5
the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the work of his servants and their clothing, also his cupbearers, and the manner in which he offered burnt offerings in the house of Yahweh, there was no more breath in her.
6
She said to the king, "It is true, the report that I heard in my own land of your words and your wisdom.
7
I did not believe the message until I came here, and now my eyes have seen it. Not half was told me! In wisdom and wealth you have exceeded the report that I heard.
8
How blessed are your wives, and how blessed are your servants who constantly stand before you, because they hear your wisdom.
9
May Yahweh your God be praised, who has taken pleasure in you, who placed you on the throne of Israel. Because Yahweh loved Israel forever, he has made you king, for you to do justice and righteousness!"
10
She gave the king 120 talents of gold and a large amount of spices and precious stones. No greater amount of spices as these that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon was ever given to him again.
11
The fleet of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, also brought from Ophir a large amount of almug wood and precious stones.
12
The king made almug wood pillars for the temple of Yahweh and for the king's palace, and harps and lutes for the singers. No such quantity of almug wood has ever come or been seen again to this day.
13
King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba everything she wished for, whatever she asked, in addition to what Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she returned to her own land with her servants.
14
Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold,
15
besides the gold that the traders and merchants brought. All the kings of Arabia and the governors in the country also brought gold and silver to Solomon.
16
King Solomon made two hundred large shields of beaten gold. Six hundred shekels of gold went into each one.
17
He also made three hundred shields of beaten gold. Three minas of gold went into each shield; the king put them into the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.
18
Then the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with the finest gold.
19
There were six steps to the throne, and the back of it had a rounded top. There were armrests on each side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the armrests.
20
Twelve lions stood on the steps, one on each side of each of the six steps. There was no throne like it in any other kingdom.
21
All King Solomon's drinking cups were gold, and all the drinking cups in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None were silver, because silver was not considered valuable in Solomon's days.
22
The king had at sea a fleet of ships of Tarshish, along with the fleet of Hiram. Once every three years the fleet brought gold, silver, and ivory, as well as apes and baboons.
23
So King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the world in riches and in wisdom.
24
All the earth sought the presence of Solomon in order to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
25
Those who visited brought tribute, vessels of silver and of gold, and clothes, armor, and spices, as well as horses and mules, year after year.
26
Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. He had 1,400 chariots and twelve thousand horsemen that he stationed in the chariot cities and with himself in Jerusalem.
27
The king had silver in Jerusalem, as much as the stones on the ground. He made cedar wood to be as abundant as the sycamore fig trees that are in the lowlands.
28
The horses that belonged to Solomon were imported from Egypt, and Kue and the king's merchants purchased them from Kue.
29
Chariots were brought up from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver each, and horses for 150 shekels each. Many of these were then sold to all the kings of the Hittites and Aram.
Chapter 11
1
Now King Solomon loved many foreign women including the daughter of Pharaoh—women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites.
2
They were from the nations about which Yahweh said to the people of Israel, "You will not go among them to marry, neither will they come among you, for they will certainly turn your heart to their gods." In spite of this command, Solomon was affectionate toward these women in love.
3
Solomon had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines. His wives turned his heart away.
4
For when Solomon grew old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods; his heart was not fully surrendered to Yahweh his God, as was the heart of David his father.
5
For Solomon followed Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and he followed Molech, the disgusting idol of the Ammonites.
6
Solomon did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh; he did not fully follow Yahweh as David his father had done.
7
Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh, the disgusting idol of Moab, on a hill east of Jerusalem, and also for Molech, the disgusting idol of the people of Ammon.
8
He also built high places for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods at them.
9
Yahweh was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from him, the God of Israel, even though he had appeared to him twice
10
and commanded him about this very thing, that he should not go after other gods. But Solomon did not obey what Yahweh commanded.
11
Therefore Yahweh said to Solomon, "Because you have done this and have not kept the covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and give it to your servant.
12
However, for David your father's sake, I will not do it in your lifetime, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son.
13
Yet I will not tear away all the kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son for David my servant's sake, and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen."
14
Then Yahweh raised up an adversary to Solomon, Hadad the Edomite. He was from the royal family of Edom.
15
When David was in Edom, Joab the captain of the army had gone up to bury the dead, every man who had been killed in Edom.
16
Joab and all Israel remained there six months until he had killed every male in Edom.
17
But Hadad fled to Egypt with other Edomites, his father's servants, when Hadad was still a little child.
18
They left Midian and came to Paran, from where they took men with them to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave him a house and land and food.
19
Hadad found great favor in the sight of Pharaoh, so that Pharaoh gave him a wife, his own wife's sister, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.
20
The sister of Tahpenes gave birth to Hadad's son. They named him Genubath. Tahpenes raised him in Pharaoh's palace. So Genubath lived in Pharaoh's palace among the children of Pharaoh.
21
While he was in Egypt, Hadad heard that David had lain down with his ancestors and that Joab the captain of the army was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, "Let me depart, so I may go to my own country."
22
Then Pharaoh said to him, "But what have you lacked with me, that you now seek to go to your own country?" Hadad answered, "Nothing. Please let me go."
23
God also raised up another adversary to Solomon, Rezon son of Eliada, who had fled from his master Hadadezer king of Zobah.
24
Rezon gathered men to himself and became captain over a marauding band when David killed the men of Zobah. Rezon's men went to Damascus and lived there, and Rezon reigned in Damascus.
25
He was an enemy of Israel all the days of Solomon, along with the trouble that Hadad caused. Rezon abhorred Israel and reigned over Aram.
26
Then Jeroboam son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow, also lifted up his hand against the king.
27
He lifted up his hand against the king because Solomon had built up the place located at Millo and repaired the opening in the city wall of David his father.
28
Jeroboam was a man of great ability. Solomon saw that the young man was industrious, so he appointed him over all the labor of the house of Joseph.
29
At that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the road. Now Ahijah had dressed in a new garment and the two men were alone in the field.
30
Then Ahijah grabbed hold of the new garment that was on him and tore it into twelve pieces.
31
He said to Jeroboam, "Take ten pieces, for Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, 'Look, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and I will give ten tribes to you
32
(but Solomon will have one tribe, for my servant David's sake and for Jerusalem's sake—the city that I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel),
33
because they have abandoned me and have worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Molech the god of the people of Ammon. They have not walked in my ways, to do what is right in my eyes, and to keep my statutes and my decrees, as did David his father.
34
I will not take the whole kingdom out of Solomon's hand. I have made him ruler all the days of his life, for David my servant's sake whom I chose, the one who kept my commandments and my statutes.
35
But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand and I will give it to you, ten tribes.
36
I will give one tribe to Solomon's son, so that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city in which I have chosen to put my name.
37
I will take you, and you will rule to fulfill all that you desire, and you will be king over Israel.
38
If you listen to all that I command you, and if you walk in my ways and do what is right in my eyes, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did, then I will be with you and will build you a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you.
39
I will punish the descendants of David, but not forever.'"
40
So Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam got up and fled into Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, and he remained in Egypt until the death of Solomon.
41
As for the other matters concerning Solomon, all that he did and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the events of Solomon?
42
Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel for forty years.
43
He lay down with his ancestors and he was buried in the city of David his father. Rehoboam his son became king in his place.
Chapter 12
1
Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel was coming to Shechem to make him king.
2
It happened that Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of this (for he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon), for Jeroboam had settled down in Egypt.
3
So they sent and called him, and Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came and said to Rehoboam,
4
"Your father made our yoke heavy. Now make lighter the hard work of your father and make lighter the heavy yoke that he put on us, and we will serve you."
5
Rehoboam said to them, "Go away for three days, then come back to me." So the people went away.
6
King Rehoboam consulted with the old men who had stood before Solomon his father while he was alive, and he said, "How do you advise me to answer this people?"
7
They spoke to him and said, "If you will be a servant today to these people and serve them, and answer them by saying good words to them, then they will always be your servants."
8
But Rehoboam ignored the advice that the old men had given him and he consulted with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him.
9
He said to them, "What advice do you give me that we may answer the people who spoke to me and said, 'Lighten the yoke that your father put on us'?"
10
The young men who had grown up with Rehoboam spoke to him, saying, "Speak to these people who told you that your father Solomon made their yoke heavy but that you must make it lighter. You should say to them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist.
11
So now, although my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father punished you with whips, but I will punish you with scorpions.'"
12
So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king had instructed when he said, "Come back to me on the third day."
13
The king answered the people roughly and ignored the advice of the old men that they had given him.
14
He spoke to them following the advice of the young men; he said, "My father burdened you with a heavy yoke, but I will add to your yoke. My father punished you with whips, but I will punish you with scorpions."
15
So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of events brought about by Yahweh, that he might carry out his word that he had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.
16
When all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered him and said,
"What share do we have in David?
We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse!
Go to your tents, Israel.
Now see to your own house, David."
So Israel went back to their tents.
17
But as for the people of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam became king over them.
18
Then King Rehoboam sent Adoniram, who was over the forced laborers, but all Israel stoned him to death with stones. King Rehoboam fled quickly in his chariot to Jerusalem.
19
So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.
20
It happened that when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to their assembly and made him king over all Israel. There was no one who followed the family of David, except only the tribe of Judah.
21
When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin; there were 180,000 chosen men who were soldiers, to fight against the house of Israel, to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam son of Solomon.
22
But the word of God came to Shemaiah, the man of God; it said,
23
"Speak to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people; say,
24
'Yahweh says this: You must not attack or fight against your brothers the people of Israel. Each man must return to his home, for this thing has been made to happen by me.'" So they listened to the word of Yahweh and turned back and went their way, and they obeyed his word.
25
Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and lived there. He went out from there and built Peniel.
26
Jeroboam thought in his heart, "Now the kingdom will return to the house of David.
27
If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the temple of Yahweh at Jerusalem, then the heart of these people will turn again to their master, to Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah."
28
So King Jeroboam sought advice and made two calves of gold; he said to the people, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Look, these are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt."
29
He set up one in Bethel and the other in Dan.
30
So this act became a sin. The people went to one or the other, all the way to Dan.
31
Jeroboam made houses on high places and he also made priests from among all the people, who were not among the sons of Levi.
32
Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast that is in Judah, and he went up to the altar. He did so at Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made, and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places he had made.
33
Jeroboam went up to the altar that he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, in the month he had planned in his own mind; he ordained a feast for the people of Israel and went up to the altar to burn incense.
Chapter 13
1
A man of God came out of Judah by the word of Yahweh to Bethel. Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn incense.
2
He cried against the altar by the word of Yahweh: "Altar, altar! This is what Yahweh says, 'See, a son named Josiah will be born to the family of David, and on you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who now burn incense on you. On you they will burn human bones.'"
3
Then the man of God gave a sign the same day, saying, "This is the sign that Yahweh has spoken: 'Look, the altar will be split apart, and the ashes on it will be poured out.'"
4
When the king heard what the man of God said, that he had cried out against the altar at Bethel, Jeroboam reached out with his hand from the altar, saying, "Seize him." Then the hand with which he had reached out against the man dried up, so that he could not draw it back to himself.
5
(The altar was also split apart and the ashes poured out from the altar, as described by the sign that the man of God had given by the word of Yahweh.)
6
King Jeroboam answered and said to the man of God, "Plead for the favor of Yahweh your God and pray for me, so that my hand may be restored to me again." So the man of God prayed to Yahweh, and the king's hand was restored to him again, and it became as it was before.
7
The king said to the man of God, "Come home with me and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward."
8
The man of God said to the king, "Even if you give me half your possessions, I will not go with you, nor will I eat food or drink water in this place,
9
because Yahweh commanded me by his word, 'You will eat no bread nor drink water, nor return by the way that you came.'"
10
So the man of God left another way and did not return to his home by the way that he had come to Bethel.
11
Now there was an old prophet living in Bethel, and one of his sons came and told him all the things that the man of God had done that day in Bethel. His sons also told him the words that the man of God had spoken to the king.
12
Their father said to them, "Which way did he go?" Now his sons had seen the way the man of God from Judah had gone.
13
So he said to his sons, "Saddle the donkey for me." So they saddled the donkey and he rode off on it.
14
The old prophet went after the man of God and found him sitting under an oak tree; and he said to him, "Are you the man of God who came from Judah?" He answered, "I am."
15
Then the old prophet said to him, "Come home with me and eat food."
16
The man of God answered, "I may not return with you nor go in with you, neither will I eat food nor drink water with you in this place,
17
because it was commanded to me by the word of Yahweh, 'You will eat no food nor drink water there, nor return by the way that you came.'"
18
So the old prophet said to him, "I also am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of Yahweh, saying, 'Bring him back with you into your house, that he may eat food and drink water.'" But he was lying to the man of God.
19
So the man of God went back with the old prophet and ate food in his house and drank water.
20
As they sat at the table, the word of Yahweh came to the prophet who had brought him back,
21
and he cried to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, "Yahweh says, 'Because you have been disobedient to the word of Yahweh and have not kept the command that Yahweh your God gave you,
22
but came back and have eaten food and drunk water in the place about which Yahweh told you to eat no food and drink no water, your body will not be buried in the tomb of your fathers.'"
23
After he had eaten food and after he had drunk, the prophet saddled the donkey of the man of God, the man who had come back with him.
24
When the man of God was gone, a lion met him on the road and killed him, and his body was left on the road. Then the donkey stood by it, and the lion also stood by the body.
25
When men passed by and saw the body left on the road, and the lion standing by the body, they came and told it in the city where the old prophet lived.
26
When the prophet who had brought him back from the way heard it, he said, "It is the man of God who disobeyed the word of Yahweh. Therefore Yahweh gave him to the lion, which tore him to pieces and killed him, just as the word of Yahweh warned him."
27
So the old prophet spoke to his sons, saying, "Saddle my donkey," and they saddled it.
28
He went and found the body left in the road, and the donkey and the lion standing by the body. The lion had not eaten the body, nor attacked the donkey.
29
The prophet lifted up the body of the man of God, laid it on the donkey, and brought it back. He came to his own city to mourn and to bury him.
30
He laid the body in his own grave, and they mourned over him, saying, "Woe, my brother!"
31
Then after he had buried him, the old prophet spoke to his sons, saying, "When I am dead, bury me in the tomb in which the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones.
32
For the message he declared by the word of Yahweh, against the altar in Bethel and against all the houses on the high places in the cities of Samaria, will certainly happen."
33
After this Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way, but continued to appoint common priests for the high places from among all sorts of people. Any who would serve he consecrated as a priest.
34
This matter became sin to the family of Jeroboam and caused his family to be destroyed and to be exterminated from the face of the earth.
Chapter 14
1
At that time Abijah son of Jeroboam became very sick.
2
Jeroboam said to his wife, "Please arise and disguise yourself, so you will not be recognized as my wife, and go to Shiloh, because Ahijah the prophet is there; he is the one who spoke about me, saying that I would become king over these people.
3
Take with you ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to Ahijah. He will tell you what will happen to the child."
4
Jeroboam's wife did so; she left and went to Shiloh and came to the house of Ahijah. Now Ahijah could not see; he lost his sight because of old age.
5
Yahweh said to Ahijah, "Look, the wife of Jeroboam is coming to seek advice from you regarding her son, for he is sick. Say such and such to her, because when she comes, she will act as if she were some other woman."
6
When Ahijah heard the sound of her feet as she came in at the door, he said, "Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why do you pretend to be someone you are not? I have been sent to you with severe news.
7
Go, tell Jeroboam that Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, 'I raised you from among the people to make you the leader over my people Israel.
8
I tore the kingdom away from the family of David and gave it to you, yet you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commandments and followed me with all his heart, to do only what was right in my eyes.
9
Instead, you have done evil, more than all who were before you. You have made other gods, and you have cast metal images to provoke me to anger, and you have thrust me behind your back.
10
Therefore, look, I will bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam; I will cut off from you every male child in Israel, whether slave or free, and will completely remove the house of Jeroboam like someone who burns up dung until it is gone.
11
Anyone who belongs to Jeroboam who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs, and anyone who dies in the field will be eaten by the birds of the heavens, for I, Yahweh, have said it.'
12
So arise, wife of Jeroboam, and go back to your home; when your feet enter the city, the child Abijah will die.
13
All Israel will mourn for him and bury him. He is the only one from Jeroboam's family who will go into a grave, because only in him, out of Jeroboam's house, was anything good found in the sight of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
14
Also, Yahweh will raise up a king of Israel who will cut off the family of Jeroboam on that day. Today is that day, right now.
15
For Yahweh will attack Israel as a reed is shaken in the water, and he will root up Israel out of this good land that he gave to their ancestors. He will scatter them beyond the Euphrates River, because they have made their Asherah poles and provoked Yahweh to anger.
16
He will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, the sins that he has committed, and through which he has led Israel to sin."
17
So Jeroboam's wife arose and left, and came to Tirzah. As she came to the threshold of her house, the child died.
18
All Israel buried him and mourned for him, just as it was told to them by the word of Yahweh which he had spoken by his servant Ahijah the prophet.
19
As for the other matters concerning Jeroboam, how he waged war and how he reigned, see, they are written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel.
20
Jeroboam reigned twenty-two years and then lay down with his ancestors, and Nadab his son became king in his place.
21
Now Rehoboam son of Solomon was reigning in Judah. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city that Yahweh had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel in which to put his name. His mother's name was Naamah the Ammonite woman.
22
Judah did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh; they provoked him to jealousy with the sins that they committed, more than everything that their fathers had done.
23
For they also built for themselves high places, stone pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.
24
There were also cultic prostitutes in the land. They did the same disgusting practices as the nations that Yahweh had driven out before the people of Israel.
25
It happened in the fifth year of King Rehoboam that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem.
26
He took away the treasures in the house of Yahweh, and the treasures in the king's house. He took everything away; he also took all the shields of gold that Solomon had made.
27
King Rehoboam made shields of bronze in their place and entrusted them into the hands of the commanders of the guard, who guarded the doors to the king's house.
28
It happened that whenever the king entered the house of Yahweh, the guards would carry them; then they would bring them back into the guardhouse.
29
As for the other matters concerning Rehoboam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah?
30
There was constant warfare between Rehoboam and Jeroboam.
31
So Rehoboam lay down with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of David. His mother's name was Naamah the Ammonite woman. Abijah his son became king in his place.
Chapter 15
1
In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijah began to reign over Judah.
2
He reigned for three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maakah. She was the daughter of Abishalom.
3
He walked in all the sins that his father had committed before his time; his heart was not devoted to Yahweh his God as the heart of David, his ancestor, had been.
4
Nevertheless, for David's sake, Yahweh his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up his son after him in order to strengthen Jerusalem.
5
God did this because David had done what was right in his eyes; for all the days of his life, he had not turned away from anything that he commanded him, except only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
6
Now there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of Abijah's life.
7
As for the other matters of Abijah, all that he did, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah? There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
8
Abijah lay down with his ancestors, and they buried him in the city of David. Asa his son became king in his place.
9
In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa began to reign over Judah.
10
He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His grandmother's name was Maakah, the daughter of Abishalom.
11
Asa did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh, as David, his ancestor, had done.
12
He expelled the cultic prostitutes from the land and removed all the idols that his ancestors had made.
13
He also removed Maakah, his grandmother, from being queen, because she had made a disgusting figure out of an Asherah pole. Asa cut down the disgusting figure and burned it at the Kidron Valley.
14
But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless, Asa's heart was completely devoted to Yahweh all his days.
15
He brought into the house of Yahweh the things that were set apart by his father, and his own things that had been set apart that were made of silver and gold, and vessels.
16
There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel, all their days.
17
Baasha king of Israel, acted aggressively against Judah and built up Ramah, so that he might not allow anyone to leave or enter into the land of Asa king of Judah.
18
Then Asa took all the silver and gold left in the storerooms in the house of Yahweh, and the storerooms of the king's palace. He put it into the hands of his servants and sent it to Ben-Hadad son of Tabrimmon son of Hezion, the king of Aram, who lived in Damascus. He said,
19
"Let there be a covenant between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Look, I have sent to you a gift of silver and gold. Break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel, so that he may leave me alone."
20
Ben-Hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies, and they attacked the cities of Israel. They attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maakah, and all Kinnereth, together with all the land of Naphtali.
21
It came about that when Baasha heard this, he stopped building up Ramah and went back to Tirzah.
22
Then King Asa made a proclamation to all Judah. No one was exempted. They carried away the stones and timbers of Ramah with which Baasha had been building up the city. Then King Asa used that building material to build up Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah.
23
As for the other matters of Asa, all his might, all that he did, and the cities he built, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah? But during his old age he was diseased in his feet.
24
Then Asa lay down with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of David his father. Jehoshaphat his son became king in his place.
25
Nadab son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah; he reigned over Israel two years.
26
He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh and walked in the way of his father, and in his own sin, by which he led Israel to sin.
27
Baasha son of Ahijah, of the family of Issachar, conspired against Nadab; Baasha killed him down at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, for Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon.
28
In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha killed Nadab and became king in his place.
29
As soon as he was king, Baasha killed all the family of Jeroboam. He left none of Jeroboam's descendants breathing; in this way he destroyed his royal line, just as Yahweh had spoken by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite,
30
for the sins of Jeroboam which he committed and by which he led Israel to sin, in his anger to which he provoked Yahweh, the God of Israel.
31
As for the other matters concerning Nadab, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel?
32
There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.
33
In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah began to reign over all Israel in Tirzah and he reigned twenty-four years.
34
He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh and walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin by which he led Israel to sin.
Chapter 16
1
The word of Yahweh came to Jehu son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,
2
"Although I exalted you out of the dust and made you leader over my people Israel, you have walked in the way of Jeroboam and have made my people Israel to sin, so as to provoke me to anger with their sins.
3
See, I will consume Baasha and his family and I will make your family like the family of Jeroboam son of Nebat.
4
The dogs will eat anyone belonging to Baasha who dies in the city, and the birds of the sky will eat anyone who dies in the fields."
5
As for the other matters concerning Baasha, what he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel?
6
Baasha lay down with his ancestors and was buried in Tirzah, and Elah his son became king in his place.
7
So by the prophet Jehu son of Hanani the word of Yahweh came against Baasha and his family, both because of all the evil that he did in the sight of Yahweh, so as to provoke him to anger with the work of his hands, like the family of Jeroboam, and also because he had killed all of Jeroboam's family.
8
In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah son of Baasha began to reign over Israel in Tirzah; he reigned two years.
9
His servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him. Now Elah was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah.
10
Zimri went in, attacked him, and put him to death in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah and became king in his place.
11
When Zimri began to reign and was seated on his throne, he killed all the family of Baasha. He did not leave alive a single male belonging to Baasha's relatives or friends.
12
So Zimri destroyed all the family of Baasha, according to the word of Yahweh which he spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,
13
for all the sins of Baasha and the sins of Elah his son that they committed, and by which they had led Israel to sin, so that they provoked Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger with their idols.
14
As for the other matters concerning Elah, all that he did, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel?
15
In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned only for seven days in Tirzah. Now the army was camped by Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.
16
The army camped there heard it said, "Zimri has plotted and has killed the king." So that day in the camp, all Israel declared Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel.
17
Omri went up from Gibbethon and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.
18
So when Zimri saw that the city had been taken, he went into the fortress attached to the king's palace and set fire to the building over him; in this way he died in the flames.
19
This was for the sins that he had committed in doing what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, by walking in the way of Jeroboam and in the sin that he had committed, so as to lead Israel to sin.
20
As for the other matters concerning Zimri, and the treason that he carried out, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel?
21
Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts. Half of the people followed Tibni son of Ginath, to make him king, and half followed Omri.
22
But the people who followed Omri were stronger than the people who followed Tibni son of Ginath. So Tibni died, and Omri became king.
23
Omri began to reign over Israel in the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned twelve years. He reigned from Tirzah for six years.
24
He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver. He built a city on the hill and called the name of the city Samaria, after the name of Shemer, the past owner of the hill.
25
Omri did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh and acted more wickedly than all who had been before him.
26
For he walked in all the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat and in his sins by which he led Israel to sin, to provoke Yahweh, the God of Israel, to be angry with their worthless idols.
27
As for the other matters concerning Omri which he did, and the might that he showed, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel?
28
So Omri lay down with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria and Ahab his son became king in his place.
29
In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri began to reign over Israel. Ahab son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years.
30
Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, more than all those who were before him.
31
It was to Ahab a trivial thing to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, so he took as his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; he went and worshiped Baal and bowed down to him.
32
He built an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.
33
Ahab made an Asherah pole. Ahab did even more to provoke Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who had been before him.
34
During Ahab's rule, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. Hiel laid the foundation of the city at the cost of the life of Abiram, his firstborn son; and Segub, his youngest son, lost his life while he was building the gates of the city, in keeping with the word of Yahweh which he spoke by Joshua son of Nun.
Chapter 17
1
Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As Yahweh, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there will not be dew or rain these years unless I say so."
2
The word of Yahweh came to Elijah, saying,
3
"Leave from here and go eastward; hide yourself by the brook Kerith, east of the Jordan.
4
It will happen that you will drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there."
5
So Elijah went and did as the word of Yahweh commanded. He went to live by the brook Kerith, east of the Jordan.
6
The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.
7
But after a while the brook dried up because there was no rain in the land.
8
The word of Yahweh came to him, saying,
9
"Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there. Look, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you."
10
So he arose and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city a widow was there gathering sticks. So he called to her and said, "Please bring me a little water in a jar so that I may drink."
11
As she was going to get water he called to her, and said, "Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand."
12
She replied, "As Yahweh your God lives, I do not have any bread, but only a handful of meal in a jar and a little oil in a jug. See, I am gathering two sticks so I may go in and cook it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die."
13
Elijah said to her, "Do not fear. Go and do as you have said, but make me a little bread first and bring it out to me. Then afterward make some for you and for your son.
14
For Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, 'The jar of meal will not empty, neither will the jug of oil stop flowing, until the day that Yahweh sends rain on the earth."
15
So she did as Elijah had told her. She and Elijah, along with her household, ate for many days.
16
The jar of meal did not empty, neither did the jug of oil stop flowing, just as the word of Yahweh had said, as he had spoken by Elijah.
17
After these things the woman's son, the woman who owned the house, fell sick. His sickness was so severe that there was no more breath left in him.
18
So his mother said to Elijah, "What do you have against me, man of God? Have you come to me to remind me of my iniquity and to kill my son?"
19
Then Elijah replied to her, "Give me your son." He took the boy from her arms and carried him up into the room where he was staying, and he laid the boy on his own bed.
20
He cried to Yahweh and said, "Yahweh my God, have you also brought disaster on the widow with whom I am staying, by killing her son?"
21
Then Elijah stretched himself on the child three times; he cried out to Yahweh and said, "Yahweh my God, I beg you, please let this child's life return to him."
22
Yahweh listened to the voice of Elijah; the life of the child returned to him, and he revived.
23
Elijah took the child and brought him out of his room down into the house; he handed the boy to his mother and said, "See, your son is alive."
24
The woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of Yahweh in your mouth is true."
Chapter 18
1
So after many days the word of Yahweh came to Elijah, in the third year of the drought, saying, "Go, show yourself to Ahab and I will send rain on the land."
2
Elijah went to show himself to Ahab; now the famine was severe in Samaria.
3
Ahab called Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. Now Obadiah honored Yahweh very much,
4
for when Jezebel was killing the prophets of Yahweh, Obadiah took one hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.
5
Ahab said to Obadiah, "Go through the land to all the water springs and brooks. Perhaps we will find grass and save the horses and mules alive, so that we will not lose all the animals."
6
So they divided the land between them to pass through it and look for water. Ahab went one way by himself and Obadiah went another way.
7
As Obadiah was on the road, Elijah unexpectedly met him. Obadiah recognized him and lay facedown on the ground. He said, "Is it you, my master Elijah?"
8
Elijah answered him, "It is I. Go tell your master, 'Look, Elijah is here.'"
9
Obadiah replied, "How have I sinned, that you would give your servant into the hand of Ahab, for him to kill me?
10
As Yahweh your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent men to find you. Whenever a nation or kingdom says, 'Elijah is not here,' Ahab makes them take an oath swearing that they could not find you.
11
Yet now you say, 'Go, tell your master that Elijah is here.'
12
As soon as I am gone from you, the Spirit of Yahweh will carry you some place I do not know. Then when I go and tell Ahab, and when he cannot find you, he will kill me. Yet I, your servant, have worshiped Yahweh from my youth.
13
Has it not been told to you, my master, what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of Yahweh, how I hid one hundred of Yahweh's prophets by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water?
14
Now you say to me, 'Go and tell your master that Elijah is here,' so that he will kill me."
15
Then Elijah responded, "As Yahweh of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to Ahab today."
16
So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him what Elijah said. Then the king went to meet Elijah.
17
When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, "Is it you? You are the one who brings trouble to Israel!"
18
Elijah answered, "I have not brought trouble to Israel, but you and your father's family are the ones who have caused trouble by abandoning the commandments of Yahweh and by following the Baals.
19
Now then, send word and gather to me all Israel at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel's table."
20
So Ahab sent word to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel.
21
Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you keep changing your mind? If Yahweh is God, follow him. But if Baal is God, then follow him." Yet the people did not answer him a word.
22
Then Elijah said to the people, "I, I alone, am left as a prophet of Yahweh, but Baal's prophets are 450 men.
23
So let them give us two bulls. Let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. Then I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under it.
24
Then you will call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of Yahweh, and the God who answers by fire, then let him be God." So all the people answered and said, "This is good."
25
So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for you are many people. Then call on the name of your god, but put no fire under the bull."
26
They took the bull that was given to them and prepared it, and they called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, "Baal, hear us." But there was no voice, nor anyone who answered. They danced around the altar they had made.
27
At noon Elijah mocked them and said, "Shout out loudly! He is a god! Perhaps he is thinking, or is relieving himself, or he is traveling on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened."
28
So they shouted more loudly, and they cut themselves, as they usually did, with swords and spears, until their blood flowed out over themselves.
29
Midday passed, and they were still raving until the time of offering of the evening sacrifice, but there was no voice or anyone to answer; there was no one who paid any attention to their pleadings.
30
Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me," and all the people came near to him. Then he repaired the altar of Yahweh that was lying in ruin.
31
Elijah took twelve stones, each stone representing one of the tribes of the sons of Jacob—it was Jacob to whom the word of Yahweh came, saying, "Israel will be your name."
32
With the stones he built an altar in the name of Yahweh and he dug a trench around the altar large enough to contain two seahs of seeds.
33
He arranged the wood for a fire, cut the bull in pieces, and laid the pieces of the bull on the wood. He said, "Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood."
34
Then he said, "Do it a second time," and they did it a second time. Once more he said, "Do it a third time," and they did it a third time.
35
The water ran around the altar and filled the trench.
36
It happened at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, "Yahweh, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.
37
Hear me, Yahweh, hear me, that these people may know that you, Yahweh, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again to yourself."
38
Then the fire of Yahweh fell and consumed the burnt offering, as well as the wood, the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
39
When all the people saw this, they lay facedown on the ground and said, "Yahweh, he is God! Yahweh, he is God!"
40
So Elijah said to them, "Take the prophets of Baal. Do not let one of them escape." So they took them, and Elijah brought the prophets of Baal down to the Kishon River and killed them there.
41
Elijah said to Ahab, "Get up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of much rain."
42
So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. Then Elijah went up to the top of Carmel, bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees.
43
He said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." His servant went up and looked and said, "There is nothing." So seven times Elijah said, "Go again."
44
At the seventh time the servant said, "Look, there is a cloud going up from the sea, as small as a man's hand." Elijah replied, "Go up and say to Ahab, 'Make ready your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.'"
45
It happened that in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. Ahab rode and went to Jezreel,
46
but the hand of Yahweh was on Elijah. He girded his loins and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
Chapter 19
1
Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
2
Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of those dead prophets by tomorrow about this time."
3
When Elijah heard that, he arose and fled for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
4
But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. He requested for himself that he might die, and said, "It is enough, now, Yahweh; take away my life, for I am no better than my dead ancestors."
5
So he lay down and slept under a broom tree. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, "Get up and eat."
6
Elijah looked, and near his head was bread that had been baked on coals and a jug of water. So he ate and drank and then lay down again.
7
The angel of Yahweh came again a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, because the journey will be too much for you."
8
So he arose and ate and drank, and he traveled in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.
9
He went to a cave there and prepared to stay overnight in it. Then the word of Yahweh came to him and said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
10
Elijah replied, "I have been very zealous for Yahweh, God of hosts, because the people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. Now I, only I, am left and they are also trying to take my life."
11
Yahweh replied, "Go out and stand on the mountain before me." Then Yahweh passed by, and a very strong wind struck the mountains and broke rocks into pieces before Yahweh, but Yahweh was not in the wind. Then after the wind, an earthquake came, but Yahweh was not in the earthquake.
12
Then after the earthquake a fire came, but Yahweh was not in the fire. Then after the fire, a still small voice came.
13
When Elijah heard the voice, he wrapped his face in his cloak, went out, and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then a voice came to him that said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
14
Elijah replied, "I have been very zealous for Yahweh, God of hosts, because the people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. Now I, only I, am left and they are also trying to take my life."
15
Then Yahweh said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you arrive you will anoint Hazael to be king over Aram,
16
and you will anoint Jehu son of Nimshi to be king over Israel, and you will anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah to be prophet in your place.
17
It will happen that Jehu will kill whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, and that Elisha will kill whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu.
18
But I will leave for myself seven thousand people in Israel, whose knees have not bent down to Baal, and whose mouths have not kissed him."
19
So Elijah left from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he himself was plowing with the twelfth yoke. Elijah walked over to Elisha and draped his cloak on him.
20
Then Elisha left the oxen and ran after Elijah; he said, "Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." Then Elijah said to him, "Go back, but think about what I have done to you."
21
So Elisha returned from Elijah and took the yoke of oxen, killed the animals, and cooked the meat with the wood from the ox yoke. Then he gave it to the people and they ate. Then he arose, went after Elijah and served him.
Chapter 20
1
Ben-Hadad king of Aram gathered all his army together. There were thirty-two lesser kings with him, and horses and chariots. He went up, besieged Samaria and fought against it.
2
He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, and said to him, "Ben-Hadad says this:
3
'Your silver and your gold are mine. Also your wives and children, the best ones, are now mine.'"
4
The king of Israel answered and said, "It is as you say, my master, king. I and all that I have are yours."
5
The messengers came again and said, "Ben-Hadad says this, 'I sent word to you saying that you must give me your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children.
6
But I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they will search your house and your servants' houses. They will seize with their own hands and take away everything that delights your eyes.'"
7
Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land together and said, "Please take note and see how this man seeks trouble. He has sent word to me in order to take my wives, children, and silver and gold, and I have not refused him."
8
All the elders and all the people said to Ahab, "Do not listen to him or consent to his demands."
9
So Ahab said to the messengers of Ben-Hadad, "Tell my master the king, 'I agree to everything that you sent your servant to do the first time, but I cannot accept this second demand.'" So the messengers left and took this response to Ben-Hadad.
10
Then Ben-Hadad sent his reply to Ahab, and said, "May the gods do so to me and more also, if even the ashes of Samaria will be enough for all the people who follow me to have a handful each."
11
The king of Israel answered and said, "Tell Ben-Hadad, 'No one who is girding on his armor should boast as if he were taking it off.'"
12
Ben-Hadad heard this message as he was drinking, he and the kings under him who were in their tents. Ben-Hadad commanded his servants, "Line yourselves up in position for battle." So they prepared themselves in position of battle to attack the city.
13
Then behold, a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel and said, "Yahweh says, 'Have you seen this great army? Look, I will place it into your hand today, and you will know that I am Yahweh.'"
14
Ahab replied, "By whom?" Yahweh replied and said, "By the young officers who serve the governors of the provinces." Then Ahab said, "Who will begin the battle?" Yahweh answered, "You."
15
Then Ahab mustered the young officers who served the governors of the provinces. They numbered 232. After them he mustered all the soldiers, all the army of Israel; seven thousand in number.
16
They went out at noon. Ben-Hadad had been drinking himself drunk in his tent, he and the thirty-two lesser kings who were supporting him.
17
The young officers who served the governors of the provinces went forward first. Then Ben-Hadad was informed by scouts that he had sent out, "Men are coming out from Samaria."
18
Ben-Hadad said, "Whether they have come out for peace or war, take them alive."
19
So the young officers who served the governors of the provinces went out of the city and the army followed them.
20
Each man killed his opponent. The Arameans fled and Israel pursued them. Ben-Hadad the king of Aram escaped on a horse along with some horsemen.
21
Then the king of Israel went out and attacked the horses and chariots, and killed the Arameans in a great slaughter.
22
So the prophet came to the king of Israel and said to him, "Go, strengthen yourself, and understand and plan what you are doing, because at the return of the year the king of Aram will come up against you again."
23
The servants of the king of Aram said to him, "Their god is a god of the hills. That is why they were stronger than we were. But now let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they are.
24
So you must do this: Remove all the kings from their positions of authority and replace them with military commanders.
25
Raise up an army like the army you lost—horse for horse and chariot for chariot—so we can fight them in the plain. Then surely we will be stronger than they are." So Ben-Hadad listened to their advice and did what they advised.
26
After the beginning of the new year, Ben-Hadad mustered the Arameans and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.
27
The people of Israel were mustered and supplied to fight against them. The people of Israel camped before them like two little flocks of goats, but the Arameans filled the countryside.
28
Then a man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel and said, "Yahweh says: 'Because the Arameans have said that Yahweh is a god of the hills, but he is not a god of the valleys, I will place this great army into your hand, and you will know that I am Yahweh.'"
29
So the armies camped opposite each other for seven days. Then on the seventh day the battle started. The people of Israel killed 100,000 Aramean footmen in one day.
30
The rest fled to Aphek, into the city, and the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand men who were left. Ben-Hadad fled and went into the city, into an inner room.
31
Ben-Hadad's servants said to him, "See now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Please let us put sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads, and go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life."
32
So they girded sackcloth on their waists and ropes around their heads and then went to the king of Israel and said, "Your servant Ben-Hadad said, 'Please let me live.'" Ahab said, "Is he still alive? He is my brother."
33
Now the men were listening for any sign from Ahab, so they quickly answered him, "Yes, your brother Ben-Hadad is alive." Then Ahab said, "Go and bring him." Then Ben-Hadad came to him, and Ahab had him come up into his chariot.
34
Ben-Hadad said to Ahab, "I will restore to you the cities that my father took from your father, and you may make markets for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria." Ahab replied, "I will let you go with this covenant." So Ahab made a covenant with him and then let him go.
35
A certain man, one of the sons of the prophets, said to one of his companions by the word of Yahweh, "Please hit me." But the man refused to hit him.
36
Then the prophet said to his fellow prophet, "Because you have not obeyed the voice of Yahweh, as soon as you leave me, a lion will kill you." As soon as that man had left him, a lion came upon him and killed him.
37
Then the prophet found another man and said, "Please hit me." So the man hit him and wounded him.
38
Then the prophet left and waited for the king by the road; he had disguised himself with a bandage over his eyes.
39
As the king passed by, the prophet cried out to the king and said, "Your servant went out into the heat of the battle, and a soldier stopped and brought a man to me and said, 'Watch this man. If by any means he goes missing, your life will be given for his life, or you must pay a talent of silver.'
40
But because your servant was busy going here and there, the man escaped." Then the king of Israel said to him, "This is what your punishment will be—you yourself have decided it."
41
Then the prophet quickly removed the bandage from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized that he was one of the prophets.
42
The prophet said to the king, "Yahweh says, 'Because you have let go from your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, your life will take the place of his life, and your people for his people.'"
43
So the king of Israel went to his house resentful and angry, and arrived in Samaria.
Chapter 21
1
Now some time later, Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, near the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria.
2
Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, "Give me your vineyard, so I can have it as a vegetable garden, because it is near my house. In exchange, I will give you a better vineyard, or, if you prefer, I will pay you its value in money."
3
Naboth replied to Ahab, "May Yahweh forbid that I should give the inheritance of my ancestors to you."
4
So Ahab went into his palace resentful and angry because of the answer Naboth the Jezreelite gave him when he said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my ancestors." He lay down on his bed, turned away his face, and refused to eat any food.
5
Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, "Why is your heart so sad, so that you eat no food?"
6
He replied to her, "I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, 'Give me your vineyard for money, or if it pleases you, I will give you another vineyard to be yours.' Then he answered me, 'I will not give you my vineyard.'"
7
So Jezebel his wife replied to him, "Do you not still rule the kingdom of Israel? Get up and eat; let your heart be happy. I will obtain for you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite."
8
So Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab's name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and to the nobles who sat with him in meetings, and who lived near Naboth.
9
She wrote in the letters, saying, "Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth above the people.
10
Also place two worthless men with him and let them testify against him, saying, 'You cursed God and the king.'" Then take him out and stone him to death.
11
So the men of his city, the elders and the noblemen who lived in Naboth's city, did as Jezebel had described to them, as was written in the letters that she had sent to them.
12
They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth above the people.
13
The two dishonest men came in and sat before Naboth; they testified against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, "Naboth cursed both God and the king." Then they carried him out of the city and stoned him to death.
14
Then the elders sent word to Jezebel, saying, "Naboth has been stoned and is dead."
15
So when Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, she said to Ahab, "Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money, because Naboth is not alive, but dead."
16
When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite and take possession of it.
17
Then the word of Yahweh came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
18
"Get up and go meet Ahab king of Israel, who lives in Samaria. He is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession of it.
19
You must speak to him and say that Yahweh says, 'Have you killed and also taken possession?' Then you will tell him that Yahweh says, 'In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, the dogs will lick your blood, yes, your blood.'"
20
Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, my enemy?" Elijah answered, "I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of Yahweh.
21
Yahweh says this to you: 'See, I will bring disaster on you and will completely consume and cut off from Ahab every male child and slave and free man in Israel.
22
I will make your family like the family of Jeroboam son of Nebat, and like the family of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked me to anger and have led Israel to sin.'
23
Yahweh has also spoken concerning Jezebel, saying, 'The dogs will eat Jezebel beside the wall of Jezreel.'
24
Anyone who belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, the dogs will eat; and the birds of the sky will eat anyone who dies in the field."
25
There was no one like Ahab, who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, whom Jezebel his wife incited to sin.
26
Ahab behaved abhorrently by following idols, just as all that the Amorites had done, those whom Yahweh had removed before the people of Israel.
27
When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his body and fasted, and lay in sackcloth and became very sad.
28
Then the word of Yahweh came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
29
"Do you see how Ahab humbles himself before me? Because he humbles himself before me, I will not bring the coming disaster in his days; it is in his son's day that I will bring disaster on his family."
Chapter 22
1
Three years passed without war between Aram and Israel.
2
Then it came about that in the third year, Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went down to the king of Israel.
3
Now the king of Israel had said to his servants, "Do you know that Ramoth Gilead is ours, but that we are doing nothing to take it from the hand of the king of Aram?"
4
So he said to Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to war at Ramoth Gilead?" Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, "I am like you, my people are like your people, and my horses are like your horses."
5
Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Please seek direction from the word of Yahweh for what you should do first."
6
Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, "Should I go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or should I not?" They said, "Attack, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king."
7
But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not here yet another prophet of Yahweh from whom we might seek advice?"
8
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man by whom we may seek advice from Yahweh to help, Micaiah son of Imlah, but I hate him because he does not prophesy anything good about me, but only hardships." But Jehoshaphat said, "May the king not say that."
9
Then the king of Israel called an officer and commanded, "Bring Micaiah son of Imlah, right away."
10
Now Ahab the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on a throne, clothed in their robes, in a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them.
11
Zedekiah son of Kenaanah made himself horns of iron and said, "Yahweh says this: 'With these you will push the Arameans until they are consumed.'"
12
Then all the prophets prophesied the same, saying, "Attack Ramoth Gilead and win, for Yahweh has given it into the hand of the king."
13
The messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, "See now, the words of the prophets declare good things to the king with one mouth. Please let your word be like one of them and say good things."
14
Micaiah replied, "As Yahweh lives, it is what Yahweh says to me that I will say."
15
When he came to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, should we go to Ramoth Gilead for battle, or not?" Micaiah answered him, "Attack and win. Yahweh will give it into the hand of the king."
16
Then the king said to him, "How many times must I require you to swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of Yahweh?"
17
So Micaiah said, "I saw all Israel scattered to the mountains, like sheep who have no shepherd, and Yahweh said, 'These have no master. Let every man return to his house in peace.'"
18
So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but only disaster?"
19
Then Micaiah said, "Therefore hear the word of Yahweh: I saw Yahweh sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven were standing by him on his right hand and on his left.
20
Yahweh said, 'Who will entice Ahab, so that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?' One of them said this and another one said that.
21
Then a spirit came forward, stood before Yahweh, and said, 'I will entice him.' Yahweh said to him, 'How?'
22
The spirit replied, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' Yahweh replied, 'You will entice him, and you will also be successful. Go now and do so.'
23
Now see, Yahweh has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and Yahweh has decreed disaster for you."
24
Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah, came up, slapped Micaiah on the cheek, and said, "Which way did the Spirit of Yahweh take to go from me to speak to you?"
25
Micaiah said, "Look, you will see on that day when you will go to hide in an inner room."
26
The king of Israel said to his servant, "Seize Micaiah and take him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, my son.
27
Say to him, 'The king says, Put this man in prison, and feed him the bread of affliction and the water of affliction until I come safely.'"
28
Then Micaiah said, "If you return safely, then Yahweh has not spoken by me." Then he added, "Listen to this, all you people."
29
So Ahab, the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, went up to Ramoth Gilead.
30
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself and go into the battle, but you put on your royal robes." So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into the battle.
31
Now the king of Aram had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, "Do not attack unimportant or important soldiers. Attack only the king of Israel."
32
It came about that when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat they said, "Surely that is the king of Israel." They turned to attack him, so Jehoshaphat cried out.
33
It came about that when the commanders of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.
34
But a certain man drew his bow at random and shot the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. Then Ahab said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded."
35
The battle grew worse that day and the king was held up in his chariot facing the Arameans. He died in the evening. The blood ran out from his wound into the bottom of the chariot.
36
Then about the time the sun was going down, a cry went up throughout the army, saying, "Every man should go back to his city; and every man should go back to his region!"
37
So King Ahab died and was brought to Samaria, and they buried him in Samaria.
38
They washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood (this was where the prostitutes bathed), just as the word of Yahweh had declared.
39
As for the other matters concerning Ahab, all that he did, the ivory house that he built, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel?
40
So Ahab lay down with his ancestors, and Ahaziah his son became king in his place.
41
Then Jehoshaphat son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.
42
Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother's name was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.
43
He walked in the ways of Asa, his father; he did not turn away from them; he did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh. Yet the high places were not taken away. The people were still sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.
44
Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.
45
As for the other matters concerning Jehoshaphat, and the might that he showed, and how he waged war, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah?
46
He completely removed from the land the rest of the cultic prostitutes who had remained in the days of his father Asa.
47
There was no king in Edom, but a deputy ruled there.
48
Jehoshaphat built ships of Tarshish; they were to go to Ophir for gold, but they did not go because the ships were wrecked at Ezion Geber.
49
Then Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "Let my servants sail with your servants in the ships." But Jehoshaphat would not allow it.
50
Jehoshaphat lay down with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of David, his ancestor; Jehoram his son became king in his place.
51
Ahaziah son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned two years over Israel.
52
He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh and walked in the way of his father, in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam son of Nebat, by which he led Israel to sin.
53
He served Baal and worshiped him and so he provoked Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger, just as his father had done.
2 Kings
Chapter 1
1
Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.
2
Then Ahaziah fell down through the lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria, and was injured. So he sent for messengers and said to them, "Go, ask Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I will recover from this injury."
3
But the angel of Yahweh said to Elijah the Tishbite, "Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and ask them, 'Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to consult with Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?
4
Therefore Yahweh says, "You will not come down from the bed to where you have gone up; instead, you will certainly die."'" Then Elijah left.
5
When the messengers returned to Ahaziah, he said to them, "Why have you returned?"
6
They said to him, "A man came to meet us who said to us, 'Go back to the king who sent you, and say to him, "Yahweh says this: 'Is it because there is no God in Israel that you sent men to consult with Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not come down from the bed to which you have gone up; instead, you will certainly die.'"'"
7
Ahaziah said to his messengers, "What sort of man was he, the one who came up to meet you and said these words to you?"
8
They answered him, "He wore a garment made of hair and had a leather belt wrapped around his waist." So the king replied, "That is Elijah the Tishbite."
9
Then the king sent a captain with fifty soldiers to Elijah. The captain went up to Elijah where he was sitting on the top of a hill. The captain spoke to him, "You, man of God, the king has said, 'Come down.'"
10
Elijah answered and said to the captain, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men." Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.
11
Again King Ahaziah sent to Elijah another captain with fifty soldiers. This captain also said to Elijah, "You, man of God, the king says, 'Come down quickly.'"
12
Elijah answered and said to them, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men." Again the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.
13
Yet again the king sent a third group of fifty warriors. This captain went up, fell on his knees before Elijah, and sought his favor and said to him, "You, man of God, I ask you, let my life and the life of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight.
14
Indeed, fire came down from heaven and consumed the first two captains with their men, but now let my life be precious in your sight."
15
The angel of Yahweh said to Elijah, "Go down with him. Do not be afraid of him." So Elijah arose and went down with him to the king.
16
Later Elijah said to Ahaziah, "This is what Yahweh says, 'You have sent messengers to consult with Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron. Is it because there is no God in Israel from whom you can ask for information? So now, you will not come down from the bed where you have gone up; you will certainly die.'"
17
So King Ahaziah died according to the word of Yahweh that Elijah had spoken. Joram began to reign in his place, in the second year of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, because Ahaziah had no son.
18
As for the other matters concerning Ahaziah, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel?
Chapter 2
1
So it came about, when Yahweh was going to take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah left with Elisha from Gilgal.
2
Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here, please, because Yahweh has sent me to Bethel." Elisha replied, "As Yahweh lives, and as you live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.
3
The sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that Yahweh will take away your master from you today?" Elisha replied, "Yes, I know it, but do not talk about it."
4
Elijah said to him, "Elisha, wait here, please, for Yahweh has sent me to Jericho." Then Elisha replied, "As Yahweh lives, and as you live, I will not leave you." So they went to Jericho.
5
Then the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that Yahweh will take away your master from you today?" Elisha answered, "Yes, I know it, but do not talk about it."
6
Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here, please, for Yahweh has sent me to the Jordan." Elisha replied, "As Yahweh lives, and as you live, I will not leave you." So the two went on.
7
Later, fifty of the sons of the prophets stood opposite them at a distance while the two stood by the Jordan.
8
Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the water with it. The river divided on both sides so that the two of them walked over on dry ground.
9
It came about, after they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask me what I should do for you before I am taken from you." Elisha replied, "Please let a double portion of your spirit come on me."
10
Elijah answered, "You have asked for a difficult thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, this will happen for you, but if not, it will not happen."
11
As they still went on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared, which separated the two men from each other, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12
Elisha saw it and cried out, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and their horsemen!"
He saw Elijah no more, and he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.
13
He picked up Elijah's cloak that had fallen off him, and went back to stand by the bank of the Jordan.
14
He struck the water with Elijah's cloak that had fallen and said, "Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?" When he had struck the waters, they divided on both sides and Elisha crossed over.
15
When the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him across from them, they said, "The spirit of Elijah does rest on Elisha!" So they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
16
They said to him, "See now, among your servants there are fifty strong men. Let them go, we ask, and look for your master, in case the Spirit of Yahweh has taken him up and thrown him onto some mountain or into some valley." Elisha answered, "No, do not send them."
17
But when they urged Elisha until he was ashamed, he said, "Send them." Then they sent fifty men, and they looked for three days, but did not find him.
18
They came back to Elisha, while he stayed at Jericho, and he said to them, "Did I not say to you, 'Do not go'?"
19
The men of the city said to Elisha, "See now, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my master can see, but the water is bad and the land is not fruitful."
20
Elisha replied, "Bring me a new bowl and put salt in it," so they brought it to him.
21
Elisha went out to the spring of water and threw salt in it; then he said, "Yahweh says this, 'I have healed these waters. From this time on, there will be no more death or unfruitful land.'"
22
So the waters were healed to this day, by the word which Elisha spoke.
23
Then Elisha went up from there to Bethel. As he was going up the road, young boys came out of the city and mocked him; they said to him, "Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!"
24
Elisha looked behind him and saw them; he cursed them in the name of Yahweh. Then two female bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys apart.
25
Then Elisha went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.
Chapter 3
1
Now in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Joram son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria; he reigned twelve years.
2
He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, but not like his father and his mother; for he removed the sacred stone pillar of Baal that his father had made.
3
Nevertheless he held on to the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin; he did not turn away from them.
4
Now Mesha king of Moab bred sheep. He had to give to the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams.
5
But after Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
6
So King Joram left Samaria at that time to mobilize all Israel for war.
7
He sent a message to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, saying, "The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me against Moab to battle?" Jehoshaphat replied, "I will go. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses."
8
Then he said, "By which way should we attack?" Jehoshaphat answered, "By way of the wilderness of Edom."
9
So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. They wandered around for seven days, and then there was no water for the army or for the animals that went with them.
10
So the king of Israel said, "What is this? Has Yahweh called three kings to give them into the hand of Moab?"
11
But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not here a prophet of Yahweh, that we may consult Yahweh by him?" One of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, "Elisha son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah."
12
Jehoshaphat said, "The word of Yahweh is with him." So the king of Israel, Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom went down to him.
13
Elisha said to the king of Israel, "What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and mother." So the king of Israel said to him, "No, because Yahweh has called these three kings together to give them into the hand of Moab."
14
Elisha replied, "As Yahweh of hosts lives, before whom I stand, if I did not honor the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not pay any attention to you, or even look at you.
15
But now bring me a musician." Then it came to pass when the harpist played, the hand of Yahweh came upon Elisha.
16
He said, "Yahweh says this, 'Make this dry river valley full of trenches.'
17
For Yahweh says this, 'You will not see wind, neither will you see rain, but this river valley will be filled with water, and you will drink, you and your livestock and all your animals.'
18
This is an easy thing in the sight of Yahweh. He will also give you victory over the Moabites.
19
You will attack every fortified city and every good city, cut down every good tree, stop up all springs of water, and ruin every good piece of land with rocks."
20
So in the morning about the time of offering the sacrifice, waters came from the direction of Edom, and the country was filled with water.
21
Now when all the Moabites heard that the kings had come to fight against them, they summoned everyone who was old enough to gird on armor and older, and they stood at the border.
22
They awakened early in the morning and the sun reflected on the water. When the Moabites saw the water opposite them, it looked as red as blood.
23
They exclaimed, "This is blood! The kings have certainly been destroyed, and they have killed each other! So now, Moab, let us go plunder them!"
24
When they came to the camp of Israel, Israel rose up and attacked the Moabites, who fled before them. The army of Israel drove the Moabites across the land, killing them.
25
They destroyed the cities, and on every good piece of land every man threw a rock until it was covered up. They stopped up every spring of water and chopped down all the good trees. Only Kir Hareseth was left with its rocks in place. But the soldiers armed with slings surrounded and attacked it.
26
When King Mesha of Moab saw that the battle was lost, he took with him seven hundred swordsmen to break through to the king of Edom, but they failed.
27
Then he took his oldest son, who should have reigned after him, and offered him as a burnt offering upon the wall. So there was great anger against Israel, and the Israelite army left King Mesha and returned to their own land.
Chapter 4
1
Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets came crying to Elisha, saying, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared Yahweh. Now the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves."
2
So Elisha said to her, "What can I do for you? Tell me what do you have in the house?" She said, "Your servant has nothing in the house, except a pot of oil."
3
Then Elisha said, "Go out to borrow jars from your neighbors, empty jars. Borrow as many as possible.
4
Then you must go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour oil into all those jars; set aside the jars that are full."
5
So she left Elisha and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her, and she filled them with oil.
6
When the vessels were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another jar." But he said to her, "There are no more jars." Then the oil stopped flowing.
7
Then she came and told the man of God. He said, "Go, sell the oil; pay your debt, and live with your sons on the rest."
8
One day Elisha walked to Shunem where an important woman lived; she urged him to eat food with her. So as often as Elisha passed by, he would stop there to eat.
9
The woman said to her husband, "See now, I realize that this is a holy man of God who is always passing by.
10
Let us make a little room on the roof for Elisha, and let us put in it a bed, a table, a seat, and a lamp. Then when he comes to us, he will stay there."
11
So when the day came again that Elisha stopped there, he stayed in the room and rested there.
12
Elisha said to Gehazi his servant, "Call this Shunammite." When he had called her, she stood before him.
13
Elisha said to him, "Say to her, 'You have gone to all this trouble to care for us. What can be done for you? Can we speak for you to the king or to the army commander?'" She answered, "I live among my own people."
14
So Elisha said, "What can we do for her, then?" Gehazi answered, "Indeed, she has no son, and her husband is old."
15
So Elisha answered, "Call her." When he had called her, she stood in the door.
16
Elisha said, "At this time of year, in one year's time, you will be holding a son." She said, "No, my master and man of God, do not lie to your servant."
17
But the woman conceived and gave birth to a son at the same time in the following year, as Elisha had said to her.
18
When the child had grown, he went out one day to his father, who was with harvesters.
19
He said to his father, "My head, my head." His father said to his servant, "Carry him to his mother."
20
When the servant had picked him up and brought the boy to his mother, the child sat on her knees until noon and then died.
21
So the woman got up and laid the boy on the bed of the man of God, shut the door, and went out.
22
She called to her husband, and said, "Please send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys so that I may hurry to the man of God and then come back."
23
Her husband said, "Why do you want to go to him today? It is not a new moon nor a Sabbath." She replied, "It will be all right."
24
Then she saddled a donkey and said to her servant, "Drive on quickly; do not slow down for me unless I say so."
25
So she went and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel.
So when the man of God saw her in the distance, he said to Gehazi his servant, "Look, here comes the Shunammite woman.
26
Please run to meet her and say to her, 'Is everything alright with you and with your husband and child?'" She answered, "It is all right."
27
When she came to the man of God at the mountain, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi came near to push her away, but the man of God said, "Leave her alone, for she is very upset, and Yahweh has hidden the problem from me, and has told me nothing."
28
Then she said, "Did I ask you for a son, my master? Did I not say, 'Do not deceive me'?"
29
Then Elisha said to Gehazi, "Gird your loins and take my staff in your hand. Go to her home. If you meet any man, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer him. Lay my staff on the young man's face."
30
But the mother of the young man said, "As Yahweh lives, and as you live, I will not leave you." So Elisha arose and followed her.
31
Gehazi hurried on ahead of them and laid the staff on the young man's face, but the young man did not speak or hear. So then Gehazi returned to meet Elisha and told him saying, "The young man has not awakened."
32
When Elisha arrived at the house, the young man was dead and was still on the bed.
33
So Elisha went in and shut the door on the two of them and prayed to Yahweh.
34
He went up and lay on the child; he put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. He stretched himself out on the boy, and the boy's body grew warm.
35
Then Elisha got up and walked around the room and again went up and stretched himself out on the boy. The child sneezed seven times and then opened his eyes!
36
So Elisha called Gehazi and said, "Call the Shunammite!" So he called her, and when she came into the room, Elisha said, "Pick up your son."
37
Then she lay facedown on the ground at his feet and bowed to the ground, and then picked up her son and went out.
38
Then Elisha came again to Gilgal. There was famine in the land, and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him. He said to his servant, "Put the large pot on the fire and cook stew for the sons of the prophets."
39
One of them went out into a field to gather vegetables. He found a wild vine and gathered enough wild gourds to fill the fold of his robe. They cut them up and put them into the stew, but did not know what kind they were.
40
So they poured out the stew for the men to eat. Later, as they were eating, they cried out and said, "Man of God, there is death in the pot!" So they could not eat it anymore.
41
But Elisha said, "Bring some flour." He threw it into the pot and said, "Pour it out for the people, so that they may eat." Then there was no longer anything hurtful in the pot.
42
A man came from Baal Shalishah to the man of God and brought twenty loaves of barley bread in his sack from the firstfruits and fresh ears of grain. He said, "Give this to the people so they can eat."
43
His servant said, "What, should I set this before a hundred men?" But Elisha said, "Give this to the people, so they can eat, because Yahweh says, 'They will eat and will have some left.'"
44
So his servant set it before them; they ate, and left some remaining, just as the word of Yahweh promised.
Chapter 5
1
Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great and honorable man in his master's view, because by him Yahweh had given victory to Aram. He was also a mighty warrior, but he was a leper.
2
The Arameans had gone out in raiding parties and had captured a little girl from the land of Israel. She served Naaman's wife.
3
The girl said to her mistress, "I wish that my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would heal my master of his leprosy."
4
So Naaman went in and told the king what the little girl from the land of Israel had said.
5
So the king of Aram said, "Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel." Naaman left and took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothes.
6
He also took the letter to the king of Israel that said, "Now when this letter is brought to you, you will see that I have sent Naaman my servant to you, so that you may cure him of his leprosy."
7
When the king of Israel had read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man wants me to cure a man of his leprosy? It seems he is seeking to start an argument with me."
8
So when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent word to the king saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel."
9
So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house.
10
Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and dip yourself into the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored; you will be clean."
11
But Naaman was angry and went away and said, "Look, I thought he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and wave his hand over the place and heal my leprosy.
12
Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Can I not bathe in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage.
13
Then Naaman's servants came near and spoke to him, "My father, if the prophet had commanded you do some difficult thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he says to you, 'Dip yourself and be clean'?"
14
Then he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, obeying the instructions of the man of God. His flesh was restored again like the flesh of a little child, and he was healed.
15
Naaman returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came and stood before him. He said, "See now, I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. So therefore, please take a gift from your servant."
16
But Elisha replied, "As Yahweh lives, before whom I stand, I will receive nothing." Naaman urged Elisha to take a gift, but he refused.
17
So Naaman said, "If not, then I ask you to let there be given to your servant two mule loads of earth, for from now on, your servant will offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice to any god but Yahweh.
18
In this one thing may Yahweh pardon your servant, that is, when my king goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, may Yahweh pardon your servant in this matter."
19
Elisha said to him, "Go in peace." So Naaman left.
20
He had traveled only a short distance, when Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God said to himself, "Look, my master has spared this Naaman the Aramean by not receiving from his hands gifts that he brought. As Yahweh lives, I will run after him and receive something from him."
21
So Gehazi followed after Naaman. When Naaman saw someone running after him, he jumped down from his chariot to meet him and said, "Is everything all right?"
22
Gehazi said, "Everything is all right. My master has sent me, saying, 'See, now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothes.'"
23
Naaman replied, "I am very happy to give you two talents." Naaman urged Gehazi and tied two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothes, and laid them on two of his servants, who carried the bags of silver before Gehazi.
24
When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the bags of silver from their hands and hid them in the house; he sent the men away, and they left.
25
When Gehazi went in and stood before his master, Elisha said to him, "Where have you come from, Gehazi?" He answered, "Your servant went nowhere."
26
Elisha said to Gehazi, "Was not my spirit with you when the man turned his chariot to meet you? Is this a time to accept money and clothes, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants?
27
So the leprosy of Naaman will be on you and your descendants forever." So Gehazi went out from his presence, a leper as white as snow.
Chapter 6
1
The sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "See now, the place where we live with you is too small for us all.
2
Please let us go to the Jordan, and let every man cut down a tree there, and let us build us a place there where we may live." Elisha answered, "You may go ahead."
3
One of them said, "Please go with your servants." Elisha answered, "I will go."
4
So he went with them, and when they came to the Jordan, they began to cut down trees.
5
But as one was chopping, the ax head fell into the water; he cried out and said, "Oh no, my master, it was borrowed!"
6
So the man of God said, "Where did it fall?" The man showed Elisha the place. He then cut off a stick, threw it in the water, and made the iron float.
7
Elisha said, "Pick it up." So the man reached out his hand and grabbed it.
8
Now the king of Aram was waging war against Israel. He consulted with his servants, saying, "My camp will be in such and such a place."
9
So the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, "Be careful not to pass that place, for the Arameans are going down there."
10
The king of Israel sent a message to the place about which the man of God had spoken and warned him. More than once or twice, when the king went there, he was on his guard.
11
The king of Aram was enraged about these warnings, and he called his servants and said to them, "Will you not tell me who among us is for the king of Israel?"
12
So one of his servants said, "No, my master, king, for Elisha the prophet in Israel tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your own bedroom!"
13
The king replied, "Go and see where Elisha is so I may send men and capture him." It was told him, "See, he is in Dothan."
14
So the king sent to Dothan horses, chariots, and a large army. They came by night and surrounded the city.
15
When the servant of the man of God had risen early and gone outside, behold, a large army with horses and chariots surrounded the city. His servant said to him, "Oh, my master! What will we do?"
16
Elisha answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
17
Elisha prayed and said, "Yahweh, I beg that you will open his eyes that he may see." Then Yahweh opened the servant's eyes, and he saw. Behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire around Elisha!
18
When the Arameans came down to him, Elisha prayed to Yahweh and said, "Strike these people blind, I ask you." So Yahweh made them blind, just as Elisha had asked.
19
Then Elisha told the Arameans, "This is not the way, neither is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you are looking for." Then he led them to Samaria.
20
It came about that when they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, "Yahweh, open the eyes of these men that they may see." Yahweh opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the middle of the city of Samaria.
21
The king of Israel said to Elisha, when he saw them, "My father, should I kill them? Should I kill them?"
22
Elisha answered, "You must not kill them. Would you kill those whom you had taken captive with your sword and bow? Put bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master."
23
So the king prepared much food for them, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went back to their master. Those bands of Aramean soldiers did not return for a long time into the land of Israel.
24
Later after this Ben-Hadad king of Aram gathered all his army and attacked Samaria and besieged it.
25
So there was a great famine in Samaria. Behold, they besieged it until a donkey's head was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver.
26
As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried to him, saying, "Help, my master, king."
27
He said, "If Yahweh does not help you, how can I help you? Is there anything coming from the threshing floor or winepress?"
28
The king continued, "What is troubling you?" She answered, "This woman said to me, 'Give your son so that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.'"
29
So we boiled my son and ate him, and I said to her on the next day, "Give your son that we may eat him, but she has hidden her son."
30
So when the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes (now he was passing by on the wall), and the people looked and saw that he had sackcloth underneath, against his skin.
31
Then he said, "May God do so to me, and more also, if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat remains on him today."
32
But Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. The king sent a man from before him, but when the messenger came to Elisha, he said to the elders, "See how this son of a murderer has sent to take away my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door, and hold the door shut against him. Is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?"
33
While he was still talking with them, behold, the messenger came down to him. The king had said, "Behold, this trouble comes from Yahweh. Why should I wait for Yahweh any longer?"
Chapter 7
1
Elisha said, "Hear the word of Yahweh. This is what Yahweh says: 'Tomorrow about this time a measure of fine flour will be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.'"
2
Then the officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, "See, even if Yahweh should make windows in heaven, can this thing happen?" Elisha replied, "See, you will watch it happen with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of it."
3
Now there were four men with leprosy right outside the city gate. They said one to another, "Why should we sit here until we die?
4
If we say that we should go into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we will die there. But if we still sit here, we will still die. Now then, come, let us go to the army of the Arameans. If they keep us alive, we will live, and if they kill us, we will only die."
5
So they rose up at twilight to go into the Aramean camp; when they arrived at the outermost part of the camp, there was no one there.
6
For the Lord had made the Aramean army hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses—the noise of another large army, and they said to each other, "The king of Israel has hired the kings of the Hittites and Egyptians to come against us."
7
So the soldiers arose and fled in the twilight; they left their tents, their horses, their donkeys, and the camp as it was, and fled for their lives.
8
When the men with leprosy came to the outermost part of the camp, they went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried away silver and gold and clothes, and went and hid them. They came back and entered into another tent and carried plunder away from there also, and went and hid it.
9
Then they said to each other, "We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, but we are keeping quiet about it. If we wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now then, come, let us go and tell the king's household."
10
So they went and called the gatekeepers of the city. They told them, saying, "We went to the camp of the Arameans, but there was no one there, not the sound of anyone, but there were the horses tied, and the donkeys tied, and the tents as they were."
11
Then the gatekeepers shouted out the news, and then it was told inside the king's household.
12
Then the king arose at night and said to his servants, "I will tell you now what the Arameans have done to us. They know that we are hungry, so they have gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the fields. They are saying, 'When they come out of the city, we will take them alive, and get into the city.'"
13
One of the king's servants answered and said, "I beg you, let some men take five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city. They are like all the rest of the population of Israel who are left—most are now dead; let us send them and see."
14
So they took two chariots with horses, and the king sent them after the army of the Arameans, saying, "Go and see."
15
They went after them to the Jordan, and all the road was full of clothes and equipment that the Arameans had cast away in their hurry. So the messengers returned and told the king.
16
The people went out and plundered the camp of the Arameans. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, just as the word of Yahweh had said.
17
The king had ordered the officer on whose hand he had leaned to be in charge of the gate, and the people trampled him down in the gateway. He died as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king had come down to him.
18
So it happened as the man of God had said to the king, saying, "About this time in the gate of Samaria, two measures of barley will be available for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel."
19
That officer had answered the man of God and said, "See, even if Yahweh should make windows in heaven, can this thing happen?" Elisha had said, "See, you will watch it happen with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of it."
20
That is exactly what happened to him, for the people trampled him in the gate, and he died.
Chapter 8
1
Now Elisha had spoken to the woman whose son he had restored to life. He said to her, "Arise, and go with your household, and stay wherever you can in another land, because Yahweh has called for a famine which will come on this land for seven years."
2
So the woman arose and she obeyed the word of the man of God. She went with her household and lived in the land of the Philistines seven years.
3
It came about at the end of seven years that the woman returned from the land of the Philistines, and she went to the king to cry to him for her house and for her land.
4
Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, "Please tell me all the great things that Elisha has done."
5
Then as he was telling the king how Elisha had restored to life the child who was dead, the very woman whose son he had restored to life came to cry to the king for her house and for her land. Gehazi said, "My master, king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life."
6
When the king asked the woman about her son, she explained it to him. So the king ordered a certain officer for her, saying, "Give back to her all that was hers and all the harvests of her fields since the day that she left the land until now."
7
Elisha came to Damascus where Ben-Hadad the king of Aram was sick. The king was told, "The man of God has come here."
8
The king said to Hazael, "Take a gift in your hand and go meet the man of God, and consult with Yahweh through him, saying, 'Will I revive from this sickness?'"
9
So Hazael went to meet him and took a gift with him of every kind of good thing of Damascus, carried by forty camels. So Hazael came and stood before Elisha and said, "Your son Ben-Hadad king of Aram has sent me to you, saying, 'Will I revive from this sickness?'"
10
Elisha said to him, "Go, say to Ben-Hadad, 'You will surely revive,' but Yahweh has shown me that he will surely die."
11
Then Elisha stared at Hazael until he was ashamed, and the man of God wept.
12
Hazael asked, "Why do you weep, my master?" He answered, "Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel. You will set their strongholds on fire, and you will kill their young men with the sword, dash in pieces their little ones, and rip open their pregnant women."
13
Hazael replied, "Who is your servant, that he should do this great thing? He is only a dog." Elisha answered, "Yahweh has shown me that you will be king over Aram."
14
Then Hazael left Elisha and came to his master, who said to him, "What did Elisha say to you?" He answered, "He told me that you would certainly revive."
15
Then the next day Hazael took the blanket and dipped it in water, and spread it on Ben-Hadad's face so that he died. Then Hazael became king in his place.
16
In the fifth year of Joram son of Ahab, king of Israel, Jehoram began to reign. He was the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah. He began to reign when Jehoshaphat was king of Judah.
17
Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for eight years in Jerusalem.
18
Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab was doing; for he had Ahab's daughter as his wife, and he did what was evil in Yahweh's sight.
19
However, because of his servant David, Yahweh did not want to destroy Judah, since he had told David that he would always give him a lamp for his descendants.
20
In Jehoram's days, Edom rebelled against the hand of Judah, and they set a king over themselves.
21
Then Jehoram crossed over to Zair with all his chariots. When the Edomites surrounded Jehoram, his chariot commanders rose up and attacked them during the night; but Jehoram's army ran away and went back to their tents.
22
So Edom has been in rebellion against the rule of Judah to this present day. Libnah also revolted at the same time.
23
As for the other matters concerning Jehoram, all that he did, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah?
24
Jehoram lay down with his fathers and was buried with them in the city of David. Then Ahaziah his son became king in his place.
25
In the twelfth year of Joram son of Ahab, king of Israel, Ahaziah son of Jehoram, king of Judah, began to reign.
26
Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; he reigned for one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah; she was the daughter of Omri, king of Israel.
27
Ahaziah walked in the ways of the house of Ahab; he did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as the house of Ahab was doing, for Ahaziah was a son-in-law to the house of Ahab.
28
Ahaziah went with Joram son of Ahab, to fight against Hazael, king of Aram, at Ramoth Gilead. The Arameans wounded Joram.
29
King Joram returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that the Arameans had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Aram. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram, king of Judah, went down to Jezreel to see Joram son of Ahab, because Joram had been wounded.
Chapter 9
1
Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, "Gird your loins, then take this little bottle of oil in your hand and go to Ramoth Gilead.
2
When you arrive, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi, and go in and make him arise up from among his companions, and conduct him to an inner chamber.
3
Then take the bottle of oil and pour it on his head and say, 'Yahweh says this: "I have anointed you king over Israel."' Then open the door, and run off; do not delay."
4
So the young man, the young prophet, went to Ramoth Gilead.
5
When he arrived, behold, the captains of the army were sitting. So the young prophet said, "I have come on an errand to you, captain." Jehu replied, "To which of us?" The young prophet answered, "To you, captain."
6
So Jehu arose and went into the house, and the prophet poured the oil on his head and said to Jehu, "Yahweh, the God of Israel, says this: 'I have anointed you king over the people of Yahweh, over Israel.
7
You must kill the family of Ahab your master so that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets and the blood of all the servants of Yahweh who were murdered by the hand of Jezebel.
8
For the whole family of Ahab will perish, and I will cut off from Ahab every male child in Israel, whether he is a slave or a free person.
9
I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah.
10
The dogs will eat Jezebel in Jezreel, and there will be no one to bury her.'" Then the prophet opened the door and ran off.
11
Then Jehu came out to the servants of his master, and one said to him, "Is everything all right? Why did this mad fellow come to you?" Jehu answered them, "You know the man and the kinds of things he says."
12
They said, "That is a lie. Tell us." Jehu answered, "He said this and that to me, and he also said, 'This is what Yahweh says: I have anointed you as king over Israel.'"
13
Then each of them quickly took off his outer garment and put it under Jehu at the top of the steps. They blew the ram's horn and said, "Jehu is king."
14
In this way Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. Now Joram had been defending Ramoth Gilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Aram,
15
but King Joram had gone back to Jezreel to be healed of the wounds that the Arameans had given him, when he had fought against Hazael king of Aram.
Jehu said to the servants of Joram, "If this is your opinion, then let no one escape and go out of the city, in order to go tell this news in Jezreel."
16
So Jehu rode in a chariot to Jezreel; for Joram was resting there. Now Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to see Joram.
17
The watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel, and he saw the company of Jehu as he came at a distance; he said, "I see a group of men coming." Joram said, "Take a horseman, and send him out to meet them; tell him to say, 'Are you coming in peace?'"
18
So a man was sent on horseback to meet him; he said, "The king says this: 'Are you coming in peace?'" So Jehu said, "What have you to do with peace? Turn and ride behind me." Then the watchman told the king, "The messenger has met them, but he is not coming back."
19
Then he sent out a second man on horseback, who came to them and said, "The king says this: 'Are you coming in peace?'" Jehu answered, "What have you to do with peace? Turn and ride behind me."
20
Again the watchman reported, "He has met them, but he is not coming back. For the way that the chariot is being driven is the way that Jehu son of Nimshi drives; he is driving wildly."
21
So Joram said, "Get my chariot ready." They prepared his chariot, and Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah rode out, each in his chariot, to meet Jehu. They found him at the property of Naboth the Jezreelite.
22
When Joram saw Jehu, he said, "Are you coming in peace, Jehu?" He answered, "What peace is there, when the idolatrous acts of prostitution and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel are so many?"
23
So Joram turned his chariot and fled and said to Ahaziah, "There is treachery, Ahaziah."
24
Then Jehu drew his bow with his full strength and shot Joram between his shoulders; the arrow went through his heart, and he sank down in his chariot.
25
Then Jehu said to Bidkar his officer, "Pick him up and throw him in the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. Think about how when you and I rode together after Ahab his father, Yahweh placed this prophecy against him:
26
'Yesterday I saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons—this is Yahweh's declaration—and I will surely make you pay for it on this field—this is Yahweh's declaration. Now then, pick him up and throw him on this field, according to the word of Yahweh."
27
When Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled up the road to Beth Haggan. But Jehu followed him, and said, "Kill him also in the chariot," and they shot him at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. Ahaziah fled to Megiddo and died there.
28
His servants carried his body in a chariot to Jerusalem and buried him in his tomb with his fathers in the city of David.
29
Now it was in the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab that Ahaziah had begun to reign over Judah.
30
When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it, and she painted her eyes, arranged her hair, and looked out the window.
31
As Jehu was entering the gate, she said to him, "Are you coming in peace, you Zimri, your master's murderer?"
32
Jehu looked up at the window and said, "Who is on my side? Who?" Then two or three eunuchs looked out.
33
So Jehu said, "Throw her down." So they threw Jezebel down, and some of her blood spattered on the wall and the horses, and Jehu trampled her underfoot.
34
When Jehu entered the palace, he ate and drank. Then he said, "See now to this cursed woman and bury her, for she is a king's daughter."
35
They went to bury her, but they found no more of her than the skull, the feet, and the palms of her hands.
36
So they came back and told Jehu. He said, "This is the word of Yahweh which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 'In the land at Jezreel the dogs will eat the flesh of Jezebel,
37
and the body of Jezebel will be like dung on the surface of the fields in the land at Jezreel, so that no one will be able to say, "This is Jezebel."'"
Chapter 10
1
Now Ahab had seventy descendants in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, including the elders and the guardians of Ahab's descendants, saying,
2
"Your master's descendants are with you, and you also have chariots and horses and a fortified city and armor. So then, as soon as this letter comes to you,
3
select the best and most deserving of your master's descendants and set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's royal line."
4
But they were terrified and said among themselves, "See, the two kings could not stand before Jehu. So how can we stand?"
5
Then the man who was in charge of the palace, and the man who was over the city, and the elders also, and they who raised the children, sent word back to Jehu, saying, "We are your servants. We will do everything that you command us. We will not make any man king. Do what is good in your eyes."
6
Then Jehu wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, "If you are on my side, and if you will listen to my voice, you must take the heads of the men of your master's descendants, and come to me to Jezreel by tomorrow this time." Now the king's descendants, seventy in number, were with the important men of the city, who were bringing them up.
7
So when the letter came to them, they took the king's sons and killed them, seventy persons, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu in Jezreel.
8
A messenger came to Jehu, saying, "They have brought the heads of the king's sons." So he said, "Put them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until the morning."
9
In the morning Jehu went out and stood, and said to all the people, "You are innocent. See, I plotted against my master and killed him, but who killed all these?
10
Now you should certainly realize that no part of Yahweh's word, the word that he spoke concerning the family of Ahab, will fall to the ground, for Yahweh has done what he spoke about through his servant Elijah."
11
So Jehu killed all who remained in the family of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his important men, his close friends, and his priests, until no survivor remained to him.
12
Then Jehu arose and left; he went to Samaria. As he was arriving at Beth Eked of the Shepherds,
13
he met brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah. Jehu said to them, "Who are you?" They answered, "We are brothers of Ahaziah, and we are going down to greet the children of the king and the children of Queen Jezebel."
14
Jehu said to his own men, "Take them alive." So they took them alive and killed them at the well of Beth Eked, all forty-two men. He did not leave any of them alive.
15
When Jehu had left there, he met Jehonadab son of Rekab coming to meet him. Jehu greeted him and said to him, "Is your heart with me, as my heart is with yours?" Jehonadab answered, "It is." Jehu said, "If it is, give me your hand." So he gave Jehu his hand, and Jehu took Jehonadab up with him into the chariot.
16
Jehu said, "Come with me and see my zeal for Yahweh." So he had Jehonadab ride along with him in his chariot.
17
When he came to Samaria, Jehu killed all who remained from Ahab's descendants in Samaria, until he had destroyed Ahab's royal line, just as was told them before by the word of Yahweh, which he had spoken to Elijah.
18
Then Jehu gathered all the people together and said to them, "Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him much.
19
Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers, and all his priests. Let no one be left out, for I have a great sacrifice to offer to Baal. Whoever does not come will not live." But Jehu did this deceitfully, with the intent to kill the worshipers of Baal.
20
Jehu said, "Announce that there will be an assembly for Baal." So they announced it.
21
Then Jehu sent throughout all Israel and all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left who did not come. They came into the temple of Baal, and it was filled from one end to another.
22
Jehu said to the man who kept the priest's wardrobe, "Bring out robes for all the worshipers of Baal." So the man brought out robes to them.
23
So Jehu went with Jehonadab son of Rekab into the house of Baal, and he said to the worshipers of Baal, "Search and make sure that there is no one here with you from the servants of Yahweh, but the worshipers of Baal alone."
24
Then they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had chosen eighty men who were standing outside, and he told them, "If any of the men whom I bring into your hands escapes, whoever lets that man escape, his life will be taken for the life of the one who escaped."
25
So then as soon as Jehu finished offering the burnt offering, he said to his bodyguards and to the officers, "Go in and kill them. Let no one come out." So they killed them with the edge of the sword, and the bodyguards and the officers threw them out and went into the inner room of the house of Baal.
26
They dragged out the stone pillars that were in the house of Baal, and they burned them.
27
Then they broke down the pillar of Baal, and destroyed the house of Baal and made it a latrine, which it is to this day.
28
That is how Jehu destroyed Baal worship from Israel.
29
But Jehu did not leave the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, by which he made Israel sin—that is, the worship of the golden calves in Bethel and Dan.
30
So Yahweh said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in executing what was right in my eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation."
31
But Jehu took no care to walk in the law of Yahweh, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, by which he made Israel sin.
32
In those days Yahweh began to cut off regions from Israel, and Hazael defeated the Israelites at the borders of Israel,
33
from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the Valley of the Arnon, through Gilead to Bashan.
34
As for the other matters concerning Jehu, and all that he did, and all his power, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel?
35
Jehu lay down with his ancestors, and they buried him in Samaria. Then Jehoahaz his son became king in his place.
36
The time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.
Chapter 11
1
Now when Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she arose and killed all the royal children.
2
But Jehosheba, a daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah, and hid him away from among the king's sons who were killed, along with his nurse; she put them into a bedroom. They hid him from Athaliah so that he was not killed.
3
He remained with her six years, hidden in the house of Yahweh, while Athaliah reigned over the land.
4
In the seventh year, Jehoiada sent messages and brought the commanders of hundreds of the Carites and of the guard, and brought them to himself, into the temple of Yahweh. He made a covenant with them, and he made them swear an oath in the house of Yahweh. Then he showed them the king's son.
5
He commanded them, saying, "This is what you must do. A third of you who come on the Sabbath will keep watch over the king's house,
6
and a third will be at the Sur Gate, and a third at the gate behind the guardhouse. You shall guard the guardhouse of the temple."
7
The two other groups who are not serving on the Sabbath, you must keep the watch over the house of Yahweh for the king.
8
You must surround the king, every man with his weapons in his hand. Whoever enters within your ranks, let him be killed. You must stay with the king when he goes out, and when he comes in.
9
So the commanders of hundreds obeyed everything Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each one took his men, those who were to come in to serve on the Sabbath, and those who were to stop serving on that Sabbath; and they came to Jehoiada the priest.
10
Then Jehoiada the priest gave the commanders of hundreds the spears and shields that belonged to King David and that were in the house of Yahweh.
11
So the guards stood, each man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side, near the altar and the temple, surrounding the king.
12
Then Jehoiada brought out the king's son Joash, put the crown on him, and gave him the covenant decrees. Then they made him king and anointed him. They clapped their hands and said, "Long live the king!"
13
When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people in the house of Yahweh.
14
She looked, and, behold, the king was standing by the pillar, as the custom was, and the captains and the trumpeters were by the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and shouted, "Treason! Treason!"
15
Then Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of hundreds who were over the army, saying, "Bring her out between the ranks. Anyone who follows her, kill him with the sword." For the priest had said, "Do not let her be killed in the house of Yahweh."
16
So they seized her as she reached the horses' entrance to the king's house, and there she was killed.
17
Then Jehoiada made a covenant between Yahweh and the king and people, that they should be Yahweh's people, and also between the king and the people.
18
So all the people of the land went to the house of Baal and tore it down. They smashed Baal's altars and his idol figures to pieces, and they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of those altars. Then Jehoida the priest appointed guards over the temple of Yahweh.
19
Jehoida took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guard, and all the people of the land, and together they brought down the king from the house of Yahweh and they went into the king's house, entering by way of the gate of the guards. Joash took his place on the royal throne.
20
So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been killed with the sword at the king's house.
21
Joash was seven years old when he began to reign.
Chapter 12
1
In the seventh year of Jehu, the reign of Joash began; he reigned for forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah, of Beersheba.
2
Joash did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh all the time, because Jehoiada the priest was instructing him.
3
But the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
4
Joash said to the priests, "All the money that is brought in as sacred offerings into the house of Yahweh, that money for which each person is assessed—whether it is the money collected in the census, or the money received from personal vows, or the money brought in by people motivated by Yahweh in their hearts to give—
5
the priests should receive the money from one of their treasurers and repair whatever damage is found in the temple."
6
But by the twenty-third year of King Joash, the priests had not repaired anything in the temple.
7
Then King Joash called for Jehoiada the priest and for the other priests; he said to them, "Why have you not repaired anything in the temple? Now take no more money from your taxpayers, but take what has been collected for repairs of the temple and give it to those who can make the repairs."
8
So the priests consented to take no more money from the people and not repair the temple themselves.
9
Then, Jehoiada the priest took a chest, bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into the house of Yahweh. The priests who were guarding the temple entrance put into it all the money that was brought to the house of Yahweh.
10
Whenever they saw that there was much money in the chest, the king's scribe and the high priest would come and put the money in bags and then count it, the money found in the temple of Yahweh.
11
They gave the money that was weighed out into the hands of men who took care of the temple of Yahweh. They paid it out to the carpenters and the builders who worked on the temple of Yahweh,
12
and to the masons and the stonecutters, for buying timber and cutting stone to repair the temple of Yahweh, and for all that was needed to be paid to repair it.
13
But the money that was brought into the house of Yahweh did not pay to make for it any silver cups, lamp trimmers, basins, trumpets, or any gold or silver furnishing.
14
They gave this money to those who did the work of repairing the house of Yahweh.
15
In addition, they did not require the money paid for repairs to be accounted for by the men who received it and paid it to the workmen, because these men practiced faithfulness.
16
But the money for the guilt offerings and the money for the sin offerings was not brought into the temple of Yahweh, because it belonged to the priests.
17
Then Hazael king of Aram attacked and fought against Gath, and took it. Hazael then turned to attack Jerusalem.
18
Joash king of Judah took all the things that Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had set apart, and what he had set apart, and all the gold that was found in the storerooms of the houses of Yahweh and of the king and he sent them to Hazael king of Aram. Then Hazael went away from Jerusalem.
19
As for the other matters concerning Joash, all that he did, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah?
20
His servants arose and plotted together; they attacked Joash in Beth Millo, on the way that goes down to Silla.
21
Jozabad
son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad son of Shomer, his servants, attacked him, and he died. They buried Joash with his ancestors in the city of David, and Amaziah, his son, became king in his place.
Chapter 13
1
In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria; he reigned seventeen years.
2
He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh and followed the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin; and Jehoahaz did not turn away from them.
3
The anger of Yahweh burned against Israel, and he gave them continually into the hand of Hazael king of Aram and into the hand of Ben-Hadad son of Hazael.
4
So Jehoahaz implored Yahweh, and Yahweh listened to him because he saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Aram was oppressing them.
5
So Yahweh gave Israel a rescuer, and they escaped from the hand of the Arameans, and the people of Israel began to live in their tents as they had before.
6
Nevertheless, they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who caused Israel to sin, and they continued in them; and the Asherah pole remained in Samaria.
7
The Arameans left Jehoahaz with only fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen, for the king of Aram had destroyed them and made them like the chaff at threshing time.
8
As for the other matters concerning Jehoahaz, and all that he did and his power, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel?
9
So Jehoahaz lay down with his ancestors, and they buried him in Samaria. Jehoash his son became king in his place.
10
In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, the reign of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz began over Israel in Samaria; he reigned sixteen years.
11
He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh. He did not leave behind any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, by which he had made Israel to sin, but he walked in them.
12
As for the other matters concerning Jehoash, and all that he did, and his might by which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel?
13
Jehoash lay down with his ancestors, and Jeroboam sat on his throne. Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
14
Now Elisha became sick with an illness by which he later died, so Jehoash the king of Israel came down to him and wept over him. He said, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen are taking you away!"
15
Elisha said to him, "Pick up a bow and some arrows," so Joash picked up a bow and some arrows.
16
Elisha said to the king of Israel, "Put your hand on the bow," so he put his hand on it. Then Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands.
17
Elisha said, "Open the window eastward," so he opened it. Then Elisha said, "Shoot!", and he shot. Elisha said, "This is Yahweh's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram, for you will attack the Arameans in Aphek until you have consumed them."
18
Then Elisha said, "Take the arrows," so Joash took them. He said to the king of Israel, "Strike the ground with them," and he struck the ground three times, then stopped.
19
But the man of God was angry with him and said, "You should have hit the ground five or six times. Then you would have attacked Aram until you annihilated it, but now you will attack Aram only three times."
20
Then Elisha died, and they buried him. Now marauding bands of Moabites invaded the land at the beginning of the year.
21
As they were burying a certain man, they saw a marauding band of Moabites, so they threw the body into Elisha's grave. As soon as the man touched Elisha's bones, he revived and stood up on his feet.
22
Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.
23
But Yahweh was gracious to Israel, and had compassion on them and concern for them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So Yahweh did not destroy them, and he still has not driven them away from his presence.
24
Hazael king of Aram died, and Ben-Hadad his son became king in his place.
25
Jehoash son of Jehoahaz took back from Ben-Hadad son of Hazael the cities that had been taken from Jehoahaz his father by war. Jehoash attacked him three times, and he recovered those cities of Israel.
Chapter 14
1
In the second year of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel, Amaziah son of Joash, king of Judah, began to reign.
2
He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddan, of Jerusalem.
3
He did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh, yet not like David his father. He did everything that Joash, his father, had done.
4
But the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense at the high places.
5
It came about that as soon as his rule was well established, he killed the servants who had murdered his father, the king.
6
Yet he did not put to death the sons of the murderers, according to what was written in the book of the law of Moses, as Yahweh had commanded, saying, "Fathers must not be put to death because of their children, neither must the children be put to death because of their fathers. But each one must die for his own sin."
7
He killed ten thousand soldiers of Edom in the Valley of Salt; he also took Sela in war and called it Joktheel, which is what it is called to this day.
8
Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu king of Israel, saying, "Come, let us meet each other face to face in battle."
9
But Jehoash the king of Israel sent messengers back to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "A thistle that was in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son for a wife,' but a wild beast in Lebanon walked by and trampled down the thistle.
10
You have indeed attacked Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Take pride in your victory, but stay at home, for why should you cause yourself trouble and fall, both you and Judah with you?"
11
But Amaziah would not listen. So Jehoash king of Israel attacked and he and Amaziah king of Judah met each other face to face at Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah.
12
Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his tent.
13
Jehoash king of Israel, captured Amaziah, king of Judah son of Jehoash son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. He came to Jerusalem and tore down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate, four hundred cubits in distance.
14
He took all the gold and silver, all the objects that were found in the house of Yahweh, and the valuable things in the king's palace, with hostages also, and returned to Samaria.
15
As for the other matters concerning Jehoash, all that he did, his power, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel?
16
Then Jehoash lay down with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel, and Jeroboam, his son, became king in his place.
17
Amaziah son of Joash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel.
18
As for the other matters concerning Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah?
19
They made a conspiracy against Amaziah in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. He fled to Lachish, but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there.
20
They brought him back on horses, and he was buried with his ancestors in Jerusalem in the city of David.
21
All the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah.
22
It was Azariah who rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah, after King Amaziah lay down with his ancestors.
23
In the fifteenth year of Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria; he reigned forty-one years.
24
He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh. He did not depart from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin.
25
He restored the border of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah, following the commands of the word of Yahweh, the God of Israel, which he had spoken through his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath Hepher.
26
For Yahweh saw the suffering of Israel, that it was very bitter for everyone, both slave and free, and that there was no rescuer for Israel.
27
But Yahweh had not said that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, so he delivered them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash.
28
As for the other matters concerning Jeroboam, all that he did, his power, how he waged war and recovered Damascus and Hamath, which had belonged to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel?
29
Jeroboam lay down with his ancestors, with the kings of Israel, and Zechariah his son became king in his place.
Chapter 15
1
In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign.
2
Azariah was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jekoliah, and she was from Jerusalem.
3
He did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh, just as his father Amaziah had done.
4
However, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense at the high places.
5
Yahweh afflicted the king so that he was a leper to the day of his death and lived in a separate house. Jotham, the king's son, was over the household and ruled the people of the land.
6
As for the other matters concerning Azariah, all that he did, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah?
7
So Azariah lay down with his ancestors; they buried him with his ancestors in the city of David. Jotham, his son, became king in his place.
8
In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria for six months.
9
He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as his fathers had done. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin.
10
Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah, attacked him in Ibleam, and put him to death. Then he became king in his place.
11
As for the other matters concerning Zechariah, they are written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel.
12
This was the word of Yahweh that he spoke to Jehu, saying, "Your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation." That is what happened.
13
Shallum son of Jabesh began to reign in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah, and he reigned only one month in Samaria.
14
Menahem son of Gadi went up from Tirzah to Samaria. There he attacked Shallum son of Jabesh, in Samaria. He put him to death and became king in his place.
15
As for the other matters concerning Shallum and the conspiracy that he formed, they are written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel.
16
Then Menahem attacked Tiphsah and all who were there, and the borders around Tirzah, because they did not open up the city to him. So he attacked it, and he ripped open all the pregnant women in that village.
17
In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem son of Gadi began to reign over Israel; he reigned ten years in Samaria.
18
He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh. For his whole life, he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin.
19
Then Pul the king of Assyria came against the land, and Menahem gave Pul one thousand talents of silver, so that Pul's support might be with him to strengthen the kingdom of Israel in his hand.
20
Menahem exacted this money from Israel by requiring each of the wealthy, powerful men to pay fifty shekels of silver to him to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back and did not stay there in the land.
21
As for the other matters concerning Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel?
22
So Menahem lay down with his ancestors, and Pekahiah his son became king in his place.
23
In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria; he reigned two years.
24
He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh. He did not leave behind the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, by which he had caused Israel to sin.
25
Pekahiah had an officer named Pekah son of Remaliah, who conspired against him. Along with fifty men of Gilead, Pekah killed Pekahiah as well as Argob and Arieh in Samaria, in the citadel of the king's palace. Pekah killed Pekahiah and became king in his place.
26
As for the other matters concerning Pekahiah, all that he did, they are written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel.
27
In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria; he reigned twenty years.
28
He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin.
29
In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maakah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, Galilee, and all the land of Naphtali. He carried away the people to Assyria.
30
So Hoshea son of Elah formed a conspiracy against Pekah son of Remaliah. He attacked him and put him to death. Then he became king in his place, in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah.
31
As for the other matters concerning Pekah, all that he did, they are written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel.
32
In the second year of Pekah son of Remaliah, king of Israel, Jotham son of Uzziah, king of Judah began to reign.
33
He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerushah; she was the daughter of Zadok.
34
Jotham did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh, just as his father Uzziah had done.
35
However, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense at the high places. Jotham built the upper gate of the house of Yahweh.
36
As for the other matters concerning Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah?
37
In those days Yahweh began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Aram, and Pekah son of Remaliah.
38
Jotham lay down with his ancestors and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David, his ancestor. Then Ahaz, his son, became king in his place.
Chapter 16
1
In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah, Ahaz son of Jotham king of Judah, began to reign.
2
Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the eyes of Yahweh his God, as David his ancestor had done.
3
Instead, he walked in the way of the kings of Israel. He even made his son pass through the fire, following the detestable practices of the nations whom Yahweh had driven out before the people of Israel.
4
He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops, and under every green tree.
5
Then Rezin, king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah, king of Israel, came up to Jerusalem to attack. They besieged Ahaz, but they could not conquer him.
6
At that time, Rezin king of Aram recovered Elath for Aram and drove the Jews out of Elath. Then the Arameans came to Elath, where they have lived to this day.
7
So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, saying, "I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me from the hand of the king of Aram and from the hand of the king of Israel, who have attacked me."
8
So Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of Yahweh and among the treasures of the king's palace and he sent it as a gift to the king of Assyria.
9
Then the king of Assyria listened to him, and the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, conquered it and carried off its people as prisoners to Kir. He also killed Rezin the king of Aram.
10
King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria. At Damascus he saw an altar. He sent to Uriah the priest a model of the altar and its pattern and the design for all the workmanship needed.
11
So Uriah the priest built an altar to be just like the plans that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus. He finished it before King Ahaz arrived back from Damascus.
12
When the king came from Damascus he saw the altar; the king approached the altar and made offerings on it.
13
He made his burnt offering and his grain offering, poured out his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his fellowship offerings on the altar.
14
The bronze altar that was before Yahweh—he brought it from the front of the temple, from between his altar and the temple of Yahweh and put it on the north side of his altar.
15
Then King Ahaz commanded Uriah the priest, saying, "On the large altar burn the morning burnt offering and the evening grain offering, and the king's burnt offering and his grain offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their grain offering and their drink offerings. Sprinkle on it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice. But the bronze altar will be for me to consult for guidance."
16
Uriah the priest did just what King Ahaz commanded.
17
Then King Ahaz removed the panels and the basins from the portable stands; he also took down the sea from off the bronze oxen that were under it and put it on a stone pavement.
18
He removed the covered walkway for the Sabbath that they had built at the temple, along with the king's entry outside the temple of Yahweh, because of the king of Assyria.
19
As for the other matters concerning Ahaz and what he did, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah?
20
Ahaz lay down with his ancestors and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David. Hezekiah his son became king in his place.
Chapter 17
1
In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, the reign of Hoshea son of Elah began. He ruled in Samaria over Israel for nine years.
2
He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, yet not as the kings of Israel who were before him.
3
Shalmaneser king of Assyria attacked him, and Hoshea became his servant and brought him tribute.
4
Then the king of Assyria realized that Hoshea had been plotting against him, for Hoshea had sent messengers to So king of Egypt; also, he offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. So the king of Assyria shut him up and bound him in prison.
5
Then the king of Assyria attacked throughout all the land, and attacked Samaria and besieged it for three years.
6
In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria and carried Israel away to Assyria. He put them in Halah, at the Habor River of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
7
This captivity happened because the people of Israel had sinned against Yahweh their God, who had brought them up from the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. The people had been worshiping other gods
8
and walking in the customs of the nations whom Yahweh had driven out before the people of Israel, and in the customs of the kings of Israel that they had done.
9
The people of Israel did secretly—against Yahweh their God—things that were not right. They built for themselves high places in all their cities, from the watchtower to the fortress.
10
They also set up stone pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.
11
There they burned incense in all the high places, as the nations had done, those whom Yahweh had carried away before them. The Israelites performed wicked things to provoke Yahweh to anger;
12
they worshiped idols, about which Yahweh had said to them, "You will not do this thing."
13
Yet Yahweh had testified to Israel and to Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, "Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, and be careful to keep all the law I commanded your fathers, and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets."
14
But they would not listen; instead they stiffened their necks like their fathers, who did not trust in Yahweh their God.
15
They rejected his statutes and the covenant that he had made with their ancestors, and the covenant decrees that he had given to them. They followed useless practices and they themselves became useless. They followed the pagan nations who were around them, those that Yahweh had commanded them not to imitate.
16
They ignored all the commandments of Yahweh their God. They made cast metal figures of two calves to worship. They made an Asherah pole, and they worshiped all the host of the heavens and Baal.
17
They made their sons and daughters pass through the fire, they used divination and enchantments, they sold themselves to do that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and they provoked him to anger.
18
Therefore Yahweh was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight. There was no one left but the tribe of Judah alone.
19
Even Judah did not keep the commandments of Yahweh their God, and they followed the customs that Israel had practiced.
20
So Yahweh rejected all the descendants of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hand of those who would take the possession as spoil, until he had cast them out of his sight.
21
He tore Israel from the royal line of David, and they made Jeroboam son of Nebat king. Jeroboam drove Israel away from following Yahweh and made them commit a great sin.
22
The people of Israel followed all the sins of Jeroboam and they did not depart from them,
23
so Yahweh removed Israel from his sight, as he had said through all his servants the prophets that he would. So Israel was carried away out of their own land to Assyria, and it is this way to this present day.
24
The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon and from Kuthah, and from Avva, and from Hamath and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria in place of the people of Israel. They took over Samaria and lived in its cities.
25
It happened at the beginning of their residence there that they did not honor Yahweh. So Yahweh sent lions among them which killed some of them.
26
So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, "The nations that you have carried away and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the practices required by the god of the land. So he has sent lions among them, and, see, the lions are killing people there because they do not know the practices required by the god of the land."
27
Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, "Take one of the priests there whom you brought from there, and let him go and live there, and let him teach them the practices required by the god of the land."
28
So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel; he taught them how they should honor Yahweh.
29
Every ethnic group made gods of their own, and put them in the high places that the Samaritans had made—every ethnic group in the cities where they lived.
30
The people of Babylon made Sukkoth Benoth; the people of Kuthah made Nergal; the people of Hamath made Ashima;
31
the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak. The Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelek and Anammelek, the gods of the Sepharvites.
32
They also honored Yahweh, and appointed from among themselves priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the temples at the high places.
33
They honored Yahweh and also worshiped their own gods, in the customs of the nations from among whom they had been taken away.
34
To this day they persist in their old customs. They neither honor Yahweh, nor do they follow the statutes, the customs, the law, or the commandments that Yahweh gave to the descendants of Jacob, whom he named Israel.
35
When Yahweh made a covenant with them, he commanded them, "You will not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor worship them, nor sacrifice to them.
36
But Yahweh, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm, it is him you will honor, it is to him you will bow down, and it is to him that you will sacrifice.
37
The statutes and the decrees, the law and the commandments that he wrote for you, you will keep them forever. So you must not fear other gods,
38
and the covenant that I have made with you, you will not forget; neither will you honor other gods.
39
But Yahweh your God is who you will honor. He will rescue you from the might of your enemies."
40
They would not listen, because they continued to do what they had done in the past.
41
So these nations feared Yahweh and they also worshiped their carved figures, and their children did the same—as did their children's children. They continue to do what their ancestors did, up to this day.
Chapter 18
1
Now in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah, king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz, king of Judah began to reign.
2
He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abijah; she was the daughter of Zechariah.
3
He did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh, just as David, his ancestor, had done.
4
He removed the high places, destroyed the stone pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke to pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because in those days the people of Israel were burning incense to it; it was called "Nehushtan."
5
Hezekiah trusted in Yahweh, the God of Israel, so that after him there was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among the kings who were before him.
6
For he held on to Yahweh. He did not stop following him but kept his commandments, which Yahweh commanded Moses.
7
So Yahweh was with Hezekiah, and wherever he went he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.
8
He attacked the Philistines to Gaza and the borders around, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city.
9
In the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria and besieged it.
10
At the end of three years they took it, in the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel; in this way Samaria was captured.
11
So the king of Assyria carried Israel away to Assyria and put them in Halah, and at the Habor River in Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
12
He did this because they did not obey the voice of Yahweh their God, but they violated the terms of his covenant, all that Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded. They refused to listen to it or do it.
13
Then in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them.
14
So Hezekiah king of Judah sent word to the king of Assyria, who was at Lachish, saying, "I have offended you. Withdraw from me. Whatever you put on me I will bear." The king of Assyria required Hezekiah king of Judah to pay three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
15
So Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of Yahweh and in the treasuries of the king's palace.
16
Then Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of Yahweh and from the pillars that he had overlaid; he gave the gold to the king of Assyria.
17
But the king of Assyria mobilized his great army, sending Tartan and Rabsaris and the chief commander from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They traveled up the roads and arrived outside Jerusalem. They approached the conduit of the upper pool, on the highway of the launderers' field, and stood by it.
18
When they had called to King Hezekiah, Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph, the recorder, went out to meet them.
19
So the chief commander said to them to tell Hezekiah what the great king, the king of Assyria, said: "What is the source of your confidence?
20
You speak only useless words, saying you have counsel and strength for war. In whom are you trusting, that you should rebel against me?
21
Look, you trust in Egypt, this walking stick of crushed reed; if a man leans on it, it will stick into his hand and pierce it. That is what Pharaoh king of Egypt is to anyone who trusts in him.
22
But if you say to me, 'We are trusting in Yahweh our God,' is not he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah has taken away, and has said to Judah and to Jerusalem, 'You must worship before this altar in Jerusalem'?
23
Now therefore, I want to make you a good offer from my master the king of Assyria. I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able to find riders for them.
24
How could you resist even one captain of the least of my master's servants? You have put your trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen!
25
Have I traveled up here without Yahweh to fight against this place and destroy it? Yahweh said to me, 'Attack this land and destroy it.'"
26
Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah said to the chief commander, "Please speak to your servants in the Aramaic language, for we understand it. Do not speak with us in the language of Judah in the ears of the people who are on the wall."
27
But the chief commander said to them, "Has my master sent me to your master and to you to speak these words? Has he not sent me to the men who sit on the wall, who will have to eat their own dung and drink their own urine with you?"
28
Then the chief commander stood and shouted in a loud voice in the language of Judah, saying, "Listen to the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.
29
The king says, 'Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to rescue you from my power.
30
Do not let Hezekiah make you trust in Yahweh, saying, "Yahweh will surely rescue us, and this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria."'
31
Do not listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: 'Make peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and from his own fig tree, and drink from the water in his own cistern.
32
You will do this until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey, so that you may live and not die.' Do not listen to Hezekiah when he tries to persuade you, saying, 'Yahweh will rescue us.'
33
Has any of the gods of the peoples rescued them out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
34
Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Have they rescued Samaria out of my hand?
35
Among all the gods of the lands, is there any god who has rescued his land from my power? How could Yahweh save Jerusalem from my might?"
36
But the people remained silent and did not respond, for the king had commanded, "Do not answer him."
37
Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was over the household; Shebna the scribe; and Joah son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and reported to him the words of the chief commander.
Chapter 19
1
It came about that when King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of Yahweh.
2
He sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, all covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah son of Amoz, the prophet.
3
They said to him, "Hezekiah says, 'This day is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace, for the children have come to the time of birth, but there is no strength for them to be born.
4
It may be that Yahweh your God will hear all the words of the chief commander, whom the king of Assyria his master has sent to defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which Yahweh your God has heard. Now lift up your prayer for the remnant that is still here.'"
5
So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah,
6
and Isaiah said to them, "Say to your master: 'Yahweh says, "Do not be afraid of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have insulted me.
7
Look, I will put a spirit in him, and he will hear a certain report and go back to his own land. I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land."'"
8
Then the chief commander returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, for he had heard that the king had gone away from Lachish.
9
Then Sennacherib heard that Tirhakah king of Cush and Egypt had mobilized to fight against him, so he sent messengers again to Hezekiah with a message:
10
"Say to Hezekiah king of Judah, 'Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, "Jerusalem will not be given over into the hand of the king of Assyria."
11
See, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by destroying them completely. So will you be rescued?
12
Have the gods of the nations rescued them, the nations that my fathers destroyed: Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden in Tel Assar?
13
Where are the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the cities of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah?'"
14
Hezekiah received this letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the house of Yahweh and spread it before him.
15
Then Hezekiah prayed before Yahweh and said, "Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, you who sit above the cherubim, you are God alone over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.
16
Incline your ear, Yahweh, and listen. Open your eyes, Yahweh, and see, and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God.
17
Truly, Yahweh, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands.
18
They have put their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men's hands, just wood and stone. So the Assyrians have destroyed them.
19
Now then, Yahweh our God, save us, I implore you, from his power, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Yahweh, are God alone."
20
Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah, saying, "Yahweh, the God of Israel says, 'Because you have prayed to me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard you.
21
This is the word that Yahweh has spoken about him:
"The virgin daughter of Zion
despises you and mocks you.
The daughter of Jerusalem
shakes her head at you.
22
Whom have you defied and slandered?
Against whom have you exalted your voice
and lifted up your eyes in pride?
Against the Holy One of Israel!
23
By your messengers
you have defied the Lord,
and have said,
'With the multitude of my chariots
I have gone up to the heights of the mountains,
to the highest elevations of Lebanon.
I will cut down the tall cedars
and the choice cypress trees there.
I will enter into its farthest parts,
its most fruitful forest.
24
I have dug wells
and have drunk foreign waters.
I dried up all the rivers of Egypt
under the soles of my feet.'
25
Have you not heard how I
determined it long ago,
and worked it out in ancient times?
Now I am bringing it to pass.
You are here to reduce impregnable cities
into heaps of ruins.
26
Their inhabitants, of little strength,
are shattered and ashamed.
They are plants in the field,
green grass,
the grass on the roof or in the field,
burned before it has grown up.
27
But I know your sitting down,
your going out, your coming in,
and your raging against me.
28
Because of your raging against me,
and because your arrogance has reached my ears,
I will put my hook in your nose,
and my bit in your mouth;
I will turn you back
the way you came."
29
This will be the sign for you:
This year you will eat what grows wild,
and in the second year what grows from that.
But in the third year you must plant and harvest,
plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
30
The remnant of the house of Judah that survives
will again take root and bear fruit.
31
For from Jerusalem a remnant will come out,
from Mount Zion an escaped remnant will come. The zeal of Yahweh of hosts will do this.
32
Therefore Yahweh says this about the king of Assyria:
"He will not come into this city
nor shoot an arrow here.
Neither will he come before it with shield
or build up a siege ramp against it.
33
The way by which he came
will be the same way he will leave;
he will not enter this city—
this is Yahweh's declaration."
34
For I will defend this city and rescue it,
for my own sake and for my servant David's sake.'"
35
It came about that night that the angel of Yahweh went out and attacked the camp of the Assyrians, putting to death 185,000 soldiers. When the men arose early in the morning, dead bodies lay everywhere.
36
So Sennacherib king of Assyria left Israel and went home and stayed in Nineveh.
37
Later, as he was worshiping in the house of Nisrok his god, his sons Adrammelek and Sharezer killed him with the sword. Then they escaped into the land of Ararat. Then Esarhaddon his son became king in his place.
Chapter 20
1
In those days Hezekiah was sick to the point of dying. So Isaiah son of Amoz, the prophet came to him, and said to him, "Yahweh says, 'Set your house in order; for you will die, and not live.'"
2
Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to Yahweh, saying,
3
"Please, Yahweh, I beg you, call to mind how I have faithfully walked before you with my whole heart, and how I have done what was good in your sight." Then Hezekiah wept loudly.
4
Before Isaiah had gone out into the middle courtyard, the word of Yahweh came to him, saying,
5
"Turn back, and say to Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what Yahweh, the God of David your ancestor, says: "I have heard your prayer, and I have seen your tears. I am about to heal you on the third day, and you will go up to the house of Yahweh.
6
I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David's sake."'"
7
So Isaiah said, "Take a lump of figs." They did so and put it on his boil, and he recovered.
8
Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "What will be the sign that Yahweh will heal me, and that I should go up to the temple of Yahweh on the third day?"
9
Isaiah replied, "This will be the sign for you from Yahweh, that Yahweh will do the thing that he has spoken. Will the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?"
10
Hezekiah answered, "It is an easy thing for the shadow to go forward ten steps. No, let the shadow go backward ten steps."
11
So Isaiah the prophet cried out to Yahweh, and he brought the shadow ten steps backward, from where it had moved on the stairway of Ahaz.
12
At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.
13
Hezekiah listened to those letters, and then showed the messengers all the palace and his valuable things, the silver, the gold, the spices and precious oil, and the storehouse of his weapons, and all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his house, nor in all his kingdom, that Hezekiah did not show them.
14
Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and asked him, "What did these men say to you? Where did they come from?" Hezekiah said, "They came from the distant country of Babylon."
15
Isaiah asked, "What have they seen in your house?" Hezekiah answered, "They have seen everything in my house. There is nothing among my valuable things that I have not shown them."
16
So Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Listen to the word of Yahweh:
17
'Look, the days are about to come when everything in your palace, the things that your ancestors stored away until this present day, will be carried to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says Yahweh.
18
Some of your descendants whom you will father will be taken away from you, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.'"
19
Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The word of Yahweh that you have spoken is good." For he thought, "Will there not be peace and stability in my days?"
20
As for the other matters concerning Hezekiah, and all his power, and how he constructed the pool and the conduit, and how he brought water into the city—are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah?
21
Hezekiah lay down with his ancestors, and Manasseh his son became king in his place.
Chapter 21
1
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah.
2
He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, like the disgusting things of the nations whom Yahweh had driven out before the people of Israel.
3
For he rebuilt the high places that Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he built altars for Baal, made an Asherah pole, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and he bowed down to all the host of heaven and worshiped them.
4
Manasseh built altars in the house of Yahweh, although Yahweh had commanded, "It is in Jerusalem that my name will be forever."
5
He built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courtyards of the house of Yahweh.
6
He caused his son to pass through the fire, he performed sorcery and divination and consulted with sorcerers and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of Yahweh, provoking him to anger.
7
The carved figure of Asherah that he had made, he placed it in the house of Yahweh. It was about this house that Yahweh had spoken to David and Solomon his son; he had said: "It is in this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel, that I will put my name forever.
8
I will not cause the feet of Israel to wander any more out of the land that I gave to their ancestors, if they will only be careful to obey all that I have commanded them, and to follow all the law that my servant Moses commanded them."
9
But the people did not listen, and Manasseh led them to do evil even more than the nations that Yahweh had destroyed before the people of Israel.
10
So Yahweh spoke by his servants the prophets, saying,
11
"Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these disgusting things, and has acted wickedly more than all that the Amorites who were before him did, and has also made Judah sin with his idols,
12
therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, says this: Look, I am about to bring such evil on Jerusalem and Judah that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle.
13
I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria, and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab; I will wipe Jerusalem clean, as a man wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.
14
I will throw off the remnant of my inheritance and give them into the hand of their enemies. They will become victims and plunder for all their enemies,
15
because they have done what is evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their ancestors came out of Egypt, to this day."
16
Moreover, Manasseh shed much innocent blood, until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another with death. This was in addition to the sin by which he made Judah to sin, when they did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh.
17
As for the other matters concerning Manasseh, all that he did, and the sin that he committed, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah?
18
Manasseh lay down with his ancestors and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza. Amon his son became king in his place.
19
Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; he reigned two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Meshullemeth; she was the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah.
20
He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as Manasseh his father had done.
21
Amon followed in all the way that his father had walked in and worshiped the idols that his father worshiped, and bowed down to them.
22
He abandoned Yahweh, the God of his fathers, and did not walk in the way of Yahweh.
23
The servants of Amon conspired against him and put the king to death in his own house.
24
But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Amon, and they made Josiah his son king in his place.
25
As for the other matters concerning Amon that he did, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah?
26
The people buried him in his tomb in the garden of Uzza, and Josiah his son became king in his place.
Chapter 22
1
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah (she was the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath).
2
He did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh. He walked in all the way of David his ancestor, and he did not turn away either to the right or to the left.
3
It came about that in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of Yahweh, saying,
4
"Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and tell him to count the money that has been brought into the house of Yahweh, which the temple guards have gathered from the people.
5
Let it be given into the hand of the workmen who are in charge of the house of Yahweh, and let them give it to the workmen who are in the house of Yahweh, for them to make repairs to damage in the temple.
6
Let them give money to the carpenters, the builders, and the masons, and also to buy timber and cut stone to repair the temple."
7
But no accounting was required for the money that was given to them, because they handled it faithfully.
8
Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in the house of Yahweh." So Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
9
Shaphan went and took the book to the king, and also reported to him, saying, "Your servants have spent the money that was found in the temple and they have given it into the hand of the workmen who supervise the care for the house of Yahweh."
10
Then Shaphan the scribe said to the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." Then Shaphan read it to the king.
11
It came about that when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes.
12
The king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Akbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah, his own servant, saying,
13
"Go and consult with Yahweh for me, and for the people and for all Judah, because of the words of this book that has been found. For great is the anger of Yahweh that has been kindled against us because our ancestors have not listened to the words of this book so as to obey all that was written concerning us."
14
So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Akbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (she lived in Jerusalem in the second quarter), and they spoke with her.
15
She said to them, "This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: 'Tell the man who sent you to me,
16
"This is what Yahweh says: 'See, I will bring disaster to this place and to its inhabitants, according to everything written in the book that the king of Judah has read.
17
Because they have abandoned me and have burned incense to other gods, so that they might provoke me to anger with all the deeds they have committed—therefore my anger has been kindled against this place, and it will not be extinguished.'"
18
But to the king of Judah, who sent you to ask Yahweh's will, this is what you will say to him: "Yahweh, the God of Israel says this: 'About the words that you heard,
19
because your heart was tender, and because you have humbled yourself before Yahweh, when you heard what I said against this place and its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and because you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have listened to you—this is Yahweh's declaration.
20
See, I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place.'"'" So the men took this message back to the king.
Chapter 23
1
So the king sent messengers who gathered to him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem.
2
Then the king went up to the house of Yahweh, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, prophets, and all the people, from small to great. He then read in their hearing all the words of the book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of Yahweh.
3
The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh and to keep his commandments, his regulations, and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to confirm the words of this covenant that were written in this book. So all the people agreed to stand by the covenant.
4
The king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, the priests under him, and the gatekeepers to bring out of the temple of Yahweh all the vessels that were made for Baal and Asherah, and for all the host of heaven. He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields in the Kidron Valley and carried their ashes to Bethel.
5
He got rid of the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had chosen to burn incense at the high places in the cities of Judah and in the places around Jerusalem—those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and the moon, to the planets, and to all the host of heaven.
6
He brought out the Asherah pole from the temple of Yahweh, outside Jerusalem to the Kidron Valley and burned it there. He crushed it to dust and threw that dust onto the graves of the common people.
7
He broke down the houses of the cultic prostitutes in the temple of Yahweh, where the women wove garments for Asherah.
8
Josiah brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba. He destroyed the high places at the gates that were at the entrance to the gate of Joshua (the city governor), on the left side of the city gate.
9
Although the priests of those high places were not allowed to serve at the altar of Yahweh in Jerusalem, they ate unleavened bread among their brothers.
10
Josiah defiled Topheth, which is in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, so that no one might cause his son or his daughter to pass through the fire as a sacrifice to Molech.
11
He took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun. They had been in an area at the entrance to the temple of Yahweh, near the room of Nathan-Melek, the chamberlain. Josiah burned the chariots of the sun.
12
Josiah the king destroyed the altars that were on the roof of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars that Manasseh had made in the two courts of the temple of Yahweh. Josiah smashed them into pieces and threw them into the Kidron Valley.
13
The king ruined the high places east of Jerusalem, south of the mount of corruption that Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth, the detestable idol of the Sidonians; for Chemosh, the detestable idol of Moab; and for Molech, the detestable idol of the people of Ammon.
14
He broke the stone pillars into pieces and cut down the Asherah poles and he filled those places with the bones of human beings.
15
Josiah also completely destroyed the altar that was at Bethel and the high place that Jeroboam son of Nebat (the one who made Israel to sin) had constructed. He also burned that altar and the high place and crushed it to dust. He also burned the Asherah pole.
16
As Josiah looked over the area, he noticed the graves that were on the hillside. He sent men to take the bones from the graves; then he burned them on the altar, which defiled it. This was according to the word of Yahweh which the man of God had spoken, the man who spoke of these things beforehand.
17
Then he said, "What monument is that I see?" The men of the city told him, "That is the grave of the man of God who came from Judah and spoke about these things that you have just done against the altar of Bethel."
18
So Josiah said, "Let it alone. No one should move his bones." So they let his bones alone, along with the bones of the prophet who had come from Samaria.
19
Then Josiah removed all the houses on the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made, and that provoked Yahweh to anger. He did to them exactly what had been done at Bethel.
20
He slaughtered all the priests of the high places on the altars and he burned human bones on them. Then he returned to Jerusalem.
21
Then the king commanded all the people, saying, "Keep the Passover to Yahweh your God, as it is written in this book of the covenant."
22
Such a Passover celebration had never been held from the days of the judges who ruled Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel or Judah.
23
But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah this Passover of Yahweh was celebrated in Jerusalem.
24
Josiah also completely removed the sorcerers and spiritists. He also completely removed the fetishes, the idols, and all the disgusting things that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, so as to confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest had found in the house of Yahweh.
25
Before Josiah, there had been no king like him, who turned to Yahweh with all his heart, all his soul, and all his might, who followed all the law of Moses. Nor did any king like Josiah arise after him.
26
Nevertheless, Yahweh did not turn away from the burning of his raging anger, which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to provoke him to anger.
27
So Yahweh said, "I will also remove Judah out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and I will throw away this city that I have chosen, Jerusalem, and the house of which I said, 'My name will be there.'"
28
As for the other matters concerning Josiah, everything that he did, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah?
29
In his days, Pharaoh Necho, king of Egypt, went to fight against the king of Assyria at the Euphrates River. King Josiah went to meet Necho in battle, and Necho killed him at Megiddo.
30
Josiah's servants carried him dead in a chariot from Megiddo, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own grave. Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah, anointed him, and made him king in his father's place.
31
Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal; she was the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
32
Jehoahaz did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, like everything that his ancestors had done.
33
Pharaoh Necho put him in chains at Riblah in the land of Hamath, so that he might not reign in Jerusalem. Then Necho imposed a fine on Judah of one hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold.
34
Pharaoh Necho made Eliakim son of Josiah king in the place of Josiah his father, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. But he took Jehoahaz away to Egypt, and Jehoahaz died there.
35
Jehoiakim paid the silver and gold to Pharaoh. In order to meet the demand of Pharaoh, Jehoikim taxed the land and he forced each man among the people of the land to pay him the silver and gold according to their assessments.
36
Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zebidah; she was the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.
37
Jehoiakim did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, just as his ancestors had done.
Chapter 24
1
In Jehoiakim's days, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked Judah; Jehoiakim became his servant for three years. Then Jehoiakim turned back and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar.
2
Yahweh sent against Jehoiakim marauding bands of Chaldeans, Arameans, Moabites, and Ammonites; he sent them against Judah to destroy it. This was in conformity with the word of Yahweh that had been spoken through his servants the prophets.
3
It was certainly at the mouth of Yahweh that this came on Judah, to remove them out of his sight, because of the sins of Manasseh, all that he did,
4
and also because of the innocent blood that he shed, for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood. Yahweh was not willing to pardon that.
5
As for the other matters concerning Jehoiakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah?
6
Jehoiakim lay down with his ancestors, and Jehoiachin his son became king in his place.
7
The king of Egypt did not attack any more out of his land, because the king of Babylon had conquered all the lands that had been controlled by the king of Egypt, from the brook of Egypt to the Euphrates River.
8
Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign; he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother's name was Nehushta; she was the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.
9
He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh; he did all that his father had done.
10
At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked Jerusalem and besieged the city.
11
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the city while his servants were besieging it,
12
and Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, his mother, his servants, his princes, and his officers. The king of Babylon captured him in the eighth year of his own reign.
13
Nebuchadnezzar took out from there all the valuable things in the house of Yahweh, and those in the king's palace. He cut into pieces all the golden objects that Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of Yahweh, as Yahweh had said would happen.
14
He took into exile all Jerusalem, all the leaders, and all the mighty warriors, ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths. No one was left except the poorest people in the land.
15
Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin into exile at Babylon, as well as the king's mother, wives, officers, and the nobles of the land. He took them into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.
16
All the fighting men, seven thousand in number, and one thousand craftsmen and blacksmiths, all of them strong and fit for fighting—the king of Babylon brought these men into exile at Babylon.
17
The king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's father's brother, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
18
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal; she was the daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah.
19
He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh; he did all that Jehoiakim had done.
20
Through Yahweh's anger, all these events happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until he drove them out of his presence. Then Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
Chapter 25
1
It happened that in the ninth year of the reign of King Zedekiah, in the tenth month, and on the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem. He camped opposite it, and they built a siege wall around it.
2
So the city was besieged until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah's reign.
3
On the ninth day of the fourth month of that year, the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land.
4
Then the city was broken into, and all the fighting men fled at night by the way of the gate between the two walls, by the king's garden, although the Chaldeans were all around the city. The king went in the direction of the Arabah.
5
But the army of Chaldeans pursued King Zedekiah and overtook him in the plains of the Jordan River valley near Jericho. All his army was scattered away from him.
6
They captured the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where they passed sentence on him.
7
As for Zedekiah's sons, they slaughtered them before his eyes. Then he put out his eyes, bound him in bronze chains, and brought him to Babylon.
8
Now in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan, a servant of the king of Babylon and commander of his bodyguards, came to Jerusalem.
9
He burned the house of Yahweh, the king's palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem; also every important building in the city he burned.
10
As for all the walls around Jerusalem, all the army of the Chaldeans who were under the commander of the bodyguard destroyed them.
11
As for the rest of the people who were left in the city, those who had deserted to the king of Babylon, and the remainder of the population—Nebuzaradan, the commander of the bodyguard, took them away into exile.
12
But the commander of the bodyguard did leave some of the poorest of the land to work the vineyards and fields.
13
As for the bronze pillars that were in the house of Yahweh, and the stands and the bronze sea that were in the house of Yahweh, the Chaldeans broke them into pieces and carried the bronze back to Babylon.
14
The pots, shovels, lamp trimmers, spoons, and all the utensils of bronze with which the priests had served in the temple—the Chaldeans took them all away.
15
The censers and the bowls that were made of gold and those made of silver—the captain of the king's guard took them away as well.
16
The two pillars, the sea, and the stands that Solomon had made for the house of Yahweh contained more bronze than could be weighed.
17
The height of the first pillar was eighteen cubits, and a capital of bronze was on top of it. The capital was three cubits high, with latticework and pomegranates all around on the capital, all made of bronze. The other pillar and its latticework were the same as the first.
18
The commander of the bodyguard took Seraiah the chief priest, together with Zephaniah, the second priest, and the three gatekeepers.
19
From the city he took prisoner an officer who was in charge of soldiers, and five men of those who advised the king, who were still in the city. He also took prisoner the king's army officer responsible for drafting men into the army, along with sixty important men from the land who were in the city.
20
Then Nebuzaradan, the commander of the bodyguard, took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.
21
The king of Babylon put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. In this way, Judah went out of its land into exile.
22
As for the people who remained in the land of Judah, those whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, he put Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, in charge of them.
23
Now when all the commanders of the soldiers, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, they went to Gedaliah at Mizpah. These men were Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah son of the Maakathite—they and their men.
24
Gedaliah made an oath to them and to their men, and said to them, "Do not be afraid of the Chaldean officials. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you."
25
But it happened that in the seventh month Ishmael son of Nethaniah son of Elishama, from the royal family, came with ten men and attacked Gedaliah. Gedaliah died, along with the Jews and the Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah.
26
Then all the people, from the least to the greatest, and the commanders of the soldiers, arose and went to Egypt, because they were afraid of the Chaldeans.
27
It happened later in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, that Awel-Marduk king of Babylon released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison. This happened in the year that Awel-Marduk began to reign.
28
He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat more honorable than that of the other kings who were with him in Babylon.
29
Awel-Marduk removed Jehoiachin's prison clothes, and Jehoiachin ate regularly at the king's table for the rest of his life.
30
A regular food allowance was given to him by the king every day for the rest of his life.
1 Chronicles
Chapter 1
1
Adam, Seth, Enosh,
2
Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,
3
Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech.
4
The sons of Noah were Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
5
The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
6
The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.
7
The sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites, and the Rodanites.
8
The sons of Ham were Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan.
9
The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raamah, and Sabteka. The sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan.
10
Cush became the father of Nimrod, who began to be a mighty man on the earth.
11
Egypt became the ancestor of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites,
12
Pathrusites, Kasluhites (from whom the Philistines came), and the Caphtorites.
13
Canaan became the father of Sidon, his firstborn, and of the Hittites.
14
He also became the ancestor of the Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites,
15
Hivites, Arkites, Sinites,
16
Arvadites, Zemarites, and the Hamathites.
17
The sons of Shem were Elam, Ashur, Arphaxad, Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech.
18
Arphaxad became the father of Shelah, and Shelah became the father of Eber.
19
Eber had two sons. The name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided. His brother's name was Joktan.
20
Joktan became the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,
21
Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,
22
Obal, Abimael, Sheba,
23
Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab; all these were descendants of Joktan.
24
Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah,
25
Eber, Peleg, Reu,
26
Serug, Nahor, Terah,
27
Abram, who was Abraham.
28
The sons of Abraham were Isaac and Ishmael.
29
These are their descendants: the firstborn of Ishmael was Nebaioth, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
30
Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema,
31
Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were Ishmael's sons.
32
The sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine, were Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan were Sheba and Dedan.
33
Midian's sons were Ephah, Epher, Hanok, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were Keturah's descendants.
34
Abraham became the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac were Esau and Israel.
35
The sons of Esau were Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.
36
The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, Kenaz, Timna, and Amalek.
37
The sons of Reuel were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.
38
The sons of Seir were Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.
39
The sons of Lotan were Hori and Homam, and Timna was Lotan's sister.
40
The sons of Shobal were Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. The sons of Zibeon were Aiah and Anah.
41
The son of Anah was Dishon. The sons of Dishon were Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Keran.
42
The sons of Ezer were Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan. The sons of Dishan were Uz and Aran.
43
These were the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the people of Israel: Bela son of Beor, and the name of his city was Dinhabah.
44
When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place.
45
When Jobab died, Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place.
46
When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the land of Moab, reigned in his place. The name of his city was Avith.
47
When Hadad died, Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place.
48
When Samlah died, Shaul of Rehoboth on the river reigned in his place.
49
When Shaul died, Baal-Hanan son of Akbor reigned in his place.
50
When Baal-Hanan died, Hadad reigned in his place, and the name of his city was Pau. His wife's name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred daughter of Me-Zahab.
51
Hadad died.
The chiefs in Edom were Chief Timna, Chief Alvah, Chief Jetheth,
52
Chief Oholibamah, Chief Elah, Chief Pinon,
53
Chief Kenaz, Chief Teman, Chief Mibzar,
54
Chief Magdiel, and Chief Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom.
Chapter 2
1
These were the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,
2
Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
3
Judah's sons were Er, Onan, and Shelah, who were born to him by Shua's daughter, a Canaanite woman. Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of Yahweh, and Yahweh killed him.
4
Tamar, his daughter-in-law, bore him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons.
5
Perez's sons were Hezron and Hamul.
6
Zerah's sons were Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Kalkol, and Darda, five in all.
7
Karmi's son was Achar, who brought trouble on Israel when he acted faithlessly in regard to what was devoted to God.
8
Ethan's son was Azariah.
9
Hezron's sons were Jerahmeel, Ram, and Caleb.
10
Ram became the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, a leader among Judah's descendants.
11
Nahshon became the father of Salmon, and Salmon became the father of Boaz.
12
Boaz became the father of Obed, and Obed became the father of Jesse.
13
Jesse became the father of his firstborn Eliab, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third,
14
Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth,
15
Ozem the sixth, and David the seventh.
16
Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. The sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel, three of them.
17
Abigail bore Amasa, whose father was Jether the Ishmaelite.
18
Caleb son of Hezron became the father of children by Azubah, his wife, and by Jerioth. His sons were Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon.
19
Azubah died, and then Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur.
20
Hur became the father of Uri, and Uri became the father of Bezalel.
21
Later Hezron (when he was sixty years old) married the daughter of Makir, the father of Gilead. She bore him Segub.
22
Segub became the father of Jair, who controlled twenty-three cities in the land of Gilead.
23
Geshur and Aram took Havvoth Jair and Kenath, as well as sixty surrounding towns. All these inhabitants were descendants of Makir, the father of Gilead.
24
After the death of Hezron, Caleb went to Ephrathah, the wife of his father Hezron. She bore him Ashhur, the father of Tekoa.
25
The sons of Jerahmeel, the firstborn of Hezron, were Ram the firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah.
26
Jerahmeel had another wife, whose name was Atarah. She was the mother of Onam.
27
The sons of Ram, the firstborn of Jerahmeel, were Maaz, Jamin, and Eker.
28
The sons of Onam were Shammai and Jada. The sons of Shammai were Nadab and Abishur.
29
The name of the wife of Abishur was Abihail, and she bore him Ahban and Molid.
30
The sons of Nadab were Seled and Appaim, but Seled died without children.
31
The son of Appaim was Ishi. The son of Ishi was Sheshan. The son of Sheshan was Ahlai.
32
The sons of Jada, the brother of Shammai, were Jether and Jonathan. Jether died without children.
33
The sons of Jonathan were Peleth and Zaza. These were the descendants of Jerahmeel.
34
Now Sheshan had no sons, only daughters. Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Jarha.
35
Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant as his wife. She bore him Attai.
36
Attai became the father of Nathan, and Nathan became the father of Zabad.
37
Zabad became the father of Ephlal, and Ephlal became the father of Obed.
38
Obed became the father of Jehu, and Jehu became the father of Azariah.
39
Azariah became the father of Helez, and Helez became the father of Eleasah.
40
Eleasah became the father of Sismai, and Sismai became the father of Shallum.
41
Shallum became the father of Jekamiah, and Jekamiah became the father of Elishama.
42
The sons of Caleb, the brother of Jerahmeel, were Mesha his firstborn, who was the father of Ziph. His second son, Mareshah, was the father of Hebron.
43
The sons of Hebron were Korah, Tappuah, Rekem, and Shema.
44
Shema became the father of Raham, the father of Jorkeam. Rekem became the father of Shammai.
45
The son of Shammai was Maon, and Maon was the father of Beth Zur.
46
Ephah, Caleb's concubine, bore Haran, Moza, and Gazez. Haran became the father of Gazez.
47
The sons of Jahdai were Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph.
48
Maakah, Caleb's concubine, bore Sheber and Tirhanah.
49
She also bore Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Makbenah and the father of Gibea. The daughter of Caleb was Aksah.
50
These were the descendants of Caleb. The sons of Hur the firstborn of Ephrathah: Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim,
51
Salma the father of Bethlehem, and Hareph the father of Beth Gader.
52
Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim had descendants: Haroeh, half of the Manahathites,
53
and the clans of Kiriath Jearim: the Ithrites, Puthites, Shumathites, and Mishraites. The Zorathites and Eshtaolites descended from these.
54
The descendants of Salma were Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth Beth Joab, and half of the Manahathites—the Zorites,
55
and the clans of the scribes who lived at Jabez: the Tirathites, Shimeathites, and Sucathites. These were the Kenites who came from Hammath, father of the house of Rekab.
Chapter 3
1
Now these are the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: the firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam from Jezreel; the second was Daniel, by Abigail from Carmel;
2
the third was Absalom, whose mother was Maakah, daughter of Talmai king of Geshur. The fourth was Adonijah son of Haggith;
3
the fifth was Shephatiah by Abital; the sixth was Ithream by Eglah his wife.
4
These six were born to David in Hebron, where he reigned seven years and six months. He then ruled thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
5
These four sons, by Bathsheba daughter of Ammiel, were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon.
6
David's other nine sons were: Ibhar, Elishua, Eliphelet,
7
Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,
8
Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
9
These were David's sons, not including the sons by his concubines. Tamar was their sister.
10
Solomon's son was Rehoboam. Rehoboam's son was Abijah. Abijah's son was Asa. Asa's son was Jehoshaphat.
11
Jehoshaphat's son was Jehoram. Jehoram's son was Ahaziah. Ahaziah's son was Joash.
12
Joash's son was Amaziah. Amaziah's son was Azariah. Azariah's son was Jotham.
13
Jotham's son was Ahaz. Ahaz's son was Hezekiah. Hezekiah's son was Manasseh.
14
Manasseh's son was Amon. Amon's son was Josiah.
15
Josiah's sons were his firstborn Johanan, his second son Jehoiakim, his third son Zedekiah, and his fourth son Shallum.
16
Jehoiakim's sons were Jehoiachin and Zedekiah.
17
The descendants of Jehoiachin the captive, were Shealtiel,
18
Malkiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.
19
Pedaiah's sons were Zerubbabel and Shimei. Zerubbabel's sons were Meshullam and Hananiah; Shelomith was their sister.
20
His other five sons were Hashubah, Ohel, Berekiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-Hesed.
21
Hananiah's sons were Pelatiah and Jeshaiah. His son was Rephaiah, and further descendants were Arnan, Obadiah, and Shekaniah.
22
The descendants of Shekaniah were Shemaiah and his sons: Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat.
23
Neariah's three sons were Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam.
24
Elioenai's seven sons were Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani.
Chapter 4
1
Judah's descendants were Perez, Hezron, Karmi, Hur, and Shobal.
2
Reaiah, the son of Shobal, was the father of Jahath. Jahath was the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These were of the clans of the Zorathites.
3
These were the sons of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash. Their sister's name was Hazzelelponi.
4
Penuel was the father of Gedor. Ezer was the father of Hushah. These were descendants of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, the father of Bethlehem.
5
Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.
6
Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the descendants of Naarah.
7
Helah's sons were Zereth, Zohar, Ethnan,
8
and Koz, who became the father of Anub and Hazzobebah, and of the clans descended from Aharhel son of Harum.
9
Jabez was more respected than his brothers. His mother named him Jabez. She said, "Because I bore him in pain."
10
Jabez called out to the God of Israel and said, "If only you would truly bless me, expand my territory, and your hand will be with me. When you do this you will keep me from harm, so that I may be free from pain!" So God granted him his prayer.
11
Kelub brother of Shuhah became the father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton.
12
Eshton became the father of Beth Rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah, the father of Ir Nahash.
These were men who lived in Rekah.
13
Kenaz's sons were Othniel and Seraiah. Othniel's sons were Hathath and Meonothai.
14
Meonothai became the father of Ophrah, and Seraiah became the father of Joab, the originator of Ge Harashim, whose people were craftsmen.
15
The sons of Caleb son of Jephunneh were Iru, Elah and Naam. Elah's son was Kenaz.
16
Jehallelel's sons were Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.
17
Ezrah's sons were Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. Mered's Egyptian wife
conceived and bore Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah, who became the father of Eshtemoa.
18
These were the sons of Bithiah, daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered married. Mered's Judahite wife bore Jered, who became the father of Gedor; Heber, who became the father of Soko; and Jekuthiel, who became the father of Zanoah.
19
Of the two sons of Hodiah's wife, sister of Naham, one became the father of Keilah the Garmite. The other was Eshtemoa the Maakathite.
20
The sons of Shimon were Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-Hanan, and Tilon. The descendants of Ishi were Zoheth and Ben-Zoheth.
21
The descendants of Shelah son of Judah, were Er father of Lekah, Laadah father of Mareshah and the clans of the linen workers at Beth Ashbea,
22
Jokim, the men of Kozeba, and Joash and Saraph, who ruled in Moab and Jashubi Lehem. (This information is from ancient records.)
23
These were the potters who lived in Netaim and Gederah and worked for the king.
24
Simeon's descendants were Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul.
25
Shallum was Shaul's son, Mibsam was Shallum's son, and Mishma was Mibsam's son.
26
Mishma's descendants were Hammuel his son, Zakkur his grandson, and Shimei his great-grandson.
27
Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters. His brothers did not have many children, so their clans did not increase greatly in numbers as the people of Judah did.
28
They lived at Beersheba, Moladah, and at Hazar Shual.
29
They also live at Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad,
30
Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag,
31
Beth Markaboth, Hazar Susim, Beth Biri, and Shaaraim. These were their cities until the reign of David.
32
Their five villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Token, and Ashan,
33
together with the outlying villages as far as Baalath. These were their settlements, and they kept the genealogical records.
34
Clan leaders were Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah son of Amaziah,
35
Joel, Jehu son of Joshibiah son of Seraiah son of Asiel,
36
Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah,
37
and Ziza son of Shiphi son of Allon son of Jedaiah son of Shimri son of Shemaiah.
38
These mentioned by name were leaders in their clans, and their fathers' houses increased greatly.
39
They went near Gedor, on the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks.
40
They found abundant and good pasture. The land was broad, quiet, and peaceable. The Hamites had formerly lived there.
41
These just listed by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and attacked the Hamite tents and the Meunites, who were there also. They completely destroyed them and lived there because they found pasture for their flocks.
42
From them, from the sons of Simeon, five hundred men went to Mount Seir with Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi, as their leader.
43
They defeated the rest of the escaped remnant of Amalekites, and have lived there to this day.
Chapter 5
1
The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel—now Reuben was Israel's firstborn, but his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel because Reuben had defiled his father's couch. So he is not recorded in the genealogy as having the birthright.
2
Judah was the strongest of his brothers, and the leader would come from him. But the birthright was Joseph's—
3
the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel were Hanok, Pallu, Hezron, and Karmi.
4
The descendants of Joel were these: Joel's son was Shemaiah. Shemaiah's son was Gog. Gog's son was Shimei.
5
Shimei's son was Micah. Micah's son was Reaiah. Reaiah's son was Baal.
6
Baal's son was Beerah, whom Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria took into exile. Beerah was a leader in the tribe of Reuben.
7
His kinsmen according to their clans, enrolled in the genealogy by their generations: Jeiel the leader, Zechariah,
8
and Bela son of Azaz son of Shema son of Joel. They lived in Aroer, as far as Nebo and Baal Meon,
9
and eastward to the start of the wilderness that extends to the Euphrates River, because their livestock had increased in the land of Gilead.
10
In the days of Saul, the tribe of Reuben attacked the Hagrites and defeated them. They lived in the Hagrites' tents throughout all the land east of Gilead.
11
The members of the tribe of Gad lived near them, in the land of Bashan as far as Salekah.
12
Joel was their leader; Shapham was second; and Janai and Shaphat in Bashan.
13
Their relatives, by their clans, were Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jakan, Zia, and Eber—seven in all.
14
These persons named above were the descendants of Abihail, and Abihail was the son of Huri. Huri was the son of Jaroah. Jaroah was the son of Gilead. Gilead was the son of Michael. Michael was the son of Jeshishai. Jeshishai was the son of Jahdo. Jahdo was the son of Buz.
15
Ahi son of Abdiel son of Guni, was head of their clan.
16
They lived in Gilead, in Bashan, in its towns, and in all the pasturelands of Sharon as far as its borders.
17
All these were listed by genealogical records in the days of Jotham king of Judah and of Jeroboam king of Israel.
18
The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 soldiers skilled in battle, who carried shield and sword and who drew the bow, who could go out to war.
19
They attacked the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab.
20
They received divine help against them. In this way, the Hagrites and all who were with them were defeated. This was because the Israelites cried out to God in the battle, and he responded to them, because they put their trust in him.
21
They captured their animals, including fifty thousand camels, 250,000 sheep, two thousand donkeys, and 100,000 men.
22
Many fell because the battle was from God. They lived in their land until the captivity.
23
The sons of the half tribe of Manasseh lived in the land of Bashan as far as Baal Hermon and Senir (that is, Mount Hermon).
24
These were the heads of their clans: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. They were mighty warriors, famous men, heads of their fathers' houses.
25
But they were unfaithful to their ancestors' God. They acted like prostitutes with the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them.
26
The God of Israel stirred up Pul king of Assyria (also called Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria). He took into exile the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh. He brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and to the river of Gozan, where they remain to this day.
Chapter 6
1
The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
2
The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
3
The children of Amram were Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
4
Eleazar became the father of Phinehas, and Phinehas became the father of Abishua.
5
Abishua became the father of Bukki, and Bukki became the father of Uzzi.
6
Uzzi became the father of Zerahiah, and Zerahiah became the father of Meraioth.
7
Meraioth became the father of Amariah, and Amariah became the father of Ahitub.
8
Ahitub became the father of Zadok, and Zadok became the father of Ahimaaz.
9
Ahimaaz became the father of Azariah, and Azariah became the father of Johanan.
10
Johanan became the father of Azariah, who served as a priest in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem.
11
Azariah became the father of Amariah, and Amariah became the father of Ahitub.
12
Ahitub became the father of Zadok, and Zadok became the father of Shallum.
13
Shallum became the father of Hilkiah, and Hilkiah became the father of Azariah.
14
Azariah became the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah became the father of Jozadak.
15
Jozadak went into captivity when Yahweh exiled Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.
16
The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
17
The sons of Gershon were named Libni and Shimei.
18
The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
19
The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites listed according to their fathers.
20
The descendants of Gershon: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son,
21
Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, and Jeatherai his son.
22
The descendants of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son,
23
Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son,
24
Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son.
25
The descendants of Elkanah were Amasai, Ahimoth,
26
Elkanah his son, Zophai his son, Nahath his son,
27
Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, and Elkanah his son.
28
The sons of Samuel were the firstborn, Joel, and Abijah, the second-born.
29
The descendants of Merari were Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son,
30
Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, and Asaiah his son.
31
These are the names of the men whom David put in charge of music in the house of Yahweh, after the ark came to rest there.
32
They served by singing before the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, until Solomon had built the house of Yahweh in Jerusalem. They fulfilled their duties according to the instructions given to them.
33
These were those who served with their sons. From the clans of the Kohathites came Heman the musician. Here were his ancestors, going back in time: Heman was the son of Joel. Joel was the son of Samuel.
34
Samuel was the son of Elkanah. Elkanah was the son of Jeroham. Jeroham was the son of Eliel. Eliel was the son of Toah.
35
Toah was the son of Zuph. Zuph was the son of Elkanah. Elkanah was the son of Mahath. Mahath was the son of Amasai. Amasai was son of Elkanah.
36
Amasai was the son of Elkanah. Elkanah was the son of Joel. Joel was the son of Azariah. Azariah was the son of Zephaniah.
37
Zephaniah was the son of Tahath. Tahath was the son of Assir. Assir was the son of Ebiasaph. Ebiasaph was the son of Korah.
38
Korah was the son of Izhar. Izhar was the son of Kohath. Kohath was the son of Levi. Levi was the son of Israel.
39
Heman's fellow worker was Asaph, who stood at his right hand. Asaph was the son of Berekiah. Berekiah was the son of Shimea.
40
Shimea was the son of Michael. Michael was the son of Baaseiah. Baaseiah was the son of Malkijah.
41
Malkijah was the son of Ethni. Ethni was the son of Zerah. Zerah was the son of Adaiah.
42
Adaiah was the son of Ethan. Ethan was the son of Zimmah. Zimmah was the son of Shimei.
43
Shimei was the son of Jahath. Jahath was the son of Gershon. Gershon was the son of Levi.
44
At Heman's left hand were his fellow workers the sons of Merari. They included Ethan son of Kishi. Kishi was the son of Abdi. Abdi was the son of Malluk.
45
Malluk was the son of Hashabiah. Hashabiah was the son of Amaziah. Amaziah was the son of Hilkiah.
46
Hilkiah was the son of Amzi. Amzi was the son of Bani. Bani was the son of Shemer.
47
Shemer was the son of Mahli. Mahli was the son of Mushi. Mushi was the son of Merari. Merari was the son of Levi.
48
Their associates, the Levites, were assigned to do all the labor for the tabernacle, the house of God.
49
But Aaron and his descendants made the offerings on the altar for burnt offerings; and the offering on the incense altar for all the work on the most holy place. These offerings made atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.
50
Aaron's descendants are reckoned as follows: Aaron's son was Eleazar. Eleazar's son was Phinehas. Phinehas' son was Abishua.
51
Abishua's son was Bukki. Bukki's son was Uzzi. Uzzi's son was Zerahiah.
52
Zerahiah's son was Meraioth. Meraioth's son was Amariah. Amariah's son was Ahitub.
53
Ahitub's son was Zadok. Zadok's son was Ahimaaz.
54
These are the locations where Aaron's descendants were assigned to live, that is, for the descendants of Aaron who were from the clans of the Kohathites (the first lot was theirs).
55
To them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah and its pasturelands,
56
but the fields of the city and its villages they gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh.
57
To the descendants of Aaron they gave: Hebron (a city of refuge), and Libnah with its pasturelands, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its pasturelands,
58
Hilen with its pasturelands, and Debir with its pasturelands.
59
They also gave to the descendants of Aaron: Ashan with its pasturelands, Juttah,
and Beth Shemesh with its pasturelands;
60
and from the tribe of Benjamin, Geba with its pasturelands, Alemeth with its pasturelands, and Anathoth with its pasturelands.
All their cities throughout their clans were thirteen cities.
61
To the rest of Kohath's descendants were given by lot ten cities from the half tribe of Manasseh.
62
To Gershon's descendants in their various clans were given thirteen cities from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.
63
To Merari's descendants they gave by lot twelve cities, clan by clan, from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.
64
So the people of Israel gave these cities with their pasturelands to the Levites.
65
They assigned by lot these towns mentioned by name from the tribes of the sons of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.
66
Some of the clans of the descendants of Kohath were given cities from the territory of the tribe of Ephraim.
67
They gave them: Shechem (a city of refuge) with its pasturelands in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer with its pasturelands,
68
Jokmeam with its pasturelands, Beth Horon with its pasturelands,
69
Aijalon with its pasturelands, and Gath Rimmon with its pasturelands.
70
The half tribe of Manasseh gave the Kohathites Aner with its pasturelands and Bileam with its pasturelands. These became the possessions of the rest of the Kohathite clans.
71
To Gershon's descendants out of the clans of the half tribe of Manasseh, they gave Golan in Bashan with its pasturelands and Ashtaroth with its pasturelands.
72
The tribe of Issachar gave to Gershon's descendants Kedesh with its pasturelands, Daberath with its pasturelands,
73
Ramoth with its pasturelands, and Anem with its pasturelands.
74
Issachar received from the tribe of Asher: Mashal with its pasturelands, Abdon with its pasturelands,
75
Hukok with its pasturelands, and Rehob with its pasturelands.
76
They received from the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee with its pasturelands, Hammon with its pasturelands, and Kiriathaim with its pasturelands.
77
The rest of Merari's descendants received from the tribe of Zebulun: Jokneam, Kartah,
and Rimmono with its pasturelands and Tabor with its pasturelands;
78
and from the tribe of Reuben, across the Jordan on the east side of Jericho, they received Bezer in the desert, Jahzah,
79
Kedemoth and its pasturelands, and Mephaath and its pasturelands.
80
The Levites received from the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead with its pasturelands, Mahanaim with its pasturelands,
81
Heshbon with its pasturelands, and Jazer with its pasturelands.
Chapter 7
1
Issachar's four sons were Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron.
2
The sons of Tola were Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam, and Samuel. They were the heads of their clans, from the descendants of Tola and they were listed as mighty warriors among their generations. They numbered 22,600 in the days of David.
3
Uzzi's son was Izrahiah. His sons were Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Ishiah; all five of them were clan leaders.
4
Along with them, according to the genealogical records of their clans, they had thirty-six thousand troops of the army for battle, for they had many wives and sons.
5
Their relatives from all the clans of Issachar numbered in all eighty-seven thousand mighty warriors, as listed in their genealogy.
6
Benjamin's three sons were Bela, Beker, and Jediael.
7
Bela's sons were Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri, five heads of clans and mighty warriors. There were 22,034 of them recorded in their genealogy.
8
Beker's sons were Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and Alemeth. All these were his sons.
9
Recorded in their genealogy, according to their generations, were 20,200 heads of their clans, mighty warriors.
10
The son of Jediael was Bilhan. Bilhan's sons were Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Kenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar.
11
All these were sons of Jediael. Listed in their clan lists were 17,200 heads of houses and mighty warriors fit for military service.
12
The Shuppites and the Huppites were descendants of Ir, and the Hushites were descendants of Aher.
13
The sons of Naphtali were Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem—the descendants of Bilhah.
14
The descendants of Manasseh were Asriel, who was his descendant through his Aramean concubine. (She gave birth to Makir, the father of Gilead.
15
Then Makir took a wife from the Huppites and Shuppites, and his sister's name was Maakah.) The name of the second was Zelophehad, who had only daughters.
16
Then Maakah, wife of Makir, bore a son and she called him Peresh, and his brother's name was Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.
17
The son of Ulam was Bedan. These were the descendants of Gilead, who was the son of Makir, who was the son of Manasseh.
18
Gilead's sister Hammoleketh gave birth to Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah.
19
The sons of Shemida were Ahian, Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam.
20
The descendants of Ephraim were Shuthelah, Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eleadah his son, Tahath his son,
21
Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son. Ezer and Elead were killed by men of Gath, natives in the land, when they went to steal their livestock.
22
Ephraim their father mourned for them many days, and his brothers came to comfort him.
23
He went to his wife. She conceived and bore a son. Ephraim named him Beriah, because tragedy had come to his family.
24
His daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth Horon and Uzzen Sheerah.
25
Rephah was his son, Resheph his son, Telah his son, Tahan his son,
26
Ladan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son,
27
Nun his son, and Joshua was his son.
28
Their possessions and residences were Bethel and its surrounding villages. They extended eastward to Naaran and westward to Gezer and its villages, and to Shechem and its villages to Ayyah and its villages.
29
On the border with Manasseh were Beth Shan and its villages, Taanach and its villages, Megiddo and its villages, and Dor and its villages. In these towns the descendants of Joseph son of Israel lived.
30
Asher's sons were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah. Serah was their sister.
31
Beriah's sons were Heber and Malkiel, who was the father of Birzaith.
32
Heber's sons were Japhlet, Shomer, and Hotham. Shua was their sister.
33
Japhlet's sons were Pasak, Bimhal, and Ashvath. These were Japhlet's children.
34
Shomer, Japhlet's brother, had these sons: Rohgah, Hubbah, and Aram.
35
Shemer's brother, Helem, had these sons: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal.
36
Zophah's sons were Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,
37
Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran, and Beera.
38
Jether's sons were Jephunneh, Pispah, and Ara.
39
Ulla's sons were Arah, Hanniel, and Rizia.
40
All these were descendants of Asher. They were heads of clans, distinguished men, mighty warriors, and chief among the leaders. There were twenty-six thousand men listed who were fit for military service recorded in their genealogy.
Chapter 8
1
Benjamin's five sons were Bela his firstborn, Ashbel, Aharah,
2
Nohah, and Rapha.
3
Bela's sons were Addar, Gera, Abihud,
4
Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah,
5
Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram.
6
These were the descendants of Ehud who were heads of fathers' houses for the inhabitants of Geba, who were compelled to move to Manahath:
7
Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera. The last, Gera, led them in their move. He was the father of Uzza and Ahihud.
8
Shaharaim became the father of children in the land of Moab, after he had divorced his wives Hushim and Baara.
9
By his wife Hodesh, Shaharaim became the father of Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malkam,
10
Jeuz, Sakia, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of fathers' houses.
11
He had already become the father of Abitub and Elpaal by Hushim.
12
Elpaal's sons were Eber, Misham, and Shemed (who built Ono and Lod with its surrounding villages).
13
There were also Beriah and Shema. They were heads of the fathers' houses of those living in Aijalon, who drove out the inhabitants of Gath.
14
Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth,
15
Zebadiah, Arad, Eder,
16
Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were the sons of Beriah.
17
Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber,
18
Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal.
19
Jakim, Zikri, Zabdi,
20
Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel,
21
Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei.
22
Ishpan, Eber, Eliel,
23
Abdon, Zikri, Hanan,
24
Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah,
25
Iphdeiah, and Penuel were the sons of Shashak.
26
Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah,
27
Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zikri were the sons of Jeroham.
28
These were heads of clans—according to the genealogical records they were heads. These were the chief men who dwelled in Jerusalem.
29
The father of Gibeon, Jeiel, whose wife's name was Maakah, lived in Gibeon.
30
His firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab,
31
Gedor, Ahio, and Zeker.
32
Another of Jeiel's sons was Mikloth, who became the father of Shimeah. They also lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.
33
Ner was the father of Kish. Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab, and Esh-Baal.
34
The son of Jonathan was Merib-Baal. Merib-Baal was the father of Micah.
35
The sons of Micah were Pithon, Melek, Tarea, and Ahaz.
36
Ahaz became the father of Jehoaddah. Jehoaddah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza.
37
Moza was the father of Binea. Binea was the father of Raphah. Raphah was the father of Eleasah. Eleasah was the father of Azel.
38
Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were sons of Azel.
39
The sons of Eshek, his brother, were Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third.
40
Ulam's sons were mighty warriors and archers. They had many sons and grandsons, a total of 150. All these belonged to the descendants of Benjamin.
Chapter 9
1
So all Israel was recorded in genealogies. They were recorded in the book of the kings of Israel. As for Judah, they were carried away in exile to Babylon because of their faithlessness.
2
The first to resettle in their possessions, in their cities, were some Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.
3
Some descendants of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh lived in Jerusalem.
4
The settlers included Uthai son of Ammihud son of Omri son of Imri son of Bani, one of the descendants of Perez son of Judah.
5
Among the Shelanites were Asaiah the firstborn and his sons.
6
Among the descendants of Zerah was Jeuel. Their relatives numbered 690.
7
Among the descendants of Benjamin was Sallu son of Meshullam son of Hodaviah son of Hassenuah.
8
There were also Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi son of Mikri; and Meshullam son of Shephatiah son of Reuel son of Ibnijah.
9
Their kinsmen, according to the genealogical records, numbered 956. All these men were heads of fathers' houses for their fathers' houses.
10
The priests were Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, and Jakin.
11
There was also Azariah son of Hilkiah son of Meshullam son of Zadok son of Meraioth son of Ahitub, the one in charge of the house of God.
12
There was Adaiah son of Jeroham son of Pashhur son of Malkijah. There was also Maasai son of Adiel son of Jahzerah son of Meshullam son of Meshillemith son of Immer.
13
Their relatives, who were leaders of their clans, numbered 1,760. They were very capable men for the work of service in the house of God.
14
Among the Levites, there was Shemaiah son of Hasshub son of Azrikam son of Hashabiah, among the descendants of Merari.
15
There were also Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah son of Mika son of Zikri son of Asaph.
16
There were also Obadiah son of Shemaiah son of Galal son of Jeduthun; and Berekiah son of Asa son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.
17
The doorkeepers were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their relatives. Shallum was their leader.
18
Previously they stood guard at the king's gate on the east side for the camp of Levi's descendants.
19
Shallum son of Kore son of Ebiasaph,
son of Korah, and his relatives from his clan, the Korahites, were in charge of the work of the guard service. They guarded the door to the tent, as their ancestors had guarded the camp of Yahweh, and they also had guarded the entrance.
20
Phinehas son of Eleazar had been in charge of them in the past, and Yahweh had been with him.
21
Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was guard of the entrance to the tent of meeting.
22
All those who were chosen as gatekeepers at the entrances numbered 212. Their names were recorded in the people's genealogies in their villages. David and Samuel the seer had appointed them to their positions of trust.
23
So they and their descendants were assigned to guard the gates of the house of Yahweh, that is called the house of the tabernacle.
24
The gatekeepers were posted on all four sides, toward the east, west, north, and south.
25
Their brothers, who lived in their villages, came in for seven-day rotations, in turn.
26
But the four leaders of the gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the rooms and with the storerooms in the house of God.
27
They would stay overnight in their posts all around the house of God, for they were responsible for guarding it. They would open it each morning.
28
Some of them were in charge of the temple's equipment; they counted the articles when they were brought in and when they were taken out.
29
Some of them also were assigned to take care of the holy things, the equipment, and the supplies, including the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the frankincense, and the spices.
30
Some of the priests' sons mixed the spices.
31
Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, was in charge of preparing bread for the offerings.
32
Some of their brothers, descendants of the Kohathites, were in charge of the bread of the presence, to prepare it every Sabbath.
33
The singers and heads of the Levites' clans lived in rooms at the sanctuary when they were free from work, because they had to carry out their assigned tasks day and night.
34
These were leaders of the clans of the Levites, according to the genealogical records, chief men. They lived in Jerusalem.
35
The father of Gibeon, Jeiel, whose wife's name was Maakah, lived in Gibeon.
36
His firstborn son was Abdon, then his sons Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,
37
Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth.
38
Mikloth was the father of Shimeam. They also lived near their brothers in Jerusalem.
39
Ner was the father of Kish. Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab, and Esh-Baal.
40
The son of Jonathan was Merib-Baal. Merib-Baal was the father of Micah.
41
The sons of Micah were Pithon, Melek, Tahrea, and Ahaz.
42
Ahaz was the father of Jadah. Jadah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza.
43
Moza became the father of Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.
44
Azel had six sons, and their names were Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were Azel's sons.
Chapter 10
1
Now the Philistines fought against Israel. Every man of Israel fled from before the Philistines and fell down dead on Mount Gilboa.
2
The Philistines closely pursued Saul and his son. The Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua, his sons.
3
The battle went heavily against Saul, and the archers overtook him, and they wounded him.
4
Then said Saul to his armor bearer, "Draw your sword and thrust me through with it. Otherwise, these uncircumcised will come and abuse me." But his armor bearer would not, for he was very afraid. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.
5
When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell on his sword in the same way and died.
6
So Saul died, and his three sons, so all his household members died together.
7
When all the men of Israel in the valley saw that they had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. Then the Philistines came and lived in them.
8
It came about on the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, that they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.
9
They stripped him and took his head and his armor. They sent messengers throughout Philistia to carry the news to their idols and to the people.
10
They put his armor in the temple of their gods, and fastened his skull to the temple of Dagon.
11
When all Jabesh Gilead heard of all that the Philistines had done to Saul,
12
all the fighting men went and took away the body of Saul and those of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh. They buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh and fasted seven days.
13
So Saul died for the faithless act with which he acted faithlessly against Yahweh. He did not obey Yahweh's instructions, but asked for advice from someone who talked with the dead.
14
He did not seek guidance from Yahweh, so Yahweh killed him and turned over the kingdom to David son of Jesse.
Chapter 11
1
Then all Israel gathered together with David at Hebron and said, "Look, we are your flesh and bone.
2
In the recent past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led the Israelite army. Yahweh your God said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become a ruler over my people Israel.'"
3
So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them before Yahweh. They anointed David king over Israel. In this way, the word of Yahweh that had been declared by Samuel came true.
4
David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). Now the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there.
5
The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, "You will not come in here." But David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.
6
David had said, "Whoever attacks the Jebusites first will become chief and commander." So Joab son of Zeruiah attacked first, so he was made the chief.
7
Then David began to live in the stronghold. So they called it the city of David.
8
He built the city all around from the Millo and back to the surrounding wall. Joab restored the rest of the city.
9
David became greater and greater because Yahweh of hosts was with him.
10
These were the leaders David had, who showed themselves strong with him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, obeying the word of Yahweh concerning Israel.
11
This is a list of David's mighty men: Jashobeam, the son of a Hakmonite, was commander of the officers.
He killed three hundred men with his spear on one occasion.
12
After him was Eleazar son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men.
13
He was with David at Pas Dammim, and there the Philistines assembled together for battle, where there was a barley field and the army fled from the Philistines.
14
They stood in the middle of the field. They defended it and cut down the Philistines and Yahweh rescued them with a great victory.
15
Then three of the thirty leaders went down to the rock to David, to the cave of Adullam. The army of the Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim.
16
At that time David was in his stronghold, a cave, while the Philistines had established their camp at Bethlehem.
17
David was longing for water and said, "If only someone would give me water to drink from the well at Bethlehem, the well that is by the gate!"
18
So these three mighty men broke through the army of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, the well at the gate. They took the water and brought it to David, but he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out to Yahweh.
19
Then he said, "Far be it for me before God that I should ever do this! Should I drink the blood of these men who have risked their lives?" Because they had put their lives at risk, David refused to drink it. These were the deeds of the three mighty men.
20
Abishai brother of Joab was captain over the Three. He once used his spear against three hundred and killed them. He had a name along with the Three.
21
Of the Three, he was given double honor and became their captain, even though he was not one of them.
22
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave warrior from Kabzeel, who did great deeds. He killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down into a pit and killed a lion on a day when the snow was falling.
23
He even killed an Egyptian, a man five cubits tall. The Egyptian had a spear like a weaver's beam, but he went down to him with only a staff. He seized the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear.
24
Benaiah son of Jehoiada did these feats, and he was named alongside the three mighty men.
25
He was more highly regarded than the thirty soldiers in general, but he was not regarded quite as highly as the three mighty men. Yet David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
26
The mighty warriors were Asahel brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
27
Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,
28
Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,
29
Sibbekai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,
30
Maharai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,
31
Ithai son of Ribai of Gibeah of Benjamin's descendants, Benaiah the Pirathonite,
32
Hurai of the valleys of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,
33
Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
34
the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite,
35
Ahiam son of Sakar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur,
36
Hepher the Mekerathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
37
Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai son of Ezbai,
38
Joel brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Hagri,
39
Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite (the armor bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah),
40
Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
41
Uriah the Hittite, Zabad son of Ahlai,
42
Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite (a chief of the Reubenites) and thirty with him,
43
Hanan son of Maakah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,
44
Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel sons of Hotham the Aroerite,
45
Jediael son of Shimri, Joha (his brother the Tizite),
46
Eliel the Mahavite, Jeribai and Joshaviah sons of Elnaam, Ithmah the Moabite,
47
Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.
Chapter 12
1
These were the men who came to David to Ziklag, while he was still banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish. They were among the soldiers, his helpers in battle.
2
They were armed with bows and could use both the right hand and the left in slinging stones and in shooting arrows from the bow. They were Benjamites, Saul's kinsmen.
3
The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, both sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite. There were Jeziel and Pelet, sons of Azmaveth. There were also Berakah, Jehu the Anathothite,
4
Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a soldier among the thirty (and in command of the thirty); Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite,
5
Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite,
6
the Korahites Elkanah, Ishiah, Azarel, Joezer, Jashobeam, and
7
Joelah and Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham of Gedor.
8
Some Gadites joined David at the stronghold in the wilderness. They were mighty warriors, men of war, ready for battle, who could handle shield and spear; whose faces were as fierce as the faces of lions. They were as swift as gazelles on the mountains.
9
There were Ezer the leader, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,
10
Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,
11
Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,
12
Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,
13
Jeremiah the tenth, Makbannai the eleventh.
14
These sons of Gad were leaders of the army. The least led a hundred, and the greatest led a thousand.
15
They crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it overflowed its banks, and caused all those living in the valleys to flee, both toward the east and toward the west.
16
Some of the men of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David.
17
David went out to meet them and addressed them: "If you have come in peace to me to help me, my heart will be joined with you. But if you have come to betray me to my adversaries, may the God of our ancestors see and rebuke you, since I have done no wrong."
18
Then the Spirit clothed Amasai, who was chief of the thirty. Amasai said, "We are yours, David. We are on your side, son of Jesse. Peace, may peace be to whoever helps you. May peace be to your helpers, for your God is helping you." Then David received them and made them commanders over his men.
19
Some from Manasseh also deserted to David when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle. Yet they did not help the Philistines, because the Philistine lords consulted with each other and sent David away. They said, "He will desert to his master Saul at the risk of our lives."
20
When he went to Ziklag, the men of Manasseh who joined him were Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, captains over thousands of Manasseh.
21
They helped David fight against the roving bands, for they were mighty warriors. Later they became commanders in the army.
22
Day after day, men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like the army of God.
23
This is the record of the armed soldiers for war, who came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, which carried out Yahweh's word.
24
The men of Judah who carried shield and spear were 6,800, armed for war.
25
From the Simeonites there were 7,100 mighty warriors trained for war.
26
From the Levites there were 4,600 fighting men.
27
Jehoiada was the leader of Aaron's descendants, and with him were 3,700.
28
With Zadok, a young man, a mighty warrior, were twenty-two leaders from his clan.
29
From Benjamin, Saul's kinsmen, were three thousand. Most of them had kept watch over the house of Saul until this time.
30
From the Ephraimites there were 20,800 mighty warriors, men who were famous in their clans.
31
From the half tribe of Manasseh there were eighteen thousand famous men who came to make David king.
32
From Issachar, there were two hundred leaders who had understanding of the times and knew what Israel ought to do. All their relatives were under their command.
33
From Zebulun there were fifty thousand fighting men, prepared for battle, with all the weapons of war, and ready to give undivided loyalty.
34
From Naphtali there were one thousand officers, and with them thirty-seven thousand men with shields and spears.
35
From the Danites there were 28,600 men prepared for battle.
36
From Asher there were forty thousand men of war prepared for battle.
37
From the other side of the Jordan, from the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, there were 120,000 men armed with all kinds of weapons for war.
38
All these soldiers, equipped for battle, came to Hebron with a whole heart to make David king over all Israel. All the rest of Israel were in agreement to make David king also.
39
They were there with David three days, eating and drinking, for their relatives had sent them with provisions.
40
In addition, those who were near to them, as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen, and cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, wine, oil, cattle and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.
Chapter 13
1
David consulted with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with every leader.
2
David said to all the assembly of Israel, "If it seems good to you, and if this comes from Yahweh our God, let us send messengers everywhere to our brothers who remain in all the regions of Israel, and to the priests and Levites who are in their cities. Let them be told to come together with us.
3
Let us bring the ark of our God back to ourselves, for we did not seek his will in the days of Saul's reign."
4
The whole assembly agreed to do these things, because in the eyes of all the people they seemed to be what was right.
5
So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor River in Egypt to Lebo Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim.
6
David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, Kiriath Jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by Yahweh's name, Yahweh, who sits enthroned over the cherubim.
7
So they set the ark of God on a new cart. They brought it out of Abinadab's house. Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart.
8
David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might. They were singing with harps and lutes, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.
9
When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out with his hand to grab the ark, because the oxen stumbled.
10
Then the anger of Yahweh burned against Uzzah, and Yahweh killed him because Uzzah had reached out with his hand to the ark. He died there before God.
11
David was angry because Yahweh had attacked Uzzah. That place is called Perez Uzzah to this day.
12
David was afraid of God that day. He said, "How can I bring the ark of God home to me?"
13
So David did not move the ark to the city of David, but put it aside in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.
14
The ark of God remained in Obed-Edom's household in his house for three months. So Yahweh blessed his house and all that he possessed.
Chapter 14
1
Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, carpenters, and masons. They built a house for him.
2
David knew that Yahweh had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was exalted on high for the sake of his people Israel.
3
In Jerusalem, David took more wives, and he became the father of more sons and daughters.
4
These were the names of the children who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
5
Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,
6
Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,
7
Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.
8
Now when the Philistines heard that David had been anointed as king over all Israel, they all went out looking for him. But David heard about it and went out against them.
9
Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the Valley of Rephaim.
10
Then David asked for help from God. He said, "Should I attack the Philistines? Will you give victory over them?" Yahweh said to him, "Attack, for I will certainly give them to you."
11
So they came up to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He commented, "God has burst through my enemies by my hand like a bursting flood of water." So the name of that place became Baal Perazim.
12
The Philistines abandoned their gods there, and David gave an order that they should be burned.
13
Then the Philistines raided the valley yet again.
14
So David asked for help from God again. God said to him, "You must not attack their front, but rather circle around behind them and come on them through the balsam woods.
15
When you hear the sound of marching in the wind blowing through the balsam treetops, then attack with force. Do this because God will have gone out before you to attack the army of the Philistines."
16
So David did as God had commanded him. He defeated the army of the Philistines from Gibeon all the way to Gezer.
17
Then David's fame went out into all lands, and Yahweh caused all nations to fear him.
Chapter 15
1
David built houses for himself in the city of David. He prepared a place for the ark of God and set up a tent for it.
2
Then David said, "Only the Levites may carry the ark of God, for they had been chosen by Yahweh to carry the ark of Yahweh, and to serve him forever."
3
Then David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of Yahweh to the place he had prepared for it.
4
David gathered together Aaron's descendants and the Levites.
5
From the descendants of Kohath, there was Uriel the leader and his relatives, 120 men.
6
From the descendants of Merari, there was Asaiah the leader and his relatives, 220 men.
7
From the descendants of Gershom, there was Joel the leader and his relatives, 130 men.
8
From the descendants of Elizaphan, there was Shemaiah the leader and his relatives, 200 men.
9
From the descendants of Hebron, there was Eliel the leader and his relatives, eighty men.
10
From the descendants of Uzziel, there was Amminadab the leader and his relatives, 112 men.
11
David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.
12
He said to them, "You are the leaders of the Levite families. Consecrate yourselves, both you and your brothers, so that you may bring up the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it.
13
You did not carry it the first time. That is why Yahweh our God broke out against us, for we did not seek him or obey his decree."
14
So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves so they could bring up the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
15
So the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded—following the rules given by the word of Yahweh.
16
David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to assign their brothers as singers who would play loudly on musical instruments, lutes and lyres and loud cymbals, to lift up sounds of joy.
17
So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel and one of his brothers, Asaph son of Berekiah. They also appointed kinsmen from Merari's descendants and Ethan son of Kushaiah.
18
With them were their kinsmen of second rank: Zechariah,
Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers.
19
The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were appointed to play loud bronze cymbals.
20
Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah played the lutes, set to Alamoth.
21
Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah led the way with harps set to the Sheminith.
22
Kenaniah, leader of the Levites, was the director of the singing because he was a teacher of music.
23
Berekiah and Elkanah were guards for the ark.
24
Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were guards for the ark.
25
So David, the elders of Israel, and the commanders over thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh out of Obed-Edom's house with rejoicing.
26
While God helped the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.
27
David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were the Levites who carried the ark, the singers, and Kenaniah, the leader of the song with the singers. David was wearing a linen ephod.
28
So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh with joyful shouting, and with the sound of horns and trumpets, with cymbals, and with lutes and harps.
29
But as the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came to the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul, looked out the window. She saw King David dancing and celebrating. Then she despised him in her heart.
Chapter 16
1
They brought in the ark of God and put it in the middle of the tent that David had set up for it. Then they offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God.
2
When David had finished offering up the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh.
3
He distributed to every man of Israel, to both men and women, a loaf of bread, and a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins.
4
David appointed certain Levites to serve before the ark of Yahweh, and to celebrate, thank and praise Yahweh, the God of Israel.
5
These Levites were Asaph the leader, and second to him Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel. These were to play with lutes and harps. Asaph was to sound the cymbals, sounding loudly.
6
Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly, before the ark of the covenant of God.
7
Then on that day David first appointed Asaph and his brothers to sing this song of thanksgiving to Yahweh.
8
Give thanks to Yahweh, call on his name;
make known his deeds among the nations.
9
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
speak of all his marvelous deeds.
10
Boast in his holy name;
let the heart of those who seek Yahweh rejoice.
11
Seek Yahweh and his strength;
seek his presence continually.
12
Recall the marvelous things he has done,
his miracles and the decrees from his mouth,
13
you descendants of Israel his servant,
you people of Jacob, his chosen ones.
14
He is Yahweh, our God.
His decrees are on all the earth.
15
Keep his covenant in mind forever,
the word that he commanded for a thousand generations.
16
He calls to mind the covenant that he made with Abraham,
and his oath to Isaac.
17
This is what he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,
and to Israel as an everlasting covenant.
18
He said, "I will give you the land of Canaan
as the assigned portion of your inheritance."
19
When they were only few in number,
so very few, and they were strangers in the land,
20
they wandered from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another.
21
He did not allow anyone to oppress them;
he punished kings for their sakes.
22
He said, "Do not touch my anointed ones,
and do not harm my prophets."
23
Sing to Yahweh, all the earth;
announce his salvation day after day.
24
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all the nations.
25
For Yahweh is great and is to be praised greatly,
and he is to be feared above all other gods.
26
For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but it is Yahweh who made the heavens.
27
Splendor and majesty are in his presence.
Strength and joy are in his place.
28
Ascribe to Yahweh, you clans of peoples,
ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength!
29
Ascribe to Yahweh the glory his name deserves.
Bring an offering and come before him.
Bow down to Yahweh in the splendor of holiness.
30
Tremble before him, all the earth.
The world also is established; it cannot be shaken.
31
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let them say among the nations, "Yahweh reigns."
32
Let the sea roar, and that which fills it shout with joy.
Let the fields be joyful, and all that is in them.
33
Then let the trees in the forest shout for joy before Yahweh,
for he is coming to judge the earth.
34
Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good,
for his covenant faithfulness endures forever.
35
Then say, "Save us, God of our salvation.
Gather us together and rescue us from the other nations,
so that we may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in your praises."
36
May Yahweh, the God of Israel, be praised
from everlasting to everlasting.
All the people said, "Amen" and praised Yahweh.
37
So David left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, to serve continually before the ark, as every day's work required.
38
Obed-Edom with those sixty-eight relatives were included. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun, along with Hosah, were to be gatekeepers.
39
Zadok the priest and his fellow workers were to serve before the tabernacle of Yahweh at the high place in Gibeon.
40
They were to offer burnt offerings to Yahweh on the altar for burnt offerings continually morning and evening, according to all that is written in the law of Yahweh, which he gave as a command to Israel.
41
Heman and Jeduthun were with them, together with the rest who were chosen by name, to give thanks to Yahweh, because his covenant faithfulness endures forever.
42
Heman and Jeduthun were in charge of those who played trumpets, cymbals, and the other instruments for the sacred music. The sons of Jeduthun guarded the gate.
43
Then all the people returned to their homes, and David returned to bless his own household.
Chapter 17
1
It happened that after David had settled in his house, he said to Nathan the prophet, "Look, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of Yahweh is staying under a tent."
2
Then Nathan said to David, "Go, do what is in your heart, for God is with you."
3
But that same night the word of God came to Nathan, saying,
4
"Go and tell David my servant, 'This is what Yahweh says: You will not build me a house in which to live.
5
For I have not lived in a house from the day that I brought up Israel to this present day. Rather, I have been living in a tent, a tabernacle, in various places.
6
In all places I have moved among all Israel, did I ever say anything to any of Israel's judges, whom I appointed to shepherd my people, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"'"
7
"Now then, tell my servant David, 'This is what Yahweh of hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, so that you would be ruler over my people Israel.
8
I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and I will make you a name, like the name of the great ones who are on the earth.
9
I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them there, so that they may live in their own place and be troubled no more. No longer will wicked people oppress them, as they did before,
10
as they were doing from the days that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Then I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover I tell you that I, Yahweh, will build you a house.
11
It will come about that when your days are fulfilled for you to go to your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, and for one of your own descendants, I will establish his kingdom.
12
He will build me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.
13
I will be a Father to him, and he will be my son. I will not take my covenant faithfulness away from him, as I took it from Saul, who ruled before you.
14
I will set him over my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne will be established forever.'"
15
Nathan spoke to David and reported to him all these words, and he told him about the entire vision.
16
Then David the king went in and sat before Yahweh; he said, "Who am I, Yahweh God, and what is my family, that you have brought me to this point?
17
For this was a small thing in your sight, God. You have spoken of your servant's family for a great while to come, and have shown me future generations, Yahweh God.
18
What more can I, David, say to you? You have honored your servant. You have given your servant special recognition.
19
Yahweh, for your servant's sake, and to fulfill your own purpose, you have done this great thing to reveal all your great deeds.
20
Yahweh, there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, just as we have always heard.
21
For what nation on earth is like your people Israel, whom you, God, rescued from Egypt as a people for yourself, to make a name for yourself by great and awesome deeds? You drove out nations from before your people, whom you rescued from Egypt.
22
You made Israel your own people forever, and you, Yahweh, became their God.
23
So now, Yahweh, may the promise that you made concerning your servant and his family be established forever. Do as you have spoken.
24
May your name be established forever and be great, so the people will say, 'Yahweh of hosts is the God of Israel,' while the house of me, David, your servant is established before you.
25
For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build him a house. That is why I, your servant, have found courage to pray to you.
26
Now, Yahweh, you are God, and have made this good promise to your servant:
27
Now it has pleased you to bless your servant's house, that it may continue forever before you. You, Yahweh, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever."
Chapter 18
1
After this it came about that David attacked the Philistines and subdued them. He took Gath and its villages out of the Philistines' control.
2
Then he defeated Moab, and the Moabites became servants to David and paid him tribute.
3
David then defeated Hadadezer, king of Zobah at Hamath, as Hadadezer was traveling to establish his rule by the Euphrates River.
4
David captured from him a thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen. David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved enough of them for a hundred chariots.
5
When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand Aramean men.
6
Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became servants to him and brought him tribute. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went.
7
David took the golden shields that were on Hadadezer's servants and brought them to Jerusalem.
8
From Tebah and Kun, cities of Hadadezer, David took very much bronze. It was with this bronze that Solomon later made the bronze basin called "The Sea," the pillars, and the bronze equipment.
9
When Tou, king of Hamath, heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,
10
Tou sent Hadoram his son to King David to greet him and to bless him. He did this because David had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, and because Tou had often been at war with Hadadezer. Tou also sent David many different sorts of articles made of gold and silver and bronze.
11
King David set these objects apart to Yahweh, together with the silver and the gold that he carried away from all the nations: Edom, Moab, the people of Ammon, the Philistines, and Amalek.
12
Abishai son of Zeruiah killed eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
13
He placed garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David's servants. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went.
14
David reigned over all Israel, and he administered justice and righteousness to all his people.
15
Joab son of Zeruiah was the commander of the army, and Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder.
16
Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests, and Shavsha was scribe.
17
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites, and David's sons were the chief officials at the hand of the king.
Chapter 19
1
It came about later that Nahash, king of the people of Ammon, died, and that his son became king in his place.
2
David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me." So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father. David's servants entered the land of the Ammonites and went to Hanun, in order to comfort him.
3
But the Ammonite princes said to Hanun, "Do you think that David is honoring your father because he has sent men to comfort you? Do not his servants come to you to explore and examine the land in order to overthrow it?"
4
So Hanun seized David's servants, shaved them, cut off their robes in the middle at their buttocks, and sent them away.
5
When they explained this to David, he sent to meet with them, for the men were deeply ashamed. The king said, "Stay at Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return."
6
When the Ammonites saw that they had become a stench to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire Aramean chariots and horsemen from Naharaim, Maakah, and Zobah.
7
They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and the king of Maakah and his army, who came and encamped before Medeba. Then the Ammonites gathered themselves together from their cities and came out to battle.
8
When David heard of it, he sent Joab and his entire host of mighty men.
9
The people of Ammon came out and lined up for battle at the city gate, while the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.
10
When Joab saw the battle lines facing him both in front and behind, he chose some of Israel's best fighters and arranged them against the Arameans.
11
As for the rest of the army, he gave it into the command of Abishai his brother, and he put them into battle lines against the army of Ammon.
12
Joab said, "If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you, Abishai, must rescue me. But if the army of Ammon is too strong for you, then I will come and rescue you.
13
Be strong, and let us show ourselves to be strong for our people and for the cities of our God, for Yahweh will do what is good in his eyes."
14
So Joab and the soldiers of his army advanced to the battle against the Arameans, who were forced to flee before the army of Israel.
15
When the army of Ammon saw that the Arameans had fled, they also fled from Joab's brother Abishai and went back into the city. Then Joab returned from the people of Ammon and went back to Jerusalem.
16
When the Arameans saw that they were being defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and brought back Arameans from beyond the Euphrates River, with Shophak the commander of Hadadezer's army.
17
When David was told this, he gathered all Israel together, crossed the Jordan, and came upon them. He arranged the army for battle against the Arameans, and they fought him.
18
The Arameans fled from Israel, and David killed seven thousand Aramean charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers. He also killed Shophak, the commander of the army.
19
When all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and served him. So the people of Aram were no longer willing to rescue the Ammonites.
Chapter 20
1
It came about in the spring of the year, at the time when kings normally go to war, that Joab led the army into battle and devastated the land of the Ammonites. He went and besieged Rabbah. David remained in Jerusalem. Joab attacked Rabbah and completely destroyed it.
2
David took the crown of their king from off his head, and he found that it weighed a talent of gold, and in it were precious stones. The crown was set on David's head, and he brought out the plunder of the city in large quantities.
3
He brought out the people who were in the city and forced them to work with saws and iron picks and axes. David required all the cities of the descendants of Ammon to do this labor. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
4
It came about after this that there was a battle at Gezer with the Philistines. Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the Rephaim, and the Philistines were subdued.
5
It came about again in a battle with the Philistines at Gob, that Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed Lahmi brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.
6
It came about in another battle at Gath that there was a man of great height who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. He also was descended from the Rapha.
7
When he mocked the army of Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, David's brother, killed him.
8
These were descendants of the Rapha of Gath, and they were killed by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.
Chapter 21
1
An adversary arose against Israel and incited David to count Israel.
2
David said to Joab and to the commanders of the army, "Go, count the people of Israel from Beersheba to Dan and report back to me, that I may know their number."
3
Joab said, "May Yahweh make his army a hundred times greater than it is. But my master the king, do they not all serve my master? Why does my master want this? Why bring guilt on Israel?"
4
But the king's word was enforced against Joab. So Joab left and went throughout all Israel. Then he came back to Jerusalem.
5
Then Joab reported the total of the census of the fighting men to David. There were in Israel 1,100,000 men who drew the sword. Judah alone had 470,000 soldiers.
6
But Levi and Benjamin were not counted among them, for the king's command had disgusted Joab.
7
God was offended by this action, so he attacked Israel.
8
David said to God, "I have greatly sinned by doing this. Now take away your servant's guilt, for I have acted very foolishly."
9
Yahweh told Gad, David's prophet,
10
"Go say to David, 'This is what Yahweh says: I am giving you three choices. Choose one of them.'"
11
So Gad went to David and said to him, "Yahweh says this, 'Choose one of these:
12
either three years of famine, three months being pursued by your enemies and being caught by their swords, or else three days of Yahweh's sword, that is, a plague in the land, with the angel of Yahweh destroying throughout all the land of Israel.' Now then, decide what answer I should take to the one who sent me."
13
Then David said to Gad, "I am in great distress! Let me fall into the hand of Yahweh rather than into the hand of man, for his merciful actions are very great."
14
So Yahweh sent a plague on Israel, and seventy thousand people died.
15
God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it. As he was about to destroy it, Yahweh watched and changed his mind about the harm. He said to the destroying angel, "Enough! Now draw back your hand." At that time the angel of Yahweh was standing at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
16
David looked up and saw the angel of Yahweh standing between earth and heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand raised over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, lay facedown on the ground.
17
David said to God, "Is it not I that commanded that the army be numbered? I did this wicked thing. But these sheep, what have they done? Yahweh my God! Let your hand strike me and my clan, but do not let the plague remain on your people."
18
So the angel of Yahweh commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up and build an altar for Yahweh at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
19
So David went up as Gad instructed him to do in the name of Yahweh.
20
While Ornan was threshing wheat, he turned and saw the angel. He and his four sons with him hid themselves.
21
When David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David. He left the threshing floor and bowed to David with his face to the ground.
22
Then David said to Ornan, "Sell me this threshing floor, so I can build an altar for Yahweh. I will pay the full price, so that the plague may be removed from the people."
23
Ornan said to David, "Take it as your own, my master the king. Do with it what is good in your sight. Look, I will give you oxen for burnt offerings, threshing sledges for wood, and wheat for the grain offering; I will give it all to you."
24
King David said to Ornan, "No, I insist on buying it for the full price. I will not take what is yours and offer it as a burnt offering to Yahweh if it costs me nothing."
25
So David paid six hundred shekels of gold for the place.
26
David built an altar for Yahweh there and offered on it burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He called on Yahweh, who answered him with fire from heaven on the altar for burnt offerings.
27
Then Yahweh gave an order to the angel, and the angel put his sword back into its sheath.
28
When David saw that Yahweh had answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he performed the sacrifice there at that same time.
29
Now at that time, Yahweh's tabernacle, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar for burnt offerings, were at the high place at Gibeon.
30
However, David could not go there to ask for God's direction, because he was afraid of the sword of the angel of Yahweh.
Chapter 22
1
Then David said, "This is where the house of Yahweh God will be, with the altar for the burnt offerings of Israel."
2
So David ordered his servants to gather together the foreigners living in the land of Israel. He assigned them to be stonecutters, to cut stone blocks, in order to build the house of God.
3
David supplied a large amount of iron for the nails for the doors to go in the gateways, and for braces. He also supplied more bronze than could be weighed,
4
and more cedar trees than could be counted. (The Sidonians and the Tyrians brought too many cedar logs to David to count.)
5
David said, "My son Solomon is a young and inexperienced man, and the house that is to be built for Yahweh must be especially magnificent, so that it will be famous and glorious in all other lands. So I will prepare for its building." So David made extensive preparations before his death.
6
Then he called for Solomon his son and commanded him to build a house for Yahweh, the God of Israel.
7
David said to Solomon, "My son, it was my intention to build a house myself, for the name of Yahweh my God.
8
But Yahweh came to me and said, 'You have shed much blood and have fought many battles. You will not build a house for my name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight.
9
However, you will have a son who will be a peaceful man. I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. For his name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days.
10
He will build a house for my name. He will be my son, and I will be his Father. I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.'
11
Now, my son, may Yahweh be with you and enable you to succeed. May you build the house of Yahweh your God, as he said you would.
12
Only may Yahweh give you insight and understanding, so that you may obey the law of Yahweh your God, when he places you in charge over Israel.
13
Then you will succeed, if you carefully obey the statutes and the decrees that Yahweh gave to Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be discouraged.
14
Now, see, with great pains I have prepared for the house of Yahweh 100,000 talents of gold, one million talents of silver, and bronze and iron in large quantities. I have also provided timber and stone. You must add more to all this.
15
You have many workmen with you: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and skillful craftsmen without number of every kind,
16
who can work with gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Arise and begin the work, and may Yahweh be with you."
17
David also ordered all the leaders of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying,
18
"Yahweh your God is with you and has given you peace on every side. He has given the region's inhabitants into my hand. The region is subdued before Yahweh and his people.
19
Now seek Yahweh your God with all your heart and your soul. Get up and build the holy place of Yahweh God. Then you can bring the ark of the covenant of Yahweh and the holy things that belong to God into the house built for Yahweh's name."
Chapter 23
1
When David was old and near the end of his life, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.
2
He gathered together all the leaders of Israel, with the priests and Levites.
3
The Levites who were thirty years old and older were counted in a census, and they numbered thirty-eight thousand.
4
"Of these, twenty-four thousand were to oversee the work on the house of Yahweh, and six thousand were officers and judges.
5
Four thousand were gatekeepers, and four thousand were to praise Yahweh with the instruments that I made to give praise," David said.
6
David divided them into groups that corresponded to Levi's sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
7
From the clans descended from Gershon, there were Ladan and Shimei.
8
There were three of Ladan's sons: Jehiel the leader, Zetham, and Joel.
9
There were three of Shimei's sons: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran. These were the leaders of the clans of Ladan.
10
There were four of Shimei's sons: Jahath, Ziza, Jeush, and Beriah.
11
Jahath was the oldest, and Ziza the second, but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they were considered as one clan with the same duties.
12
There were four of Kohath's sons: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
13
These were Amram's sons: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was chosen to set apart the most holy things, that he and his descendants would offer incense before Yahweh, to serve him and to give blessings in his name forever.
14
But as for Moses the man of God, his descendants were counted with the tribe of Levi.
15
Moses' sons were Gershom and Eliezer.
16
Gershom's descendant was Shubael the oldest.
17
Eliezer's descendant was Rehabiah. Eliezer had no other sons, but Rehabiah had many descendants.
18
Izhar's son was Shelomith the leader.
19
Hebron's descendants were Jeriah the oldest, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
20
Uzziel's sons were Micah the oldest, and Ishiah the second.
21
Merari's sons were Mahli and Mushi. Mahli's sons were Eleazar and Kish.
22
Eleazar died without having any sons. He had only daughters. So their kinsmen, the sons of Kish, married them.
23
Mushi's three sons were Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth.
24
These were Levi's descendants corresponding to their clans. They were the leaders, counted and listed by name in the census, of the clans that did the work in the service of the house of Yahweh, from twenty years old and upward.
25
For David said, "Yahweh, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people. He makes his home in Jerusalem forever.
26
The Levites will no longer need to carry the tabernacle and all the equipment used in its service."
27
For by David's last words the Levites were counted, from twenty years old and upward.
28
Their duty was to assist Aaron's descendants in the service of the house of Yahweh. They were to care for the courtyards, the rooms, the ceremonial purification of all the things that belong to Yahweh, and other work in the service of the house of God.
29
They also took care of the bread of the presence, the fine flour for grain offerings, the unleavened wafers, the baked offerings, the offerings mixed with oil, and all the measuring of the amounts and sizes of things.
30
They also stood every morning to thank and praise Yahweh. They also did this in the evening
31
and whenever burnt offerings were offered to Yahweh, on the Sabbath and at the new moon festivals and feast days. A fixed number, assigned by decree, always had to be present before Yahweh.
32
They were in charge of the tent of meeting, the holy place, and helped their kinsmen the descendants of Aaron in the service of the house of Yahweh.
Chapter 24
1
The work groups based on Aaron's descendants were these: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
2
Nadab and Abihu died before their father died. They had no children, so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.
3
David, together with Zadok, a descendant of Eleazar, and Ahimelek, a descendant of Ithamar, divided them into groups for their labor as priests.
4
There were more leading men among Eleazar's descendants than among Ithamar's descendants, so they divided Eleazar's descendants into sixteen groups. They did this by heads of clans and by Ithamar's descendants. These divisions were eight in number, corresponding to their clans.
5
They divided them impartially by lot, for there were holy officials and officials of God, from both Eleazar's descendants and Ithamar's descendants.
6
Shemaiah son of Nethanel the scribe, a Levite, wrote down their names in the presence of the king, the officials, Zadok the priest, Ahimelek son of Abiathar, and the leaders of the priestly and Levite families. One clan was drawn by lot from Eleazar's descendants, and then the next would be drawn from Ithamar's descendants.
7
The first lot went to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
8
the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
9
the fifth to Malkijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
10
the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
11
the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shekaniah,
12
the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,
13
the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
14
the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
15
the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez,
16
the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel,
17
the twenty-first to Jakin, the twenty-second to Gamul,
18
the twenty-third to Delaiah, and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.
19
This was the order of their service, when they came into the house of Yahweh, following the ordinance given to them by Aaron their ancestor, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, had commanded him.
20
These were the rest of the descendants of Levi: Of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah.
21
As for Rehabiah, the sons of Rehabiah: Ishiah the leader.
22
From the Izharites: Shelomoth; from the sons of Shelomoth: Jahath.
23
The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the leader, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
24
The son of Uzziel: Micah; from the sons of Micah: Shamir.
25
The brother of Micah: Ishiah. From the sons of Ishiah: Zechariah.
26
The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi; from the son of Jaaziah: Beno.
27
The sons of Merari from Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zakkur, and Ibri.
28
From Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
29
From Kish: The son of Kish: Jerahmeel.
30
The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the Levites, listed by their clans.
31
These men who were the head of each clan and each of their younger brothers, cast lots in the presence of King David, and Zadok and Ahimelek, along with the leaders of the families of the priests and Levites. They cast lots just as Aaron's descendants had done.
Chapter 25
1
David and the leaders of the army selected some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with lutes and harps, and with cymbals. Here is the list of the men who performed this service:
2
From the sons of Asaph: Zakkur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah,
the sons of Asaph, under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the king's supervision.
3
From the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri,
Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six in all, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied, playing the harp for giving thanks and praising Yahweh.
4
From the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel,
Shubael, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth.
5
All these were the sons of Heman the king's prophet. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters to lift up his horn.
6
All these were under the direction of their fathers. They were musicians in the house of Yahweh with cymbals, lutes and lyres, as they served in the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the king's supervision.
7
They and their brothers who were skilled and trained to make music to Yahweh numbered 288.
8
They cast lots for their duties, all alike, the same for the young as well as the old, the teacher as well as the student.
9
Now regarding Asaph's sons: The first lot fell to Joseph's family; the second fell to Gedaliah's family, twelve persons in number;
10
the third fell to Zakkur, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;
11
the fourth fell to Izri,
his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;
12
the fifth fell to Nethaniah, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;
13
the sixth fell to Bukkiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;
14
the seventh fell to Jesarelah,
his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;
15
the eighth fell to Jeshaiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;
16
the ninth fell to Mattaniah, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;
17
the tenth fell to Shimei, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;
18
the eleventh fell to Azarel,
his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;
19
the twelfth fell to Hashabiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;
20
the thirteenth fell to Shubael, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;
21
the fourteenth fell to Mattithiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;
22
the fifteenth fell to Jerimoth, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;
23
the sixteenth fell to Hananiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;
24
the seventeenth fell to Joshbekashah, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;
25
the eighteenth fell to Hanani, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;
26
the nineteenth fell to Mallothi, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;
27
the twentieth fell to Eliathah, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;
28
the twenty-first fell to Hothir, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;
29
the twenty-second fell to Giddalti, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;
30
the twenty-third fell to Mahazioth, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;
31
the twenty-fourth fell to Romamti-Ezer, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number.
Chapter 26
1
Here were the divisions of the gatekeepers: From the Korahites, Meshelemiah son of Kore, a descendant of Asaph
.
2
Meshelemiah
had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,
3
Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh.
4
Obed-Edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sakar the fourth, and Nethanel the fifth,
5
Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth, for God had blessed Obed-Edom.
6
To Shemaiah his son were born sons who ruled over their clans; they were men of great ability.
7
The sons of Shemaiah were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad. His relatives Elihu and Semakiah were also men with many abilities.
8
All these were descendants of Obed-Edom. They and their sons and relatives were men capable of doing their duties in the tabernacle service. There were sixty-two of them related to Obed-Edom.
9
Meshelemiah had sons and relatives, capable men, eighteen in all.
10
Hosah, a descendant of Merari, had sons: Shimri the leader (although he was not the firstborn, his father made him leader),
11
Hilkiah the second, Tabaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth. All of Hosah's sons and kinsmen were thirteen in number.
12
These divisions of the gatekeepers, corresponding to their leaders, had responsibilities, like their relatives, to serve in the house of Yahweh.
13
They threw lots, both young and old, corresponding to their clans, for every gate.
14
When the lot was cast for the east gate, it fell to Shelemiah
. They then cast lots for Zechariah his son, a prudent advisor, and his lot came out for the north gate.
15
To Obed-Edom was assigned the south gate, and his sons were assigned the storehouses.
16
Shuppim and Hosah were assigned the west gate along with the gate of Shalleketh, on the upper road. The guards were very close to each other.
17
On the east were six Levites, on the north four a day, on the south four a day, and at the storehouses two pairs.
18
At the pillar to the west there were four stationed at the road and two at the pillar
19
These were the divisions of the gatekeepers who were the descendants of Korah and Merari.
20
Among the Levites, Ahijah was in charge of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the things that belong to Yahweh.
21
The descendants of Ladan, who were descendants of the Gershonites through Ladan, who were heads of families belonging to Ladan the Gershonite, were Jehieli
22
and the sons of Jehieli: Zetham and Joel his brother. They were in charge of the treasuries of the house of Yahweh.
23
From the clans of Amram, the clans of Izhar, the clans of Hebron, and the clans of Uzziel:
24
Shubael, a descendant of Gershom son of Moses, was supervisor over the treasuries.
25
His relatives from the clan of Eliezer were his son Rehabiah, Rehabiah's son Jeshaiah, Jeshaiah's son Joram, Joram's son Zikri, and Zikri's son Shelomith.
26
Shelomith and his relatives were over all the treasuries holding the dedicated things that David the king, the family leaders, commanders over thousands and hundreds, and the army commanders had dedicated.
27
They set apart the plunder won in battles for the upkeep of the house of Yahweh.
28
They were also in charge of everything that was set apart to Yahweh by Samuel the prophet, Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah. Everything that was set apart to Yahweh was under the guard of Shelomith and his relatives.
29
Of Izhar's descendants, Kenaniah and his sons were in charge of the civil affairs of Israel. They were officers and judges.
30
Of Hebron's descendants, Hashabiah and his brothers, 1,700 capable men, were in charge of Yahweh's work and the king's work. They were on the west side of the Jordan.
31
As for the Hebronites, Jeriah was the head of the clans, according to the genealogical records. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they examined the records and found among them men of great ability in Jazer of Gilead.
32
Jeriah had 2,700 relatives, who were capable family leaders. David made them overseers over the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God, and for the king's affairs.
Chapter 27
1
This is the list of the family leaders of the people of Israel, commanders of thousands and hundreds, as well as army officers who served the king in various ways. Each military division served month by month throughout the year. Each division had twenty-four thousand men.
2
Over the division for the first month was Jashobeam son of Zabdiel. In his division were twenty-four thousand men.
3
He was among the descendants of Perez and in charge of all the army officers for the first month.
4
Over the division for the second month was Dodai, from the clan descended from Ahoah. Mikloth was second in rank. In his division were twenty-four thousand men.
5
The commander of the army for the third month was Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a priest and leader. In his division were twenty-four thousand men.
6
This is the Benaiah who was the leader of the thirty, and over the thirty. Ammizabad his son was in his division.
7
The commander for the fourth month was Asahel brother of Joab. Zebadiah his son became commander after him. In his division were twenty-four thousand men.
8
The commander for the fifth month was Shamhuth, a descendant of Izrah. In his division were twenty-four thousand men.
9
The commander for the sixth month was Ira son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa. In his division were twenty-four thousand men.
10
The commander for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, from the people of Ephraim. In his division were twenty-four thousand men.
11
The commander for the eighth month was Sibbekai the Hushathite, from the clan descended from Zerah. In his division were twenty-four thousand men.
12
The commander for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite, from the tribe of Benjamin. In his division were twenty-four thousand men.
13
The commander for the tenth month was Maharai from the city of Netophah, from the clan descended from Zerah. In his division were twenty-four thousand men.
14
The commander for the eleventh month was Benaiah from the city of Pirathon, from the tribe of Ephraim. In his division were twenty-four thousand men.
15
The commander for the twelfth month was Heldai from the city of Netophah, from the clan descended from Othniel. In his division were twenty-four thousand men.
16
These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel: For the tribe of Reuben, Eliezer son of Zichri was the leader. For the tribe of Simeon, Shephatiah son of Maakah was the leader.
17
For the tribe of Levi, Hashabiah son of Kemuel was the leader, and Zadok led Aaron's descendants.
18
For the tribe of Judah, Elihu, one of David's brothers, was the leader. For the tribe of Issachar, Omri son of Michael was the leader.
19
For the tribe of Zebulun, Ishmaiah son of Obadiah was the leader. For the tribe of Naphtali, Jerimoth son of Azriel was the leader.
20
For the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Azaziah was the leader. For the half tribe of Manasseh, Joel son of Pedaiah was the leader.
21
For the half tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo son of Zechariah was the leader. For the tribe of Benjamin, Jaasiel son of Abner was the leader.
22
For the tribe of Dan, Azarel son of Jeroham was the leader. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.
23
David did not count those twenty years old or younger, because Yahweh had promised to increase Israel like the stars of heaven.
24
Joab son of Zeruiah began to count the men, but did not finish. Wrath fell on Israel for this. This number was not written down in the Chronicles of King David.
25
Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the king's treasuries. Jonathan son of Uzziah was over the storehouses in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the fortified towers.
26
Ezri son of Kelub was over the farmers, those who plowed the land.
27
Shimei the Ramathite was over the vineyards, and Zabdi the Shiphmite was over the grapes and the wine cellars.
28
Over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the lowlands was Baal-Hanan from Geder, and over the storehouses of oil was Joash.
29
Over the herds that were pastured in Sharon was Shitrai from Sharon, and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat son of Adlai.
30
Over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite, and over the female donkeys was Jehdeiah from Meronoth. Over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite.
31
Jaziz the Hagrite was in charge of the flocks. All these officials were in charge of the property of King David.
32
Jonathan, David's uncle, was an advisor, since he was a wise man and a scribe. Jehiel son of Hakmoni cared for the king's sons.
33
Ahithophel was the king's advisor, and Hushai from the Arkite people was the king's private advisor.
34
Ahithophel's position was taken by Jehoiada son of Benaiah, and by Abiathar. Joab was commander of the king's army.
Chapter 28
1
David assembled all the officials of Israel at Jerusalem: the officials of the tribes, the officers of the divisions that served the king in their scheduled work, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, the managers over all the property and possessions of the king and of his sons, and the officers and fighting men, including the most skilled of them.
2
Then David the king rose to his feet and said, "Listen to me, my brothers and my people. It was my intention to build a house as a resting place for the ark of the covenant of Yahweh; a footstool for our God, and I have made preparations to build it.
3
But God said to me, 'You will not build a temple for my name, because you are a man of war and have shed blood.'
4
Yet Yahweh, the God of Israel, chose me from all my father's house to be king over Israel forever. He has chosen Judah as leader, and from the house of Judah he chose my father's house, and from all my father's sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel.
5
From the many sons whom Yahweh has given me, he chose Solomon, my son, to sit on the throne of the kingdom of Yahweh, over Israel.
6
He said to me, 'Solomon your son will build my house and my courtyards, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his Father.
7
I will establish his kingdom forever, if he remains committed to obey my commandments and decrees, as you are this day.'
8
Now then, in the sight of all Israel, this assembly for Yahweh, and in the presence of our God, all of you must keep and try to carry out all the commandments of Yahweh your God. Do this so that you may possess this good land and leave it as an inheritance to your descendants after you forever.
9
As for you, Solomon my son, obey the God of your father, and serve him with your whole heart and a willing spirit. Do this because Yahweh searches all hearts and understands every motivation of everyone's thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you abandon him, he will reject you forever.
10
Realize that Yahweh has chosen you to build this temple as his sanctuary. Be strong and do it."
11
Then David gave to Solomon his son the plans for the temple portico, the temple buildings, the storerooms, the upper rooms, the inner rooms, and the room with the atonement lid.
12
He gave him the plans he had drawn for the courtyards of the house of Yahweh, all the surrounding rooms, the storerooms in the house of God, and the treasuries for the things that belong to Yahweh.
13
He gave him regulations for the divisions of the priests and Levites, for the assigned responsibilities for the service of the house of Yahweh, and for all the objects for the service in the house of Yahweh.
14
He determined the weight of all the gold vessels for each service, the weight of silver vessels for each service,
15
the weight of the gold for all the gold articles, to be lampstands and gold lamps, the weight of gold for each lampstand, the weight of silver for each silver lampstand, according to the use of each lampstand in the service.
16
He gave the weight of the gold for the tables of the bread of the presence, for every table, and the weight of the silver for the silver tables.
17
He gave the weight of pure gold for the meat forks, basins, and cups. He gave the weight for each of the gold bowls, and the weight of each of the silver bowls.
18
He gave the weight of refined gold for the incense altar, and of the gold for the design of the chariot, the cherubim that spread out their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of Yahweh.
19
David said, "I have put all this in writing as Yahweh directed me and gave me to understand regarding the design."
20
David said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and brave. Do the work. Do not be afraid or dismayed, for Yahweh God, my God, is with you. He will not leave you nor abandon you until all the work for the service of the house of Yahweh is finished.
21
See, here are the divisions of the priests and Levites for all the service in the house of God. They will be with you, together with all willing and skillful men, to assist you in the work and to perform the service. The officials and all the people are ready to follow your commands."
Chapter 29
1
King David said to the whole assembly, "Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is still young and inexperienced, and the task is great. For the temple is not for people but for Yahweh God.
2
So I have done my best to provide for the temple of my God. I am giving gold for the things to be made of gold, silver for the things to be made of silver, bronze for the things to be made of bronze, iron for the things to be made of iron, and wood for the things to be made of wood. I am also giving onyx stones, stones to be set, stones for inlaid work of various colors—all kinds of precious stones—and marble stone in abundance.
3
Now, because of my delight in the house of my God, I am giving my personal treasure of gold and silver for it. I am doing this in addition to all that I have prepared for this holy temple:
4
three thousand talents of gold from Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, in order to overlay the walls of the buildings.
5
I am donating gold for the things to be made of gold, and silver for the things to be made of silver, and things for all kinds of work to be done by craftsmen. Who else wants to make a contribution to Yahweh today and give himself to him?"
6
Then freewill offerings were made by the leaders of their ancestors' families, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and by the officials over the king's work.
7
They gave for the service of the house of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze, and 100,000 talents of iron.
8
Those who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of Yahweh, under the supervision of Jehiel, a descendant of Gershon.
9
The people rejoiced because of these freewill offerings, because they had contributed wholeheartedly to Yahweh. King David also rejoiced greatly.
10
David blessed Yahweh in front of all the assembly. He said, "May you be praised, Yahweh, God of Israel our ancestor, forever and ever.
11
Yours, Yahweh, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. For all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, Yahweh, and you are exalted as ruler over all.
12
Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all people. In your hand is power and might. You possess the strength and might to make people great and to give strength to anyone.
13
Now then, our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name.
14
But who am I, and who are my people, that we should have the ability to offer so willingly these things? Indeed, all things come from you, and we have simply given back to you what is yours.
15
For we are sojourners and tenants before you, as all our ancestors were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope of remaining on earth.
16
Yahweh our God, all this wealth that we have collected in order to build a temple to honor your holy name—it comes from you and belongs to you.
17
I know also, my God, that you examine the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things, and now I look with joy as your people who are present here willingly offer gifts to you.
18
Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel—our ancestors—keep this forever in the thoughts of the minds of your people. Direct their hearts toward you.
19
Give to Solomon my son a whole heart to keep your commandments, your covenant decrees, and your statutes, and to carry out all these plans to build the palace for which I have made provision."
20
David said to all the assembly, "Now bless Yahweh your God." All the assembly blessed Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, and they bowed down and showed honor to Yahweh and to the king.
21
On the next day, they made sacrifices to Yahweh and offered burnt offerings to him. They offered a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink offerings and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel.
22
On that day, they ate and drank before Yahweh with great joy.
They made Solomon, David's son, king a second time, and anointed him with Yahweh's authority to be ruler. They also anointed Zadok to be priest.
23
Then Solomon sat on Yahweh's throne as king in place of David his father. He prospered, and all Israel obeyed him.
24
All the leaders, soldiers, and King David's sons gave allegiance to King Solomon.
25
Yahweh greatly honored Solomon before all Israel and bestowed on him royal majesty such as had never been given to any king before him in Israel.
26
David son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.
27
David had been king of Israel for forty years. He ruled for seven years in Hebron and for thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
28
He died at a good old age, after enjoying a long life, wealth and honor. Solomon his son reigned after him.
29
King David's accomplishments are written in the chronicles of Samuel the seer, in the chronicles of Nathan the prophet, and in the chronicles of Gad the seer.
30
Recorded there are the deeds of his rule, his power and the events that affected him, Israel, and all the kingdoms of the other lands.
2 Chronicles
Chapter 1
1
Solomon son of David was strengthened in his rule, and Yahweh his God was with him and made him very powerful.
2
Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every prince in all Israel, the heads of the fathers' houses.
3
So Solomon and all the assembly with him went to the high place that was at Gibeon, for there was the tent of meeting of God, which Moses the servant of Yahweh, had made in the wilderness.
4
But David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim to the place that he had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.
5
In addition, the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur was there before the tabernacle of Yahweh; Solomon and the assembly went to it.
6
Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before Yahweh, which was at the tent of meeting, and offered one thousand burnt offerings on it.
7
God appeared to Solomon that night and said to him, "Ask! What should I give you?"
8
Solomon said to God, "You have shown great covenant faithfulness to David my father, and have made me king in his place.
9
Now, Yahweh God, let your promise to David my father be carried out, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.
10
Now give me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may lead this people, for who can judge your people, who are so many in number?"
11
God said to Solomon, "Because this was in your heart, and because you have not asked for riches, wealth, or honor, nor for the life of those who hate you, nor for long life for yourself, but you have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself, so that you might rule my people, over whom I have made you king, this is what I will do.
12
I will now give you wisdom and knowledge. I will also give you riches, wealth, and honor, as none of the kings had before you, and none after you will have."
13
So Solomon came to Jerusalem from the high place that was at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting; he reigned over Israel.
14
Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen, and he had 1,400 chariots and twelve thousand horsemen that he placed in the chariot cities, and with himself, the king in Jerusalem.
15
The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as the stones, and he made cedar wood as common as the sycamore trees that are in the lowlands.
16
As for the importation of horses from Egypt and Kue for Solomon, the king's merchants bought them from Kue at a price.
17
They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for 150 shekels. They also exported them to the kings of the Hittites and the Arameans.
Chapter 2
1
Now Solomon commanded the building of a house for Yahweh's name and the building of a palace for his kingdom.
2
Solomon assigned seventy thousand men to carry loads, and eighty thousand men as stonecutters in the mountains, and 3,600 men to supervise them.
3
Solomon sent a message to Hiram, the king of Tyre, saying, "As you did with David my father, sending him cedar logs to build a house to live in, do the same with me.
4
See, I am about to build a house for the name of Yahweh my God, to set it apart to him, to burn incense of sweet spices before him, to set out the bread of the presence, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths and on the new moons, and on the appointed feasts for Yahweh our God. This is forever, for Israel.
5
The house that I will build will be very large, for our God is greater than all other gods.
6
But who is able to build God a house, since the entire universe and even heaven itself cannot contain him? Who am I to build him a house, except to burn sacrifices before him?
7
So send me a man who is skilled at work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue wool, a man who knows how to make all kinds of engraved wood. He will be with the skilled men who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided.
8
Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum trees from Lebanon, for I know that your servants know how to cut timber in Lebanon. See, my servants will be with your servants,
9
in order to prepare for me timber in abundance, for the house which I am about to build will be great and marvelous.
10
See, I will give to your servants, the men who will cut the timber, twenty thousand cors of ground wheat, twenty thousand cors of barley, twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil."
11
Then Hiram, the king of Tyre, answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon: "Because Yahweh loves his people, he has made you king over them."
12
In addition, Hiram said, "Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given to David the king a wise son, gifted with prudence and understanding, who will build a house for Yahweh and a royal palace for himself.
13
Now I have sent a skillful man, Huram-Abi, who is gifted with understanding.
14
He is the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan. His father was a man from Tyre. He is skilled at work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and in timber, and in purple, blue, and crimson wool, and fine linen. He is also skilled in making any kind of engraving and in making any kind of design. Let a place be made for him among your skilled workers, and with those of my master, David, your father.
15
Now then, the wheat and the barley, the oil and the wine, of which my master has spoken, let him send these things to his servants.
16
We will cut wood from Lebanon, as much wood as you need. We will take it to you as rafts by sea to Joppa, and you will carry it up to Jerusalem."
17
Solomon counted all the foreigners who were in the land of Israel, following the method that David, his father, had counted them. They were found to be 153,600.
18
He assigned seventy thousand of them to carry loads, eighty thousand to be stonecutters in the mountains, and 3,600 to be supervisors to put the people to work.
Chapter 3
1
Then Solomon began to build the house of Yahweh at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where Yahweh had appeared to David his father. He prepared the place that David had planned for it, at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
2
He began to build on the second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign.
3
Now these are the dimensions of the foundation that Solomon laid for the house of God. Using the old style cubit, the length was sixty cubits, and the width was twenty cubits.
4
The length of the portico at the front of the house was twenty cubits, matching the building's width. Its height was also twenty cubits, and Solomon overlaid its interior with pure gold.
5
He fashioned the ceiling of the main hall with cypress, which he overlaid with fine gold, and which he carved with palm trees and chains.
6
He decorated the house with precious stones; the gold was gold from Parvaim.
7
He also overlaid its beams, thresholds, walls, and doors with gold; he carved cherubim on its walls.
8
He built the most holy place. Its length matched the house's width, twenty cubits, and its width was also twenty cubits. He overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents.
9
The weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. He overlaid its high surfaces with gold.
10
He made two images of cherubim for the most holy place; craftsmen overlaid them with gold.
11
The wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits long all together; the wing of one cherub was five cubits long, reaching to the wall of the room, and the other wing was five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub.
12
The wing of the other cherub was also five cubits, reaching to the wall of the room; its other wing was also five cubits, touching the wing of the first cherub.
13
The wings of these cherubim spread a total of twenty cubits. The cherubim stood on their feet, with their faces toward the main hall.
14
He made the curtain of blue, purple, and crimson wool and fine linen, and he fashioned cherubim on it.
15
Solomon also made two pillars, each thirty-five cubits high, for in front of the house; the capitals that were on the top of them were five cubits high.
16
He made chains for the pillars and put them on top of them; he also made one hundred pomegranates and joined them to the chains.
17
He set up the pillars in front of the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; he named the pillar on the right Jakin, and the pillar on the left Boaz.
Chapter 4
1
Moreover he made an altar of bronze; its length was twenty cubits, and its width was twenty cubits. Its height was ten cubits.
2
He also made the round sea of cast metal, ten cubits from brim to brim. Its height was five cubits, and the sea was thirty cubits in circumference.
3
Under the brim encircling the sea were bulls, ten to each cubit, cast in one piece with the sea when the sea itself was cast.
4
The large basin known as "The Sea" was set upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, three looking toward the west, three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east. "The Sea" was set on top of them, and all their hindquarters were toward the inside.
5
"The Sea" was as thick as the width of a hand, and its brim was forged like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. "The Sea" held three thousand baths of water.
6
He made also ten basins for washing things; he put five on the south side, and five on the north; items used in performing the burnt offering were to be washed in them. The large basin known as "The Sea" was used by the priests for them to wash.
7
He made the ten lampstands of gold that were made from the instructions for their design; he placed them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left.
8
He made ten tables and placed them in the temple, five on the right side, and five on the left. He made one hundred basins of gold.
9
Furthermore he made the courtyard of the priests, and the great court and the doors for the court and overlaid their doors with bronze.
10
He placed the basin known as "The Sea" on the east side of the temple, facing toward the south.
11
Huram made the pots, the shovels, and the sprinkling bowls.
So Huram finished the work that he did for King Solomon in the house of God:
12
the two pillars, the bowl-like capitals that were on top of the two pillars, and the two sets of decorative latticework to cover the two bowl-like capitals that were on top of the pillars.
13
He had made the four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of decorative latticework: two rows of pomegranates for each set of latticework to cover the two bowl-like capitals that were on the pillars.
14
He also made the stands and the basins to go on the stands;
15
one sea and the twelve bulls under it,
16
also the pots, shovels, meat forks, and all the other implements that Huram-Abi made of polished bronze for King Solomon, for the house of Yahweh.
17
The king had cast them in the plain of the Jordan, in the clay ground between Sukkoth and Zarethan.
18
Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance; indeed, the weight of the bronze could not be known.
19
Solomon made all the furnishings that were in the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables on which the bread of the presence was to be placed;
20
the lampstands with their lamps, that were designed to burn before the inner room—these were made of pure gold;
21
and the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs, of gold, pure gold.
22
Also the lamp trimmers, basins, spoons, and incense burners were all made of pure gold. As for the entrance into the house, its inner doors into the most holy place and the doors of the house, that is, of the temple, were made of gold.
Chapter 5
1
When all the work that Solomon did for the house of Yahweh was completed, Solomon brought in the things that David, his father, had set apart for this purpose, including the silver, the gold, and all the furnishings—he placed them into the treasuries of the house of God.
2
Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes, and the leaders of the families of the people of Israel, in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh from the city of David, that is, Zion.
3
All the men of Israel assembled before the king at the feast, which was in the seventh month.
4
All the elders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the ark.
5
They brought up the ark, the tent of meeting, and all the holy furnishings that were in the tent. The priests who were of the tribe of Levi brought these things up.
6
King Solomon and all the assembly of Israel came together before the ark, sacrificing sheep and cattle that could not be counted.
7
The priests brought in the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to its place, into the inner room of the house, to the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubim.
8
For the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, and they covered the ark and the poles by which it was carried.
9
The poles that extended from the ark were so long that their ends were seen from the holy place in front of the inner room, but they could not be seen from outside. They are there to this day.
10
There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses had put there at Horeb, when Yahweh made a covenant with the people of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.
11
It came about that the priests came out of the holy place. All the priests who were present had consecrated themselves to Yahweh, regardless of their divisions.
12
Also the Levites who were the singers, all of them, including Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and brothers, clothed in fine linen and playing cymbals, lutes and harps, stood at the east end of the altar. With them were 120 priests blowing trumpets.
13
It came about that the trumpeters and singers made music together, making one sound to be heard for praising and thanking Yahweh. They raised their voices with the trumpets and cymbals and other instruments, and they praised Yahweh. They sang, "For he is good, for his covenant loyalty endures forever." Then the house, the house of Yahweh, was filled with a cloud.
14
The priests could not stand in order to serve because of the cloud, for the glory of Yahweh filled his house.
Chapter 6
1
Then Solomon said, "Yahweh has said that he would live in thick darkness,
2
but I have built you a lofty residence, a place for you to live in forever."
3
Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing.
4
He said, "May Yahweh, the God of Israel, be praised, who spoke to David my father, and has fulfilled it with his own hands, saying,
5
'Since the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, in order for my name to be there. Neither did I choose any man to be prince over my people Israel.
6
However, I have chosen Jerusalem, so that my name might be there, and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.'
7
Now it was in the heart of David my father, to build a house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
8
But Yahweh said to David my father, 'In that it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well for it to be in your heart.
9
Nevertheless, you are not to build the house; instead, your son, one who will come from your loins, will build the house for my name.'
10
Yahweh has carried out the word that he had said, for I have arisen in the place of David my father, and I sit on the throne of Israel, as Yahweh promised. I have built the house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
11
I have placed the ark there, in which is Yahweh's covenant, which he made with the people of Israel."
12
Solomon stood before the altar of Yahweh in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands.
13
For he had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high. He had placed it in the middle of the courtyard. He stood on it and knelt down before all the assembly of Israel, and then he spread out his hands toward the heavens.
14
He said, "Yahweh, God of Israel, there is no God like you in the heavens or on the earth, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with your servants who walk before you with all their heart;
15
you who have kept with your servant David my father, what you promised him. Yes, you spoke with your mouth and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is today.
16
Now then, Yahweh, God of Israel, carry out what you have promised to your servant David my father, when you said, 'You will not fail to have a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful to walk in my law, as you have walked before me.'
17
Now then, Yahweh, God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you have spoken to your servant David.
18
But will God actually live with mankind on the earth? Look, the entire universe and heaven itself cannot contain you—how much less can this temple that I have built!
19
Yet please respect this prayer of your servant and his plea, Yahweh my God; listen to the cry and prayer that your servant prays before you.
20
May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, the place where you promised to put your name. May you listen to the prayer your servant prays toward this place.
21
So listen to the pleas of your servant and of your people Israel when we pray toward this place. Yes, listen from the place where you live, from the heavens; and when you listen, forgive.
22
If a man sins against his neighbor and is required to swear an oath, and if he comes and swears an oath before your altar in this house,
23
listen from the heavens and act. Judge your servants, condemning the wicked and bringing what he has done upon his own head. Declare the innocent not guilty and give to him according to his righteousness.
24
When your people Israel are defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you, if they turn back to you, confess your name, pray, and seek favor before you in this temple—
25
then please listen from the heavens and forgive the sin of your people Israel; bring them back to the land that you gave to them and to their ancestors.
26
When the skies are shut up and there is no rain because the people have sinned against you—if they pray toward this place, confess your name, and turn from their sin when you have afflicted them—
27
then listen in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants and of your people Israel, when you direct them to the good way in which they should walk. Send rain on your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance.
28
Suppose there is famine in the land, or suppose that there is disease, blight or mildew, locusts or caterpillars; or suppose that its enemies attack the city gates in their land, or that there is any plague or sickness—
29
and suppose then that prayers and pleas are made by a person or by all your people Israel—each knowing the plague and sorrow in his own heart as he spreads out his hands toward this temple.
30
Then listen from heaven, the place where you live; forgive, and reward every person for all his ways; you know his heart, because you and you only know the hearts of human beings.
31
Do this so that they may fear you, so that they may walk in your ways all the days that they live on the land that you gave to our ancestors.
32
As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel, but who—because of your great name, your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm—comes and prays toward this house,
33
then please listen from heaven, the place where you live, and do all that the foreigner asks of you, so that all the people of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and that they might know that this house I have built is called by your name.
34
Suppose that your people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way you may send them, and suppose that they pray to you toward this city that you have chosen, and toward the house that I have built for your name.
35
Then listen from the heavens to their prayer, their request, and help their cause.
36
Suppose they sin against you—since there is no one who does not sin—and suppose that you are angry with them and hand them over to the enemy, so that the enemy carries them away and takes them as captives to their land, whether distant or near.
37
Then suppose they realize they are in the land where they have been exiled, and suppose that they repent and seek favor from you in the land of their captivity. Suppose that they say, 'We have acted perversely and sinned. We have behaved wickedly.'
38
Suppose that they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they took them as captives, and suppose that they pray toward their land, which you gave to their ancestors, and toward the city that you chose, and toward the house that I have built for your name.
39
Then listen from the heavens, the place where you live, to their prayer and to their pleas, and help their cause. Forgive your people, who have sinned against you.
40
Now, my God, I beg you, let your eyes be open, and let your ears be attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.
41
Now then arise, Yahweh God, to your resting place, you and the ark of your strength. Let your priests, Yahweh God, be clothed with salvation, and let your faithful ones rejoice in your goodness.
42
Yahweh God, do not turn the face of your anointed away from you. Keep in mind your acts of covenant loyalty for David, your servant."
Chapter 7
1
Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glory of Yahweh filled the house.
2
The priests could not enter the house of Yahweh, because his glory filled his house.
3
When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of Yahweh over the house, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the stone pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to Yahweh. They said, "For he is good, for his covenant loyalty endures forever."
4
So the king and all the people offered sacrifices to Yahweh.
5
King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand head of cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
6
The priests stood, each standing where they serve; the Levites also with instruments of music of Yahweh, which David the king had made to give thanks to Yahweh in the song, "For his covenant faithfulness endures for ever." All the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.
7
Solomon set apart the middle of the courtyard in front of the house of Yahweh. There he offered the burnt offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar that he had made was not able to hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat.
8
So Solomon held the festival at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly, from Lebo Hamath to the brook of Egypt.
9
On the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, for they kept the dedication of the altar for seven days, and the feast for seven days.
10
On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, Solomon sent the people away to their tents with glad and joyful hearts because of the goodness that Yahweh had shown to David, Solomon, and Israel, his people.
11
Thus Solomon finished the house of Yahweh and the king's house. Everything that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of Yahweh and in his own house, he successfully carried out.
12
Yahweh appeared to Solomon by night and said to him, "I have heard your prayer, and I have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice.
13
Suppose that I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send plague among my people,
14
then if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
15
Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers that are made in this place.
16
For I have now chosen and set apart this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there every day.
17
As for you, if you walk before me as David your father walked, obeying all that I have commanded you and keeping my statutes and my decrees,
18
then I will establish the throne of your kingdom, as I said in a covenant with David your father, when I said, 'A descendant of yours will never fail to be ruler in Israel.'
19
But if you turn away, and abandon my statutes and my commandments that I have placed before you, and if you go worship other gods and bow down to them,
20
then I will uproot them from out of my ground that I have given them. This house that I have set apart for my name, I will cast away from before me, and I will make it a proverb and a joke among all the peoples.
21
Even though this temple is so lofty now, everyone who passes by it will be appalled and will hiss. They will ask, 'Why has Yahweh done this to this land and to this house?'
22
Others will answer, 'Because they abandoned Yahweh, their God, who had brought their ancestors out of the land of Egypt, and they laid hold of other gods and bowed down to them and worshiped them. That is why Yahweh has brought all this disaster on them.'"
Chapter 8
1
It came about at the end of twenty years, during which Solomon had built the house of Yahweh and his own house,
2
that Solomon rebuilt the towns that Hiram had given to him, and he settled the people of Israel in them.
3
Solomon attacked Hamath Zobah and defeated it.
4
He built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the storage cities, which he built in Hamath.
5
Also he built Beth Horon the Upper and Beth Horon the Lower, cities fortified with walls, gates, and bars.
6
Solomon built Baalath and all the storage cities that he possessed, and all the cities for his chariots and the cities for his horsemen, and whatever he wished to build for his pleasure in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the lands under his rule.
7
As for all the people who were left of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who did not belong to Israel,
8
their descendants who were left after them in the land, whom the people of Israel had not destroyed—Solomon made them into forced laborers, which they are to this day.
9
However, Solomon did not makes slaves of the people of Israel for his work. Instead, they were soldiers, commanders of his officers, and commanders of his chariots and horsemen.
10
These were also the chief officers managing the supervisors who belonged to King Solomon, 250 of them, who ruled over the people who did the work.
11
Solomon brought the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David to the house that he had built for her, for he said, "My wife must not live in the house of David king of Israel, because wherever the ark of Yahweh has come is holy."
12
Then Solomon offered burnt offerings to Yahweh on his altar that he had built in front of the portico.
13
He offered sacrifices just as the daily schedule required; he offered them, following the directions found in the commandment of Moses, on the Sabbath days, the new moons, and on the set festivals three times every year: the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Shelters.
14
In keeping with the decrees of his father David, Solomon appointed the divisions of the priests to their work, and the Levites to their positions, in order to praise God and to serve before the priests, as the daily schedule required. He also appointed the gatekeepers by their divisions to every gate, for David, the man of God, had also commanded this.
15
These people did not deviate from the commands of the king to the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the storerooms.
16
All the work ordered by Solomon was completed, from the day the foundation of the house of Yahweh was laid until it was finished. The house of Yahweh was completed.
17
Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber and then to Elath on the coast, in the land of Edom.
18
Hiram sent him ships commanded by his own officers, men who knew the sea, and with the servants of Solomon they went to Ophir and they took from there 450 talents of gold and brought it to King Solomon.
Chapter 9
1
When the queen of Sheba heard the report about Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions. She came with a very long caravan, with camels loaded with spices, much gold, and many precious gemstones. When she had come to Solomon, she told him all that was in her heart.
2
Solomon answered her all her questions; nothing was too difficult for Solomon; there was no question that he did not answer.
3
When the queen of Sheba saw Solomon's wisdom and the palace that he had built,
4
the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the work of his servants and their clothing, also his cupbearers and their clothing, and the burnt offerings he made at
the house of Yahweh, there was no more breath in her.
5
She said to the king, "It is true, the report that I heard in my own land of your words and your wisdom.
6
I did not believe what I heard until I came here, and now my eyes have seen it. Not half was told me about the greatness of your wisdom and wealth! You have exceeded the report that I heard.
7
How blessed are your men, and how blessed are your servants who constantly stand before you, because they hear your wisdom.
8
Blessed be Yahweh your God, who has taken pleasure in you, who placed you on his throne, to be king for Yahweh your God. Because your God loved Israel, in order to establish them forever, he had made you king over them, for you to do justice and righteousness!"
9
She gave the king 120 talents of gold and a large amount of spices and precious stones. There had never been such spices as these that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
10
The servants of Hiram and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, also brought algum wood and precious stones.
11
With the algum wood, the king made steps for the house of Yahweh and for his house, as well as harps and lutes for the musicians. No wood like this had been seen before in the land of Judah.
12
King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba everything she desired and whatever she asked for; he gave her more than what she had brought to the king. So she left and went back to her own land, she and her servants.
13
Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold,
14
besides the gold that the traders and merchants brought. All the kings of Arabia and the governors in the country also brought gold and silver to Solomon.
15
King Solomon made two hundred large shields of beaten gold. Six hundred shekels of gold went into each one.
16
He also made three hundred shields of beaten gold. Three minas of gold went into each shield; the king put them into the House of the Forest of Lebanon.
17
Then the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold.
18
There were six steps to the throne, and a footstool of gold was attached to the throne. On each side of the throne there were armrests with two lions standing beside each of them.
19
Twelve lions stood on the steps, one on each side of each of the six steps. There was no throne like it in any other kingdom.
20
All King Solomon's drinking cups were gold, and all the drinking cups in the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None were silver because silver was not considered valuable in Solomon's days.
21
The king had at sea a fleet of ships of Tarshish, along with the servants of Hiram. Once every three years the ships of Tarshish brought gold, silver, and ivory, as well as apes and baboons.
22
So King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the world in riches and in wisdom.
23
All the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon in order to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
24
Those who visited brought tribute, vessels of silver and of gold, clothes, weapons, and spices, as well as horses and mules, year after year.
25
Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he stationed in the chariot cities and with himself in Jerusalem.
26
He ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.
27
The king had silver in Jerusalem, as much as the stones on the ground. He made cedar wood to be as abundant as the sycamore fig trees that are in the lowlands.
28
They brought horses for Solomon from Egypt and from all the lands.
29
As for the other matters concerning Solomon, first and last, are they not written in The History of Nathan the Prophet, in The Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in The Visions of Iddo the Seer (which also had information about Jeroboam son of Nebat)?
30
Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel for forty years.
31
He lay down with his ancestors and the people buried him in the city of David his father. Rehoboam, his son, became king in his place.
Chapter 10
1
Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel was coming to Shechem to make him king.
2
When Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard this (for he was in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt.
3
So they sent and called him, and Jeroboam and all Israel came; they spoke to Rehoboam and said,
4
"Your father made our yoke difficult. Now therefore, make your father's hard work easier, and lighten the heavy yoke that he put on us, and we will serve you."
5
Rehoboam said to them, "Come again to me after three days." So the people left.
6
King Rehoboam consulted with the old men who had stood before Solomon his father while he was alive; he said, "How would you advise me to bring an answer to these people?"
7
They spoke to him and said, "If you are good to this people and please them, and say good words to them, then they will always be your servants."
8
But Rehoboam ignored the advice of the old men that they had given him, and consulted with the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.
9
He said to them, "What advice do you give me, so that we may answer the people who spoke to me and said, 'Lighten the yoke that your father put on us'?"
10
The young men who had grown up with Rehoboam spoke to him, saying, "This is how you should speak to the people who told you that your father Solomon made their yoke heavy, but that you must make it lighter. This is what you should say to them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist.
11
So now, although my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father punished you with whips, but I will punish you with scorpions.'"
12
So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king said, "Come back to me on the third day."
13
King Rehoboam spoke to them harshly, ignoring the advice of the old men.
14
He spoke to them following the advice of the young men, saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it. My father punished you with whips, but I will punish you with scorpions."
15
So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn in events brought about by God, that Yahweh might carry out his word that Ahijah the Shilonite had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat.
16
When all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered him and said, "What share do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse! Each of you should go back to his tent, Israel. Now see to your own house, David." So all Israel returned to their tents.
17
But as for the people of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
18
Then King Rehoboam sent Adoniram, who was over the forced laborers, but the people of Israel stoned him to death with stones. King Rehoboam fled quickly in his chariot to Jerusalem.
19
So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.
Chapter 11
1
When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 chosen men who were soldiers, to fight against Israel, to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.
2
But the word of Yahweh came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
3
"Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin,
4
'Yahweh says this, "You must not attack or make war against your brothers. Everyone must return to his own house, for I have caused this to happen."'" So they obeyed the words of Yahweh and turned back from attacking Jeroboam.
5
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built cities in Judah for defense.
6
He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
7
Beth Zur, Soko, Adullam,
8
Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
9
Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
10
Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron. These are fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.
11
He fortified the fortresses and put commanders in them, with stores of food, oil, and wine.
12
He put shields and spears in all the cities and made them very strong. So Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.
13
The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel went over to him from within their borders.
14
For the Levites left their pasturelands and property in order to come to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had driven them away, so that they could no longer act as the priests of Yahweh.
15
Jeroboam appointed for himself priests for the high places and the goat and calf idols he had made.
16
People from all the tribes of Israel came after them, those who set their hearts to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel; they came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
17
So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and made Rehoboam son of Solomon strong during three years, and they walked for three years in the way of David and Solomon.
18
Rehoboam took a wife for himself: Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth, David's son, and of Abihail, the daughter of Eliab, Jesse's son.
19
She bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.
20
After Mahalath, Rehoboam took Maakah, Absalom's daughter; she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.
21
Rehoboam loved Maakah, Absalom's daughter, more than all his other wives and his concubines (he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and became the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters).
22
Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maakah to be chief, a leader among his brothers; he had the thought of making him king.
23
Rehoboam ruled wisely; he scattered all his sons throughout all the land of Judah and Benjamin to every fortified city. He also gave them food in abundance and looked for many wives for them.
Chapter 12
1
It came about, when Rehoboam's reign was established and he was strong, that he abandoned the law of Yahweh—and all Israel with him.
2
It happened in the fifth year of King Rehoboam, that Shishak, king of Egypt, came up against Jerusalem, because the people had been unfaithful to Yahweh.
3
He came with twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen. Soldiers without number came with him from Egypt: Libyans, Sukkites, and Cushites.
4
He captured the fortified cities that belonged to Judah and came to Jerusalem.
5
Now Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and to the leaders of Judah who had gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak. Shemaiah said to them, "This is what Yahweh says: You have abandoned me, so I have also given you over into Shishak's hand."
6
Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, "Yahweh is righteous."
7
When Yahweh saw that they had humbled themselves, the word of Yahweh came to Shemaiah, saying, "They have humbled themselves. I will not ruin them; I will deliver them to some extent, and my anger will not pour out on Jerusalem by means of Shishak's hand.
8
Nevertheless, they will be his servants, so that they may understand what it is to serve me and to serve the rulers of the other countries."
9
So Shishak, king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem and took away the treasures in the house of Yahweh, and the treasures in the king's house. He took everything away; he also took the shields of gold that Solomon had made.
10
King Rehoboam made shields of bronze in their place and entrusted them into the hands of the commanders of the guard, who guarded the doors to the king's house.
11
It happened that whenever the king entered the house of Yahweh, the guards would carry them; then they would bring them back into the guards' room.
12
When Rehoboam humbled himself, Yahweh's anger turned away from him, so as not to destroy him completely; besides, there was still some good to be found in Judah.
13
So King Rehoboam made his kingship strong in Jerusalem, and thus he reigned. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city that Yahweh had chosen from all the tribes of Israel so that he might put his name there. His mother's name was Naamah the Ammonite woman.
14
He did what was evil, because he did not fix his heart to seek Yahweh.
15
As for the other matters concerning Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the writings of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer, which also have records of genealogies and the constant wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam?
16
Rehoboam lay down with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David; Abijah his son became king in his place.
Chapter 13
1
In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah began to reign over Judah.
2
He reigned for three years in Jerusalem; his mother's name was Macaiah, the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
3
Abijah went into battle with an army of strong, courageous warriors, 400,000 chosen men. Jeroboam placed battle lines against him with 800,000 chosen men, mighty warriors.
4
Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, "Listen to me, Jeroboam and all Israel!
5
Do you not know that Yahweh the God of Israel gave the dominion over Israel to David and his descendants forever by a covenant of salt?
6
Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon son of David, rose up and rebelled against his master.
7
Worthless men, base fellows, gathered to him. They came against Rehoboam son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and timid at heart, and they were too strong for him.
8
So now you plan to resist the kingdom of Yahweh that is held within the hand of the descendants of David, because you are a large army, and you have the golden calves that Jeroboam made to be your gods.
9
But did you not drive out the priests of Yahweh, the descendants of Aaron, and the Levites, and make priests of your own in the same way as the people of other lands do? Whoever comes to serve as a priest, sacrificing a young bull and seven rams, he becomes a priest of what are not gods.
10
But as for us, Yahweh is our God, and we have not abandoned him. We have priests, descendants of Aaron, serving Yahweh, and the Levites, who are at their work.
11
Every morning and evening they burn for Yahweh burnt offerings and sweet incense. They also arrange the bread of the presence on the pure table; they also tend the lampstand of gold with its lamps, for them to burn every evening. We keep the commandments of Yahweh, our God, but you have abandoned him.
12
See, God is with us at our head, and his priests are here with the trumpets to sound an alarm against you. Sons of Israel, do not fight against Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed."
13
But Jeroboam prepared an ambush behind them; his army was in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them.
14
When Judah looked back, behold, the fighting was both in front of them and behind them. They cried out to Yahweh, and the priests blew the trumpets.
15
Then the men of Judah gave a shout; as they shouted, it came about that God struck Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.
16
The people of Israel fled before Judah, and God gave them into the hand of Judah.
17
Abijah and his army killed them with great slaughter; 500,000 chosen men of Israel fell dead.
18
In this way, the people of Israel were subdued at that time; the people of Judah won because they relied on Yahweh, the God of their ancestors.
19
Abijah pursued Jeroboam; he took cities from him: Bethel with its villages, Jeshanah with its villages, and Ephron with its villages.
20
Jeroboam never recovered power again during the days of Abijah; Yahweh struck him, and he died.
21
But Abijah became powerful; he took fourteen wives for himself and became the father of twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.
22
The rest of Abijah's deeds, his behavior, and words are written in the history of the prophet Iddo.
Chapter 14
1
Abijah lay down with his ancestors, and they buried him in the city of David. Asa, his son, became king in his place. In his days the land was quiet ten years.
2
Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of Yahweh his God,
3
for he took away the foreign altars and the high places. He broke down the stone pillars and cut down the Asherah poles.
4
He commanded Judah to seek Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, and to carry out the law and the commandments.
5
Also he took away the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. The kingdom had rest under him.
6
He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land was quiet, and he had no war in those years, because Yahweh had given him peace.
7
For Asa said to Judah, "Let us build these cities and make walls around them, and towers, gates, and bars; the land is still ours because we have sought Yahweh our God. We have sought him, and he has given us peace on every side." So they built and succeeded.
8
Asa had an army that carried shields and spears; from Judah he had 300,000 men, and from Benjamin, 280,000 men who carried shields and drew bows. All of these were mighty warriors.
9
Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of one million soldiers and three hundred chariots; he came to Mareshah.
10
Then Asa went out to meet him, and they set the battle lines in order in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
11
Asa cried to Yahweh, his God, and said, "Yahweh, there is no one but you to help one who has no strength when he is facing many. Help us, Yahweh our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast number. Yahweh, you are our God; do not let man defeat you."
12
So Yahweh struck the Cushites before Asa and Judah; the Cushites fled.
13
Asa and the soldiers with him pursued them to Gerar. So many Cushites fell that they could not recover, for they were completely destroyed before Yahweh and his army. The army carried away very much plunder.
14
The army destroyed all the villages around Gerar, for terror of Yahweh had come on the inhabitants. The army plundered all the villages, and there was much booty in them.
15
The army also destroyed the tents of those who owned livestock; they carried away sheep in abundance, as well as camels, and then they returned to Jerusalem.
Chapter 15
1
The Spirit of God came on Azariah son of Oded.
2
He went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Listen to me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: Yahweh is with you, while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you abandon him, he will abandon you.
3
Now for a long period, Israel was without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without the law.
4
But when in their distress they turned to Yahweh, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them.
5
In those times there was no peace for him who went out or for him who came in, for there were great disturbances on all the inhabitants of the lands.
6
They were broken in pieces, nation against nation, and city against city, for God troubled them with all kinds of suffering.
7
But be strong, and do not let your hands be weak, for your work will be rewarded."
8
When Asa heard these words, the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage and drove away the disgusting figures from all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and from the cities that he had captured from the hill country of Ephraim, and he rebuilt Yahweh's altar, which was in front of the portico of the house of Yahweh.
9
He gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those who stayed with them—people from Ephraim and Manasseh, and from Simeon. For they came from Israel to him in great numbers, when they saw that Yahweh his God was with him.
10
So they gathered together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of Asa's reign.
11
They sacrificed to Yahweh in that day some of the plunder that they had brought: seven hundred head of cattle and seven thousand sheep and goats.
12
They entered into a covenant to seek Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and with all their soul.
13
They agreed that whoever refused to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether the person was small or great, whether man or woman.
14
They swore to Yahweh with a loud voice, with shouting, and with trumpets and rams' horns.
15
All Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart, and they sought God with their whole desire, and he was found by them. Yahweh gave them peace all around them.
16
King Asa also removed Maakah, his grandmother, from being queen mother because she had made a disgusting figure out of an Asherah pole. He cut down the disgusting figure, crushed it to dust, and burned it at the Kidron Brook.
17
But the high places were not taken out of Israel. Nevertheless, Asa's heart was completely devoted all his days.
18
He brought into the house of God his father's sacred gifts and his own sacred gifts, silver and gold and utensils.
19
There was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa's reign.
Chapter 16
1
In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign, Baasha, king of Israel, acted aggressively against Judah and built up Ramah, so that he might not allow anyone to leave or enter into the land of Asa, king of Judah.
2
Then Asa brought the silver and gold out of the storerooms in the house of Yahweh and of the king's house, and sent it to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who lived in Damascus. He said,
3
"Let there be a covenant between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Look, I have sent to you silver and gold. Break your covenant with Baasha, king of Israel, so that he may leave me alone."
4
Ben-Hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel. They attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim
, and all the storage cities of Naphtali.
5
It came about that when Baasha heard this, he stopped building up Ramah and let his work cease.
6
Then Asa the king took all Judah with him. They carried away the stones and timbers of Ramah with which Baasha had been building up the city. Then King Asa used that building material to build up Geba and Mizpah.
7
At that time Hanani the seer went to Asa, king of Judah, and said to him, "Because you have relied on the king of Aram, and have not relied on Yahweh your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped out of your hand.
8
Were not the Cushites and the Libyans a huge army, with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on Yahweh, he gave you victory over them.
9
For the eyes of Yahweh run everywhere throughout the whole earth, so that he might show himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are perfect toward him. But you have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, you will have war."
10
Then Asa was angry with the seer; he put him into prison, for he was enraged with him over this matter. At the same time, Asa oppressed some of the people.
11
Behold, the deeds of Asa, from first to last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
12
In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was very severe, he did not seek help from Yahweh, but only from the healers.
13
So Asa lay down with his ancestors, dying in the forty-first year of his reign.
14
They buried him in his own tomb, which he had dug out for himself in the city of David. They laid him on a bier that was filled with sweet odors and various kinds of spices prepared by skilled perfumers. Then they made a very great fire in his honor.
Chapter 17
1
Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king in his place. Jehoshaphat strengthened himself against Israel.
2
He placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had captured.
3
Yahweh was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David, and did not seek the Baals.
4
Instead, he relied on the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, not according to the practices of Israel.
5
So Yahweh established the rule in his hand; all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat. He had riches and honor in abundance.
6
His heart was committed to Yahweh's ways. He also removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.
7
In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.
8
With them were Levites: Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-Adonijah; and with them were the priests Elishama and Jehoram.
9
They taught in Judah, having the book of the law of Yahweh with them. They went about throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.
10
Terror of Yahweh fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.
11
Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and silver as tribute. Arabians also brought him flocks, 7,700 rams, and 7,700 goats.
12
Jehoshaphat became very powerful. He built fortresses and storage cities in Judah.
13
He had many supplies in the cities of Judah, and soldiers—mighty warriors—in Jerusalem.
14
These were their divisions listed by the name of their fathers' houses: From Judah, the commanders of thousands; Adnah the commander, and with him 300,000 mighty warriors;
15
next to him Jehohanan the commander, and with him 280,000 men;
16
next to him Amasiah son of Zikri, who volunteered to serve Yahweh; and with him 200,000 mighty warriors.
17
From Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty warrior, and with him 200,000 armed with bows and shields;
18
next to him Jehozabad, and with him 180,000 ready prepared for war.
19
These were those who served the king, besides those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.
Chapter 18
1
Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor; he allied himself with Ahab by having one of his family marry his daughter.
2
After some years, he went down to Ahab in Samaria. Ahab killed many sheep and cattle for him and the people who were with him. Ahab also persuaded him to attack Ramoth Gilead with him.
3
Ahab, king of Israel, said to Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, "Will you go with me to Ramoth Gilead?" Jehoshaphat answered him, "I am like you, and my people are like your people. We will be with you in the war."
4
Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Please first seek the word of Yahweh for your answer."
5
Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, "Should we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or should I not?" They said, "Attack, for God will give it into the hand of the king."
6
But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not here still another prophet of Yahweh with whom we might seek advice?"
7
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man by whom we may seek the advice of Yahweh, Micaiah son of Imlah, but I hate him because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil." But Jehoshaphat said, "The king should not say that."
8
Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, "Quickly bring Micaiah son of Imlah."
9
Now Ahab the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on a throne, clothed in their robes, on a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them.
10
Zedekiah son of Kenaanah made himself horns of iron and said, "Yahweh says this: With these you will push the Arameans until they are consumed."
11
All the prophets prophesied the same, saying, "Attack Ramoth Gilead and win, for Yahweh has given it into the hand of the king."
12
The messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, "Look, the words of the prophets with one mouth are favorable to the king. Let your words agree with theirs, and speak favorably."
13
Micaiah replied, "As Yahweh lives, it is what God says that I will say."
14
When he came to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, should we go to Ramoth Gilead for battle, or not?" Micaiah answered him, "Attack and be victorious! For it will be a great victory."
15
Then the king said to him, "How many times must I require you to swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of Yahweh?"
16
So Micaiah said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep who have no shepherd, and Yahweh said, 'These have no shepherd. Let every man return to his house in peace.'"
17
So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but only disaster?"
18
Then Micaiah said, "Therefore all of you should hear the word of Yahweh: I saw Yahweh sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven were standing on his right hand and on his left.
19
Yahweh said, 'Who will entice Ahab, king of Israel, so that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?' One said this and another that.
20
Then a spirit came forward and it stood before Yahweh and said, 'I will entice him.' Yahweh said to him, 'How?'
21
The spirit replied, 'I will go out and I will become a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' Yahweh replied, 'You will entice him, and you will also be successful. Go now and do so.'
22
Now see, Yahweh has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours, and Yahweh has decreed disaster for you."
23
Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah, came up, slapped Micaiah on the cheek, and said, "Which way did the Spirit of Yahweh take to go from me to speak to you?"
24
Micaiah said, "Look, you will know that on that day, when you run into some inner room to hide."
25
The king of Israel said to some servants, "You people seize Micaiah and take him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, my son.
26
You people will say to him, 'The king says: Put this man in prison and feed him with only a little bread and only a little water, until I return safely.'"
27
Then Micaiah said, "If you return safely, then Yahweh has not spoken by me." Then he added, "Listen to this, all you people."
28
So Ahab, the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, went up against Ramoth Gilead.
29
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself and go into the battle, but you put on your royal robes." So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into the battle.
30
Now the king of Aram had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, "Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel."
31
It came about that when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat they said, "That is the king of Israel." They turned around to attack him, but Jehoshaphat cried out, and Yahweh helped him. God turned them away from him.
32
It came about that when the commanders of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.
33
But a certain man drew his bow at random and shot the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. Then Ahab said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded."
34
The battle grew worse that day, and the king of Israel was held up in his chariot facing the Arameans until the evening. About the time that the sun was going down, he died.
Chapter 19
1
Jehoshaphat the king of Judah safely returned to his house in Jerusalem.
2
Then Jehu son of Hanani, the seer, went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, "Should you be helping the wicked? Should you be loving those who hate Yahweh? For this deed, anger from Yahweh is on you.
3
However, there is some good to be found in you, in that you have taken the Asherah poles out of the land, and you have fixed your heart to seek God."
4
Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem; and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and brought them back to Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
5
He placed judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city.
6
He said to the judges, "Consider what you should do, because you are not judging for man, but for Yahweh; he is with you in the act of judging.
7
Now then, let the fear of Yahweh be upon you. Be careful when you judge, for there is no iniquity with Yahweh our God, nor is there any favoritism or bribe taking."
8
Moreover, in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites and the priests, and some of the heads of the families of Israel, for carrying out judgment for Yahweh, and for the sake of disputes. They lived in Jerusalem.
9
He instructed them, saying, "You must serve in reverence for Yahweh, faithfully, and with your whole heart.
10
Whenever any dispute comes to you from your brothers who live in their cities, whether concerning bloodshed, whether about laws and commands, statutes or decrees, you must warn them, so they do not become guilty before Yahweh, or anger will come toward you and toward your brothers. If you do this, you will not be guilty.
11
See, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all the matters of Yahweh. Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the house of Judah, is in charge of all the matters of the king. Also, the Levites will be officers serving you. Be strong and obey your instructions, and may Yahweh be with those who are good."
Chapter 20
1
It came about after this, that the people of Moab and Ammon, and with them some Meunites came against Jehoshaphat to do battle.
2
Then some came who told Jehoshaphat, saying, "A large multitude is coming against you from beyond the Dead Sea, from Edom. See, they are in Hazezon Tamar," that is, En Gedi.
3
Jehoshaphat became afraid and set himself to seek Yahweh. He proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
4
Judah gathered together to seek Yahweh; they came to seek Yahweh from all the cities of Judah.
5
Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, at the house of Yahweh, in front of the new courtyard.
6
He said, "Yahweh, the God of our ancestors, are you not God in heaven? Are you not the ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in your hand, so no one is able to resist you.
7
Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham?
8
They lived in it and built you a holy place in it for your name, saying,
9
'If disaster comes on us—the sword, judgment, or plague, or famine—we will stand before this house, and before you (for your name is in this house), and we will cry to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.'
10
See now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir whom you would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt; so, Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them.
11
See how they are rewarding us; they are coming to drive us out of your land that you have given us to inherit.
12
Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power against this great army that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."
13
All Judah stood before Yahweh, with their little ones, wives, and children.
14
Then in the middle of the assembly the Spirit of Yahweh came on Jahaziel, son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite and a descendant of Asaph.
15
Jahaziel said, "Listen, all Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what Yahweh says to you, 'Do not fear; do not be discouraged because of this great army, for the battle does not belong to you, but to God.
16
You must go down against them tomorrow. See, they are coming up by way of the pass of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
17
You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand in your positions, stand still, and see the rescue of Yahweh with you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear nor be discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for Yahweh is with you.'"
18
Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground. All Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before Yahweh, worshiping him.
19
The Levites, those of the descendants of the Kohathites and Korahites, stood up to praise Yahweh, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
20
Early in the morning they arose and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. As they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem! Trust in Yahweh your God, and you will be supported. Trust in his prophets, and you will succeed."
21
After he consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to Yahweh and who praised him for his majestic splendor as they went out before the army, saying, "Give thanks to Yahweh, for his covenant faithfulness endures forever."
22
When they began to sing and to praise, Yahweh set men in ambush against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who were coming against Judah. They were defeated.
23
For the people of Ammon and Moab rose to fight the inhabitants of Mount Seir, in order to completely kill them and destroy them. When they had finished with the inhabitants of Mount Seir, they all helped to destroy each other.
24
When Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked out on the army. Behold, they were dead, fallen to the ground; none had escaped.
25
When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take plunder from them, they found among them abundant goods, clothing, and valuable articles, which they took for themselves, more than they could carry away. It took them three days to carry off the plunder, there was so much of it.
26
On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah. There they praised Yahweh, so the name of that place is the "Valley of Berakah" to this day.
27
Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in their lead, to go again to Jerusalem with joy, for Yahweh had made them rejoice over their enemies.
28
They came to Jerusalem and to the house of Yahweh with lutes and harps and trumpets.
29
The terror of God was on all the kingdoms of the nations when they heard that Yahweh had fought against Israel's enemies.
30
So Jehoshaphat's kingdom was quiet, for his God gave him peace all around him.
31
Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: He was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother's name was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.
32
He walked in the ways of Asa, his father; he did not turn away from them; he did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh.
33
However, the high places were not taken away. The people still had not directed their hearts to the God of their ancestors.
34
As for the other matters concerning Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the history of Jehu son of Hanani, which is recorded in the book of the kings of Israel.
35
After this Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, allied himself with Ahaziah, king of Israel, who committed much wickedness.
36
He allied himself with him to build ships to go to Tarshish. They built the ships at Ezion Geber.
37
Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah, prophesied against Jehoshaphat; he said, "Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, Yahweh has destroyed your works." The ships were wrecked so that they could not go to Tarshish.
Chapter 21
1
Jehoshaphat lay down with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of David; Jehoram, his son, became king in his place.
2
Jehoram had brothers, sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael, and Shephatiah. All these were sons of Jehoshaphat, king of Israel.
3
Their father had given them large gifts of silver, gold, and other precious things, and also fortified cities in Judah, but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram.
4
Now when Jehoram had risen up over his father's kingdom and had firmly established himself as king, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and also various other leaders of Israel.
5
Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for eight years in Jerusalem.
6
He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab was doing, for he had Ahab's daughter as his wife, and he did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh.
7
However, Yahweh did not wish to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David; he had promised that he would always give a lamp to him and his descendants.
8
In Jehoram's days, Edom rebelled against the control of Judah, and they set a king to reign over themselves.
9
Then Jehoram crossed over with his commanders and all his chariots. It was night when he rose up and fought against the Edomites who had surrounded him and his chariot commanders.
10
So Edom has been in rebellion from the control of Judah to this present day. Libnah also revolted at the same time from his control, because Jehoram had abandoned Yahweh, the God of his ancestors.
11
In addition, Jehoram had also built high places in the mountains of Judah and he made the inhabitants of Jerusalem to live like prostitutes, and he led Judah astray.
12
A letter from the prophet Elijah came to Jehoram. It said, "This is what Yahweh, the God of David, your ancestor, says: Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat, your father, nor in the ways of Asa, king of Judah,
13
but have walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to act like a prostitute, as the house of Ahab did—and because you have also killed your brothers in your father's house, men who were better than yourself—
14
see, Yahweh will strike your people, your children, your wives, and all your possessions with a heavy blow.
15
You yourself will have much sickness with a disease in your intestines, until the disease causes your intestines to come out, and this will continue day after day."
16
Yahweh stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and of the Arabians who were near the Cushites.
17
They attacked Judah, invaded it, and carried away all the wealth that was found in the king's house. They also carried away his sons and his wives. No son was left to him except Jehoahaz, his youngest son.
18
After all this, Yahweh struck him in his intestines with an incurable disease.
19
It came about in due time, at the end of two years, that his intestines fell out because of his sickness, and that he died of severe disease. His people made no fire in his honor as they had done for his ancestors.
20
He had begun to reign when he was thirty-two years old; he reigned in Jerusalem for eight years, and when he departed no one mourned him. They buried him in the city of David, but not in the royal tombs.
Chapter 22
1
The inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, Jehoram's youngest son, king in his place, for the marauding band that came with the Arabians into the camp had killed all his older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram, king of Judah, became king.
2
Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; he reigned for one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah; she was the daughter of Omri.
3
He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab for his mother was his advisor in doing wicked things.
4
Ahaziah did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as the house of Ahab was doing, for they were his advisors after the death of his father, to his destruction.
5
He also followed their advice; he went with Joram son of Ahab, king of Israel, to fight against Hazael, king of Aram, at Ramoth Gilead. The Arameans wounded Joram.
6
Joram returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that they had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael, king of Aram. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram, king of Judah, went down to Jezreel to see Joram son of Ahab, because Joram had been wounded.
7
Now the destruction of Ahaziah was brought about by God through Ahaziah's visit to Joram. When he had arrived, he went with Jehoram to attack Jehu son of Nimshi, whom Yahweh had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab.
8
It came about, when Jehu was carrying out God's judgment on the house of Ahab, that he found the leaders of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah's brothers serving Ahaziah. Jehu killed them.
9
Jehu looked for Ahaziah; they caught him hiding in Samaria, brought him to Jehu, and killed him. Then they buried him, for they said, "He is a son of Jehoshaphat, who sought Yahweh with all his heart." So the house of Ahaziah had no more power to rule the kingdom.
10
Now when Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she arose and killed all the royal children in the house of Judah.
11
But Jehosheba,
a daughter of the king, secretly took Joash son of Ahaziah away from the king's sons who were about to be killed. She put him and his nurse into a bedroom. So Jehosheba, a daughter of King Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah, so that Athaliah did not kill him.
12
He was with them, hidden in the house of God for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land.
Chapter 23
1
In the seventh year, Jehoiada showed his strength and entered into a covenant with the commanders of hundreds, Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zikri.
2
They went about in Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, as well as the heads of the families of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.
3
All the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. Jehoiada said to them, "See, the king's son will reign, as Yahweh has said concerning the descendants of David.
4
This is what you must do: A third of you priests and Levites who come to serve on the Sabbath will be guards at the doors.
5
Another third will be at the king's house, and the other third will be at the Foundation Gate. All the people will be in the courtyard of the house of Yahweh.
6
Allow no one to come into the house of Yahweh, except for the priests and the Levites who are serving. They may enter because they are consecrated. But all the other people must obey the commands of Yahweh.
7
The Levites must surround the king on all sides, every man with his weapons in his hand. Whoever comes into the house, let him be killed. Stay with the king when he comes in and when he goes out."
8
So the Levites and all Judah served in every way in the manner in which Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each one took his men, those who were to come in to serve on the Sabbath, and those who were to leave off serving on the Sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest had not dismissed any of their divisions.
9
Then Jehoiada the priest brought to the commanders spears and small and large shields that had been King David's that were in the house of God.
10
Jehoiada placed all the soldiers, each man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, surrounding the king.
11
Then they brought out the king's son, put the crown on him, and gave him the covenant decrees. Then they made him king, and Jehoiada and his sons anointed him. Then they said, "Long live the king."
12
When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people in the house of Yahweh,
13
and she looked, and, behold, the king was standing by his pillar at the entrance, and the commanders and the trumpeters were by the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and the singers were playing musical instruments and leading the singing of praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and shouted, "Treason! Treason!"
14
Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the commanders of hundreds who were over the army and said to them, "Bring her out between the ranks; anyone who follows her, let him be killed with the sword." For the priest had said, "Do not kill her in the house of Yahweh."
15
So they seized her as she went into the entrance of the Horse Gate of the king's house, and there they killed her.
16
Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, all the people, and the king, that they should be Yahweh's people.
17
So all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down. They smashed Baal's altars and his images to pieces, and they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of those altars.
18
Jehoiada appointed officers for the house of Yahweh under the hand of the priests, who were Levites, whom David had assigned to the house of Yahweh, to offer the burnt offerings to Yahweh, as it was written in the law of Moses, together with rejoicing and singing, as David had given direction.
19
Jehoiada set guards at the gates of the house of Yahweh, so that no one that was unclean in any way should enter.
20
Jehoiada took with him the commanders of hundreds, the noblemen, the rulers of the people, and all the people of the land. He brought down the king from the house of Yahweh; the people came through the Upper Gate to the king's house and sat the king on the throne of the kingdom.
21
So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. As for Athaliah, they had killed her with the sword.
Chapter 24
1
Joash was seven years old when he began to reign; he reigned for forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah, of Beersheba.
2
Joash did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh all the days of Jehoiada, the priest.
3
Jehoiada took for him two wives, and he became the father of sons and daughters.
4
It came about after this, that Joash decided to restore the house of Yahweh.
5
He gathered together the priests and the Levites, and he said to them, "Go out every year to the cities of Judah and gather from all Israel money to repair the house of your God. Make sure that you start right away." The Levites did nothing at first.
6
So the king called for Jehoiada the high priest and said to him, "Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and Jerusalem the tax levied by Moses the servant of Yahweh and by the assembly of Israel for the tent of the covenant decrees?"
7
For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God and had given all the holy things of the house of Yahweh to the Baals.
8
So the king commanded, and they made a chest and placed it outside at the entrance to the house of Yahweh.
9
Then they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, for the people to bring in for Yahweh the tax that Moses the servant of God levied on Israel in the wilderness.
10
All the leaders and all the people rejoiced and brought money in and put it into the chest until they finished filling it.
11
It happened that whenever the chest was brought to the king's officials by the hand of the Levites, and whenever they saw that there was much money in it, the king's scribe and the high priest's official would come, empty the chest, and take it and carry it back to its place. They did this day after day, gathering large amounts of money.
12
The king and Jehoiada gave the money to those who did the work of serving in the house of Yahweh. These men hired stonemasons and carpenters to restore the house of Yahweh, and also those who worked in iron and bronze.
13
So the workmen labored, and the work of repairing went forward in their hands; they set up the house of God in its original design and strengthened it.
14
When they finished, they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada. This money was used to make furnishings for the house of Yahweh, utensils with which to serve and make offerings—spoons and utensils of gold and silver. They offered burnt offerings in the house of Yahweh continually for all the days of Jehoiada.
15
Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and then he died; he was 130 years old when he died.
16
They buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, toward God, and to the house of God.
17
Now after the death of Jehoiada, the leaders of Judah came and did honor to the king. Then the king listened to them.
18
They abandoned the house of Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, and worshiped the Asherah gods and the idols. God's anger came on Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs.
19
Yet he sent prophets to them to bring them again to himself, Yahweh; the prophets testified against the people, but they refused to listen.
20
The Spirit of God clothed Zechariah son of Jehoiada, the priest; Zechariah stood above the people and said to them, "God says this: Why do you transgress the commandments of Yahweh, so that you cannot prosper? Since you have abandoned Yahweh, he has also abandoned you."
21
But they plotted against him; at the king's command, they stoned him with stones in the courtyard of the house of Yahweh.
22
Joash the king, did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah's father, had done to him, and so he killed Jehoiada's son. As Zechariah was dying, he said, "May Yahweh see this and call you to account."
23
It came about at the end of the year, that the army of Aram came up against Joash. They came to Judah and Jerusalem; they destroyed all the leaders of the people and sent all the plunder from them to the king of Damascus.
24
Although the army of the Arameans had come with only a few soldiers, Yahweh gave them victory over a very great army, because Judah had abandoned Yahweh, the God of their ancestors. In this way the Arameans brought judgment on Joash.
25
By the time that the Arameans had gone, Joash had been severely wounded. His own servants plotted against him because of the blood of the sons of Jehoiada, the priest. They killed him in his bed, and he died; they buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.
26
These were the persons who plotted against him: Zabad son of Shimeath, an Ammonite woman; and Jehozabad son of Shimrith, a Moabite woman.
27
Now the accounts about his sons, the important prophecies that were spoken about him, and the rebuilding of the house of God, see, they are written in the commentary on the book of the kings. Amaziah his son became king in his place.
Chapter 25
1
Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddan, of Jerusalem.
2
He did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh, but not with a whole heart.
3
It came about that as soon as his rule was well established, he killed the servants who had murdered his father, the king.
4
But he did not put their children to death, according to what was written in the law, in the book of Moses, as Yahweh had commanded, "The fathers must not be put to death for their children, and children must not be put to death for their fathers. But, each one must die for his own sin."
5
Moreover, Amaziah gathered Judah together, and registered them by their ancestors' houses, under commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—all of Judah and Benjamin. He numbered them from twenty years old and upward, and found them to be 300,000 chosen men, able to go to war, who could handle spear and shield.
6
He hired also 100,000 mighty warriors from Israel for one hundred talents of silver.
7
But a man of God came to him and said, "King, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for Yahweh is not with Israel—none of the people of Ephraim.
8
But even if you do go and are courageous and strong in battle, God will throw you down before the enemy, for God has power to help, and power to throw down."
9
Amaziah said to the man of God, "But what will we do about the one hundred talents that I have given to the army of Israel?" The man of God answered, "Yahweh is able to give you much more than that."
10
So Amaziah separated the army that had come to him from Ephraim; he sent them home again. So their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in fierce anger.
11
Amaziah took courage and led his people to go out to the Valley of Salt; there he defeated ten thousand men of Seir.
12
The army of Judah carried away alive another ten thousand. They took them to the top of the cliff and threw them down from there, so that they were all broken in pieces.
13
But the men of the army which Amaziah sent back, so that they should not go with him to battle, attacked the cities of Judah from Samaria to Beth Horon. They struck down three thousand of the people and took much plunder.
14
Now it came about, after that Amaziah had returned from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the people of Seir, and set them up to be his own gods. He bowed down before them and burned incense to them.
15
So Yahweh's anger was kindled against Amaziah. He sent a prophet to him, who said, "Why have you sought after the gods of a people who did not even save their own people from your hand?"
16
It came about that as the prophet was speaking with him, the king said to him, "Have we made you an advisor to the king? Stop! Why should you be killed?" Then the prophet stopped and said, "I know that God has decided to destroy you because you have done this deed and have not listened to my advice."
17
Then Amaziah king of Judah consulted with advisors and sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, "Come, let us meet each other face to face in battle."
18
But Jehoash the king of Israel sent messengers back to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "A thistle that was in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son for a wife,' but a wild beast in Lebanon walked by and trampled down the thistle.
19
You have said, 'See, I have struck down Edom,' and your heart has lifted you up. Take pride in your victory, but stay at home, for why should you cause yourself trouble and fall, both you and Judah with you?"
20
But Amaziah would not listen, because this event was from God, so he might put the people of Judah into the hand of their enemies, because they had sought advice from the gods of Edom.
21
So Jehoash, king of Israel, attacked; he and Amaziah, king of Judah, met each other face to face at Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah.
22
Judah was struck down before Israel, and every man fled to his tent.
23
Jehoash, king of Israel, captured Amaziah son of Jehoash son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, at Beth Shemesh. He brought him to Jerusalem and tore down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate, four hundred cubits in distance.
24
He took all the gold and silver, all the objects that were found in the house of God with Obed-Edom, and the valuable things in the king's house, with hostages also, and returned to Samaria.
25
Amaziah son of Joash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Jehoash, son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel.
26
As for the other matters concerning Amaziah, first and last, behold, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?
27
Now from the time that Amaziah turned away from following Yahweh, they began to make a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem. He fled to Lachish, but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there.
28
They brought him back on horses and buried him with his ancestors in the city of Judah.
Chapter 26
1
All the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah.
2
It was he who rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah. After that the king lay down with his ancestors.
3
Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign. He reigned for fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jekoliah; she was from Jerusalem.
4
He did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh, just as his father Amaziah had done.
5
He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who taught him to honor God.
As long as he sought Yahweh, God made him prosper.
6
Uzziah went out and fought against the Philistines. He broke down the city walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod; he built cities in the country of Ashdod and among the Philistines.
7
God helped him against the Philistines, against the Arabians who lived in Gurbaal, and against the Meunites.
8
The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread, even to the entrance of Egypt, because he was becoming more powerful.
9
In addition, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them.
10
He built watchtowers in the wilderness and dug many cisterns, for he had many herds in the lowlands and in the plains. He had farmers and vine growers in the hill country and in the fruitful fields, for he loved the soil.
11
In addition, Uzziah had an army of fighting men who went out to war in groups which were organized by their number that were counted by Jeiel, the scribe, and Maaseiah, the officer, under the authority of Hananiah, one of the king's commanders.
12
The whole number of the leaders of the families who led the mighty warriors was 2,600.
13
Under their hand was an army of 307,500 men that made war with mighty power to help the king against the enemy.
14
Uzziah prepared for them—for all the army—shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows, and stones for slinging.
15
In Jerusalem he built machines that were designed by skillful men to be on the towers and on the battlements to shoot arrows and large stones. His fame spread to distant lands, for he was greatly helped and so he became very powerful.
16
But when Uzziah had become powerful, his heart was lifted up so that he acted corruptly; he acted faithlessly against Yahweh, his God, for he went into the temple of Yahweh to burn incense on the altar of incense.
17
Azariah, the priest, went in after him, and with him eighty priests of Yahweh, who were brave men.
18
They confronted Uzziah the king, and said to him, "It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to Yahweh, but for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the holy place, for you have been unfaithful and you will not be honored by Yahweh God."
19
Then Uzziah became angry. He was holding a censer in his hand to burn incense. While he was enraged against the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in the house of Yahweh, beside the altar of incense.
20
Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and, behold, he had become leprous on his forehead. They quickly drove him out of there. Indeed, he hurried to go out, because Yahweh had struck him.
21
Uzziah, the king, was a leper to the day of his death and lived in a separate house since he was a leper, for he was cut off from the house of Yahweh. Jotham, his son, was over the king's house and ruled the people of the land.
22
The other matters concerning Uzziah, from first to last, were recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.
23
So Uzziah lay down with his ancestors; they buried him with his ancestors in a burial ground that belonged to the kings, for they said, "He is a leper." Jotham, his son, became king in his place.
Chapter 27
1
Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerushah; she was the daughter of Zadok.
2
He did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh, just as his father Uzziah had done. He also refrained from going into the temple of Yahweh. But the people were still behaving corruptly.
3
He built the upper gate of the house of Yahweh, and on the hill of Ophel he built much.
4
Moreover he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and in the forests he built fortresses and towers.
5
He fought also with the king of the people of Ammon and defeated them. In that same year, the people of Ammon gave him one hundred talents of silver, ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand measures of barley. The people of Ammon gave him the same in the second and third years.
6
So Jotham became powerful because he walked firmly before Yahweh his God.
7
As for the other matters concerning Jotham, all his wars, and his ways, see, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
8
He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem.
9
Jotham lay down with his ancestors, and they buried him in the city of David. Ahaz, his son, became king in his place.
Chapter 28
1
Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the eyes of Yahweh, as David his ancestor had done.
2
Instead, he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel; he also made cast metal figures for the Baals.
3
In addition, he burned incense in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and he caused his children to pass through the fire, according to the idolatrous practices of the people that Yahweh forced out of their land before the people of Israel.
4
He sacrificed and burned incense at the high places and on the hills and under every green tree.
5
Therefore Yahweh the God of Ahaz gave him into the hand of the king of Aram. The Arameans defeated him and carried away from him a great crowd of captives, bringing them to Damascus. Ahaz was also given into the hand of the king of Israel who defeated him in a great slaughter.
6
For Pekah son of Remaliah in one day killed 120,000 soldiers in Judah and all of them were powerful men, because they had abandoned Yahweh the God of their ancestors.
7
Zikri, a powerful man from Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king's son, Azrikam, the official over the palace, and Elkanah, who was next to the king.
8
The army of Israel took captive from their relatives 200,000 wives, sons, and daughters. They also took much plunder, which they carried back to Samaria.
9
But a prophet of Yahweh was there, his name was Oded. He went out to meet the army coming into Samaria. He said to them, "Because Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, was angry with Judah, he gave them into your hand. But you have slaughtered them in a rage that reached up to heaven.
10
And now you, people of Judah and Jerusalem, intend to make them your male slaves and female slaves. But are you not guilty of sins of your own against Yahweh your God?
11
Now then, listen to me: Send the captives back, those whom you have captured of your own brothers, for Yahweh's burning anger is on you."
12
Then certain leaders of the people of Ephraim—Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berekiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai, stood up against those who came back from the war.
13
They said to them, "You must not bring the captives here, for you intend something that will bring on us sin against Yahweh, to add to our sins and trespasses, for our trespass is great, and there is burning anger against Israel."
14
So the armed men left the captives and the plunder before the leaders and all the assembly.
15
The men who were assigned by name got up and took the captives, and clothed all who were naked among them with the plunder. They clothed them and gave them sandals. They gave them food to eat and drink. They anointed them and put the weak ones on donkeys. They took them back to their families in Jericho, (called the City of Palms). Then they returned to Samaria.
16
At that time King Ahaz sent messengers to the kings of Assyria to ask them to help him.
17
For once again the Edomites had come and attacked Judah, carrying captives away.
18
The Philistines also invaded the cities of the lowlands and of the Negev of Judah. They took Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soko with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and also Gimzo with its villages. They went to live in those places.
19
For Yahweh humbled Judah because of Ahaz, king of Israel; for he had acted wickedly in Judah and had been very faithless against Yahweh.
20
Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria, came to him and troubled him instead of strengthening him.
21
For Ahaz plundered the house of Yahweh and the houses of the king and the leaders, to give the valuable things to the kings of Assyria. But doing this did not benefit him.
22
This same King Ahaz became even more faithless against Yahweh in his time of suffering.
23
For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, gods that had defeated him. He said, "Because the gods of the kings of Aram helped them, I will sacrifice to them, so that they might help me." But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.
24
Ahaz gathered together the furnishings of the house of God and cut them to pieces. He shut the doors of the house of Yahweh and he made for himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
25
In every city of Judah he made high places to burn sacrifices to other gods. He provoked Yahweh, the God of his ancestors, to anger.
26
Now the rest of his deeds, and all his ways, first and last, see, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
27
Ahaz lay down with his ancestors, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem, but they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. Hezekiah, his son, became king in his place.
Chapter 29
1
Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old; he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abijah; she was the daughter of Zechariah.
2
He did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh, just as David his father had done.
3
In the first year of his reign, in the first month, Hezekiah opened the doors of the house of Yahweh and repaired them.
4
He brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the courtyard on the east side.
5
He said to them, "Listen to me, you Levites! Consecrate yourselves, and consecrate the house of Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, and carry away the filthiness from the holy place.
6
For our ancestors were faithless and did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh our God; they abandoned him, turned away their faces from the place where Yahweh lives, and turned their backs on it.
7
Also they shut up the doors of the porch and put out the lamps; they did not burn incense or offer burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel.
8
Therefore the wrath of Yahweh had fallen on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has made them to be an object of terror, of horror, and of scorn, as you can see with your own eyes.
9
This is why our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons, our daughters, and our wives are in captivity for this.
10
Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with Yahweh, the God of Israel, so that his burning anger may turn away from us.
11
My sons, do not be lazy now, for Yahweh has chosen you to stand before him, to worship him, and that you should be his servants and burn incense."
12
Then the Levites arose: Mahath son of Amasai, and Joel son of Azariah, of the people of the Kohathites; and of the people of Merari, Kish son of Abdi, and Azariah son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah son of Zimmah, and Eden son of Joah;
13
of the descendants of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel; and of the descendants of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah;
14
of the descendants of Heman, Jehuel and Shimei; and of the descendants of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel.
15
They gathered their brothers, they consecrated themselves, and they went in, as the king commanded, following the words of Yahweh, to cleanse the house of Yahweh.
16
The priests went in to the inner part of the house of Yahweh to cleanse it; they brought out everything unclean that they found in the temple of Yahweh into the courtyard of the house. The Levites took it to carry it out to the Kidron Brook.
17
Now they began the consecration on the first day of the first month. By the eighth day of the month they reached the porch of Yahweh. Then for eight more days they consecrated the house of Yahweh. On the sixteenth day of the first month they finished.
18
Then they went to Hezekiah, the king, inside the palace and said, "We have cleansed all the house of Yahweh, the altar for burnt offerings with all its implements, and the table of the bread of the presence, with all its implements.
19
So we have prepared and we have consecrated all the items that King Ahaz removed when he acted unfaithfully during his reign. See, they are in front of the altar of Yahweh."
20
Then Hezekiah the king rose early in the morning and gathered the leaders of the city; he went up to the house of Yahweh.
21
They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as a sin offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, and for Judah. He commanded the priests, the descendants of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of Yahweh.
22
So they killed the bulls, and the priests received the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. Then they killed the rams and sprinkled their blood on the altar; and they also killed the lambs and sprinkled their blood on the altar.
23
They brought the male goats for the sin offering before the king and the assembly; they laid their hands on them.
24
The priests killed them, and they made a sin offering with their blood on the altar to make atonement for all Israel, for the king had commanded that a burnt offering and a sin offering should be made for all Israel.
25
Hezekiah placed the Levites in the house of Yahweh with cymbals, lutes and harps, arranging them by the command of David, Gad, the king's seer, and Nathan, the prophet, for the command was from Yahweh by means of his prophets.
26
The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.
27
Hezekiah commanded them to offer the burnt offering on the altar. When the burnt offering began, the song of Yahweh began also, with the trumpets, together with the instruments of David, king of Israel.
28
All the assembly worshiped, the singers sang, and the trumpeters played; all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.
29
When they had finished the offerings, the king and all who were present with him bowed and worshiped.
30
Moreover, Hezekiah, the king, and the leaders commanded the Levites to sing praises to Yahweh with the words of David and of Asaph, the seer. They sang praises with gladness, and they bowed down and worshiped.
31
Then Hezekiah said, "Now you have consecrated yourselves to Yahweh. Come here and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of Yahweh." The assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all who had a willing heart brought burnt offerings.
32
The number of the burnt offerings that the assembly brought was seventy bulls, one hundred rams, and two hundred male lambs. All these were for a burnt offering to Yahweh.
33
The consecrated offerings were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.
34
But the priests were too few to skin all the burnt offerings, so their brothers, the Levites, helped them until the work was done, and until the priests could consecrate themselves, for the Levites had been more careful to consecrate themselves than the priests.
35
In addition, there were very many burnt offerings; they were performed with the fat of the fellowship offerings, and there were drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the house of Yahweh was set in order.
36
Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people also, because of what God had prepared for the people, for the work had been done quickly.
Chapter 30
1
Hezekiah sent messengers to all Israel and Judah, and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of Yahweh in Jerusalem, to celebrate the Passover to Yahweh, the God of Israel.
2
For the king, his leaders, and all the assembly in Jerusalem had consulted together, deciding to celebrate the Passover in the second month.
3
They could not celebrate at the regular time, because not enough priests had consecrated themselves for the celebration and the people had not gathered together in Jerusalem.
4
This proposal seemed right in the eyes of the king and of all the assembly.
5
So they agreed to make a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that the people should come to celebrate the Passover to Yahweh, the God of Israel, in Jerusalem. For they had not observed it with large numbers of people according to what was written.
6
So couriers went with the letters from the king and his leaders throughout all Israel and Judah, by the command of the king. They said, "You people of Israel, turn back to Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that he may turn back to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria.
7
Do not be like your ancestors or your brothers, who were faithless against Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, so that he made them an object of horror, as you see.
8
Now do not stiffen your necks, as your ancestors did; instead, give yourselves to Yahweh and come into his holy place, which he has consecrated forever, and worship Yahweh your God, so that his burning anger may turn away from you.
9
For if you turn back to Yahweh, your brothers and children will find compassion before those who led them away as prisoners, and they will come back into this land. For Yahweh your God, is gracious and merciful, and will not turn his face away from you, if you return to him."
10
So the couriers passed from city to city throughout the regions of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the way to Zebulun, but the people laughed at them and mocked them.
11
However, certain men of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.
12
The hand of God also came on Judah, to give them one heart, to carry out the command of the king and leaders by the word of Yahweh.
13
Many people, a very great assembly, gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread in the second month.
14
They rose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense; they threw them into the Kidron Brook.
15
Then they killed the Passover lambs on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and Levites were ashamed, so they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings into the house of Yahweh.
16
They stood in their place by their divisions, following the directions given in the law of Moses, the man of God. The priests sprinkled the blood that they received from the hand of the Levites.
17
For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves. Therefore the Levites slaughtered the Passover lambs for everyone who was not purified and could not consecrate their sacrifice to Yahweh.
18
For a great many of the people, many of them from Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover meal, against the written instructions. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, "May the good Yahweh pardon everyone
19
who sets his heart to seek God, Yahweh, the God of his ancestors, even though he is not purified by the purification standards of the holy place."
20
So Yahweh listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.
21
The people of Israel who were present in Jerusalem kept the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy. The Levites and the priests praised Yahweh day after day, singing with loud instruments to Yahweh.
22
Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who understood the service of Yahweh. So they ate throughout the festival for the seven days, offering sacrifices of fellowship offerings, and making confession to Yahweh, the God of their ancestors.
23
The whole assembly then decided to celebrate for another seven days, and they did so with joy.
24
For Hezekiah king of Judah gave the assembly one thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep as an offering; and the leaders gave to the assembly one thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep and goats. A large number of priests consecrated themselves.
25
All the assembly of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the people who came together from Israel, as well as the foreigners who came from the land of Israel and those who lived in Judah—they all rejoiced.
26
So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon son of David, king of Israel, there had not been anything like it in Jerusalem.
27
Then the priests, the Levites, rose and blessed the people. Their voice was heard, and their prayer went up to heaven, the holy place where God lives.
Chapter 31
1
Now when all this was finished, all the people of Israel who were there went out to the cities of Judah and broke to pieces the stone pillars and they cut down the Asherah poles, and they broke down the high places and the altars in all of Judah and Benjamin, and in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the people of Israel returned, every one to his own possession and his own city.
2
Hezekiah assigned the divisions of the priests and the Levites organized by their divisions, each man assigned to his work, both the priests and the Levites. He assigned them to make the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, to serve, to give thanks, and to praise at the gates of the house of Yahweh.
3
He also assigned the king's portion for the burnt offerings from his own possessions, that is, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbath days, the new moons, and the fixed festivals, as it was written in the law of Yahweh.
4
Moreover, he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion for the priests and the Levites, so that they might concentrate on obeying the law of Yahweh.
5
As soon as the command was sent out, the people of Israel generously gave the firstfruits of grain, new wine, oil, honey, and from all their harvest of the field. They brought in a tithe of everything, which was a great quantity.
6
The people of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also brought in the tithe of cattle and sheep, and the tithe of the holy things that were set apart to Yahweh their God, and they piled them up in heaps.
7
It was in the third month when they began piling up their contribution in heaps, and they finished in the seventh month.
8
When Hezekiah and the leaders came and saw the heaps, they blessed Yahweh and his people Israel.
9
Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites about the heaps.
10
Azariah, the chief priest, of the house of Zadok, answered him and said, "Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of Yahweh, we have eaten and had enough, and have plenty left over, for Yahweh has blessed his people. What was left over is this large amount here."
11
Then Hezekiah commanded storerooms to be prepared in the house of Yahweh, and they prepared them.
12
Then they faithfully brought in the offerings, the tithes and the things that belonged to Yahweh. Konaniah the Levite was the manager in charge of them, and his brother Shimei was second to him.
13
Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismakiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were managers under the hand of Konaniah and Shimei his brother, by appointment of Hezekiah, the king, and Azariah, the official over the house of God.
14
Kore son of Imnah the Levite, the porter at the east gate, was over the freewill offerings of God, in charge of distributing the offerings to Yahweh and the most holy offerings.
15
Under him were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shekaniah, in the cities of the priests. They filled offices of trust, in order to give these offerings to their brothers division by division, to both the important and the unimportant.
16
They also gave to those males three years old and up, who were recorded in the genealogies of their ancestors who entered the house of Yahweh, as required by the daily schedule, to do the work in their offices and their divisions.
17
They distributed to the priests who were recorded in the genealogies of their ancestors, and the same to the Levites twenty years old and more, according to their offices and their divisions.
18
They recorded in the genealogy all their little ones, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, through the whole community, for they were faithful in keeping themselves holy.
19
For the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who were in the fields of the villages belonging to their cities, or in every city, there were men assigned by name to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all who were recorded in the genealogies of their ancestors as being among the Levites.
20
Hezekiah did this throughout all Judah. He accomplished what was good, right, and faithful before Yahweh, his God.
21
In every work that he began in the service of the house of God, the law, and the commandments, to seek his God, he performed it with all his heart, and he succeeded.
Chapter 32
1
After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, came and entered Judah. He camped to attack the fortified cities, which he intended to capture for himself.
2
When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to fight against Jerusalem,
3
he consulted with his leaders and his powerful men to stop up the waters of the springs that were outside the city; they helped him do so.
4
So many people gathered together and stopped up all the springs and the stream that was flowing through the middle of the land. They said, "Why should the kings of Assyria come and find a lot of water?"
5
Hezekiah took courage and built up all the wall that was broken down. He built the towers higher, and also the other wall outside. He also strengthened the Millo in the city of David, and he made large amounts of weapons and shields.
6
He placed military commanders over the people. He gathered them together to him in the broad place at the city gate and spoke to their hearts. He said,
7
"Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid or dismayed because of the king of Assyria and all the army that is with him, for someone is with us who is greater than those with him.
8
With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is Yahweh, our God, to help us, and to fight our battles." Then the people comforted themselves with the words of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
9
After this, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, sent his servants to Jerusalem (now he was in front of Lachish, and all his army was with him), to Hezekiah, king of Judah, and to all of Judah who were in Jerusalem. He said,
10
"This is what Sennacherib, king of Assyria, says: What are you trusting in so you can endure a siege in Jerusalem?
11
Is not Hezekiah misleading you, that he may give you over to die by famine and by thirst, when he tells you, 'Yahweh our God will rescue us from the hand of the king of Assyria'?
12
Has not this same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, 'On one altar you must worship, and on it you must burn your sacrifices'?
13
Do you not know what I and my ancestors have done to all the peoples of the other lands? Were the gods of the peoples of the surrounding lands able in any way to rescue their land from my power?
14
Among all the gods of those nations that my ancestors completely destroyed, was there any god who could rescue his people out of my hand? Why should your God be able to rescue you from my power?
15
Now do not let Hezekiah deceive you or persuade you in this way. Do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to rescue his people out of my hand, or out of the hand of my ancestors. How much less will your God rescue you from my hand?"
16
Sennacherib's servants spoke even more against Yahweh God and against his servant Hezekiah.
17
Sennacherib also wrote letters in order to mock Yahweh, the God of Israel, and to speak against him. He said, "As the gods of the nations of the lands have not rescued their people out of my hand, so the God of Hezekiah will not rescue his people out of my hand."
18
They cried out in the language of the Jews to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten them and trouble them, in order that they might capture the city.
19
They spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they had spoken of the gods of the other peoples of the earth, which are merely the work of men's hands.
20
Hezekiah, the king, and Isaiah son of Amoz, the prophet, prayed because of this matter and he cried out to heaven.
21
Yahweh sent an angel, who killed the mighty warriors, the commanders, and the officers of the king of Assyria in the camp. So Sennacherib returned to his own land with shame on his face. When he had gone into the house of his god, some of his own children killed him there with the sword.
22
In this way, Yahweh saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all others, and gave them rest on every side.
23
Many were bringing offerings to Yahweh in Jerusalem, and precious gifts to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was lifted up in the eyes of all nations from that time forward.
24
In those days Hezekiah was sick to the point of dying. He prayed to Yahweh, who spoke to him and gave him a sign that he would be healed.
25
But Hezekiah did not pay back Yahweh for the help given to him, for his heart was lifted up. So anger came on him, and on Judah and Jerusalem.
26
Nevertheless, Hezekiah later humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that Yahweh's anger did not come on them during Hezekiah's days.
27
Hezekiah had very many riches and much honor. He provided himself with storerooms for silver, gold, precious stones, and for spices, as well as for shields and for all kinds of valuable objects.
28
He also had storehouses for the harvest of grain, new wine, and oil, and stalls for various kinds of livestock. He also had flocks in their pens.
29
In addition, he provided himself with cities and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very much wealth.
30
It was this same Hezekiah who also stopped up the upper spring of the waters of Gihon, and who brought them straight down on the west side of the city of David. Hezekiah succeeded in all his works.
31
However, in the matter of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent to him to ask questions of those who knew, about the miraculous sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him, and to know all that was in his heart.
32
As for the other matters concerning Hezekiah, including his actions of covenant loyalty, you can see that they are written in the vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
33
Hezekiah lay down with his ancestors, and they buried him on the hill of the tombs of the descendants of David. All Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. Manasseh his son became king in his place.
Chapter 33
1
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.
2
He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, like the disgusting things of the nations whom Yahweh had driven out before the people of Israel.
3
For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had torn down, and he built altars for the Baals, he made Asherah poles, and he bowed down to all the host of heaven and worshiped them.
4
Manasseh built altars in the house of Yahweh, although Yahweh had commanded, "It is in Jerusalem that my name will be forever."
5
He built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courtyards of the house of Yahweh.
6
In the Valley of Ben Hinnom he caused his sons to pass through the fire. He practiced sorcery, divination and he read omens, and he consulted with sorcerers and spiritists. Manasseh did much evil in the sight of Yahweh, and he provoked him to anger.
7
The carved figure he had made, he placed it in the house of God. It was about this house that God had spoken to David and Solomon his son; he had said, "It is in this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel, that I will put my name forever.
8
I will not move the people of Israel any more out of the land that I assigned to their ancestors, if they will only be careful to keep all that I have commanded them, following all the law, statutes, and decrees which I gave them through Moses."
9
Manasseh led Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do evil even more than the nations that Yahweh had destroyed before the people of Israel.
10
Yahweh spoke to Manasseh, and to his people, but they paid no attention.
11
So Yahweh brought on them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh in chains, bound him with fetters, and took him off to Babylon.
12
When Manasseh was in distress, he implored Yahweh, his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors.
13
He prayed to him; and God was moved by his plea, and God heard his humble request and brought him back to Jerusalem, into his kingship. Then Manasseh knew that Yahweh was God.
14
After this, Manasseh built an outer wall to the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, to the entrance at the Fish Gate. He surrounded the hill of Ophel with it and raised the wall up to a very great height. He put courageous commanders in all the fortified cities of Judah.
15
He took away the foreign gods, the idol out of the house of Yahweh, and all the altars that he had built on the mount of the house of Yahweh and in Jerusalem, and threw them out of the city.
16
He rebuilt the altar of Yahweh and offered on it sacrifices of fellowship offerings and thank offerings; he commanded Judah to serve Yahweh, the God of Israel.
17
However, the people still sacrificed at the high places, but only to Yahweh, their God.
18
As to the other matters concerning Manasseh, his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel, behold, they are written among the deeds of the kings of Israel.
19
In that account there is history of his prayer, and how God was moved by his plea. There is also an account of all his sin and his trespasses, and the places where he had built high places and set up the Asherah poles and the carved figures, before he humbled himself—they are written about in the Chronicles of the Seers.
20
So Manasseh lay down with his ancestors, and they buried him in his own house. Amon, his son, became king in his place.
21
Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; he reigned two years in Jerusalem.
22
He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as Manasseh, his father, had done. Amon sacrificed to all the carved figures that Manasseh his father had made, and he worshiped them.
23
He did not humble himself before Yahweh, as Manasseh his father had done. Instead, Amon trespassed more and more.
24
His servants conspired against him and put him to death in his own house.
25
But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Amon, and they made Josiah, his son, king in his place.
Chapter 34
1
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.
2
He did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh, and walked in the ways of David his ancestor, and did not turn away either to the right or to the left.
3
For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek after the God of David, his ancestor. In the twelfth year, he began to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, the Asherah poles, and the carved figures and the cast metal figures.
4
The people broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence; he cut apart the incense altars that were above them. He broke the Asherah poles and the carved figures. He crushed the cast metal figures to dust and scattered the dust on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.
5
He burned the bones of their priests on their altars. In this way, he cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.
6
He did the same in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, all the way to Naphtali, and in the ruins that surrounded them.
7
He broke down the altars, crushed the Asherah poles and the carved images into powder, and cut apart all the incense altars throughout all the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.
8
Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, after Josiah had cleansed the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah, the governor of the city, and Joah son of Joahaz the secretary, to repair the house of Yahweh his God.
9
They went to Hilkiah, the high priest, and entrusted to him the money that had been brought into the house of God, that the Levites, the guards of the doors, had gathered from Manasseh and Ephraim, from all the remnant of Israel, from all Judah and Benjamin, and from the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
10
They entrusted the money to the men who supervised the work on the temple of Yahweh. These men paid the workers who repaired and restored the temple.
11
They paid it to the carpenters and builders to buy cut stone and timber for braces, and to make beams for the structures that some kings of Judah had allowed to become ruined.
12
The men did the work faithfully. Their supervisors Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, from the sons of the Kohathites. Other Levites, all of whom were very good musicians, closely directed the workmen.
13
These Levites supervised those who carried building material and all other men who worked in any way. There were also Levites who were secretaries, administrators, and gate guards.
14
When they brought out the money that was brought into the house of Yahweh, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of Yahweh that had been given through Moses.
15
Hilkiah said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in the house of Yahweh." Hilkiah brought the book to Shaphan.
16
Shaphan took the book to the king, and also reported to him, saying, "Your servants are doing everything that has been entrusted to them.
17
They have emptied out the money that was found in the house of Yahweh, and they gave it into the hand of the supervisors and to the workmen."
18
Shaphan the scribe told the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." Then Shaphan read in it to the king.
19
It came about that when the king had heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes.
20
The king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah, his own servant, saying,
21
"Go and ask Yahweh's will for me, and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, because of the words of the book that has been found. For it is great, the anger of Yahweh that has been poured out on us.
It is great, because our ancestors have not listened to the words of this book so as to obey all that was written in it."
22
So Hilkiah, and those whom the king had commanded, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe (she lived in Jerusalem in the Second District), and they spoke with her in this way.
23
She said to them, "This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me,
24
'This is what Yahweh says: See, I am about to bring disaster on this place and on its inhabitants, all the curses that have been written in the book that they have read before the king of Judah.
25
This will happen because they have abandoned me and have burned incense to other gods, and they have provoked me to anger by all the works of their hands. Therefore, my anger will be poured out on this place, and it will not be extinguished.'
26
But to the king of Judah, who sent you to ask Yahweh what he should do, this is what you will say to him, 'Yahweh, the God of Israel says this: About the words that you heard,
27
because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and because you have humbled yourself before me and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have listened to you—this is Yahweh's declaration—
28
see, I will gather you to your ancestors. You will be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes will not see any of the disaster I will bring on this place and its inhabitants.'" The men took this message back to the king.
29
Then the king sent messengers and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
30
Then the king went up to the house of Yahweh, and all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, Levites, and all the people, from great to small. He then read in their hearing all the words of the book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of Yahweh.
31
The king stood in his place and made a covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, and to keep his commandments, his regulations, and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to obey the words of the covenant that were written in this book.
32
He caused all who were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand by the covenant. The inhabitants of Jerusalem acted in obedience to the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.
33
Josiah took away all the disgusting things from the lands that belonged to the people of Israel. He made everyone in Israel worship Yahweh, their God. For all of his days, they did not turn away from following Yahweh, the God of their ancestors.
Chapter 35
1
Josiah kept a Passover to Yahweh in Jerusalem, and they killed the Passover lambs on the fourteenth day of the first month.
2
He placed the priests in their positions and encouraged them in the service of the house of Yahweh.
3
He said to the Levites who taught all Israel and who were set apart to Yahweh, "Put the holy ark in the house that Solomon son of David, king of Israel built. It will be a burden on your shoulders no longer. Now worship Yahweh your God, and serve his people Israel.
4
Organize yourselves by your clans and your divisions, following the written instructions of David, king of Israel, and those of Solomon, his son.
5
Stand in the holy place, taking your position with your divisions within the clans of your brothers, the descendants of the people, and taking your places with your divisions within the clans of the Levites.
6
Kill the Passover lambs, consecrate yourselves, prepare the lambs for your brothers, to do according to the word of Yahweh that was given by the hand of Moses."
7
Josiah gave thirty thousand lambs and kids from flocks for the Passover offerings to all the people who were present, and he also gave three thousand head of cattle—all of these were from the king's own possessions.
8
His leaders gave a freewill offering to the people, priests, and Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the officials in charge of the house of God, gave to the priests 2,600 Passover offerings and three hundred head of cattle.
9
Also Konaniah, and Shemaiah and Nethanel, his brothers, and Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad, the chiefs of the Levites, gave five thousand Passover offerings to the Levites and five hundred head of cattle.
10
So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their places, with the Levites by their divisions, in response to the king's command.
11
They killed the Passover lambs, and the priests sprinkled the blood that they received from the Levites' hand, and the Levites skinned the lambs.
12
They removed the burnt offerings, in order to distribute them to the divisions of the clans of the people, to offer them to Yahweh, as it is written in the Book of Moses. They did the same with the cattle.
13
They roasted the Passover lambs with fire following the instructions. As for the consecrated offerings, they boiled them in pots, cauldrons, and pans, and they quickly carried them to all the people.
14
They later prepared offerings for themselves and for the priests, because the priests, the descendants of Aaron, were occupied in offering the burnt offerings and the fat until nightfall, so the Levites prepared the offerings for themselves and for the priests, the descendants of Aaron.
15
The singers, the descendants of Asaph, were in their place, according to the command of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king's seer, and the guards were at every gate. They did not have to leave their labors because their brothers the Levites made preparations for them.
16
So, at that time the entire service of Yahweh was carried out for the celebration of the Passover and to offer burnt offerings on the altar of Yahweh, as King Josiah commanded.
17
The people of Israel who were present kept the Passover at that time, and then the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days.
18
Such a Passover celebration had never been held in Israel from the days of the prophet Samuel, nor had any of the other kings of Israel ever celebrated such a Passover as Josiah did, along with the priests, Levites, and all the people of Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
19
This Passover was kept in the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah.
20
After all this, after Josiah had set the temple in order, Necho, king of Egypt, went up to fight against Carchemish at the Euphrates River, and Josiah went to fight against him.
21
But Necho sent ambassadors to him, saying, "What have I to do with you, king of Judah? I am not coming against you today, but against the house with which I am making war. God has commanded me to hurry, so refrain from interfering with God, who is with me, or he might destroy you."
22
However, Josiah refused to turn away from him. He disguised himself in order to fight with him. He did not listen to the words of Necho that had come from the mouth of God; so he went to fight in the Valley of Megiddo.
23
Archers shot King Josiah, and the king said to his servants, "Take me away, for I am badly wounded."
24
So his servants took him out of the chariot, and put him in his extra chariot. They took him to Jerusalem, where he died. He was buried in the tombs of his ancestors. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.
25
Jeremiah lamented for Josiah; all the male and female singers lament about Josiah to this day. These songs became customary in Israel; behold, they are written in the songs of lament.
26
As for the other matters concerning Josiah, and his good deeds done in obedience to what is written in the law of Yahweh—
27
his deeds, from beginning to end, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
Chapter 36
1
Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah, and made him king in his father's place in Jerusalem.
2
Jehoahaz
was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.
3
The king of Egypt removed him at Jerusalem, and forced him to pay a fine on the land of one hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold.
4
The king of Egypt made Eliakim, who was the brother of Jehoahaz, king over Judah and Jerusalem (and changed Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim). Then Necho took Eliakim's brother Jehoahaz and brought him to Egypt.
5
Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh his God.
6
Then Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, attacked him and bound him in chains to lead him away to Babylon.
7
Nebuchadnezzar also carried some of the objects in the house of Yahweh to Babylon, and put them in his palace at Babylon.
8
As for the other matters concerning Jehoiakim, the disgusting things that he did, and what was found against him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. Then Jehoiachin, his son, became king in his place.
9
Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign; he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh.
10
In the spring of the year, King Nebuchadnezzar sent men and brought him to Babylon, with the valuable things from the house of Yahweh, and made Zedekiah, his relative, king over Judah and Jerusalem.
11
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.
12
He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of Yahweh.
13
Zedekiah also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear loyalty to him by God. But Zedekiah stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to Yahweh, the God of Israel.
14
Moreover, all the leaders of the priests and the people were extremely unfaithful, and they followed the disgusting practices of the nations. They polluted the house of Yahweh which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.
15
Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them by his messengers again and again, because he had compassion on his people and on the place where he lives.
16
But they mocked God's messengers, despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until the wrath of Yahweh arose against his people, until there was no help for it.
17
So God brought on them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, and had no compassion on young men or virgins, old men or the gray-haired. God gave them all into his hand.
18
All the furnishings of the house of God, great and small, the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king and his officials—all these he took to Babylon.
19
They burned down the house of God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces, and destroyed all the valuable things in it.
20
The king carried away to Babylon those who had escaped the sword. They became servants for him and his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia.
21
This happened to fulfill the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land should have enjoyed its Sabbath rests. It observed its Sabbath for all the time of its desolation so that it might pass seventy years in this way.
22
Now in the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, so that the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah might be carried out, Yahweh motivated the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing. He said,
23
"This is what Cyrus, king of Persia, says: Yahweh, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has commanded me to build a house for him in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you from all his people, may Yahweh your God, be with you. Let him go up to the land."
Ezra
Chapter 1
1
In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, Yahweh fulfilled his word that came from the mouth of Jeremiah. He stirred Cyrus' spirit, and Cyrus' voice went out over his entire kingdom. This is what was written and spoken:
2
"Cyrus, king of Persia, says: Yahweh, God of Heaven, gave me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he appointed me to build for him a house in Jerusalem in Judah.
3
Whoever is from his people (may his God be with him) may go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build a house for Yahweh, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem.
4
People of any part of the kingdom where survivors of that land are living as foreigners should provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, as well as a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem."
5
Then the heads of the ancestors' clans of Judah and Benjamin, the priests and Levites, and everyone whose spirit God stirred to go and build the house of Yahweh, which is in Jerusalem, arose.
6
Those around them supported their work with silver and gold objects, goods, animals, valuables, and freewill offerings.
7
Cyrus king of Persia also released the objects belonging to the house of Yahweh that Nebuchadnezzar had brought from Jerusalem and put in his own gods' houses.
8
Cyrus, king of Persia, put them into the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out for Sheshbazzar, prince of Judah.
9
This was their number: thirty gold basins, one thousand silver basins, twenty-nine other basins,
10
thirty gold bowls, 410 small silver bowls, and one thousand additional objects.
11
There were 5,400 gold and silver items in all. Sheshbazzar brought all of them when the exiles went from Babylon to Jerusalem.
Chapter 2
1
These are the people in the province who went up from the captivity of King Nebuchadnezzar, who had exiled them in Babylon, the people who returned to each of their cities of Jerusalem and in Judah.
2
They came with Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.
This is the record of the men of the people of Israel.
3
The descendants of Parosh: 2,172.
4
The descendants of Shephatiah: 372.
5
The descendants of Arah: 775.
6
The descendants of Pahath-Moab, through Jeshua and Joab: 2,812.
7
The descendants of Elam: 1,254.
8
The descendants of Zattu: 945.
9
The descendants of Zakkai: 760.
10
The descendants of Bani: 642.
11
The descendants of Bebai: 623.
12
The descendants of Azgad: 1,222.
13
The descendants of Adonikam: 666.
14
The descendants of Bigvai: 2,056.
15
The descendants of Adin: 454.
16
The men of Ater, through Hezekiah: ninety-eight.
17
The descendants of Bezai: 323.
18
The descendants of Jorah: 112.
19
The men of Hashum: 223.
20
The men of Gibbar: ninety-five.
21
The men of Bethlehem: 123.
22
The men of Netophah: fifty-six.
23
The men of Anathoth: 128.
24
The men of Azmaveth: forty-two.
25
The men of Kiriath Arim, Kephirah, and Beeroth: 743.
26
The men of Ramah and Geba: 621.
27
The men of Mikmash: 122.
28
The men of Bethel and Ai: 223.
29
The men of Nebo: fifty-two.
30
The men of Magbish: 156.
31
The men of the other Elam: 1,254.
32
The men of Harim: 320.
33
The men of Lod, Hadid, and Ono: 725.
34
The men of Jericho: 345.
35
The men of Senaah: 3,630.
36
The priests: descendants of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua: 973.
37
Immer's descendants: 1,052.
38
Pashhur's descendants: 1,247.
39
Harim's descendants: 1,017.
40
The Levites: descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel, descendants of Hodaviah: seventy-four.
41
The temple singers, descendants of Asaph: 128.
42
The descendants of the gatekeepers: descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai: 139 total.
43
Those who were assigned to serve in the temple: descendants of Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,
44
Keros, Siaha, Padon,
45
Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub,
46
Hagab, Shalmai, and Hanan.
47
The descendants of Giddel: Gahar, Reaiah,
48
Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam,
49
Uzza, Paseah, Besai,
50
Asnah, Meunim, and Nephusim.
51
The descendants of Bakbuk: Hakupha, Harhur,
52
Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,
53
Barkos, Sisera, Temah,
54
Neziah, and Hatipha.
55
The descendants of Solomon's servants: descendants of Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda,
56
Jaala, Darkon, Giddel,
57
Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-Hazzebaim, and Ami.
58
There were 392 total descendants of those assigned to serve in the temple and descendants of Solomon's servants.
59
Those who left Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer—but were not able to prove their ancestry from Israel—
60
included 652 descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda.
61
Also, from the priest's descendants: the descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai (who took his wife from the daughters of Barzillai of Gilead and was called by their name).
62
They searched for their genealogical records, but could not find them, so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.
63
So the governor told them they must not eat any of the holy sacrifices until a priest with Urim and Thummim approved.
64
The whole group totaled 42,360,
65
not including their servants and their maidservants (these were 7,337) and their male and female temple singers (two hundred).
66
Their horses: 736. Their mules: 245.
67
Their camels: 435. Their donkeys: 6,720.
68
When they went to the house of Yahweh in Jerusalem, the chief patriarchs offered freewill gifts to build the house of God, to put it back on its foundation.
69
They gave according to their ability to the work fund: sixty-one thousand gold darics, five thousand silver minas, and one hundred priestly tunics.
70
So the priests and Levites, the people, the temple singers and gatekeepers, and those assigned to serve in the temple inhabited their cities. All the people in Israel were in their cities.
Chapter 3
1
It was the seventh month after the descendants of Israel came back to their cities, when the people gathered together as one man in Jerusalem.
2
Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and his brothers rose up and built the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.
3
Then they established the altar on its stand, for terror was on them because of the people of the land. They offered burnt offerings to Yahweh at dawn and evening.
4
They also observed the Festival of Shelters as it is written and offered burnt offerings day by day according to the decree, each day's duty on its day.
5
Accordingly, there were daily burnt offerings, offerings for the new moons, and offerings for all the fixed feasts of Yahweh that had been consecrated, as well as freewill offerings from all those who offered them to Yahweh.
6
They began to offer up burnt offerings to Yahweh on the first day of the seventh month, although the temple had not been founded.
7
So they gave silver to the stoneworkers and craftsmen, and they gave food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre, so they would bring cedar trees by sea from Lebanon to Joppa, as authorized for them by Cyrus, king of Persia.
8
Then in the second month of the second year after they came to the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jozadak, the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and those who came from captivity back to Jerusalem began the work. They assigned the Levites twenty years old and older to oversee the work of the house of Yahweh.
9
Jeshua and his sons and brothers, and Kadmiel and his sons (who were descendants of Hodaviah), and the sons of Henadad and their sons and brothers-all of them were Levites-joined together in overseeing those working on the house of God.
10
The builders laid a foundation for the temple of Yahweh. This enabled the priests to stand in their garments with trumpets, and the Levites, sons of Asaph, to praise Yahweh with cymbals, just as the hand of David, king of Israel had commanded.
11
They sang with praise and thankfulness to Yahweh, "He is good! His covenant faithfulness to Israel endures forever." All the people cried out with a great shout of joy in praise of Yahweh because the temple's foundations had been laid.
12
But many of the priests, Levites, and chief patriarchs, those who were old and had seen the first house, when this house's foundations were laid before their eyes, wept loudly. But many people had shouts of joy with gladness and an excited sound.
13
As a result, people were not able to distinguish the joyful and glad sounds from the sound of people weeping, for the people were crying out with great joy, and the sound was heard from far away.
Chapter 4
1
Now some enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people who had been exiled were now building a temple for Yahweh, the God of Israel.
2
So they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of their ancestors' clans. They said to them, "Let us build with you, for, like you, we seek your God and have sacrificed to him since the days when Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, brought us to this place."
3
But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of their ancestors' clans said, "It is not you, but we who must build the house of our God, for it is we who will build for Yahweh, the God of Israel, just as King Cyrus of Persia commanded."
4
So the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah; they made the Judeans afraid to build.
5
They also bribed counselors to frustrate their plans. They did this during all of the days of Cyrus and into the reign of Darius king of Persia.
6
Then at the beginning of the reign of Xerxes,
they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
7
It was during the days of Artaxerxes that Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and their associates wrote to King Artaxerxes of Persia. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated.
8
Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote this way to King Artaxerxes about Jerusalem.
9
Then Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and their other associates, who were judges and other officers in the government, the Persians, men from Uruk
and Babylon, and the men from Susa (that is, the Elamites)—they wrote a letter—
10
and they were joined by the people whom the great and noble Ashurbanipal exiled and forced to settle in Samaria, along with the rest who were in the Province Beyond the River.
11
This is a copy of the letter that they sent to him: "To King Artaxerxes, your servants, men of the Province Beyond the River, write this:
12
Let the king know that the Jews who went from you have come against us in Jerusalem to build a rebellious city. They have completed the walls and repaired the foundations.
13
Now let the king know that if this city is built and the wall is completed, they will not give any tribute, taxes, or tolls, and that will harm the treasury of the kings.
14
Surely because we have eaten the palace salt, it is not fitting for us to see any dishonor happen to the king. It is because of this that we are sending this to inform to the king
15
to search your father's record books and to learn that this is a rebellious city that will harm kings and provinces. It has caused many problems to the kings and provinces. It has been a center for rebellion from long ago. It was for this reason that the city was destroyed.
16
We are informing the king that if this city and wall are built, then there will be nothing remaining for you in the Province Beyond the River."
17
So the king sent out a reply to Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe and their associates in Samaria and the rest who were in the Province Beyond the River: "May peace be yours.
18
The letter that you sent me has been translated and read to me.
19
So a decree was issued by me, and they searched and found that for a long time that city has risen up against kings, and rebellion and revolt have been made in it.
20
Mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and had power over everything in the Province Beyond the River. Tribute, taxes, and tolls were paid to them.
21
Now, make a decree for these men to stop and not build this city until I make a decree.
22
Be careful not to neglect this. Why allow this threat to grow and cause more loss for the royal interests?
23
When King Artaxerxes' decree was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their associates, they went out quickly to Jerusalem and forced the Jews to stop building.
24
So the work on the house of God in Jerusalem stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Chapter 5
1
Then Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied in the name of the God of Israel to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem.
2
Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak rose up and began to build the house of God in Jerusalem with the prophets who supported them.
3
Then Tattenai the governor of the Province Beyond the River, Shethar-Bozenai, and his associates came and said to them, "Who gave you a decree to build this house and complete these walls?"
4
They also said, "What are the names of the men building this building?"
5
But God's eye was on the Jewish elders and their enemies did not stop them. They were waiting for a letter to be sent to Darius and for a decree to be returned to them concerning this.
6
This is a copy of the letter of Tattenai, governor of the Province Beyond the River, and Shethar-Bozenai and his associates in the Province Beyond the River, which they sent to Darius the king.
7
They sent a report, writing this to King Darius, "May all peace be yours.
8
Let the king know that we went to the province of Judah to the house of the great God. It is being built with large stones and timbers set in the walls. This work is being done thoroughly and is prospering in their hands.
9
We asked the elders, 'Who issued you a decree to build this house and these walls?'
10
We also asked them their names to make them known to you; so the names of the men who were at their head are written down.
11
This is how they answered us; they said, 'We are servants of the one who is the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding this house that had been built many years ago when the great king of Israel built it and completed it.
12
However, when our ancestors enraged the God of heaven, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and took the people into exile in Babylon.
13
Nevertheless, in the first year when Cyrus was king of Babylon, Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild the house of God.
14
King Cyrus also returned the gold and silver objects belonging to the house of God that Nebuchadnezzar had brought from the temple in Jerusalem to the temple in Babylon. He restored them to someone named Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor.
15
He said to him, "Take these objects. Go and put them in the temple in Jerusalem. Let the house of God be rebuilt there."
16
Then this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation for the house of God in Jerusalem; and it is being constructed, but is not yet complete.'
17
Now if it pleases the king, may it be investigated in the house of archives in Babylon if a decree from King Cyrus was issued to build this house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send his decision to us.
Chapter 6
1
So King Darius issued a decree, and they searched in the house of archives, where the treasuries were stored, there in Babylon.
2
In the fortified city of Ecbatana in the province of Media a scroll was found; this was its record:
3
"In the first year of King Cyrus, Cyrus issued a decree about the house of God in Jerusalem: 'Let the house be rebuilt as a place for sacrifice, let its foundations be laid, let its height be sixty cubits, and its width sixty cubits,
4
with three rows of large stones and a row of new timber, and let the cost be paid by the king's house.
5
Now bring back the gold and silver objects belonging to the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar brought to Babylon from the temple in Jerusalem and send them back to the temple in Jerusalem. You are to put them in the house of God.'
6
Now Tattenai, governor of the Province Beyond the River, Shethar-Bozenai, and your associates who are in the Province Beyond the River, keep away!
7
Leave the work of this house of God alone. The governor and Jewish elders will build this house of God at that place.
8
I am issuing a decree that you must do this for these Jewish elders who build this house of God: Funds from the king's tribute beyond the River will be used to pay these men so they do not have to stop their work.
9
Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, or lambs for the burnt offerings to the God of Heaven, grain, salt, wine, or oil according to the command of the priests in Jerusalem—give these things to them every day without fail.
10
Do this so they will bring in sacrifices pleasing to the God of Heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.
11
I have issued a decree that if anyone violates this decree, a beam must be pulled from his house and he must be impaled on it. His house must then be turned into a rubbish heap because of this.
12
May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to violate this decree, or to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, hereby issue this decree. Let it be done with diligence!"
13
Then because of the decree sent by Darius the king, Tattenai, the governor of the Province Beyond the River, Shethar-Bozenai, and their associates, did everything that King Darius had ordered.
14
So the Jewish elders built and prospered under the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, the descendant of Iddo. They completed their buildings according to the decree of the God of Israel and by the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes the king of Persia.
15
The house was completed on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of King Darius' reign.
16
The Israelite people, priests, Levites, and the rest of the captives celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.
17
They offered one hundred bulls, one hundred rams, and four hundred lambs for the dedication of the house of God. Twelve male goats were also offered as a sin offering for all Israel, one for each tribe in Israel.
18
They also assigned the priests and Levites to work divisions for the service of God in Jerusalem, as it was written in the book of Moses.
19
So those who had been in exile celebrated the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
20
The priests and Levites all purified themselves; all of them were clean. Then they slaughtered the Passover sacrifices for all those who had been in exile, including themselves.
21
The people of Israel who ate some of the Passover meat were those who had returned from exile and had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the nations of the land and sought Yahweh, the God of Israel.
22
They joyfully celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days, for Yahweh had brought them joy and turned the heart of Assyria's king to strengthen their hands in the work of his house, the house of the God of Israel.
Chapter 7
1
Now after this, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra came up from Babylon. Ezra's ancestors were Seraiah, Azariah, Hilkiah,
2
Shallum, Zadok, Ahitub,
3
Amariah, Azariah, Meraioth,
4
Zerahiah, Uzzi, Bukki,
5
Abishua, Phinehas, Eleazar, who was son of Aaron the high priest.
6
Ezra came up from Babylon and he was a skilled scribe in the law of Moses that Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given. The king gave him anything he asked since the hand of Yahweh was with him.
7
Some of the descendants of Israel and the priests, Levites, temple singers, gatekeepers, and those assigned to serve in the temple also went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
8
He arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was the seventh year of the king.
9
He left Babylon on the first day of the first month. It was on the first day of the fifth month that he arrived in Jerusalem, since the good hand of God was with him.
10
Ezra had established his heart to study the law of Yahweh and to carry out and teach its statutes and decrees in Israel.
11
This was the copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, an expert in the words of the commandments of Yahweh, and in his statutes for Israel.
12
"The King of kings Artaxerxes, to the priest Ezra, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven:
13
I hereby issue a decree that anyone from the people of Israel in my kingdom—along with their priests and Levites—who desires to go to Jerusalem may go with you.
14
I, the king, and my seven counselors, send you all out to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God, which is in your hand.
15
You are to bring the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem.
16
Freely give all the silver and gold that you find in the province of Babylon, along with the freewill offerings that the people and the priests have willingly offered for the house of God in Jerusalem.
17
So use this money to buy in full the oxen, rams and lambs, and grain offerings and drink offerings. Offer them on the altar that is in the house of your God in Jerusalem.
18
Do with the rest of the silver and gold whatever seems good to you and your brothers, to please your God.
19
Place the objects that were freely given to you before him for the service of the house of your God in Jerusalem.
20
Anything else that is needed for the house of your God that you require, take its cost from the royal treasury.
21
I, King Artaxerxes, hereby issue a decree to all the treasurers in the Province Beyond the River, that anything that Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, asks from you should be given in full,
22
up to one hundred silver talents, one hundred cors of grain, one hundred baths of wine, and one hundred baths of oil, also salt without limit.
23
Anything that comes from the decree of the God of Heaven, do it with devotion for his house. For why should his wrath come upon the kingdom of the king and his sons?
24
We are informing them that there is no authority to impose any tribute or taxes or tolls on any of the priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, or on the people assigned to the service of the temple and servants of the house of this God.
25
Ezra, with the wisdom that God has given you, you must appoint judges and magistrates to judge all the people in the Province Beyond the River, and to serve all who know the laws of your God. You must also teach those who do not know the law.
26
As for whoever will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king—let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether death or banishment or confiscation of his goods or imprisonment.
27
Blessed be Yahweh, our ancestors' God, who placed all this into the king's heart to glorify the house of Yahweh in Jerusalem,
28
and who extended covenant faithfulness to me before the king, his counselors, and all his powerful officials. I have been strengthened by the hand of Yahweh my God, and I gathered prominent men from Israel to go with me.
Chapter 8
1
These are the leaders of their ancestors' families, and this is the genealogy of those who left Babylon with me during the reign of King Artaxerxes.
2
Of the descendants of Phinehas, Gershom. Of the descendants of Ithamar, Daniel. Of the descendants of David, Hattush.
3
Of the descendants of Shekaniah, who was from the descendants of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him there were 150 males listed in his genealogy.
4
Of the descendants of Pahath-Moab, Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah and with him were two hundred males.
5
Of the descendants of Zattu, Ben Jahaziel and with him were three hundred males.
6
Of the descendants of Adin, Ebed son of Jonathan and with him were listed fifty males.
7
Of the descendants of Elam, Jeshaiah son of Athaliah and with him were listed seventy males.
8
Of the descendants of Shephatiah, Zebadiah son of Michael and with him were listed eighty males.
9
Of the descendants of Joab, Obadiah son of Jehiel and with him were listed 218 males.
10
Of the descendants of Bani,
Shelomith son of Josiphiah and with him were listed 160 males.
11
Of the descendants of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai and with him were listed twenty-eight males.
12
Of the descendants of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan and with him were listed 110 males.
13
Those of the descendants of Adonikam came later. These were their names: Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah and with them came sixty males.
14
Of the descendants of Bigvai, Uthai and Zakkur and with him were listed seventy males.
15
I gathered the travelers at the canal that goes to Ahava, and we camped there three days. I examined the people and priests, but could not find any descendants of Levi there.
16
So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, and Elnathan and Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam—who were leaders—and for Joiarib and Elnathan—who were teachers.
17
Next I sent them to Iddo, the leader in Kasiphia. I told them what to say to Iddo and his relatives, the temple servants living in Kasiphia, that is, to send to us servants for the house of God.
18
So they sent us by our God's good hand a man named Sherebiah, a prudent man. He was a descendant of Mahli son of Levi son of Israel. He came with eighteen sons and brothers.
19
With him came Hashabiah. There also were Jeshaiah, one of the descendants of Merari, with his brothers and their sons, twenty men in all.
20
Of those assigned to serve in the temple, whom David and his officials gave to serve the Levites: 220, each of them assigned by name.
21
Then I proclaimed a fast at the Ahava Canal to humble ourselves before God, to seek a straight path from him for us, our little ones, and all our possessions.
22
I was ashamed to ask the king for an army or horsemen to protect us against enemies along the way, since we had said to the king, 'The hand of our God is on all who seek him for good, but his might and wrath are on all who forget him.'
23
So we fasted and sought God about this, and he heard our prayer.
24
Next I selected twelve men from the priestly officials: Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers.
25
I weighed out for them silver, gold, and the objects and offerings for the house of God that the king, his counselors and officials, and all Israel had freely offered.
26
So I weighed into their hand 650 talents of silver, one hundred talents of silver objects, one hundred talents of gold,
27
twenty gold bowls that were together valued at one thousand darics, and two well-polished bronze vessels as precious as gold.
28
Then I said to them, "You are consecrated to Yahweh, and these objects also, and the silver and gold are a freewill offering to Yahweh, the God of your ancestors.
29
Watch over them and keep them until you weigh them out before the priestly officials, Levites, and leaders of the ancestors' clans of Israel in Jerusalem in the rooms of the house of God."
30
The priests and the Levites accepted the weighed silver, gold, and the objects in order to take them to Jerusalem, to the house of our God.
31
We went out from the Ahava Canal on the twelfth day of the first month to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us; he protected us from the hand of the enemy and the ones who wished to ambush us along the road.
32
So we entered Jerusalem and stayed there for three days.
33
Then on the fourth day the silver, gold, and objects were weighed out in the house of our God, into the hand of Meremoth son of Uriah the priest. With him were Eleazar son of Phinehas, Jozabad son of Jeshua, and Noadiah son of Binnui the Levite.
34
The number and weight of everything was determined. All the weight was written down at that time.
35
The ones who came back from the captivity, the people of exile, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all of Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve male goats as a sin offering. All were a burnt offering for Yahweh.
36
Then they gave the king's decrees to the king's high officials and the governors in the Province Beyond the River, and they helped the people and the house of God.
Chapter 9
1
When these things were done, the officials approached me and said, "The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands and their abominations: Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.
2
For they have taken some of their daughters and sons, and have mixed the holy people with the peoples of the lands, and the leaders and officials have been first in this faithlessness."
3
When I heard this, I tore apart my clothing and robe and pulled out hair from my head and beard, and I sat down, devastated.
4
All those who trembled at the words of the God of Israel about the faithlessness of the exiles gathered to me while I was sitting devastated until the evening offering.
5
But at the evening offering I arose from my position of humiliation in my torn clothes and robe, and knelt down and spread my hands to Yahweh my God.
6
I said, "My God, I am ashamed and disgraced to raise my face to you, for our iniquities increase over our head, and our guilt grows to the heavens.
7
From the days of our ancestors until now we have been in great guilt. In our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests were given into the hand of kings of this world, to the sword, to captivity, and to plunder and ashamed faces, as we are today.
8
Yet now for a short time, mercy from Yahweh our God has come to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a foothold in his holy place. This was for our God to enlighten our eyes and to give us a little relief in our slavery.
9
For we are slaves, but our God has not forgotten us in our slavery. Rather, he has extended covenant faithfulness to us before the king of Persia. He has given us new strength to rebuild the house of our God and raise its ruins, and he has given us a wall of safety in Judah and Jerusalem.
10
But now, our God, what can we say after this? We have forgotten your commands,
11
the commands that you gave to your servants the prophets, when you said, "This land that you are entering to possess is an unclean land. It is contaminated by the people of the lands with their abominations. They have filled it from one end to the other with their uncleanness.
12
So now, do not give your daughters to their sons; do not take their daughters for your sons, and do not seek their ongoing peace and welfare, so that you will be strong and eat the good of the land, so you will cause your children to possess it for all time."
13
Yet after everything that came on us for our evil practices and our great guilt—since you, our God, have held back what our iniquities deserve and left us an escaped remnant—
14
should we again break your commandments and make mixed marriages with these abominable people? Will you not be angry and annihilate us so there will be no remnant, no one to escape?
15
Yahweh, God of Israel, you are righteous, for we have remained as an escaped remnant to this day. Look! We are here before you in our guilt, for there is no one who can stand before you because of this.
Chapter 10
1
As Ezra prayed and confessed, he wept and threw himself down before the house of God. A very great assembly of Israelite men, women, and children gathered to him, for the people were weeping very greatly.
2
Shekaniah son of Jehiel of the descendants of Elam said to Ezra, "We have been unfaithful to our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel.
3
So now let us make a covenant with our God to send out all the women and their children according to the Lord's instructions and the instructions of those who tremble at the commandments of our God, and let it be done according to the law.
4
Arise, for this thing is for you to carry out, and we are with you. Be strong and do this."
5
So Ezra rose and made the priestly officials, the Levites, and all of Israel promise to act in this way. So they all took a solemn oath.
6
Then Ezra rose from before the house of God and went to the rooms of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. He did not eat any bread or drink any water, since he was mourning concerning the faithlessness of those who had been in captivity.
7
So they sent word in Judah and Jerusalem to all the people back from exile to assemble in Jerusalem.
8
Anyone who did not come in three days according to the instructions from the officials and elders—all of his possessions would be forfeited, and he himself would be excluded from the great assembly of the people who had come back from exile.
9
So all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled in Jerusalem in three days. It was the ninth month and the twentieth day of the month. All the people sat in the square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the rains.
10
Ezra the priest arose and said, "You yourselves have committed treason. You lived with foreign women so as to increase Israel's guilt.
11
But now give confession to Yahweh, your ancestors' God, and do his will. Separate from the people of the land and from the foreign women."
12
All the assembly answered in a loud voice, "We will do as you have said.
13
However, there are many people, and it is the rainy season. We have no strength to stand outside, and this is not only one or two days of work, since we have greatly transgressed in this matter.
14
So let our officials represent all the assembly. Let all in our cities who have married foreign women come at an appointed time that will be appointed by the city elders and the city judges until the raging wrath of our God goes away from us."
15
Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah opposed this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite supported them.
16
So the people who returned from exile did this. Ezra the priest selected men, the leaders in their ancestors' clans and houses—all of them by name, and they investigated the matter on the first day of the tenth month.
17
By the first day of the first month they had finished discovering which men had lived with foreign women.
18
Among the descendants of the priests there were those who had lived with foreign women. Among the descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers there were Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.
19
So they determined to send their wives away. Since they were guilty, they offered a ram from the flock for their guilt.
20
Among the descendants of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
21
Among the descendants of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.
22
Among the descendants of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
23
Among the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah—that is, Kelita, Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
24
Among the singers: Eliashib. Among the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
25
Among the rest of the Israelites—among the descendants of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malkijah, and Benaiah.
26
Among the descendants of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.
27
Among the descendants of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.
28
Among the descendants of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
29
Among the descendants of Bani: Meshullam, Malluk, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.
30
Among the descendants of Pahath-Moab: Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.
31
Among the descendants of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malkijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
32
Benjamin, Malluk, and Shemariah.
33
Among the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
34
Among the descendants of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel,
35
Benaiah, Bedeiah, Keluhi,
36
Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
37
Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu.
38
Among the descendants of Binnui: Shimei,
39
Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,
40
Maknadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
41
Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,
42
Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
43
Among the descendants of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.
44
All of these had taken foreign wives and had children with some of them.
Nehemiah
Chapter 1
1
The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:
Now it happened in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in the fortress of Susa,
2
that one of my brothers, Hanani, and some men from Judah came, and I asked them about the Jews, the escaped remnant, those who had escaped from the captivity, and about Jerusalem.
3
They said to me, "Those in the province who survived the captivity are in great trouble and disgrace because the wall of Jerusalem has been broken open, and its gates have been set on fire."
4
As soon as I heard these words, I sat down and wept, and for days I continued grieving and fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
5
Then I said, "Please, I beg you, Yahweh, God of heaven, the God who is great and awesome, who keeps the covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,
6
may your eyes be open and may your ear be attentive so you may hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants. I am confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Both I and my father's house have sinned.
7
We have acted very wickedly against you, and we have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules you commanded your servant Moses.
8
Please call to mind the word you commanded your servant Moses, 'If you act unfaithfully, I will scatter you among the peoples,
9
but if you return to me and follow my commandments and do them, though your people were scattered under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to that place where I have chosen to make my name remain.'
10
Now they are your servants and your people, whom you have rescued by your great power and by your strong hand.
11
Please, I beg you, Lord, may your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight to honor your name. Now give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man."
I served as cupbearer to the king.
Chapter 2
1
In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, he selected wine, and I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never before been sad in his presence.
2
But the king said to me, "Why is your face so sad? You do not appear to be ill. This must be sadness of heart." Then I became very much afraid.
3
I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad? The city, the place of my fathers' tombs, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire."
4
Then the king said to me, "What do you want me to do?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.
5
I replied to the king, "If it seems good to the king, and if your servant has done well in your sight, you could send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs, that I may rebuild it."
6
The king replied to me (and the queen was also sitting beside him), "How long will you be gone and when will you return?" The king was glad to send me when I gave him an appointed time.
7
Then I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, may letters be given to me for the governors in the Province Beyond the River so that they may permit me to pass through their territories on my way to Judah.
8
May there also be a letter for Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, so that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress next to the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house in which I will live."
So because the good hand of God was on me, the king granted me my requests.
9
I came to the governors in the Province Beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me commanders of the army and horsemen.
10
When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, they were greatly displeased that someone had come who was seeking to help the people of Israel.
11
So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days.
12
I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. I did not tell anyone what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me, other than the one I was riding.
13
I went out by night by the Valley Gate, toward the Jackal's Well and to the Dung Gate, and inspected the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken open, and the wooden gates were destroyed by fire.
14
Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool. The place was too narrow for the animal I was riding to pass through.
15
So I went up that night by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned.
16
The rulers did not know where I went or what I did, and I had not yet informed the Jews, nor the priests, nor the nobles, nor the rulers, nor the rest who did the work.
17
I said to them, "You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so we will no longer be in disgrace."
18
I told them that the good hand of my God was on me and also about the king's words that he had spoken to me. They said, "Let us rise up and build." So they strengthened their hands for the good work.
19
But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the Ammonite servant, and Geshem the Arabian heard about it, they mocked and showed us contempt, and they said, "What are you doing? Are you rebelling against the king?"
20
Then I answered them, "The God of heaven will give us success. We are his servants and we will arise and build. But you have no share, no right, and no historic claim in Jerusalem."
Chapter 3
1
Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brother priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors in place. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred and as far as the Tower of Hananel.
2
Next to him the men of Jericho worked, and next to them Zakkur son of Imri worked.
3
The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They made beams for it, and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
4
Meremoth repaired the next section. He is the son of Uriah son of Hakkoz. Next to them Meshullam repaired. He is the son of Berekiah son of Meshezabel. Next to them Zadok repaired. He is the son of Baana.
5
Next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles refused to do the labor ordered by their supervisors.
6
Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah repaired the Old Gate. They made beams for it, and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
7
Next to them were men from Gibeon and Mizpah—Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite—the throne of the governor of the Province Beyond the River.
8
Next to him Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired, and next to him was Hananiah, a maker of perfumes. They rebuilt Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.
9
Next to them Rephaiah son of Hur repaired. He was the official over half the district of Jerusalem.
10
Next to them Jedaiah son of Harumaph repaired next to his house. Next to him Hattush son of Hashabneiah repaired.
11
Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab repaired another section along with the Tower of the Furnaces.
12
Next to them Shallum son of Hallohesh, the official over half the district of Jerusalem, repaired, along with his daughters.
13
Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. They repaired a thousand cubits as far as the Dung Gate.
14
Malkijah son of Rekab, the official over the district of Beth Hakkerem, repaired the Dung Gate. He built it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
15
Shallun son of Kol-Hozeh, the official over the district of Mizpah, rebuilt the Fountain Gate. He built it, and put a cover on it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. He also rebuilt the wall of the Pool of Siloam by the king's garden, as far as the stairs leading down from the city of David.
16
Nehemiah son of Azbuk, the official over half the district of Beth Zur, repaired to the place across from the tombs of David, to the man-made pool, and to the house of the mighty men.
17
After him the Levites repaired, including Rehum son of Bani and next to him, Hashabiah, the official over half the district of Keilah, for his district.
18
After him their brothers repaired, including Binnui son of Henadad, the official over half the district of Keilah.
19
Next to him, Ezer son of Jeshua, the official over Mizpah, repaired another section that faced the ascent to the armory at the corner of the wall.
20
After him Baruch son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the corner of the wall to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
21
After him Meremoth son of Uriah son of Hakkoz repaired another section, from the door of the house of Eliashib to the end of the house of Eliashib.
22
Next to him the priests, the men from the area around Jerusalem, repaired.
23
After them Benjamin and Hasshub repaired opposite their own house. After them Azariah son of Maaseiah son of Ananiah repaired next to his own house.
24
After him Binnui son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of Azariah to the corner of the wall.
25
Palal son of Uzai repaired over against the corner of the wall and the tower that extends upward from the upper house of the king at the courtyard of the guard. After him Pedaiah son of Parosh repaired.
26
Now the temple servants living in Ophel repaired to the point opposite the Water Gate on the east and the projecting tower.
27
After him the Tekoites repaired another section that was opposite the great projecting tower as far as the wall of Ophel.
28
The priests repaired above the Horse Gate, each opposite his own house.
29
After them Zadok son of Immer repaired the section opposite his own house. Then after him Shemaiah son of Shekaniah, the keeper of the east gate, repaired.
30
After him Hananiah son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. After him Meshullam son of Berekiah repaired opposite his living chambers.
31
After him Malkijah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired to the house of the temple servants and the merchants that was opposite the Appointment Gate and the upper living chambers on the corner.
32
The goldsmiths and the merchants repaired between the upper chamber of the corner and the Sheep Gate.
Chapter 4
1
Now when Sanballat heard we were building the wall, anger burned within him, and he was furiously angry, and he mocked the Jews.
2
In the presence of his brothers and the army of Samaria, he said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore the city for themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish the work in a day? Will they bring to life the stones from the piles of rubble after they were burned?
3
Tobiah the Ammonite was with him, and he said, "If only a fox went up on what they are building, it would break down their stone wall!"
4
Hear, our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunts on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land of captivity.
5
Do not cover over their iniquity and let their sin not be blotted out from before you, for they have provoked the builders to anger.
6
So we built the wall and all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a desire to work.
7
But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the work of repairing the walls of Jerusalem was going forward, and that the broken places in the wall were being closed up, a great anger burned within them.
8
They all conspired together, and they came to fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it.
9
But we prayed to our God and set a guard as protection against them day and night because of their threat.
10
Then the people of Judah said, "The strength of those who carry the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble, and we are not able to rebuild the wall."
11
Our enemies said, "They will not know or see until we come among them and kill them, and stop the work."
12
At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and spoke to us ten times, warning us about the schemes they were making against us.
13
So I positioned people in the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas. I positioned each family with their swords, spears, and bows.
14
Then I looked, and stood up, and I said to the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Call to mind the Lord, who is great and awesome. Fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives, and your homes."
15
It came about when our enemies heard that their plans were known to us, and God had frustrated their plans, all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work.
16
So from that time half of my servants worked only on rebuilding the wall, and half of them held spears, shields, bows, and wore armor, while the leaders stood behind all the people of Judah
17
and those who were building the wall. Those who carried burdens carried their loads such that each did his work with one hand, and with the other hand he held his weapon.
18
Every builder wore his sword girded at his side, and that is how he worked. The one who sounded the ram's horn stayed beside me.
19
I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, "The work is great and extensive, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another.
20
You must rush to the place where you hear the ram's horn sound and assemble there. Our God will fight for us."
21
So we were doing the work. Half of them were holding spears from the rising of the dawn until the coming out of the stars.
22
I also said to the people at that time, "Let every man and his servant spend the night in the middle of Jerusalem, so they may be for us a guard during the night and a worker in the day."
23
So neither I, nor my brothers, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us changed our clothes, and each of us carried his weapon, even if he went for water.
Chapter 5
1
Then the people and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews.
2
For there were some who said, "With our sons and daughters we are many. So let us get grain that we may eat and stay alive."
3
There were also some who said, "We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain during the famine."
4
Some also said, "We have borrowed money to pay the king's tax on our fields and our vineyards.
5
Yet now our flesh and blood is the same as our brothers, and our children are the same as their children. We are forced to sell our sons and our daughters to become slaves. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved. But it is not in our power to help it because other men now own our fields and our vineyards."
6
I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words.
7
Then I thought about this, and earnestly appealed to the nobles and officials. I said to them, "You are exacting interest, each from his own brother." I held a great assembly against them
8
and said to them, "As for us, we have, according to our ability, bought back from slavery our Jewish brothers who had been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold back to us!" They were silent and never found a word to say.
9
Also I said, "What you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations that are our enemies?
10
I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. But we must stop charging interest on these loans.
11
Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses and the percentage of the money, the grain, the new wine, and the oil that you exacted from them."
12
Then they said, "We will return what we took from them, and will require nothing from them. We will do as you say." Then I called the priests, and made them swear to do as they had promised.
13
I shook out the fold of my robe and said, "So may God shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep his promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied."
All the assembly said, "Amen," and they praised Yahweh and the people did as they had promised.
14
So from the time I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food provided for the governor.
15
But the former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people, and took from them forty shekels of silver for their daily food and wine. Even their servants were lords over the people. But I did not do so because of the fear of God.
16
I also continued to work on the wall, and we bought no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work.
17
At my table were the Jews and the officials, 150 men, besides those who came to us from among the nations who were around us.
18
Now what was prepared each day was one ox, six choice sheep, and also birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance, yet for all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the labor was heavy on this people.
19
Call me to mind, my God, for good, because of all that I have done for this people.
Chapter 6
1
Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that there were no longer any sections left broken open, although I had not yet set up the doors in the gates,
2
Sanballat and Geshem sent to me saying, "Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono." But they intended to do harm to me.
3
I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?"
4
They sent me the same message four times, and I answered them the same way each time.
5
Sanballat sent his servant to me in the same way the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand.
6
In it was written,
7
You have also appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem, saying, 'There is a king in Judah!' You can be sure the king will hear these reports. Therefore come, let us discuss the matter with one another."
8
Then I sent word to him saying, "No such things have occurred as you say, for within your heart you invented them."
9
For they all wanted to make us afraid, thinking, "Their hands will drop from the work, and the work will not be done." But now, God, please strengthen my hands.
10
I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah son of Mehetabel, who was confined in his home. He said, "Let us meet together in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. At night they are coming to kill you."
11
I replied, "Would a man like me run away? Would a man like me go into the temple just so he could save his own life? I will not go in!"
12
I realized that it was not God who sent him, but that he had prophesied against me. Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13
They hired him to make me afraid, so that I might do what he said and sin, so they could give me a bad name in order to humiliate me.
14
Call to mind Tobiah and Sanballat, my God according to their deeds. Also call to mind the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who tried to make me be afraid.
15
So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month of Elul, after fifty-two days.
16
When all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us, they became afraid and they fell greatly in their own eyes. For they knew the work was done with the help of our God.
17
At this time the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah's letters came to them.
18
For there were many in Judah who were bound by an oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shekaniah son of Arah. His son Jehohanan had taken as his wife the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah.
19
They also spoke to me about his good deeds and reported my words back to him.
Letters were sent to me from Tobiah to frighten me.
Chapter 7
1
When the wall was finished and I had set up the doors in place, and the gatekeepers and singers and Levites had been appointed,
2
I put my brother Hanani in charge over Jerusalem, along with Hananiah, the overseer of the fortress, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many.
3
I said to them, "Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are on guard, you may shut the doors and bar them. Appoint guards from those who live in Jerusalem, some at the place of their guard station, and some in front of their own homes."
4
Now the city was wide and large, but there were few people within it, and no houses had yet been rebuilt.
5
My God put into my heart to gather together the nobles, the officials, and the people to enroll them by families. I found the book of the genealogy of those who returned at the first and found the following written in it.
6
"These are the people of the province who went up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon took into exile. They returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, each to his city.
7
They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah.
The number of the men of the people of Israel included the following.
8
The descendants of Parosh, 2,172.
9
The descendants of Shephatiah, 372.
10
The descendants of Arah, 652.
11
The descendants of Pahath-Moab, through the descendants of Jeshua and Joab, 2,818.
12
The descendants of Elam, 1,254.
13
The descendants of Zattu, 845.
14
The descendants of Zakkai, 760.
15
The descendants of Binnui, 648.
16
The descendants of Bebai, 628.
17
The descendants of Azgad, 2,322.
18
The descendants of Adonikam, 667.
19
The descendants of Bigvai, 2,067.
20
The descendants of Adin, 655.
21
The descendants of Ater, of Hezekiah, 98.
22
The descendants of Hashum, 328.
23
The descendants of Bezai, 324.
24
The descendants of Hariph, 112.
25
The descendants of Gibeon, 95.
26
The men from Bethlehem and Netophah, 188.
27
The men from Anathoth, 128.
28
The men of Beth Azmaveth, 42.
29
The men of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah, and Beeroth, 743.
30
The men of Ramah and Geba, 621.
31
The men of Mikmash, 122.
32
The men of Bethel and Ai, 123.
33
The men of the other Nebo, 52.
34
The people of the other Elam, 1,254.
35
The men of Harim, 320.
36
The men of Jericho, 345.
37
The men of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 721.
38
The men of Senaah, 3,930.
39
The priests: The descendants of Jedaiah (of the house of Jeshua), 973.
40
The descendants of Immer, 1,052.
41
The descendants of Pashhur, 1,247.
42
The descendants of Harim, 1,017.
43
The Levites: The descendants of Jeshua, through the descendants of Kadmiel through the line of Hodaviah, 74.
44
The singers: The descendants of Asaph, 148.
45
The gatekeepers of the descendants of Shallum, the descendants of Ater, the descendants of Talmon, the descendants of Akkub, the descendants of Hatita, the descendants of Shobai, 138.
46
The temple servants: The descendants of Ziha, the descendants of Hasupha, the descendants of Tabbaoth,
47
the descendants of Keros, the descendants of Sia, the descendants of Padon,
48
the descendants of Lebana, the descendants of Hagaba, the descendants of Shalmai,
49
the descendants of Hanan, the descendants of Giddel, the descendants of Gahar.
50
The descendants of Reaiah, the descendants of Rezin, the descendants of Nekoda,
51
the descendants of Gazzam, the descendants of Uzza, the descendants of Paseah,
52
the descendants of Besai, the descendants of Meunim, the descendants of Nephusim.
53
The descendants of Bakbuk, the descendants of Hakupha, the descendants of Harhur,
54
the descendants of Bazluth, the descendants of Mehida, the descendants of Harsha,
55
the descendants of Barkos, the descendants of Sisera, the descendants of Temah,
56
the descendants of Neziah, the descendants of Hatipha.
57
The descendants of Solomon's servants: the descendants of Sotai, the descendants of Sophereth, the descendants of Perida,
58
the descendants of Jaala, the descendants of Darkon, the descendants of Giddel,
59
the descendants of Shephatiah, the descendants of Hattil, the descendants of Pokereth-Hazzebaim, the descendants of Amon.
60
All the temple servants, and the descendants of Solomon's servants, were 392.
61
These were the people who went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer. But they could not prove that they or their ancestors' families were descendants from Israel:
62
the descendants of Delaiah, the descendants of Tobiah, and the descendants of Nekoda, 642.
63
Those who were from the priests: the descendants of Habaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai (who took his wife from the daughters of Barzillai of Gilead and was called by their name).
64
These sought their records among those enrolled by their families, but they could not be found, so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.
65
Then the governor said to them that they should not be allowed to eat the priests' share of food from the sacrifices until there rose up a priest with Urim and Thummim.
66
The whole assembly together was 42,360,
67
besides their male servants and their female servants, of whom there were 7,337. They had 245 singing men and women.
68
Their horses were 736 in number, their mules, 245,
69
their camels, 435, and their donkeys, 6,720.
70
Some from among the heads of ancestors' families gave gifts for the work. The governor gave to the treasury one thousand darics of gold, 50 basins, and 530 priestly garments.
71
Some of the heads of ancestors' families gave into the treasury for the work twenty thousand darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver.
72
The rest of the people gave twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand minas of silver, and sixty-seven priestly garments.
73
So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel lived in their cities.
By the seventh month the people of Israel were settled in their cities."
Chapter 8
1
All the people gathered as one man in the open area in front of the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Yahweh had commanded Israel.
2
On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women, and all who could hear and understand.
3
He faced the open area in front of the Water Gate, and he read from it from early morning until midday, before men and women, and any who could understand, and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law.
4
Then Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform which the people had made for the purpose. Standing beside him were Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right side; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam were standing on his left side.
5
Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above the people, and when he opened it all the people stood up.
6
Ezra blessed Yahweh, the great God, and all the people lifted up their hands and answered, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped Yahweh with their faces to the ground.
7
Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah—the Levites—helped the people understand the law, while the people remained in their place.
8
They read in the book, The Law of God, making it clear with interpretation and giving the meaning so the people understood the reading.
9
Nehemiah the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting to the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to Yahweh your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.
10
Then Nehemiah said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and have something sweet to drink, and send some of it to one who has nothing prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of Yahweh is your strength."
11
So the Levites made the people be quiet, saying, "Hush! for this day is holy. Do not be grieved."
12
Then all the people went their way to eat and to drink and to share food and to celebrate with great joy because they had understood the words that were made known to them.
13
On the second day the leaders of the ancestors' families from all the people, the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe to gain insight from the words of the law.
14
They found written in the law how Yahweh had commanded through Moses that the people of Israel should live in shelters during the festival of the seventh month.
15
They should make a proclamation in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, "Go out into the hill country, and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtle, palms and shade trees, to make shelters, as it is written."
16
So the people went out and brought the branches back and made themselves shelters, each on their own roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God, in the open area in front of the Water Gate, and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim.
17
All the assembly of those who had returned from captivity made shelters and lived in them. For since the days of Joshua son of Nun to that day, the people of Israel had not celebrated this festival, and so their joy was very great.
18
Also day by day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the book of the law of God. They kept the festival for seven days and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, in obedience to the decree.
Chapter 9
1
Now on the twenty-fourth day of the same month the people of Israel were assembled and they were fasting, and they were wearing sackcloth, and they put dust on their heads.
2
The descendants of Israel separated themselves from all the foreigners. They stood and confessed their own sins and the iniquities of their ancestors.
3
They stood up in their places, and for one-fourth of the day they read from the book of the law of Yahweh their God. For another fourth of the day they were confessing and bowing down before Yahweh their God.
4
The Levites, Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani, stood on the stairs and they called out with a loud voice to Yahweh their God.
5
Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah said, "Stand up and give praise to Yahweh your God forever and ever."
"May they bless your glorious name, and may it be exalted above every blessing and praise.
6
You are Yahweh. You alone. You have made heaven, the highest heavens, with all their host, and the earth and everything on it, and the seas and all that is in them. You give life to them all, and the host of heaven worship you.
7
You are Yahweh, the God who chose Abram, and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans, and gave him the name Abraham.
8
You found his heart was faithful before you, and you made with him the covenant to give to his descendants the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, and the Girgashites. You have kept your promise because you are righteous.
9
You saw the affliction of our forefathers in Egypt and you heard their cry by the Sea of Reeds.
10
You gave signs and wonders against Pharaoh, and all his servants, and on all the people of his land, for you knew that the Egyptians acted with arrogance against them. But you made a name for yourself which stands to this day.
11
Then you divided the sea before them, so that they went through the middle of the sea on the dry land; and threw those who pursued them into the depths, as a stone into deep waters.
12
You led them by a pillar of cloud during the day, and by a pillar of fire during the night to light the way for them to go.
13
On Mount Sinai you came down and you spoke with them from heaven and gave to them righteous decrees and true laws, good statutes and commandments.
14
You made your holy Sabbath known to them, and you gave them commandments and statutes and a law through Moses your servant.
15
You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger, and water from a rock for their thirst, and you said to them to go in to possess the land you swore on oath to give them.
16
But they and our ancestors acted arrogantly, and they stiffened their necks and did not listen to your commandments.
17
They refused to listen, and they did not think about the wonders that you had done among them, but they stiffened their necks, and in their rebellion they appointed a leader to return to their slavery. But you are a God who is full of forgiveness, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. You did not abandon them.
18
Even when they had cast a calf out of molten metal and said, 'This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,' and had committed great blasphemies,
19
you, in your compassion, did not abandon them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud to lead them on the way did not leave them during day, neither did the pillar of fire by night to light the way for them to go.
20
Your good Spirit you gave them to instruct them, and your manna you did not withhold from their mouths, and water you gave them for their thirst.
21
For forty years you provided for them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.
22
You gave them kingdoms and peoples, assigning to them every corner of the land. Then they took possession of the land of Sihon king of Heshbon and the land of Og king of Bashan.
23
You made their children as numerous as the stars of heaven, and you brought them into the land that you told their ancestors to go in and possess.
24
So the people went in and possessed the land and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites. You gave them into their hands, with their kings and the peoples of the land, that Israel might do with them as they pleased.
25
They captured the fortified cities and a productive land, and they took possession of houses full of all good things, cisterns already cut out, vineyards and olive orchards, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were satisfied and grew fat and enjoyed themselves in your great goodness.
26
Then they became disobedient and they rebelled against you. They threw your law behind their backs. They murdered your prophets who had warned them to turn back to you, and they committed great blasphemies.
27
So you gave them into the hand of their enemies, who made them suffer. In the time of their suffering, they cried out to you, and you heard them from heaven, and because of your great mercies you sent them rescuers who rescued them out of the hand of their enemies.
28
But after they had rest, they did evil again before you, and you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so their enemies ruled over them. Yet when they returned and cried out to you, you heard from heaven, and many times because of your compassion you rescued them.
29
You warned them so they might turn back to your law. Yet they acted arrogantly and did not listen to your commands. They sinned against your decrees which give life to anyone who obeys them. They gave the stubborn shoulder-blade and stiffened their neck and refused to listen.
30
For many years you put up with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they did not listen. So you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.
31
But in your great mercies you did not destroy them completely or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.
32
Now therefore, our God—you great, mighty, and awesome God who keep your covenant and steadfast love—do not let all this hardship seem little to you that has come on us, on our kings, on our leaders, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our ancestors, and on all your people from the days of the kings of Assyria until today.
33
You are just in everything that has come on us, for you have dealt faithfully, but we have acted wickedly.
34
Our kings, our leaders, our priests, and our ancestors have not kept your law, nor paid attention to your commandments or your laws by which you warned them.
35
Even in their own kingdom, while they enjoyed your great goodness to them, in the large and productive land you set before them, they did not serve you or turn away from their evil deeds.
36
Now we are slaves in the land you gave our ancestors to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, and behold, we are slaves in it!
37
The rich produce of our land goes to the kings you have set over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and over our livestock as they please. We are in great distress.
38
Because of all this, we make a firm covenant in writing. On the sealed document are the names of our leaders, Levites, and priests."
Chapter 10
1
On the sealed documents were Nehemiah, the governor, son of Hakaliah and Zedekiah,
2
Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
3
Pashhur, Amariah, Malkijah,
4
Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluk,
5
Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
6
Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
7
Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
8
Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests.
9
The Levites were: Jeshua son of Azaniah, Binnui of the family of Henadad, Kadmiel,
10
and their fellow Levites, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
11
Mika, Rehob, Hashabiah,
12
Zakkur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
13
Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.
14
The leaders of the people were: Parosh, Pahath-Moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,
15
Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
16
Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
17
Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,
18
Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,
19
Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
20
Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
21
Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,
22
Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
23
Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,
24
Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,
25
Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
26
Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,
27
Malluk, Harim, and Baanah.
28
As for the rest of the people, who were priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants, and all who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands and pledged themselves to the law of God, including their wives, their sons and their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding,
29
they joined together with their brothers, their nobles, and bound themselves with both a curse and an oath to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and obey all the commandments of Yahweh our Lord and his decrees and his statutes.
30
We promised that we would not give our daughters to the people of the land or take their daughters for our sons.
31
We also promised that if the people of the land bring goods or any grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we would not buy from them on the Sabbath or on any holy day. Every seventh year we will let our fields rest, and we will cancel all debts.
32
We accepted the commands to give a third of a shekel each year for the service of the house of our God,
33
to provide for the bread of the presence, and for the regular grain offering, the burnt offerings on the Sabbaths, the new moon festivals and appointed feasts, and for the holy offerings, and for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, as well as for all the work of the house of our God.
34
We—the priests, the Levites, and the people—cast lots for the wood offering. The lots would select which of our families would bring wood into the house of our God at the appointed times each year, to be burned on the altar of Yahweh our God, as it is written in the law.
35
We promised to bring to the house of Yahweh the firstfruits grown from our soil, and each year the firstfruits from each tree.
36
The firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle—according to what is written in the law—and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks we will bring to the house of our God, to the priests who serve in the house of our God.
37
We will bring the first of our dough and our grain offerings, and the fruit of every tree and new wine and oil, to the priests, to the storerooms of the house of our God. We will bring to the Levites the tithes from our soil because the Levites collect the tithes in all the towns where we labor.
38
A priest, a descendant of Aaron, must be with the Levites when they receive the tithes. The Levites must bring a tenth of the tithes to the house of our God to the rooms of the storehouse.
39
For the people of Israel and the descendants of Levi are to bring the contributions of grain, new wine, and oil to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are kept and where the priests who are serving, and the gatekeepers, and the singers stay.
We will not neglect the house of our God.
Chapter 11
1
The leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one of ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, and the other nine remained in other towns.
2
Then the people blessed all those who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.
3
These are the provincial officials who lived in Jerusalem. However, in the towns of Judah everyone lived on his own property, including some Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon's servants.
4
In Jerusalem lived some of the descendants of Judah and some of the descendants of Benjamin.
The people from Judah included: Athaiah son of Uzziah son of Zechariah son of Amariah son of Shephatiah son of Mahalalel, a descendant of Perez.
5
There was Maaseiah son of Baruch son of Kol-Hozeh son of Hazaiah son of Adaiah son of Joiarib son of Zechariah, a descendant of Shelah.
6
All the descendants of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 468. They were outstanding men.
7
These are the descendants of Benjamin: Sallu son of Meshullam son of Joed son of Pedaiah son of Kolaiah son of Maaseiah son of Ithiel son of Jeshaiah,
8
and those following him, Gabbai and Sallai, 928 men.
9
Joel son of Zikri was their overseer, and Judah son of Hassenuah was second in command over the city.
10
From the priests: Jedaiah son of Joiarib, Jakin,
11
Seraiah son of Hilkiah son of Meshullam son of Zadok son of Meraioth son of Ahitub, the chief official of the house of God,
12
and their associates who did the work for the house, 822 men, along with Adaiah son of Jeroham son of Pelaliah son of Amzi son of Zechariah son of Pashhur son of Malkijah.
13
His brothers were heads of clans, 242 men; and Amashsai son of Azarel son of Ahzai son of Meshillemoth son of Immer,
14
and their brothers, 128 valiant warriors; their overseer was Zabdiel son of Haggedolim.
15
From the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub son of Azrikam son of Hashabiah son of Bunni,
16
and Shabbethai and Jozabad, who were from the leaders of the Levites and were in charge of the outside work of the house of God.
17
There was Mattaniah son of Mika son of Zabdi, a descendant of Asaph, who was the director who began the thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brothers, and Abda son of Shammua son of Galal son of Jeduthun.
18
All the Levites in the holy city numbered 284.
19
The gatekeepers: Akkub, Talmon, and their brothers, who kept watch at the gates, 172 men.
20
The remainder of Israel and of the priests and the Levites were in all the towns of Judah. Everyone lived on his own inherited property.
21
The temple workers lived in Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa were in charge of them.
22
The chief officer over the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani son of Hashabiah son of Mattaniah son of Mika, of the descendants of Asaph, singers over the work in the house of God.
23
They were under orders from the king, and firm orders were given for the singers as every day required.
24
Then Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, a descendant of Zerah son of Judah, was at the king's side in all matters concerning the people.
25
As for the villages and their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath Arba and its villages, and in Dibon and its villages, and in Jekabzeel and its villages,
26
and in Jeshua, Moladah, Beth Pelet,
27
Hazar Shual, and Beersheba and its villages.
28
Some of the people of Judah lived in Ziklag, Mekonah and its villages,
29
En Rimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth,
30
Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, and in Lachish its fields and Azekah and its villages. So they encamped from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom.
31
The descendants of the Benjamites settled in Geba, Mikmash, Aija, Bethel and its villages,
32
Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
33
Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
34
Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
35
Lod, Ono, and Ge Harashim.
36
Some of the Levites who lived in Judah were assigned to the people of Benjamin.
Chapter 12
1
These were the priests and Levites who came up with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
2
Amariah, Malluk, Hattush,
3
Shekaniah, Rehum, and Meremoth.
4
There were Iddo, Ginnethon, Abijah,
5
Mijamin, Moadiah, Bilgah,
6
Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah,
7
Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These were the leaders of the priests and their associates in the days of Jeshua.
8
The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who was in charge of the thanksgiving songs, along with his associates.
9
Bakbukiah and Unni, their associates, stood opposite them during the service.
10
Jeshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim was the father of Eliashib, Eliashib was the father of Joiada,
11
Joiada was the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan was the father of Jaddua.
12
In the days of Joiakim these were the priests, the leaders of the families: Meraiah was the leader of Seraiah, Hananiah was the leader of Jeremiah,
13
Meshullam was the leader of Ezra, Jehohanan was the leader of Amariah,
14
Jonathan was the leader of Malluk, and Joseph was the leader of Shebaniah.
15
Adna was the leader of Harim, Helkai the leader of Meremoth,
16
Zechariah was the leader of Iddo, Meshullam was the leader of Ginnethon, and
17
Zikri was the leader of Abijah; Piltai was the leader of Miniamin and Moadiah.
18
Shammua was the leader of Bilgah, Jehonathan was the leader of Shemaiah,
19
Mattenai was the leader of Joiarib, Uzzi was the leader of Jedaiah,
20
Kallai was the leader of Sallu, Eber was the leader of Amok,
21
Hashabiah was the leader of Hilkiah, and Nethanel was the leader of Jedaiah.
22
In the days of Eliashib, the Levites Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua were recorded as the heads of families, and the priests were recorded during the reign of Darius the Persian.
23
The descendants of Levi, their leaders of families were recorded in the book of the annals up to the days of Johanan son of Eliashib.
24
The leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua son of Kadmiel, with their associates, who stood opposite them to give praise and to give thanks, responding section by section, in obedience to the command of David, the man of God.
25
Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers standing guard at the storerooms by the gates.
26
They served in the days of Joiakim son of Jeshua son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest and scribe.
27
At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the people sought out the Levites wherever they lived, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with joy, with thanksgivings and singing with cymbals, lutes, and harps.
28
The fellowship of singers gathered together from the district around Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites.
29
They also came from Beth Gilgal and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built for themselves villages around Jerusalem.
30
The priests and the Levites purified themselves, and then they purified the people, the gates, and the wall.
31
Then I had the leaders of Judah go up to the top of the wall, and I appointed two large choirs who gave thanks. One went to the right on the wall toward the Dung Gate.
32
Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed them,
33
and after them went Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam,
34
Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah,
35
and some of the priests' sons with trumpets, and Zechariah son of Jonathan son of Shemaiah son of Mattaniah son of Micaiah son of Zakkur son of Asaph.
36
There also were Zechariah's relatives, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God. Ezra the scribe was in front of them.
37
By the Fountain Gate they went straight up on the stairs of the city of David, by the stairway to the wall above David's palace, to the Water Gate on the east.
38
The other choir of those who gave thanks went in the other direction. I followed them on the wall with half the people, above the Tower of Ovens, to the Broad Wall,
39
and above the Gate of Ephraim, and by the Old Gate, and by the Fish Gate and the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, to the Sheep Gate, and they stopped at the Gate of the Guard.
40
So both choirs of those who gave thanks took their place in the house of God, and I also took my place with half of the officials with me.
41
Then the priests took their place: Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with the trumpets,
42
and also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam, and Ezer, and the singers made themselves heard and Jezrahiah was their leader.
43
They offered great sacrifices that day, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy. Also the women and the children rejoiced. So the joy of Jerusalem could be heard far away.
44
On that day men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them the portions required by the law for the priests and for the Levites. Each was assigned to work the fields near the towns. For Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who were standing before them.
45
They performed the service of their God, and the service of purification, and so did the singers and the gatekeepers, in keeping with the command of David and of Solomon his son.
46
For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there were directors of singers, and there were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.
47
In the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah, all Israel gave the daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers. They set aside the consecrated portion that was for the Levites, and the Levites set aside the consecrated portion for the descendants of Aaron.
Chapter 13
1
On that day they read in the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people. It was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should come into the assembly of God, forever.
2
This was because they had not come to the people of Israel with bread and with water, but they had hired Balaam to curse Israel. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing.
3
As soon as they heard the law, they separated out from Israel every foreign person.
4
Now before this Eliashib the priest was appointed over the storerooms of the house of our God. He was related to Tobiah.
5
Eliashib prepared for Tobiah a large storeroom, where previously they kept the grain offering, the incense, the articles, and the tithes of the grain, new wine, and the oil, which were commanded to be for the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.
6
But in all this time I was not in Jerusalem. For in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king. After some time I asked the king for permission to leave,
7
and I returned to Jerusalem. I understood the evil that Eliashib had done by giving Tobiah a storeroom in the courts of the house of God.
8
This was very displeasing to me and I threw all Tobiah's household articles out of the storeroom.
9
I ordered that they purify the storerooms, and I put back in them the articles of the house of God, the grain offerings, and the incense.
10
I learned that the Levites' portions had not been given to them, and they had run away, each to his own field, the Levites and the singers who did the work.
11
So I confronted the officials and said, "Why is the house of God neglected?" I gathered them together and stationed them at their posts.
12
Then all Judah brought in the tithe of the grain, the new wine, and the oil to the storehouses.
13
I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe, and from the Levites, Pedaiah. Next to them was Hanan son of Zakkur son of Mattaniah, for they were counted as trustworthy. Their duties were to distribute the supplies to their associates.
14
Call me to mind, my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out the good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and its services.
15
In those days I saw in Judah people treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on donkeys, and also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of heavy loads, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. I warned them against selling food on that day.
16
Men from Tyre living in Jerusalem brought in fish and all kinds of goods, and they sold them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah and in the city!
17
Then I confronted the nobles of Judah, "What is this evil thing you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day?
18
Did not your fathers do this? Did not our God bring all this evil on us and on this city? Now you are bringing more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath."
19
As soon as it became dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors be shut and that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. I stationed some of my servants at the gates so no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day.
20
The merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares camped outside Jerusalem once or twice.
21
But I warned them, "Why do you camp outside the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you!" From that time on they did not come on the Sabbath.
22
Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves, and come and guard the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day.
Call me to mind for this also, my God, and have mercy on me because of the covenant loyalty you have toward me.
23
In those days I also saw Jews that had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.
24
Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod. None of them knew how to speak the language of Judah, but only the language of one of the other peoples.
25
I confronted them, and I cursed them, and I hit some of them and pulled out their hair. I made them swear by God, saying, "You will not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves.
26
Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of these women? Among many nations there was no king like him, and he was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, his foreign wives caused him to sin.
27
Should we then listen to you and do all this great evil, and act unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?"
28
One of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the high priest was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I caused him to flee from my presence.
29
Call them to mind, my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.
30
Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and established the duties of the priests and the Levites, each to his own task.
31
I provided for the wood offering at the appointed times and for the firstfruits.
Call me to mind, my God, for good.
Jeremiah
Chapter 1
1
These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin.
2
The word of Yahweh came to him in the days of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.
3
It also came in the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah, king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem were taken away as prisoners.
4
The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
5
"Before I formed you in the womb, I chose you;
before you came out from the womb I set you apart;
I made you a prophet to the nations."
6
"Ah, Lord Yahweh!" I said, "I do not know how to speak, for I am too young."
7
But Yahweh said to me, "Do not say, 'I am too young.' You must go everywhere I send you, and you must say whatever I command you!
8
Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to rescue you—this is Yahweh's declaration."
9
Then Yahweh reached out with his hand, touched my mouth, and said to me, "Now, I have placed my word in your mouth.
10
I am appointing you today over nations and over kingdoms, to uproot and break down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and plant."
11
The word of Yahweh came to me, saying, "What do you see, Jeremiah?"
I said, "I see an almond branch."
12
Yahweh said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to carry it out."
13
The word of Yahweh came to me a second time, saying, "What do you see?"
I said, "I see a heated pot, whose surface is churning, tipping away from the north."
14
Yahweh said to me, "Disaster will be opened up out of the north on all who live in this land.
15
For I am calling all the tribes of the northern kingdoms—this is Yahweh's declaration.
They will come, and everyone will set his throne
at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem,
against all the walls that surround it,
and against all the cities of Judah.
16
I will pronounce sentence against them
for all their evil in abandoning me,
in burning incense to other gods,
and in worshiping the works of their own hands.
17
Gird up your loins! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be shattered before them, or I will shatter you before them!
18
Behold! Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.
19
They will fight against you, but they will not defeat you, for I will be with you to rescue you—this is Yahweh's declaration."
Chapter 2
1
The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2
"Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem. Say, 'Yahweh says this:
I have called to mind on your behalf
the covenant faithfulness of your youth,
your love at the time when we were engaged,
when you went after me in the wilderness,
the land that was not sown.
3
Israel was set apart to Yahweh,
the firstfruits of his harvest!
All who ate from the firstfruits were held guilty;
disaster came upon them—
this is Yahweh's declaration.'"
4
Hear the word of Yahweh, house of Jacob,
all you clans of the house of Israel.
5
Yahweh says this,
"What did your fathers find wrong with me,
that they went far from following me?
That they went after useless idols
and became useless themselves?
6
They did not say,
'Where is Yahweh,
who brought us up from the land of Egypt?
Where is Yahweh,
who led us to the wilderness,
into the land of the Arabah and pits,
in a land of drought and utter darkness,
a land through which no one passes and where no one lives?'
7
But I brought you to the land of Carmel,
to eat its fruit and other good things!
Yet when you came,
you defiled my land,
you made my inheritance an abomination!
8
The priest did not say
'Where is Yahweh?'
and the experts in the law did not care about me!
The shepherds transgressed against me.
The prophets prophesied for Baal
and walked after unprofitable things.
9
So I will still accuse you—
this is Yahweh's declaration—
and I will accuse your sons' sons.
10
For cross over to the coasts of Cyprus
and look.
Send messengers out to Kedar and find out
and see if there has ever before been anything like this.
11
Has a nation exchanged gods,
even though they were not gods?
But my people have exchanged their glory
for what cannot help them.
12
Shudder, heavens, because of this
Be shocked and very desolate—
this is Yahweh's declaration.
13
For my people have committed two evils against me:
They have abandoned the springs of living waters,
and they have dug out cisterns for themselves,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
14
Is Israel a slave?
Was he born in his master's home?
So why has he become plunder?
15
Young lions roared against him.
They made a lot of noise
and made his land a horror.
His cities are destroyed
without any inhabitants.
16
Also, the people of Memphis and Tahpanhes
will shave your skull.
17
Did you not do this to yourselves
when you abandoned Yahweh your God,
while he was leading you along the way?
18
So now, why take the road to Egypt
and drink the waters of Shihor?
Why take the road to Assyria
and drink the waters of the Euphrates River?
19
Your wickedness rebukes you,
and your acts of apostasy punish you.
So think about it and understand
that it is wicked and bitter
when you abandon Yahweh your God,
and have no fear of me—
this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh of hosts.
20
For in ancient days I broke your yoke;
I tore your fetters off you.
Still you said,
'I will not serve!'
On every high hill and beneath every leafy tree
you lay down as a prostitute.
21
I planted you as a choice vine,
completely from pure seed.
How then have you have changed yourself
into a corrupt, worthless vine?
22
For even if you clean yourself in the river
or wash with strong soap,
your iniquity is a stain before me—
this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh.
23
How can you say,
'I am not defiled!
I have not walked after the Baals'?
Look at what you did in the valleys!
Consider what you have done—
you are a swift female camel
running here and there,
24
a wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness,
in her heat sniffing the wind!
Who can restrain her lust?
None of the males need wear themselves out pursuing her;
in her month they will find her.
25
You must restrain your feet from becoming bare
and your throat from being thirsty!
But you have said, 'It is hopeless!
No, I love strangers and go after them!'
26
Like the shame of a thief when he is found,
so the house of Israel will be ashamed—
they, their kings, their princes, and their priests and prophets!
27
These are the ones who say to the tree,
'You are my father,'
and to the stone, 'You gave birth to me.'
For their back faces me and not their faces.
Nevertheless, they say in the time of troubles,
'Arise and save us!'
28
Yet where are the gods that you made for yourselves?
Let them arise if they wish to save you in your time of troubles,
for your idols equal your cities in number, Judah!
29
So why do you accuse me of doing wrong?
All of you have sinned against me—
this is Yahweh's declaration.
30
I have punished your people in vain.
They would not accept discipline.
Your sword has devoured your prophets
like a destructive lion!
31
You who belong to this generation! Pay attention to my word, the word of Yahweh!
Have I been a wilderness to Israel?
Or a land of deep darkness?
Why would my people say,
'Let us wander around, we will not go to you anymore'?
32
Will a virgin forget her jewelry,
a bride her sash?
Yet my people have forgotten me
for days without number!
33
How well you make your way to look for love.
You have even taught your ways to wicked women.
34
The blood that was the life of innocent, poor people
has been found on your clothes.
These people were not discovered
in acts of burglary.
35
Yet you say,
'I am innocent;
surely his anger has turned away from me.'
But look! I will bring down judgment on you
because you say, 'I have not sinned.'
36
Why do you treat so very lightly
this change in your ways?
You will also be disappointed by Egypt,
just as you were by Assyria.
37
You will also go out from there dejected,
with your hands on your head,
for Yahweh has rejected the ones whom you trusted,
so you will not be helped by them."
Chapter 3
1
"If a man divorces his wife and she goes from him
and becomes another man's wife,
will he return to her again?
Would that land not be greatly polluted?
You have lived as a prostitute who has many lovers;
and would you return to me?—
this is Yahweh's declaration.
2
Lift up your eyes to the barren heights and look!
Is there any place where you have not had illicit sex?
By the roadsides you sat waiting for your lovers,
as an Arab in the wilderness.
You have polluted the land
with your prostitution and wickedness.
3
So the showers have been withheld
and the spring rains have not come;
yet you have the forehead of a prostitute;
you refuse to be ashamed.
4
Have you not just now called to me: 'My Father!
My closest friend even from my youth!
5
Will he always be angry?
Will he always keep his wrath to the end?'
Look! This is what you have said,
but you do all the evil you can!"
6
Then Yahweh said to me in the days of Josiah the king, "Do you see what apostate Israel has done? She has gone up every high hill and under every leafy tree, and there she has acted like a prostitute.
7
I said, 'After she does all these things, she will return to me,' but she did not return. Then her faithless sister Judah saw these things.
8
So I saw that, in the same way that apostate Israel had committed adultery and I had sent her away and had given a certificate of divorce against her, her faithless sister Judah did not fear; she also went out and acted like a prostitute.
9
Her prostitution was nothing to her; she defiled the land, and she committed adultery with stones and trees.
10
Then after all of this, her faithless sister Judah returned to me, not with all her heart, but with a lie—this is Yahweh's declaration."
11
Then Yahweh said to me, "Apostate Israel has been more righteous than faithless Judah!
12
Go and proclaim these words to the north. Say,
'Return, apostate Israel!—
this is Yahweh's declaration—
I will not always be angry with you.
Since I am faithful—
this is Yahweh's declaration—
I will not stay angry forever.
13
Acknowledge your iniquity,
for you have transgressed against Yahweh your God;
you have shared your ways with strangers
under every leafy tree!
For you have not listened to my voice!—
this is Yahweh's declaration.
14
Return, faithless people!—this is Yawheh's declaration—I am your husband! I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion!
15
I will give you shepherds after my heart, and they will shepherd you with knowledge and insight.
16
Then it will happen that you will increase and bear fruit in the land in those days—this is Yahweh's declaration-they will no longer say, "The ark of the covenant of Yahweh!" This matter will no longer come up in their hearts or be remembered; it will not be missed, and another one will not be made.'
17
In that time they will proclaim about Jerusalem, 'This is Yahweh's throne,' and all the other nations will gather at Jerusalem in Yahweh's name. They will no longer walk in the stubbornness of their wicked hearts.
18
In those days, the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel. They will come together from the land of the north to the land that I gave your ancestors as an inheritance.
19
As for me, I said,
'How I want to treat you as my son
and give you a delightful land,
an inheritance more beautiful
than what is in any other nation!'
I would have said, 'You will call me "my Father".'
I would have said
that you would not turn from following me.
20
But like a woman faithless to her husband,
you have betrayed me, house of Israel—
this is Yahweh's declaration."
21
A voice is heard on the plains,
the weeping and pleading of the people of Israel!
For they have changed their ways;
they have forgotten Yahweh their God.
22
"Return, faithless people!
I will heal you of your apostasy!"
"Behold! We will come to you,
for you are Yahweh our God!
23
Surely lies come from the hills,
a confusing noise from the mountains;
surely Yahweh our God
is the salvation of Israel.
24
Yet since our youth shameful idols
have consumed the labor of our ancestors—
their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters!
25
Let us lie down in shame.
May our shame cover us,
for we have sinned against Yahweh our God!
We ourselves and our ancestors,
from the time of our youth to this present day,
have not listened to the voice of Yahweh our God!"
Chapter 4
1
"If you return, Israel—
this is Yahweh's declaration—
then it should be to me that you return.
If you remove your detestable things from before me
and do not wander from me again,
2
and if you are truthful, just, and righteous
when you swear, 'As Yahweh lives,'
then the nations will bless themselves in him,
and in him they will glory."
3
For Yahweh says this to each person in Judah and Jerusalem:
'Plow your own ground,
and do not sow among thorns.
4
Circumcise yourselves to Yahweh,
and remove the foreskins of your heart,
men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,
or else my fury will break out like fire,
and burn with no one to quench it,
because of the wickedness of your practices.
5
Report in Judah and let it be heard in Jerusalem.
Say, "Blow the ram's horn in the land."
Proclaim, "Gather together.
Let us go to the fortified cities."
6
Lift up the signal flag and point it toward Zion,
and run for safety!
Do not stay, for I am bringing disaster
from the north and great crushing.
7
A lion is coming out from his thicket
and someone who will destroy nations is setting out.
He is leaving his place to bring horror to your land,
to turn your cities into ruins, where no one will live.
8
Because of this, gird yourselves with sackcloth,
lament and wail.
For the force of Yahweh's anger
has not turned away from us.
9
Then it will happen in that day—
this is Yahweh's declaration—
that the hearts of the king and his officials will die.
The priests will be appalled,
and the prophets will be astounded.'"
10
So I said, "Ah! Lord Yahweh. Surely you have completely deceived this people and Jerusalem by saying, 'There will be peace for you.' Yet the sword is striking against their life."
11
In that time it will be said of this people and Jerusalem, "A burning wind from the plains of the desert will make its way to the daughter of my people. It will not winnow or cleanse them.
12
A wind far stronger than that will come at my command, and I will now pass sentence against them.
13
See, he comes up like clouds,
and his chariots are like a storm.
His horses are faster than eagles.
Woe to us, for we will be devastated!
14
Cleanse your heart from wickedness, Jerusalem,
so that you might be saved.
How long will wicked thoughts lodge within you?
15
For a voice is bringing news from Dan
and a report of trouble from the mountains of Ephraim.
16
Make the nations think about this:
See, announce to Jerusalem
that besiegers are coming from a distant land
to shout in battle against the cities of Judah.
17
They will be like the watchmen
of a cultivated field against her all around,
since she has been rebellious against me—
this is Yahweh's declaration—
18
and your conduct and your deeds
have done these things to you.
This will be your punishment.
How bitter it will be!
It will strike your very heart.
19
My heart! My heart!
I am in anguish in my heart.
My heart is turbulent within me.
I cannot keep quiet for I hear the sound of the horn,
an alarm for battle.
20
Disaster follows after disaster;
for all the land lies in ruins.
Suddenly my tents are destroyed,
my curtains in a moment.
21
How long will I see the signal flag?
Will I hear the sound of the horn?
22
For the foolishness of my people—
they do not know me.
They are stupid children,
and they have no understanding.
They are skilled at doing evil,
but they do not know how to do good.
23
I saw the land. Behold!
It was formless and empty.
For there was no light for the heavens.
24
I looked at the mountains.
Behold, they were trembling,
and all the hills were shaking about.
25
I looked. Behold, there was no one,
and all the birds of the heavens had fled.
26
I looked. Behold, the productive land was a wilderness
and all the cities had been pulled down before Yahweh,
before the fury of his wrath."
27
This is what Yahweh says,
"All the land will become a devastation,
but I will not completely destroy it
28
For this reason, the land will mourn,
and the heavens above will darken.
For I have declared my intentions;
I will not hold back;
I will not turn from carrying them out.
29
Every city will flee from the noise of the horseman
and the archer with a bow;
they will run into the forests.
Every city will climb up into the rocky places.
The cities will be abandoned,
for there will be no one to inhabit them.
30
Now that you have been devastated, what will you do? For though you are clothed in scarlet, and though you adorn yourself with gold jewelry, and though you make your eyes look bigger with paint, you are making yourself beautiful in vain. The men who lusted for you now reject you. They are trying to take away your life.
31
So I hear the sound of anguish,
distress as in the birth of a firstborn child,
the sound of the daughter of Zion.
She is gasping for breath.
She spreads out her hands,
'Woe to me! I am fainting because of these murderers.'"
Chapter 5
1
"Rush about through the streets of Jerusalem;
search in her city squares, too.
Then look and think about this:
If you can find a man or anyone who is acting justly
and trying to act faithfully,
then I will forgive Jerusalem.
2
Although they say, 'As Yahweh lives,'
yet they are swearing falsely."
3
Yahweh, do your eyes not look for faithfulness?
You struck the people, but they do not feel pain.
You have completely defeated them,
but they still refuse to receive discipline.
They make their faces harder than rock,
for they refuse to repent.
4
So I said,
"Surely these are only poor people.
They are foolish, for they do not know Yahweh's ways
nor their God's decrees.
5
I will go to the important people
and declare God's messages to them,
for they at least know Yahweh's ways,
the decrees of their God."
But they all broke their yoke together;
they all tore apart the chains that bound them to God.
6
So a lion from a thicket will attack them.
A wolf from the Arabah will devastate them.
A leopard is watching their cities
Anyone who goes outside his city will be torn apart.
For their transgressions increase.
Their acts of apostasy are numerous.
7
Why should I pardon these people?
Your sons have abandoned me
and have made oaths by what are not gods.
I fed them fully
but they committed adultery
and walked in great number to the houses of prostitutes.
8
They were horses in heat.
They roamed about wanting to mate.
Each man neighed to his neighbor's wife.
9
So should I not punish them—
this is Yahweh's declaration—
and should I not avenge myself
on a nation that is like this?
10
Go up onto her vineyards' terraces and destroy.
But do not bring complete destruction to them.
Trim their vines,
since those vines do not come from Yahweh.
11
For the houses of Israel and Judah
have completely betrayed me—
this is Yahweh's declaration.
12
They have spoken falsely about Yahweh
and they said, "He will do nothing;
no harm will come upon us,
and we will not see sword or famine.
13
The prophets will become wind,
the word is not in them,
so let what they say be done to them."
14
So Yahweh, the God of hosts says this,
"Because you have said this, see,
I am about to place my word in your mouth.
It will be like a fire,
and this people will be like wood!
For it will consume them.
15
Behold! I am about to bring a nation
against you from far away, house of Israel—
this is Yahweh's declaration—
it is a lasting nation, an ancient nation!
It is a nation whose language you do not know,
nor will you understand what they say.
16
Its quiver is like an open tomb.
They are all soldiers.
17
They will eat up your harvest and your food.
They will devour your sons and daughters.
They will devour your flocks and herds.
They will devour your vines and fig trees.
They will beat down with a sword
your fortified cities in which you put your trust.
18
But even in those days—this is Yahweh's declaration—I do not intend to destroy you completely.
19
When you, Israel and Judah, say, 'Why has Yahweh our God done all these things to us?' then you, Jeremiah, will say to them, 'Just as you abandoned Yahweh and served foreign gods in your land, so you must also serve strangers in a land that is not your own.'
20
Report this to the house of Jacob
and let it be heard in Judah. Say,
21
'Hear this, you foolish people
who have no understanding;
you have eyes but you cannot see,
and you have ears but you cannot hear.
22
Do you not fear me—
this is Yahweh's declaration—
or tremble before my face?
I have placed a border of sand against the sea
an ongoing decree that it does not violate—
even though the sea rises and falls,
still it does not violate it.
Even though its waves roar,
they do not cross it.
23
But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart.
They have turned aside and gone away.
24
For they do not say in their hearts,
"Let us fear Yahweh our God,
the one who brings the rain—
the early rain and the late rains—
in their right time,
keeping the appointed weeks of the harvest for us."
25
Your iniquities kept these things from happening.
Your sins have stopped good from coming to you.
26
For wicked men are found with my people.
They watch as someone crouches to capture birds;
they set a trap and catch people.
27
Like a cage full of birds,
their houses are full of deceit.
So they grow large and become rich.
28
They have become fat;
they shine with well-being.
They crossed over all bounds of wickedness.
They do not plead the cause of the people,
or the cause of the orphan.
They prosper even though they have not
given justice to the needy.
29
Should I not punish them for these things—
this is Yahweh's declaration—
and will I not take vengeance for myself
on a nation like this?
30
An appalling and horrifying thing
has occurred in the land.
31
The prophets prophesy with deceit,
and the priests rule with their own power.
My people love it this way,
but what will happen in the end?'"
Chapter 6
1
Find safety, people of Benjamin, by leaving Jerusalem.
Blow a ram's horn in Tekoa.
Raise up over Beth Hakkerem a signal,
since wickedness is appearing from the north;
a great crushing is coming.
2
The daughter of Zion,
the beautiful and delicate woman, will be destroyed.
3
The shepherds and their flocks will go to them;
they will set up tents against her all around;
each man will shepherd with his own hand.
4
"Dedicate yourselves to the gods for the battle.
Arise, let us attack at noon.
Woe to us! For the daylight is fading away
and the evening shadows are falling.
5
But let us attack at night
and destroy her fortresses."
6
For Yahweh of hosts says this:
Cut her trees,
and heap up siege works against Jerusalem.
This is the right city to attack,
because it is filled with oppression.
7
As a well pours out fresh water,
so this city keeps producing wickedness.
Violence and devastation are heard within her;
sickness and wounds are continually before my face.
8
Accept discipline, Jerusalem,
or I will turn away from you
and make you into a ruin, an uninhabited land.'"
9
Yahweh of hosts says this,
"They will certainly glean the remnant of Israel like a vineyard.
Reach out again with your hand to pick grapes from the vines.
10
To whom should I declare and warn
so they will listen?
Look! Their ears are uncircumcised;
they are not able to pay attention!
Look! The word of Yahweh has come to them to correct them,
but they do not want it."
11
But I am filled with Yahweh's fury.
I am tired of holding it in.
He said, to me,
"Pour it out on the children in the streets
and on the groups of young men.
For every man will be taken away with his wife;
and every old person heavy with years.
12
Their houses will be turned over to others,
both their fields and their wives together.
For I will attack the inhabitants of the land with my hand—
this is Yahweh's declaration.
13
Yahweh declares that from the least to the greatest,
all of them are greedy for dishonest gain.
From the prophet to the priest,
all of them practice deceit.
14
They have healed the brokenness of my people lightly,
saying, 'Peace, Peace,' when there is no peace.
15
Were they ashamed when they practiced abominations?
They were not ashamed;
they did not know how to blush!
So they will fall among the fallen;
they will be brought down
when they are punished, says Yahweh.
16
Yahweh says this,
"Stand at the road crossing and look;
ask for the ancient pathways.
'Where is this good way?'
Then go on it and find a resting place for yourselves.
But the people say,
'We will not go.'
17
I appointed for you watchmen to listen for the ram's horn.
But they said, 'We will not listen.'
18
Therefore, nations, listen!
See, you witnesses, what will happen to them.
19
Hear, earth!
See, I am about to bring disaster to this people,
the fruit of their thoughts,
because they paid no attention to my word
and they have rejected my law.
20
What does this frankincense going up from Sheba mean to me
or these sweet smells from a distant land?
Your burnt offerings are not acceptable to me,
nor are your sacrifices.
21
So Yahweh says this,
'See, I am about to place a stumbling block against this people.
They will stumble over it-fathers and sons together.
Inhabitants and their neighbors will also perish.'
22
Yahweh says this,
'See, a people is coming from the land of the north,
a great nation is being stirred up from the farthest parts of the earth.
23
They will pick up bows and spears.
They are cruel and have no compassion.
Their sound is like the sea roar,
and they are riding on horses,
set out in order as men for battle,
against you, daughter of Zion.'"
24
We have heard the reports about them
and our hands fall limp in distress.
Anguish seizes us as a woman giving birth.
25
Do not go out to the fields,
and do not walk on the roads,
for the swords of the enemy and terror are all around.
26
Daughter of my people,
gird yourself with sackcloth and roll in ashes;
mourn with painful sobs as for an only son,
for the destroyer will suddenly come upon us.
27
"I have made you, Jeremiah,
one who tests my people like one would test metal,
so you will inspect and test their ways.
28
They are all the most stubborn of people,
who go about slandering others.
All of them are bronze and iron, acting corruptly.
29
The bellows are scorched by the fire that is burning them;
the lead is consumed in the flames.
The refining continues among them,
but it is useless, because the evil is not removed.
30
They will be called rejected silver,
for Yahweh has rejected them."
Chapter 7
1
The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
2
"Stand at the gate of the house of Yahweh and proclaim this word! Say, 'Hear the word of Yahweh, all you of Judah, you who enter these gates to worship Yahweh.
3
Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this: Make your ways and practices good, and I will let you continue to live in this place.
4
Do not entrust yourself to deceitful words and say, "Temple of Yahweh! Temple of Yahweh! Temple of Yahweh!"
5
For if you actually make your ways and practices good; if you completely execute justice between a man and his neighbor—
6
if you do not oppress the sojourner, the orphan, or the widow and do not pour out innocent blood in this place, and do not walk after other gods to your own harm—
7
then I will let you stay in this place, in the land that I gave to your ancestors from ancient times and forever.
8
Behold! You are entrusting yourselves to deceitful words that do not help you.
9
Do you steal, kill, and commit adultery? Do you swear deceitfully and offer incense to Baal and walk after other gods whom you have not known?
10
Then do you come and stand before me in this house that is called by my name and say, "We are saved," so you can do all of these abominations?
11
Is this house, which carries my name, a den of bandits in your eyes? But behold, I have seen it—this is Yahweh's declaration.'
12
'So go to my place that was in Shiloh, where I allowed my name to stay there in the beginning, and look at what I did to it because of the wickedness of my people Israel.
13
So now, on account of your doing all of these practices—this is Yahweh's declaration—I spoke to you time and time again, but you did not listen. I summoned you, but you did not answer.
14
Therefore, what I did to Shiloh, I will also do to this house that is called by my name, the house in which you have trusted, this place that I gave to you and your ancestors.
15
For I will send you out from before me just as I had sent out all your brothers, all the descendants of Ephraim.'
16
As for you, Jeremiah, do not pray for this people, and do not lift up a cry of distress or say a prayer on their behalf, and do not petition me, for I will not listen to you.
17
Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?
18
The children are gathering wood and the fathers kindling the fire! The women are kneading dough to make cakes for the queen of the heavens and pour out drink offerings for other gods so that they will provoke me.
19
Are they truly provoking me?—this is Yahweh's declaration—is it not themselves whom they are provoking, so that shame is on them?
20
Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this, 'See, my anger and wrath will gush out onto this place, on both man and animals, on the tree in the fields and the fruit on the ground. It will burn and never be extinguished.'
21
Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel says this: 'Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices and eat the meat.
22
For when I brought your ancestors out from the land of Egypt, I did not require anything from them. I gave them no command about matters of burnt offerings and sacrifices.
23
I only gave them this command, "Listen to my voice, and I will be your God and you will be my people. So walk in all the ways that I am commanding you, so that it may go well with you."
24
But they did not listen or incline their ear. They lived by their own stubborn plans of their wicked hearts, so they went backwards, not forward.
25
Ever since the day when your ancestors went out from the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent every one of my servants, my prophets, to you. I persisted in sending them.
26
But they did not listen to me or incline their ear. Instead, they stiffened their necks. They were more wicked than their ancestors.'
27
So proclaim all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. Proclaim these things to them, but they will not answer you.
28
Say to them: This is a nation that does not listen to the voice of Yahweh its God and does not receive discipline. Truth is destroyed and cut off from their mouths.
29
Cut off your hair and shave yourself, and throw away your hair. Sing a dirge over the open places. For Yahweh has rejected and abandoned this generation in his rage.
30
For the sons of Judah have done evil in my eye—this is Yahweh's declaration—they have set their detestable things in the house that is called by my name, in order to defile it.
31
Then they built the high place of Topheth that is in the Valley of Ben Hinnom. They did this to burn their sons and daughters in fire—something that I did not command, nor did it enter my mind.
32
So see, days are coming—this is Yahweh's declaration—when it will no longer be called Topheth or Valley of Ben Hinnom. It will be the Valley of Slaughter; they will bury bodies in Topheth until there is no room left.
33
The corpses of this people will be food for the birds of the skies and the wild animals of the earth, and there will be no one to frighten them away.
34
I will put an end to the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem, the sound of joy and the sound of gladness, the sound of the groom and the sound of the bride, for the land will become a desolation."
Chapter 8
1
"At that time—this is Yahweh's declaration—they will bring out from the graves the bones of the kings of Judah and its officials, the bones of the priests and the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
2
Then they will spread them out in the light of the sun and moon and all the stars of the skies; these things in the sky that they have followed and served, that they have walked after and sought, and that they have worshiped. The bones will not be gathered or buried again. They will be like dung on the surface of the earth.
3
In every place where I have driven them, death will be chosen instead of life by all who remain from this evil family—this is the declaration of Yahweh of hosts.
4
So say to them, 'Yahweh says this:
Does anyone fall and not get up?
Does anyone get lost and not try to return?
5
Why has this people, Jerusalem,
turned away in permanent apostasy?
They hold on to deceit
and refuse to repent.
6
I paid attention and listened,
but they did not speak right;
no one repented of his wickedness,
no one who says, "What have I done?"
All of them go where they wish,
like a horse rushing toward battle.
7
Even the stork in heaven knows the right times;
and the doves, swifts, and cranes.
They go on their migrations at the right time,
but my people do not know Yahweh's decrees.
8
How can you say,
"We are wise, for the law of Yahweh is with us"?
Indeed, see!
The deceitful pen of the scribes has created deceit.
9
The wise men will be ashamed.
They are dismayed and trapped.
Behold! They reject Yahweh's word,
so what use is their wisdom?
10
So I will give their wives to others,
and their fields to those who will possess them,
because from the least to the greatest,
all of them are greedy for dishonest gain!
From the prophet to the priest,
all of them practice deceit.
11
They have healed the brokenness of my people lightly,
saying, "Peace, Peace," when there is no peace.
12
Were they ashamed when they practiced abominations?
They were not ashamed;
they did not know how to blush!
So they will fall among the fallen;
they will be brought down when they are punished,
says Yahweh.
13
I will remove them completely—
this is Yahweh's declaration—
there will be no grapes on the vine,
nor will there be figs on the fig trees.
For the leaf will wither,
and what I have given to them will pass away.
14
Why are we sitting here?
Come together;
let us go to the fortified cities,
and we will become silent there in death.
For Yahweh our God will silence us.
He will make us drink poison,
since we have sinned against him.
15
We are hoping for peace,
but there will be nothing good.
We are hoping for a time of healing,
but see, there will be terror.
16
The snorting of his stallions is heard from Dan.
The whole earth shakes
at the sound of the neighing of his strong horses.
For they will come
and consume the land and its wealth,
the city and the ones living in it.
17
For see, I am sending out snakes among you,
adders that you cannot charm.
They will bite you—
this is Yahweh's declaration.'"
18
My sorrow has no end
and my heart is sick.
19
Behold! The cry for help of the daughter of my people
from a land far away!
Is Yahweh not in Zion?
Is her king no longer there?
Why then do they provoke me to anger with their carved figures
and their worthless foreign idols?
20
The harvest has passed on, summer is over.
But we have not been saved.
21
I am hurt because of the hurt of the daughter of my people.
I mourn at the horrible things that have happened to her;
I am dismayed.
22
Is there no medicine in Gilead?
Is there no healer there?
Why will the healing of the daughter of my people not happen?
Chapter 9
1
If only my head could produce water,
and my eyes be a fountain of tears!
For I wish to weep day and night for those
among the daughter of my people who have been killed.
2
If only someone would give me a place for travelers in the wilderness to stay,
where I could go to abandon my people.
If only I could leave them,
since all of them are adulterers, a company of traitors!
3
"They bend their tongues like their bows for lies,
and it is not because of any faithfulness of theirs
that they grow strong on the earth.
For they go from one wicked act to another.
They do not know me." This is Yahweh's declaration.
4
Each of you, be on guard against your neighbor
and do not trust in any brother.
For every brother is certainly a deceiver,
and every neighbor walks in slander.
5
Each man mocks his neighbor
and does not speak the truth.
Their tongues teach deceitful things.
They are exhausted from committing iniquity.
6
Your dwelling is in the midst of deception;
in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me—
this is Yahweh's declaration."
7
Yahweh of hosts says this,
"See, I am about to refine them and test them,
for what else can I do, because of what my people have done?
8
Their tongues are deadly arrows; they speak deceit.
With their mouths they proclaim peace with their neighbors,
but with their hearts they lie in wait for them.
9
Should I not punish them because of these things—
this is Yahweh's declaration—
and should I not avenge myself on a nation that is like this?
10
I will sing a song of mourning and wailing for the mountains,
and a dirge will be sung for the meadows in the wilderness.
For they have been made desolate
and no one can pass through them,
and the lowing of the cattle is not heard.
The birds of the skies and the animals
have all fled away.
11
So I will turn Jerusalem into piles of ruins,
a hideout for jackals.
I will make Judah's cities ruined places
without inhabitants."
12
What man is wise enough to understand this? To whom has the mouth of Yahweh spoken, and he will declare it? Why has the land perished and been made desolate like the wilderness that no one can pass through?
13
Yahweh says, "It is because they have abandoned my law that I set before them, because they do not listen to my voice or walk by it.
14
It is because they have walked by their stubborn hearts and have followed the Baals as their fathers taught them to do.
15
Therefore Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, says this, 'See, I am about to make this people eat wormwood and drink poisonous water.
16
Then I will scatter them among the nations that they have not known, neither they nor their ancestors. I will send out a sword after them until I have completely destroyed them.'"
17
Yahweh of hosts says this,
"Think about this: Summon
funeral singers; let them come.
Send out for women skilled at lamenting;
let them come.
18
Let them hurry and sing a mournful song over us,
so our eyes may run with tears and our eyelids flow with water.
19
For the sound of wailing is heard in Zion,
'How we are devastated.
We are greatly ashamed,
for we have abandoned the land
since they tore down our houses.'
20
So you women, hear Yahweh's word;
pay attention to the messages that come from his mouth.
Then teach your daughters a mourning song,
and each neighbor woman a dirge.
21
For death has come through our windows;
it goes into our palaces.
It destroys children from outside,
and young men in the city squares.
22
Declare this, 'This is Yahweh's declaration—
the corpses of men will fall like dung in the fields,
and like grain stalks after the reapers,
and there will be no one to gather them.'"
23
Yahweh says this,
"Do not let the wise man take pride in his wisdom,
or the warrior in his might.
Do not let the wealthy man take pride in his riches.
24
For if a man takes pride in anything,
let it be in this, that he has insight and knows me.
For I am Yahweh, who acts with covenant loyalty,
justice and righteousness on earth.
For it is in these that I take pleasure—
this is Yahweh's declaration."
25
"See, days are coming—this is Yahweh's declaration—when I will punish all the circumcised who are such only in their body.
26
I will punish Egypt and Judah, Edom, the people of Ammon, Moab, and all the desert people who cut the hair on the sides of their heads very short. For all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel has an uncircumcised heart."
Chapter 10
1
"Hear the word that Yahweh is announcing to you, house of Israel.
2
Yahweh says this,
'Do not learn the ways of the nations,
and do not be dismayed by the signs in the heavens,
for the nations are dismayed by these.
3
For the customs of these people are worthless.
Someone cuts down a tree from the forest.
It is the work of the hands of a craftsman using an axe.
4
Then they decorate it with silver and gold.
They strengthen it with hammer and nails so it will not fall over.
5
What they make with their hands is like scarecrows in a cucumber field,
because they, too, can say nothing,
and they have to be carried because they cannot walk.
Do not fear them, for they cannot bring about evil,
nor are they able to do anything good.'"
6
There is no one like you, Yahweh.
You are great, and your name is great in power.
7
Who does not fear you, king of the nations?
For this is what you deserve,
for there is no one like you among all the wise men of the nations
or all their royal kingdoms.
8
They are both brutish and stupid.
Their vain discipline—it is nothing but wood.
9
They bring hammered silver from Tarshish,
and gold from Uphaz made by artificers,
the hands of refiners.
Their clothes are blue and purple cloth.
Their skillful men made all of these things.
10
But Yahweh is the true God.
He is the living God and eternal king.
The earth quakes at his anger,
and the nations cannot endure his anger.
11
You will speak to them like this, "The gods that did not make the heavens and earth will perish from the earth and from under these heavens."
12
But it was he who made the earth by his power,
and he established the world by his wisdom,
and by his understanding he stretched out the heavens.
13
His voice makes the roar of waters in the heavens,
and he brings up the mists from the ends of the earth.
He makes lightning for the rain
and sends out wind from his storehouse.
14
Every man has become stupid, without knowledge.
Every metalworker is put to shame by his idols.
For his cast metal images are frauds;
there is no life in them.
15
They are useless, the work of mockers;
they will perish at the time of their punishment.
16
But God, the portion of Jacob, is not like these,
for he is the molder of all things.
Israel is the tribe of his inheritance;
Yahweh of hosts is his name.
17
Gather your bundle and leave the land,
you people who have been living under the siege.
18
For Yahweh says this,
"See, I am about to throw the inhabitants of the land out this time.
I will cause them distress,
and they will find it to be so."
19
Woe to me!
Because of my broken bones, my wound is infected.
So I said,
"Surely this is agony, but I must bear it."
20
My tent is devastated,
and all of my tent cords are cut in two.
They have taken my children away from me,
so they no longer exist.
There is no longer anyone to spread out my tent
or to raise up my tent curtains.
21
For the shepherds are stupid
and they do not seek Yahweh;
so they have not prospered,
and all their flock has been scattered.
22
The report of news has arrived, "See! It is coming,
a great earthquake is coming from the land of the north
to make the cities of Judah into ruins,
hideouts for jackals."
23
I know, Yahweh,
that the way of a man does not come from himself.
No person walking directs his own steps.
24
Discipline me, Yahweh, with justice,
not in your anger or you would destroy me.
25
Pour your fury on the nations that do not know you
and on the families that do not call on your name.
For they have devoured Jacob and consumed him
so as to completely destroy him and demolish his habitation.
Chapter 11
1
The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
2
"Listen to the words of this covenant, and declare them to each man in Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
3
Say to them, 'Yahweh, God of Israel says this: Cursed is anyone who does not listen to the words of this covenant.
4
This is the covenant that I commanded your ancestors to keep the day I brought them out from the land of Egypt, from the furnace for smelting iron. I said, "Listen to my voice and do all of these things just as I have commanded you, for you will be my people and I will be your God."
5
Obey me so that I may confirm the oath that I swore to your ancestors, the oath that I would give them the land flowing with milk and honey, where you live today.'" Then I, Jeremiah, answered and said, "Let it be so, Yahweh!"
6
Yahweh said to me, "Proclaim all these things in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. Say, 'Listen to the words of this covenant and carry them out.
7
For I have been giving solemn commands to your ancestors from the day I brought them up from the land of Egypt until this present time, persistently warning them and saying, "Listen to my voice."'
8
But they did not listen or incline their ear. Each person has been walking in the stubbornness of his wicked heart. So I brought all the curses in the covenant that I commanded them to obey, but the people still did not obey."
9
Next Yahweh said to me, "A conspiracy has been discovered among the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
10
They have returned to the iniquities of their earliest ancestors, who refused to listen to my word. They walked after other gods to worship them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah broke my covenant that I established with their ancestors.
11
Therefore Yahweh says this, 'See, I am about to bring disaster on them, disaster from which they will not be able to escape. Then they will call out to me, but I will not listen to them.
12
The cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and call out to the gods to which they had given offerings, but they will certainly not be saved by them at the time of their disaster.
13
For you Judah, the number of your gods has increased to equal the number of your cities. You have made the number of shameful altars in Jerusalem, incense altars for Baal, equal to the number of her streets.
14
So you yourself, Jeremiah, must not pray for this people. You must not cry for help or pray on their behalf. For I will not be listening when they call on me in their disaster.
15
Why is my beloved one
the one who has had so many wicked intentions,
in my house?
The meat of your sacrifices cannot help you.
You rejoice because of your evil actions.
16
In the past Yahweh called you a leafy olive tree,
beautiful with lovely fruit.
But he will light a fire on it that will sound like the roar of a storm;
its branches will be broken.
17
For Yahweh of hosts, the one who planted you, has decreed disaster against you because of the wicked acts that the house of Israel and the house of Judah have committed—they have angered me by giving offerings to Baal.'"
18
Yahweh made me know these things, so I know them. You, Yahweh, made me see their deeds.
19
I was like a gentle lamb being led to the slaughter. I did not know that they had formed plans against me,
"Let us destroy the tree with its fruit!
Let us cut him off from the land of the living
so his name will be no longer remembered."
20
Yet Yahweh of hosts is the righteous judge
who examines the heart and the mind.
I will witness your vengeance against them,
for I have presented my case to you.
21
Therefore Yahweh says this concerning the people of Anathoth who are seeking your life, "They say, 'You must not prophesy in the name of Yahweh, or you will die by our hand.'
22
Therefore Yahweh of hosts says this, 'See, I am about to punish them. Their vigorous young men will die by the sword. Their sons and their daughters will die by famine.
23
No remnant will be left for them, because I am bringing disaster against the people of Anathoth, a year of their punishment.'"
Chapter 12
1
You are righteous, Yahweh,
whenever I bring disputes to you.
I must certainly tell you of my reason to complain:
Why do the ways of the wicked succeed?
All the treacherous are at ease.
2
You planted them and they took root.
They continue to produce fruit.
You are near to them in their mouths,
but far away from their hearts.
3
Yet you, Yahweh, know me.
You see me and you test my heart toward you.
Take them away like sheep to the slaughter,
and set them apart for the day of slaughter!
4
How long will the land mourn
and the grass in the field be withered?
Because those who live in it are wicked,
the animals and the birds have been swept away,
because the people said,
"He will not see what happens to us."
5
Yahweh said, "Indeed, if you, Jeremiah,
have run with foot soldiers and they have tired you out,
how can you compete against horses?
And if you are confident only in a peaceful land,
how will you do in the majesty along the Jordan?
6
For even your brothers and your father's family
have betrayed you and have raised their voice against you.
Do not trust in them,
even if they say nice things to you.
7
I have abandoned my house;
I have abandoned my inheritance.
I have given my beloved into the hands of her enemies.
8
My inheritance has become to me
like a lion in a thicket;
she sets herself against me with her own voice,
so I hate her.
9
Has not my prized possession become a speckled bird,
that other birds of prey go against her all around?
Go and gather all the wild beasts
and bring them to devour her.
10
Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard.
They have trampled on my portion of land;
they turned my delightful portion into a wilderness,
a desolation.
11
They have made her a desolation.
I mourn for her; she is desolate.
All the land has been made desolate,
for there is no one who takes it to heart.
12
Destroyers have come against all
the bare places in the wilderness,
for Yahweh's sword is devouring
from one end of the land to the other.
There is no safety in the land
for any living creature.
13
They have sown wheat but harvest thornbushes.
They are exhausted from work but have gained nothing.
So be ashamed of your gain
because of Yahweh's anger."
14
Yahweh says this against all my neighbors, the wicked ones who strike at the possession that I made my people Israel inherit, "See, I am the one who is about to uproot them from their own ground, and I will pull up the house of Judah from among them.
15
Then after I uproot those nations, it will happen that I will have compassion on them and bring them back; I will return them—each man to his inheritance and his land.
16
It will come about that if those nations carefully learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name 'As Yahweh lives' just as they have taught my people to swear by Baal, then they will be built up in the midst of my people.
17
But if any do not listen, then I will uproot that nation. It will certainly be uprooted and destroyed—this is Yahweh's declaration."
Chapter 13
1
Yahweh said this to me, "Go and buy a linen undergarment and put it on around your waist, but do not put it in water first."
2
So I bought an undergarment as Yahweh directed, and I put in on around my waist.
3
Then the word of Yahweh came to me a second time, saying,
4
"Take the undergarment that you purchased that is around your waist, get up and go now to Perath.
Hide it there in a rock crevice."
5
So I went and hid it in Perath, just as Yahweh had commanded me.
6
After many days, Yahweh said to me, "Get up and go back to Perath. Take from there the undergarment that I commanded you to hide."
7
So I went back to Perath
and dug out the undergarment where I had hid it, and behold, it was destroyed and completely useless.
8
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
9
"Yahweh says this: In the same way I will destroy the pride of Judah and the great majesty of Jerusalem.
10
This wicked people who refuses to listen to my word, who walk in the hardness of their heart, who go after other gods to worship them and bow down to them—they will be like this undergarment that is good for nothing.
11
For just as an undergarment clings to someone's hips, so I have made all the house of Israel and all the house of Judah cling to me—this is Yahweh's declaration—to be my people, to bring me fame, praise, and honor. But they would not listen to me.
12
So you must speak this word to them, 'Yahweh, the God of Israel, says this: Every jar will be filled with wine.' They will say to you, 'Do we not indeed know that every jar will be filled with wine?'
13
So say to them, 'Yahweh says this: See, I am about to fill with drunkenness every inhabitant of this land, the kings who sit on David's throne, the priests, prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
14
Then I will smash each man against the other, fathers and children together—this is Yahweh's declaration—I will not pity them or have compassion, and I will not spare them from destruction.'"
15
Listen and pay attention.
Do not be arrogant, for Yahweh had spoken.
16
Give honor to Yahweh your God
before he brings darkness,
and before he causes your feet to stumble
on the mountains at twilight.
For you are hoping for light,
but he will turn it to deep darkness
and change it to deep gloom.
17
So if you will not listen,
I will weep alone because of your pride.
My eyes will certainly weep and flow with tears,
for Yahweh's flock has been taken captive.
18
"Say to the king and to the queen mother,
'Humble yourselves! Sit!
For your splendid crowns
have fallen from your heads.'
19
The cities in the Negev will be shut up,
with no one to open them.
All Judah will be taken captive,
completely taken captive.
20
Lift up your eyes
and look at the ones coming from the north.
Where is the flock he gave to you,
the flock that was so beautiful to you?
21
What will you say when God sets over you
those whom you yourself had trained
to be your special allies?
Are these not the beginnings of the labor pains
that will seize you just like a woman in childbirth?
22
Then you might say in your heart,
'Why are these things happening to me?'
It will be for the multitude of your iniquities
that your skirts are raised up
and you have been violated.
23
Can the people of Cush change their skin color,
or a leopard change its spots?
If so, then you yourself,
although accustomed to wickedness,
would be able to do good.
24
So I will scatter them like chaff
that perishes in the desert wind.
25
This is what I have given to you,
the portion I have decreed for you—
this is Yahweh's declaration—
because you have forgotten me
and trusted in deceit.
26
So also I myself will strip your skirts off you,
and your nakedness will be seen.
27
I have seen your adultery and neighing,
the wickedness of your prostitution
on the hills and in the fields,
and I have seen these detestable things!
Woe to you, Jerusalem!
How long until you are made clean again?"
Chapter 14
1
This is the word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah regarding the drought,
2
"Let Judah mourn;
let her gates waste away.
They are wailing for the land;
their cries for Jerusalem are going up.
3
Their mighty ones send out their servants for water.
When they go to the trenches,
they cannot find water.
They all return with empty vessels;
they cover their heads ashamed and dishonored.
4
Because of this the ground is cracked,
for there is no rain in the land.
The plowmen are ashamed
and cover their heads.
5
For even the doe leaves her young in the fields
and abandons them, for there is no grass.
6
The wild donkeys stand on the bare plains
and they pant in the wind like jackals.
Their eyes fail to work,
for there is no vegetation."
7
Even though our iniquities testify against us
Yahweh, act for the sake of your name.
For our acts of apostasy increase;
we have sinned against you.
8
You are the Hope of Israel,
the one who saves him in the time of distress,
why will you be like a stranger in the land,
like a foreign wanderer who stretches out and spends just one night?
9
Why are you like someone who is astounded,
or like a warrior who has no power to rescue?
You are in our midst, Yahweh,
and your name is called over us.
Do not leave us!
10
Yahweh says this to this people:
"Since they love to wander,
they have not held back their feet from doing so."
Yahweh is not pleased with them
Now he calls to mind their iniquity
and has punished their sins.
11
Yahweh said to me, "Do not pray for good on behalf of this people.
12
For if they fast, I will not listen to their outcry, and if they offer up burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not take pleasure in them. For I will put an end to them by sword, famine, and plague."
13
Then I said, "Oh, Lord Yahweh! Behold! The prophets are saying to the people, 'You will not see the sword; there will be no famine for you, for I will give you true peace in this place.'"
14
Yahweh said to me, "The prophets prophesy deceit in my name. I did not send them out, nor did I give them any command or speak to them. But deceitful visions and worthless divination and the deceitfulness of their hearts—that is what they are prophesying to you."
15
Therefore Yahweh says this, "About the prophets prophesying in my name but whom I did not send out—those who say there will be no sword or famine in this land: These prophets will perish by sword and famine.
16
Then the people to whom they prophesied will be thrown out in the streets of Jerusalem because of famine and sword, for there will be no one to bury them—them, their wives, their sons, or their daughters—for I will pour out their wickedness on them.
17
Say this word to them:
'Let my eyes flow with tears
night and day.
Do not let them stop,
for there will be a great collapse
of the virgin daughter of my people—
a great and incurable wound.
18
If I go out to the field,
there are the ones who were killed by the sword!
If I come to the city,
there are the diseases that are caused by famine.
Both the prophet and the priest wander about the land,
and they do not know.'"
19
Have you completely rejected Judah?
Do you hate Zion?
Why will you afflict us when there is no healing for us?
We hoped for peace, but there was nothing good—
and for a time of healing,
but see, there is only terror.
20
We admit, Yahweh, our offenses,
the iniquity of our ancestors,
for we have sinned against you.
21
Do not reject us!
For the sake of your name,
do not make your glorious throne a disgrace.
Remember and do not break
your covenant with us.
22
Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain?
Or can the skies themselves send down showers?
Are you not the one, Yahweh our God?
We wait for you, for you are the one
who does all these things.
Chapter 15
1
Then Yahweh said to me, "Even if Moses or Samuel were standing in front of me, I would still not be in favor of this people. Send them out from before me, for them to go away.
2
It will happen that they will say to you, 'Where should we go?' Then you must say to them, 'Yahweh says this:
Those who are for death should go to death;
those who are for the sword should go to the sword.
Those who are for famine should go to famine;
and those who are for captivity should go to captivity.'
3
For I will assign them to four groups—this is Yahweh's declaration—the sword to slaughter some, the dogs to drag some away, the birds of the skies and the wild animals of the earth to consume and destroy some.
4
I will make of them a horrifying thing to all the kingdoms of the earth, because of what Manasseh son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, did in Jerusalem.
5
For who will have compassion for you, Jerusalem?
Who will grieve for you?
6
You have abandoned me—
this is Yahweh's declaration—
you have gone back from me.
So I will strike you with my hand and destroy you.
I am tired of relenting.
7
So I will winnow them with a pitchfork
at the gates of the land.
I will bereave them.
I will destroy my people
since they will not turn from their ways.
8
I will make their widows more numerous
than the sands of the seashore.
Against the mothers of young men I will send
the destroyer at noonday.
I will make horror and dismay suddenly fall on them.
9
The mother who has borne seven children will waste away.
She will gasp.
Her sun will set while it is still day.
She will be ashamed and embarrassed,
for I will give those who remain to the sword
in the presence of their enemies—
this is Yahweh's declaration."
10
Woe to me, my mother!
For you have borne me,
I who am a man of strife and argument through all the land.
I have not lent, nor has anyone lent to me,
but they all curse me.
11
Yahweh said:
"Will I not rescue you for good?
I will certainly make your enemies beg for help
in the time of calamity and distress.
12
Can one smash iron?
Especially iron from the north that is mixed with bronze?
13
I will give to your enemies
your wealth and treasures as free plunder.
I will do this because of all your sins
committed within all your borders.
14
Then I will make you serve your enemies
in a land that you do not know,
for a fire will ignite,
kindled in my wrath against you."
15
Yahweh, you know
Remember me and help me
Bring vengeance for me
against those who persecute me.
You are patient, but do not allow them to take me away;
know that I have suffered insult for your sake.
16
Your words have been found, and I consumed them
Your words became to me a joy
and the delight of my heart,
for I bear your name,
Yahweh God of hosts.
17
I did not sit in the circle
of those who celebrated or rejoiced.
I sat alone because of your powerful hand,
for you filled me with indignation.
18
Why is my pain constant and my wound incurable,
refusing to be healed?
Will you be like deceitful waters to me,
waters that dry up?
19
Therefore Yahweh said this,
"If you repent, Jeremiah,
then I will restore you,
and you will stand before me and serve me.
For if you separate the foolish things from the precious things,
you will be like my mouth.
The people will come back to you,
but you yourself must not go back to them.
20
I will make you like an impenetrable bronze wall to this people,
and they will wage war against you.
But they will not defeat you,
for I am with you to save and rescue you—
this is Yahweh's declaration—
21
for I will rescue you from the hand of the wicked
and redeem you from the hand of the ruthless."
Chapter 16
1
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2
"Do not take a wife for yourself, and do not have sons or daughters for yourself in this place.
3
For Yahweh says this to the sons and daughters who are born in this place, to the mothers who bear them, and to the fathers who caused them to be born in this land,
4
'They will die diseased deaths. They will not be mourned or buried. They will be like dung on the ground. For they will come to an end by sword and famine, and their corpses will be food for the birds of the skies and the wild animals of the earth.'
5
For the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 'Do not enter a house where there is mourning. Do not go to mourn or to show sympathy for them, for I have taken away my peace from this people—this is Yahweh's declaration—and my steadfast love and mercy.
6
Both the great and the small will die in this land. They will not be buried, and no one will mourn for them or cut themselves or shave their heads for them.
7
No one must share any food in mourning to comfort them because of the deaths, and none must give a comforting cup to his father or his mother in order to comfort them.
8
You must not go to a banquet house to sit with them in order to eat or drink.'
9
For Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this, 'See, before your eyes, in your days and in this place, I am about to put an end to the sound of joy and the sound of gladness, the sound of the groom and the sound of the bride.'
10
Then it will happen that you will report all these words to this people, and they will say to you, 'Why has Yahweh decreed all this great disaster against us? What is our iniquity and sin that we sinned against Yahweh our God?'
11
So say to them, 'Because your ancestors abandoned me—this is Yahweh's declaration—and they went after other gods and worshiped and bowed down to them. They abandoned me and have not kept my law.
12
But you yourselves have brought about more wickedness than your ancestors, for see, each person is walking by the stubbornness of his wicked heart; there is no one who listens to me.
13
So I will throw you from this land to a land that you have not known, neither you nor your ancestors, and you will worship other gods there by day and night, for I will not give any favor to you.'
14
Therefore, behold, the days are coming—this is Yahweh's declaration—when it will no longer be said, 'As Yahweh lives, the one who brought up the people of Israel from the land of Egypt.'
15
but, 'As Yahweh lives, the one who brought up the people of Israel from the land of the north and from the lands where he had scattered them.' For I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their ancestors.
16
Behold! I will send for many fishermen—this is Yahweh's declaration—so they will fish the people out. After this I will send for many hunters so they will hunt for them among all the mountains and hills, and in rock crevices.
17
For my eye is on all their ways; they cannot be hidden from before me. Their iniquity cannot be concealed from before my eyes.
18
I will first pay back double for their iniquity and sin. They have polluted my land. They have filled my inheritance with the corpses of their detestable idols and their abominations."
19
Yahweh, you are my stronghold and my refuge,
my place of safety in the day of distress.
The nations will go to you from the ends of the earth and say,
"Surely our ancestors inherited deceit.
They are empty;
there is no profit in them.
20
Do people make gods for themselves?
But they are not gods."
21
Therefore see! I will cause them to know in this time,
I will cause them to know my hand and my power,
so they will know that Yahweh is my name.
Chapter 17
1
"The sin of Judah is written
with an iron stylus having a diamond point.
It is engraved on the tablet of their heart
and on the horns of your altars.
2
Even their children remember their altars
and their Asherah poles
that were beside the spreading trees
and on the high hills.
3
My mountain in the open country,
and your wealth and all your treasures
I will give away as plunder,
together with your high places,
because of the sin you committed in all your territories.
4
You will, by your own actions,
let go of the inheritance that I gave to you.
I will enslave you to your enemies
in a land that you do not know,
for you have ignited a fire in my wrath,
which will burn forever."
5
Yahweh says,
"The person who trusts in mankind is accursed;
he makes flesh his strength
but turns his heart away from Yahweh.
6
For he will be like a small bush in the Arabah
and will not see anything good coming.
He will stay in the stony places in the wilderness,
barren land without inhabitants.
7
But the person who trusts in Yahweh is blessed,
for Yahweh is his reason for confidence.
8
For he will be like a tree planted by water,
its roots will spread out by the stream.
It will not fear the heat when it comes,
for its leaves are always green.
It is not anxious in a year of drought,
and it will not stop producing fruit.
9
The heart is more deceitful than anything else.
It is sick; who can understand it?
10
I am Yahweh,
the one who searches through the mind,
who tests the hearts.
I give to each person according to his ways,
according to the fruit of his deeds.
11
A partridge hatches an egg that she did not lay.
Someone may become rich unjustly,
but when half his days are over,
those riches will abandon him,
and in the end he will be a fool."
12
"The place of our sanctuary is a glorious throne,
elevated from the beginning.
13
Yahweh is the hope of Israel.
All who abandon you will be put to shame;
those in the land who turn away from you
will be written in the earth,
for they have abandoned Yahweh,
the fountain of living waters.
14
Heal me, Yahweh, and I will be healed!
Rescue me, and I will be rescued
For you are my song of praise.
15
See, they are saying to me,
'Where is the word of Yahweh? Let it come!'
16
As for me,
I did not run from being a shepherd following you.
I did not long for the day of disaster.
You know the proclamations that came from my lips.
They were made in your presence.
17
Do not be a terror to me.
You are my refuge on the day of calamity.
18
May my pursuers be ashamed,
but do not let me be ashamed.
May they be dismayed,
but do not let me be dismayed.
Send the day of disaster against them
and shatter them with a double share of destruction."
19
Yahweh said this to me: "Go and stand in the gate of the people where the kings of Judah enter and where they exit, then in all the other gates of Jerusalem.
20
Say to them, 'Hear the word of Yahweh, kings of Judah and all you people of Judah, and every resident of Jerusalem who comes in through these gates.
21
Yahweh says this: "Be careful for the sake of your lives and do not carry a burden on the Sabbath day to bring it to the gates of Jerusalem.
22
Do not bring a load out from your house on the Sabbath day. Do not do any work, but set apart the Sabbath day, just as I commanded your ancestors to do."'
23
They did not listen or pay attention, but stiffened their neck so they would not hear me nor accept discipline.
24
It will happen that if you truly listen to me—this is Yahweh's declaration—and do not bring a load to the gates of this city on the Sabbath day but instead set apart the Sabbath day and not do any work on it,
25
then kings, princes, and those who sit on David's throne will come to the gates of this city in chariots and with horses, they and their leaders, men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, and this city will be inhabited forever.
26
They will come from the cities of Judah and from all around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin and the lowlands, from the mountains, and from the Negev, bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and frankincense, thank offerings to the house of Yahweh.
27
But if you do not listen to me—to set apart the Sabbath day and to not carry heavy loads and to not enter the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day—then I will light a fire in its gates, and it will consume the fortresses of Jerusalem, and it cannot be put out."
Chapter 18
1
The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
2
"Arise and go out to the potter's house, for I will have you hear my word there."
3
So I went out to the potter's house, and behold! The potter was working on the potter's wheel.
4
But the pot he was making from the clay was ruined in the potter's hand, so he returned the clay and formed it into another pot, and he made that pot an object that was pleasing in his eyes.
5
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
6
"Should I not be able to act like this potter with you, house of Israel?—this is Yahweh's declaration. Behold! Like clay in a potter's hand—that is how you are in my hand, house of Israel.
7
At one moment, I may proclaim something about a nation or a kingdom, that I will drive it out, tear it down, or destroy it.
8
But if the nation about which I have made that proclamation turns from its evil, then I will relent from the disaster that I was planning to bring upon it.
9
At another moment, I may proclaim something about a nation or a kingdom, that I will build it up or plant it.
10
But if it does evil in my eyes by not listening to my voice, then I will change my mind about the good that I had said I would do for them.
11
So now, speak to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and say, 'Yahweh says this: See, I am about to form disaster against you. I am about to devise a plan against you. Repent, each person from his wicked way, so your ways and your practices will bring good to you.'
12
But they will say, 'This is no use. We will act according to our own plans. Each one of us will do what his evil, stubborn heart desires.'
13
Therefore Yahweh says this,
'Ask the nations,
who has ever heard of such a thing as this?
The virgin Israel has committed a horrible act.
14
Does the snow in Lebanon
ever leave the rocky hills on its sides?
Are the mountain streams coming from far away
ever destroyed, those cold streams?
15
Yet my people have forgotten me.
They have made offerings to useless idols
and been made to stumble in their paths;
they have left the ancient paths
to walk lesser paths.
16
Their land will become a horror,
an object of everlasting hissing.
Everyone who passes by her
will be astonished and shake his head.
17
I will scatter them before their enemies
like an eastern wind.
I will show them my back, and not my face,
on the day of their disaster.'"
18
So the people said, "Come, let us make plots against Jeremiah, since the law will never perish from the priests, or advice from the wise men, or words from the prophets. Come, let us attack him with our words and no longer pay attention to anything he proclaims."
19
Pay attention to me, Yahweh,
and listen to the voice of my enemies.
20
Will disaster from them really be my reward
for being good to them?
For they have dug a pit for me.
Remember how I stood before you to speak for their welfare,
to cause your fury to turn away from them.
21
Therefore give their children over to famine,
and give them to the hands of those who use the sword.
So let their women become bereaved and widows,
and their men be killed,
and their young men killed by the sword in battle.
22
Let a distressed shout be heard from their houses,
as you suddenly bring raiders against them.
For they have dug a pit to capture me
and have hidden traps for my feet.
23
But you, Yahweh
you know all of their plans against me to kill me.
Do not forgive their iniquities.
Do not wipe their sins away from you.
Let them be overthrown before you.
Act against them in the time of your wrath.
Chapter 19
1
Yahweh said this, "Go and purchase a potter's clay flask while you are with the elders of the people and the priests.
2
Then go out to the Valley of Ben Hinnom at the entry of the Broken Pottery Gate, and there proclaim the words that I will tell you.
3
Say, 'Hear the word of Yahweh, kings of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this, "See, I am about to bring disaster on this place, and the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle.
4
I will do this because they have abandoned me and profaned this place. In this place they offer sacrifices to other gods that they did not know. They, their ancestors, and the kings of Judah have also filled this place with innocent blood.
5
They built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as burnt offerings to him—something that I did not command or mention, nor did it enter my mind.
6
Therefore, see, the days are coming—this is Yahweh's declaration—when this place will no longer be called Topheth, the Valley of Ben Hinnom, for it will be the Valley of Slaughter.
7
In this place I will make the plans of Judah and Jerusalem useless. I will make them to fall by the sword before their enemies and by the hand of the ones seeking their lives. Then I will give their corpses as food to the birds of the heavens and the wild animals of the earth.
8
Then I will make this city a ruin and the object of hissing, for everyone passing by it will be astonished and hiss regarding all of its plagues.
9
I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and daughters; each man will consume the flesh of his neighbor in the siege and in the distress with which their enemies and the ones seeking their lives distress them."'
10
Then you will break the clay flask in the sight of the men who went with you.
11
You will say to them, 'Yahweh of hosts says this: I will do this same thing to this people and this city—this is Yahweh's declaration—just as Jeremiah shattered the clay flask so that it could not be repaired again. People will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no place left for any more dead.
12
This is what I will do to this place and its inhabitants when I make this city like Topheth—this is Yahweh's declaration—
13
so the houses of Jerusalem and of the kings of Judah will become like Topheth—all the houses on whose rooftops the unclean people worship all the stars of the heavens and pour out drink offerings to other gods.'"
14
Then Jeremiah went from Topheth, where Yahweh had sent him to prophesy. He stood in the courtyard of the house of Yahweh and he said to all the people,
15
"Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this, 'See, I am about to bring to this city and to all of its towns all the disaster that I have proclaimed against it, since they stiffened their neck and refused to listen to my words.'"
Chapter 20
1
Pashhur son of Immer the priest—he was a leading officer—heard Jeremiah prophesying these words before the house of Yahweh.
2
So Pashhur beat Jeremiah the prophet and then placed him in the stocks that were at the Upper Gate of Benjamin in the house of Yahweh.
3
It happened on the next day that Pashhur brought Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then Jeremiah said to him, "Yahweh has not called your name Pashhur, but you are Magor Missabib.
4
For Yahweh says this, 'Look, I will make you an object of horror, you and all of your loved ones, for they will fall by the sword of their enemies and your eyes will see it. I will give all of Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon. He will make them captives in Babylon or attack them with the sword.
5
I will give him all the wealth of this city and all the products of its labor, all of its precious items, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah. I will place these things in the hand of your enemies, and they will plunder them. They will seize them and bring them to Babylon.
6
But you, Pashhur, and all the inhabitants of your house will go into captivity. You will go to Babylon and die there. You and all of your loved ones to whom you prophesied deceitful things will be buried there.'"
7
"Yahweh, you deceived me, and I was deceived.
You are stronger than I,
and you overpowered me.
I have become a laughingstock all day long;
everyone mocks me.
8
For whenever I have spoken,
I have called out and proclaimed,
'Violence and destruction.'
So the word of Yahweh
has brought me insult and mocking all the day.
9
If I say, 'I will not think about Yahweh anymore.
I will not speak any longer in his name.'
Then it is like a burning fire in my heart,
held within my bones.
So I struggle to contain it but I cannot.
10
I have heard rumors of terror
from many people all around.
'Report! We must report it!'
Every one of my men of peace
watches to see if I will fall.
'Perhaps he can be tricked.
If so, we can overpower him
and take our revenge on him.'
11
But Yahweh is with me like a terrifying warrior,
so the ones pursuing me will stagger.
They will not defeat me.
They will be greatly ashamed,
because they will not succeed.
They will have unending shame,
it will never be forgotten.
12
But Yahweh of hosts,
you examine the righteous
and see the mind and the heart.
Let me see your vengeance on them
for I have committed my cause to you.
13
Sing to Yahweh!
Praise Yahweh!
For he has rescued the lives of those
who are oppressed from the hand of evildoers.
14
Let the day when I was born be cursed.
Do not let the day that my mother bore me be blessed.
15
Let the man who brought the joyful news
to my father be cursed,
the one who said,
'A male child has been born to you,' causing great joy.
16
Let that man be like the cities that Yahweh overthrew
and he did not have compassion on them.
Let him hear a cry for help in the dawn,
a battle cry at noontime,
17
because he did not kill me in the womb,
making my mother to be my tomb,
a womb that was pregnant forever.
18
Why is it that I came out from the womb
to see troubles and agony,
so that my days are filled with shame?"
Chapter 21
1
The word came to Jeremiah from Yahweh when King Zedekiah sent Pashhur son of Malkijah and Zephaniah son of Maaseiah the priest to him, and they said,
2
"Seek advice from Yahweh on our behalf, for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is making war on us. Perhaps Yahweh will do miracles for us, as in times past, and will make him withdraw from us."
3
So Jeremiah said to them, "This is what you must say to Zedekiah,
4
'Yahweh, God of Israel, says this: See, I am about to turn back the instruments of war that are in your hand, with which you are fighting against the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who are closing you in from outside the walls! For I will gather them in the middle of this city.
5
Then I myself will fight against you with a raised hand and a strong arm, and with wrath, fury, and great anger.
6
For I will attack the inhabitants of this city, both man and animal. They will die in a severe plague.
7
After this—this is Yahweh's declaration—Zedekiah king of Judah, his servants, the people, and whoever remains in this city after the plague, the sword, and the famine, I will give them all into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those seeking their life. Then he will kill them with the edge of the sword. He will not pity them, spare them, or have compassion.'
8
Then to this people you must say, 'Yahweh says this: See, I am about to place before you the way of life and the way of death.
9
Anyone staying in this city will die by the sword, famine, and plague; but anyone going out and falling on his knees before the Chaldeans who have closed in against you will live. His life will be his loot.
10
For I have set my face against this city in order to bring disaster and not to bring good—this is Yahweh's declaration. It has been given into the hand of the king of Babylon and he will burn it.'
11
Concerning the house of the king of Judah, listen to the word of Yahweh.
12
House of David, Yahweh says,
'Bring about justice in the morning.
Rescue the one who has been robbed
by the hand of the oppressor,
or my fury will go out like fire and burn,
and there is no one who can quench it,
because of the wickedness of your practices.
13
See, inhabitant of the valley!
I am against you, rock of the plain—
this is Yahweh's declaration—
I am against anyone who is saying,
"Who will come down to attack us?"
or "Who will enter our houses?"
14
I have assigned the fruit of your practices
to come against you—
this is Yahweh's declaration—
and I will light a fire in the thickets,
and it will consume everything around it.'"
Chapter 22
1
This is what Yahweh says, "Go down to the house of the king of Judah and proclaim this word there.
2
Say, 'King of Judah, listen to the word of Yahweh—you who sit on David's throne—you, and your servants, and your people who come through these gates.
3
Yahweh says this, "Perform justice and righteousness, and anyone who has been robbed—rescue him from the hand of the oppressor. Do not mistreat any foreigner in your land, or any orphan or widow. Do not commit violence or pour out innocent blood in this place.
4
For if you truly do these things, then kings sitting on David's throne will enter the gates of this house riding in a chariot and on horses—he, his servants, and his people!
5
But if you do not listen to these words, then I have sworn by myself—this is Yahweh's declaration—that this royal house will become a ruin."'
6
For Yahweh says this concerning the house of the king of Judah,
'You are like Gilead,
or like the summit of Lebanon to me.
Yet I will turn you into a wilderness,
into cities with no inhabitants.
7
For I have appointed destroyers to come against you!
Men with their weapons
will cut off the best of your cedars
and let them fall into the fire.
8
Then many nations will pass by this city. Each person will say to the next, "Why has Yahweh acted in this way toward this great city?"
9
Then the other will answer, "Because they abandoned the covenant of Yahweh their God and bowed down to other gods and worshiped them."
10
Do not weep for the one who is dead
or mourn for him;
but weep bitterly for him who is about to go away,
because he will never return
and see the land of his birth again.'
11
For Yahweh says this about Shallum son of Josiah king of Judah, who served as king instead of Josiah his father, 'He has gone from this place and will not come back.
12
He will die there in the place to where they have exiled him, and he will never again see this land.'
13
Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness,
his upper rooms by injustice,
who makes his neighbor work for him for nothing,
and he does not give him his wages;
14
he says, 'I will build for myself a large house
with spacious upper rooms.'
So he cuts out large windows for it,
and he panels it with cedar, and he paints it red.
15
Is this what makes you a good king,
that you wanted to have boards of cedar?
Did not your father also eat and drink,
yet do justice and righteousness?
Then things went well for him.
16
He judged in favor of the poor and needy.
It was good then.
Is this not what it means to know me?
—this is Yahweh's declaration.
17
But there is nothing in your eyes and heart
except worry for your unjust profit
and for pouring out innocent blood,
for producing oppression and crushing of others.
18
Therefore this is what Yahweh says about Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah:
They will not lament for him, saying,
'Woe, my brother!' or 'Woe, my sister!'
They will not lament for him, saying,
'Woe, master!' or 'Woe, majesty!'
19
He will be buried with a donkey's burial,
dragged away and thrown out
beyond the gates of Jerusalem.
20
Go up Lebanon's mountains and shout.
Lift your voice in Bashan.
Shout from the Abarim mountains,
for all of your friends will be destroyed.
21
I spoke to you when you were safe,
but you said, 'I will not listen.'
This was your custom since your youth,
for you have not listened to my voice.
22
The wind will shepherd away all your shepherds,
and your friends will go into captivity.
Then you will certainly be ashamed and humiliated
by all of your evil deeds.
23
You who live in 'Lebanon,'
who is nestled in cedar buildings,
how you will be pitied when the labor pains come upon you,
pain like that of a woman in labor!
24
"As I live—this is Yahweh's declaration—even if you, Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, were the signet on my right hand, I would tear you off.
25
For I have given you to the hand of the ones seeking your life and to the hand of those before whom you are afraid, even to the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the Chaldeans.
26
I will throw you and your mother who bore you into another land, a country where you were not born, and there you will die.
27
About this land to which they will want to return, they will not come back here.
28
Is this a despised and shattered vessel?
Is this man Jehoiachin a pot that pleases no one?
Why have they thrown him and his descendants out,
and have poured them out into a land that they did not know?
29
Land, Land, Land!
Hear the word of Yahweh!
30
Yahweh says this,
'Write about this man Jehoiachin:
He will be childless.
He will not prosper during his days,
and no one among his descendants
will achieve success
or ever again sit on David's throne
and rule over Judah.'"
Chapter 23
1
"Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture—this is Yahweh's declaration."
2
Therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, says this concerning the shepherds who are shepherding his people, "You have scattered my flock and have driven them away. You have not cared for them. So I am about to punish you for the wickedness of your practices—this is Yahweh's declaration.
3
I myself will gather the remnant of my flock from all of the lands where I have driven them, and I will return them to a grazing place, where they will be fruitful and increase.
4
Then I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them so they will no longer fear or be dismayed. None of them will go missing—this is Yahweh's declaration.
5
See, the days are coming
—this is Yahweh's declaration
—when I will raise up for David a righteous branch.
He will reign as king;
he will act wisely
and cause justice and righteousness in the land.
6
In his days Judah will be rescued,
and Israel will live in security.
Then this is the name by which he will be called:
Yahweh is our righteousness.
7
Therefore see, days are coming—this is Yahweh's declaration—when they will no longer say, 'As Yahweh lives, who brought the people of Israel up from the land of Egypt.'
8
Instead they will say, 'As Yahweh lives, who brought up and who led back the descendants of the house of Israel from the northern land and all the lands where I had driven them.' Then they will live in their own land."
9
Regarding the prophets,
my heart is broken in me,
and all of my bones tremble.
I have become like a drunk man,
like a man whom wine has overpowered,
because of Yahweh and his holy words.
10
For the land is full of adulterers.
Because of the curse the land mourns.
The meadows in the wilderness dry up.
These prophets' paths are wicked;
their power is not used in a right manner.
11
"For both the prophets and the priests are polluted.
I even found their wickedness in my house!
—this is Yahweh's declaration—
12
therefore their way will be
like a slippery place in the darkness.
They will be pushed down.
They will fall in it.
For I will send disaster against them
in the year of their punishment
—this is Yahweh's declaration.
13
For I have seen the prophets in Samaria
doing what is repulsive:
They prophesied by Baal
and led my people Israel astray.
14
Among the prophets in Jerusalem
I have seen horrible things:
They commit adultery and walk in deceit.
They strengthen the hands of evildoers;
no one turns back from his wickedness.
All of them have become like Sodom to me
and its inhabitants like Gomorrah!"
15
Therefore Yahweh of hosts says this concerning the prophets,
"Look, I am about to make them eat wormwood
and drink poisonous water,
for pollution has gone out from the prophets of Jerusalem
to all the land."
16
Yahweh of hosts says this,
"Do not listen to the words of the prophets
who prophesy to you.
They are leading you into vanity!
They are announcing visions from their own minds,
not from Yahweh's mouth.
17
They are constantly saying to those who dishonor me,
'Yahweh declares there will be peace for you.'
For everyone walking
in the stubbornness of his own heart says,
'Disaster will not come upon you.'
18
Yet who has stood in Yahweh's council meeting?
Who sees and hears his word?
Who pays attention to his word and listens?
19
See, there is a storm coming from Yahweh!
His fury is going out, and a tempest is whirling about.
It is whirling around the heads of the wicked.
20
Yahweh's wrath will not return
until it has carried out
and brought into being his heart's purposes.
In the final days,
you will understand it.
21
I did not send out these prophets,
but they ran.
I did not proclaim anything to them,
but they have still prophesied.
22
For if they had stood in my council meeting,
they would have caused my people to hear my word;
they would have caused them to turn from their wicked words
and from the wickedness of their practices.
23
Am I only a God nearby
—this is Yahweh's declaration
—and not also a God far away?
24
Can anyone hide in a secret place so I cannot see him?
—this is Yahweh's declaration—
and do I not fill the heavens and the earth?
—this is Yahweh's declaration.
25
I have heard what the prophets have said, those who were prophesying deceit in my name. They said, 'I had a dream! I had a dream!'
26
How long will this go on, prophets who prophesy lies from their minds, and who prophesy from the deceit in their hearts?
27
They are planning on making my people forget my name with the dreams that they report, each one to his neighbor, just as their ancestors forgot my name in favor of Baal's name.
28
The prophet who has a dream, let him report the dream. But the one to whom I have declared something, let him declare my word truthfully. What does straw have to do with grain?—this is Yahweh's declaration—
29
Is not my word like fire?—this is Yahweh's declaration—and like a hammer that shatters a rock into pieces?
30
So see, I am against the prophets—this is Yahweh's declaration—anyone who steals words from another person and says they come from me.
31
See, I am against the prophets—this is Yahweh's declaration—who use their tongues to prophesy proclamations.
32
See, I am against the prophets who dream deceitfully—this is Yahweh's declaration—and then proclaim them and in this way mislead my people with their deceit and boasting. I am against them, for I have not sent them out nor given them commands. So they will certainly not help this people—this is Yahweh's declaration.
33
When these people, or a prophet, or a priest asks you, 'What is the burden of Yahweh?' you will say to them, 'You are the burden, and I will cast you off'—this is Yahweh's declaration.
34
As for the prophets, priests, and people who are saying, 'This is the burden of Yahweh' I will punish that man and his house.
35
You continue to say, each person to his neighbor and each man to his brother, 'What did Yahweh answer?' and 'What did Yahweh declare?'
36
But you must no longer talk about the 'burden of Yahweh,' for the burden is every man's own word, and you have perverted the words of the living God, Yahweh of hosts, our God.
37
This is what you will say to the prophet, 'What answer did Yahweh give you?' or 'What did Yahweh say?'
38
But if you say, 'The burden of Yahweh', this is what Yahweh says: 'Because you have said these words, 'The burden of Yahweh,' when I sent to you, saying, 'You will not say, "The burden of Yahweh,"'
39
therefore, behold, I am about to pick you up and throw you away from me, along with the city that I gave you and your ancestors.
40
Then I will put everlasting disgrace and everlasting shame on you that will not be forgotten.'"
Chapter 24
1
Yahweh showed me something. Behold, two baskets of figs were placed before the temple of Yahweh. (This vision happened after Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, took into exile Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, the officials of Judah, the craftsmen and the metalworkers from Jerusalem and brought them to Babylon.)
2
One basket of figs was very good, like first ripe figs, but the other basket of figs was so very bad that they could not be eaten.
3
Yahweh said to me, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" I said, "Figs. Figs that are very good and figs that are so very bad they cannot be eaten."
4
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
5
"Yahweh, God of Israel, says this: I will look on the exiles of Judah for their benefit, just like these good figs, the exiles whom I have sent out from this place to the land of Chaldea.
6
I will set my eyes on them for good and restore them to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down. I will plant them, and not uproot them.
7
Then I will give them a heart to know me, for I am Yahweh. They will be my people and I will be their God, so they will turn to me with all their heart.
8
But like the bad figs that are too bad to be eaten—this is what Yahweh says—I will act in this way with Zedekiah, king of Judah, with his officials, and with the rest of Jerusalem who remain in this land or go to stay in the land of Egypt.
9
I will turn them into a terrifying thing, a disaster, in the sight of all the kingdoms on earth, a disgrace and a subject for proverbs, taunts, and curses in every place where I will have driven them.
10
I will send out sword, famine, and plague against them, until they are destroyed from the land that I gave them and their ancestors."
Chapter 25
1
This is the word that came to Jeremiah about all the people of Judah. It came in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah. That was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.
2
Jeremiah the prophet proclaimed this to all the people of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
3
He said, "For twenty-three years, from the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah until this day, Yahweh's words have been coming to me and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened.
4
Yahweh sent out all his servants the prophets to you again and again, but you have not listened or turned your ear to hear.
5
These prophets said, 'Let each man turn from his wicked way and the wickedness of his practices and return to the land that Yahweh gave in ancient times to your ancestors and to you, as a permanent gift.
6
So do not walk after other gods to worship them or bow down to them, and do not provoke him with the work of your hands so that he does you harm.'
7
But you have not listened to me—this is Yahweh's declaration—so you have provoked me with the work of your hands to do harm to you.
8
So Yahweh of hosts says this, 'Because you did not listen to my words,
9
see, I am about to send out a command to gather all the peoples of the north—this is Yahweh's declaration—with Nebuchadnezzar my servant, king of Babylon, and bring them against this land and its inhabitants, and against all the nations around you. For I will set them apart for destruction. I will turn them into a horror, an object for hissing, and an unending desolation.
10
I will put an end to the sound of joy and sound of gladness, the sound of the groom and the sound of the bride, the sound of the millstones and the light of the lamp.
11
Then all of this land will become a desolation and a horror, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years.
12
Then it will happen when seventy years have been completed, that I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans—this is Yahweh's declaration—for their iniquity and make it an unending desolation.
13
Then I will carry out against that land all the words that I had spoken, and everything written in this book that Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations.
14
For also many other nations and great kings will make slaves out of these nations. I will repay them for their deeds and the works of their hands.'"
15
For Yahweh, God of Israel, said this to me, "Take this cup of the wine of fury from my hand and make all the nations to which I am sending you drink it.
16
For they will drink and then stagger about and rant madly before the sword that I am sending out among them."
17
So I took the cup from Yahweh's hand, and I made all the nations to which Yahweh had sent me drink it:
18
Jerusalem, the cities of Judah and her kings and officials—to turn them into ruins and a waste, and into an object for hissing and cursing, as they are at this present day.
19
Other nations also had to drink it: Pharaoh king of Egypt and his servants; his officials and all his people;
20
all people of mixed heritage and all the kings of the land of Uz; all the kings of the land of the Philistines—Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod;
21
Edom and Moab and the people of Ammon.
22
The kings of Tyre and Sidon, the kings of the coasts on the other side of the sea,
23
Dedan, Tema, and Buz with all the ones who cut the hair on the sides of their heads very short, they also had to drink it.
24
All the kings of Arabia and all the kings of people of mixed heritage who live in the wilderness;
25
all the kings of Zimri, all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes;
26
all the kings of the north, the ones close by and the ones far away—everyone with his brother and all the kingdoms of the world that are on the surface of the earth, all of them had to drink the cup from Yahweh's hand. Finally, the king of Babylon will also drink from that cup.
27
Yahweh said to me, "Now you must say to them, 'Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this: Drink and become drunk, then vomit, fall down, and do not rise before the sword that I am sending among you.'
28
Then it will happen that if they refuse to take the cup from your hand to drink, you will say to them, 'Yahweh of hosts says this: You must certainly drink it.
29
For see, I am about to bring disaster on the city that is called by my name, and should you yourselves be free from punishment? You will not be free, for I am calling a sword against all the inhabitants of the land!—this is the declaration of Yahweh of hosts.'
30
You must prophesy all these words against them, and say to them,
'Yahweh will roar from the heights
and he will shout with his voice from his holy dwelling,
and he will roar mightily against his fold;
and he will shout, like those who tread the grapes
against all those who live on the earth.
31
The sound of battle will resound to the ends of the earth,
for Yahweh brings charges against the nations,
and he brings judgment on all flesh,
and the wicked ones he will put to the sword
—this is Yahweh's declaration.'
32
Yahweh of hosts says this,
'See, disaster is going out from nation to nation,
and a great storm is beginning
from the farthest parts of the earth.
33
Then those killed by Yahweh will on that day extend from one end of the earth to the other; they will not be mourned, gathered, or buried. They will be like dung on the ground.
34
Wail, shepherds, and shout for help!
Roll about in the dust, you noblemen of the flock,
for the days of your slaughter have come;
you will be scattered when you fall like fine pottery.
35
There is no refuge for the shepherds,
there will be no escape for the noblemen of the flock.
36
Hear the outcry of the shepherds
and the wails of the noblemen of the flock,
for Yahweh is destroying their pastures.
37
So the peaceful pastures will be devastated
because of Yahweh's fierce anger.
38
Like a young lion, he has left his den,
for their land will become a horror
because of the oppressor's anger,
because of his angry wrath.'"
Chapter 26
1
In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from Yahweh, saying,
2
"Yahweh says this: Stand in the courtyard of my house and speak about all the cities of Judah who come to worship at my house. Proclaim all the words that I have commanded you to say to them. Do not cut short any word!
3
It may be that they will listen, that each man will turn from his wicked ways, so I will relent concerning the disaster that I am planning to bring on them because of the wickedness of their deeds.
4
So you must say to them, 'Yahweh says this: If you do not listen to me so as to walk in my law that I have placed before you—
5
if you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets whom I am persistently sending to you—but you have not listened!—
6
then I will make this house like Shiloh; I will turn this city into a curse in the sight of all the nations on earth.'"
7
The priests, the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah announcing these words in the house of Yahweh.
8
So it happened that when Jeremiah had finished announcing all that Yahweh commanded him to say to all the people, the priests, prophets, and all the people seized him and said, "You will certainly die!
9
Why have you prophesied in Yahweh's name and said that this house will become like Shiloh and this city will become desolate, with no inhabitant?" For all the people had assembled together against Jeremiah in the house of Yahweh.
10
Then the officials of Judah heard these words and went up from the house of the king to the house of Yahweh. They sat in the gateway at the New Gate of the house of Yahweh.
11
The priests and the prophets spoke to the officials and to all the people. They said, "It is right for this man to die, for he prophesied against this city, just as you heard with your own ears!"
12
So Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people and said, "Yahweh has sent me out to prophesy against this house and this city, to say all the words that you have heard.
13
So now, improve your ways and your practices, and listen to the voice of Yahweh your God so that he will relent concerning the disaster that he has proclaimed against you.
14
I myself—look at me!—am in your hand. Do to me what is good and right in your eyes.
15
But you must surely know that if you kill me, then you are bringing innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and its inhabitants, for Yahweh has truly sent me to you to proclaim all these words for your ears."
16
Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and prophets, "It is not right for this man to die, for he has proclaimed things to us in the name of Yahweh our God."
17
Then men from the elders of the land rose up and spoke to the entire assembly of the people.
18
They said, "Micah of Moresheth was prophesying in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. He spoke to all the people of Judah and said, 'Yahweh of hosts says this:
Zion will become a plowed field,
Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,
and the hill of the temple will become a thicket.'
19
Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all of Judah put him to death? Did he not fear Yahweh and appease the face of Yahweh so that Yahweh would relent concerning the disaster that he proclaimed to them? So will we do greater evil against our own lives?"
20
Meanwhile there was another man who prophesied in the name of Yahweh—Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath Jearim—he also prophesied against this city and this land, agreeing with all of Jeremiah's words.
21
But when King Jehoiakim and all his soldiers and officials heard his word, then the king tried to put him to death, but Uriah heard and was afraid, so he ran away and went to Egypt.
22
Then King Jehoiakim sent out men to go to Egypt—Elnathan son of Akbor and men to go into Egypt after Uriah.
23
They took Uriah out from Egypt and brought him to King Jehoiakim. Then Jehoiakim killed him with a sword and sent his corpse out to the graves of the ordinary people.
24
But the hand of Ahikam son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so he was not given into the hand of the people to be put to death.
Chapter 27
1
In the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from Yahweh.
2
This is what Yahweh said to me, "Make fetters and a yoke for yourself. Place them on your neck.
3
Then send them out to the king of Edom, the king of Moab, the king of the people of Ammon, the king of Tyre, and to the king of Sidon. Send them by the hand of those kings' ambassadors who have come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah.
4
Give commands to them for their masters and say, 'Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this: This is what you must say to your masters,
5
"I myself made the earth by my great strength and my raised arm. I also made men and animals on the earth, and I give it to anyone who is right in my eyes.
6
So now, I myself am giving all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, my servant. Also, I am giving the living things in the fields to him to serve him.
7
For all the nations will serve him, his son, and his grandson until the time for his land comes. Then many nations and great kings will subdue him.
8
So the nation and the kingdom that does not serve Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and that does not put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon—I will punish that nation with the sword, with famine, and with the plague—this is Yahweh's declaration—until I have destroyed it by his hand.
9
So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your soothsayers, and sorcerers, who have been speaking to you and saying, 'Do not serve the king of Babylon.'
10
For they are prophesying deceit to you in order to send you far away from your lands, for I will drive you away, and you will die.
11
But the nation that places its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serves him, I will allow it to rest in its land—this is Yahweh's declaration—and they will cultivate it and make their homes in it."'"
12
So I spoke to Zedekiah king of Judah and gave him this message, "Place your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him and his people, and you will live.
13
Why will you die—you and your people—by the sword, famine, and plague, just as I have declared about the nation that refuses to serve the king of Babylon?
14
Do not listen to the words of the prophets who speak to you and say, 'Do not serve the king of Babylon,' for they are prophesying lies to you.
15
'For I have not sent them out—this is Yahweh's declaration—for they are prophesying deceit in my name so that I will drive you out and you will perish, both you and the prophets who are prophesying to you.'"
16
I proclaimed this to the priests and all the people and said, "Yahweh says this: Do not listen to the words of your prophets who prophesy to you and say, 'Look! The objects belonging to the house of Yahweh are being returned from Babylon now!' They are prophesying lies to you.
17
Do not listen to them. You should serve the king of Babylon and live. Why should this city become a ruin?
18
If they are prophets, and if the word of Yahweh has truly come to them, let them beg Yahweh of hosts not to send to Babylon the objects that remain in his house, the house of the king of Judah, and Jerusalem.
19
Yahweh of hosts says this about the pillars, the large basin known as "The Sea" and its base, and the rest of the objects that remain in this city—
20
the objects that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take when he carried Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim, the king of Judah, into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon with all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem.
21
Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this about the objects that remain in the house of Yahweh, the house of the king of Judah, and Jerusalem,
22
'They will be brought to Babylon, and they will remain there until the day I have set to come for them—this is Yahweh's declaration—then I will bring them up and restore them to this place.'"
Chapter 28
1
It happened in that year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year and the fifth month, Hananiah son of Azzur the prophet, who was from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of Yahweh in front of the priests and all the people. He said,
2
"Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this: I have broken the yoke imposed by the king of Babylon.
3
Within two years I will bring back to this place all the objects belonging to the house of Yahweh house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took from this place and transported to Babylon.
4
Then I will bring back to this place Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the captives of Judah who were sent to Babylon—this is Yahweh's declaration—for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon."
5
So Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Hananiah the prophet in front of the priests and to all the people who stood in the house of Yahweh.
6
Jeremiah the prophet said, "Let it be so! May Yahweh confirm the words that you prophesied and bring back to this place the objects belonging to the house of Yahweh and all the captives from Babylon.
7
However, listen to the word that I am proclaiming in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people.
8
The prophets who existed before me and you from long ago also prophesied about many nations and against great kingdoms, about war, famine
, and plague.
9
So the prophet who prophesies that there will be peace—if his word comes true, then it will be known that he is indeed a prophet sent out by Yahweh."
10
But Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke it.
11
Then Hananiah spoke in front of all the people and said, "Yahweh says this: Just like this, within two years I will break from off the neck of every nation the yoke imposed by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon." Then Jeremiah the prophet went on his way.
12
After Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet, the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah, saying,
13
"Go and speak to Hananiah and say, 'Yahweh says this: You broke yokes of wood, and in their place you have made yokes of iron.'
14
For Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this: I have placed a yoke of iron on the neck of all of these nations to serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they will serve him. I have also given him the wild beasts in the fields to rule over."
15
Next Jeremiah the prophet said to Hananiah the prophet, "Listen Hananiah! Yahweh has not sent you, but you yourself have caused this people to trust in a lie.
16
So Yahweh says this: Look, I am about to send you out from the earth. You will die this year, since you proclaimed rebellion against Yahweh."
17
In the seventh month of that same year, Hananiah the prophet died.
Chapter 29
1
These are the words in the scroll that Jeremiah the prophet sent out from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the captives and to the priests, prophets, and all the people that Nebuchadnezzar exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon.
2
This was after Jehoiachin the king, the queen mother, and the high officials, the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, and the craftsmen had been sent away from Jerusalem.
3
He sent this scroll by the hand of Elasah son of Shapan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah whom Zedekiah, king of Judah, had sent to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
4
The scroll said, "Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this to all the captives whom I caused to be exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon,
5
'Build houses and live in them. Plant gardens and eat their fruit.
6
Take wives and give birth to sons and daughters. Then take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands. Let them give birth to sons and daughters and increase there so you do not become too few.
7
Seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be exiled, and intercede with me on its behalf since there will be peace for you if it is at peace.'
8
For Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this, 'Do not let your prophets who are in your midst and your diviners deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that you encourage them to dream.
9
For they are prophesying deceitfully to you in my name. I did not send them—this is Yahweh's declaration.'
10
For Yahweh says this, 'When Babylon has ruled you for seventy years, I will help you and carry out my good word for you to bring you back to this place.
11
For I myself know the plans that I have for you—this is Yahweh's declaration—plans for peace and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
12
Then you will call to me, and go and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
13
For you will seek me and find me, since you will seek me with all your heart.
14
Then I will be found by you—this is Yahweh's declaration—and I will reverse your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and places where I scattered you—this is Yahweh's declaration—for I will bring you back to the place from where I caused you to be exiled.'
15
Since you said that Yahweh has raised up prophets for us in Babylon,
16
Yahweh says this to the king who sits on the throne of David and to all the people who are staying in that city, your brothers who have not gone out with you into captivity—
17
Yahweh of hosts says this, 'See, I am about to send sword, famine, and plague on them. For I will make them like rotten figs that are too bad to be eaten.
18
Then I will pursue them with sword, famine, and plague and make them a terrifying thing to all the kingdoms on earth—a horror, an object of curses and hissing, and a shameful thing among all the nations where I scattered her.
19
This is because they did not listen to my word—this is Yahweh's declaration—that I sent out to them through my servants the prophets. I repeatedly sent them, but you would not listen—this is Yahweh's declaration.'
20
So you yourselves listen to the word of Yahweh, all you exiles whom he has sent out from Jerusalem to Babylon,
21
'Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this about Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, who prophesy falsely to you in my name: See, I am about to put them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. He will kill them before your eyes.
22
Then a curse will be spoken about these persons by all the exiles from Judah in Babylon. The curse will say: "May Yahweh make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in fire."
23
This will happen because of the disgraceful things they did in Israel when they committed adultery with their neighbor's wives and declared false words in my name, things that I never commanded them to say. For I am the one who knows; I am the witness—this is Yahweh's declaration.'"
24
About Shemaiah the Nehelamite, say this:
25
"Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this: Because you sent out letters in your own name to all the people in Jerusalem, to Zephaniah son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, and said,
26
'Yahweh has made you priest instead of Jehoiada the priest, for you to be the overseer of the house of Yahweh. You are in control of all the people who rave and make themselves into prophets. You should put them in stocks and chains.
27
So now, why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth, who makes himself into a prophet against you?
28
For he has sent to us in Babylon and said, 'It will be a long time. Build houses and live in them, and plant gardens and eat their fruit."'"
29
Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the hearing of Jeremiah the prophet.
30
Then the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah, saying,
31
"Send word to all the exiles and say, 'Yahweh says this about Shemaiah the Nehelamite: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you when I myself did not send him, and he has caused you to trust in a lie,
32
therefore Yahweh says this: Look, I am about to punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants. There will not be a man for him to stay among this people. He will not see the good that I will do for my people—this is Yahweh's declaration—for he has proclaimed rebellion against Yahweh.'"
Chapter 30
1
The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
2
"This is what Yahweh, God of Israel, says, 'Write in a scroll all the words that I have spoken to you.
3
For look, days are coming—this is Yahweh's declaration—when I will reverse the captivity of my people, Israel and Judah. I, Yahweh, have said it. For I will bring them back to the land that I gave their ancestors, and they will possess it.'"
4
These are the words that Yahweh declared concerning Israel and Judah,
5
"For Yahweh says this,
'We have heard a trembling voice
of dread and not of peace.
6
Ask and see if a man bears a child.
Why do I see every young man with his hand on his loins
like a woman bearing a child?
Why have all their faces become pale?
7
Woe! For that day will be great,
with none like it.
It will be a time of distress for Jacob,
but he will be rescued from it.
8
For it will be in that day
—this is the declaration of Yahweh of hosts
—that I will break the yoke off your neck,
and I will shatter your chains,
so foreigners will no longer enslave you.
9
But they will worship Yahweh their God
and serve David their king,
whom I will make king over them.
10
So you, my servant Jacob, do not fear
—this is Yahweh's declaration
—and do not be dismayed, Israel.
For see, I am about to deliver you from the faraway place,
and your descendants from the land of captivity.
Jacob will return and be at ease;
he will rest secure,
and there will be no more terror.
11
For I am with you
—this is Yahweh's declaration
—to save you.
Then I will bring a complete end
to all the nations where I have scattered you.
But I will certainly not put an end to you,
though I discipline you justly
and will certainly not leave you unpunished.'
12
For Yahweh says this,
'Your injury is incurable;
your wound is infected.
13
There is no one to plead your case;
there is no remedy for your wound to heal you.
14
All of your lovers have forgotten you.
They will not look for you,
for I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy
and the discipline of a cruel master
because of your many iniquities
and your numerous sins.
15
Why do you call for help for your injury?
Your pain is incurable.
Because of your many iniquities,
your numerous sins,
I have done these things to you.
16
So everyone who consumes you
will be consumed,
and all of your adversaries will go into captivity.
For the ones who have plundered you
will become plunder,
and I will make all of the ones despoiling you a spoil.
17
For I will bring healing on you;
I will heal you of your wounds
—this is Yahweh's declaration—
I will do this because they called you:
Outcast. No one cares for this Zion.'"
18
Yahweh says this,
"See, I am about to bring back
the fortunes of Jacob's tents
and have compassion on his homes.
Then a city will be built on the heap of ruins,
and a stronghold will exist again where it used to be.
19
Then a song of praise and a sound of merriment
will go out from them,
for I will increase them and not diminish them;
I will honor them so they will not be humbled.
20
Then their people will be like before,
and their assembly will be established before me
when I punish all the ones
who are now oppressing them.
21
Their ruler will come from among them.
He will emerge from their midst
when I draw him near and when he approaches me.
If I do not do this,
who would dare come close to me?
—this is Yahweh's declaration.
22
Then you will be my people,
and I will be your God.
23
See, the tempest of Yahweh,
his fury, has gone out.
It is a continual tempest.
It will whirl on the heads of the wicked people.
24
Yahweh's wrath will not return
until it has carried out and brought into being
his heart's purposes.
In the final days,
you will understand it."
Chapter 31
1
"At that time—this is Yahweh's declaration—I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they will be my people."
2
Yahweh says this,
"The people who have survived the sword
have found favor in the wilderness;
I will go out to give rest to Israel."
3
Yahweh appeared to me in the past and said,
"I have loved you, Israel, with everlasting love.
So I have drawn you toward myself
with covenant faithfulness.
4
I will build you up again
so you will be built, virgin Israel.
You will again pick up your tambourine
and go out with happy dances.
5
You will plant vineyards again
on the mountains of Samaria;
the farmers will plant and put the fruit to good use.
6
For a day will come
when the watchmen in the mountains of Ephraim will proclaim,
'Arise, let us go up to Zion to Yahweh our God.'
7
For Yahweh says this,
"Shout for joy over Jacob!
Shout in gladness for the chief people of the nations!
Let praise be heard.
Say, 'Yahweh has rescued his people, the remnant of Israel.'
8
See, I am about to bring them from the northern lands.
I will gather them from the farthest parts of the earth.
The blind and lame will be among them;
pregnant women and those who are about to give birth
will be with them.
A great assembly will return here.
9
They will come weeping;
I will lead them as they make their pleas.
I will have them journey to streams of water
on a straight road.
They will not stumble on it,
for I will be a Father to Israel,
and Ephraim will be my firstborn.
10
"Hear the word of Yahweh, nations.
Report along the coasts in the distance.
You nations must say,
'The one who scattered Israel is gathering her up
and keeping her as a shepherd keeps his sheep.'
11
For Yahweh has ransomed Jacob
and has redeemed him from the hand
that was too strong for him.
12
Then they will come and rejoice on the heights of Zion.
Their faces will shine because of Yahweh's goodness,
over the grain and the new wine,
over the oil and the offspring of the flocks and herds.
For their lives will become like a watered garden,
and they will never again feel any more sorrow.
13
Then virgins will rejoice with dancing,
and young and old men will be together.
For I will change their mourning into celebration.
I will comfort them and give them joy for their sorrow.
14
Then I will saturate the lives of the priests
with abundance.
My people will fill themselves with my goodness
—this is Yahweh's declaration."
15
Yahweh says this
"A voice is heard in Ramah,
wailing and bitter weeping.
It is Rachel weeping for her children.
She refuses to be comforted over them,
for they live no longer."
16
Yahweh says this,
"Hold your voice back from weeping
and your eyes from tears;
there is a reward for your work
—this is Yahweh's declaration
—your children will return from the land of the enemy.
17
There is hope for your future
—this is Yahweh's declaration
—your descendants will return inside their borders.
18
"I have certainly heard Ephraim sorrowing,
'You punished me,
and I have been punished like an untrained calf.
Bring me back and I will be brought back,
for you are Yahweh my God.
19
For after I turned back to you, I repented;
after I was trained, I slapped my thigh.
I was ashamed and humiliated,
for I have borne the disgrace of my youth.'
20
Is not Ephraim my precious child?
Is he not my dear, delightful son?
For whenever I speak against him,
I certainly still call him to my loving mind.
In this way my heart longs for him.
I will certainly have compassion on him
—this is Yahweh's declaration."
21
Place road signs for yourself.
Set up guideposts for yourself.
Set your mind on the right path,
the way you should take.
Come back, virgin Israel!
Come back to these cities of yours.
22
How long will you waver, faithless daughter?
For Yahweh has created something new on earth
—a woman surrounds a strong man.
23
Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, says this, "When I reverse their captivity, they will say this in the land of Judah and its cities, 'May Yahweh bless you, you righteous place where he lives, you holy mountain.'
24
For Judah and all its cities will live together there, as will farmers and those who set out with flocks.
25
For I will cause those who are weary to drink their fill, and I fill up those who are faint."
26
After this I awoke, and I realized that my sleep had been refreshing.
27
"Look, the days are coming—this is Yahweh's declaration—when I will sow the houses of Israel and Judah with the seed of man and the seed of animals.
28
In the past, I kept them under surveillance in order to uproot them and to tear them down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring them harm. But in the coming days, I will watch over them, in order to build them up and to plant them—this is Yahweh's declaration.
29
In those days no one will say any longer,
'Fathers have eaten sour grapes,
but the children's teeth are dulled.'
30
For each man will die in his own iniquity; everyone who eats sour grapes, his teeth will be dulled.
31
Look, the days are coming—
this is Yahweh's declaration—
when I will establish a new covenant
with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
32
It will not be like the covenant
that I established with their fathers in the days
when I took them by their hand
to bring them out from the land of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
although I was a husband for them—
this is Yahweh's declaration.
33
This is the covenant
that I will establish with the house of Israel
after these days
—this is Yahweh's declaration.
I will place my law within them
and will write it on their heart,
for I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
34
Then each man will no longer teach his neighbor,
or a man teach his brother and say, 'Know Yahweh!'
For all of them will know me,
from the smallest of them to the greatest
—this is Yahweh's declaration—
for I will forgive their iniquity
and will no longer call their sins to mind."
35
Yahweh says this,
it is he who gives the sun for light by day
and the ordinance of the moon and stars
for light by night.
He is the one who sets the sea in motion
so that its waves roar—
Yahweh of hosts is his name.
36
"Only if these permanent things vanish from my sight
—this is Yahweh's declaration—
will Israel's descendants ever stop
from forever being a nation before me."
37
Yahweh says this,
"Only if the highest heavens can be measured,
and only if the earth's foundation below can be discovered,
will I reject all of Israel's descendants
because of all that they have done
—this is Yahweh's declaration.
38
"Look, the days are coming—this is Yahweh's declaration—when the city will be rebuilt for me, from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate.
39
Then the measuring line will go out again farther, to the hill of Gareb and around Goah.
40
The whole valley of the dead bodies and the ashes, and all the terraced fields going out to the Kidron Valley as far as the corner of the Horse Gate on the east, will be set apart for Yahweh. The city will not be pulled up or overthrown again, forever."
Chapter 32
1
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar.
2
At that time, the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was imprisoned in the courtyard of the guard at the house of the king of Judah.
3
Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him and said, "Why do you prophesy and say, 'Yahweh says this: Look, I am about to give over this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it.
4
Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape from the hand of the Chaldeans, for he will certainly be given into the hand of the king of Babylon. His mouth will speak to the king's mouth, and his eyes will see the king's eyes.
5
He will take Zedekiah to Babylon, and he will remain there until I have dealt with him—this is Yahweh's declaration. Though you fight against the Chaldeans, you will not succeed.'?"
6
Jeremiah said, "The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
7
'Look, Hanamel son of Shallum your uncle is coming to you and will say, "Buy my field that is in Anathoth for yourself, for the right of redemption belongs to you."'"
8
Then, as Yahweh had declared, Hanamel, the son of my uncle, came to me in the courtyard of the guard, and he said to me, "Buy my field that is in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for the right of inheritance is yours, and the right of redemption belongs to you. Buy it for yourself." Then I knew that this was Yahweh's word.
9
So I bought the field in Anathoth from Hanamel, the son of my uncle, and I weighed out for him the silver, seventeen shekels in weight.
10
Then I wrote in a scroll and sealed it, and had witnesses witness it. Then I weighed the silver in the scales.
11
Next I took the deed of purchase that was sealed, following the command and the statutes, as well as the unsealed deed.
12
I gave the sealed scroll to Baruch son of Neriah son of Mahseiah in front of Hanamel, the son of my uncle, and the witnesses who had written in the sealed scroll, and in front of all the Jews who sat in the courtyard of the guard.
13
So I gave a command to Baruch before them. I said,
14
"Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this: Take these documents, both this receipt of purchase that is sealed and the unsealed copies of the deed of purchase, and put them in a clay jar so they will last for a long time.
15
For Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this: Houses, fields, and vineyards will again be bought in this land."
16
After I gave the receipt of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah, I prayed to Yahweh and said,
17
"Woe, Lord Yahweh! Look! You alone have made the heavens and the earth by your great strength and with your raised arm. Nothing you say is too difficult for you to do.
18
You show steadfast love to thousands and pour the guilt of fathers into the laps of their children after them. You are the great and mighty God; Yahweh of hosts is your name.
19
You are great in wise counsel and mighty in deeds, for your eyes are open to all the ways of people, to give to each man what his conduct and deeds deserve.
20
You did signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. To this present day here in Israel and among all mankind, you have made your name famous.
21
For you brought your people Israel out from the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand, with a raised arm, and with great terror.
22
Then you gave them this land—which you had sworn to their ancestors to give to them—a land flowing with milk and honey.
23
So they entered and took possession of it. But they did not obey your voice or live in obedience to your law. They did nothing of what you had commanded them to do, so you brought all this disaster on them.
24
Look! The siege mounds have reached up to the city to capture it. For because of sword, famine, and plague, the city has been given into the hand of the Chaldeans who are fighting against it. For what you have said would happen is happening, and see, you are watching.
25
Then you, Lord Yahweh, said to me, "Purchase a field for yourself with silver and have witnesses witness it, even though this city is being given into the hand of the Chaldeans."
26
The word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah, saying,
27
"Look! I am Yahweh, God of all mankind. Is anything too difficult for me to do?
28
Therefore Yahweh says this, 'See, I am about to give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans and Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. He will capture it.
29
The Chaldeans who are fighting against this city will come and set fire to this city and burn it, along with the houses on the roofs of which the people worshiped Baal and poured out drink offerings to other gods in order to provoke me.
30
For the people of Israel and Judah have certainly been people who have been doing evil before my eyes since their youth. The people of Israel have certainly provoked me to anger with the works of their hands—this is Yahweh's declaration.
31
Yahweh declares that this city has been a provocation of my wrath and fury since the day that they built it. It has been that right up to this present day. So I will remove it from before my face
32
because of all the wickedness of the people of Israel and Judah, the things that they have done to provoke me—they, their kings, princes, priests, prophets, and every person in Judah and inhabitant of Jerusalem.
33
They turned their backs to me instead of their faces. Though I persistently taught them, not one of them listened in order to receive correction.
34
They set up their abominable idols in the house that is called by my name, to defile it.
35
They built high places for Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom in order to put their sons and daughters in the fire for Molech. I did not command them. It never entered my mind that they should do this detestable thing and so cause Judah to sin.'
36
So now therefore, I, Yahweh, the God of Israel, say this concerning this city, the city about which you are saying, 'It is given into the hand of the king of Babylon by sword, famine, and plague.'
37
See, I am about to gather them from every land where I had driven them in my wrath, fury, and great anger. I am about to bring them back to this place and enable them to live in security.
38
Then they will be my people, and I will be their God.
39
I will give them one heart and one way to honor me every day so it will be good for them and their descendants after them.
40
Then I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. I will set honor for me in their hearts, so that they will never turn away from me.
41
Then I will rejoice in doing good to them. I will faithfully plant them in this land with all my heart and all my life.
42
For Yahweh says this, 'Just as I have brought all this great disaster on this people, so I will bring on them all the good things that I have said I would do for them.
43
Then fields will be bought in this land, about which you are saying, "This is a ruined land, which has neither man nor animal. It has been given into the hand of the Chaldeans."
44
They will buy fields with silver and write in sealed scrolls. They will assemble witnesses in the land of Benjamin, all around Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, in the cities in the hill country and in the lowlands, and in the cities of the Negev. For I will reverse their captivity—this is Yahweh's declaration.'"
Chapter 33
1
Then the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut within the courtyard of the guard, saying,
2
"Yahweh the maker, says this—Yahweh, who forms in order to establish—Yahweh is his name,
3
'Call to me, and I will answer you. I will demonstrate great things to you, mysteries that you do not understand.'
4
For Yahweh, God of Israel, says this concerning the houses in this city and the houses of the kings of Judah that are torn down because of the siege ramps and the sword,
5
'The Chaldeans are coming to fight and to fill the houses with corpses of people whom I will kill in my wrath and fury, when I hide my face from this city because of all their wickedness.
6
But see, I am about to bring healing and a cure, for I will heal them and will bring to them abundance, peace, and faithfulness.
7
For I will reverse the captivity of Judah and Israel; I will build them up as in the beginning.
8
Then I will purify them from all the iniquity that they have committed against me. I will pardon all the iniquities that they have done against me, and all the ways that they rebelled against me.
9
For this city will become for me a joyful name, a song of praise and honor for all the nations of the earth who will hear of all the good things that I am going to do for it. Then they will fear and tremble because of all the good things and the peace that I will give to it.'
10
Yahweh says this, 'In this place about which you are now saying, "It is desolate, a place with neither man nor animal," in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, having neither man nor animal, there will be heard again
11
the sound of joy and the sound of gladness, the sound of the groom and the sound of the bride, the sound of those who say, while they bring thank offerings to the house of Yahweh,
"Give thanks to Yahweh of hosts, for Yahweh is good,
and his unfailing love lasts forever!"
For I will reverse the captivity of the land to what they were before,' says Yahweh.
12
Yahweh of hosts says this: 'In this desolate place, where now there is neither man nor animal—in all its cities there will again be pastures where shepherds can rest their flocks.
13
In the cities in the hill country, the lowlands, and the Negev,in the land of Benjamin and all around Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, the flocks will again pass under the hands of the ones counting them,' says Yahweh.
14
'Look! Days are coming—this is Yahweh's declaration—when I will do what I have promised for the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
15
In those days and in that time
I will make a righteous branch to grow for David,
and he will carry out justice and righteousness in the land.
16
In those days Judah will be saved,
and Jerusalem will live in security,
for this is what she will be called,
"Yahweh is our righteousness."'
17
For Yahweh says this: 'A man from David's line will never be lacking to sit on the throne of the house of Israel,
18
nor will a man from the Levitical priests be lacking before me to raise burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to perform sacrifices all the time.'"
19
The word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah, saying,
20
"Yahweh says this: 'If you can break my covenant with day and night so that there will no longer be day or night at their proper times,
21
then you will be able to break my covenant with David my servant, so that he will no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne, and my covenant with the Levitical priests, my servants.
22
As the hosts of heaven cannot be counted, and as the sand of the seashores cannot be measured, so I will increase the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who serve before me.'"
23
The word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah, saying,
24
"Have you not considered what this people has declared when they said, 'The two families that Yahweh chose, now he has rejected them'? In this way they despise my people, saying that they are no longer a nation in their sight.
25
I, Yahweh, say this, 'If I have not established the covenant of day and night, and if I have not fixed the laws of heaven and earth,
26
then I will reject the descendants of Jacob and David my servant and not bring from them a person to rule over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will reverse their captivity and show mercy to them.'"
Chapter 34
1
The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all of his army, together with all the kingdoms of the earth, the domains under his dominion, and all their people were waging war against Jerusalem and all of her cities, saying:
2
"Yahweh, God of Israel, says this: Go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah and say to him, 'Yahweh says this: Look, I am about to give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon. He will burn it.
3
You will not escape from his hand, for you will certainly be seized and given into his hand. Your eyes will look at the eyes of the king of Babylon; he will speak directly to you as you go to Babylon.'
4
Listen to the word of Yahweh, Zedekiah king of Judah! Yahweh says this concerning you, 'You will not die by the sword.
5
You will die in peace. As in the funeral burning of your ancestors, the kings who were before you, they will burn your body. They will say, "Woe, master!" They will lament for you. Now I have spoken—this is Yahweh's declaration.'"
6
So Jeremiah the prophet proclaimed to Zedekiah king of Judah all these words in Jerusalem.
7
The army of the king of Babylon made war against Jerusalem and all the remaining cities of Judah: Lachish and Azekah. These cities of Judah remained as fortified cities.
8
The word came to Jeremiah from Yahweh after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem, to proclaim freedom to them,
9
that each man must send away his Hebrew slaves free, both male and female, so no one was to make a slave of a Jew, who was his brother.
10
So all the leaders and people entered into the covenant that each person would free his male and female slaves so that they would not be enslaved any longer. They obeyed and set them free.
11
But after this they changed their minds. They brought back the slaves whom they had sent away free. They forced them to become slaves again.
12
So the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah, saying,
13
"Yahweh, God of Israel, says this, 'I myself made a covenant with your ancestors on the day that I brought them out from the land of Egypt, out from the house of slavery. That was when I said,
14
"At the end of every seven years, each man must send away his brother, his fellow Hebrew who had sold himself to you and served you for six years. Send him away in freedom." But your ancestors did not listen to me or incline their ears to me.
15
Now you yourselves repented and began to do what is right in my eyes. You proclaimed freedom, each man to his neighbor, and you made a covenant before me in the house that is called by my name.
16
But then you turned and polluted my name; you caused each man to bring back his male and female slaves, the ones whom you had sent away free. You forced them to become your slaves again.'
17
Therefore Yahweh says this, 'You yourselves have not listened to me. You should have proclaimed freedom, every one of you, to your brothers and fellow Israelites. So look! I am about to proclaim freedom to you—this is Yahweh's declaration—freedom for the sword, the plague, and famine, for I am going to make you a terrifying thing in the sight of every kingdom on earth.
18
Then I will deal with the people who have broken my covenant, who did not keep the words of the covenant that they established before me when they cut a bull in two and walked between its parts,
19
and then the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the eunuchs and the priests, and all the people of the land walked between the parts of the bull.
20
I will give them into the hand of their enemies and into the hand of those who are seeking their lives. Their corpses will be food for the birds of the skies and the wild animals on the earth.
21
So I will give Zedekiah king of Judah and his leaders into the hand of their enemies and into the hand of those who are seeking their life, and into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon that has risen up against you.
22
Look, I am about to give a command—this is Yahweh's declaration—and will bring them back to this city to wage war against it and take it, and to burn it. For I will turn the cities of Judah into ruined places in which there will be no inhabitants.'"
Chapter 35
1
The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh in the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,
2
"Go to the family of the Rekabites and speak with them. Then bring them to my house, into one of the rooms there, and give them wine to drink."
3
So I took Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah son of Habazziniah and his brothers, all his sons, and all the family of the Rekabites.
4
I took them to the house of Yahweh, into the rooms of the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah, the man of God. These rooms were beside the room of the leaders, which was above the room of Maaseiah son of Shallum, the gatekeeper.
5
Then I placed bowls and cups full of wine in front of the Rekabites and said to them, "Drink some wine."
6
But they said, "We will not drink any wine, for our ancestor, Jonadab son of Rekab, commanded us, 'Do not drink any wine, neither you nor your descendants, forever.
7
Also, do not build any houses, sow any seeds, or plant any vineyards; this is not for you. For you must live in tents all your days, so that you might live many days in the land where you are staying as foreigners.'
8
We have obeyed the voice of Jonadab son of Rekab, our ancestor, in all that he commanded us, to never drink wine all of our days, we, our wives, our sons, and our daughters.
9
We will never build houses to live in, and there will be no vineyard, field, or seed in our possession.
10
We have lived in tents and we have obeyed and done all that Jonadab our ancestor commanded us.
11
But when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked the land, we said, 'Come, we must go to Jerusalem to escape from the Chaldean and Aramean armies.' So we are living in Jerusalem."
12
Then the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah, saying,
13
"Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this, 'Go and say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, "Will you not receive correction and listen to my words?—this is Yahweh's declaration.
14
The words of Jonadab son of Rekab that he gave to his sons as a command, not to drink any wine, have been observed to this very day. They have obeyed their ancestor's command. But as for me, I myself have been making persistent proclamations to you, but you do not listen to me.
15
I persistently sent to you all my servants, the prophets, saying 'Let each person turn from his wicked way and do good deeds; let no one walk any longer after other gods and worship them. Then you will live in the land that I gave to you and your ancestors.' But you did not incline your ears and you did not listen to me.
16
For the descendants of Jonadab son of Rekab have observed the commands of their ancestor that he commanded them, but this people refuses to listen to me."'
17
So Yahweh, God of hosts and God of Israel, says this, 'Look, I am bringing upon Judah and on everyone living in Jerusalem, all the disasters I pronounced against them because I spoke to them, but they did not listen; I called to them, but they did not answer.'"
18
Jeremiah said to the family of the Rekabites, "Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this: You have listened to the commands of Jonadab your ancestor and have kept them all—you have obeyed all that he commanded you to do—
19
so Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this, 'There will always be someone descended from Jonadab son of Rekab to serve me.'"
Chapter 36
1
It came about in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, and he said,
2
"Take a scroll for yourself and write on it all the words that I have told you concerning Israel and Judah, and every nation. Do this for everything I have told from the days of Josiah until this very day.
3
Perhaps the people of Judah will listen to all the disasters that I intend to bring on them. Perhaps everyone will turn away from his wicked way, so I can forgive their iniquity and their sin."
4
Then Jeremiah called Baruch son of Neriah, and Baruch wrote in a scroll, at Jeremiah's dictation, all the words of Yahweh spoken to him.
5
Next Jeremiah gave a command to Baruch. He said, "I am in prison and cannot go to the house of Yahweh.
6
So you must go and read from the scroll that you wrote at my dictation. On the day of the fast, you must read Yahweh's words in the hearing of the people in his house, and also in the hearing of all of Judah who have come from their cities. Proclaim these words to them.
7
Perhaps their pleas for mercy will come before Yahweh. Perhaps each person will turn from his wicked way, since the wrath and fury that Yahweh has proclaimed against this people are severe."
8
So Baruch son of Neriah did everything that Jeremiah the prophet had commanded him to do. He read aloud from the scroll the words of Yahweh in the house of Yahweh.
9
It came about in the fifth year and ninth month of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, that all the people in Jerusalem and the people who came to Jerusalem from the cities of Judah proclaimed a fast before Yahweh.
10
Baruch read aloud from the scroll Jeremiah's words in the house of Yahweh, from the room of Gemariah son of Shaphan the scribe, in the upper courtyard, by the gate of the entrance to the house of Yahweh. He did this in the hearing of all the people.
11
Now Micaiah son of Gemariah son of Shaphan heard all of Yahweh's words in the scroll.
12
He went down to the house of the king, to the secretary's room. Look, all the officials were sitting there: Elishama the secretary, Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Akbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the officials.
13
Then Micaiah reported to them all the words that he had heard that Baruch read aloud from the scroll in the hearing of the people.
14
So all the officials sent Jehudi son of Nethaniah son of Shelemiah son of Cushi, to Baruch. Jehudi said to Baruch, "Take the scroll in your hand, the scroll from which you were reading in the hearing of the people, and come." So Baruch son of Neriah took the scroll in his hand and went to the officials.
15
Then they said to him, "Sit down and read this in our hearing." So Baruch read the scroll.
16
It happened that when they heard all these words, each man turned in fear to the one next to him and said to Baruch, "We must certainly report all of these words to the king."
17
Then they asked Baruch, "Tell us, how did you come to write all these words at Jeremiah's dictation?"
18
Baruch said to them, "He dictated all these words to me, and I wrote them in ink on this scroll."
19
Then the officials said to Baruch, "Go, hide yourself, and Jeremiah, too. Do not let anyone know where you are."
20
So they put the scroll in the room of Elishama the secretary, and they went to the king in the courtyard and they reported everything in the hearing of the king.
21
Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll. Jehudi took it from the room of Elishama the secretary. Then he read it in the hearing of the king and all the officials who were standing beside him.
22
Now the king was staying in the winter house in the ninth month, and a brazier was burning in front of him.
23
It happened that as Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut it off with a knife and throw it into the fire in the brazier until all of the scroll was destroyed.
24
But neither the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words were frightened, nor did they tear their clothes.
25
Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah had even urged the king not to burn the scroll, but he did not listen to them.
26
Then the king commanded Jerahmeel, a relative, Seraiah son of Azriel, and Shelemiah son of Abdeel to arrest Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but Yahweh had hidden them.
27
Then the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah after the king had burned the scroll and the words that Baruch had written at Jeremiah's dictation, saying,
28
"Go back, take another scroll for yourself, and write in it all the words that were on the original scroll, the one that Jehoiakim king of Judah burned.
29
Then you must say this to Jehoiakim king of Judah: 'You burned that scroll, saying, "Why have you written on it, 'The king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land, for he will cut off both man and animal from it'?"'"
30
Therefore Yahweh says this concerning you, Jehoiakim king of Judah: "No descendant of yours will ever sit on the throne of David. As for you, your corpse will be thrown out into the heat of day and the frost of night.
31
For I will punish you, your descendants, and your servants for the iniquity of you all. I will bring on you, on all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and on every person in Judah all the disasters with which I have threatened you—but you paid no attention."
32
So Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch son of Neriah the scribe. Baruch wrote on it at Jeremiah's dictation all the words that had been in the scroll burned by Jehoiakim king of Judah. Furthermore, many other similar words were added to this scroll.
Chapter 37
1
Now Zedekiah son of Josiah reigned as king in place of Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had made Zedekiah king over the land of Judah.
2
But Zedekiah, his servants, and the people of the land did not listen to the words of Yahweh that he proclaimed by the hand of Jeremiah the prophet.
3
So King Zedekiah, Jehukal son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah son of Maaseiah the priest sent a message to Jeremiah the prophet. They said, "Pray on our behalf to Yahweh our God."
4
Now Jeremiah was coming and going among the people, for he had not yet been put in prison.
5
Pharaoh's army came out from Egypt, and the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard the news about them and left Jerusalem.
6
Then the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah the prophet, saying,
7
"Yahweh, God of Israel, says this: This is what you will say to the king of Judah, because he has sent you to seek advice from me, 'See, Pharaoh's army, which came to help you, is about to go back to Egypt, its own land.
8
The Chaldeans will return. They will fight against this city, capture it, and burn it.'
9
Yahweh says this: Do not deceive yourselves by saying, 'Surely the Chaldeans are leaving us,' for they will not leave.
10
Even if you had defeated the entire Chaldean army that is fighting you so that only badly wounded men were left in their tents, they would get up and burn this city."
11
So it was when the Chaldean army had left Jerusalem as Pharaoh's army was coming,
12
then Jeremiah went out from Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin. He wanted to take possession of a tract of land there among his people.
13
As he was in the Benjamin Gate, a chief guard was there. His name was Irijah son of Shelemiah son of Hananiah. He grabbed hold of Jeremiah the prophet and said, "You are deserting to the Chaldeans."
14
But Jeremiah said, "That is not true. I am not deserting to the Chaldeans." But Irijah did not listen to him. He took Jeremiah and brought him to the officials.
15
The officials were angry with Jeremiah. They beat him and put him in prison, which had been the house of Jonathan the scribe, for they had turned it into a prison.
16
So Jeremiah was put into a dungeon, where he stayed for many days.
17
Then King Zedekiah sent someone who brought him to the palace. In his house, the king asked him privately, "Is there any word from Yahweh?" Jeremiah answered, "There is a word: You will be given into the hand of the king of Babylon."
18
Then Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, "How have I sinned against you, your servants, or this people so that you have placed me in prison?
19
Where are your prophets, the ones who prophesied for you and said the king of Babylon will not come against you or against this land?
20
But now listen, my master the king! Let my plea for favor come before you. Do not return me to the house of Jonathan the scribe, or I will die there."
21
So King Zedekiah gave an order. His servants confined Jeremiah in the courtyard of the guard. A loaf of bread was given him every day from the street of the bakers, until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the guard.
Chapter 38
1
Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jehukal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malkijah heard the words that Jeremiah was declaring to all the people. He was saying,
2
"Yahweh says this: Anyone staying in this city will be killed by sword, famine, and plague. But anyone who goes out to the Chaldeans will survive. His life will be his loot, but he will survive.
3
Yahweh says this: This city will be given into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it."
4
So the officials said to the king, "Let this man die, for in this way he is weakening the hands of the fighting men who remain in this city, and the hands of all the people. He is proclaiming these words, for this man is not working for safety for this people, but disaster."
5
So King Zedekiah said, "Look, he is in your hand since there is no king able to resist you."
6
Then they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Malkijah, son of the king. The cistern was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah down on ropes. There was no water in the cistern, but it was muddy, and he sank down into the mud.
7
Now Ebed-Melek the Cushite was one of the eunuchs in the king's house. He heard that they had placed Jeremiah in the cistern. Now the king was sitting at the Benjamin Gate.
8
So Ebed-Melek went from the king's house and spoke with the king. He said,
9
"My master the king, these men have done evil with the way they have treated Jeremiah the prophet. They threw him into a cistern for him to die in it from hunger, since there is no more food in the city."
10
Then the king gave a command to Ebed-Melek the Cushite. He said, "Take command of thirty men from here and take Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies."
11
So Ebed-Melek took command of those men and went to the king's house, to a storeroom for clothing under the house. From there he took rags and worn-out clothing and then let them down by ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern.
12
Ebed-Melek the Cushite said to Jeremiah, "Put the rags and worn-out clothing under your arms and on top of the ropes." So Jeremiah did so.
13
Then they pulled Jeremiah by the ropes. In this way they brought him up from the cistern. So Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the guard.
14
Then King Zedekiah sent word and brought Jeremiah the prophet to himself, to the third entrance in the house of Yahweh. The king said to Jeremiah, "I want to ask you something. Do not keep the answer from me."
15
Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "If I answer you, will you not certainly kill me? But if I give you advice, you will not listen to me."
16
But King Zedekiah swore to Jeremiah in private and said, "As Yahweh lives, the one who made us, I will not kill you or give you into the hand of those men who are seeking your life."
17
So Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "Yahweh, God of hosts, God of Israel, says this: If you indeed go out to the officials of the king of Babylon then you will live, and this city will not be burned. You and your family will live.
18
But if you do not go out to the officials of the king of Babylon, then this city will be given into the hand of the Chaldeans. They will burn it, and you will not escape from their hand."
19
King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "But I am afraid of the Jews who have deserted to the Chaldeans, because I might be given over into their hand, for them to treat me badly."
20
Jeremiah said, "They will not give you over to them. Obey the message from Yahweh that I am telling you, so that things will go well for you, and so that you will live.
21
But if you refuse to go out, this is what Yahweh has shown me.
22
Look! All the women who are left in your house, king of Judah, will be brought out to the officials of the king of Babylon. These women will say to you,
'You have been deceived by your men of peace;
they have ruined you.
Your feet are now sunk into the mud,
and your friends will turn away from you.'
23
For all of your wives and children will be brought out to the Chaldeans, and you yourself will not escape from their hand. You will be captured by the hand of the king of Babylon, and this city will be burned."
24
Then Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "Do not inform anyone about these words, so that you do not die.
25
If the officials hear that I have talked with you, and if they come and say to you, 'Tell us what you said to the king and do not hide it from us, or we will kill you,'
26
then you must say to them, 'I made a humble plea before the king that he would not return me to the house of Jonathan to die there.'"
27
Then all the officials came to Jeremiah and questioned him, so he answered them as the king had commanded him. So they stopped talking with him, because they had not heard the conversation between Jeremiah and the king.
28
So Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard until the day Jerusalem was captured.
Chapter 39
1
In the ninth year and tenth month of Zedekiah king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem and besieged it.
2
In the eleventh year and fourth month of Zedekiah, on the ninth day of the month, the city was broken into.
3
Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and sat in the middle gate: Nergal-Sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-Sarsekim an important official, and Nebo-Sarsekim a high official, and all the remaining officials of the king of Babylon.
4
It happened that when Zedekiah, king of Judah, and all his fighting men saw them, they fled. They went out at night from the city by the king's garden path, through the gate between the two walls. The king went out in the direction of the Arabah.
5
But the army of Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of the Jordan River valley near Jericho. Then they captured him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where Nebuchadnezzar passed sentence on him.
6
The king of Babylon slaughtered Zedekiah's sons before his own eyes at Riblah. He also slaughtered all the noblemen of Judah.
7
Then he put out Zedekiah's eyes and bound him in bronze chains in order to take him to Babylon.
8
Then the Chaldeans burned the king's house and the people's houses. They also tore down the walls of Jerusalem.
9
Nebuzaradan, the commander of the king's bodyguards, took into exile in Babylon the rest of the people who were left in the city. This included the people who had deserted to the Chaldeans and the rest of the people who were left in the city.
10
But Nebuzaradan the commander of the king's bodyguards allowed the poorest people who had nothing for themselves to remain in the land of Judah. He gave them vineyards and fields on that same day.
11
Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had given an order about Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the commander of the king's bodyguards. He had said,
12
"Take him and care for him. Do not harm him. Do for him anything he tells you."
13
So Nebuzaradan the commander of the king's bodyguards, Nebushazban the high eunuch, Nergal-Sharezer the high official, and all the most important officials of the king of Babylon sent men out.
14
Their men took Jeremiah from the courtyard of the guard and entrusted him to Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan, to take him home, so Jeremiah stayed among the people.
15
Now the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah while he was under arrest in the courtyard of the guard, saying,
16
"Speak to Ebed-Melek the Cushite and say, 'Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this: See, I am about to carry out my words against this city for disaster and not for good. For they will all come true before you on that day.
17
But I will rescue you on that day—this is Yahweh's declaration—and you will not be given into the hand of the men whom you fear.
18
For I will certainly rescue you. You will not fall by the sword. Your life will be your loot since you trust in me—this was Yahweh's declaration.'"
Chapter 40
1
The word came to Jeremiah from Yahweh after Nebuzaradan the commander of the king's bodyguards had released him at Ramah. He had found Jeremiah bound with chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being carried into exile to Babylon.
2
The chief guard took Jeremiah and said to him, "Yahweh your God decreed this disaster for this place.
3
So Yahweh brought it about. He did just as he had decreed, since you people sinned against him and did not obey his voice. That is why this thing has happened to you people.
4
But now look! I have released you today from the chains that were on your hands. If it is good in your eyes to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will take care of you. But if it is not good in your eyes to come with me to Babylon, then do not do so. Look at all the land before you. Go where it is good and right in your eyes to go."
5
When Jeremiah did not reply, Nebuzaradan said, "Go to Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has put in charge of the cities of Judah. Stay with him among the people or go wherever it is good in your eyes to go." The commander of the king's bodyguards gave him food and a gift, and then sent him away.
6
So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, at Mizpah. He stayed with him among the people who were left behind in the land.
7
Now some commanders of Judean soldiers who were still in the countryside—they and their men—heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah son of Ahikam governor over the land. They also heard that he had put him in charge of the men, women, and children who were the poorest people in the land, those who had not been exiled to Babylon.
8
So they went to Gedaliah at Mizpah. These men were Ishmael son of Nethaniah; Johanan and Jonathan, sons of Kareah; Seraiah son of Tanhumeth; the sons of Ephai the Netophathite; and Jaazaniah son of the Maakathite—they and their men.
9
Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan took an oath to them and to their men and said to them, "Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldean officials. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you.
10
Look, I am living in Mizpah to meet with the Chaldeans who came to us. So harvest wine, summer fruit, and oil and store them in your containers. Live in the cities that you have occupied."
11
Then all the Jews in Moab, among the people of Ammon, and in Edom, and in every land heard that the king of Babylon had allowed a remnant of Judah to stay, that he had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan over them.
12
So all the Jews returned from every place where they had been scattered. They came back to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah. They harvested wine and summer fruit in great abundance.
13
Johanan son of Kareah and all the army commanders in the countryside came to Gedaliah at Mizpah.
14
They said to him, "Do you realize that Baalis king of the people of Ammon sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to murder you?" But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.
15
So Johanan son of Kareah spoke privately to Gedaliah in Mizpah and said, "Allow me to go kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah. No one will suspect me. Why should he kill you? Why allow all of Judah that has been gathered to you to be scattered and the remnant of Judah destroyed?"
16
But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, "Do not do this thing, for you are telling lies about Ishmael."
Chapter 41
1
But it happened that in the seventh month Ishmael son of Nethaniah son of Elishama, from the royal family, and some officers of the king, came—ten men were with him—to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, at Mizpah. They ate food together there in Mizpah.
2
But Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and the ten men who were with him rose up and attacked Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan, with the sword. Ishmael killed Gedaliah, whom the king of Babylon had put in charge of the land.
3
Then Ishmael killed all the Jews who were with Gedaliah in Mizpah and the Chaldean fighting men found there.
4
Then it was the second day after the killing of Gedaliah, but no one knew.
5
Some men came from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria—eighty men who had shaved their beard, torn their clothes, and cut themselves—with food offerings and frankincense in their hands to go to the house of Yahweh.
6
So Ishmael son of Nethaniah went out from Mizpah to meet them as they went, walking and weeping. Then it happened that as he encountered them, he said to them, "Come to Gedaliah son of Ahikam!"
7
It came about that when they came into the city, Ishmael son of Nethaniah slaughtered them and threw them into a pit, he and the men who were with him.
8
But there were ten men among them who said to Ishmael, "Do not kill us, for there are provisions of ours in a field: Wheat and barley, oil and honey." So he did not kill them with their other companions.
9
The cistern where Ishmael threw all the dead bodies that he had killed, was a large cistern that King Asa dug to make a defense against King Baasha of Israel. Ishmael son of Nethaniah filled it in with the dead.
10
Next Ishmael captured all the people who remained in Mizpah, the king's daughters and all the people who were left in Mizpah whom Nebuzaradan the chief guard had assigned to Gedaliah son of Ahikam. So Ishmael son of Nethaniah captured them and went to cross over to the people of Ammon.
11
But Johanan son of Kareah and all the army commanders with him heard of all the harm that Ishmael son of Nethaniah had done.
12
So they took all their men and went to fight against Ishmael son of Nethaniah. They found him at the great pool of Gibeon.
13
Then it happened that when all the people who were with Ishmael saw Johanan son of Kareah and all the army commanders who were with him, they were very happy.
14
So all the people whom Ishmael had captured at Mizpah turned around and went to Johanan son of Kareah.
15
But Ishmael son of Nethaniah fled with eight men from Johanan. He went to the people of Ammon.
16
Johanan son of Kareah and all the army commanders with him took from Mizpah all the people who had been rescued from Ishmael son of Nethaniah. This was after Ishmael had killed Gedaliah son of Ahikam. Johanan and his companions took the strong men, the fighting men, the women and children, and the eunuchs who had been rescued at Gibeon.
17
Then they went and stayed for a while in Geruth Kimham, which is near Bethlehem. They were going to go to Egypt
18
because of the Chaldeans. They were afraid of them since Ishmael son of Nethaniah had killed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had put in charge of the land.
Chapter 42
1
Then all the army commanders and Johanan son of Kareah, Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest approached Jeremiah the prophet.
2
They said to him, "Let our plea for favor come before you. Pray for us to Yahweh your God for these people who remain since we are so few in number, as you see.
3
Ask Yahweh your God to tell us the way we should go and what we should do."
4
So Jeremiah the prophet said to them, "I have heard you. Look, I will pray to Yahweh your God as you have requested. Whatever Yahweh answers, I will tell you. I will keep nothing back from you."
5
They said to Jeremiah, "May Yahweh be a true and faithful witness against us, if we do not do everything that Yahweh your God tells us to do.
6
Whether it is good or if it is bad, we will obey the voice of Yahweh our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of Yahweh our God."
7
At the end of ten days, the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah.
8
So Jeremiah called to Johanan son of Kareah and all the army commanders with him, and to all the people from the least to the greatest.
9
Then he said to them, "This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel—to whom you sent me so I might lay your pleas before him—says,
10
'If you go back and live in this land, then I will build you and not tear you down; I will plant you and not pull you up, for I will relent concerning the disaster that I have brought on you.
11
Do not fear the king of Babylon, whom you are fearing. Do not fear him—this is Yahweh's declaration—since I am with you to save you and rescue you from his hand.
12
For I will give you mercy. I will have compassion on you, and I will bring you back to your land.
13
But suppose that you say, "We will not stay in this land"—if you do not listen to my voice, the voice of Yahweh your God.
14
Suppose that you say, "No! We will go to the land of Egypt, where we will not see any war, where we will not hear the sound of the ram's horn, and we will not go hungry for food. We will live there."
15
Now listen to this word of Yahweh, you remnant of Judah. Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this, 'If you actually set out to go to Egypt, to go and live there,
16
then the sword that you fear will overtake you there in the land of Egypt. The famine that you are anxious about will pursue you to Egypt, and you will die there.
17
So it will happen that all the men who set out to go to Egypt to live there will die by sword, famine, or plague. There will be no survivor of them, no one to escape the disaster that I will bring on them.
18
For Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this: Just as my wrath and my fury were poured out on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, in the same way my fury will be poured out on you if you go to Egypt. You will become an object of cursing and a horror, an object for speaking curses, and something dishonorable, and you will not see this place again.'"
19
Then Jeremiah said, "Yahweh has spoken concerning you—the remnant of Judah. Do not go to Egypt! You certainly know that I have been a witness against you today.
20
For you fatally deceived yourselves when you sent me to Yahweh your God and said, 'Pray to Yahweh our God for us. Everything that Yahweh our God says, tell us, and we will carry it out.'
21
For I have reported to you today, but you have not listened to the voice of Yahweh your God or to anything about which he sent me to you.
22
So now, you should certainly know that you will die by sword, famine, and plague in the place where you desired to go to live."
Chapter 43
1
It happened that Jeremiah finished proclaiming to all the people all the words of Yahweh their God that Yahweh their God had told him to say.
2
Azariah son of Hoshaiah, Johanan son of Kareah, and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, "You are telling lies. Yahweh our God has not sent you to say, 'Do not go to Egypt to live there.'
3
For Baruch son of Neriah is inciting you against us to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, for you to cause our death and to make us captives in Babylon."
4
So Johanan son of Kareah, all the princes of the army, and all the people refused to listen to Yahweh's voice to live in the land of Judah.
5
Johanan son of Kareah and all the army commanders took away all the remnant of Judah who had returned from all the nations where they had been scattered to live in the land of Judah.
6
They took the men and women, the children and the king's daughters, and every person whom Nebuzaradan, the commander of the king's bodyguards, had let remain with Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan. They also took Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch son of Neriah.
7
They went to the land of Egypt, to Tahpanhes, because they did not listen to Yahweh's voice.
8
So the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying,
9
"Take some large stones in your hand, and, in the sight of some Jewish men, hide them in the mortar in the pavement at the entrance to Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes."
10
Then say to them, "Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this, 'See, I am about to send messengers to bring Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, my servant. I will place his throne over these stones that you, Jeremiah, have buried. Nebuchadnezzar will place his pavilion over them.
11
For he will come and attack the land of Egypt. Anyone who is assigned to death will be given to death. Anyone who is assigned to captivity will be taken captive. Anyone who is assigned to the sword will be given to the sword.
12
Then I will light a fire in the temples of Egypt's gods. Nebuchadnezzar will burn them or capture them. He will clean out the land of Egypt just as shepherds clean vermin off their clothes. He will go out from that place in victory.
13
He will break the stone pillars at Heliopolis in the land of Egypt. He will burn the temples of Egypt's gods.'"
Chapter 44
1
The word came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews who lived in the land of Egypt, the ones staying in Migdol, Tahpanhes, Memphis, and in Upper Egypt:
2
"Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says, 'You yourselves have seen all the disasters that I brought on Jerusalem and all the cities of Judah. See, they are ruins today. There is no one to live in them.
3
This is because of the wicked things they did to provoke me to anger by going to burn incense and to worship other gods. These were gods that neither they themselves, nor you, nor your ancestors knew.'
4
So I repeatedly sent all of my servants the prophets to them. I sent them to say, 'Stop doing these abominable things that I hate.'
5
But they did not listen. They refused to pay attention or turn from their wickedness in burning incense to other gods.
6
So my fury and my wrath were poured out and kindled a fire in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem. So they became ruins and devastations, as at this present day.'
7
So now Yahweh, the God of hosts and the God of Israel, says this, 'Why are you doing great wickedness against yourselves? Why are you causing yourselves to be cut off from among Judah—men and women, children and babies? No remnant of you will be left.
8
By your wickedness you have provoked me to anger with the deeds of your hands, by burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt, where you have gone to live. You have gone there so that you will be destroyed, so that you will be a curse and a taunt among all the nations of the earth.
9
Have you forgotten the wickedness committed by your ancestors and the wickedness committed by the kings of Judah and their wives? Have you forgotten the evil committed by yourselves and your wives in the land of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem?
10
To this day, they still are not humbled. They do not honor my law or decrees that I placed before them and their ancestors, nor do they walk in them.'
11
Therefore Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this, 'See, I am about to set my face against you to bring disaster to you and to destroy all of Judah.
12
For I will take the remnant of Judah that has set out to go to the land of Egypt to live there. I will do this so that they will all perish in the land of Egypt. They will fall by sword and famine. From the least to the greatest they will die by sword and famine. They will die and will become a curse, an object of horror—a curse and an insult.
13
For I will punish the people inhabiting the land of Egypt just as I punished Jerusalem with the sword, with famine, and with the plague,
14
so that none of the remnant of Judah who have gone to live in the land of Egypt will escape or survive or return to the land of Judah, to which they desire to return and live; and none of them will return except a few who escaped from there.'"
15
Then all the men who knew that their wives were burning incense to other gods, and all the women who were in the great assembly, and all the people who were living in Lower and Upper Egypt, answered Jeremiah.
16
They said, "About the word that you have told us in Yahweh's name—we will not listen to you.
17
For we will certainly do all the things that we said we would do—burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her just as we, our ancestors, our kings, and our leaders did in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem. Then we will be filled with food and will prosper, without experiencing any disaster.
18
When we refrained from doing these things, not offering incense to the queen of heaven and not pouring out drink offerings to her, we were all suffering poverty and were dying by sword and famine."
19
The women said, "When we were making incense offerings before the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, was it against our husbands that we did these things, making cakes in her image and pouring out drink offerings to her?"
20
Then Jeremiah said to all the people—to the men and women, and all the people who answered him—he proclaimed and said,
21
"Did not Yahweh remember the incense that you burned in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem—you and your ancestors, your kings and leaders, and the people of the land? For Yahweh calls this to mind; it comes to his thoughts.
22
Then he was no longer able to bear it because of the wickedness of your practices, because of the abominations that you did. Then your land became a desolation, a horror, and a curse so there was no longer an inhabitant as at this present day.
23
Because you burned incense and sinned against Yahweh, and because you would not listen to his voice, his law, his statutes, or his covenant decrees, this disaster against you has happened as at this present day."
24
Then Jeremiah said to all the people and all the women, "Hear the word of Yahweh, all of Judah who are in the land of Egypt.
25
Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this, 'You and your wives both have said with your mouths and carried out with your hands what you said, "We will certainly carry out the vows that we made to worship the queen of heaven, to pour out drink offerings to her." Now fulfill your vows; carry them out.'
26
So then, hear the word of Yahweh, all of Judah who are staying in the land of Egypt, 'See, I have sworn by my great name—says Yahweh. My name will no longer be called upon by the mouths of any of the men of Judah in all the land of Egypt, you who now say, "As the Lord Yahweh lives."
27
See, I am watching over them for disaster and not for good. Every person of Judah in the land of Egypt will perish by sword and famine until they are all finished.
28
Then the survivors of the sword will return from the land of Egypt to the land of Judah, only a small number of them. So all the remnant of Judah who went to the land of Egypt to live there will know whose word will stand—mine or theirs.
29
This will be the sign for you—this is Yahweh's declaration—that I am setting against you in this place, so that you will know that my words will certainly attack you with disaster.'
30
Yahweh says this, 'Look, I am about to give Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies and into the hand of those who seek to kill him. It will be the same as when I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, his enemy who sought his life.'"
Chapter 45
1
This is the word that Jeremiah the prophet told Baruch son of Neriah. This happened when he wrote in a scroll these words from the mouth of Jeremiah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah. He said,
2
"Yahweh, God of Israel, says this to you, Baruch:
3
You have said, 'Woe is me, for Yahweh has added agony to my pain. My groaning has wearied me; I find no rest.'
4
This is what you must say to him: 'Yahweh says this: See, what I built, I am now tearing down. What I planted, I am now pulling up—I will do this throughout all the earth.
5
But are you hoping for great things for yourself? Do not hope for that. For see, disaster is coming on all humanity—this is Yahweh's declaration—but I am giving you your life as loot everywhere you will go.'"
Chapter 46
1
This is the word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations.
2
For Egypt: "This is about the army of Pharaoh Necho, king of Egypt that was at Carchemish by the Euphrates River. This was the army that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah:
3
Get the small shields and the large shields ready,
and go forward to fight.
4
Put the harness on the horses;
mount up on the horses
and take your stand with your helmets on;
polish the spears and put on your armor.
5
What am I seeing here?
They are dismayed and are running away,
for their soldiers have been completely destroyed.
They are fleeing for refuge and are not looking back.
Terror is all around
—this is Yahweh's declaration—
6
the swift cannot run away,
and the soldiers cannot escape.
They stumble in the north
and fall beside the Euphrates River.
7
Who is this who rises like the Nile,
whose waters toss up and down like the rivers?
8
Egypt rises like the Nile,
like rivers of water that rise and fall.
Egypt says, 'I will go up and I will cover the earth.
I will destroy cities and their inhabitants.
9
Go up, horses.
Be angry, you chariots.
Let the soldiers go out,
Cush and Put, men skillful with a shield, and Lydia,
men skillful at bending their bows.'
10
That day will be the day of vengeance
for the Lord Yahweh of hosts,
and he will avenge himself on his foes.
The sword will devour and be satisfied.
It will drink its fill of their blood.
For there will be a sacrifice
to the Lord Yahweh of hosts
in the northern land by the Euphrates River.
11
Go up to Gilead and obtain medicine,
virgin daughter of Egypt.
It is useless that you put much medicine on yourself.
There is no cure for you.
12
The nations have heard of your disgrace.
The earth is filled with your cry of distress,
for soldier stumbles against soldier;
both of them fall together."
13
This is the word that Yahweh told Jeremiah the prophet when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came and attacked the land of Egypt:
14
"Announce in Egypt,
and proclaim it in Migdol, Memphis, and Tahpanhes.
'Take your station and prepare yourself,
for the sword will devour those around you.'
15
Why are your mighty ones facedown on the ground?
They will not stand,
because Yahweh has pushed them to the ground.
16
He increases the numbers of those who stumble.
Each soldier falls against the next one.
They are saying, 'Get up. Let us go home.
Let us go back to our own people,
to the land of our birth,
and away from the sword of the oppressor.'
17
They proclaimed there,
'Pharaoh the king of Egypt is only a noise,
one who has let his opportunity slip away.'
18
As I live—declares the King,
whose name is Yahweh of hosts—
someone will come like Mount Tabor
and Mount Carmel by the sea.
19
Pack for yourselves baggage to carry into exile,
you who live in Egypt.
For Memphis will become a waste;
it will be burned, and no one will live there.
20
Egypt is a very beautiful young cow,
but a stinging insect is coming from the north
It is coming.
21
The hired soldiers in her midst are like a fattened bull,
but they will also turn away and run away.
They will not stand together,
for the day of their disaster is coming against them,
the time of their punishment.
22
Egypt hisses like a snake and crawls away,
for her enemies are marching against her.
They are going toward her like woodcutters with axes.
23
They will cut down the forests
—this is Yahweh's declaration
—although it is very dense.
For the enemies will be more numerous than locusts,
unable to be counted.
24
The daughter of Egypt will be made ashamed.
She will be given into the hand of people from the north."
25
Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, says, "See, I am about to punish Amon of Thebes, Pharaoh, Egypt and her gods, her kings the Pharaohs, and those who trust in them.
26
I am giving them into the hand of the ones seeking their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his servants. Then after this Egypt will be inhabited as in previous days—this is Yahweh's declaration.
27
But you, my servant Jacob, do not fear.
Do not be dismayed, Israel, for see,
I am about to deliver you from the faraway place,
and your descendants from the land of their captivity.
Jacob will return and be at ease;
he will rest secure, and there will be no more terror.
28
You, my servant Jacob, do not fear
—this is Yahweh's declaration
—for I am with you,
so I will bring complete destruction against all the nations
where I scattered you.
But I will not destroy you completely.
Yet I will discipline you justly
and will certainly not leave you unpunished."
Chapter 47
1
This is the word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines. This word came to him before Pharaoh attacked Gaza.
2
"Yahweh says this:
See, floods of water are rising in the north.
They will be like an overflowing river!
Then they will overflow the land and everything in it,
its cities and its inhabitants!
So everyone will shout for help,
and all the inhabitants of the land will howl.
3
At the sound of the stamping of their strong horses' hooves,
at the roar of their chariots and the noise of their wheels,
fathers will not help their children
because of the weakness of their own hands.
4
For the day is coming that will devastate all of the Philistines,
to cut off from Tyre and Sidon
every survivor who wants to help them.
For Yahweh is devastating the Philistines,
those who remain from the island of Caphtor.
5
Baldness will come upon Gaza.
Ashkelon has been silenced.
You remnant in their valley,
how long will you cut yourself?
6
Woe, sword of Yahweh!
How long will it be until you become silent?
Go back to your scabbard!
Stop and be silent.
7
How can it rest when Yahweh has commanded it,
when he has appointed it to attack Ashkelon
and the coastlands along the sea?"
Chapter 48
1
To Moab, Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this,
"Woe to Nebo, for it has been devastated.
Kiriathaim has been humiliated and captured.
Her fortress has been disgraced and crushed.
2
The honor of Moab is no more.
Their enemies in Heshbon plotted disaster against her.
They said, 'Come and let us destroy her as a nation.
Madmen will also perish
—a sword will go after you.'
3
Listen! A sound of an outcry is coming from Horonaim,
where there is ruin and great destruction.
4
Moab has been destroyed.
Her children have made their cries heard.
5
They go up the hill of Luhith weeping,
for on the way down to Horonaim,
screams are heard because of the destruction.
6
Flee! Save your lives
and become like a juniper bush in the wilderness.
7
For because of your trust in your practices
and your wealth
you also will be captured.
Then Chemosh will go away into captivity
together with his priests and leaders.
8
For the destroyer will come to every city;
no city will escape.
So the valley will perish
and the plain will be devastated,
as Yahweh has said.
9
Give wings to Moab,
for she must certainly fly away.
Her cities will become a wasteland,
where there is no one to live in them.
10
May anyone who is lazy in doing Yahweh's work
be cursed!
May anyone who keeps his sword back from shedding blood
be cursed!
11
Moab has rested secure since he was young.
He is like his wine that has never been poured from pot to pot.
He has never gone into captivity.
Therefore he tastes as good as ever;
his flavor remains unchanged.
12
So see, the days are coming
—this is Yahweh's declaration
—when I will send him those who will tip him over
and pour out all his pots and shatter his jars.
13
Then Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh
just as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel,
their object of trust.
14
How can you say,
'We are soldiers, powerful fighting men'?
15
Moab will be devastated and its cities attacked.
For its finest young men
have gone down to the place of slaughter.
This is the king's declaration!
Yahweh of hosts is his name.
16
Moab's disaster is soon to happen;
calamity is hurrying quickly.
17
All you who are around Moab, wail;
and all you who know its fame, shout this,
'Woe, the strong staff,
the honored rod, has been broken.'
18
Come down from your honored place
and sit on the dry ground,
you daughter living in Dibon.
For the destroyer of Moab will come up against you,
he will ruin your strongholds.
19
Stand on the road and watch,
you people who live in Aroer.
Ask the ones who are fleeing and escaping.
Say, 'What has happened?'
20
Moab has been shamed,
for it has been shattered.
Howl and lament;
shout for help.
Tell it to people by the Arnon River
that Moab has been devastated.
21
Now punishment has come to the hill country,
to Holon, Jahzah, and Mephaath,
22
to Dibon, Nebo, and Beth Diblathaim,
23
to Kiriathaim, Beth Gamul, and Beth Meon,
24
To Kerioth and Bozrah,
and to all the cities in the land of Moab—
the farthest and the closest cities.
25
The horn of Moab has been hacked off;
its arm has been broken
—this is Yahweh's declaration.
26
Make him drunk,
because he acted proudly against Yahweh.
Let Moab wallow in his vomit,
and let him be an object of ridicule.
27
For did not Israel become an object for laughter to you?
Was he found among thieves,
so that you shook your head at him
as often as you spoke about him?
28
Abandon the cities and camp on the cliffs,
inhabitants of Moab.
Become like a dove that is nesting
over the mouth of a hole in the rocks.
29
We have heard of Moab's pride
—his arrogance,
his haughtiness, his pride,
his self-glory and the conceit in his heart.
30
This is Yahweh's declaration
—I myself know his arrogant speech,
which amounts to nothing, like his deeds.
31
So I will howl a lament for Moab,
and I will shout in sorrow for all of Moab.
I will lament for the people of Kir Hareseth.
32
I will weep for you more than I did for Jazer,
vine of Sibmah!
Your branches passed across the Salt Sea
and reached as far as Jazer.
The destroyer has attacked
your summer fruit and your grapes.
33
So celebration and rejoicing have been taken away
from the fruit trees and the land of Moab.
I have put an end to the wine from their winepresses.
They will not tread with joyful shouts.
Any shouts will not be shouts of joy.
34
From the shouts at Heshbon as far as Elealeh
their sound is heard at Jahaz,
from Zoar to Horonaim and Eglath Shelishiyah,
since even the waters of Nimrim have become desolate.
35
For I will put an end to anyone in Moab
who makes sacrifices on the high places
and burns incense to his gods
—this is Yahweh's declaration.
36
So my heart is lamenting for Moab like a flute.
My heart is lamenting like flutes
for the people of Kir Hareseth.
The riches they gained are gone.
37
For every head is bald and every beard shaved.
Incisions are on every hand,
and sackcloth is around their waists.
38
There is mourning everywhere,
on every flat roof of Moab and in Moab's plazas.
For I have destroyed Moab like pots that no one wants
—this is Yahweh's declaration.
39
How it has been shattered!
How they howl in their lamenting!
Moab turns its back in shame!
So Moab will become an object of derision
and a terror to all those who are around him."
40
For Yahweh says this,
"See, the enemy will come flying like an eagle,
spreading out his wings over Moab.
41
Kerioth has been captured,
and its strongholds have been seized.
For in that day the hearts of Moab's soldiers
will be like the hearts of women in birth labor.
42
So Moab will be destroyed and be no longer a people,
because he made himself to be great against Yahweh.
43
Terror, the pit, and a trap are coming on you,
inhabitant of Moab
—this is Yahweh's declaration.
44
Anyone who flees because of terror will fall into the pit,
and anyone who climbs out of the pit
will be caught in the trap
for I will bring this on them, the people of Moab,
in the year of my vengeance against them
—this is Yahweh's declaration.
45
The ones who flee will stand in the shadow of Heshbon
without any strength,
for fire will go out from Heshbon,
flame from the middle of Sihon.
It will devour the forehead of Moab
and the scalps of the boastful people.
46
Woe to you, Moab!
Chemosh's people are destroyed,
For your sons are taken as captives
and your daughters into captivity.
47
But I will reverse the captivity of Moab in later days
—this is Yahweh's declaration."
The judgment on Moab ends here.
Chapter 49
1
About the people of Ammon, Yahweh says this,
"Does Israel have no children?
Is there no one to inherit anything in Israel?
Why does Molech occupy Gad,
and his people live in its cities?
2
So look, the days are coming
—this is Yahweh's declaration
—when I will cause a trumpet call
for battle against Rabbah
to be heard among the people of Ammon,
so it will become a deserted heap
and its villages will be set on fire.
For Israel will possess those who possessed him,"
says Yahweh.
3
"Howl in lament, Heshbon,
for Ai will be devastated!
Shout out, daughters of Rabbah!
Gird yourselves with sackcloth.
Lament and run about in futility,
for Molech is going into captivity,
together with his priests and leaders.
4
Why do you brag about your valleys,
your valleys that are so fruitful, faithless daughter?
you who trust in your wealth and say,
'Who will come against me?'
5
See, I am about to bring terror on you
—this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh of hosts—
this terror will come from all those who surround you.
Each one of you will be scattered before it.
There will be no one to gather those running away.
6
But after this I will reverse the captivity of the people of Ammon
—this is Yahweh's declaration."
7
About Edom, Yahweh of hosts says this,
"Is there no longer any wisdom to be found in Teman?
Has good advice disappeared
from those who have understanding?
Has their wisdom become corrupted?
8
Flee! Turn back!
Stay in holes in the ground, inhabitants of Dedan.
For I am bringing the disaster of Esau on him
at the time that I punish him.
9
If grape harvesters came to you,
would they not leave a little bit behind?
If thieves came in the night,
would they not spoil only as much as they wanted?
10
But I have stripped Esau bare.
I have revealed his hiding places.
So he will not be able to hide himself.
His children, his brothers, and his neighbors are destroyed,
and he is gone.
11
Leave your orphans behind.
I will take care of their lives,
and your widows can trust in me."
12
For Yahweh says this, "See, those who did not deserve it must certainly drink some of the cup. Do you yourself think you will go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for you will certainly drink.
13
For I have sworn by myself—this is Yahweh's declaration—that Bozrah will become a horror, a disgrace, a devastation, and an object for cursing. All of its cities will become ruins forever.
14
I have heard news from Yahweh,
and a messenger has been sent out to the nations,
'Gather together and attack her.
Get ready for battle.'
15
"For see, I have made you small compared to the other nations,
despised by people.
16
As for your fearsomeness,
your heart's pride has deceived you,
inhabitants of places on the cliff,
you who have occupied the highest hills
so that you may make your nest high like an eagle.
I will bring you down from there
—this is Yahweh's declaration.
17
Edom will become a horror to everyone passing by it.
Every such person will be appalled
and hiss because of all of its disasters.
18
Like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah
and their neighbors, says Yahweh,
and no one will live there;
no person will stay there.
19
See, he will go up like a lion
from the majesty of the Jordan
to the green pasturelands.
For I will quickly make Edom run from it,
and I will put someone who will be chosen in charge of it.
For who is like me,
and who will summon me?
What shepherd is able to resist me?
20
So listen to the plans that Yahweh has decided against Edom,
the plans that he has formed
against the inhabitants of Teman.
They will certainly be dragged away,
even the smallest flock.
Their pasturelands will be turned into ruined places.
21
At the sound of their falling the earth shakes.
The sound of cries of distress is heard at the Sea of Reeds.
22
See, someone will attack like an eagle,
and swoop down and spread his wings over Bozrah.
Then on that day, the hearts of Edom's soldiers
will become like the heart of a woman in birth labor."
23
About Damascus:
"Hamath and Arpad will be ashamed,
for they have heard news of disaster.
They melt away!
Anxiety is in the sea.
It cannot stay calm.
24
Damascus has become very weak.
It turns away to flee;
terror seizes it.
Distress and pain seize it,
like the pain of a woman giving birth.
25
How has the city of praise not been abandoned,
the town of my joy?
26
Therefore its young men will fall in its plazas,
and all the fighting men will perish on that day
—this is the declaration of Yahweh of hosts."
27
"For I will light a fire on the wall of Damascus,
and it will devour the strongholds of Ben-Hadad."
28
About Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, Yahweh says this to Nebuchadnezzar (now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon was going to attack these places):
"Arise and attack Kedar
and destroy those people of the east.
29
Their tents and their flocks will be taken,
along with their tent curtains and all of their equipment;
their camels will be led away from them,
and men will shout to them,
"Terror is on every side!"
30
Flee! Wander far away!
Stay in holes in the ground, inhabitants of Hazor
—this is Yahweh's declaration
—for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon
has devised a plan against you.
Flee! Turn back!
31
Arise! Attack the nation at ease,
that lives in safety," says Yahweh.
"They have no gates or bars in them,
and its people live by themselves.
32
For their camels will become plunder,
and the abundance of their property
will become war plunder.
Then I will scatter to every wind
those who cut the hair on the sides of their heads very short,
and I will bring disaster on them from every side
—this is Yahweh's declaration.
33
Hazor will become a lair of jackals,
a permanent wasteland.
No one will live there;
no human being will stay there."
34
This is the word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah the prophet about Elam. This happened at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, and he said,
35
"Yahweh of hosts says this:
See, I am about to break the bowmen of Elam,
the main part of their power.
36
For I will bring the four winds
from the four corners of the heavens,
and I will scatter the people of Elam to all of those winds.
There is no nation
to which those scattered from Elam will not go.
37
So I will shatter Elam before their enemies
and before those who seek their lives.
for I will bring disaster against them, the fury of my wrath
—this is Yahweh's declaration
—and I will send the sword after them
until I have consumed them.
38
Then I will put my throne in Elam
and will destroy its king and leaders from there
—this is Yahweh's declaration
39
—and it will happen in later days
that I will reverse the captivity of Elam
—this is Yahweh's declaration."
Chapter 50
1
This is the word that Yahweh declared about Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, by the hand of Jeremiah the prophet,
2
"Report to the nations and cause them to listen.
Lift up a signal and cause them to listen.
Do not conceal it.
Say, 'Babylon is taken. Bel is made ashamed.
Marduk is dismayed.
Its idols are put to shame;
its images are dismayed.'
3
A nation from the north will arise against it,
and make her land a desolation.
No one will live in it;
both men and animals will flee away.
4
In those days and at that time
—this is Yahweh's declaration
—the people of Israel and the people of Judah
will come together to go with weeping
and seek Yahweh their God.
5
They will ask the way to Zion
and will set off toward it, saying,
We will go and join ourselves to Yahweh
in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten."
6
My people have been a lost flock.
Their shepherds have led them astray in the mountains;
they have turned them around from hill to hill.
They went, they have forgotten their resting place.
7
Everyone who went out to them devoured them.
Their adversaries said, 'We are not guilty,
because they sinned against Yahweh,
their true home—Yahweh,
the hope of their ancestors.'
8
Leave from the midst of Babylon;
go out from the land of the Chaldeans;
be like male goats
that leave before the rest of the flock does.
9
For see, I am about to set in motion
and raise up a group of great nations
from the north against Babylon.
They will arrange themselves against her.
Babylon will be captured from there.
Their arrows are like a skilled warrior
who does not return empty-handed.
10
Chaldea will become plunder.
All those who plunder it will be satisfied
—this is Yahweh's declaration.
11
You rejoice, you celebrate the plundering of my inheritance;
you jump around like a calf stamping in its pasture;
you neigh like a powerful horse.
12
So your mother will be greatly ashamed;
the one who bore you will be embarrassed.
See, she will be the least of nations,
a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.
13
Because of Yahweh's anger,
Babylon will not be inhabited,
but will be a complete devastation.
Everyone who passes by will be appalled because of Babylon
and will hiss because of all of its wounds.
14
Arrange yourselves against Babylon all around her.
Everyone who bends a bow must shoot at her.
Do not spare any of your arrows,
for she has sinned against Yahweh.
15
Raise a shout against her all around!
She has surrendered;
her towers have fallen;
her walls are torn down,
for this is Yahweh's vengeance.
Take vengeance on her!
Do to her just as she has done!
16
Destroy both the farmer who sows seed
and the one who uses a sickle
at the time of harvest in Babylon.
Let each person turn back to his own people
from the oppressor's sword;
let them flee to their own land.
17
Israel is a scattered flock
driven away by lions.
First the king of Assyria devoured him; then after this,
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon broke his bones.
18
Therefore Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, says this:
See, I am about to punish the king of Babylon and his land,
just as I punished the king of Assyria.
19
I will restore Israel to his homeland;
he will graze on Carmel and Bashan.
Then he will be satisfied
in the hill country of Ephraim and Gilead.
20
In those days and at that time, says Yahweh,
iniquity will be looked for in Israel,
but none will be found.
I will inquire about the sins of Judah,
but none will be found,
for I will forgive the remnant that I spare.
21
"Arise against the land of Merathaim,
against it and the ones inhabiting Pekod.
Put them to the sword and completely destroy them
—this is Yahweh's declaration
—do everything that I am commanding you.
22
The sounds of battle and enormous destruction
are in the land.
23
How the hammer of all the lands
has been cut apart and destroyed.
How Babylon has become an object of horror
among the nations.
24
I have set a trap for you and you were taken, Babylon,
and you did not know it!
You were found and captured,
because you opposed Yahweh.
25
Yahweh has opened his armory
and is bringing out the weapons
for carrying out his anger.
There is work for the Lord Yahweh of host
in the land of the Chaldeans.
26
Attack her from far away.
Open her granaries
and pile her up like heaps of grain.
Set her apart for destruction.
Leave no remnant of her.
27
Kill all her bulls.
Send them down to the place of slaughter.
Woe to them, for their day has come
—the time for their punishment.
28
There is the sound of those fleeing,
of those who are survivors,
from the land of Babylon.
These will report the vengeance of Yahweh our God for Zion,
and vengeance for his temple.
29
"Summon the archers against Babylon
—all those who bend their bows.
Camp against her,
and let no one escape.
Repay her for what she has done.
Do to her by the measure she has used.
For she had acted arrogantly against Yahweh
—against the Holy One of Israel.
30
So her young men will fall in the city squares,
and all her fighting men will be destroyed on that day
—this is Yahweh's declaration."
31
"See, I am against you, proud one
—this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh of hosts
—for your day has come, proud one,
the time when I will punish you.
32
So the proud ones will stumble and fall.
No one will raise them up.
I will set fire to their cities;
it will devour everything around him.
33
Yahweh of hosts says this:
The people of Israel are oppressed,
together with the people of Judah.
All the ones who captured them still hold them;
they refuse to let them go.
34
The one who rescues them is strong.
Yahweh of hosts is his name.
He will truly plead their case,
in order to bring rest to the land,
and to bring strife to the ones inhabiting Babylon.
35
A sword is against the Chaldeans
—this is Yahweh's declaration
—and against the inhabitants of Babylon,
her leaders, and her wise men.
36
A sword against those who say empty words!
They will become fools!
A sword against her soldiers!
They will be filled with terror.
37
A sword is coming against their horse their chariots
and all of the people who are in the midst of Babylon,
so they will become like women.
A sword is coming against her storerooms,
and they will be plundered.
38
A drought is coming on her waters,
so they will become dry.
For she is a land of worthless idols,
and they act like people
made insane by their dreadful idols.
39
So desert beasts with the jackals will inhabit there,
and the young of ostriches will live in her.
For all time, she will no longer be inhabited.
From generation to generation, she will not be lived in.
40
Just as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighbors
—this is Yahweh's declaration
—no one will live there;
no person will stay in her.
41
"See, a people is coming from the north;
a great nation and many kings
are being stirred up from the farthest parts of the earth.
42
They will pick up bows and spears.
They are cruel and have no compassion.
Their sound is like the sea roar,
and they are riding on horses,
set out in order as men for battle, against you,
daughter of Babylon.
43
The king of Babylon heard the reports about them
and his hands fell limp in distress.
Anguish seized him
like a woman giving birth.
44
Behold! He goes up like a lion
from the majesty of the Jordan
to the enduring grazing place
For I will quickly cause them to run from it,
and I will put someone who will be chosen in charge of it.
For who is like me,
and who will summon me?
What shepherd is able to resist me?
45
So listen to the plans that Yahweh has decided against Babylon,
the plans that he has planned
against the land of the Chaldeans.
They will certainly be dragged away,
even the smallest flock.
Their pasturelands will be turned into ruined places.
46
At the sound of conquered Babylon the earth shakes,
and their shout of distress is heard among the nations."
Chapter 51
1
"Yahweh says this:
See, I am about to stir up a wind of destruction
against Babylon and against those
who live in Leb Kamai.
2
I will send foreigners to Babylon.
They will scatter her and devastate her land,
for they will come against her
from all around on the day of disaster.
3
Do not let the archers bend their bows;
do not let them put on armor.
Do not spare her young men;
set her whole army apart for destruction.
4
For the wounded people
will fall in the land of the Chaldeans;
those who are thrust through will fall in her streets.
5
For Israel and Judah are not abandoned by their God,
by Yahweh of hosts,
although their land is filled with offenses
committed against the Holy One of Israel.
6
Flee from the midst of Babylon;
let each man save himself.
Do not perish in her iniquity.
For it is the time of Yahweh's vengeance.
He will repay all of it to her.
7
Babylon was a golden cup in the hand of Yahweh
that made all the world drunk;
nations drank her wine and became insane.
8
Babylon will fall suddenly and be destroyed.
Wail for her
Give her medicine for her pain;
perhaps she can be healed.
9
'We wished to heal Babylon,
but she is not healed.
Let us all leave her and go away,
to our own land.
For her guilt reaches up to the heavens;
it is piled up to the clouds.
10
Yahweh has brought about our vindication.
Come, let us give a full account in Zion
the deeds of Yahweh our God.'
11
Sharpen the arrows and take up the shields.
Yahweh is stirring up
the spirit of the king of the Medes
in a plan to destroy Babylon.
This is for Yahweh's vengeance,
vengeance for the destruction of his temple.
12
Lift up a signal flag over Babylon's walls;
make the watch strong;
set up watchmen;
prepare the ambushes;
for the LORD will do what he has said
concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.
13
You people who live by many streams of water,
you people who are rich with treasures,
your end has come.
The thread of your life is now cut short.
14
Yahweh of hosts has sworn by his own life,
'I will fill you with men, like a swarm of locusts,
and they will raise a battle cry against you.'
15
He has made the earth by his power;
he set in place the world by his wisdom.
By his understanding he stretched out the heavens.
16
When he thunders,
there is the roar of waters in the heavens,
for he brings up the mist from the ends of the earth.
He makes lightning for rain
and sends out wind from his storehouses.
17
Every man has become stupid,
without knowledge.
Every metalworker is put to shame
by his idols.
For his cast metal images are frauds,
and there is no life in them.
18
They are useless, the work of mockers;
they will perish at the time of their punishment.
19
But God, the portion of Jacob, is not like these,
for he is the molder of all things.
Israel is the tribe of his inheritance;
Yahweh of hosts is his name.
20
You are my war hammer,
my weapon for battle.
With you I will smash nations
and destroy kingdoms.
21
With you I will smash horses and their riders;
with you I will smash chariots and their drivers.
22
With you I will smash each man and woman;
with you I will smash the old and the young.
With you I will smash the young men and the virgin girls.
23
With you I will smash the shepherds and their flocks;
with you I will smash the plowmen and their teams.
With you I will smash the governors and officials.
24
For in your sight I will pay Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea for all of the evil that they did in Zion—this is Yahweh's declaration.
25
See, I am against you, mountain of destruction
—this is Yahweh's declaration
—which destroys the whole earth.
I will stretch out my hand against you,
and roll you down from the cliffs,
and make you a burned-out mountain.
26
So they will not take from you any stone
to construct a building's corner or foundation;
for you will become an everlasting devastation
—this is Yahweh's declaration.
27
Lift up a signal flag over the earth.
Blow the ram's horn over the nations.
Call the nations to attack her:
the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz.
Appoint a commander to attack her;
bring up horses like swarming locusts.
28
Prepare the nations to attack her:
The kings of the Medes and his governors,
all of his officials and all the lands under his rule.
29
For the land will shake and be in anguish,
since Yahweh's plans continue against Babylon,
to make the land of Babylon a wasteland
where there is no inhabitant.
30
The soldiers in Babylon have stopped fighting;
they stay in their strongholds.
Their strength has failed;
they have become women
—her homes are on fire,
the bars of her gates are broken.
31
A messenger runs to proclaim to another messenger,
and a runner tells another runner
to report to the king of Babylon
that his city has been taken from end to end.
32
So the fords over the river are seized;
the enemy is burning the reed marshes,
and Babylon's fighting men are confused.
33
For Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this:
The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor.
It is time to trample her down.
In a little while the time of harvest will come to her.
34
'Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devoured me,
he has driven me into confusion
and has made me an empty pot.
Like a sea monster he has swallowed me,
he has filled his stomach with my delicious foods,
and then he has spit me out.'
35
The one who lives in Zion will say,
'May the violence done to me and my flesh
be on Babylon.'
Jerusalem will say,
'May my blood be on the inhabitants of Chaldea.'
36
Therefore Yahweh says this:
See, I am about to plead your case
and bring about vengeance for you.
For I will dry up Babylon's water
and make her springs run dry.
37
Babylon will become heaps of rubble,
a den of jackals, a horror,
an object of hissing,
where there are no inhabitants.
38
The Babylonians will roar together like young lions.
They will growl like lion cubs.
39
When they become hot with greed,
I will make a feast for them;
I will make them drunk so they become joyful
and then sleep an unending sleep and not wake up
—this is Yahweh's declaration—
40
I will send them down like lambs to the slaughter,
like rams with male goats.
41
How Babylon has been captured!
So the praise of all the earth is seized.
How Babylon has become a ruined place among the nations.
42
The sea has come up over Babylon
She is covered with its roaring waves.
43
Her cities have become a desolation,
a dry land and a wilderness,
a land that no one inhabits,
and no human being passes through.
44
So I will punish Bel in Babylon;
I will bring out from his mouth what he swallowed,
and the nations will no longer flow
to him with their offerings.
The walls of Babylon will fall.
45
Go out from her midst, my people.
Let each of you save his own life
from the fury of my wrath.
46
Do not let your hearts be timid
or fear the news that is heard in the land,
for the news will come one year.
After it in the next year there will be news,
and violence will be in the land.
Ruler will be against ruler.
47
Therefore, see, days are coming
when I will punish the carved idols of Babylon.
All of her land will be ashamed,
and all of her slaughtered ones will fall in her midst.
48
Then the heavens and the earth,
and all that is in them will rejoice over Babylon.
For destroyers will come for her from the north
—this is Yahweh's declaration.
49
As Babylon has made the killed of Israel fall,
so the killed of all her land will fall in Babylon.
50
Survivors of the sword, go away!
Do not stay still.
Call Yahweh to mind from far away;
let Jerusalem come to mind.
51
We are ashamed, for we have been insulted;
shame has covered our faces,
for foreigners have entered the holy places
of the house of Yahweh.
52
Therefore, see, days are coming
—this is Yahweh's declaration
—when I will punish her carved idols,
and the wounded people will groan in all of her land.
53
For even if Babylon went up to the heavens
or fortified her highest fortresses,
destroyers would come from me to her
—this is Yahweh's declaration.
54
A cry of distress came from Babylon,
great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans.
55
For Yahweh is destroying Babylon.
He is causing her loud voice to perish.
Their enemies roar like the waves of many waters;
their noise becomes very strong.
56
For the destroyers have come against her
—against Babylon!
—and her warriors have been captured.
Their bows are shattered,
for Yahweh is the God of vengeance;
he will surely carry out this repayment.
57
For I will make her princes and her wise men drunk,
as well as her governors, her officials, and her soldiers.
and they will sleep in an unending sleep
and never wake up
—this is the King's declaration:
Yahweh of hosts is his name.
58
Yahweh of hosts says this:
The thick walls of Babylon will be completely demolished,
and her high gates will be burned.
Then the peoples coming to her aid will labor uselessly;
everything that the nations try to do for her
will be burned up."
59
This is the word that Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah son of Neriah son of Mahseiah when he went with Zedekiah king of Judah to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. Now Seraiah was a chief officer.
60
For Jeremiah had written in a scroll about all the disaster that was going to come on Babylon—all these words that were written about Babylon.
61
Jeremiah said to Seraiah, "When you go to Babylon, then you will see and you will read these words aloud.
62
Then you will say, 'Yahweh, you yourself have declared that you would destroy this place, and that no man or animal will live in it, and it will be desolate forever.'
63
Then when you have finished reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and throw it into the middle of the Euphrates.
64
Say, 'Babylon will sink like this. It will not arise because of the disaster that I am sending against it, and they will fall.'" Jeremiah's words end here.
Chapter 52
1
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal; she was the daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah.
2
He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh; he did everything that Jehoiakim had done.
3
Through Yahweh's anger, all these events happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until he drove them from before himself. Then Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
4
It happened that in the ninth year of the reign of King Zedekiah, in the tenth month, and on the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came with all his army against Jerusalem. They camped opposite it, and they built a siege wall around it.
5
So the city was besieged until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah's reign.
6
By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land.
7
Then the city was broken into, and all the fighting men fled and went out of the city at night by the way of the gate that was between the two walls, by the king's garden, although the Chaldeans were all around the city. So they went in the direction of the Arabah.
8
But the army of Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of the Jordan River valley near Jericho. All his army was scattered away from him.
9
They captured the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he passed sentence on him.
10
The king of Babylon slaughtered Zedekiah's sons before his own eyes, and at Riblah he also slaughtered all the leaders of Judah.
11
Then he put out Zedekiah's eyes, bound him in bronze chains, and brought him to Babylon. The king of Babylon put him in prison until the day of his death.
12
Now in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan came to Jerusalem. He was the commander of the king's bodyguards and a servant of the king of Babylon.
13
He burned the house of Yahweh, the king's palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem; also every important building in the city he burned.
14
As for the walls around Jerusalem, all the army of the Chaldeans who were with the commander of the bodyguards destroyed them.
15
As for the poorest people, the rest of the people who were left in the city, those who had deserted to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the craftsmen—Nebuzaradan, the commander of the bodyguards, took some of them away into exile.
16
But Nebuzaradan, the commander of the bodyguards, left some of the poorest of the land to work the vineyards and fields.
17
As for the bronze pillars that belonged to the house of Yahweh, and the stands, and the large bronze basin called "The Sea" that were in the house of Yahweh, the Chaldeans broke them into pieces and carried all the bronze back to Babylon.
18
The pots, shovels, lamp trimmers, bowls, and all the utensils of bronze with which the priests had served in the temple—the Chaldeans took them all away.
19
The basins and the incense burners, the bowls, pots, lampstands, pans, and basins that were made of gold, and those made of silver—the commander of the king's guard took them away as well.
20
The two pillars, the large bronze basin known as "The Sea," and the twelve bronze bulls that were under the stands, things that King Solomon had made for the house of Yahweh, contained more bronze than could be weighed.
21
The pillars were eighteen cubits high each, and a line around each one measured twelve cubits. Each was four fingers thick and hollow.
22
A capital of bronze was on top of it. The capital was five cubits high, with latticework and pomegranates all around. It was all made of bronze. The other pillar and its pomegranates were the same as the first.
23
So there were ninety-six pomegranates on the capital's sides, and one hundred pomegranates above the surrounding latticework.
24
The commander of the bodyguards took prisoner Seraiah, the high priest, together with Zephaniah, the second priest, and the three gatekeepers.
25
From the city he took prisoner an officer who was in charge of soldiers, and seven men of those who advised the king, who were still in the city. He also took prisoner the king's army officer responsible for drafting men into the army, along with sixty important men from the land who were in the city.
26
Then Nebuzaradan, the commander of the bodyguards, took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.
27
The king of Babylon put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. In this way, Judah went out of its land into exile.
28
These were the people who Nebuchadnezzar exiled:
In the seventh year, 3,023 Jews.
29
In the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar
he took 832 people from Jerusalem.
30
In the twenty-third year of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuzaradan,
the commander of the king's bodyguards,
exiled 745 Jewish people.
All the exiled people totaled 4,600.
31
It happened later in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin, king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, that Awel-Marduk, king of Babylon released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison. This happened in the year that Awel-Marduk began to reign.
32
He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat more honorable than that of the other kings who were with him in Babylon.
33
Awel-Marduk removed Jehoiachin's prison clothes, and Jehoiachin ate regularly at the king's table for the rest of his life,
34
and a regular food allowance was given to him by the king of Babylon every day for the rest of his life until his death.
Ezekiel
Chapter 1
1
In the thirtieth year, the fourth month, and the fifth day of the month, it came about that I was living among the captives by the Kebar Canal. The heavens opened, and I saw visions of God.
2
On the fifth day of that month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin—
3
the word of Yahweh came to Ezekiel son of Buzi the priest, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Kebar Canal, and the hand of Yahweh was upon him there.
4
Then I looked, and there was a windstorm coming from the north; a great cloud with fire flashing within it and brightness surrounding it and inside of it, and the fire was the color of amber inside the cloud.
5
In the middle was the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: They had the likeness of a man,
6
but they had four faces each, and each of the creatures had four wings.
7
Their legs were straight, but the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf that shone like polished bronze.
8
Yet they had human hands under their wings on all four sides. For all four, their faces and wings were like this:
9
their wings touched each other. They did not turn when they moved; each one went straight ahead.
10
The likeness of their faces was like the face of a man. The four of them had the face of a lion to the right side, and the four of them had the face of an ox on the left side. They four had also the face of an eagle.
11
Their faces were like that, and their wings were spread out above, so that each creature had a pair of wings that touched another creature's wing, and also a pair of wings that covered their bodies.
12
Each went straight forward, so that wherever the Spirit directed them to go, they went without turning.
13
As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches; bright fire also moved about among the creatures, and there were flashes of lightning.
14
The living creatures were moving swiftly back and forth, and they had the appearance of lightning!
15
Then I looked at the living creatures; and I saw one wheel on the ground beside each of the living creatures with its four faces.
16
This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: Each wheel was like beryl, and the four had the same likeness; their appearance and workmanship was like a wheel intersecting another wheel.
17
As they moved, they went in any of their four directions, without turning as they went.
18
As for their rims, they were high and fearsome, for the rims were full of eyes round about.
19
Whenever the living creatures moved, the wheels moved beside them. When the living creatures rose up from the earth, the wheels also rose up.
20
Wherever the Spirit would go, they went, and the wheels rose up beside them, for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
21
Whenever the creatures moved, the wheels also moved; and when the creatures stood still, the wheels stood still; when the creatures rose up from the earth, the wheels rose up beside them, because the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
22
Over the heads of the living creatures was the likeness of an expansive dome; it looked like awe-inspiring crystal stretched out over their heads above.
23
Beneath the dome, each one of the creature's wings stretched out straight and touched another creature's wings. Each of the living creatures also had a pair to cover themselves; each had a pair to cover his own body.
24
Then I heard the sound of their wings. Like the noise of many waters. Like the voice of the Almighty whenever they moved. Like the sound of a rainstorm. Like the sound of an army. Whenever they stood still, they lowered their wings.
25
A voice came from above the dome over their heads whenever they stood still and lowered their wings.
26
Above the dome over their heads was the likeness of a throne that was like the appearance of a sapphire stone, and on the likeness of the throne was a likeness like the appearance of a man.
27
I saw a figure with the appearance of glowing metal with fire in it from the appearance of his hips up; I saw from the appearance of his hips downward the appearance of fire and brightness all around.
28
Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day was the appearance of the bright light surrounding it. It was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yahweh. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice speaking.
Chapter 2
1
He said to me, "Son of man, stand up on your feet; then I will speak to you."
2
Then, as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.
3
He said to me, "Son of man, I am sending you to the people of Israel, to rebellious nations that have rebelled against me—both they and their ancestors have sinned against me up to this very day!
4
Their descendants have stubborn faces and hard hearts. I am sending you to them, and you will say to them, 'This is what the Lord Yahweh says.'
5
Either they will listen or they will not listen. They are a rebellious house, but they will at least know that a prophet has been among them.
6
You, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, although you are with briers and thorns and although you live with scorpions. Do not fear their words or be dismayed by their faces, since they are a rebellious house.
7
But you will speak my words to them, whether they listen or not, because they are most rebellious.
8
But you, son of man, listen to what I am saying to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I am about to give to you!"
9
Then I looked, and a hand was extended out to me; in it was a written scroll.
10
He spread it out before me; it had been written on both its front and back, and written on it were lamentations, mourning, and woe.
Chapter 3
1
He said to me, "Son of man, what you have found, eat. Eat this scroll, then go speak to the house of Israel."
2
So I opened my mouth, and he fed me that scroll.
3
He said to me, "Son of man, feed your belly and fill your stomach with this scroll that I have given to you!" So I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.
4
Then he said to me, "Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak my words to them.
5
For you are not being sent to a people of strange speech or difficult language, but to the house of Israel—
6
not to many peoples of strange speech or a difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I sent you to them, they would have listened to you.
7
But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me. So all the house of Israel is strong browed and hard hearted.
8
Behold! I have made your face as hard as their faces and your brow as hard as their brows.
9
I have made your brow like a diamond, harder than flint! Do not fear them or be discouraged by their faces, since they are a rebellious house."
10
Then he said to me, "Son of man, all the words that I announce to you—take them into your heart and hear them with your ears!
11
Then go to the captives, to your people, and speak to them. Say to them, 'This is what the Lord Yahweh says,' whether they will listen or not."
12
Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the sound of a great earthquake: "Blessed be the glory of Yahweh from his place!"
13
It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures as they touched one another, and the sound of the wheels that were with them, and the sound of a great earthquake.
14
The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went with bitterness in the anger of my spirit, and the strong hand of Yahweh was on me.
15
So I went to the captives at Tel Aviv who lived along the Kebar Canal, and I stayed there among them for seven days, overwhelmed in amazement.
16
Then it happened after seven days that the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
17
"Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel, so listen to the word from my mouth, and give them my warning.
18
When I say to the wicked, 'You will surely die' and you do not warn him or speak a warning to the wicked about his evil deeds so he might live—the wicked one will die for his iniquity, but I will require his blood from your hand.
19
But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked deeds, then he will die for his iniquity, but you will have rescued your own life.
20
If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and acts unjustly, and I set a stumbling block before him, he will die. Because you did not warn him, he will die in his sin, and I will not call to mind the righteous deeds that he performed, but I will require his blood from your hand.
21
But if you warn the righteous man to stop sinning so that he no longer sins, he will surely live since he was warned; and you will have rescued your own life."
22
So the hand of Yahweh was on me there, and he said to me, "Arise! Go out into the plain, and I will speak with you there!"
23
I arose and went out into the plain, and there the glory of Yahweh was staying, like the glory that I had seen beside the Kebar Canal; so I fell on my face.
24
The Spirit came to me and stood me up on my feet; and he spoke with me, and said to me, "Go and shut yourself up within your house,
25
for now, son of man, they will place ropes upon you and tie you so you cannot go out among them.
26
I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth, so you will be mute, and you will not be able to rebuke them, since they are a rebellious house.
27
But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth so you will say to them, 'This is what the Lord Yahweh says.' The one who will hear will hear; the one who will not listen will not listen, for they are a rebellious house!"
Chapter 4
1
"But you, son of man, take a brick for yourself and place it before you. Then carve the city of Jerusalem on it.
2
Then lay siege against it, and build forts against it. Raise up a siege ramp against it and set camps around it. Place battering rams all around it.
3
Then take for yourself an iron pan and use it as an iron wall between yourself and the city and set your face against it, for it will be under siege, and you are to put the siege against it. This will be a sign to the house of Israel.
4
Then, lie on your left side and put the sin of the house of Israel on it; you will bear their iniquity for the number of the days that you lie down against the house of Israel.
5
I myself am assigning to you one day to represent each year of their punishment: 390 days! In this way, you will bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.
6
When you have completed these days, then lie down a second time on your right side, for you will bear the iniquity of the house of Judah for forty days. I am assigning to you one day for each year.
7
Set your face toward Jerusalem that is under siege, and with your arm uncovered prophesy against it.
8
For behold! I am placing bonds on you so you will not turn from one side to the other until you have completed the days of your siege.
9
Take for yourself wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt; put them in a single container and make bread for yourself according to the number of the days that you will lie upon your side. For 390 days you will eat it.
10
The food you will eat will be by weight, twenty shekels per day, and you will eat it at set times each day.
11
Then you will drink water, measured out to a sixth of a hin, and you will drink it at set times.
12
You will eat it as barley cakes, but you will bake it on excrement of human dung within their sight!"
13
For Yahweh says, "This means that the bread that the people of Israel will eat will be unclean, there among the nations where I will banish them."
14
But I said, "Alas, Lord Yahweh! I have never been unclean! I have never eaten either an animal that died by itself or anything killed by animals, from my youth until now, and foul meat has never entered my mouth!"
15
So he said to me, "Look! I have given you cow manure instead of human dung so you can prepare your bread over that."
16
He also said to me, "Son of man! Behold! I am breaking the staff of bread in Jerusalem, and they will eat bread while rationing it in anxiety and drink water while rationing it in horror.
17
Because they will lack bread and water, every man will be appalled at his brother, and they will waste away because of their iniquity."
Chapter 5
1
"Then you, son of man, take a sharp sword as a barber's razor for yourself, and pass the razor over your head and your beard, then take scales to weigh and divide your hair.
2
Burn a third of it with fire in the midst of the city when the days of the siege are completed, and take a third of the hair and strike it with the sword all around the city. Then scatter a third of it to the wind, and I will draw out a sword to chase after the people.
3
But take a small number of hairs from them and tie them into the folds of your robe.
4
Then take more of the hair and throw it into the midst of the fire; and burn it in the fire; from there a fire will go out to all the house of Israel."
5
The Lord Yahweh says this, "This is Jerusalem in the midst of the nations, where I have placed her, and where I have surrounded her with other lands.
6
But she has rebelled against my ordinances more wickedly than the nations have, and my statutes more than the lands that surround her. The people have rejected my ordinances and have not walked in my statutes."
7
Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this, "Because you are more troublesome than the nations that surround you and have not walked in my statutes or acted according to my decrees, or even acted according to the decrees of the nations that surround you,"
8
therefore the Lord Yahweh says this, "Behold! I myself will act against you. I will execute judgments within your midst for the nations to see.
9
I will do to you what I have not done and the like of which I will not do again, because of all your disgusting practices.
10
Therefore fathers will eat the children in your midst, and sons will eat their fathers, since I will execute judgment on you and scatter to every direction all of you who remain.
11
Therefore, as I live—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—it is certainly because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your detestable things and with all your disgusting practices, that I myself will reduce you in number; my eye will not have pity on you, and I will not spare you.
12
A third of you will die by plague, and they will be consumed by famine in your midst. A third will fall by the sword surrounding you. Then I will scatter a third in every direction, and draw out a sword to chase after them as well.
13
Then my wrath will be completed, and I will cause my fury toward them to rest. I will be comforted, and they will know that I, Yahweh, have spoken in my jealousy when I have completed my fury against them.
14
I will make you a ruin and an object of scorn to the nations that surround you and in the sight of everyone who passes by.
15
So Jerusalem will become something for other people to condemn and to mock, a warning and a horror to the nations that surround you. I will execute judgments against you in wrath and fury, and with furious rebukes—I, Yahweh have declared this!
16
I will send out harsh arrows of famine against you that will become the means with which I will destroy you. For I will increase the famine on you and break your staff of bread.
17
I will send a famine and disasters against you so you will be childless. Plague and blood will pass through you, and I will bring a sword against you—I, Yahweh, have declared this."
Chapter 6
1
The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2
"Son of man, set your face against the mountains of Israel and prophesy to them.
3
Say, 'Mountains of Israel, listen to the word of the Lord Yahweh! The Lord Yahweh says this to the mountains and to the hills, to the streambeds, and to the valleys: Behold! I am bringing a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places.
4
Then your altars will become desolate and your pillars will be destroyed, and I will throw down your dead in front of their idols.
5
I will lay the dead bodies of the people of Israel before their idols, and scatter your bones around your altars.
6
Everywhere you live, cities will be laid waste and the high places ruined, so that your altars will be laid waste and made desolate. Then your idols will be broken and disappear, your pillars will be cut down and your works will be wiped away.
7
The dead will fall down in your midst and you will know that I am Yahweh.
8
But I will preserve a remnant among you, and there will be some who escape the sword among the nations, when you are scattered throughout the lands.
9
Then those who escape will think of me among the nations where they will be held captive, that I was grieved by their promiscuous heart that turned away from me, and by their eyes that whored after their idols. Then they will show loathing on their face for the wickedness which they have committed with all their abominations.
10
So they will know that I am Yahweh. It was for a reason that I said I would bring this evil to them.
11
The Lord Yahweh says this: Clap your hands and stomp your foot! Say, 'Alas!' because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! For they will fall by sword, famine, and plague.
12
The one far away will die by plague, and the one who is near will fall by the sword. Those who remain and survive will die by famine. In this way I will accomplish my fury against them.
13
Then you will know that I am Yahweh, when their dead lie among their idols, around their altars, on every high hill—on all the mountain peaks, and under every flourishing tree and thick oak—the places where they burned incense to all their idols.
14
I will strike with my hand and make the land desolate and a waste, from the wilderness to Diblah, throughout all the places where they live. Then they will know that I am Yahweh."
Chapter 7
1
The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2
"You, son of man—the Lord Yahweh says this to the land of Israel.
'An end! An end has come
to the four borders of the land.
3
Now the end is upon you,
for I am sending out my wrath on you,
and I will judge you according to your ways;
then I will bring all your abominations upon you.
4
For my eye will not pity you,
and I will not spare you.
Instead, I will bring your ways upon you,
and your abominations will be in your midst.
Then you will know that I am Yahweh.'
5
"The Lord Yahweh says this:
Disaster! A unique disaster!
Behold, it is coming.
6
An end is surely coming.
The end has woken up against you.
Behold, it is coming!
7
Your doom is coming to you who inhabit the land.
The time has come; the day is near—
tumult and not joyful shouting on the mountains.
8
Now before long I will pour out my fury against you
and fill up my wrath upon you
when I judge you according to your ways
and bring all your abominations upon you.
9
For my eye will not look compassionately,
and I will not spare you.
As you have done, I will do to you;
and your abominations will be in your midst
so you will know that I am Yahweh, the one punishing you.
10
Behold, the day!
Behold, it is coming!
Doom has gone out!
The rod has blossomed,
arrogance has budded!
11
Violence has grown up into a rod of wickedness—
none of them, and none of their multitude,
none of their wealth, and none of their importance will last!
12
The time is coming; the day has come close.
Do not let the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn,
since my anger is on the entire multitude!
13
For the seller will not return to the land he sold as long as they both live,
because the vision concerning the entire multitude will not be reversed;
and because of their iniquity, none of them will be strengthened!
14
They have blown the trumpet
and made everything ready,
but there is no one marching to battle;
since my anger is on the entire multitude.
15
The sword is on the outside,
and plague and famine are inside the building.
Those who are in the field will die by the sword,
while famine and plague will consume those in the city.
16
But some survivors will escape from among them,
and they will go to the mountains.
Like doves of the valleys, all of them will moan—
each man for his iniquity.
17
Every hand will falter
and every knee will be weak as water,
18
and they will gird themselves sackcloth,
and trembling will cover them;
and shame will be on every face,
and baldness on all of their heads.
19
They will throw their silver into the streets
and their gold will be an impure thing.
Their silver and their gold will not be able to rescue them
in the day of Yahweh's rage.
Their lives will not be saved,
and their hunger will not be satisfied,
because their iniquity has become a stumbling block.
20
In their pride they took the beauty of his jeweled ornaments,
and with them they made their abominable images and their detestable idols.
Therefore, I am turning these into an unclean thing to them.
21
Then I will give those things into the hand of strangers as plunder
and to the wicked of the earth as plunder,
and they will defile them.
22
Then I will turn my face away from them
when they defile my cherished place;
bandits will enter it and defile it.
23
Make a chain,
because the land is filled with the judgment of blood,
and the city is full of violence.
24
So I will bring the most wicked of the nations,
and they will possess their houses,
and I will bring an end to the pride of the mighty,
for their holy places will be defiled!
25
Fear will come!
They will seek peace,
but there will be none.
26
Disaster upon disaster will come,
and there will be rumor after rumor.
Then they will seek a vision from the prophet,
but the law will perish from the priest
and advice from the elders.
27
The king will mourn
and the prince will be clothed in horror,
while the hands of the people of the land will tremble in fear.
According to their own ways I will do this to them!
I will judge them with their own standards
until they know that I am Yahweh.'"
Chapter 8
1
So it came about in the sixth year and the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord Yahweh again fell upon me there.
2
So I looked, and behold, there was a likeness with the appearance of a man. From the appearance of his hips downward there was fire. And from his hips upward there was the appearance of something shining, like glowing metal.
3
Then he reached out the form of a hand and took me by the hair of my head; the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven, and in visions from God, he brought me to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the inner northern gate, where the idol that provokes great jealousy was standing.
4
Then behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision I had seen on the plain.
5
Then he said to me, "Son of man, lift up your eyes to the north." So I lifted up my eyes to the north, and to the north of the gate leading to the altar, there in the entrance, was the idol of jealousy.
6
So he said to me, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing? These are great abominations that the house of Israel is doing here to make me go far from my own sanctuary. But you will turn and see even greater abominations."
7
Then he brought me to the doorway of the courtyard, and I looked, and there was a hole in the wall.
8
He said to me, "Son of man, dig into this wall." So I dug into the wall, and there was a door.
9
Then he said to me, "Go and see the wicked abominations that they are doing here."
10
So I went in and looked, and behold, I saw there portrayed all over the walls every form of creeping things and detestable animals, and all the idols of the house of Israel.
11
Seventy elders of the house of Israel were there, and Jaazaniah son of Shaphan was standing in their midst. They were standing in front of the images, and each man had his censer in his hand so that the smell of the cloud of incense went up.
12
He said to me, "Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark? Each one does this in the hidden chamber of his idol, for they say, 'Yahweh does not see us! Yahweh has abandoned the land.'"
13
Then he said to me, "Turn again and see the other great abominations that they are doing."
14
Next he brought me to the entrance of the gate of the house of Yahweh that was on the north side, and behold! The women were sitting there mourning for Tammuz.
15
So he said to me, "Do you see this, son of man? Turn again and see even greater abominations than these."
16
He brought me into the inner courtyard of the house of Yahweh, and behold! at the entrance of the temple of Yahweh between the portico and the altar, there were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple of Yahweh and their faces toward the east, and they were worshiping the sun.
17
He said to me, "Do you see this, son of man? Is it a little thing for the house of Judah to do these abominations that they are doing here? For they have filled the land with violence and they have turned again to provoke me to anger, putting the branch to their noses.
18
So I will also act among them; my eye will not have compassion, and I will not spare them. Though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them."
Chapter 9
1
Then he cried in my hearing with a loud voice, and said, "Let the guards come up to the city, each with his weapon of destruction in his hand."
2
Then behold! Six men came from the pathway of the upper gate that faces north, each with his weapon of slaughter in his hand. There was a man in their midst dressed in linen with a scribe's equipment at his side. So they went in and stood beside the bronze altar.
3
Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherubim where it had been to the threshold of the house. He called to the man dressed in linen who had the scribe's equipment at his side.
4
Yahweh said to him, "Pass through the midst of the city—the midst of Jerusalem—and make a mark on the foreheads of those who groan and sigh about all the abominations being performed in the midst of the city."
5
Then he spoke to the others within my hearing, "Pass through the city after him and kill. Do not let your eyes have compassion, and do not spare anyone.
6
Kill—completely destroy—old man, young man, virgin, little children or women. But do not approach anyone who has the mark on his head. Begin at my sanctuary!" So they began with the elders who were in front of the house.
7
He said to them, "Defile the house, and fill its courtyards with the dead. Proceed!" So they went out and attacked the city.
8
As they were attacking it, I found myself alone and I fell on my face and cried out and said, "Ah, Lord Yahweh, will you destroy all the remnant of Israel in the outpouring of your wrath on Jerusalem?"
9
He said to me, "The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of blood and the city full of perversions, since they say, 'Yahweh has forgotten the land,' and 'Yahweh does not see!'
10
But as for me, my eye will not pity them, and I will not spare them. I will bring their deeds upon their heads."
11
Behold! The man dressed in linen who had the scribe's equipment by his side came back. He reported and said, "I have done all that you have commanded."
Chapter 10
1
As I looked toward the dome that was over the heads of the cherubim; something appeared above them like a sapphire with the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
2
Then Yahweh spoke to the man dressed in linen and said, "Go between the wheels underneath the cherubim, and fill both your hands with fiery coals from between the cherubim and scatter them over the city." Then the man went in as I watched.
3
The cherubim stood on the right side of the house when the man went in, and a cloud filled the inner courtyard.
4
The glory of Yahweh rose up from the cherubim and stood over the threshold of the house. It filled the house with the cloud, and the courtyard was full of the brightness of Yahweh's glory.
5
The sound of the cherubim's wings was heard as far as the outer courtyard, like the voice of God Almighty when he speaks.
6
It came about, when God commanded the man dressed in linen and said, "Take fire from between the wheels that are between the cherubim," the man went in and stood beside a wheel.
7
A cherub reached out his hand between the cherubim to the fire that was among the cherubim, and lifted it up and placed it into the hands of the one dressed in linen. The man took it and went back out.
8
I saw on the cherubim something like a man's hand under their wings.
9
So I looked, and behold! Four wheels were beside the cherubim—one wheel beside each cherub—and the appearance of the wheels was like a beryl stone.
10
Their appearance was the same likeness for all four of them, like a wheel intersecting another wheel.
11
When they moved, they went in any of their four directions, without turning as they went; but whatever direction the head faced, they followed after it without turning as they went.
12
Their whole body—including their backs, their hands, and their wings—was covered with eyes, and eyes covered the four wheels all around also.
13
As I listened, the wheels were called, "Whirling."
14
They had four faces each; the first face was the face of a cherub, the second face was the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
15
Then the cherubim—these were the living creatures that I had seen by the Kebar Canal—rose up.
16
Whenever the cherubim moved, the wheels would go beside them, and whenever the cherubim lifted up their wings to rise up from the earth, the wheels did not turn. They still stayed beside them.
17
When the cherubim stood still, the wheels stood still, and when they rose up, the wheels rose up with them, for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
18
Then the glory of Yahweh went out from over the threshold of the house and stood over the cherubim.
19
The cherubim lifted up their wings and rose from the earth in my sight when they went out, and the wheels did the same beside them. They stood at the eastern entrance to the house of Yahweh, and the glory of the God of Israel came upon them from above.
20
These were the living creatures that I had seen below the God of Israel by the Kebar Canal, so I knew that they were cherubim!
21
They had four faces each and four wings each, and the likeness of human hands under their wings,
22
and the likeness of their faces was like the faces that I had seen in the vision at the Kebar Canal, and each of them went straight ahead.
Chapter 11
1
Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the eastern gate of the house of Yahweh, facing east, and behold, in the doorway of the gate there were twenty-five men. I saw Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, leaders of the people, among them.
2
God said to me, "Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity, and who decide wicked plans in this city.
3
They are saying, 'The time to build houses is not now; this city is the pot, and we are the meat.'
4
Therefore prophesy against them. Prophesy, son of man."
5
Then the Spirit of Yahweh fell on me and he said for me to say: This is what Yahweh says, "That is what you are saying, house of Israel; for I know what goes through your mind.
6
You have multiplied the people you have killed in this city and filled its streets with them.
7
Therefore, the Lord Yahweh says this: The people you have killed, whose bodies you have laid in the midst of Jerusalem, are the meat, and this city is the pot. But you are going to be brought out from the midst of this city.
8
You have feared the sword, so I am bringing the sword upon you—this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh.
9
I will bring you out of the midst of the city, and put you into the hands of foreigners, for I will bring judgments against you.
10
You will fall by the sword. I will judge you within the borders of Israel so you will know that I am Yahweh.
11
This city will not be your cooking pot, nor will you be the meat within her midst. I will judge you within the borders of Israel.
12
Then you will know that I am Yahweh, whose statutes you have not walked in and whose decrees you have not obeyed. Instead, you have followed the decrees of the nations that surround you."
13
It came about that as I was prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah, died. So I fell on my face and cried out with a loud voice and said, "Alas, Lord Yahweh, will you completely destroy the remnant of Israel?"
14
The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
15
"Son of man, your brothers! Your brothers! The men of your kindred and all the house of Israel! All of them are those of whom it is said by those living in Jerusalem, 'They are far away from Yahweh! This land was given to us as our possession.'
16
Therefore say, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Though I have removed them far off among the nations, and though I have scattered them among the lands, yet I have been a sanctuary for them for a little while in the lands where they have gone.'
17
Therefore say, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: I will gather you from the peoples, and assemble you from the lands where you were scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.'
18
Then they will go there and remove every detestable thing and every abomination from that place.
19
I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them. I will take out the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,
20
so that they will walk in my statutes, they will carry out my decrees and do them. Then they will be my people, and I will be their God.
21
But to those who walk with affection toward their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their conduct on their own heads—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration."
22
The cherubim lifted up their wings and the wheels that were beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel was high up over them.
23
Then the glory of Yahweh went up from within the midst of the city and stood on the mountain to the east of the city.
24
The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into Chaldea, to the exiles, in the vision from the Spirit of God, and the vision that I had seen went up from upon me.
25
Then I declared to the exiles all the things of Yahweh that I had seen.
Chapter 12
1
The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2
"Son of man, you live in the midst of a rebellious house, where they have eyes to see but they do not see; and where they have ears to hear but do not listen, because they are a rebellious house.
3
Therefore as for you, son of man, prepare your things for exile, and begin going out by day in their sight, for I will exile you in their sight from your place to another place. Perhaps they will begin to see, though they are a rebellious house.
4
You will bring out your things for an exile in the day in their sight; go out in the evening in their sight in the way that anyone goes into exile.
5
Dig a hole through the wall in their sight, and go out through it.
6
In their sight, lift up your things onto your shoulder, and bring them out in the darkness. Cover your face, for you must not see the land, since I have set you as a sign to the house of Israel."
7
So I did this, just as I was commanded. I brought out my things of exile in the daytime, and in the evening I dug a hole through the wall by hand. I brought my things out in the dark, and lifted them up on my shoulder in their sight.
8
Then the word of Yahweh came to me in the morning, saying,
9
"Son of man, is the house of Israel, that rebellious house, not asking, 'What are you doing?'
10
Say to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: this prophetic action concerns the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel in whose midst they are.'
11
Say, 'I am a sign to you.' As I have done, so it will be done to them; they will go into exile and into captivity.
12
The prince who is among them will lift up his things upon his shoulder in the dark, and will go out through the wall. They will dig through the wall and bring out their things. He will cover his face, so he will not see the land with his eyes.
13
I will spread out my net over him and he will be caught in my snare; then I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, but he will not see it. He will die there.
14
I will also scatter in every direction all of those around him who were to assist him and his entire army, and I will send out a sword after them.
15
Then they will know that I am Yahweh, when I scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the lands.
16
But I will spare a few men from among them from the sword, famine, and plague, so they may record all of their abominations in the lands where I take them, so they will know that I am Yahweh."
17
The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
18
"Son of man, eat your bread with trembling, and drink your water with shaking and anxiety.
19
Then say to the people of the land, 'The Lord Yahweh says this concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the land of Israel, "They will eat their bread with trembling and drink their water with horror, since the land will be stripped of its fullness because of the violence of all those who dwell there.
20
So the cities that were inhabited will be desolate, and the land will become a wasteland; so you will know that I am Yahweh."'"
21
Again the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
22
"Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel that says, 'The days are prolonged, and every vision fails'?
23
Therefore, say to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: I will put an end to this proverb, and the people of Israel will no longer use it.' Say to them, 'The days have drawn near when every vision will be fulfilled.
24
For there will no longer be any false visions or favorable divinations within the house of Israel.
25
For I am Yahweh! I speak, and I carry out the words that I speak. The matter will no longer be delayed. For I will speak this word in your days, rebellious house, and I will carry it out!—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'"
26
Again the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
27
"Son of man! Behold, the house of Israel has said, 'The vision that he sees is for a time many days from now, and he prophesies of far off times.'
28
Therefore say to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: My words will not be delayed any longer, but the word that I have spoken will be done—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'"
Chapter 13
1
Again, the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2
"Son of man, prophesy against the prophets who are prophesying in Israel, and say to those who are prophesying out of their own imaginations, 'Listen to the word of Yahweh.
3
The Lord Yahweh says this: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, but who have seen nothing!
4
Israel, your prophets have been like jackals in the wastelands.
5
You have not gone to the breaks in the wall around the house of Israel in order to repair it, in order to resist in battle on the day of Yahweh.
6
The people have false visions and practice false divination, those who say, "Such and such is Yahweh's declaration." Yahweh has not sent them, but they nevertheless have made people hope that their messages would come true.
7
Have you not had false visions and practice false divination, you who say, "Such and such is Yahweh's declaration" when I myself have not spoken?'
8
Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this, 'Because you have had false visions and have told lies—therefore this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration against you:
9
My hand will be against the prophets who have lying visions and who practice false divination. They will not be in the assembly of my people, or enrolled in the record of the house of Israel; they must not go to the land of Israel. For you will know that I am the Lord Yahweh!
10
Because of this, and because they led my people astray and said, "Peace!" when there is no peace, they are building a wall that they will paint with whitewash.'
11
Say to those who are whitewashing the wall, 'It will fall down; there will be a downpour of rain, and I will send hailstones to make it fall down, and a windstorm wind to break it down.
12
See, the wall will fall down. Have others not said to you, "Where is the whitewash that you put on it?"
13
Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this: I will bring a windstorm in my rage, and there will be floods of rain in my wrath! Hailstones in my rage will completely destroy it.
14
For I will tear down the wall that you have covered with whitewash, and I will demolish it to the ground and lay bare its foundations. So it will fall, and you will be annihilated in the middle of it all. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.
15
For I will annihilate in my fury the wall and those who whitewashed it. I will say to you, "The wall exists no more, nor do the people who whitewashed it—
16
the prophets of Israel who prophesied about Jerusalem and who had visions of peace for her. But there is no peace!—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration."'
17
So you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy out of their own minds, and prophesy against them.
18
Say, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Woe to the women who sew magic charms onto every part of their hand and make veils for their heads of every size, used to hunt down people. Will you hunt down my people but save your own lives?
19
You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and crumbs of bread, to kill people who should not die, and to preserve the lives of those who should not continue to live, because of your lies to my people who heard you.
20
Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this: I am against the magic charms that you have used to ensnare the people's lives as if they were birds. Indeed, I will tear them from your arms; and the people whom you have trapped like birds—I will let them go free.
21
I will tear away your veils and rescue my people from your hand, so they will no longer be trapped in your hands. You will know that I am Yahweh.
22
Because you discouraged the heart of the righteous with lies, even though I did not cause him grief, and because you strengthened the hands of the wicked so that he does not turn from his evil ways and save his life,
23
therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination. I will rescue my people out of your hand. You will know that I am Yahweh.'"
Chapter 14
1
Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me.
2
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
3
"Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts and have put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their own faces. Should I be inquired of at all by them?
4
Therefore announce this to them and say to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Every man of the house of Israel who takes his idols into his heart, or who puts the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and who then comes to a prophet—I, Yahweh, will answer him according to the number of his idols.
5
I will do this so that I may take back the house of Israel in their hearts that have been driven far from me through their idols.'
6
Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Repent and turn away from your idols! Turn back your faces from all your abominations.
7
For every one from the house of Israel and every one of the foreigners sojourning in Israel who deserts me, who takes his idols into his heart and puts the stumbling block of his iniquity before his own face, and who then comes to a prophet to seek me—I, Yahweh, will answer him myself.
8
So I will set my face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb, for I will cut him off from the midst of my people, and you will know that I am Yahweh.
9
If a prophet is deceived and speaks a message, then I, Yahweh, will deceive that prophet; I will reach out with my hand against him and destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.
10
They will carry their own iniquity; the iniquity of the prophet will be the same as the iniquity of the one who inquires from him.
11
Because of this, the house of Israel will no longer wander away from following me nor defile themselves any longer through all their transgressions. They will be my people, and I will be their God—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'"
12
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
13
"Son of man, when a land sins against me by committing faithlessness so that I reach out with my hand against it and break the staff of its bread, and send out over it a famine and cut off both men and animals from the land;
14
then even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in the land's midst, they could only rescue their own lives by their righteousness—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.
15
If I send evil beasts through the land and make it barren so that it becomes a wasteland where no man may pass through because of the beasts,
16
then even if these same three men were in it—as I live, declares the Lord Yahweh—they would not be able to rescue even their own sons or daughters; only their own lives would be rescued, but the land would become a wasteland.
17
Or if I bring a sword against that land and say, 'Sword, go through the land and cut off both men and animals from it',
18
then even if these three men were in the midst of the land—as I live, declares the Lord Yahweh—they would not be able to rescue even their own sons or daughters; only their own lives would be rescued.
19
Or if I send a plague against this land and pour out my fury against it through bloodshed, in order to cut off both men and animals,
20
then even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in that land—as I live, declares the Lord Yahweh—they would not be able to rescue even their own sons or daughters; only their own lives would be rescued by their righteousness.
21
For the Lord Yahweh says this: I will certainly make things worse by sending my four judgments—famine, sword, wild animals, and plague—against Jerusalem to cut off both men and animals from her.
22
Yet, behold! An escaped remnant will be left in her, survivors who will go out with sons and daughters. Behold! They will go out to you, and you will see their ways and actions and be comforted concerning the punishment that I have sent to Jerusalem, and about everything else that I have sent against the land.
23
The survivors will comfort you when you see their ways and their actions, so you will know all these things I have done against her, that I have not done them in vain!—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration."
Chapter 15
1
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2
"Son of man, how is a vine better than any tree with branches that is among the trees in a forest?
3
Do people take wood from a vine to make anything? Or do they make a peg from it to hang anything on it?
4
See! If it is thrown into a fire as fuel, and if the fire has burned both of its ends and also the middle, is it good for anything?
5
See! When it was complete, it could not make anything; surely then, when the fire has burned, then it still will not make anything useful.
6
Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this: Unlike the trees in the forests, I have given the vine as fuel for fires; I will act in the same way toward the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
7
For I will set my face against them. Though they come out from the fire, yet the fire will consume them; so you will know that I am Yahweh, when I set my face against them.
8
Then I will make the land into an abandoned wasteland because they have committed faithlessness—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration."
Chapter 16
1
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2
"Son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations,
3
and declare, 'The Lord Yahweh says this to Jerusalem: Your beginning and your birth took place in the land of Canaan; your father was an Amorite, and your mother was a Hittite.
4
On the day of your birth, your mother did not cut your navel, nor did she purify you in water or rub you down with salt, or wrap cloth around you.
5
No eye had compassion for you to do any of these things for you, to be compassionate toward you. On the day that you were born, with loathing for your life, you were thrown out into the open field.
6
But I passed by you, and I saw you writhing in your own blood; so I said to you in your blood, "Live!" I said to you in your blood, "Live!"
7
I made you grow like a plant in a field. You multiplied and became great, and you became the jewel of jewels. Your breasts became firm, and your hair grew thick, though you had been naked and bare.
8
I passed by you again, and I saw you. See! the time of love came for you, so I spread my robe over you and covered your nakedness. Then I swore to you and brought you into a covenant—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—and you became mine.
9
So I washed you with water and rinsed your blood off you, and I anointed you with oil.
10
I dressed you in embroidered clothes and placed leather sandals on your feet. I wrapped you with fine linen and covered you with silk.
11
Next I adorned you with jewelry, and I put bracelets on your hands, and a chain around your neck.
12
I put a nose ring in your nostrils and earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head.
13
So you were adorned with gold and silver, and you were dressed in fine linen, silk, and embroidered clothes; you ate fine flour, honey, and oil, and you were very beautiful, and you became a queen.
14
Your fame went out among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect in the majesty that I had given to you—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.
15
But you trusted in your own beauty, and you acted like a prostitute because of your fame; you poured out your acts of prostitution on everyone who passed by, so that your beauty became his.
16
Then you took your clothes and with them you made high places for yourself decorated in various colors, and there you acted like a prostitute. This should not have happened. Nor should such a thing exist.
17
You took the beautiful jewels of the gold and silver that I gave you, and you made for yourself male figures, and you did with them as a prostitute would do.
18
You took your embroidered garments and covered them, and you set my oils and incense before them.
19
My bread I gave you—made with fine flour, oil, and honey—you set before them for a fragrant aroma, for this is what happened—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.
20
Then you took your sons and daughters whom you bore for me, and you sacrificed them to the images to be devoured as food. Are your acts of prostitution a small matter?
21
You slaughtered my children to the idols and made them pass through the fire.
22
In all your abominations and your acts of prostitution you have not thought about the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare as you thrashed about in your blood.
23
Woe! Woe to you!—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—therefore, in addition to all this wickedness,
24
you built yourself a mound and made yourself a high place in every public place.
25
You built your high place at the head of every road and made your beauty abominable, and you spread your legs to anyone who passed by, and you multiplied your acts of prostitution.
26
You have acted like a prostitute with the Egyptians, your lustful neighbors, and you committed many more acts of prostitution, provoking me to anger.
27
See! I will strike you with my hand and cut off your food. I will hand your life over to your enemies, the daughters of the Philistines, who were ashamed of your obscene behavior.
28
You have acted like a prostitute with the Assyrians because you could not be satisfied. You acted like a prostitute and still were not satisfied.
29
You performed many more acts of prostitution in the land of the merchants of Chaldea, and even this did not satisfy you.
30
How weak is your heart—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—that you would do all these things, deeds of a shameless prostitute?
31
You have built your mounds at the head of every street and made your high places in every public square. Yet you were not like a prostitute because you scoffed at taking payment.
32
You adulterous woman, you accept strangers instead of your husband.
33
People give payment to every prostitute, but you give your wages to all your lovers and bribe them to come to you from all around for your acts of prostitution.
34
So there is a difference between you and other women in your fornication. No one offers payment for you to act like a prostitute. You are the very opposite. You gave them payment and none was given to you.
35
Therefore, you prostitute, listen to the word of Yahweh.
36
The Lord Yahweh says this: Because you have poured out your lust and uncovered your nakedness through your acts of prostitution with your lovers and with all your detestable idols, and because you gave them your children's blood,
37
therefore, behold, I will gather all your lovers that you have met, all those whom you loved and all those whom you hated, and I will gather them against you on every side. I will uncover your nakedness to them so they see all your nakedness.
38
For I will punish you for adultery and the shedding of blood, and I will bring on you the bloodshed of my anger and jealousy.
39
I will give you into their hands so they will throw down your vaulted chamber and break down your high places and they will strip you of your clothes and take all of your jewelry. They will leave you naked and bare.
40
Then they will bring up a crowd against you and stone you with stones, and they will cut you apart with their swords.
41
They will burn your houses and will perform many judgments on you in the sight of many women, for I will put a stop to your prostitution, and you will no longer pay your lovers.
42
Then I will calm my fury against you; my jealousy will leave you, for I will be satisfied, and will no longer be angry.
43
Because you did not call to mind the days of your youth and have made me shake with anger because of all these things, therefore, behold! I myself will bring down on your own head the punishment for what you have done—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration. Have you not added prostitution to all your other detestable practices?
44
Behold! Everyone who speaks proverbs concerning you will say, "As the mother is, so also is her daughter."
45
You are the daughter of your mother, who detested her husband and her children, and you are the sister of your sisters who detested their husbands and their children. Your mother was a Hittite, and your father was an Amorite.
46
Your older sister was Samaria and her daughters were the ones living in the north, while your younger sister was the one living south of you, that is, Sodom and her daughters.
47
You not only walked in their ways and committed their disgusting practices, but in all your ways you have acted more corruptly than they.
48
As I live—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—your sister Sodom and her daughters, have not done as much evil as you and your daughters have done.
49
Behold! This was the iniquity of your sister Sodom that she was arrogant in her leisure, careless and unconcerned about anything. She did not strengthen the hands of the poor and needy people.
50
She was arrogant and committed disgusting practices before me, so I took them away just as you have seen.
51
Samaria did not commit even half of your sins. You have done many more disgusting things than they did, and you have made your sisters appear more righteous than you because of all the disgusting things you have done!
52
Bear your disgrace, for you have furnished justification for your sisters. Because of your sins, which you committed so abominably, you have made your sisters appear to be more righteous than you. So then, be ashamed and bear your disgrace, for you have made your sisters appear righteous.
53
For I will reverse their captivity—the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters—and your captivity will be among them.
54
On account of these things you will show your shame; you will be humiliated because of everything that you have done, and in this way you will be a comfort to them.
55
So your sister Sodom and her daughters will be restored to their former condition, and Samaria and her daughters will be restored to their former estate. Then you and your daughters will be restored to your former condition.
56
Sodom your sister was not even mentioned by your mouth in the days when you were proud,
57
before your wickedness was revealed. Now you are scorned by the daughters of Edom and to all the daughters of the Philistines around her—all those around you despise you.
58
You will show your shame and your disgusting practices!—this is Yahweh's declaration!
59
The Lord Yahweh says this: I will deal with you as you deserve, you who have despised your oath by breaking the covenant.
60
But I myself will call to mind my covenant with you made in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.
61
Then you will call to mind your ways and be ashamed when you receive your older sisters and your younger sisters. I will give them to you as daughters, but not because of your covenant.
62
I myself will establish my covenant with you, and you will know that I am Yahweh.
63
Because of these things, you will call everything to mind and be ashamed, so you will no longer open your mouth to speak because of your shame, when I have forgiven you for all that you have done—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'"
Chapter 17
1
The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2
"Son of man, present a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel.
3
Say, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: A large eagle with large wings and long pinions, full of feathers, and that was multicolored went to Lebanon and took hold of the top of a cedar tree.
4
It broke off the tips of the branches and took them to the land of Canaan; he planted it in a city of merchants.
5
He also took some seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil. He placed it beside a large body of water like a willow.
6
Then it sprouted and became a spreading vine low to the ground. Its branches turned toward him, and its roots grew under it. So it became a vine and produced branches and sent out shoots.
7
But there was another great eagle with large wings and many feathers. Behold! This vine turned its roots toward the eagle, and it spread out its branches toward the eagle from the place it had been planted so it would be watered.
8
It had been planted in good soil beside a large body of water so it would produce branches and sprout fruit, to become a glorious vine.'
9
Say to the people, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Will it prosper? Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit so that it withers, and all its fresh growth will wither? No strong arm or many people will be needed to pull it out by its roots.
10
So behold! After it has been planted, will it grow? Will it not wither when the eastern wind touches it? It will completely wither away in the garden plot where it sprouted.'"
11
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
12
"Speak to the rebellious house, 'Do you not know what these things mean? Behold! The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and took her king and her princes and brought them to him in Babylon.
13
Then he took a royal descendant, made a covenant with him, and brought him under an oath. He took away the mighty men of the land,
14
so the kingdom might become lowly and not lift itself up. By keeping his covenant the land will survive.
15
But the king of Jerusalem rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors to Egypt to acquire horses and an army. Will he succeed? Will the one doing these things escape? If he breaks the covenant, will he escape?
16
As I live!—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—he will surely die in the land of the king who made him king, the king whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he broke. He will die in the middle of Babylon.
17
Pharaoh with his mighty army and a great company of men will not help him in battle, when ramps are constructed and siege walls are built up to cut off many lives.
18
For the king despised his oath by breaking the covenant. Behold, he reached out with his hand to make a promise and yet he did all these things. He will not escape.
19
Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this: As I live, was it not my oath that he despised and my covenant that he broke? So I will bring his punishment on his head!
20
I will spread my net out over him, and he will be caught in my hunting net. Then I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment on him there for his faithlessness that he committed when he betrayed me!
21
All of his refugees in his armies will fall by the sword, and the ones who remain will be scattered in every direction. Then you will know that I am Yahweh; I have declared this would happen."
22
The Lord Yahweh says this, 'So I myself will take a twig from the highest part of the cedar tree and I will plant it. I will break off a tender twig, and I myself will plant it on a high mountain.
23
I will plant it on the mountains of Israel so it will bear branches and produce fruit, and it will become a majestic cedar so that every winged bird will live under it. They will nest in the shade of its branches.
24
Then all the trees of the field will know that I am Yahweh. I bring down the high trees and I raise up the low trees. I wither the watered tree and I cause the dried tree to bloom. I am Yahweh, I have declared that this will happen; and I have done it.'"
Chapter 18
1
The word of Yahweh came to me again, saying,
2
"What do you mean, you who use this proverb concerning the land of Israel and say, 'Fathers eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are made blunt'?
3
As I live—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—there will certainly no longer be any occasion for you to use this proverb in Israel.
4
Behold! Every life belongs to me—the life of the father as well as the life of the son, they belong to me! The soul who sins is the one who will die!
5
What can be said about a man who is righteous and who carries out justice and righteousness—
6
if he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, and he does not defile his neighbor's wife or approach a woman during her impurity, is he a righteous man?
7
What can be said about a man who does not oppress anyone, who gives back to the debtor his pledge, and who does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing—is he a righteous man?
8
What can be said about a man who does not loan money for usury or take interest but keeps his hand from injustice? It is said of him that he carries out justice and establishes faithfulness between people.
9
If that man walks in my statutes and keeps my decrees to act faithfully, then the promise for this righteous man is this: He will surely live!—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.
10
But suppose that he has a violent son who sheds blood and does any one of these things that were mentioned,
11
(though his father has not done any of these things). He eats upon the mountains and he defiles his neighbor's wife, what can be said about him?
12
He oppresses the poor and needy; he commits robbery and does not return a pledge, and he lifts up his eyes to the idols and commits disgusting practices,
13
and he loans money for usury and takes interest, should that man live? Surely he will not live! He will certainly die and his blood will be on him because he has done all these detestable things.
14
But behold! Suppose there is a man who bears a son, and his son sees all the sins that his father has committed, and though he sees them, he does not do those things.
15
That son does not eat upon the mountains, and he does not lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, and he does not defile his neighbor's wife, what can be said about him?
16
That son does not oppress anyone, or require a pledge, or commit robbery, but instead gives his food to the hungry and covers up the naked with clothing.
17
That son does not oppress anyone or loan money for usury or take interest, but he carries out my decrees and walks according to my statutes; that son will not die for his father's iniquity: He will surely live!
18
His father, since he oppressed others by extortion and robbed his brother, and did what is not good among his people—behold, he will die in his iniquity.
19
But you say, 'Why does the son not bear the iniquity of his father?' Because the son carries out justice and righteousness and keeps all my statutes; he does them. He will surely live!
20
The one who sins, he is the one who will die. A son will not bear his father's iniquity, and a father will not bear his son's iniquity. The righteousness of the one who acts rightly will be on himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be on himself.
21
But if the wicked turns away from all his sins that he has done, and obeys all my statutes and performs justice and righteousness, then he will certainly live and not die.
22
All the transgressions that he has committed will not be called to mind against him. He will live by the righteousness that he practices.
23
Do I greatly rejoice over the death of the wicked—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—and not in his turning away from his way so that he may live?
24
But if the righteous person turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity and practices abominations like all the abominations that the wicked person does, then will he live? All the righteousness that he had done will not be called to mind when he betrays me in his treachery. So he will die in the sins that he committed.
25
But you say, 'The way of the Lord is not fair!' Listen, house of Israel! Are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?
26
When the righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity and dies because of them, then he will die in the iniquity that he has done.
27
But when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has done and performs justice and righteousness, then he will preserve his life.
28
For he has seen and turned away from all the transgressions that he had done. He will surely live, and he will not die.
29
But the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not fair!' How is my way not fair, house of Israel? It is your ways that are not fair.
30
Therefore I will judge each man among you according to his ways, house of Israel!—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration. Repent and turn away from all your transgressions so that they will not be stumbling blocks of iniquity against you.
31
Throw away from yourselves all of the transgressions that you have committed; make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, house of Israel?
32
For I have no delight in the death of the one who dies—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—so repent and live!"
Chapter 19
1
"Now you, take up a lamentation against the leaders of Israel
2
and say,
'Who was your mother?
A lioness, she lived with a lion's son;
in the midst of young lions, she nurtured her cubs.
3
She is the one who raised up one of her cubs to become a young lion,
a lion who learned to tear apart his prey,
and then he devoured men.
4
Then the nations heard about him.
He was caught in their trap,
and they brought him with hooks to the land of Egypt.
5
Then she saw that although she had waited for his return,
her expectation was now gone,
so she took another of her cubs
and raised him to become a young lion.
6
This young lion roamed about in the midst of lions.
He was a young lion and learned to tear his victims;
he devoured men.
7
He seized their widows
and ruined their cities.
The land and its fullness were made desolate
because of the sound of his roaring.
8
But the nations came against him
from the surrounding provinces;
they spread their nets over him.
He was caught in their trap.
9
With hooks they put him in a cage
and then they brought him to the king of Babylon.
They brought him to the strongholds
so that his voice would no longer be heard
on the mountains of Israel.
10
Your mother was like a vine
planted in your blood beside the water.
It was fruitful and full of branches
because of the abundance of water.
11
It had strong branches that were used for rulers' scepters,
and its size was exalted above the branches,
and its height was seen by the greatness of its foliage.
12
But the vine was uprooted in fury
and thrown down to the earth,
and an eastern wind dried out its fruit.
Its strong branches were broken off and withered
and fire consumed them.
13
So now it is planted in the wilderness,
in a land of drought and thirst.
14
For fire went out from her large branches
and consumed its fruit.
There is no strong branch on it,
no scepter to rule.'
This is a lamentation and will be sung as a lamentation."
Chapter 20
1
It came about in the seventh year, on the tenth day of the fifth month, that elders of Israel came to inquire of Yahweh and sat before me.
2
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
3
"Son of man, declare to the elders of Israel and say to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Have you come to inquire of me? As I live, I will not be inquired of by you!—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'
4
Will you judge them? Will you judge, son of man? Let them know about their fathers' abominations.
5
Say to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: On the day that I chose Israel and raised my hand to swear an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I raised my hand to swear an oath to them. I said, "I am Yahweh your God"—
6
on that day I raised my hand to swear an oath to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had carefully selected for them. It was flowing with milk and honey; it was the most beautiful ornament among all the lands.
7
I said to them, "Let each man throw away the detestable things from before his eyes and the idols of Egypt. Do not make yourselves unclean; I am Yahweh your God."
8
But they rebelled against me and were unwilling to listen to me. Each man did not throw away the detestable things from before his eyes nor abandon the idols of Egypt, so I determined to pour out my fury upon them to satisfy my wrath among them in the middle of the land of Egypt.
9
I acted for my name's sake so it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations among whom they were staying. I made myself known to them, in their eyes, by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.
10
So I sent them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.
11
Then I gave them my statutes and made my decrees known to them, by which a man will live if he obeys them.
12
I also gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between myself and them, for them to know that I am Yahweh who makes them holy.
13
But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not walk in my statutes; instead, they rejected my decrees, by which a man will live if he obeys them, and they greatly profaned my Sabbaths. So, I said I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness in order to end them.
14
But I acted for my name's sake so it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out of Egypt.
15
So I myself also raised my hand to swear an oath to them in the wilderness not to bring them into the land that I had been going to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey, which was the most beautiful ornament among all the lands.
16
I swore this because they had rejected my decrees and did not walk in my statutes, and they profaned my Sabbaths, since their hearts walked after their idols.
17
But my eye spared them from their destruction and I did not completely destroy them in the wilderness.
18
I said to their children in the wilderness, "Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, or keep their rules, or defile yourselves with their idols.
19
I am Yahweh your God, walk in my statutes; keep my decrees and obey them.
20
Keep my Sabbaths holy so that they will be a sign between me and you, so that you will know that I am Yahweh your God."
21
But their sons and daughters rebelled against me. They did not walk in my statutes or keep my decrees, by which a man might live if he obeys them. They profaned my Sabbaths, so I determined to pour out my fury upon them to satisfy my wrath against them in the wilderness.
22
But I turned my hand away and acted for my name's sake, so it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought out the Israelites.
23
I myself also lifted up my hand to swear to them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them among the lands.
24
I decided to do this since they had not obeyed my decrees, and since they had rejected my statutes and profaned my Sabbaths. Their eyes were longing after their fathers' idols.
25
Then I also gave them statutes that were not good, and decrees by which they could not live.
26
I declared them to be unclean through their gifts—they made a sacrifice of every firstborn of the womb and caused them to pass through the fire—that I might fill them with horror so they will know that I am Yahweh!'
27
Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: In this also your fathers blasphemed me when they were unfaithful to me.
28
When I brought them into the land that I had sworn to give them, and then whenever they saw any high hill and leafy tree, they offered their sacrifices, they provoked me by their offerings, and there they also burned their fragrant incense and poured out their drink offerings.
29
Then I said to them, "What is this high place where you bring offerings there?" So the name is called Bamah to this day.'
30
Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Why do you make yourselves unclean with the ways of your fathers? So why do you act like prostitutes, searching for disgusting things?
31
When you offer up your gifts—when you cause your sons to pass through the fire—to this day you defile yourselves with all your idols. So why should I let you seek me, house of Israel? As I live—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—I will not allow you to seek me.
32
The thought that is forming in your mind will never happen. You say, "Let us be like the other nations, like the clans in the other lands who worship wood and stone."
33
As I live—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—I will certainly reign over you with a mighty hand, a raised arm, and fury that will be poured out on you.
34
I will bring you out from the other peoples and will gather you out of the lands among whom you have been scattered. I will do this with a mighty hand and with fury poured out.
35
Then I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will judge you face to face.
36
As I judged your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so also I will judge you—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.
37
I will cause you to pass under my rod, and I will make you obey the requirements of the covenant.
38
I will purge from among you the rebels and those who revolt against me. I will send them out from the land where they are staying as foreigners, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.
39
So to you, house of Israel, the Lord Yahweh says this: Each of you should go to his own idols. Worship them if you will refuse to listen to me, but you must no longer profane my holy name with your gifts and your idols.
40
For on my holy mountain, on the mountain peak of Israel—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—all of the house of Israel will worship me there in the land. I will be pleased to require your contributions there, and also the firstfruits of your tribute with all your holy things.
41
I will accept you like fragrant incense when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the lands where you have been scattered. I will show myself as holy among you for the nations to see.
42
Then, when I bring you to the land of Israel, to the land that I have lifted up my hand to swear to give to your fathers, you will know that I am Yahweh.
43
There you will call to mind your conduct and all of your deeds by which you defiled yourselves, and you will despise yourselves in your own eyes for all your evil deeds that you have done.
44
So you will know that I am Yahweh when I do this to you because of my name's sake, and not because of your evil deeds, and not because of your corrupt deeds, house of Israel—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'"
45
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
46
"Son of man, set your face toward the southern lands, and speak against the south; prophesy against the forest of the Negev.
47
Say to the forest of the Negev, 'This is Yahweh's declaration—the Lord Yahweh says this: See, I will set a fire among you. It will devour every fresh tree and every dried tree among you. The fiery flame will not be quenched; every face from the south to the north will be burned.
48
Then all flesh will see that I am Yahweh when I light the fire, and it will not be quenched.'"
49
Then I said, "Alas! Lord Yahweh, they are saying of me, 'Is he not a mere teller of parables?'"
Chapter 21
1
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2
"Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, and speak against the sanctuaries; prophesy against the land of Israel.
3
Say to the land of Israel, 'Yahweh says this: Behold! I am against you! I will draw my sword from its sheath and cut off both the righteous person and the wicked person from you!
4
In order for me to cut off both the righteous and the wicked from you, my sword will go out from its sheath against all flesh from the south to the north.
5
Then all flesh will know that I, Yahweh, have drawn my sword from its sheath. It will no longer hold back!'
6
As for you, son of man, groan as your loins break! In bitterness groan before their eyes!
7
Then it will happen that they will ask you, 'For what reason are you groaning?' Then you will say, 'Because of the news that is coming, for every heart will melt, and every hand will falter! Every spirit will grow faint, and every knee will flow like water. Behold! It is coming and it will be like this!—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'"
8
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
9
"Son of man, prophesy and say, 'The Lord says this:
Say: A sword! A sword!
It will be sharpened and polished!
10
It will be sharpened in order to engage in great slaughter!
It will be polished in order to be like lightning!
Should we rejoice in my son's scepter?
The coming sword hates every such rod!
11
So the sword will be given to be polished,
and then to be grasped by the hand!
The sword is sharpened and it is polished
and it is to be given into the hand of the one who kills!'"
12
Call for help and wail, son of man!
For that sword has come against my people!
It is against all the leaders of Israel.
They are thrown against the sword with my people.
Therefore, slap your thigh!
13
For there is a trial,
but what if the scepter that despises does not last?
—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.
14
Now you, son of man, prophesy
and hit your two hands together,
for the sword will attack even a third time!
A sword for the ones to be slaughtered!
It is a sword for the many to be slaughtered,
piercing them everywhere!
15
In order to melt their hearts and to multiply their fallen,
I have set the sword for slaughter at all their gates.
Ah! It is made like lightning, it is grasped for slaughter.
16
Strike sharply to the righthand side!
Strike to the lefthand side!
Go wherever your face is turned.
17
For I will also hit my two hands together,
and then I will bring my fury to rest!
I, Yahweh, declare it!"
18
The word of Yahweh came to me again, saying,
19
"Now you, son of man, assign two roads for the sword of the king of Babylon to come. The two roads will start in the same land, and a signpost will mark one of them as leading to a city.
20
Mark one road for the sword to come to Rabbah, the city of the Ammonites. Mark the other to lead the army to Judah and the city of Jerusalem, which is fortified.
21
For the king of Babylon will stop at the crossroads, at the junction, in order to practice divination. He will shake some arrows and ask direction from some idols and he will examine a liver.
22
In his right hand will be a divination about Jerusalem, to set battering rams against it, to open his mouth to order the slaughter, to sound a war cry, to set battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp, and to erect siege towers.
23
It will seem to be a false divination in their eye, those who had sworn an oath to the Babylonians! But the king will accuse them of iniquity in order to besiege them!
24
Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this: Because you have made your guilt to be remembered, making your transgressions to be revealed, so that in all your actions your sins will be seen—because you have done this you will be taken in hand.
25
As for you, profane and wicked ruler of Israel, whose day of punishment has come, and whose time of committing iniquity has ended,
26
the Lord Yahweh says this to you: Remove the turban and take off the crown! Things will no longer be the same! Exalt the lowly and humble the exalted!
27
A ruin! A ruin! I will make it a ruin! It will not be restored until the one comes who is assigned to execute judgment.
28
So you, son of man, prophesy and say, 'The Lord Yahweh says this to the people of Ammon concerning their coming disgrace: A sword, a sword is drawn! It is sharpened for the slaughter in order to devour, so it will be like lightning!
29
While prophets see empty visions for you, while they practice divination to make up lies for you, this sword will lie on the necks of the wicked who are about to be killed, whose day of punishment has come and whose time of iniquity is about to end.
30
Return the sword to its sheath. In the place of your creation, in the land of your origin, I will judge you!
31
I will pour out my indignation on you! I will fan the fire of my rage against you and put you into the hand of cruel men, craftsmen of destruction!
32
You will become fuel for the fire! Your blood will be in the midst of the land. You will not be remembered, for I, Yahweh have declared this!'"
Chapter 22
1
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2
"Now you, son of man, will you judge? Will you judge the city of blood? Make her know all her abominations.
3
You must say, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: This is a city that pours out blood in her midst so that her time may come; a city that makes idols to make herself unclean.
4
You have become guilty by the blood that you have poured out, and you have become unclean by the idols that you have made. You have drawn your days to a close, and the end of your years has come. Therefore I will make you an object of scorn to the nations and a laughingstock to all the lands.
5
Both those who are near and those who are far away from you will mock you—you unclean city—with the reputation known everywhere as being full of confusion.
6
Behold! The rulers of Israel, each one by his own power, have come to you to pour out blood.
7
They have dishonored fathers and mothers within you, and they have performed oppression on the foreigners in your midst. They have mistreated the orphans and the widows within you.
8
You have despised my holy things and have profaned my Sabbaths.
9
Slanderous men have come within you in order to pour out blood, and they eat on the mountains. They perform wickedness in your midst.
10
Within you men uncover the nakedness of their father. Within you they have violated unclean women during their impurity.
11
Men who commit abominations with their neighbors' wives, and men who make their own daughters-in-law shamefully unclean; men who abuse their own sisters—daughters of their own fathers—all these are done within you.
12
These men take bribes within you in order to pour out blood and you have loaned money for usury and taken interest, and you have treated your neighbors violently for profit by extortion, and you have forgotten me—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.
13
See! With my hand I have struck the dishonest gain that you have made, and the bloodshed that is done in the midst of you.
14
Will your heart stand, will your hands be strong on the days when I myself will deal with you? I, Yahweh, am declaring this, and I will do it.
15
So I will scatter you among the nations and disperse you through the lands. In this way, I will purge your uncleanness from you.
16
So you will become unclean in the eyes of the nations. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.'"
17
Next the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
18
"Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to me. All of them are the leftovers of bronze and tin, and iron and lead in the midst of you. They will be like the dross of silver in your furnace.
19
Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this, 'Because all of you have become like dross, therefore, behold! I am about to gather you into the midst of Jerusalem.
20
As men gather silver, bronze, iron, lead and tin and put it inside a furnace to melt it, and they blow the fire on it in order to melt it, so I will gather you in my anger and my wrath, and I will put you there and melt you.
21
I will gather you and blow on you the fire of my wrath, and you will be melted in the midst of it.
22
As silver is melted in a furnace, you will be melted in it, and you will know that I, Yahweh, have poured out my wrath on you!'"
23
The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
24
"Son of man, say to her, 'You are a land that has not been cleansed. There is no rain on the day of wrath!
25
There is a conspiracy of her prophets in her midst, like a roaring lion tearing apart a victim. They consume life and take precious wealth; they make many widows within her!
26
Her priests do violence to my law, and they profane my holy things. They do not distinguish between holy things and profane things, and do not teach the difference between the unclean and the clean. They hide their eyes from my Sabbaths so that I am profaned in their midst.
27
Her princes within her are like wolves tearing apart their victims. They pour out blood and destroy life for unjust gain.
28
Her prophets have painted them over with whitewash—their seers of false visions and diviners of lies. They say "The Lord Yahweh says this" when Yahweh has not spoken.
29
The people of the land have oppressed through extortion and plundered through robbery, and they mistreat the poor and needy, and oppress the foreigner without justice.
30
So I searched for a man from them who would build up a wall and who would stand before me in its breach for the land so I would not destroy it, but I found no one.
31
So I will pour out my indignation upon them. I will finish them with the fire of my indignation and set their way on their own heads—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'"
Chapter 23
1
The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2
"Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother.
3
They acted as prostitutes in Egypt in the time of their youth. They acted as prostitutes there. Their breasts were squeezed and their virgin nipples were fondled there.
4
Their names were Oholah—the older sister—and Oholibah—her younger sister. Then they became mine and bore sons and daughters. Their names mean this: Oholah means Samaria, and Oholibah means Jerusalem.
5
But Oholah acted as a prostitute even when she was mine; she lusted for her lovers, for the Assyrians who were dominant,
6
for the governor clothed in purple, and for his officials, who were strong and handsome, all of them men riding on horses.
7
So she gave herself as a prostitute to them, to all the best of Assyria's men, and she made herself unclean with everyone she lusted for—and with all their idols.
8
For she had not left her prostitute behavior behind in Egypt, when they had lain with her when she had been a young girl, when they caressed her virgin bosom and poured out their lust upon her.
9
Therefore I gave her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians for whom she lusted.
10
They uncovered her nakedness, took her sons and daughters, killed her with the sword, and she became notorious among other women, so they executed judgment on her.
11
Her sister Oholibah saw this, but her lust was more passionate than her sister's, and her prostitution was worse.
12
She lusted for the Assyrians, the governors and the dominating officials who dressed impressively, who were men riding horses. All of them were strong, handsome men.
13
I saw that she had made herself unclean. It was the same for both sisters.
14
Then she increased her prostitution even more. She saw men carved on walls, figures of Chaldeans painted in red,
15
wearing belts around their waists, with flowing turbans on their heads. All of them had the appearance of officers of chariot troops, the likeness of sons of Babylonia, whose native land is Chaldea.
16
As soon as her eyes saw them, she lusted for them, so she sent out messengers to them in Chaldea.
17
Then the Babylonians came to her and to her bed of lust, and they made her unclean with their fornication. By what she had done she was made unclean, so she turned herself away from them in disgust.
18
When she displayed her acts of prostitution and uncovered her nakedness, I turned away from her, just as I had turned away in disgust from her sister.
19
Then she increased her prostitution as she remembered the days of her youth, when she was a prostitute in the land of Egypt.
20
So she lusted for her lovers, whose private parts were like those of donkeys and whose reproductive emissions were like those of horses.
21
This is how you committed shameful acts of your youth, when the Egyptians fondled your nipples and squeezed your young breasts.
22
Therefore, Oholibah, the Lord Yahweh says this, 'Behold! I will turn your lovers against you. Those from whom you turned away, I will bring them against you from every side:
23
the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, strong, handsome men, governors and officials, all of them are officers and men of reputation, all of them riding on horses.
24
They will come against you with weapons, and with chariots and wagons, and with a great crowd of people. They will set large shields, small shields, and helmets against you all around. I will give them the opportunity to punish you, and they will judge you according to their judgments.
25
For I will set my jealous anger on you, and they will deal with you in fury. They will cut off your noses and your ears, and your survivors will fall by the sword. They will take away your sons and your daughters, and your survivors will be devoured by fire.
26
They will strip you of your clothes and take away all of your beautiful jewelry.
27
So I will remove your shameful behavior from you and your acts of prostitution from the land of Egypt. You will not lift up your eyes toward them with longing, and you will think of Egypt no longer.'
28
For the Lord Yahweh says this, 'Behold! I will give you into the hand of the ones you hate, back into the hand of the ones from whom you had turned away.
29
They will deal with you hatefully; they will take all the products of your labor and abandon you naked and bare. The nakedness of your fornication will be uncovered—and your wicked deeds and your fornications.
30
These things will be done to you in your acting like a prostitute, lusting after nations by which you became unclean with their idols.
31
You have walked in the way of your sister, so I will put her cup of punishment into your hand.'
32
The Lord Yahweh says this,
'You will drink your sister's cup that is deep and large.
You will become a laughingstock and a subject for derision—
this cup contains a great amount.
33
You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow,
the cup of horror and devastation;
the cup of your sister Samaria.
34
You will drink it and drain it empty;
then you will shatter it
and tear your breasts with the pieces.
For I have declared it—
this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'
35
Therefore, the Lord Yahweh says this, 'Because you have forgotten me and thrown me away behind your back, so also you will bear the consequences of your shameful behavior and acts of sexual immorality.'"
36
Yahweh said to me, "Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? So present to them their disgusting practices,
37
since they have committed adultery, and since there is blood on their hands. They have committed adultery with their idols, and they have even caused their sons to pass through the fire, as food for their idols.
38
Then they continue to do this to me: They make my sanctuary unclean, and on the same day they defile my Sabbaths.
39
For when they had slaughtered their children for their idols, then they came to my sanctuary on the same day to defile it! So behold! This is what they have done in the middle of my house.
40
You sent out for men who came from far away, to whom messengers had been sent—now behold. They indeed came, those for whom you bathed, painted your eyes, and adorned yourself with jewelry.
41
There you sat on a beautiful bed and at a table arranged before it where you placed my incense and my oil.
42
So the sound of a carefree crowd was around her, including all kinds of men, even Sabeans were brought in from the wilderness, and they put bracelets on their hands and beautiful crowns on their heads.
43
Then I said of her who was worn out by adulteries, 'Now they will fornicate with her, and she with them.'
44
They went to her as men go to a prostitute. In this way they went to Oholah and Oholibah, immoral women.
45
But righteous men will pass judgment and punish them as adulteresses, and they will punish them with the sentence for those who shed blood, because they are adulteresses and blood is on their hands.
46
So the Lord Yahweh says this: I will raise up a company against them and give them up to be terrorized and plundered.
47
Then that company will stone them with stones and cut them down with their swords. They will kill their sons and daughters and burn down their houses.
48
For I will remove shameful behavior from the land and discipline all the women so they will no longer act like prostitutes.
49
So they will set your shameful behavior against you. You will bear the guilt of your sins with your idols, and in this way you will know that I am the Lord Yahweh."
Chapter 24
1
The word of Yahweh came to me in the ninth year, in the tenth month, and on the tenth day of the month, saying,
2
"Son of man, write for yourself the name of this day, this exact day, for this exact day the king of Babylon has besieged Jerusalem.
3
So speak a proverb against this rebellious house, a parable. Say to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this:
Place the cooking pot.
Place it and pour water into it.
4
Gather pieces of food within it,
every good piece—the thigh and shoulder—
and fill it with the best bones.
5
Take the best of the flock,
and pile up the bones under it.
Bring it to a boil
and cook the bones in it.
6
Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this: Woe to the city of blood, a cooking pot that has rust in it and that rust will not come out of it. Take piece after piece from it, but do not cast lots for it.
7
For her blood is in the midst of her. She has set it on the smooth rock; she has not poured it out on the ground to cover it with dust,
8
so it brings fury up to exact vengeance. I placed her blood on the smooth rock so it could not be covered.
9
Therefore, the Lord Yahweh says this: Woe to the city of blood. I will also enlarge the pile of wood.
10
Stack up the wood and kindle the fire. Cook the meat well and mix in the spices and let the bones be charred.
11
Then set the pot on its coals empty, in order to heat and scorch its bronze, so its uncleanness within it will be melted, its corrosion consumed.'
12
She has become weary because of toil, but her corrosion has not gone out of her by the fire.
13
Your shameful behavior is in your uncleanness. Because I tried to cleanse you but still you would not be cleansed from your uncleanness, you will not be cleansed anymore until I have satisfied my fury upon you.
14
I, Yahweh, have declared it, and I will do it. I will not relent nor will I rest from it. As your ways were, and as your activities, they will judge you!—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration."
15
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
16
"Son of man! Behold, I am taking the delight of your eyes from you with a plague, but you must not mourn nor weep, and your tears must not flow.
17
You must groan silently. Do not conduct a funeral for the dead. Tie your turban on you and place your sandals on your feet, but do not cover your facial hair or eat the bread of men who mourn for having lost their wives."
18
So I spoke to the people in the morning, and my wife died in the evening. In the morning I did what I had been commanded to do.
19
The people asked me, "Will you not tell us what these things mean, the things that you are doing?"
20
So I said to them, "The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
21
'Say to the house of Israel, the Lord Yahweh says this: Behold! I will desecrate my sanctuary—the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the yearning of your soul, and your sons and your daughters whom you left behind will fall by the sword.
22
Then you will do exactly as I have done: you will not veil your facial hair, nor eat the bread of mourning men!
23
Instead, your turbans will be on your heads, and your sandals on your feet; you will not mourn nor weep, for you will rot away in your iniquities, and each man will groan for his brother.
24
So Ezekiel will be a sign for you, as everything that he has done you will do when this comes. Then you will know that I am the Lord Yahweh!'
25
"But you, son of man, on the day that I capture their stronghold, the joy of their splendor, and the delight of their eyes and the burden of their soul, their sons and daughters,
26
on that day, a refugee will come to you to give you the news!
27
On that day your mouth will be opened up to that refugee and you will speak—you will no longer be silent. You will be a sign for them so that they will know that I am Yahweh."
Chapter 25
1
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2
"Son of man, set your face against the people of Ammon and prophesy against them.
3
Say to the people of Ammon, 'Hear the word of the Lord Yahweh. This is what the Lord Yahweh says: Because you said, "Aha!" over my sanctuary when it was profaned, and against the land of Israel when it was desolate, and against the house of Judah when they went into exile,
4
therefore, behold, I am giving you to a people in the east as their possession. They will set up camp against you and set up their tents among you. They will eat your fruit and they will drink your milk.
5
I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels and the people of Ammon a field for flocks. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.
6
For the Lord Yahweh says this: You have clapped your hands and stamped your feet, and rejoiced with all the contempt within you against the land of Israel.
7
Therefore, behold! I will strike you with my hand and give you as plunder to the nations. I will cut you off from the peoples and make you perish from among the lands! I will destroy you, and you will know that I am Yahweh.'
8
The Lord Yahweh says this, 'Because Moab and Seir say, "Behold! The house of Judah is like every other nation."
9
Therefore, behold! I will open the slopes of Moab, starting at his cities on the border—the splendor of Beth Jeshimoth, Baal Meon, and Kiriathaim—
10
to the people of the east who have been against the people of Ammon. I will give them up as a possession so that the people of Ammon will not be remembered among the nations.
11
So I will perform judgments against Moab, and they will know that I am Yahweh.'
12
The Lord Yahweh says this, 'Edom has taken vengeance against the house of Judah and has committed wrong in doing so.
13
Therefore, the Lord Yahweh says this: I will strike Edom with my hand and destroy all men and animals there. I will make them a ruined, abandoned place, from Teman to Dedan. They will fall by the sword.
14
I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel, and they will do to Edom according to my anger and my fury, and they will know my vengeance—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'
15
The Lord Yahweh says this, 'Because the Philistines have acted vengefully and taken vengeance with contempt in their heart as enemies trying to destroy Judah for all time,
16
this is what the Lord Yahweh says: Behold! I will reach out with my hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Kerethites and destroy the remnant who are along the seacoast.
17
For I will take great vengeance against them with furious acts of punishment, so they will know that I am Yahweh, when I take my vengeance on them.'"
Chapter 26
1
So it was in the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, that the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2
"Son of man, because Tyre has said against Jerusalem, 'Aha! The gates of the people are broken! She has turned to me; I will be filled up because she is ruined.'
3
Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this, 'Behold! I am against you, Tyre, and I will raise up many nations against you like the sea raises its waves.
4
They will destroy the walls of Tyre and tear down her towers. I will sweep her dust away and make her like a bare rock.
5
She will become a place for nets to dry out in the midst of the sea, since I have declared it—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—and she will become plunder for the nations.
6
Her daughters who are in the fields will be slaughtered by the swords, and they will know that I am Yahweh.'
7
For this is what the Lord Yahweh says: Behold, from the north I am bringing Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, against Tyre, with horses and chariots, and with horsemen and a great crowd of people.
8
He will kill your daughters in the field with the sword. He will set up a siege work and build a ramp against your walls and raise up shields against you.
9
He will place his battering rams to hit against your walls, and with his tools he will tear down your towers.
10
His horses will be so many that their dust will cover you. Your walls will shake with the sound of horsemen, wagons, and chariots. When he enters your gates, he will enter as men come into a city whose walls have been broken down.
11
The hooves of his horses will trample all of your streets. He will kill your people with the sword and your mighty stone pillars will fall to the ground.
12
They will plunder your riches and loot your merchandise. They will tear down your walls and destroy your delightful homes. Your stones, your timber, and the rubble they will throw into the waters.
13
I will stop the noise of your songs. The sound of your harps will be heard no more.
14
I will make you a bare rock, you will become a place where nets are spread out to dry. You will never be built again, for I, Lord Yahweh have spoken—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.
15
The Lord Yahweh says this to Tyre, 'Will not the islands quake with the sound of your downfall, and with the groans of the wounded when the terrible slaughter is in your midst?
16
Then all the princes of the sea will step down from their thrones and remove their robes and cast off their embroidered garments. They will clothe themselves with trembling, they will sit on the ground and tremble every moment, and they will be appalled because of you.
17
They will lift up a lament for you and say to you,
How you, who were inhabited by sailors,
have been destroyed.
The famous city that was so strong—
it is now gone from the sea.
The ones living in her
once spread a terror about themselves
upon everyone who lived near them.
18
Now the coasts tremble on the day of your downfall.
The islands in the sea are terrified,
because you are no longer in your place.'
19
For the Lord Yahweh says this: When I make you a desolate city, like the other cities that are not inhabited, when I raise up the deeps against you, and when the great waters cover you,
20
then I will bring you down to the people of ancient times, like the others who have gone down into the pit; for I will make you live in the lowest parts of the earth as in ruins of ancient times. Because of this you will not come back and stand in the land of the living.
21
I will place disaster on you, and you will be no more forever. Then you will be sought, but you will never be found ever again—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration."
Chapter 27
1
Again the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2
"Now you, son of man, begin a lamentation concerning Tyre,
3
and say to Tyre, who lives within the gates of the sea, merchants of peoples to many islands, 'The Lord Yahweh says this to you:
Tyre, you have said, "I am perfect in beauty."
4
Your borders are in the heart of the seas;
your builders have perfected your beauty.
5
They have made all your planks with cypress from Senir;
they took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.
6
They made your oars from the oaks of Bashan;
they made your decks out of cypress wood from Cyprus,
and they overlaid them with ivory.
7
Your sails were made from colorful linen from Egypt
that served as your signal flag;
the colors of blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah
are used for the awning on your boat.
8
Those who were living in Sidon and Arvad were your rowers;
the wise men of Tyre were within you;
they were your pilots.
9
The elders of Byblos filled your seams;
all the ships of the sea and their sailors among you
were carrying your merchandise for trade.
10
Persia, Lydia, and Libya were in your army,
your men of war.
They hung shield and helmet within you;
they showed your splendor.
11
The men of Arvad and Helek in your army
were on your walls surrounding you,
and the people of Gammad were in your towers.
They hung up their shields on your walls all around you!
They completed your beauty.
12
Tarshish was a trading partner with you because of your abundant wealth of goods to sell: Silver, iron, tin, and lead. They bought and sold your wares!
13
Greece,
Tubal, and Meshech—they traded slaves and in items made of bronze. They handled your merchandise.
14
Beth Togarmah provided horses, warhorses, and mules as your merchandise.
15
The men of Rhodes traded with you on many coasts. Merchandise was in your hand; they sent back horn, ivory, and ebony as payment!
16
Aram was a trading partner for the many products of your labor; they provided emeralds, purple, colored cloth, fine fabric, pearls, and rubies as your merchandise.
17
Judah and the land of Israel were trading with you. They provided wheat from Minnith, cakes, honey, oil, and balsam as your merchandise.
18
Damascus was a trading partner for the many products of your labor, of all your enormous wealth, and of the wine of Helbon and the wool of Zahar.
19
Dan and Javan from Izal provided you with merchandise of wrought iron, cinnamon, and calamus. This became merchandise for you.
20
Dedan was your dealer in fine saddle blankets.
21
Arabia and all the chiefs of Kedar were your trading partners; they provided you with lambs, rams and goats.
22
The traders of Sheba and Raamah came to sell you the best of every spice and in all kinds of precious gems; they traded gold for your merchandise.
23
Haran, Kanneh, and Eden were your trading partners, along with Sheba, Ashur, and Kilmad.
24
These were your dealers in ornate robes of violet cloths with woven colors, and in blankets of multicolored, embroidered, and well-woven cloth in your marketplaces.
25
The ships of Tarshish
were the transporters of your merchandise!
So you were filled up,
heavily laden with cargo in the heart of the seas!
26
Your rowers have brought you into vast seas;
the eastern wind has broken you in the middle of them.
27
Your wealth, merchandise, and trade goods;
your sailors and pilots, and ship builders;
your traders of merchandise and all the men of war who are in you,
and all your company—
they will sink into the depths of the sea
on the day of your overthrow.
28
Cities at the sea will tremble
at the sound of your pilots' cry.
29
All those who handle oars will come down from their ships;
mariners and all the pilots on the sea will stand on the land.
30
Then they will make their voices heard over you
and they will cry aloud bitterly;
they will cast dust up on their heads.
They will roll about in ashes.
31
They will shave their heads bald for you
and bind themselves with sackcloth,
and they will weep bitterly over you
and they will cry out.
32
They will lift up their wails of lamentation for you
and sing dirges over you,
Who is like Tyre, who has now been brought to silence
in the middle of the sea?
33
When your merchandise went ashore from the sea,
it satisfied many peoples;
you enriched the kings of the earth
with your great wealth and merchandise!
34
But when you were shattered by the seas, by deep waters,
your merchandise and all your company sank!
35
All the inhabitants of the coasts were appalled at you,
and their kings bristled in horror!
Their faces trembled!
36
The traders among the people hiss at you;
you have become a horror,
and you will be no more forever.'"
Chapter 28
1
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2
"Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Your heart is arrogant! You have said, "I am a god! I will sit in the seat of the gods in the heart of the seas!" Even though you are a man and not a god, you make your heart like the heart of a god;
3
you think that you are wiser than Daniel, and that no secret amazes you!
4
You have made yourself wealthy with wisdom and skill, and obtained gold and silver in your treasuries!
5
By great wisdom and by your trading, you have multiplied your wealth, so your heart is arrogant because of your wealth.
6
Therefore, the Lord Yahweh says this: Because you have made your heart like the heart of a god,
7
I will therefore bring foreigners against you, terrifying men from other nations. They will bring their swords against the beauty of your wisdom, and they will profane your splendor.
8
They will send you down to the pit, and you will die the death of those who die in the heart of the seas.
9
Will you truly say, "I am a god" to the face of one who kills you? You are a man and not God, and you will be in the hand of the one who pierces you.
10
You will die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of foreigners, for I have declared it—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'"
11
The word of Yahweh came again to me, saying,
12
"Son of man, lift up a lament for the king of Tyre and say to him, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
13
You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every precious stone covered you: ruby, topaz, emerald, chrysolite, onyx, jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made from gold. It was on the day you were created that they were prepared.
14
I placed you on the holy mountain of God as the cherub I anointed to guard mankind. You were in the midst of the fiery stones where you walked about.
15
You had integrity in your ways from the day you were created until injustice was found within you.
16
Through your great trade you were filled with violence, and so you sinned. So I threw you out of the mountain of God, as a one who was defiled, and I destroyed you, guardian cherub, and drove you from among the fiery stones.
17
Your heart was arrogant with your beauty; you ruined your wisdom because of your splendor. I have sent you down to the earth. I have placed you before kings so they may see you.
18
Because of your many iniquities and your dishonest trade, you have defiled your holy places. So I have made fire come out from you; it will consume you. I will turn you into ashes on the earth in the sight of all who look at you.
19
All the ones who knew you among the peoples are appalled at you; you have become terrified, and you will be no more forever.'"
20
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
21
"Son of man, set your face against Sidon and prophesy against her.
22
Say, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Behold! I am against you, Sidon! For I will be glorified in your midst. Then they will know that I am Yahweh when I execute judgments within her. I will be shown to be holy in her.
23
I will send out a plague in her and blood in her streets, and those who are fatally wounded will fall in the midst of her. When the sword comes against her from all around, then they will know that I am Yahweh.
24
Then there will no longer be pricking briers and painful thorns for the house of Israel from all those around them who despise them, so they will know that I am the Lord Yahweh!'
25
The Lord Yahweh says this, 'When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they were scattered, and when I am set apart among them, so the nations may see, then they will make their homes in the land I will give to my servant Jacob.
26
Then they will live securely within her and build houses, plant vineyards, and live securely when I execute judgments on all the ones who now despise them from all around; so they will know that I am Yahweh their God!'"
Chapter 29
1
In the tenth year, in the tenth month on the twelfth day of the month, the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2
"Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh, the king of Egypt; prophesy against him and against all of Egypt.
3
Declare and say, 'The Lord Yahweh says this:
Behold! I am against you, Pharaoh, king of Egypt.
You, the great sea monster that lurks in the midst of the river,
that says, "My river is my own. I have made it for myself."
4
For I will place hooks in your jaw,
and the fish of your Nile will cling to your scales;
I will lift you up from the middle of your river
along with all the fish of the river that cling to your scales.
5
I will throw you down into the wilderness,
you and all the fish from your river.
You will fall on the open field;
you will not gather together or assemble.
I will give you as food to the living things of the earth
and to the birds of the heavens.
6
Then all the inhabitants of Egypt will know
that I am Yahweh,
because they have been a walking stick
made of a reed to the house of Israel.
7
When they took hold of you in their hand,
you broke and tore open their shoulder;
and when they leaned on you,
you were broken,
and you caused their legs to be unsteady.
8
Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this: Behold! I will bring a sword against you. I will cut off both men and animals from you.
9
So the land of Egypt will become desolate and a ruin. Then they will know that I am Yahweh, because the sea monster had said, "The river is mine, for I have made it."
10
Therefore, behold! I am against you and against your river, so I will give the land of Egypt over to desolation and waste, and you will become a wasteland from the Migdol to Syene and the borders of Cush.
11
No man's foot will pass through it, and no wild animal's foot will pass through it. It will not be inhabited for forty years.
12
For I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the midst of uninhabited lands, and its cities in the midst of wasted cities will become a desolation for forty years; then I will scatter Egypt among the nations, and I will disperse them though the lands.
13
For the Lord Yahweh says this: At the end of forty years I will gather Egypt from the peoples among whom they were scattered.
14
I will reverse the captivity of Egypt and bring them back to the region of Pathros, to the land of their origin. Then they will be a lowly kingdom there.
15
It will be the lowliest of the kingdoms, and it will not be lifted up any more among the nations. I will diminish them so they will no longer rule over nations.
16
Egypt will no longer be a reason for confidence for the house of Israel. Instead, it will be a reminder of the iniquity that Israel committed when they turned to Egypt for help. Then they will know that I am the Lord Yahweh.'"
17
Then it came about in the twenty-seventh year on the first of the first month, that the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
18
"Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon stationed his army to do hard work against Tyre. Every head was rubbed until it was made bald, and every shoulder was made raw. Yet he and his army received no payment from Tyre for the hard work that he carried out against it.
19
Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this, 'Behold! I am giving the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and he will capture its loot, steal its plunder, and carry off all he finds there; that will be his army's wages.
20
I have given him the land of Egypt as the wages for the work they did for me—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.
21
On that day I will make a horn sprout up for the house of Israel, and I will make you speak in their midst, so that they will know that I am Yahweh.'"
Chapter 30
1
The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2
"Son of man, prophesy and say, 'The Lord Yahweh says this:
Wail, "Woe is the coming day."
3
The day is near.
The day is near for Yahweh.
It will be a day of clouds
a time of doom for nations.
4
Then a sword will come against Egypt,
and there will be anguish in Cush
when the killed people fall in Egypt—
when they take her wealth,
and when her foundations are ruined.
5
Cush and Put, Lydia and all Arabia, and Libya, together with the people belonging to the covenant—they will all fall by the sword.
6
Yahweh says this:
So the ones who support Egypt will fall,
and the pride of her strength will go down.
From Migdol to Syene their soldiers will fall by the sword—
this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.
7
They will be appalled in the midst of the abandoned lands,
and their cities will be among all the ruined cities.
8
Then they will know that I am Yahweh,
when I set fire in Egypt,
and when all of her helpers are destroyed.
9
In that day messengers will go out from before me in ships to terrorize a secure Cush, and there will be anguish among them on the day of Egypt's doom. For behold! It is coming.
10
The Lord Yahweh says this: I will make an end of the multitudes of Egypt by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon.
11
He and his army with him, the terror of nations, will be brought to destroy the land; they will draw out their swords against Egypt and fill the land with those who have been killed.
12
I will make the rivers into dry ground, and I will sell the land into the hand of wicked men. I will make the land and its fullness desolate by the hand of strangers—I, Yahweh, have spoken.
13
The Lord Yahweh says this: I will destroy idols, and I will bring an end to the worthless idols of Memphis. There will no longer be a prince in the land of Egypt, and I will put fear on the land of Egypt.
14
Then I will make Pathros desolate and set fire in Zoan, and I will execute acts of judgment on Thebes.
15
For I will pour out my fury on Pelusium, the stronghold of Egypt, and cut off the multitude of Thebes.
16
Then I will set fire in Egypt; Pelusium will be in great agony, Thebes will be broken up, and Memphis will face enemies every day.
17
The young men in Heliopolis and Bubastis will fall by the sword, and their cities will go into captivity.
18
In Tahpanhes, the day will become dark when I break the yoke of Egypt there, and the pride of her strength will be finished. There will be a cloud covering her, and her daughters will walk into captivity.
19
I will execute acts of judgment in Egypt, so they will know that I am Yahweh.'"
20
Then it came about in the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, that the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
21
"Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Behold! It has not been bound up for healing or set with a splint so that it can become strong enough to grasp a sword.
22
Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this, 'Behold, I am against Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. For I will break his arm, both the strong one and the broken one, and I will make the sword fall from his hand.
23
Then I will scatter Egypt among the nations and disperse them among the lands.
24
I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and place my sword in his hand so that I might destroy Pharaoh's arms. He will groan before the king of Babylon with the groans of a dying man.
25
For I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, while Pharaoh's arms will fall. Then they will know that I am Yahweh, when I put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon; for he will attack the land of Egypt with it.
26
So I will scatter Egypt among the nations and disperse them through the lands. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.'"
Chapter 31
1
Then it came about in the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the month, that the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2
"Son of man, say to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and to his multitudes around him,
'In your greatness, who are you like?
3
Behold! Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon with beautiful branches,
giving shade to the forest,
and the tallest in height,
and the branches formed its treetop.
4
Many waters made it tall;
the deep waters made it huge.
Rivers flowed all around the place where it was planted,
for their channels stretched out to all the trees in the field.
5
Its great height was more than any of the other trees in the field,
and its branches became very many;
its branches grew long
because of many waters as they grew.
6
Every bird of the heavens
nested in its branches,
while every living thing of the field
gave birth to its young under its foliage.
All of the many nations
lived under its shade.
7
For it was beautiful in its greatness
and the length of its branches,
for its roots were in many waters.
8
Cedars in the garden of God could not equal it.
None among the cypress trees matched its branches,
and the plane tree could not equal its boughs.
There was no other tree in the garden of God
that was like it in its beauty.
9
I made it beautiful with its many branches
and all the trees of Eden that were in the garden of God envied it.
10
Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this: Because it was tall in height, and it set its treetop between its branches, it lifted up its heart because of its height.
11
I have given it into the hand of a mighty one of the nations, to deal with it according to what its wickedness deserves. I have thrown it out.
12
Foreigners who were the terror of all the nations cut it off and left it to die. Its branches fell on the mountains and all the valleys, and its boughs lay broken in all the ravines of the land. Then all the nations on earth came out from under its shade and they went away from it.
13
All the birds of the sky rested on the trunk of the fallen tree and every animal of the field came to its branches.
14
This happened so that no other trees that grow by the waters will lift up their foliage to the height of the tallest trees, and that no other trees that grow beside the waters will reach up to that height. All of them have been assigned to death, to the earth below, among the children of humanity, with those that go down to the pit.
15
The Lord Yahweh says this: On the day when the cedar went down to Sheol I brought mourning to the earth. I covered the deep waters over it, and I held back the ocean waters. I kept back the great waters, and I brought mourning to Lebanon for him. So all the trees of the field mourned because of it.
16
I brought shuddering to the nations at the sound of its downfall, when I threw it down to Sheol with those who went down into the pit. So I comforted all the trees of Eden in the lowest parts of the earth. These had been the choicest and best trees of Lebanon; the trees that drank the waters.
17
For they also went down with it to Sheol, to the ones who had been killed by the sword. These were its strong arm, those nations who had lived in its shade.
18
Which of the trees in Eden was your equal in glory and greatness? For you will be brought down with the trees of Eden to the lowest parts of the earth among the uncircumcised; you will lie down with those who were killed by the sword.'
This is Pharaoh and all of his multitudes—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration."
Chapter 32
1
Then it happened in the twelfth month of the twelfth year, on the first of the month, that the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2
"Son of man, lift up a lament concerning Pharaoh the king of Egypt; say to him,
'You are like a young lion among the nations,
but you are like a monster in the seas;
you churn up the water,
you stir up the waters with your feet and muddy their waters.
3
The Lord Yahweh says this:
So I will spread my net over you in the assembly of many peoples,
and they will lift you up in my net.
4
I will abandon you in the land.
I will throw you into a field
and cause all the birds of the heavens to settle on you;
the hunger of all living animals on earth will be satisfied by you.
5
For I will put your flesh on the mountains,
and I will fill the valleys with your worm-filled corpse.
6
Then I will pour your blood over the mountains,
and the stream beds will be filled with your blood.
7
Then when I extinguish you,
I will cover the heavens and darken their stars;
I will cover the sun with clouds,
and the moon will not shine its light.
8
All the shining lights in the heavens
I will darken over you,
and I will put darkness over your land—
this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.
9
So I will terrify the heart of many peoples in lands that you do not know, when I bring about your destruction among the nations, among lands that you have not known.
10
I will shock many peoples concerning you; their kings will bristle in horror concerning you when I swing my sword before them. Every moment each one will tremble because of you, on the day of your ruin.
11
For the Lord Yahweh says this: The sword of the king of Babylon will come against you.
12
I will cause your multitudes to fall by warriors' swords—
each warrior a terror of nations.
These warriors will devastate the pride of Egypt
and destroy all of its multitudes.
13
For I will destroy all the cattle from beside the plentiful waters;
the foot of man will no longer stir the waters up,
neither will the hooves of cattle stir them.
14
Then I will calm their waters
and make their rivers run like oil—
this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.
15
When I make the land of Egypt a desolation,
when the land is made desolate of all its fullness,
when I attack all the inhabitants in her,
they will know that I am Yahweh.
16
There will be a lament; the daughters of the nations will lament over her; they will lament over Egypt, over all her multitudes they will lament—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'"
17
Then it happened in the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month, that the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
18
"Son of man, weep for the multitudes of Egypt and bring them down—her and the daughters of majestic nations—to the lowest earth with those who have gone down to the pit.
19
'Are you really more beautiful than anyone else?
Go down and lie down with the uncircumcised.'
20
They will fall among those who were killed by the sword. The sword has been drawn! She has been given to the sword; they will seize her and her multitudes.
21
The strongest of the warriors in Sheol will declare about Egypt and her allies, 'They have come down here! They will lie down with the uncircumcised, with those who were killed by the sword.'
22
Assyria is there with all her assembly. Her graves surround her; all of them were killed by the sword.
23
Those whose graves are set in the recesses of the pit are there, with all her assembly. Her graves surround all of those who were killed, who fell by the sword, those who brought terror on the land of the living.
24
Elam is there with all her multitudes. Her graves surround her; all of them were killed— those who fell by the sword, who have gone down uncircumcised to the lowest parts of the earth, who brought their terrors on the land of the living and who carry their own shame, together with the ones going down to the pit.
25
Among those who were killed, they have made a bed for her, with her multitude all around her grave. All of them are uncircumcised, pierced by the sword, because they had brought their terrors on the land of the living. So they carry their shame with those who go down to the pit; they are laid among those who were killed.
26
Meshech, Tubal, and all their multitudes are there! Their graves surround them. All of them are uncircumcised, killed by the sword, because they had brought their terrors on the land of the living.
27
They do not lie down with the fallen warriors of the uncircumcised who have gone down to Sheol with all their weapons of war, and with their swords placed under their heads and their iniquities over their bones. For they were the terror of warriors in the land of the living.
28
So you, Egypt, will be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised! You will lie alongside those who were pierced by the sword.
29
Edom is there with her kings and all her leaders. They have been placed in their strength with those killed by the sword. With the uncircumcised they lie, with those who have gone down to the pit.
30
The princes of the north are there—all of them and all the Sidonians who went down with the ones who had been pierced. They were powerful and terrorized others, but now they lie down there in shame, uncircumcised with those who were pierced by the sword. They carry their own shame, together with the ones going down to the pit.
31
Pharaoh will look and be comforted about all his multitudes who were pierced by the sword—Pharaoh and all his army—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.
32
I put him as my terrifying one in the land of the living, but he will be laid down in the midst of the uncircumcised, among those pierced by the sword, Pharaoh and all his multitudes—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration."
Chapter 33
1
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2
"Son of man, declare this to your people; say to them, 'When I bring a sword against any land, then the people of that land take one man from among themselves and make him a watchman for them.
3
He looks for the sword as it comes on the land, and he blows his horn to warn the people!
4
If the people hear the sound of the horn but do not pay attention, and if the sword comes and kills them, then each one's blood is on his own head.
5
If someone hears the sound of the horn and pays no attention, his blood is on him; but if he pays attention, he will save his own life.
6
"However, if the watchman sees the sword as it is coming, but if he does not blow the horn, with the result that the people are not warned, and if the sword comes and takes anyone's life, then that person dies in his own iniquity, but I will require his blood from the watchman.'
7
"Now you yourself, son of man! I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; you will hear the words from my mouth and warn them on my behalf.
8
If I say to a wicked person, 'Wicked one, you will surely die!' but if you do not announce this so as to warn the wicked about his way, then he who is wicked will die in his iniquity, but I will require his blood from your hand!
9
But you, if you warn the wicked about his way, so that he might turn back from it, and if he does not turn back from his way, then he will die in his iniquity, but you yourself will have saved your own life.
10
"So you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, 'You are saying this, "Our transgressions and our sins are on us, and we are rotting away in them! How can we live?"'
11
Say to them, 'As I live—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—I do not delight in the death of the wicked, for if the wicked repents from his way, then he will live! Repent! Repent from your wicked ways! For why should you die, house of Israel?'
12
So now you, son of man, say to your people, 'The righteousness of a righteous person will not save him if he sins! The wickedness of a wicked person will not cause him to perish if he repents from his wickedness! For the righteous person will not be able to live because of his righteousness if he sins.
13
If I say to the righteous, "He will surely live!" and if he trusts in his righteousness and then commits injustice, I will not call to mind any of his righteousness. He will die for the wickedness he committed.
14
So if I say to the wicked, "You will surely die," but if he then repents from his sins and does what is just and right—
15
if he restores the loan guarantee that he wickedly demanded, or if he makes restitution for what he has stolen, and if he walks in the statutes that give life and no longer commits injustice—then he will surely live. He will not die.
16
None of the sins that he has committed will be called to mind for him. He has done justice and righteousness, and so, he will surely live!
17
'But your people say, "The way of the Lord is not fair!" but it is your ways that are not fair!
18
When the righteous person turns away from his righteousness and commits injustice, then he will die in it!
19
When the wicked turns away from his wickedness and does what is just and righteous, he will live because of those things!
20
But you people say, "The way of the Lord is not fair!" I will judge each of you according to his way, house of Israel!'"
21
It happened in the twelfth year, on the fifth day of the tenth month of our captivity, that a fugitive came to me from Jerusalem and said, "The city has been captured!"
22
The hand of Yahweh had been on me in the evening before the fugitive came, and my mouth was opened by the time that he came to me in the dawn. So my mouth was open; I was no longer mute!
23
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
24
"Son of man, the ones inhabiting those ruins in the land of Israel are talking and say, 'Abraham was only one person, and he inherited the land, but we are many! The land has been given to us as a possession.'
25
Therefore say to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: You eat blood, and you lift up your eyes towards your idols, then you pour out people's blood. Should you really possess the land?
26
You have depended on your swords and have done abominations; each man defiles his neighbor's wife. Should you really possess the land?'
27
You will say this to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: As I live, surely the ones in the ruins will fall by the sword, and I will give those in the fields to the living creatures as food, and those in fortresses and in caves will die of plagues.
28
Then I will turn the land into a desolation and a horror, and the pride of its might will end, for the mountains of Israel will be deserted, and there will be no one to pass through them.'
29
So they will know that I am Yahweh, when I make the land a desolation and a waste because of all the abominations that they have done.
30
"So now you, son of man—your people are saying things about you beside the walls and the gates of the houses, and each says to one another—each man to his brother, 'Let us go and listen to the prophet's word that comes out from Yahweh!'
31
So my people will come to you, as they often do, and will sit in front of you and listen to your words, but they will not obey them. Right words are in their mouths, but their hearts are going after unjust profit.
32
For you are like a lovely song to them, a beautiful sound that is well played on a stringed instrument, so they will listen to your words, but none of them will obey them.
33
So when all of this happens—behold! it will happen!—then they will know that a prophet has been among them."
Chapter 34
1
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2
"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this to the shepherds: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who are shepherding themselves. Should not shepherds guard the flock?
3
You eat the fatty portions and you clothe yourselves in wool. You slaughter the fatlings of the flock. You do not shepherd at all.
4
You have not strengthened those who are weak, nor do you heal the ones who are ill. You do not bind up the ones who are broken, and you do not restore the outcasts or seek the lost. Instead, you rule over them through strength and violence.
5
Then they were scattered without a shepherd, and they became food for all the living beasts in the fields, after they were scattered.
6
My flock strays on all of the mountains and on every high hill, and it is dispersed over the entire surface of the earth. Yet no one is searching for them.
7
Therefore, shepherds, hear the word of Yahweh:
8
As I live—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—because my flock has become plunder and food for all the beasts in the fields, because there was no shepherd and none of my shepherds sought my flock, but the shepherds guarded themselves and did not shepherd my flock.
9
Therefore, shepherds, hear the word of Yahweh:
10
The Lord Yahweh says this: Behold! I am against the shepherds, and I will require my flock from their hand. Then I will dismiss them from shepherding the flock; neither will the shepherds any longer shepherd themselves since I will take away my flock from their mouths, so that my flock will no longer be food for them.
11
For the Lord Yahweh says this: Behold! I myself will seek out my flock and I will look after them,
12
like a shepherd seeking his flock on the day he is within the midst of his scattered flock. Thus I will seek my flock, and I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on the day of clouds and darkness.
13
Then I will bring them out from among the peoples; I will gather them from the lands and bring them to their land. I will put them in pastures on the mountainsides of Israel, by the streams, and in every settlement in the land.
14
I will put them in good pastures; the high mountains of Israel will be their grazing places. They will lie down there in good places for grazing, in abundant pastures, and they will graze on the mountains of Israel.
15
I myself will shepherd my flock, and I myself will make them lie down—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—
16
I will seek the lost and restore the outcast. I will bind up the broken sheep and heal the sick sheep, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd with justice.
17
So now you, my flock—this is what the Lord Yahweh says—behold, I will be a judge between sheep and sheep and between rams and male goats.
18
Is it not enough to feed on the good pasture, that you must trample down with your feet what is left of the pasture; and to drink from clear waters, that you must muddy the rivers with your feet?
19
Must my sheep eat what you have trampled with your feet, and drink what you have muddied with your feet?
20
Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this to them: Behold! I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the thin ones,
21
for you have pushed them with your sides and shoulders, and you have gored all of the weak ones with your horns until you have scattered them away from the land.
22
I will save my flock and they will no longer be plunder, and I will judge between one sheep and another!
23
I will set over them one shepherd, my servant David. He will shepherd them, he will feed them, and he will be their shepherd.
24
For I, Yahweh, will be their God, and my servant David will be a prince among them—I, Yahweh, have declared this.
25
Then I will make a covenant of peace with them and remove the evil wild animals from the land, so that they will live securely in the wilderness and safely sleep in the forests.
26
I will also bring blessings on them and on the places around my hill, for I will send out showers in due season. These will be showers of blessing.
27
Then the trees of the field will produce their fruit, and the earth will yield its produce. My sheep will be secure in their land; then they will know that I am Yahweh, when I break the bars of their yoke, and when I rescue them from the hand of those who enslaved them.
28
They will no longer be plunder for the nations, and the wild animals on the earth will no longer devour them. For they will live securely, and no one will frighten them.
29
For I will provide them a renowned plantation; so they will not be victims of famine in the land, and they will not bear the insults of the nations.
30
Then they will know that I, Yahweh their God, am with them. They are my people, the house of Israel—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.
31
For you are my sheep, the flock of my pasture, and my people, and I am your God—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'"
Chapter 35
1
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2
"Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir and prophesy against it.
3
Say to it, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Behold! I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will strike you with my hand and make you a desolation and a waste.
4
I will make your cities ruins, and you yourself will become desolate; then you will know that I am Yahweh.
5
Because you have always been hostile to the people of Israel, and because you poured them out into the hands of the sword at the time of their distress, at the time their punishment was at its greatest.
6
Therefore, as I live—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—I will prepare you for bloodshed, and bloodshed will pursue you! Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you.
7
I will make Mount Seir a complete desolation when I cut off from it anyone who passes through and returns again.
8
I will fill its mountains with those who were killed; on your high hills and valleys and in all your streams those who were killed by the sword will fall.
9
I will make you a perpetual desolation. Your cities will not be inhabited, but you will know that I am Yahweh.
10
You have said, "These two nations and these two lands will become mine, and we will possess them," even when Yahweh was present with them.
11
Therefore, as I live—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—so I will do according to your anger and according to your jealousy that you had in your hatred of Israel, and I will show myself to them when I judge you.
12
So you will know that I am Yahweh. I have heard all the insults you spoke against the mountains of Israel, when you said, "They have been destroyed; they have been given over to us to devour."
13
You exalted yourselves against me with what you said, and you multiplied the words you said against me; and I heard it all.
14
The Lord Yahweh says this: I will make you a desolation, while the entire earth rejoices.
15
As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the people of Israel because of its desolation, I will do the same to you. You will become a desolation, Mount Seir, and all of Edom—all of it! Then they will know that I am Yahweh.'"
Chapter 36
1
"Now you, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say, 'Mountains of Israel, listen to the word of Yahweh.
2
The Lord Yahweh says this: The enemy has said about you, "Aha!" and "The ancient high places have become our possession."'
3
Therefore prophesy and say, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Because of your desolation and because of the attacks that came on you from all sides, you have become a possession of the other nations; you have been the subject of slanderous lips and tongues, and of people's stories.
4
Therefore, mountains of Israel, listen to the word of the Lord Yahweh: The Lord Yahweh says this to the mountains and the high hills, to the streambeds and valleys, to the uninhabited desolations and the abandoned cities that have become plunder and a subject of mocking for the other nations that surround them—
5
therefore the Lord Yahweh says this: I have certainly spoken in the fire of my zeal against the other nations, against Edom and all who took my land for themselves as a possession, against all those who had both joy in their heart and contempt in their spirit, as they seized my land that they might claim its pasturelands for themselves.'
6
Therefore, prophesy to the land of Israel and say to the mountains and to the high hills, to the streambeds and to the valleys, 'the Lord Yahweh says this: Behold! In my zeal and in my anger I am declaring this because you have borne the insults of nations.
7
Therefore, the Lord Yahweh says this: I myself will lift up my hand to swear that the nations that surround you will certainly carry their own shame.
8
But you, mountains of Israel, you will grow branches and bear fruit for my people Israel, since they will soon come back to you.
9
For behold, I am for you, and I treat you with favor; you will be plowed and sown with seed.
10
So I will multiply upon you the number of your people, even the whole house of Israel. The cities will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt.
11
I will multiply men and animals on you mountains so that they will multiply and be fruitful. Then I will cause you to be inhabited as you previously were, and I will do you more good than in the past, for you will know that I am Yahweh.
12
I will bring men, my people Israel, to walk on you. They will possess you, and you will be their inheritance, and you will no longer cause their children to die.
13
The Lord Yahweh says this: Because they are saying to you, "You devour men, bereaving your nation of children,"
14
therefore you will not consume people any longer, and you will no longer make your nation mourn their deaths. This is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.
15
Nor will I allow you to hear the insults of the nations any longer; you will no longer have to suffer the scorn of the peoples or cause your nation to fall—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'"
16
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
17
"Son of man, when the house of Israel inhabited their land, they defiled it with their ways and their deeds. Their ways were like the uncleanness of the impurity before me.
18
So I poured out my fury against them for the blood that they poured out on the land and for their pollution of it by their idols.
19
I scattered them among the nations; they were dispersed through the lands. I judged them according to their ways and their deeds.
20
Then they went to the nations, and wherever they went, they profaned my holy name when people said of them, 'Are these really the people of Yahweh? For they have been thrown out of his land.'
21
But I had compassion for my holy name that the house of Israel had defiled among the nations, when they went there.
22
Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: I am not doing this for your sake, house of Israel, but for my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations everywhere you have gone.
23
For I will make my great name holy, which you have profaned among the nations—in the midst of the nations, you profaned it. Then the nations will know that I am Yahweh—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—when you see that I am holy.
24
I will take you from the nations and gather you from every land, and I will bring you to your land.
25
Then I will sprinkle pure water on you so you will be clean; you will be purified from all of your uncleanness, and I will purify you from all of your idols.
26
I will give you a new heart and a new spirit in your innermost parts, and I will take away the heart of stone from your flesh. For I will give you a heart of flesh.
27
I will set my Spirit in you and enable you to walk in my statutes and keep my decrees, so you will do them.
28
Then you will inhabit the land that I gave to your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
29
For I will save you from all of your uncleanness. I will summon the grain and multiply it. I will no longer put famine upon you.
30
I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field so that you will no longer bear the shame of famine among the nations.
31
Then you will think of your wicked ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will show loathing on your faces because of your own iniquities and your disgusting practicies.
32
I am not doing this for your sake—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—let this be known to you. So be ashamed and disgraced because of your ways, house of Israel.
33
The Lord Yahweh says this: On the day that I purify you from all your iniquity, I will cause you to inhabit the cities and to rebuild the ruined places.
34
For you will plow the ruined land until it is no longer a ruin before the eyes of all who pass by.
35
Then they will say, "This land was desolate, but it has become like the garden of Eden; the desolate cities and the uninhabited ruins that were torn down are now fortified and inhabited."
36
Then the other nations around you will know that I am Yahweh, that I built up the ruins and replanted the deserted places. I am Yahweh. I have declared it and I will do it.
37
The Lord Yahweh says this: Again I will be asked by the house of Israel to do this for them, to increase them like a flock of people.
38
Like the flock is set apart for sacrifices, like the flock in Jerusalem at her appointed feasts, so will the ruined cities be filled with flocks of people and they will know that I am Yahweh.'"
Chapter 37
1
The hand of Yahweh was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of Yahweh and set me down in the midst of a valley; it was full of bones.
2
Then he made me pass through them round and round. Behold! A great many of them were in the valley. Behold! They were very dry.
3
He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live again?" So I said, "Lord Yahweh, you alone know."
4
Then he said to me, "Prophesy over these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones. Listen to the word of Yahweh.
5
The Lord Yahweh says this to these bones: Behold! I am about to put breath into you, and you will live.
6
I will place sinews over you and bring flesh onto you. I will cover you with skin and put breath within you so you will live. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.'"
7
So I prophesied as I was commanded; as I prophesied, behold, a sound came, that of shaking. Then the bones drew together—bone against bone.
8
I looked and, behold, sinews were now on them, and flesh grew up and skin covered them. But there was still no breath in them.
9
Then Yahweh said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Breath, come from the four winds, and breathe on these who have been killed, so they may live.'"
10
So I prophesied as I was commanded; the breath came into them and they lived. Then they stood on their feet, a very great army.
11
Then Yahweh said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the entire house of Israel. Behold! They are saying, 'Our bones have dried up, and our hope is gone. We have been cut off.'
12
Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Behold! I will open your graves and lift you out from them, my people. I will bring you back to the land of Israel.
13
Then you will know that I am Yahweh, when I open your graves and bring you out from them, my people.
14
I will place my Spirit within you so you will live, and I will cause you to rest in your land when you know that I am Yahweh. I declare and will do it—this is Yahweh's declaration.'"
15
Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
16
"So now you, son of man, take one stick for yourself and write on it, 'For Judah and for the people of Israel, his companions.' Then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph, the branch of Ephraim, and for all the people of Israel, their companions.'
17
Bring both of them together into one stick, so that they become one in your hand.
18
When your people speak to you and say, 'Will you not tell us what these things of yours mean?'
19
then say to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Behold! I am taking the branch of Joseph that is in the hand of Ephraim and the tribes of Israel his companions and joining it to the branch of Judah, so that they will make one branch, and they will become one in my hand.'
20
Hold in your hand the branches that you wrote on before their eyes.
21
Declare to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Behold! I am about to take the people of Israel from among the nations where they went. I will gather them from the surrounding lands and I will bring them to their land.
22
I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel, and there will be one king as king over all of them, and they will no longer be two nations. They will no longer be divided into two kingdoms.
23
Then they will no longer defile themselves with their idols, their disgusting things, or any of their other sins. For I will save them from all of their faithless actions with which they have sinned, and I will purify them, so they will be my people and I will be their God.
24
David my servant will be king over them. So there will be one shepherd over them all, and they will walk according to my decrees and they will keep my statutes and obey them.
25
They will live in the land that I have given to my servant Jacob, where your fathers had stayed. They will live in it forever—they, their children, and their grandchildren, for David my servant will be their chief forever.
26
I will establish a covenant of peace with them. It will be an everlasting covenant with them. I will establish them and multiply them and set my holy place in their midst forever.
27
My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.
28
Then the nations will know that I am Yahweh who sets Israel apart, when my holy place is among them forever.'"
Chapter 38
1
The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2
"Son of man, set your face toward Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; and prophesy against him.
3
Say, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Behold! I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.
4
So I will turn you around and set hooks in your jaw; I will send you out with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all of them dressed in full armor, a great company with large shields and small shields, all of them holding swords!
5
Persia, Cush, and Libya are with them, all of them with shields and helmets!
6
Gomer and all her troops, and Beth Togarmah, from the far parts of the north, and all its troops! Many peoples are with you!
7
Get ready! Yes, prepare yourself and your troops assembled with you, and be their commander.
8
You will be called after many days, and after some years you will go to a land that has recovered from the sword and that has been gathered from many peoples, gathered back to the mountains of Israel that had been a continuous ruin. But the land's people will be brought out of the peoples, and they will live in safety, all of them!
9
So you will go up as a storm goes; you will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your troops, all the many soldiers with you.
10
The Lord Yahweh says this: It will happen on that day that plans will form in your heart, and you will devise wicked schemes.'
11
Then you will say, 'I will go up to the open land; I will go to the quiet people living in safety, all of them living where there are no walls or bars, and where there are no city gates.
12
I will capture booty and steal plunder, in order to bring my hand against the ruins that are newly inhabited, and against the people gathered from the nations, people who are gaining livestock and property, and who are living at the center of the earth.'
13
Sheba and Dedan, and the traders of Tarshish along with all its young warriors will say to you, 'Have you come to take booty? Have you assembled your company to take away plunder, to carry off silver and gold, to take their livestock and property and to haul away much plunder?'
14
Therefore prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: On that day, when my people Israel are living securely, will you not learn about them?
15
You will come from your place far away in the north with a great army, all of them riding on horses, a great company, a large army.
16
You will attack my people Israel like a cloud that covers the land. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, so the nations might know me when I show myself through you, Gog, to be holy before their eyes.
17
The Lord Yahweh says this: Are you not the one of whom I spoke in former days by the hand of my servants, the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in their own time for years that I would bring you against them?
18
So it will come to be in that day when Gog attacks the land of Israel—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—my wrath will mount up in my anger.
19
In my zeal and in the fire of my anger, I declare that on that day there will be a great earthquake in the land of Israel.
20
They will shake before me—the fish of the sea and the birds of the skies, the beasts of the fields, and all the creatures that crawl on the earth, and every person who is on the surface of the land. The mountains will be thrown down and the cliffs will fall, until every wall falls to the earth.
21
I will summon a sword against him on all my mountains—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—each man's sword will be against his brother.
22
With plague and blood I will enter into judgment with him, and I will rain on him and on his troops—and on the many nations with him—a torrential downpour and hailstones, fire and sulfur.
23
For I will show my greatness and my holiness and I will make myself known in the eyes of the many nations, and they will know that I am Yahweh.'"
Chapter 39
1
"Now you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Behold! I am against you, Gog, chief of Meshech and Tubal.
2
I will turn you and lead you on; I will bring you up from the far north and bring you to the mountains of Israel.
3
Then I will knock your bow out of your left hand and make the arrows fall from your right hand.
4
You will fall on the mountains of Israel—you and all your troops and the soldiers who are with you. I will give you to the birds of prey and the wild beasts of the fields for food.
5
You will fall on the open field, for I myself declare it—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.
6
Then I will send out fire on Magog and on those living in safety on the coasts, and they will know that I am Yahweh.
7
For I will make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel, and I will no longer allow my holy name to be profaned; the nations will know that I am Yahweh, the Holy One in Israel.
8
Behold! The day is coming, and it will take place—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.
9
The ones living in the cities of Israel will go out and they will use weapons to kindle and make fires and burn them—small shields, large shields, bows, arrows, the clubs and spears; they will make fires with them for seven years.
10
They will not gather wood from the fields or cut down trees from the forests, since they will kindle fires with the weapons; they will take from those who wanted to take from them; they will plunder those who wanted to plunder them—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration."
11
Then it will happen on that day that I will make a place there for Gog—a grave in Israel, a valley for those who journey to the east of the sea. It will block those who wish to cross over. There they will bury Gog with all his multitudes. They will call it the Valley of Hamon Gog.
12
For seven months the house of Israel will bury them in order to purify the land.
13
For all the people of the land will bury them; it will be a day of renown for them when I am glorified—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.
14
Then they will designate men to continually go through the land, to find those who were traveling through, but who died and their bodies remained on the surface of the land, so that they may bury them, in order to cleanse the land. At the end of the seventh month they will begin their search.
15
As these men pass through the land, when they see any human bone, they will put a marker by it, until gravediggers come and bury it in the Valley of Hamon Gog.
16
There will be a city there by the name of Hamonah. In this way they will purify the land.
17
Now to you, son of man, the Lord Yahweh says this: Say to all the winged birds and all the wild beasts in the fields, 'Gather together and come. Gather from all around to the sacrifice that I myself am making for you, a large sacrifice on the mountains of Israel, so that you may consume flesh and drink blood.
18
You will consume the flesh of warriors and drink the blood of the princes of the earth; they will be rams, lambs, goats, and bulls, they were all fattened in Bashan.
19
Then you will eat fat to your satisfaction; you will drink blood until you become drunk; this will be the sacrifice that I will slaughter for you.
20
You will be satisfied at my table with horse, chariot, warrior, and every man of war—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'
21
I will set my glory among the nations, and all the nations will see my judgment that I perform and my hand that I have set against them.
22
The house of Israel will know that I am Yahweh their God from that day onward.
23
The nations will know that the house of Israel went into captivity because of their iniquity by which they betrayed me, so I hid my face from them and gave them into the hand of their adversaries so that all of them fell by the sword.
24
I did to them according to their uncleanness and their sins, when I hid my face from them.
25
Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this: Now I will reverse the captivity of Jacob, and I will have compassion on all the house of Israel, when I act with zeal for my holy name.
26
Then they will bear their shame and all the treachery by which they betrayed me. They will forget all this when they rest in their land in safety, with no one to terrify them.
27
When I restore them from the peoples and gather them from the lands of their enemies, I will show myself to be holy in the sight of many nations.
28
Then they will know that I am Yahweh their God, for I sent them into captivity among the nations, but then I will gather them back to their land. I will not leave any of them among the nations.
29
I will no longer hide my face from them when I pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration."
Chapter 40
1
In the twenty-fifth year of our captivity at the beginning of the year on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was captured—on that same day, the hand of Yahweh was upon me and he took me there.
2
In visions from God he brought me to the land of Israel. He brought me to rest on a very high mountain; to the south were what appeared to be buildings of a city.
3
Then he brought me there. Behold, a man! His appearance was like the appearance of bronze. A linen cord and a measuring stick were in his hand, and he stood in the city gate.
4
The man said to me, "Son of man, look with your eyes and listen with your ears, and fix your mind on all that I am revealing to you, for you were brought here so I could reveal them to you. Report everything that you will see to the house of Israel."
5
There was a wall surrounding the temple area. The length of the measuring stick in the man's hand was six long cubits. Each long cubit was a cubit and a handbreadth in length. So he measured the wall, and it was one measuring stick thick and one measuring stick high.
6
Then he went to the temple gate that faced east. He went up its steps and measured the threshold of the gate—one stick in depth.
7
The guard chambers were each one stick in length and one stick in width; there were five cubits between any two of the chambers, and the threshold of the temple gate by the temple portico was one stick deep.
8
He measured the portico of the gate; it was one stick in length.
9
He measured the portico of the gate. It was one stick deep. The doorposts were two cubits in width. This was the portico of the gate facing the temple.
10
There were three guard chambers on either side of the east gate, and each of them had the same measurement, and the walls that separated them had the same measurement.
11
Then the man measured the width of the gateway entrance—ten cubits; and he measured the length of the gateway entrance—thirteen cubits.
12
He measured the wall that was bordering the front of the chambers—one cubit high. The chambers measured six cubits on each side.
13
Then he measured the gateway from the roof of one chamber to that of the next chamber—twenty-five cubits, from the entrance of the first chamber to that of the second.
14
Then he measured the wall that went between the guard chambers—sixty cubits in length; he measured as far as the gate's portico.
15
The entrance from the front of the gate to the other end of the gate's portico was fifty cubits.
16
There were closed windows toward the chambers and toward their pillars within the gates all around; and it was the same for the porches. There were windows all around the inside, and each jamb was decorated with palm trees.
17
Then the man brought me to the outer courtyard of the temple. Behold, there were rooms, and there was pavement in the courtyard, with thirty rooms next to the pavement.
18
The pavement went up to the side of the gates, and its width was the same as the gates' length. This was the lower pavement.
19
Then the man measured the distance from the front of the lower gate to the front of the inner gate; it was one hundred cubits on the east side, and the same on the north side.
20
Then he measured the length and width of the gate that was at the north of the outer court.
21
There were three chambers on either side of that gate, and the gate and its portico measured the same as the main gate—fifty cubits in total length and twenty-five cubits in width.
22
Its windows, portico, chambers, and its palm trees corresponded to the gate that faced east. Seven steps went up to it and to its portico.
23
There was a gate to the inner courtyard in front of the gate facing north, just as also there was a gate to the east; the man measured from one gate to the other gate—one hundred cubits in distance.
24
Next the man brought me to the gate of the southern entrance, and its walls and portico measured the same as the other outer gates.
25
There were closed windows in the gateway and its portico just as at that gate. The south gate and its portico measured fifty cubits in length and twenty-five cubits in width.
26
There were seven steps up to the gate and its portico, and there were carvings of palm trees on the walls on either side.
27
There was a gate to the inner courtyard on the southern side, and the man measured from that gate to the gate of the south entrance—one hundred cubits in distance.
28
Then the man brought me to the inner courtyard by way of its southern gate, which had the same measurements as the other gates.
29
Its chambers, walls, and porticos measured the same as the other gates; there were windows all around in the portico. The inner gate and its portico measured fifty cubits in length and twenty-five cubits in width.
30
There were also porticos all around the inner wall; these were twenty-five cubits in length and five cubits in width.
31
This portico faced the outer courtyard with carved palm trees on its walls and eight steps going up to it.
32
Then the man brought me to the inner courtyard by the eastern way and measured the gate, which had the same measurements as the other gates.
33
Its chambers, walls, and portico measured the same as the other gates, and there were windows all around. The inner gate and its portico measured fifty cubits in length and twenty-five cubits in width.
34
Its portico faced the outer courtyard; it had palm trees on either side of it and eight steps going up it.
35
Next the man brought me to the northern gate and measured it; it measured the same as the other gates.
36
Its chambers, walls, and portico measured the same as the other gates, and there were windows all around. The gateway and its portico measured fifty cubits in length and twenty-five cubits in width.
37
Its portico faced the outer courtyard; it had palm trees on either side of it and eight steps going up it.
38
There was a room with a door by each of the inner gateways. This was where they rinsed the burnt offerings.
39
There were two tables on each side of each portico, on which the burnt offering was slaughtered, and also the sin offering and the guilt offering.
40
By the wall of the courtyard, going up to the gate to the north, there were two tables. Also on the other side there were two tables at the gate's portico.
41
There were four tables on either side by the gate; they slaughtered animals on the eight tables.
42
There were four tables of cut stone for the burnt offerings, one and a half cubits in length, one and a half cubits in width, and one cubit tall. On them they laid the tools with which they slaughtered the burnt offerings for the sacrifices.
43
Two-pronged hooks a handbreadth in length were fastened in the portico all around, and the flesh of the offerings would be put on the tables.
44
On the outside of the inner gate, within the inner courtyard, were singers' chambers, one on the north side facing south, and the other on the south side facing north.
45
Then the man said to me, "This room facing south is for the priests who are on duty in the temple.
46
The room facing north is for the priests on duty at the altar. These are the sons of Zadok who come near to Yahweh to serve him; they are among the sons of Levi."
47
Next he measured the courtyard—one hundred cubits in length and one hundred cubits in width in a square, with the altar in front of the house.
48
Then the man brought me to the portico of the house and measured its doorposts—they were five cubits thick on either side. The gateway itself was fourteen cubits in width, and the walls on each side of it were three cubits in width.
49
The length of the portico was twenty cubits, and its depth was eleven cubits. There were steps that went up to it and columns that stood on either side of it.
Chapter 41
1
Then the man brought me into the temple's holy place and measured the doorposts—six cubits in width on either side.
2
The width of the doorway was ten cubits; the wall on each side was five cubits in length. Then the man measured the dimensions of the holy place—forty cubits in length and twenty cubits in width.
3
Then the man went into the very holy place and measured the posts of the doorway—two cubits, and the doorway was six cubits in width. The walls on either side were seven cubits in width.
4
Then he measured the room's length—twenty cubits. Its width—twenty cubits to the front of the temple hall. Then he said to me, "This is the most holy place."
5
Then the man measured the wall of the house—it was six cubits thick. The width of each side room around the house was four cubits in width.
6
There were side rooms on three levels, one room above another, thirty rooms on each level. There were ledges around the wall of the house, to support all of the side rooms, for there was no support put in the wall of the house.
7
So the side rooms widened and went around going up, for the house went around higher and higher all around; the rooms widened as the house went up, and a stairway went up to the highest level, through the middle level.
8
Then I saw a raised part all around the house, the foundation for the side chambers; it measured a full stick in height—six cubits.
9
The width of the wall of the side rooms on the outside was five cubits. There was an open space to the outside of these rooms in the sanctuary.
10
On the other side of this open space were the priests' outer side rooms; this space was twenty cubits in width all around the sanctuary.
11
There were doors into the side rooms from another open space—one doorway was on the north side, and the other on the south side. The width of this open area was five cubits all around.
12
The building that faced the courtyard on the west side was seventy cubits in width. Its wall measured five cubits thick all around, and it was ninety cubits in length.
13
Then the man measured the sanctuary—one hundred cubits in length. The separated building, its wall, and the courtyard also measured one hundred cubits in length.
14
The width of the front of the courtyard in front of the sanctuary was also one hundred cubits.
15
Then the man measured the length of the building behind the sanctuary, to its west, and the galleries on either side—one hundred cubits. The holy place and the portico,
16
the inner walls and the windows, including the narrow windows, and the galleries all around on three levels, were all paneled in wood.
17
Above the entryway to the inner sanctuary and spaced along the walls there was a measured pattern.
18
It was decorated with cherubim and palm trees; with a palm tree between each cherub, and each cherub had two faces:
19
the face of a man looked toward a palm tree on one side, and the face of a young lion looked toward a palm tree on the other side. They were carved all around the entire house.
20
From the ground to above the doorway, cherubim and palm trees were carved on the outer wall of the house.
21
The gate posts of the holy place were square. Their appearance was like the appearance of
22
the wooden altar in front of the holy place, which was three cubits high and two cubits in length on each side. Its corner posts, base, and frame were made of wood. Then the man said to me, "This is the table that stands before Yahweh."
23
There were double doors for the holy place and the most holy place.
24
These doors had two hinged door panels each, two panels for one door and two panels for the other.
25
Carved on them—on the doors of the holy place—were cherubim and palm trees just as the walls were decorated, and there was a wooden roof over the portico at the front.
26
There were narrow windows and palm trees on either side of the portico. These were the side rooms of the house, and they also had overhanging roofs.
Chapter 42
1
Next the man sent me out to the outer courtyard on the north side, and he brought me to rooms in front of the outer courtyard and the northern outer wall.
2
Those rooms were one hundred cubits along their front and fifty cubits in width.
3
Some of those rooms faced the inner courtyard and were twenty cubits away from the sanctuary. There were three levels of rooms, and the ones above looked down on the ones below and were open to them, having a walkway. Some of the rooms looked out onto the outer courtyard.
4
A passage ten cubits in width and one hundred cubits in length ran in front of the rooms. The rooms' doors were toward the north.
5
But the upper halls were smaller, for the walkways took away from them more space than they did in the lowest and middle levels of the building.
6
For the halls on the third story had no columns, unlike the courtyards, which did have columns. So the highest level's rooms were smaller in size compared to the rooms in the lowest and middle levels.
7
The outside wall ran along the rooms toward the outer courtyard, the courtyard that was in front of the rooms. That wall was fifty cubits in length.
8
The length of the rooms of the outer courtyard was fifty cubits, and the rooms facing the sanctuary were one hundred cubits in length.
9
There was an entrance to the lowest rooms from the east side, coming from the outer courtyard.
10
Along the wall of the outer courtyard on the eastern side of the outer courtyard, in front of the sanctuary's inner courtyard, there were also rooms
11
with a walkway in front of them. They were as the appearance of the rooms on the northern side. They had the same length and breadth and the same exits and arrangements and doors.
12
On the south side were doors into rooms that were just the same as on the north side. A passage on the inside had a door at its head, and the passage opened into the various rooms. On the east side there was a doorway into the passage at one end.
13
Then the man said to me, "The northern rooms and the southern rooms that are in front of the outer courtyard are holy rooms where the priests who work nearest to Yahweh may eat the most holy food. They will put the most holy things there—the food offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering—for this is a holy place.
14
When the priests enter there, they must not go out of the holy place to the outer court, without laying aside the clothes in which they served, since these are holy. So they must dress in other clothes before going near the people."
15
The man completed measuring the inner house and then took me out to the gate that faced the east and measured all the surrounding area there.
16
He measured the east side with a measuring stick—five hundred cubits with the measuring stick.
17
He measured the north side—five hundred cubits with the measuring stick.
18
He also measured the south side—five hundred cubits with the measuring stick.
19
He also turned and measured the west side—five hundred cubits with the measuring stick.
20
He measured it on four sides. It had a wall around it that was five hundred cubits in length, and five hundred cubits in width, to separate the holy from the profane.
Chapter 43
1
The man then brought me to the gate that opened to the east.
2
Behold! The glory of the God of Israel came from the east; his voice was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory.
3
It was according to the appearance of the vision that I saw, according to the vision that I saw when he had come
to destroy the city, and the visions were like the vision that I saw at the Kebar Canal—and I fell to my face.
4
So the glory of Yahweh came to the house by way of the gate that opened to the east.
5
Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court. Behold! The glory of Yahweh was filling the house.
6
The man was standing beside me, and I heard someone else speaking to me from the house.
7
He said to me, "Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet, where I will live in the midst of the people of Israel forever. The house of Israel will no longer defile my holy name—they or their kings—with their faithlessness or with the corpses of their kings at their high places.
8
They will no longer profane my holy name by putting their threshold next to my threshold, and their gateposts next to my gateposts, with nothing but a wall between me and them. They defiled my holy name with their disgusting practices, so I consumed them with my anger.
9
Now let them remove their faithlessness and the corpses of their kings from before me, and I will live in their midst forever.
10
Son of man, you yourself must tell the house of Israel about this house so they will be ashamed of their iniquities. They should think about this description.
11
For if they are ashamed of all that they have done, then reveal to them the design of the house, its details, its exits, its entrances, and all its designs, all its decrees and rules. Then write this down before their eyes so they will keep to all its design and all its rules, so as to obey them.
12
This is the regulation for the house: From the peak of the hill to all the surrounding border around it, it will be most holy. Behold! This is the law for the house.
13
These will be the measurements of the altar in cubits—that cubit being a regular cubit and a handbreadth in length. So the gutter around the altar will be a cubit deep, and its width will also be a cubit. The border around its surrounding edge will be one span. This will be the base of the altar.
14
From the gutter at the ground level up to the lower ledge of the altar is two cubits, and that ledge itself is one cubit in width. Then from the small ledge up to the large edge of the altar, it is four cubits, and the large edge is a cubit in width.
15
The hearth on the altar for the burnt offerings is four cubits high, and there are four horns pointing upward on the hearth.
16
The hearth is twelve cubits in length and twelve cubits in width, a square.
17
Its border is fourteen cubits in length and fourteen cubits in width on each of its four sides, and its rim is a half cubit in width. The gutter is a cubit in width all around with its steps facing east."
18
Next he said to me, "Son of man, the Lord Yahweh says this: These are the regulations for the altar on the day they make it, for raising the burnt offering onto it, and for sprinkling blood on it.
19
You will give a young bull from the herd as a sin offering for the Levitical priests who are the descendants of Zadok, those who come near to me to serve me—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.
20
Then you will take some of its blood and place it on the altar's four horns and the four sides of its edge and on the surrounding rim; you will cleanse it and make atonement for it.
21
Then take the bull for the sin offering and burn it in the appointed part of the temple area outside of the sanctuary.
22
Then on the second day you will offer a male goat without blemish from the goats as a sin offering; the priests will cleanse the altar just as they cleansed it with the bull.
23
When you finish its cleansing, offer an unblemished bull from the herd and an unblemished ram from the flock.
24
Offer them before Yahweh; the priests will throw salt onto them and raise them up as a burnt offering to Yahweh.
25
You must prepare a male goat as a sin offering daily for seven days, and the priests must also prepare an unblemished bull from the herd and an unblemished ram from the flock.
26
They must atone for the altar for seven days and purify it, and in this way they must consecrate it.
27
They must complete these days, and on the eighth day and onward it will come about that the priests will prepare your burnt offerings and your peace offerings on the altar, and I will accept you—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration."
Chapter 44
1
Then the man brought me back to the outer sanctuary gate that faced east; it was closed tightly.
2
Yahweh said to me, "This gate has been sealed shut; it will not be opened. No man will go through it, for Yahweh, the God of Israel, has come through it, so it has been closed tightly.
3
The ruler of Israel will sit in it to eat food before Yahweh. He will enter by way of the gate's portico and go out the same way."
4
Then he brought me by way of the northern gate to the front of the temple, and I looked, and behold, the glory of Yahweh filled the house of Yahweh, and I fell to my face.
5
Then Yahweh said to me, "Son of man, set your heart and look with your eyes and listen with your ears to all that I am declaring to you, to all the statutes of the house of Yahweh and all its laws. Think about the house's entrance and the sanctuary's exits.
6
Then say to the rebellious ones, the house of Israel, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Let all of your disgusting practices be enough for you, house of Israel—
7
that you brought foreigners with uncircumcised hearts and uncircumcised flesh to be in my sanctuary, profaning my house, while you were offering me food, fat and blood—you have broken my covenant by all your disgusting practices.
8
You have not carried out your duties regarding my holy things, but you appointed others to take up your duties, and you assigned them to care for my holy place.
9
The Lord Yahweh says this: No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart and flesh, from any of those who live among the people of Israel, may enter my holy place.
10
Yet the Levites went far from me—they wandered away from me, going after their idols—but they will pay for their iniquity.
11
They are servants in my sanctuary, watching the gates of the house and serving in the house and they slaughter the burnt offerings and the people's sacrifices, and they will stand before the people and serve them.
12
But because they performed the sacrifices before their idols, they became stumbling blocks for sin for the house of Israel. Therefore I will lift up my hand to swear an oath against them—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—they will bear their punishment.
13
They will not come near me to serve me as priests or to come near any of my holy things, to my most holy things. Instead, they will bear their shame and their disgusting practices that they have done.
14
But I will place them as keepers of the work in the house, for all of its duties and everything that is done in it.
15
Then the Levitical priests and the descendants of Zadok who fulfilled the duties of my sanctuary when the people of Israel were wandering away from me, they will come near to me to minister to me; they will stand before me to offer me the fat and the blood—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.
16
They will come to my sanctuary; they will approach my table to worship me and to fulfill their duties to me.
17
So it will be that when they come to the gates of the inner courtyard, they must be clothed in linen clothes, for they must not come in wool inside the gates of the courtyard and its house.
18
There should be linen turbans on their heads and linen underclothes on their hips. They must not gird themselves in clothes that make them sweat.
19
When they go out to the outer courtyard, to the outer courtyard in order to go to the people, they must take off the clothes they wore when they served; they must take them off and lay them down in a holy room, so they do not make other people holy by contact with their special clothing.
20
Also they must neither shave their heads nor allow their hair to hang loosely, but they must trim the hair of their heads.
21
No priest may drink wine when he comes to the inner court,
22
nor take a widow or a divorced woman as a wife for himself, but only a virgin from the line of the house of Israel or a widow who was previously married to a priest.
23
For they will teach my people the difference between the holy and the profane; they will make them know the unclean from the clean.
24
In a dispute they will stand to judge with my decrees; they must be just. They will keep my law and my statutes in every feast, and they will celebrate my holy Sabbaths.
25
They must not defile themselves by going near to a dead person; however, if the dead person was his father or mother, son or daughter, brother or unmarried sister, then they may defile themselves.
26
After a priest has become unclean, they will count off a period of seven days for him.
27
On the day he enters the holy place, into the inner courtyard to serve in the holy place, he must bring a sin offering for himself—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.
28
This will be their inheritance: I am their inheritance, and you must give them no property in Israel; I will be their property!
29
They will eat the food offerings, the sin offerings, the guilt offerings, and everything devoted to Yahweh in Israel, will be theirs.
30
The best of the firstfruits of all things and every contribution, anything from all of your contributions will belong to the priests, and you will give the first of your dough to the priests so that blessing may rest on your house.
31
The priests will not eat any carcass or animal torn by a wild animal, whether bird or beast.
Chapter 45
1
When you cast lots to divide up the land as an inheritance, you must make an offering to Yahweh; this offering will be a holy part of the land, twenty-five thousand cubits in length, and ten thousand cubits in width. It will be holy, all its area round about.
2
From this there will be a five hundred cubits by five hundred cubits square surrounding the holy place, with a surrounding border fifty cubits in width.
3
From this area you will measure a portion that is twenty-five thousand cubits in length and ten thousand in width; it will be the sanctuary, the most holy place.
4
It will be a holy place in the land for the priests who serve Yahweh, who come near Yahweh to serve him. It will be a place for their houses and a holy area for the holy place.
5
So it will be twenty-five thousand cubits in length and ten thousand in width, and it will be for towns that belong to the Levites who serve in the house.
6
You will designate an area for the city, five thousand cubits in width and twenty-five thousand in length, that will be next to the area reserved for the holy place; this city will belong to all the house of Israel.
7
The prince's land will be on both sides of the area reserved for the holy place and the property of the city. It will be to their west and to their east. The length will correspond to the length of one of those portions, from the west to the east.
8
This land will be property for the prince in Israel. My princes will no longer oppress my people; instead, they will give the land to the house of Israel, for their tribes.
9
The Lord Yahweh says this: It is enough for you, princes of Israel! Remove violence and strife; do justice and righteousness! Quit your evictions of my people!—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.
10
You must have just scales, just ephahs, and just baths!
11
The ephah and the bath will be the same amount, so that a bath will be a tenth of a homer; the ephah will be a tenth of a homer. Their measure will be corresponding to the homer.
12
The shekel will be twenty gerahs; sixty shekels will make a mina for you.
13
This is the contribution that you must present: A sixth of an ephah for every homer of wheat, and you will give a sixth of an ephah for every homer of barley.
14
The regulation offering of oil will be a tenth of a bath for every cor (which is ten baths), or for every homer, since a homer is also ten baths.
15
One sheep or goat will be taken from the flock for every two hundred animals from the well-watered land of Israel. These will be used for the grain offerings, the burnt offerings, and the peace offerings to make atonement for the people—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.
16
All the people of the land will give this contribution to the prince in Israel.
17
It will be the prince's responsibility to furnish animals for the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the drink offerings at the festivals and the new moon celebrations, and on the Sabbath days—all the fixed festivals of the house of Israel. He will provide for the sin offerings, the grain offerings, the burnt offerings, and the peace offerings for atonement on behalf of the house of Israel.
18
The Lord Yahweh says this: In the first month, on the first day of the month, you will take an unblemished bull from the herd and perform a sin offering for the sanctuary.
19
The priest will take some of the blood of the sin offering and place it on the doorposts of the house and on the four corners of the border of the altar, and on the doorposts of the gate to the inner court.
20
You will do this on the seventh of the month for each person's sin by accident or ignorance; in this way you will atone for the temple.
21
In the first month on the fourteenth day of the month, there will be for you the Passover, a seven-day festival. You will eat unleavened bread.
22
On that day, the prince will prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a bull as a sin offering.
23
For the seven days of the festival, the prince will prepare a burnt offering for Yahweh: Seven bulls and seven unblemished rams each day for seven days, and a male goat each day as a sin offering.
24
Then the prince will perform a food offering of an ephah for each bull and an ephah for each ram with a hin of oil for each ephah.
25
In the seventh month on the fifteenth day of the month, at the festival, the prince will perform offerings on these seven days: Sin offerings, burnt offerings, food offerings, and offerings of oil.
Chapter 46
1
The Lord Yahweh says this: The gate of the inner courtyard, facing east, will be shut for the six days of work, but on the Sabbath it will be opened, and on the day of the new moon it will be opened.
2
The prince will enter the outer courtyard by the way of the gate and its portico from outside, and he will stand before the doorposts of the inner gate while the priests perform his burnt offering and peace offering. Then he will worship at the threshold of the inner gate and go out, but the gate will not be shut until evening.
3
The people of the land will also worship before Yahweh at the entrance to this gate on the Sabbaths and new moons.
4
The burnt offering that the prince offers to Yahweh on the Sabbath day will be six unblemished lambs and an unblemished ram.
5
The grain offering with the ram will be an ephah, and the grain offering with the lambs will be what he wishes to give, and a hin of oil with each ephah of grain.
6
On the day of the new moon he must offer an unblemished bull from a herd, six lambs, and an unblemished ram.
7
He must make a grain offering of an ephah for the bull and an ephah for the ram, and what he wishes to give for the lambs, and a hin of oil for every ephah of grain.
8
When the prince enters by the way of the gate and its portico, he must leave by the same way.
9
But when the people of the land come before Yahweh at the appointed festivals, anyone entering through the north gate to worship must leave through the south gate; and anyone entering through the south gate must leave through the north gate. No one may turn back to the gate through which he entered, for he must go out straight ahead.
10
The prince must be in their midst; when they go in, he must go in, and when they leave, he must leave.
11
At the festivals, the grain offering must be an ephah of grain for the bull and an ephah for the ram, and whatever he wishes to give with the lambs, and a hin of oil for every ephah.
12
When the prince gives a freewill offering, either a burnt offering or a peace offering to Yahweh, the gate facing east will be opened for him. He will offer his burnt offering or his peace offering as he does it on the Sabbath day. Then he must go out, and after he has gone out the gate will be shut.
13
In addition, you will give an unblemished lamb one year old as a burnt offering to Yahweh daily; you will do this morning after morning.
14
You will give a grain offering with it morning after morning, a sixth of an ephah and a third of a hin of oil to moisten the flour of the grain offering for Yahweh, according to a permanent statute.
15
They will prepare the lamb, the grain offering, and the oil morning after morning, a permanent burnt offering.
16
The Lord Yahweh says this: If the prince gives a gift to one of his sons, it is his inheritance. It will also belong to his descendants. It is their property by inheritance.
17
But if he gives a gift from his inheritance to one of his servants, then it will be that servant's until the year of liberty, and then it will return to the prince. His inheritance will certainly be for his sons.
18
The prince will not take the people's inheritance, oppressing them by taking their own property; he must provide for his sons from his own property so that my people will not be scattered, each man from his own property.'"
19
Next the man brought me through the entrance at the gate to the holy rooms for the priests, which faced north and behold! There was a place toward the west.
20
He said to me, "This is the place where the priests must boil the guilt offering and the sin offering and where they must bake the grain offering. They must not bring the offerings into the outer courtyard, for then the people would be consecrated."
21
Then he brought me to the outer courtyard and he led me past the four corners of that courtyard, and I saw that in every corner of the courtyard there was another court.
22
In the four corners of the outer courtyard there were four small courtyards, forty cubits in length and thirty in width. The four courtyards were the same size.
23
There was a row made of stone all around the four of them, and cooking hearths were under the stone row.
24
The man said to me, "These are the places where the temple servants will boil the people's sacrifices."
Chapter 47
1
Then the man took me back to the entrance to the temple, and there was water flowing out from under the temple threshold of the house toward the east—for the front of the temple faced east—and the water was flowing down the south side of the temple, to the right of the altar.
2
So he brought me out through the northern gate and led me around to the gate facing east, and there the water was flowing from this gate on its south side.
3
As the man was going toward the east, there was a measuring line in his hand; he measured off one thousand cubits and brought me through the water to ankle-deep water.
4
Then he measured one thousand cubits again and brought me through the water to knee-deep water; and he measured another thousand cubits and brought me to hip-deep water.
5
Next he measured off another thousand cubits, but it was a river that I could not cross through because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—it was a river that could not be crossed.
6
The man said to me, "Son of man, do you see this?" and he brought me out and had me walk back along the riverbank.
7
As I walked back, there the riverbank had many trees on this side and also the other side.
8
The man said to me, "This water is going out to the eastern territory and down to the Arabah; this water flows into the Salt Sea and will make it fresh.
9
It will be that every living creature that swarms will live where the water goes; there will be many fish, for these waters flow there. It will make the salt water fresh. Everything will live wherever the river goes.
10
Then it will happen that fishermen of En Gedi will stand by the water, and there will be a place to dry out the fishing nets by En Eglaim. There will be many kinds of fish in the Salt Sea, like the fish in the Great Sea for their abundance.
11
But the Salt Sea's swamps and marshes will not be made fresh; they will be for providing salt.
12
Beside this river on its banks, on both sides, all kinds of trees will grow that bear food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will never fail to grow. Each month the trees will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves will be for healing.
13
The Lord Yahweh says this: This will be the way that you divide the land up for the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph will have two portions.
14
You are to divide equally what I lifted up my hand and swore to give to your fathers. This land will come to you as an inheritance.
15
This will be the boundary of the land on the north side from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon, and then to Zedad.
16
Then the boundary will go to Berothah, to Sibraim, which is between Damascus and Hamath, and then to Hazer Hattikon, which is beside the boundary of Hauran.
17
So the boundary will go from the sea to Hazar Enan on the border with Damascus and Hamath to the north. This will be the north side.
18
On the east side the boundary will run between Hauran and Damascus, along the Jordan River between Gilead and the land of Israel. You will measure from the border to the eastern sea. This will be the eastern border.
19
Then on the south side the boundary will run from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribah Kadesh, then along the brook of Egypt to the Great Sea. This will be the boundary on the south side.
20
Then the boundary on the west side will be the Great Sea to a point opposite Lebo Hamath. This will be the west side.
21
In this way you will divide this land for yourselves, for the tribes of Israel.
22
So you will distribute the inheritances for yourselves and for the foreigners in your midst, those who have given birth to children in your midst and who are, with you, like the native born people of Israel. You will cast lots for inheritances among the tribes of Israel.
23
Then it will happen that the foreigner will be with the tribe among whom he is living. You must give him an inheritance—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration."
Chapter 48
1
These are the names of the tribes. The tribe of Dan will receive one portion of land; its boundary will run along the northern boundary of Israel by way of Hethlon and Lebo Hamath. Its boundary will go on to Hazar Enan and along the border with Damascus to the north and then on to Hamath. Dan's boundary will go from east all the way to the Great Sea.
2
Adjoining the border of Dan, from the east side to the west, Asher will have one portion.
3
Adjoining the border of Asher from the east side to the west, Naphtali will have one portion.
4
Adjoining the border of Naphtali from the east side to the west, Manasseh will have one portion.
5
Adjoining the border of Manasseh from the east side to the west, Ephraim will have one portion.
6
Adjoining the border of Ephraim from the east side to the west, Reuben will have one portion.
7
Adjoining the border of Reuben from the east side to the west, Judah will have one portion.
8
The offering of land that you will make will be along the border with Judah and extend from the east side to the west side; it will be twenty-five thousand cubits in width. Its length will correspond to one tribe's portion from the east side to the west side, and the sanctuary will be in the middle of it.
9
This land that you will offer up to Yahweh will be twenty-five thousand cubits in length and ten thousand cubits in width.
10
These will be the assignments of this holy portion of land: The priests will have land assigned to them measuring twenty-five thousand cubits in length on the north side; ten thousand cubits in width on the west side; ten thousand cubits in width on the east side; and twenty-five thousand cubits in length on the south side, with the holy place of Yahweh in the middle of it.
11
This will be for the consecration of the priests of the line of Zadok, who have served me faithfully and who did not go astray when the people of Israel went astray, as the Levites did.
12
The offering for them will be a portion of this most holy land, extending to the border of the Levites.
13
The Levites' land along the border with the priests' land will be twenty-five thousand cubits in length and ten thousand cubits in width. The entire length of the two tracts of land will be twenty-five thousand cubits in length and twenty thousand cubits in width.
14
They must not sell it or exchange it; none of this firstfruits of the land of Israel must ever be separated from these tracts, for it all is holy to Yahweh.
15
The remaining land, five thousand cubits in width and twenty-five thousand cubits in length, will be for the collective use of the city, the houses, and the pastureland; the city will be in its midst.
16
These will be the city's measurements: The north side will be 4,500 cubits in length; the south side will be 4,500 cubits in length; the east side will be 4,500 cubits in length; and the west side will be 4,500 cubits in length.
17
There will be pasture for the city toward the north, 250 cubits deep; to the south, 250 cubits deep; to the east, 250 cubits deep, and to the west, 250 cubits deep.
18
The remaining area of the holy offering will stretch for ten thousand cubits to the east and ten thousand cubits to the west. It will stretch along the border of the holy offering, and its produce will be food for those working in the city.
19
The people who work in the city, from all the tribes of Israel, will farm the land.
20
All the land offering will measure twenty-five thousand cubits by twenty-five thousand cubits. In this way you will make the holy offering of land, together with the land for the city.
21
The rest of the land on either side of the holy offering and the city area will be for the prince. The prince's tract of land to the east will extend for twenty-five thousand cubits from boundary of the holy offering to the eastern border—and his tract to the west will extend for twenty-five thousand cubits to the western border. In the middle will be the holy offering, and the holy place of the temple will be in its midst.
22
The land extending from the property of the Levites and the area of the city in its midst will be for the prince; it will be between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin—this land will be for the prince.
23
As for the remaining tribes, their portions will also run from the eastern side to the west side. Benjamin will receive one portion.
24
Adjoining the border of Benjamin from the east side to the west, Simeon will have one portion.
25
Adjoining the border of Simeon from the east side to the west, Issachar will have one portion.
26
Adjoining the border of Issachar from the east side to the west, Zebulun will have one portion.
27
To the south of Zebulun's boundary, running from the east side to the west side, will be the land of Gad—one portion.
28
The southern boundary of Gad will extend from Tamar to the waters of Meribah Kadesh, and farther to the brook of Egypt, and then to the Great Sea.
29
This is the land for which you will cast lots; it will be the inheritance of the tribes of Israel. These will be their portions. This is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.
30
These will be the exits from the city: On the north side, which will measure 4,500 cubits in length,
31
will be three gates, named for tribes of Israel: one gate for Reuben, one gate for Judah, and one gate for Levi.
32
On the east side, which will measure 4,500 cubits in length, will be three gates: one gate for Joseph, one gate for Benjamin, and one gate for Dan.
33
On the south side, which is 4,500 cubits in length, will be three gates: one gate for Simeon, one gate for Issachar, and one gate for Zebulun.
34
On the west side, which will measure 4,500 cubits, will be three gates: one gate for Gad, one gate for Asher, and one gate for Naphtali.
35
The distance around the city will be eighteen thousand cubits; from that day on, the city's name will be "Yahweh Is There."
Daniel
Chapter 1
1
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylonia came to Jerusalem and surrounded the city to cut off all supplies to it.
2
The Lord gave Nebuchadnezzar victory over Jehoiakim king of Judah, and he gave him some of the sacred objects from the house of God. He brought them into the land of Babylonia, to the house of his god, and he placed the sacred objects in his god's treasury.
3
The king spoke to Ashpenaz, his chief official, to bring in some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility—
4
young men without blemish, attractive in appearance, having insight in all wisdom, filled with knowledge and understanding, and qualified to serve in the king's palace. He was to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.
5
The king counted out for them a daily portion of his delicacies and some of the wine that he drank. These young men were to be trained for three years, and after that, they would serve the king.
6
Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, some of the people of Judah.
7
The chief official gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.
8
But Daniel intended in his mind that he would not pollute himself with the king's delicacies or with the wine that he drank. So he asked permission from the chief official that he might not defile himself.
9
Now God gave Daniel favor and compassion through the respect that the chief official had for him.
10
The chief official said to Daniel, "I am afraid of my master the king. He has commanded what food and drink you should have. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men of your own age? The king might have my head because of you."
11
Then Daniel spoke to the steward whom the chief official had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
12
He said, "Please test us, your servants, for ten days. Give us only some vegetables to eat and water to drink.
13
Then compare our appearance with the appearance of the young men who eat the king's delicacies, and treat us, your servants, based on what you see."
14
So the steward agreed with him to do this, and he tested them for ten days.
15
At the end of ten days their appearance was more healthy, and they were better nourished, than all the young men who ate the king's delicacies.
16
So the steward took away their delicacies and their wine and gave them only vegetables.
17
As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and insight in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel could understand all kinds of visions and dreams.
18
At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19
The king spoke with them, and among the whole group there were none to compare with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. They stood before the king, ready to serve him.
20
In every question of wisdom and understanding that the king asked them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and those who claimed to speak with the dead, who were in his entire kingdom.
21
Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.
Chapter 2
1
In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, he had dreams. His mind was troubled, and he could not sleep.
2
Then the king summoned the magicians and those who claimed to speak with the dead. He also called the sorcerers and educated men. He wanted them to tell him his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.
3
The king said to them, "I have had a dream, and my mind is anxious to know what the dream means."
4
Then the educated men spoke to the king in Aramaic, "King, live forever! Tell the dream to us, your servants, and we will reveal the interpretation."
5
The king replied to the educated men, "This matter has been settled. If you do not reveal to me the dream and its interpretation, your bodies will be torn apart and your houses made into rubbish heaps.
6
But if you will tell me the dream and its interpretation, you will receive gifts from me, a reward, and great honor. So tell to me the dream and its interpretation."
7
They replied again and said, "Let the king tell us, his servants, the dream and we will tell you its interpretation."
8
The king answered, "I know for certain that you want more time because you see how firm my decision is about this.
9
But if you do not tell me the dream, there is only one sentence for you. You have decided to prepare false and corrupt words that you agreed together to say to me until I change my mind. So then, tell me the dream, and then I will know that you can tell the interpretation."
10
The educated men replied to the king, "There is not a man on earth able to meet the king's demand. There is no great king or ruler who has demanded such a thing from any magician, or from anyone who claims to speak with the dead, or from an educated man.
11
What the king demands is difficult, and there is no one who can tell it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans."
12
This made the king angry and very furious, and he gave an order to destroy all the wise men in Babylon.
13
So the decree went out to put the wise men to death, and they sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.
14
Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch the commander of the king's bodyguard, who had come to kill all the wise men in Babylon.
15
Daniel asked the king's commander, "Why is the king's decree so urgent?" So Arioch told Daniel what had happened.
16
Then Daniel went in and requested an appointment with the king so that he could present the interpretation to the king.
17
Then Daniel went to his house and explained to his companions Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened.
18
He urged them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery so that Daniel and his friends might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
19
That night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven
20
and Daniel said,
"Praise the name of God forever and ever,
for wisdom and power belong to him.
21
He changes the times and seasons;
he removes kings and places kings on their thrones.
He gives wisdom to wise men
and knowledge to those who have understanding.
22
He reveals the deep and hidden things
because he knows what is in the darkness,
and the light lives with him.
23
God of my ancestors, I thank you and praise you
for the wisdom and power you gave to me.
Now you have made known to me what we asked of you;
you have made known to us the matter that concerns the king."
24
Then Daniel went in to see Arioch (the one the king appointed to kill everyone who was wise in Babylon). He went and said to him, "Do not destroy the wise men in Babylon. Take me to the king and I will show the king the interpretation of his dream."
25
Then Arioch quickly brought in Daniel before the king and said, "I have found among the exiles of Judah a man who will reveal the interpretation of the king's dream."
26
The king said to Daniel (whose name was Belteshazzar), "Are you able to tell me the dream that I saw and its interpretation?"
27
Daniel answered the king and said, "The mystery that the king has asked about cannot be revealed by wise men, nor by those who claim to speak with the dead, nor by magicians, and not by astrologers.
28
Nevertheless, there is a God who lives in the heavens, who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to you, King Nebuchadnezzar, what will happen in the days to come. These were your dream and the visions of your mind as you lay on your bed.
29
As for you, king, your thoughts on your bed were about things to come, and the one who reveals mysteries has made known to you what is about to happen.
30
As for me, this mystery was not revealed to me because of any wisdom that I have more than any other living person. This mystery was revealed to me so that you, king, may understand the interpretation, and so that you may know the thoughts of your mind.
31
King, you looked up and you saw a great statue. This statue, which was large and had exceeding splendor, stood before you. Its brightness was terrifying.
32
The head of the statue was made of fine gold. Its breast and arms were of silver. Its middle and its thighs were made of bronze,
33
and its legs were made of iron. Its feet were made partly of iron and partly of clay.
34
You looked up, and a stone was cut out, although not by human hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and it shattered them.
35
Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold at the same time were broken into pieces and became like the chaff of the threshing floors in the summer. The wind carried them away and there was no trace of them left. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
36
This was the dream. Now we will tell the king the interpretation.
37
You, king, are king of the kings to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength, and the honor.
38
He has given into your hand the place where the human beings live. He has given over the animals of the field and the birds of the heavens into your hand, and he has made you rule over them all. You are the statue's head of gold.
39
After you, another kingdom will arise that is inferior to you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze will rule over all the earth.
40
There will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks other things into pieces and shatters everything. It will shatter all these things and crush them.
41
Just as you saw, the feet and toes were partly made of baked clay and partly made of iron, so it will be a divided kingdom; some of the strength of iron will be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay.
42
As the toes of the feet were partly made of iron and partly made of clay, so the kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle.
43
As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so the people will be a mixture; they will not stay together, just as iron does not mix with clay.
44
In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be conquered by another people. It will break the other kingdoms into pieces and put an end to all of them, and it will remain forever.
45
Just as you saw, a stone was cut out of the mountain, but not by human hands. It broke the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold into pieces. The great God has made known to you, king, what will happen after this. The dream is true and this interpretation is reliable."
46
King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face before Daniel and honored him; he commanded that an offering be made and that incense be offered up to him.
47
The king said to Daniel, "Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and the one who reveals mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery."
48
Then the king made Daniel highly honored and gave him many wonderful gifts. He made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon. Daniel became chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon.
49
Daniel made a request of the king, and the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be administrators over the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king's court.
Chapter 3
1
King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue that was sixty cubits tall and six cubits wide. He set it up in the Plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
2
Then Nebuchadnezzar sent messages out to gather together the provincial governors, regional governors, and local governors, together with the counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the high officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the statue that the king had set up.
3
Then the provincial governors, regional governors, and local governors, together with the counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the high officials of the provinces gathered together to the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. They stood before it.
4
Then a herald loudly shouted, "You are commanded, peoples, nations, and languages,
5
that at the time you hear the sound of the horns, flutes, zithers, lyres, harps, and pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
6
Whoever does not fall down and worship, at that very moment, will be thrown into the middle of a furnace of blazing fire."
7
So when all the peoples heard the sounds of the horns, flutes, zithers, lyres, harps, and pipes, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden statue that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
8
Now at this time certain Chaldeans came and brought accusations against the Jews.
9
They said to Nebuchadnezzar the king, "King, live forever!
10
You, king, have made a decree that every person who hears the sounds of the horns, flutes, zithers, lyres, harps, and pipes, and all kinds of music, must fall down and worship the golden statue.
11
Whoever does not fall down and worship must be thrown into the middle of a furnace of blazing fire.
12
Now there are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon; their names are Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, king, pay no attention to you. They will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up."
13
Then Nebuchadnezzar, filled with anger and rage, commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought to him. So they brought these men before the king.
14
Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Have you made your minds up, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you will not serve my gods or worship to the golden statue that I have set up?
15
Now if you are ready—when you hear the sounds of the horns, flutes, zithers, lyres, harps, and pipes, and all kinds of music—to fall down and worship the statue that I have made, all will be well. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be thrown into the middle of a furnace of blazing fire. Who is the god who is able to rescue you out of my hands?"
16
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, "Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
17
If there is an answer, it is that our God whom we serve is able to keep us safe from the furnace of blazing fire, and he will rescue us out of your hand, king.
18
But if not, let it be known to you, king, that we will not serve your gods, and we will not worship the golden statue you set up."
19
Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage; the look on his face changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He commanded that the furnace should be heated seven times hotter than it was normally heated.
20
Then he commanded some very strong men in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire.
21
They were tied up still wearing their robes, tunics, turbans, and other clothing, and they were thrown into the middle of the furnace of blazing fire.
22
Because the king's command was strictly followed and the furnace was exceedingly hot, the flames of the fire killed the men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
23
These three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell into the middle of the furnace of blazing fire while they were tied up.
24
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was amazed and stood up quickly. He asked his advisors, "Did we not throw three men tied up into the fire?" They replied to the king, "Certainly, king."
25
He said, "But I see four men who are not tied up walking around in the fire, and they are not hurt. The brilliance of the fourth is like a son of the gods."
26
Then Nebuchadnezzar came near the door of the furnace of blazing fire and called out, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of God Most High, come out! Come here!" Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the middle of the fire.
27
The provincial governors, regional governors, other governors, and the king's counselors who had gathered together saw these men. The fire had not hurt their bodies; the hair on their heads was not singed; their robes were not harmed; and there was no smell of fire on them.
28
Nebuchadnezzar said, "Let us praise the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his messenger and rescued his servants who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and they gave up their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their God.
29
Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego must be torn apart, and that their houses must be made into rubbish heaps because there is no other god who is able to save like this."
30
Then the king caused Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to prosper in the province of Babylon.
Chapter 4
1
King Nebuchadnezzar sent this decree to all peoples, nations, and languages who lived on the earth: May your peace increase.
2
It has seemed good to me to tell you about the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.
3
How great are his signs,
and how mighty are his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his dominion lasts from generation to generation."
4
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living happily in my house, and I was enjoying prosperity in my palace.
5
But a dream I had made me afraid. As I lay there, the images I saw and the visions in my mind troubled me.
6
So I gave a decree to bring before me all the wise men of Babylon so they could interpret the dream for me.
7
Then came the magicians, those who claimed to speak with the dead, the educated men, and the astrologers. I told them the dream, but they could not make known the interpretation to me.
8
But at last Daniel came in—the one who is named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods—and I told him the dream.
9
"Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you. Tell me the appearance of my dream and its interpretation.
10
These were the sights that I saw in my mind as I lay upon my bed: I looked, and there was a tree in the middle of the earth, and its height was very great.
11
The tree grew and became strong. Its top reached to the heavens, and it could be seen to the ends of the whole earth.
12
Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant, and on it was food for all. The animals of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches. All living creatures were fed from it.
13
I saw in my mind as I lay on my bed, and a watcher, a holy one came down from the heavens.
14
He shouted and said, 'Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, strip off its leaves, and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds fly away from its branches.
15
Leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the middle of the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew from the heavens. Let it live with the animals among the plants on the ground.
16
Let his mind be changed from a man's mind, and let an animal's mind be given to him until seven years pass by.
17
This sentence is by the decree of the watchers, a decision made by the holy ones, so that those who are alive may know that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of people and gives them to anyone he wishes to place over them, even to the most humble men.'
18
I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had this dream. Now you, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you are able to do so, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you."
19
Then Daniel, who was also named Belteshazzar, was greatly upset for a brief time, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you." Belteshazzar replied, "My master, may the dream be for those who hate you; may its interpretation be for your enemies.
20
The tree that you saw—which grew and became strong, and whose top reached up to the heavens, and which could be seen to the ends of the whole earth—
21
whose leaves were beautiful, and whose fruit was abundant, so that in it was food for all, and under it the animals of the field found shade, and in which the birds of the heavens lived—
22
this tree is you, king, you who have grown so strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your dominion reaches to the ends of the earth.
23
You, king, saw a watcher, a holy one coming down from heaven and saying, 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the middle of the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew from the heavens. Let it live with the animals in the field until seven years pass by.'
24
This is the interpretation, king. It is a decree of the Most High that has reached you, my master the king.
25
You will be driven from among men, and you will live with the animals in the field. You will be made to eat grass like cattle, and you will be wet with the dew from the heavens, and seven years will pass by until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of people and that he gives them to anyone he wishes.
26
As it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, in this way your kingdom will be returned to you from the time you learn that heaven rules.
27
Therefore, king, let my advice be pleasing to you. Stop sinning and do what is right. Turn away from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, and it may be that your prosperity will be extended."
28
All these things happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.
29
Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon,
30
and he said, "Is this not the great Babylon, which I have built for my royal residence, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?"
31
While the words were still on the lips of the king, a voice came from heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, it is announced to you that this kingdom has been taken away from you.
32
You will be driven away from people, and your home will be with the animals in the field. You will be made to eat grass like cattle. Seven years will pass until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of people and he gives them to anyone he wishes."
33
This decree against Nebuchadnezzar was carried out immediately. He was driven away from people. He ate grass like cattle, and his body was wet with the dew from the heavens. His hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails became like birds' claws.
34
At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was given back to me.
"I praised the Most High,
and I honored and glorified the one who lives forever.
For his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom endures from all generations to all generations.
35
All the earth's inhabitants
are considered by him to be as nothing;
he does among the army of heaven
and the inhabitants of the earth
whatever suits his will.
No one can stop him or challenge him.
No one can say to him, 'Why have you done this?'"
36
At the same time that my sanity returned to me, my majesty and splendor returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My counselors and my noblemen sought my favor. I was brought back to my throne, and even more greatness was given to me.
37
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, extol, and honor the King of heaven, for all his deeds are true, and his ways are just. He can humble those who walk in their own pride.
Chapter 5
1
Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his noblemen, and he drank wine in front of all one thousand of them.
2
While Belshazzar tasted the wine, he gave orders to bring the containers made of gold or silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem, from which the king, his noblemen, and his wives and concubines could drink.
3
The servants brought the gold containers that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God, in Jerusalem. The king, his noblemen, and his wives and concubines drank from them.
4
They drank the wine and praised their idols made of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
5
At that moment the fingers of a human hand appeared in front of the lampstand and wrote on the plaster wall in the king's palace. The king could see part of the hand as it wrote.
6
Then the king's face changed and his thoughts frightened him; his limbs could not support him, and his knees were knocking together.
7
The king shouted a command to bring in those who claimed to speak with the dead, the educated men, and the astrologers. The king said to the wise men of Babylon, "Whoever reads this writing and makes known its interpretation to me will be clothed with purple and will have a gold chain around his neck. He will have the authority of the third highest ruler in the kingdom."
8
Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known its interpretation to the king.
9
Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed and the look on his face changed. His noblemen were perplexed.
10
Now the queen came into the banquet house because of what the king and his nobles had said. The queen said, "King, live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you. Do not let the look on your face change.
11
There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods was found in him. King Nebuchadnezzar, your father the king, made him chief of the magicians, as well as chief of those who speak with the dead, of the educated men, and of the astrologers.
12
An excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting of dreams, explaining of riddles and solving of problems—these qualities were found in this man Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now call for Daniel and he will tell you the interpretation."
13
Then Daniel was brought before the king. The king said to him, "You are that Daniel, one of the people of the exiles of Judah, whom my father the king brought out of Judah.
14
I have heard about you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.
15
Now the wise men and those who claim to speak with the dead have been brought in before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not make known to me the interpretation of the message.
16
I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you will be clothed with purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will have the authority of the third highest ruler in the kingdom."
17
Then Daniel answered before the king, "Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another person. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to you, king, and will tell you the interpretation.
18
As for you, king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father the kingdom, greatness, honor, and majesty.
19
Because of the greatness God gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared him. He killed those he wanted to die, and he kept alive those he wished to live. He raised up those he wanted, and he humbled those he wished.
20
But when his heart was arrogant and his spirit was hardened so that he acted presumptuously, he was brought down from his royal throne, and they took away his glory.
21
He was driven away from humanity, he had the mind of an animal, and he lived with the wild donkeys. He ate grass like cattle. His body was wet with the dew from the heavens until he learned that the Most High God rules over the kingdoms of people and that he sets over them anyone he wishes.
22
You his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this.
23
You have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. From his house they brought you the containers that you, your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from, and you praised the idols made of silver and gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone—idols that do not see, hear, or know anything. You have not honored the God who holds your breath in his hand and who knows all your ways.
24
Then God sent out a hand from his presence and this inscription was written.
25
This is the writing that was done: 'Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Pharsin.'
26
This is the interpretation of the message: 'Mene,' 'God has numbered your kingdom and brought it to an end.'
27
'Tekel,' 'you are weighed in the scales and are found lacking.'
28
'Peres,' 'your kingdom is divided and is given to the Medes and Persians.'"
29
Then Belshazzar gave a command, and they clothed Daniel with purple. A chain of gold was put around his neck, and the king made a proclamation about him that he would have the authority of the third highest ruler in the kingdom.
30
That night Belshazzar, the Babylonian king, was killed,
31
and Darius the Mede received the kingdom when he was about sixty-two years old.
Chapter 6
1
It seemed good to Darius to appoint over the kingdom 120 provincial governors who would rule over all the kingdom.
2
Over them there were three chief administrators, and Daniel was one of them. These chief administrators were appointed so that they might supervise the provincial governors, so that the king should suffer no loss.
3
Daniel was distinguished above the other chief administrators and the provincial governors because he had an extraordinary spirit. The king was planning to put him over the whole kingdom.
4
Then the other chief administrators and the provincial governors looked for mistakes in the work Daniel did for the kingdom, but they could find no corruption or failure in his duty because he was faithful. No mistakes or negligence was found in him.
5
Then these men said, "We cannot find any reason to complain against this Daniel unless we find something against him regarding the law of his God."
6
Then these administrators and governors brought a plan before the king. They said to him, "King Darius, may you live forever!
7
All the chief administrators of the kingdom, the regional governors, and the provincial governors, the advisors, and the governors have consulted together and decided that you, the king, should issue a decree and enforce a prohibition, so that whoever makes a petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, king, that person must be thrown into the den of lions.
8
Now, king, issue the prohibition and sign the document so that it may not be changed, as directed by the law of the Medes and Persians, so it cannot be repealed."
9
So king Darius signed the document, the prohibition.
10
When Daniel learned that the document had been signed into law, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his upper room toward Jerusalem), and he got down on his knees, as he did three times a day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done before.
11
Then these men who had formed the plot together saw Daniel make requests and seek favor from God.
12
Then they approached the king and spoke with him about his prohibition: "Did you not make a prohibition that everyone who makes a petition to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, king, must be thrown into the den of lions?" The king answered, "The matter is settled, as directed by the law of the Medes and Persians; it cannot be repealed."
13
Then they replied to the king, "That person Daniel, who is one of the people of the exile from Judah, pays no attention to you, king, or to the prohibition that you have signed. He prays to his God three times a day."
14
When the king heard this, he was terribly distressed, and he applied his mind to rescue Daniel from this ruling. He labored until sunset to try to save Daniel.
15
Then these men who had formed the plot gathered together with the king and said to him, "Know, king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no prohibition or statute that the king issues can be changed."
16
Then the king gave an order, and they brought in Daniel, and they threw him into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you."
17
A stone was brought over the entrance to the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles so that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.
18
Then the king went to his palace and he went through the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and sleep fled from him.
19
Then at daybreak the king got up and he quickly went to the lions' den.
20
As he came near to the den, the king called out to Daniel in a sad voice, saying to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?"
21
Then said Daniel to the king, "King, live forever!
22
My God has sent his messenger and has shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me. For I was found blameless before him and also before you, king, and I have done you no harm."
23
Then the king was very happy. He gave an order that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was lifted up out of the den. No harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24
The king gave an order, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel and threw them into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives. Before they reached the floor, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones to pieces.
25
Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that live in all the earth:
"May peace increase for you.
26
I hereby make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,
for he is the living God
and lives forever,
and his kingdom will not be destroyed;
his dominion will last to the end.
27
He makes us safe and rescues us,
and he does signs and wonders
in heaven and in earth;
he has kept Daniel safe
from the strength of the lions."
28
So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and during the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Chapter 7
1
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylonia, Daniel had a dream and visions in his mind while lying on his bed. Then he wrote down what he had seen in the dream. He wrote down the most important events:
2
Daniel explained, "In my vision at night I saw that the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea.
3
Four large animals, each one different from the other, came up out of the sea.
4
The first was like a lion but had eagle's wings. As I was looking, its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground and made to stand on two feet, like a man. The mind of a man was given to it.
5
Then there was a second animal, like a bear, and it was bending over; it had three ribs between its teeth in its mouth. It was told, 'Get up and devour many people.'
6
After this I looked again. There was another animal, one that looked like a leopard. On its back it had four wings like bird wings, and it had four heads. It was given authority to rule.
7
After this I saw in the visions of the night a fourth animal, terrifying, frightening, and very strong. It had large iron teeth; it devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled underfoot what was left. It was different from the other animals, and it had ten horns.
8
While I was considering the horns, I looked and saw another horn grow up among them, a little horn. Three of the first horns were wrenched out by the roots. I saw in this horn eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that was boasting about great things.
9
As I looked,
thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was as white as snow,
and the hair of his head was like pure wool.
His throne was flames of fire,
and its wheels were burning fire.
10
A river of fire
flowed out from before him;
millions served him,
and one hundred million were standing before him.
The court was in session,
and the books were opened.
11
I continued to look because of the sound of the boastful words spoken by the horn. I watched while the animal was killed, and its body was destroyed, and it was given over to be burned up.
12
As for the rest of the four animals, their authority to rule was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a period of time.
13
In my visions that night,
I saw one coming with the clouds of heaven like a son of man;
he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
14
Authority to rule and glory and royal power were given to him
so that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him.
His authority to rule is an everlasting authority that will not pass away,
and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
15
As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved inside of me, and the visions I saw in my mind troubled me.
16
I approached one of them standing there and asked him to show me the interpretation of these things.
17
'These large animals, four in number, are four kings that will arise from the earth.
18
But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom, and they will possess it forever and ever.'
19
Then I wanted to know more about the fourth animal—it was so different from the others and very horrifying with its iron teeth and bronze claws; it devoured, broke into pieces, and trampled on what was left with its feet.
20
I wanted to know about the ten horns on its head, and about the other horn that grew up, and before which the three horns fell down. I wanted to know about the horn that had eyes and about the mouth that boasted about great things and that seemed greater than its companions.
21
As I looked, this horn waged war against the holy people and was defeating them
22
until the Ancient of Days came, and justice was given to the holy people of the Most High. Then the time came when the holy people took possession of the kingdom.
23
This is what that person said, 'As for the fourth animal,
it will be a fourth kingdom on earth
that will be different from all the other kingdoms.
It will devour the whole earth,
and it will trample it down
and break it into pieces.
24
As for the ten horns,
out of this kingdom ten kings will arise,
and another will arise after them.
He will be different from the previous ones,
and he will subdue the three kings.
25
He will speak words against the Most High
and will oppress the holy people of the Most High God.
He will try to change the festivals and the law.
These things will be given into his hand
for one year, two years, and half a year.
26
But the court will be in session,
and they will take his royal power away
to be consumed and destroyed at the end.
27
The kingdom and the dominion,
and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven,
will be given to the people
who belong to the holy people of the Most High.
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and all other kingdoms will serve and obey him.'
28
Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me and my face changed in appearance. But I kept these things to myself."
Chapter 8
1
In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar, I, Daniel, had a vision appear to me (after the one that appeared to me at first).
2
I saw in the vision, as I was looking, that I was in the fortress of Susa in the province of Elam. I saw in the vision that I was beside the Ulai Canal.
3
I looked up and saw before me a ram with two horns, standing beside the canal. One horn was longer than the other, but the longer one grew more slowly than the shorter and was passed up in length by it.
4
I saw the ram pushing west, then north, and then south; no other animal could stand before him. None of them was able to rescue anyone out of his hand. He did whatever he wanted, and he became great.
5
As I was thinking about this, I saw a male goat come from the west, who went across the surface of the whole earth, running fast, not seeming to touch the ground. The goat had a large horn between his eyes.
6
He came to the ram who had two horns—I had seen the ram standing on the bank of the canal—and the goat rushed toward the ram in a powerful rage.
7
I saw the goat come close to the ram. He was very angry at the ram, and he hit the ram and broke off its two horns. The ram was powerless to stand before him. The goat knocked him down to the ground and trampled on him. There was no one who could rescue the ram from his power.
8
Then the goat became very large. But when he became strong, the large horn was broken, and in its place four other large horns grew up that pointed toward the four winds of the heavens.
9
Out of one of them grew another horn, little at first, but which grew exceedingly large toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Beautiful Land.
10
It became so large as to engage in war with the army of heaven. Some of that army and some of the stars were thrown down to the earth, and it trampled on them.
11
It made itself to be as great as the commander of the army. It took away from him the regular burnt offering, and the place of his sanctuary was polluted.
12
Because of rebellion, the army will be given over to the goat's horn, and the burnt offering will be stopped. The horn will throw truth down to the ground, and it will succeed in what it does.
13
Then I heard a holy one speaking and another holy one answering him, "How long will these things last, this vision about the burnt offering, the sin that brings destruction, the handing over of the sanctuary, and heaven's army being trampled on?"
14
He said to me, "It will last for 2,300 evenings and mornings. After that the sanctuary will be restored."
15
When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I tried to understand it. Then there stood before me one who looked like a man.
16
I heard a man's voice calling between the banks of the Ulai Canal. He said, "Gabriel, help this man understand the vision."
17
So he came near where I stood. When he came, I was frightened and fell on my face. But he said to me, "Understand, son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end."
18
When he spoke to me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground. Then he touched me and made me stand up.
19
He said, "See, I will make known to you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time for the end.
20
As for the ram you saw, the one that had two horns—they are the kings of Media and Persia.
21
The male goat is the king of Greece. The large horn between his eyes is the first king.
22
As for the horn that was broken, in the place of which four others arose—four kingdoms will arise from his nation, but not with his great power.
23
At the latter time of those kingdoms, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a grim-faced king, one who is very intelligent, will arise.
24
His power will be mighty—but not by his own power. He will be amazing in what he destroys; he will act and succeed. He will destroy mighty ones and the holy people.
25
By his craftiness he will make deceit prosper under his hand. He will become great in his own mind. He will unexpectedly destroy many people. He will even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he will be broken, but not by any human hand.
26
The vision about the evenings and mornings that has been told is true. But seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future."
27
Then I, Daniel, was overcome and lay weak for several days. Then I got up, and went about the king's business. But I was astounded by the vision, and there was no one who understood it.
Chapter 9
1
In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus
—a descendant of the Medes, who had been made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans—
2
in the first year of Darius' reign, I, Daniel, was studying the books containing Yahweh's word, the word that had come to Jeremiah the prophet. I observed that there would be seventy years until Jerusalem's desolations would end.
3
I turned my face to the Lord God, to seek him with prayer and humble requests, with fasting, wearing sackcloth, and sitting in ashes.
4
I prayed to Yahweh my God, and I made confession of our sins. I said, "I beg you, Lord—you are the great and awesome God—you are the one who keeps the covenant and is faithful to love those who love you and keep your commandments.
5
We have sinned and have done what is wrong. We have acted wickedly and we have rebelled, turning aside from your commands and decrees.
6
We have not listened to your servants the prophets who spoke in your name to our kings, our leaders, our ancestors, and to all the people of the land.
7
To you, Lord, belongs righteousness. To us today, however, belongs shame on our faces—for the people of Judah and those who live in Jerusalem, and to all Israel. This includes those who are near and those who are far away in all the lands where you scattered them. This is because of the faithless deeds that we committed against you.
8
To us, Yahweh, belongs shame on our faces—to our kings, to our leaders, and to our ancestors—because we have sinned against you.
9
To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him.
10
We have not obeyed the voice of Yahweh our God by walking in his laws he gave us through his servants the prophets.
11
All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. The curse and oath that are written in the law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, for we have sinned against him.
12
Yahweh has confirmed the words that he spoke against us and against our rulers over us, by bringing on us a great disaster. For under the whole of heaven there has not been done anything that could compare with what has been done to Jerusalem.
13
As it is written in the law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not begged for mercy from Yahweh our God by turning away from our iniquities and paying attention to your truth.
14
Therefore Yahweh has kept the disaster ready and has brought it on us, for Yahweh our God is righteous in all the deeds he does, yet we have not obeyed his voice.
15
Now, Lord our God, you brought out your people from the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and you have made a famous name for yourself, as in this present day. But still we sinned; we have done wicked things.
16
Lord, because of all your righteous deeds, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain. Because of our sins, and because of the iniquities of our ancestors, Jerusalem and your people have become an object of mockery to all those around us.
17
Now, our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his humble requests; for your sake, Lord, make your face shine on your sanctuary that is desolate.
18
My God, incline your ears and listen; open your eyes and see. We have been devastated; look at the city that is called by your name. We do not bring our humble requests to you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.
19
Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, pay attention and take action! For your own sake, do not delay, my God, for your city and your people are called by your name."
20
While I was speaking—praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my humble request before Yahweh my God on behalf of God's holy mountain—
21
while I was praying, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, flew down to me in rapid flight, at the time of the evening sacrifice.
22
He gave me understanding and said to me, "Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding.
23
When you began presenting your humble requests, the order was given and I have come to tell you the answer, for you are precious. Therefore consider this word and understand the revelation.
24
Seventy sevens are decreed for your people and your holy city to end the guilt and put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring everlasting righteousness, to carry out the vision and the prophecy, and to consecrate the most holy place.
25
Know and understand that from the issuing of the order to restore and rebuild Jerusalem to the coming of the anointed one (who will be a leader), there will be seven sevens and sixty-two sevens. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and a moat, despite the times of distress.
26
After the sixty-two sevens, the anointed one will be destroyed and will have nothing. The army of a coming ruler will destroy the city and the holy place. Its end will come with a flood, and there will be war even to the end. Desolations have been decreed.
27
He will confirm a covenant with many for one seven. In the middle of the seven he will put an end to the sacrifice and the offering. On the wing of abominations will come someone who makes desolate until the complete destruction that has been decreed is poured out on the one who has made the desolation."
Chapter 10
1
In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. This message was true. It was about a great conflict. Daniel understood the message when he had insight from the vision.
2
In those days I, Daniel, was in mourning for three weeks.
3
I ate no delicacies, I ate no meat, I drank no wine, and I did not anoint myself with oil until the completion of three entire weeks.
4
On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was beside the great river (that is, the Tigris),
5
I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen, with a belt around his waist made of pure gold from Uphaz.
6
His body was like topaz, and his face was like lightning. His eyes were like flaming torches, and his arms and his feet were like polished bronze. The sound of his words was like the sound of a great crowd.
7
I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision. However, a great terror came on them, and they ran away to hide themselves.
8
So I was left alone and saw this great vision. No strength remained in me; my bright appearance was turned into a ruined look, and no strength remained in me.
9
Then I heard his words—and as I heard them, I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground.
10
A hand touched me, and it made me tremble in my knees and the palms of my hands.
11
The angel said to me, "Daniel, precious man, understand the words that I am speaking to you. Stand upright, for I have been sent to you." When he had spoken this message to me, I stood up trembling.
12
Then he said to me, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you set your mind to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come because of your words.
13
The prince of the kingdom of Persia resisted me, and I was kept there with the kings of Persia for twenty-one days. But Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me.
14
Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the last days. For the vision is for days yet to come."
15
While he was speaking to me using these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was unable to speak.
16
One who was like the sons of man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and spoke to him who stood before me: "My master, I am in agony because of the vision; I have no strength left.
17
I am your servant. How can I talk with my master? For I now have no strength, and there is no breath left in me."
18
Again the one with an appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me.
19
He said, "Do not be afraid, precious man. May peace be to you! Be strong now, be strong!" While he was speaking to me, I was strengthened. I said, "Let my master speak, for you have strengthened me."
20
He said, "Do you know why I have come to you? I will soon return to fight against the prince of Persia. When I go, the prince of Greece will come.
21
But I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. There is no one who shows himself to be strong with me against them, except Michael your prince.
Chapter 11
1
In the first year of Darius the Mede, I myself came to support and protect Michael.
2
Now I will tell you the truth. Three kings will arise in Persia, and a fourth will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power through his riches, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.
3
A mighty king will rise up who will rule a very great kingdom, and he will act according to his desires.
4
When he has risen up, his kingdom will be broken and divided to the four winds of heaven, but not to his own descendants, and not with the authority he had when he was ruling. For his kingdom will be uprooted for others besides his descendants.
5
The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will have dominion. His dominion will be a great dominion.
6
After a few years, when the time is right, they will make an alliance. The daughter of the king of the South will come to the king of the North to confirm the agreement. But she will not keep her arm's strength, nor will he stand, or his arm. She will be abandoned—she and those who brought her, and her father, and the one who supported her in those times.
7
But a branch from her roots will rise up in her place. He will attack the army and enter the fortress of the king of the North. He will fight them, and he will conquer them.
8
He will capture their gods, along with their cast metal figures and their precious vessels of silver and of gold, and take them to Egypt. For some years he will stay away from the king of the North.
9
Then the king of the North will invade the kingdom of the king of the South, but he will withdraw to his own land.
10
His sons will get ready and assemble a great army. It will keep coming and will flood everything; it will pass through all the way to his fortress.
11
Then the king of the South will become very angry; he will go and fight against him, the king of the North. The king of the North will raise up a great army, but the army will be given into his hand.
12
The army will be carried off, and the heart of the king of the South will be lifted up, and he will make tens of thousands to fall, but he will not be victorious.
13
Then the king of the North will raise up another army, greater than the first. After some years, the king of the North will surely come with a great army supplied with much equipment.
14
In those times many will rise against the king of the South. Sons of the violent among your people will set themselves in order to fulfill a vision, but they will stumble.
15
The king of the North will come, pour out earth for siege mounds, and capture a city with fortifications. The forces of the South will not be able to stand, not even their best soldiers. There will be no strength to stand.
16
The one who comes against him will do as he desires, and no one will stand in his way. He will stand in the Beautiful Land, and destruction will be in his hand.
17
The king of the North will set his face to come with the strength of his entire kingdom, and with him will be an agreement that he will make with the king of the South. He will give him a daughter of women in marriage to ruin the kingdom of the South. But the plan will not succeed or help him.
18
After this, the king of the North will pay attention to the coastlands and will capture many of them. But a commander will end his contempt and will cause his contempt to turn back upon him.
19
Then he will pay attention to the fortresses of his own land, but he will stumble and fall; he will not be found.
20
Then someone will rise up in his place who will make a tax collector pass through for the sake of the splendor of the kingdom. But in the next days he will be broken, but not in anger or in battle.
21
In his place will rise up a despised person to whom the people will not have given the honor of royal power; he will come unexpectedly and will take over the kingdom by trickery.
22
An army will be swept away like a flood from before him. Both that army and the leader of the covenant will be destroyed.
23
From the time an alliance is made with him, he will act deceitfully; with only a small number of people he will gain power.
24
Without warning he will come into the richest part of the province, and he will do what neither his father nor his father's father did. He will spread among his followers the booty, the plunder, and the wealth. He will plan the overthrow of fortresses, but only for a time.
25
He will wake up his power and his heart against the king of the South with a great army. The king of the South will wage war with an extremely large and mighty army, but he will not stand because others will make plots against him.
26
Even those who eat his fine food will try to destroy him. His army will be swept away like a flood, and many of them will fall killed.
27
Both these kings, with their hearts set on evil against each other, will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but it will be of no use. For the end will come at the time that has been fixed.
28
Then the king of the North will go back into his land with great riches, with his heart set against the holy covenant. He will act and then will return to his own land.
29
At the appointed time he will return and come against the South again. But this time it will not be as before.
30
For ships of Kittim will come against him, and he will become afraid. He will return and be furious against the holy covenant, and he will take action. He will return and show favor to those who abandon the holy covenant.
31
His forces will rise up and profane the fortress sanctuary. They will put an end to the regular burnt offering, and they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.
32
As for those who acted wickedly against the covenant, he will deceive them and corrupt them. But the people who know their God will be strong and will take action.
33
Those among the people who have insight will make many understand. But they will stumble by the sword and by flame; they will stumble into captivity and into being robbed for days.
34
In their stumbling, they will be helped with a little help. In hypocrisy many will join themselves with them.
35
Some of those who have insight will stumble so that refining will happen to them, and cleansing, and purifying, until the time of the end. For the appointed time is still to come.
36
The king will act according to his desires. He will lift himself up and make himself great above every god. Against the God of gods he will say astonishing things, for he will succeed until the wrath is completed. For what has been decreed will be done.
37
He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers, not even the god desired by women, nor will he regard any other god, but will exalt himself above them all.
38
He will honor the god of fortresses instead of these. It is a god whom his fathers did not know that he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and other precious things.
39
He will attack the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. To anyone who acknowledges him, he will give much honor. He will make them rulers over many people, and he will divide up the land as a reward.
40
At the time of the end, the king of the South will attack. The king of the North will storm against him with chariots and horsemen and with many ships. He will go against lands, flood them, and pass through.
41
He will go into the Beautiful Land, and tens of thousands of Israelites will fall. But these will escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the remainder of the people of Ammon.
42
He will extend his hand into lands; the land of Egypt will not be rescued.
43
He will have control over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; the Libyans and the Cushites will be in his footsteps.
44
But news from the east and the north will frighten him, and he will go out with great rage to completely destroy and to set many apart for destruction.
45
He will set up the tent of his royal residence between the seas and the mountain of the beauty of holiness. He will come to his end, and there will be no helper for him.
Chapter 12
1
At that time Michael, the great prince who guards your people, will rise up. There will be a time of trouble such as never was since the beginning of any nation until that time. At that time your people will be saved, everyone whose name is found written in the book.
2
Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3
Those who have insight will shine like the brightness of the sky above, and those who turn many to righteousness are like the stars forever and ever.
4
But you, Daniel, close up these words; keep the book sealed until the time of the end. Many will run here and there, and knowledge will increase."
5
Then I, Daniel, looked, and there were two others standing. One stood on the bank on this side of the river, and one stood on the bank on the other side of the river.
6
One of them said to the man clothed in linen, the one who was upstream along the river, "How long will it be to the end of these amazing events?"
7
I heard the man clothed in linen, who was upstream along the river—he raised his right hand and his left hand to heaven and swore by the one who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time. When they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these things will be completed.
8
I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, "My master, what will be the outcome of all these things?"
9
He said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.
10
Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly. None of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.
11
From the time that an end is put to the regular burnt offering and the abomination that causes complete desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.
12
Blessed is the one who waits until the end of the 1,335 days.
13
You must go your way until the end, and you will rest. You will rise in the place assigned to you, at the end of days."
Mark
Chapter 1
1
This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
"Look, I am sending my messenger before your face,
the one who will prepare your way.
3
The voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
'Make ready the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.'"
4
John came, baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
5
The whole country of Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
6
John wore a coat of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
7
He was preaching, saying, "One will come after me who is more powerful than I; the strap of his sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
8
I baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
9
It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and he was baptized by John in the Jordan River.
10
As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens split open and the Spirit coming down on him like a dove.
11
A voice came out of the heavens: "You are my beloved Son. I am very pleased with you."
12
Then the Spirit compelled him to go out into the wilderness.
13
He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels served him.
14
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God.
15
He said, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the gospel."
16
When he was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea, for they were fishermen.
17
Jesus said to them, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
18
Then immediately they left the nets and followed him.
19
As Jesus was walking on a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and John his brother; they were in the boat mending the nets.
20
He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and they followed him.
21
Then they came into Capernaum, and on the Sabbath, Jesus went into the synagogue and taught.
22
They were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as someone who has authority and not as the scribes.
23
Just then a man in their synagogue who had an unclean spirit cried out,
24
saying, "What do we have to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the Holy One of God!"
25
Jesus rebuked the demon and said, "Be quiet and come out of him!"
26
The unclean spirit threw him into convulsions and went out from him while crying out with a loud voice.
27
All the people were amazed, so they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands the unclean spirits and they obey him!"
28
The news about him went out everywhere into the whole region of Galilee.
29
After coming out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, along with James and John.
30
Now Simon's mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever, and they told Jesus about her.
31
So he came, took her by the hand, and raised her up; the fever left her, and she started serving them.
32
That evening after the sun had set, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed by demons.
33
The whole city gathered together at the door.
34
He healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons, but he did not allow the demons to speak because they knew him.
35
He got up very early, while it was still dark; he left and went out into a solitary place and there he prayed.
36
Simon and those who were with him searched for him.
37
They found him and they said to him, "Everyone is looking for you."
38
He said, "Let us go elsewhere, out into the surrounding towns, so that I may preach there also. That is why I came out here."
39
He went throughout all of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
40
A leper came to him. He was begging him; he knelt down and said to him, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."
41
Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched him, saying to him, "I am willing. Be clean."
42
Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.
43
Jesus strictly warned him and sent him away.
44
He said to him, "Be sure to say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
45
But he went out and began to declare it freely and spread the word, so much so that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but he stayed out in remote places. Yet people were still coming to him from everywhere.
Chapter 2
1
When Jesus came back to Capernaum after a few days, it was heard that he was at home.
2
So many gathered there that there was no more space, not even at the door, and he spoke the word to them.
3
Then some men came to him who were bringing a paralyzed man; four people were carrying him.
4
When they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof that was above Jesus, and after they made an opening, they lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.
5
Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
6
Now some of the scribes were sitting there, and they reasoned in their hearts,
7
"How can this man speak this way? He blasphemes! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
8
Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit what they were thinking within themselves. He said to them, "Why are you thinking this in your hearts?
9
Which is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take up your mat and walk'?
10
But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins," he said to the paralytic,
11
"I say to you, get up, take up your mat, and go to your house."
12
He got up and immediately took up the mat, and went out of the house in front of everyone, so that they were all amazed and they gave glory to God, and they said, "We never saw anything like this."
13
He went out again by the lake, and all the crowd came to him, and he taught them.
14
As he passed by, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's tent and he said to him, "Follow me." He got up and followed him.
15
Jesus was having a meal in Levi's house and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with him and his disciples, for there were many and they followed him.
16
When the scribes, who were Pharisees, saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
17
When Jesus heard this, he said to them, "People who are strong in body do not need a physician; only people who are sick need one. I did not come to call righteous people, but sinners."
18
Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and said to him, "Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"
19
Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding attendants fast while the bridegroom is still with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
20
But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and in those days, they will fast.
21
No one sews a piece of new cloth on an old garment. Otherwise the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and there is a worse tear.
22
No one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the wine will burst the skins and both the wine and the wineskins are lost. Instead, new wine is put into fresh wineskins."
23
On the Sabbath day Jesus went through some grainfields, and his disciples began picking heads of grain as they made their way.
24
The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing something that is not lawful on the Sabbath day?"
25
He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry—he and the men who were with him—
26
how he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the presence, which is unlawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he even gave some to those who were with him?"
27
Jesus said, "The Sabbath was made for mankind, not mankind for the Sabbath.
28
Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord, even of the Sabbath."
Chapter 3
1
Again Jesus walked into the synagogue, and there was a man with a withered hand.
2
Some people watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath so that they could accuse him.
3
Jesus said to the man with the withered hand, "Get up and stand here in the middle of everyone."
4
Then he said to the people, "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath day or to do harm; to save a life or to kill?" But they were silent.
5
He looked around at them with anger, and he was grieved by their hardness of heart, and he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.
6
The Pharisees went out and immediately began to plot with the Herodians as to how they might put him to death.
7
Then Jesus, with his disciples, went to the sea, and a great crowd of people followed from Galilee and from Judea
8
and from Jerusalem and from Idumea and beyond the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. When they heard about the things he was doing, a great crowd came to him.
9
He told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not press against him.
10
For he healed many, so that everyone who had afflictions eagerly approached him in order to touch him.
11
Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, and they said, "You are the Son of God."
12
He strictly ordered them not to make him known.
13
He went up on the mountain, and he called for those he wanted, and they came to him.
14
He appointed the twelve (whom he named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them to proclaim the message,
15
and to have authority to cast out demons.
16
He appointed the twelve: Simon, to whom he gave the name Peter;
17
James son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, "Sons of Thunder";
18
and Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot,
19
and Judas Iscariot, who would betray him.
20
Then he went home, and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat bread.
21
When his family heard about it, they went out to seize him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."
22
The scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebul" and "By the ruler of the demons he drives out demons."
23
Jesus called them to himself and said to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan?
24
If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25
If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.
26
If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he is not able to stand, but has come to an end.
27
But no one can enter into the house of a strong man and steal his belongings without tying up the strong man first, and then he will plunder his house.
28
Truly I say to you, all sins of the sons of men will be forgiven, even all the blasphemies which they utter,
29
but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin."
30
Jesus said this because they were saying, "He has an unclean spirit."
31
Then his mother and his brothers came and stood outside. They sent for him, summoning him.
32
A crowd was sitting around him and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside, and they are looking for you."
33
He answered them, "Who are my mother and my brothers?"
34
He looked around at those who were sitting in a circle around him and said, "See, here are my mother and my brothers!
35
For whoever does the will of God, that person is my brother, and sister, and mother."
Chapter 4
1
Again he began to teach beside the sea, and a large crowd gathered around him. He stepped into a boat that was on the sea, and he sat down in it. The whole crowd was on the shore beside the sea.
2
He taught them many things in parables, and in his teaching, this is what he said to them.
3
"Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.
4
As he sowed, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and devoured it.
5
Other seed fell on the rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. Immediately it sprang up, because it did not have deep soil.
6
But when the sun rose, the plants were scorched, and because they had no root, they dried up.
7
Other seed fell among the thorn plants. The thorn plants grew up and choked it, and it did not produce a crop.
8
Other seed fell into good soil, and it produced a crop growing up and increasing and yielding thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times."
9
Then he said, "Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear!"
10
When Jesus was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.
11
He said to them, "To you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God. But to those outside everything is in parables,
12
so that when they look,
yes they look,
but do not see,
and so that when they hear,
yes they hear,
but do not understand,
or else they would turn
and God would forgive them."
13
He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?
14
The sower sows the word.
15
These are the ones beside the road, where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.
16
And these are the seed sown on the rocky ground; who, when they hear the word immediately receive it with joy.
17
But they do not have root in themselves, but they endure for a while. Afterward when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, they immediately fall away.
18
Still others are the ones sown among the thorns. They are those who hear the word,
19
but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, and it is unproductive.
20
Those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word, accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much."
21
Jesus said to them, "Do you bring a lamp inside the house to put it under a basket or under the bed? You bring it in and you put it on a lampstand.
22
For nothing is hidden that will not be known, and nothing is secret that will not come out into the open.
23
If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"
24
He said to them, "Pay attention to what you hear, for the measure you use will be measured to you, and more will be added to you.
25
Because whoever has, to him will be given more, and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken."
26
He also said, "The kingdom of God is like a man who sows his seed on the ground.
27
He sleeps at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.
28
The earth bears grain by itself: First the blade, then the ear, then the mature grain in the ear.
29
When the crop is ripe, he immediately sends in the sickle because the harvest has come."
30
Again he said, "To what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use to explain it?
31
It is like a mustard seed, which, when it is sown, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth.
32
Yet, when it is sown, it grows and becomes greater than all the garden plants, and it forms large branches, so that the birds of heaven can make their nests in its shade."
33
With many parables like this he spoke the word to them, as much as they were able to understand,
34
and he did not speak to them without a parable. But when he was alone, he explained everything to his own disciples.
35
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go over to the other side."
36
So they left the crowd, taking Jesus with them, just as he was, in the boat. There were other boats going along with him.
37
Just then a violent windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat so that the boat was almost full of water.
38
But Jesus himself was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him up, saying, "Teacher, do you not care that we are about to die?"
39
He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40
Then he said to them, "Why are you afraid? Do you still not have faith?"
41
They were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, because even the wind and the sea obey him?"
Chapter 5
1
They came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes.
2
When Jesus was getting out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came up to him out of the tombs.
3
The man lived in the tombs. No one could restrain him anymore, not even with a chain.
4
He had been bound many times with shackles and with chains. He tore the chains apart and his shackles were shattered. No one had the strength to subdue him.
5
Every night and day in the tombs and in the mountains, he cried out and cut himself with sharp stones.
6
When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran to him and bowed down before him.
7
He cried out with a loud voice, "What do I have to do with you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you by God himself, do not torment me."
8
For he had been saying to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit."
9
He asked him, "What is your name?"
He answered him, "My name is Legion, for we are many."
10
He begged him again and again not to send them out of the region.
11
Now a great herd of pigs was there feeding on the hill,
12
and they begged him, saying, "Send us into the pigs; let us enter into them."
13
So he allowed them; the unclean spirits came out and entered into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep hill into the sea, and about two thousand pigs drowned in the sea.
14
Then those who were feeding the pigs ran away and reported what had happened in the city and in the countryside, and so people went out to see what had happened.
15
Then they came to Jesus and they saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had been possessed by Legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.
16
Those who had seen what happened to the demon-possessed man told them about it in detail, and they also told them about the pigs.
17
Then they started to beg him to leave their region.
18
When he was getting into the boat, the demon-possessed man begged him that he might be with him.
19
But Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go to your house and to your people and tell them what the Lord has done for you, and how he has shown you mercy."
20
So he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis the great things that Jesus had done for him, and everyone was amazed.
21
Now when Jesus had crossed over again to the other side in the boat, a great crowd gathered around him, as he was beside the sea.
22
Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came, and when he saw him, fell at his feet.
23
He begged again and again, saying, "My little daughter is near death. I beg you, come and lay your hands on her that she may be made well and live."
24
So he went with him, and a great crowd followed him and pressed close around him.
25
Now a woman was there who had a flow of blood for twelve years.
26
She had suffered much from many doctors and had spent everything that she had, but instead of getting better she grew worse.
27
When she had heard the reports about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak.
28
For she said, "If I touch just his clothes, I will be healed."
29
When she touched him, the bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed from her affliction.
30
Jesus immediately realized in himself that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched my clothes?"
31
His disciples said to him, "You see this crowd pressed around you, and you say, 'Who touched me?'"
32
But Jesus looked around to see who had done it.
33
The woman, knowing what had happened to her, feared and trembled. She came and fell down before him and told him the whole truth.
34
He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed from your affliction."
35
While he was speaking, some people came from the synagogue leader's house, saying, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any longer?"
36
But when Jesus overheard the message that was spoken, he said to the leader of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid. Just believe."
37
He did not permit anyone to accompany him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.
38
They came to the house of the leader of the synagogue and he saw there people making a lot of noise; they were weeping and wailing loudly.
39
When he entered the house, he said to them, "Why are you upset and why do you weep? The child is not dead but sleeps."
40
They began to mock him. But he put them all outside and took the father of the child and the mother and those who were with him, and he went in where the child was.
41
He took the hand of the child and said to her, "Talitha, koum!" which is translated, "Little girl, I say to you, get up."
42
Immediately the child got up and walked (for she was twelve years of age). They were immediately astonished with overwhelming amazement.
43
He strictly ordered them that no one should know about this. Then he told them to give her something to eat.
Chapter 6
1
He went out from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.
2
When the Sabbath came, he taught in the synagogue. Many people heard him and they were amazed. They said, "Where did he get these teachings?" "What is this wisdom that has been given to him?" "What are these miracles that he does with his hands?"
3
"Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are his sisters not here with us?" They were offended by Jesus.
4
Then Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household."
5
He could not do any mighty work, except to lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.
6
He was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went around the villages teaching.
7
Then he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits,
8
and instructed them to take nothing for their journey, except a staff—no bread, no bag, and no money in their belts—
9
but to wear sandals, and not to wear two tunics.
10
He said to them, "Whenever you enter a house, remain until you go away from there.
11
If any town will not receive you or listen to you, when you leave that place, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony to them."
12
They went out and proclaimed that people should repent.
13
They cast out many demons, and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
14
King Herod heard this, for Jesus' name had become well known. Some were saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him."
15
Some others said, "He is Elijah." Still others said, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets in ancient times."
16
But when Herod heard this, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised."
17
For Herod sent to have John arrested and he had him bound in prison on account of Herodias (his brother Philip's wife), because he had married her.
18
For John told Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."
19
But Herodias held on to anger against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not,
20
for Herod feared John; he knew that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. Listening to him made him greatly perplexed, yet he heard him gladly.
21
Then an opportunity came when Herod had his birthday and he made a dinner for his officials and for the commanders and leaders of Galilee.
22
The daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced for them, and she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want and I will give it to you."
23
He swore to her saying, "Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom."
24
She went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask him for?"
She said, "The head of John the Baptist."
25
She immediately hurried back to the king, and she asked, saying, "I want you to give me, right now, the head of John the Baptist on a wooden platter."
26
Though this deeply grieved the king, he could not refuse her request because of the oath he had made and because of his dinner guests.
27
So the king sent a soldier from his guard and commanded him to bring him John's head. The guard went and beheaded him in the prison.
28
He brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.
29
When his disciples heard of this, they came and took his body and placed it in a tomb.
30
The apostles came together with Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught.
31
Then he said to them, "Come away by yourselves into a deserted place and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.
32
So they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.
33
But they saw them leaving and many recognized them, and they ran there together on foot from all the towns, and they arrived there before them.
34
When they came ashore, he saw a great crowd and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began to teach them many things.
35
When the hour was late, his disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late.
36
Send them away so that they may go into the nearby countryside and villages to buy something to eat for themselves."
37
But he answered and said to them, "You give them something to eat."
They said to him, "Can we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?"
38
He said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see."
When they found out, they said, "Five loaves and two fish."
39
He commanded all the people to sit down in groups upon the green grass.
40
They sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.
41
He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven he blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.
42
They all ate until they were satisfied.
43
They took up broken pieces of bread, twelve baskets full, and also pieces of the fish.
44
There were five thousand men who ate the loaves.
45
Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he sent the crowd away.
46
After taking leave of them, he went up the mountain to pray.
47
Evening came, and the boat was now in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on land.
48
He saw that they were straining against the oars, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, he came to them, walking on the sea, and he wanted to pass by them.
49
But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought he was a ghost and cried out,
50
because they saw him and were troubled. Immediately he spoke to them and said to them, "Be courageous! It is I! Do not be afraid!"
51
He got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased blowing. They were completely amazed.
52
For they had not understood what the loaves meant. Instead, their hearts were hardened.
53
When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and anchored the boat.
54
When they came out of the boat, the people recognized him immediately,
55
and they ran throughout the whole region and began to bring the sick on their mats to wherever they heard he was.
56
Wherever he entered into villages, or cities, or into the country, they would put the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch the edge of his garment, and as many as touched him were healed.
Chapter 7
1
The Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him.
2
They saw that some of his disciples ate bread with hands that were unclean, that is, unwashed.
3
(For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands carefully, because they hold to the tradition of the elders.
4
When the Pharisees come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they bathe themselves, and they hold to many other things they have received, such as the washing of cups, pots, copper vessels, and the couches upon which they eat.)
5
The Pharisees and the scribes asked Jesus, "Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unclean hands?"
6
But he said to them, "Isaiah prophesied well about you hypocrites. As it is written,
'This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me.
7
In vain they worship me,
teaching the commands of men as their doctrines.'
8
You abandon the commandment of God and hold on to the tradition of men."
9
He also said to them, "How well you reject the commandment of God so you may keep your tradition!
10
For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'He who speaks evil of his father or mother will surely be put to death.'
11
But you say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, "Whatever help you would have received from me is Corban"' (that is to say, 'a Gift'),
12
then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother.
13
You are making the word of God void by your tradition which you have handed down. And many similar things you do."
14
He called the crowd again and said to them, "Listen to me, all of you, and understand.
15
There is nothing from outside of a person that can defile him when it enters into him. It is what comes out of the person that defiles him."
16
17
Now when Jesus left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about the parable.
18
Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding? Do you not know that whatever enters into a person from outside cannot defile him,
19
because it cannot go into his heart, but it goes into his stomach and then passes out into the latrine?" With this statement Jesus declared all foods clean.
20
He said, "It is that which comes out of the person that defiles him.
21
For from within a person, out of the heart, proceed evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder,
22
adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, folly.
23
All these evils come from within, and they are what defile a person."
24
He got up from there and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. There he went into a house, and he wanted no one to know where he was, yet he could not be hidden.
25
But immediately
a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him and came and fell down at his feet.
26
Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by descent. She begged him to cast out the demon from her daughter.
27
He said to her, "Let the children first be fed. For it is not proper to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."
28
But she answered and said to him, "Yes, Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."
29
He said to her, "Because of what you have said, you are free to go. The demon has gone out of your daughter."
30
She went back to her house and found the child lying on the bed, and the demon was gone.
31
Then he went out again from the region of Tyre, and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee up into the region of the Decapolis.
32
They brought to him someone who was deaf and had difficulty speaking, and they begged him to lay his hand on him.
33
Then taking him aside away from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and then he spit and touched his tongue.
34
Then he looked up to heaven, sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is to say, "Open!"
35
At once his ears were opened, the bond of his tongue was released, and he began to speak plainly.
36
Jesus ordered them to tell no one. But the more he ordered them, the more abundantly they proclaimed it.
37
They were extremely astonished, saying, "He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."
Chapter 8
1
In those days, there was again a great crowd, and they had nothing to eat. Jesus called his disciples and said to them,
2
"I have compassion on the crowd because they continue to be with me already for three days and have nothing to eat.
3
If I send them away to their home without eating, they may faint on the way. Some of them have come a long way."
4
His disciples answered him, "Where can we get enough loaves of bread in such a deserted place to satisfy these people?"
5
He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?"
They said, "Seven."
6
He commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground. He took the seven loaves, gave thanks, and broke them. He gave them to his disciples to set before them, and they set them before the crowd.
7
They also had a few small fish, and after he gave thanks for them, he commanded the disciples to serve these as well.
8
They ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the remaining broken pieces, seven large baskets.
9
There were about four thousand people. Then he sent them away.
10
Immediately he got into the boat with his disciples, and they went into the region of Dalmanutha.
11
Then the Pharisees came out and began to argue with him. They sought from him a sign from heaven, to test him.
12
He sighed deeply in his spirit and said, "Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation."
13
Then he left them, got into a boat again, and went away to the other side.
14
Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread with them. They had no more than one loaf of bread in the boat.
15
He instructed them, saying, "Keep watch and be on guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod."
16
The disciples were arguing with one another about having no bread.
17
When he understood this, he asked them, "Why are you arguing about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Do you have hardened hearts?
18
You have eyes; do you not see? You have ears; do you not hear? Do you not remember?
19
When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces of bread did you take up?"
They said to him, "Twelve."
20
"When I broke the seven loaves among the four thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces of bread did you take up?"
They said to him, "Seven."
21
He said, "Do you not yet understand?"
22
They came to Bethsaida. The people there brought to him a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.
23
Jesus took hold of the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. When he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, "Do you see anything?"
24
He looked up, and said, "I see men who look like walking trees."
25
Then he again laid his hands upon his eyes, and the man opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw all things clearly.
26
Jesus sent him away to his home and said, "Do not enter the village."
27
Jesus went out with his disciples into the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, "Who do the people say that I am?"
28
They answered him and said, "John the Baptist. Others say, 'Elijah,' and others, 'One of the prophets.'"
29
He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Peter said to him, "You are the Christ."
30
Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
31
He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and would be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and would be killed, and after three days rise up.
32
He spoke that message openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
33
But Jesus turned and looked at his disciples and then he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! You are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of people."
34
Then he called the crowd and his disciples together, and he said to them, "If anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
35
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it.
36
What does it profit a person to gain the whole world and then forfeit his life?
37
What can a person give in exchange for his life?
38
Whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
Chapter 9
1
He said to them, "Truly I say to you, there are some of you who are standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."
2
Six days later, Jesus took Peter and James and John with him up a high mountain, alone by themselves. Then he was transfigured before them.
3
His garments became radiantly brilliant, extremely white, whiter than any bleacher on earth could bleach them.
4
Then Elijah with Moses appeared to them, and they were talking with Jesus.
5
Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here, and so let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
6
(For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.)
7
A cloud came and overshadowed them. Then a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."
8
Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them, but only Jesus.
9
As they were coming down the mountain, he commanded them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
10
So they kept the matter to themselves, but they discussed among themselves what "rising from the dead" could mean.
11
They asked him, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"
12
He said to them, "Elijah does come first to restore all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be despised?
13
But I say to you that Elijah has come, and they did whatever they wanted to him, just as it is written about him."
14
When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes were arguing with them.
15
As soon as they saw Jesus, the whole crowd was amazed, and as they ran up to him, they greeted him.
16
He asked his disciples, "What are you arguing with them about?"
17
Someone in the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has a spirit that makes him unable to speak.
18
It seizes him and it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out of him, but they could not."
19
He answered them, "Unbelieving generation, how long will I have to stay with you? How long will I bear with you? Bring him to me."
20
They brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw him into a convulsion. The boy fell on the ground and foamed at the mouth.
21
Jesus asked his father, "For how much time has he been like this?"
The father said, "Since childhood.
22
It has often thrown him into the fire or into the waters and tried to destroy him. If you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us."
23
Jesus said to him, "'If you are able'? All things are possible for the one who believes."
24
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe! Help my unbelief!"
25
When Jesus saw the crowd running to them, he rebuked the unclean spirit and said, "You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter into him again."
26
It cried out and convulsed the boy greatly and then came out. The boy looked like one who was dead, so that many said, "He is dead."
27
But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and the boy stood up.
28
When Jesus came into the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?"
29
He said to them, "This kind cannot be cast out except by prayer."
30
They went out from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know where they were,
31
for he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, "The Son of Man will be given over into the hands of men, and they will put him to death. When he has been put to death, after three days he will rise again."
32
But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask him.
33
Then they came to Capernaum. After he entered the house he asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?"
34
But they were silent. For they had been arguing with one another on the way about who was the greatest.
35
Sitting down, he called the twelve together and he said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all."
36
He took a little child and placed him in their midst. He took him in his arms and said to them,
37
"Whoever receives such a child in my name receives me; whoever receives me does not receive me but the one who sent me."
38
John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we stopped him, because he does not follow us."
39
But Jesus said, "Do not stop him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name and can soon afterwards say anything bad about me.
40
Whoever is not against us is for us.
41
Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name because you belong to Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.
42
Whoever causes one of these little ones who believes in me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone tied around his neck and be thrown into the sea.
43
If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than to have two hands and to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.
44
45
If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame than to have your two feet and be thrown into hell.
46
47
If your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out. It is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell,
48
where their worm does not die, and the fire is not put out.
49
For everyone will be salted with fire.
50
Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another."
Chapter 10
1
Jesus left that place and went to the region of Judea and to the area beyond the Jordan River, and the crowds came to him again. He was teaching them again, as he was accustomed to do.
2
Then Pharisees came to him to test him and asked, "Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?"
3
He answered, "What did Moses command you?"
4
They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and then to send her away."
5
"It was because of your hard hearts that he wrote you this law," Jesus said to them.
6
"But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.'
7
'For this reason
a man will leave his father and mother
and be united to his wife,
8
and the two will become one flesh.'
So they are no longer two, but one flesh.
9
Therefore what God has joined together, let no man tear apart."
10
When they were in the house, the disciples asked him again about this.
11
He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her.
12
If she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery."
13
Then they brought their little children to him so that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.
14
But when Jesus noticed it, he was angry and said to them, "Permit the little children to come to me, and do not forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to those who are like them.
15
Truly I say to you, whoever will not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will definitely not enter it."
16
Then he took the children into his arms and blessed them as he placed his hands on them.
17
When he began his journey, a man ran up to him and knelt before him and asked, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
18
Jesus said, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
19
You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not testify falsely, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"
20
The man said, "Teacher, all these things I have obeyed from the time I was a youth."
21
Jesus looked at him and loved him. He said to him, "One thing you lack. You must sell all that you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
22
But because of this statement he looked very sad and he went away sorrowful, because he had many possessions.
23
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How difficult it is for those who are rich to enter the kingdom of God!"
24
The disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter into the kingdom of God!
25
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."
26
They were greatly astonished and said to each other, "Then who can be saved?"
27
Jesus looked at them and said, "With people it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God."
28
Peter began to speak to him: "Look, we have left everything and have followed you."
29
Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the gospel
30
who will not receive a hundred times as much now in this age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the world to come, eternal life.
31
But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
32
They were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going ahead of them. The disciples were amazed, and those who were following behind were afraid. Then Jesus took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what would soon happen to him.
33
"See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be given over to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn him to death and give him over to the Gentiles.
34
They will mock him, spit on him, whip him, and put him to death. But after three days he will rise."
35
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask you."
36
He said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?"
37
They said, "Allow us to sit with you in your glory, one at your right hand and the other at your left."
38
But Jesus replied to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup which I will drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I will be baptized?"
39
They said to him, "We are able."
Jesus said to them, "The cup that I will drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you also will be baptized.
40
But who is to sit at my right hand or at my left hand is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared."
41
When the other ten disciples heard about this, they began to be very angry with James and John.
42
Jesus called them to himself and said, "You know those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.
43
But it is not this way among you. Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant,
44
and whoever wishes to be first among you must be the slave of all.
45
For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
46
They came to Jericho. As he left Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, sat by the road.
47
When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to shout and to say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
48
Many rebuked the blind man, telling him to be quiet. But he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
49
Jesus stopped and commanded him to be called. They called the blind man, saying, "Be brave! Get up! He is calling for you."
50
He threw aside his coat, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
51
Jesus answered him and said, "What do you want me to do for you?"
The blind man said, "Rabboni, I want to receive my sight."
52
Then Jesus said to him, "Go. Your faith has healed you." Immediately he could see again, and he followed him on the road.
Chapter 11
1
Now as they came to Jerusalem, they were close to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, and Jesus sent out two of his disciples
2
and said to them, "Go into the village opposite us. As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it to me.
3
If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' you should say, 'The Lord has need of it and will immediately send it back here.'"
4
They went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it.
5
Some people were standing there and said to them, "What are you doing, untying that colt?"
6
They spoke to them as Jesus told them, and the people let them go their way.
7
They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it.
8
Many people spread their garments on the road, and others spread branches they had cut from the fields.
9
Those who went before him and those who followed shouted,
"Hosanna! Blessed is the one
who comes in the name of the Lord.
10
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!
Hosanna in the highest!"
11
Then Jesus entered into Jerusalem and went into the temple and looked around at everything. Now the time being late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
12
The next day while they were going out from Bethany, he was hungry.
13
Seeing from far away a fig tree that had leaves, he went to see if he could find any fruit on it, and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.
14
He said to it, "No one will ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard it.
15
They came to Jerusalem, and he entered the temple and began to cast out the sellers and the buyers in the temple. He turned over the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons.
16
He did not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple that could be sold.
17
He taught them and said, "Is it not written,
'My house will be called
a house of prayer for all the nations'?
But you have made it a den of robbers."
18
The chief priests and the scribes heard what he had said, and they looked for a way to destroy him. For they feared him because the entire crowd was amazed at his teaching.
19
When evening came, they left the city.
20
As they walked by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots.
21
Peter remembered and said, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered away."
22
Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God.
23
Truly I say to you that if anyone says to this mountain, 'Get up and cast yourself into the sea,' and if he does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he said will happen, that is what God will do.
24
Therefore I say to you: Everything you pray and ask for, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
25
When you stand and pray, you must forgive whatever you have against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your trespasses."
26
27
They came to Jerusalem again. As Jesus was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him.
28
They said to him, "By what authority do you do these things, and who gave you the authority to do them?"
29
Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one question. Tell me and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
30
The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer me."
31
They discussed between themselves and argued and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
32
But if we say, 'From men,' ... ." They were afraid of the people, for everyone was convinced that John was a prophet.
33
Then they answered Jesus and said, "We do not know."
Then Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."
Chapter 12
1
Then Jesus began to teach them in parables. He said, "A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, and dug a pit for a winepress. He built a watchtower and then leased the vineyard to vine growers. Then he went away on a journey.
2
At the right time, he sent a servant to the vine growers to receive from them some of the fruit of the vineyard.
3
But they took him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed.
4
Again he sent to them another servant, and they wounded him in the head and treated him shamefully.
5
He sent yet another, and this one they killed. They treated many others in the same way, beating some and killing others.
6
He had still one more person to send, a beloved son. He was the last one he sent to them. He said, 'They will respect my son.'
7
"But the vine growers said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.'
8
They seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.
9
Therefore, what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vine growers and will give the vineyard to others.
10
Have you not read this scripture?
'The stone which the builders rejected
has been made the cornerstone.
11
This was from the Lord,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.'"
12
After this the Jewish leaders sought a way to arrest Jesus because they understood that he spoke the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd. So they left him and went away.
13
Then they sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to him to trap him with words.
14
When they came, they said to him, "Teacher, what people think is not a concern to you because you do not show partiality to anyone. You truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or not?"
15
But Jesus knew their hypocrisy and said to them, "Why do you test me? Bring me a denarius so I can look at it."
16
They brought one to Jesus. He said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?"
They said, "Caesar's."
17
Jesus said, "Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." They marveled at him.
18
Then Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him. They asked him, saying,
19
"Teacher, Moses wrote for us, 'If a man's brother dies and leaves a wife behind him, but had no child, the man should take the brother's wife, and raise up children for his brother.'
20
There were seven brothers; the first took a wife and then died, having no children.
21
Then the second took her and died, leaving no child, and the third in the same way.
22
The seven left no children. Last of all, the woman also died.
23
In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For all seven brothers had her as their wife."
24
Jesus said, "Is this not the reason you are mistaken, because you do not know the scriptures nor the power of God?
25
For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are like angels in heaven.
26
But concerning the dead that are raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account about the bush, how God spoke to him and said, 'I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob'?
27
He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite mistaken."
28
One of the scribes came and heard their discussion; he saw that Jesus answered them well. He asked him, "What commandment is the most important of all?"
29
Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
30
You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.'
31
The second commandment is this, 'You must love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other greater commandment than these."
32
The scribe said, "Good, Teacher! You have truly said that God is one, and that there is no other besides him.
33
To love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself is even more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
34
When Jesus saw that he had given a wise answer, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." After that, no one dared to ask Jesus any more questions.
35
While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he said, "How is it that the scribes say the Christ is the son of David?
36
David himself, in the Holy Spirit, said,
'The Lord said to my Lord,
"Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies under your feet."'
37
David himself calls him 'Lord,' so how can the Christ be David's son?" The large crowd gladly listened to him.
38
In his teaching Jesus said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes and be greeted in the marketplaces,
39
and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts.
40
They also devour widows' houses, and they pray long prayers for people to see. These men will receive greater condemnation."
41
Then Jesus sat down across from an offering box in the temple area; he was watching people as they dropped their money into the box. Many rich people put in large amounts of money.
42
Then a poor widow came and put in two mites, worth about a penny.
43
He called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them who contributed to the offering box.
44
For all of them gave out of their abundance. But this widow, out of her poverty, put in all of the money which she had to live on."
Chapter 13
1
As Jesus was walking away from the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Teacher, look at the wonderful stones and wonderful buildings!"
2
Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left on another which will not be torn down."
3
As he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,
4
"Tell us, when will these things happen? What will be the sign when all these things are about to happen?"
5
Jesus began to say to them, "Be careful that no one leads you astray.
6
Many will come in my name and say, 'I am he,' and they will lead many astray.
7
When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; these things must happen, but the end is not yet.
8
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many places, and famines. These are the beginnings of birth pains.
9
"Be on your guard. They will give you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before both governors and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them.
10
But the gospel must first be proclaimed to all the nations.
11
When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry about what you should say. For in that hour, what you should say will be given to you; it will not be you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
12
Brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death.
13
You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But whoever endures to the end, that person will be saved.
14
"When you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be standing" (let the reader understand), "let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains,
15
let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house or take anything out of it,
16
and let him who is in the field not return to take his cloak.
17
But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days!
18
Pray that it might not occur in the winter.
19
For those will be days of great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of creation, which God created, until now, no, nor ever will be again.
20
Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those whom he chose, he cut short the days.
21
Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it.
22
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and will give signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
23
Be on guard! I have told you all these things ahead of time.
24
"But after the tribulation of those days,
'the sun will be darkened,
the moon will not give its light,
25
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the powers that are in the heavens
will be shaken.'
26
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
27
Then he will send his angels and he will gather together his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky.
28
"Learn a lesson from the fig tree. As soon as the branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.
29
So also, when you see these things happening, recognize that he is near, close to the gates.
30
Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all of these things occur.
31
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
32
But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father.
33
"Be alert! Watch, because you do not know what time it is.
34
It is like a man who goes on a journey—he leaves his house and puts his servants in charge of the house, each one with his work, and he commands the doorkeeper to stay alert.
35
Therefore stay alert because you do not know when the master of the house will come home; it could be in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning.
36
If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.
37
What I say to you I say to everyone: Watch!"
Chapter 14
1
It was now two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were seeking ways to stealthily arrest Jesus and then kill him.
2
For they were saying, "Not during the festival, so that a riot does not arise among the people."
3
While Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at the table, a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which was pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the nard on his head.
4
But there were some who were angry. They spoke among themselves and said, "What is the reason for the waste of this perfume?
5
This perfume could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and given to the poor." Then they scolded her.
6
But Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Why are you troubling her? She has done a beautiful thing for me.
7
You always have the poor with you, and whenever you desire you can do good to them, but you will not always have me.
8
She has done what she could. She has anointed my body for burial.
9
Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will be spoken of, in memory of her."
10
Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went away to the chief priests so that he might give him over to them.
11
When the chief priests heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. He began looking for an opportunity to give him over to them.
12
On the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go to prepare, so you may eat the Passover meal?"
13
He sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man bearing a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him.
14
Where he enters a house, follow him in and say to the owner of that house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room where I will eat the Passover with my disciples?"'
15
He will show you a large furnished upper room that is ready. Make the preparations for us there."
16
The disciples left and went to the city. They found everything as he had said to them, and they prepared the Passover meal.
17
When it was evening, he came with the twelve.
18
As they were lying down at the table and eating, Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, one of you eating with me will betray me."
19
They were all very sorrowful, and one by one they said to him, "Surely not I?"
20
Jesus answered and said to them, "It is one of the twelve, the one now dipping bread with me in the bowl.
21
For the Son of Man will go as it is written about him. But woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had not been born."
22
As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, and broke it. He gave it to them and said, "Take this. This is my body."
23
He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
24
He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, the blood that is poured out for many.
25
Truly I say to you, I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
26
When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
27
Jesus said to them, "All of you will fall away, for it is written,
'I will strike the shepherd
and the sheep will be scattered.'
28
But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."
29
Peter said to him, "Even if all fall away, I will not."
30
Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, today—yes, this very night—before the rooster crows twice you will deny me three times."
31
But Peter said emphatically, "If I must die with you, I will not deny you." They all made the same promise.
32
They came to the place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray."
33
He took Peter, James, and John with him and began to be distressed and deeply troubled.
34
He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, even to the point of death. Remain here and watch."
35
Going a little farther, Jesus fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible the hour might pass from him.
36
He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible with you. Remove this cup from me. But not my will, but yours."
37
He came back and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch for one hour?
38
Watch and pray that you do not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
39
Again he went away and prayed, and he used the same words.
40
When he came back again, he found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
41
He came the third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come. Look! The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.
42
Get up; let us go. Look, the one who is betraying me is near."
43
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived, and a large crowd was with him with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders.
44
Now his betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard."
45
When Judas arrived, immediately he came up to Jesus and said, "Rabbi," and he kissed him.
46
Then they laid hands on him and seized him.
47
But one of them who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.
48
Jesus said to them, "Do you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs, to arrest me?
49
When I was daily with you and I was teaching in the temple, you did not arrest me. But this was done that the scriptures might be fulfilled."
50
All those with Jesus left him and ran away.
51
A young man, wearing only a linen garment that was wrapped around him, was following Jesus. When the men seized him,
52
he left the linen garment and ran away naked.
53
They led Jesus to the high priest. There were gathered with him all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes.
54
Now Peter followed him from a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest. He sat among the officers, warming himself near the fire.
55
Now the chief priests and the entire Jewish council were seeking testimony against Jesus so they might put him to death. But they did not find any.
56
For many brought false testimony against him, but even their testimony did not agree.
57
Some stood up and brought false testimony against him; they said,
58
"We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.'"
59
Yet even their testimony did not agree.
60
The high priest stood up among them and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer? What is it these men testify against you?"
61
But he was silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest questioned him and said, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"
62
Jesus said, "I am;
and you will see the Son of Man
when he sits at the right hand of power
and comes with the clouds of heaven."
63
The high priest tore his garments and said, "Do we still need witnesses?
64
You have heard the blasphemy. What is your decision?" They all condemned him as one who deserved death.
65
Some began to spit on him and to cover his face and strike him with their fists and say to him, "Prophesy!" The officers took him and beat him.
66
While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came to him.
67
She saw Peter warming himself, and she looked closely at him and said, "You were also with the Nazarene, Jesus."
68
But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you are talking about." Then he went out into the gateway. And the rooster crowed.
69
But the servant girl saw him and began to say again to those who stood there, "This man is one of them!"
70
But he denied it again. After a little while, those who stood there were saying to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you also are a Galilean."
71
But he began to put himself under curses and to swear, "I do not know this man you are talking about."
72
The rooster immediately crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the words that Jesus had said to him: "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times," and he broke down and wept.
Chapter 15
1
Early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders and scribes and the entire Jewish council, consulted together. Then they bound Jesus and led him away. They handed him over to Pilate.
2
Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"
He answered him, "You say so."
3
The chief priests were accusing him of many things.
4
Pilate again asked him, "Do you give no answer? See how many things they are accusing you of!"
5
But Jesus no longer answered Pilate, and that amazed him.
6
Now at the time of the festival, Pilate usually released to them one prisoner, a prisoner they requested.
7
There was a man called Barabbas in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the rebellion.
8
The crowd came to Pilate and began to ask him to do for them as he had done in the past.
9
Pilate answered them and said, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?"
10
For he knew that it was because of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him.
11
But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to cry out that Barabbas should be released instead.
12
Pilate answered them again and said, "What then should I do with the King of the Jews?"
13
They shouted again, "Crucify him!"
14
Pilate said to them, "What evil has he done?"
But they shouted more and more, "Crucify him."
15
Pilate wanted to satisfy the crowd, so he released Barabbas to them. He scourged Jesus and then handed him over to be crucified.
16
The soldiers led him inside the courtyard (which is the government headquarters), and they called together the whole company of soldiers.
17
They put a purple robe on Jesus, and they twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on him.
18
They began to salute him and say, "Hail, King of the Jews!"
19
They were striking his head with a reed staff and spitting on him. They went to their knees and they bowed down before him.
20
When they had mocked him, they took off of him the purple robe and put his own garments on him, and then led him out to crucify him.
21
A certain man, Simon of Cyrene, was coming in from the country (he was the father of Alexander and Rufus), and they forced him to carry his cross.
22
The soldiers brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which is translated "Place of a Skull").
23
They offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not drink it.
24
They crucified him and divided up his garments by casting lots to determine what piece each soldier would take.
25
It was the third hour when they crucified him.
26
On a sign they wrote the charge against him, "The king of the Jews."
27
With him they crucified two robbers, one on the right of him and one on his left.
28
29
Those who passed by insulted him, shaking their heads and saying, "Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
30
save yourself and come down from the cross!"
31
In the same way the chief priests were mocking him with each other, along with the scribes, and said, "He saved others, but he cannot save himself.
32
Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Those who were crucified with him also insulted him.
33
At the sixth hour, darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.
34
At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is interpreted, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"
35
Some of those standing by heard his words and said, "Look, he is calling for Elijah."
36
Someone ran, put sour wine on a sponge, put it on a reed staff, and gave it to him to drink. The man said, "Let us see if Elijah comes to take him down."
37
Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice and died.
38
The curtain of the temple was split in two from the top to the bottom.
39
When the centurion who stood and faced Jesus saw that he had died in this way, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God."
40
There were also women who looked on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the younger and of Joses),
and Salome.
41
When he was in Galilee, they followed him and served him. Many other women also came up with him to Jerusalem.
42
When evening had come, because it was the Day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath,
43
Joseph of Arimathea came there. He was a respected member of the council who was waiting for the kingdom of God. He boldly went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
44
Pilate was amazed that Jesus was already dead; he called the centurion and asked him if Jesus was dead.
45
When Pilate learned from the centurion that Jesus was dead, he gave the body to Joseph.
46
Joseph had bought a linen cloth. He took him down from the cross, wrapped him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of a rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.
47
Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw the place where Jesus was buried.
Chapter 16
1
When the Sabbath day was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices that they might come and anoint Jesus' body.
2
Very early on the first day of the week, they went to the tomb when the sun had come up.
3
They were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?"
4
When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, for it was very large.
5
They entered the tomb and saw a young man dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6
He said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. Look at the place where they had laid him.
7
But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.'"
8
They went out and ran from the tomb; they were trembling and amazed. They said nothing to anyone because they were so afraid.
9
[Early on the first day of the week, after he arose, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.
10
She went and told those who were with him, while they were mourning and weeping.
11
They heard that he was alive and that he had been seen by her, but they did not believe.
12
After these things he appeared in a different form to two of them as they were walking out into the country.
13
They went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.
14
Jesus later appeared to the eleven as they were reclining at the table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw him after he rose from the dead.
15
He said to them, "Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to the entire creation.
16
He who believes and is baptized will be saved, and he who does not believe will be condemned.
17
These signs will go with those who believe: In my name they will cast out demons. They will speak in new languages.
18
They will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well."
19
After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
20
The disciples left and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the signs that went with them.]