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1:1 Now king David was old and stricken in years; and
they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.
1:2 Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there
be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before
the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that
my lord the king may get heat.
1:3 So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all
the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her
to the king.
1:4 And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the
king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.
1:5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself,
saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and
fifty men to run before him.
1:6 And his father had not displeased him at any time
in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man;
and his mother bare him after Absalom.
1:7 And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah,
and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.
1:8 But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada,
and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which
belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.
1:9 And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle
by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren
the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants: 1:10
But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon
his brother, he called not.
1:11 Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother
of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith
doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not? 1:12 Now therefore come,
let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine
own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.
1:13 Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto
him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying,
Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon
my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign? 1:14 Behold, while thou yet
talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm
thy words.
1:15 And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the
chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered
unto the king.
1:16 And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the
king. And the king said, What wouldest thou? 1:17 And she said unto
him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid,
saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall
sit upon my throne.
1:18 And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now,
my lord the king, thou knowest it not: 1:19 And he hath slain oxen and
fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the
king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but
Solomon thy servant hath he not called.
1:20 And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel
are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne
of my lord the king after him.
1:21 Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord
the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall
be counted offenders.
1:22 And, lo, while she yet talked with the king,
Nathan the prophet also came in.
1:23 And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan
the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself
before the king with his face to the ground.
1:24 And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said,
Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? 1:25
For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and
sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king's sons, and the captains
of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink
before him, and say, God save king Adonijah.
1:26 But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest,
and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not
called.
1:27 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou
hast not shewed it unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of
my lord the king after him? 1:28 Then king David answered and said,
Call me Bathsheba. And she came into the king's presence, and stood
before the king.
1:29 And the king sware, and said, As the LORD liveth,
that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress, 1:30 Even as I sware
unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son
shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even
so will I certainly do this day.
1:31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth,
and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live
for ever.
1:32 And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest,
and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came
before the king.
1:33 The king also said unto them, Take with you the
servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own
mule, and bring him down to Gihon: 1:34 And let Zadok the priest and
Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with
the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon.
1:35 Then ye shall come up after him, that he may
come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I
have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.
1:36 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the
king, and said, Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king say so too.
1:37 As the LORD hath been with my lord the king,
even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne
of my lord king David.
1:38 So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet,
and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites,
went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought
him to Gihon.
1:39 And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out
of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet;
and all the people said, God save king Solomon.
1:40 And all the people came up after him, and the
people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth
rent with the sound of them.
1:41 And Adonijah and all the guests that were with
him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard
the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city
being in an uproar? 1:42 And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the
son of Abiathar the priest came; and Adonijah said unto him, Come in;
for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good tidings.
1:43 And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily
our lord king David hath made Solomon king.
1:44 And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest,
and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites,
and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king's
mule: 1:45 And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed
him king in Gihon: and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that
the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have heard.
1:46 And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the
kingdom.
1:47 And moreover the king's servants came to bless
our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than
thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king
bowed himself upon the bed.
1:48 And also thus said the king, Blessed be the LORD
God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine
eyes even seeing it.
1:49 And all the guests that were with Adonijah were
afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.
1:50 And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose,
and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
1:51 And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah
feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the
altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me today that he will not
slay his servant with the sword.
1:52 And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy
man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness
shall be found in him, he shall die.
1:53 So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down
from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon: and Solomon
said unto him, Go to thine house.
2:1 Now the days of David drew nigh that he should
die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, 2:2 I go the way of all
the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; 2:3 And
keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his
statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies,
as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all
that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself: 2:4 That the
LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If
thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with
all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said
he) a man on the throne of Israel.
2:5 Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of
Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts
of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether,
whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood
of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that
were on his feet.
2:6 Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let
not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.
2:7 But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the
Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they
came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.
2:8 And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son
of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse
in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan,
and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death
with the sword.
2:9 Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou
art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his
hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.
2:10 So David slept with his fathers, and was buried
in the city of David.
2:11 And the days that David reigned over Israel were
forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three
years reigned he in Jerusalem.
2:12 Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his
father; and his kingdom was established greatly.
2:13 And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba
the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said,
Peaceably.
2:14 He said moreover, I have somewhat to say unto
thee. And she said, Say on.
2:15 And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was
mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign:
howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's: for
it was his from the LORD.
2:16 And now I ask one petition of thee, deny me not.
And she said unto him, Say on.
2:17 And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon
the king, (for he will not say thee nay,) that he give me Abishag the
Shunammite to wife.
2:18 And Bathsheba said, Well; I will speak for thee
unto the king.
2:19 Bathsheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to
speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed
himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be
set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand.
2:20 Then she said, I desire one small petition of
thee; I pray thee, say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on,
my mother: for I will not say thee nay.
2:21 And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given
to Adonijah thy brother to wife.
2:22 And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother,
And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him
the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for
Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.
2:23 Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying,
God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word
against his own life.
2:24 Now therefore, as the LORD liveth, which hath
established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who
hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death
this day.
2:25 And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah
the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.
2:26 And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get
thee to Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for thou art worthy of death:
but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the
ark of the LORD God before David my father, and because thou hast been
afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted.
2:27 So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest
unto the LORD; that he might fulfil the word of the LORD, which he spake
concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.
2:28 Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned
after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto
the tabernacle of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
2:29 And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled
unto the tabernacle of the LORD; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then
Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him.
2:30 And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the LORD,
and said unto him, Thus saith the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay;
but I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying,
Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.
2:31 And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said,
and fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the innocent
blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from the house of my father.
2:32 And the LORD shall return his blood upon his
own head, who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and
slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing thereof, to wit,
Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son
of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.
2:33 Their blood shall therefore return upon the head
of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever: but upon David, and
upon his seed, and upon his house, and upon his throne, shall there
be peace for ever from the LORD.
2:34 So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell
upon him, and slew him: and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.
2:35 And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada
in his room over the host: and Zadok the priest did the king put in
the room of Abiathar.
2:36 And the king sent and called for Shimei, and
said unto him, Build thee an house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and
go not forth thence any whither.
2:37 For it shall be, that on the day thou goest out,
and passest over the brook Kidron, thou shalt know for certain that
thou shalt surely die: thy blood shall be upon thine own head.
2:38 And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is
good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei
dwelt in Jerusalem many days.
2:39 And it came to pass at the end of three years,
that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah
king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants be
in Gath.
2:40 And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went
to Gath to Achish to seek his servants: and Shimei went, and brought
his servants from Gath.
2:41 And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone
from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again.
2:42 And the king sent and called for Shimei, and
said unto him, Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested
unto thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out, and
walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst
unto me, The word that I have heard is good.
2:43 Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the LORD,
and the commandment that I have charged thee with? 2:44 The king said
moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart
is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the LORD
shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head; 2:45 And king Solomon
shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before
the LORD for ever.
2:46 So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada;
which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was
established in the hand of Solomon.
3:1 And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of
Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of
David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house
of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.
3:2 Only the people sacrificed in high places, because
there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days.
3:3 And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes
of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.
3:4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there;
for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon
offer upon that altar.
3:5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream
by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
3:6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant
David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth,
and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou
hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son
to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
3:7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant
king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know
not how to go out or come in.
3:8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people
which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor
counted for multitude.
3:9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart
to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who
is able to judge this thy so great a people? 3:10 And the speech pleased
the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing.
3:11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked
this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked
riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast
asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; 3:12 Behold, I
have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an
understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither
after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
3:13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast
not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among
the kings like unto thee all thy days.
3:14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my
statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will
lengthen thy days.
3:15 And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream.
And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of
the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings,
and made a feast to all his servants.
3:16 Then came there two women, that were harlots,
unto the king, and stood before him.
3:17 And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this
woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in
the house.
3:18 And it came to pass the third day after that
I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together;
there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.
3:19 And this woman's child died in the night; because
she overlaid it.
3:20 And she arose at midnight, and took my son from
beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and
laid her dead child in my bosom.
3:21 And when I rose in the morning to give my child
suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning,
behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.
3:22 And the other woman said, Nay; but the living
is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead
is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.
3:23 Then said the king, The one saith, This is my
son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay;
but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.
3:24 And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they
brought a sword before the king.
3:25 And the king said, Divide the living child in
two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.
3:26 Then spake the woman whose the living child was
unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O
my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the
other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.
3:27 Then the king answered and said, Give her the
living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.
3:28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the
king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom
of God was in him, to do judgment.
4:1 So king Solomon was king over all Israel.
4:2 And these were the princes which he had; Azariah
the son of Zadok the priest, 4:3 Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha,
scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder.
4:4 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host:
and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests: 4:5 And Azariah the son of
Nathan was over the officers: and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal
officer, and the king's friend: 4:6 And Ahishar was over the household:
and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.
4:7 And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel,
which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his
month in a year made provision.
4:8 And these are their names: The son of Hur, in
mount Ephraim: 4:9 The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and
Bethshemesh, and Elonbethhanan: 4:10 The son of Hesed, in Aruboth; to
him pertained Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher: 4:11 The son of Abinadab,
in all the region of Dor; which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon
to wife: 4:12 Baana the son of Ahilud; to him pertained Taanach and
Megiddo, and all Bethshean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from
Bethshean to Abelmeholah, even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam:
4:13 The son of Geber, in Ramothgilead; to him pertained the towns of
Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; to him also pertained
the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, threescore great cities with
walls and brasen bars: 4:14 Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim: 4:15
Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon
to wife: 4:16 Baanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth: 4:17
Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar: 4:18 Shimei the son of Elah,
in Benjamin: 4:19 Geber the son of Uri was in the country of Gilead,
in the country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og king of Bashan;
and he was the only officer which was in the land.
4:20 Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which
is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.
4:21 And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the
river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt:
they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.
4:22 And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty
measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal, 4:23 Ten fat
oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside
harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and fatted fowl.
4:24 For he had dominion over all the region on this
side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this
side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him.
4:25 And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man
under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all
the days of Solomon.
4:26 And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses
for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.
4:27 And those officers provided victual for king
Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon's table, every man
in his month: they lacked nothing.
4:28 Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries
brought they unto the place where the officers were, every man according
to his charge.
4:29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding
exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on
the sea shore.
4:30 And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all
the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.
4:31 For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the
Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and
his fame was in all nations round about.
4:32 And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his
songs were a thousand and five.
4:33 And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that
is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he
spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.
4:34 And there came of all people to hear the wisdom
of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.
5:1 And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto
Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room
of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.
5:2 And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, 5:3 Thou knowest
how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the
LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until
the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.
5:4 But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on
every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.
5:5 And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto
the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father,
saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall
build an house unto my name.
5:6 Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar
trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants: and
unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that thou
shalt appoint: for thou knowest that there is not among us any that
can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians.
5:7 And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words
of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be the LORD
this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people.
5:8 And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered
the things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do all thy desire
concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir.
5:9 My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon
unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place
that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there,
and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in
giving food for my household.
5:10 So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees
according to all his desire.
5:11 And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures
of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil:
thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.
5:12 And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised
him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made
a league together.
5:13 And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel;
and the levy was thirty thousand men.
5:14 And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month
by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and
Adoniram was over the levy.
5:15 And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that
bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains; 5:16 Beside
the chief of Solomon's officers which were over the work, three thousand
and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.
5:17 And the king commanded, and they brought great
stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the
house.
5:18 And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did
hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones
to build the house.
6:1 And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth
year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt,
in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif,
which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.
6:2 And the house which king Solomon built for the
LORD, the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof
twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits.
6:3 And the porch before the temple of the house,
twenty cubits was the length thereof, according to the breadth of the
house; and ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the house.
6:4 And for the house he made windows of narrow lights.
6:5 And against the wall of the house he built chambers
round about, against the walls of the house round about, both of the
temple and of the oracle: and he made chambers round about: 6:6 The
nethermost chamber was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits
broad, and the third was seven cubits broad: for without in the wall
of the house he made narrowed rests round about, that the beams should
not be fastened in the walls of the house.
6:7 And the house, when it was in building, was built
of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was
neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while
it was in building.
6:8 The door for the middle chamber was in the right
side of the house: and they went up with winding stairs into the middle
chamber, and out of the middle into the third.
6:9 So he built the house, and finished it; and covered
the house with beams and boards of cedar.
6:10 And then he built chambers against all the house,
five cubits high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.
6:11 And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying,
6:12 Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt
walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments
to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake
unto David thy father: 6:13 And I will dwell among the children of Israel,
and will not forsake my people Israel.
6:14 So Solomon built the house, and finished it.
6:15 And he built the walls of the house within with
boards of cedar, both the floor of the house, and the walls of the ceiling:
and he covered them on the inside with wood, and covered the floor of
the house with planks of fir.
6:16 And he built twenty cubits on the sides of the
house, both the floor and the walls with boards of cedar: he even built
them for it within, even for the oracle, even for the most holy place.
6:17 And the house, that is, the temple before it,
was forty cubits long.
6:18 And the cedar of the house within was carved
with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.
6:19 And the oracle he prepared in the house within,
to set there the ark of the covenant of the LORD.
6:20 And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits
in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height
thereof: and he overlaid it with pure gold; and so covered the altar
which was of cedar.
6:21 So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure
gold: and he made a partition by the chains of gold before the oracle;
and he overlaid it with gold.
6:22 And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until
he had finished all the house: also the whole altar that was by the
oracle he overlaid with gold.
6:23 And within the oracle he made two cherubims of
olive tree, each ten cubits high.
6:24 And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub,
and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part
of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits.
6:25 And the other cherub was ten cubits: both the
cherubims were of one measure and one size.
6:26 The height of the one cherub was ten cubits,
and so was it of the other cherub.
6:27 And he set the cherubims within the inner house:
and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, so that the wing
of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched
the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of
the house.
6:28 And he overlaid the cherubims with gold.
6:29 And he carved all the walls of the house round
about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers,
within and without.
6:30 And the floors of the house he overlaid with
gold, within and without.
6:31 And for the entering of the oracle he made doors
of olive tree: the lintel and side posts were a fifth part of the wall.
6:32 The two doors also were of olive tree; and he
carved upon them carvings of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers,
and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubims, and
upon the palm trees.
6:33 So also made he for the door of the temple posts
of olive tree, a fourth part of the wall.
6:34 And the two doors were of fir tree: the two leaves
of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were
folding.
6:35 And he carved thereon cherubims and palm trees
and open flowers: and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved
work.
6:36 And he built the inner court with three rows
of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams.
6:37 In the fourth year was the foundation of the
house of the LORD laid, in the month Zif: 6:38 And in the eleventh year,
in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished
throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of
it. So was he seven years in building it.
7:1 But Solomon was building his own house thirteen
years, and he finished all his house.
7:2 He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon;
the length thereof was an hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty
cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar
pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars.
7:3 And it was covered with cedar above upon the beams,
that lay on forty five pillars, fifteen in a row.
7:4 And there were windows in three rows, and light
was against light in three ranks.
7:5 And all the doors and posts were square, with
the windows: and light was against light in three ranks.
7:6 And he made a porch of pillars; the length thereof
was fifty cubits, and the breadth thereof thirty cubits: and the porch
was before them: and the other pillars and the thick beam were before
them.
7:7 Then he made a porch for the throne where he might
judge, even the porch of judgment: and it was covered with cedar from
one side of the floor to the other.
7:8 And his house where he dwelt had another court
within the porch, which was of the like work. Solomon made also an house
for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had taken to wife, like unto this porch.
7:9 All these were of costly stones, according to
the measures of hewed stones, sawed with saws, within and without, even
from the foundation unto the coping, and so on the outside toward the
great court.
7:10 And the foundation was of costly stones, even
great stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits.
7:11 And above were costly stones, after the measures
of hewed stones, and cedars.
7:12 And the great court round about was with three
rows of hewed stones, and a row of cedar beams, both for the inner court
of the house of the LORD, and for the porch of the house.
7:13 And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of
Tyre.
7:14 He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali,
and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled
with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass.
And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work.
7:15 For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen
cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of
them about.
7:16 And he made two chapiters of molten brass, to
set upon the tops of the pillars: the height of the one chapiter was
five cubits, and the height of the other chapiter was five cubits: 7:17
And nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work, for the chapiters
which were upon the top of the pillars; seven for the one chapiter,
and seven for the other chapiter.
7:18 And he made the pillars, and two rows round about
upon the one network, to cover the chapiters that were upon the top,
with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter.
7:19 And the chapiters that were upon the top of the
pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits.
7:20 And the chapiters upon the two pillars had pomegranates
also above, over against the belly which was by the network: and the
pomegranates were two hundred in rows round about upon the other chapiter.
7:21 And he set up the pillars in the porch of the
temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof
Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz.
7:22 And upon the top of the pillars was lily work:
so was the work of the pillars finished.
7:23 And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the
one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five
cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.
7:24 And under the brim of it round about there were
knops compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about:
the knops were cast in two rows, when it was cast.
7:25 It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward
the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward
the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above
upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.
7:26 And it was an hand breadth thick, and the brim
thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies:
it contained two thousand baths.
7:27 And he made ten bases of brass; four cubits was
the length of one base, and four cubits the breadth thereof, and three
cubits the height of it.
7:28 And the work of the bases was on this manner:
they had borders, and the borders were between the ledges: 7:29 And
on the borders that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, and cherubims:
and upon the ledges there was a base above: and beneath the lions and
oxen were certain additions made of thin work.
7:30 And every base had four brasen wheels, and plates
of brass: and the four corners thereof had undersetters: under the laver
were undersetters molten, at the side of every addition.
7:31 And the mouth of it within the chapiter and above
was a cubit: but the mouth thereof was round after the work of the base,
a cubit and an half: and also upon the mouth of it were gravings with
their borders, foursquare, not round.
7:32 And under the borders were four wheels; and the
axletrees of the wheels were joined to the base: and the height of a
wheel was a cubit and half a cubit.
7:33 And the work of the wheels was like the work
of a chariot wheel: their axletrees, and their naves, and their felloes,
and their spokes, were all molten.
7:34 And there were four undersetters to the four
corners of one base: and the undersetters were of the very base itself.
7:35 And in the top of the base was there a round
compass of half a cubit high: and on the top of the base the ledges
thereof and the borders thereof were of the same.
7:36 For on the plates of the ledges thereof, and
on the borders thereof, he graved cherubims, lions, and palm trees,
according to the proportion of every one, and additions round about.
7:37 After this manner he made the ten bases: all
of them had one casting, one measure, and one size.
7:38 Then made he ten lavers of brass: one laver contained
forty baths: and every laver was four cubits: and upon every one of
the ten bases one laver.
7:39 And he put five bases on the right side of the
house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on
the right side of the house eastward over against the south.
7:40 And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, and
the basons. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he made
king Solomon for the house of the LORD: 7:41 The two pillars, and the
two bowls of the chapiters that were on the top of the two pillars;
and the two networks, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters which
were upon the top of the pillars; 7:42 And four hundred pomegranates
for the two networks, even two rows of pomegranates for one network,
to cover the two bowls of the chapiters that were upon the pillars;
7:43 And the ten bases, and ten lavers on the bases; 7:44 And one sea,
and twelve oxen under the sea; 7:45 And the pots, and the shovels, and
the basons: and all these vessels, which Hiram made to king Solomon
for the house of the LORD, were of bright brass.
7:46 In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them,
in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan.
7:47 And Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because
they were exceeding many: neither was the weight of the brass found
out.
7:48 And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained
unto the house of the LORD: the altar of gold, and the table of gold,
whereupon the shewbread was, 7:49 And the candlesticks of pure gold,
five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, with
the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold, 7:50 And the bowls,
and the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and the censers of
pure gold; and the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner house,
the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, to wit, of the
temple.
7:51 So was ended all the work that king Solomon made
for the house of the LORD. And Solomon brought in the things which David
his father had dedicated; even the silver, and the gold, and the vessels,
did he put among the treasures of the house of the LORD.
8:1 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and
all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children
of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up
the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which
is Zion.
8:2 And all the men of Israel assembled themselves
unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh
month.
8:3 And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests
took up the ark.
8:4 And they brought up the ark of the LORD, and the
tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in
the tabernacle, even those did the priests and the Levites bring up.
8:5 And king Solomon, and all the congregation of
Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the ark,
sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for
multitude.
8:6 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant
of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most
holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims.
8:7 For the cherubims spread forth their two wings
over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the
staves thereof above.
8:8 And they drew out the staves, that the ends of
the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they
were not seen without: and there they are unto this day.
8:9 There was nothing in the ark save the two tables
of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant
with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.
8:10 And it came to pass, when the priests were come
out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,
8:11 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the
cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.
8:12 Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would
dwell in the thick darkness.
8:13 I have surely built thee an house to dwell in,
a settled place for thee to abide in for ever.
8:14 And the king turned his face about, and blessed
all the congregation of Israel: (and all the congregation of Israel
stood;) 8:15 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which spake
with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hand fulfilled
it, saying, 8:16 Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel
out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build
an house, that my name might be therein; but I chose David to be over
my people Israel.
8:17 And it was in the heart of David my father to
build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
8:18 And the LORD said unto David my father, Whereas
it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well
that it was in thine heart.
8:19 Nevertheless thou shalt not build the house;
but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the
house unto my name.
8:20 And the LORD hath performed his word that he
spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on
the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built an house
for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
8:21 And I have set there a place for the ark, wherein
is the covenant of the LORD, which he made with our fathers, when he
brought them out of the land of Egypt.
8:22 And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD
in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth
his hands toward heaven: 8:23 And he said, LORD God of Israel, there
is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest
covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all
their heart: 8:24 Who hast kept with thy servant David my father that
thou promisedst him: thou spakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled
it with thine hand, as it is this day.
8:25 Therefore now, LORD God of Israel, keep with
thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him, saying, There
shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel;
so that thy children take heed to their way, that they walk before me
as thou hast walked before me.
8:26 And now, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray
thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father.
8:27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold,
the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less
this house that I have builded? 8:28 Yet have thou respect unto the
prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken
unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee
to day: 8:29 That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and
day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be
there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall
make toward this place.
8:30 And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant,
and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and
hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive.
8:31 If any man trespass against his neighbour, and
an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before
thine altar in this house: 8:32 Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and
judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his
head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.
8:33 When thy people Israel be smitten down before
the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again
to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto
thee in this house: 8:34 Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin
of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou
gavest unto their fathers.
8:35 When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain,
because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place,
and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest
them: 8:36 Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants,
and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein
they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given
to thy people for an inheritance.
8:37 If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence,
blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpiller; if their enemy
besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever
sickness there be; 8:38 What prayer and supplication soever be made
by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man
the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this
house: 8:39 Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive,
and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou
knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children
of men;) 8:40 That they may fear thee all the days that they live in
the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.
8:41 Moreover concerning a stranger, that is not of
thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name's sake;
8:42 (For they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong hand,
and of thy stretched out arm;) when he shall come and pray toward this
house; 8:43 Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according
to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the
earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy people Israel; and
that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called
by thy name.
8:44 If thy people go out to battle against their
enemy, whithersoever thou shalt send them, and shall pray unto the LORD
toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house that I
have built for thy name: 8:45 Then hear thou in heaven their prayer
and their supplication, and maintain their cause.
8:46 If they sin against thee, (for there is no man
that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to
the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the
enemy, far or near; 8:47 Yet if they shall bethink themselves in the
land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication
unto thee in the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We
have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness;
8:48 And so return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their
soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive, and
pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers,
the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for
thy name: 8:49 Then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in
heaven thy dwelling place, and maintain their cause, 8:50 And forgive
thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions
wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion
before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion
on them: 8:51 For they be thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou
broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron:
8:52 That thine eyes may be open unto the supplication of thy servant,
and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to hearken unto them
in all that they call for unto thee.
8:53 For thou didst separate them from among all the
people of the earth, to be thine inheritance, as thou spakest by the
hand of Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt,
O LORD God.
8:54 And it was so, that when Solomon had made an
end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose
from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his
hands spread up to heaven.
8:55 And he stood, and blessed all the congregation
of Israel with a loud voice, saying, 8:56 Blessed be the LORD, that
hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised:
there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised
by the hand of Moses his servant.
8:57 The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our
fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us: 8:58 That he may incline
our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments,
and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers.
8:59 And let these my words, wherewith I have made
supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and
night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his
people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require: 8:60 That all
the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there
is none else.
8:61 Let your heart therefore be perfect with the
LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments,
as at this day.
8:62 And the king, and all Israel with him, offered
sacrifice before the LORD.
8:63 And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings,
which he offered unto the LORD, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an
hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children
of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD.
8:64 The same day did the king hallow the middle of
the court that was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered
burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings:
because the brasen altar that was before the LORD was too little to
receive the burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the
peace offerings.
8:65 And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all
Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath
unto the river of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days and seven
days, even fourteen days.
8:66 On the eighth day he sent the people away: and
they blessed the king, and went unto their tents joyful and glad of
heart for all the goodness that the LORD had done for David his servant,
and for Israel his people.
9:1 And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished
the building of the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all
Solomon's desire which he was pleased to do, 9:2 That the LORD appeared
to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon.
9:3 And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer
and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed
this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and
mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
9:4 And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy
father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according
to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my
judgments: 9:5 Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon
Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall
not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.
9:6 But if ye shall at all turn from following me,
ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes
which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship
them: 9:7 Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given
them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast
out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all
people: 9:8 And at this house, which is high, every one that passeth
by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath
the LORD done thus unto this land, and to this house? 9:9 And they shall
answer, Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought forth their
fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods,
and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath the LORD brought
upon them all this evil.
9:10 And it came to pass at the end of twenty years,
when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the LORD, and the
king's house, 9:11 (Now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon
with cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his
desire,) that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land
of Galilee.
9:12 And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities
which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not.
9:13 And he said, What cities are these which thou
hast given me, my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul unto
this day.
9:14 And Hiram sent to the king sixscore talents of
gold.
9:15 And this is the reason of the levy which king
Solomon raised; for to build the house of the LORD, and his own house,
and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.
9:16 For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, and taken
Gezer, and burnt it with fire, and slain the Canaanites that dwelt in
the city, and given it for a present unto his daughter, Solomon's wife.
9:17 And Solomon built Gezer, and Bethhoron the nether,
9:18 And Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness, in the land, 9:19 And
all the cities of store that Solomon had, and cities for his chariots,
and cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build
in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
9:20 And all the people that were left of the Amorites,
Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the
children of Israel, 9:21 Their children that were left after them in
the land, whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to
destroy, upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bondservice unto this
day.
9:22 But of the children of Israel did Solomon make
no bondmen: but they were men of war, and his servants, and his princes,
and his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen.
9:23 These were the chief of the officers that were
over Solomon's work, five hundred and fifty, which bare rule over the
people that wrought in the work.
9:24 But Pharaoh's daughter came up out of the city
of David unto her house which Solomon had built for her: then did he
build Millo.
9:25 And three times in a year did Solomon offer burnt
offerings and peace offerings upon the altar which he built unto the
LORD, and he burnt incense upon the altar that was before the LORD.
So he finished the house.
9:26 And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Eziongeber,
which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom.
9:27 And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen
that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.
9:28 And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence
gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.
10:1 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame
of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with
hard questions.
10:2 And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train,
with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones:
and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that
was in her heart.
10:3 And Solomon told her all her questions: there
was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not.
10:4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's
wisdom, and the house that he had built, 10:5 And the meat of his table,
and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers,
and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went
up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.
10:6 And she said to the king, It was a true report
that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom.
10:7 Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came,
and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy
wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.
10:8 Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants,
which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.
10:9 Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted
in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved
Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.
10:10 And she gave the king an hundred and twenty
talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones:
there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen
of Sheba gave to king Solomon.
10:11 And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold
from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious
stones.
10:12 And the king made of the almug trees pillars
for the house of the LORD, and for the king's house, harps also and
psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen
unto this day.
10:13 And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba
all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave
her of his royal bounty.
So she turned and went to her own country, she and
her servants.
10:14 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon
in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold, 10:15
Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice
merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the
country.
10:16 And king Solomon made two hundred targets of
beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target.
10:17 And he made three hundred shields of beaten
gold; three pound of gold went to one shield: and the king put them
in the house of the forest of Lebanon.
10:18 Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory,
and overlaid it with the best gold.
10:19 The throne had six steps, and the top of the
throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the
place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays.
10:20 And twelve lions stood there on the one side
and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in
any kingdom.
10:21 And all king Solomon's drinking vessels were
of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were
of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the
days of Solomon.
10:22 For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish
with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish,
bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.
10:23 So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the
earth for riches and for wisdom.
10:24 And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear
his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
10:25 And they brought every man his present, vessels
of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices,
horses, and mules, a rate year by year.
10:26 And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen:
and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand
horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the
king at Jerusalem.
10:27 And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem
as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore trees that are in
the vale, for abundance.
10:28 And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt,
and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.
10:29 And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt
for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty:
and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria,
did they bring them out by their means.
11:1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together
with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites,
Zidonians, and Hittites: 11:2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD
said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither
shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart
after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.
11:3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and
three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
11:4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that
his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was
not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
11:5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess
of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
11:6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD,
and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.
11:7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh,
the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for
Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.
11:8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives,
which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.
11:9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because
his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared
unto him twice, 11:10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that
he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD
commanded.
11:11 Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch
as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes,
which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee,
and will give it to thy servant.
11:12 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it
for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy
son.
11:13 Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom;
but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and
for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.
11:14 And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon,
Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king's seed in Edom.
11:15 For it came to pass, when David was in Edom,
and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, after
he had smitten every male in Edom; 11:16 (For six months did Joab remain
there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom:) 11:17
That Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with
him, to go into Egypt; Hadad being yet a little child.
11:18 And they arose out of Midian, and came to Paran:
and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, unto
Pharaoh king of Egypt; which gave him an house, and appointed him victuals,
and gave him land.
11:19 And Hadad found great favour in the sight of
Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the
sister of Tahpenes the queen.
11:20 And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath
his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house: and Genubath was in
Pharaoh's household among the sons of Pharaoh.
11:21 And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept
with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad
said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country.
11:22 Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast thou
lacked with me, that, behold, thou seekest to go to thine own country?
And he answered, Nothing: howbeit let me go in any wise.
11:23 And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon
the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:
11:24 And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a band,
when David slew them of Zobah: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt
therein, and reigned in Damascus.
11:25 And he was an adversary to Israel all the days
of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel,
and reigned over Syria.
11:26 And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite
of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow
woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king.
11:27 And this was the cause that he lifted up his
hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches
of the city of David his father.
11:28 And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour:
and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him
ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.
11:29 And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam
went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him
in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two
were alone in the field: 11:30 And Ahijah caught the new garment that
was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces: 11:31 And he said to Jeroboam,
Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold,
I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten
tribes to thee: 11:32 (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's
sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of
all the tribes of Israel:) 11:33 Because that they have forsaken me,
and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh
the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon,
and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes,
and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.
11:34 Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out
of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for
David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments
and my statutes: 11:35 But I will take the kingdom out of his son's
hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes.
11:36 And unto his son will I give one tribe, that
David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the
city which I have chosen me to put my name there.
11:37 And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according
to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.
11:38 And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all
that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right
in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant
did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built
for David, and will give Israel unto thee.
11:39 And I will for this afflict the seed of David,
but not for ever.
11:40 Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And
Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and
was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.
11:41 And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all
that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the
acts of Solomon? 11:42 And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem
over all Israel was forty years.
11:43 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was
buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned
in his stead.
12:1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel
were come to Shechem to make him king.
12:2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of
Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the
presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;) 12:3 That they
sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel
came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying, 12:4 Thy father made our yoke
grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father,
and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve
thee.
12:5 And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days,
then come again to me. And the people departed.
12:6 And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men,
that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How
do ye advise that I may answer this people? 12:7 And they spake unto
him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and
wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then
they will be thy servants for ever.
12:8 But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which
they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown
up with him, and which stood before him: 12:9 And he said unto them,
What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken
to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?
12:10 And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him,
saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee,
saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto
us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker
than my father's loins.
12:11 And now whereas my father did lade you with
a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you
with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
12:12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam
the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the
third day.
12:13 And the king answered the people roughly, and
forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; 12:14 And spake to
them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your
yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you
with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
12:15 Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people;
for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which
the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
12:16 So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened
not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have
we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your
tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed
unto their tents.
12:17 But as for the children of Israel which dwelt
in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
12:18 Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over
the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore
king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
12:19 So Israel rebelled against the house of David
unto this day.
12:20 And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that
Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation,
and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the
house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.
12:21 And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he
assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred
and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against
the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son
of Solomon.
12:22 But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man
of God, saying, 12:23 Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king
of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant
of the people, saying, 12:24 Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up,
nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every
man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore
to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word
of the LORD.
12:25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim,
and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.
12:26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the
kingdom return to the house of David: 12:27 If this people go up to
do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart
of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of
Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.
12:28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two
calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up
to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of
the land of Egypt.
12:29 And he set the one in Bethel, and the other
put he in Dan.
12:30 And this thing became a sin: for the people
went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.
12:31 And he made an house of high places, and made
priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.
12:32 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth
month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is
in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing
unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests
of the high places which he had made.
12:33 So he offered upon the altar which he had made
in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which
he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children
of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.
13:1 And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah
by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar
to burn incense.
13:2 And he cried against the altar in the word of
the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child
shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee
shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon
thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee.
13:3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This
is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent,
and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.
13:4 And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard
the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel,
that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him.
And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could
not pull it in again to him.
13:5 The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured
out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given
by the word of the LORD.
13:6 And the king answered and said unto the man of
God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that
my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD,
and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.
13:7 And the king said unto the man of God, Come home
with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward.
13:8 And the man of God said unto the king, If thou
wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will
I eat bread nor drink water in this place: 13:9 For so was it charged
me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor
turn again by the same way that thou camest.
13:10 So he went another way, and returned not by
the way that he came to Bethel.
13:11 Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and
his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done
that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them
they told also to their father.
13:12 And their father said unto them, What way went
he? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from
Judah.
13:13 And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass.
So they saddled him the ass: and he rode thereon, 13:14 And went after
the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto
him, Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I
am.
13:15 Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and
eat bread.
13:16 And he said, I may not return with thee, nor
go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee
in this place: 13:17 For it was said to me by the word of the LORD,
Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go
by the way that thou camest.
13:18 He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou
art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring
him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink
water. But he lied unto him.
13:19 So he went back with him, and did eat bread
in his house, and drank water.
13:20 And it came to pass, as they sat at the table,
that the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him back:
13:21 And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying,
Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the
LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded
thee, 13:22 But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in
the place, of the which the Lord did say to thee, Eat no bread, and
drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy
fathers.
13:23 And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread,
and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for
the prophet whom he had brought back.
13:24 And when he was gone, a lion met him by the
way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass
stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase.
13:25 And, behold, men passed by, and saw the carcase
cast in the way, and the lion standing by the carcase: and they came
and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt.
13:26 And when the prophet that brought him back from
the way heard thereof, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient
unto the word of the LORD: therefore the LORD hath delivered him unto
the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word
of the LORD, which he spake unto him.
13:27 And he spake to his sons, saying, Saddle me
the ass. And they saddled him.
13:28 And he went and found his carcase cast in the
way, and the ass and the lion standing by the carcase: the lion had
not eaten the carcase, nor torn the ass.
13:29 And the prophet took up the carcase of the man
of God, and laid it upon the ass, and brought it back: and the old prophet
came to the city, to mourn and to bury him.
13:30 And he laid his carcase in his own grave; and
they mourned over him, saying, Alas, my brother! 13:31 And it came to
pass, after he had buried him, that he spake to his sons, saying, When
I am dead, then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried;
lay my bones beside his bones: 13:32 For the saying which he cried by
the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the
houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall
surely come to pass.
13:33 After this thing Jeroboam returned not from
his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of
the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became
one of the priests of the high places.
13:34 And this thing became sin unto the house of
Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of
the earth.
14:1 At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell
sick.
14:2 And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, I pray
thee, and disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of
Jeroboam; and get thee to Shiloh: behold, there is Ahijah the prophet,
which told me that I should be king over this people.
14:3 And take with thee ten loaves, and cracknels,
and a cruse of honey, and go to him: he shall tell thee what shall become
of the child.
14:4 And Jeroboam's wife did so, and arose, and went
to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see;
for his eyes were set by reason of his age.
14:5 And the LORD said unto Ahijah, Behold, the wife
of Jeroboam cometh to ask a thing of thee for her son; for he is sick:
thus and thus shalt thou say unto her: for it shall be, when she cometh
in, that she shall feign herself to be another woman.
14:6 And it was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of
her feet, as she came in at the door, that he said, Come in, thou wife
of Jeroboam; why feignest thou thyself to be another? for I am sent
to thee with heavy tidings.
14:7 Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus saith the LORD God of
Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made
thee prince over my people Israel, 14:8 And rent the kingdom away from
the house of David, and gave it thee: and yet thou hast not been as
my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with
all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes; 14:9 But
hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and
made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and
hast cast me behind thy back: 14:10 Therefore, behold, I will bring
evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him
that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel,
and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh
away dung, till it be all gone.
14:11 Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall
the dogs eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the
air eat: for the LORD hath spoken it.
14:12 Arise thou therefore, get thee to thine own
house: and when thy feet enter into the city, the child shall die.
14:13 And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury
him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him
there is found some good thing toward the LORD God of Israel in the
house of Jeroboam.
14:14 Moreover the LORD shall raise him up a king
over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam that day: but what?
even now.
14:15 For the LORD shall smite Israel, as a reed is
shaken in the water, and he shall root up Israel out of this good land,
which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river,
because they have made their groves, provoking the LORD to anger.
14:16 And he shall give Israel up because of the sins
of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.
14:17 And Jeroboam's wife arose, and departed, and
came to Tirzah: and when she came to the threshold of the door, the
child died; 14:18 And they buried him; and all Israel mourned for him,
according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by the hand of his
servant Ahijah the prophet.
14:19 And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he
warred, and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of
the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
14:20 And the days which Jeroboam reigned were two
and twenty years: and he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned
in his stead.
14:21 And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah.
Rehoboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he
reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD did choose
out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's
name was Naamah an Ammonitess.
14:22 And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD,
and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed,
above all that their fathers had done.
14:23 For they also built them high places, and images,
and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.
14:24 And there were also sodomites in the land: and
they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the
LORD cast out before the children of Israel.
14:25 And it came to pass in the fifth year of king
Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem: 14:26
And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures
of the king's house; he even took away all: and he took away all the
shields of gold which Solomon had made.
14:27 And king Rehoboam made in their stead brasen
shields, and committed them unto the hands of the chief of the guard,
which kept the door of the king's house.
14:28 And it was so, when the king went into the house
of the LORD, that the guard bare them, and brought them back into the
guard chamber.
14:29 Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all
that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the
kings of Judah? 14:30 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam
all their days.
14:31 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was
buried with his fathers in the city of David. And his mother's name
was Naamah an Ammonitess. And Abijam his son reigned in his stead.
15:1 Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the
son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah.
15:2 Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. and his
mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.
15:3 And he walked in all the sins of his father,
which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the
LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.
15:4 Nevertheless for David's sake did the LORD his
God 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 the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded
him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
15:6 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam
all the days of his life.
15:7 Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that
he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings
of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.
15:8 And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried
him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.
15:9 And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of
Israel reigned Asa over Judah.
15:10 And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem.
And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.
15:11 And Asa did that which was right in the eyes
of the LORD, as did David his father.
15:12 And he took away the sodomites out of the land,
and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.
15:13 And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed
from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed
her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.
15:14 But the high places were not removed: nevertheless
Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days.
15:15 And he brought in the things which his father
had dedicated, and the things which himself had dedicated, into the
house of the LORD, silver, and gold, and vessels.
15:16 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king
of Israel all their days.
15:17 And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah,
and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any 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 the LORD, and the treasures
of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants:
and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of
Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, 15:19 There is
a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father:
behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; come and
break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from
me.
15:20 So Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent
the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel,
and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with
all the land of Naphtali.
15:21 And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof,
that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah.
15:22 Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout
all Judah; none was exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah,
and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built
with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.
15:23 The rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his
might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they
not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Nevertheless
in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.
15:24 And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried
with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoshaphat his
son reigned in his stead.
15:25 And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign
over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over
Israel two years.
15:26 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and
walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel
to sin.
15:27 And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of
Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha smote him at Gibbethon,
which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel laid siege
to Gibbethon.
15:28 Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah
did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead.
15:29 And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he
smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed,
until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the LORD, which
he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite: 15:30 Because of the sins
of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation
wherewith he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger.
15:31 Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that
he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings
of Israel? 15:32 And 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, twenty
and four years.
15:34 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and
walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel
to sin.
16:1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son
of Hanani against Baasha, saying, 16:2 Forasmuch as I exalted thee out
of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast
walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin,
to provoke me to anger with their sins; 16:3 Behold, I will take away
the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and will make
thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
16:4 Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the
dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of
the air eat.
16:5 Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what
he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles
of the kings of Israel? 16:6 So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was
buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead.
16:7 And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the
son of Hanani came the word of the LORD against Baasha, and against
his house, even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD,
in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like
the house of Jeroboam; and because he killed him.
16:8 In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah
began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years.
16:9 And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots,
conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in
the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah.
16:10 And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed
him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned
in his stead.
16:11 And it came to pass, when he began to reign,
as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha:
he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks,
nor of his friends.
16:12 Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha,
according to the word of the LORD, which he spake against Baasha by
Jehu the prophet.
16:13 For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of
Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to
sin, in provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities.
16:14 Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that
he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings
of Israel? 16:15 In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah
did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against
Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.
16:16 And the people that were encamped heard say,
Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel
made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the
camp.
16:17 And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel
with him, and they besieged Tirzah.
16:18 And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the
city was taken, that he went into the palace 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 evil in
the sight of the LORD, 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 wrought, are they not 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 that followed Omri prevailed
against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died,
and Omri reigned.
16:23 In the thirty and first year of Asa king of
Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned
he in Tirzah.
16:24 And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for
two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of
the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill,
Samaria.
16:25 But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD,
and did worse than all that were before him.
16:26 For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the
son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke
the LORD God 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 shewed, are they not 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 stead.
16:29 And in the thirty and 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 and two years.
16:30 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight
of the LORD above all that were before him.
16:31 And it came to pass, as if it had been a light
thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that
he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians,
and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.
16:32 And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house
of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.
16:33 And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to
provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel
that were before him.
16:34 In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho:
he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the
gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the
LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.
17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants
of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before
whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according
to my word.
17:2 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
17:3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the
brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
17:4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the
brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
17:5 So he went and did according unto the word of
the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before
Jordan.
17:6 And 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 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook
dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
17:8 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
17:9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell
there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.
17:10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when
he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering
of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a
little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
17:11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called
to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine
hand.
17:12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I
have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil
in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in
and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
17:13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do
as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring
it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
17:14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel
of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until
the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.
17:15 And she went and did according to the saying
of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
17:16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did
the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake
by Elijah.
17:17 And it came to pass 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 And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do
with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to
remembrance, and to slay my son? 17:19 And he said unto her, Give me
thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a
loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.
17:20 And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD
my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn,
by slaying her son? 17:21 And he stretched himself upon the child three
times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee,
let this child's soul come into him again.
17:22 And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and
the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
17:23 And Elijah took the child, and brought him down
out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother:
and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.
17:24 And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I
know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy
mouth is truth.
18:1 And it came to pass after many days, that the
word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew
thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.
18:2 And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And
there was a sore famine in Samaria.
18:3 And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor
of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly: 18:4 For it was
so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took
an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with
bread and water.) 18:5 And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land,
unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may
find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all
the beasts.
18:6 So they divided the land between them to pass
throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another
way by himself.
18:7 And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah
met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that
my lord Elijah? 18:8 And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold,
Elijah is here.
18:9 And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest
deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me? 18:10 As the
LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord
hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he
took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.
18:11 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold,
Elijah is here.
18:12 And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone
from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know
not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall
slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.
18:13 Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel
slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD's
prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water? 18:14
And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and
he shall slay me.
18:15 And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth,
before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.
18:16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him:
and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
18:17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that
Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? 18:18 And he
answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house,
in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast
followed Baalim.
18:19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel
unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty,
and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's
table.
18:20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel,
and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said,
How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him:
but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
18:22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I
only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred
and fifty men.
18:23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and
let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and
lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock,
and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: 18:24 And call ye on the
name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the
God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered
and said, It is well spoken.
18:25 And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose
you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many;
and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.
18:26 And they took the bullock which was given them,
and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even
until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any
that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
18:27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked
them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or
he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth,
and must be awaked.
18:28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after
their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon
them.
18:29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and
they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice,
that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
18:30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near
unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the
altar of the LORD that was broken down.
18:31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to
the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of
the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: 18:32 And with the
stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench
about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
18:33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock
in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with
water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.
18:34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they
did it the second time.
And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it
the third time.
18:35 And the water ran round about the altar; and
he filled the trench also with water.
18:36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering
of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said,
LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day
that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have
done all these things at thy word.
18:37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may
know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart
back again.
18:38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed
the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and
licked up the water that was in the trench.
18:39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on
their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is
the God.
18:40 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets
of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah
brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
18:41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat
and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.
18:42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah
went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth,
and put his face between his knees, 18:43 And said to his servant, Go
up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There
is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.
18:44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that
he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a
man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot,
and get thee down that the rain stop thee not.
18:45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that
the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.
And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.
18:46 And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and
he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
19:1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done,
and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.
19:2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying,
So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the
life of one of them by to morrow about this time.
19:3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for
his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth 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 LORD,
take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
19:5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree,
behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
19:6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake
baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat
and drink, and laid him down again.
19:7 And the angel of the LORD came again the second
time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey
is too great for thee.
19:8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went
in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb
the mount of God.
19:9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there;
and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him,
What doest thou here, Elijah? 19:10 And he said, I have been very jealous
for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken
thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with
the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take
it away.
19:11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount
before the LORD.
And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong
wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD;
but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake;
but the LORD was not in the earthquake: 19:12 And after the earthquake
a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still
small voice.
19:13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he
wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering
in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said,
What doest thou here, Elijah? 19:14 And he said, I have been very jealous
for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken
thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with
the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take
it away.
19:15 And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy
way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael
to be king over Syria: 19:16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint
to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah
shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
19:17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth
the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the
sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
19:18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel,
all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which
hath not kissed him.
19:19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the
son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him,
and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle
upon him.
19:20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah,
and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then
I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have
I done to thee? 19:21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke
of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments
of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose,
and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
20:1 And Benhadad the king of Syria gathered all his
host together: and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses,
and chariots; and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against
it.
20:2 And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel
into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Benhadad, 20:3 Thy silver
and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy children, even the goodliest,
are mine.
20:4 And the king of Israel answered and said, My
lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have.
20:5 And the messengers came again, and said, Thus
speaketh Benhadad, saying, Although I have sent unto thee, saying, Thou
shalt deliver me thy silver, and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children;
20:6 Yet I will send my servants unto thee to morrow about this time,
and they shall search thine house, and the houses of thy servants; and
it shall be, that whatsoever is pleasant in thine 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, Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeketh
mischief: for he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children, and
for my silver, and for my gold; and I denied him not.
20:8 And all the elders and all the people said unto
him, Hearken not unto him, nor consent.
20:9 Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Benhadad,
Tell my lord the king, All that thou didst send for to thy servant at
the first I will do: but this thing I may not do. And the messengers
departed, and brought him word again.
20:10 And Benhadad sent unto him, and said, The gods
do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for
handfuls for all the people that follow me.
20:11 And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell
him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that
putteth it off.
20:12 And it came to pass, when Ben-hadad heard this
message, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that
he said unto his servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves
in array against the city.
20:13 And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab
king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this
great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day;
and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.
20:14 And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith
the LORD, Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then
he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, Thou.
20:15 Then he numbered the young men of the princes
of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two: and after
them he numbered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being
seven thousand.
20:16 And they went out at noon. But Benhadad was
drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty
and two kings that helped him.
20:17 And the young men of the princes of the provinces
went out first; and Benhadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There
are men come out of Samaria.
20:18 And he said, Whether they be come out for peace,
take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
20:19 So these young men of the princes of the provinces
came out of the city, and the army which followed them.
20:20 And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians
fled; and Israel pursued them: and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped
on an horse with the horsemen.
20:21 And the king of Israel went out, and smote the
horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.
20:22 And the prophet came to the king of Israel,
and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou
doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up
against thee.
20:23 And the servants of the king of Syria said unto
him, Their gods are gods 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 And do this thing, Take the kings away, every
man out of his place, and put captains in their rooms: 20:25 And number
thee an army, like the army that thou hast 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. And he hearkened unto their voice,
and did so.
20:26 And it came to pass at the return of the year,
that Benhadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against
Israel.
20:27 And the children of Israel were numbered, and
were all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel
pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians
filled the country.
20:28 And there came a man of God, and spake unto
the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians
have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys,
therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and
ye shall know that I am the LORD.
20:29 And they pitched one over against the other
seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined:
and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians an hundred thousand footmen
in one day.
20:30 But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and
there a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men that were
left. And Benhadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.
20:31 And his servants said unto him, Behold now,
we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings:
let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our
heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy
life.
20:32 So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and
put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said,
Thy servant Benhadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is
he yet alive? he is my brother.
20:33 Now the men did diligently observe whether any
thing would come from him, and did hastily catch it: and they said,
Thy brother Benhadad. Then he said, Go ye, bring him. Then Benhadad
came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.
20:34 And Ben-hadad said unto him, The cities, which
my father took from thy father, I will restore; and thou shalt make
streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. Then said
Ahab, I will send thee away with this covenant. So he made a covenant
with him, and sent him away.
20:35 And a certain man of the sons of the prophets
said unto his neighbour in the word of the LORD, Smite me, I pray thee.
And the man refused to smite him.
20:36 Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not
obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as thou art departed from
me, a lion shall slay thee.
And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found
him, and slew him.
20:37 Then he found another man, and said, Smite me,
I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him.
20:38 So the prophet departed, and waited for the
king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face.
20:39 And as the king passed by, he cried unto the
king: and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle;
and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said,
Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be
for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver.
20:40 And as thy servant was busy here and there,
he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment
be; thyself hast decided it.
20:41 And he hasted, and took the ashes away from
his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets.
20:42 And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Because
thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction,
therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.
20:43 And the king of Israel went to his house heavy
and displeased, and came to Samaria.
21:1 And it came to pass after these things, that
Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by
the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
21:2 And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy
vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near
unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it;
or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money.
21:3 And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me,
that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.
21:4 And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased
because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for
he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And
he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat
no bread.
21:5 But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto
him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? 21:6 And he
said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said
unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee,
I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not
give thee my vineyard.
21:7 And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou
now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine
heart be merry: I will give thee 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 unto the elders and to the
nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.
21:9 And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim
a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: 21:10 And set two men,
sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou
didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone
him, that he may die.
21:11 And the men of his city, even the elders and
the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had
sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent
unto them.
21:12 They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high
among the people.
21:13 And there came in two men, children of Belial,
and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even
against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme
God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned
him with stones, that he died.
21:14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is
stoned, and is dead.
21:15 And it came to pass, 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 thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead.
21:16 And it came to pass, 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 And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the
Tishbite, saying, 21:18 Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel,
which is in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither
he is gone down to possess it.
21:19 And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus
saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou
shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where
dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.
21:20 And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me,
O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast
sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.
21:21 Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will
take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth
against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, 21:22
And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat,
and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation
wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin.
21:23 And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying,
The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.
21:24 Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs
shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air
eat.
21:25 But there was none like unto Ahab, which did
sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel
his wife stirred up.
21:26 And he did very abominably in following idols,
according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out
before the children of Israel.
21:27 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words,
that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted,
and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
21:28 And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the
Tishbite, saying, 21:29 Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before
me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil
in his days: but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house.
22:1 And they continued three years without war between
Syria and Israel.
22:2 And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat
the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.
22:3 And the king of Israel said unto his servants,
Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it
not out of the hand of the king of Syria? 22:4 And he said unto Jehoshaphat,
Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said
to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my
horses as thy horses.
22:5 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel,
Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.
22:6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets
together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against
Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for
the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
22:7 And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet
of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him? 22:8 And the king
of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son
of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he
doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said,
Let not the king say so.
22:9 Then the king of Israel called an officer, and
said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah.
22:10 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king
of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void
place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied
before them.
22:11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns
of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push
the Syrians, until thou have consumed them.
22:12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying,
Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into
the king's hand.
22:13 And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah
spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare
good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like
the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.
22:14 And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the
LORD saith unto me, that will I speak.
22:15 So he came to the king. And the king said unto
him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we
forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver
it into the hand of the king.
22:16 And the king said unto him, How many times shall
I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the
name of the LORD? 22:17 And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon
the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These
have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.
22:18 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat,
Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but
evil? 22:19 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I
saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing
by him on his right hand and on his left.
22:20 And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab,
that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner,
and another said on that manner.
22:21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before
the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.
22:22 And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he
said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of
all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persude him, and prevail also:
go forth, and do so.
22:23 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying
spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken
evil concerning thee.
22:24 But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near,
and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit
of the LORD from me to speak unto thee? 22:25 And Micaiah said, Behold,
thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber
to hide thyself.
22:26 And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and
carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the
king's son; 22:27 And say, Thus saith 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 And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace,
the LORD hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every
one of you.
22:29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king
of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.
22:30 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat,
I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put thou on thy
robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle.
22:31 But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and
two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither
with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.
22:32 And it came to pass, 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 And it came to pass, when the captains of the
chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned
back from pursuing him.
22:34 And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and
smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore
he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me
out of the host; for I am wounded.
22:35 And 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 midst of the chariot.
22:36 And there went a proclamation throughout the
host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city,
and every man to his own country.
22:37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria;
and they buried the king in Samaria.
22:38 And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria;
and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according
unto the word of the LORD which he spake.
22:39 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that
he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he
built, are they not 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 stead.
22:41 And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign
over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.
22:42 Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when
he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem.
And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
22:43 And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father;
he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes
of the LORD: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the
people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places.
22:44 And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of
Israel.
22:45 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and
his might that he shewed, and how he warred, are they not written in
the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 22:46 And the remnant
of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took
out of the land.
22:47 There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was
king.
22:48 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to
Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber.
22:49 Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat,
Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would
not.
22:50 And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and
was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoram
his son reigned in his stead.
22:51 Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over
Israel in Samaria the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah,
and reigned two years over Israel.
22:52 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and
walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in
the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin:
22:53 For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked
to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had
done.
Sources: Portions copyright © 1997 by Benyamin Pilant, All Rights Reserved
JPS Electronic Edition Copyright © 1998 by Larry Nelson, All Rights Reserved
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