The World English Bible (WEB)

Chapter 39

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15:1 Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat began Abijam to reign over Judah. 15:2 Three years reigned he in Jerusalem: and his mother"s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. 15:3 He walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him; and his heart was not perfect with Yahweh his G.o.d, as the heart of David his father. 15:4 Nevertheless for David"s sake did Yahweh his G.o.d give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem; 15:5 because David did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, and didn"t turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except only in the matter of Uriah the Hitt.i.te.

15:6 Now there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life. 15:7 The rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, aren"t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? There was war between Abijam and Jeroboam. 15:8 Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his place. 15:9 In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Asa to reign over Judah. 15:10 Forty-one years reigned he in Jerusalem: and his mother"s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. 15:11 Asa did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, as did David his father.

15:12 He put away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. 15:13 Also Maacah his mother he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; and Asa cut down her image, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.

15:14 But the high places were not taken away: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect with Yahweh all his days. 15:15 He brought into the house of Yahweh the things that his father had dedicated, and the things that himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels. 15:16 There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 15:17 Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not allow anyone to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 15:18 Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king"s house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants; and king Asa sent them to Ben Hadad, the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who lived at Damascus, saying, 15:19 There is a league between me and you, between my father and your father: behold, I have sent to you a present of silver and gold; go, break your league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me. 15:20 Ben Hadad listened to king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel, and struck Ijon, and Dan, and Abel Beth Maacah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. 15:21 It happened, when Baasha heard of it, that he left off building Ramah, and lived in Tirzah. 15:22 Then king Asa made a proclamation to all Judah; none was exempted: and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and its timber, with which Baasha had built; and king Asa built therewith Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah. 15:23 Now the rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, aren"t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? But in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet. 15:24 Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father; and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place. 15:25 Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah; and he reigned over Israel two years. 15:26 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin. 15:27 Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha struck him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon. 15:28 Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha kill him, and reigned in his place. 15:29 It happened that, as soon as he was king, he struck all the house of Jeroboam: he didn"t leave to Jeroboam any who breathed, until he had destroyed him; according to the saying of Yahweh, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite; 15:30 for the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and with which he made Israel to sin, because of his provocation with which he provoked Yahweh, the G.o.d of Israel, to anger. 15:31 Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, aren"t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 15:32 There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 15:33 In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, and reigned twenty-four years. 15:34 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin.

16:1 The word of Yahweh came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying, 16:2 Because I exalted you out of the dust, and made you prince over my people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam, and have made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins; 16:3 behold, I will utterly sweep away Baasha and his house; and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 16:4 Him who dies of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him who dies of his in the field shall the birds of the sky eat. 16:5 Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, aren"t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 16:6 Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah; and Elah his son reigned in his place. 16:7 Moreover by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of Yahweh against Baasha, and against his house, both because of all the evil that he did in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and because he struck him. 16:8 In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, and reigned two years. 16:9 His servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him. Now he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah: 16:10 and Zimri went in and struck him, and killed him, in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place. 16:11 It happened, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he struck all the house of Baasha: he didn"t leave him a single one who urinates on a wall, neither of his relatives, nor of his friends. 16:12 Thus Zimri destroyed all the house of Baasha, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet, 16:13 for all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, which they sinned, and with which they made Israel to sin, to provoke Yahweh, the G.o.d of Israel, to anger with their vanities. 16:14 Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, aren"t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 16:15 In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. Now the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.

16:16 The people who were encamped heard say, Zimri has conspired, and has also struck the king: therefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp. 16:17 Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah. 16:18 It happened, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the castle of the king"s house, and burnt the king"s house over him with fire, and died, 16:19 for his sins which he sinned in doing that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin. 16:20 Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he did, aren"t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 16:21 Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri. 16:22 But the people who followed Omri prevailed against the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned. 16:23 In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, and reigned twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah. 16:24 He bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver; and he built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill, Samaria. 16:25 Omri did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and dealt wickedly above all who were before him. 16:26 For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sins with which he made Israel to sin, to provoke Yahweh, the G.o.d of Israel, to anger with their vanities. 16:27 Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might that he showed, aren"t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 16:28 So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria; and Ahab his son reigned in his place. 16:29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. 16:30 Ahab the son of Omri did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh above all that were before him. 16:31 It happened, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshiped him. 16:32 He reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. 16:33 Ahab made the Asherah; and Ahab did yet more to provoke Yahweh, the G.o.d of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. 16:34 In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid its foundation with the loss of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates with the loss of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.

17:1 Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the foreigners of Gilead, said to Ahab, As Yahweh, the G.o.d of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. 17:2 The word of Yahweh came to him, saying, 17:3 Get you hence, and turn you eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan. 17:4 It shall be, that you shall drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there. 17:5 So he went and did according to the word of Yahweh; for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan. 17:6 The ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. 17:7 It happened after a while, that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land. 17:8 The word of Yahweh came to him, saying, 17:9 Arise, get you to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow there to sustain you. 17:10 So he arose and went to Zarephath; and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks: and he called to her, and said, Please get me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. 17:11 As she was going to get it, he called to her, and said, Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand. 17:12 She said, As Yahweh your G.o.d lives, I don"t have a cake, but a handful of meal in the jar, and a little oil in the jar: and behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and bake it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. 17:13 Elijah said to her, Don"t be afraid; go and do as you have said; but make me of it a little cake first, and bring it forth to me, and afterward make for you and for your son. 17:14 For thus says Yahweh, the G.o.d of Israel, The jar of meal shall not empty, neither shall the jar of oil fail, until the day that Yahweh sends rain on the earth. 17:15 She went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, ate many days. 17:16 The jar of meal didn"t empty, neither did the jar of oil fail, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke by Elijah. 17:17 It happened after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. 17:18 She said to Elijah, What have I to do with you, you man of G.o.d? You have come to me to bring my sin to memory, and to kill my son! 17:19 He said to her, Give me your son. He took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into the chamber, where he abode, and laid him on his own bed. 17:20 He cried to Yahweh, and said, Yahweh my G.o.d, have you also brought evil on the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son? 17:21 He stretched himself on the child three times, and cried to Yahweh, and said, Yahweh my G.o.d, please let this child"s soul come into him again. 17:22 Yahweh listened to the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. 17:23 Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him to his mother; and Elijah said, Behold, your son lives. 17:24 The woman said to Elijah, Now I know that you are a man of G.o.d, and that the word of Yahweh in your mouth is truth.

18:1 It happened after many days, that the word of Yahweh came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will send rain on the earth. 18:2 Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. The famine was sore in Samaria. 18:3 Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared Yahweh greatly: 18:4 for it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of Yahweh, that Obadiah took one hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.) 18:5 Ahab said to Obadiah, Go through the land, to all the springs of water, and to all the brooks: peradventure we may find gra.s.s and save the horses and mules alive, that we not lose all the animals.

18:6 So they divided the land between them to pa.s.s throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself. 18:7 As Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Is it you, my lord Elijah? 18:8 He answered him, It is I: go, tell your lord, Behold, Elijah is here. 18:9 He said, Wherein have I sinned, that you would deliver your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me? 18:10 As Yahweh your G.o.d lives, there is no nation or kingdom, where my lord has not sent to seek you: and when they said, He is not here, he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they didn"t find you. 18:11 Now you say, Go, tell your lord, Behold, Elijah is here. 18:12 It will happen, as soon as I am gone from you, that the Spirit of Yahweh will carry you I don"t know where; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he can"t find you, he will kill me: but I your servant fear Yahweh from my youth. 18:13 Wasn"t it told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of Yahweh, how I hid one hundred men of Yahweh"s prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water? 18:14 Now you say, Go, tell your lord, Behold, Elijah is here; and he will kill me. 18:15 Elijah said, As Yahweh of Armies lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today. 18:16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.

18:17 It happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, Is it you, you troubler of Israel? 18:18 He answered, I have not troubled Israel; but you, and your father"s house, in that you have forsaken the commandments of Yahweh, and you have followed the Baals. 18:19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel to Mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred fifty, and the prophets of the Asherah four hundred, who eat at Jezebel"s table. 18:20 So Ahab sent to all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together to Mount Carmel.

18:21 Elijah came near to all the people, and said, "How long will you waver between the two sides? If Yahweh is G.o.d, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." The people answered him not a word. 18:22 Then Elijah said to the people, "I, even I only, am left a prophet of Yahweh; but Baal"s prophets are four hundred fifty men. 18:23 Let them therefore give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under; and I will dress the other bull, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under.

18:24 You call on the name of your G.o.d, and I will call on the name of Yahweh; and the G.o.d who answers by fire, let him be G.o.d."

All the people answered, "It is well said." 18:25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one bull for yourselves, and dress it first; for you are many; and call on the name of your G.o.d, but put no fire under it."

18:26 They took the bull which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any who answered. They leaped about the altar which was made. 18:27 It happened at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud; for he is a G.o.d: either he is musing, or he is gone aside, or he is on a journey, or peradventure he sleeps and must be awakened. 18:28 They cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. 18:29 It was so, when midday was past, that they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening offering; but there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any who regarded. 18:30 Elijah said to all the people, Come near to me; and all the people came near to him. He repaired the altar of Yahweh that was thrown down. 18:31 Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of Yahweh came, saying, Israel shall be your name. 18:32 With the stones he built an altar in the name of Yahweh; and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. 18:33 He put the wood in order, and cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood. He said, Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the burnt offering, and on the wood. 18:34 He said, Do it the second time; and they did it the second time. He said, Do it the third time; and they did it the third time. 18:35 The water ran around the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. 18:36 It happened at the time of the offering of the evening offering, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Yahweh, the G.o.d of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that you are G.o.d in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 18:37 Hear me, Yahweh, hear me, that this people may know that you, Yahweh, are G.o.d, and that you have turned their heart back again. 18:38 Then the fire of Yahweh fell, and consumed the burnt offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 18:39 When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, Yahweh, he is G.o.d; Yahweh, he is G.o.d. 18:40 and Elijah said to them, Take the prophets of Baal; don"t let one of them escape. They took them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and killed them there. 18:41 Elijah said to Ahab, Get you up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain. 18:42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bowed himself down on the earth, and put his face between his knees. 18:43 He said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. He went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. He said, Go again seven times. 18:44 It happened at the seventh time, that he said, "Behold, a small cloud, like a man"s hand, is rising out of the sea." He said, Go up, tell Ahab, Make ready your chariot, and get you down, that the rain not stop you. 18:45 It happened in a little while, that the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel: 18:46 and the hand of Yahweh was on Elijah; and he girded up his waist, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

19:1 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 19:2 Then Jezebel send a messenger to Elijah, saying, So let the G.o.ds do to me, and more also, if I don"t make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time. 19:3 When he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 19:4 But he himself went a day"s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, It is enough; now, O Yahweh, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. 19:5 He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, an angel touched him, and said to him, Arise and eat.

19:6 He looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on the coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drink, and laid him down again.

19:7 The angel of Yahweh came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you. 19:8 He arose, and ate and drink, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to h.o.r.eb the Mount of G.o.d. 19:9 He came there to a cave, and lodged there; and behold, the word of Yahweh came to him, and he said to him, What are you doing here, Elijah? 19:10 He said, I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the G.o.d of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain your prophets with the sword: and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 19:11 He said, Go forth, and stand on the mountain before Yahweh. Behold, Yahweh pa.s.sed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before Yahweh; but Yahweh was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but Yahweh was not in the earthquake: 19:12 and after the earthquake a fire; but Yahweh was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

19:13 It was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. Behold, there came a voice to him, and said, What are you doing here, Elijah?

19:14 He said, I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the G.o.d of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain your prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 19:15 Yahweh said to him, Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when you come, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria; 19:16 and you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi to be king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah to be prophet in your room. 19:17 It shall happen, that he who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu kill; and he who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha kill. 19:18 Yet will I leave me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth which has not kissed him. 19:19 So he departed there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing, with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah pa.s.sed over to him, and cast his mantle on him.

19:20 He left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray you, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you. He said to him, Go back again; for what have I done to you? 19:21 He returned from following him, and took the yoke of oxen, and killed them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave to the people, and they ate. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered to him.

20:1 Ben Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together; and there were thirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it. 20:2 He sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel, into the city, and said to him, Thus says Ben Hadad, 20:3 Your silver and your gold is mine; your wives also and your children, even the best, are mine. 20:4 The king of Israel answered, It is according to your saying, my lord, O king; I am yours, and all that I have. 20:5 The messengers came again, and said, Thus speaks Ben Hadad, saying, I sent indeed to you, saying, You shall deliver me your silver, and your gold, and your wives, and your children; 20:6 but I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house, and the houses of your servants; and it shall be, that whatever is pleasant in your eyes, they shall put it in their hand, and take it away. 20:7 Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Please notice how this man seeks mischief: for he sent to me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I didn"t deny him. 20:8 All the elders and all the people said to him, Don"t you listen, neither consent. 20:9 Therefore he said to the messengers of Ben Hadad, Tell my lord the king, All that you did send for to your servant at the first I will do; but this thing I may not do. The messengers departed, and brought him word again. 20:10 Ben Hadad sent to him, and said, The G.o.ds do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people who follow me. 20:11 The king of Israel answered, Tell him, Don"t let him who girds on his armor boast himself as he who puts it off.

20:12 It happened, when Ben Hadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings, in the pavilions, that he said to his servants, Set yourselves in array. They set themselves in array against the city. 20:13 Behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel, and said, Thus says Yahweh, Have you seen all this great mult.i.tude? behold, I will deliver it into your hand this day; and you shall know that I am Yahweh. 20:14 Ahab said, By whom? He said, Thus says Yahweh, By the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall begin the battle? He answered, You. 20:15 Then he mustered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two: and after them he mustered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand. 20:16 They went out at noon. But Ben Hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty-two kings who helped him. 20:17 The young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben Hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out from Samaria. 20:18 He said, Whether they are come out for peace, take them alive, or whether they are come out for war, taken them alive. 20:19 So these went out of the city, the young men of the princes of the provinces, and the army which followed them. 20:20 They killed everyone his man; and the Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them: and Ben Hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with hors.e.m.e.n. 20:21 The king of Israel went out, and struck the horses and chariots, and killed the Syrians with a great slaughter. 20:22 The prophet came near to the king of Israel, and said to him, Go, strengthen yourself, and mark, and see what you do; for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against you. 20:23 The servants of the king of Syria said to him, Their G.o.d is a G.o.d of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we: but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. 20:24 Do this thing: take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their room; 20:25 and number you an army, like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot; and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. He listened to their voice, and did so. 20:26 It happened at the return of the year, that Ben Hadad mustered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel. 20:27 The children of Israel were mustered, and were provisioned, and went against them: and the children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country. 20:28 A man of G.o.d came near and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, Thus says Yahweh, Because the Syrians have said, Yahweh is a G.o.d of the hills, but he is not a G.o.d of the valleys; therefore will I deliver all this great mult.i.tude into your hand, and you shall know that I am Yahweh. 20:29 They encamped one over against the other seven days.

So it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined; and the children of Israel killed of the Syrians one hundred thousand footmen in one day. 20:30 But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand men who were left. Ben Hadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber. 20:31 His servants said to him, See now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, we pray you, put sackcloth on our bodies, and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save your life. 20:32 So they girded sackcloth on their bodies, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Your servant Ben Hadad says, please let me live. He said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother. 20:33 Now the men observed diligently, and hurried to catch whether it were his mind; and they said, Your brother Ben Hadad.

Then he said, Go you, bring him. Then Ben Hadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot. 20:34 Ben Hadad said to him, The cities which my father took from your father I will restore; and you shall make streets for you in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. I, said Ahab, will let you go with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and let him go. 20:35 A certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow by the word of Yahweh, Please strike me. The man refused to strike him. 20:36 Then said he to him, Because you have not obeyed the voice of Yahweh, behold, as soon as you are departed from me, a lion shall kill you. As soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and killed him. 20:37 Then he found another man, and said, Please strike me. The man struck him, smiting and wounding him. 20:38 So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with his headband over his eyes. 20:39 As the king pa.s.sed by, he cried to the king; and he said, Your servant went out into the midst of the battle; and behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man to me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver. 20:40 As your servant was busy here and there, he was gone. The king of Israel said to him, So your judgment shall be; yourself have decided it. 20:41 He hurried, and took the headband away from his eyes; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets. 20:42 He said to him, Thus says Yahweh, Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people. 20:43 The king of Israel went to his house sullen and angry, and came to Samaria.

21:1 It happened after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 21:2 Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near to my house; and I will give you for it a better vineyard than it: or, if it seem good to you, I will give you its worth in money. 21:3 Naboth said to Ahab, Yahweh forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you. 21:4 Ahab came into his house sullen and angry because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers. He laid him down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread. 21:5 But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said to him, Why is your spirit so sad, that you eat no bread? 21:6 He said to her, Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite, and said to him, Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it please you, I will give you another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give you my vineyard. 21:7 Jezebel his wife said to him, Do you now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let your heart be merry: I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite. 21:8 So she wrote letters in Ahab"s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and to the n.o.bles who were in his city, and who lived with Naboth. 21:9 She wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: 21:10 and set two men, base fellows, before him, and let them testify against him, saying, You did curse G.o.d and the king. Then carry him out, and stone him to death. 21:11 The men of his city, even the elders and the n.o.bles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent to them, according as it was written in the letters which she had sent to them. 21:12 They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. 21:13 The two men, the base fellows, came in and sat before him: and the base fellows bore witness against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did curse G.o.d and the king.

Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him to death with stones. 21:14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead. 21:15 It happened, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead. 21:16 It happened, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. 21:17 The word of Yahweh came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 21:18 Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who dwells in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he is gone down to take possession of it.

21:19 You shall speak to him, saying, Thus says Yahweh, Have you killed and also taken possession? You shall speak to him, saying, Thus says Yahweh, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your blood, even yours. 21:20 Ahab said to Elijah, Have you found me, my enemy? He answered, I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do that which is evil in the sight of Yahweh. 21:21 Behold, I will bring evil on you, and will utterly sweep you away and will cut off from Ahab everyone who urinates against a wall, and him who is shut up and him who is left at large in Israel: 21:22 and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah for the provocation with which you have provoked me to anger, and have made Israel to sin. 21:23 Of Jezebel also spoke Yahweh, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the rampart of Jezreel. 21:24 Him who dies of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him who dies in the field shall the birds of the sky eat. 21:25 (But there was none like Ahab, who did sell himself to do that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. 21:26 He did very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites did, whom Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel.) 21:27 It happened, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. 21:28 The word of Yahweh came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 21:29 See you how Ahab humbles himself before me? because he humbles himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days; but in his son"s days will I bring the evil on his house.

22:1 They continued three years without war between Syria and Israel.

22:2 It happened in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. 22:3 The king of Israel said to his servants, "You know that Ramoth Gilead is ours, and we are still, and don"t take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?" 22:4 He said to Jehoshaphat, Will you go with me to battle to Ramoth Gilead? Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses. 22:5 Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Please inquire first for the word of Yahweh. 22:6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?

They said, Go up; for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king. 22:7 But Jehoshaphat said, Isn"t there here a prophet of Yahweh besides, that we may inquire of him? 22:8 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, there is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Yahweh, Micaiah the son of Imlah: but I hate him; for he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. Jehoshaphat said, "Don"t let the king say so."

22:9 Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Get quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah. 22:10 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 22:11 Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron, and said, Thus says Yahweh, With these you shall push the Syrians, until they are consumed. 22:12 All the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth Gilead, and prosper; for Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the king. 22:13 The messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, See now, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth: please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak you good. 22:14 Micaiah said, As Yahweh lives, what Yahweh says to me, that will I speak. 22:15 When he was come to the king, the king said to him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall we forbear? He answered him, Go up and prosper; and Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the king. 22:16 The king said to him, How many times shall I adjure you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of Yahweh? 22:17 He said, I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and Yahweh said, These have no master; let them return every man to his house in peace. 22:18 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Didn"t I tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil? 22:19 Micaiah said, "Therefore hear the word of Yahweh: I saw Yahweh sitting on his throne, and all the army of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. 22:20 Yahweh said, "Who shall entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?" One said on this manner; and another said on that manner. 22:21 There came forth a spirit, and stood before Yahweh, and said, "I will entice him." 22:22 Yahweh said to him, "How?" He said, "I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets." He said, "You shall entice him, and shall prevail also: go forth, and do so." 22:23 Now therefore, behold, Yahweh has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and Yahweh has spoken evil concerning you." 22:24 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of Yahweh from me to speak to you? 22:25 Micaiah said, Behold, you shall see on that day, when you shall go into an inner chamber to hide yourself. 22:26 The king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king"s son; 22:27 and say, Thus says the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace. 22:28 Micaiah said, If you return at all in peace, Yahweh has not spoken by me. He said, Hear, you peoples, all of you. 22:29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead. 22:30 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but put you on your robes. The king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle. 22:31 Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel. 22:32 It happened, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel; and they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out. 22:33 It happened, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.

22:34 A certain man drew his bow at a venture, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of the armor: therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, Turn your hand, and carry me out of the army; for I am severely wounded. 22:35 The battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even; and the blood ran out of the wound into the bottom of the chariot. 22:36 There went a cry throughout the army about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his country. 22:37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria.

22:38 They washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood (now the prost.i.tutes washed themselves there); according to the word of Yahweh which he spoke. 22:39 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he built, and all the cities that he built, aren"t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 22:40 So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place. 22:41 Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. 22:42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother"s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. 22:43 He walked in all the way of Asa his father; He didn"t turn aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh: however the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places. 22:44 Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel. 22:45 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he showed, and how he warred, aren"t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 22:46 The remnant of the sodomites, that remained in the days of his father Asa, he put away out of the land. 22:47 There was no king in Edom: a deputy was king. 22:48 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they didn"t go; for the ships were broken at Ezion Geber. 22:49 Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab to Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with your servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not. 22:50 Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father; Jehoram his son reigned in his place. 22:51 Ahaziah the 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. 22:52 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, in which he made Israel to sin. 22:53 He served Baal, and worshiped him, and provoked to anger Yahweh, the G.o.d of Israel, according to all that his father had done.

Notes:

[1] back to 9:26 or, Sea of Reeds

[2] back to 14:10 or, male

[3] back to 16:11 or, male

[4] back to 21:21 or, male

The Second Book of Kings

1:1 Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab. 1:2 Ahaziah fell down through the lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said to them, Go, inquire of Baal Zebub, the G.o.d of Ekron, whether I shall recover of this sickness.

1:3 But the angel of Yahweh said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and tell them, Is it because there is no G.o.d in Israel, that you go to inquire of Baal Zebub, the G.o.d of Ekron? 1:4 Now therefore thus says Yahweh, You shall not come down from the bed where you are gone up, but shall surely die. Elijah departed. 1:5 The messengers returned to him, and he said to them, Why is it that you have returned? 1:6 They said to him, There came up a man to meet us, and said to us, Go, turn again to the king who sent you, and tell him, Thus says Yahweh, Is it because there is no G.o.d in Israel, that you send to inquire of Baal Zebub, the G.o.d of Ekron? therefore you shall not come down from the bed where you are gone up, but shall surely die. 1:7 He said to them, What manner of man was he who came up to meet you, and told you these words? 1:8 They answered him, He was a hairy man, and girt with a belt of leather about his waist. He said, It is Elijah the Tishbite. 1:9 Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty. He went up to him: and behold, he was sitting on the top of the hill. He spoke to him, man of G.o.d, the king has said, Come down.

1:10 Elijah answered to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of G.o.d, let fire come down from the sky, and consume you and your fifty. Fire came down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty. 1:11 Again he sent to him another captain of fifty and his fifty. He answered him, man of G.o.d, thus has the king said, Come down quickly. 1:12 Elijah answered them, If I be a man of G.o.d, let fire come down from the sky, and consume you and your fifty. The fire of G.o.d came down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty. 1:13 Again he sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. The third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and begged him, and said to him, man of G.o.d, please let my life, and the life of these fifty your servants, be precious in your sight. 1:14 Behold, fire came down from the sky, and consumed the two former captains of fifty with their fifties; but now let my life be precious in your sight. 1:15 The angel of Yahweh said to Elijah, Go down with him: don"t be afraid of him. He arose, and went down with him to the king. 1:16 He said to him, Thus says Yahweh, Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal Zebub, the G.o.d of Ekron, is it because there is no G.o.d in Israel to inquire of his word? therefore you shall not come down from the bed where you are gone up, but shall surely die.

1:17 So he died according to the word of Yahweh which Elijah had spoken.

Jehoram began to reign in his place in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son. 1:18 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, aren"t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

2:1 It happened, when Yahweh would take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2:2 Elijah said to Elisha, Please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me as far as Bethel.

Elisha said, As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they went down to Bethel. 2:3 The sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that Yahweh will take away your master from your head today?"

He said, "Yes, I know it; hold your peace."

2:4 Elijah said to him, Elisha, please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me to Jericho. He said, As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they came to Jericho. 2:5 The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came near to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that Yahweh will take away your master from your head today?"

He answered, "Yes, I know it. Hold your peace."

2:6 Elijah said to him, "Please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me to the Jordan."

He said, "As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." They two went on. 2:7 Fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood over against them afar off: and they two stood by the Jordan.

2:8 Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that they two went over on dry ground. 2:9 It happened, when they had gone over, that Elijah said to Elisha, Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.

Elisha said, please let a double portion of your spirit be on me. 2:10 He said, You have asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so to you; but if not, it shall not be so. 2:11 It happened, as they still went on, and talked, that behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, which parted them both apart; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 2:12 Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its hors.e.m.e.n! He saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and tore them in two pieces. 2:13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of the Jordan.

2:14 He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and struck the waters, and said, Where is Yahweh, the G.o.d of Elijah? and when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha went over. 2:15 When the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho over against him saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah does rest on Elisha. They came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him. 2:16 They said to him, See now, there are with your servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray you, and seek your master, lest the Spirit of Yahweh has taken him up, and cast him on some mountain, or into some valley. He said, You shall not send. 2:17 When they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but didn"t find him. 2:18 They came back to him, while he stayed at Jericho; and he said to them, "Didn"t I tell you, "Don"t go?"" 2:19 The men of the city said to Elisha, Behold, we pray you, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees: but the water is bad, and the land miscarries. 2:20 He said, Bring me a new jar, and put salt therein. They brought it to him. 2:21 He went forth to the spring of the waters, and cast salt therein, and said, Thus says Yahweh, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from there any more death or miscarrying. 2:22 So the waters were healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke. 2:23 He went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up by the way, some youths came out of the city and mocked him, and said to him, Go up, you baldy; go up, you baldhead. 2:24 He looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in the name of Yahweh. Two female bears came out of the woods, and mauled forty-two of those youths. 2:25 He went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.

3:1 Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years. 3:2 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, but not like his father, and like his mother; for he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made. 3:3 Nevertheless he cleaved to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin; he didn"t depart from it. 3:4 Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder; and he rendered to the king of Israel the wool of one hundred thousand lambs, and of one hundred thousand rams. 3:5 But it happened, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. 3:6 King Jehoram went out of Samaria at that time, and mustered all Israel.

3:7 He went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab has rebelled against me: will you go with me against Moab to battle? He said, I will go up: I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses. 3:8 He said, Which way shall we go up?

He answered, The way of the wilderness of Edom. 3:9 So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom; and they made a circuit of seven days" journey: and there was no water for the army, nor for the animals that followed them. 3:10 The king of Israel said, Alas! for Yahweh has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab. 3:11 But Jehoshaphat said, Isn"t there here a prophet of Yahweh, that we may inquire of Yahweh by him? One of the king of Israel"s servants answered, Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah. 3:12 Jehoshaphat said, The word of Yahweh is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him. 3:13 Elisha said to the king of Israel, What have I to do with you? get you to the prophets of your father, and to the prophets of your mother. The king of Israel said to him, No; for Yahweh has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab. 3:14 Elisha said, As Yahweh of Armies lives, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward you, nor see you. 3:15 But now bring me a minstrel. It happened, when the minstrel played, that the hand of Yahweh came on him. 3:16 He said, Thus says Yahweh, Make this valley full of trenches. 3:17 For thus says Yahweh, You shall not see wind, neither shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, and you shall drink, both you and your livestock and your animals. 3:18 This is but a light thing in the sight of Yahweh: he will also deliver the Moabites into your hand. 3:19 You shall strike every fortified city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all springs of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones. 3:20 It happened in the morning, about the time of offering the offering, that behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water. 3:21 Now when all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, they gathered themselves together, all who were able to put on armor, and upward, and stood on the border. 3:22 They rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone on the water, and the Moabites saw the water over against them as red as blood: 3:23 and they said, This is blood; the kings are surely destroyed, and they have struck each man his fellow: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil. 3:24 When they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and struck the Moabites, so that they fled before them; and they went forward into the land smiting the Moabites. 3:25 They beat down the cities; and on every good piece of land they cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the springs of water, and felled all the good trees, until in Kir Hareseth only they left its stones; however the men armed with slings went about it, and struck it. 3:26 When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too severe for him, he took with him seven hundred men who drew sword, to break through to the king of Edom; but they could not. 3:27 Then he took his eldest son who would have reigned in his place, and offered him for a burnt offering on the wall. There was great wrath against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.

4:1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets to Elisha, saying, Your servant my husband is dead; and you know that your servant did fear Yahweh: and the creditor is come to take to him my two children to be bondservants. 4:2 Elisha said to her, What shall I do for you? tell me; what have you in the house? She said, Your handmaid has nothing in the house, except a pot of oil. 4:3 Then he said, Go, borrow you vessels abroad of all your neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. 4:4 You shall go in, and shut the door on you and on your sons, and pour out into all those vessels; and you shall set aside that which is full. 4:5 So she went from him, and shut the door on her and on her sons; they brought the vessels to her, and she poured out. 4:6 It happened, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, Bring me yet a vessel. He said to her, There isn"t another vessel.

The oil stayed. 4:7 Then she came and told the man of G.o.d. He said, Go, sell the oil, and pay your debt, and live you and your sons of the rest.

4:8 It fell on a day, that Elisha pa.s.sed to Shunem, where there was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. So it was, that as often as he pa.s.sed by, he turned in there to eat bread. 4:9 She said to her husband, See now, I perceive that this is a holy man of G.o.d, that pa.s.ses by us continually. 4:10 Let us make, Please, a little chamber on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a seat, and a lamp stand: and it shall be, when he comes to us, that he shall turn in there. 4:11 It fell on a day, that he came there, and he turned into the chamber and lay there. 4:12 He said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. When he had called her, she stood before him. 4:13 He said to him, Say now to her, Behold, you have been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for you? would you be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the army? She answered, I dwell among my own people. 4:14 He said, What then is to be done for her? Gehazi answered, Most certainly she has no son, and her husband is old. 4:15 He said, Call her. When he had called her, she stood in the door. 4:16 He said, At this season, when the time comes round, you shall embrace a son. She said, No, my lord, you man of G.o.d, do not lie to your handmaid.

4:17 The woman conceived, and bore a son at that season, when the time came round, as Elisha had said to her. 4:18 When the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. 4:19 He said to his father, My head, my head. He said to his servant, Carry him to his mother. 4:20 When he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees until noon, and then died. 4:21 She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of G.o.d, and shut the door on him, and went out. 4:22 She called to her husband, and said, Please send me one of the servants, and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of G.o.d, and come again. 4:23 He said, Why will you go to him today? it is neither new moon nor Sabbath. She said, It shall be well. 4:24 Then she saddled a donkey, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; don"t slacken me the riding, except I bid you. 4:25 So she went, and came to the man of G.o.d to Mount Carmel. It happened, when the man of G.o.d saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is the Shunammite: 4:26 please run now to meet her, and ask her, Is it well with you? is it well with your husband? is it well with the child? She answered, It is well. 4:27 When she came to the man of G.o.d to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi came near to thrust her away; but the man of G.o.d said, Let her alone: for her soul is troubled within her; and Yahweh has hid it from me, and has not told me. 4:28 Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? Didn"t I say, Do not deceive me? 4:29 Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up your waist, and take my staff in your hand, and go your way: if you meet any man, Don"t greet him; and if anyone greets you, don"t answer him again: and lay my staff on the face of the child. 4:30 The mother of the child said, As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. He arose, and followed her. 4:31 Gehazi pa.s.sed on before them, and laid the staff on the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Therefore he returned to meet him, and told him, saying, The child has not awakened. 4:32 When Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid on his bed. 4:33 He went in therefore, and shut the door on them both, and prayed to Yahweh. 4:34 He went up, and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, and his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands: and he stretched himself on him; and the flesh of the child grew warm. 4:35 Then he returned, and walked in the house once back and forth; and went up, and stretched himself on him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 4:36 He called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. When she was come in to him, he said, Take up your son. 4:37 Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground; and she took up her son, and went out. 4:38 Elisha came again to Gilgal. There was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him; and he said to his servant, Set on the great pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets. 4:39 One went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered of it wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of stew; for they didn"t recognize them. 4:40 So they poured out for the men to eat. It happened, as they were eating of the stew, that they cried out, and said, man of G.o.d, there is death in the pot. They could not eat of it. 4:41 But he said, Then bring meal. He cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. There was no harm in the pot. 4:42 There came a man from Baal Shalishah, and brought the man of G.o.d bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and fresh ears of grain in his sack. He said, Give to the people, that they may eat. 4:43 His servant said, What, should I set this before a hundred men? But he said, Give the people, that they may eat; for thus says Yahweh, They shall eat, and shall leave of it. 4:44 So he set it before them, and they ate, and left of it, according to the word of Yahweh.

5:1 Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him Yahweh had given victory to Syria: he was also a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.

5:2 The Syrians had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maiden; and she waited on Naaman"s wife.

5:3 She said to her mistress, Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! then would he recover him of his leprosy. 5:4 One went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maiden who is of the land of Israel. 5:5 The king of Syria said, Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel. He departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 5:6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may recover him of his leprosy. 5:7 It happened, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he tore his clothes, and said, Am I G.o.d, to kill and to make alive, that this man does send to me to recover a man of his leprosy? but consider, I pray you, and see how he seeks a quarrel against me. 5:8 It was so, when Elisha the man of G.o.d heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Why have you torn your clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel. 5:9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariots, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 5:10 Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall come again to you, and you shall be clean. 5:11 But Naaman was angry, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of Yahweh his G.o.d, and wave his hand over the place, and recover the leper. 5:12 Aren"t Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. 5:13 His servants came near, and spoke to him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid you do some great

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