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OT-HISTORY.filter - nsb to:


nsb@Exodus:17:9 @ Moses said to Joshua: »Choose some of our men. Then fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill. I will hold in my hand the staff God told me to take along.«

nsb@Exodus:17:10 @ Joshua did as Moses told him. They fought the Amalekites, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill.

nsb@Exodus:17:11 @ As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel would win, but as soon as he put his hands down, the Amalekites would start to win.

nsb@Exodus:17:12 @ Finally, Moses was so tired that Aaron and Hur got a rock for him to sit on. They stood beside him and supported his arms in the same position until sunset.

nsb@Exodus:17:14 @ After the fight Jehovah said to Moses: »Write an account of this victory and read it to Joshua. I want the Amalekites to be forgotten forever.«

nsb@Exodus:17:15 @ Moses built an altar. He named it: »Jehovah Gives Me Victory.«

nsb@Exodus:17:16 @ Then Moses explained: »This is because I depended on Jehovah. But in future generations, Jehovah will have to fight the Amalekites again.«

nsb@Exodus:18:2 @ Moses sent his wife Zipporah and her two sons to stay with Jethro. Jethro welcomed them.

nsb@Exodus:18:5 @ Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law brought Moses’ sons and wife to Moses in the desert. He was camped near the mountain of God.

nsb@Exodus:18:6 @ Jethro sent word to Moses: »I am coming to visit you. I am bringing your wife and her two sons.«

nsb@Exodus:18:7 @ Moses went out to meet his father-in-law. Moses bowed with his face touching the ground and kissed Jethro. They asked each other how they were. Then they entered the tent.

nsb@Exodus:18:8 @ Moses told his father-in-law everything Jehovah had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel. He talked about all the hardships they had on the way, and how Jehovah saved them.

nsb@Exodus:18:9 @ Jethro rejoiced over all the goodness Jehovah had done to Israel, in delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians.

nsb@Exodus:18:12 @ Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

nsb@Exodus:18:14 @ Jethro saw everything that Moses had to do. He asked: »What is all this that you are doing for the people? Why are you doing this all alone? There are people standing here from morning till night to consult you?«

nsb@Exodus:18:15 @ Moses answered: »They come here to find out what God wants them to do.

nsb@Exodus:18:16 @ »They bring their complaints to me. I make decisions on the basis of God’s laws.«

nsb@Exodus:18:17 @ Jethro replied: »That is not a good way to do it.

nsb@Exodus:18:18 @ »You and your people will wear yourselves out. This is too much work for you. You cannot do it alone!

nsb@Exodus:18:19 @ »Listen to the advice I give you. May God be with you! You must be the people’s representative to God and bring their disagreements to him.

nsb@Exodus:18:20 @ »You must instruct them in the laws and the teachings. Show them how to live and tell them what to do.

nsb@Exodus:18:22 @ »They must be the ones who usually settle disagreements among the people. They should bring all-important cases to you. But they should settle all minor cases themselves. Make it easier for yourself by letting them help you.

nsb@Exodus:18:24 @ Moses took Jethro’s advice

nsb@Exodus:18:26 @ They judged the people on a permanent basis. The difficult cases were taken to Moses but they decided the smaller disputes themselves.

nsb@Exodus:18:27 @ Moses said good-bye to Jethro, and Jethro went back home.

nsb@Exodus:19:2 @ They traveled from Rephidim to the desert of Sinai. Israel camped in the wilderness at the foot of Mount Sinai.

nsb@Exodus:19:3 @ Jehovah called Moses from the mountain. So Moses went up the mountain to God. Jehovah told him: »This is what you must say to the descendants of Jacob. Tell the Israelites:

nsb@Exodus:19:4 @ ‘You have seen what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on the wings of eagles and brought you to me.

nsb@Exodus:19:5 @ ‘If you will obey me and are faithful to the terms of my covenant, then out of all the nations you will be my own special possession, for all the earth is mine.

nsb@Exodus:19:6 @ ‘You will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation. These are the words you must speak to the children of Israel.’«

nsb@Exodus:19:7 @ Moses went down the mountain and called for the elders of the people. He repeated to them all the words that Jehovah had commanded him.

nsb@Exodus:19:8 @ All the people answered together: »We will do everything Jehovah has said.« So Moses brought their answer back to Jehovah.

nsb@Exodus:19:9 @ Jehovah said to Moses: »I will come to you in a thick cloud. The people will hear me speaking with you and will believe you from now on.« Moses gave Jehovah the people’s answer.

nsb@Exodus:19:10 @ Jehovah continued: »Go to the people and tell them to spend today and tomorrow purifying themselves for worship. They must wash their clothes.

nsb@Exodus:19:11 @ »They should be ready in three days. I will descend to Mount Sinai, where all of them can see me.

nsb@Exodus:19:12 @ »Warn the people that they are forbidden to touch any part of the mountain. Anyone who touches the mountain will be put to death,

nsb@Exodus:19:13 @ with stones or arrows, and no one must touch the body of a person killed in this way. Even an animal that touches this mountain must be put to death. You may go up the mountain only after a signal is given on the trumpet.«

nsb@Exodus:19:14 @ Moses went down from the mountain to the people. He consecrated the people, and they washed their garments.

nsb@Exodus:19:15 @ He said to the people: »Get ready for the third day. Do not go near a woman for sexual intercourse.«

nsb@Exodus:19:16 @ On the morning of the third day there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain. A very loud trumpet sounded. It caused all the people in the camp to tremble.

nsb@Exodus:19:17 @ Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God. They stood at the foot of the mountain.

nsb@Exodus:19:20 @ Jehovah descended on the top of Mount Sinai. Jehovah called Moses to the top of the mountain. Moses climbed to the peak of Mount Sinai.

nsb@Exodus:19:21 @ Jehovah spoke to Moses: »Go down and warn the people. They should not break through to gaze at Jehovah. Many of them would perish.

nsb@Exodus:19:22 @ »Let the priests who come near to Jehovah consecrate themselves, or else Jehovah will destroy them.«

nsb@Exodus:19:23 @ Moses said to Jehovah: »The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai for you warned us. You said: ‘Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’«

nsb@Exodus:19:24 @ Jehovah replied to him: »You and Aaron come up to me. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to Jehovah, or he will destroy some of them.«

nsb@Exodus:19:25 @ Moses returned to the people and told them.

nsb@Exodus:20:5 @ »Do not worship them or serve them. I, Jehovah your God, am a God demanding exclusive devotion. I will not share your affection with any other god. I punish children for their parents’ sins to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.

nsb@Exodus:20:6 @ »I show mercy to thousands of generations of those who love me and obey my commandments.

nsb@Exodus:20:9 @ »You have six days to do all your work.

nsb@Exodus:20:10 @ »The seventh day is a Sabbath dedicated to Jehovah your God. Do not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you.

nsb@Exodus:20:18 @ The people heard the thunder and the trumpet blast. They saw the lightning and the smoking mountain. They trembled with fear and stood at a distance.

nsb@Exodus:20:19 @ They said to Moses: »If you speak to us, we will listen. However, we are afraid that if God speaks to us, we will die.«

nsb@Exodus:20:20 @ Moses responded: »Do not be afraid. God has only come to test you and to inspire you to obey him, so that you will not sin.«

nsb@Exodus:20:21 @ But the people continued to stand at a distance. Only Moses went near the dark cloud where God was.

nsb@Exodus:20:22 @ Jehovah commanded Moses to tell the Israelites: »You have seen how I have spoken to you from heaven.

nsb@Exodus:20:23 @ »Do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gold to be worshiped in addition to me.

nsb@Exodus:20:24 @ »Make an altar of earth for me. Sacrifice your sheep and your cattle as offerings to be completely burned and as peace offerings. In every place that I set-aside for you to worship me, I will come to you and bless you.

nsb@Exodus:20:25 @ »If you make an altar of stone for me, do not build it out of cut stones. This is because when you use a chisel on stones, you make them unfit for my use.

nsb@Exodus:20:26 @ »Do not build an altar for me with steps leading up to it. If you do, you will expose yourselves as you go up the steps.«

nsb@Exodus:21:4 @ »If his master gives him a wife, and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children will belong to her master. He shall go out alone.

nsb@Exodus:21:7 @ »When a man sells his daughter into slavery, she will not go free the way male slaves do.

nsb@Exodus:21:8 @ »If she does not please the master who has chosen her as a wife, he must let her be bought back by one of her close relatives. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, since he has treated her unfairly.

nsb@Exodus:21:9 @ »If a man buys a female slave to give to his son, he should treat her like a daughter.

nsb@Exodus:21:10 @ »If a man takes a second wife, he must continue to give his first wife the same amount of food and clothing and the same rights that she had before.

nsb@Exodus:21:11 @ »If he fails to do any of these things, she should be given her freedom without cost.

nsb@Exodus:21:13 @ »If you did not intend to kill someone and I, Jehovah, let it happen anyway, you may run for safety to a place that I have set aside.

nsb@Exodus:21:14 @ »If a man schemes and kills a man deliberately remove him from my altar and put him to death.

nsb@Exodus:21:15 @ »He who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.

nsb@Exodus:21:16 @ »Whoever kidnaps another person must be put to death regardless of whether he has sold the kidnapped person or still has him.

nsb@Exodus:21:17 @ »Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.

nsb@Exodus:21:18 @ »When men quarrel and one hits the other with a rock or with his fist and injures him so that he has to stay in bed you must do this.

nsb@Exodus:21:19 @ »If the injured man is able to stand up again and walk around outside with a cane, the one who hit him must not be punished. He must pay the injured man for the loss of his time and for all his medical expenses.

nsb@Exodus:21:20 @ »If a slave owner takes a stick and beats his slave, whether male or female, and the slave dies on the spot, the owner is to be punished.

nsb@Exodus:21:21 @ »If the slave lives a few days after the beating, you are not to be punished. After all, you have already lost the services of that slave who was your property.

nsb@Exodus:21:24 @ eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

nsb@Exodus:21:27 @ »If he knocks out a tooth of his male or female slave, he shall let him go free because of his tooth.

nsb@Exodus:21:28 @ »If an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall surely be stoned and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall go unpunished.

nsb@Exodus:21:29 @ »If an ox was previously in the habit of goring and its owner has been warned, yet he does not confine it and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and its owner also shall be put to death.

nsb@Exodus:21:31 @ »Whether it gores a son or a daughter, it shall be done to him according to the same rule.

nsb@Exodus:21:32 @ »If the ox gores a male or female slave, the owner shall give his or her master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

nsb@Exodus:21:33 @ »If a man opens a pit, or digs a pit and does not cover it over, and an ox or a donkey falls into it,

nsb@Exodus:21:34 @ the owner of the pit shall make restitution. He will give money to its owner, and the dead animal shall become his.

nsb@Exodus:22:3 @ »But if it happens after sunrise, he is guilty of murder. A thief must make up for what he has stolen. If he is unable to do so, he should be sold as a slave to pay for what he stole.

nsb@Exodus:22:4 @ »If the stolen animal is found alive in his possession, whether it is a bull, donkey, or a sheep, he must make up for the loss with double the amount.

nsb@Exodus:22:5 @ »Someone lets his livestock graze in a field or a vineyard. They stray and graze in another person’s field. He must make up for what the damaged field was expected to produce. If he lets them ruin the whole field with their grazing, he must make up from his own field for the loss with the best from his field and vineyard.

nsb@Exodus:22:6 @ »A fire starts and spreads into the underbrush so that it burns up stacked or standing grain or ruins a field. The person who started the fire must make up for the loss.

nsb@Exodus:22:7 @ »Someone gives his neighbor silver or other valuables to keep for him. They are stolen from that person’s house. If the thief is caught, he must make up for the loss with double the amount.

nsb@Exodus:22:8 @ »If the thief is not caught, the owner of the house must be brought to God to find out whether or not he took his neighbor’s valuables.

nsb@Exodus:22:9 @ »There is a dispute over the ownership of a bull, a donkey, a sheep, an article of clothing, and any other lost property which two people claim as their own. Both people must bring their case to God. The one whom God declares guilty must make up for his neighbor’s loss with double the amount.

nsb@Exodus:22:10 @ »Someone gives his neighbor a donkey, a bull, a sheep, or any other kind of animal to keep for him, and it dies, is injured, or is captured in war, and there are no witnesses.

nsb@Exodus:22:11 @ »The case between them must be settled by swearing an oath to Jehovah that the neighbor did not take the other person’s animal. The owner must accept the oath. The neighbor does not have to make up for the loss.

nsb@Exodus:22:12 @ »However, if the animal was stolen from the neighbor, he must make up for the owner’s loss.

nsb@Exodus:22:13 @ »If a wild animal killed the neighbor’s animal he must bring in the dead body of the wild animal as evidence. He does not have to make up for an animal that has been killed.

nsb@Exodus:22:15 @ »If the owner is with the animal, the borrower does not have to make up for the loss. If it is rented, the rental fee covers the loss.

nsb@Exodus:22:16 @ »When a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged to anyone and has sexual intercourse with her, he must pay the bride price and marry her.

nsb@Exodus:22:17 @ »If her father refuses to give her to him, he must pay an amount of money equal to the bride price for virgins.

nsb@Exodus:22:18 @ »Never allow a witch to live.

nsb@Exodus:22:19 @ »The person who has sexual intercourse with an animal must be put to death.

nsb@Exodus:22:20 @ »The person who sacrifices to any god except Jehovah must be condemned and destroyed.

nsb@Exodus:22:23 @ »If you do, I, Jehovah, will answer them when they cry out to me for help,

nsb@Exodus:22:25 @ »When you lend money to any of my people who are poor, do not act like a moneylender and require him to pay interest.

nsb@Exodus:22:26 @ »If you take someone’s cloak as a pledge that he will pay you, you must give it back to him before the sunsets,

nsb@Exodus:22:27 @ for it is the only covering he has to keep him warm. What else can he sleep in? When he cries out to me for help, I will answer him because I am merciful.

nsb@Exodus:22:29 @ »Do not delay the offering from your harvest and your vintage. Give the firstborn of your sons to me.

nsb@Exodus:22:30 @ »Do the same with your oxen and with your sheep. Its mother may keep it for seven days. On the eighth day give it to me.

nsb@Exodus:22:31 @ »You are to be my holy people. Do not eat any flesh torn to bits in the field. Throw it to the dogs.

nsb@Exodus:23:2 @ »Do not follow the majority to do wrong. Do not give testimony that perverts justice.

nsb@Exodus:23:3 @ »Do not show partiality to a poor man at his trial.

nsb@Exodus:23:4 @ »If you see your enemy’s cow or donkey running loose, take it back to him.

nsb@Exodus:23:5 @ »If your enemy’s donkey falls under its load, help him get the donkey to its feet again. Do not just walk away.

nsb@Exodus:23:6 @ »Do not deny justice to a poor person at his trial.

nsb@Exodus:23:7 @ »Do not make false accusations. Do not put an innocent person to death. I will condemn anyone who does this evil thing.

nsb@Exodus:23:8 @ »Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe makes the discerning blind to what is right and perverts the words of the righteous.

nsb@Exodus:23:9 @ »Do not mistreat a foreigner. You know how it feels to be a foreigner. After all you were foreigners in Egypt.

nsb@Exodus:23:12 @ »Work six days a week. Do no work on the seventh day. Allow your slaves and the foreigners who work for you and even your animals to rest.

nsb@Exodus:23:13 @ »Listen to everything Jehovah has said to you. Do not pray to other gods! Do not even mention their names.

nsb@Exodus:23:14 @ »Celebrate three festivals a year to honor me.

nsb@Exodus:23:15 @ »In the month of Abib, the month in which you left Egypt, celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread in the way that I commanded you. Do not eat any bread made with yeast during the seven days of this festival. Never come to worship me without bringing an offering.

nsb@Exodus:23:16 @ »Celebrate the Harvest Festival when you begin to harvest your crops. Celebrate the Festival of Shelters in the autumn, when you gather the fruit from your vineyards and orchards.

nsb@Exodus:23:18 @ »Do not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread. Do not allow the fat of my feast to remain overnight until morning.

nsb@Exodus:23:19 @ »Bring the choice first fruits of your soil into the house of Jehovah your God. Do not boil a young goat in the milk of its mother.

nsb@Exodus:23:20 @ »I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place that I have prepared.

nsb@Exodus:23:21 @ »Be on your guard before him and obey his voice. Do not be rebellious toward him. He will not pardon your transgression, since my name is in him.

nsb@Exodus:23:22 @ »If you truly obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.

nsb@Exodus:23:23 @ »My messenger will go ahead of you. I will lead you to the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites. I will wipe them out.

nsb@Exodus:23:24 @ »Do not worship or serve their gods or follow their practices. You must destroy their gods and crush their sacred stones.

nsb@Exodus:23:26 @ »No woman in your land will miscarry or be unable to have children. I will let you live a normal life span.

nsb@Exodus:23:27 @ »I will send my terror ahead of you and throw any nation you meet into a panic. I will make all your enemies flee from you.

nsb@Exodus:23:28 @ »I will throw your enemies into panic! I will drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites as you advance.

nsb@Exodus:23:29 @ »I will not drive them out within a year’s time. If I did, the land would become deserted. There would be too many wild animals for you.

nsb@Exodus:23:30 @ »I will drive them a few at a time, until there are enough of you to take possession of the land.

nsb@Exodus:23:31 @ »I will make the borders of your land extend from the Gulf of Aqaba to the Mediterranean Sea and from the desert to the Euphrates River. I will give you power over the inhabitants of the land. You will drive them out as you advance.

nsb@Exodus:23:33 @ »Do not allow them to live in your land for they will make you sin against me. If you serve their gods it will be a snare to you.«

nsb@Exodus:24:1 @ Jehovah said to Moses: »You and Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders come up the mountain to me and worship at a distance.

nsb@Exodus:24:3 @ Moses told the people all Jehovah’s words and legal decisions. Then all the people answered with one voice: »We will do everything Jehovah told us to do.«

nsb@Exodus:24:4 @ Moses wrote down all Jehovah’s words. Early the next morning he built an altar at the foot of the mountain. He erected twelve sacred stones for the twelve tribes of Israel.

nsb@Exodus:24:5 @ Moses sent young men to burn sacrifices to Jehovah. They sacrificed some cattle as peace offerings.

nsb@Exodus:24:6 @ Moses took half of the blood of the animals and put it in bowls. The other half he threw against the altar.

nsb@Exodus:24:7 @ He took the book of the covenant, in which Jehovah’s commandments were written, and read it aloud to the people. They said: »We will obey Jehovah. We will do everything that he has commanded.«

nsb@Exodus:24:8 @ Moses took the blood from the bowls and sprinkled it on the people. Next, he told them: With this blood Jehovah makes his agreement with you.

nsb@Exodus:24:9 @ Moses and Aaron, together with Nadab and Abihu and the seventy leaders, went up the mountain.

nsb@Exodus:24:12 @ Jehovah said to Moses: »Come up on the mountain and stay here for a while. I will give you the two stone tablets on which I have written the laws that my people must obey.«

nsb@Exodus:24:13 @ Moses and Joshua his assistant got ready. Moses started up the mountain to meet with God.

nsb@Exodus:24:14 @ He said to the elders: »Wait here for us until we return to you. Aaron and Hur are with you. Anyone with a legal matter should approach them.«

nsb@Exodus:24:15 @ Moses went up to the mountain. The cloud covered the mountain.

nsb@Exodus:24:16 @ The glory of Jehovah rested on Mount Sinai. The cloud covered it for six days. God called to Moses on the seventh day. He spoke from inside the cloud.

nsb@Exodus:24:17 @ To the eyes of the Israelites the appearance of the glory of Jehovah was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain.

nsb@Exodus:24:18 @ Moses entered the midst of the cloud as he went up to the mountain. He was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

nsb@Exodus:25:1 @ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses. He said:

nsb@Exodus:25:2 @ »Tell the Israelites to choose something to give me as a special contribution. You must accept whatever contribution each person freely gives.

nsb@Exodus:25:7 @ onyx stones, and other precious stones to be set in the chief priest’s ephod and his breastplate.

nsb@Exodus:25:12 @ »Make four carrying rings of gold for it and attach them to its four legs, with two rings on each side.

nsb@Exodus:25:14 @ »Put them through the rings. Poles can be used to carry the chest.

nsb@Exodus:25:18 @ »Hammer out two winged cherubs of pure gold and fasten them to the lid at the ends of the chest.

nsb@Exodus:25:20 @ »The cherubim shall have their wings spread upward, covering the chest with their wings and facing one another. The faces of the cherubim are to be turned toward the chest.

nsb@Exodus:25:21 @ »After you put into the ark the words of my covenant that I will give you, place the throne of mercy on top.

nsb@Exodus:25:26 @ »Make four gold rings for it. Fasten them to the four corners where the four legs are.

nsb@Exodus:25:27 @ »The rings are to be close to the rim. They are to hold the poles for carrying the table.

nsb@Exodus:25:28 @ »Make the poles out of acacia wood. Cover them with gold and use them to carry the table.

nsb@Exodus:25:29 @ »The plates and dishes for the table should be out of pure gold. Also make pitchers and bowls to be used for pouring wine offerings.

nsb@Exodus:25:30 @ »The table should be placed in front of the Covenant Box. There is always to be the sacred bread offered to me for the table.

nsb@Exodus:25:31 @ »Make lamp stand of pure gold. Make its base and its shaft of hammered gold. Its decorative flowers, including buds and petals, are to form one piece with it.

nsb@Exodus:25:37 @ »Then make a total of seven lamps. Mount the lamps so that they shed light on the space in front of it.

nsb@Exodus:25:40 @ »See that you make them like the pattern for them that were shown to you on the mountain.

nsb@Exodus:26:3 @ »Five of the curtains must be sewn together. The other five must also be sewn together.

nsb@Exodus:26:6 @ »Make fifty gold fasteners. Use them to link the two sets of curtains together so that the tent is a single unit.

nsb@Exodus:26:7 @ »Make eleven curtains of goats’ hair to form an outer tent over the inner tent.

nsb@Exodus:26:9 @ »Sew five of the curtains together into one set. Sew the remaining six into another set. Fold the sixth curtains in half to hang in front of the tent.

nsb@Exodus:26:11 @ »Make fifty bronze fasteners. Put the fasteners through the loops to link the inner tent together as a single unit.

nsb@Exodus:26:13 @ »Eighteen inches will be left over on each side because of the length of the outer tent’s curtains. That should hang over each side in order to cover the inner tent.

nsb@Exodus:26:16 @ »Each frame is to be fifteen feet long and twenty-seven inches wide.

nsb@Exodus:26:19 @ »Provide forty silver sockets at the bottom of the twenty frames, two sockets at the bottom of each frame for the two pegs.

nsb@Exodus:26:21 @ »Also forty silver sockets, two at the bottom of each frame.

nsb@Exodus:26:24 @ »Fasten these together at the bottom and tightly at the top by a single ring. Both corner frames will be made this way.

nsb@Exodus:26:25 @ »There will be eight frames with sixteen silver sockets, two at the bottom of each frame.

nsb@Exodus:26:28 @ »The middle crossbar will run from one end to the other. It should be halfway up the frames.

nsb@Exodus:26:29 @ »Cover the frames with gold. Make gold rings to hold the crossbars. Cover the crossbars with gold.

nsb@Exodus:26:30 @ »Erect the inner tent according to the plans you were shown on the mountain.

nsb@Exodus:26:31 @ »Build a canopy of violet, purple, and bright red yarn. Creatively work an angel design of cherubim into fine linen yarn.

nsb@Exodus:26:35 @ »Set the table outside the veil. Place the lamp stand opposite the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south. Place the table on the north side.

nsb@Exodus:27:7 @ »The poles should be put through the rings on both sides of the altar and used to carry it.

nsb@Exodus:27:21 @ »Keep the lamps lit in the tent of meeting outside the canopy where the words of my covenant are. Aaron and his descendants must keep the lamps lit in Jehovah’s presence from evening until morning. This is a long lasting law among the Israelites for generations to come.

nsb@Exodus:28:1 @ Jehovah continued: »Bring your brother Aaron and his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar to you from all the Israelites. They will serve me as priests.

nsb@Exodus:28:2 @ »Make sacred clothes for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor.

nsb@Exodus:28:3 @ »Tell all the skilled men whom I have given this ability to make Aaron’s clothes. These clothes will set him apart as holy when he serves me as priest.

nsb@Exodus:28:4 @ »The clothes they will make are as follows: a breastplate, an ephod and the robe that is worn with it, another specially woven linen robe, the chief priest’s turban, and a cloth belt. They will make these holy clothes for your brother Aaron and his sons so that they will be able to serve me as priests.

nsb@Exodus:28:6 @ »prepare the ephod with fine linen yarn. Embroider gold, violet, purple, and bright red yarn into the fabric.

nsb@Exodus:28:7 @ »It should have two shoulder straps attached at the top corners so it can be fastened.

nsb@Exodus:28:8 @ »Make the belt that is attached to the ephod from the same fabric.

nsb@Exodus:28:9 @ »Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on two onyx stones.

nsb@Exodus:28:10 @ »Engrave them in order of their birth. Place six names on each stone.

nsb@Exodus:28:11 @ »Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the same way a jeweler engraves a signet ring. Mount them in gold settings.

nsb@Exodus:28:14 @ »Also make two chains of pure gold. These gold chains should be twisted like ropes. Fasten these chains to the settings.

nsb@Exodus:28:17 @ »Fasten four rows of precious stones on it. Put red quartz, topaz, and emerald in the first row.

nsb@Exodus:28:21 @ »The stones represent the twelve sons of Israel, by name, each stone engraved like a signet ring with the name of one of the twelve tribes.

nsb@Exodus:28:23 @ »Make two gold rings for the breastplate. Attach them to the two top corners of the breastplate.

nsb@Exodus:28:24 @ »Fasten the two gold ropes to the rings at the top corners of the breastplate.

nsb@Exodus:28:25 @ »Fasten the other ends of the ropes to the two settings on the shoulder straps of the ephod so that the breastplate hangs in front of it.

nsb@Exodus:28:26 @ »Make two gold rings, and connect them to the other two corners of the breastplate on the inside edge next to the ephod.

nsb@Exodus:28:27 @ »Make two more gold rings, and fasten them to the bottom of the shoulder straps on the front of the ephod. This will be close to the seam just above the belt of the ephod.

nsb@Exodus:28:28 @ »Then the breastplate should be fastened by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a violet cord. Attach it just above the belt of the ephod. This will hold the breastplate in place.

nsb@Exodus:28:29 @ »When Aaron goes into the holy place, he will carry the names of the sons of Israel over his heart as a continual reminder in Jehovah’s presence. He must do this by wearing the breast piece for decision-making.

nsb@Exodus:28:30 @ Put the Urim and Thummim into the breast piece for decision-making. They, too, will be over Aaron’s heart when he comes into Jehovah’s presence. In this way when he is in Jehovah’s presence, Aaron will always be carrying over his heart the means for determining Jehovah’s decisions for the Israelites.

nsb@Exodus:28:32 @ »Provide an opening for the head in the center with a reinforced edge like a leather collar all around it to keep it from tearing.

nsb@Exodus:28:35 @ »Aaron should wear it when he serves as priest. The sound of the bells must be heard when he comes into and goes out of Jehovah’s presence in the holy place so that he will not die.

nsb@Exodus:28:36 @ »Also make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engravings of a seal: Holy to Jehovah.

nsb@Exodus:28:41 @ »Dress your brother Aaron and his sons in these clothes and anoint them, ordain them, and set them apart to serve me as priests.

nsb@Exodus:28:42 @ »Make linen undergarments to cover them down to their thighs.

nsb@Exodus:28:43 @ »Aaron and his sons must wear them when they go into the tent of meeting or when they come near the altar to serve as priests in the holy place. They will be blameless and will not die. This is a long lasting law for him and his descendants.

nsb@Exodus:29:1 @ Jehovah also said: »This is what you must do in order to set Aaron and his sons apart to serve me as priests: Take a young bull that has no defects and two rams that have no defects.

nsb@Exodus:29:2 @ »Use the best wheat flour to make some unleavened bread. Bake some with olive oil, some without it, and some in the form of thin cakes brushed with oil.

nsb@Exodus:29:3 @ »Put them in a basket and offer them to me when you sacrifice the bull and the two rams.

nsb@Exodus:29:4 @ »Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the sacred tent of meeting and have them wash themselves.

nsb@Exodus:29:10 @ »Lead the bull to the entrance of the sacred tent. Aaron and his sons will lay their hands on its head there.

nsb@Exodus:29:12 @ »Use a finger to smear some of its blood on each of the four corners of the altar. Pour out the rest of the blood on the ground next to the altar.

nsb@Exodus:29:15 @ »Take one of the rams and Aaron and his sons are to put their hands on its head.

nsb@Exodus:29:17 @ »Cut the ram in pieces. Wash its internal organs and its legs, and put them on top of the head and the other pieces.

nsb@Exodus:29:18 @ »Burn the whole ram on the altar. It is burnt offering to Jehovah. The odor of this offering pleases me.

nsb@Exodus:29:19 @ Take the other ram and Aaron and his sons are to put their hands on its head.

nsb@Exodus:29:20 @ »Kill it and take some of its blood and put it on the lobes of the right ears of Aaron and his sons, on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet. Sprinkle the rest of the blood all around the altar.

nsb@Exodus:29:21 @ »Take some of the blood that is on the altar and some of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron and his clothes and on his sons and their clothes. He, his sons, and their clothes will then be dedicated to me.

nsb@Exodus:29:22 @ »Remove the ram’s fat, the fat tail, the fat covering the internal organs, the fat attached to the liver, the two kidneys with the fat on them, and the right thigh.

nsb@Exodus:29:23 @ »From the basket of bread which has been offered to me, take one loaf of each kind: one loaf made with olive oil and one made without it and one thin cake.

nsb@Exodus:29:24 @ »Put all this food in the hands of Aaron and his sons and have them dedicate it to me as a special gift.

nsb@Exodus:29:25 @ »The meat and bread are to be placed on the altar and sent up in smoke with a smell before Jehovah.

nsb@Exodus:29:26 @ »You may eat the choice breast from this second ram, but you must first lift them up to show that this meat is dedicated to me.

nsb@Exodus:29:28 @ »It will be for Aaron and his sons as their long lasting portion from the sons of Israel. It is a heave offering. It will be a heave offering from the sons of Israel from the sacrifices of their peace offerings, even their heave offering to Jehovah.

nsb@Exodus:29:30 @ »For seven days the one of his sons who is priest in his stead shall put them on when he enters the tent of meeting to minister in the holy place.

nsb@Exodus:29:33 @ »They shall eat those things used for their atonement and their ordination and consecration. A layman shall not eat them, because they are holy.

nsb@Exodus:29:35 @ »Do to Aaron and to his sons all that I have commanded you. Ordain them for seven days.

nsb@Exodus:29:36 @ »Offer a bull as a sin offering for atonement each day. Purify the altar when you make atonement for it. Anoint it to consecrate it.

nsb@Exodus:29:37 @ »Make atonement for the altar and consecrate it for seven days. Then the altar shall be most holy, and whatever touches the altar shall be holy.

nsb@Exodus:29:41 @ »You will offer the other lamb at twilight. Offer it with the same grain offering and the same drink offering as in the morning, for a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to Jehovah.

nsb@Exodus:29:42 @ »It shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the doorway of the tent of meeting before Jehovah. That is where I will meet with you to speak to you.

nsb@Exodus:29:44 @ »I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar. I will also consecrate Aaron and his sons to minister as priests to me.

nsb@Exodus:30:3 @ »Cover it all with pure gold, the top, the sides, and the horns. Put a gold molding around it.

nsb@Exodus:30:4 @ »Make two gold rings. Place them below the molding on opposite sides to hold the poles for carrying it.

nsb@Exodus:30:8 @ »When Aaron lights the lamps at dusk he must burn incense. An incense offering must burn constantly in Jehovah’s presence for generations to come.

nsb@Exodus:30:10 @ »Once a year Aaron must make atonement with Jehovah by putting blood on its horns. Once a year for generations to come blood from the offering must be placed on the altar to make atonement with Jehovah. It is most holy to Jehovah.«

nsb@Exodus:30:11 @ Jehovah again spoke to Moses:

nsb@Exodus:30:12 @ »When you take a census of the people of Israel, each man is to pay me a price for his life. This to insure that no disaster will come on him while the census is being taken.

nsb@Exodus:30:13 @ »Everyone included in the census must pay the required amount of money. It should be weighed according to the official standard. Everyone must pay this as an offering to me.

nsb@Exodus:30:14 @ »Every man being counted in the census who is twenty years old or older is to pay me this amount.

nsb@Exodus:30:15 @ »The rich man is not to pay more. The poor man is not to pay less, when they pay this amount for their lives.

nsb@Exodus:30:16 @ »Collect this money from the people of Israel and spend it for the upkeep of the tent of meeting. This tax will be the payment for their lives. I will remember to protect them.«

nsb@Exodus:30:17 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Exodus:30:20 @ »Before they go into the tent of meeting, they must wash so that they will not die. Before they come near the altar to serve as priests and burn an offering by fire to Jehovah.

nsb@Exodus:30:21 @ « They must wash their hands and feet, so that they will not die. This is a long lasting rule that they and their descendants are to observe.«

nsb@Exodus:30:22 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Exodus:30:23 @ »Take top quality spices: twelve pounds of liquid myrrh, six pounds of sweet-smelling cinnamon, six pounds of sweet-smelling cane,

nsb@Exodus:30:24 @ and twelve pounds of cassia, according to the official standard. Add one gallon of olive oil,

nsb@Exodus:30:29 @ »You will make them so holy that anyone who even touches them will become holy when you dedicate them this way.

nsb@Exodus:30:31 @ »Say this to the people of Israel: ‘This oil must always be used in the ordination service of a priest. It is holy because it is dedicated to Jehovah.

nsb@Exodus:30:33 @ »If you do, you will no longer belong to Jehovah’s people.’«

nsb@Exodus:30:34 @ Jehovah said to Moses: »Take one part fragrant spices and two kinds of gum resin and aromatic mollusk shells, and mix them with one part pure frankincense.

nsb@Exodus:30:35 @ »Have a perfumer make it into fragrant incense, seasoned with salt, pure and holy.

nsb@Exodus:30:36 @ »Grind some of it into a fine powder. Put it in front of the ark containing the words of my covenant in the tent of meeting, where I will meet with you. You must treat it as most holy.

nsb@Exodus:30:37 @ »Do not make any incense for yourselves using this formula. Treat it as holy to Jehovah.

nsb@Exodus:31:1 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Exodus:31:5 @ »It is also for cutting jewels to be set and for carving wood and for every other kind of artistic work.

nsb@Exodus:31:6 @ »I also appointed Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, from the tribe of Dan, to help him. I have given every craftsman the skill necessary to make what I have commanded you:

nsb@Exodus:31:12 @ Jehovah also said to Moses:

nsb@Exodus:31:13 @ »Speak to the people of Israel. Say: ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This is a sign between you and me throughout your generations that you may know that I am Jehovah, the one who sanctifies you.

nsb@Exodus:31:14 @ »‘You are to observe the Sabbath. It is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it will absolutely be put to death. Whoever does any work on it will be removed from his people.

nsb@Exodus:31:15 @ »‘Work may be done for six days. The seventh day there is a Sabbath of complete rest. It is holy to Jehovah. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day will definitely be put to death.

nsb@Exodus:31:18 @ When God finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God.

nsb@Exodus:32:1 @ The people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain. They gathered around Aaron. They said to him: »We do not know what has happened to Moses, the man who led us out of Egypt. Make gods to lead us.«

nsb@Exodus:32:2 @ Aaron replied: »Have your wives, sons, and daughters take off the gold earrings they are wearing. Bring them to me.«

nsb@Exodus:32:3 @ The people took off their gold earrings and handed them to Aaron.

nsb@Exodus:32:4 @ After he worked on the gold with a tool, he made it into a statue of a calf. Then they said: »Israel, this is your god, who brought you out of Egypt.«

nsb@Exodus:32:5 @ Aaron built an altar in front of it when he saw what happened. Then he announced: »Tomorrow there will be a festival in Jehovah’s honor.«

nsb@Exodus:32:6 @ Early the next day the people sacrificed burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. After that they sat down to a feast, which turned into an orgy.

nsb@Exodus:32:7 @ Jehovah said to Moses: »Go down there. Your people whom you brought out of Egypt have corrupted themselves.

nsb@Exodus:32:8 @ »They have already turned from the way I commanded them to live. They made a statue of a calf for themselves. They have bowed down to it and offered sacrifices to it. They said: »Israel, here is your god who brought you out of Egypt.’«

nsb@Exodus:32:10 @ »Now let me alone. Let my anger burn against them. I am so angry with them I am going to destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.«

nsb@Exodus:32:12 @ »Do not let the Egyptians say: ‘He was planning all along to kill them in the mountains and wipe them off the face of the earth. That is why he brought them out of our land.’ Do not be so angry. Reconsider your decision to bring this disaster on your people.

nsb@Exodus:32:13 @ »Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. You took an oath, swearing on yourself. You told them: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. I will give to your descendants all the land I spoke of. It will be their long lasting possession.’«

nsb@Exodus:32:15 @ Moses went back down the mountain. He carried the two stone tablets with the commandments written on both sides.

nsb@Exodus:32:17 @ Joshua heard the people shouting and said to Moses: »I hear the sound of war in the camp.«

nsb@Exodus:32:18 @ Moses replied: »That does not sound like a shout of victory or a cry of defeat; it is the sound of singing.«

nsb@Exodus:32:19 @ Moses came close enough to the camp at the foot of the mountain to see the bull-calf and to see the people dancing. He became furious! He threw down the tablets he was carrying and broke them.

nsb@Exodus:32:20 @ He took the bull-calf that they had made, melted it, ground it into fine powder, and mixed it with water. Then he made the people of Israel drink it.

nsb@Exodus:32:21 @ Moses asked Aaron: »What did these people do to harm you? Why did you make them sin in this terrible way?«

nsb@Exodus:32:22 @ Aaron said, »Do not be angry with me. You know the people as well as I do. They are determined to do evil.

nsb@Exodus:32:23 @ »They said to me: ‘That man Moses led us out of Egypt, but now we do not know what has happened to him. Make us a god to lead us.’«

nsb@Exodus:32:24 @ »Then I asked them to bring me their gold earrings. They took them off and gave them to me. I threw the gold into a fire, and out came this bull.«

nsb@Exodus:32:25 @ Moses saw that the people were naked. Aaron had made them naked to their shame among their enemies.

nsb@Exodus:32:26 @ Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said: »Who is on Jehovah’s side? Come to me. All the sons of Levi came to him.«

nsb@Exodus:32:27 @ He said to them, »Jehovah, the God of Israel says: ‘Each man put his sword by his side. Go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp. Kill each one his brother, and each one his neighbor, and each one his kindred.’«

nsb@Exodus:32:28 @ The sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. About three thousand men died that day.

nsb@Exodus:32:29 @ Moses said: »Today you are ordained as Jehovah’s. God gave you a blessing today. Each of you fought with your own sons and brothers.«

nsb@Exodus:32:30 @ The next day Moses said to the people: »You have committed a serious sin. Now I will go up the mountain to Jehovah. Maybe I will be able to make a payment for your sin and make atonement with Jehovah for your sin.«

nsb@Exodus:32:31 @ So Moses went back to Jehovah and said: »These people have committed such a serious sin! They made a god out of gold for themselves.

nsb@Exodus:32:34 @ »Now, go and lead the people to the place I told you about. My angel will go ahead of you. But on the day when I punish, I will punish them for their sin.«

nsb@Exodus:33:1 @ Jehovah said to Moses: »You and the people you brought out of Egypt must leave this place. Go to the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with an oath, saying: ‘I will give it to your descendants.’«

nsb@Exodus:33:3 @ »Go to that land flowing with milk and honey. I will not be with you, because you are impossible to deal with. I would probably destroy you on the way.«

nsb@Exodus:33:5 @ Jehovah said to Moses: »Tell the Israelites: You are impossible to deal with. If I were with you, I might destroy you at any time. Take off your jewelry and I will decide what to do with you.«

nsb@Exodus:33:7 @ Moses used to take a tent and set it up far outside the camp. He called it the tent of meeting. Anyone who was seeking Jehovah’s will used to go outside the camp to the tent of meeting.

nsb@Exodus:33:8 @ Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise and stand at the entrances to their tents and watch Moses until he went in.

nsb@Exodus:33:9 @ After Moses entered, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the door of the Tent. Jehovah would speak to Moses from the cloud.

nsb@Exodus:33:11 @ Jehovah would speak with Moses in person just as someone speaks with a friend. Moses would then return to the camp. But the young man who was his helper, Joshua son of Nun, stayed in the Tent.

nsb@Exodus:33:12 @ Moses said to Jehovah: »It is true that you have told me to lead these people to that land, but you did not tell me whom you would send with me. You said that you know me well and are pleased with me.

nsb@Exodus:33:13 @ If you are, tell me your plans, so that I may serve you and continue to please you. Remember also that you have chosen this nation to be your own.«

nsb@Exodus:33:17 @ Jehovah said to Moses: »I will do this thing of which you have spoken. You have found favor in my sight. I have known you by name.

nsb@Exodus:33:19 @ Jehovah said: »I will make all my goodness pass in front of you. I will call out my name, JEHOVAH. I will be kind to anyone I want to. I will be merciful to anyone I want to.«

nsb@Exodus:34:1 @ Jehovah said to Moses: »Cut two more stone tablets like the first ones. I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets that you smashed.

nsb@Exodus:34:2 @ »Be ready in the morning. Come up on Mount Sinai and present yourself to me there on top of the mountain.

nsb@Exodus:34:4 @ Moses cut two more stone tablets. Early the next morning he carried them up Mount Sinai, just as Jehovah commanded.

nsb@Exodus:34:5 @ Jehovah came down in a cloud and stood with him as Moses called upon the name of Jehovah!

nsb@Exodus:34:7 @ »I keep my promise for thousands of generations and forgive evil and sin. But I will not fail to punish children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation for the sins of their fathers.«

nsb@Exodus:34:8 @ Moses hurried to bow low toward the earth and worship.

nsb@Exodus:34:10 @ Jehovah said: »Behold! I offer a covenant to perform signs and miracles for you that have never been done in all the earth. Neighboring nations will stand in fear and know that I was the one who did these marvelous things.

nsb@Exodus:34:11 @ »I will force out the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. You must do what I command you today.

nsb@Exodus:34:12 @ »Watch yourself that you make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going. It will become a snare in your midst.

nsb@Exodus:34:15 @ Otherwise you might make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land. They would commit spiritual immorality with their gods and sacrifice to their gods. Someone might invite you to eat of his sacrifice.

nsb@Exodus:34:16 @ »You might take some of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters might commit spiritual immorality with their gods and cause your sons also to commit spiritual immorality with their gods.

nsb@Exodus:34:19 @ »Every first male offspring is mine. The firstborn males of all your livestock, whether cattle, sheep, or goats are mine.

nsb@Exodus:34:20 @ »It will cost you a sheep or a goat to buy back the firstborn donkey. If you do not buy it back, then you must break the donkey’s neck. You must buy back every firstborn of your sons. No one may come into my presence without an offering.

nsb@Exodus:34:23 @ »Three times a year all your men must come into the presence of the Sovereign Jehovah, the God of Israel.

nsb@Exodus:34:24 @ »I will force nations out of your way and will expand your country’s borders. No one will want to take away your land while you are gone three times a year to Jehovah’s festivals.

nsb@Exodus:34:25 @ »Do not offer the blood of a sacrifice to me at the same time you offer anything containing yeast. No part of the sacrifice at the Passover festival should be left over in the morning.

nsb@Exodus:34:26 @ »I am Jehovah your God! You must bring the first part of your harvest to the place of worship. Do not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.«

nsb@Exodus:34:27 @ Jehovah told Moses: »Put these laws in writing, as part of my agreement with Israel.«

nsb@Exodus:34:30 @ Aaron and all the Israelites looked at Moses and saw his face glowing. They were afraid to come near him.

nsb@Exodus:34:31 @ Moses called to them. Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation came back to him. Then Moses spoke to them.

nsb@Exodus:34:32 @ All the other Israelites came near him. He commanded them to do everything Jehovah told him on Mount Sinai.

nsb@Exodus:34:34 @ When Moses went into Jehovah’s presence to speak with him, he took off the veil until he came out. When he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded,

nsb@Exodus:34:35 @ they would see that Moses’ face was glowing. Moses would put the veil back on until he went in again to speak with Jehovah.

nsb@Exodus:35:1 @ Moses assembled the whole Israelite congregation and said to them: »These are the things Jehovah commanded you to do:

nsb@Exodus:35:2 @ »You may work for six days. The seventh day is a holy day of worship. It is a day when you do not work. It is dedicated to Jehovah. Whoever does any work on this day should be put to death.

nsb@Exodus:35:4 @ Moses spoke to all the people of Israel: »This is what Jehovah has commanded:

nsb@Exodus:35:5 @ ‘Make an offering to Jehovah. Everyone who wishes to do so is to bring an offering of gold, silver, or copper.

nsb@Exodus:35:9 @ The offering could also be carnelians and other jewels to be set in the High Priest’s ephod and in his breast piece.

nsb@Exodus:35:10 @ ‘All the skilled workers among you are to come and make everything that Jehovah commanded:

nsb@Exodus:35:12 @ the Covenant Box, its poles, its lid, and the curtain to screen it off;

nsb@Exodus:35:13 @ the table, its poles, and all its equipment; the bread offered to God;

nsb@Exodus:35:16 @ the altar on which to burn offerings, with its bronze grating attached, its poles, and all its equipment; the washbasin and its base;

nsb@Exodus:35:19 @ and the garments the priests are to wear when they serve in the Holy Place---the sacred clothes for Aaron the priest and for his sons.’«

nsb@Exodus:35:21 @ Those who were willing and whose hearts moved them brought their contributions to Jehovah. The gifts were used to construct the tent of meeting, to pay other expenses, and to make the holy clothes.

nsb@Exodus:35:22 @ All willing, men and women alike, brought all kinds of gold jewelry: pins, brooches, earrings, signet rings, and pendants. They offered these gifts of gold to Jehovah.

nsb@Exodus:35:24 @ Those who could give silver or copper brought it as their contribution to Jehovah. Those who had acacia wood that could be used in the construction brought it.

nsb@Exodus:35:27 @ The leaders brought different kinds of jewels to be sewn on the special clothes and the breast piece for the high priest.

nsb@Exodus:35:29 @ The people of Israel, every man and woman whose hearts were willing, gave their offerings freely to Jehovah. This was for the work that Jehovah gave Moses orders to have done.

nsb@Exodus:35:30 @ Then Moses said to the sons of Israel: »Jehovah has called by name Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur of the tribe of Judah.

nsb@Exodus:35:33 @ »He knows how to cut and set stones and how to work with wood. He is an expert in all trades.

nsb@Exodus:35:34 @ »Jehovah also gave Bezalel and Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, from the tribe of Dan the ability to teach others.

nsb@Exodus:35:35 @ »Jehovah made these men highly skilled in all trades. They can do the work of jewelers, carpenters, and designers. They know how to embroider violet, purple and bright red yarn on fine linen. They know how to weave yarn on a loom. They can do all kinds of trades. They are master artists.

nsb@Exodus:36:1 @ Moses continued speaking: »Bezalel and Oholiab will do the work as Jehovah commanded. They will do this with the help of every other craftsman to whom Jehovah has given the necessary skills and talents. They will know how to do all the work for constructing the holy place.«

nsb@Exodus:36:2 @ Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman to whom Jehovah gave these skills and who was willing to come and do the work.

nsb@Exodus:36:5 @ to Moses. They said: »The people are bringing more than is needed for the work Jehovah commanded to be done.«

nsb@Exodus:36:6 @ Moses sent a command throughout the camp, saying: »No one is to make any further contribution for the sacred Tent.« So the people did not bring any more.

nsb@Exodus:36:7 @ What had already been brought was sufficient to finish all the work.

nsb@Exodus:36:10 @ Five of the curtains were sewn together. The other five were also sewn together.

nsb@Exodus:36:13 @ They also made fifty gold fasteners. They used them to link the two sets of curtains together so that the inner tent was a single unit.

nsb@Exodus:36:14 @ Eleven curtains were made of goats’ hair to form an outer tent over the inner tent.

nsb@Exodus:36:16 @ Five of the curtains were sewn together into one set, and the remaining six into another set.

nsb@Exodus:36:18 @ Fifty bronze fasteners were also made to link the inner tent together as a single unit.

nsb@Exodus:36:24 @ Then they made forty silver sockets placed at the bottom of the twenty frames. There were two sockets at the bottom of each frame for the two pegs.

nsb@Exodus:36:26 @ Forty silver sockets were prepared with two at the bottom of each frame.

nsb@Exodus:36:29 @ They were held together at the bottom and held tightly at the top by a single ring. Both corner frames were made this way.

nsb@Exodus:36:30 @ There were eight frames with sixteen silver sockets. There were two at the bottom of each frame.

nsb@Exodus:36:33 @ The middle crossbar was made so that it ran from one end to the other, halfway up the frames.

nsb@Exodus:36:34 @ They covered the frames with gold and made gold rings to hold the crossbars. They also covered the crossbars with gold.

nsb@Exodus:36:35 @ They made the canopy out of violet, purple, and bright red yarn and fine linen yarn. A cherubim design was creatively worked into the fabric.

nsb@Exodus:36:37 @ They made a screen out of fine linen yarn for the entrance to the outer tent. It was embroidered with violet, purple, and bright red yarn.

nsb@Exodus:36:38 @ They also made five posts with hooks for hanging the screen. They covered the tops of the posts and the bands with gold. The five bases for the posts were made of copper.

nsb@Exodus:37:9 @ The cherubim had their wings spread upward. They covered the mercy seat with their wings. The faces of the cherubim were toward the mercy seat and toward each other.

nsb@Exodus:37:14 @ The rings were put close to the rim to hold the poles for carrying the table.

nsb@Exodus:37:16 @ He made plates, dishes, bowls, and pitchers to be used for pouring wine offerings on the table. All of them were made out of pure gold.

nsb@Exodus:37:18 @ There were three branches on each of its two sides, for a total of six branches.

nsb@Exodus:37:26 @ All of it was covered with pure gold, the top, the sides, and the horns. He put a gold molding around it.

nsb@Exodus:37:27 @ He made two gold rings and put them below the molding on opposite sides to hold the poles for carrying it.

nsb@Exodus:37:29 @ A perfumer made the holy oil to be used for anointing and for the pure, sweet incense.

nsb@Exodus:38:5 @ A copper ring was attached beneath the ledge at the four corners to put the poles through.

nsb@Exodus:38:17 @ The bases for the posts were made of copper. The hooks and bands on the posts were made of silver. The tops of the posts were covered with silver. And the bands on all the posts of the courtyard were made of silver.

nsb@Exodus:38:18 @ The screen for the entrance to the courtyard was made of violet, purple, and bright red yarn embroidered on fabric made from fine linen yarn. It was thirty feet long and seven and one half feet high, just like the curtains of the courtyard.

nsb@Exodus:38:19 @ The screen hung on four posts set in four copper bases. The hooks and bands on the posts were made of silver. The tops of the posts were covered with silver.

nsb@Exodus:38:21 @ This is the inventory of the tent, the Tent of Testimony. An inventory was ordered by Moses and carried out by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar, son of the priest Aaron.

nsb@Exodus:38:23 @ Bezalel was a jeweler, carpenter, designer, and he knew how to embroider violet, purple, and bright red yarn on fine linen. His assistant was Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, from the tribe of Daniel.

nsb@Exodus:38:24 @ All the gold from the offerings presented to Jehovah used in building the holy place weighed over two thousand one hundred and ninety three pounds using the standard weight of the holy place.

nsb@Exodus:38:26 @ This amounted to one-fifth of an ounce per person, for everyone counted who was at least twenty years old. There were six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty people.

nsb@Exodus:38:27 @ He used seven thousand five hundred pounds of silver to cast the one hundred bases for the holy place and the canopy. That came to seventy-five pounds per base.

nsb@Exodus:38:28 @ Bezalel used forty-four pounds of silver to make the hooks and bands for the posts and the coverings for the tops of the posts.

nsb@Exodus:38:29 @ The offerings presented to Jehovah weighted five thousand three hundred and ten pounds.

nsb@Exodus:38:30 @ He used this to make the bases for the entrance to the tent of meeting, the copper altar with its copper grate and all its accessories,

nsb@Exodus:38:31 @ the bases all around the courtyard, the bases for the entrance to the courtyard, all the pegs for the tent, and all the pegs for the surrounding courtyard.

nsb@Exodus:39:1 @ From the violet, purple, and bright red yarn they made special clothes worn for official duties in the holy place. They also made the holy clothes for Aaron. They obeyed Jehovah’s instructions to Moses.

nsb@Exodus:39:3 @ The gold was hammered into thin sheets and cut up. They twisted the gold into threads, which they creatively worked into each strand of the violet, purple, and bright red yarn, and throughout the fine linen.

nsb@Exodus:39:4 @ From this they made two shoulder straps for the ephod and attached them to its sides, so that it could be fastened.

nsb@Exodus:39:5 @ The finely woven belt, made of the same materials, was attached to the ephod so as to form one piece with it. This was as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

nsb@Exodus:39:7 @ They placed them on the shoulder straps of the ephod to represent the twelve tribes of Israel. Again, this was just as Jehovah commanded Moses.

nsb@Exodus:39:10 @ They mounted four rows of precious stones on it. Ruby was mounted on the first row along with topaz, and garnet.

nsb@Exodus:39:14 @ Each of the twelve stones had engraved on it the name of one of the sons of Jacob, in order to represent the twelve tribes of Israel.

nsb@Exodus:39:16 @ Two gold settings and two gold rings were prepared and attached, the two rings to the top two corners of the breast piece.

nsb@Exodus:39:17 @ They fastened the two gold ropes to the rings at the top corners of the breastplate.

nsb@Exodus:39:18 @ They fastened the other ends of the ropes to the two settings on the shoulder straps of the ephod. The breastplate hung in front of it.

nsb@Exodus:39:19 @ They made two gold rings and fastened them to the other two corners of the breast piece on the inside edge next to the ephod.

nsb@Exodus:39:20 @ They made two more gold rings and fastened them to the bottom of the shoulder straps on the front of the ephod. This was close to the seam just above the belt of the ephod.

nsb@Exodus:39:21 @ Finally they fastened the breast piece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a violet cord. So the breast piece was attached just above the belt of the ephod and was held in place. They followed Jehovah’s instructions to Moses.

nsb@Exodus:39:23 @ The opening in the center of the robe had a finished edge, somewhat like a leather collar, all around it to keep it from tearing.

nsb@Exodus:39:26 @ A gold bell alternated with a pomegranate all around the hem of the robe that is worn by Aaron when he served as priest. They followed Jehovah’s instructions to Moses.

nsb@Exodus:39:29 @ The belt was embroidered with violet, purple, and bright red yarn. They followed Jehovah’s instructions to Moses.

nsb@Exodus:39:30 @ The flower-shaped medallion, the holy crown, was fashioned out of pure gold. The statement: HOLY TO JEHOVAH was engraved on it.

nsb@Exodus:39:31 @ They fastened a violet cord to it and tied it on top of the turban. They followed Jehovah’s instructions to Moses.

nsb@Exodus:39:32 @ So all the work on the inner tent of the tent of meeting was now done. The Israelites obeyed all Jehovah’s instructions to Moses.

nsb@Exodus:39:33 @ They brought everything to Moses: the inner tent, the outer tent and all its furnishings, the fasteners, frames, crossbars, posts, sockets,

nsb@Exodus:39:38 @ the gold altar, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, the screen for the entrance to the tent,

nsb@Exodus:39:40 @ the curtains for the courtyard, the posts, bases, and screen for the entrance to the courtyard, the ropes and pegs, all the equipment needed for the service of the inner tent for tent of meeting;

nsb@Exodus:39:42 @ The Israelites did all the work according to Jehovah’s instructions to Moses.

nsb@Exodus:40:1 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Exodus:40:12 @ »Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the Tabernacle, and have them take a ritual bath.

nsb@Exodus:40:15 @ »Anoint them just as you anointed their father that they can serve me as priests. This anointing will make them priests for generations to come.«

nsb@Exodus:40:19 @ He spread the outer tent over the inner tent and put the cover on top. Moses followed Jehovah’s instructions.

nsb@Exodus:40:20 @ He took the words of God’s promise and put them in the ark. He put the poles on the ark and placed the throne of mercy on top of the ark.

nsb@Exodus:40:21 @ Then he brought the ark into the tent and hung the canopy over it to mark off where the ark was. Moses followed Jehovah’s instructions.

nsb@Exodus:40:28 @ Then he put up the screen at the entrance to the tent.

nsb@Exodus:40:29 @ He put the altar for burnt offerings at the entrance to the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. He sacrificed burnt offerings and grain offerings on it. Moses followed Jehovah’s instructions.

nsb@Exodus:40:31 @ Moses, Aaron, and his sons used this water to wash their hands and feet.

nsb@Exodus:40:32 @ They washed whenever they went into the tent of meeting or whenever they approached the altar. Moses obeyed Jehovah’s instructions.

nsb@Exodus:40:33 @ He set up the courtyard around the tent and the altar and put up the screen at the entrance to the courtyard. At last Moses finished the work.

nsb@Exodus:40:35 @ Moses could not go into the tent of meeting because the smoke settled on it and the glory of Jehovah filled the tent.

nsb@Leviticus:1:1 @ Jehovah called to Moses. He spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, He said:

nsb@Leviticus:1:2 @ »Tell the Israelites: ‘When you bring an offering to Jehovah, bring your offering of animals from the herd or the flock.

nsb@Leviticus:1:4 @ »‘He should lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering. It may then be accepted for him to make atonement with Jehovah on his behalf.

nsb@Leviticus:1:5 @ »‘Slaughter the bull in Jehovah’s presence. Aaron's sons, the priests, will offer the blood. They will throw it against all sides of the altar that is at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

nsb@Leviticus:1:6 @ »‘Skin the burnt offering, and cut it into pieces.

nsb@Leviticus:1:8 @ »‘Aaron's sons, the priests, will also lay the pieces, the head, and the fat on top of the wood burning on the altar.

nsb@Leviticus:1:9 @ »‘Wash the internal organs and legs. The priest will then burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:1:13 @ »‘Wash the internal organs and the hind legs. The priest will present the sacrifice to Jehovah and burn all of it on the altar. The odor of this food offering is pleasing to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:1:15 @ »‘A priest will take the bird to the copper altar. He will wring its neck and put its head on the fire. Then he will drain out its blood on one side of the altar,

nsb@Leviticus:2:1 @ »‘When you present an offering of grain to Jehovah, you must first grind it into flour. You must put oil and incense on it.

nsb@Leviticus:2:2 @ »‘Give it to Aaron’s sons the priests. The priest will take a handful of the flour and oil and all of the incense and burn it on the altar as a memorial. It is all offered by fire to Jehovah. The odor of this food offering is pleasing to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:2:3 @ »‘The rest of the grain offering will belong to Aaron and his sons. It is most holy and set apart from Jehovah’s offering by fire.

nsb@Leviticus:2:5 @ »‘If your grain offering is prepared in a frying pan, it, too, will be unleavened bread made of flour mixed with oil.

nsb@Leviticus:2:6 @ »‘Break it into pieces and pour oil over it. It is a grain offering.

nsb@Leviticus:2:8 @ »‘Bring Jehovah the grain offering prepared in any of these ways. Offer it to the priest who will bring it to the altar.

nsb@Leviticus:2:9 @ »‘To show that the whole offering belongs to me, the priest will lay part of it on the altar. He will send it up in smoke and fire with a smell that pleases Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:2:10 @ »‘The rest of the offering belongs to the priests. It is very holy, since it is taken from the food offered to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:2:11 @ »‘Every grain offering you bring to Jehovah must be made without yeast. Do not use yeast or honey in food offered to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:2:12 @ »‘Bring them to Jehovah as an offering of first fruits. Do not offer them on the altar as a soothing aroma.

nsb@Leviticus:2:14 @ »‘When you bring a grain offering of early-ripened things to Jehovah, you should bring fresh heads of grain roasted in the fire, grits of new growth, for the grain offering of your early-ripened things.

nsb@Leviticus:2:16 @ »‘The priest will burn the flour, oil, and all the incense as a reminder. It is an offering by fire to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:3:3 @ »‘Offer all of the fat on the animal's insides as a sacrifice of the peace offering made by fire to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:3:5 @ »‘Some of the priests will lay these pieces on the altar and send them up in smoke with a smell that pleases me, together with the sacrifice that is offered to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:3:6 @ »‘If your sacrifice is a fellowship offering of sheep to Jehovah, you must bring a male or female animal that has no defects.

nsb@Leviticus:3:7 @ »‘If your offering is a lamb, you must bring it to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:3:9 @ »‘Take the fat from the fellowship offering and offer it by fire to Jehovah. Remove all the fat from the tail and the fat that covers the internal organs.

nsb@Leviticus:3:11 @ »‘The priest must burn the offering on the altar. It is food, an offering by fire to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:3:16 @ »‘The priest will burn them on the altar. It is food, an offering by fire to Jehovah. It is a soothing aroma. All the fat belongs to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:3:17 @ »‘This is a long lasting law for generations to come wherever you live. Never eat any fat or blood.’«

nsb@Leviticus:4:2 @ to tell the people of Israel: »If a person sins unintentionally and does not keep Jehovah’s commandments he would have to observe the following rules:

nsb@Leviticus:4:3 @ »If it is the High Priest who sins and brings guilt on the people, he should present a young bull without any defects and sacrifice it to Jehovah for his sin.

nsb@Leviticus:4:4 @ »The priest must lead the bull to the entrance of the sacred tent. He must lay his hand on its head and kill it there.

nsb@Leviticus:4:6 @ dip a finger in the blood, and sprinkle some of it seven times toward the sacred chest behind the curtain.

nsb@Leviticus:4:7 @ »In my presence, he will smear some of the blood on each of the four corners of the incense altar, before pouring out the rest at the foot of the copper altar near the entrance to the tent.

nsb@Leviticus:4:10 @ »It is to be removed from the bull of the sacrifice of peace offerings. The priest is to offer them up in smoke on the altar of burnt offering.

nsb@Leviticus:4:12 @ »He is to bring the rest of the bull to a clean place outside the camp where the ashes are poured out. There he will burn it on wood with fire; where the ashes are poured out it shall be burned.

nsb@Leviticus:4:13 @ »If the whole congregation of Israel commits error and the matter escapes the notice of the assembly, and they commit any of the things that Jehovah commands not to be done they become guilty.

nsb@Leviticus:4:16 @ »Then the anointed priest will bring some of the bull's blood into the Tent of Meeting.

nsb@Leviticus:4:18 @ »He will put some blood on the horns of the altar in Jehovah’s presence in the Tent of Meeting. He will pour the remaining blood at the bottom of the altar. This is for burnt offerings at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

nsb@Leviticus:4:22 @ »When a ruler sins and becomes guilty of breaking one of Jehovah’s commands without intending to,

nsb@Leviticus:4:23 @ as soon as the sin is called to his attention, the priest will bring as his offering a male goat without any defects.

nsb@Leviticus:4:25 @ »The priest will then take some of the blood of the offering for sin with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. He will pour the rest of the blood at the bottom of the altar for burnt offerings.

nsb@Leviticus:4:30 @ »The priest will take some of the blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. He will pour the rest of the blood out at the bottom of the altar.

nsb@Leviticus:4:31 @ »He will remove all the fat the same way it is removed from the peace offering. The priest will burn it on the altar for a soothing aroma to Jehovah. So the priest will make peace with Jehovah for that person. That person will be forgiven.

nsb@Leviticus:4:34 @ »Then the priest will take some of the blood from the offering for sin with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. He will pour the rest of the blood at the bottom of the altar.

nsb@Leviticus:4:35 @ »He will remove all the fat the same way the fat of the lamb is removed from the peace offerings. Then the priest will burn it on the altar with the offering by fire to Jehovah. Then the priest will pay compensation for the wrong and make peace with Jehovah for what that person did wrong. That person will be forgiven.

nsb@Leviticus:5:1 @ Jehovah continued: »If you are a witness under oath who refuses to tell what you saw or what you know, you are sinning and will be punished.

nsb@Leviticus:5:2 @ »If you touch anything unclean such as an unclean dead body of a wild or tame animal or the body of an unclean, swarming creature and then ignore what you did, you are unclean and will be guilty.

nsb@Leviticus:5:3 @ »If you become unclean by touching human uncleanness of any kind and then ignore it knowing what you did you will be guilty.

nsb@Leviticus:5:6 @ »Bring your guilt offering to Jehovah for the sin you committed. It must be a female sheep or goat as an offering for sin. Then the priest will pay compensation for the wrong and make peace with Jehovah for what you did wrong.

nsb@Leviticus:5:7 @ »If you cannot afford a sheep, you must bring two turtledoves or two pigeons to Jehovah as a guilt offering for the sin you committed. One will be an offering for sin. The other will be a burnt offering.

nsb@Leviticus:5:8 @ »Bring them to the priest. He will sacrifice the offering for sin first. He will break the bird's neck without pulling its head off.

nsb@Leviticus:5:9 @ »He will sprinkle some of the blood from the offering for sin on the side of the altar. The rest of the blood will be drained at the bottom of the altar. It is an offering for sin.

nsb@Leviticus:5:11 @ »If you cannot afford two turtledoves or two pigeons, bring eight cups of flour as an offering for the sin you committed. Never put olive oil on it or add incense to it. This is because it is an offering for sin.

nsb@Leviticus:5:12 @ »Bring it to the priest. The priest will take a handful of it. He will burn it as a reminder on top of the offering by fire to Jehovah on the altar. It is an offering for sin.

nsb@Leviticus:5:13 @ »The priest will pay compensation and make peace with Jehovah for your sin. You will be forgiven. The offering will belong to the priest like the grain offering.«

nsb@Leviticus:5:14 @ Jehovah spoke to Moses:

nsb@Leviticus:5:15 @ »If any of you fail to do your duty by unintentionally doing something wrong with any of Jehovah’s holy things, bring a guilt offering to Jehovah. It must be a ram that has no defects or its value in silver weighed according to the official standards of the holy place.

nsb@Leviticus:5:16 @ »You must make the payments you have failed to hand over and must pay an additional twenty percent. Give it to the priest. The priest will offer the animal as a sacrifice for your sin. You will be forgiven.

nsb@Leviticus:5:18 @ »Bring to the priest as a repayment offering a male sheep or goat without any defects. Its value is to be determined according to the official standard. The priest shall offer the sacrifice for the sin that you committed unintentionally. You will be forgiven.

nsb@Leviticus:6:1 @ Jehovah gave the following regulations to Moses:

nsb@Leviticus:6:2 @ »If any of you sin against Jehovah by failing to do your duty, if you lie to your neighbor about something you were supposed to take care of or if you lie about something stolen or seized from your neighbor, you are sinning and will be guilty.

nsb@Leviticus:6:4 @ you have sinned and are guilty. Return what you stole or seized, what you were supposed to take care of, the lost item you found,

nsb@Leviticus:6:5 @ or whatever it was that you swore falsely about. Pay it back in full plus one-fifth more. Give it back to its owner on the day you bring your guilt offering.

nsb@Leviticus:6:6 @ »Then bring your guilt offering to Jehovah. Bring a ram that has no defects or its value in money. Bring it to the priest.

nsb@Leviticus:6:8 @ Jehovah continued to speak to Moses,

nsb@Leviticus:6:10 @ »‘The priest must put on his linen clothes. This includes linen undergarments. Then he will remove the ashes left on the altar from the fire that consumed the burnt offering and will put them next to the altar.

nsb@Leviticus:6:11 @ »‘He will take off these clothes and put on some others. He will take the ashes to a clean place outside the camp.

nsb@Leviticus:6:15 @ »‘One of them will lift up from it a handful of the fine flour of the grain offering. Using its oil and all the incense that is on the grain offering, and he will offer it up in smoke on the altar. It will be a soothing aroma and a memorial offering to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:6:16 @ »‘Any thing left is for Aaron and his sons to eat. It will be eaten as unleavened cakes in a holy place. They must eat it in the court of the Tent of Meeting.

nsb@Leviticus:6:18 @ »‘Every male among the sons of Aaron may eat it. It is a long lasting ordinance throughout your generations, from the offerings by fire to Jehovah. Whoever touches them will become consecrated.’«

nsb@Leviticus:6:19 @ Jehovah continued to speak to Moses:

nsb@Leviticus:6:20 @ »This is the offering Aaron and his sons are to present to Jehovah on the day when he is anointed: a tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a regular grain offering, half of it in the morning and half of it in the evening.

nsb@Leviticus:6:21 @ »Prepare it with oil on a griddle. Stir it well and bring it. Present the grain offering in baked pieces as a soothing aroma to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:6:22 @ »The anointed priest who will be in his place among his sons will offer it. By a long lasting ordinance it shall be entirely offered up in smoke to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:6:24 @ Jehovah spoke to Moses:

nsb@Leviticus:6:27 @ »‘Everything that touches its meat will be holy. If blood gets on someone's clothes, he must wash them in a holy place.

nsb@Leviticus:6:28 @ »‘The piece of pottery in which the offering for sin is cooked must be broken into pieces. The copper kettle in which the offering for sin is cooked must be scoured and rinsed with water.

nsb@Leviticus:6:30 @ »‘The offering for sin must not be eaten if some of the blood was brought into the holy place in the Tent of Meeting to pay compensation for wrongdoing and make peace with Jehovah. It must be burned.

nsb@Leviticus:7:5 @ The priest will burn them on the altar. It is a guilt offering by fire to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:7:7 @ »‘The same instructions apply to the offering for sin and the guilt offering. Both offerings belong to the priest to pay compensation for wrongdoing and make peace with Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:7:8 @ »‘The skin of the burnt offering belongs to the priest who sacrifices it.

nsb@Leviticus:7:9 @ »‘Every grain offering, whether baked in an oven or prepared in a skillet or a frying pan, belongs to the priest who offers it.

nsb@Leviticus:7:11 @ »‘These are the instructions for the fellowship offering that you must bring to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:7:13 @ »‘In addition to these rings of bread, you must bring leavened bread along with your fellowship offering of thanksgiving.

nsb@Leviticus:7:14 @ »‘He will present one of every offering as a contribution to Jehovah. It will belong to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the peace offerings.

nsb@Leviticus:7:19 @ »‘The flesh that touches anything unclean shall not be eaten. It should be burned with fire. As for other flesh, anyone who is clean may eat such flesh.

nsb@Leviticus:7:20 @ »‘The person who eats the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings that belong to Jehovah, in his uncleanness, that person will be cut off from his people.

nsb@Leviticus:7:21 @ »‘When someone touches anything unclean, whether human uncleanness, or an unclean animal, or any unclean detestable thing, and eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings which belong to Jehovah, that person shall be cut off from his people.’«

nsb@Leviticus:7:22 @ Jehovah continued to speak to Moses:

nsb@Leviticus:7:25 @ »‘Those who eat the fat from an animal they sacrificed by fire to Jehovah must be excluded from the people.

nsb@Leviticus:7:28 @ Jehovah spoke to Moses:

nsb@Leviticus:7:29 @ »Tell the Israelites: ‘Anyone who offers Jehovah a fellowship offering must bring a part of that sacrifice as a gift to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:7:30 @ »‘Bring the sacrifices by fire made to Jehovah. Bring the fat with the breast. Take the breast and present it to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:7:31 @ »‘The priest will burn the fat on the altar. However, the breast will belong to Aaron and his sons.

nsb@Leviticus:7:33 @ »‘When any of Aaron's sons offer the blood and fat of the fellowship offering, the right thigh will belong to him as his share.

nsb@Leviticus:7:34 @ »‘I have taken the breast and thigh that was presented to me from the contribution offering from the Israelites. I have given them to the priest Aaron and his sons. This is a long lasting law for generations to come.

nsb@Leviticus:7:35 @ »‘This is the share for Aaron and his sons from the sacrifices by fire made to Jehovah. It was given to them on the day Moses ordained them to serve Jehovah as priests.’«

nsb@Leviticus:7:36 @ Jehovah commanded the Israelites to give it to them on the day he anointed them. This is a long lasting law for generations to come.

nsb@Leviticus:7:38 @ On Mount Sinai Jehovah gave Moses commands about these offerings. At the same time he commanded the Israelites to bring their offerings to him in the Sinai Desert.

nsb@Leviticus:8:1 @ Jehovah continued to speak to Moses:

nsb@Leviticus:8:3 @ »Gather the entire congregation at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.«

nsb@Leviticus:8:4 @ Moses did as Jehovah commanded him. All the people gathered at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

nsb@Leviticus:8:5 @ Moses announced to the congregation: »Jehovah has commanded that this is what you must do!«

nsb@Leviticus:8:7 @ He clothed Aaron with the embroidered tunic and tied the sash around him. He also dressed him in the linen robe that is worn with the ephod. He fastened the ephod to it.

nsb@Leviticus:8:9 @ He put the turban on Aaron’s head and fastened the gold medallion, the holy crown, to the front of the turban as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

nsb@Leviticus:8:10 @ Moses took the anointing oil to anoint the tent and everything in it and dedicate them.

nsb@Leviticus:8:12 @ He also poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head and anointed him to set him apart for his holy duties.

nsb@Leviticus:8:15 @ Moses killed it and took some of the blood. Using his finger he put it on the projections at the corners of the altar, in order to dedicate it. He then poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. In this way he dedicated it and purified it.

nsb@Leviticus:8:16 @ Moses took all the fat on the internal organs. He took the best part of the liver, and the kidneys with the fat on them, and burned it all on the altar.

nsb@Leviticus:8:17 @ Finally, he took the skin and the flesh of the bull, together with the food still in its stomach, and burned them outside the camp, just as Jehovah commanded.

nsb@Leviticus:8:18 @ Moses led out the ram for the sacrifice to please Jehovah. After Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head,

nsb@Leviticus:8:20 @ The ram was cut into pieces. Moses burned the head with the other pieces and the fat.

nsb@Leviticus:8:21 @ He washed the internal organs and the legs. Then Moses burned the whole ram on the altar as Jehovah commanded him. It was a burnt offering, a pleasant aroma, an offering by fire to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:8:23 @ Moses slaughtered it. He took some of the blood, and put it on Aaron's right ear lobe, on his right thumb, and on the big toe of his right foot.

nsb@Leviticus:8:24 @ Moses also brought Aaron's sons forward. He put some of the blood on their right ear lobes, on their right thumbs, and on the big toes of their right feet. Moses threw the rest of the blood against all the sides of the altar.

nsb@Leviticus:8:25 @ He took the fat from the tail, all the fat on the internal organs, the lobe of the liver, the two kidneys with their fat, and the right thigh.

nsb@Leviticus:8:26 @ He took a loaf of unleavened bread, a ring of bread made with olive oil. He took a wafer from the basket of unleavened bread in Jehovah’s presence. He put them on the fat and the right thigh.

nsb@Leviticus:8:27 @ He placed all these things in the hands of Aaron and his sons. Moses presented all these things to Jehovah as an offering.

nsb@Leviticus:8:28 @ Then he took them from their hands and burned them on top of the burnt offering on the altar. These were ordination offerings, offerings by fire, a soothing aroma to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:8:29 @ Moses also took the breast from the ram of the ordination offering and presented it to Jehovah. It was Moses' share, as Jehovah commanded.

nsb@Leviticus:8:30 @ Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood that was on the altar. He sprinkled it on Aaron and his clothes and on his sons and their clothes. In this way he dedicated Aaron, his clothes, his sons, and their clothes.

nsb@Leviticus:8:31 @ Moses told Aaron and his sons: »Cook the meat at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Take the meat and the bread in the basket of the ordination offering. Eat them there as I commanded when I said: ‘Aaron and his sons will eat it.’

nsb@Leviticus:8:33 @ »You will not leave the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for seven days. Do not leave until the last day of your ordination is over. It will take seven days to ordain you.

nsb@Leviticus:8:34 @ »I did today what Jehovah commanded me to pay compensation for wrongdoing and make peace with Jehovah for you.

nsb@Leviticus:8:35 @ »You will stay at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting day and night for seven days and keep the watch as Jehovah directs you. Then you will not die. This is what I was commanded.«

nsb@Leviticus:9:2 @ He told Aaron: »Take a calf that has no defects for an offering for sin and a ram that has no defects as a burnt offering. Sacrifice them in Jehovah’s presence.

nsb@Leviticus:9:4 @ a bull and a ram as a fellowship offering, and a grain offering mixed with olive oil to sacrifice in Jehovah’s presence. Jehovah will appear to you today.’«

nsb@Leviticus:9:5 @ They took the things Moses commanded and brought them in front of the Tent of Meeting. The entire congregation stood in Jehovah’s presence.

nsb@Leviticus:9:6 @ Moses said: »Jehovah commanded you to offer these sacrifices so that you may see Jehovah’s glory.«

nsb@Leviticus:9:7 @ Moses told Aaron: »Come to the altar and sacrifice an offering for sin and a burnt offering to pay compensation for your sins and the sins of the people and make peace with Jehovah. Then make an offering for the people that they may pay compensation for their wrongdoing and to make peace with Jehovah just as Jehovah has commanded.«

nsb@Leviticus:9:8 @ Aaron came to the altar and slaughtered the calf as his own offering for sin.

nsb@Leviticus:9:9 @ Aaron's sons brought him the blood. He dipped his finger in the blood and put it on the horns of the altar. After that he poured out the blood at the bottom of the altar.

nsb@Leviticus:9:14 @ He washed the internal organs and the legs and laid them on top of the burnt offering on the altar.

nsb@Leviticus:9:15 @ He brought the people's offerings. He took the male goat for the people's offering for sin and slaughtered it. Then he sacrificed it to take away sins as he had done before.

nsb@Leviticus:9:17 @ He also brought the grain offering. He took a handful of grain and burned it on the altar in addition to the morning burnt offering.

nsb@Leviticus:9:21 @ First he took the breasts and the right thighs and presented them to Jehovah just as Moses commanded.

nsb@Leviticus:9:22 @ Aaron raised his hands toward the people and blessed them. He sacrificed the offering for sin, the burnt offering, and the fellowship offering. Then he came down from the altar.

nsb@Leviticus:9:23 @ Moses and Aaron went into the Tent of Meeting. As soon as they came out, they blessed the people. Then Jehovah’s glory appeared to all the people.

nsb@Leviticus:9:24 @ Fire came out from Jehovah’s presence and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar. As soon as all the people saw this, they shouted and bowed with their faces touching the ground.

nsb@Leviticus:10:1 @ Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu each took an incense burner. They put burning coals and incense in it. Then in Jehovah’s presence they offered this unauthorized fire.

nsb@Leviticus:10:3 @ Moses said to Aaron: »This is what Jehovah was speaking about when he said: ‘All who serve me must respect my holiness. I will reveal my glory to my people.’« But Aaron remained silent.

nsb@Leviticus:10:5 @ So they came and took hold of the clothing on the corpses. They carried them outside the camp just as Moses had commanded.

nsb@Leviticus:10:6 @ Moses said to Aaron and to his sons Eleazar and Ithamar: Do not leave your hair uncombed or tear your clothes to show that you are in mourning. If you do you will die. For Jehovah will be angry with the whole community. But all other Israelites are allowed to mourn this death caused by the fire Jehovah sent.

nsb@Leviticus:10:8 @ Jehovah said to Aaron:

nsb@Leviticus:10:9 @ »Never drink beer or wine when you or your sons enter the sacred tent. If you do, you will die right there! This is a long lasting law from generation to generation.

nsb@Leviticus:10:11 @ »You must also teach the people of Israel everything that I commanded Moses to say to them.«

nsb@Leviticus:10:12 @ Moses spoke to Aaron and his two remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar. He said: »Take the grain offering that is left over from the food offered to Jehovah. Bake unleavened bread with it and eat it beside the altar. This is because this offering is very holy.

nsb@Leviticus:10:13 @ »Eat it in a holy place. It is the part that belongs to you and your sons from the food offered to Jehovah. That is what Jehovah commanded me.

nsb@Leviticus:10:14 @ »You and your families may eat the breast and the hind leg that are presented as the special gift and the special contribution to Jehovah for the priests. You may eat them in any ritually clean place. These offerings have been given to you and your children as the part that belongs to you from the fellowship offerings of the people of Israel.

nsb@Leviticus:10:15 @ »They shall bring the hind leg and the breast at the time the fat is presented as a food offering to Jehovah. These parts belong to you and your children from generation to generation, just as Jehovah commanded.«

nsb@Leviticus:10:17 @ »Why did you not eat the sin offering in a sacred place? It is very holy! Jehovah gave it to you in order to take away the sin of the community.

nsb@Leviticus:10:18 @ »Since its blood was not brought into the sacred Tent, you should have eaten the sacrifice there, as I commanded.«

nsb@Leviticus:10:19 @ Aaron answered: »If I had eaten the sin offering today, would Jehovah have approved? The people presented their sin offering to Jehovah today. They brought their burnt offering, but still these terrible things have happened to me.«

nsb@Leviticus:11:1 @ Jehovah spoke to Moses and Aaron:

nsb@Leviticus:11:8 @ »‘Never eat the meat of these animals or touch their dead bodies. They are unclean for you.

nsb@Leviticus:11:11 @ »‘They must remain disgusting to you. Never eat their meat. Consider their dead bodies repulsive.

nsb@Leviticus:11:12 @ »‘Every creature in the water without fins or scales is offensive to you.

nsb@Leviticus:11:19 @ storks, all types of herons, hoopoes, and bats.

nsb@Leviticus:11:20 @ »‘Every swarming, winged insect that walks across the ground like a four-legged animal is disgusting to you.

nsb@Leviticus:11:21 @ »‘However, you may eat winged insects that swarm if they use their legs to hop on the ground.

nsb@Leviticus:11:23 @ »‘Every kind of winged insect that walks across the ground like a four-legged animal is disgusting to you.

nsb@Leviticus:11:24 @ »‘Regarding the creatures mentioned above, this is how you would become unclean: When you touch their dead bodies you will be unclean until evening.

nsb@Leviticus:11:26 @ »‘All animals whose hoofs are not completely divided or that do not chew their cud are unclean for you. Whoever touches them is unclean.

nsb@Leviticus:11:27 @ »‘All four-legged animals that walk on their paws are unclean for you. Whoever touches their dead bodies will be unclean until evening.

nsb@Leviticus:11:30 @ geckos, monitors, lizards, skinks, and chameleons.

nsb@Leviticus:11:31 @ »‘Of all the swarming creatures that move on the ground, these are unclean for you. He who touches their dead bodies will be unclean until evening.

nsb@Leviticus:11:33 @ »‘If any of these creatures falls into a piece of pottery, break the pottery because everything in it is unclean.

nsb@Leviticus:11:34 @ »‘If water from that pottery touches any food, the food is unclean. Any liquid that you drink from that pottery is unclean.

nsb@Leviticus:11:35 @ »‘Anything on which their dead bodies fall is unclean. If it is an oven or a stove, smash it. It is unclean and will remain unclean for you.

nsb@Leviticus:11:36 @ »‘A spring or a cistern holding water will remain clean. But anyone who touches their dead bodies will be unclean.

nsb@Leviticus:11:37 @ »‘If their dead bodies fall on seed that is to be planted, the seed is clean.

nsb@Leviticus:11:39 @ »‘When any animal that you are allowed to eat dies, whoever touches its dead body will be unclean until evening.

nsb@Leviticus:11:43 @ »‘Do not become disgusting by eating anything that swarms on the ground. Do not allow yourselves to become unclean because of them.

nsb@Leviticus:11:44 @ »‘The reason is because I am Jehovah your God. You must live holy lives. Consecrate yourselves and be holy because I am holy. Never become unclean by touching anything that swarms or crawls on the ground.

nsb@Leviticus:11:45 @ »‘I am Jehovah! I brought you out of Egypt to be your God. Be holy because I am holy.

nsb@Leviticus:12:1 @ Jehovah spoke to Moses:

nsb@Leviticus:12:2 @ »Tell the Israelites: ‘When a woman gives birth to a boy, she will be unclean for seven days. This is the same number of days she is unclean for her monthly period.

nsb@Leviticus:12:4 @ »‘She must stay at home for thirty-three days in order to be made clean from her bleeding. She must not touch anything holy or go into the holy place until the days needed to make her clean are over.

nsb@Leviticus:12:5 @ »‘When a woman gives birth to a girl, she will be unclean as in her monthly period. She will be unclean for two weeks. Then she must stay at home for sixty-six days in order to be made clean from her bleeding.

nsb@Leviticus:12:6 @ »‘When the days needed to make her clean are over, she must bring a one-year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a pigeon or a mourning dove as an offering for sin. She should bring them to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

nsb@Leviticus:12:7 @ »‘The priest will offer them in Jehovah’s presence to pay compensation for sin and make peace with Jehovah for her. Then she will be clean from her flow of blood. These are the instructions for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl.

nsb@Leviticus:13:2 @ »If any of you have a sore on your skin or a boil or an inflammation that could develop into a dreaded skin disease, you shall be brought to the priest.

nsb@Leviticus:13:3 @ »The priest will examine the sore. If the hairs in it have turned white and the sore appears to be deeper than the surrounding skin, it is a dreaded skin disease, and the priest will pronounce you unclean.

nsb@Leviticus:13:4 @ »If the sore is white and does not appear to be deeper than the skin around it and the hairs have not turned white, the priest will isolate you for seven days.

nsb@Leviticus:13:7 @ »If the sore spreads after the priest has examined you and pronounced you clean, you must return to the priest again.

nsb@Leviticus:13:9 @ »If any of you have a dreaded skin disease, you should be brought to the priest.

nsb@Leviticus:13:11 @ it is a chronic skin disease. The priest will pronounce you unclean. There is no need to isolate you. You are obviously unclean.

nsb@Leviticus:13:12 @ »If the skin disease spreads and covers you from head to foot,

nsb@Leviticus:13:16 @ »When the sore heals and becomes white again, you should go to the priest.

nsb@Leviticus:13:19 @ and if afterward a white swelling or a reddish-white spot appears where the boil was, you should go to the priest.

nsb@Leviticus:13:20 @ »The priest will examine you. If the spot seems to be deeper than the surrounding skin and the hairs in it have turned white, he will pronounce you unclean. It is a dreaded skin disease that has started in the boil.

nsb@Leviticus:13:30 @ the priest will examine it. If it seems to be deeper than the surrounding skin and the hairs in it are yellowish and thin, it is a dreaded skin disease. He will declare you unclean.

nsb@Leviticus:13:31 @ »If the priest examines you and finds the sore does not appear to be deeper than the surrounding skin, but there are still no healthy hairs in it, he will isolate you for seven days.

nsb@Leviticus:13:32 @ »The priest will examine the sore again on the seventh day. If it has not spread and there are no yellowish hairs in it and it does not seem to be deeper than the surrounding skin,

nsb@Leviticus:13:34 @ »The priest will again examine the sore on the seventh day. If it has not spread and does not seem to be deeper than the surrounding skin, he will declare you ritually clean. You will wash your clothes. You will be clean.

nsb@Leviticus:13:45 @ »If you have a dreaded skin disease, you must wear torn clothes, leave your hair uncombed, cover the lower part of your face, and call out: Unclean, unclean!

nsb@Leviticus:13:49 @ if it is greenish or reddish, it is a spreading mildew and must be shown to the priest.

nsb@Leviticus:13:59 @ This is the law about mildew on clothing. Whether it is wool or linen, or on linen or wool cloth or on anything made of leather; this is how the decision is made as to whether it is ritually clean or unclean.

nsb@Leviticus:14:2 @ the following regulations about the ritual purification of those of you cured of a dreaded skin disease: »On the day you are to be pronounced clean, you should be brought to the priest.

nsb@Leviticus:14:6 @ »He will take the other bird and dip it, together with the cedar wood, the red cord, and the hyssop, in the blood of the bird that was killed.

nsb@Leviticus:14:7 @ »He will sprinkle the blood seven times on the one of you who is to be purified from your skin disease. He will then pronounce you clean. He will let the live bird fly away over the open fields.

nsb@Leviticus:14:11 @ »The priest will take you and these offerings to the entrance of the Tent of Jehovah’s presence.

nsb@Leviticus:14:12 @ »Then the priest will take one of the male lambs and together with the half pint of oil he will offer it as a repayment offering. He will present them as a special gift to Jehovah for the priest.

nsb@Leviticus:14:13 @ »He will slaughter the lamb in the holy place where the animals for the sin offerings and the burnt offerings are slaughtered. He must do this because the repayment offering, like the sin offering, belongs to the priest and is very holy.

nsb@Leviticus:14:14 @ »The priest will take some of the blood from the guilt offering and put it on the right ear lobe, on the right thumb, and on the big toe of the right foot of the one to be cleansed.

nsb@Leviticus:14:15 @ »The priest will also take some of the olive oil and pour it into his own left hand.

nsb@Leviticus:14:17 @ »The priest will put some of the oil that is still in his hand on the right ear lobe, on the right thumb, and on the big toe of the right foot of the one to be cleansed. These are the same places he had put the blood of the guilt offering.

nsb@Leviticus:14:18 @ »The priest will put the rest of the oil in his hand on the head of the one to be cleansed. So he will pay compensation for wrongdoing and make peace with Jehovah for that person in Jehovah’s presence.

nsb@Leviticus:14:19 @ »The priest will also sacrifice the offering for sin to make peace with Jehovah for the one who is being cleansed from his impurity. After that, he will slaughter the burnt offering.

nsb@Leviticus:14:21 @ »If the one to be cleansed is poor and cannot afford that much, he must take one male lamb, present it to pay compensation for the wrong and make peace with Jehovah for himself, and use it for his guilt offering. He will take only eight cups of flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering, a quart of olive oil,

nsb@Leviticus:14:23 @ »The eighth day he will take them to the priest for his cleansing at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting in Jehovah’s presence.

nsb@Leviticus:14:24 @ »The priest will take the lamb for the guilt offering and the quart of olive oil and present them to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:14:25 @ »He will slaughter the lamb as a guilt offering. The priest will take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the right ear lobe, on the right thumb, and on the big toe of the right foot of the one to be cleansed.

nsb@Leviticus:14:26 @ »The priest will pour some of the olive oil into his own left hand.

nsb@Leviticus:14:28 @ »The priest will put some of the oil that is in his hand on the right ear lobe, on the right thumb, and on the big toe of the right foot of the one to be cleansed. These are the same places he had put the blood of the guilt offering.

nsb@Leviticus:14:29 @ »In Jehovah’s presence, the priest will pour the rest of the oil in his hand on the head of the one to be cleansed in order to make a payment for him.

nsb@Leviticus:14:30 @ »The one to be cleansed must take one of the mourning doves or pigeons, the one he can afford,

nsb@Leviticus:14:31 @ and sacrifice it as an offering for sin. He will take the other and sacrifice it as a burnt offering together with the grain offering. So in Jehovah’s presence the priest will pay compensation for the wrong and make peace with Jehovah for the one who is being cleansed.

nsb@Leviticus:14:33 @ Jehovah spoke to Moses and Aaron:

nsb@Leviticus:14:34 @ »When you come to Canaan that I am going to give to you, mildew may appear in a house.

nsb@Leviticus:14:36 @ »Before the priest examines the house, he will order everything taken out of it so that nothing in the house will become unclean. Then the priest will go inside to examine the house.

nsb@Leviticus:14:38 @ the priest will go out to the door of the house and close up the house for seven days.

nsb@Leviticus:14:40 @ he must order the stones that have the mildew to be torn out and thrown outside the city in an unclean place.

nsb@Leviticus:14:42 @ »The stones must be replaced, and the house must be plastered again.

nsb@Leviticus:14:43 @ »If the mildew breaks out again in the house after the stones have been removed and the house has been scraped and plastered,

nsb@Leviticus:14:45 @ »It must be torn down, and its stones, its wood, and all its plaster must be carried out of the city to an unclean place.

nsb@Leviticus:14:46 @ »Whoever goes into the house during the time that he has quarantined it, becomes unclean until evening.

nsb@Leviticus:14:49 @ »He shall take two birds, some cedar wood, a red cord, and a sprig of hyssop to purify the house.

nsb@Leviticus:14:53 @ »Then the priest will let the living bird fly from the city into the open country. He will pay compensation for wrongdoing and make peace with Jehovah for the house. It will be clean.«

nsb@Leviticus:15:1 @ Again Jehovah spoke to Moses and Aaron:

nsb@Leviticus:15:5 @ »‘Those who touch his bed must wash their clothes and their bodies. They will be unclean until evening.

nsb@Leviticus:15:7 @ »‘Those who touch a man who has a discharge must wash their clothes and their bodies. They will be unclean until evening.

nsb@Leviticus:15:11 @ »‘If a man who has a discharge touches anyone without first rinsing his hands, the person he touched must wash his clothes and his body. He will be unclean until evening.

nsb@Leviticus:15:12 @ »‘When a man who has a discharge touches pottery, it must be broken. When he touches a wooden bucket it must be rinsed.

nsb@Leviticus:15:13 @ »‘When a man's discharge stops, he must wait seven days to be cleansed. He must wash his clothes and his body in fresh water. Then he will be clean.

nsb@Leviticus:15:14 @ »‘He must take two mourning doves or two pigeons and come into Jehovah’s presence at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting on the eighth day. He will give these birds to the priest.

nsb@Leviticus:15:19 @ »‘When a woman has her monthly period, she will be unclean for seven days. Those who touch her will be unclean until evening.

nsb@Leviticus:15:21 @ »‘Those who touch her bed must wash their clothes and their bodies. They will be unclean until evening.

nsb@Leviticus:15:22 @ »‘Those who touch anything she sits on must wash their clothes and their bodies. They will be unclean until evening.

nsb@Leviticus:15:23 @ »‘If her blood touches anything on the bed or anything she sits on, it will be unclean until evening.

nsb@Leviticus:15:25 @ »‘When a woman has a discharge of blood for many days other than her monthly period, she is unclean. If her period lasts longer than usual, she will be unclean as long as she has a discharge. It is similar to her period.

nsb@Leviticus:15:26 @ »‘As long as she has a discharge, any bed she lies on or anything she sits on is unclean. It is similar to her period.

nsb@Leviticus:15:27 @ »‘Those who touch these things are unclean and must wash their clothes and their bodies. They will be unclean until evening.

nsb@Leviticus:15:28 @ »‘When her discharge stops she must wait seven days. After that she will be clean.

nsb@Leviticus:15:29 @ »‘She must take two mourning doves or two pigeons on the eighth day and bring them to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

nsb@Leviticus:15:31 @ »You must separate the Israelites from anything that keeps them from being presentable to me. Otherwise they will die. This is because they defile my tent, which is among them, and make it unclean.«

nsb@Leviticus:16:1 @ Jehovah spoke to Moses after Aaron's two sons came into Jehovah’s presence and died.

nsb@Leviticus:16:2 @ Jehovah said: »Tell your brother Aaron that he cannot go into the holy place whenever he wants to. If he goes up to the canopy and stands in front of the throne of mercy on the Ark, he will die. This is because I appear in the smoke above the throne of mercy.

nsb@Leviticus:16:3 @ »This is what Aaron must do in order to come into the holy place: He must take a bull as an offering for sin and a ram as a burnt offering.

nsb@Leviticus:16:7 @ »He must take the two male goats and bring them into Jehovah’s presence at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

nsb@Leviticus:16:8 @ »I will show Aaron which goat will be sacrificed to me and which one will be sent into the desert to the demon Azazel.

nsb@Leviticus:16:10 @ the other one must be presented to me alive, before he sends it into the desert to take away the sins of the people.

nsb@Leviticus:16:11 @ »He must offer the bull as a sacrifice to ask forgiveness for your own sins and for the sins of your family.

nsb@Leviticus:16:12 @ »He will take an incense burner full of burning coals from the altar in Jehovah’s presence, and two handfuls of finely ground, sweet-smelling incense. He will bring them up to the canopy.

nsb@Leviticus:16:15 @ »Aaron will slaughter the goat for the people's offering for sin. He will take the blood inside, go up to the canopy, and sprinkle it on the throne of mercy and in front of it, as he did with the bull's blood.

nsb@Leviticus:16:17 @ »No one may be in the Tent of Meeting from the time Aaron enters the holy place to do this until he comes out. Aaron will pay compensation for wrongdoing and peace with Jehovah for his own sins, his family's sins, and the sins of the entire assembly of Israel.

nsb@Leviticus:16:18 @ »He will go out to the altar in Jehovah’s presence and pay compensation for the wrong and make peace with Jehovah for the sins committed. He will take some of the blood from the bull and some of the goat's blood and put it all around the horns of the altar.

nsb@Leviticus:16:21 @ »Aaron will place both hands on its head. He will confess over it all the sins, all the rebellious acts, and all the things the Israelites did wrong. He will transfer them to the goat's head. A man will be appointed to release the goat in the desert.

nsb@Leviticus:16:22 @ »The goat will take all their sins away to a deserted place. The man must release the goat in the desert.

nsb@Leviticus:16:23 @ »Aaron will go to the Tent of Meeting. He will take off the linen clothes he put on to go into the holy place, and leave them there.

nsb@Leviticus:16:24 @ »He will wash his body in the holy place and put on his other clothes. Then he will come out and sacrifice the burnt offering for himself and for the people to make peace with Jehovah for his own sins and the sins of the people.

nsb@Leviticus:16:26 @ »The man who released the goat to Azazel must wash his clothes and his body. Then he may return to the camp.

nsb@Leviticus:16:27 @ »The bull and the goat used for the sin offering, whose blood was brought into the Most Holy Place to take away sin, will be carried outside the camp and burned. Skin, meat, and intestines must all be burned.

nsb@Leviticus:16:28 @ »The one who burns them must wash his clothes and take a bath before he returns to camp.

nsb@Leviticus:16:29 @ »The following regulations are to be observed for a long lasting time to come. On the tenth day of the seventh month the Israelites and the foreigners living among them must fast and must not do any work.

nsb@Leviticus:16:30 @ »On that day the ritual is to be performed to purify them from all their sins, so that they will be ritually clean.

nsb@Leviticus:16:31 @ »That day is to be a very holy day, one on which they fast and do no work at all. These regulations are to be observed for a long lasting time to come.

nsb@Leviticus:16:32 @ »High Priest, properly ordained and consecrated to succeed his father, is to perform the ritual of purification. He must dress in priestly garments

nsb@Leviticus:16:33 @ and perform the ritual to purify the Most Holy Place, the rest of the Tent of Jehovah’s presence, the altar, the priests, and all the people of the community.

nsb@Leviticus:16:34 @ »These regulations are to be observed for a long lasting time to come. This ritual must be performed once a year to purify the people of Israel from all their sins.« So Moses did as Jehovah commanded.

nsb@Leviticus:17:4 @ is guilty of bloodshed. He has shed blood and must be excluded from the people. Bring the animal to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. Offer it to Jehovah in front of the Jehovah’s Tent.

nsb@Leviticus:17:5 @ »This means that the people of Israel must take the sacrifices they have been making in the open fields and bring them to Jehovah. They must bring them to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. The people will sacrifice them as peace offerings to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:17:6 @ »The priest will pour the blood against Jehovah’s altar at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. He will burn the fat as a soothing aroma to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:17:7 @ »The people must stop sacrificing to goat idols and chasing after them as though they were prostitutes. This is a long lasting law for the people and for future generations.

nsb@Leviticus:17:9 @ but do not bring them to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting to offer them to Jehovah. They must be excluded from the people.

nsb@Leviticus:17:11 @ »‘This is because life of every living thing is in the blood. I have given this blood to you to pay compensation for wrongdoing and make peace with me on the altar. Blood is needed to pay compensation for wrongdoing and make peace with me.’«

nsb@Leviticus:17:12 @ »That is why I have said to the people of Israel: ‘Neither you nor foreigners should ever eat blood.’«

nsb@Leviticus:17:14 @ »This is because the life of any creature is in its blood. So I have said to the people of Israel: ‘Never eat any blood, because the life of any creature is in its blood. Whoever eats blood must be excluded from the people.’«

nsb@Leviticus:18:1 @ Jehovah told Moses:

nsb@Leviticus:18:2 @ »Speak to the people of Israel and say: ‘I am Jehovah your God!

nsb@Leviticus:18:3 @ »‘Do not follow the customs of Egypt where you used to live or those of Canaan where I am bringing you.

nsb@Leviticus:18:10 @ »‘Do not have sexual intercourse with your granddaughter, whether she is your son's daughter or your daughter's daughter, because she is related to you.

nsb@Leviticus:18:14 @ »‘Never have sexual intercourse with the wife of your father's brother. She, too, is your aunt.

nsb@Leviticus:18:21 @ »‘Never give your children as sacrifices to the god Molech by burning them alive. If you do, you are dishonoring the name of your God. I am Jehovah!

nsb@Leviticus:18:23 @ »‘Do not have sexual intercourse with any animal and become unclean with it. A woman must never offer herself to an animal for sexual intercourse. It is unnatural.

nsb@Leviticus:19:1 @ Jehovah spoke to Moses:

nsb@Leviticus:19:4 @ »‘Do not turn to worthless gods or cast metal idols. Never make any gods for yourselves. I am Jehovah your God.

nsb@Leviticus:19:5 @ »‘When you bring a peace offering to Jehovah, sacrifice it properly so that you will be accepted.

nsb@Leviticus:19:8 @ »‘Those who eat it will be punished because they have dishonored what is holy to Jehovah. They must be excluded from the people.

nsb@Leviticus:19:9 @ »‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you should not reap to the very corners of your field. You should not gather the gleanings of your harvest.

nsb@Leviticus:19:11 @ »‘Do not steal. Do not deal falsely. Do not lie to one another.

nsb@Leviticus:19:12 @ »‘Do not swear falsely by my name, so as to profane the name of your God. I am Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:19:13 @ »‘Do not oppress your neighbor and do not rob him. Do not fail to pay your workers at the end of each day.

nsb@Leviticus:19:15 @ »‘Do no injustice in judgment. Do not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great. Judge your neighbor fairly.

nsb@Leviticus:19:17 @ »‘Never hate your brother in your heart. Be sure to correct your neighbor so that you will not be guilty of sinning along with him.

nsb@Leviticus:19:20 @ »‘If a man has sexual intercourse with a female slave who is engaged to another man and if her freedom was never bought or given to her, they should not be put to death. He will only pay a fine because she is a slave.

nsb@Leviticus:19:21 @ »‘He must bring a ram for his guilt offering to Jehovah at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

nsb@Leviticus:19:22 @ »‘In Jehovah’s presence the priest will use them to pay compensation for the wrongdoing and make peace with Jehovah for this sin. The man will be forgiven for this sin.

nsb@Leviticus:19:23 @ »‘When you come into the land and plant all kinds of fruit trees, you must not eat the fruit for the first three years.

nsb@Leviticus:19:24 @ »‘All the fruit will be a holy offering of praise to Jehovah in the fourth year.

nsb@Leviticus:19:25 @ »‘You may eat the fruit in the fifth year. Do this to make the trees produce more for you. I am Jehovah your God.

nsb@Leviticus:19:28 @ »‘Never slash your body to mourn the dead, and never get a tattoo. I am Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:19:29 @ »‘Do not dishonor your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the country will turn to prostitution and be filled with people who are perverted.

nsb@Leviticus:19:31 @ »‘Do not turn to psychics or mediums to get help. That will make you unclean. I am Jehovah your God.

nsb@Leviticus:19:32 @ »‘Show respect to the elderly, and honor older people. In this way you show respect for your God. I am Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:20:1 @ Jehovah continued to speak to Moses:

nsb@Leviticus:20:2 @ »Tell the Israelites: ‘If Israelites or foreigners living among you give one of their children as a sacrifice to the god Molech, they must be put to death. The common people must stone them to death.

nsb@Leviticus:20:3 @ »‘I will condemn them and exclude them from the people. They gave one of their children to Molech. They made my holy tent unclean, and dishonored my holy name.

nsb@Leviticus:20:4 @ »‘If the people of the land ignore those who give their children to Molech and do not put them to death,

nsb@Leviticus:20:6 @ »‘If any of you go for advice to people who consult the spirits of the dead, I will turn against you and will no longer consider you one of my people.

nsb@Leviticus:20:9 @ »‘Jehovah gave the following regulations. Any of you that curse your father or mother shall be put to death. You are responsible for your own death.

nsb@Leviticus:20:10 @ »‘If a man commits adultery with the wife of an Israelite, both he and the woman should be put to death.

nsb@Leviticus:20:11 @ »‘A man who has intercourse with one of his father's wives disgraces his father. Both he and the woman must be put to death. They are responsible for their own death.

nsb@Leviticus:20:12 @ »‘If a man has sexual intercourse with his daughter-in-law, both of them must be put to death. They have done a disgusting thing and deserve to die.

nsb@Leviticus:20:13 @ »‘When a man has sexual intercourse with another man as with a woman, both men are doing something disgusting and must be put to death. They deserve to die!

nsb@Leviticus:20:15 @ »‘If a man has sexual relations with an animal, he and the animal must be put to death.

nsb@Leviticus:20:16 @ »‘If a woman tries to have sexual relations with an animal, she and the animal must be put to death. They are responsible for their own death.

nsb@Leviticus:20:18 @ »‘If a man has intercourse with a woman during her monthly period, both of them are to be driven out of the community, because they have broken the regulations about ritual uncleanness.

nsb@Leviticus:20:22 @ »‘If you carefully obey all my laws and my rules, the land I am bringing you to live in will not vomit you out.

nsb@Leviticus:20:24 @ »‘I am Jehovah your God. I have promised you their land that is rich with milk and honey. I have chosen you to be different from other people.

nsb@Leviticus:20:25 @ »‘That is why you must make a difference between animals and birds that I have said are clean and unclean. This will keep you from becoming disgusting to me.

nsb@Leviticus:20:26 @ »‘I am Jehovah, the Holy God. You have been chosen to be my people, and so you must be holy too.

nsb@Leviticus:20:27 @ »‘If you claim to receive messages from the dead, you will be put to death by stoning, just as you deserve.

nsb@Leviticus:21:1 @ Jehovah gave Moses these instructions for Aaron's sons, the priests: »Touching a dead body will make you unclean. So do not go near a dead relative,

nsb@Leviticus:21:3 @ or an unmarried sister, who has no husband to take care of her.

nsb@Leviticus:21:6 @ »Be God's holy men. Do not dishonor the name of your God. Be holy because you bring sacrifices by fire to Jehovah. It is the food of your God.

nsb@Leviticus:21:16 @ Jehovah spoke to Moses:

nsb@Leviticus:21:17 @ »Tell Aaron: ‘If any of your descendants, now or in future generations, has a physical defect, he must never bring food to offer to God.

nsb@Leviticus:21:21 @ »‘If a descendant of the priest Aaron has a physical defect, he must never bring sacrifices by fire to Jehovah. He has a defect. He must never bring food to offer to God.

nsb@Leviticus:21:23 @ »‘However, he must never come up to the canopy or to the altar, since he has a physical defect. He must never dishonor the holy places because I, Jehovah, set them apart as holy.’«

nsb@Leviticus:21:24 @ Thus Moses spoke to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites.

nsb@Leviticus:22:1 @ Jehovah continued to speak to Moses:

nsb@Leviticus:22:4 @ »‘None of the descendants of Aaron who has a dreaded skin disease or a discharge may eat any of the sacred offerings until he is ritually clean. Any priest is unclean if he touches anything that is unclean through contact with a corpse or if he has an emission of semen

nsb@Leviticus:22:5 @ or if he has touched an unclean animal or person.

nsb@Leviticus:22:13 @ »‘A widowed or divorced daughter who has no children and who has returned to live in her father's house as a dependent may eat the food her father receives as a priest. Only a member of a priestly family may eat any of it.

nsb@Leviticus:22:14 @ »‘If any people who are not members of a priestly family eat any of the sacred offerings without intending to, they must repay the priest its full value plus an additional twenty percent.

nsb@Leviticus:22:17 @ Jehovah continued to speak to Moses:

nsb@Leviticus:22:18 @ »Speak to Aaron, his sons, and all the Israelites, and tell them: ‘Israelites or foreigners may bring burnt offerings to Jehovah for anything they vowed or as freewill offerings.

nsb@Leviticus:22:19 @ »‘The offering must be a male that has no defects from your cattle, sheep, or goats in order to be accepted.

nsb@Leviticus:22:21 @ »‘A person may bring Jehovah a peace offering to fulfill a vow or for a freewill offering. Whether it is from the cattle, sheep, or goats, it must be an animal that has no defects in order to be acceptable. It must never be an animal that has defects.

nsb@Leviticus:22:24 @ »‘Do not bring Jehovah an animal that has bruised, crushed, torn out, or cut out testicles. Never do any of these things to an animal in your land.

nsb@Leviticus:22:26 @ Jehovah continued to speak to Moses.

nsb@Leviticus:22:27 @ He said: »When a calf, a lamb, or a goat is born, it must stay with its mother for seven days. It may be accepted as a sacrifice by fire to Jehovah from the eighth day on.

nsb@Leviticus:22:29 @ »When you sacrifice a thanksgiving offering to Jehovah do it in the proper way.

nsb@Leviticus:22:31 @ »Carefully obey my commandments. Conform your life to them. I am Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:22:33 @ »I brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am Jehovah!

nsb@Leviticus:23:1 @ Jehovah spoke to Moses:

nsb@Leviticus:23:5 @ »‘The Passover, celebrated to honor Jehovah, begins at sunset on the fourteenth day of the first month.

nsb@Leviticus:23:7 @ »‘Gather to worship on the first of these days. Do none of your daily work.

nsb@Leviticus:23:8 @ »‘Bring a sacrifice to Jehovah for seven days. On the seventh day there will be a holy assembly. Do not do any regular work.’«

nsb@Leviticus:23:9 @ Jehovah spoke to Moses:

nsb@Leviticus:23:10 @ »Tell the Israelites: ‘When you come to the land I am going to give you and you harvest grain, bring a bundle of the first grain you harvest to the priest.

nsb@Leviticus:23:11 @ »‘He will present it to Jehovah so that you will be accepted. He will present it on the day after Passover.

nsb@Leviticus:23:12 @ »‘On the day you present the bundle, you must sacrifice a one-year-old male lamb that has no defects as a burnt offering to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:23:13 @ »‘Present a grain offering of four quarts of flour mixed with olive oil with it. This will be a sacrifice by fire made to Jehovah. It will be a soothing aroma. Use one quart of wine for the wine offering.

nsb@Leviticus:23:14 @ »‘Do not eat bread, roasted grain, or fresh grain until this same day. Then bring the offering to your God. It is a long lasting law for generations to come wherever you live.

nsb@Leviticus:23:15 @ »‘Count seven full weeks from the day after Passover, the day you bring the bundle of grain as an offering presented to Jehovah

nsb@Leviticus:23:16 @ until the day after the seventh week. This is a total of fifty days. Then bring a new grain offering to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:23:17 @ »‘Bring two loaves of bread from your homes to present to Jehovah. Bake them with four quarts of flour. They are the first harvested grain for Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:23:18 @ »‘Using the bread the community is to present seven one-year-old lambs, one bull, and two rams, none of which may have any defects. They should be offered as a burnt offering to Jehovah, along with a grain offering and a wine offering. The odor of this offering is pleasing to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:23:20 @ »‘The priest should present the bread with the two lambs as a special gift to Jehovah for the priests. These offerings are holy.

nsb@Leviticus:23:21 @ »‘Do none of your daily work. Gather for worship. Your descendants are to observe this regulation from generation to generation, no matter where they live.

nsb@Leviticus:23:22 @ »‘When you harvest your fields, do not cut the grain at the edges of the fields. Do not go back to cut the heads of grain that were left. Leave them for poor people and foreigners. Jehovah is your God.’«

nsb@Leviticus:23:23 @ Jehovah continued to speak to Moses:

nsb@Leviticus:23:24 @ »Observe a special day of rest on the first day of the seventh month. Gather together for worship when the trumpets sound.

nsb@Leviticus:23:25 @ »Present a food offering to Jehovah. Do not do your daily work.«

nsb@Leviticus:23:26 @ Jehovah spoke to Moses:

nsb@Leviticus:23:31 @ »Do not do any work! It is a long lasting law for generations to come wherever you live.

nsb@Leviticus:23:32 @ »It is a day of worship, a day when you do not work. Humble yourselves starting on the evening of the ninth day of the month. From that evening to the next, observe the day of worship.«

nsb@Leviticus:23:33 @ Jehovah spoke to Moses:

nsb@Leviticus:23:34 @ Inform the Israelites: ‘The fifteenth day of this seventh month is the Festival of Booths to Jehovah. It will last seven days.

nsb@Leviticus:23:36 @ »‘Bring a sacrifice by fire to Jehovah for seven consecutive days. On the eighth day there will be a holy assembly. Bring Jehovah a sacrifice by fire. This is the last festival of the year. Do not do any regular work.

nsb@Leviticus:23:37 @ »‘These are Jehovah’s appointed festivals. Announce them as holy assemblies for bringing sacrifices by fire to Jehovah. Bring burnt offerings, grain offerings, other sacrifices, and wine offerings-each one on its special day.

nsb@Leviticus:23:38 @ »‘This is in addition to Jehovah’s days of worship, your gifts, all your vows, and your freewill offerings to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:23:41 @ »‘It is Jehovah’s festival. Celebrate it for seven days each year. This is a long lasting law for generations to come. Celebrate this festival in the seventh month.

nsb@Leviticus:23:43 @ »‘This is how generations to come may learn how I made the people of Israel live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am Jehovah your God!’«

nsb@Leviticus:23:44 @ Moses told the Israelites about Jehovah’s appointed festivals.

nsb@Leviticus:24:1 @ Jehovah spoke to Moses:

nsb@Leviticus:24:2 @ »Command the Israelites to bring you pure, virgin olive oil for the lamp stand so that the lamps will not go out.

nsb@Leviticus:24:3 @ »Aaron must keep the lamps lit in the Tent of Meeting from evening until morning. This is outside the canopy where the words of my covenant are in Jehovah’s presence. It is a long lasting law for generations to come.

nsb@Leviticus:24:7 @ »Place pure incense on top of each stack. The incense on the bread will be a reminder, an offering by fire to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:24:8 @ »Every day of worship a priest must arrange the bread in Jehovah’s presence. It is a long lasting reminder of my promise to the Israelites.

nsb@Leviticus:24:9 @ »The bread will belong to Aaron and his sons. They will eat it in a holy place. It is very holy, set apart from Jehovah’s offering by fire. This is a long lasting law.«

nsb@Leviticus:24:10 @ A man, whose mother was Shelomith and whose father was from Egypt, got into a quarrel with an Israelite in the camp.

nsb@Leviticus:24:11 @ The Israelite woman's son began cursing Jehovah’s name and treating it with contempt. So they brought him to Moses.

nsb@Leviticus:24:12 @ They held him in custody until Jehovah told them what to do.

nsb@Leviticus:24:13 @ Jehovah spoke to Moses:

nsb@Leviticus:24:14 @ »The man who cursed my name must be taken outside the camp. All who heard him curse my name must lay their hands on his head. Then the whole congregation must stone him to death.

nsb@Leviticus:24:16 @ »‘However those who curse Jehovah’s name must be put to death. The whole congregation must stone them to death. It makes no difference whether they are Israelites or foreigners. Whoever curses Jehovah’s name must die.

nsb@Leviticus:24:17 @ »‘Whoever kills another person must be put to death.

nsb@Leviticus:24:19 @ »‘Should any of you injure another person, whatever you have done shall be done to you.

nsb@Leviticus:24:20 @ »‘If you break a bone, one of your bones must be broken. If you put out an eye, one of your eyes must be put out. Should you knock out a tooth, one of your teeth shall be knocked out. Whatever injury you cause another person must be done to you in return.

nsb@Leviticus:24:21 @ »‘Whoever kills an animal shall replace it, but whoever kills a human being shall be put to death.

nsb@Leviticus:24:22 @ »‘This law applies to all of you. It applies to Israelites and to foreigners living among you. I am Jehovah your God.’«

nsb@Leviticus:24:23 @ When Moses had said this to the people of Israel, they took the man outside the camp and stoned him to death. The people of Israel did what Jehovah commanded Moses.

nsb@Leviticus:25:1 @ Jehovah spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai and commanded:

nsb@Leviticus:25:2 @ »Give the following regulations to the people of Israel: ‘When you enter the land that Jehovah is giving you, honor Jehovah by not cultivating the land every seventh year.

nsb@Leviticus:25:4 @ »‘But the seventh year is to be a sabbath year of complete rest for the land. It is a year dedicated to Jehovah. Do not plant your fields or prune your vineyards.

nsb@Leviticus:25:8 @ »‘Count seven times seven years, a total of forty-nine years.

nsb@Leviticus:25:9 @ »‘Then, on the tenth day of the seventh month, the Day of Atonement, send someone to blow a trumpet throughout the whole land.

nsb@Leviticus:25:10 @ »‘In this way you will set the fiftieth year apart and proclaim freedom to all the inhabitants of the land. During this year all property that has been sold must be restored to the original owner or the descendants, and any who have been sold as slaves may return to their families.

nsb@Leviticus:25:12 @ »‘The jubilee year will be holy to you. You will eat what the field itself produces.

nsb@Leviticus:25:13 @ »‘In this jubilee year every slave will be freed in order to return to his property.

nsb@Leviticus:25:14 @ »‘In the business of trading goods for money, do no wrong to one another.

nsb@Leviticus:25:15 @ »‘Corresponding to the number of years after the jubilee, you shall buy from your friend; he is to sell to you according to the number of years of crops.

nsb@Leviticus:25:16 @ »‘In proportion to the extent of the years you shall increase its price, and in proportion to the fewness of the years you shall diminish its price, for it is a number of crops he is selling to you.

nsb@Leviticus:25:18 @ »‘You must observe my statutes and keep my judgments, so as to carry them out. That way you may live securely on the land.

nsb@Leviticus:25:23 @ »‘No land may be permanently bought or sold. It all belongs to me! It is not your land! You only live there for a little while.

nsb@Leviticus:25:24 @ »‘When property is sold, the original owner must be given the first chance to buy it.

nsb@Leviticus:25:25 @ »‘If any of you Israelites become so poor that you are forced to sell your property, your closest relative must buy it back.

nsb@Leviticus:25:26 @ »‘If that relative has the money. Later, if you can afford to buy it,

nsb@Leviticus:25:27 @ you must pay enough to make up for what the present owner will lose on it before the next Year of Celebration, when the property would become yours again.

nsb@Leviticus:25:28 @ »‘If he cannot earn enough to buy it back, what he sold stays in the hands of the buyer until the year of jubilee. In the jubilee it will be released, and he will own it again.

nsb@Leviticus:25:29 @ »‘If anyone sells a home in a walled city, for one year after selling it he has the right to buy it back. He may buy it back only within that time.

nsb@Leviticus:25:30 @ »‘If he does not buy it back during that year, the house in the city belongs to the buyer for generations to come. It will not be released in the jubilee.

nsb@Leviticus:25:31 @ »‘Houses in villages without walls are regarded as belonging to the fields of the land. They can be bought back. They will be released in the jubilee.

nsb@Leviticus:25:32 @ »‘The Levites always have the right to buy back their property in the cities they own.

nsb@Leviticus:25:34 @ »‘But a field that belongs to their cities must not be sold, because it is their property from generation to generation.

nsb@Leviticus:25:38 @ »‘I am Jehovah your God. I brought you out of Egypt to give you Canaan and to be your God.

nsb@Leviticus:25:39 @ »‘If an Israelite becomes poor and sells himself to you, do not work him like a slave.

nsb@Leviticus:25:40 @ »‘He will be like a hired worker or a visitor to you. He may work with you until the year of jubilee.

nsb@Leviticus:25:41 @ »‘Then you will release him and his children to go back to their family and the property of their ancestors.

nsb@Leviticus:25:46 @ »‘You may leave them as an inheritance to your children, whom they must serve as long as they live. But you must not treat any Israelites harshly.

nsb@Leviticus:25:47 @ »‘Suppose a foreigner living with you becomes rich, while some Israelites become poor and sell themselves as slaves to that foreigner or to a member of that foreigner's family.

nsb@Leviticus:25:48 @ »‘He has the right to be set free by a relative, such as a brother.

nsb@Leviticus:25:50 @ »‘Then he and his buyer must take into account the number of years from the year he was bought until the year of jubilee. His sale price will be adjusted based on the number of years he was with his buyer. This is like the wages of a hired worker.

nsb@Leviticus:25:51 @ »‘If there are many years left, he must refund from his purchase price an amount equal to those years.

nsb@Leviticus:25:52 @ »‘If there are only a few years left until the year of jubilee, he must take them into account. He must refund from his purchase price an amount equal to those years.

nsb@Leviticus:25:55 @ »‘The Israelites belong to me! They are my servants. I brought them out of Egypt. I am Jehovah your God!’«

nsb@Leviticus:26:1 @ »‘Do not make idols or set up statues, stone pillars, or carved stones to worship. I am Jehovah your God!

nsb@Leviticus:26:3 @ »‘If you live according to my laws and obey my commands,

nsb@Leviticus:26:5 @ »‘Your crops will be so plentiful that you will still be harvesting grain when it is time to pick grapes. You will still be picking grapes when it is time to plant grain. You will have all you want to eat and you will live in safety in your land.

nsb@Leviticus:26:7 @ »‘You will be victorious over your enemies.

nsb@Leviticus:26:8 @ »‘Five of you will be able to defeat a hundred, and a hundred will be able to defeat ten thousand.

nsb@Leviticus:26:10 @ »‘Your harvests will be so plentiful that they will last for a year. Even after that you will have to throw away what is left of the old harvest to make room for the new!

nsb@Leviticus:26:14 @ »‘If you will not listen to me and obey all these commandments,

nsb@Leviticus:26:16 @ then this is what I will do to you: I will terrorize you with disease and fever. You will suffer from eye problems and depression. You will plant your crops and get nothing because your enemies will eat them.

nsb@Leviticus:26:18 @ »‘If you still will not listen to me, I will discipline you seven times for your sins.

nsb@Leviticus:26:21 @ »‘If you act with hostility against me and are unwilling to obey me I will increase the plague on you seven times according to your sins.

nsb@Leviticus:26:25 @ »‘I will bring war on you to get revenge for my promise you rejected. When you gather in your cities, I will send plagues on you and you will fall under the control of your enemy.

nsb@Leviticus:26:26 @ »‘I will destroy your food supply. Ten women will need only one oven to prepare your food. You will eat and go away hungry.

nsb@Leviticus:26:27 @ »‘If in spite of this you do not listen to me and still resist me,

nsb@Leviticus:26:30 @ »‘I will destroy your worship sites. I will cut down your incense altars and pile your dead bodies on top of your dead idols. I will view you with disgust.

nsb@Leviticus:26:34 @ »‘Then the land will enjoy its time to honor Jehovah while it lies deserted. You will be in your enemies' land. Then the land will joyfully celebrate its time to honor Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:26:35 @ »‘All the days it lies deserted, it will celebrate the time to honor Jehovah it never celebrated while you lived there.

nsb@Leviticus:26:37 @ »‘They will stumble over each other. Yet no one will be after them. They will not be able to stand up to their enemies.

nsb@Leviticus:26:39 @ »‘Those who are left will waste away in the lands of their enemies because of their sins and the sins of their ancestors.

nsb@Leviticus:26:40 @ »‘However if they confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors and the treacherous things they did to oppose me,

nsb@Leviticus:26:41 @ »‘I will oppose them and bring them into the lands of their enemies. Then, if they humble their uncircumcised hearts and accept their guilt,

nsb@Leviticus:26:42 @ »‘I will remember my promise to Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham. I will also remember the land.

nsb@Leviticus:26:43 @ »‘The land, abandoned by them, will enjoy its time to honor Jehovah while it lies deserted without them. They must accept their guilt because they rejected my rules and looked at my laws with disgust.

nsb@Leviticus:26:44 @ »‘Even when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them or look at them with disgust. I will not reject or cancel my promise to them, because I am Jehovah their God.

nsb@Leviticus:26:45 @ »‘For their well being, I will remember the promise to their ancestors. I brought them out of Egypt to be their God while nations looked on. I am Jehovah!’«

nsb@Leviticus:26:46 @ These are the laws, rules, and instructions Jehovah gave to the Israelites through Moses on Mount Sinai.

nsb@Leviticus:27:1 @ Jehovah spoke to Moses:

nsb@Leviticus:27:2 @ »Give the following regulations for the people of Israel: ‘When any of you have been given to Jehovah in fulfillment of a special vow, you may be set free by the payment of the following sums of money,

nsb@Leviticus:27:3 @ »‘This is according to the official standard: adult male, twenty to sixty years old: fifty pieces of silver, adult female: thirty pieces of silver, young male, five to twenty years old: twenty pieces of silver, young female: ten pieces of silver, infant male under five: five pieces of silver, infant female: three pieces of silver, male above sixty years of age: fifteen pieces of silver, female above sixty: ten pieces of silver.

nsb@Leviticus:27:5 @ »‘For a boy from five to twenty years old, give eight ounces and for a girl give four ounces.

nsb@Leviticus:27:6 @ »‘For a boy from one month to five years old, give two ounces of silver and for a girl give about one ounce.

nsb@Leviticus:27:8 @ »‘The person who is too poor to pay the required amount must stand in front of the priest. The priest will determine the amount based on what the person can afford.

nsb@Leviticus:27:9 @ »‘If the vow is to give the kind of animal that people offer to Jehovah, it will be considered holy.

nsb@Leviticus:27:11 @ »‘If it is an unclean animal that cannot be brought to Jehovah as an offering, bring it in front of the priest.

nsb@Leviticus:27:13 @ »‘If you want to buy it back, you must pay its full value plus one-fifth more.

nsb@Leviticus:27:14 @ »‘If you give your house to Jehovah as something holy, the priest will determine what its value is. The value will be whatever the priest decides.

nsb@Leviticus:27:15 @ »‘If you want to buy it back, you must pay its full value plus one-fifth more.

nsb@Leviticus:27:16 @ »‘If a person gives part of a field to Jehovah as something holy, its value will be based on the seed planted on it. Ground planted with two quarts of barley will be worth twenty ounces of silver.

nsb@Leviticus:27:19 @ »‘If you want to buy it back, you must pay its full value plus one-fifth more.

nsb@Leviticus:27:20 @ »‘If you do not buy it back and it is sold to someone else, it may not be redeemed.

nsb@Leviticus:27:22 @ »‘You may give a field you bought, not one that was a part of your family property, to Jehovah as something holy.

nsb@Leviticus:27:23 @ »‘The priest must figure out the field's value until the jubilee year. You will pay its value on that day as something holy, belonging to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:27:24 @ »‘In the jubilee year the field will go back to the person from whom it was bought, to whom it belongs as family property.

nsb@Leviticus:27:26 @ »‘A firstborn animal already belongs to Jehovah because it was born first. Therefore, it cannot be set apart as holy. Whether it is a bull or a sheep, it belongs to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:27:28 @ »‘However, everything dedicated to Jehovah for destruction, a person, an animal, or a field that belongs to you, must not be sold or bought back. Everything dedicated in that way is very holy. It belongs to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:27:29 @ »‘People dedicated this way may not be bought back. They must be put to death.

nsb@Leviticus:27:30 @ »‘One-tenth of what comes from the land, whether grain or fruit, is holy and belongs to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:27:31 @ »‘If you buy back any part of it, you must add one-fifth more to it.

nsb@Leviticus:27:32 @ »‘Every tenth head of cattle or sheep that you counted is holy and belongs to Jehovah.

nsb@Leviticus:27:33 @ »‘You must not look to see if it is good or bad or exchange it. If you do exchange it, both the first animal and its substitute will be holy. They may not be bought back.’«

nsb@Numbers:1:1 @ Jehovah spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the Desert of Sinai. It was the first day of the second month in the second year after leaving Egypt. He said:

nsb@Numbers:1:16 @ »These were the men chosen from the congregation. They were the leaders of their ancestors’ tribes, and heads of the divisions of Israel.«

nsb@Numbers:1:17 @ Moses and Aaron took the men who had been named

nsb@Numbers:1:21 @ The total for the tribe of Reuben was forty-six thousand.

nsb@Numbers:1:23 @ The total for the tribe of Simeon was fifty-nine thousand three hundred.

nsb@Numbers:1:25 @ The total for the tribe of Gad was forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty.

nsb@Numbers:1:27 @ The total for the tribe of Judah was seventy-four thousand six hundred.

nsb@Numbers:1:29 @ The total for the tribe of Issachar was fifty-four thousand four hundred.

nsb@Numbers:1:31 @ The total for the tribe of Zebulun was fifty-seven thousand four hundred.

nsb@Numbers:1:33 @ The total for the tribe of Ephraim was forty thousand five hundred.

nsb@Numbers:1:35 @ The total for the tribe of Manasseh was thirty-two thousand two hundred.

nsb@Numbers:1:37 @ The total for the tribe of Benjamin was thirty-five thousand four hundred.

nsb@Numbers:1:39 @ The total for the tribe of Dan was sixty-two thousand seven hundred.

nsb@Numbers:1:41 @ The total for the tribe of Asher was forty-one thousand five hundred.

nsb@Numbers:1:43 @ The total for the tribe of Naphtali was fifty-three thousand four hundred.

nsb@Numbers:1:44 @ Moses, Aaron, and the twelve leaders of Israel, each representing his own family, added up these totals.

nsb@Numbers:1:45 @ The Israelites registered by households. The grand total of men who were at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty

nsb@Numbers:1:48 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:1:50 @ »Put the Levites in charge of the tent of God’s words, including the equipment for the tent and everything else having to do with the tent. The Levites will carry the tent and all its equipment. They will take care of the tent and camp around it.

nsb@Numbers:1:51 @ »When the tent is to be moved, the Levites will take it down. When we camp, they will set it up. Anyone else who comes near the tent will be put to death.

nsb@Numbers:2:1 @ Jehovah spoke to Moses and Aaron:

nsb@Numbers:2:4 @ »The total number of men in his army is seventy-four thousand six hundred.

nsb@Numbers:2:5 @ »Next to them will be the tribe of Issachar. The leader for the people of Issachar is Nethanel, son of Zuar.

nsb@Numbers:2:6 @ »The total number of men in his army is fifty-four thousand four hundred.

nsb@Numbers:2:8 @ »The total number of men in his army is fifty-seven thousand four hundred.

nsb@Numbers:2:9 @ »The grand total of all the troops in Judah’s camp is one hundred and eighty-six thousand four hundred. They will be the first group to move out.

nsb@Numbers:2:11 @ »The total number of men in his army is forty-six thousand five hundred.

nsb@Numbers:2:12 @ »The tribe of Simeon will be next to them. Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai is the leader for the people of Simeon.

nsb@Numbers:2:13 @ »The total number of men in his army is fifty-nine thousand three hundred.

nsb@Numbers:2:15 @ »The total number of men in his army is forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty.

nsb@Numbers:2:16 @ »The grand total of all the troops in Reuben’s camp is one hundred and fifty-one thousand four hundred and fifty. They will be the second group to move out.

nsb@Numbers:2:19 @ »The total number of men in his army is forty thousand five hundred.

nsb@Numbers:2:20 @ »Next to them will be the tribe of Manasseh. The leader for the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur.

nsb@Numbers:2:21 @ »The total number of men in his army is thirty-two thousand two hundred.

nsb@Numbers:2:23 @ »The total number of men in his army is thirty-five thousand four hundred.

nsb@Numbers:2:24 @ »The grand total of all the troops in Ephraim’s camp is one hundred and eight thousand one hundred. They will be the third group to move out.

nsb@Numbers:2:26 @ »The total number of men in his army is sixty-two thousand seven hundred.

nsb@Numbers:2:27 @ »Next to them will be the tribe of Asher. The leader for the people of Asher is Pagiel, son of Ochran.

nsb@Numbers:2:28 @ »The total number of men in his army is forty-one thousand five hundred.

nsb@Numbers:2:30 @ »The total number of men in his army is fifty-three thousand four hundred.

nsb@Numbers:2:31 @ »The grand total of all the men in Dan’s camp is one hundred and fifty-seven thousand six hundred. They will be the last group to move out. They will travel under their own flag.«

nsb@Numbers:2:32 @ This is the total number of Israelites, counted by households. The grand total of all the troops in the camps was six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty.

nsb@Numbers:3:1 @ This is the list of Aaron and Moses’ descendants when Jehovah spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai.

nsb@Numbers:3:3 @ These are the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests.

nsb@Numbers:3:5 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:3:6 @ »Bring the tribe of Levi, and have them stand in front of the priest Aaron to assist him.

nsb@Numbers:3:7 @ »They will work for him and the whole community in front of the tent of meeting, doing what needs to be done for the inner tent.

nsb@Numbers:3:8 @ »They will take care of all the furnishings in the tent of meeting and work for the Israelites, doing what needs to be done for the inner tent.

nsb@Numbers:3:9 @ »Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. The Levites will be the only Israelites given to them.

nsb@Numbers:3:10 @ »Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests. Anyone else who tries to do the priests’ duties must be put to death.«

nsb@Numbers:3:11 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:3:12 @ »Out of all the Israelites, I have taken the Levites to be substitutes for every firstborn male offspring among them. The Levites are mine,

nsb@Numbers:3:14 @ Jehovah said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai:

nsb@Numbers:3:21 @ To Gershon belonged the families descended from Libni and Shimei. These were the families descended from Gershon.

nsb@Numbers:3:22 @ The total number of all the males at least one month old was seven thousand five hundred.

nsb@Numbers:3:25 @ The Gershonites were in charge of the inner tent, the outer tent and cover, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting,

nsb@Numbers:3:26 @ the curtains for the courtyard, the screen for the entrance to the courtyard that surrounds the inner tent and the altar, and the ropes. They took care of all these things.

nsb@Numbers:3:27 @ To Kohath belonged the families descended from Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. These were the families descended from Kohath.

nsb@Numbers:3:31 @ They were in charge of the Ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altars, the utensils used in the holy place, and the screen. They took care of all these things.

nsb@Numbers:3:34 @ The total number of males one month old or older that were enrolled was six thousand two hundred.

nsb@Numbers:3:35 @ This clan was to camp on the north side of the Tent, with Zuriel son of Abihail as leader of the clan.

nsb@Numbers:3:36 @ It was the duty of the Merarites to be in charge of the framework of the inner tent, the crossbars, posts, sockets, and all the equipment. They took care of these things.

nsb@Numbers:3:38 @ Moses, Aaron, and his sons put up their tents on the east side in front of the tent of meeting. They were in charge of the holy place on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who tried to do the Levites’ duties had to be put to death.

nsb@Numbers:3:39 @ The grand total of Levites that Moses and Aaron counted at Jehovah’s command, by families, every male who was at least one month old, was twenty-two thousand.

nsb@Numbers:3:40 @ Jehovah said to Moses: »Register every firstborn male of the Israelites who is at least one month old, and make a list of their names.

nsb@Numbers:3:41 @ »I am Jehovah. Take the Levites for me to be substitutes for all firstborn Israelites. Also take the animals of the Levites to be substitutes for all firstborn animals of the Israelites.«

nsb@Numbers:3:43 @ The total of all the firstborn males at least one month old was twenty-two thousand two hundred and seventy three. They were listed by name.

nsb@Numbers:3:44 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:3:45 @ »Take the Levites to be substitutes for all the firstborn Israelites and the animals of the Levites to be substitutes for their animals. The Levites will be mine. I am Jehovah.

nsb@Numbers:3:47 @ »It will cost you two ounces of silver per person, using the standard weight of the holy place, to buy them back.

nsb@Numbers:3:48 @ »Give the silver to Aaron and his sons. It will buy back those Israelites who outnumber the Levites.«

nsb@Numbers:3:49 @ Moses took this ransom money from the Israelites who outnumbered the Levites.

nsb@Numbers:4:1 @ Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron:

nsb@Numbers:4:3 @ »Register all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are qualified to work at the tent of meeting.

nsb@Numbers:4:5 @ »When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons will go in and take down the canopy that hangs over the Ark containing the words of God’s Covenant. First they will cover the Ark with the canopy.

nsb@Numbers:4:6 @ »Over this they will put a covering of fine leather. On top of that they will spread a cloth made entirely of violet material. Then they will put the poles in place.

nsb@Numbers:4:9 @ »They will use a violet cloth to cover the lamp stand, as well as the lamps, snuffers, trays, and all the containers for the olive oil used in the lamps.

nsb@Numbers:4:10 @ »Then they will put the lamp stand and all its utensils under a covering of fine leather and put them on a frame to carry them.

nsb@Numbers:4:12 @ »They will take all the articles that are used in the holy place and put them in a violet cloth. Then they will cover that with fine leather, and put them on a frame to carry them.

nsb@Numbers:4:15 @ »When Aaron and his sons finished covering the holy things and the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites will come to carry all the holy articles. They must never touch the holy things, or they will die. The Kohathites will carry all the things from the tent of meeting.

nsb@Numbers:4:17 @ Jehovah continued to speak to Moses and Aaron:

nsb@Numbers:4:19 @ »This is what you must do so that they will not die when they come near the most holy things: Aaron and his sons will go into the holy place and tell each man what he will do and what he will carry.

nsb@Numbers:4:20 @ »However the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.«

nsb@Numbers:4:21 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:4:23 @ »Register all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are qualified to serve at the tent of meeting.

nsb@Numbers:4:25 @ »They will carry the sheets that are part of the inner tent and the tent of meeting. They will also carry the inner cover for the tent of meeting, the outer cover of fine leather that goes over it, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting,

nsb@Numbers:4:26 @ the curtains for the courtyard around the tent and the altar, the screen for the entrance to the courtyard, the ropes, and all the equipment used to set up the curtains. The Gershonites will do everything that needs to be done with these things.

nsb@Numbers:4:27 @ »All their work, whatever they carry and all their duties, will be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons. You are in charge of telling them everything they are to carry.

nsb@Numbers:4:30 @ »Register all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are qualified to serve at the tent of meeting.

nsb@Numbers:4:35 @ They registered all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who were qualified to work at the tent of meeting.

nsb@Numbers:4:36 @ The total of those who were registered was two thousand seven hundred and fifty. They were listed by families.

nsb@Numbers:4:37 @ This was the total of all those in the Kohathite families who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron did as Jehovah commanded Moses and registered the Kohathites.

nsb@Numbers:4:39 @ All the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who were qualified to serve at the tent of meeting were registered.

nsb@Numbers:4:40 @ The total of those registered was two thousand six hundred and seventy. They were listed by families and households.

nsb@Numbers:4:41 @ This was the total of all those in the Gershonite families who worked at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron did as Jehovah commanded Moses and registered the Gershonites.

nsb@Numbers:4:43 @ All the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who were qualified to serve at the tent of meeting were registered.

nsb@Numbers:4:44 @ The total of all those who were registered was three thousand two hundred. They were listed by families.

nsb@Numbers:4:45 @ This was the total of those registered in the Merarite families. Moses and Aaron did as Jehovah commanded Moses and registered the Merarites.

nsb@Numbers:4:47 @ were the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who were qualified to do the work of serving and who carried the tent of meeting.

nsb@Numbers:4:49 @ At Jehovah’s command through Moses each man was registered and told what to do and what to carry. So they were registered as Jehovah commanded Moses.

nsb@Numbers:5:1 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:5:2 @ »Command the Israelites to send outside the camp anyone who has a serious skin disease or a discharge or anyone who is unclean from touching a dead body.

nsb@Numbers:5:4 @ Thus the Israelites did as Jehovah told Moses. They sent these unclean people outside the camp.

nsb@Numbers:5:5 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:5:6 @ »Tell the Israelites: ‘If you do something wrong to another person, you have been unfaithful to Jehovah. When you realize your guilt,

nsb@Numbers:5:7 @ you must confess your sin, pay in full for what you did wrong, add one-fifth to it, and give it to the person who was wronged.

nsb@Numbers:5:8 @ »‘There may be no heir to whom the payment can be made. In that case, the payment for what you did wrong must be given to Jehovah for the priest to use. This payment is in addition to the ram that is used to pay compensation for the wrongdoing makes peace with Jehovah.

nsb@Numbers:5:9 @ »‘Any contribution over and above the holy offerings that the Israelites bring to the priest belongs to the priest.

nsb@Numbers:5:10 @ »‘Each person’s holy offerings will belong to that person. Everything given to the priest will belong to the priest.’«

nsb@Numbers:5:11 @ Jehovah continued to speak to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:5:12 @ »Speak to the Israelites and say: ‘A man’s wife may have been unfaithful to him

nsb@Numbers:5:13 @ and may have had sexual intercourse with another man without her husband’s knowledge. She may have kept it secret if there were no witnesses to accuse her and she was not caught in the act.

nsb@Numbers:5:15 @ »‘He must then take his wife to the priest along with eight cups of barley flour as an offering for her. He must not pour olive oil on the flour or put frankincense on it, since it is a grain offering brought because of the husband’s jealousy. It is an offering used for a confession, to remind someone of a sin that was committed.

nsb@Numbers:5:17 @ »‘The priest will then take holy water in a piece of pottery and put some dust from the floor of the tent into the water.

nsb@Numbers:5:18 @ »‘The priest will bring the woman into Jehovah’s presence and loosen her hair. In her hands he will put the offering used for a confession, that is, the grain offering brought because of the husband’s jealousy. The priest will hold the bitter water that can bring a curse in his hands.

nsb@Numbers:5:19 @ »‘The priest will say to her: ‘If no other man has had sexual intercourse with you and you have not been unfaithful to your husband, you are not guilty. This bitter water that can bring a curse will not harm you.

nsb@Numbers:5:21 @ »‘Jehovah will make you an example for your people to see what happens when the curse of this oath comes true: Jehovah will make your uterus drop and your stomach swell. Then the priest will administer the oath and the curse by saying:

nsb@Numbers:5:22 @ »‘May this water that can bring a curse go into your body and make your stomach swell and your uterus drop!’« Then the woman will say: »Amen!« »Amen!«

nsb@Numbers:5:23 @ »The priest will write these curses on a scroll and wash them off into the bitter water.

nsb@Numbers:5:24 @ »He will have the woman drink the bitter water that can bring the curse. This water will go into her and become bitter.

nsb@Numbers:5:25 @ »The priest will take the grain offering she was holding. He will present it to Jehovah, and bring it to the altar.

nsb@Numbers:5:27 @ »If she has become unclean by being unfaithful to her husband, the water that can bring the curse will go into her and become bitter. Her stomach will swell, her uterus will drop, and she will become cursed among her people.

nsb@Numbers:5:28 @ »However if the woman is not unclean and is pure, she is not guilty and will be able to have children.

nsb@Numbers:5:29 @ »These are the instructions for how to deal with jealousy. They tell you what to do when a woman is unfaithful to her husband and becomes unclean.

nsb@Numbers:5:30 @ »They also tell you what to do when a husband has a fit of jealousy and is suspicious of his wife. He will make his wife stand in Jehovah’s presence. The priest will do everything these instructions tell him to do.

nsb@Numbers:6:1 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:6:2 @ »Tell the Israelites: ‘A man or a woman may make a special vow to live as a Nazirite dedicated to Jehovah.

nsb@Numbers:6:5 @ »‘As long as they are under the Nazirite vow no razor may touch their heads. During the entire time that they are dedicated to Jehovah as Nazirites, they will be holy. They must let their hair grow long.

nsb@Numbers:6:6 @ »‘While they are dedicated to Jehovah as Nazirites, they must never go near a dead body.

nsb@Numbers:6:7 @ »‘Even if their own father, mother, brother, or sister dies, they must not make themselves unclean by going near them. Nazarites show their vow to God with their long hair.

nsb@Numbers:6:8 @ »‘As long as they are Nazirites, they will be holy to Jehovah.

nsb@Numbers:6:9 @ »‘Someone might suddenly drop dead next to a Nazirite and make the Nazirite’s hair unclean. Seven days later he must shave his head in order to be declared clean.

nsb@Numbers:6:10 @ »‘The eighth day he must bring two mourning doves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

nsb@Numbers:6:11 @ »‘The priest will sacrifice one as an offering for sin and the other one as a burnt offering. The priest will pay compensation for the wrongdoing and make peace with Jehovah for the person who touched the dead body. That same day the person must dedicate his head again.

nsb@Numbers:6:12 @ »‘Once again he will dedicate himself to Jehovah as a Nazirite for the same length of time as before. He must bring a one-year-old male lamb as an offering for guilt. The first time period will not count. He has to start over from when he became unclean.

nsb@Numbers:6:13 @ »‘These are the instructions for Nazirites to complete their vows: They must come to the entrance of the tent of meeting.

nsb@Numbers:6:14 @ »‘They are to bring these offerings to Jehovah: a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering, a one-year-old female lamb as an offering for sin, and a ram as a fellowship offering. All of these animals must have no defects.

nsb@Numbers:6:16 @ »‘The priest will bring these offerings to Jehovah. He will make the offering for sin and the burnt offering.

nsb@Numbers:6:17 @ »‘He will sacrifice the ram as a fellowship offering to Jehovah. He will offer the basket of unleavened bread along with it, and make the grain offerings and wine offerings.

nsb@Numbers:6:18 @ »‘The Nazirites will shave their heads at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Then they will take the hair as proof that they had made this vow, and put it on the fire under the fellowship offering.

nsb@Numbers:6:19 @ »‘The priest will take one of the shoulders from a boiled ram, one ring of unleavened bread from the basket, and one wafer of unleavened bread and hand them to the Nazirites after they have shaved off their hair.

nsb@Numbers:6:20 @ »‘The priest will present them as an offering to Jehovah. They are holy and belong to the priest, along with the ram’s breast that is presented and the thigh that is given. After that, the Nazirites may drink wine.’«

nsb@Numbers:6:21 @ »These are the instructions for those who have vowed to bring their offerings to Jehovah as Nazirites. They must bring these offerings in addition to anything else they can afford. They must fulfill the requirements of these instructions for Nazirites and finish whatever they vowed to do.«

nsb@Numbers:6:22 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:6:23 @ »Tell Aaron and his sons: ‘This is how you will bless the Israelites. Say to them:

nsb@Numbers:6:25 @ »‘»Jehovah will smile on you and be kind to you.

nsb@Numbers:6:27 @ »‘»Whenever they use my name to bless the Israelites, I will bless them.« ’«

nsb@Numbers:7:2 @ The leaders of Israel, the heads of the households, those tribal leaders who helped in the census came to give their offerings.

nsb@Numbers:7:3 @ They brought these gifts to Jehovah: six freight wagons and twelve oxen, one wagon from every two leaders and one ox from each leader. They brought them in front of the tent.

nsb@Numbers:7:4 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:7:5 @ »Accept these gifts from them to use in the work done for the tent of meeting. Give them to the Levites to use where they need them for their work.«

nsb@Numbers:7:6 @ Moses took the wagons and the oxen and gave them to the Levites.

nsb@Numbers:7:7 @ He gave two wagons and four oxen to the Gershonites for the work they had to do.

nsb@Numbers:7:8 @ He gave four wagons and eight oxen to the Merarites for the work they had to do under the direction of Ithamar, son of the priest Aaron.

nsb@Numbers:7:9 @ However Moses gave none of these gifts to the Kohathites, because they took care of the holy things. They had to carry the holy things on their own shoulders.

nsb@Numbers:7:11 @ Jehovah said to Moses: »Each day a different leader will bring his gift for the dedication of the altar.«

nsb@Numbers:7:85 @ Each silver plate weighed three and one quarter pounds, and each bowl weighed one and three quarter pounds. Together all the silver dishes weighed sixty pounds using the standard weight of the holy place.

nsb@Numbers:7:86 @ The twelve gold dishes filled with incense weighed four ounces each using the standard weight of the holy place. Together all the gold dishes weighed about three pounds.

nsb@Numbers:7:87 @ The total number of animals for the burnt offerings was twelve young bulls, twelve rams, twelve one-year-old male lambs, along with their grain offerings. Twelve male goats were used as offerings for sin.

nsb@Numbers:7:88 @ The total number of animals for fellowship offerings was twenty-four bulls, sixty rams, sixty male goats, and sixty one-year-old male lambs. These were the gifts for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.

nsb@Numbers:7:89 @ When Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with Jehovah, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the throne of mercy on the Ark containing the words of God’s Covenant, from between the two cherubim. This is how Jehovah spoke with Moses.

nsb@Numbers:8:1 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:8:2 @ »Speak to Aaron and tell him: ‘When you set up the seven lamps on the lamp stand, they should illuminate the area in front of it.’«

nsb@Numbers:8:3 @ So Aaron set up the lamps on the lamp stand to illuminate the area in front of it, as Jehovah commanded Moses.

nsb@Numbers:8:4 @ This is how the lamp stand was made: The whole lamp stand, from top to bottom, was hammered out of gold. It was made exactly like the one Jehovah had shown Moses.

nsb@Numbers:8:5 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:8:7 @ »This is what you must do to make them clean: Sprinkle them with water to take away their sins. Make them shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes. Then they will be clean.

nsb@Numbers:8:9 @ »Bring the Levites to the front of the tent of meeting. Assemble the whole congregation of Israel.

nsb@Numbers:8:10 @ »Then bring the Levites into Jehovah’s presence, and the Israelites will place their hands on them.

nsb@Numbers:8:11 @ »Aaron will present the Levites to Jehovah as an offering from the Israelites. Then they will be ready to do Jehovah’s work.

nsb@Numbers:8:12 @ »The Levites will place their hands on the heads of the young bulls. Sacrifice one of them as an offering for sin and the other one as a burnt offering to Jehovah. These sacrifices will pay compensation for wrongdoing and make peace with Jehovah for the Levites.

nsb@Numbers:8:13 @ »Make the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons, and present them as an offering to Jehovah.

nsb@Numbers:8:16 @ »They will be the only Israelites given to me. I have taken them to be mine as substitutes for every firstborn male offspring of the Israelites.

nsb@Numbers:8:19 @ »I assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons, as a gift from the Israelites. They are to work in the tent for the people of Israel and to protect the Israelites from the disaster that would strike them if they came too near the Holy Place.«

nsb@Numbers:8:21 @ So the Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes. Aaron dedicated them as a special gift to Jehovah. He also performed the ritual of purification for them.

nsb@Numbers:8:22 @ The people did everything Jehovah commanded Moses concerning the Levites. Thus the Levites were qualified to work in the tent under Aaron and his sons.

nsb@Numbers:8:23 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:9:1 @ Jehovah spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai in the first month of the second year after the Israelites left Egypt. He said:

nsb@Numbers:9:4 @ So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover.

nsb@Numbers:9:6 @ There were some men who had become unclean from touching a dead body. They could not celebrate the Passover that day. They went to Moses and Aaron.

nsb@Numbers:9:7 @ They said: »We are unclean because we touched a dead body. Why are we prevented from making our offerings to Jehovah at the same time the rest of the Israelites bring their offerings?«

nsb@Numbers:9:8 @ Moses answered: »Wait here until I find out what Jehovah commands you to do.«

nsb@Numbers:9:9 @ Jehovah said to Moses, »Tell the Israelites:

nsb@Numbers:9:10 @ »‘Should you or any of your descendants be unclean from touching a dead body or away on a long trip. You may still celebrate the Passover.

nsb@Numbers:9:13 @ »‘If you are clean and not on a trip and yet do not bother to celebrate the Passover, you must be excluded from the people. You did not bring your offering to Jehovah at the right time. You must suffer the consequences for your sin.

nsb@Numbers:9:14 @ »‘Foreigners living with you may want to celebrate Jehovah’s Passover. They must follow these same rules and regulations. The same rules will apply to foreigners and native-born Israelites.’«

nsb@Numbers:9:17 @ When the smoke moved from the tent the Israelites would break camp. Wherever it stopped the Israelites would set up camp.

nsb@Numbers:10:1 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:10:2 @ »Make two trumpets of hammered silver to use for calling the people together and for breaking camp.

nsb@Numbers:10:3 @ »When long blasts are sounded on both trumpets, the whole community is to gather around you at the entrance to the tent of my presence.

nsb@Numbers:10:4 @ »When only one trumpet is sounded, then only the leaders of the clans are to gather around you.

nsb@Numbers:10:6 @ »When short blasts are sounded a second time, the tribes on the south will move out. So short blasts are to be sounded to break camp,

nsb@Numbers:10:7 @ »Long blasts are to be sounded to call the congregation together.

nsb@Numbers:10:8 @ »Aaron’s sons the priests are to blow the trumpets. The following rule is to be observed for all time to come.

nsb@Numbers:10:10 @ »Joyful occasions such as your New Moon Festivals and your other religious festivals, you are to blow the trumpets when you present your burnt offerings and your fellowship offerings. Then I will help you. I AM JEHOVAH YOUR GOD!«

nsb@Numbers:10:12 @ At last the Israelites started on their journey out of the Sinai Desert. The cloud came to rest in the wilderness of Paran.

nsb@Numbers:10:13 @ Jehovah gave the command through Moses for them to march.

nsb@Numbers:10:29 @ Moses said to his brother-in-law Hobab son of Jethro the Midianite: We are about to start out for the place Jehovah said he would give us. He promised to make Israel prosperous, so come with us, and we will share our prosperity with you.

nsb@Numbers:10:30 @ Hobab answered: »No, I am going back to my native land.«

nsb@Numbers:10:33 @ The people left Sinai, the holy mountain. They traveled three days. Jehovah’s Ark of the Covenant always went ahead of them to find a place for them to camp.

nsb@Numbers:10:34 @ They moved camp to camp with the cloud of Jehovah over them by day.

nsb@Numbers:10:35 @ When the Ark of the Covenant started out, Moses would say: »ARISE, JEHOVAH; scatter your enemies and put to flight those who hate you!«

nsb@Numbers:10:36 @ And when it stopped, he would say: »RETURN, O JEHOVAH, to the countless thousands of Israel!«

nsb@Numbers:11:1 @ The people complained out loud to Jehovah about their troubles. Jehovah heard them and he became angry. Fire from Jehovah burned among them. It destroyed some people on the outskirts of the camp.

nsb@Numbers:11:2 @ The people cried out to Moses. Moses prayed to Jehovah! And the fire died down.

nsb@Numbers:11:4 @ Some foreigners among the Israelites had a strong craving for other kinds of food. Even the Israelites cried again and said: »If only we had meat to eat!

nsb@Numbers:11:10 @ Moses heard people from every family cry at the entrance to their tents. Jehovah became very angry. Moses did not like it either.

nsb@Numbers:11:12 @ »Am I their mother? Did I give birth to them? Are you really asking me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries a baby, all the way to the land you promised their ancestors with an oath?

nsb@Numbers:11:13 @ »Where can I get meat for all these people? They continually cry for me to give them meat to eat.

nsb@Numbers:11:14 @ »I am not able to take care of all these people by myself. This is too much work for me!

nsb@Numbers:11:15 @ »If you treat me like this have pity on me and kill me. That way I will not have to endure my shame any longer.«

nsb@Numbers:11:16 @ Jehovah replied to Moses: »Assemble seventy respected men who are recognized as elders of the people. Bring them to me at the tent of my presence, and tell them to stand there beside you.

nsb@Numbers:11:17 @ »I will come down and speak with you there. I will take some of the spirit I have given and give it to them. Then they can help you bear the responsibility for these people. You will not have to bear it alone.

nsb@Numbers:11:18 @ »Tell the people: ‘Purify yourselves for tomorrow. You will have meat to eat! Jehovah has heard you whining and saying that you wished you had some meat and that you were better off in Egypt. Jehovah will now give you meat, and you will have to eat it.

nsb@Numbers:11:19 @ »‘You will have to eat it not just for one or two days, or five, or ten, or even twenty days.

nsb@Numbers:11:20 @ »‘You will eat it for a whole month, until it comes out of your nose, until you are sick of it. This will happen because you have rejected Jehovah who is here among you and have complained to him that you should not have left Egypt.’«

nsb@Numbers:11:21 @ Moses said to Jehovah: »Here I am leading six hundred thousand people, and you say that you will give them enough meat for a month?«

nsb@Numbers:11:22 @ »Could enough cattle and sheep even be killed to satisfy them? Are all the fish in the sea enough for them?

nsb@Numbers:11:23 @ »Is there a limit to my power?« Jehovah answered. »You will soon see whether what I have said will happen or not!«

nsb@Numbers:11:24 @ Thus Moses went out and told the people what Jehovah said. He assembled seventy of the leaders and placed them around the tent.

nsb@Numbers:11:25 @ Jehovah came down in the cloud and spoke to him. He took some of the spirit he had given to Moses and gave it to the seventy elders. When the Spirit came on them, they began to shout like prophets, but not for long.

nsb@Numbers:11:26 @ Two of the seventy elders, Eldad and Medad, stayed in the camp and did not go out to the tent. There in the camp the Spirit came on them, and they too began to shout like prophets.

nsb@Numbers:11:27 @ A young man ran out to tell Moses what Eldad and Medad were doing.

nsb@Numbers:11:28 @ Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ helper since he was a young man, spoke up and said to Moses: »Stop them, sir!«

nsb@Numbers:11:29 @ Moses asked him: »Do you think you need to stand up for me? I wish all Jehovah’s people were prophets and that Jehovah would put his Spirit on them!«

nsb@Numbers:11:30 @ Then Moses and the elders of Israel went back to the camp.

nsb@Numbers:11:33 @ While the meat was still in their mouths, before they had even had a chance to chew it, Jehovah became angry with the people and struck them with a severe plague.

nsb@Numbers:11:35 @ From Kibroth Hattaavah the people moved to Hazeroth, where they stayed.

nsb@Numbers:12:1 @ Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because he was married to a Cushite woman from Sudan.

nsb@Numbers:12:4 @ Suddenly, Jehovah said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam: »All three of you come to the tent of meeting.« So all three of them went to the tent.

nsb@Numbers:12:5 @ Then Jehovah came down in the column of smoke and stood at the entrance to the tent. He called to Aaron and Miriam. They both came forward.

nsb@Numbers:12:6 @ He said: »Listen to my words: ‘When there are prophets of Jehovah among you, I make myself known to them in visions or speak to them in dreams.

nsb@Numbers:12:8 @ »‘I speak with him face to face. I speak plainly and not in riddles. He even sees the form of Jehovah. Why were you not afraid to criticize my servant Moses?’«

nsb@Numbers:12:10 @ After the smoke left the tent, Miriam was covered with an infectious skin disease. She was as white as snow. Aaron turned to her and saw she was covered with the disease.

nsb@Numbers:12:11 @ He said to Moses: »Please, do not make us suffer this punishment for our foolish sin.

nsb@Numbers:12:13 @ Therefore Moses cried out to Jehovah: »O God, heal her!«

nsb@Numbers:12:14 @ Jehovah answered: »If her father had spit in her face, she would have to bear her disgrace for seven days. So let her be shut out of the camp for a week, and after that she can be brought back in.«

nsb@Numbers:13:1 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:13:2 @ »Choose one of the leaders from each of the twelve tribes and send them as spies to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites.«

nsb@Numbers:13:3 @ According to Jehovah’s command, Moses sent these men from the Desert of Paran. All of them were leaders of the Israelites.

nsb@Numbers:13:16 @ These are the names of the men Moses sent to explore the land. But Moses gave Hoshea, son of Nun, the name Joshua.

nsb@Numbers:13:17 @ When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he told them: »Go through the Negev and then into the mountain region.

nsb@Numbers:13:20 @ »Is the soil rich or poor? Does the land have trees or not? Do your best to bring back some fruit from the land.« It was the season when grapes were beginning to ripen.

nsb@Numbers:13:22 @ When they went to the Negev, they came to Hebron where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai, the descendants of Anak were. Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.

nsb@Numbers:13:26 @ They returned to Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation of Israel at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. They gave their report and showed them the fruit from the land.

nsb@Numbers:13:27 @ This is their report to Moses: »We went to the land where you sent us. It really is a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is some of its fruit.

nsb@Numbers:13:30 @ Caleb told the people to be quiet and listen to Moses. Caleb said: »Let us go now and take possession of the land. We should be more than able to conquer it.«

nsb@Numbers:13:31 @ The men who had gone with him said: »We cannot attack those people! They are too strong for us!

nsb@Numbers:13:33 @ »We saw Nephilim there. The descendants of Anak are Nephilim. We felt as small as grasshoppers. That is no doubt how we must have looked to them.«

nsb@Numbers:14:2 @ They complained to Moses and Aaron: »If only we had died in Egypt or in this desert!

nsb@Numbers:14:3 @ »Why is Jehovah bringing us to this land? Is it just to have us die in battle? Our wives and children will be taken as prisoners of war! Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?«

nsb@Numbers:14:4 @ They said to each other: »Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.«

nsb@Numbers:14:5 @ Immediately, Moses and Aaron bowed with their faces touching the ground in front of the whole congregation of Israel assembled there.

nsb@Numbers:14:6 @ At the same time, two of those who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, tore their clothes in despair.

nsb@Numbers:14:7 @ They said to the entire congregation of Israel: »The land we explored is very good.

nsb@Numbers:14:10 @ The whole congregation threatened to stone them to death. Then suddenly the people saw the dazzling light of Jehovah’s presence appear over the tent.

nsb@Numbers:14:11 @ Jehovah said to Moses: »How much longer will these people reject me? How much longer will they refuse to trust in me, even though I have performed many miracles among them?

nsb@Numbers:14:13 @ Moses said to Jehovah: »You brought these people out of Egypt by your power. When the Egyptians hear what you have done to your people,

nsb@Numbers:14:14 @ they will tell it to the people who live in this land. These people have already heard that you, Jehovah, are with us, that you appear in plain sight when your cloud stops over us, and that you go before us in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

nsb@Numbers:14:16 @ »Jehovah was not able to bring these people into the land he promised them, so he slaughtered them in the desert.

nsb@Numbers:14:18 @ »Jehovah is patient, forever loving; He forgives wrongdoing and disobedience. He never lets the guilty go unpunished. In fact he punishes children for their parents’ sins to the third and fourth generation.

nsb@Numbers:14:22 @ none of the people who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I did in Egypt and in the desert will see the land I promised their ancestors. They have tested me now ten times and refused to obey me.

nsb@Numbers:14:24 @ »My servant Caleb has a different attitude and has wholeheartedly followed me, I will bring him to the land he already explored. His descendants will possess it.

nsb@Numbers:14:25 @ »The Amalekites and Canaanites are living in the valleys. Tomorrow you must turn around, go back into the desert. Follow the road that goes to the Red Sea.«

nsb@Numbers:14:26 @ Then Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron:

nsb@Numbers:14:28 @ »Therefore tell them: ‘As I live, declares Jehovah, I solemnly swear I will do everything to you that you said I would do.

nsb@Numbers:14:30 @ »‘I raised my hand and swore an oath to give you this land to live in. But none of you will enter it except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.

nsb@Numbers:14:31 @ »‘You said your children would be taken as prisoners of war. Instead, I will bring them into the land you rejected, and they will enjoy it.

nsb@Numbers:14:34 @ »‘You explored the land for forty days. So for forty years, one year for each day, you will suffer for your sins and know what it means for me to be against you.’

nsb@Numbers:14:35 @ »‘I, Jehovah, have spoken. I swear I will do these things to all the people in this whole wicked congregation. For they have joined forces against me. They will meet their end in this desert. Here they will die!’«

nsb@Numbers:14:36 @ The men Moses sent to explore the land died in front of Jehovah from a plague.

nsb@Numbers:14:38 @ Of all the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived.

nsb@Numbers:14:39 @ Moses told these things to all the Israelites. The people mourned bitterly, as if someone had died.

nsb@Numbers:14:40 @ Early the next morning they headed into the mountains. They said: »We have sinned. Now we will go to the place Jehovah promised.«

nsb@Numbers:14:44 @ But they headed into the mountains anyway. The Ark of the Jehovah’s promise and Moses stayed in the camp.

nsb@Numbers:15:1 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:15:2 @ Speak to the Israelites and tell them: »Once you are settled in the land I am giving you,

nsb@Numbers:15:3 @ you must bring offerings by fire to Jehovah. They may be burnt offerings or any other kind of sacrifice. They may be offered to fulfill a vow, as a freewill offering, or as one of your festival offerings. They may be cattle, sheep, or goats. These are offerings that are a soothing aroma to Jehovah.

nsb@Numbers:15:7 @ and an offering of one and one quarter quarts of wine. Offer them as a soothing aroma to Jehovah.

nsb@Numbers:15:8 @ »When you sacrifice a young bull as a burnt offering to Jehovah or make any other kind of sacrifice to keep a vow or as a fellowship offering.

nsb@Numbers:15:10 @ »Also give an offering of two quarts of wine. It is an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to Jehovah.

nsb@Numbers:15:13 @ »All native-born Israelites must do it this way when they bring an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to Jehovah.

nsb@Numbers:15:14 @ »Make a food offering, an odor that pleases Jehovah. If foreigners live among you, whether on a temporary or a permanent basis, they are to observe the same regulations.

nsb@Numbers:15:15 @ »For all time to come, the same rules are binding on you and on the foreigners who live among you. You and they are alike in Jehovah’s sight.

nsb@Numbers:15:16 @ »The same laws and regulations apply to you and to them.«

nsb@Numbers:15:18 @ the following regulations for the people of Israel. They are to observe them in the land he was going to give them.

nsb@Numbers:15:19 @ »When any food produced there is eaten, some of it is to be set aside as a special contribution to Jehovah.

nsb@Numbers:15:20 @ »When you bake bread, the first loaf of the first bread made from the new grain is to be presented as a special contribution to Jehovah. This is to be presented in the same way as the special contribution you make from the grain you thresh.

nsb@Numbers:15:21 @ »For all time to come, this special gift is to be given to Jehovah from the bread you bake.

nsb@Numbers:15:22 @ »Suppose someone unintentionally fails to keep some of these regulations Jehovah gave Moses.

nsb@Numbers:15:23 @ »Also suppose that in the future the congregation fails to do everything Jehovah commanded through Moses.

nsb@Numbers:15:24 @ »If the mistake was made because of the ignorance of the congregation, they are to offer a bull as a burnt offering, an odor that pleases Jehovah. Use the proper grain offering and wine offering. In addition, they are to offer a male goat as a sin offering.

nsb@Numbers:15:25 @ »The priest will perform the ritual of purification for the congregation. They will be forgiven since the mistake was unintentional and they brought their sin offering as a food offering to Jehovah

nsb@Numbers:15:28 @ »The priest shall perform the ritual of purification at the altar to purify you from your sin. You will be forgiven.

nsb@Numbers:15:29 @ »The same regulation applies to all who unintentionally commit a sin, whether they are native Israelites or resident foreigners.

nsb@Numbers:15:30 @ »Any who sin deliberately, natives or foreigners, are guilty of treating Jehovah with contempt. They shall be put to death.

nsb@Numbers:15:33 @ He was taken to Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation.

nsb@Numbers:15:34 @ They held him in custody until they decided what to do with him.

nsb@Numbers:15:35 @ Jehovah said to Moses: »This man must be put to death. The whole congregation must take him outside the camp and stone him.«

nsb@Numbers:15:36 @ So the whole congregation took him outside the camp and stoned him to death, as Jehovah commanded Moses.

nsb@Numbers:15:37 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:15:38 @ Speak to the Israelites and tell them: »For generations to come they must wear tassels on the corners of their clothes. Each tassel should have violet threads.

nsb@Numbers:15:40 @ »You will remember to obey all my commandments. You will be holy to your God.

nsb@Numbers:15:41 @ »I am Jehovah your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am Jehovah your God!«

nsb@Numbers:16:1 @ Korah son of Izhar, Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth dared to challenge Moses. Korah was a descendant of Kohath and Levi. Dathan, Abiram, and On were descendants of Reuben.

nsb@Numbers:16:3 @ They came together to confront Moses and Aaron. They said: »You have gone far enough! Everyone in the whole congregation is holy. Jehovah is among them. Why do you set yourselves above Jehovah’s assembly?«

nsb@Numbers:16:4 @ When Moses heard this, he bowed with his face touching the ground.

nsb@Numbers:16:5 @ Then he said to Korah and all his followers: »In the morning Jehovah will show who belongs to him, who is holy. He will have that person come near him. Only the person Jehovah chooses will be allowed to come near him.

nsb@Numbers:16:6 @ »Korah, you and all your followers must do this tomorrow: Take incense burners,

nsb@Numbers:16:8 @ Moses also said to Korah: »Listen, you sons of Levi!

nsb@Numbers:16:9 @ »Is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the congregation of Israel? Jehovah has brought you near to do the work for his tent and stand in front of the community to serve them.

nsb@Numbers:16:10 @ »He brought you and all the other Levites near. But now you demand to be priests.

nsb@Numbers:16:13 @ »Is it not enough that you brought us out of a land flowing with milk and honey only to kill us in the desert? Do you also have to order us around?

nsb@Numbers:16:14 @ »You have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us any fields and vineyards to own. Do you think you can still pull the wool over our eyes? We will not come.«

nsb@Numbers:16:15 @ Moses became angry and said to Jehovah: »Do not accept their offering. I have not taken anything from them, not even a donkey. And I have not mistreated any of them.«

nsb@Numbers:16:16 @ Moses said to Korah: »Tomorrow you and all your followers must come into Jehovah’s presence. Aaron will also be there with you.

nsb@Numbers:16:17 @ »Each man will take his incense burner and put incense in it. They will offer all two hundred and fifty incense burners to Jehovah. Then you and Aaron offer your incense burners.«

nsb@Numbers:16:18 @ So each man took his incense burner. He put burning coals and incense in it and stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

nsb@Numbers:16:19 @ Korah assembled all his followers who opposed Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the tent of meeting. The glory of Jehovah appeared to the entire group.

nsb@Numbers:16:20 @ Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron:

nsb@Numbers:16:22 @ Immediately, they bowed with their faces touching the ground and said: »O God, you are the God who gives the breath of life to everyone! If one man sins, will you be angry with the entire congregation?«

nsb@Numbers:16:23 @ Then Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:16:25 @ Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him.

nsb@Numbers:16:26 @ He said to the congregation: »Move away from the tents of these wicked men. Do not touch anything that belongs to them, or you’ll be swept away because of all their sins.«

nsb@Numbers:16:27 @ So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram came out and were standing at the entrances to their tents with their wives and children.

nsb@Numbers:16:28 @ Moses said: »This is how you will know that Jehovah sent me to do all these things and that it wasn’t my idea:

nsb@Numbers:16:30 @ »But if Jehovah does something totally new, if the ground opens up, swallows them and everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive to their graves; then you will know that these men have treated Jehovah with contempt.«

nsb@Numbers:16:32 @ and the earth opened up to swallow them, their families, the followers of Korah, and all their property.

nsb@Numbers:16:33 @ They went down alive to their graves with everything that belonged to them. The ground covered them. They disappeared from the assembly.

nsb@Numbers:16:36 @ Then Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:16:37 @ »Tell Eleazar, son of the priest Aaron, to take the incense burners out of the fire and scatter the coals and incense somewhere else. This is because the incense burners have become holy.

nsb@Numbers:16:38 @ »The incense burners of these men who sinned and lost their lives are holy, because they were offered to Jehovah. Hammer them into thin metal sheets to cover the altar. This will be a sign to the Israelites.«

nsb@Numbers:16:39 @ The priest Eleazar took the copper incense burners that had been brought by those who had been burned to death. The incense burners were then hammered into thin metal sheets to cover the altar.

nsb@Numbers:16:40 @ He followed Jehovah’s command given through Moses. The copper-covered altar will remind Israel that no one but a descendant of Aaron may come near to burn incense to Jehovah. Everyone else will die like Korah and his followers.

nsb@Numbers:16:41 @ The next day the whole congregation of Israel complained to Moses and Aaron. They said: »You have killed Jehovah’s people.«

nsb@Numbers:16:42 @ The congregation came together to confront Moses and Aaron. When they turned toward the tent of meeting, they saw the smoke covering it, and the glory of Jehovah appeared.

nsb@Numbers:16:43 @ Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the tent of meeting.

nsb@Numbers:16:44 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:16:45 @ »Get away from these people, and let me destroy them in an instant! Immediately, they bowed with their faces touching the ground.«

nsb@Numbers:16:46 @ Moses said to Aaron: »Take your incense burner, put burning coals from the altar and incense in it, and go quickly into the congregation to make peace with Jehovah for the people. Jehovah shows his anger! A plague has started.«

nsb@Numbers:16:47 @ Aaron took his incense burner, as Moses told him. He ran into the middle of the assembly, because the plague had already begun among the people. He put incense on the incense burner to make peace with Jehovah for the people.

nsb@Numbers:16:48 @ He stood between those who had died and those who were still alive. The plague stopped.

nsb@Numbers:16:49 @ Fourteen thousand seven hundred died from the plague in addition to those who died because of Korah.

nsb@Numbers:16:50 @ By the time Aaron came back to Moses at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the plague had stopped.

nsb@Numbers:17:1 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:17:2 @ »Speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs from them. Get one from the leader of each of their tribes. Write each man’s name on his staff.

nsb@Numbers:17:5 @ »The staff from the man I choose will begin to grow. In this way I will silence the frequent complaints the Israelites make against you and Aaron.«

nsb@Numbers:17:6 @ Thus Moses spoke to the Israelites. Their leaders gave him twelve staffs, one from the leader of each of their tribes. Aaron’s staff was among them.

nsb@Numbers:17:8 @ The next day Moses went into the tent. He found that Aaron’s staff for the tribe of Levi had not only begun to grow, but it had also blossomed and produced ripe almonds.

nsb@Numbers:17:9 @ Moses brought out the staffs from Jehovah’s presence and showed them to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each man took his staff.

nsb@Numbers:17:10 @ Jehovah said to Moses: »Put Aaron’s staff in front of the testimony. Keep it there as a sign to warn any other rebels. Then you will stop their complaints about me, and they will not die.«

nsb@Numbers:17:11 @ Moses did exactly what Jehovah commanded him to do.

nsb@Numbers:17:12 @ The Israelites said to Moses: Now we are going to die! We will perish! We are all lost!

nsb@Numbers:17:13 @ Anyone who comes near Jehovah’s tent will die! Are we all going to die?

nsb@Numbers:18:1 @ Jehovah said to Aaron: »You, your sons, and your family will be responsible for any sins against the holy place. You and your sons will also be responsible for any sins you commit when you work as priests.

nsb@Numbers:18:2 @ »Bring the other Levites from your ancestor’s tribe to join you and help you and your sons serve in front of the tent of the words of my promise.

nsb@Numbers:18:3 @ »They are to fulfill their duties to you and their responsibilities for the tent. However they must not have any contact with sacred objects in the Holy Place or with the altar. If they do, both they and you will be put to death.

nsb@Numbers:18:4 @ »They are to work with you and fulfill their responsibilities for all the service in the tent. No unqualified person may work with you.

nsb@Numbers:18:6 @ »I chose the other Levites from among the Israelites to help you. They are a gift given to Jehovah to do the necessary work at the tent of meeting.

nsb@Numbers:18:7 @ »Only you and your sons may do the work of priests, everything done at the altar and under the canopy. This is my gift to you: You may serve me as priests. Anyone else who comes near the holy place to do this work must die.«

nsb@Numbers:18:8 @ Jehovah said to Aaron: »I have placed you in charge of all the contributions given to me. I have given you and your descendants all the holy gifts from the Israelites as your share. These contributions will be yours from generation to generation.

nsb@Numbers:18:9 @ »That part of the most holy offerings that is not burned belongs to you. It may come from a grain offering, an offering for sin, or a guilt offering. Whatever is brought to me, as a most holy offering will belong to you and your sons.

nsb@Numbers:18:11 @ »The contributions that come as gifts taken from the offerings presented by the Israelites are also yours. I give these to you, your sons, and your daughters. They will be yours from generation to generation. Anyone in your household who is clean may eat them.

nsb@Numbers:18:13 @ »The first of all produce harvested in their land that they bring to Jehovah are yours. Anyone in your household who is clean may eat it.

nsb@Numbers:18:15 @ »Every firstborn male, human or animal that is brought to Jehovah is yours. But you must buy back every firstborn son and the firstborn male of any unclean animal.

nsb@Numbers:18:17 @ »You must never buy back a firstborn bull, sheep, or goat. They are holy. Throw the blood from these animals against the altar. Burn the fat as an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to Jehovah.

nsb@Numbers:18:19 @ »I have given you, your sons, and your daughters all the holy contributions which the Israelites offer to Jehovah. These contributions will be yours from generation to generation. It is an everlasting promise of salt in Jehovah’s presence for you and your descendants.«

nsb@Numbers:18:20 @ Jehovah said to Aaron: »You will have no land or property of your own as the other Israelites will have. I am your possession and your property among the Israelites.

nsb@Numbers:18:24 @ »Instead, I will give the Levites what the Israelites contribute to Jehovah, one-tenth of the Israelites’ income. This is why I said about them: They will own no property as the other Israelites do.«

nsb@Numbers:18:25 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:18:26 @ »Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘You will take one-tenth of the Israelites’ income that I am giving you as your property. When you do, you must contribute one-tenth of that income as your contribution to Jehovah.

nsb@Numbers:18:27 @ »‘Your contribution will be considered to be grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress.

nsb@Numbers:18:28 @ »‘You will also contribute one-tenth of your income to Jehovah out of all that you receive from the Israelites’ income. You will give Jehovah’s contribution to the priest Aaron.

nsb@Numbers:18:29 @ »‘Out of all the gifts you receive, you must contribute the best and holiest parts to Jehovah.’

nsb@Numbers:18:30 @ »Also tell them: ‘When you contribute the best part, your contribution will be considered to be produce from the threshing floor or winepress.

nsb@Numbers:19:1 @ Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron:

nsb@Numbers:19:2 @ »This is a requirement of the law Jehovah has commanded: ‘Tell the Israelites to bring you a red cow that is perfect, with no defects. Also, it must never have worn a yoke.

nsb@Numbers:19:3 @ »‘Give it to Eleazar the priest. It must be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence.

nsb@Numbers:19:4 @ »‘Eleazar the priest will take some of the blood with his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the tent of meeting.

nsb@Numbers:19:6 @ »‘The priest will take some cedar wood, a hyssop sprig, and some red yarn and throw them onto the burning cow.

nsb@Numbers:19:7 @ »‘The priest must then wash his clothes and his body. After that, he may go into the camp. But he will be unclean until evening.

nsb@Numbers:19:10 @ »‘The one who collected the ashes must wash his clothes. He remains unclean until evening. This regulation is valid for all time to come, both for the Israelites and for the foreigners living among them.

nsb@Numbers:19:11 @ »‘Those who touch a corpse are ritually unclean for seven days.

nsb@Numbers:19:13 @ »‘Those who touch a corpse and do not purify themselves remain unclean. This is because the water for purification has not been thrown over them. They defile Jehovah’s tent, and they will no longer be considered God’s people.

nsb@Numbers:19:14 @ »‘Here are your instructions for when a person dies in a tent: Everyone who goes into the tent and everyone who is in the tent will be unclean for seven days.

nsb@Numbers:19:16 @ »‘Whoever is outdoors and touches someone who was killed or has died naturally or anyone who touches a human bone or a grave will be unclean for seven days.

nsb@Numbers:19:17 @ »‘Do this for people who become unclean from touching a dead body. Put some of the ashes from the red cow that was burned as an offering for sin into a container. Then pour fresh water on them.

nsb@Numbers:19:18 @ »‘A person who is clean will take a sprig of hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle the tent, all the furnishings, and all the people who were in the tent with the dead body. He must also sprinkle any person who has touched a human bone or a grave and any person who has touched someone who has been killed or who has died naturally.

nsb@Numbers:19:20 @ »‘If the person who becomes unclean does not have his sin taken away, that person must be excluded from the assembly. He has made the holy place of Jehovah unclean. The water to take away uncleanness was not sprinkled on him. He is unclean.

nsb@Numbers:19:21 @ »‘This will be a long lasting law for them. He who sprinkles the water to take away uncleanness must wash his clothes. He who touches this water will be unclean until evening.

nsb@Numbers:19:22 @ »‘Anything that an unclean person touches becomes unclean. The person who touches it will be unclean until evening.’«

nsb@Numbers:20:1 @ In the first month the whole congregation of Israel came into the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. Miriam died and was buried there.

nsb@Numbers:20:2 @ The congregation was without water. So they gathered to confront Moses and Aaron.

nsb@Numbers:20:3 @ The people complained to Moses. They said: »If only we had died when the other Israelites died in Jehovah’s presence!

nsb@Numbers:20:4 @ »Did you bring Jehovah’s assembly into this desert just to have us all die and our animals?

nsb@Numbers:20:5 @ »Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us into this terrible place? This is no place to plant crops. Even figs, grapes, and pomegranates will not grow here. And there is no water to drink!«

nsb@Numbers:20:6 @ Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting. They bowed with their faces touching the ground. The glory of Jehovah appeared to them.

nsb@Numbers:20:7 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:20:8 @ »Take your staff and you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation. Right before their eyes, tell the rock to give up its water. In this way you will give the congregation water from the rock for them and their animals to drink.«

nsb@Numbers:20:9 @ Moses took his staff out of the tent in Jehovah’s presence as he had been commanded.

nsb@Numbers:20:10 @ Moses and Aaron assembled the congregation in front of the rock and said to them: »Listen, you rebels, must we bring water out of this rock for you?«

nsb@Numbers:20:12 @ Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron: »You did not trust me! You did not show the Israelites how holy I am! So you will not bring this congregation into the land I am giving them.«

nsb@Numbers:20:14 @ Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom. He said: »This is what your brother Israel says: ‘You know all the hardships we have had.

nsb@Numbers:20:15 @ »‘Our ancestors went to Egypt. We lived there for many years. The Egyptians mistreated our ancestors and us.

nsb@Numbers:20:16 @ »‘We cried to Jehovah for help. He heard our cry and sent an angel, who led us out of Egypt. Now we are at Kadesh, a town at the border of your territory.

nsb@Numbers:20:17 @ »‘Please permit us to pass through your land. We, including our cattle, will not leave the road or go into your fields or vineyards. We will not drink from your wells. We will stay on the main road until we are out of your territory.’«

nsb@Numbers:20:18 @ But the Edomites answered: »We refuse to let you pass through our country! If you try, we will march out and attack you.«

nsb@Numbers:20:19 @ The people of Israel said: »We will stay on the main road. If we, or our animals, drink any of your water we will pay for it. All we want is to pass through.«

nsb@Numbers:20:20 @ The Edomites repeated: »We refuse!« Then they marched out with a powerful army to attack the people of Israel.

nsb@Numbers:20:21 @ The Edomites would not let the Israelites pass through their territory. So the Israelites turned and went another way.

nsb@Numbers:20:23 @ on the border of Edom. There Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron:

nsb@Numbers:20:24 @ »Aaron is not going to enter the land I promised to give to Israel. He is going to die, because the two of you rebelled against my command at Meribah.

nsb@Numbers:20:25 @ »Take Aaron and his son Eleazar to Mount Hor.

nsb@Numbers:20:26 @ »Remove Aaron’s priestly robes and put them on Eleazar. Aaron is going to die there.«

nsb@Numbers:20:28 @ Moses removed Aaron’s priestly robes and put them on Eleazar. There on the top of the mountain Aaron died, and Moses and Eleazar came back down.

nsb@Numbers:21:2 @ Then the Israelites made a vow to Jehovah: »If you will let us conquer these people, we will unconditionally dedicate them and their cities to you and will destroy them.«

nsb@Numbers:21:4 @ They moved from Mount Hor following the road that goes to the Red Sea. That way they could go around Edom. The people became impatient on the trip

nsb@Numbers:21:5 @ and criticized God and Moses. They said: »Why did you make us leave Egypt only to let us die in the desert? There is no bread or water, and we cannot stand this awful food!«

nsb@Numbers:21:7 @ The people came to Moses and said: »We sinned when we criticized Jehovah and you. Pray to Jehovah so that he will take the snakes away from us. So Moses prayed for the people.«

nsb@Numbers:21:8 @ Jehovah said to Moses: »Make a snake and put it on a pole. Anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.«

nsb@Numbers:21:11 @ After leaving that place, they camped at the ruins of Abarim in the wilderness east of Moabite territory.

nsb@Numbers:21:13 @ They moved again and camped on the north side of the Arnon River, in the desert that extends into Amorite territory. The Arnon was the border between the Moabites and the Amorites.

nsb@Numbers:21:14 @ That is why The Book of Jehovah’s Battles speaks of the town of Waheb in the area of Suphah, and the valleys; the Arnon River,

nsb@Numbers:21:15 @ and the slope of the valleys that extend to the town of Ar and toward the border of Moab.

nsb@Numbers:21:16 @ From there they went on to a place called Wells, where Jehovah said to Moses: Bring the people together, and I will give them water.

nsb@Numbers:21:18 @ »The well dug by princes and by leaders of the people, dug with a royal scepter and with their walking sticks. They moved from the wilderness to Mattanah,

nsb@Numbers:21:19 @ and from there they went on to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth,

nsb@Numbers:21:20 @ and from Bamoth to the valley in the territory of the Moabites, below the top of Mount Pisgah, looking out over the desert.

nsb@Numbers:21:21 @ »The people of Israel sent messengers to the Amorite king Sihon to say:

nsb@Numbers:21:22 @ »Let us go through your country. We will not go through any of your fields or vineyards or drink any of the water from your wells. We will stay on the king’s highway until we have passed through your territory.«

nsb@Numbers:21:23 @ Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. Sihon gathered all his troops and came out into the desert to attack Israel. When Sihon’s troops came to Jahaz, they fought against Israel.

nsb@Numbers:21:24 @ Israel defeated them in battle and took possession of their land from the Arnon Valley to the Jabbok River. They stopped at the border of the Ammon because it was fortified.

nsb@Numbers:21:25 @ The Israelites settled in the Amorite towns. They settled in the capital city of Heshbon with its surrounding villages.

nsb@Numbers:21:28 @ »His armies marched out like fiery flames, burning down the town of Ar and destroying the hills along the Arnon River.

nsb@Numbers:21:30 @ »We completely defeated Moab. The towns of Heshbon and Dibon, of Nophah and Medeba are ruined and gone.«

nsb@Numbers:21:31 @ After the Israelites settled in the Amorite territory,

nsb@Numbers:21:32 @ Moses sent some men to explore the town of Jazer. Some time later, the Israelites captured the villages surrounding it and forced out the Amorites who lived there.

nsb@Numbers:21:34 @ Jehovah said to Moses: »Do not fear him for I have given him into your hand, and all his people and his land. You will do to him as you did to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.«

nsb@Numbers:21:35 @ The Israelites defeated him, his sons, and all his troops, leaving no survivors. They took possession of his land.

nsb@Numbers:22:2 @ Balak, son of Zippor, saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

nsb@Numbers:22:4 @ So the Moabites said to the leaders of Midian: »All those people will eventually eat up everything around us the same way cattle eat up the grass in a field. At that time Balak, son of Zippor, was king of Moab.«

nsb@Numbers:22:5 @ He sent messengers to summon Balaam, son of Beor, who was at Pethor, on the Euphrates River, in the land where his people lived. Balak’s message was: »A nation has just come here from Egypt. They have spread out all over the countryside and are setting up their camp here in front of me.

nsb@Numbers:22:6 @ »They outnumber us, so please come and put a curse on them for me. Then maybe we will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. I know that when you pronounce a blessing, people are blessed, and when you pronounce a curse, they are placed under a curse.«

nsb@Numbers:22:7 @ The elders of Moab and Midian left. They took money with them to pay for Balaam’s services. They came to Balaam and told him what Balak had said.

nsb@Numbers:22:8 @ »Spend the night here,« Balaam said to them, »and I will report to you what Jehovah tells me.« So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.

nsb@Numbers:22:9 @ God came to Balaam and asked: »Who are these men with you?«

nsb@Numbers:22:11 @ »Some people came from Egypt and are spreading out all over the countryside. Now come and curse them for me. Maybe I will be able to fight them and force them out.«

nsb@Numbers:22:12 @ God said to Balaam: »Do not go with them! Do not curse these people. They are blessed!«

nsb@Numbers:22:13 @ When Balaam got up in the morning, he said to Balak’s princes: »Go back to your own country. Jehovah has refused to let me go with you.«

nsb@Numbers:22:14 @ The Moabite princes went back to Balak and said: »Balaam refused to come with us.«

nsb@Numbers:22:16 @ When they came to Balaam they said to him: »This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Do not let anything keep you from coming to me.

nsb@Numbers:22:19 @ »Now, please stay here tonight, as the others did, and I will find out what else Jehovah may have to tell me.«

nsb@Numbers:22:20 @ That night God came to Balaam and said: »If these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.«

nsb@Numbers:22:22 @ God became angry that he was going. So the angel of Jehovah stood in the road to stop him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, accompanied by his two servants.

nsb@Numbers:22:23 @ The donkey saw the angel of Jehovah standing in the road with his sword drawn. The donkey turned off the road into a field. Balaam hit the donkey to get it back on the road.

nsb@Numbers:22:24 @ Where the road went through the vineyards, it was narrow, with stonewalls on both sides. Now the angel of Jehovah stood there.

nsb@Numbers:22:26 @ Once more the angel moved ahead. He stood in a narrow place where there was no room at all to pass on either side.

nsb@Numbers:22:27 @ This time, when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down. Balaam lost his temper and began to beat the donkey with his stick.

nsb@Numbers:22:28 @ Jehovah gave the donkey the power of speech. The donkey said to Balaam: »What have I done to you? Why have you beaten me these three times?«

nsb@Numbers:22:32 @ The angel demanded: »Why have you beaten your donkey three times like this? I have come to bar your way, because you should not be making this journey.

nsb@Numbers:22:34 @ Balaam replied: »I have sinned. I did not know that you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you think it is wrong for me to go on I will return home.«

nsb@Numbers:22:35 @ But the angel said: »Go on with these men, but say only what I tell you to say.« Thus Balaam went on with them.

nsb@Numbers:22:36 @ Balak heard that Balaam was coming. He went to meet him at Ar, a city on the Arnon River at the border of Moab.

nsb@Numbers:22:37 @ Balak said to him: »Why did you not come when I sent for you the first time? Did you think I was not able to reward you enough?«

nsb@Numbers:22:38 @ Balaam answered: »I am here now. But now, what power do I have? I can say only what God tells me to say.«

nsb@Numbers:22:39 @ Balaam went with Balak to the town of Huzoth.

nsb@Numbers:22:40 @ Balak slaughtered cattle and sheep and gave some of the meat to Balaam and the leaders who were with him.

nsb@Numbers:22:41 @ The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth Baal, from where Balaam could see a part of the people of Israel.

nsb@Numbers:23:1 @ He said to Balak: »Build seven altars here for me. Then bring me seven bulls and seven rams.«

nsb@Numbers:23:2 @ Balak did as he was told. He and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

nsb@Numbers:23:3 @ Then Balaam said to Balak: »Stand here by your burnt offering. I will go to see whether or not Jehovah will meet me. I will tell you what he reveals to me.« So he went alone to the top of a hill.

nsb@Numbers:23:4 @ God met him and Balaam said to God: »I have built the seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each.«

nsb@Numbers:23:5 @ Jehovah told Balaam: »Go back to Balak and give him my message.«

nsb@Numbers:23:6 @ He went back to Balak and found him standing beside his burnt offering with all the princes of Moab.

nsb@Numbers:23:9 @ »‘I see them from the top of rocky cliffs. I look at them from the hills. I see a nation that lives by itself! These are people who do not consider themselves to be like other nations.

nsb@Numbers:23:11 @ Balak responded to Balaam: »What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies, but all you have done is bless them!«

nsb@Numbers:23:12 @ Balaam answered: »I must say what Jehovah tells me to say.«

nsb@Numbers:23:13 @ Balak said: »Please come with me to another place, where you can see the Israelites. You will see only some of them, not all of them. Curse them for me from there.«

nsb@Numbers:23:14 @ So he took him to the Field of Zophim on top of Mount Pisgah. He built seven altars there. He offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

nsb@Numbers:23:15 @ Then Balaam said to Balak: »Stay here beside your burnt offering while I meet with God over there.«

nsb@Numbers:23:16 @ Jehovah met Balaam and told him what to say. He sent him back to Balak to give him his message.

nsb@Numbers:23:18 @ Balaam uttered this prophecy: »Come, Balak son of Zippor, and listen to what I have to say.

nsb@Numbers:23:20 @ »I have been instructed to bless. And when God blesses, I cannot call it back.

nsb@Numbers:23:23 @ »For there is omen against Jacob, Nor is there any divination against Israel. At the proper time it will be said to Jacob and Israel: What God has done!

nsb@Numbers:23:24 @ »Behold, the nation of Israel! It is like a mighty lion: It will rise and not lie down again until it has torn and devoured it’s pray. It will drink the blood of those it has killed.«

nsb@Numbers:23:25 @ Balak said to Balaam: »You refuse to curse the people of Israel, but at least do not bless them!«

nsb@Numbers:23:27 @ Balak replied: »Come with me. I will take you to another place. Perhaps God will be willing to let you curse them for me from there.«

nsb@Numbers:23:28 @ So he took Balaam to the top of Mount Peor overlooking the desert.

nsb@Numbers:23:29 @ Balaam said to him: »Build seven altars for me here and bring me seven bulls and seven rams.«

nsb@Numbers:23:30 @ Balak did as he was told. He offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

nsb@Numbers:24:1 @ Balaam knew that Jehovah wanted him to bless the people of Israel. So he did not go to look for omens, as he had done before. He turned toward the desert.

nsb@Numbers:24:2 @ There he saw the people of Israel camped tribe by tribe. The Spirit of God took control of him.

nsb@Numbers:24:10 @ Balak’s anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and Balak said to Balaam: I called you to curse my enemies! But you have persisted in blessing them three times!

nsb@Numbers:24:11 @ Therefore, run away to your place now. I said: »I will honor you greatly, but Jehovah has held you back from honor.«

nsb@Numbers:24:12 @ Balaam replied to Balak: »Did I not tell the messengers whom you sent to me:

nsb@Numbers:24:13 @ »Even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything contrary to the command of Jehovah either good or bad, of my own accord. What Jehovah speaks, that I will speak!

nsb@Numbers:24:14 @ »Now I am going to my people. Come along and I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.«

nsb@Numbers:24:24 @ »Ships will come from the coast of Kittim. They will afflict Asshur and will afflict Eber. They will also come to destruction.«

nsb@Numbers:25:2 @ The Moabites invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods. The people ate and bowed down to their gods.

nsb@Numbers:25:3 @ So Israel joined itself to Baal of Peor. Jehovah was angry against Israel.

nsb@Numbers:25:4 @ Jehovah said to Moses: »Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before Jehovah so that the fierce anger of Jehovah may turn away from Israel.«

nsb@Numbers:25:5 @ Moses said to the judges of Israel: »Each of you put to death those men who have joined in worshiping Baal of Peor.«

nsb@Numbers:25:6 @ One of the Israelite men brought a Midianite woman to his brothers. He did this right in front of Moses and the entire congregation of Israel while they were crying at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

nsb@Numbers:25:8 @ He went into the tent after the Israelite man. He drove the spear through the man and into the woman’s body. Because of this, the plague that the Israelites were experiencing stopped.

nsb@Numbers:25:10 @ Jehovah continued speaking to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:25:11 @ Jehovah said to Moses: »Phinehas, son of Eleazar and grandson of the priest Aaron, turned my fury away from the Israelites. Since he stood up for me, I did not have to stand up for myself and destroy them.

nsb@Numbers:25:12 @ »Tell Phinehas that I now make a promise of peace to him.

nsb@Numbers:25:13 @ »My promise is that he and his descendants will be priests for a very long time because he stood up for his God. He made peace with Jehovah for the Israelites.«

nsb@Numbers:25:16 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:25:18 @ »This is because they treated you as enemies. They plotted to trick you in the incident that took place at Peor. They used their sister Cozbi, daughter of a Midianite leader, who was killed on the day of the plague caused by the incident at Peor.«

nsb@Numbers:26:1 @ After the plague Jehovah said to Moses and Eleazar son of the priest Aaron:

nsb@Numbers:26:3 @ Moses and the priest Eleazar spoke to the Israelites on the plains of Moab near the Jordan River across from Jericho. They said:

nsb@Numbers:26:7 @ These were the families of Reuben. The total number of men was forty-three thousand seven hundred and thirty.

nsb@Numbers:26:14 @ These were the families of Simeon. The total number of men was twenty-two thousand two hundred.

nsb@Numbers:26:18 @ These were the families of Gad’s descendants. The total number of men was forty thousand five hundred.

nsb@Numbers:26:22 @ These were the families of Judah. The total number of men was seventy-six thousand five hundred.

nsb@Numbers:26:23 @ The families descended from Issachar were the family of Tola, the family of Puah,

nsb@Numbers:26:25 @ These were the families of Issachar. The total number of men was sixty-four thousand three hundred.

nsb@Numbers:26:27 @ These were the families of Zebulun. The total number of men was sixty thousand five hundred.

nsb@Numbers:26:34 @ These were the families of Manasseh. The total number of men was fifty-two thousand seven hundred.

nsb@Numbers:26:37 @ These were the families of Ephraim’s descendants. The total number of men was thirty-two thousand five hundred. These were the families descended from Joseph.

nsb@Numbers:26:41 @ These were the families descended from Benjamin. The total number of men was forty-five thousand six hundred.

nsb@Numbers:26:43 @ The total number of men in all the family of Shuham was sixty-four thousand four hundred.

nsb@Numbers:26:47 @ These were the families of Asher’s descendants. The total number of men was fifty-three thousand four hundred.

nsb@Numbers:26:50 @ These were the families of Naphtali. The total number of men was forty-five thousand four hundred.

nsb@Numbers:26:51 @ The total number of Israelite men was six hundred and one thousand seven hundred and thirty.

nsb@Numbers:26:52 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:26:53 @ »Use the list of names from the census to divide the land these people will possess.

nsb@Numbers:26:54 @ »Give more land to larger tribes and less land to smaller ones. Use the totals from the census in giving land to each tribe.

nsb@Numbers:26:55 @ »The land must also be divided by drawing lots. The tribes will receive their land based on the names of their ancestors.

nsb@Numbers:26:58 @ These were the families of Levi: the Libnite family, the Hebronite family, the Mahlite family, the Mushite family, and the Korahite family. Kohath was the ancestor of Amram.

nsb@Numbers:26:59 @ The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, a descendant of Levi, who was born in Egypt. She gave birth to Amram’s children: Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam.

nsb@Numbers:26:62 @ The total number of all the Levite males at least one month old was twenty-three thousand. They were not counted along with the other Israelites, because they were given no land of their own.

nsb@Numbers:26:63 @ Moses and the priest Eleazar added up the total number of Israelites on the plains of Moab near the Jordan River across from Jericho.

nsb@Numbers:27:1 @ Zelophehad, son of Hepher, grandson of Gilead, descendant of Machir, whose father was Manasseh, belonged to the families of Manasseh, son of Joseph. Their names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

nsb@Numbers:27:2 @ They came to Moses and stood in front of him, the priest Eleazar, the leaders, and the entire congregation at the entrance to the tent of meeting. They said:

nsb@Numbers:27:4 @ »Why should our father’s name be allowed to die out in his family because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s relatives.«

nsb@Numbers:27:5 @ So Moses brought their case to Jehovah.

nsb@Numbers:27:6 @ Jehovah said to him:

nsb@Numbers:27:7 @ »Zelophehad’s daughters are right. You must give them property of their own among their father’s relatives. Turn their father’s property over to them.

nsb@Numbers:27:8 @ »Tell the Israelites: ‘If a man dies and leaves no sons, turn his property over to his daughters.

nsb@Numbers:27:9 @ »‘If he has no daughters give his property to his brothers.

nsb@Numbers:27:10 @ »‘If he has no brothers give his property to his uncles on his father’s side of the family.

nsb@Numbers:27:11 @ »‘If he has no uncles, give his property to the nearest relative in his family. That relative will take possession of it. This will be a rule for the Israelites, as Jehovah commanded Moses.’«

nsb@Numbers:27:12 @ Jehovah said to Moses: »Go up into the Abarim Mountains, and take a look at the land I will give the Israelites.

nsb@Numbers:27:13 @ »After you see it, you, too, will join your ancestors in death, as your brother Aaron did.

nsb@Numbers:27:17 @ and can command them in battle. Do not allow your congregation to be like sheep without a shepherd.«

nsb@Numbers:27:18 @ Jehovah said to Moses: »Take Joshua son of Nun, a capable man, and place your hands on his head.

nsb@Numbers:28:2 @ »Instruct the Israelites to present to God at the appointed time the required food offerings that are pleasing to him.

nsb@Numbers:28:3 @ »‘These are the food offerings that are to be presented to Jehovah: for the daily burnt offering, two one-year-old male lambs without any defects.

nsb@Numbers:28:6 @ »‘This is the daily offering that is completely burned. It was first offered at Mount Sinai as a food offering, an odor pleasing to Jehovah.

nsb@Numbers:28:8 @ »‘Offer the second lamb in the evening in the same way as the morning offering, together with its wine offering. It also is a food offering, an odor pleasing to Jehovah.

nsb@Numbers:28:10 @ »‘This burnt offering is to be offered every Sabbath in addition to the daily offering with its wine offering.

nsb@Numbers:28:11 @ »‘At the beginning of each of your months you shall present a burnt offering to Jehovah: two bulls and one ram, seven male lambs one year old without defect.

nsb@Numbers:28:13 @ »‘With each one-year-old lamb a grain offering of eight cups of flour mixed with olive oil. This is a burnt offering, a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to Jehovah.

nsb@Numbers:28:15 @ »‘In addition to the daily burnt offering with its wine offering, one male goat must be offered to Jehovah as an offering for sin.

nsb@Numbers:28:20 @ »‘In addition to them bring grain offerings of flour mixed with olive oil. Bring twenty-four cups for each bull, sixteen cups for each ram,

nsb@Numbers:28:22 @ »‘Also bring one male goat as an offering for sin to pay compensation for wrongdoing and make peace with Jehovah.

nsb@Numbers:28:23 @ »‘Offer these in addition to the morning burnt offering.

nsb@Numbers:28:24 @ »‘Bring all these offerings on each of the seven days. They are food. They are offerings by fire, a soothing aroma to Jehovah. They will be offered in addition to the daily burnt offering and the wine offering that goes with it.

nsb@Numbers:28:27 @ »‘Offer a burnt offering as an odor pleasing to Jehovah: two young bulls, one ram, and seven one-year-old male lambs, all without any defects.

nsb@Numbers:28:31 @ »‘Offer these and the wine offering in addition to the daily burnt offering and grain offering.

nsb@Numbers:29:2 @ »‘Present a burnt offering to Jehovah. It is an odor pleasing to him: one young bull, one ram, and seven one-year-old male lambs, all without any defects.

nsb@Numbers:29:6 @ »‘Offer these in addition to the monthly burnt offering with its grain offering, and the daily burnt offerings with their proper grain offerings and wine offerings. It is a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to Jehovah.

nsb@Numbers:29:11 @ »‘Also bring one male goat as an offering for sin in addition to the other offering for sin to make peace with Jehovah and the daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and wine offerings.

nsb@Numbers:29:12 @ »‘Call a holy assembly on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. You must not do any regular work. Instead, celebrate a festival to Jehovah for seven days.

nsb@Numbers:29:13 @ »‘As a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to Jehovah, bring thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen one-year-old lambs, all of them without defects.

nsb@Numbers:29:16 @ »‘Also bring one male goat as an offering for sin in addition to the daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and wine offerings.

nsb@Numbers:29:18 @ »‘Offer grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams and for the lambs, by their number according to the ordinance;

nsb@Numbers:29:21 @ and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams and for the lambs, by their number according to the ordinance;

nsb@Numbers:29:24 @ grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams and for the lambs, by their number according to the ordinance;

nsb@Numbers:29:27 @ and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams and for the lambs, by their number according to the ordinance;

nsb@Numbers:29:31 @ »‘Also bring one male goat as an offering for sin in addition to the daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and wine offerings.

nsb@Numbers:29:34 @ »‘Also bring one male goat as an offering for sin in addition to the daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and wine offerings.

nsb@Numbers:29:36 @ »‘As a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to Jehovah, bring one bull, one ram, and seven one-year-old lambs that have no defects.

nsb@Numbers:29:38 @ »‘Also bring one male goat as an offering for sin in addition to the daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and wine offerings.

nsb@Numbers:29:39 @ »‘These are the offerings you must bring to Jehovah at your festivals. They are the offerings you must bring in addition to the offerings for anything you vowed to give to Jehovah, your freewill offerings, your burnt offerings, your grain offerings, your wine offerings, and your fellowship offerings.’«

nsb@Numbers:29:40 @ Moses told the Israelites everything Jehovah had commanded him.

nsb@Numbers:30:1 @ Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel: This is what Jehovah has commanded about vows:

nsb@Numbers:30:2 @ »If a man makes a vow to Jehovah that he will do something or swears an oath that he will not do something, he must not break his word. He must do everything he said he would do.

nsb@Numbers:30:3 @ »A young girl, who still lives in her father’s house, might make a vow to Jehovah that she will do something or swear an oath that she will not do something.

nsb@Numbers:30:5 @ »If her father forbids her to fulfill the vow when he hears about it, she is not required to keep it. Jehovah will forgive her, because her father refused to let her keep it.

nsb@Numbers:30:6 @ »If an unmarried woman makes a vow, whether deliberately or carelessly, or promises to abstain from something, and then marries,

nsb@Numbers:30:8 @ »If her husband forbids her to fulfill the vow when he hears about it, she is not required to keep it. Jehovah will forgive her.

nsb@Numbers:30:9 @ »A widow or a divorced woman must keep every vow she makes and every promise to abstain from something.

nsb@Numbers:30:10 @ »If a married woman makes a vow or promises to abstain from something,

nsb@Numbers:30:12 @ »But if her husband cancels it when he hears about it, nothing she said in her vow or oath has to be kept. Her husband has canceled it. Jehovah will free her from this vow or oath.

nsb@Numbers:30:13 @ »A husband decides whether or not his wife has to keep any vow to do something or any oath to do without something.

nsb@Numbers:30:14 @ »If he says nothing to her about it day after day, this means he decided that she must keep her vow or oath. She must keep it because he said nothing to her when he heard about it.

nsb@Numbers:31:1 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:31:2 @ »Get even with the Midianites for what they did to the Israelites. After that you will join your ancestors in death.«

nsb@Numbers:31:3 @ Moses said to the people: »Your men must get ready to go to war against the Midianites. Jehovah will use them to get even with Midian.

nsb@Numbers:31:6 @ Moses sent them off to war. There were one thousand men from each tribe along with Phinehas, son of the priest Eleazar. Phinehas took with him the holy articles and the trumpets for the fanfare.

nsb@Numbers:31:7 @ They went to war against Midian, as Jehovah commanded Moses, and killed every man.

nsb@Numbers:31:9 @ The Israelites took the Midianite women and children as prisoners of war. They also took all their animals, their livestock, and their valuables as loot.

nsb@Numbers:31:11 @ They took everything as loot including all the people and animals,

nsb@Numbers:31:12 @ and brought the prisoners of war, the loot, and everything to Moses, the priest Eleazar, and the congregation of Israel at the camp on the plains of Moab near the Jordan River across from Jericho.

nsb@Numbers:31:13 @ Moses, the priest Eleazar, and all the leaders of the congregation went outside the camp to meet them.

nsb@Numbers:31:16 @ »Look, these women caused the Israelites, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against Jehovah in the matter of Peor. Thus the congregation of Jehovah experienced the plague.

nsb@Numbers:31:17 @ »So kill all the Midianite boys and every Midianite woman who has gone to bed with a man.

nsb@Numbers:31:18 @ »But keep alive for yourselves every girl who has never gone to bed with a man.

nsb@Numbers:31:19 @ »Everyone who killed a person or touched a dead body must stay outside the camp seven days. You and your prisoners of war must use the ritual water on the third and seventh days in order to take away your sin.

nsb@Numbers:31:21 @ Eleazar the priest said to the soldiers who had gone into battle: »This is what Jehovah’s Law told Moses to do:

nsb@Numbers:31:25 @ Jehovah spoke to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:31:27 @ »Divide the booty between the warriors who went out to battle and the entire congregation.

nsb@Numbers:31:28 @ »Levy a tax for Jehovah from the men of war who went out to battle, one in five hundred of the persons and of the cattle and of the donkeys and of the sheep.

nsb@Numbers:31:29 @ »Take it from their half and give it to Eleazar the priest, as an offering to Jehovah.

nsb@Numbers:31:30 @ »From the sons of Israel’s half, you shall take one drawn out of every fifty of the persons, of the cattle, of the donkeys and of the sheep, from all the animals, and give them to the Levites who keep charge of the tabernacle of Jehovah.«

nsb@Numbers:31:36 @ The half, the portion of those who went out to war, was as follows: the number of sheep was three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred.

nsb@Numbers:31:41 @ Moses gave the levy that was Jehovah’s offering to Eleazar the priest, just as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

nsb@Numbers:31:42 @ And from the Israelites half, which Moses separated from the men who had gone to war.

nsb@Numbers:31:47 @ Moses took one drawn out of every fifty, both of man and of animals from the Israelite’s half. He gave them to the Levites, who kept charge of the tabernacle of Jehovah, just as Jehovah commanded Moses.

nsb@Numbers:31:49 @ They said to Moses: »Your servants have taken a census of men of war who are in our charge, and no man of us is missing.

nsb@Numbers:31:50 @ »So we brought as an offering to Jehovah what each man found, articles of gold, armlets and ankle bracelets, signet rings, earrings and necklaces, to make atonement for ourselves before Jehovah.«

nsb@Numbers:31:51 @ Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them, all kinds of molded articles.

nsb@Numbers:31:52 @ All the gold of the offering they gave to Jehovah, from the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels.

nsb@Numbers:31:54 @ So Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it to the tent of meeting as a memorial for the Israelites before Jehovah.

nsb@Numbers:32:1 @ The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad had a large number of livestock. They saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead was indeed a place suitable for livestock.

nsb@Numbers:32:4 @ the land Jehovah won for the congregation of Israel, is a good place for livestock. Gentlemen, we have livestock.«

nsb@Numbers:32:6 @ Moses asked the tribes of Gad and Reuben: Are you going to stay here while the rest of the Israelites go to war?

nsb@Numbers:32:8 @ That is what your ancestors did when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to look at the land.

nsb@Numbers:32:12 @ »Only Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun will get to see the land. This is because they wholeheartedly followed Jehovah.

nsb@Numbers:32:14 @ »You are just like your parents! You are a bunch of sinners trying to make Jehovah angry at Israel again.

nsb@Numbers:32:16 @ The tribes of Gad and Reuben came to Moses and said: »Allow us to build stone fences for our livestock and cities for our families here.

nsb@Numbers:32:17 @ »Then we will be ready to march in battle formation ahead of the other Israelites until we have brought them to their land. Meanwhile our families will live in walled cities. They will be safe from the other people who live here.

nsb@Numbers:32:18 @ »We will not return to our homes until every Israelite has received his own land.

nsb@Numbers:32:19 @ »We will not take possession of any land on the other side of the Jordan River, to the west and beyond. We already have our land here, east of the Jordan.«

nsb@Numbers:32:20 @ Moses answered: »If you really mean what you say, then here in the presence of Jehovah get ready to go into battle.

nsb@Numbers:32:21 @ »All your fighting men are to cross the Jordan and under Jehovah’s command they are to attack our enemies until Jehovah defeats them

nsb@Numbers:32:22 @ and takes possession of the land. You may return after that, because you will have fulfilled your obligation to Jehovah and to the other Israelites. Then Jehovah will acknowledge that this land east of the Jordan is yours.

nsb@Numbers:32:24 @ »So build your towns and the enclosures for your sheep, but do what you have promised!«

nsb@Numbers:32:26 @ »Our wives, children, sheep and cattle will stay here in the towns in Gilead.

nsb@Numbers:32:28 @ Moses said to Eleazar, Joshua, and the family leaders:

nsb@Numbers:32:33 @ So Moses gave the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and half of the tribe of Manasseh, son of Joseph, the kingdoms of King Sihon of the Amorites and King Og of Bashan. It was the whole land with its cities and its surrounding territory.

nsb@Numbers:32:36 @ Beth Nimrah, and Beth Haran as walled cities. They also built stone fences for their flocks.

nsb@Numbers:32:39 @ The descendants of Machir son of Manasseh went to Gilead. They captured it and forced out the Amorites who were there.

nsb@Numbers:32:40 @ So Moses gave Gilead to the people of Machir the descendants of Manasseh, and they lived there.

nsb@Numbers:33:2 @ Jehovah command Moses to wrote down the places where they went as they traveled. This is the list:

nsb@Numbers:33:7 @ They moved from Etham and turned back to Pi Hahiroth, east of Baal Zephon. They set up camp near Migdol.

nsb@Numbers:33:8 @ They moved from Pi Hahiroth and went through the middle of the sea into the desert. After they traveled for three days in the Desert of Etham, they set up camp at Marah.

nsb@Numbers:33:9 @ From there they went to Elim, where they camped. There were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees there.

nsb@Numbers:33:14 @ Next was Rephidim, where there was no water for them to drink.

nsb@Numbers:33:38 @ Jehovah commanded Aaron the priest to go up on Mount Hor. He died there on the first day of the fifth month in the fortieth year after the Israelites left Egypt.

nsb@Numbers:33:49 @ They set up camp on the plains of Moab along the Jordan. Their camp extended from Beth Jeshimoth to Abel Shittim.

nsb@Numbers:33:50 @ Jehovah said to Moses on the plains of Moab near the Jordan River across from Jericho,

nsb@Numbers:33:52 @ »As you advance, force out all the people who live there. Get rid of all their stone and metal idols, and destroy all their places of worship.

nsb@Numbers:33:53 @ »Take possession of the land and live there. I will give it to you for your own.

nsb@Numbers:33:54 @ Divide the land among your families by drawing lots. Give more land to larger families and less land to smaller ones. The land must be given to each family by drawing lots. Divide it among your ancestors’ tribes.

nsb@Numbers:33:56 @ »If you do not drive them out, I will destroy you, as I planned to destroy them.«

nsb@Numbers:34:2 @ the following instructions for the people of Israel: »When you enter Canaan, the land I am giving you, these are the borders of your territory.

nsb@Numbers:34:4 @ »It will turn southward toward Akrabbim Pass and continue on through Zin as far south as Kadesh Barnea. It will turn northwest to Hazar Addar and on to Azmon,

nsb@Numbers:34:5 @ where it will turn toward the valley at the border of Egypt and end at the Mediterranean.

nsb@Numbers:34:7 @ »The northern border will follow a line from the Mediterranean to Mount Hor

nsb@Numbers:34:8 @ and from there to Hamath Pass. It will continue to Zedad

nsb@Numbers:34:9 @ and to Ziphron, and will end at Hazar Enan.

nsb@Numbers:34:10 @ »The eastern border will follow a line from Hazar Enan to Shepham.

nsb@Numbers:34:11 @ »It will then go south to Harbel, east of Ain, and on to the hills on the eastern shore of Lake Galilee,

nsb@Numbers:34:12 @ then south along the Jordan River to the Dead Sea. These will be the four borders of your land.«

nsb@Numbers:34:13 @ Moses said to the Israelites: »This is the land you will receive by drawing lots. This is the land that Jehovah has assigned to the nine and one-half tribes.

nsb@Numbers:34:14 @ »The tribes of Reuben and Gad and the eastern half of Manasseh have received their property, divided according to their families,

nsb@Numbers:34:16 @ Jehovah said to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:34:18 @ »You must also take one leader from each tribe to divide the land.

nsb@Numbers:34:29 @ Jehovah commanded these men to divide Canaan for the Israelites.

nsb@Numbers:35:1 @ Jehovah spoke to Moses on the plains of Moab near the Jordan River across from Jericho. He said:

nsb@Numbers:35:2 @ »Tell the Israelites to give the Levites some cities from their own property. They must also give the Levites the pastureland around those cities.

nsb@Numbers:35:3 @ »The Levites will have cities to live in and pastureland for their cattle, the flocks they own, and any other animals they have.

nsb@Numbers:35:6 @ »Six of the cities you give the Levites will be cities of refuge. You must allow murderers to escape to these cities. In addition, you must also give the Levites forty-two other cities.

nsb@Numbers:35:7 @ »You will give a total of forty-eight cities with pastureland to the Levites.

nsb@Numbers:35:9 @ Jehovah continued to speak to Moses:

nsb@Numbers:35:11 @ select certain cities to be places of refuge. Anyone who unintentionally kills another person may run to them.

nsb@Numbers:35:12 @ »These cities will be places of refuge from any relative who can avenge the death. So anyone accused of murder will not have to die until he has had a trial in front of the community.

nsb@Numbers:35:15 @ »These six cities will be places of refuge for Israelites, foreigners, and strangers among you. Anyone who unintentionally kills another person may flee to these cities.

nsb@Numbers:35:16 @ »If any of you uses an iron weapon to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death.

nsb@Numbers:35:17 @ »If any of you picks up a stone as a weapon and uses it to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death.

nsb@Numbers:35:18 @ »And if any of you picks up a piece of wood as a weapon and uses it to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death.

nsb@Numbers:35:19 @ »The relative who can avenge the death must make sure a murderer is put to death. When he catches up with the murderer, he must kill him.

nsb@Numbers:35:21 @ or if you beat your enemy to death with your bare hands, you must be put to death. You are a murderer. The relative who can avenge the death must kill you when he catches up with you, because you are a murderer.

nsb@Numbers:35:22 @ »Should you accidentally kill someone who was not your enemy. Maybe you shoved him or threw something at him but did not mean to kill him.

nsb@Numbers:35:23 @ »Or if you drop a big stone, and someone is killed. However, you did not know the person was there, he was not your enemy, and you were not trying to harm him.

nsb@Numbers:35:24 @ »Then the community must use these rules in order to decide if you are innocent or if the dead person’s relative can avenge the death.

nsb@Numbers:35:25 @ »If you are innocent, the community must protect you from that relative. They must take you back to the city of refuge you fled to. You must live there until the death of the chief priest who was anointed with the holy oil.

nsb@Numbers:35:26 @ »But do not go outside the city of refuge you fled to.

nsb@Numbers:35:28 @ »Accused murderers must stay in their city of refuge until the death of the chief priest. They may go back to their own property only after his death.

nsb@Numbers:35:29 @ »These rules apply to you and your descendants wherever you may live.

nsb@Numbers:35:30 @ »Those accused of murder may be found guilty and put to death only on the evidence of two or more witnesses. The evidence of one witness is not sufficient to support an accusation of murder.

nsb@Numbers:35:31 @ »Murderers must be put to death. They cannot escape this penalty by the payment of money.

nsb@Numbers:35:32 @ »If they have fled to a city of refuge, do not allow them to make a payment in order to return home before the death of the High Priest.

nsb@Numbers:35:33 @ »If you did this, you would defile the land where you are living. Murder defiles the land, and except by the death of the murderer there is no way to perform the ritual of purification for the land where someone has been murdered.

nsb@Numbers:36:1 @ The heads of the families in the clan of Gilead the son of Machir and grandson of Manasseh son of Joseph, went to Moses and the other leaders.

nsb@Numbers:36:2 @ They said: »Jehovah commanded you to distribute the land to the people of Israel by drawing lots. He also commanded you to give the property of our relative Zelophehad to his daughters.

nsb@Numbers:36:3 @ »Remember, if they marry men of another tribe, their property will then belong to that tribe, and the total allotted to us will be reduced.

nsb@Numbers:36:4 @ »During the Year of Restoration, when all property that has been sold is restored to its original owners, the property of Zelophehad’s daughters will be permanently added to the tribe into which they marry and will be lost to our tribe.«

nsb@Numbers:36:6 @ and so Jehovah says that the daughters of Zelophehad are free to marry anyone they wish but only within their own tribe.

nsb@Numbers:36:7 @ »The property of every Israelite will remain attached to his tribe.

nsb@Numbers:36:8 @ »Every woman who inherits property in an Israelite tribe must marry a man belonging to that tribe. In this way all Israelites will inherit the property of their ancestors,

nsb@Numbers:36:9 @ and the property will not pass from one tribe to another. Each tribe will continue to possess its own property.«

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:1 @ These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel. He was on this side of the Jordan in the desert wilderness, in the plain near the Red Sea, between Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab.

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:2 @ It is only an eleven-day journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea.

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:3 @ It was the fortieth year, eleventh month, on the first day of the month. Moses spoke to the children of Israel, according to all the commandments Jehovah gave him for them.

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:6 @ »Jehovah our God spoke to us in Horeb. He said: ‘You have lived long enough on this mountain.

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:7 @ »Leave this place and go to the mountain of the Amorites, and all the places near there in the plain, in the hills, and in the valley and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and to Lebanon, to the great river, the river Euphrates.

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:8 @ »I have given you this land. Go in and possess the land Jehovah pledged to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and to their descendants after them.’

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:9 @ »I spoke to you then and said: ‘I am not able to bear the burden of you alone.

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:10 @ »‘Jehovah your God has increased your numbers. Today you are more numerous than the stars of heaven.

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:14 @ »You answered me: ‘The thing you speak is good for us to do.’

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:15 @ »So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men and known, and made them rulers over you. I made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes.

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:16 @ »I charged your judges to hear the cases between your countrymen and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger with him.

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:17 @ »You will not show partiality in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great. You will not fear man for the judgment is God's. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.’

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:19 @ »When we left Horeb, we went through that entire great and terrible wilderness. You saw it by way of the mountain of the Amorites, as Jehovah our God commanded us. We went to Kadesh-barnea.

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:20 @ »I said to you: ‘You have arrived at the mountain of the Amorites. Jehovah gives this mountain to us.

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:21 @ »See, Jehovah your God give you this land. Possess it, for Jehovah the God of your fathers said to you: Do not fear. Do not be discouraged.’

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:22 @ »Every one of you came near to me and said: ‘We will send men before us. They will search the land. They will bring us word about the way we must go and what cities are there.’

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:23 @ What you said pleased me very much. I took twelve of your men, one from each tribe.

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:24 @ They went up to the mountain to the valley of Eshcol, and explored it.

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:25 @ They picked the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought it down to us. They brought us word again. They said: ‘It is a good land that Jehovah our God gives us.’

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:26 @ Even so they were not willing to go. They rebelled against the command of Jehovah your God:

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:27 @ »You complained in your tents, and said: Jehovah hates us so he brought us out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:28 @ »‘Where can we go up? Our brothers caused us to lose heart. They said: The people are stronger and taller than we are. The cities are large and the walls go up to the sky. Moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.« ’

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:29 @ »I said to you: ‘Do not be afraid of them.

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:33 @ »He went ahead of you to find places for you to camp. He offered fire by night and cloud by day to show you the way you should go.

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:35 @ »‘Not one man of this evil generation will see that good land, which I swore to give your fathers,

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:37 @ »‘Jehovah was angry with me because of you. He said to me: ‘You will also not go there.

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:38 @ »‘Your assistant Joshua son of Nun will go there. He will lead the people into the land. Encourage him to go there.

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:39 @ »‘The little ones that you said would be taken captive will enter the land. Your children who do not know good from bad will go in. I will give it to them and they will possess it.

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:40 @ »‘But you must turn around and go back through the desert toward the Red Sea.’

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:41 @ »You answered: ‘We have sinned against Jehovah. We will fight just as Jehovah our God commanded us.’ When every man puts on his armor and weapons of war they will be ready to go to the mountain.

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:42 @ »‘But Jehovah said to me: ‘Tell them, do not go and fight! I am not with you. Your enemies will defeat you.« ’

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:43 @ I told you, but you would not listen. You disobeyed Jehovah’s command and proudly invaded the mountainous region.

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:44 @ The Amorites who lived there came out and attacked you. They chased you like a swarm of bees. They defeated you! They drove you back from Seir all the way to Hormah.

nsb@Deuteronomy:1:45 @ You returned and cried to Jehovah. Jehovah, however, did not listen to you. He turned a deaf ear to you!

nsb@Deuteronomy:2:1 @ »We went back into the desert. We followed the road that leads to the Red Sea as Jehovah told me. For a long time we traveled around the region of Mount Seir.

nsb@Deuteronomy:2:2 @ »Then Jehovah said to me:

nsb@Deuteronomy:2:4 @ »‘Give these instructions to the people: »You will pass through the territory of your relatives, the descendants of Esau. They live in Seir. They will be afraid of you. Therefore watch yourselves carefully.

nsb@Deuteronomy:2:7 @ »‘Remember how Jehovah your God blessed you in everything you have done. He took care of you as you wandered through this vast desert. He has been with you these forty years. You had everything you needed.« ’

nsb@Deuteronomy:2:8 @ We moved on and left the road that goes from the towns of Elath and Eziongeber to the Dead Sea. »We turned northeast toward Moab.«

nsb@Deuteronomy:2:9 @ »Then Jehovah said to me: ‘Do not trouble the people of Moab, the descendants of Lot. And do not start a war with them. I gave them the city of Ar, and I am not going to give you any of their land.’

nsb@Deuteronomy:2:10 @ The Emits used to live there. They are a mighty race of giants who lived in Ar. They were as tall as the Anakim, another race of giants.

nsb@Deuteronomy:2:12 @ Horites used to live in Seir, but the descendants of Esau chased them out. They destroyed their nation and settled there themselves. This is similar to the Israelites who later chased their enemies out of the land that Jehovah gave them.

nsb@Deuteronomy:2:13 @ Then we crossed the Zered River Valley just as Jehovah told us to do.

nsb@Deuteronomy:2:17 @ »Jehovah said to me:

nsb@Deuteronomy:2:18 @ »‘You will cross over the border of Moab at Ar today.

nsb@Deuteronomy:2:19 @ »‘When you come near the Ammonites, do not bother them or start a fight with them. I am not giving you any of the land that I already gave to the descendants of Lot as their property.

nsb@Deuteronomy:2:20 @ »‘This territory is also known as the land of the Rephaim. That is the name of the giants who formerly lived there. The Ammonites called them Zamzummim.

nsb@Deuteronomy:2:21 @ »They were as tall as the Anakim. There were many of them. They were a mighty race. But Jehovah destroyed them. Then the Ammonites took over their land and settled there.

nsb@Deuteronomy:2:22 @ »Jehovah did the same thing for the Edomites, the descendants of Esau, who live in the mountains of Edom. He destroyed the Horites. That allowed the Edomites to take over their land and settled there, where they still live.

nsb@Deuteronomy:2:23 @ »The Avims lived in Hazerim, even as far as Azzah. The Caphtorims came from Caphtor to destroy them and live there in their place.

nsb@Deuteronomy:2:26 @ »I sent messengers from the desert of Kedemoth to King Sihon of Heshbon with the following offer of peace:

nsb@Deuteronomy:2:27 @ ‘If you allow us to travel through your country, we will go straight through and will not leave the road.

nsb@Deuteronomy:2:29 @ as the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir, and the Moabites, who live in Ar, did for us. We will keep going until we cross the Jordan River into the land Jehovah our God is giving us.’

nsb@Deuteronomy:2:30 @ King Sihon of Heshbon would not allow us to pass through. Jehovah your God made him stubborn and overconfident in order to hand him over to you, as he has now done.

nsb@Deuteronomy:2:31 @ »Then Jehovah said to me: ‘I make King Sihon and his land helpless before you. Capture his land and occupy it.’

nsb@Deuteronomy:2:32 @ Sihon came out with all his men to fight us near the town of Jahaz,

nsb@Deuteronomy:2:34 @ We captured and destroyed every town in Sihon's kingdom. We killed everyone.

nsb@Deuteronomy:2:35 @ We took the livestock and everything else of value.

nsb@Deuteronomy:2:36 @ Jehovah helped us capture every town from the Arnon River Gorge north to the boundary of Gilead. This included the town of Aroer on the edge of the gorge and the town in the middle of the gorge.

nsb@Deuteronomy:2:37 @ However, we did not go near the Ammonite towns, both in the mountains and near the Jabbok River, just as Jehovah commanded.

nsb@Deuteronomy:3:1 @ »Next we headed for the land of Bashan. King Og of Bashan and all his army came to fight us at Edrei.

nsb@Deuteronomy:3:2 @ »Jehovah said to me: ‘Do not be afraid of him. I will hand him, all his army, and his land, over to you. Do to him what you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon.’

nsb@Deuteronomy:3:3 @ »So Jehovah our God also handed King Og of Bashan and all his army over to us. We defeated him and left no survivors.

nsb@Deuteronomy:3:4 @ »We captured all his cities. Not one was missed. We captured a total of sixty cities in the territory of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan.

nsb@Deuteronomy:3:6 @ »We destroyed all the towns and put to death all the men, women, and children. This was just as we did in the towns that belonged to King Sihon of Heshbon.

nsb@Deuteronomy:3:7 @ »We kept the livestock and took plunder from the towns.

nsb@Deuteronomy:3:8 @ »Sihon and Og ruled Amorite kingdoms east of the Jordan River. Their land stretched from the Arnon River Gorge in the south to Mount Hermon in the north. We captured it all.

nsb@Deuteronomy:3:12 @ »We took possession of this land. I gave the tribes of Reuben and Gad the land north of Aroer near the Arnon Valley and half of the mountain region of Gilead with its cities.

nsb@Deuteronomy:3:13 @ »I assigned the rest of Gilead and also all of Bashan, where Og had ruled, that is, the entire Argob region to half the tribe of Manasseh. Bashan was known as the land of the Rephaim.

nsb@Deuteronomy:3:14 @ Jair, from the tribe of Manasseh, took the entire region of Argob, that is, Bashan, as far as the border of Geshur and Maacah. He named the villages after himself, and they are still known as the villages of Jair.

nsb@Deuteronomy:3:15 @ I assigned Gilead to the clan of Machir of the tribe of Manasseh.

nsb@Deuteronomy:3:16 @ »I assigned the territory from Gilead to the Arnon River to the tribes of Reuben and Gad. The middle of the river was their southern boundary, and their northern boundary was the Jabbok River, part of which formed the Ammonite border.

nsb@Deuteronomy:3:17 @ »On the west their territory extended to the Jordan River, from Lake Galilee in the north down to the Dead Sea in the south and to the foot of Pisgah on the east.

nsb@Deuteronomy:3:18 @ »Then I gave them the following instructions: ‘Jehovah our God gave you the land east of the Jordan to occupy. Now arm your fighting men and send them across the Jordan ahead of the other tribes of Israel, to help them occupy their land.

nsb@Deuteronomy:3:19 @ »‘Your wives, children, and livestock, for you have a lot of livestock, will remain behind in the towns I assigned to you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:3:20 @ »‘Help the other Israelites until they occupy the land Jehovah is giving them west of the Jordan and until Jehovah lets them live there in peace, just as he has done here for you. After that, you may return to the land I assigned to you.’

nsb@Deuteronomy:3:21 @ »I also gave Joshua this command: ‘You have seen with your own eyes everything Jehovah your God has done to these two kings. Jehovah will do the same to all of the kingdoms on the other side of the Jordan River where you are going.

nsb@Deuteronomy:3:24 @ »‘O Sovereign Lord Jehovah, you have begun to show me how great and powerful you are. What kind of god is there in heaven or on earth that can do the deeds and the mighty acts you have done?

nsb@Deuteronomy:3:26 @ »Jehovah was angry with me because of you, so he would not listen to me. He said: ‘Enough of that! Do not talk to me anymore about this.

nsb@Deuteronomy:3:27 @ »‘Go to the top of Pisgah, and look west, north, south, and east. You may look at the land, but you will never cross the Jordan River.

nsb@Deuteronomy:3:28 @ »‘Joshua will lead Israel across the Jordan to take the land. So help him. Encourage him and strengthen him. Tell him what he must do.’

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:1 @ »Israel, listen to these laws and teachings! If you obey them you will live! Go in and take the land that Jehovah the God of your fathers is giving you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:4 @ »But all of you who were faithful to Jehovah your God are still alive today.

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:7 @ »What great nation is there, who has God so near to them? For we call on Jehovah our God for all things!

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:8 @ »And what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments so righteous as the law I present to you this day?

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:9 @ »Be on your guard! Make sure you do not forget, as long as you live, what you have seen with your own eyes. Teach them to your children and your grandchildren.

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:10 @ »Do you remember the day you stood in the presence of Jehovah your God at Mount Sinai? He said to me: ‘assemble the people. I want them to hear what I have to say, so that they will learn to obey me as long as they live. Then they will teach their children to do the same.’

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:11 @ »Tell your children how you went close and stood at the foot of the mountain covered with thick clouds of dark smoke and fire blazing up to the sky.

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:12 @ »Tell them how Jehovah spoke to you from the fire. Tell them that you heard him speak but did not see him in any form at all.

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:13 @ »He told you what you must do to keep the covenant he made with you. You must obey the Ten Commandments, which he wrote on two stone tablets.

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:14 @ »Jehovah told me to teach you all the laws that you are to obey in the land that you are about to invade and occupy.

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:15 @ »Be careful! When God spoke to you from the fire, he was invisible.

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:16 @ »Do not commit the sin of worshiping idols. Do not make idols to be worshiped, whether they are shaped like men, women,

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:19 @ »Do not be tempted to bow down and worship the sun or moon or stars. Jehovah put them there a heritage for all the people under the heavens.

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:21 @ »Furthermore, Jehovah was angry with me because of you. So Jehovah your God took an oath that I would not cross the Jordan River and enter the good land he is giving you as your property.

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:22 @ »I am going to die in this land. I will not cross the Jordan River. But you are going to go across and take possession of that good land.

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:24 @ »For Jehovah your God is a consuming fire, even a totally demanding zealous God.

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:25 @ »When you have children, and grandchildren, and you have remained in the land a long time do not corrupt yourselves. If you make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and do evil in the sight of Jehovah your God, you will provoke him to anger:

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:26 @ »I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day that you will soon utterly perish from off the land you possess the other side of the Jordan. You will not prolong your days upon it, but will be destroyed.

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:28 @ »You will serve gods that are the work of men's hands. Made of wood and stone. They cannot see, hear, eat or smell.

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:30 @ »When you are in trouble and all these things happen to you in the latter days, turn to Jehovah your God and obey his voice.

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:32 @ »Ask about the days from the past. A time that came before you, since the day that God created man upon the earth. And ask from one side of heaven to the other whether there has ever been anything like this great thing, or anything like it has been heard?

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:34 @ »Has God attempted to take a nation from the middle of another nation? Has he done this by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by great terrors? Yes, and by the use of his great power! Jehovah your God did all this for you in Egypt before your very eyes!

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:35 @ »This was shown to you that you might know that JEHOVAH IS GOD! THERE IS NO ONE BESIDES HIM!

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:38 @ »He drove out nations far greater than you so that he could bring you in and give you their land as an inheritance as it is today.

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:39 @ »Know this and consider it in your heart today: JEHOVAH IS GOD in heaven above, and on the earth beneath: THERE IS NO ONE ELSE!

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:40 @ »You must keep the regulations and commandments I commanded you today. Then all will go well with you and with your children after you. You may prolong your days on the earth that Jehovah your God gives you for all time.«

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:42 @ Those who unintentionally killed someone whom they had never hated could flee to one of these cities and save their lives.

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:44 @ Moses gave God's Laws and teachings to the people of Israel.

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:46 @ They were near the town of Bethpeor. This was in the territory that had belonged to King Sihon of the Amorites, who had ruled in the town of Heshbon. Moses and the people of Israel defeated him when they came out of Egypt.

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:48 @ This land extended from the town of Aroer, on the edge of the Arnon River, north to Mount Sirion, that is, Mount Hermon.

nsb@Deuteronomy:4:49 @ It included the region east of the Jordan River as far south as the Dead Sea and east to the foot of Mount Pisgah.

nsb@Deuteronomy:5:1 @ Moses called all the people of Israel, and said: »Hear, O Israel, the regulations and laws I declare to you today. Learn them and obey them!

nsb@Deuteronomy:5:3 @ »Jehovah did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, all of us here alive today.

nsb@Deuteronomy:5:4 @ »Jehovah talked with you face to face on the mountain out of the middle of the fire,

nsb@Deuteronomy:5:5 @ »I stood between Jehovah and you at that time, to declare to you the word of Jehovah. You were afraid because of the fire. So you would not go up onto the mountain. He said:

nsb@Deuteronomy:5:9 @ »‘Do not bow down to them. Do not serve them! For I Jehovah your God am a totally demanding zealous God. I require exclusive devotion and punish the fathers and children who hate me to the third and fourth generation.

nsb@Deuteronomy:5:10 @ »‘I show loving kindness to thousands of generations who love me and obey my commandments.

nsb@Deuteronomy:5:12 @ »‘Keep the Sabbath day to sanctify it, as Jehovah your God has commanded you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:5:15 @ »‘Remember that you were servants in the land of Egypt, and that Jehovah your God brought you out through a mighty act. Jehovah your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

nsb@Deuteronomy:5:21 @ »‘Do not desire another man's wife; do not covet another man's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his donkey, or any thing that belongs to him.’

nsb@Deuteronomy:5:22 @ »Jehovah spoke to us when we gathered on the mountain. He spoke with a loud voice from the dark fiery cloud. Jehovah gave us these words, and only these. Then he wrote them on two flat tablets of stone and gave them to me.

nsb@Deuteronomy:5:23 @ »Fire blazed from the mountain, and you heard the voice coming from the darkness. Then your elders came to me.

nsb@Deuteronomy:5:24 @ »They said: ‘Today Jehovah our God has shown us how powerful and glorious he is. He spoke to us from the fire. We learned that people could live, even though God speaks to them.

nsb@Deuteronomy:5:25 @ »‘We do not want to take a chance on being killed by that terrible fire. If we hear Jehovah’s voice again we will die.

nsb@Deuteronomy:5:26 @ »‘Has any other human ever heard the only true God speaking from fire, as we have? And if they have, would they live to tell about it?

nsb@Deuteronomy:5:27 @ »‘They spoke to Moses: ‘Moses, go and listen to everything that Jehovah our God says. Then tell us whatever Jehovah our God tells you. We will listen and obey.’

nsb@Deuteronomy:5:28 @ »Jehovah heard the words you spoke to me. He told me: ‘I have heard what the people said to you. Everything they said was good.

nsb@Deuteronomy:5:29 @ If only they had such a heart in them that they would respect me and obey all my commandments for as long as they live! Then things would go well for them and their children from generation to generation.’

nsb@Deuteronomy:5:30 @ Jehovah continued: »Tell the people to go back to their tents.«

nsb@Deuteronomy:5:31 @ But you stay here with me. I will give you all the commands, laws, and rules that you must teach them to obey in the land I will give them to possess.

nsb@Deuteronomy:5:32 @ Be careful to do what Jehovah your God has commanded you. Never turn to the right or to the left.

nsb@Deuteronomy:5:33 @ Follow all the directions Jehovah your God has given you. Then you will continue to live. Life will go well for you! You will live for a long time in the land that you are going to possess.

nsb@Deuteronomy:6:1 @ »These are the commands, decrees and laws Jehovah your God commanded me to teach you. Obey them after you enter the land and take possession of it.

nsb@Deuteronomy:6:3 @ »Listen, O Israel, and be careful to obey these laws. Things will go well for you and your population will increase in a land flowing with milk and honey. This is what Jehovah the God of your ancestors promised you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:6:7 @ »Carefully teach them to your sons. Talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way. Speak about them when you lie down, and when you rise up.

nsb@Deuteronomy:6:10 @ »It shall be like the time when Jehovah your God brought you into the land he promised to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. He would give you large and beautiful cities that you did not build.

nsb@Deuteronomy:6:11 @ »The houses will be full of good things that you did not put in them. There will be wells that you did not dig. There will be vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant. Jehovah will bring you into this land and you will have all you want to eat.

nsb@Deuteronomy:6:15 @ »Jehovah your God is a totally demanding zealous God. He tolerates no rivals! The anger of Jehovah your God will burn against you. He will then destroy you from the face of the earth.

nsb@Deuteronomy:6:18 @ »Do what is right and good in Jehovah’s sight. Then you will be able to go in and possess this good land from your enemies, just as he promised your ancestors.

nsb@Deuteronomy:6:23 @ »‘He brought us out from there. That way he could give us the land he swore to give to our fathers.

nsb@Deuteronomy:6:24 @ »‘Jehovah commanded us to do all these statutes. He required that we respect Jehovah our God. This was for our own good that he might preserve us alive, as things are today.

nsb@Deuteronomy:6:25 @ »‘If we are careful to do these commandments before Jehovah our God, just as he ordered us, it will mean righteousness for us.’«

nsb@Deuteronomy:7:1 @ »Jehovah your God will bring you into the land you are to possess. He will clear away many nations ahead of you. The nations he will clear: the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, and the Canaanites, the Perizzites, Hivites, and the Jebusites. These seven nations are larger and mightier than you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:7:2 @ »Jehovah your God will deliver them to you. You must crush them! Completely destroy them. You should make no covenant with them. Do not show them mercy.

nsb@Deuteronomy:7:3 @ »Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons.

nsb@Deuteronomy:7:4 @ »They will lead your young people away from me to serve other gods. So the anger of Jehovah will be kindled against you and will destroy you suddenly.

nsb@Deuteronomy:7:6 @ »You are a holy people to Jehovah your God. Jehovah your God has chosen you to be his own special people out of all the nations of the earth.

nsb@Deuteronomy:7:8 @ »You were chosen because Jehovah loved you and kept the oath he swore to your fathers. So he used his mighty hand to bring you out. He freed you from slavery under Pharaoh king of Egypt.

nsb@Deuteronomy:7:9 @ »Keep in mind that Jehovah your God is the only true God. He is the faithful God. He keeps his promise and is merciful to thousands of generations of those who love him and obey his commandments.

nsb@Deuteronomy:7:10 @ »He destroys everyone who hates him. He never takes long to pay back anyone who hates him.

nsb@Deuteronomy:7:11 @ »So obey the commandments, laws, and judgments I give you today.

nsb@Deuteronomy:7:12 @ »If you listen to these rules and faithfully obey them, Jehovah your God will keep his covenant with you and be merciful to you, as he swore to your fathers.

nsb@Deuteronomy:7:13 @ »He will love you, bless you, and increase the number of your descendants. He will bless you with children. He will bless your land with produce: grain, new wine, and olive oil. He will bless your herds with calves, and your flocks with lambs and kids. This will all happen in the land Jehovah will give you, as he swore to your fathers.

nsb@Deuteronomy:7:14 @ »God will bless you more than any other people. There will not be a male or a female barren among you or your livestock.

nsb@Deuteronomy:7:16 @ »Destroy all the peoples whom Jehovah your God gives you. Do not look at them with pity. Do not serve their gods. For that would be a snare to you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:7:18 @ »Do not be afraid of them. Remember what Jehovah your God did to Pharaoh and all of Egypt.

nsb@Deuteronomy:7:19 @ »You saw with your own eyes the terrible plagues, the miraculous signs, and the amazing things Jehovah did. He used his mighty hand and powerful arm to bring you out. He will do the same thing to all the people who frighten you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:7:22 @ »Jehovah your God will drive out these nations before you little by little. You will not be able to put an end to them quickly. This is because the wild beasts are too numerous around you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:7:23 @ »Jehovah your God will deliver them over to you. He will throw them into great confusion until they are destroyed.

nsb@Deuteronomy:7:24 @ »He will deliver their kings into your hand. You will make their name perish from under heaven. They will not be able to stand before you for you will destroy them.

nsb@Deuteronomy:7:25 @ »Burn the carved images of their gods with fire. Do not covet the silver or the gold that is on them. Do not take it for yourselves, or you will be snared by it. It is an abomination to Jehovah your God.

nsb@Deuteronomy:7:26 @ »Do not bring an abomination into your house. You must utterly detest it and you must utterly abhor it, for it is something banned.«

nsb@Deuteronomy:8:1 @ »Be careful to do all the commandments I commanded you today! You will then live and multiply and go in and possess the land Jehovah promised to give to your forefathers.

nsb@Deuteronomy:8:2 @ »Remember the forty years Jehovah your God led you in the wilderness. He did this in order to humble you and test you. He wanted to know what was in your heart. Whether you would obey his commandments.

nsb@Deuteronomy:8:3 @ »He humbled you with hunger and then fed you with manna. Neither you nor your fathers had seen this before. He did this to teach you that a person cannot live on bread alone but must live on all that proceeds from the mouth of Jehovah.

nsb@Deuteronomy:8:7 @ »Jehovah your God will lead you into a good land. It is a land with rivers that do not dry up. Springs and underground streams flow through the valleys and the hills.

nsb@Deuteronomy:8:9 @ »The land will have enough food for you, and you will have everything you need. The land has rocks with iron ore. You will be able to mine copper ore in the mountains.

nsb@Deuteronomy:8:11 @ »Be careful that you do not forget Jehovah your God. Always obey his judgments and Laws that I give you today.

nsb@Deuteronomy:8:16 @ »He fed you in the desert with manna. Your fathers had never seen this. He did this in order to humble you and test you. But he also did this so that things would go well for you in the end.

nsb@Deuteronomy:8:18 @ »Remember that Jehovah your God gives you the strength to make a living. That is how he keeps the promise he made to your fathers.

nsb@Deuteronomy:8:20 @ »Jehovah will destroy you, just as he destroyed the nations you fought. This is because you will not listen to him.

nsb@Deuteronomy:9:1 @ »Hear, O Israel, you are about to cross the Jordan River. You will force out nations that are larger and mightier than you, with big cities that have sky-high walls.

nsb@Deuteronomy:9:3 @ »Understand today that Jehovah your God is the one who is going ahead of you like a consuming fire. He will wipe them out. Then he will use you to crush their power. You will take possession of their land and will quickly destroy them as Jehovah promised you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:9:4 @ »When Jehovah your God expels these people right before your very eyes, do not say to yourselves: ‘Jehovah brought us here to possess this land because we live right.’ This is not the case. It is because these nations are so wicked that Jehovah is forcing them out of your way.

nsb@Deuteronomy:9:5 @ »It is not because you have been living right or because you are so honest that you enter to take possession of their land. It is because these people are so wicked that Jehovah your God is forcing them out of your way. It is also because Jehovah wants to confirm the promise he swore to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

nsb@Deuteronomy:9:6 @ »Understand this! It is not because you have been living right that Jehovah your God is giving you this good land to possess. You are a rebellious and impossible people!

nsb@Deuteronomy:9:8 @ »Even at Mount Horeb you made Jehovah so angry that he wanted to destroy you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:9:9 @ »When I went up on the mountain to get the stone tablets, the tablets of the promise that Jehovah made to you, I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights without food or water.

nsb@Deuteronomy:9:10 @ »Then Jehovah gave me the two stone tablets inscribed by God’s finger. On them were written all the words Jehovah spoke to you from the fire on the mountain on the day of the assembly.

nsb@Deuteronomy:9:11 @ »At the end of forty days and nights Jehovah gave me the two stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant.

nsb@Deuteronomy:9:12 @ »Jehovah said to me: ‘Go down from here quickly, for your people whom you brought out of Egypt have acted corruptly. They quickly turned aside from the way that I commanded them. They have made a cast-idol for themselves.’

nsb@Deuteronomy:9:13 @ »‘Jehovah spoke further to me: ‘I have seen this people. They are a very stubborn people.

nsb@Deuteronomy:9:15 @ »So I turned and came down from the mountain while the mountain was burning with fire. I carried the two stone tablets of the covenant in my two hands.

nsb@Deuteronomy:9:17 @ »I took hold of the two tablets and threw them from my hands and smashed them before your eyes.

nsb@Deuteronomy:9:18 @ »I fell down before Jehovah. Like the first, forty days and nights I did not eat or drink. This was because of all your sin you committed in doing what was evil in the sight of Jehovah to provoke Him to anger.

nsb@Deuteronomy:9:19 @ »I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure from Jehovah. For he was wrathful against you to the point of destroying you! But Jehovah listened to me that time also.

nsb@Deuteronomy:9:20 @ »Jehovah was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him! So I also prayed for Aaron at the same time.

nsb@Deuteronomy:9:21 @ »I took your sinful thing, the calf that you had made, and burned it with fire and crushed it. I ground it very small until it was as fine as dust. I threw its dust into the brook that flowed down the mountain.

nsb@Deuteronomy:9:22 @ »Again at Taberah and at Massah and at Kibroth-hattaavah you provoked Jehovah to anger.

nsb@Deuteronomy:9:23 @ »‘Jehovah sent you from Kadesh-barnea. He said: ‘Go up and possess the land I have given you.’ Then you rebelled against the command of Jehovah your God. You did not believe him. You did not listen to his voice!

nsb@Deuteronomy:9:26 @ »I prayed to Jehovah and said: ‘O Jehovah our God, do not destroy your people for they are your inheritance. You have redeemed them through your greatness. You brought them out of Egypt with a mighty hand.

nsb@Deuteronomy:9:28 @ »‘»The land from which you brought us may say: »Jehovah was not able to bring them into the land he promised them and because he hated them he has brought them out to slay them in the desert wilderness.«

nsb@Deuteronomy:10:1 @ »Jehovah said to me: ‘Cut out for yourself two tablets of stone like the former ones. Come up to me on the mountain, and build an ark of wood for yourself.

nsb@Deuteronomy:10:3 @ »I made an Ark out of acacia wood and cut out two tablets of stone like the first ones. Then I took the two tablets in my hands and went up on the mountain.

nsb@Deuteronomy:10:4 @ »He wrote on the tablets, like the former writing. It was the Ten Commandments that Jehovah proclaimed to you on the mountain. It was from the middle of the fire on the day of the assembly. Jehovah gave them to me.

nsb@Deuteronomy:10:6 @ The sons of Israel set out from Beeroth Bene-jaakan to Moserah. There Aaron died. He was buried there. Eleazar his son ministered as priest in his place.

nsb@Deuteronomy:10:7 @ From there they set out to Gudgodah, and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land with streams of water.

nsb@Deuteronomy:10:8 @ Jehovah then set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the Ark of the covenant of Jehovah. They were to stand before Jehovah to serve and pronounce blessings in his name until this day.

nsb@Deuteronomy:10:9 @ Levi does not have a portion or inheritance with his brothers. Jehovah is his inheritance; just as Jehovah your God spoke to him.

nsb@Deuteronomy:10:10 @ »I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights like the first time. Jehovah listened to me this time also. Jehovah was not willing to destroy you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:10:11 @ »‘Jehovah said to me: ‘Arise and proceed on your journey ahead of the people. That way they may go in and possess the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.’

nsb@Deuteronomy:10:12 @ »Now, O Israel, what does Jehovah your God require from you? You are to respect Jehovah your God. Walk in all his ways and love him! Serve Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your being.

nsb@Deuteronomy:10:13 @ »Obey Jehovah’s commandments and his statutes I am commanding you today for your good!

nsb@Deuteronomy:10:14 @ »Behold, heaven and the highest heavens belong to Jehovah your God, even the earth and all that is in it.

nsb@Deuteronomy:10:20 @ »Respect Jehovah your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name.

nsb@Deuteronomy:10:22 @ »Your fathers traveled to Egypt, seventy persons in all. Now Jehovah your God has made you as numerous as the stars of the universe.

nsb@Deuteronomy:11:2 @ »Know today that I do not speak with your sons who have not known and who have not seen the discipline of Jehovah your God. They have not seen his greatness and his awesome power.

nsb@Deuteronomy:11:3 @ »They have not seen his signs and the work he did in the middle of Egypt to Pharaoh the king of Egypt and to all his land.

nsb@Deuteronomy:11:4 @ »And what He did to Egypt's army, to its horses and its chariots, when He made the water of the Red Sea engulf them while they pursued. Jehovah completely destroyed them!

nsb@Deuteronomy:11:5 @ »They do not know what Jehovah did to you in the wilderness until you came to this place.

nsb@Deuteronomy:11:6 @ »And what he did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben, when the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, their households, their tents, and every living thing that followed them in all Israel.

nsb@Deuteronomy:11:8 @ »Obey every commandment I command you today. Then you may be strong and go in and possess the land you will cross over to possess.

nsb@Deuteronomy:11:9 @ »Then you may prolong your days on the land Jehovah swore to give to your fathers and their descendants. It is a land flowing with milk and honey.

nsb@Deuteronomy:11:10 @ »The land you are entering to possess is not like the land of Egypt from which you came. You used to sow your seed and irrigate it with your foot as in a vegetable garden.

nsb@Deuteronomy:11:11 @ »But the land you go to possess is a land of hills and valleys. It drinks water from the rain from the clouds in the sky.

nsb@Deuteronomy:11:13 @ »If you faithfully obey my commandments that I give you today, love Jehovah your God, and serve him with all your heart and with all your being,

nsb@Deuteronomy:11:15 @ »I will provide grass in the fields for your animals. You will be able to eat and be filled.

nsb@Deuteronomy:11:18 @ »Take these words of mine to heart and keep them in mind. Write them down, tie them around your wrist, and wear them as headbands to remind you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:11:19 @ »Teach them to your children! Talk about them in your home and away. Speak of them when you lie down or get up.

nsb@Deuteronomy:11:21 @ »You and your descendants will live a long time in the land that Jehovah promised your ancestors. Your families will live there as long as the sky is above the earth.

nsb@Deuteronomy:11:22 @ »Love Jehovah your God and obey all the laws and teachings I commanded you today. Hold fast to him.

nsb@Deuteronomy:11:24 @ »Every place on which the sole of your foot treads will be yours. Your border will be from the wilderness to Lebanon, and from the river, the river Euphrates, as far as the western sea.

nsb@Deuteronomy:11:25 @ »No man will be able to stand before you. Jehovah your God will lay the dread of you and the fear of you on all the land where you set foot. This is as he promised you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:11:26 @ »See I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse:

nsb@Deuteronomy:11:27 @ »Receive the blessing when you listen to the commandments of Jehovah your God, which I command you today.

nsb@Deuteronomy:11:28 @ »Receive the curse when you do not listen to the commandments of Jehovah your God, but turn aside from the way that I command you today, by following other gods you have not known.

nsb@Deuteronomy:11:29 @ »When Jehovah your God brings you into the land you are about to possess, you will offer blessings on Mount Gerizim and cursing on Mount Ebal.

nsb@Deuteronomy:11:30 @ »Are they not across the Jordan toward the setting sun? Are they in the land of the Canaanites who live in the Arabah, opposite Gilgal, beside the oaks of Moreh?

nsb@Deuteronomy:11:31 @ »You are about to cross the Jordan to go in to possess the land Jehovah your God is giving you. You must possess it and live in it,

nsb@Deuteronomy:11:32 @ »Be careful to do all the statutes and judgments I present to you today.

nsb@Deuteronomy:12:1 @ »These are the statutes and the judgments you should carefully observe in the land Jehovah, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess as long as you live on the earth.

nsb@Deuteronomy:12:8 @ »Do not behave the way we do here today, every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes.

nsb@Deuteronomy:12:9 @ »For you have not as yet come to the resting place and the inheritance that Jehovah your God is giving you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:12:10 @ »When you cross the Jordan and live in the land Jehovah your God gives you to inherit, and he gives you rest from all your enemies around you so that you live in security.

nsb@Deuteronomy:12:11 @ »It will happen in the place Jehovah choose for his name to dwell, there you shall bring all that I command you. Bring your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution of your hand, and all your choice vowed offerings that you will vow to Jehovah.

nsb@Deuteronomy:12:17 @ »You may not eat Jehovah’s offerings in your cities. Those offerings are: one-tenth of your grain, new wine, and olive oil; the firstborn of your cattle, sheep, or goats; the offerings you vow to bring; your freewill offerings; and your contributions.

nsb@Deuteronomy:12:19 @ »Remember to take care of the Levites as long as you live in your land.

nsb@Deuteronomy:12:21 @ »If the place Jehovah your God chooses to put his name is too far away from you, you may slaughter an animal from the herds or flocks that Jehovah has given you. Eat as much as you want in your city. I have commanded you to do this.

nsb@Deuteronomy:12:22 @ »Eat it as you would eat a gazelle or a deer. Clean and unclean people may eat it together.

nsb@Deuteronomy:12:26 @ »Take the holy things and the offerings you have vowed to bring, and go to the place Jehovah will choose.

nsb@Deuteronomy:12:27 @ »Sacrifice the meat and the blood of your burnt offerings on the altar of Jehovah your God. The blood of your sacrifices is to be poured out beside the altar of Jehovah your God, but you may eat the meat.

nsb@Deuteronomy:12:30 @ »Be careful that you are not ensnared to follow them, for they will be destroyed. Do not inquire after their gods, saying: How do these nations serve their gods that I also may do likewise?

nsb@Deuteronomy:12:31 @ »Do not behave this way toward Jehovah your God, for every abominable act Jehovah hates they have done for their gods. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.

nsb@Deuteronomy:12:32 @ »Be careful to do what I command you. Do not add to it nor take away from it.

nsb@Deuteronomy:13:2 @ in order to lead you to worship and serve gods that you have not worshiped before, and even if what they promise comes true,

nsb@Deuteronomy:13:3 @ do not listen to them. Jehovah your God is allowing them to test you. He will then know that you love Jehovah with all your heart.

nsb@Deuteronomy:13:4 @ »Follow Jehovah and respect him. Obey him and keep his commandments. Worship him and be faithful to him.

nsb@Deuteronomy:13:5 @ »Put to death any interpreters of dreams or prophets that tell you to rebel against Jehovah. For he rescued you from Egypt, where you were slaves. Such people are evil and are trying to lead you away from the life that Jehovah has commanded you to live. They must be put to death, in order to get rid of this evil.

nsb@Deuteronomy:13:6 @ »If your brother, your mother's son, or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your very best friend tries to secretly entice you, saying: ‘Let us go and serve other gods, gods neither you nor your fathers have known,

nsb@Deuteronomy:13:7 @ »‘the gods of the people who are around you from one end of the earth to the other end.’

nsb@Deuteronomy:13:8 @ »Do not yield to him or listen to him. Your eye should not have pity on him. You should not spare or conceal him.

nsb@Deuteronomy:13:9 @ »You must kill him! Your hand should be first against him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.

nsb@Deuteronomy:13:10 @ »Stone him to death because he has sought to draw you away from Jehovah your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

nsb@Deuteronomy:13:16 @ »Gather all its treasure into the middle of its open square and burn the city and all its treasure with fire as a whole burnt offering to Jehovah your God. It shall be a ruin forever. It shall never be rebuilt.

nsb@Deuteronomy:13:17 @ »Do not take anything that is put under ban. If you comply, Jehovah may turn from his burning anger and show mercy to you. He may have compassion on you and make you increase, just as he swore to your fathers.

nsb@Deuteronomy:13:18 @ »Listen to the voice of Jehovah your God. Obey all his commandments that I am commanding you today. Do what is right in the sight of Jehovah your God.

nsb@Deuteronomy:14:2 @ »You are a holy people to Jehovah your God. Out of all the people on the face of the earth Jehovah has chosen you to be a people for His own possession.

nsb@Deuteronomy:14:8 @ »The pig, because it divides the hoof but does not chew the cud, it is unclean for you. Do not eat any of their flesh nor touch their carcasses.

nsb@Deuteronomy:14:18 @ the stork, and the heron in their kinds, and the hoopoe and the bat.

nsb@Deuteronomy:14:19 @ »And all the teeming life with wings is unclean to you. Do not eat them.

nsb@Deuteronomy:14:21 @ »Do not eat anything that dies by itself. You may give it to the alien who is in your town, so that he may eat it. You may sell it to a foreigner, for you are a holy people to Jehovah your God. Do not boil a young goat in its mother's milk.

nsb@Deuteronomy:14:23 @ »You shall eat in the presence of Jehovah your God, at the place where He chooses to establish his name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to respect Jehovah your God always.

nsb@Deuteronomy:14:24 @ »The place Jehovah your God will choose to put his name may be too far away. He may bless you with so much that you cannot carry the tithe of your income that far.

nsb@Deuteronomy:14:25 @ »If so, exchange the tenth part of your income for silver. Take the silver with you, and go to the place Jehovah your God will choose.

nsb@Deuteronomy:14:26 @ Use the silver to buy whatever you want: cattle, sheep, goats, wine, liquor-whatever you choose. Then you and your family will eat and enjoy yourselves there in the presence of Jehovah your God.

nsb@Deuteronomy:14:27 @ »Do not neglect the Levites who live in your towns. They have no property of their own.

nsb@Deuteronomy:14:28 @ »At the end of every third year bring the tithe of all your crops and store it in your towns.

nsb@Deuteronomy:14:29 @ »This food is for the Levites, since they own no property, and for the foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your towns. They are to come and get all they need. Do this, and Jehovah your God will bless you in everything you do.

nsb@Deuteronomy:15:2 @ »This is how you should release. Every man who has a loan to his neighbor shall release it. He shall not require it from his neighbor, or from his brother, because it is called Jehovah's release.

nsb@Deuteronomy:15:5 @ »He will bless you only if you listen carefully to Jehovah your God and faithfully obey all these commandments I give you today.

nsb@Deuteronomy:15:6 @ »Jehovah your God will bless you, as he promised. You will make loans to many nations. But you will not have to borrow from any of them. You will rule many nations. But no nation will ever rule over you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:15:8 @ »Be generous to these poor people. Freely lend them as much as they need. Never be hardhearted and stingy with them.

nsb@Deuteronomy:15:9 @ »When the seventh year, the year when payments on debts are canceled, is near, you might be stingy toward poor Israelites and give them nothing. Be careful not to think these worthless thoughts. The poor will complain to Jehovah about you, and you will be condemned for your sin.

nsb@Deuteronomy:15:11 @ »There will always be some Israelites who are poor and needy. That is why I am commanding you to be generous with them.

nsb@Deuteronomy:15:14 @ »Supply him liberally from your flock and from your threshing floor and from your wine vat. Give to him as Jehovah your God has blessed you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:15:15 @ »Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and Jehovah your God redeemed you. Therefore I command you this today!

nsb@Deuteronomy:15:16 @ »If he says to you: I will not leave you. If it is because he loves you and your household, since he fares well with you,

nsb@Deuteronomy:15:17 @ then you shall take an awl and pierce it through his ear into the door. He will be your servant for a very long time. You should do likewise to your maidservant.

nsb@Deuteronomy:15:18 @ »It should not seem hard to you when you set him free. After all he has given you six years with double the service of a hired man. Jehovah your God will bless you in whatever you do.

nsb@Deuteronomy:15:19 @ »To Jehovah your God you shall consecrate all the firstborn males that are born of your herd and of your flock; you shall not work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock.

nsb@Deuteronomy:15:21 @ »If it has any defect, such as lameness or blindness, or any serious defect, you shall not sacrifice it to Jehovah your God.

nsb@Deuteronomy:16:1 @ »Observe the month of Abib and celebrate the Passover to Jehovah your God. It was in the month of Abib that Jehovah your God brought you out of Egypt by night.

nsb@Deuteronomy:16:2 @ »Sacrifice the Passover to Jehovah your God from the flock and the herd, in the place where Jehovah chooses to establish his name.

nsb@Deuteronomy:16:4 @ »No leaven should be seen with you in all your territory for seven days. None of the flesh you sacrifice on the evening of the first day shall remain overnight until morning.

nsb@Deuteronomy:16:5 @ »You are not allowed to sacrifice the Passover in any of your towns Jehovah your God is giving you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:16:6 @ »It must be at the place where Jehovah your God chooses to establish his name. Sacrifice the Passover in the evening at sunset, at the time that you came out of Egypt.

nsb@Deuteronomy:16:7 @ »Cook and eat it in the place Jehovah your God chooses. In the morning you are to return to your tents.

nsb@Deuteronomy:16:8 @ »Eat unleavened bread for six days. On the seventh day there shall be a solemn assembly to Jehovah your God. Do not do work on it.

nsb@Deuteronomy:16:10 @ »Then celebrate the Festival of Weeks to Jehovah your God. Bring a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings Jehovah your God has given you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:16:15 @ »For seven days you will celebrate this festival dedicated to Jehovah your God in the place he will choose. You will enjoy yourselves, because Jehovah your God will bless all your harvest and all your work.

nsb@Deuteronomy:16:16 @ »Three times a year all your men must come into the presence of Jehovah your God at the place he will choose. At the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Booths. But no one may come into the presence of Jehovah without an offering.

nsb@Deuteronomy:16:17 @ »Every man shall give, as he is able; according to the blessing Jehovah your God has given you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:16:18 @ »Appoint judges and officers for your tribes in every city Jehovah your God gives you. / They are to judge the people fairly.

nsb@Deuteronomy:16:19 @ »Never pervert justice. Always be impartial. Never take a bribe, because bribes blind wise people and deny justice to those who are in the right.

nsb@Deuteronomy:16:21 @ »When you build the altar for Jehovah your God, never plant beside it any tree dedicated to the goddess Asherah.

nsb@Deuteronomy:16:22 @ »Never set up a sacred stone. These are things Jehovah your God hates.

nsb@Deuteronomy:17:1 @ »Never offer a bull or a sheep that has a defect or anything seriously wrong with it as a sacrifice to Jehovah your God. That is an abomination to him.

nsb@Deuteronomy:17:3 @ »Some worship and bow down to other gods, the sun, the moon, or the whole army of heaven. I have forbidden this.

nsb@Deuteronomy:17:4 @ »If it is told you and you have heard of it, then you shall inquire thoroughly. If it is true and the thing certain that this detestable thing has been done in Israel,

nsb@Deuteronomy:17:5 @ »Bring that man or woman who has done this evil deed out to your gates. Stone the man or the woman to death.

nsb@Deuteronomy:17:6 @ »On the evidence and testimony of two witnesses or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death. He shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.

nsb@Deuteronomy:17:7 @ »The witnesses must throw the first stone to put him to death, and afterward all the people. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.

nsb@Deuteronomy:17:8 @ »If any case is too difficult for you to decide, between one kind of homicide or another, between one kind of lawsuit or another, and between one kind of assault or another, being cases of dispute in your courts, then you should go to the place Jehovah your God chooses.

nsb@Deuteronomy:17:9 @ »Approach the Levitical priest or the judge who is in office in those days. Inquire of them and they will declare to you the verdict in the case.

nsb@Deuteronomy:17:10 @ »Act according to the terms of the verdict they declare to you from that place Jehovah chooses. Be careful to abide by all that they teach you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:17:11 @ »Act according to the verdict and the terms they tell you. Do not turn away from the word they declare to you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:17:12 @ »The man who acts presumptuously and does not listen to the priest or the judge will die. This way you will purge the evil from Israel. The priests and judges are there to serve Jehovah your God.

nsb@Deuteronomy:17:16 @ »He must not increase his herd of horses. He must not send the people to return to Egypt to get more horses. For Jehovah said to you: You should never again return that way.

nsb@Deuteronomy:17:18 @ »When he first sits on the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll taken in the presence of the Levitical priests.

nsb@Deuteronomy:17:19 @ »He should keep it with him. He should read from it all the days of his life. In this way he will learn to respect Jehovah his God by carefully observing all the words of this Law and these statutes.

nsb@Deuteronomy:18:1 @ »The Levitical priests including the entire tribe of Levi will receive no land or property of their own like the rest of the Israelites. They will eat what has been sacrificed to Jehovah. These sacrifices will be what they receive.

nsb@Deuteronomy:18:2 @ »They are to own no land, as the other tribes do. Their inheritance is the privilege of being Jehovah’s priests, as Jehovah told them.

nsb@Deuteronomy:18:3 @ »When cattle or sheep are sacrificed, the priests are to be given the shoulder, the jaw, and the stomach.

nsb@Deuteronomy:18:4 @ »They are to receive the first share of the grain, wine, olive oil, and wool.

nsb@Deuteronomy:18:5 @ »Jehovah chose from all your tribes the tribe of Levi to serve him and his sons as priests forever.

nsb@Deuteronomy:18:6 @ »Any Levite who wants to may come from any town in Israel to the one place of worship.

nsb@Deuteronomy:18:8 @ »He is to receive the same amount of food as the other priests. He may keep everything his family sends him.

nsb@Deuteronomy:18:9 @ »When you come into the land that Jehovah your God gives you, do not follow the disgusting practices of the nations that are there.

nsb@Deuteronomy:18:11 @ »Do not allow them to consult the spirits of the dead.

nsb@Deuteronomy:18:14 @ »These nations whom you shall possess listened to observers of clouds and to diviners. As for you, Jehovah your God has not allowed you to do so.

nsb@Deuteronomy:18:15 @ »Jehovah your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. Listen to him!

nsb@Deuteronomy:18:16 @ »This is according to all that you asked of Jehovah your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly. You said: Let me not hear again the voice of Jehovah my God. Do not let me see this great fire anymore, or I will die.

nsb@Deuteronomy:18:17 @ »Jehovah said to me: ‘They have spoken well.

nsb@Deuteronomy:18:18 @ »‘I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you. I will put my words in his mouth. He will speak to them all that I command him.

nsb@Deuteronomy:18:19 @ »‘Whoever refuses to listen to the words that the prophet speaks in my name will answer to me.

nsb@Deuteronomy:18:20 @ »‘Any prophet who dares to say something in my name that I did not command him to say or who speaks in the name of other gods must die.

nsb@Deuteronomy:19:3 @ »Provide a route to each of these cities and divide the land that Jehovah your God gives you into three regions. When a person kills someone he may run to one of these cities.

nsb@Deuteronomy:19:4 @ »A person who unintentionally kills someone he never hated in the past may run to one of these cities to save his life.

nsb@Deuteronomy:19:5 @ »For example: when a man goes into the forest with his friend to cut wood, and his hand swings the axe to cut down the tree, and the iron head slips off the handle and strikes his friend so that he dies. He may flee to one of these cities and live.

nsb@Deuteronomy:19:8 @ »If Jehovah your God enlarges your territory, just as he has sworn to your fathers, and gives you all the land he promised to give your fathers.

nsb@Deuteronomy:19:9 @ »And if you carefully observe all this commandment I command you today, to love Jehovah your God, and to walk in his ways always you shall add three more cities for yourself, besides these three.

nsb@Deuteronomy:19:11 @ »But if there is a man who hates his neighbor and lies in wait for him and murders him. If he flees to one of these cities,

nsb@Deuteronomy:19:12 @ »the elders of his city will send for him. They will take him from there and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood that he may die.

nsb@Deuteronomy:19:14 @ »Do not move your neighbor's boundary mark. The ancestors have set this in your inheritance. You will inherit this in the land Jehovah your God gives you to possess.

nsb@Deuteronomy:19:15 @ »One witness is not enough to convict someone of a crime, offense, or sin he may have committed. Cases must be settled based on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

nsb@Deuteronomy:19:16 @ »This is what you must do whenever a witness takes the stand to accuse a person falsely of a crime.

nsb@Deuteronomy:19:19 @ do to him what he planned to do to the other person. Get rid of this evil.

nsb@Deuteronomy:19:21 @ »Have no pity on him: Take a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, and a foot for a foot.

nsb@Deuteronomy:20:1 @ »When you go to war against your enemies, you may see horses, chariots, and armies larger than yours. Do not be afraid of them for Jehovah your God, who brought you out of Egypt, will be with you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:20:2 @ »A priest must come and speak to the troops before the battle begins.

nsb@Deuteronomy:20:3 @ He should say: »Listen, Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not lose your courage! Do not be afraid. Do not tremble because of them.

nsb@Deuteronomy:20:4 @ »Jehovah your God is going with you. He will fight for you against your enemies and give you victory.

nsb@Deuteronomy:20:5 @ »The officers should speak to the army: If you have built a new house that has not been dedicated, you may go home. Otherwise, you might die in battle, and someone else will dedicate it.

nsb@Deuteronomy:20:6 @ »Have you planted a vineyard and not used its fruits? Go home to your house and vineyard. If you die in battle another man will use its fruit.

nsb@Deuteronomy:20:7 @ »Is there anyone here engaged to be married? If so, he should go home. Otherwise, if he is killed in battle, someone else will marry the woman he is engaged to.

nsb@Deuteronomy:20:8 @ »The officers will also say to the men: Is there any man here who has lost his nerve and is afraid? If so, he is to go home. Otherwise, he will destroy the morale of the others.

nsb@Deuteronomy:20:9 @ »When the officers finish speaking to the army, leaders are to be chosen for each unit.

nsb@Deuteronomy:20:10 @ »When you go to attack a city, first give its people a chance to surrender.

nsb@Deuteronomy:20:12 @ »If the people of that city choose to fight and will not surrender, surround it with your army.

nsb@Deuteronomy:20:14 @ »You may take the women, the children, the livestock, and everything else in the city for yourselves. You may use everything that belongs to your enemies. Jehovah has given it to you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:20:15 @ »This is what you must do to all the cities that are far away that do not belong to the nations nearby.

nsb@Deuteronomy:20:18 @ »Otherwise, they will teach you to do all the disgusting things they do for their gods. You will sin against Jehovah your God.

nsb@Deuteronomy:20:19 @ »This is what you must do whenever you blockade a city for a long time in order to capture it in war. Do not harm any of its fruit trees with an ax. You may eat the fruit. Never cut those trees down, because the trees of the field are not people you have come to blockade.

nsb@Deuteronomy:21:2 @ your elders and judges must go and measure the distance from the body to each of the neighboring cities.

nsb@Deuteronomy:21:3 @ »When it is determined which city is nearest the body, the elders from that city must choose a heifer that has never been put to work and never worn a yoke.

nsb@Deuteronomy:21:4 @ »The elders of that city will bring the heifer down to a river, to a location where the land has not been plowed or planted. At the river they must break the heifer's neck.

nsb@Deuteronomy:21:5 @ »Then the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come near. Jehovah your God has chosen them to serve him and to bless in the name of Jehovah. They will settle every dispute and every assault.

nsb@Deuteronomy:21:6 @ »All the elders of the city that is nearest to the slain man shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley.

nsb@Deuteronomy:21:10 @ »When you go to war with your enemies and Jehovah your God hands them over to you, you may take them captive.

nsb@Deuteronomy:21:12 @ »Take her to your home. She should shave her head and cut her nails.

nsb@Deuteronomy:21:14 @ »Later if you are not happy with the woman you may divorce her. She may go free. But you have slept with her as your wife, so you cannot sell her as a slave or make her into your own slave.

nsb@Deuteronomy:21:15 @ »If a man have two wives and loves one more than the other. The first son of either wife is the man's first-born son, even if the boy's mother is the wife he does not love. A man near death and dividing up his property must give a double share to his first-born son. This is because he was the first to be born.

nsb@Deuteronomy:21:16 @ »The day he wills his possessions to his sons, he should not put the firstborn son of the loved wife before the firstborn son of the unloved wife.

nsb@Deuteronomy:21:17 @ »He should acknowledge the firstborn son of the unloved wife. And give him a double portion of all that he has. He is the beginning of his strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him.

nsb@Deuteronomy:21:19 @ »His father and mother shall seize him, and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gateway of his hometown.

nsb@Deuteronomy:21:20 @ »They shall say to the elders of his city: This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious! He will not obey us! He is a glutton and a drunkard.

nsb@Deuteronomy:21:21 @ »All the men of his city shall stone him to death. In that way you will remove the evil from your midst. All Israel will hear about it and fear.

nsb@Deuteronomy:21:22 @ »If a man commits a sin worthy of death and he is put to death. You hang him on a tree.

nsb@Deuteronomy:21:23 @ »His corpse must not hang all night on the tree. Be sure to bury him the same day for he who is hanged is accursed of God. You do this so that you do not defile your land Jehovah your God gives you as an inheritance.

nsb@Deuteronomy:22:1 @ »If your brother’s bull or sheep stray do not ignore them. Bring them back to your brother.

nsb@Deuteronomy:22:2 @ »If you are not acquainted with your brother, or you just do not know him, then you should bring it home to your house. Keep it with you until your brother looks for it. Then you should give it to him.

nsb@Deuteronomy:22:4 @ »You should not see your brothers donkey or his bull fallen down on the way, and pay no attention to them. Help him lift it to its feet.

nsb@Deuteronomy:22:5 @ »A woman must not wear man's clothing or a man women’s clothing. The person who does these things is an abomination to Jehovah your God.

nsb@Deuteronomy:22:10 @ »Do not plow with a bull and a donkey together.

nsb@Deuteronomy:22:11 @ »Do not wear a material mixed with wool and linen together.

nsb@Deuteronomy:22:12 @ »You should attach tassels to the four corners of your cloaks.

nsb@Deuteronomy:22:15 @ »The girl's father and her mother must present evidence of the girl's virginity to the elders of the city at the gate.

nsb@Deuteronomy:22:16 @ »The girl's father shall say to the elders: I gave my daughter to be this man’s wife, but he turned against her.

nsb@Deuteronomy:22:17 @ »He has charged her with shameful deeds. He says: ‘I did not find your daughter to be a virgin.« »But this is the evidence of my daughter's virginity.« And they shall spread the garment before the elders of the city.

nsb@Deuteronomy:22:19 @ »They will fine him a hundred shekels of silver. They will give it to the girl's father, because he publicly defamed a virgin of Israel. She will remain his wife. He may not divorce her all his days.

nsb@Deuteronomy:22:21 @ they will take the girl to the doorway of her father's house. The men of her city shall stone her to death because she has committed an act of folly in Israel by playing the harlot in her father's house. You must purge the evil from among you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:22:23 @ »Suppose there is a girl who is a virgin engaged to a man, and another man has sexual relations with her.

nsb@Deuteronomy:22:24 @ »You must bring them both out to the gate of that city and you must stone them to death! The girl did not protest what was happening and the man has violated his neighbor's woman. Thus you shall purge the evil from among you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:22:26 @ »Do nothing to the woman. There is no sin in the woman worthy of death. This is like the case where a man attacks and murders his neighbor.

nsb@Deuteronomy:22:27 @ »When he found her in the field, the woman who is engaged protested, but there was no one to save her.

nsb@Deuteronomy:22:29 @ The man who has sex with her must give to the girl's father fifty shekels of silver, and she will become his wife because he has violated her. He may not divorce her all his days.

nsb@Deuteronomy:23:2 @ »No one of illegitimate birth shall enter the assembly of Jehovah. None of his descendants to the tenth generation shall enter the assembly of Jehovah.

nsb@Deuteronomy:23:3 @ »No Ammonite or Moabite shall enter the assembly of Jehovah. Their descendants to the tenth generation shall not enter the assembly of Jehovah.

nsb@Deuteronomy:23:4 @ »This is because they did not meet you with food and water on the way when you came out of Egypt. It is because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:23:5 @ »Jehovah your God was not willing to listen to Balaam. Jehovah your God turned the curse into a blessing for you because Jehovah your God loves you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:23:6 @ »Never seek peace or try to help the Ammonites or the Moabites as long as you live.

nsb@Deuteronomy:23:8 @ »The sons of the third generation who are born to them may enter the assembly of Jehovah.

nsb@Deuteronomy:23:9 @ »Guard yourself from every evil thing when your army goes to war against your enemies.

nsb@Deuteronomy:23:12 @ »Set up a toilet area outside the camp and go out there.

nsb@Deuteronomy:23:13 @ »Keep a spade among your tools. When you sit down outside use the spade to dig and cover up your excrement.

nsb@Deuteronomy:23:14 @ »Jehovah your God walks in the middle of your camp. He is there to deliver you and to defeat your enemies before you. Therefore your camp must be holy. He must not see anything indecent among you or He will turn away from you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:23:15 @ »Do not hand over an escaped slave to his master.

nsb@Deuteronomy:23:16 @ »Let him live with you in your midst. Let him choose a place in one of your towns where it pleases him. Do not mistreat him.

nsb@Deuteronomy:23:18 @ »Do not bring the hire of a harlot or the wages of a dog into the house of Jehovah your God for any vow offering. Both of these are an abomination to Jehovah your God.

nsb@Deuteronomy:23:19 @ »Do not charge interest to your brothers, interest on money, food, anything that may be loaned at interest.

nsb@Deuteronomy:23:20 @ »You may charge interest to a foreigner, but to your brother you shall not charge interest. That way Jehovah your God will bless you in all that you undertake in the land you are about to possess.

nsb@Deuteronomy:23:21 @ »When you vow to Jehovah your God do not delay the payback. It would be sin, and Jehovah your God will surely require it of you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:23:23 @ »Be careful to perform the promise that comes from your lips, just as you have voluntarily vowed to Jehovah your God. Keep your promise.

nsb@Deuteronomy:24:3 @ »If the latter husband turns against her and writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, or if the latter husband dies who took her to be his wife,

nsb@Deuteronomy:24:4 @ »her former husband who sent her away is not allowed to take her again to be his wife. She has been defiled. That is an abomination before Jehovah, and you shall not bring sin on the land Jehovah your God gives you as an inheritance.

nsb@Deuteronomy:24:5 @ »A newly married man must not be drafted into the army or charged with any duty. He shall be free at home one year and shall give happiness to the wife he has married.

nsb@Deuteronomy:24:6 @ »Do not take a hand mill or an upper millstone as security for a debt. That would be taking away a man’s livelihood.

nsb@Deuteronomy:24:8 @ »Stay away from the infection of leprosy. Diligently observe and do according to all that the Levitical priests teach you. I have commanded them, so be careful to obey.

nsb@Deuteronomy:24:9 @ »Remember what Jehovah your God did to Miriam on the road out of Egypt.

nsb@Deuteronomy:24:10 @ »When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort do not go into his house and repossess the security.

nsb@Deuteronomy:24:11 @ »Remain outside, and the man to whom you make the loan must bring the pledged security out to you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:24:13 @ »Return the pledge to him before the sun goes down. He will have his pledged item and he may sleep. He will bless you. And it will be righteousness for you before Jehovah your God.

nsb@Deuteronomy:24:14 @ »Do not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers or one of your aliens who is in your land in your towns.

nsb@Deuteronomy:24:15 @ »Pay him his wages on the workday day before the sunsets. He is poor and sets his heart on it. He will not complain against you to Jehovah and it becomes your sin.

nsb@Deuteronomy:24:16 @ »Fathers shall not be put to death for their sons, nor shall sons be put to death for their fathers. Everyone shall be put to death for his own sin.

nsb@Deuteronomy:24:18 @ »Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and that Jehovah your God redeemed you from there. I therefore command you to do this.

nsb@Deuteronomy:24:19 @ »When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow, in order that Jehovah your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

nsb@Deuteronomy:24:22 @ »You must remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt. I am commanding you to do this.

nsb@Deuteronomy:25:1 @ »When there is a dispute between men and they go to court, and the judges decide their case. They justify the righteous and condemn the wicked.

nsb@Deuteronomy:25:2 @ »If the wicked man deserves to be beaten, the judge will then make him lie down and be beaten in his presence. The number of lashes is according to his guilt.

nsb@Deuteronomy:25:5 @ »When brothers live together and one of them dies without a son the wife of the deceased shall not marry outside the family to a strange man. Her husband's brother shall marry her and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her.

nsb@Deuteronomy:25:7 @ »If the man does not desire to take his brother's wife, his brother's wife shall go up to the gate to the elders and say: My husband's brother refuses to establish a name for his brother in Israel. He is not willing to perform the duty of a husband's brother to me.

nsb@Deuteronomy:25:8 @ »The elders of his city must summon him and speak to him. If he persists and says: I do not desire to take her,

nsb@Deuteronomy:25:9 @ his brother's wife shall must to him in the sight of the elders. She will pull his sandal off his foot and spit in his face. Then she will declare: It is done to the man who does not build up his brother's house.

nsb@Deuteronomy:25:11 @ »If two brothers struggle together and the wife of one approaches to help her husband against the other man, and puts out her hand and seizes his genitals,

nsb@Deuteronomy:25:16 @ »Everyone who does these things, everyone who acts unjustly is an abomination to Jehovah your God.

nsb@Deuteronomy:25:17 @ »Remember what Amalek did to you along the way when you came out from Egypt.

nsb@Deuteronomy:25:19 @ »When Jehovah your God has given you rest from all your surrounding enemies, in the land Jehovah your God gives you as an inheritance to possess. You will blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget.

nsb@Deuteronomy:26:2 @ »Take some of the first of all the produce of the ground that you bring in from your land that Jehovah your God gives you, and put it in a basket and go to the place where Jehovah your God chooses to establish His name.

nsb@Deuteronomy:26:3 @ »Go to the priest who is in office at that time and say to him: I declare this day to Jehovah my God! I have entered the land Jehovah swore to our fathers to give us.

nsb@Deuteronomy:26:5 @ »Answer before Jehovah your God: ‘My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down to Egypt and traveled there. They were few in number but he became a great, mighty and populous nation.

nsb@Deuteronomy:26:7 @ »‘We cried out to Jehovah, the God of our fathers, and Jehovah heard our voice. He saw our affliction and our toil and our oppression.

nsb@Deuteronomy:26:9 @ »‘He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.

nsb@Deuteronomy:26:12 @ ‘Finish paying all the tithe of your increase in the third year, the year of tithing. Then you shall give it to the Levite, the stranger, and the orphan and to the widow, that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.

nsb@Deuteronomy:26:13 @ »Say before Jehovah your God: ‘I have removed the sacred portion from my house. I also have given it to the Levite and the alien, the orphan and the widow, according to all your commandments that you have commanded me. I have not transgressed or forgotten any of your commandments.

nsb@Deuteronomy:26:14 @ »‘I have not eaten of it while mourning. I have not removed any of it while I was unclean, nor offered any of it to the dead. I have listened to the voice of Jehovah my God. I have done according to all that you have commanded me.

nsb@Deuteronomy:26:15 @ »‘Look down from your holy place in heaven and bless your people Israel. Bless the ground you have given us, a land flowing with milk and honey, as you swore to our fathers.’

nsb@Deuteronomy:26:16 @ »This day Jehovah your God commands you to do these statutes and ordinances. You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your being.

nsb@Deuteronomy:26:17 @ »You declared Jehovah to be your God today. You said you would walk in his ways and keep his statutes, his commandments and his ordinances, and listen to his voice.

nsb@Deuteronomy:26:18 @ »Jehovah declared you to be his people and a treasured possession. Obey his commandments and receive his promise.

nsb@Deuteronomy:26:19 @ »He will set you high above all nations that he has made, for praise, fame, and honor. You will be a consecrated people to Jehovah your God, as he has spoken.

nsb@Deuteronomy:27:1 @ Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people. They said: »Keep all the commandments that I command you today.

nsb@Deuteronomy:27:2 @ »This is the way it will be on the day when you cross the Jordan to the land that Jehovah your God gives you. You will set up for yourself large stones and coat them with lime

nsb@Deuteronomy:27:3 @ and write on them all the words of the Law. When you cross over to enter the land Jehovah your God gives you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as Jehovah, the God of your fathers, promised you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:27:4 @ »When you cross the Jordan, you shall set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I am commanding you today, and you shall coat them with lime.

nsb@Deuteronomy:27:5 @ »Build an altar there to Jehovah your God. Build the altar of stones. Do not use an iron tool on them.

nsb@Deuteronomy:27:6 @ »Build the altar of Jehovah your God of uncut stones. Offer on it burnt offerings to Jehovah your God

nsb@Deuteronomy:27:8 @ »Write on the stones all the words of the Law very distinctly.«

nsb@Deuteronomy:27:9 @ Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel. They said: »Be silent and listen, O Israel! This day you have become a people for Jehovah your God.

nsb@Deuteronomy:27:10 @ »Obey Jehovah your God, and do his commandments and his statutes which I command you today.«

nsb@Deuteronomy:27:12 @ »When you cross the Jordan, these will stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.

nsb@Deuteronomy:27:15 @ »‘Cursed is the man who makes an idol or a molten image. It is an abomination to Jehovah! It is the secret work of the hands of the craftsman. All the people will answer: Amen.

nsb@Deuteronomy:27:25 @ »‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to punish an innocent person.’ All the people will say: ‘Amen.’

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:1 @ »Carefully obey Jehovah your God. Faithfully follow all his commandments that I give you today. If you do this Jehovah your God will place you high above all the other nations in the world.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:2 @ »These are all the blessings that will come to you and stay close to you because you obey Jehovah your God:

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:3 @ »Jehovah will bless your towns and your fields.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:7 @ »Jehovah will cause your enemies who rise up against you to be struck before you: they shall come out against you one-way, and shall flee before you seven ways.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:8 @ »Jehovah will command the blessing upon you in your barns and in all that you put your hand to, and He will bless you in the land Jehovah your God gives you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:9 @ »Jehovah will establish you as a holy people to himself. He swore this to you, if you obey the commandments of Jehovah your God and walk in His ways.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:11 @ »Jehovah will make you abound in prosperity, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your animals and in the produce of your ground, the land that Jehovah swore to your fathers to give you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:12 @ »Jehovah will open for you his good storehouse. The skies will give rain to your land in due season. It will bless all the work of your hand. You will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:13 @ »Jehovah will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be above, and you will not be underneath. If you listen to the commandments of Jehovah your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully,

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:14 @ and do not turn aside from any of the words I command you today, to the right or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:15 @ »If you do not obey Jehovah your God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes with which I charge you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:22 @ »Jehovah will strike you with infectious diseases, with swelling and fever. He will send drought and scorching winds to destroy your crops. These disasters will be with you until you die.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:24 @ Jehovah will send dust storms and sandstorms on you from the sky until you are destroyed.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:25 @ »Jehovah will cause you to be stricken before your enemies. You will go out one way against them, and flee seven ways from them. You will be an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:26 @ »Your body will be food to all birds of the air, and to the beasts of the earth. And no man shall frighten them away.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:29 @ that even in bright sunshine you will have to feel your way around like a blind person. You will tell day from night! For the rest of your life, people will beat and rob you. No one will be able to stop them.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:30 @ »A man will be engaged to a woman, but before they can get married, enemy soldiers will rape her. Some of you will build houses, but never get to live in them. If you plant a vineyard, you will not be around long enough to enjoy the first harvest.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:31 @ »Your cattle will be killed while you watch. You will not get to eat any of the meat. Your donkeys and sheep will be stolen. No one will be around to force your enemies to give them back.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:32 @ »Your sons and daughters will be dragged off to a foreign country. And you will stand there helpless. Even if you watch for them until you go blind, you will never see them again.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:33 @ »A foreign nation will take all the crops that you have worked so hard to grow. You will receive nothing but constant oppression and harsh treatment.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:35 @ »Jehovah will strike you on the knees and legs with sore boils. From the sole of your foot to the crown of your head they will not heal.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:36 @ »Jehovah will bring you and your king, whom you set over you, to a nation that neither you nor your fathers have known. There you will serve other gods made of wood and stone.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:44 @ »They will be able to make loans to you, but you won't be able to make loans to them. They will be the head, and you will be the tail.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:50 @ a nation of fierce countenance who will have no respect for the old, nor show favor to the young.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:51 @ »They will eat the offspring of your animals and the crops from your fields until you are destroyed. They will leave you no grain, no new wine, no olive oil, no calves from your herds, and no lambs or kids from your flocks. They will continue to do this until you are completely desolate.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:54 @ »The kindest and most sensitive man among you will become stingy toward his brother, the wife he loves, and the children he still has left.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:56 @ »The kindest and most sensitive woman among you, so sensitive and tender that she would not even step on an ant, will become stingy toward the husband she loves or toward her own son or daughter.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:57 @ »She will not share with them the afterbirth from her body and the children she gives birth to. She will secretly eat them out of dire necessity. These are hardships your enemies will make you suffer during the blockade of your cities.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:60 @ »He will bring all the diseases of Egypt that you dreaded. They will cling to you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:63 @ »Jehovah was very glad to make you prosperous and numerous. Now Jehovah will be more than glad to destroy you and wipe you out. You will be torn out of the land you are about to enter and possess.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:64 @ »Jehovah will scatter you among all the people of the world. He will scatter you from one end of the earth to the other. There you will serve gods made of wood and stone that neither you nor your ancestors ever knew.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:65 @ »You will find no peace among those nations. There will be no place to call your own. There Jehovah will give you an unsettled mind, failing eyesight, and despair.

nsb@Deuteronomy:28:68 @ »Jehovah will send you back to Egypt in ships, even though he said that you would never have to go there again. There you will try to sell yourselves to your enemies as slaves. But no one will want to buy you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:29:1 @ These are the terms of the covenant that Jehovah commanded Moses to make with the people of Israel in the land of Moab. All this was in addition to the covenant Jehovah made with them at Mount Sinai.

nsb@Deuteronomy:29:2 @ Moses called together all the people of Israel and said: »You saw for yourselves what Jehovah did to the king of Egypt, to his officials, and to his entire country.

nsb@Deuteronomy:29:4 @ »To this very day Jehovah has not given you a heart to know, eyes to see, or ears to hear.

nsb@Deuteronomy:29:7 @ When you reached this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon and Og the king of Bashan came out to meet us for battle. We defeated them!

nsb@Deuteronomy:29:8 @ »We took their land and gave it as an inheritance to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites.

nsb@Deuteronomy:29:9 @ »Keep the words of this covenant to do them that you may prosper in all that you do.

nsb@Deuteronomy:29:10 @ »You stand today, all of you, before Jehovah your God: your leaders, your tribes, your elders and your officers, even all the men of Israel.

nsb@Deuteronomy:29:11 @ »Your little ones, your wives, and the alien who is within your camps, from the one who chops your wood to the one who draws your water,

nsb@Deuteronomy:29:12 @ that you may enter into the covenant with Jehovah your God, and into His oath that Jehovah your God is making with you today.

nsb@Deuteronomy:29:13 @ »Jehovah will confirm today with this promise that you are his people and that he is your God. This is what he told you. This is what he promised your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with an oath.

nsb@Deuteronomy:29:14 @ »You are not the only people to receive this promise and its conditions.

nsb@Deuteronomy:29:15 @ »It is for those of you who are standing here with us today in the presence of Jehovah our God and also for those who are not here today.

nsb@Deuteronomy:29:17 @ »You saw their loathsome idols made of wood, stone, silver, and gold.

nsb@Deuteronomy:29:18 @ »Make sure that no man, woman, family, or tribe standing here today turns from Jehovah our God to serve the gods of other nations. This would be like a root that grows to be a bitter and poisonous plant.

nsb@Deuteronomy:29:19 @ »Be sure there is no one here today who hears these solemn demands and yet convinces himself that all will be well with him. He would go stubbornly on his own way. That would destroy all of you, good and evil alike.

nsb@Deuteronomy:29:20 @ Jehovah will never be willing to forgive him, but rather the anger of Jehovah and His jealousy will burn against that man. Every curse which is written in this book will rest on him. Jehovah will blot out his name from under heaven.

nsb@Deuteronomy:29:23 @ »All its land is brimstone and salt. It is a burning waste, unsown and unproductive. No grass grows on it. Like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which Jehovah overthrew in his anger and in his wrath.

nsb@Deuteronomy:29:24 @ »All the nations will say: Why has Jehovah done thus to this land? Why this great outburst of anger?'

nsb@Deuteronomy:29:26 @ »‘They served other gods and worshiped them. These are gods whom they have not known and whom he had not allotted to them.

nsb@Deuteronomy:29:28 @ »‘His fierce anger and fury caused Jehovah to uproot these people from their land and deported them to another country. This is where they still are today.’

nsb@Deuteronomy:29:29 @ »Some secret things are hidden. They belong to Jehovah our God. The things that have been revealed in these teachings belong to us and to our children forever. We must obey every word of this Law.

nsb@Deuteronomy:30:1 @ »All these blessings and curses I have spoken about will happen to you. Take them to heart when you are among all the nations where Jehovah your God will scatter you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:30:2 @ »If you and your children return to Jehovah your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your being, doing everything I command you today,

nsb@Deuteronomy:30:3 @ he will restore your fortunes. He will have mercy on you and gather you from all the nations of the world where he has scattered you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:30:5 @ »Jehovah your God will bring you into the land your fathers possessed. You will possess it. He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers.

nsb@Deuteronomy:30:6 @ »Jehovah your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, to LOVE JEHOVAH YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR BEING, that you may live.

nsb@Deuteronomy:30:8 @ »You shall again obey Jehovah, and observe all his commandments that I command you today.

nsb@Deuteronomy:30:10 @ if you obey Jehovah your God to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, if you turn to Jehovah your God with all your heart with all your being.

nsb@Deuteronomy:30:11 @ »This commandment that I command you today is not too difficult for you. It is not out of reach.

nsb@Deuteronomy:30:12 @ »It is not in heaven, that you should say: Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may obey it?

nsb@Deuteronomy:30:13 @ »This commandment is not on the other side of the sea. You do not have to ask: Who will cross the sea to get it for us so that we can hear it and obey it?

nsb@Deuteronomy:30:15 @ »I set before you today life and good, death and evil.

nsb@Deuteronomy:30:16 @ »I command you today to Love Jehovah your God, follow his directions, and obey his commandments, laws, and rules. Then you will live, your population will increase, and Jehovah your God will bless you in the land that you are about to enter and possess.

nsb@Deuteronomy:30:17 @ »If your hearts turn away, and you do not listen, you might be tempted to bow down to other gods and worship them.

nsb@Deuteronomy:30:18 @ »If you do, I tell you today that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live for a long time in the land that you are about to possess when you cross the Jordan River.

nsb@Deuteronomy:30:19 @ »I call on heaven and earth as witnesses today that I have offered you life or death, blessings or curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants will live.

nsb@Deuteronomy:30:20 @ »LOVE JEHOVAH YOUR GOD, OBEY HIM, AND BE LOYAL TO HIM. THIS WILL BE YOUR WAY OF LIFE. It will mean a long life for you in the land that Jehovah swore to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

nsb@Deuteronomy:31:1 @ Moses continued to speak to all the Israelites:

nsb@Deuteronomy:31:2 @ »I am one hundred and twenty years old now. I am not able to lead you anymore. Jehovah has told me that I may not cross the Jordan River.

nsb@Deuteronomy:31:3 @ »Jehovah your God is the one who will cross the river ahead of you. He will destroy those nations as you arrive. You will take possession of their land. Joshua will also cross the river ahead of you, as Jehovah told you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:31:5 @ »Jehovah will give you victory over them. You are to treat them exactly as I have told you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:31:7 @ Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the presence of all the people of Israel: »Be determined and with good courage. You are the one who will lead these people to occupy the land Jehovah promised to their ancestors.

nsb@Deuteronomy:31:9 @ Moses wrote this Law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi who carried the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah, and to all the elders of Israel.

nsb@Deuteronomy:31:11 @ when all Israel comes to appear before Jehovah your God at the place he will choose, you shall read this Law in front of all Israel in their hearing.

nsb@Deuteronomy:31:12 @ »Assemble the people, the men and the women and children and the alien who is in your town. Assemble them that they may hear and learn and respect Jehovah your God, and be careful to observe all the words of this Law.

nsb@Deuteronomy:31:13 @ »Their children, who have not known, will hear and learn to respect Jehovah your God, as long as you live on the land you will possess when you cross the Jordan River.

nsb@Deuteronomy:31:14 @ Then Jehovah said to Moses: »Behold, the time for you to die is near. Call Joshua, and present yourselves at the tent of meeting, that I may commission him.« So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves at the tent of meeting.

nsb@Deuteronomy:31:15 @ Jehovah appeared in the tent in a pillar of cloud. The pillar of cloud stood at the doorway of the tent.

nsb@Deuteronomy:31:16 @ Jehovah said to Moses: »You are about to lie down with your fathers in death. This people will arise and play the harlot with the strange gods of the land. They will plunge into the midst of it. They will forsake me and break my covenant that I made with them.

nsb@Deuteronomy:31:18 @ »I will surely hide my face in that day because of all the evil they will do. They will turn to other gods.

nsb@Deuteronomy:31:19 @ »Write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the sons of Israel. Put it on their lips, so that this song may be a witness for me against the sons of Israel.

nsb@Deuteronomy:31:20 @ »When I bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and are satisfied and become prosperous, then they will turn to other gods and serve them, and spurn me and break my covenant.

nsb@Deuteronomy:31:21 @ »Then it will happen, when many evils and troubles have come upon them, that this song will testify before them as a witness. It shall not be forgotten from the lips of their descendants. I know the intent they are developing today, before I have brought them into the land that I swore.«

nsb@Deuteronomy:31:22 @ So Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it to the sons of Israel.

nsb@Deuteronomy:31:23 @ Jehovah gave this command to Joshua, son of Nun: »Be strong and courageous, because you will bring the Israelites into the land that I swore to give them, and I will be with you.«

nsb@Deuteronomy:31:25 @ He gave this command to the Levites who carried the Ark of Jehovah’s Covenant:

nsb@Deuteronomy:31:26 @ »Take this Book of the Law, and put it next to the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah your God, where it will be a witness against you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:31:27 @ »I know how rebellious you are. You are impossible to deal with. While I am alive and still with you, you are rebelling against Jehovah. How much more rebellious will you be after I die?

nsb@Deuteronomy:31:28 @ »Assemble all the elders of your tribes and your officers in front of me. As they listen, I will speak these words and call on heaven and earth to testify against them.

nsb@Deuteronomy:31:29 @ »I know that after I die you will become thoroughly corrupt and turn from the way I have commanded you to live. In the days to come disasters will happen to you because you will make Jehovah furious by doing what he considers evil.«

nsb@Deuteronomy:32:3 @ »I will proclaim the name of Jehovah and ascribe greatness to our God.

nsb@Deuteronomy:32:6 @ »Is this how you repay Jehovah, you foolish and unwise people? Is he not your Father and creator, who made you and formed you?

nsb@Deuteronomy:32:7 @ »Remember the days of old. Think about all the past generations. Ask your fathers to remind you, and your elders to tell you.

nsb@Deuteronomy:32:8 @ »When the Most High gave nations their inheritance, when he divided the descendants of Adam, he set up borders for the tribes corresponding to the number of the sons of Israel.

nsb@Deuteronomy:32:10 @ »He found his people in a desert land, in a barren place where animals howl. He guarded them, took care of them, and protected them because they were the precious apple of his eye.

nsb@Deuteronomy:32:11 @ »Like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, spreads its wings to catch them, and carries them on its wings,

nsb@Deuteronomy:32:14 @ »He ate cheese from cows and drank milk from sheep and goats. He gave them fat from lambs, rams from the stock of Bashan, male goats, and the best wheat. He drank the blood-red wine of grapes.

nsb@Deuteronomy:32:17 @ »They sacrificed to demons that are not God. They served gods they did not know. These were new gods who came from nearby, gods your ancestors never worshiped.

nsb@Deuteronomy:32:20 @ »He said: ‘I will turn away from them and find out what will happen to them. They are a devious and perverse generation. They are children who have no faith.

nsb@Deuteronomy:32:21 @ »They made him furious because they worshiped foreign gods. They angered him because they worshiped worthless idols. So I will use those who are not my people to make them jealous and a nation of godless fools to make them angry.

nsb@Deuteronomy:32:22 @ My anger has started a fire that will burn into the depths of the grave. It will consume the earth and its crops and set the foundations of the mountains on fire.

nsb@Deuteronomy:32:26 @ »I would have said: ‘I will cut them to pieces. I will remove the memory of them from men.’

nsb@Deuteronomy:32:27 @ »I did not want their enemies to make me angry. I did not want their opponents to misunderstand and say: We won this victory! Jehovah did not do all this!

nsb@Deuteronomy:32:29 @ They fail to see why they were defeated. They cannot understand what happened.

nsb@Deuteronomy:32:34 @ »Is this not laid up in store with me and sealed up among my treasures?

nsb@Deuteronomy:32:35 @ »Vengeance and retribution belong to me. Their foot shall slide in time, for the day of their calamity is at hand. The things to come on them come quickly.

nsb@Deuteronomy:32:39 @ »See now that I, even I, am he. There is no god besides me! It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heals. There is no one who can deliver from my hand.

nsb@Deuteronomy:32:40 @ »Indeed, I lift up my hand to heaven, and say: As I live forever,

nsb@Deuteronomy:32:43 @ »Rejoice you nations with his people. He will avenge the blood of his servants. He will render vengeance on his adversaries, and will atone for his land and his people.«

nsb@Deuteronomy:32:45 @ When Moses finished speaking all these words to all Israel,

nsb@Deuteronomy:32:46 @ he said to them: »Take to your heart all the words with which I am warning you today. Command your sons to observe carefully all the words of this law.

nsb@Deuteronomy:32:47 @ »It is not an idle talk! Indeed it is your life. By this word you will prolong your days in the land you to possess on the other side of the Jordan.«

nsb@Deuteronomy:32:48 @ Jehovah spoke to Moses that same day. He said:

nsb@Deuteronomy:32:49 @ »Go up to this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo. It is in the land of Moab opposite Jericho. Look at the land of Canaan. I am giving this to the sons of Israel for a possession.

nsb@Deuteronomy:32:50 @ »Then die on the mountain you climb. Be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people,

nsb@Deuteronomy:32:52 @ »You will see the land at a distance, but you will not go into the land I am giving the sons of Israel.«

nsb@Deuteronomy:33:7 @ »Hear, O Jehovah, the voice of Judah, and bring him to his people. With his hands he contended for them. May you be help against his adversaries.«

nsb@Deuteronomy:33:8 @ »Let Your Thummim and Your Urim belong to your godly man, whom you tested at Massah and with whom you contended at the waters of Meribah.

nsb@Deuteronomy:33:10 @ »They will teach your ordinances to Jacob, and your Law to Israel. They will burn incense before you, and whole burnt offerings on your altar.

nsb@Deuteronomy:33:16 @ »Bless with the choice things of the earth and its fullness. Let the favor of him who dwelt in the bush come to the head of Joseph and to the crown of the head of the one distinguished among his brothers.

nsb@Deuteronomy:33:17 @ »As the firstborn of his bulls, majesty is his. His horns are the horns of the wild bull. With them he will push the peoples, all at once, to the ends of the earth. They are the ten thousands of Ephraim and the thousands of Manasseh.«

nsb@Deuteronomy:33:19 @ »They will call peoples to the mountain. There they will offer righteous sacrifices. They will draw out the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand.«

nsb@Deuteronomy:33:25 @ »Your locks will be iron and bronze. According to your days, so will your leisurely walk be.

nsb@Deuteronomy:33:26 @ »There is none like the God of Jeshurun. He rides the heavens to give you help. He goes through the skies in his majesty.

nsb@Deuteronomy:34:1 @ Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. Jehovah showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan,

nsb@Deuteronomy:34:4 @ Jehovah said: »This is the land that I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying: I will give it to your descendants. I let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.«

nsb@Deuteronomy:34:5 @ Moses the servant of Jehovah died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of Jehovah.

nsb@Deuteronomy:34:6 @ He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor. No man knows his burial place to this day.

nsb@Deuteronomy:34:8 @ So the sons of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end.

nsb@Deuteronomy:34:9 @ Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. The sons of Israel listened to him and did as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

nsb@Deuteronomy:34:10 @ Since that time no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom Jehovah knew face to face,

nsb@Deuteronomy:34:11 @ for all the signs and wonders that Jehovah sent him to perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, all his servants, and all his land,

nsb@Joshua:1:1 @ Moses the servant of Jehovah died. After his death Jehovah spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying:

nsb@Joshua:1:2 @ »Moses my servant is dead. Arise and cross over the Jordan River. Take the people into the land given to them, even to the children of Israel.

nsb@Joshua:1:4 @ »From the wilderness and nearby Lebanon even to the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.

nsb@Joshua:1:5 @ »No man will be able to resist you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses I will be with you. I will not fail you nor forsake you.

nsb@Joshua:1:6 @ »Be strong and courageous for you will help this people inherit the land. This is the land I swore to give to their fathers.

nsb@Joshua:1:7 @ »Be strong and very courageous, that you may be careful to do according to all the Law, which Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.

nsb@Joshua:1:8 @ »This Book of the Law will not depart out of your mouth. You must meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. Then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

nsb@Joshua:1:11 @ »Pass through the middle of the camp and command the people, say: Prepare your provisions. In three days you will pass over this Jordan. You will go in to possess the land that Jehovah your God gave you to possess.«

nsb@Joshua:1:12 @ And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said:

nsb@Joshua:1:15 @ »Your brothers will possess the land Jehovah gave them until Jehovah gives your brothers rest. Then you will return to the land you possess and enjoy it. This is the land Jehovah’s servant Moses gave you on this side of Jordan toward the sunrise.«

nsb@Joshua:1:17 @ »Just as we listened to Moses in all things, we will listen to you in all things. May Jehovah your God be with you, as he was with Moses.

nsb@Joshua:1:18 @ »Whoever rebels against your commandment, and does not listen to your words in all that you command him must be put to death. Be strong and of a good courage.«

nsb@Joshua:2:1 @ Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly. He said: »Go view the land of Jericho.« They went to a prostitute named Rahab, and stayed at her house.

nsb@Joshua:2:2 @ The king of Jericho was told: »Men of the children of Israel came here tonight to search out the country.«

nsb@Joshua:2:3 @ The king of Jericho sent for Rahab, saying: »Bring the men that came to you and stayed at your house. They came to spy on all the country.«

nsb@Joshua:2:4 @ The woman took the two men, and hid them. She said: »Men came to me but I did not know where they came from.«

nsb@Joshua:2:6 @ She hid them on the rooftop of the house. She covered them with stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.

nsb@Joshua:2:7 @ The men pursued them by the road to Jordan to the fords. As soon the pursuers went out they shut the gate.

nsb@Joshua:2:8 @ Before they laid down to sleep she came up to them on the roof.

nsb@Joshua:2:9 @ She said to the men: »I know Jehovah has given you the land and the terror of you has fallen on us. All the inhabitants of the land are afraid of you.

nsb@Joshua:2:10 @ »We heard how Jehovah dried up the water of the Red sea for you when you came out of Egypt. And what you did to the two kings of the Amorites that were on the other side of Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.

nsb@Joshua:2:12 @ »I pray that you will swear to me by Jehovah, since I have showed you kindness that you will also show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token;

nsb@Joshua:2:15 @ Then she let them down by a cord through the window for her house was upon the town wall. She lived on the wall.

nsb@Joshua:2:16 @ She said: »Go to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers return and afterward go your way.«

nsb@Joshua:2:17 @ The men said to her: »We will be free from this oath you made us swear.

nsb@Joshua:2:18 @ »When we come into the land, tie this scarlet cord in the window from which you let us down. Bring your father, mother, brothers and sisters and your father’s entire household into your home.

nsb@Joshua:2:19 @ »Whoever goes out of your house into the street will be responsible for his own life. We will be guiltless: and whoever shall be with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand is laid on him.

nsb@Joshua:2:21 @ She said: »Let it be according to your words.« They departed and she tied the scarlet line in the window.

nsb@Joshua:2:22 @ They went to the mountain and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers looked for them everywhere but did not find them.

nsb@Joshua:2:23 @ So the two men descended from the mountain. They returned to Joshua the son of Nun and told him all the things that happened to them.

nsb@Joshua:2:24 @ They said to Joshua: »Truly Jehovah has delivered into our hands all of the land. The inhabitants of the country are afraid of us.«

nsb@Joshua:3:5 @ Joshua said to the people: »Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow Jehovah will do amazing things among you.«

nsb@Joshua:3:6 @ Joshua spoke to the priests: »Take up the Ark of the Covenant, and pass over before the people.« So they took the Ark of the Covenant and went before the people.

nsb@Joshua:3:7 @ Jehovah said to Joshua: »This day will I begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel. Now they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.

nsb@Joshua:3:8 @ »You will command the priests that bear the Ark of the Covenant, saying: ‘When you come to the shore of the Jordan River you will stand still in the Jordan.’«

nsb@Joshua:3:9 @ Joshua said to the children of Israel: »Come here and hear the words of Jehovah your God.«

nsb@Joshua:3:11 @ »The Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah the God of all the earth passed over before you into Jordan.

nsb@Joshua:3:14 @ When the people set out from their camp to cross the Jordan, and the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant before the people and

nsb@Joshua:3:15 @ As they carried the ark into the Jordan and the feet of the priests dipped into the water, for Jordan is at food stage at the time of harvest.

nsb@Joshua:3:16 @ The waters stood and rose up upon a heap very far from the city Adam that is beside Zaretan. The waters that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off. The people passed over the Jericho.

nsb@Joshua:3:17 @ The priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan River. All the Israelites passed over the Jordan River on dry ground.

nsb@Joshua:4:1 @ All the people finished crossing the Jordan River. Then Jehovah spoke to Joshua:

nsb@Joshua:4:3 @ Command them by saying: »Take twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm. Carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you stay tonight.«

nsb@Joshua:4:5 @ Joshua said to them: »Pass over before the Ark of Jehovah your God to the middle of the Jordan River. Let every man take a stone on his shoulder according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel.

nsb@Joshua:4:6 @ »This may be a sign among you when your children ask their fathers what is the meaning of these stones?

nsb@Joshua:4:7 @ »You will answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah. When it passed over Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones will be for a memorial to the children of Israel for as long as they live.«

nsb@Joshua:4:8 @ The children of Israel did as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the middle of the Jordan. This was just as Jehovah spoke to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel. They carried them to the place where they lodged and laid them down there.

nsb@Joshua:4:9 @ Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan River, in the place where the feet of the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant stood, and they are there to this day.

nsb@Joshua:4:10 @ The priests who carried the ark stood in the middle of the Jordan River. They stood there until every thing that Jehovah commanded Joshua to speak to the people was carried out, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua. During this time the people hurried to the other side of the river.

nsb@Joshua:4:12 @ The children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spoke to them.

nsb@Joshua:4:13 @ About forty thousand, prepared for war, passed over before Jehovah to do battle in the plains of Jericho.

nsb@Joshua:4:15 @ Jehovah spoke to Joshua, saying:

nsb@Joshua:4:18 @ When the priests that carried the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah were up out of the middle of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up onto the dry land that the waters of Jordan returned to their place, and flowed over all its banks, as they did before.

nsb@Joshua:4:20 @ Joshua set up the twelve stones they took out of the Jordan River, in Gilgal.

nsb@Joshua:4:21 @ He spoke to the children of Israel: »When your children will ask their fathers in time to come, what these stones mean?

nsb@Joshua:4:23 @ »For Jehovah your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you, until you all crossed over. As Jehovah your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we crossed over.

nsb@Joshua:5:2 @ Jehovah said to Joshua: »Make sharp knives, and circumcise the men of Israel.«

nsb@Joshua:5:6 @ The children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they did not obey the voice of Jehovah. Jehovah swore that he would not show them the land, which he swore to their fathers that he would give us, a land that flows with milk and honey.

nsb@Joshua:5:9 @ Jehovah said to Joshua: »This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you.« So the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day.

nsb@Joshua:5:13 @ When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, there stood a man in front of him with his sword drawn in his hand. Joshua went to him, and said: »Are you on our side or our adversaries?«

nsb@Joshua:5:14 @ He said: »No, but as captain of the camp of Jehovah I now come.« And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down and said: »What does my lord say to his servant?«

nsb@Joshua:5:15 @ The captain of Jehovah’s host said to Joshua: »Take your shoes from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy.« And at once Joshua did so.

nsb@Joshua:6:2 @ Jehovah said to Joshua: »See, I have given into your hand Jericho, and the king there, and the mighty men of valor.

nsb@Joshua:6:5 @ »When you hear a long blast with the ram’s horn, all the people will shout with a great shout. The wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people will go up, every man straight in to the city.«

nsb@Joshua:6:6 @ Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said to them: »Take up the Ark of the Covenant. Seven priests should carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the Ark of Jehovah.«

nsb@Joshua:6:7 @ He said to the people: »Pass on, and circle the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the Ark of Jehovah.«

nsb@Joshua:6:8 @ As soon as Joshua spoke to the people the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of rams’ horns passed before Jehovah. They blew the trumpets and the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah followed them.

nsb@Joshua:6:11 @ So the Ark of Jehovah went around the city one time. They came to the camp, and stayed in the camp.

nsb@Joshua:6:14 @ And the second day they went around the city once, and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.

nsb@Joshua:6:16 @ On the seventh time when the priest blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people: »Shout for Jehovah has given you the city.

nsb@Joshua:6:17 @ »The city and everything in it will be destroyed. It belongs to Jehovah. Only Rahab the harlot and all who are with her in her house will live. Because she hid the messengers we sent.

nsb@Joshua:6:18 @ »You people must stay away from anything devoted to destruction. You should not take things from the city. You will cause trouble for the camp of Israel is you take of the accursed things.

nsb@Joshua:6:19 @ »All the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated to Jehovah. They must come into the treasury of Jehovah.«

nsb@Joshua:6:20 @ So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. When the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, the wall fell down flat. The people went into the city, every man straight ahead. They captured the city.

nsb@Joshua:6:22 @ Joshua said to the two men that had spied out the country: »Go into the harlot’s house, and bring the woman out as you swore to her.«

nsb@Joshua:6:24 @ They burned the city and all its contents. They put the silver, gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron into the treasury of the house of Jehovah.

nsb@Joshua:6:25 @ Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father’s household, and all that she had. She dwells in Israel even to this day because she hid the messengers Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

nsb@Joshua:7:1 @ The children of Israel committed a trespass in the devoted things: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of Jehovah was kindled against the children of Israel.

nsb@Joshua:7:2 @ Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-aven, on the east side of Bethel. He spoke to them: »Go up and spy on the country.« And the men went up and spied on Ai.

nsb@Joshua:7:3 @ They returned to Joshua, and said: »Do not send all the people. Send about two or three thousand men to Ai to go up and capture Ai. Do not bother all the people for there are only a few there.«

nsb@Joshua:7:5 @ The men of Ai killed about thirty-six of them: for they chased them going down from before the gate to Shebarim. The heart of the people melted, and became as water.

nsb@Joshua:7:6 @ And Joshua ripped his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the Ark of Jehovah until evening. He threw dust on his head. The elders of Israel did the same.

nsb@Joshua:7:7 @ Joshua said: »Alas, Sovereign Lord Jehovah, why did you bring this people across the Jordan. Was it to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would to God we had been content to dwell on the other side of the Jordan!

nsb@Joshua:7:10 @ Jehovah said to Joshua: »You get up! Why are you on your face?

nsb@Joshua:7:11 @ »Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things and put them in their own possessions.

nsb@Joshua:7:13 @ »Get up and sanctify the people. Say: ‘Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow: for the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: »There is an accursed thing in the midst of you, O Israel: You cannot stand before you enemies until you take away the devoted thing from among you.«

nsb@Joshua:7:17 @ He brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi was taken:

nsb@Joshua:7:19 @ Joshua said to Achan: »My son, give glory to Jehovah God of Israel and confess to him. Tell me now what you have done. Do not hide it from me.«

nsb@Joshua:7:21 @ »When I saw among the spoils a quality Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them. I hid them in the earth in the middle of my tent.«

nsb@Joshua:7:22 @ So Joshua sent messengers to the tent and found it and the silver.

nsb@Joshua:7:23 @ They took them out of the middle of the tent, and brought them to Joshua, and to all the children of Israel, and laid them out before Jehovah.

nsb@Joshua:7:24 @ And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.

nsb@Joshua:7:25 @ Joshua said: »Why have you troubled us? Jehovah will trouble you this day.« All Israel stoned them with stones. After they stoned them they burned them with fire.

nsb@Joshua:7:26 @ They raised over them a great heap of stones that is there to this day. So Jehovah turned from the fierceness of his anger. The name of that place was called, the Valley of Achor, to this day.

nsb@Joshua:8:1 @ Jehovah said to Joshua: »Do not fear and do not be discouraged. Take all the people of war with you and go up to Ai. I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land.

nsb@Joshua:8:2 @ »Do to Ai and her king what you did to Jericho and her king. Take the spoil and the cattle for yourselves. Lay an ambush for the city behind it.«

nsb@Joshua:8:7 @ »Then you shall rise up from the ambush, and seize the city: for Jehovah your God will deliver it into your hand.

nsb@Joshua:8:8 @ »When you have taken the city you will set the city on fire according to the commandment of Jehovah. See, I have commanded you.«

nsb@Joshua:8:9 @ Joshua sent them forth. They went to lie in ambush, and stay between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai. Joshua lodged that night among the people.

nsb@Joshua:8:10 @ Joshua rose up early in the morning and mustered his men. He and the elders of Israel went in front of the people to Ai.

nsb@Joshua:8:11 @ And all the people, even the people of war that were with him went to the city. They set up camp on the north side of Ai. There was a valley between them and Ai.

nsb@Joshua:8:12 @ He took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.

nsb@Joshua:8:13 @ They had the solders take up their positions those in camp to the north and the ambush to the west. Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.

nsb@Joshua:8:14 @ When the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed headed for the plain. He did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city.

nsb@Joshua:8:15 @ Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten in front of them and ran away to the wilderness.

nsb@Joshua:8:16 @ All the people in Ai were called together to chase after them. They chased after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.

nsb@Joshua:8:18 @ Jehovah said to Joshua: »Stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai.« I will give it to your hand. Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city.

nsb@Joshua:8:19 @ The ambush began quickly. They ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand. They entered into the city, captured it and quickly set the city on fire.

nsb@Joshua:8:20 @ The men of Ai looked behind and saw the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven. They had no power to run this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.

nsb@Joshua:8:23 @ They captured the king of Ai alive, and brought him to Joshua.

nsb@Joshua:8:24 @ When Israel finished slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness where they chased them, and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned to Ai, and killed it with the edge of the sword.

nsb@Joshua:8:27 @ Israel took the cattle and the spoil of that city for preys for themselves, according to the word Jehovah commanded Joshua.

nsb@Joshua:8:28 @ Joshua burnt Ai and made it a heap forever, even desolation to this day.

nsb@Joshua:8:29 @ He hung the king of Ai on a tree until evening. As soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they take his carcass down from the tree and throw it at the entering gate of the city. They raised a large pile of rocks over it that is there to this day.

nsb@Joshua:8:30 @ Then Joshua built an altar to Jehovah the God of Israel on mount Ebal,

nsb@Joshua:8:31 @ As Moses the servant of the Lord commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the Law of Moses, an altar of whole stones that have not been cut by any iron tool. They offered offerings to Jehovah, and sacrificed peace offerings.

nsb@Joshua:8:32 @ He wrote upon the stones a copy of the Law of Moses. He did this in the presence of the children of Israel.

nsb@Joshua:8:33 @ All Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on both sides of the Ark before the priests. The Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; Half of the people stood on Mount Gerizim. And half of them stood on Mount Ebal. As Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.

nsb@Joshua:8:34 @ Afterward he read all the words of the Law, the blessings and cursing, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law.

nsb@Joshua:9:2 @ They gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.

nsb@Joshua:9:3 @ When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,

nsb@Joshua:9:4 @ They resorted to a ruse. They acted as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, worn out, torn, and mended.

nsb@Joshua:9:6 @ They went to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel: »We come from a distant country, make a treaty with us.«

nsb@Joshua:9:7 @ The men of Israel said to the Hivites: »Perhaps you live near us. How can we make a treaty with you?«

nsb@Joshua:9:8 @ They said: »We are your servants.« Joshua said to them: »Who are you? Where do you come from?«

nsb@Joshua:9:10 @ »and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.

nsb@Joshua:9:11 @ »Our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying: ‘Take provisions with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them: »We are your servants. Therefore make a treaty with us.« ’«

nsb@Joshua:9:12 @ »We took hot fresh bread for our provision out of our houses on the day we came to you. Now it is dry, and it is moldy:

nsb@Joshua:9:15 @ Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live. The leaders of the congregation ratified it by an oath.

nsb@Joshua:9:17 @ The children of Israel journeyed to their cities on the third day. Their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjath-jearim.

nsb@Joshua:9:18 @ The children of Israel did not kill them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by Jehovah God of Israel. The entire congregation murmured against the princes.

nsb@Joshua:9:19 @ But all the leaders said to the entire congregation: »We have sworn to them by Jehovah the God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.

nsb@Joshua:9:20 @ »This we will do to them. We will even let them live in case we become angry. This is because of the oath we swore to them.«

nsb@Joshua:9:21 @ The leaders said to them: »Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water to the entire congregation as the leaders had promised them.

nsb@Joshua:9:22 @ Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying: »Why did you deceive us, saying: ‘We are very far from you’ when you dwell among us?

nsb@Joshua:9:24 @ They answered Joshua: »For the reason that it was absolutely told to your servants, how Jehovah your God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and destroy all the inhabitants of the land. Therefore we were very afraid for our lives because of you. So we did this thing.

nsb@Joshua:9:25 @ »Now we are in your hands. Do to us what seems good and right to you.«

nsb@Joshua:9:27 @ Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of Jehovah, even to this day, in the place he should choose.

nsb@Joshua:10:1 @ When Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king. The inhabitants of Gibeon made peace with Israel and were living near them.

nsb@Joshua:10:3 @ Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, and to Piram king of Jarmuth, and to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying:

nsb@Joshua:10:4 @ »Come to me and help me, that we may strike Gibeon: for it has made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.«

nsb@Joshua:10:5 @ Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon gathered together. They and all their hosts came before Gibeon and camped. Then they made war against it.

nsb@Joshua:10:6 @ The men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal saying: Do not abandon your servants. Come to us quickly and save us. Help us for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains have gathered together against us.

nsb@Joshua:10:8 @ Jehovah said to Joshua: »Do not fear them. I have delivered them into your hands. Not one man of them will stand before you.«

nsb@Joshua:10:10 @ Jehovah threw them into confusion before Israel. They were killed in a great battle at Gibeon. They were chased along the road that goes up to Beth-horon. They were slaughtered all the way to Azekah, and Makkedah.

nsb@Joshua:10:11 @ As they fled from Israel, and were going down to Beth-horon, Jehovah cast down great stones from heaven upon them all the way to Azekah and they died. In fact hailstones killed more than the children of Israel killed using their swords.

nsb@Joshua:10:12 @ Joshua spoke to Jehovah the day when Jehovah delivered the Amorites to the children of Israel. He said in sight of Israel: »Sun, stand still upon Gibeon; and Moon, stand still in the valley of Ajalon.«

nsb@Joshua:10:13 @ The sun stood still, and the moon stood still, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is this not written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not go down for a whole day.

nsb@Joshua:10:14 @ There was no day like that before or after it, that Jehovah listened to the voice of a man: for Jehovah fought for Israel.

nsb@Joshua:10:15 @ All Israel returned with Joshua to the camp at Gilgal.

nsb@Joshua:10:17 @ Joshua was told: »The five kings are found hidden in a cave at Makkedah.«

nsb@Joshua:10:18 @ Joshua said: »Roll large stones in front of the mouth of the cave, and set men by it to guard them.

nsb@Joshua:10:19 @ »Do not stay there but pursue after your enemies and strike the rear guard. Do not enter their cities for Jehovah your God has delivered them into your hand.«

nsb@Joshua:10:21 @ All the people returned in peace to Joshua’s at Makkedah. No one spoke against any of the children of Israel.

nsb@Joshua:10:22 @ Then Joshua said: »Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings to me.«

nsb@Joshua:10:23 @ They did so, and brought the five kings to him: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.

nsb@Joshua:10:24 @ When they brought out the kings to Joshua, Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the captains of the men of war who went with him: »Come near, put your feet on the back of the necks of these kings.« They came near, and put their feet upon their necks.

nsb@Joshua:10:25 @ Joshua said: »Do not be afraid. Do not be terrified! Be strong and have courage: for this is what Jehovah will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.«

nsb@Joshua:10:27 @ At sunset Joshua commanded that they remove them. They took them down from the trees, and cast them into the cave where they had been hidden. They laid large stones in the mouth of the cave. Even today the stones are there.

nsb@Joshua:10:28 @ That day Joshua struck Makkedah with the edge of the sword. The king was destroyed all the people who lived there. He let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah the same as he did to the king of Jericho.

nsb@Joshua:10:29 @ Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel went with him, to Libnah, and fought against Libnah:

nsb@Joshua:10:30 @ Jehovah delivered it and the king into the hand of Israel. He struck it with the edge of the sword, and all the persons who lived there. He let none remain: and he did to the king of Libnah as he did to the king of Jericho.

nsb@Joshua:10:31 @ Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, to Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it:

nsb@Joshua:10:32 @ Jehovah delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel on the second day. He struck it with the edge of the sword, and all the persons who lived there according to all that he had done to Libnah.

nsb@Joshua:10:33 @ Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish. Joshua killed him and his people, until he had left none remaining.

nsb@Joshua:10:34 @ From Lachish Joshua went to Eglon, and all Israel with him. They encamped against it, and fought against it:

nsb@Joshua:10:35 @ They took it on that day and struck it with the edge of the sword. All that were there were destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.

nsb@Joshua:10:36 @ Joshua and all Israel with him went from Eglon to Hebron; and they fought against it:

nsb@Joshua:10:37 @ They capture it and destroyed it with the edge of the sword. This included the king and all the cities, and all the people who were there. He left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and destroyed all the people there.

nsb@Joshua:10:38 @ Joshua and all Israel returned with him to Debir and fought against it:

nsb@Joshua:10:39 @ He took it, and the king and all the cities there. They killed them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all people there. He left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king.

nsb@Joshua:10:41 @ And Joshua conquered them from Kadesh-barnea even to Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.

nsb@Joshua:10:42 @ All these kings and their land Joshua took at one time, because Jehovah the God of Israel fought for Israel.

nsb@Joshua:10:43 @ Joshua returned, and all Israel returned with him to the camp at Gilgal.

nsb@Joshua:11:1 @ Jabin king of Hazor heard about this. So he sent a message to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,

nsb@Joshua:11:2 @ and to the kings north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west,

nsb@Joshua:11:3 @ and to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh.

nsb@Joshua:11:5 @ All the kings met at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel.

nsb@Joshua:11:6 @ Jehovah said to Joshua: »Do not be afraid because of them! About this time tomorrow I will deliver them up all slain before Israel. You must hamstring their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.«

nsb@Joshua:11:8 @ Jehovah delivered them into the hand of Israel, who killed them. They chased them unto great Zidon, and to Misrephoth-maim, and to the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they killed them. They did not leave any survivor remain.

nsb@Joshua:11:9 @ Joshua did to them what Jehovah told him to do. He hamstrung their horses, and burned their chariots with fire.

nsb@Joshua:11:12 @ Joshua took all the cities and all the kings and struck them with the edge of the sword. He utterly destroyed them. Just as Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded.

nsb@Joshua:11:13 @ Israel did not burn the cities that stood on their own mounds with the exception of Hazor, which Joshua burned.

nsb@Joshua:11:14 @ Israel took all the spoil of these cities including the cattle. They killed every man with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them all. None were left alive.

nsb@Joshua:11:16 @ Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same.

nsb@Joshua:11:17 @ Even from Mount Halak, that goes up to Seir, even unto Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon under Mount Hermon. He captured and killed all their kings.

nsb@Joshua:11:19 @ Not one city made peace with the children of Israel except the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon. They took all the others in battle.

nsb@Joshua:11:20 @ It was Jehovah who hardened their hearts to make war against Israel. That way he could completely destroy them. That they might have no favor, but that he might destroy them, as Jehovah commanded Moses.

nsb@Joshua:11:23 @ So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that Jehovah said to Moses. Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions, by their tribes. The land rested from war.

nsb@Joshua:12:1 @ These are the kings of the land that the children of Israel defeated and who’s territory they captured. It was on the other side of Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the Arnon River to Mount Hermon, and all the plain on the east.

nsb@Joshua:12:2 @ Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the Arnon River, and from the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, to the Jabbok River, which is the border of the children of Ammon;

nsb@Joshua:12:3 @ And from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and to the sea of the plain, even the salt sea on the east, the way to Beth-jeshimoth; and from the south, under Ashdoth-pisgah:

nsb@Joshua:12:5 @ And reigned in Mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, to the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

nsb@Joshua:12:6 @ Moses the servant of Jehovah and the children of Israel killed them. Moses the servant of Jehovah gave it for a possession to the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh.

nsb@Joshua:12:7 @ These are the kings of the country that Joshua and the children of Israel conquered on this side of the Jordan on the west, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon even to Mount Halak, that goes up to Seir; which Joshua gave to the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions;

nsb@Joshua:13:1 @ Jehovah said to Joshua: You are old and advanced in years. There still remains much land to be possessed.

nsb@Joshua:13:3 @ »from Shihor, which is near Egypt, to the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:

nsb@Joshua:13:4 @ »from the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians, to Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites:

nsb@Joshua:13:5 @ »The land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, to the east, from Baal-gad under mount Hermon to the Hamath border.

nsb@Joshua:13:6 @ »All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim, and all the Sidonians. I will drive them out from before the children of Israel. Divide it by lot to the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded you.

nsb@Joshua:13:9 @ From Aroer, that is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain of Medeba to Dibon

nsb@Joshua:13:10 @ All the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, to the border of the children of Ammon;

nsb@Joshua:13:11 @ And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and all mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Salcah;

nsb@Joshua:13:12 @ The kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants. Moses defeated them and took over their land.

nsb@Joshua:13:14 @ He gave no inheritance to the tribe of Levi. The sacrifices of Jehovah God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said to them.

nsb@Joshua:13:15 @ Moses gave to the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families.

nsb@Joshua:13:24 @ Moses gave inheritance to the tribe of Gad according to their families.

nsb@Joshua:13:25 @ Their coast was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, to Aroer that is near Rabbah;

nsb@Joshua:13:26 @ From Heshbon to Ramath-mizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir;

nsb@Joshua:13:27 @ In the valley, Beth-aram, and Beth-nimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, Jordan and his border, to the edge of the sea of Chinnereth on the other side Jordan eastward.

nsb@Joshua:13:29 @ Moses gave inheritance to the half tribe of Manasseh. This was the possession of the half tribe of the children of Manasseh by families.

nsb@Joshua:13:30 @ Their coast was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, sixty cities:

nsb@Joshua:13:31 @ Half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were pertaining unto the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even to the one half of the children of Machir by their families.

nsb@Joshua:13:33 @ But he gave no inheritance to the tribe of Levi. Jehovah God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said to them.

nsb@Joshua:14:2 @ Their inheritance was by lot. Jehovah commanded the hand of Moses to distribute to the nine tribes and the half tribe.

nsb@Joshua:14:3 @ Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and a half tribe on the other side of the Jordan. He gave no inheritance to the Levites.

nsb@Joshua:14:4 @ The children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. No part of the land was given to the Levites. They were given cities in which to live and a place for their cattle and personally property.

nsb@Joshua:14:6 @ Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said to him: »You know what Jehovah said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh-barnea.

nsb@Joshua:14:7 @ »I was forty years old when Moses the servant of Jehovah sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land. I brought him word again as it was in my heart.

nsb@Joshua:14:9 @ »Moses swore on that day, saying: ‘Surely the land where your feet have trodden shall be your inheritance, and your children’s from generation to generation, because you have completely followed Jehovah my God.

nsb@Joshua:14:10 @ »‘Jehovah has kept me alive, as he said, these forty-five years, even since Jehovah spoke this word to Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness. Now I am this day eighty-five years old.

nsb@Joshua:14:11 @ »‘So far I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength is now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.

nsb@Joshua:14:14 @ Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite to this day, because that he wholly followed Jehovah the God of Israel.

nsb@Joshua:15:3 @ From there it went out to the south side to Maaleh-acrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side to Kadesh-barnea, and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and went around to Karka:

nsb@Joshua:15:4 @ From there it passed toward Azmon and went out to the river of Egypt and ended at the south coast at the sea.

nsb@Joshua:15:5 @ The east border was the salt sea to the end of Jordan. Their border in the north quarter was from the bay of the sea at the uttermost part of Jordan:

nsb@Joshua:15:6 @ Their border continued to Beth-hogla, and passed along by the north of Beth-arabah. The border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben:

nsb@Joshua:15:7 @ The border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is before the going up to Adummim, which is on the south side of the river. Then the border passed toward the waters of En-shemesh and came out at En-rogel:

nsb@Joshua:15:8 @ The border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom to the south side of the Jebusite; the same is Jerusalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lies before the Valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the Valley of the Giants northward:

nsb@Joshua:15:9 @ Then the border was drawn from the top of the hill to the fountain of the water of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of Mount Ephron; and the border was drawn to Baalah, which is Kirjath-jearim:

nsb@Joshua:15:10 @ The border circled Baalah westward to Mount Seir, and passed along to the side of mount Jearim, which is Chesalon, on the north side, and went down to Beth-shemesh, and passed on to Timnah:

nsb@Joshua:15:11 @ And the border went out to the north side of Ekron: and the border was drawn to Shicron, and passed along to Mount Baalah, and went out to Jabneel to the sea.

nsb@Joshua:15:12 @ The west border was to the coast of the great sea. This is the coast of the children of Judah round about according to their families.

nsb@Joshua:15:13 @ To Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of Jehovah to Joshua, even the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron.

nsb@Joshua:15:15 @ He went to the inhabitants of Debir. The name of Debir previously was Kirjath-sepher.

nsb@Joshua:15:16 @ Caleb said: »I will give Achsah my daughter in marriage to the man who captures it and kills Kirjath-sepher.«

nsb@Joshua:15:17 @ Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.

nsb@Joshua:15:18 @ She came to him and convinced him to ask of her father for a field. She dismounted her donkey and Caleb said to her: »What do you wish?«

nsb@Joshua:15:20 @ This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families.

nsb@Joshua:15:21 @ The cities at the limits of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the border of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur,

nsb@Joshua:15:30 @ Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah,

nsb@Joshua:15:45 @ Ekron, with her towns and her villages:

nsb@Joshua:15:46 @ From Ekron even to the sea, all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages:

nsb@Joshua:15:47 @ Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, to the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border there.

nsb@Joshua:15:63 @ As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out. The Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.

nsb@Joshua:16:1 @ The lot was for the children of Joseph. It fell from the Jordan by Jericho, to the water of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goes up from Jericho throughout mount Bethel.

nsb@Joshua:16:2 @ It goes out from Bethel to Luz, and passes along to the borders of Archi to Ataroth,

nsb@Joshua:16:3 @ It goes down westward to the coast of Japhleti, to the coast of Beth-horon the nether, and to Gezer: ending at the sea.

nsb@Joshua:16:4 @ So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.

nsb@Joshua:16:5 @ The border of the children of Ephraim according to their families was thus: even the border of their inheritance on the east side was Ataroth-addar, to Beth-horon the upper;

nsb@Joshua:16:6 @ The border went toward the sea to Michmethah on the north side; and the border went about eastward to Taanath-shiloh, and passed by it on the east to Janohah;

nsb@Joshua:16:7 @ It went down from Janohah to Ataroth, and to Naarath, and came to Jericho, and went out at Jordan.

nsb@Joshua:16:8 @ The border went out from Tappuah westward to the river Kanah; and from there to the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim by their families.

nsb@Joshua:16:10 @ They did not drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day, and have become forced laborers.

nsb@Joshua:17:4 @ They came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying: »Jehovah commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.« Therefore according to the commandment of Jehovah he gave them an inheritance among the brothers of their father.

nsb@Joshua:17:5 @ Ten shares fell to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, on the other side of Jordan

nsb@Joshua:17:7 @ The coast of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah. It lies before Shechem; and the border went along on the right hand to the inhabitants of En-tappuah.

nsb@Joshua:17:8 @ Now Manasseh had the land of Tappuah: but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim.

nsb@Joshua:17:9 @ The coast descended to the river Kanah, southward of the river: these cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh: the coast of Manasseh also was on the north side of the river, and it ended at the sea.

nsb@Joshua:17:10 @ Southward it was Ephraim’s, and northward it was Manasseh’s, and the sea is his border; and they met together in Asher on the north, and in Issachar on the east.

nsb@Joshua:17:11 @ Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Beth-shean and her towns, and Ibleam and her towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Endor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and her towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns, even three countries.

nsb@Joshua:17:13 @ When the children of Israel were very strong they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor. They did not completely drive them out.

nsb@Joshua:17:14 @ The children of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying: »Why have you given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as Jehovah has blessed us abundantly.«

nsb@Joshua:17:15 @ Joshua answered: »If you are a great people, then get to the wood country, and cut down for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim is too narrow for you.«

nsb@Joshua:17:16 @ The children of Joseph said: »The hill is not enough for us. All the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Beth-shean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.«

nsb@Joshua:17:17 @ Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying: »You are a great people. You have great power. You will not have only one lot.

nsb@Joshua:18:1 @ The whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh. They set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. The land was subdued before them.

nsb@Joshua:18:3 @ Joshua said to the children of Israel: »How long will you neglect to go to possess the land, which Jehovah the God of your fathers has given you?

nsb@Joshua:18:4 @ »Appoint three men from each tribe: and I will send them, and they will rise, and go through the land, and write a description of it according to their inheritance. Then they will return to me.

nsb@Joshua:18:5 @ »They will divide it into seven parts: Judah will abide in their border on the south, and the house of Joseph will abide in their border on the north.

nsb@Joshua:18:6 @ »You will write a description of the land into seven parts, and bring the description to me, that I may cast lots for you here before Jehovah our God.

nsb@Joshua:18:8 @ The men stood up and went away. Joshua charged them that went to describe the land, saying: »Go and walk through the land, and write a description of it, and come again to me, that I may cast lots for you before Jehovah in Shiloh.«

nsb@Joshua:18:9 @ The men went and passed through the land, and wrote a description of it by cities into seven parts in a book, and returned to Joshua to the camp at Shiloh.

nsb@Joshua:18:10 @ Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before Jehovah. Then Joshua divided the land to the children of Israel according to their divisions.

nsb@Joshua:18:11 @ The lot for the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families: and the boundary of their lot came between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.

nsb@Joshua:18:12 @ And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and it ended at the wilderness of Bethaven.

nsb@Joshua:18:13 @ The border went from there to Luz, to the side of Luz, which is Bethel, southward; and the border descended to Ataroth-adar, near the hill that lies on the south side of the nether Beth-horon.

nsb@Joshua:18:15 @ And the south quarter was from the end of Kirjath-jearim, and the border went out on the west, and went out to the well of waters of Nephtoah.

nsb@Joshua:18:16 @ The border came down to the end of the mountain that is before the valley of the son of Hinnom, and which is in the valley of the giants on the north, and descended to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of Jebusi on the south, and descended to En-rogel,

nsb@Joshua:18:17 @ And was drawn from the north, and went forth to En-shemesh, and went forth toward Geliloth, which is over against the going up of Adummim, and descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben,

nsb@Joshua:18:18 @ It passed along toward the side over against Arabah northward, and went down to Arabah:

nsb@Joshua:18:19 @ The border passed along to the side of Beth-hoglah northward: and the outgoings of the border were at the north bay of the salt sea at the south end of Jordan: this was the south coast.

nsb@Joshua:18:20 @ Jordan was the border of it on the east side. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the border according to their families.

nsb@Joshua:18:21 @ Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Beth-hoglah, and the valley of Keziz,

nsb@Joshua:18:28 @ And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.

nsb@Joshua:19:1 @ The second lot came for Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah.

nsb@Joshua:19:4 @ Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,

nsb@Joshua:19:8 @ And all the villages that were near these cities to Baalath-beer, Ramath of the south. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families.

nsb@Joshua:19:9 @ Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within their inheritance.

nsb@Joshua:19:10 @ The third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families: and the border of their inheritance was to Sarid:

nsb@Joshua:19:11 @ Their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam.

nsb@Joshua:19:12 @ It turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising to the border of Chisloth-tabor, and then goes out to Daberath, and goes up to Japhia,

nsb@Joshua:19:13 @ From there it passed on along on the east to Gittah-hepher, to Ittah-kazin, and goes out to Remmon-methoar to Neah.

nsb@Joshua:19:14 @ And the border goes around it on the north side to Hannathon: and it ends in the valley of Jipthah-el:

nsb@Joshua:19:16 @ This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.

nsb@Joshua:19:17 @ The fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families.

nsb@Joshua:19:18 @ Their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,

nsb@Joshua:19:22 @ The coast reaches to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Beth-shemesh; and the border ended at Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages.

nsb@Joshua:19:23 @ This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages.

nsb@Joshua:19:24 @ The fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.

nsb@Joshua:19:26 @ Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reached to Carmel westward, and to Shihor-libnath;

nsb@Joshua:19:27 @ It turned toward the sun rising to Beth-dagon, and reached Zebulun, and to the valley of Jipthah-el toward the north side of Beth-emek, and Neiel, and goes out to Cabul on the left hand,

nsb@Joshua:19:28 @ Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, to great Zidon;

nsb@Joshua:19:29 @ The boundary turned to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre; and then the boundary turned to Hosah; it ended at the sea near Achzib.

nsb@Joshua:19:31 @ This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.

nsb@Joshua:19:32 @ The sixth lot came to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families.

nsb@Joshua:19:33 @ Their boundary was from Heleph, from Allon to Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, to Lakum; and it ended at Jordan.

nsb@Joshua:19:34 @ Then the boundary turned westward to Aznoth-tabor, and goes from there to Hukkok, and reaches to Zebulun on the south side, and reaches to Asher on the west side, and to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising.

nsb@Joshua:19:39 @ This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.

nsb@Joshua:19:40 @ The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.

nsb@Joshua:19:47 @ The boundary of the children of Dan went too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, put it to the sword and occupied it. They lived there and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.

nsb@Joshua:19:48 @ This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.

nsb@Joshua:19:49 @ When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their boundaries, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them:

nsb@Joshua:19:50 @ According to the word of Jehovah they gave him the city that he requested, Timnathserah on mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and lived there.

nsb@Joshua:20:1 @ Jehovah spoke to Joshua, saying:

nsb@Joshua:20:2 @ Speak to the children of Israel and say: »Designate cities of refuge just as Moses directed.

nsb@Joshua:20:4 @ »When you flee to one of these cities you must go to the place of judgment at the entrance to the city, and explain to the leaders what happened. Then they will let you into the city and give you a place to live in, so that you can stay there.

nsb@Joshua:20:5 @ »If the one looking for revenge follows you there, the people of the city must not hand you over to that one. They must protect you because you killed the person accidentally and not out of anger.

nsb@Joshua:20:6 @ »You may stay in the city until you have received a public trial and until the death of the man who is then the High Priest. Then you may go back home to your own town, from which you had run away.«

nsb@Joshua:20:8 @ East of the Jordan, on the desert plateau east of Jericho, they chose Bezer in the territory of Reuben; Ramoth in Gilead, in the territory of Gad; and Golan in Bashan, in the territory of Manasseh.

nsb@Joshua:21:1 @ The leaders of the Levite families went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and to the heads of the families of all the tribes of Israel.

nsb@Joshua:21:2 @ There at Shiloh in the land of Canaan they said to them: »Jehovah commanded through Moses that we were to be given cities to live in, as well as pasture land around them for our livestock.«

nsb@Joshua:21:3 @ So in accordance with Jehovah’s command the people of Israel gave the Levites cities and pasturelands out of their own territories.

nsb@Joshua:21:4 @ The families of the Levite clan of Kohath were the first to be assigned cities. The families who were descended from Aaron the priest were assigned thirteen cities from the territories of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.

nsb@Joshua:21:5 @ The rest of the clan of Kohath was assigned ten cities from the territories of Ephraim, Dan, and West Manasseh.

nsb@Joshua:21:6 @ The clan of Gershon was assigned thirteen cities from the territories of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and East Manasseh in Bashan.

nsb@Joshua:21:7 @ The families of the clan of Merari were assigned twelve cities from the territories of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.

nsb@Joshua:21:8 @ By drawing lots, the people of Israel assigned these cities and their pasturelands to the Levites, as Jehovah commanded through Moses.

nsb@Joshua:21:9 @ These are the names of the cities from the territories of Judah and Simeon.

nsb@Joshua:21:10 @ These were given to the descendants of Aaron who were of the clan of Kohath and who were descended from Levi. Their assignment was the first to be made.

nsb@Joshua:21:12 @ The fields that were in the city and its towns had already been given to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession.

nsb@Joshua:21:13 @ In addition to Hebron, one of the cities of refuge, the following cities were assigned to the descendants of Aaron the priest: Libnah,

nsb@Joshua:21:17 @ From the territory of Benjamin they were given four cities: Gibeon, Geba,

nsb@Joshua:21:19 @ Thirteen cities in all, with pasturelands, were given to the priests, the descendants of Aaron.

nsb@Joshua:21:20 @ The other families of the Levite clan of Kohath were assigned some cities from the territory of Ephraim.

nsb@Joshua:21:23 @ From the territory of Dan they were given four cities: Eltekeh, Gibbethon,

nsb@Joshua:21:25 @ From the territory of West Manasseh they were given two cities: Taanach and Gathrimmon, with pasturelands.

nsb@Joshua:21:27 @ Another group of Levites, the clan of Gershon, received from the territory of East Manasseh two cities: Golan in Bashan, one of the cities of refuge, and Beeshterah, with pasturelands.

nsb@Joshua:21:28 @ From the territory of Issachar they received four cities: Kishion, Daberath,

nsb@Joshua:21:30 @ From the territory of Asher they received four cities: Mishal, Abdon,

nsb@Joshua:21:32 @ From the territory of Naphtali they received three cities: Kedesh in Galilee, with pasture lands, one of the cities of refuge, Hammoth-Dor, and Kartan, with pasturelands.

nsb@Joshua:21:33 @ The families of the clan of Gershon received a total of thirteen cities with pasturelands.

nsb@Joshua:21:34 @ The rest of the Levites, the clan of Merari, received from the territory of Zebulun four cities: Jokneam, Kartah,

nsb@Joshua:21:36 @ From the territory of Reuben they received four cities: Bezer, Jahaz,

nsb@Joshua:21:40 @ The clan of Merari was assigned a total of twelve cities.

nsb@Joshua:21:41 @ From the land that the people of Israel possessed, a total of forty-eight cities, with the pasturelands around them, was given to the Levites.

nsb@Joshua:21:42 @ Each of these towns had pasturelands surrounding it.

nsb@Joshua:21:43 @ Jehovah gave to Israel all the land that he had solemnly promised their ancestors he would give them. They took possession of it and settled down there.

nsb@Joshua:21:44 @ Jehovah granted them peace throughout the land. This is just as he had promised their ancestors. Not one of all their enemies was able to stand against them, because Jehovah gave the Israelites the victory over all their enemies.

nsb@Joshua:21:45 @ Jehovah kept every one of the promises he made to the people of Israel.

nsb@Joshua:22:1 @ Joshua called together the people of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh.

nsb@Joshua:22:2 @ He said: »You have done everything Jehovah’s servant Moses ordered you to do. You have obeyed all my commands.

nsb@Joshua:22:3 @ »You have never deserted the other Israelites. You have been careful to obey the commandments of Jehovah your God.

nsb@Joshua:22:4 @ »Jehovah your God has given the other Israelites peace as he promised. So go back home to the land you claimed for your own, the land on the east side of the Jordan, that Moses, Jehovah’s servant, gave you.

nsb@Joshua:22:5 @ »Be sure you obey the Law that Moses commanded you. Love Jehovah your God. Do his will. Obey his commandments and be faithful to him. Serve him with all your heart and with all your being.«

nsb@Joshua:22:7 @ To the one half tribe of Manasseh Moses had given possession in Bashan: but he gave the other half to Joshua among their brothers on this side Jordan westward. Joshua sent them a way to their tents and he blessed them.

nsb@Joshua:22:8 @ He said: »Return with much riches to your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brothers.«

nsb@Joshua:22:11 @ The children of Israel heard that the half tribe of Manasseh built an altar in the land of Canaan on the side belonging to the sons of Israel, at the Jordan when they passed by.

nsb@Joshua:22:12 @ When the people of Israel heard this, the whole community came together at Shiloh to go to war against the eastern tribes.

nsb@Joshua:22:13 @ Then the people of Israel sent Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest, to the people of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh in the land of Gilead.

nsb@Joshua:22:15 @ They came to the land of Gilead, to the people of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh,

nsb@Joshua:22:18 @ »Are you going to refuse to follow him now? If you rebel against Jehovah now, he will be angry with everyone in Israel.

nsb@Joshua:22:19 @ »If your land is not fit to worship in, come over into Jehovah’s land, where his Tabernacle is. Claim some land among us. But do not rebel against Jehovah or make rebels out of us by building an altar in addition to the altar of Jehovah our God.

nsb@Joshua:22:20 @ »Remember how Achan son of Zerah would not obey the command about the things condemned to destruction. The whole assembly of Israel was punished for that. Achan was not the only one who died because of his sin.

nsb@Joshua:22:22 @ »The Mighty, Divine One is God of Gods! He is Jehovah! The Mighty, Divine One is God of Gods! He is Jehovah! He knows why we did this, and we want you to know too! If we rebelled and did not keep faith with Jehovah, do not allow us to live any longer!

nsb@Joshua:22:23 @ »If we disobeyed Jehovah and built our own altar to burn sacrifices on or to use for grain offerings or fellowship offerings, let Jehovah himself punish us.

nsb@Joshua:22:24 @ »No! We did it because we were afraid that in the future your descendants would say to ours: What do you have to do with Jehovah, the God of Israel?

nsb@Joshua:22:25 @ »He made the Jordan a boundary between the people of Reuben and Gad and us. You have nothing to do with Jehovah. Then your descendants might make our descendants stop worshiping Jehovah.

nsb@Joshua:22:26 @ »We did not built an altar to burn sacrifices or make offerings,

nsb@Joshua:22:27 @ but instead, as a sign for our people and yours, and for the generations after us, that we do indeed worship Jehovah. We do this before his sacred Tabernacle with our offerings to be burned and with sacrifices and fellowship offerings. This was to keep your descendants from saying that ours have nothing to do with Jehovah.«

nsb@Joshua:22:28 @ »We thought that if this should ever happen, our descendants could say: ‘You see our ancestors made an altar just like Jehovah’s altar. It was not for burning offerings or for sacrifice, but as a sign for our people and yours.’«

nsb@Joshua:22:29 @ We would certainly not rebel against Jehovah or stop following him now by building an altar to burn offerings on or for grain offerings or sacrifices. We would not build any other altar than the altar of Jehovah our God that stands in front of the Tabernacle of his presence.

nsb@Joshua:22:30 @ Phinehas the priest and the ten leading men of the community with him, the heads of families of the western tribes, heard what the people of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh had to say, and they were satisfied.

nsb@Joshua:22:31 @ Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest, said to them: »We know that Jehovah is with us. You have not rebelled against him. So you have saved the people of Israel from Jehovah’s punishment.«

nsb@Joshua:22:32 @ Phinehas and the leaders left the people of Reuben and Gad in the land of Gilead and went back to Canaan, to the people of Israel, and reported to them.

nsb@Joshua:22:33 @ The Israelites were satisfied and praised God. They no longer talked about going to war to devastate the land where the people of Reuben and Gad had settled.

nsb@Joshua:22:34 @ The people of Reuben and Gad said: »This altar is a witness to all of us that Jehovah is God. Therefore they named it witness.«

nsb@Joshua:23:3 @ »You have seen everything Jehovah your God has done to all these nations because of you. Jehovah your God fights for you.

nsb@Joshua:23:4 @ »I have assigned as the possession of your tribes the land of the nations that are still left, as well as of all the nations that I have already conquered, from the Jordan River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.

nsb@Joshua:23:6 @ »Be careful to obey and do everything that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses. Do not neglect any of it.

nsb@Joshua:23:7 @ »You will not associate with these peoples left among you or speak the names of their gods or use those names in taking vows or worship those gods or bow down to them.

nsb@Joshua:23:8 @ »Remain faithful to Jehovah, as you have been until now.

nsb@Joshua:23:9 @ »Jehovah has driven great and powerful nations from before you. No one has ever been able to stand against you.

nsb@Joshua:23:11 @ »Take heed of yourselves to love Jehovah your God.

nsb@Joshua:23:14 @ »It is time for me to die. Every one of you knows in his heart and very being that Jehovah your God has given you all the good things he promised. Every promise he made has been kept; not one has failed.

nsb@Joshua:23:15 @ »Just as he kept every promise that he made to you, so he will carry out every threat.

nsb@Joshua:23:16 @ »If you do not obey the covenant Jehovah your God commanded you to obey and if you serve and worship other gods, then in his anger he will punish you. Soon none of you will be left in this good land that he gave you.«

nsb@Joshua:24:1 @ Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel together at Shechem. He called the elders, the leaders, the judges, and the officers of Israel, and they came to the presence of God.

nsb@Joshua:24:2 @ Joshua said to all the people: »This is what Jehovah, the God of Israel says: ‘Long ago your ancestors lived on the other side of the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. One of those ancestors was Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor.

nsb@Joshua:24:3 @ »‘I took Abraham, your ancestor, from the land across the Euphrates and led him through the whole land of Canaan. I gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac,

nsb@Joshua:24:4 @ and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave Esau the hill country of Edom as his possession, but your ancestor Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.

nsb@Joshua:24:6 @ »‘I brought your ancestors out of Egypt, and the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and cavalry. When your ancestors got to the Red Sea

nsb@Joshua:24:7 @ they cried out to me for help. I put darkness between them and the Egyptians. I made the sea come rolling over the Egyptians and drown them. You know what I did to Egypt. You lived in the desert a long time.

nsb@Joshua:24:8 @ »‘I brought you to the land of the Amorites, who lived on the east side of the Jordan. They fought you, but I gave you victory over them. You took their land. I destroyed them as you advanced.

nsb@Joshua:24:9 @ »‘The king of Moab, Balak son of Zippor, fought against you. He sent word to Balaam son of Beor and asked him to put a curse on you.

nsb@Joshua:24:10 @ »‘But I would not listen to Balaam, so he blessed you, and in this way I rescued you from Balak.

nsb@Joshua:24:11 @ »‘You crossed the Jordan and traveled to Jericho. The men of Jericho fought you, as did the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. I gave you victory over all of them.

nsb@Joshua:24:12 @ »‘You advanced and I threw them into panic in order to drive out the two Amorite kings. Your swords and bows had nothing to do with it.

nsb@Joshua:24:14 @ »‘Honor Jehovah and serve him sincerely and in truth. Get rid of the gods that your ancestors used to worship in Mesopotamia and in Egypt, and serve only Jehovah.

nsb@Joshua:24:15 @ »‘If you are not willing to serve him, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your ancestors worshiped in Mesopotamia or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are now living. As for my family and me, we will serve Jehovah.’«

nsb@Joshua:24:16 @ The people replied: »We would never leave Jehovah to serve other gods!

nsb@Joshua:24:18 @ »As we advanced to this land, Jehovah drove out all the Amorites who lived here. We also will serve Jehovah. He is our God!«

nsb@Joshua:24:19 @ Joshua said to the people: »You may not be able to serve Jehovah. He is a holy God and will not forgive your sins. He will tolerate no rivals,

nsb@Joshua:24:20 @ and if you leave him to serve foreign gods, he will turn against you and punish you. He will destroy you, even though he was good to you before.«

nsb@Joshua:24:21 @ The people said to Joshua: »No! We will serve Jehovah!«

nsb@Joshua:24:22 @ Joshua replied: »You are your own witnesses to the fact that you have chosen to serve Jehovah.« They said: »We are witnesses!«

nsb@Joshua:24:23 @ »Remove the foreign gods you have.« He demanded: »Pledge your loyalty to Jehovah, the God of Israel.«

nsb@Joshua:24:24 @ The people said to Joshua: »We will serve Jehovah our God. We will obey his commands.«

nsb@Joshua:24:25 @ Joshua made a covenant for the people that day at Shechem. He gave them laws and rules to follow.

nsb@Joshua:24:26 @ Joshua wrote these commands in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up under the oak tree in Jehovah’s sanctuary.

nsb@Joshua:24:27 @ He told the people: »This stone will serve as our witness. It has heard all the words that Jehovah spoke to us. So it will be a witness against you, to keep you from rebelling against your God.«

nsb@Joshua:24:28 @ Joshua sent the people away, and everyone returned to their own part of the land.

nsb@Joshua:24:31 @ As long as Joshua lived, the people of Israel served Jehovah. After his death they continued to do so as long as those leaders were alive who had seen for themselves everything Jehovah had done for Israel.

nsb@Joshua:24:33 @ Eleazar son of Aaron died and was buried at Gibeah, the town in the hill country of Ephraim that had been given to his son Phinehas.

nsb@Judges:1:1 @ After the death of Joshua, the children of Israel asked Jehovah, saying: »Who will go first to fight against the Canaanites for us?«

nsb@Judges:1:2 @ Jehovah said: »Judah will go up. I have delivered the land into his hand.«

nsb@Judges:1:3 @ Judah said to Simeon his brother: »Come up with me to my allotted territory that we may fight against the Canaanites. I likewise will go with you to your territory.« So Simeon went with him.

nsb@Judges:1:4 @ Judah went up and Jehovah delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand. They killed ten thousand men at Bezek.

nsb@Judges:1:6 @ Adoni-bezek fled and they chased him, caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his big toes.

nsb@Judges:1:7 @ And Adoni-bezek said: »Seventy kings with their big toes cut off have gathered food scrapes under my table. God has repaid me for what I have done.« So they brought him to Jerusalem where he died.

nsb@Judges:1:8 @ The children of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it. They put it to the sword and set the city on fire.

nsb@Judges:1:9 @ Afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites, that lived in the mountain, and in the south, and in the valley.

nsb@Judges:1:12 @ Caleb said: »He that attacks Kirjath-sepher, and captures it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter for a wife.«

nsb@Judges:1:13 @ Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter for a wife.

nsb@Judges:1:14 @ When she came to him she persuaded him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey Caleb said to her: »What do you wish?«

nsb@Judges:1:16 @ The children of the Kenite, Moses’ father-in-law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah to the wilderness of Judah, which lies in the south of Arad to live with the people.

nsb@Judges:1:18 @ Judah took Gaza with its territory, and Ashkelon with its territory as well as Ekron with its territory.

nsb@Judges:1:20 @ They gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had promised and he expelled the three sons of Anak.

nsb@Judges:1:21 @ The children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem. The Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.

nsb@Judges:1:23 @ The house of Joseph sent men to spy out Bethel.

nsb@Judges:1:24 @ The spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said to him: »Show us the entrance into the city, and we will show you mercy.«

nsb@Judges:1:25 @ When he showed them the entrance into the city, they struck the city with the edge of the sword. But spared the man and all his family.

nsb@Judges:1:26 @ The man went into the land of the Hittites and built a city. He called it Luz, which is its name this day.

nsb@Judges:1:27 @ Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites wanted to live in that land.

nsb@Judges:1:28 @ When Israel was strong they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor. They did not completely drive them out.

nsb@Judges:1:33 @ Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth-anath; but he lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of Beth-anath became forced laborers to them.

nsb@Judges:1:34 @ And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain. They would not allow them to come down to the valley.

nsb@Judges:1:36 @ The boundary of the Amorites was from the Ascent to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.

nsb@Judges:2:1 @ An angel of Jehovah came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said: »I led you out of Egypt and brought you to the land about which I swore to your fathers that I would never break my covenant with you.

nsb@Judges:2:4 @ When the angel of Jehovah spoke these words to all the children of Israel the people wept loudly.

nsb@Judges:2:5 @ They called that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there to Jehovah.

nsb@Judges:2:6 @ When Joshua let the people go the children of Israel went, every man, to his inheritance to possess the land.

nsb@Judges:2:10 @ After those generations were gathered to their fathers another generation followed them. This new generation did not know Jehovah or the works he had done for Israel.

nsb@Judges:2:12 @ They forsook Jehovah God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt. They followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them. They bowed to them and provoked Jehovah to anger.

nsb@Judges:2:14 @ The anger of Jehovah was hot against Israel. He delivered them into the hands of raiders who plundered them. He sold them to their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.

nsb@Judges:2:15 @ Wherever they went the hand of Jehovah was against them for evil. For Jehovah had sworn to them and as Jehovah had sworn they were greatly distressed.

nsb@Judges:2:17 @ Yet they would not listen to their judges, but prostituted themselves to other gods. They worshiped them. They turned quickly, out of the way in which their fathers walked obeying the commandments of Jehovah.

nsb@Judges:2:19 @ When the judge was dead they returned and corrupted themselves more than their fathers. They followed other gods to serve them, and to bow down to them. They did not give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.

nsb@Judges:2:20 @ The anger of Jehovah was hot against Israel. He said: »Because this people have transgressed my covenant, which I commanded their fathers, and have not listened to my voice;

nsb@Judges:2:22 @ »That through them I may test Israel, to see whether they will keep the way of Jehovah and walk in it as their fathers did.«

nsb@Judges:2:23 @ Therefore Jehovah left those nations, without driving them out. He did not deliver them into the hand of Joshua.

nsb@Judges:3:1 @ Now these are the nations that Jehovah left to test the Israelites who had not known all the wars of Canaan.

nsb@Judges:3:2 @ He did this to teach warfare to the generations of the children of Israel who had not had previous battle experience.

nsb@Judges:3:4 @ They were to be a test for Israel. This would find out whether or not the Israelites would obey the commandments that Jehovah gave their ancestors through Moses.

nsb@Judges:3:8 @ Jehovah became angry at Israel and let King Cushan Rishathaim of Mesopotamia conquer them. They were subject to him for eight years.

nsb@Judges:3:9 @ The Israelites cried out to Jehovah, and he sent someone to free them. This was Othniel, the son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz.

nsb@Judges:3:10 @ The Spirit of Jehovah came upon him, and he became Israel’s leader. Othniel went to war, and Jehovah gave him the victory over the king of Mesopotamia.

nsb@Judges:3:14 @ The Israelites were subject to Eglon for eighteen years.

nsb@Judges:3:15 @ Then the Israelites cried out to Jehovah. So he sent someone to free them. This was Ehud, a left-handed man, who was the son of Gera, from the tribe of Benjamin. The people of Israel sent Ehud to King Eglon of Moab with gifts for him.

nsb@Judges:3:17 @ He took the gifts to Eglon, who was a very fat man.

nsb@Judges:3:18 @ When Ehud gave him the gifts, he told the men who carried them to go back home.

nsb@Judges:3:19 @ But Ehud turned back at the carved stones near Gilgal, went back to Eglon, and said: »Your Majesty, I have a secret message for you.« So the king ordered his servants: »Leave us alone!« Then they all went out.

nsb@Judges:3:20 @ The king was sitting there alone in his cool room on the roof. Ehud went over to him and said: »I have a message from God for you.« The king stood up.

nsb@Judges:3:21 @ With his left hand Ehud took the sword from his right side and plunged it into the king’s belly.

nsb@Judges:3:24 @ Then he left. The servants came and saw that the doors to the upstairs room were locked. They only thought that the king was inside, relieving himself.

nsb@Judges:3:25 @ They waited as long as they thought they should. When he still did not open the door, they took the key and opened it. There lying dead on the floor was their master.

nsb@Judges:3:26 @ Ehud got away while they were waiting. He went past the carved stones and escaped to Seirah.

nsb@Judges:3:27 @ When he arrived there in the hill country of Ephraim, he blew a trumpet to call the people of Israel to battle. Then he led them down from the hills.

nsb@Judges:3:28 @ He said to them: »Follow me! Jehovah has given you victory over your enemies, the Moabites.« So they followed Ehud and captured the place where the Moabites were to cross the Jordan. They did not allow anyone to cross.

nsb@Judges:3:31 @ The next leader was Shamgar son of Anath. He too rescued Israel, and did so by killing six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad.

nsb@Judges:4:3 @ Jabin had nine hundred iron chariots, and he ruled the people of Israel with cruelty and violence for twenty years. The people of Israel cried out to Jehovah for help.

nsb@Judges:4:5 @ She held court under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim. The children of Israel came to her for judgment.

nsb@Judges:4:6 @ She sent for Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh-naphtali, and said to him: »Has Jehovah the God of Israel commanded, saying: ‘Go and deploy troops at mount Tabor. Take ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?

nsb@Judges:4:7 @ »‘And I will lure Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into your hand.’«

nsb@Judges:4:8 @ Barak said to her: »If you will go with me, then I will go. If you will not go with me I will not go.«

nsb@Judges:4:9 @ She said: »I will surely go with you. Never the less there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking. For Jehovah will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.« Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.

nsb@Judges:4:10 @ Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men under his command. Deborah went with him.

nsb@Judges:4:12 @ They showed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone to mount Tabor.

nsb@Judges:4:13 @ Sisera gathered together all his nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the nations to the Kishon River.

nsb@Judges:4:14 @ Deborah said to Barak: »Get up, for this is the day in which Jehovah has delivered Sisera into your hand. Jehovah has gone out before you.« So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him.

nsb@Judges:4:16 @ But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the army to Harosheth-Hagoyim. All of Sisera’s army fell by the edge of the sword. Not one person was left.

nsb@Judges:4:17 @ Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite. There was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.

nsb@Judges:4:18 @ Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said to him: »Come my lord, come right in. Do not be afraid.« When he came in to her tent, she covered him with a mantle.

nsb@Judges:4:19 @ He said to her: »Please give me a little water to drink for I am thirsty.« She opened a jug of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.

nsb@Judges:4:20 @ Again he said: »Stand at the door of the tent. When any man comes to inquire and asks: ‘Is there a man here?’ Say: »No.« ’«

nsb@Judges:4:21 @ Then Jael Heber’s wife picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went to him while he was fast asleep and drove the peg into his temple and it went down into the ground. He was fast asleep and weary. So he died.

nsb@Judges:4:22 @ Barak pursued Sisera and Jael came out to meet him. She said to him: »Come, and I will show you the man whom you seek.« He went to her tend and saw Sisera lay dead with the peg in his temple.

nsb@Judges:5:2 @ »Praise Jehovah! The Israelites were determined to fight. The people gladly volunteered.

nsb@Judges:5:3 @ »Listen, you kings! Pay attention, you rulers! I will sing and play music to Israel’s God, Jehovah.

nsb@Judges:5:7 @ »The towns of Israel were abandoned. They stood empty until I Deborah came, came like a mother for Israel.

nsb@Judges:5:11 @ »Listen! The noisy crowds around the wells are telling about Jehovah’s victories, the victories of Israel’s people! Then Jehovah’s people marched down from their cities.

nsb@Judges:5:13 @ »Then he made those who remain to dominate over the nobles among the people. Jehovah made me have dominion over the mighty.

nsb@Judges:5:14 @ »They came from Ephraim to the valley. They were behind the tribe of Benjamin and its people. The commanders came down from Machir. The officers came down from Zebulun.

nsb@Judges:5:15 @ »The leaders of Issachar came with Deborah. Issachar came and Barak too, and they followed him into the valley. But the tribe of Reuben was divided; they could not decide to come.

nsb@Judges:5:16 @ »Why did they stay behind with the sheep? Did they listen to shepherds calling the flocks? Yes, the tribe of Reuben was divided; they could not decide to come.

nsb@Judges:5:19 @ »The kings fought at Taanach, by the stream of Megiddo. The kings of Canaan fought, but they took no silver away.

nsb@Judges:5:23 @ »Curse Meroz, says Jehovah’s angel: Curse those who live there. They did not come to help Jehovah. They did not come as soldiers to fight for him.

nsb@Judges:5:26 @ »She took a tent peg in one hand and hammer in the other. She struck Sisera and crushed his skull. Yes, she pierced him through the head.

nsb@Judges:5:27 @ »He sank to his knees and fell down at her feet. At her feet he sank. He fell to the ground, dead.

nsb@Judges:5:28 @ »Sisera’s mother looked thru the window. From behind the lattice she looked. Why is his chariot so late in coming? She asked. Why are his horses so slow to return?

nsb@Judges:5:29 @ »The wisest of her ladies answered her, and she told herself over and over,

nsb@Judges:5:30 @ »They are finding things to capture and divide. They find a woman or two for every soldier, rich cloth for Sisera, embroidered pieces for the queen.

nsb@Judges:6:4 @ They camped on the land and destroyed the crops as far south as Gaza. They took all the sheep, cattle, and donkeys, and left nothing for the Israelites to live on.

nsb@Judges:6:5 @ They came with their livestock and tents, as thick as locusts. It was impossible to count the men and their camels. They entered the land and destroyed it.

nsb@Judges:6:7 @ The people of Israel cried out to Jehovah for help against the Midianites.

nsb@Judges:6:8 @ Then Jehovah sent a man, a prophet, to the Israelites. He said to them: »Jehovah, the God of Israel says, ‘It was I who brought you out of slavery in Egypt.

nsb@Judges:6:10 @ »‘I said to you: ‘I am Jehovah your God. You should not worship the gods of the Amorites, whose land you are now living in. But you have not listened to me.’«

nsb@Judges:6:11 @ The angel of Jehovah came to the village of Ophrah. He sat under the oak tree that belonged to Joash, a man of the clan of Abiezer. His son Gideon was secretly threshing wheat in a wine press, so that the Midianites would not see him.

nsb@Judges:6:12 @ Jehovah’s angel appeared to him there and said: »Jehovah is with you, mighty man of valor!«

nsb@Judges:6:13 @ Gideon said to him: »May I ask, sir, why has all this happened to us if Jehovah is with us? What happened to all the wonderful things that our fathers told us Jehovah used to do, how he brought them out of Egypt? Jehovah has abandoned us. He left us to the mercy of the Midianites.«

nsb@Judges:6:19 @ So Gideon went into his house and cooked a young goat and used a bushel of flour to make bread without any yeast. He put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot, brought them to Jehovah’s angel under the oak tree, and gave them to him.

nsb@Judges:6:20 @ The angel told him: »Put the meat and the bread on this rock, and pour the broth over them.« Gideon did so.

nsb@Judges:6:21 @ Jehovah’s angel reached out and touched the meat and the bread with the end of the stick he was holding. Fire came out of the rock and burned up the meat and the bread. Then the angel disappeared.

nsb@Judges:6:22 @ With that Gideon realized that it was Jehovah’s angel he saw. He said in terror: »Sovereign Lord Jehovah! I have seen your angel face-to-face!«

nsb@Judges:6:23 @ Jehovah told him: »Peace. Do not be afraid. You will not die.«

nsb@Judges:6:24 @ Gideon built an altar to Jehovah there and named it: »Jehovah is Peace.« It is still standing at Ophrah and belongs to the clan of Abiezer.

nsb@Judges:6:25 @ That night Jehovah told Gideon: »Take your father’s bull and another seven year old bull, tear down your father’s altar to Baal, and cut down the symbol of the goddess Asherah, that is beside it.

nsb@Judges:6:26 @ »Build a well-constructed altar to Jehovah your God on top of this mound. Take the second bull and burn it as a whole offering. Cut down the symbol of Asherah and use it for firewood.«

nsb@Judges:6:27 @ So Gideon took ten of his servants and did what Jehovah instructed him to do. He was afraid of his family and the people in town, so he did it at night.

nsb@Judges:6:28 @ The people in town got up early the next morning. They found that the altar to Baal and the symbol of Asherah had been cut down. The second bull had been burned on the altar that was built there.

nsb@Judges:6:30 @ They said to Joash: »Bring your son here. We will kill him!« He tore down the altar to Baal and cut down the symbol of Asherah!

nsb@Judges:6:31 @ Joash replied: »Are you arguing for Baal? Are you defending him? Anyone who argues for him will be killed before morning. If Baal really is a god he can defend himself. It is his altar that was torn down.«

nsb@Judges:6:32 @ From then on Gideon was known as Jerubbaal, because Joash said: »Let Baal defend himself for his altar was torn down.«

nsb@Judges:6:34 @ The Spirit of Jehovah took control of Gideon. He blew a trumpet to call the men of the clan of Abiezer to follow him.

nsb@Judges:6:35 @ He sent messengers throughout the territory of both parts of Manasseh to call them to follow him. He sent messengers to the tribes of Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they also came to join him.

nsb@Judges:6:36 @ Gideon said to God: »You have said you will rescue Israel using me.

nsb@Judges:6:37 @ »Look I will place wool on the threshing floor where we thresh the wheat. If in the morning there is dew only on the wool but not on the ground, I will know that you are going to use me to rescue Israel.«

nsb@Judges:6:38 @ That is what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the wool and wrung enough dew out of it to fill a bowl with water.

nsb@Judges:6:39 @ Then Gideon said to God: »Do not be angry with me. Allow me to speak just once more. Please let me make one more test with the wool. This time let the wool be dry, and the ground wet.«

nsb@Judges:7:1 @ Gideon and all his men got up early and camped beside Harod Spring. The Midianite camp was in the valley to the north of them by Moreh Hill.

nsb@Judges:7:2 @ Jehovah said to Gideon: »The men you have are too many for me to give them victory over the Midianites. They might think that they had won by themselves and not give me credit.

nsb@Judges:7:3 @ »Announce to the people: ‘Anyone who is afraid should go back home.’ We will stay here at Mount Gilead. Twenty-two thousand went back, but ten thousand stayed.’«

nsb@Judges:7:4 @ Jehovah said to Gideon: »You still have too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will separate them for you. If I tell you a man should go with you, he will go. If I tell you a man should not go with you, he will not go.«

nsb@Judges:7:5 @ Gideon took the men to the water. Jehovah told him: »Separate everyone who laps up the water with his tongue like a dog, from everyone who gets down on his knees to drink.«

nsb@Judges:7:6 @ There were three hundred men who scooped up water in their hands and lapped it. The others got down on their knees to drink.

nsb@Judges:7:7 @ Jehovah said: »I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Use the three hundred men who lapped the water. Tell everyone else to go home.«

nsb@Judges:7:9 @ That night Jehovah commanded Gideon: »Get up and attack the camp. I give you victory over it!

nsb@Judges:7:10 @ »If you are afraid to attack, go to the camp with your servant Purah.

nsb@Judges:7:11 @ »You will hear what they are saying, and then you will have the courage to attack.« Gideon and his servant Purah went to the edge of the enemy camp.

nsb@Judges:7:13 @ When Gideon arrived, he heard a man telling a friend about a dream. He was saying: »I dreamed that a loaf of barley bread rolled into our camp and hit a tent. The tent collapsed and lay flat on the ground.«

nsb@Judges:7:14 @ His friend responded: »This is nothing else but the sword of Gideon, the son of Joash. For God delivered Midian and its army to this man of Israel.«

nsb@Judges:7:15 @ When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation he worshiped God. He returned to the camp of Israel, and called out: »Arise! Jehovah has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand.«

nsb@Judges:7:16 @ He divided the three hundred men into three companies. He put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty jars, and lamps within the jars.

nsb@Judges:7:17 @ He said to them: »Look at me, and do as I do. When I come to the outside of the camp do the same as I do.

nsb@Judges:7:19 @ Gideon and the hundred men, who were with him, came to the outside of the camp. It was the beginning of the middle watch and they had just posted the new watch. They blew the trumpets, and broke the jars that were in their hands.

nsb@Judges:7:21 @ Every man stood in his place around the camp. The army ran, and cried, and fled.

nsb@Judges:7:22 @ The three hundred blew the trumpets. Jehovah set every man’s sword against his companions. They turned on each other throughout all the army. The army fled to Beth-shittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abel-meholah, to Tabbath.

nsb@Judges:7:23 @ The men of Israel gathered together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites.

nsb@Judges:7:24 @ Gideon sent messengers through all the hill country of Ephraim to say: »Come down and fight the Midianites! Hold the Jordan River and the streams as far as Bethbarah, to keep the Midianites from crossing them.« The men of Ephraim were called together, and they held the Jordan River and the streams as far as Bethbarah.

nsb@Judges:7:25 @ They captured the two Midianite chiefs, Oreb and Zeeb; they killed Oreb at Oreb Rock, and Zeeb at the Winepress of Zeeb. They continued to pursue the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was now east of the Jordan.

nsb@Judges:8:1 @ Then the people of Ephraim said to Gideon: »Why did you not call us when you went to fight the Midianites? Why did you treat us like this?« They complained bitterly about it.

nsb@Judges:8:2 @ He said: »What have I accomplished compared to you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi-ezer?

nsb@Judges:8:3 @ »God delivered the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, to you. What was I able to do in comparison to you?« Then their anger toward him subsided at what he said.

nsb@Judges:8:5 @ He said to the men of Succoth: »Give my troops some bread. They are tired. I am still pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.«

nsb@Judges:8:6 @ The princes of Succoth said: »Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?«

nsb@Judges:8:7 @ Gideon said: »When Jehovah delivers Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.«

nsb@Judges:8:8 @ He went up to Penuel and made the same request of them. The men of Penuel gave the same answer as the men of Succoth.

nsb@Judges:8:9 @ He spoke to the men of Penuel: »When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.«

nsb@Judges:8:15 @ Then Gideon went to the men of Sukkoth and said: »Remember when you refused to help me? You said that you could not give any food to my exhausted army because I had not captured Zebah and Zalmunna yet. Well, here they are!«

nsb@Judges:8:16 @ Then he took the elders of the town and had them crushed on a bed of thorns and sharp stems.

nsb@Judges:8:17 @ He tore down the tower at Penuel. He also killed the men of that city.

nsb@Judges:8:20 @ He said to Jether his firstborn: »Rise up and kill them.« But the youth would not draw his sword. He was afraid because he was still a youth.

nsb@Judges:8:21 @ Zebah and Zalmunna said to Gideon: »Kill us yourself. It takes a man to do this job.« Gideon killed them and took the ornaments that were on the necks of their camels.

nsb@Judges:8:22 @ The Israelites said to Gideon: »Be our ruler, you and your descendants after you. You saved us from the Midianites.«

nsb@Judges:8:24 @ He also said: »Let me ask one thing of you. Every one of you must give me the earrings you took.«

nsb@Judges:8:25 @ They answered: »We will gladly give them to you.« They spread out a cloth, and everyone put the earrings that he had taken on it.

nsb@Judges:8:27 @ Gideon made an idol from the gold and placed it in his hometown, Ophrah. The Israelites abandoned God and went there to worship the idol. It was a trap for Gideon and his family.

nsb@Judges:8:29 @ Gideon went back to his home and lived there.

nsb@Judges:8:32 @ Gideon son of Joash died at an old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash, at Ophrah. Ophrah was the town of the clan of Abiezer.

nsb@Judges:8:33 @ After Gideon’s death the people of Israel were unfaithful to God again. They worshiped the Baals. They made Baal-Berith their god.

nsb@Judges:8:35 @ They did not show kindness to the family of Gideon for all the good that he had done for Israel.

nsb@Judges:9:1 @ Gideon’s son Abimelech went to the town of Shechem. All his mother’s relatives lived there. He told them:

nsb@Judges:9:2 @ »Ask the men of Shechem: ‘Which is better for you. To have all seventy of Gideon’s sons govern you or to have just one man? Remember that Abimelech is your own flesh and blood.’«

nsb@Judges:9:3 @ His mother’s relatives talked to the men of Shechem about this for him. The men of Shechem decided to follow Abimelech because: »He is our relative.«

nsb@Judges:9:4 @ They gave him seventy pieces of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith. Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men to join him.

nsb@Judges:9:5 @ He went to his father’s house at Ophrah. There on top of a single stone he killed his seventy brothers, Gideon’s sons. Gideon’s youngest son Jotham hid and therefore was not killed.

nsb@Judges:9:6 @ All the men of Shechem and Bethmillo got together and went to the sacred oak tree at Shechem, where they made Abimelech king.

nsb@Judges:9:7 @ Jotham heard about this. He stood on top of Mount Gerizim and shouted out to them: »Men of Shechem, listen to me and God may listen to you!

nsb@Judges:9:8 @ »The trees went out to anoint a king over them. They said to the olive tree: ‘Be our king.’

nsb@Judges:9:9 @ »‘The olive tree answered: ‘I would have to stop producing my oil in order to govern you. My oil is used to honor gods and human beings.’

nsb@Judges:9:10 @ »‘Then the trees said to the fig tree: ‘Come and be our king.’

nsb@Judges:9:11 @ »‘The fig tree replied: ‘I would have to stop producing my good sweet fruit that I may govern you.’

nsb@Judges:9:12 @ »‘Then the trees spoke to the grapevine: ‘You come and be our king.’

nsb@Judges:9:13 @ »‘But the vine answered: ‘I could not govern you for I would have to stop producing my wine. It makes gods and human beings happy.’

nsb@Judges:9:14 @ »‘So then all the trees said to the thorn bush: ‘You come and be our king!«

nsb@Judges:9:15 @ »‘The thorn bush answered: ‘If you really want to make me your king, then come and take shelter in my shade. If you do not, fire will blaze out of my thorny branches and burn up the cedars of Lebanon.’

nsb@Judges:9:17 @ »‘My father fought for you. He risked his life to deliver you from the Midianites.

nsb@Judges:9:18 @ »‘Today you turned against my father’s family. You killed his sons, seventy men on a single stone. And this because Abimelech, his son by his servant woman, is your relative, you have made him king of Shechem.

nsb@Judges:9:19 @ »‘If you have acted in truth and sincerity today to Gideon and his family then be happy with Abimelech and let him be happy with you.

nsb@Judges:9:21 @ Jotham ran away to Beer and lived there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

nsb@Judges:9:24 @ That the cruelty done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might be avenged on their brother Abimelech. For he killed them and the men of Shechem helped him kill his brother.

nsb@Judges:9:25 @ And the men of Shechem set men in ambush on the top of the mountains. They robbed all who came along that way. This was reported to Abimelech.

nsb@Judges:9:26 @ Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.

nsb@Judges:9:27 @ They all went to their vineyards and picked the grapes. Then they made wine from them, and held a festival. They went to the temple of their god, where they ate and drank and made fun of Abimelech.

nsb@Judges:9:28 @ Gaal said: »Who is Abimelech and who is Schechem that we should serve them? Who is he? The son of Gideon! And Zebul takes orders from him, but why should we serve him? Be loyal to your ancestor Hamor, the one who founded your clan!

nsb@Judges:9:29 @ »If I were leading this people I would get rid of Abimelech! I would tell him to: call out your army, come on out and fight!«

nsb@Judges:9:31 @ He sent messengers to Abimelech at Arumah. They said: »Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem. They are not going to let you enter into the city.

nsb@Judges:9:34 @ Abimelech and all his troops, in four companies, took up concealed positions at night against Shechem.

nsb@Judges:9:36 @ Gaal saw them and said to Zebul: »There are men coming down from the mountaintops!« Zebul answered: »They are not men. They are only shadows on the mountains.«

nsb@Judges:9:37 @ Gaal responded: »Do you see? There are men coming down from the top of the mountain. Some are coming along the road from the big tree of Meonenim!«

nsb@Judges:9:38 @ Zebul said to him: »Where is all your big talk now? You asked why we should serve this man Abimelech. These are the men you made fun of. You go fight them!«

nsb@Judges:9:39 @ Gaal led the men of Shechem out to fight Abimelech.

nsb@Judges:9:42 @ The next day it was reported to Abimelech that the people of Shechem were planning to go out into the fields.

nsb@Judges:9:43 @ He divided his men into three groups. They hid in the fields, waiting. When he saw the people come out of the city, he came out of hiding to kill them.

nsb@Judges:9:44 @ Abimelech and his group rushed forward to guard the city gate. The other two companies attacked the people in the fields and killed all of them.

nsb@Judges:9:45 @ The fighting lasted all day. Abimelech captured the city and killed its people. He tore down the city and covered the ground with salt.

nsb@Judges:9:48 @ He traveled up to Mount Zalmon with his men. He took an ax, cut a limb off a tree, and put it on his shoulder. He told his men to hurry and do the same thing.

nsb@Judges:9:50 @ Then Abimelech went to Thebez. They surrounded that city, and captured it.

nsb@Judges:9:51 @ There was a strong tower there. The men and women in the city, including the leaders, ran to it. They locked themselves in and went up to the roof.

nsb@Judges:9:52 @ When Abimelech attacked the tower he went to the door to set the tower on fire.

nsb@Judges:9:53 @ A woman threw a millstone down on his head and fractured his skull.

nsb@Judges:9:54 @ He quickly called the young man who was carrying his weapons and told him: »Draw your sword and kill me. I do not want it said that a woman killed me.« The young man ran him through with his sword and he died.

nsb@Judges:10:1 @ After Abimelech died Tola, the son of Puah and grandson of Dodo, came to save Israel. He was from the tribe of Issachar and lived at Shamir in the mountains of Ephraim.

nsb@Judges:10:3 @ After Tola came Jair from Gilead. He judged Israel for twenty-two years.

nsb@Judges:10:6 @ Once again the Israelites did evil against Jehovah by worshiping the Baals and the Astartes. They also worshiped the gods of Syria, of Sidon, of Moab, of Ammon, and of the Philistines. They abandoned Jehovah and stopped worshiping him.

nsb@Judges:10:7 @ The anger of Jehovah burned against Israel. So he allowed the Philistines and the Ammonites to conquer them.

nsb@Judges:10:9 @ The Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. Israel was greatly distressed.

nsb@Judges:10:10 @ The children of Israel cried out to Jehovah: »We sinned against you. We left our God and served the Baals.«

nsb@Judges:10:12 @ »Did I save you from the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites? They oppressed you and you cried out to me.

nsb@Judges:10:13 @ »You still left me and worshiped other gods. I am not going to rescue you again.

nsb@Judges:10:14 @ »Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen! Let them save you in your time of trouble.«

nsb@Judges:10:15 @ But the people of Israel said to Jehovah: »We have sinned. Do to us what seems best to you, only please, save us today!«

nsb@Judges:10:18 @ There the people and the leaders of Gilead asked one another: »Who is the man to lead the fight against the Ammonites? Whoever does will be the leader of everyone in Gilead.«

nsb@Judges:11:2 @ They had other sons by his wife, and when they grew up, they forced Jephthah to leave home. They told him: »You will have no inheritance from our father for you are the son of another woman.«

nsb@Judges:11:3 @ Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob. There a group of worthless men joined with him and they went around together.

nsb@Judges:11:4 @ After time passed the Ammonites went to war against Israel.

nsb@Judges:11:5 @ When this war occurred, the leaders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah back from the land of Tob.

nsb@Judges:11:7 @ Jephthah answered: »You hated me so much that you forced me to leave my father’s house. Why have you come to me now that you are in trouble?«

nsb@Judges:11:8 @ They replied: »We turn to you now because we want you to go with us and fight the Ammonites and lead all the people of Gilead.«

nsb@Judges:11:9 @ Jephthah said: »If you take me back home to fight the Ammonites and Jehovah gives me victory, will I be your ruler?«

nsb@Judges:11:12 @ Jephthah sent messengers to the king of Ammon. He said: »What do you have against us that you want to fight us? Why have you invaded our country?«

nsb@Judges:11:13 @ The king of Ammon answered Jephthah’s messengers: »Because Israel took away our land when they came out of Egypt. They took land from the Arnon River to the Jabbok River and the Jordan River. Now you must give it back peacefully.«

nsb@Judges:11:14 @ Jephthah sent messengers back to the king of Ammon.

nsb@Judges:11:15 @ This was his answer: »It is not true that Israel took away the land of Moab or the land of Ammon.

nsb@Judges:11:16 @ »It happened this way: ‘when the Israelites left Egypt, they went through the desert to the Gulf of Aqaba and came to Kadesh.

nsb@Judges:11:17 @ »‘They sent messengers to the king of Edom to ask permission to go through his land. But the king of Edom would not let them. They also asked the king of Moab, but he would not let them go through his land. So the people of Israel stayed at Kadesh.

nsb@Judges:11:18 @ »‘Then they went through the desert around the land of Edom and the land of Moab until they came to the east side of Moab, on the other side of the Arnon River. They camped there, but they did not cross the Arnon because it was the boundary of Moab.

nsb@Judges:11:19 @ »‘The people of Israel sent messengers to Sihon, the Amorite king of Heshbon. They asked him for permission to go through his country to their own land.

nsb@Judges:11:20 @ »‘But Sihon refused to let Israel do it. He brought his whole army together, camped at Jahaz, and attacked Israel.

nsb@Judges:11:21 @ »‘Jehovah, the God of Israel, gave the people of Israel victory over Sihon and his army. So the people of Israel took possession of all the territory of the Amorites who lived in that country.

nsb@Judges:11:22 @ »‘They occupied all the Amorite territory from the Arnon in the south to the Jabbok in the north and from the desert on the east to the Jordan on the west.

nsb@Judges:11:24 @ »‘Are you going to try to take it back? You can keep whatever your god Chemosh has given you. But we are going to keep everything Jehovah, our God, has taken for us.

nsb@Judges:11:26 @ »‘Israel has occupied Heshbon and Aroer for three hundred years, and the towns around them, and all the cities on the banks of the Arnon River. Why did you not retake them during that time?

nsb@Judges:11:27 @ »‘I have not done you any wrong. You are doing wrong to me by making war on me. Jehovah is the judge. He will decide today between the Israelites and the Ammonites.’«

nsb@Judges:11:28 @ The king of Ammon paid no attention to this message from Jephthah.

nsb@Judges:11:29 @ The Spirit of Jehovah came upon Jephthah. He went through Gilead and Manasseh and returned to Mizpah in Gilead and went on to Ammon.

nsb@Judges:11:30 @ Jephthah promised Jehovah: »If you give me victory over the Ammonites,

nsb@Judges:11:31 @ »I will sacrifice with a burnt offering the first person that comes out of my house to meet me, when I return from the victory. I will offer that person to you as a sacrifice.« (Jeremiah strkjv@19:5)

nsb@Judges:11:32 @ Jephthah crossed the river to fight the Ammonites, and Jehovah gave him victory.

nsb@Judges:11:33 @ He struck at them from Aroer to the area around Minnith, twenty cities in all, and as far as Abel Keramim. It was a great slaughter. The Ammonites were defeated by Israel.

nsb@Judges:11:34 @ Jephthah went back home to Mizpah. His daughter came out to meet him, dancing and playing the tambourine. She was his only child.

nsb@Judges:11:35 @ When he saw her, he ripped his clothes in sorrow and said: »Oh, my daughter! My heart is breaking! Why must it be you? I have made a solemn promise to Jehovah, and I cannot take it back!«

nsb@Judges:11:36 @ She said: »If you made a promise to Jehovah, do what you said you would do to me, since Jehovah has given you revenge on your enemies, the Ammonites.«

nsb@Judges:11:37 @ She asked her father: »Do this for me. Leave me alone for two months, so that I can go with my friends to wander in the mountains and grieve that I must die a virgin.«

nsb@Judges:11:38 @ He sent her away for two months. She and her friends went up into the mountains and grieved because she was going to die unmarried and childless.

nsb@Judges:11:39 @ She returned to her father after two months. He did what he had promised Jehovah, and she died still a virgin. This was the origin of the custom in Israel.

nsb@Judges:11:40 @ The Israelite women would go out for four days every year to grieve for the daughter of Jephthah of Gilead.

nsb@Judges:12:1 @ The men of Ephraim were ready for battle. They crossed the Jordan River to Zaphon and said to Jephthah: »Why did you cross the border to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We are going to burn the house down over your head!«

nsb@Judges:12:3 @ »When I realized you were not going to, I risked my life and crossed the border to fight them. Jehovah gave me victory over them. Why are you coming to fight me now?«

nsb@Judges:12:4 @ Jephthah brought all the men of Gilead together and fought the men of Ephraim and defeated them.

nsb@Judges:12:5 @ To keep the Ephraimites from escaping, the Gileadites captured the places where the Jordan could be crossed. When any Ephraimite who was trying to escape would ask permission to cross, the men of Gilead would ask: »Are you an Ephraimite?« If he said: »No,«

nsb@Judges:12:6 @ they would tell him to say »Shibboleth.« But he would say »Sibboleth,« because he could not pronounce it correctly. Then they would kill him at the Jordan River crossing. Forty-two thousand of the Ephraimites were killed.

nsb@Judges:12:7 @ Jephthah led Israel for six years. Then he died and was buried in his hometown in Gilead.

nsb@Judges:12:9 @ He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He gave his daughters in marriage outside the clan and brought thirty young women from outside the clan for his sons to marry. Ibzan led Israel for seven years,

nsb@Judges:12:12 @ He died and was buried at Aijalon in the territory of Zebulun.

nsb@Judges:12:15 @ Abdon died and was buried at Pirathon in the territory of Ephraim in the mountains of the Amalekites.

nsb@Judges:13:2 @ There was a man named Manoah from the town of Zorah. He was a member of the tribe of Daniel. His wife was not able to have children.

nsb@Judges:13:3 @ Jehovah’s angel appeared to her and said: »You have not been able to have children, but you will become pregnant and have a son.

nsb@Judges:13:5 @ »After your son is born never cut his hair. This is because from the day of his birth he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite. He will begin the work of delivering Israel from the Philistines.«

nsb@Judges:13:6 @ Then the woman told her husband: »A man of God came to me. He looked as frightening as the angel of God. I did not ask him where he came from, and he did not tell me his name.

nsb@Judges:13:7 @ »He told me I would become pregnant and have a son. He told me: ‘Do not drink any wine or beer, or eat any forbidden food. This is because the boy is to be dedicated to God as a Nazirite as long as he lives.’«

nsb@Judges:13:8 @ Then Manoah prayed to Jehovah: »Please, Jehovah, let the man of God that you sent come back to teach us what we must do with the boy when he is born.«

nsb@Judges:13:9 @ God did what Manoah asked. His angel came back to the woman while she was in the field. Her husband Manoah was not with her,

nsb@Judges:13:10 @ She ran to tell him, »The man who came to me the other day appeared to me again.«

nsb@Judges:13:11 @ Manoah followed his wife to the man and asked, »Are you the man who talked to my wife?« »Yes,« he answered.

nsb@Judges:13:13 @ Jehovah’s angel answered: »Your wife must be sure to do everything I told her.

nsb@Judges:13:14 @ »She must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine. She must not drink any wine or beer, or eat any forbidden food. She must do everything I told her to do.«

nsb@Judges:13:16 @ The angel replied: »If I stay I will not eat your food. But if you want to prepare it, burn it as an offering to Jehovah.«

nsb@Judges:13:17 @ Manoah replied: »Tell us your name. We want to honor you when your words come true.«

nsb@Judges:13:18 @ The angel asked: »Why do you want to know my name? It is ‘Wonderful.’« (Isaiah strkjv@9:6)

nsb@Judges:13:19 @ So Manoah took a young goat and some grain, and offered them on the rock altar to Jehovah the God who works wonders.

nsb@Judges:13:20 @ While the flames were going up from the altar, Manoah and his wife saw Jehovah’s angel go up toward heaven in the flames. They did not see the angel again.

nsb@Judges:13:21 @ Manoah knew then that the man was Jehovah’s angel. He and his wife fell on their faces to the ground.

nsb@Judges:13:22 @ Manoah told his wife: »We will die, for we have seen God!«

nsb@Judges:13:23 @ His wife answered: »If Jehovah wanted to kill us he would not accept our offerings. He would not have shown us all this or told us these things.«

nsb@Judges:13:24 @ The woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson. The child grew and Jehovah blessed him.

nsb@Judges:14:1 @ One day Samson traveled to Timnah. He noticed a young Philistine woman.

nsb@Judges:14:2 @ He went home and told his father and mother: »A Philistine woman at Timnah caught my attention. Get her for me. I want to marry her.«

nsb@Judges:14:3 @ His father and mother asked him: »Why do you go to those heathen Philistines to get a wife? Can you not find someone in our own family or among all our people?« Samson told his father: »I like her! She is the one I want. Get her for me.«

nsb@Judges:14:4 @ His parents did not know Jehovah was leading Samson to do this. Jehovah was looking for an opportunity to fight the Philistines. At this time the Philistines were ruling Israel.

nsb@Judges:14:5 @ Samson went to Timnah with his father and mother. When they traveled through the vineyards he heard a young lion roaring.

nsb@Judges:14:6 @ Suddenly the power of Jehovah made Samson strong. He tore the lion apart with his bare hands, as if it were a young goat. But he did not tell his parents what he had done.

nsb@Judges:14:7 @ Then he went and talked to the young woman. He wanted her.

nsb@Judges:14:8 @ A few days later Samson returned to marry her. On the way he left the road to look at the lion he had killed. He found a swarm of bees and some honey inside the dead body.

nsb@Judges:14:9 @ He scraped the honey out into his hands and ate it as he walked along. Then he went to his father and mother and gave them some. They ate it, but Samson did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the dead body of a lion.

nsb@Judges:14:10 @ Samson’s father went to the woman’s house. Samson gave a banquet there. This was a custom among the young men.

nsb@Judges:14:11 @ The Philistines saw him. They sent thirty companions to stay with him.

nsb@Judges:14:12 @ Samson said to them: »Let me tell you a riddle. If you can tell me the meaning before the seven days of the wedding feast are over, I will give each of you a piece of fine linen and a change of fine clothes.« »Tell us your riddle,« they said: »Let us hear it.«

nsb@Judges:14:14 @ He said: »Out of the eater came something to eat; Out of the strong came something sweet.« Three days later they still could not figure out the riddle.

nsb@Judges:14:15 @ On the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife: »Trick your husband into telling us what the riddle means. If you do not, we will burn your father’s house with you in it. Did you invite us here to rob us?«

nsb@Judges:14:16 @ Samson’s wife approached him in tears and said: »You do not love me! You just hate me! You told my friends a riddle and did not tell me it’s meaning!« He said: »I have not told my father and mother. Why should I tell you?«

nsb@Judges:14:17 @ She cried about it for the whole seven days of the feast. She nagged him so that on the seventh day he told her what the riddle meant. Then she told the Philistines.

nsb@Judges:14:18 @ On the seventh day, before Samson went into the bedroom, the men of the city said to him: »What could be sweeter than honey? What could be stronger than a lion?« Samson replied: »If you had not been plowing with my cow, you would not know the answer now.«

nsb@Judges:14:19 @ Suddenly the power of Jehovah made him strong. He went to Ashkelon, where he killed thirty men. He stripped them and gave their fine clothes to the men who had solved the riddle. He returned home, furious about what had happened.

nsb@Judges:14:20 @ His wife was given to his best man at the wedding.

nsb@Judges:15:1 @ Later Samson went to visit his wife during the wheat harvest and took her a young goat. He told her father: »Let me go to my wife in her room. But he would not let him go in.«

nsb@Judges:15:2 @ He told Samson: »I thought that you hated her, so I gave her to your friend. Her younger sister is prettier. You can have her, instead.«

nsb@Judges:15:3 @ Samson said: »This time I am not going to be responsible for what I do to the Philistines!«

nsb@Judges:15:4 @ He caught three hundred foxes. Two at a time, he tied their tails together and put torches in the knots.

nsb@Judges:15:5 @ Then he set fire to the torches and turned the foxes loose in the Philistine wheat fields. In this way he burned up both the shocks and the standing grain still in the fields. The olive orchards were also burned.

nsb@Judges:15:6 @ When the Philistines asked who had done this, they learned that Samson had done it because his father-in-law, a man from Timnah, had given Samson’s wife to a friend of Samson’s. So the Philistines burned the woman to death and burned down her father’s house.

nsb@Judges:15:7 @ Samson said to them: »This is how you act! I swear that I will not stop until I pay you back!«

nsb@Judges:15:9 @ The Philistines came and camped in Judah. They attacked the town of Lehi.

nsb@Judges:15:10 @ The men of Judah asked: »Why do you attack us?« They answered: »We came to take Samson prisoner and to treat him as he treated us.«

nsb@Judges:15:11 @ These three thousand men of Judah went to the cave in the cliff at Etam and said to Samson: »Do you know that the Philistines are our rulers? What did you do?« He answered: »I did to them just what they did to me.«

nsb@Judges:15:12 @ They replied: »We have come here to tie you up and hand you over to them.« Samson said: »Give me your word that you will not kill me.«

nsb@Judges:15:13 @ They said: »We are only going to tie you up and hand you over to them. We will not kill you.« So they tied him up with two new ropes and brought him back from the cliff.

nsb@Judges:15:14 @ When he got to Lehi, the Philistines shouted and ran toward him. Suddenly Jehovah’s power made him strong. He broke the ropes around his arms and hands as if they were burnt flax.

nsb@Judges:15:18 @ Samson became very thirsty. He called to Jehovah: »You gave me this great victory. Will I now die of thirst and be captured by these heathen Philistines?«

nsb@Judges:16:1 @ Samson went to the Philistine city of Gaza. He met a prostitute and went to bed with her.

nsb@Judges:16:3 @ However Samson stayed in bed until midnight. He got up and took hold of the city gate and pulled it up, doors, posts, lock, and all. He put them on his shoulders and carried them far off to the top of the hill overlooking Hebron.

nsb@Judges:16:5 @ The five Philistine kings said to her: »Entice Samson into telling you why he is so strong and how we can overpower him. Tie him up, and make him helpless. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.«

nsb@Judges:16:6 @ Delilah said to Samson: »Tell me what makes you so strong. How could you be subdued and tied up?«

nsb@Judges:16:9 @ She had some men waiting in another room, so she shouted: »Samson! The Philistines are coming!« But he snapped the bowstrings just as thread breaks when fire touches it. They still did not know the secret of his strength.

nsb@Judges:16:10 @ Delilah told Samson: »You made a fool of me. What is the truth? Please tell me how someone could tie you up.«

nsb@Judges:16:13 @ Delilah said to Samson: »You still make a fool of me. What is the truth? Tell me how someone could tie you up.« He told her: »If you weave my seven locks of hair into a loom, and make it tight with a peg, I will be weak.«

nsb@Judges:16:14 @ Delilah lulled him to sleep. She took his seven locks of hair and wove them into the loom. She made it tight with a peg and shouted: »Samson! The Philistines are coming!« He woke up and pulled his hair loose from the loom.

nsb@Judges:16:15 @ »How can you say you love me,« she asked: »when you do not mean it? You have made a fool of me three times. You still have not told me what makes you strong.«

nsb@Judges:16:17 @ So finally he told her the truth: »My hair has never been cut,« he said: »I have been dedicated to God as a Nazirite from the time I was born. I would lose my strength if my hair were cut.«

nsb@Judges:16:18 @ When Delilah realized that he told her the truth, she sent a message to the Philistine kings: »Come back one more time. He told me the truth. They came and brought the money with them.«

nsb@Judges:16:19 @ Delilah lulled Samson to sleep in her lap and called a man, who cut off Samson’s seven locks of hair. Then she tormented him, for he had lost his strength.

nsb@Judges:16:21 @ The Philistines captured him and put his eyes out. They took him to Gaza, chained him with copper chains. They put him to work grinding at the mill in the prison.

nsb@Judges:16:23 @ The Philistine kings met together to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon. They rejoiced and said: »Our god gave us victory over our enemy Samson!«

nsb@Judges:16:25 @ They forced him to stand between the columns. When the people saw him, they sang praise to their god: »Our god gave us victory over our enemy, who devastated our land and killed so many of us!«

nsb@Judges:16:26 @ Samson said to the boy who led him by the hand: »Let me touch the columns that hold up the building. I want to lean on them.«

nsb@Judges:16:29 @ Then Samson took hold of the two middle columns holding up the building. He put one hand on each column. He pushed against them.

nsb@Judges:16:31 @ His brothers and the rest of his family came to get his body. They took him back and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah. He had been Israel’s judge for twenty years.

nsb@Judges:17:2 @ He said to his mother: »When someone stole those eleven hundred pieces of silver from you, you put a curse on the robber. I heard you do it. Look, I have the money. I am the one who took it.« His mother said: »Jehovah blesses you.«

nsb@Judges:17:3 @ He gave the money back to his mother. She said: »To keep the curse from falling on my son, I myself solemnly dedicate the silver to Jehovah. It will be used to make a wooden idol covered with silver. Now I will give the pieces of silver back to you.«

nsb@Judges:17:4 @ He returned them to his mother. She took two hundred of the pieces of silver and gave them to a metalworker. The metalworker made an idol, carving it from wood and covering it with the silver. It was placed in Micah’s house.

nsb@Judges:17:6 @ In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did whatever he or she wanted to do.

nsb@Judges:17:7 @ There was a young Levite who had been living in the town of Bethlehem in Judah.

nsb@Judges:17:8 @ The man left Bethlehem to find another place to live. While he was traveling, he came to Micah’s house in the mountains of Ephraim.

nsb@Judges:17:9 @ Micah asked him: »Where do you come from?« He answered: »I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah. I need a place to live.«

nsb@Judges:17:11 @ The young Levite agreed to stay with Micah. He became like a son to him.

nsb@Judges:17:13 @ Micah said: »Now I know that Jehovah will be good to me, since I have a Levite as a priest.«

nsb@Judges:18:1 @ There was no king in Israel in those days. The tribe of Dan was looking for territory to claim and settle in because they had not yet received any land of their own among the tribes of Israel.

nsb@Judges:18:2 @ The people of Dan sent five qualified men out of all the families in the tribe from the towns of Zorah and Eshtaol with instructions to explore the land and spy on it. When they arrived in the mountains of Ephraim, they stayed at Micah’s house.

nsb@Judges:18:3 @ While they were at Micah’s house, they recognized the accent of the young Levite, so they went up to him and asked: What are you doing here? Who brought you here?

nsb@Judges:18:4 @ He answered: »Micah and I have an arrangement. He pays me to serve as his priest.«

nsb@Judges:18:5 @ They said to him: »Please ask God if our journey will be successful.«

nsb@Judges:18:7 @ So the five men left and traveled to the town of Laish. They saw how the people there lived in security like the Sidonians. They were a peaceful, quiet people, with no argument with anyone. They had all they needed. They lived far away from the Sidonians and had nothing to do with any other people.

nsb@Judges:18:8 @ When the five men returned to Zorah and Eshtaol, the people asked them what they found.

nsb@Judges:18:10 @ »When you go you will find a secure people who do not suspect a thing. It is a big country. God has given it to you and it has all you could want.«

nsb@Judges:18:13 @ They went from there to Micah’s house in the mountains of Ephraim.

nsb@Judges:18:14 @ The five men who had gone to spy on the country around Laish said to their companions: »Did you know that here in one of these houses there is a wooden idol covered with silver? There are also other idols and an ephod. Consider what you should do.«

nsb@Judges:18:15 @ They went into Micah’s house, where the young Levite lived. They greeted the Levite.

nsb@Judges:18:16 @ The six hundred soldiers from the tribe of Dan, ready for battle, stood at the gate.

nsb@Judges:18:17 @ The five spies went straight into the house. They took the wooden idol covered with silver, the other idols, and the ephod. The priest stayed at the gate with the six hundred armed men.

nsb@Judges:18:18 @ The men went into Micah’s house and took the sacred objects. The priest asked them: »What are you doing?«

nsb@Judges:18:19 @ They told him: »Be quiet. Do not say a word. Come with us and be our priest and adviser. Is it better for you to be a priest to the house of one man, or to be a priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?«

nsb@Judges:18:20 @ This filled the priest with joy. He took the sacred objects and went along with them.

nsb@Judges:18:21 @ They turned around and started off, with their children, their livestock, and their belongings going ahead.

nsb@Judges:18:26 @ The Danites went on their way. Micah saw that they were too strong for him, so he went back home.

nsb@Judges:18:27 @ They took the things Micah made and the priest who belonged to him and attacked Laish. Laish was a town of peaceful, quiet people in the same valley as Bethrehob. They killed the inhabitants and burned the town.

nsb@Judges:18:28 @ There was no one to save them, because Laish was a long way from Sidon, and they had no dealings with any other people. The Danites rebuilt the town and settled down there.

nsb@Judges:18:29 @ They changed its name from Laish to Dan, after their ancestor Dan, the son of Jacob.

nsb@Judges:18:30 @ The Danites set up the idol to be worshiped, and Jonathan, the son of Gershom and grandson of Moses, served as a priest for the Danites. His descendants served as their priests until the people were taken away into exile.

nsb@Judges:19:1 @ There was still no king in Israel. There was a Levite who lived in the remote area of Mount Ephraim. He took for himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah.

nsb@Judges:19:2 @ She was unfaithful to him and went to her father’s house at Bethlehem in Judah. She was there four whole months.

nsb@Judges:19:3 @ The man went after her to persuade her to return. He took his servant and two donkeys with him. The woman invited the Levite into the house, and when her father saw him, he gave him a friendly greeting.

nsb@Judges:19:5 @ The morning of the fourth day they woke up early and prepared to go. But the woman’s father said to the Levite: Eat first. You will feel better. You can go later.

nsb@Judges:19:6 @ The two men sat down and ate and drank together. Then the woman’s father told him: »Spend the night and enjoy yourself.«

nsb@Judges:19:7 @ The Levite got up to go. However the father encouraged him to stay, so he spent another night there.

nsb@Judges:19:8 @ The morning of the fifth day he started to leave. The woman’s father said: »Eat something and wait until later in the day.« The two men ate together.

nsb@Judges:19:9 @ When the man, his concubine, and the servant once more started to leave, the father said: »It is almost evening. Please spend the night. It will be dark soon. Stay and enjoy yourself. Tomorrow you can get up early for the trip and go home.«

nsb@Judges:19:10 @ The man did not want to spend another night there. He and his concubine started on their way, with their servant and two donkeys with packsaddles.

nsb@Judges:19:11 @ It was late in the day when they came near Jebus. The servant said to his master: »Why not stop and spend the night here in this Jebusite city?«

nsb@Judges:19:12 @ But his master said: »We are not going to stop in a city where the people are not Israelites.

nsb@Judges:19:14 @ They passed by Jebus and continued on their way. It was sunset when they came to Gibeah in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin.

nsb@Judges:19:15 @ They turned off the road to spend the night there. They went into town and sat down in the city square. However no one offered to take them home for the night.

nsb@Judges:19:20 @ The old man said: »Come to my home. You are welcome! I will take care of you. You do not have to spend the night in the square.«

nsb@Judges:19:21 @ He took them home and fed their donkeys. They washed their feet and ate and drank.

nsb@Judges:19:22 @ They were enjoying themselves when suddenly some sexual perverts from the town surrounded the house and pounded on the door. They said to the old man: Bring out the man who came to your house! We want to have sex with him!

nsb@Judges:19:23 @ The old man went outside and said to them: »No, my friends! Please! Do not do such an evil, immoral thing! This man is my guest.

nsb@Judges:19:24 @ »Here is his concubine and my virgin daughter. I will bring them out now. You can have them. Do whatever you want with them. But do not do such an awful thing to this man!«

nsb@Judges:19:25 @ The men would not listen to him. The Levite took his concubine and put her outside with them. They raped her and abused her all night long and did not stop until morning.

nsb@Judges:19:27 @ When her master opened the door that morning to go on his way, he found his concubine lying in front of the house with her hands reaching for the door.

nsb@Judges:19:29 @ When he arrived at his house he got a knife. He took his concubine’s body and cut it into twelve pieces. He sent one piece to each of the twelve tribes of Israel.

nsb@Judges:20:1 @ The people of Israel came from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, as well as from the land of Gilead in the east. They were united in Jehovah’s presence at Mizpah.

nsb@Judges:20:4 @ »The Levite whose concubine had been murdered answered: »My concubine and I went to Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin to spend the night.

nsb@Judges:20:5 @ »The men of Gibeah came to get me. They surrounded the house at night. They intended to kill me. Instead they raped my concubine, and she died.

nsb@Judges:20:6 @ »I took her body and cut it in pieces. Then I sent one piece to each of the twelve tribes of Israel for these people have committed an evil and immoral act.

nsb@Judges:20:7 @ »What are you Israelites going to do about this?«

nsb@Judges:20:8 @ The people stood together and said: »None of us, whether he lives in a tent or in a house, will go home.

nsb@Judges:20:9 @ »This is what we will do: We will draw lots and choose some men to attack Gibeah.

nsb@Judges:20:11 @ The men of Israel assembled with one purpose, to attack the town.

nsb@Judges:20:12 @ The tribes of Israel sent messengers through the territory of the tribe of Benjamin to say: »What is this crime that you have committed?

nsb@Judges:20:13 @ »Hand over those perverts in Gibeah, so that we can kill them and remove this evil from Israel.« But the people of Benjamin would not listen to their brothers.

nsb@Judges:20:14 @ People from all the cities of Benjamin came to Gibeah to fight the other people of Israel.

nsb@Judges:20:16 @ Besides these, the citizens of Gibeah gathered seven hundred specially chosen men who were left-handed. Every one of them could sling a stone at a strand of hair and never miss.

nsb@Judges:20:18 @ The Israelites went to the house of God at Bethel, and there they asked God: »Which of us should attack the Benjaminites first?« Jehovah answered: »The tribe of Judah.«

nsb@Judges:20:20 @ They went to attack the army of Benjamin, and placed the soldiers in battle array to fight against Gibeah.

nsb@Judges:20:26 @ The people of Israel went up to Bethel and mourned. They sat there in Jehovah’s presence and fasted until evening. They offered fellowship sacrifices and burned some sacrifices whole in the presence of Jehovah.

nsb@Judges:20:28 @ The people asked Jehovah: »Should we go to battle against our brothers the Benjaminites again, or should we cease?« Jehovah answered: »Fight. Tomorrow I will give you victory over them.«

nsb@Judges:20:31 @ The Benjaminites came out to fight and were drawn away from the city. Just as before they killed some Israelites in the open country, on the road to Bethel and on the road to Gibeah. They killed about thirty Israelites.

nsb@Judges:20:32 @ The Benjaminites said: »They are defeated just as before. But the Israelites planned to retreat and lead them away from the city onto the roads.«

nsb@Judges:20:34 @ Ten thousand, specially chosen men, out of all Israel, attacked Gibeah, and the fighting was fierce. The Benjaminites did not realize they were about to be destroyed.

nsb@Judges:20:35 @ Jehovah gave Israel victory over the army of Benjamin. The Israelites killed twenty five thousand one hundred of the enemy that day,

nsb@Judges:20:37 @ These men ran quickly toward Gibeah. They spread out and killed everyone there.

nsb@Judges:20:38 @ The main Israelite army and the men in hiding had a prearranged signal. When they saw a big cloud of smoke going up from the town,

nsb@Judges:20:39 @ the Israelites out on the battlefield were to turn around. By this time the Benjaminites had already killed the thirty Israelites. They told themselves: »We have beaten them.«

nsb@Judges:20:40 @ The signal appeared. A cloud of smoke rose above the town. The Benjaminites looked behind them to see the whole city going up in flames.

nsb@Judges:20:41 @ Then the Israelites turned around. The Benjaminites were thrown into panic because they could see that they were about to be destroyed.

nsb@Judges:20:42 @ They retreated from the Israelites. They ran toward the open country and could not escape. They were caught between the main army and the men now coming out of the city. They were destroyed.

nsb@Judges:20:43 @ The Israelites trapped the enemy. Without stopping they pursued them as far as a point east of Gibeah. They killed them as they advanced.

nsb@Judges:20:45 @ The others turned and ran to the open country to Rimmon Rock. Five thousand of them were killed on the roads. The Israelites continued to pursue the rest to Gidom, killing two thousand.

nsb@Judges:20:47 @ Six hundred men were able to escape to the open country to Rimmon Rock. They stayed there four months.

nsb@Judges:20:48 @ The Israelites turned back against the rest of the Benjaminites and killed them all, men and women, children and animals as well. They burned every town in the area.

nsb@Judges:21:1 @ The Israelites gathered at Mizpah. They made a solemn promise to Jehovah: »None of us will allow a daughter to marry a Benjaminite.«

nsb@Judges:21:2 @ The people of Israel went to Bethel and sat there in the presence of God until evening. They lifted their voices and wept bitterly.

nsb@Judges:21:3 @ They said: »Jehovah God of Israel, why has this happened? Why is the tribe of Benjamin about to disappear from Israel?«

nsb@Judges:21:5 @ They asked: »Is there any group out of all the tribes of Israel that did not go to the gathering in Jehovah’s presence at Mizpah?«

nsb@Judges:21:7 @ »We have made a solemn promise to Jehovah that we will not give them any of our daughters. How can we make sure that the remaining men of Benjamin will have wives?«

nsb@Judges:21:8 @ When they asked if some group out of the tribes of Israel had not gone to the gathering at Mizpah, they found out that no one from Jabesh in Gilead had been there.

nsb@Judges:21:9 @ No one from Jabesh responded to the roll call.

nsb@Judges:21:12 @ They found four hundred young virgins among the people in Jabesh. They brought them to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

nsb@Judges:21:13 @ The whole assembly sent word to the Benjaminites who were at Rimmon Rock and offered to end the war.

nsb@Judges:21:16 @ So the leaders said: »There are no more women in the tribe of Benjamin. What shall we do to provide wives for the men who are left?

nsb@Judges:21:17 @ »Israel must not lose one of its twelve tribes. We must find a way for the tribe of Benjamin to survive.

nsb@Judges:21:18 @ »We cannot allow them to marry our daughters. We have put a curse on anyone who allows a Benjaminite to marry one of our daughters.«

nsb@Judges:21:20 @ They told the Benjaminites: »Go hide in the vineyards.«

nsb@Judges:21:21 @ »When the young women of Shiloh come out to dance during the festival, you come out of the vineyards. Each of you should take a wife by force from among them and take her back to the territory of Benjamin with you.

nsb@Judges:21:22 @ »If their fathers or brothers come to you and protest, you can tell them: ‘Please let us keep them, because we did not take them from you in battle to be our wives. Since you did not give them to us, you are not guilty of breaking your promise.’«

nsb@Judges:21:23 @ The Benjaminites did this. Each of them chose a wife from the young women who were dancing at Shiloh and carried her away. They went back to their own territory, rebuilt their towns, and lived there.

nsb@Judges:21:24 @ The rest of the Israelites left, and every man went back to his own tribe and family and to his own property.

nsb@Ruth:1:1 @ There was a famine in the land in the days when the judges ruled. And a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.

nsb@Ruth:1:2 @ The man was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi, and the two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. They went to Moab and stayed there.

nsb@Ruth:1:4 @ They took two women of Moab as their wives. One was Orpah and the other Ruth. They made their home there for about ten years.

nsb@Ruth:1:6 @ Some time later Naomi heard that Jehovah blessed his people by giving them good crops. So she got ready to leave Moab with her daughters-in-law.

nsb@Ruth:1:7 @ They started out together to go back to Judah.

nsb@Ruth:1:8 @ On the way she said to them: »Go back home and stay with your mothers. Jehovah should be as good to you as you have been to me and to those who have died.

nsb@Ruth:1:9 @ »May Jehovah make it possible for each of you to marry again and have a home.« Then Naomi kissed them good-bye and they cried.

nsb@Ruth:1:10 @ They said to her: »No! We will go with you to your people.«

nsb@Ruth:1:11 @ »You must go back, my daughters,« Naomi replied. »Why do you want to come with me? Do you think I could have sons again for you to marry?

nsb@Ruth:1:12 @ »Return home, my daughters. I am too old to get married again. Even if I thought there was still hope, and got married and had sons,

nsb@Ruth:1:13 @ »would you wait for them to grow up? Would this keep you from marrying someone else? No, my daughters, you know that is not possible. Jehovah has turned against me. I feel sorry for you.«

nsb@Ruth:1:14 @ They started crying again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye and went back home. Ruth held on to her.

nsb@Ruth:1:15 @ Naomi said to her: »Ruth, your sister-in-law went back to her people and her gods. Go back home with her.

nsb@Ruth:1:16 @ Ruth replied: »Do not ask me to leave you! Let me go with you. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.

nsb@Ruth:1:18 @ When she saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said no more.

nsb@Ruth:1:19 @ The two of them traveled to Bethlehem. When they arrived at Bethlehem the whole town was excited because of them. The women said: »Is this Naomi?«

nsb@Ruth:1:21 @ »I went away full, and Jehovah sent me back empty. Why do you give me the name Naomi, seeing that Jehovah has given witness against me, and the Almighty has brought sorrow to me?«

nsb@Ruth:1:22 @ So Naomi came back out of the country of Moab. Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, came with her. They came to Bethlehem in the first days of the barley harvest.

nsb@Ruth:2:2 @ Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi: »Now let me go into the fields and pick up the heads of grain after anyone in whose eyes I find favor.« She said to her: »Go, my daughter.«

nsb@Ruth:2:3 @ So she went and picked up the heads of grain in the field after the cutters. By chance she went into that part of the field owned by Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.

nsb@Ruth:2:4 @ Boaz came from Bethlehem. He said to the grain-cutters, »Jehovah is with you.« They answered: »Jehovah gives you his blessing.«

nsb@Ruth:2:7 @ She said to me: »Let me come into the grain-field and pick up the grain after the cutters.« So she came, and has been here from morning till now, without resting even for a minute.

nsb@Ruth:2:8 @ Then Boaz said to Ruth: »Listen to me, my daughter; do not go to pick up the grain in another field. Do not leave here, but stay with my servant girls.

nsb@Ruth:2:9 @ »Keep your eyes on the field the men are harvesting and follow with the girls. I told the men not to touch you. When you are thirsty, drink from the water jars the men keep filled.«

nsb@Ruth:2:10 @ Then she bowed down on her face to the earth, and said to him: »Why have I found favor in your eyes? For you give me attention and I am a foreigner.«

nsb@Ruth:2:11 @ Boaz answered: »I have heard about everything you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband. You went away from your father and mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people who are strange to you.

nsb@Ruth:2:12 @ »May Jehovah reward you for what you have done. May you have a full reward from Jehovah the God of Israel, to whom you have come for protection!«

nsb@Ruth:2:13 @ Ruth answered: »You are very kind to me, sir. You make me feel better by speaking gently to me, even though I do not even have the standing of one of your servants.«

nsb@Ruth:2:14 @ At mealtime Boaz said to her: »Come here, that you may eat of the bread and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.« So she sat beside the reapers. He served her roasted grain. She ate and was satisfied and had some left over.

nsb@Ruth:2:15 @ She rose to glean. Boaz commanded his servants, saying: »Let her glean among the sheaves, and do not bother her.

nsb@Ruth:2:16 @ »Pull some heads of grain out of what has been corded up and drop them for her to take. Say no sharp word to her.«

nsb@Ruth:2:17 @ She gathered the heads of grain till evening. After crushing out the seed, it came to about an ephah of grain.

nsb@Ruth:2:18 @ She carried it back to town to show her mother-in-law what she gathered. She kept enough for herself and gave Naomi the rest.

nsb@Ruth:2:19 @ Her mother-in-law said to her: »Where did you gather grain today? Where did you work? Blessed is the man who gave you this attention.« So she gave her mother-in-law an account of where she had been working, and said: »The name of the man with whom I was working today is Boaz.«

nsb@Ruth:2:20 @ Naomi said to her daughter-in-law: »May Jehovah bless him. The man is kind to the living and to the dead.« Then Naomi admitted to her: »The man is of our family, one of our near relatives.«

nsb@Ruth:2:21 @ Ruth the Moabitess said: »Truly, he said to me: ‘Keep near my young men till all my grain is cut.’«

nsb@Ruth:2:22 @ And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law: »It is better, my daughter, for you to go out with his servant girls, so that no danger may come to you in another field.«

nsb@Ruth:2:23 @ So she kept near the servant girls of Boaz to gather the grain till the cutting of the early grain and the cutting of the late grain was ended. She continued living with her mother-in-law.

nsb@Ruth:3:1 @ Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her: »My daughter, Should I try to find a secure home for you where you will be well treated?

nsb@Ruth:3:2 @ »Boaz is of our kindred, with whose servant girls you have been. He winnows barley tonight in the threshing floor.

nsb@Ruth:3:3 @ »Wash and perfume yourself and put on your best clothes. Go down to the floor. Make yourself known to the man after he is done eating and drinking.

nsb@Ruth:3:5 @ Ruth said: »All that you say to me I will do.«

nsb@Ruth:3:6 @ She went down to the floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law told her.

nsb@Ruth:3:7 @ After Boaz ate and drank, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of barley. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.

nsb@Ruth:3:11 @ »And now, my daughter, have no fear. I will do for you whatever you say, for it is clear to all my townspeople that you are a woman of virtue.

nsb@Ruth:3:13 @ »Rest here tonight. In the morning, if he wants to redeem you, for it is right for a relation to do this, very well, let him do so. But if he will not, then as surely as Jehovah lives, I will do so.«

nsb@Ruth:3:14 @ She slept there at his feet until morning. She got up before it was light enough for anyone to see. He said: »Do not let anyone know that a woman came to the grain floor.«

nsb@Ruth:3:15 @ He said: »Take your robe and stretch it out in your hands.« She did so, and he took six measures of grain and put them into it. Then she went back to town.

nsb@Ruth:3:16 @ When she got back, her mother-in-law asked her: »How did it go with you, my daughter?« And she gave her an account of all that the man did to her.

nsb@Ruth:3:17 @ She said: »He gave me these six measures of grain, saying, ‘Do not go back to your mother-in-law with nothing in your hands.’«

nsb@Ruth:4:1 @ Boaz went to the public place in the town and sat down. When the kinsman-redeemer came along, the one he had mentioned, Boaz said: »Come here, and sit down.« He came and was seated.

nsb@Ruth:4:2 @ Then he got ten of the responsible men of the town, and said: »Be seated here. And they took their seats.«

nsb@Ruth:4:3 @ Then Boaz said to the close relative: »Naomi has come back from the country of Moab. She is offering for a price that bit of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech.

nsb@Ruth:4:4 @ »I am giving you a chance to take it with the approval of those seated here, the responsible men of my people. If you are ready to do what it is right for a relative to do, then do it. If you will not do it, say so to me now. There is no one who has the right to do it but you, and after you, myself.« And he said: »I will do it.«

nsb@Ruth:4:5 @ Then Boaz said: »On the day when you take this field, you will have to take with it Ruth, the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, so that you may keep the name of the dead living in his heritage.«

nsb@Ruth:4:6 @ The near relative said: »I am not able to redeem it for myself, for fear of damaging the heritage I have. You may do it in my place, for I am not able to do it myself.«

nsb@Ruth:4:7 @ It was the custom for the seller to take off his sandal and give to the buyer to settle a sale or exchange of property. By doing this, Israelites showed that the matter was settled.

nsb@Ruth:4:8 @ So when the man said to Boaz: »You buy it,« he took off his sandal and gave it to Boaz.

nsb@Ruth:4:9 @ Then Boaz said to the leaders and all the others there: »You are all witnesses today that I have bought from Naomi everything that belonged to Elimelech and to his sons Chilion and Mahlon.

nsb@Ruth:4:10 @ »In addition, Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, becomes my wife. This will keep the property in the dead man’s family, and his family line will continue among his people in his hometown. Today you are witnesses to this.«

nsb@Ruth:4:11 @ The leaders and the others said: »Yes, we are witnesses. May Jehovah make your wife become like Rachel and Leah, who bore many children to Jacob. May you become rich in the clan of Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem.

nsb@Ruth:4:12 @ »May your family be like the family of Perez, the son whom Tamar gave to Judah, from the offspring that Jehovah may give you by this young woman.«

nsb@Ruth:4:13 @ Boaz took Ruth to be his wife. He slept with her and Jehovah enabled her to conceive and she gave birth to a son.

nsb@Ruth:4:14 @ The women said to Naomi: »A blessing on Jehovah. He has not let you be without a near relative. May his name be great in Israel.

nsb@Ruth:4:15 @ »He will be a giver of new life to you. He will be your comforter when you are old, because your daughter-in-law, who in her love for you is better than seven sons, has given birth to him.«

nsb@Ruth:4:16 @ Naomi took the child in her arms and took care of it.

nsb@1Samuel:1:1 @ There was a certain man of Ramathaim, a Zuphite of the mountains of Ephraim. His name was Elkanah. He was the son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph an Ephraimite.

nsb@1Samuel:1:3 @ This man went to Shiloh every year to worship and to make offerings to Jehovah of Hosts. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas were the priests of Jehovah at Shiloh.

nsb@1Samuel:1:4 @ The day came for Elkanah to make his offering. So he gave a part of the feast to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and daughters.

nsb@1Samuel:1:5 @ He gave a double portion to Hannah. Hannah was very dear to him even though Jehovah had not given her children.

nsb@1Samuel:1:6 @ The other wife did everything possible to make her unhappy. This is because Jehovah had not given her children.

nsb@1Samuel:1:7 @ Year after year when Peninnah went to the Temple of Jehovah, she kept on provoking Hannah. It bothered Hannah so much she wept and did not eat.

nsb@1Samuel:1:8 @ Her husband Elkanah said to her: »Hannah, why are you weeping? Why are you not eating? Why is your heart troubled? Am I not more to you than ten sons?«

nsb@1Samuel:1:10 @ Hannah was filled with grief and wept bitterly. She prayed and pledged an oath to Jehovah:

nsb@1Samuel:1:11 @ »O Jehovah of Hosts: If you will truly notice the sorrow of your servant. Remember me. Do not turn away from me. If you will give me a son, then I will give him to you, Jehovah, all the days of his life. His hair will never be cut.«

nsb@1Samuel:1:12 @ Hannah prayed to Jehovah for a long time. Eli watched her lips.

nsb@1Samuel:1:14 @ He said to her: »Stop making a drunken show of yourself! Stop your drinking and sober up!«

nsb@1Samuel:1:15 @ »No, I am not drunk,« she answered. »I have not been drinking! I am desperate. I have prayed and poured out my troubles to Jehovah.

nsb@1Samuel:1:19 @ The next morning Elkanah and his family got up early. After worshiping Jehovah, they went back home to Ramah. Elkanah had intercourse with his wife Hannah and Jehovah answered her prayer.

nsb@1Samuel:1:20 @ So it was that she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel. She explained: »I asked Jehovah for him.«

nsb@1Samuel:1:21 @ The time came again for Elkanah and his family to go to Shiloh and offer to Jehovah the yearly sacrifice and the special sacrifice he promised.

nsb@1Samuel:1:22 @ This time Hannah did not go. She told her husband: As soon as the child is weaned, I will take him to the Temple of Jehovah, where he will stay all his life.

nsb@1Samuel:1:23 @ Elkanah answered: »All right, do what seems best to you. Stay at home until you have weaned him. May Jehovah make your promise come true.« So Hannah stayed at home and nursed her child.

nsb@1Samuel:1:24 @ After she weaned him she took him to Shiloh. She also took a three-year-old bull, a bushel of flour, and a leather bag full of wine. She took Samuel, young as he was, to the Temple of Jehovah at Shiloh.

nsb@1Samuel:1:25 @ First they slaughtered the bull. Then they took the child to Eli the priest.

nsb@1Samuel:1:26 @ Hannah said to him: »My lord. Do you remember me? I am the woman you saw standing here, praying to Jehovah.

nsb@1Samuel:1:28 @ »So I am dedicating him to Jehovah. As long as he lives, he will belong to Jehovah.« Then they worshiped Jehovah there.

nsb@1Samuel:2:5 @ »Those who were full have hired themselves out for food. The hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven. She who has had many sons has languished.

nsb@1Samuel:2:6 @ »Jehovah kills and makes alive. He brings down to the grave and brings up.

nsb@1Samuel:2:8 @ »He raises the poor from the dust. He lifts up the needy from the dunghill to set them among the princes. He causes them to inherit a throne of glory. The pillars of the earth are Jehovah’s. He sets the world on them.

nsb@1Samuel:2:10 @ »The adversaries of Jehovah will be broken to pieces. He thunders in the heavens against them. Jehovah will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to His king and exalt the horn of His anointed.«

nsb@1Samuel:2:11 @ Elkanah went home to Ramah. The child served Jehovah before Eli the priest.

nsb@1Samuel:2:13 @ The priests had a custom with the people. If any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant came while the flesh was boiling, with a fork of three teeth in his hand.

nsb@1Samuel:2:14 @ He stuck it into the pan, kettle, caldron or pot. All that the flesh-hook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites that came there.

nsb@1Samuel:2:15 @ Before they burned the fat the priest’s servant came and said to the man who sacrificed: »Give flesh to roast for the priest. For he will not have boiled flesh from you, but raw!«

nsb@1Samuel:2:16 @ If any man said to him: »Let them burn the fat first, you may take as much as you desire.« Then he would answer him, »No! But you will give it now! If not, I will take it by force.«

nsb@1Samuel:2:19 @ His mother made him a little robe. She brought it to him when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

nsb@1Samuel:2:20 @ Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said: »May Jehovah give you children from this woman for the loan made to Jehovah.« They returned to their home.

nsb@1Samuel:2:22 @ Eli was very old. He heard everything his sons did to Israel. He heard how they slept with the women who served at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.

nsb@1Samuel:2:23 @ So he said to them: »Why do you do such things? I hear of your evil dealings by all the people.

nsb@1Samuel:2:25 @ »If one man sins against another, God will judge him. But if a man sins against Jehovah, who will intercede for him?« But his sons did not listen to the voice of their father. Jehovah desired to put them to death.

nsb@1Samuel:2:27 @ A man of God came to Eli. He said: »Thus says Jehovah: ‘Did I plainly appear to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house?

nsb@1Samuel:2:28 @ »‘Did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod in my presences me? Did I give to the house of your father all the offerings made by fire from the sons of Israel?

nsb@1Samuel:2:29 @ »‘Why do you kick at my sacrifice and my offering, which I have commanded in my house? Do you honor your sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel my people?’

nsb@1Samuel:2:35 @ »‘I will choose a priest who will be faithful to me and do everything I desire him to do. I will give him descendants, who will always serve in the presence of my anointed ones forever.

nsb@1Samuel:2:36 @ »‘Your descendants who survive will have to go to that priest and ask him for money and food, and beg to be allowed to help the priests, in order to have something to eat.’«

nsb@1Samuel:3:5 @ He ran to Eli and said: »Here I am. You called me?« »I did not call you,« Eli replied. »Go back to bed.« So Samuel went back to bed.

nsb@1Samuel:3:6 @ Jehovah called Samuel again. Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said: »Here I am. You called me.« Eli responded: »I did not call you, son. Go back to bed.«

nsb@1Samuel:3:7 @ Samuel had no experience with Jehovah, because the word of Jehovah had not yet been revealed to him.

nsb@1Samuel:3:8 @ Jehovah called Samuel a third time. Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said: »Here I am. You called me!« Eli realized that Jehovah was calling the boy.

nsb@1Samuel:3:9 @ »Go, lie down,« Eli told Samuel. When he calls you, say: »Speak Jehovah I am listening.« So Samuel went back to bed in his room.

nsb@1Samuel:3:10 @ Jehovah came and stood there. He called as he had called the other times: »Samuel! Samuel!« Samuel replied: »Speak! Your servant is listening.«

nsb@1Samuel:3:11 @ Jehovah said to Samuel: »I will do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears it tingle.

nsb@1Samuel:3:12 @ »On that day I am going to do to Eli and his family everything I said from beginning to end.

nsb@1Samuel:3:13 @ »I told him I would hand down a long lasting judgment against his household because he knew about his sons’ sin. They were cursing God but he did not restrain them.

nsb@1Samuel:3:14 @ »I have taken an oath concerning Eli’s family line. No offering or sacrifice will ever be able to make peace for the sins that Eli’s family committed.«

nsb@1Samuel:3:15 @ Samuel remained in bed until morning. Then he opened the doors of Jehovah’s house. But Samuel was afraid to tell Eli about the vision.

nsb@1Samuel:3:17 @ »What did Jehovah tell you?« He asked. »Please do not hide it from me. May God strike you dead if you hide anything he told you from me.«

nsb@1Samuel:3:18 @ Then Samuel told Eli everything. Eli replied: »He is Jehovah! He will do what he thinks is right.«

nsb@1Samuel:3:20 @ All Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew Samuel was Jehovah’s appointed prophet.

nsb@1Samuel:3:21 @ Jehovah continued to appear in Shiloh, since Jehovah revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh through the word of Jehovah. And Samuel spoke to all Israel.

nsb@1Samuel:4:1 @ Samuels words came to all Israel. Israel went out to battle against the Philistines. They camped near Ebenezer while the Philistines camped at Aphek.

nsb@1Samuel:4:2 @ The Philistines deployed their troops to meet Israel in battle. The Philistines defeated Israel and killed about four thousand soldiers in the field.

nsb@1Samuel:4:3 @ The army of Israel retreated to their camp. The leaders of Israel asked: »Why has Jehovah used the Philistines to defeat us today? Let us get the Ark of Jehovah’s Covenant from Shiloh so that he may be with us and save us from our enemies.«

nsb@1Samuel:4:4 @ They sent men to Shiloh to bring back the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah of Hosts who is enthroned over the angels. Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas came along with God’s ark.

nsb@1Samuel:4:5 @ When Jehovah’s Ark came into the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth shook.

nsb@1Samuel:4:6 @ When the Philistines heard the noise, they asked: »What is all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?« The Philistines found out that Jehovah’s ark was brought into the camp.

nsb@1Samuel:4:7 @ Then they were frightened and said: »A god has come into their camp.« They also said: »Oh no! Nothing like this has ever happened before.

nsb@1Samuel:4:10 @ The Philistines fought and defeated Israel. Every Israelite soldier fled to his tent. It was a major defeat in which thirty thousand Israelite foot soldiers died.

nsb@1Samuel:4:12 @ A man from the tribe of Benjamin ran all the way from the battlefield to Shiloh and arrived there the same day. To show his grief he had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head.

nsb@1Samuel:4:13 @ Eli was very worried about the Ark of the Covenant. He sat besides the road staring. When the man spread the news throughout the town everyone cried out in fear.

nsb@1Samuel:4:14 @ Eli heard the noise and asked: »What is all this noise about?« The man hurried to Eli to tell him the news.

nsb@1Samuel:4:16 @ The man said: »I have escaped from the battle and ran all the way here today.« Eli asked him: »What happened, my son?«

nsb@1Samuel:4:19 @ Eli’s daughter-in-law the wife of Phinehas was pregnant. It was almost time for her baby to be born. When she heard that God’s Ark of the Covenant was captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she suddenly went into labor and gave birth.

nsb@1Samuel:4:20 @ She too was dying. The women helping her said: »Do not be afraid. You have given birth to a son.« But she did not answer or pay attention.

nsb@1Samuel:5:1 @ The Philistines captured the Ark of God and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.

nsb@1Samuel:5:2 @ They brought it into the temple of Dagon and placed it beside Dagon.

nsb@1Samuel:5:3 @ Early the next day the people of Ashdod saw that Dagon had fallen forward on the ground in front of Jehovah’s Ark. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place.

nsb@1Samuel:5:5 @ That is why the priests of Dagon and everyone else who enters Dagon’s temple in Ashdod do not step on the temple’s threshold, even to this day.

nsb@1Samuel:5:8 @ The people of Ashdod called together the Philistine rulers. »What shall we do with the Ark of the God of Israel?« They asked. The rulers said: »The Ark of the God of Israel must be taken to Gath.« So the people took the Ark of the God of Israel there.

nsb@1Samuel:5:9 @ After they had moved it, Jehovah threw the city into a great panic. He struck all the people in the city and they were covered with tumors.

nsb@1Samuel:5:10 @ So the people of Gath sent the Ark of God to Ekron. But when the Ark of God came to Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out: »They brought the Ark of the God of Israel here to kill us.«

nsb@1Samuel:5:11 @ The people of Ekron called for another meeting of the Philistine rulers and told them: »Send this chest back where it belongs. Then it will not kill us.« Everyone was in a panic, because God was causing a lot of people to die.

nsb@1Samuel:5:12 @ The survivors suffered from the sores, so they all cried to their gods for help.

nsb@1Samuel:6:2 @ the Philistines called in their priests and fortunetellers, and asked: »What should we do with this Ark of Jehovah? Tell us how to send it back where it belongs!«

nsb@1Samuel:6:3 @ They answered: »If you return the Ark of the Covenant of the God of Israel, you must send with it a gift to him to pay for your sin. The Ark must not go back without a gift. In this way you will be healed. You will find out why he continues to punish you.«

nsb@1Samuel:6:5 @ »You must make these models of the tumors and of the mice that are ravaging your country. You must give honor to the God of Israel. Perhaps he will stop punishing you, your gods, and your land.

nsb@1Samuel:6:7 @ »Now get a new cart ready for two dairy cows that have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart. Take their calves away and leave them in their stall.

nsb@1Samuel:6:9 @ »Then watch where it goes. If it goes up the road to its own country toward Beth Shemesh, then this disaster is Jehovah’s doing. But if not, we will know it was not his hand that struck us, but what happened to us was an accident.«

nsb@1Samuel:6:10 @ The men did this. They took two milk cows and tied them to the cart. They placed their calves in pens at home.

nsb@1Samuel:6:12 @ The cows went straight ahead to Bethshemesh. They went on the highway lowing as they went. They did not turn aside to the right or to the left. And the lords of the Philistines followed them to the border of Bethshemesh.

nsb@1Samuel:6:13 @ The people of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley. They looked up and saw the ark. They rejoiced to see it.

nsb@1Samuel:6:14 @ The cart came to the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite, and stood there. There was a great stone. They cut the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to Jehovah.

nsb@1Samuel:6:15 @ The Levites removed the cart the Ark of Jehovah and the box that contained the gold objects. They put them on the large rock. The people of Bethshemesh presented burnt offerings and sacrifices to Jehovah that day.

nsb@1Samuel:6:16 @ After the five rulers of the Philistines saw this, they went back to Ekron that same day.

nsb@1Samuel:6:17 @ The Philistines sent the five gold tumors to Jehovah as a gift to pay for their sins. They included one for each of the cities of Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.

nsb@1Samuel:6:18 @ They also sent gold mice, one for each of the cities ruled by the five Philistine kings, both the fortified towns and the villages without walls. The large rock in the field of Joshua of Bethshemesh, on which they placed the Ark of Jehovah’s Covenant, is still there as a witness to what happened.

nsb@1Samuel:6:21 @ They sent messengers to tell the people of Kiriath-Jearim: »The Philistines have returned the Ark of Jehovah. Will you take it and keep it there with you?«

nsb@1Samuel:7:1 @ The people of Kiriath Jearim got the Ark and took it to Abinadab’s house on a hill in their town. His son Eleazar took care of it.

nsb@1Samuel:7:3 @ Samuel told the entire nation of Israel: »If you return to Jehovah with all your hearts you must get rid of the foreign gods you have, including the statues of the goddess Astarte. You must dedicate your lives to Jehovah and serve him only. Then he will rescue you from the Philistines.«

nsb@1Samuel:7:5 @ Samuel called all the Israelites to meet at Mizpah. He told them: »I will pray to Jehovah for you there.«

nsb@1Samuel:7:7 @ The Philistines heard that the Israelites gathered at Mizpah. So the Philistine rulers came to attack Israel. The Israelites heard about the Philistine plan and were afraid of them.

nsb@1Samuel:7:8 @ The Israelites said to Samuel: »Do not stop crying to Jehovah our God for us! Ask him to deliver us from the Philistines!«

nsb@1Samuel:7:9 @ Samuel killed a young lamb and burned it whole as a sacrifice to Jehovah. Then he prayed to Jehovah to help Israel. Jehovah answered his prayer.

nsb@1Samuel:7:10 @ While Samuel was offering the burnt sacrifice, the Philistines moved forward to attack. Just then Jehovah thundered from heaven against them. They became completely confused and fled in panic.

nsb@1Samuel:7:12 @ Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He said: »Jehovah helped us all the way.« He named it: »Stone of Help.«

nsb@1Samuel:7:13 @ The Philistines were defeated. Jehovah prevented them from invading Israel’s territory as long as Samuel lived.

nsb@1Samuel:7:14 @ The cities between Ekron and Gath that the Philistines took from Israel were returned to Israel. Israel recovered the territory controlled by these cities from the Philistines. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites.

nsb@1Samuel:7:16 @ Every year he went around to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah in order to judge Israel in all those places.

nsb@1Samuel:7:17 @ Then he returned home to Ramah where he judged Israel. And in Ramah he built an altar to Jehovah.

nsb@1Samuel:8:3 @ The sons did not follow their father’s example but turned to dishonest ways of making money. They took bribes and denied people justice.

nsb@1Samuel:8:4 @ One day the nation’s elders came to Samuel at Ramah.

nsb@1Samuel:8:5 @ They said: »You are an old man. You set a good example for your sons. But they have not followed it. Now we want a king to be our leader like all the other nations. Choose one for us!«

nsb@1Samuel:8:6 @ Samuel was upset to hear the leaders say they wanted a king. So he prayed about it.

nsb@1Samuel:8:7 @ Jehovah answered: »Samuel, do everything they want you to do. I am really the one they have rejected as their king.

nsb@1Samuel:8:8 @ »Ever since the day I rescued my people from Egypt, they have turned from me to worship idols. Now they are turning away from you.

nsb@1Samuel:8:9 @ »Listen to them. But be sure to warn them and tell them about the behavior and rights of a king who rules over them.«

nsb@1Samuel:8:10 @ Then Samuel told the people who had asked him for a king everything Jehovah said.

nsb@1Samuel:8:12 @ »He will appoint them to be his officers over one thousand or over fifty soldiers. He will have them plow his ground and harvest his crops. He will require them to make weapons and equipment for his chariots.

nsb@1Samuel:8:13 @ »He will take your daughters from you and force them to make perfumes, cook, and bake.

nsb@1Samuel:8:14 @ »He will take away the best of your fields, vineyards, and olive orchards and give them to his officials.

nsb@1Samuel:8:15 @ »He will take a tenth of your grain and wine and give it to his aids and officials.

nsb@1Samuel:8:19 @ But the people refused to listen to Samuel. They said: »We want a king!

nsb@1Samuel:8:20 @ »We want to be like other nations, with our own king to rule us and to lead us out to war and to fight our battles.«

nsb@1Samuel:8:21 @ Samuel listened to everything they said. Then he repeated it to Jehovah.

nsb@1Samuel:8:22 @ Jehovah answered: »Do what they want. Give them a king.« Then Samuel told all the men of Israel to go back home.

nsb@1Samuel:9:1 @ There was a wealthy and influential man named Kish. He was from the tribe of Benjamin. He was the son of Abiel and grandson of Zeror. He belonged to the family of Becorath, a part of the clan of Aphiah.

nsb@1Samuel:9:3 @ Some donkeys belonging to Kish wandered off. He said to Saul: »Take one of the servants with you and look for the donkeys.«

nsb@1Samuel:9:4 @ They went through the mountains of Ephraim and the region of Shalishah, but did not find them. They went on through the region of Shaalim, but the donkeys were not there. Then they went through the territory of Benjamin, but still did not find them.

nsb@1Samuel:9:5 @ When they came to the territory of Zuph, Saul told his servant who was with him: »Let us go back, or my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and worry about us instead.«

nsb@1Samuel:9:6 @ The servant responded: »There’s a man of God in this city, a highly respected man. Everything he says is sure to happen. Let us go there. Maybe he will tell us which way we should go.«

nsb@1Samuel:9:7 @ Saul said: »How can we talk to the prophet when I do not have anything to give him? We do not even have any food left in our sacks. What can we give him?«

nsb@1Samuel:9:8 @ »I have a small piece of silver,« the servant answered. »We can give him that. Then he will tell us where to look for the donkeys.«

nsb@1Samuel:9:9 @ Formerly in Israel, when a person went to ask God a question, he would say: »Come; let’s go to the seer.« This is because a prophet used to be called a seer.

nsb@1Samuel:9:10 @ Saul told his servant: »That is a good idea! Come on let us go.« They went to the city where the man of God was.

nsb@1Samuel:9:11 @ Going up the hill to the city they met girls coming out to get water. They asked the girls: »Is the seer here?«

nsb@1Samuel:9:12 @ The girls answered: »He is there ahead of you. Hurry! He just went into the city today since the people are offering a sacrifice at the worship site.

nsb@1Samuel:9:13 @ »As you go into the city, you can find him before he goes to the worship site to eat. The people will not eat until he comes. He blesses the sacrifice. Then those who are invited may eat. You should be able to find him now.«

nsb@1Samuel:9:14 @ Saul and his servant went to the city. Samuel was coming toward them as they entered. He was on his way to the worship site.

nsb@1Samuel:9:15 @ Jehovah revealed the following message to Samuel before Saul came:

nsb@1Samuel:9:16 @ »This time tomorrow I will send you a man from the territory of Benjamin. Anoint him to be ruler of my people Israel. He will save my people from the Philistines. I have seen my people suffering and their cry has reached me.«

nsb@1Samuel:9:17 @ Samuel noticed Saul. Jehovah told him: »There is the man I told you about. This man will govern my people.«

nsb@1Samuel:9:19 @ Samuel replied: »I’m the seer. Go ahead of me to the worship site. You will eat with me today. In the morning I will let you go after I tell you all that is on your mind.

nsb@1Samuel:9:21 @ Saul replied: »I am a man from the tribe of Benjamin. It is the smallest tribe of Israel. My family is the most insignificant of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin. Why are you saying such things to me?«

nsb@1Samuel:9:22 @ Samuel brought Saul and his servant to the banquet hall. They sat down at the head of thirty guests.

nsb@1Samuel:9:23 @ Samuel said to the cook: »Bring me the portion of the sacrificial meat that I gave you and told you to set aside.«

nsb@1Samuel:9:24 @ The cook picked up the leg and thigh and laid it in front of Saul. Samuel said: This was set apart for you. Eat it. When I invited people to the feast, I set it aside for you. So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

nsb@1Samuel:9:26 @ At dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof: »Get up! It is time for me to send you away.« Saul got up, and both he and Samuel went outside.

nsb@1Samuel:9:27 @ As they traveled toward the city limits, Samuel told Saul: »Have the servant go ahead of you.« He went ahead. »You stay here, and I will tell you God’s word.«

nsb@1Samuel:10:1 @ Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head. He kissed him and said: »Jehovah has anointed you to be ruler of his people Israel. You will rule his people. You will save them from all their enemies. This will be the sign that Jehovah has anointed you to be ruler of his people.

nsb@1Samuel:10:2 @ »When you leave me today two men will be at Rachel’s grave on the border of Benjamin at Zelzah. They will tell you: ‘We have found the donkeys you are looking for. Your father no longer cares about them. Instead he is worried about you. He keeps asking: What can I do to find my son?’«

nsb@1Samuel:10:3 @ »You will go from there until you find the oak tree of Tabor. You will see three men going up to God to Bethel. One will have three young goats and another three cakes of bread and another a skin full of wine:

nsb@1Samuel:10:5 @ »After that you will come to Gibeah, the hill of God, where an armed force of the Philistines is stationed. When you come to the town, you will see a band of prophets coming down from the high place with instruments of music before them. They will be acting like prophets:

nsb@1Samuel:10:6 @ »The Spirit of Jehovah will come upon you with power. You will be acting like a prophet with them, and will be changed into a different person.

nsb@1Samuel:10:7 @ »When you see these signs be sure to take what is offered to you. For God is with you.

nsb@1Samuel:10:8 @ »Go ahead of me to Gilgal. I will come to sacrifice burnt offerings and make fellowship offerings. Wait seven days until I come to tell you what to do.«

nsb@1Samuel:10:9 @ When Saul tried to leave Samuel, God changed his mind. That day all these signs happened.

nsb@1Samuel:10:10 @ When Saul came to the hill a group of prophets came to meet him. God’s Spirit came over him. He prophesied with them.

nsb@1Samuel:10:11 @ All those who knew him before saw how he prophesied with the prophets. They asked one another: »What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul one of the prophets?«

nsb@1Samuel:10:13 @ When he finished prophesying he went to the worship site.

nsb@1Samuel:10:14 @ Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant: »Where did you go?« Saul answered: »To look for the donkeys. When we could not find them, we went to Samuel.«

nsb@1Samuel:10:15 @ Saul’s uncle said: »Please tell me what Samuel said to you.«

nsb@1Samuel:10:17 @ Samuel called the people to come into the presence of Jehovah at Mizpah.

nsb@1Samuel:10:18 @ He said to the Israelites: »This is what Jehovah God of Israel says: ‘I brought Israel out of Egypt and rescued you from the power of the Egyptians and all the kings who were oppressing you.

nsb@1Samuel:10:19 @ »‘You have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and distresses. You said to him: »No! Place a king over us. Now then, stand in front of Jehovah by your tribes and family groups.« ’«

nsb@1Samuel:10:23 @ They ran and got him from there. He stood among the people and was a head taller than everyone else.

nsb@1Samuel:10:25 @ Samuel explained the laws concerning kingship to the people. He wrote the laws on a scroll, which he placed in front of Jehovah. Then Samuel sent the people back to their homes.

nsb@1Samuel:10:26 @ Saul also went home to Gibeah. With him went some soldiers whose hearts God had touched.

nsb@1Samuel:11:1 @ Nahash the Ammonite came up and put his forces in position for attacking Jabesh in Gilead. The men of Jabesh said to Nahash: »Make an agreement with us and we will be your servants.«

nsb@1Samuel:11:3 @ The elders of Jabesh said: »Give us seven days to send messengers throughout the land of Israel. If no one will help us, then we will surrender to you.«

nsb@1Samuel:11:4 @ The messengers arrived at Gibeah where Saul lived. When they told the news, the people started crying in despair.

nsb@1Samuel:11:5 @ Just then Saul came from the field from behind some oxen. »Why are these people crying?« Saul asked. They told him the news about the men of Jabesh.

nsb@1Samuel:11:7 @ Saul took a pair of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the territory of Israel with the following message: »This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel into battle.« The people were afraid of Jehovah. They came out united behind Saul.

nsb@1Samuel:11:9 @ They told the messengers: »This is what you are to say to the men of Jabesh in Gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun gets hot, you will be rescued.’« When the men of Jabesh received the message, they were overjoyed.

nsb@1Samuel:11:10 @ They said to Nahash the Ammonite: »Tomorrow we will surrender to you. You may do to us whatever you think is right.«

nsb@1Samuel:11:11 @ The next day Saul arranged the army in three divisions. They came into the Ammonite camp during the morning hours. They continued to defeat the Ammonites until it got hot that day. The survivors were so scattered that no two of them were left together.

nsb@1Samuel:11:13 @ Saul said: »No man is to be put to death today, for today Jehovah has saved Israel.«

nsb@1Samuel:11:14 @ Then Samuel said to the people: »Come to Gilgal. Let us make the kingdom strong in the hands of Saul.«

nsb@1Samuel:11:15 @ So all the people went to Gilgal. In Gilgal they made Saul king before Jehovah. Peace offerings were offered before Jehovah. Saul and all the men of Israel were glad with great joy.

nsb@1Samuel:12:1 @ Samuel said to all Israel: »I listened to everything you said to me and established a king over you.

nsb@1Samuel:12:3 @ »Here I am! Testify against me before Jehovah and before his anointed one. Whose bull have I stolen? Whose donkey have I taken? Have I cheated anyone? Have I oppressed any? Have I ever taken a bribe? Tell me and I will make it right.«

nsb@1Samuel:12:5 @ Samuel replied: »Jehovah and the king he has chosen are witnesses today that you have found me to be completely innocent«. They answered: »That is right, Jehovah is our witness!«

nsb@1Samuel:12:6 @ Samuel continued: »Jehovah chose Moses and Aaron and brought your ancestors out of Egypt.

nsb@1Samuel:12:7 @ »Now stand where you are. I will judge you before Jehovah by reminding you of all the mighty actions Jehovah did to save you and your ancestors.

nsb@1Samuel:12:8 @ »When Jacob and his family went to Egypt the Egyptians oppressed them. Your ancestors cried to Jehovah for help. He sent Moses and Aaron, who brought them out of Egypt and settled them in this land.

nsb@1Samuel:12:9 @ »But the people forgot Jehovah their God. So he let the Philistines and the king of Moab and Sisera, commander of the army of the city of Hazor, fight against your ancestors and conquer them.

nsb@1Samuel:12:10 @ »Again they cried to Jehovah for help! They said: ‘We have sinned, because we turned away from you, Jehovah. We worshiped the idols of the Baals and the Ashtoreth. Rescue us from our enemies. We will worship you!’«

nsb@1Samuel:12:12 @ »But when you saw that King Nahash of Ammon was about to attack you, you rejected Jehovah as your king. You said to me: ‘We want a king to rule us.’«

nsb@1Samuel:12:13 @ »Now here is the king you have chosen. You asked for him. Now Jehovah gives him to you.

nsb@1Samuel:12:14 @ »All will go well with you if you honor Jehovah your God, serve him, listen to him, and obey his commands. If you and your king follow Jehovah all will be well.

nsb@1Samuel:12:15 @ »But if you do not listen to Jehovah but disobey his commands, he will be against you and your king. He was against your fathers because they disobeyed.

nsb@1Samuel:12:19 @ They said to Samuel: »Please pray to Jehovah your God for us, that we will not die. We now realize that we have added to all our sins the evil of asking for a king.«

nsb@1Samuel:12:23 @ »As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Jehovah by no longer praying for you. Instead, I will teach you what is good and right for you to do.

nsb@1Samuel:12:25 @ »If you continue to sin, you and your king will be destroyed.«

nsb@1Samuel:13:4 @ All Israel listened as Saul told that he had defeated the Philistine troops. Now Israel has gone on the offensive against the Philistines. All the troops rallied behind Saul at Gilgal.

nsb@1Samuel:13:5 @ The Philistines assembled to fight Israel. They had thirty thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and as many soldiers as the sand on the seashore. They camped at Michmash, east of Beth Aven.

nsb@1Samuel:13:6 @ The Israelite army realized that they were outnumbered and were going to lose the battle. Some of the Israelite men hid in caves, thickets and rocks. Others hid in tombs or in deep dry pits.

nsb@1Samuel:13:7 @ Some of them went to Gad and Gilead on the other side of the Jordan River. Saul stayed at Gilgal. His soldiers trembled with fear.

nsb@1Samuel:13:8 @ They were starting to run off and leave him. Saul waited there seven days, just as Samuel had ordered him to do. But Samuel did not come.

nsb@1Samuel:13:9 @ Saul commanded: »Bring me some animals so we can offer sacrifices to please Jehovah. Then we can ask for his help.« Saul slaughtered one of the animals,

nsb@1Samuel:13:10 @ and just as he was placing it on the altar, Samuel arrived. So Saul went out to welcome him.

nsb@1Samuel:13:12 @ »So I thought the Philistines will come against me at Gilgal. I have not sought Jehovah’s favor. I felt pressured into sacrificing the burnt offering.«

nsb@1Samuel:13:13 @ »You did a foolish thing,« Samuel told Saul. »You did not follow the command of Jehovah your God. If you had, Jehovah would have established your kingdom over Israel from generation to generation.

nsb@1Samuel:13:15 @ Samuel left Gilgal. The rest of the people followed Saul to meet the soldiers. They went from Gilgal to Gibeah in Benjamin. Saul counted the troops who were still with him. There were about six hundred men.

nsb@1Samuel:13:17 @ Raiding parties left the Philistine camp in three companies. One company turned on the road to Ophrah to the region of Shual.

nsb@1Samuel:13:18 @ Another company turned to the road to Beth Horon. Another turned onto the road toward the region that overlooks the valley of Zeboim and the desert.

nsb@1Samuel:13:20 @ Everyone in Israel had to go to the Philistines to sharpen the blade of his plow, his mattock, ax, or sickle.

nsb@1Samuel:13:21 @ The charge for sharpening plowshares and for the mattocks, and for the mattocks, and for the three-pronged forks, and for the axes was a pim.

nsb@1Samuel:13:23 @ The garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.

nsb@1Samuel:14:1 @ Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who carried his armor: »Come and let us go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.« He did not tell his father.

nsb@1Samuel:14:4 @ Johathan tried to go over to the Philistines garrison between the passes. There was a rocky crag on each side. The name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other crag was Seneh.

nsb@1Samuel:14:6 @ Jonathan said to the young man: »Let us cross over to the camp of those heathen Philistines. Maybe Jehovah will help us. If he does, nothing can keep him from giving us the victory no matter how few of us there are.«

nsb@1Samuel:14:9 @ »If they agree to come to us down the hill and fight where we are, then we will not climb up to their camp.

nsb@1Samuel:14:10 @ »But we will go to them if they tell us to come up the hill and fight. That will mean Jehovah will help us win.«

nsb@1Samuel:14:12 @ They called out to Jonathan and the young man: »Come up here! We have something to tell you!« Jonathan said to the young man: »Follow me, for Jehovah gives Israel victory over them.«

nsb@1Samuel:14:17 @ »Call the roll,« Saul told the troops who were with him, »See who has left our camp.« They looked and found that Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.

nsb@1Samuel:14:18 @ Then Saul said to Ahijah: »Bring the Ark of God here.« At that time it was with the Israelites.

nsb@1Samuel:14:19 @ While Saul was talking to the priest, the confusion in the Philistine camp grew worse. Then Saul said to the priest: »Remove your hand.«

nsb@1Samuel:14:20 @ Saul and all the people with him came together and went forward to the battle. Every man’s sword was turned against the man at his side. There was a very great noise.

nsb@1Samuel:14:21 @ The Hebrews who had been with the Philistines for some time went to their camp. They joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

nsb@1Samuel:14:22 @ All the men of Israel who had taken cover in the mountains of Ephraim, hearing that the Philistines had been put to flight chased them and attacked them.

nsb@1Samuel:14:23 @ Jehovah made Israel safe that day. The battle shifted to Beth-aven.

nsb@1Samuel:14:25 @ All the people came to the forest. There was honey on the ground. The bees had gone from it.

nsb@1Samuel:14:26 @ When the people entered the woods, the honey was flowing. But no one put his hand to his mouth. The people were afraid of violating their oath.

nsb@1Samuel:14:27 @ Jonathan had not heard that his father forced the people to take an oath. So he stretched out the tip of the staff he had in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb. When he put it to his mouth his eyes lit up.

nsb@1Samuel:14:28 @ Then one of the people told him: »Your father forced the people to take a solemn oath, saying: ‘Cursed is anyone who eats food today.’« That is why the people were exhausted.

nsb@1Samuel:14:29 @ Jonathan answered: »My father brought trouble to the country. See how my eyes lit up when I tasted a little of this honey?

nsb@1Samuel:14:30 @ »If only the people had eaten some of the enemies’ food they found today. We would have killed more Philistines.«

nsb@1Samuel:14:31 @ That day they struck down the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, but the people were thoroughly exhausted.

nsb@1Samuel:14:33 @ Someone told Saul: »The army is disobeying Jehovah by eating meat before the blood drains out.« »You are right,« Saul answered. »They are being unfaithful to Jehovah! Hurry! Roll a big rock over here.«

nsb@1Samuel:14:34 @ »Then tell everyone in camp to bring their cattle and lambs to me. They can kill the animals on this rock and then eat the meat. That way no one will disobey Jehovah by eating meat with blood still in it.« That night the people brought their cattle over to the big rock and killed them there.

nsb@1Samuel:14:35 @ It was the first altar Saul had built for offering sacrifices to Jehovah.

nsb@1Samuel:14:38 @ Saul called his army officers together and said: »We have to find out what sin has kept God from answering.

nsb@1Samuel:14:39 @ »I promise by the living Jehovah, who gives Israel victory, that the guilty one will be put to death, even if he is my son Jonathan.« But no one said anything.

nsb@1Samuel:14:40 @ Then Saul said to them: »All of you stand over there. Jonathan and I will stand over here.« »Do whatever you think best,« they answered.

nsb@1Samuel:14:41 @ Saul said to Jehovah the God of Israel, give a perfect lot. Jonathan and Samuel were taken, but the people escaped.

nsb@1Samuel:14:42 @ Then Saul said: »Cast lots to decide between my son Jonathan and me.« And Jonathan was indicated.

nsb@1Samuel:14:43 @ Then Saul asked Jonathan: »What have you done?« Jonathan answered: »I ate a little honey with the stick I was holding. Here I am. I am ready to die.«

nsb@1Samuel:14:44 @ Saul said: »May God strike me dead if you are not put to death!«

nsb@1Samuel:14:45 @ But the people said to Saul: »Will Jonathan, who won this great victory for Israel, be put to death?« »No! We promise by the living Jehovah that he will not lose even a hair from his head. What he did today was done with God’s help.« So the people saved Jonathan from being put to death.

nsb@1Samuel:14:46 @ After that, Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines. The Philistines went back to their own territory.

nsb@1Samuel:14:47 @ After Saul became king of Israel, he fought all his enemies everywhere: the people of Moab, of Ammon, and of Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. He was victorious wherever he fought.

nsb@1Samuel:14:52 @ There was intense warfare with the Philistines as long as Saul lived. Whenever any warrior or any skilled fighting man came to Saul’s attention, Saul would enlist him in the army.

nsb@1Samuel:15:1 @ Samuel told Saul: »Jehovah sent me to anoint you king of his people Israel. Now listen to Jehovah’s words:

nsb@1Samuel:15:2 @ ‘The Israelites were on their way out of Egypt when the nation of Amalek attacked them. I am Jehovah All-Powerful. I am going to make Amalek pay for what he did to Israel!

nsb@1Samuel:15:4 @ Saul called his forces together and inspected them at Telem. There were two hundred thousand soldiers from Israel and ten thousand from Judah.

nsb@1Samuel:15:5 @ Then he and his men went to the city of Amalek. They waited in ambush in a dry riverbed.

nsb@1Samuel:15:6 @ He sent a warning to the Kenites, a people whose ancestors had been kind to the Israelites when they came from Egypt: »Go away and leave the Amalekites. That way I will not kill you along with them.« So the Kenites left.

nsb@1Samuel:15:7 @ Saul defeated the Amalekites. He fought all the way from Havilah to Shur, east of Egypt.

nsb@1Samuel:15:10 @ Jehovah spoke to Samuel:

nsb@1Samuel:15:12 @ Early the following morning he went off to find Saul. He heard that Saul had gone to the town of Carmel. There in Carmel he built a monument to himself. Then he went to Gilgal.

nsb@1Samuel:15:13 @ Samuel went up to Saul. Saul said: »Jehovah bless you, Samuel! I have obeyed Jehovah’s command.«

nsb@1Samuel:15:15 @ Saul answered: »The army brought them from the Amalekites. They spared the best sheep and cows to sacrifice to Jehovah your God. But the rest they claimed for God and destroyed them.«

nsb@1Samuel:15:16 @ »Be quiet,« Samuel told Saul, »Let me tell you what Jehovah told me last night.« »Speak,« Saul replied.

nsb@1Samuel:15:17 @ Samuel said to Saul: »You are little in your own eyes. Even though you are a leader of all of the tribes of Israel that Jehovah anointed king over Israel.

nsb@1Samuel:15:20 @ Then Saul said to Samuel: »I did obey the voice of Jehovah. I went on the mission Jehovah sent me. I brought back Agag the king of Amalek. I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. »

nsb@1Samuel:15:21 @ The people took from the plunder of the flock the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to Jehovah your God in Gilgal.

nsb@1Samuel:15:22 @ Samuel said: »What is more pleasing to Jehovah, burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Obeying is better than sacrifice. To pay attention is better than the fat of rams.

nsb@1Samuel:15:24 @ Then Saul told Samuel: »I have sinned by not following Jehovah’s command or your instructions. I was afraid of the people and listened to them.

nsb@1Samuel:15:27 @ Samuel turned to leave, but Saul caught hold of his cloak, and it tore.

nsb@1Samuel:15:28 @ Samuel said to him: »Jehovah has torn the kingdom of Israel away from you today. He gave it to someone who is a better man than you.

nsb@1Samuel:15:32 @ »Bring me King Agag of the Amalekites,« Samuel said. Agag came to him trembling. »Surely, the bitterness of death is past,« Agag said.

nsb@1Samuel:15:34 @ Samuel went to Ramah. Saul went up to his house in Gibeah, in the land of Saul.

nsb@1Samuel:15:35 @ Samuel never saw Saul again until the day of his death. Samuel went into mourning for Saul. It was no longer Jehovah’s pleasure for Saul to be king over Israel.

nsb@1Samuel:16:1 @ Jehovah said to Samuel: »How long will you mourn for Saul? After all I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Take oil in your vessel and go. I will send you to Jesse, the Beth-lehemite. I have a king from among his sons.«

nsb@1Samuel:16:2 @ »How can I go?« Samuel asked. »When Saul hears about it he will kill me« Jehovah said: »Take a heifer with you and say: ‘I have come to sacrifice to Jehovah.’«

nsb@1Samuel:16:3 @ »Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice. I will reveal to you what you should do. You will anoint the one I point out to you.«

nsb@1Samuel:16:4 @ Samuel did what Jehovah told him. When he came to Bethlehem the elders of the city trembled at his coming. They greeted him and said: »May peace be with you.«

nsb@1Samuel:16:5 @ »Greetings,« he replied, »I have come to sacrifice to Jehovah. »Perform the ceremonies to make yourselves holy, and come with me to the sacrifice.« He performed the ceremonies for Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

nsb@1Samuel:16:7 @ But Jehovah said to Samuel: »Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature. I have rejected him. God does not see as man sees. Man looks at the outward appearance. Jehovah looks at the heart.«

nsb@1Samuel:16:10 @ So Jesse brought seven more of his sons to Samuel, but Samuel told Jesse: »Jehovah has not chosen any of these.«

nsb@1Samuel:16:11 @ »Are these all the sons you have?« Samuel asked. »There is still the youngest one,« Jesse answered. »He is tending sheep.« Samuel responded: »Send someone to get him. We will not continue until he gets here.«

nsb@1Samuel:16:12 @ Jesse sent for him. He was a handsome, healthy young man, and his eyes sparkled. Jehovah said to Samuel: »This is the one. Anoint him!«

nsb@1Samuel:16:13 @ Samuel took the olive oil and anointed David in front of his brothers. Immediately the Spirit of Jehovah took control of David and was with him from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.

nsb@1Samuel:16:14 @ Jehovah’s Spirit left Saul, and a distressing spirit sent by Jehovah tormented him.

nsb@1Samuel:16:15 @ His servants said to him: »We know that a distressing spirit sent by God is tormenting you.

nsb@1Samuel:16:16 @ »So give us the order and we will look for a man who knows how to play the harp. Then when the distressing spirit comes on you, the man can play his harp, and you will be all right again.«

nsb@1Samuel:16:17 @ Saul ordered: »Find me a man who plays well and bring him to me.«

nsb@1Samuel:16:18 @ One of his attendants said: »Jesse of the town of Bethlehem has a son who is a good musician. He is also a brave and handsome man, a good soldier, and an able speaker. Jehovah is with him.«

nsb@1Samuel:16:19 @ Saul sent a message to Jesse: »Tell your son David to leave your sheep and come here to me.«

nsb@1Samuel:16:20 @ Jesse loaded a donkey with bread and a goatskin full of wine. He told David to take the donkey and a young goat to Saul.

nsb@1Samuel:16:21 @ David went to Saul and worked for him. Saul liked him so much that he put David in charge of carrying his weapons.

nsb@1Samuel:16:22 @ Not long after this, Saul sent another message to Jesse: »I really like David. Please let him stay with me.«

nsb@1Samuel:17:1 @ The Philistines got ready for war and brought their troops together to attack the town of Socoh in Judah. They set up camp at Ephes-Dammim, between Socoh and Azekah.

nsb@1Samuel:17:2 @ Saul and the men of Israel came together and took up their position in the valley of Elah. They drew up in battle array against the Philistines.

nsb@1Samuel:17:8 @ Goliath stood and called to the Israelites: »Why do you form a battle line? Am I not a Philistine? Are you Saul’s servants? Choose a man, and let him come down to fight me.

nsb@1Samuel:17:10 @ The Philistine added: »I challenge the Israelite battle line today. Send out a man so we can fight each other.«

nsb@1Samuel:17:15 @ David went back and forth from Saul’s camp to Bethlehem, where he tended his father’s flock.

nsb@1Samuel:17:17 @ Jesse told his son David: »Take this half-bushel of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread to your brothers. Take them to your brothers in the camp right away.

nsb@1Samuel:17:18 @ »Also take these ten slices of cheese to the commanding officer. Find out how your brothers are getting along. Bring back something to show that you saw them and that they are well.

nsb@1Samuel:17:21 @ The army of Israel and the Philistine army stood there facing each other.

nsb@1Samuel:17:22 @ David left his things with the man in charge of supplies. He ran up to the battle line to ask his brothers if they were well.

nsb@1Samuel:17:23 @ David talked to his brothers. Goliath came out from the line of Philistines and boasted as usual. David heard him.

nsb@1Samuel:17:25 @ They said to each other: »Look how he keeps coming out to insult us. The king offers a big reward to the man who kills Goliath. That man will even get to marry the king’s daughter. No one in his family will ever have to pay taxes again.«

nsb@1Samuel:17:26 @ David asked some soldiers standing nearby: »What will a man get for killing this Philistine and stopping him from insulting our people? Who does that worthless Philistine think he is? He makes fun of the army of the living God!«

nsb@1Samuel:17:27 @ The soldiers repeated to David how the man who kills Goliath would be treated.

nsb@1Samuel:17:28 @ Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard David talking to the men. Then Eliab became angry with David. »Why did you come here,« he asked him,« and with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how overconfident and headstrong you are. You came here just to see the battle.«

nsb@1Samuel:17:30 @ He turned to face another man and asked the same question. The other soldiers gave him the same answer.

nsb@1Samuel:17:31 @ What David said was overheard and reported to Saul. Saul sent for him.

nsb@1Samuel:17:32 @ David told Saul: »No one should be discouraged because of this. I will go and fight this Philistine.«

nsb@1Samuel:17:33 @ Saul responded to David: »You cannot fight this Philistine. You are just a boy. He has been a warrior since he was your age.«

nsb@1Samuel:17:34 @ David replied to Saul: »I am a shepherd for my father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear comes and carries off a sheep from the flock,

nsb@1Samuel:17:35 @ »I go after it, attack it, and rescue the lamb. If the lion or bear turns on me, I grab it by the throat and beat it to death.

nsb@1Samuel:17:36 @ »I have killed lions and bears. I will do the same to this heathen Philistine. He has defied the army of the living God.

nsb@1Samuel:17:38 @ He gave his own armor to David for him to wear. It consisted of a copper helmet, which he put on David’s head, and a coat of armor.

nsb@1Samuel:17:39 @ David strapped Saul’s sword over the armor and tried to walk. But he could not walk. »I cannot fight with all this,« he said to Saul. »I am not used to it.« So he took it all off.

nsb@1Samuel:17:40 @ He took his shepherd’s stick and picked up five smooth stones from the stream and put them in his bag. With his sling ready, he went out to meet Goliath.

nsb@1Samuel:17:41 @ The Philistine, preceded by the man carrying his shield came closer and closer to David.

nsb@1Samuel:17:43 @ The Philistine asked David: »Am I a dog that you come to attack me with sticks?« So the Philistine called on his gods to curse David.

nsb@1Samuel:17:44 @ »Come here,« the Philistine told David, »and I will give your body to the birds.«

nsb@1Samuel:17:45 @ David answered: »You come out to fight me with a sword and a spear and a dagger. But I come out to fight you in the name of Jehovah of Hosts. He is the Almighty God of Israel’s army. You have insulted him!

nsb@1Samuel:17:46 @ »Today Jehovah will help me defeat you. I will knock you down and cut off your head! I will feed the bodies of the other Philistine soldiers to the birds and wild animals. Then the whole world will know that Israel has a real God.

nsb@1Samuel:17:47 @ »Everybody here will see that Jehovah does not need swords or spears to save his people. Jehovah always wins his battles. He will help us defeat you!«

nsb@1Samuel:17:48 @ Goliath started forward and David ran toward him.

nsb@1Samuel:17:50 @ So David overcame the Philistine with his leather band and a stone. The Philistine was wounded and laying on the ground. But David had no sword in his hand.

nsb@1Samuel:17:51 @ He ran to him and stood over him. David took Goliath’s sword out of its sheath and cut off his head to kill him. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead they ran away.

nsb@1Samuel:17:52 @ The men of Israel and Judah shouted and ran after them. They pursued them all the way to Gath and to the gates of Ekron. The Philistines fell wounded all along the road that leads to Shaaraim, as far as Gath and Ekron.

nsb@1Samuel:17:54 @ David took the head of the Philistine to Jerusalem. But he put his armor in his tent.

nsb@1Samuel:17:57 @ When David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the Philistine’s head in his hand.

nsb@1Samuel:18:1 @ David finished talking to Saul. Jonathan became David’s closest friend. He loved David as much as he loved himself.

nsb@1Samuel:18:2 @ Saul kept him with him that day and would not let him go home to his father’s house any more.

nsb@1Samuel:18:4 @ Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing. He gave it to David along with his armor, including his sword, his bow and his belt.

nsb@1Samuel:18:5 @ So David did everything Saul sent him to do successfully. Saul made him a commander in his army. This pleased the people and Saul’s servants.

nsb@1Samuel:18:6 @ David returned from a campaign against the Philistines. That same day women from all of Israel’s cities came to meet King Saul. They sang and danced. Tambourines, joyful music, and triangles accompanied them.

nsb@1Samuel:18:8 @ Saul became very angry because he considered this saying to be insulting. He said: »To David they credit tens of thousands but to me they credit only a few thousand. The only thing left for David is my kingdom.«

nsb@1Samuel:18:10 @ The next day Jehovah let a distressing spirit take control of Saul. He began acting like a crazy man inside his house. David came to play the harp for Saul as usual. This time Saul had a spear in his hand.

nsb@1Samuel:18:11 @ Saul balanced the spear in his hand and said: »I will give David a blow! I will pin him to the wall.« David got away from him twice.

nsb@1Samuel:18:17 @ Finally, Saul said to David: »Here is my oldest daughter Merab. I will give her to you as your wife if you prove yourself to be a warrior for me and fight Jehovah’s battles.« Saul thought: »I must not lay a hand on him. Let the Philistines do that.«

nsb@1Samuel:18:19 @ The time came for Merab to be given to David. Instead, she was given to a man named Adriel from Meholah.

nsb@1Samuel:18:21 @ He said to himself: »I will give Michal to David. I will use her to trap him. The Philistines will kill him.« So for the second time Saul said to David: »You will be my son-in-law.«

nsb@1Samuel:18:22 @ Saul ordered his officials to speak to David in private. They went to David and said: »Look, the king likes you, and all of his officials are loyal to you. Why not ask the king if you may marry his daughter Michal?«

nsb@1Samuel:18:23 @ Saul’s servants said these things to David. And David said: »I am not rich or famous enough to marry Princess Michal.«

nsb@1Samuel:18:24 @ Saul’s servants told him: »David asked, do you think it is easy to become the king’s son-in-law? I am a poor and unimportant person.«

nsb@1Samuel:18:25 @ When the officers told Saul what David had said,

nsb@1Samuel:18:26 @ Saul’s officials reported to David what Saul had said. David was delighted with the thought of becoming the king’s son-in-law. Before the day set for the wedding,

nsb@1Samuel:18:27 @ David and his men killed two hundred Philistines. He took their foreskins to the king and counted them all out to him. This was so he might become his son-in-law. So Saul had to give his daughter Michal in marriage to David.

nsb@1Samuel:18:30 @ The Philistine rulers kept coming to fight Israel. David always won when he fought them. He won more battles against the Philistines than any of Saul’s other officers. This made him famous.

nsb@1Samuel:19:1 @ Saul told Jonathan his son and all his servants to kill David. But Jonathan was very fond of David.

nsb@1Samuel:19:2 @ Jonathan told David: »My father Saul is seeking to kill you. Please be on guard in the morning, and stay in a secret place and hide yourself.

nsb@1Samuel:19:4 @ Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul. »You should not commit a sin against your servant David,« he said. »He has not sinned against you. He has in fact done some very fine things for you.

nsb@1Samuel:19:5 @ »He risked his life and killed the Philistine Goliath. Jehovah gave all Israel a great victory. You rejoiced when you saw it. Why should you sin by shedding David’s innocent blood for no reason?«

nsb@1Samuel:19:7 @ Jonathan called to David and told him what Saul said. Then he brought David to Saul. David served in Saul’s army just as he had done before.

nsb@1Samuel:19:8 @ Then there was a war with the Philistines. David fought hard and forced them to retreat.

nsb@1Samuel:19:9 @ One night, David was in Saul’s home, playing the harp for him. Saul sat there with a spear in his hand. The distressing spirit from Jehovah took control of him.

nsb@1Samuel:19:10 @ Saul tried to pin David to the wall with his spear. David dodged it, and Saul’s spear struck the wall. David escaped from Saul that night.

nsb@1Samuel:19:11 @ Saul sent messengers to watch David’s house and kill him in the morning. Michal, David’s wife advised him: »If you do not save yourself tonight, you will be dead tomorrow!«

nsb@1Samuel:19:12 @ Michal lowered David through a window. He ran away to escape.

nsb@1Samuel:19:13 @ Then Michal took some idols, laid them in the bed, put a goat-hair blanket at its head, and covered the idols with a garment.

nsb@1Samuel:19:14 @ Saul sent messengers to get David. Michal said: »He is sick.«

nsb@1Samuel:19:15 @ Then Saul sent messengers to see David. They said: »Bring him up to me on his bed. I will put him to death.«

nsb@1Samuel:19:17 @ Saul said to Michal: »Why have you deceived me like this? You let my enemy go. He has escaped!« Michal said to Saul: »He said to me: ‘Let me go! Why should I kill you?’«

nsb@1Samuel:19:18 @ David escaped to Samuel at Ramah. He told him all that Saul had done to him. He and Samuel stayed in Naioth.

nsb@1Samuel:19:19 @ Saul was told: »David is at Naioth in Ramah.«

nsb@1Samuel:19:20 @ Saul sent messengers to get David. They saw a group of prophets prophesying with their leader Samuel. God’s Spirit came over Saul’s messengers so that they also prophesied.

nsb@1Samuel:19:21 @ Saul heard what happened. So he sent another group of messengers, but they prophesied the same way. He sent a third group of messengers, but the same thing happened to them.

nsb@1Samuel:19:22 @ Finally, Saul left for Ramah himself. He went as far as the deep pit at the town of Secu. He asked: »Where are Samuel and David?« The people answered: »At Prophets Village in Ramah.«

nsb@1Samuel:19:23 @ He went on from there to Naioth in Ramah. The spirit of God came on him and he acted like a prophet. Then he arrived at Naioth in Ramah.

nsb@1Samuel:19:24 @ He even took off his clothes as he prophesied in front of Samuel. He lay there naked all day and all night. The saying: »Is Saul one of the prophets?« came from there.

nsb@1Samuel:20:1 @ David fled from the pastures at Ramah. He went to Jonathan and asked: »What have I done? What crime am I guilty of? What sin have I committed against your father that he tries to kill me?«

nsb@1Samuel:20:2 @ He said to him: »It will not happen. You will not die! My father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me. So why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so!«

nsb@1Samuel:20:5 @ »Tomorrow is the New Moon Festival,« David replied, »and I am supposed to eat with the king. But if it is all right with you, I will go and hide in the fields until the evening of the day after tomorrow.

nsb@1Samuel:20:6 @ »If your father notices that I am not at the table, tell him that I begged your permission to hurry home to Bethlehem. It is after all the time for the annual sacrifice there for my whole family.

nsb@1Samuel:20:7 @ »If he says: ‘It is well. I will be safe.’ But if he becomes angry, you will know that he is determined to harm me.

nsb@1Samuel:20:8 @ »‘Therefore deal kindly with your servant. You brought your servant into a covenant of Jehovah with you. But if there is iniquity in me kill me yourself. Why should you take me to your father?’«

nsb@1Samuel:20:9 @ Jonathan replied: »Far be it from you! For if I should indeed learn my father decided to bring evil on you then would I not tell you about it?«

nsb@1Samuel:20:11 @ Jonathan said: »Let us go out to the field.« So they went to the field.

nsb@1Samuel:20:12 @ »As Jehovah God of Israel is my witness,« Jonathan continued, »I will find out in the next two or three days how my father feels about you. If he does feel kindly toward you I will send someone to tell you.

nsb@1Samuel:20:13 @ »If my father plans to harm you and I do not send you away safely, may Jehovah harm me even more. Jehovah should be with you just as he used to be with my father.

nsb@1Samuel:20:14 @ »Someday Jehovah will wipe out all of your enemies. Then if I am still alive, please be as kind to me as Jehovah has been. But if I am dead, be kind to my family.

nsb@1Samuel:20:15 @ »Show the same kind of loyalty to my family as long as you live. When Jehovah has completely destroyed all your enemies,

nsb@1Samuel:20:16 @ »May our promise to each other still be unbroken. If it is broken, Jehovah will punish you.«

nsb@1Samuel:20:17 @ Once again Jonathan made David promise to love him. Jonathan loved David as much as he loved himself.

nsb@1Samuel:20:18 @ Jonathan said to him: »Tomorrow is the New Moon Festival. Your absence will be noticed if you are not at the meal.

nsb@1Samuel:20:19 @ »The day after tomorrow you will be missed even more. So go to the place where you hid on that other occasion. Stay by the rock.

nsb@1Samuel:20:20 @ »I will shoot three arrows at a target off to the side of the rock.

nsb@1Samuel:20:21 @ »Then I will send my servant to find the arrows. You will know if it is safe to come out by what I tell him. If it is safe, I swear by the living God Jehovah that I will say: ‘The arrows are on this side of you! Pick them up!

nsb@1Samuel:20:22 @ »‘If it is not safe, I will say to the boy: The arrows are farther away! This will mean that Jehovah wants you to leave. You must go.

nsb@1Samuel:20:23 @ »‘He will always watch us to make sure that we keep the promise we made to each other.’«

nsb@1Samuel:20:24 @ David hid there in the field. It was the New Moon Festival. Saul sat down to eat.

nsb@1Samuel:20:25 @ He ate by the wall, just as he always did. Jonathan sat across from him. Abner sat next to him. But David’s place was empty.

nsb@1Samuel:20:26 @ Saul was in deep thought. So he did not say anything that day. Something must have happened to make David unfit to be at the Festival. Yes, something must have happened.

nsb@1Samuel:20:27 @ David’s place was still empty the day after the New Moon Festival. Saul asked Jonathan: »Why has that son of Jesse not come to eat with us? He was not here yesterday, and he still is not here today!«

nsb@1Samuel:20:28 @ Jonathan answered Saul: »David earnestly asked permission of me to go to Bethlehem.

nsb@1Samuel:20:29 @ »David said to me: ‘Please let me go, since our family must make a sacrifice in the city. My brother has commanded me to attend. If I have found favor in your sight, please let me get away that I may see my brothers.’ For this reason he has not come to the king’s table.’«

nsb@1Samuel:20:31 @ »As long as Jesse’s son lives on earth, neither you nor your right to be king is secure. Send some men to bring him to me. He is a dead man!«

nsb@1Samuel:20:33 @ Saul threw his spear at Jonathan and tried to kill him. Then Jonathan was sure that his father really did want to kill David.

nsb@1Samuel:20:35 @ In the morning Jonathan went out to the field to meet David. He took a servant boy along.

nsb@1Samuel:20:36 @ Jonathan told him: »When I shoot the arrows, you run and find them for me.« The boy started running, and Jonathan shot an arrow so that it would go beyond him.

nsb@1Samuel:20:37 @ When the boy reached the place where the arrow fell Jonathan shouted to him: »The arrow is farther on!

nsb@1Samuel:20:38 @ »Do not just stand there! Hurry up! »The boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master.

nsb@1Samuel:20:40 @ Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy and told him to take them back to town.

nsb@1Samuel:20:41 @ After the boy left, David got up from behind the pile of stones. He fell on his knees and bowed with his face to the ground three times. Both he and Jonathan cried as they kissed each other. David’s grief was even greater than Jonathan’s.

nsb@1Samuel:20:42 @ Jonathan said to David: »God be with you. Jehovah will make sure that you and I, and your descendants and mine, will keep the sacred promise we have made to each other for as long as we live.« Then David left and Jonathan went back to town.

nsb@1Samuel:21:1 @ David went to the priest Ahimelech at Nob. Ahimelech was afraid when he met David. »Why are you alone?« He asked David. »Why is no one with you?«

nsb@1Samuel:21:2 @ The king ordered me to do something, David answered the priest Ahimelech, and he told me: »No one must know anything about this mission I am sending you to do. I have stationed my young men at a certain place.«

nsb@1Samuel:21:3 @ David added: »What do you have to eat? Give me five loaves of bread or whatever you can find.«

nsb@1Samuel:21:4 @ The high priest answered David: »I do not have any ordinary bread here. But there is holy bread for the young men if they have not had sexual intercourse today.«

nsb@1Samuel:21:5 @ David answered the priest: »Women have been kept away from us as usual when we go on a mission. The young men’s bodies are kept holy even on ordinary campaigns. How much more then are their bodies holy today?«

nsb@1Samuel:21:7 @ That same day one of Saul’s servants who was obligated to stay in Jehovah’s presence was there. His name was Doeg. He was chief herdsman for Saul’s shepherds from Edom.

nsb@1Samuel:21:10 @ David kept running from Saul that day until he came to Gath. There he met with King Achish.

nsb@1Samuel:21:13 @ Right there in front of everyone, he pretended to be insane. He acted confused and scratched up the doors of the town gate. He drooled in his beard.

nsb@1Samuel:21:14 @ Look at him! Achish said to his officers. You can see he is crazy. Why did you bring him to me?

nsb@1Samuel:22:1 @ David escaped from the town of Gath and he went to Adullam Cave. Once they found out where he was his brothers and the rest of his family followed him there.

nsb@1Samuel:22:2 @ A lot of other people joined him too. Some were in trouble. Others were angry or in debt. David was soon the leader of four hundred men.

nsb@1Samuel:22:3 @ David went from there to Mizpah in Moab. He said to the king of Moab: »Please let my father and my mother come and stay with you until I know what God will do for me.«

nsb@1Samuel:22:5 @ »Do not live in your stronghold,« the prophet Gad told David. »Go to the land of Judah. So David went to the forest of Hereth.«

nsb@1Samuel:22:6 @ Saul heard that David and his men were found. Saul stayed in Gibeah under the tamarisk tree at the worship site. He held his spear in his hand. All his officials stood around him.

nsb@1Samuel:22:7 @ He said to his officials: »Listen to me men of Benjamin! Will Jesse’s son give every one of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all officers over a regiment or a battalion of soldiers?

nsb@1Samuel:22:8 @ »All of you are plotting against me. No one informed me when my son entered into a loyalty pledge with Jesse’s son. No one felt sorry for me. And no one informed me that my son has encouraged my servant David to ambush me, as he is doing now.«

nsb@1Samuel:22:9 @ Doeg from Edom, standing with Saul’s officials, answered him: »I saw Jesse’s son when he came to Ahimelech, Ahitub’s son, in Nob.

nsb@1Samuel:22:10 @ »Ahimelech prayed to Jehovah for David. He gave him food and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.«

nsb@1Samuel:22:11 @ Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub’s and his entire family who were the priests in Nob. All of them came to the king.

nsb@1Samuel:22:13 @ Saul asked him: »Why did you and Jesse’s son plot against me? You gave him bread and a sword. You even prayed to God that he could rise up against me and ambush me, as he is doing now.«

nsb@1Samuel:22:15 @ »Is this the first time I have prayed to God for him? Not at all! You should not blame my family or me for this. I knew nothing at all about this.«

nsb@1Samuel:22:16 @ The king said: »Ahimelech, you and your entire family are going to die.«

nsb@1Samuel:22:17 @ The king said to the guards who were attending him: »Turn around and kill the priests of Jehovah! They are also with David. They knew that he was fleeing and did not reveal it to me. But the servants of the king were not willing to lift a hand to attack the priests of Jehovah.«

nsb@1Samuel:22:18 @ The king said to Doeg: »You turn around and attack the priests.« Doeg the Edomite turned around and attacked the priests. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.

nsb@1Samuel:22:20 @ Ahimelech, Ahitub’s son had one son who escaped. His name was Abiathar. He fled to David.

nsb@1Samuel:22:21 @ Abiathar told David that Saul killed Jehovah’s priests.

nsb@1Samuel:22:22 @ David told Abiathar: »I knew that day when Doeg from Edom was there that he would be certain to tell Saul. I am the one responsible for all the lives of your family.

nsb@1Samuel:23:1 @ David heard that the Philistines attacked the town of Keilah. They robbed the threshing floors of the newly harvested grain.

nsb@1Samuel:23:3 @ David’s men said to him: »We have enough to be afraid of here in Judah. It will be worse if we go to Keilah and attack the Philistine forces!«

nsb@1Samuel:23:4 @ David consulted Jehovah once again, and Jehovah said to him: »Go attack Keilah! I will give you victory over the Philistines.«

nsb@1Samuel:23:5 @ David and his men went to Keilah and fought the Philistines. They drove off their livestock, and overwhelmingly defeated them. So David rescued the people who lived in Keilah.

nsb@1Samuel:23:6 @ When Ahimelech’s son Abiathar fled to David at Keilah, Abiathar brought a priestly ephod with him.

nsb@1Samuel:23:7 @ When Saul was told that David went to Keilah, Saul said: »God has delivered him into my hands. He has trapped himself by going into a city which has a gate with a double door held shut by a bar.«

nsb@1Samuel:23:8 @ So Saul called all the troops to go to war. They wanted to blockade Keilah, where David and his men were.

nsb@1Samuel:23:9 @ David learned that Saul was planning to harm him. He told the priest Abiathar: »Bring the ephod!«

nsb@1Samuel:23:10 @ Then David said: »Jehovah God of Israel, I have actually heard that Saul is going to come to Keilah and destroy the city on account of me.

nsb@1Samuel:23:11 @ »Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come here as I have heard? Jehovah God of Israel, please tell me.« Jehovah answered: »He will come.«

nsb@1Samuel:23:12 @ »Will the citizens of Keilah hand my men and me over to Saul?« David asked. Jehovah answered: »They will hand you over.«

nsb@1Samuel:23:13 @ David and his men, about six hundred in all, left Keilah. They went wherever they could go. Then Saul was told: »David has escaped from Keilah! So he gave up the campaign.«

nsb@1Samuel:23:15 @ David was afraid because Saul had come to kill him at Horesh in the desert of Ziph.

nsb@1Samuel:23:16 @ Jonathan went to see David. God helped him encourage David.

nsb@1Samuel:23:17 @ »Do not be afraid,« Jonathan said. »My father Saul will never get his hands on you. In fact, you are going to be the next king of Israel. I will be your highest official. Even my father knows it is true.«

nsb@1Samuel:23:18 @ They both promised Jehovah that they would always be loyal to each other. Then Jonathan went home while David stayed at Horesh.

nsb@1Samuel:23:19 @ Some people from the town of Ziph went to Saul at Gibeah. They said: »Your Majesty, David has a hideout not far from us! It is near Horesh. It is somewhere on Mount Hachilah south of Jeshimon.

nsb@1Samuel:23:20 @ »We know how much you want to capture him. Come to our territory and we will make sure you catch him.«

nsb@1Samuel:23:21 @ Saul answered: »May Jehovah bless you for being so kind to me!

nsb@1Samuel:23:23 @ »Find out exactly the places where he hides. Be sure to bring back a report to me right away. Then I will go with you. If he is still in the region, I will hunt him down, even if I have to search the whole land of Judah.«

nsb@1Samuel:23:24 @ So they left and returned to Ziph ahead of Saul. David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon. They were in a desolate valley in the southern part of the Judean wilderness.

nsb@1Samuel:23:25 @ Saul and his men set out to look for David. David heard about it and went to a rocky hill in the wilderness of Maon and stayed there. When Saul heard about this he went after David.

nsb@1Samuel:23:26 @ Saul and his men were on one side of the hill. They were separated from David and his men, who were on the other side. They were hurrying to get away from Saul and his men, who were closing in on them and were about to capture them.

nsb@1Samuel:23:27 @ Just then a messenger arrived and said to Saul: »Come back at once! The Philistines are invading the country!«

nsb@1Samuel:23:28 @ Saul stopped pursuing David and went to fight the Philistines. That is why that place is called Separation Hill.

nsb@1Samuel:23:29 @ From there David went to stay in the fortified camps of En Gedi.

nsb@1Samuel:24:2 @ Saul led three thousand of Israel’s best soldiers out to look for David and his men near Wild Goat Rocks at En-Gedi.

nsb@1Samuel:24:3 @ There were some sheep pens along the side of the road. One of them was built around the entrance to a cave. So Saul went into the cave to relieve himself. David and his men were hiding at the back of the cave.

nsb@1Samuel:24:4 @ They whispered to David: »Jehovah told you he was going to let you defeat your enemies and do whatever you want with them. This must be the day Jehovah was talking about.« David sneaked over and cut off a small piece of Saul’s robe and Saul did not notice.

nsb@1Samuel:24:6 @ He told his men: »Stop talking foolishly. We are not going to attack Saul. He is my king. I pray that Jehovah will keep me from doing anything to harm his chosen king.«

nsb@1Samuel:24:7 @ David stopped his men by saying this to them. He did not let them attack Saul. Saul left the cave and went out onto the road.

nsb@1Samuel:24:8 @ Then David got up and left the cave. He called to Saul: »My lord!« When Saul looked back. David knelt down with his face touching the ground.

nsb@1Samuel:24:9 @ David asked Saul: »Why do you listen to rumors that I am trying to harm you?

nsb@1Samuel:24:10 @ »Today you saw how Jehovah handed you over to me in the cave. Although I was told to kill you I spared you. I said: ‘I will not raise my hand against my lord because you are Jehovah’s anointed.’«

nsb@1Samuel:24:11 @ »My master, look at this! The border of your robe is in my hand! I cut off the border of your robe and did not kill you. You should know and be able to see I mean no harm or rebellion. I have not sinned against you! But you are trying to ambush me in order to take my life.

nsb@1Samuel:24:12 @ »I will let Jehovah decide which one of us has done right. I pray that Jehovah will punish you for what you are doing to me. However, I will not do anything to you.

nsb@1Samuel:24:17 @ He said: »David, you are a better person than I am. You treated me with kindness when I was cruel to you.

nsb@1Samuel:24:18 @ »You have shown me how you were kind enough not to kill me when Jehovah gave you the chance.

nsb@1Samuel:24:19 @ »You would not let me live if you were my enemy. I pray that Jehovah will reward you for what you did today.

nsb@1Samuel:24:20 @ »I know now you will be the next king. You will be a powerful king too.

nsb@1Samuel:24:21 @ »Promise me with Jehovah as your witness, that you will not destroy my descendants. Let them live to keep my family name alive.«

nsb@1Samuel:24:22 @ David promised and Saul went home. David and his men returned to their hideout.

nsb@1Samuel:25:1 @ Samuel died. All Israel gathered to mourn him. They buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David went to the desert of Paran.

nsb@1Samuel:25:5 @ David sent ten young men to Nabal. David said to them: »Go up to Carmel and go to Nabal, and say kind words to him in my name.

nsb@1Samuel:25:6 @ »Say to him: ‘May you live long! May you, your home, and all you have prosper!

nsb@1Samuel:25:8 @ »‘Ask your shepherds. They will tell you the same thing. My servants are your servants. You are like a father to me. This is a day for celebrating. Please be kind and share some of your food with us.’«

nsb@1Samuel:25:9 @ David’s men went to Nabal and gave him David’s message. They waited for Nabal’s answer.

nsb@1Samuel:25:10 @ This is what he said: »Who does this David think he is? That son of Jesse is just one more slave on the run from his master. There are too many of them now days.

nsb@1Samuel:25:12 @ The men returned to their camp and told David everything Nabal said.

nsb@1Samuel:25:13 @ David ordered: »Everyone get your swords!« They strapped on their swords. Two hundred men stayed behind to guard the camp. The other four hundred followed David.

nsb@1Samuel:25:14 @ One of Nabal’s servants told Nabal’s wife Abigail: »Have you heard? David sent some messengers from the wilderness with greetings for our master. He insulted them.

nsb@1Samuel:25:15 @ »Yet they were very good to us. They never bothered us. Nothing belonging to us was stolen at the time we were with them in the fields.

nsb@1Samuel:25:17 @ »Consider what you should do because our master and his whole household are doomed. He is such a worthless man that it is useless to talk to him.«

nsb@1Samuel:25:18 @ So Abigail quickly took two hundred loaves of bread, two full wineskins, five butchered sheep, a bushel of roasted grain, one hundred bunches of raisins, and two hundred fig cakes and loaded them on donkeys.

nsb@1Samuel:25:19 @ »Lead the way,« she told her young men, »and I will follow you.« But she did not tell her husband Nabal about it.

nsb@1Samuel:25:20 @ She rode her donkey down a hidden mountain path. David and his men came to her.

nsb@1Samuel:25:21 @ David thought: »I guarded this man’s possessions in the desert for nothing! Not one of his possessions was missing. Yet, he paid me back with evil when I was good to him.

nsb@1Samuel:25:23 @ Abigail saw David and quickly got down from her donkey. She immediately bowed down in front of David with her face touching the ground.

nsb@1Samuel:25:24 @ She fell at his feet and said: »Let me be held responsible for this wrong. Please let me speak with you. Please listen to me.

nsb@1Samuel:25:26 @ »Jehovah kept you from spilling innocent blood and from getting a victory by your own efforts. As Jehovah lives and you live, may your enemies and those who are trying to harm you end up like Nabal.

nsb@1Samuel:25:27 @ »Please accept this gift from your maidservant. And give it to the young men who accompany my lord.

nsb@1Samuel:25:29 @ »Even if someone pursues you to take your life, your life is wrapped securely in the bundle of the living from Jehovah your God. He will dispose of the lives of your enemies. They will be hurled like stones from a sling.

nsb@1Samuel:25:31 @ you should not have a troubled conscience because you spilled blood for no good reason and claimed your own victory. When Jehovah gives you success, remember me.«

nsb@1Samuel:25:32 @ David said to Abigail: »Blessed is Jehovah the God of Israel, who sent you today to meet me.

nsb@1Samuel:25:33 @ »Blessed is your good judgment and blessed are you for keeping me from slaughtering people today and from getting a victory by my own efforts.

nsb@1Samuel:25:34 @ »I solemnly promise as Jehovah the God of Israel lives that if you had not come to meet me Nabal would not have had one of his men alive at dawn.«

nsb@1Samuel:25:35 @ Then David accepted what she brought him. He said: »Go home in peace. I have listened to what you said and I grant your request.«

nsb@1Samuel:25:36 @ When Abigail came to Nabal, he was holding a banquet in his home. It was like a king’s banquet. He was in a good mood and very drunk, so she did not tell him anything until dawn.

nsb@1Samuel:25:37 @ In the morning after the effects of the wine wore off his wife told him what had happened. Nabal had a stroke. He could not move.

nsb@1Samuel:25:39 @ David heard Nabal was dead. He said: »Blessed is Jehovah who defended me against the insults of Nabal. He kept me from doing wrong. Jehovah has turned Nabal’s own wickedness back on him.« David sent men on his behalf to propose marriage to Abigail.

nsb@1Samuel:25:40 @ David’s servants approached Abigail at Carmel. They told her: »David sent us to you to take you to him to be his wife.«

nsb@1Samuel:25:41 @ She bowed down with her face touching the ground. »I am ready to serve,« she said. »I am willing to wash the feet of my master’s servants.«

nsb@1Samuel:25:43 @ Earlier David married Ahinoam from the town of Jezreel. Now both she and Abigail were David’s wives.

nsb@1Samuel:25:44 @ Meanwhile, Saul arranged for Michal to marry Palti the son of Laish, who came from the town of Gallim.

nsb@1Samuel:26:1 @ Some people from Ziph went to Gibeah to talk with Saul, they said: »David has a hideout on Mount Hachilah near Jeshimon out in the desert.«

nsb@1Samuel:26:2 @ Saul went to the desert of Ziph. He took three thousand of Israel’s best-trained men to search for David.

nsb@1Samuel:26:3 @ Saul camped by the road at the hill of Hachilah near Jeshimon. David camped in the desert. He discovered that Saul come to the desert after him.

nsb@1Samuel:26:4 @ David sent spies to confirm Saul’s arrival.

nsb@1Samuel:26:5 @ Then David went to the place where Saul camped. David saw the place where Saul and Ner’s son Abner, the commander of the army, were lying. Saul was lying in the camp. The troops were camped around him.

nsb@1Samuel:26:6 @ David asked Ahimelech the Hittite, and Abishai the brother of Joab: »Who will go to Saul’s camp with me?« »I will,« Abishai answered.

nsb@1Samuel:26:8 @ Abishai said to David: »God put your enemy in your power tonight. Let me plunge his own spear through him and pin him to the ground. I will do it with just one blow. I will not have to strike twice!«

nsb@1Samuel:26:10 @ »By the living God Jehovah,« David declared, »I know that Jehovah will kill Saul, either when his time comes to die a natural death or when he dies in battle.

nsb@1Samuel:26:11 @ »Jehovah forbid that I should try to harm the one Jehovah anointed to be king. Just take his spear and his water jar and go.«

nsb@1Samuel:26:12 @ David took the spear and the water jar from beside Saul’s head. Then he and Abishai left. No one saw it or knew what happened. No one woke up. They were all sound asleep, because Jehovah sent a heavy sleep on them all.

nsb@1Samuel:26:13 @ Then David crossed over to the other side of the valley. He went to the top of the hill a great distance away.

nsb@1Samuel:26:14 @ David shouted to Saul’s troops and to Abner: »Abner! Can you hear me?« »Who is calling to the king?« Abner asked.

nsb@1Samuel:26:15 @ David answered, »Abner, are you the greatest man in Israel? Why are you not protecting your master, the king? Someone entered the camp to kill your master.

nsb@1Samuel:26:16 @ »You failed in your duty, Abner! I swear by the living God Jehovah all of you deserve to die. You have not protected your master, whom Jehovah made king. Look for the king’s spear? Where is the water jar that was near his head?«

nsb@1Samuel:26:19 @ »Please let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant. If Jehovah has stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering. If it is men, cursed are they before Jehovah. They have driven me out today so that I would have no attachment with the inheritance of Jehovah, saying: ‘Go serve other gods.’«

nsb@1Samuel:26:20 @ »Do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of Jehovah. The king of Israel comes to search for a flea. Yet he hunts me down like a partridge on the mountains.«

nsb@1Samuel:26:21 @ »My servant David,« Saul said, »I have sinned. Come back. I will not harm you again. You valued my life today. I have acted like a fool. I made a terrible mistake.«

nsb@1Samuel:26:23 @ »Jehovah put you in my power today. But you are his chosen king. I would not harm you. Jehovah rewards the righteous and faithful.

nsb@1Samuel:26:24 @ »I valued and saved your life today. I pray that you will value and save my life and that Jehovah will deliver me out of tribulation.«

nsb@1Samuel:27:1 @ David thought to himself: »One of these days Saul will kill me. The best thing for me to do is escape to Philistia. Saul will give up looking for me in Israel. Then I will be safe.«

nsb@1Samuel:27:2 @ David and his six hundred men went over at once to Achish son of Maoch, king of Gath.

nsb@1Samuel:27:4 @ Word soon reached Saul that David fled to Gath. So he stopped hunting for him.

nsb@1Samuel:27:5 @ David said to Achish: »If it is all right with you, let me live in one of the outlying towns. Why should I live in the royal city with you?«

nsb@1Samuel:27:6 @ Achish immediately gave him Ziklag. This is why Ziklag still belongs to the kings of Judah today.

nsb@1Samuel:27:7 @ David lived in Philistine territory for one year and four months.

nsb@1Samuel:27:8 @ David and his men raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. Their territory extends from Telaim to Shur and Egypt.

nsb@1Samuel:27:9 @ David attacked the territory and left no man or woman alive. He also took sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing and returned to Achish.

nsb@1Samuel:27:10 @ Achish would ask: »Whom did you raid today?« David would answer: »The south country in Judah, or the south country of the Jerahmeelites, or the south country of the Kenites.«

nsb@1Samuel:27:11 @ He did not bring a single man or woman back to Gath alive. He thought, they could tell Achish what I really did. This was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory.

nsb@1Samuel:27:12 @ Achish trusted David and thought: »David’s people must be furious with him. From now on he will have to take orders from me.«

nsb@1Samuel:28:1 @ One day the Philistines brought their soldiers together to attack Israel. Achish told David: »You and your men must fight as part of our Philistine army.«

nsb@1Samuel:28:2 @ David answered: »That will give you a chance to see for yourself just how well we can fight!« Achish said: »You and your men will always be my bodyguards.«

nsb@1Samuel:28:3 @ After Samuel died all the Israelites mourned for him. They buried him in his hometown of Ramah. Saul forced all the fortunetellers and mediums to leave Israel.

nsb@1Samuel:28:4 @ The Philistine troops assembled and camped near the town of Shunem. Saul gathered the Israelites and camped at Mount Gilboa.

nsb@1Samuel:28:6 @ So he asked Jehovah what to do. But Jehovah did not answer him. He did not answer by dreams or by the use of Urim and Thummim or by prophets.

nsb@1Samuel:28:8 @ Saul disguised himself. He put on different clothes. After dark he went with two of his men to see the woman. »Consult the spirits for me and tell me what is going to happen,« he said to her: »Call up the spirit of the man I name.«

nsb@1Samuel:28:9 @ The woman answered: »You know what King Saul has done? He forced the fortunetellers and mediums to leave Israel. Are you trying to trap me and get me killed?«

nsb@1Samuel:28:10 @ Saul made a sacred vow. »By the living God Jehovah I promise that you will not be punished for doing this,« he told her.

nsb@1Samuel:28:12 @ The woman saw Samuel. She screamed and said to Saul, »Why have you tricked me? You are King Saul!«

nsb@1Samuel:28:13 @ »Do not be afraid!« The king said to her. »What do you see?« She answered: »I see a spirit coming up from the earth.«

nsb@1Samuel:28:14 @ »The spirit, what does it look like?« He asked. »It is an old man,« she answered. »He wears a cloak.« Saul knew it was Samuel. So he bowed to the ground in respect.

nsb@1Samuel:28:15 @ Samuel said to Saul: »Why have you disturbed me? Why did you make me come back?« Saul answered: »I am in great trouble! The Philistines are at war with me. God has abandoned me. He does not answer me any more by prophets or by dreams. Please tell me what to do.«

nsb@1Samuel:28:17 @ »Jehovah did to you what he told you through me. He took the kingdom away from you and gave it to David instead.

nsb@1Samuel:28:18 @ »You disobeyed Jehovah’s command and did not completely destroy the Amalekites. That is why Jehovah is doing this to you.

nsb@1Samuel:28:19 @ »He will give you and Israel over to the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will join me. Jehovah will also give the army of Israel over to the Philistines.«

nsb@1Samuel:28:21 @ The woman went to him. She saw that he was terrified. So she said to him: »I risked my life by doing what you asked.

nsb@1Samuel:28:22 @ »Now please do what I ask. Let me fix you some food. You must eat so that you will be strong enough to travel.«

nsb@1Samuel:28:23 @ Saul refused. He said he would not eat. But his officers also urged him to eat. He finally gave in, got up from the ground, and sat on the bed.

nsb@1Samuel:28:24 @ The woman quickly butchered a calf she had fattened. Then she took some flour and prepared it. She baked some bread without yeast.

nsb@1Samuel:29:3 @ The Philistine commanders saw them and asked: »What are these Hebrews doing here?« Achish answered: »This is David. He is the man who ran away from King Saul of Israel. He has been with me for more than a year. He has done nothing I can find fault with since the day he came to me.«

nsb@1Samuel:29:4 @ The Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and said to him: »Send that fellow back to the town you gave him. Do not let him go into battle with us. He might turn against us during the fight. What better way is there for him to win back his master’s favor than by causing the death of our men?

nsb@1Samuel:29:6 @ Achish called David and said: »I swear by the living God of Israel that you have been loyal to me. I would be pleased to have you go with me and fight in this battle. I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me. But the other kings do not approve of you.

nsb@1Samuel:29:9 @ »I agree,« Achish replied. »I consider you as loyal as an angel of God. But the other kings say you may not go with us into battle.

nsb@1Samuel:29:10 @ »Tomorrow morning all of you who left Saul and came over to me must get up early and leave at first light.«

nsb@1Samuel:29:11 @ David and his men started out early the following morning. They went back to Philistia. The Philistines went on to Jezreel.

nsb@1Samuel:30:1 @ Two days later David and his men came to Ziklag. The Amalekites raided the south country including Ziklag. They attacked Ziklag and burned it.

nsb@1Samuel:30:2 @ They captured the women young and old. However they killed no one. Instead, they took the women as prisoners.

nsb@1Samuel:30:3 @ When David and his men came to Zikleg they found it completely destroyed by fire. Their wives, sons, and daughters had been taken captive.

nsb@1Samuel:30:4 @ David and his men cried loudly until they did not have the strength to cry anymore.

nsb@1Samuel:30:6 @ The people in their bitterness said David should be stoned. This caused him great distress. They were thinking of their sons and daughters. But David found strength in Jehovah his God.

nsb@1Samuel:30:7 @ David told Abiathar the priest: »Please bring me the priestly ephod.« So Abiathar brought David the ephod.

nsb@1Samuel:30:8 @ David asked Jehovah: »Should I pursue these troops? Will I catch up with them?« »Pursue them!« Jehovah told him: »You will certainly catch up with them and rescue the captives.«

nsb@1Samuel:30:9 @ So David and his six hundred men went to the Besor Valley, where some were left behind.

nsb@1Samuel:30:10 @ David and four hundred men went in pursuit. Two hundred men who were too exhausted to cross the Besor Valley stayed behind.

nsb@1Samuel:30:11 @ David’s men found an Egyptian in the open country and took him to David. They gave him food to eat and water to drink.

nsb@1Samuel:30:14 @ »We raided the territory of the Cherethites in the southern part of Judah. We also raided the territory of the clan of Caleb, and we burned down Ziklag.«

nsb@1Samuel:30:15 @ »Will you lead me to those raiders?« David asked him. He answered, »I will if you promise me in God’s name that you will not kill me or hand me over to my master.«

nsb@1Samuel:30:16 @ He led David to the Amalekites. They were eating, drinking and celebrating because of what they had taken from Philistia and Judah.

nsb@1Samuel:30:17 @ David attacked just before sunrise the next day. They fought until sunset. Four hundred Amalekites rode away on camels. They were the only ones to escape.

nsb@1Samuel:30:19 @ Young and old, sons and daughters alike, no one was missing. David brought back everything that had been stolen.

nsb@1Samuel:30:20 @ They even brought back their livestock. David also took the sheep and cattle that the Amalekites had with them. He kept these separate from the others. Everyone agreed that these would be David’s reward.

nsb@1Samuel:30:21 @ On the way back, David met the two hundred men he left at Besor Gorge. They were too tired to keep up with him. They approached David and the people who were with him. He greeted the two hundred men and asked how they were doing.

nsb@1Samuel:30:24 @ »Besides, who is going to pay attention to what you have to say in this matter? The share of those who go into battle must be like the share of those who stay with the supplies. They will all share alike.«

nsb@1Samuel:30:25 @ From that time on he made this a rule and a custom in Israel as it is to this day.

nsb@1Samuel:30:26 @ When David arrived in Ziklag, he sent some of the goods to the elders of Judah, and to his friends. He said: »Here is an offering for you from the spoil of those who fought against Jehovah.«

nsb@1Samuel:30:27 @ He sent the offering to the people in Bethel, to the people in Ramah in the southern part of Judah, and to the people in the towns of Jattir,

nsb@1Samuel:30:29 @ and Racal; to the clan of Jerahmeel, to the Kenites,

nsb@1Samuel:30:30 @ and to the people in the towns of Hormah, Borashan, Athach,

nsb@1Samuel:30:31 @ and Hebron. He sent it to all the places where he and his men had been.

nsb@1Samuel:31:2 @ The Philistines caught up to Saul and his sons. They killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons.

nsb@1Samuel:31:4 @ He said to the young man carrying his weapons: »Draw your sword and kill me. That way these godless Philistines will not gloat over me and kill me.« But the young man was too terrified to do it. So Saul took his own sword and threw himself on it.

nsb@1Samuel:31:5 @ The young man saw that Saul was dead. Then he too threw himself on his own sword and died with Saul.

nsb@1Samuel:31:7 @ The Israelites on the other side of Jezreel Valley and east of the Jordan River heard that the Israelite army had fled and that Saul and his sons had been killed. They abandoned their towns and fled. Then the Philistines came and occupied the towns.

nsb@1Samuel:31:8 @ The next day the Philistines came to strip the dead. They found Saul and his three sons lying on Mount Gilboa.

nsb@1Samuel:31:9 @ They cut off his head and stripped off his armor. Then they sent men throughout Philistine territory to tell the people this good news in their idols’ temples.

nsb@1Samuel:31:10 @ They put his armor in the temple of their goddesses the Asherahs and fastened his corpse to the wall of Beth Shan.

nsb@1Samuel:31:11 @ The people living in Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul.

nsb@1Samuel:31:12 @ All the fighting men marched all night and took the dead bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan. They came back to Jabesh and burned the bodies.

nsb@1Samuel:31:13 @ They buried the bones under a small tree in Jabesh. Then for seven days, they went without eating to show their sorrow.

nsb@2Samuel:1:1 @ Saul was dead. David defeated the Amalekites and returned to Ziklag.

nsb@2Samuel:1:2 @ Three days later a soldier came from Saul’s army. His clothes were torn and dirt was on his head. He knelt down in front of David.

nsb@2Samuel:1:8 @ »He asked: ‘Who are you.’ I told him I was an Amalekite.

nsb@2Samuel:1:9 @ »‘Then he said: ‘Come here and kill me! I am badly wounded and about to die.’

nsb@2Samuel:1:10 @ »I went up to him and killed him. I knew that he would die anyway as soon as he fell. Then I took the crown from his head and the bracelet from his arm. Here, I have brought them to you.«

nsb@2Samuel:1:11 @ David and all his men tore their clothes in sorrow.

nsb@2Samuel:1:14 @ David asked: »Why were you not afraid to take it upon yourself to destroy Jehovah’s anointed king?«

nsb@2Samuel:1:16 @ David said to him: »Your blood is on your head. Your mouth has testified against you. For you admit that you killed Jehovah’s anointed.«

nsb@2Samuel:1:18 @ He told them to teach the sons of Judah the song of the bow. It is written in the book of Jashar:

nsb@2Samuel:1:20 @ »Do not tell the news in Gath. Do not announce the victory in the streets of Ashkelon. The daughters of the Philistines will be glad. The daughters of godless men will celebrate.

nsb@2Samuel:1:23 @ »It was easy to love Saul and Jonathan. Together in life, together in death, they were faster than eagles and stronger than lions.

nsb@2Samuel:1:26 @ »I grieve for you, my brother Jonathan. You were dear to me! How wonderful was your love for me. It was better than the love of women.

nsb@2Samuel:2:1 @ Later David asked Jehovah: »Shall I go to the towns of Judah?« »Yes,« Jehovah answered. »Which one?« David asked. »Hebron,« Jehovah told him.

nsb@2Samuel:2:2 @ David went to Hebron. He took his two wives: Ahinoam from Jezreel, and Abigail, Nabal’s widow from Carmel with him.

nsb@2Samuel:2:3 @ He also took his men and their families. They settled in the towns around Hebron.

nsb@2Samuel:2:4 @ Then the men of Judah came to Hebron. They anointed David as king of Judah. David heard that the people of Jabesh-gilead buried Saul.

nsb@2Samuel:2:5 @ He sent some men there with the message: »Jehovah blesses you for showing your loyalty to your king by burying him.

nsb@2Samuel:2:6 @ »May Jehovah always show you kindness. I also will be good to you because you did this.

nsb@2Samuel:2:7 @ »Be strong and courageous. Your master Saul is dead. Therefore the tribe of Judah has anointed me to be their king.«

nsb@2Samuel:2:8 @ Ner’s son Abner, commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ishbosheth and brought him to Mahanaim.

nsb@2Samuel:2:12 @ One time Abner and the soldiers of Ishbosheth left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon.

nsb@2Samuel:2:14 @ Abner yelled to Joab: »Let some of our best soldiers get up and fight each other!« Joab agreed.

nsb@2Samuel:2:15 @ Twelve of Ishbosheth’s men from the tribe of Benjamin got up to fight twelve of David’s men.

nsb@2Samuel:2:16 @ Each one grabbed his opponent by the head. Then he stuck his sword into his opponent’s side, and they fell down together. That place in Gibeon is called the Field of Enemies.

nsb@2Samuel:2:21 @ Abner said: »Soldiers are all around us. Stop chasing me and fight one of them! Kill him and take his clothes and weapons for yourself.« But Asahel refused to stop.

nsb@2Samuel:2:22 @ Abner spoke again to Asahel: »If you do not turn back, I will have to kill you! Then I could never face your brother Joab again.«

nsb@2Samuel:2:23 @ However, Asahel would not turn back. So Abner struck him in the stomach with the back end of his spear. The spear went all the way through and came out of his back. Asahel fell down and died. Everyone who saw Asahel lying dead just stopped and stood still.

nsb@2Samuel:2:24 @ Joab and Abishai ran after Abner. It was sun down when they arrived at the hill of Ammah. This hill is near Giah on the road to the wilderness of Gibeon.

nsb@2Samuel:2:25 @ The men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner. They became united as one and stood on the top of a hill.

nsb@2Samuel:2:26 @ Then Abner called to Joab: Must the sword devour forever? Do you not understand it will be bitter to the end? How long before you command the people to return from chasing their brothers?

nsb@2Samuel:2:28 @ So Joab blew a ram’s horn and all the troops stopped. They did not chase or fight Israel anymore.

nsb@2Samuel:2:29 @ That night Abner and his men marched through the plains. They crossed the Jordan River and passed through the entire Bithron until they came to Mahanaim.

nsb@2Samuel:2:32 @ They buried Asahel in his father’s tomb in Bethlehem. Joab and his men marched all night. They arrived at Hebron at daybreak.

nsb@2Samuel:3:2 @ Sons were born to David while he was in Hebron. His first son was Amnon, born to Ahinoam from Jezreel.

nsb@2Samuel:3:6 @ The fighting continued between David’s forces and the forces loyal to Saul’s family. Abner became more and more powerful among Saul’s followers.

nsb@2Samuel:3:8 @ Ishbosheth’s question made Abner very angry. »Am I a dog that belongs to Judea?« He asked. »Until now I have been faithful to your father Saul’s family, to his relatives and friends. I did not hand you over to David. But now you charge me with a crime because of this woman.

nsb@2Samuel:3:10 @ »‘I Jehovah will transfer the kingship from Saul’s family and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.’«

nsb@2Samuel:3:11 @ Ishbosheth could not respond to a single word for he was afraid of Abner.

nsb@2Samuel:3:12 @ Abner sent messengers to David to speak on his behalf. »Who owns this country?« He asked. »Make an agreement with me,« he said. »Then I will support you and bring all Israel to you.«

nsb@2Samuel:3:13 @ »Good!« David answered. »I will make an agreement with you. But there is one condition: You may not come to see me unless you bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come.«

nsb@2Samuel:3:14 @ David sent messengers to Ishbosheth to give him this message: »Give me back my wife Michal! I bought her for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins.«

nsb@2Samuel:3:15 @ Ishbosheth sent some of his men to take Michal away from her new husband, Paltiel son of Laish.

nsb@2Samuel:3:16 @ Paltiel followed Michal and the men all the way to Bahurim. He cried all the way. But he went back home after Abner ordered him to leave.

nsb@2Samuel:3:17 @ Meanwhile, Abner communicated with the leaders of Israel: »For some time now you wanted to make David your king.

nsb@2Samuel:3:19 @ Abner also spoke to the people of Benjamin. Then Abner went directly to David in Hebron. He told him everything Israel and the entire tribe of Benjamin had approved.

nsb@2Samuel:3:20 @ Twenty men accompanied Abner to see David at Hebron. David had a feast for Abner and his men.

nsb@2Samuel:3:21 @ Abner told David: »I must go now so that I can gather all Israel for you, Your Majesty. They will make an agreement with you. You will rule over all that your heart desires.« Then David dismissed Abner, who left peacefully.

nsb@2Samuel:3:23 @ Joab came back with the whole army. He was told: »Ner’s son Abner came to the king. However David dismissed him and Abner left peacefully.«

nsb@2Samuel:3:24 @ Joab went to the king and asked: »What have you done? Abner came to see you. Why did you send him away?

nsb@2Samuel:3:25 @ »Surely you know that he came to deceive you. He came to find out everything you do and everywhere you go.«

nsb@2Samuel:3:26 @ Joab left David. Then he sent messengers to get Abner, and they brought him back from Sirah Well. David knew nothing about it.

nsb@2Samuel:3:27 @ Abner arrived in Hebron. Joab took him aside at the gate, as though he wanted to speak privately with him. There he stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner was murdered because he had killed Joab’s brother Asahel.

nsb@2Samuel:3:29 @ »Let the punishment for it fall on Joab and all his family! In every generation may there be some man in his family who has gonorrhea or a dreaded skin disease or is fit only to do a woman’s work or is killed in battle or does not have enough to eat!«

nsb@2Samuel:3:30 @ Joab and his brother Abishai took revenge and murdered Abner for killing their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.

nsb@2Samuel:3:31 @ David told Joab and everyone with him: »Show your sorrow by tearing your clothes and wearing sackcloth! Walk in front of Abner’s body and cry!« David walked behind the coffin on which Abner’s body was being carried.

nsb@2Samuel:3:32 @ Abner was buried in Hebron. David and everyone else stood at the tomb and cried loudly.

nsb@2Samuel:3:34 @ »Your hands were not bound. Your feet were not in fetters. You fell as one falls in front of wicked men. And all the people continued to cry for him.«

nsb@2Samuel:3:35 @ David refused to eat anything the day of the funeral even though people tried to persuade him to eat. David vowed: »May God strike me dead if I taste any food or anything else before the sun goes down.«

nsb@2Samuel:3:36 @ All the people understood and approved of everything the king did.

nsb@2Samuel:3:38 @ The king told his officers: »Do you not know that today a leader, a great man, has fallen in Israel?

nsb@2Samuel:3:39 @ »Today, even though I am the anointed king, these men, Zeruiah’s sons, are too strong for me to control. May Jehovah repay these wicked men, as their evil deed deserves.«

nsb@2Samuel:4:3 @ The people of Beeroth fled to Gittaim. They still live there today.

nsb@2Samuel:4:4 @ Saul’s son Jonathan had a son who was crippled. When the boy was five years old, the news about the death of Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled to Gittaim. She was in a hurry when she left. He fell from her arms and became disabled. His name was Mephibosheth.

nsb@2Samuel:4:5 @ Rechab and Baanah went to Ishbosheth’s house at the noontime. It was a hot day, and he was resting.

nsb@2Samuel:4:6 @ They came to the middle of the house pretending to get wheat. Once they were inside they stabbed Ishbosheth in the stomach and killed him.

nsb@2Samuel:4:7 @ They cut off his head and took his head with them. They traveled by way of the Arabah all night.

nsb@2Samuel:4:8 @ They took the head of Ishbosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, »Here is the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life. Jehovah has given my lord the king vengeance this day on Saul and his descendants.«

nsb@2Samuel:4:9 @ David responded to Rechab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon from Beeroth:

nsb@2Samuel:4:10 @ »I once seized a man who told me that Saul had died. He thought he was bringing good news. I killed him in Ziklag to reward him for his news.

nsb@2Samuel:4:12 @ David gave the order for his soldiers to kill Rechab and Baanah and cut off their hands and feet. They killed them and hung their hands and feet near the pool in Hebron. They took Ishbosheth’s head and buried it in Abner’s tomb there at Hebron.

nsb@2Samuel:5:1 @ All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said to him: »We are your own flesh and blood.

nsb@2Samuel:5:3 @ All the elders of Israel came to King David at Hebron. He made a sacred alliance with them. They anointed him, and he became king of Israel.

nsb@2Samuel:5:6 @ The king and his men went to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived in that region. The Jebusites told David: »You will never get in here. Even the blind and the lame could turn you away. In other words he could not enter there.«

nsb@2Samuel:5:8 @ That day David said: »Whoever wants to defeat the Jebusites must reach the lame and the blind that hate me by using the water tunnel.« So there is a saying: »The blind and the lame will not get into the palace.«

nsb@2Samuel:5:9 @ David lived in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built the city of Jerusalem around it from the stronghold to the palace.

nsb@2Samuel:5:10 @ David continued to grow more powerful because Jehovah God of Hosts was with him.

nsb@2Samuel:5:11 @ King Hiram of Tyre sent some officials to David. Carpenters and stone workers came with them. They brought cedar logs so they could build a palace for David.

nsb@2Samuel:5:13 @ David left Hebron and moved to Jerusalem. He married many women from Jerusalem, and he had a lot of children.

nsb@2Samuel:5:17 @ The Philistines heard that David was now king of Israel. They mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David found out and went into his fortress.

nsb@2Samuel:5:19 @ David asked Jehovah: »Shall I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?« Jehovah answered David: »Attack! I will certainly deliver the Philistines to you.«

nsb@2Samuel:5:20 @ David went to Baal Perazim and defeated the Philistines. He said: »Jehovah has overwhelmed my enemies in front of me like an overwhelming flood.« That is why that place is called Baal Perazim

nsb@2Samuel:5:23 @ Once again David consulted Jehovah. Jehovah answered David: »Do not attack them from here. Go around and get ready to attack them from the other side, near the balsam trees.

nsb@2Samuel:5:24 @ »Attack when you hear the sound of marching in the treetops. I will be marching ahead of you to defeat the Philistine army.«

nsb@2Samuel:5:25 @ David did what Jehovah commanded. He drove the Philistines back from Geba all the way to Gezer.

nsb@2Samuel:6:1 @ Once again David called together the best soldiers in Israel, a total of thirty thousand men.

nsb@2Samuel:6:2 @ He led them to Baalah in Judah, in order to bring the Ark of the Covenant bearing the name of Jehovah of Hosts, whose throne is above the winged creatures.

nsb@2Samuel:6:3 @ They took it from Abinadab’s home on the hill and placed it on a new cart. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the cart.

nsb@2Samuel:6:5 @ David and all the Israelites danced and sang with all their might to honor Jehovah. They played harps, lyres, drums, tambourines, rattles, and cymbals.

nsb@2Samuel:6:6 @ As they came to the threshing place of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out and took hold of the Ark of the Covenant.

nsb@2Samuel:6:10 @ So he decided not to take it with him to Jerusalem. Instead, he turned off the road and took it to the house of Obed Edom, a native of the city of Gath.

nsb@2Samuel:6:12 @ King David was told: »Jehovah has blessed Obed Edom’s home and everything he owns because of the Ark of God.« Then David joyfully went to get the Ark of God from Obed Edom’s house and bring it to the City of David.

nsb@2Samuel:6:16 @ When the Ark of Jehovah came to the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked out of a window and saw King David leaping and dancing in Jehovah’s presence. She despised him in her heart.

nsb@2Samuel:6:19 @ He also distributed to all the people, to the whole crowd of Israelites, men and women, one loaf of bread, one date cake, and one raisin cake. Then all the people went home.

nsb@2Samuel:6:20 @ David went home so he could ask Jehovah to bless his family. But Saul’s daughter Michal went out and started yelling at him: »You were really great today!« She said. »You acted like a dirty old man. You danced around half-naked in front of your servants’ slave-girls.«

nsb@2Samuel:6:21 @ David answered: »I danced to honor Jehovah. He chose me to be king instead of your father and his family. He made me the leader of his people Israel. I will continue to dance and honor Jehovah.

nsb@2Samuel:7:2 @ The king said to the prophet Nathan: »I live in a house built of cedar. Yet the Ark of God is kept in a tent!«

nsb@2Samuel:7:4 @ That night Jehovah said to Nathan,

nsb@2Samuel:7:5 @ »Go tell my servant David that I say to him: ‘You are not the one to build a temple for me to live in.

nsb@2Samuel:7:8 @ »Say this to my servant David: ‘This is what Jehovah of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture where you followed sheep so that you could be the leader of my people Israel.

nsb@2Samuel:7:10 @ »‘I will make a place for my people Israel and plant them there. They will dwell in their own place and not be troubled anymore. The wicked will not oppress them as they used to do

nsb@2Samuel:7:12 @ »‘I will choose one of your sons to be king when you reach the end of your life and are buried in the tomb of your ancestors. I will make him a strong ruler.

nsb@2Samuel:7:13 @ »‘I will allow no one to take his long lasting kingdom away from him. He will be the one to build a temple for me.

nsb@2Samuel:7:15 @ »‘I will never put an end to my agreement with him. I put an end to my agreement with Saul when he was king before you.

nsb@2Samuel:7:16 @ »‘I will make sure that one of your descendants will be king for a very long time. Your throne will be established from generation to generation.’«

nsb@2Samuel:7:17 @ Nathan told David exactly what he heard in the vision.

nsb@2Samuel:7:18 @ David went into the tent he set up for the ark. Then he sat there and prayed: »Jehovah All-Powerful, my family and I do not deserve what you have already done for us.

nsb@2Samuel:7:20 @ »What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Sovereign Lord Jehovah.

nsb@2Samuel:7:21 @ »For the sake of your Word and according to your will you have done this great thing. You have made it known to your servant!

nsb@2Samuel:7:22 @ »For this reason you are great, O Sovereign Lord Jehovah. There is none like you. There is no God besides you according to all that we have heard with our ears.

nsb@2Samuel:7:23 @ »There is no other nation on earth like Israel. This is the nation you rescued from slavery in Egypt to be your own. You became famous by using great and wonderful miracles to force other nations and their gods out of your land, so your people could live here.

nsb@2Samuel:7:24 @ »You chose Israel to be your people from generation to generation! You have become their God.

nsb@2Samuel:7:27 @ »Now therefore, may it please you to bless the house of your servant that it may continue a long time before you. You O Lord Jehovah have spoken. May the house of your servant be blessed from generation to generation.

nsb@2Samuel:7:28 @ »Lord Jehovah, you are God. You have promised me some very good things, and you can be trusted to do what you promise.

nsb@2Samuel:7:29 @ »Please bless my descendants and let them be your chosen kings for a very long time. You have already promised, and I am sure that you will bless my family from generation to generation.«

nsb@2Samuel:8:2 @ He defeated the Moabites. He made the prisoners lie down on the ground and put two out of every three of them to death. So the Moabites became his subjects and paid taxes to him.

nsb@2Samuel:8:3 @ David defeated the king of the Syrian state of Zobah, Hadadezer son of Rehob. Hadadezer was on his way to restore his control over the territory by the upper Euphrates River.

nsb@2Samuel:8:5 @ The Syrians of Damascus sent an army to help King Hadadezer. David attacked it and killed twenty-two thousand men.

nsb@2Samuel:8:6 @ Then he set up military camps in their territory. They became his subjects and paid taxes to him. Jehovah made David victorious everywhere.

nsb@2Samuel:8:7 @ David captured the gold shields carried by Hadadezer’s officials and took them to Jerusalem.

nsb@2Samuel:8:8 @ King David also took a large quantity of copper from Betah and Berothai, Hadadezer’s cities.

nsb@2Samuel:8:9 @ Soon King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated Hadadezer’s entire army.

nsb@2Samuel:8:10 @ He sent his son Joram to greet King David and congratulate him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer. There had often been war between Hadadezer and Toi. Joram brought articles of gold, silver, and copper with him.

nsb@2Samuel:8:11 @ King David dedicated these articles to Jehovah, along with the silver and gold he dedicated from all the nations he conquered.

nsb@2Samuel:8:13 @ David made a name for himself by killing eighteen thousand Edomites in the Dead Sea region as he returned to Jerusalem.

nsb@2Samuel:8:14 @ He put troops everywhere in Edom. All the Edomites were David’s subjects. Everywhere David went Jehovah gave him victories.

nsb@2Samuel:9:1 @ One day, David thought: »I wonder if any of Saul’s family is still alive. If they are I will be kind to them. This is because I made a promise to Jonathan.«

nsb@2Samuel:9:2 @ There was a servant of Saul’s family named Ziba. He was told to go to David. »Are you Ziba?« The king asked. »I am at your service.« He answered.

nsb@2Samuel:9:3 @ The king asked him: »Is there anyone left of Saul’s family to whom I can show loyalty and kindness? I promised God I would.« Ziba answered: »There is still one of Jonathan’s sons. He is crippled.«

nsb@2Samuel:9:6 @ Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul arrived. He bowed down before David in respect. David said: »Mephibosheth.« He answered: »I am here to serve.«

nsb@2Samuel:9:7 @ David replied: »Do not be afraid. I will be kind to you for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will give you back all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul. You will always be welcome at my table.«

nsb@2Samuel:9:8 @ Mephibosheth bowed again and said: »I am no better than a dead dog! Why should you be so good to me?«

nsb@2Samuel:9:9 @ The king called Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said: »I am giving Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, everything that belonged to Saul and his family.

nsb@2Samuel:10:2 @ David thought: »I will show kindness to Hanun since his father Nahash showed me kindness.« David sent his servants to comfort Hanun after his father’s death. When David’s servants entered Ammonite territory,

nsb@2Samuel:10:3 @ the Ammonite princes asked their master Hanun: »Do you think David is honoring your father because he sent men to comfort you? Perhaps David sent his men to explore the city, spy on it, and destroy it.«

nsb@2Samuel:10:5 @ David was told what happened. He sent someone to meet them because they were deeply humiliated. The king said to them: »Stay at Jericho until your beards have grown back. Then return to Jerusalem.«

nsb@2Samuel:10:6 @ The Ammonites realized they had made themselves repulsive to David. They hired the Arameans from Beth Rehob and Zobah, with twenty thousand foot soldiers. From the army of the king of Maacah they hired one thousand men, and twelve thousand men of Tob.

nsb@2Samuel:10:8 @ The Ammonites formed a battle line at the entrance of the city gate. The Arameans from Zobah and Rehob and the men from Tob and Maacah remained by themselves in the open country.

nsb@2Samuel:10:9 @ Joab saw he was under attack in front and behind. He took the select troops of Israel and organized them for combat against the Arameans.

nsb@2Samuel:10:11 @ Joab told his brother: »If the Arameans are too much for me to handle, you can come and help me. If the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will come and help you.

nsb@2Samuel:10:12 @ »Be brave and fight hard to protect our people and the cities of our God. I pray that Jehovah will do whatever pleases him.«

nsb@2Samuel:10:13 @ Joab and his men advanced to attack the Syrians. The Syrians retreated.

nsb@2Samuel:10:14 @ The Ammonites saw the Syrians running away. They fled from Abishai and retreated into the city. Then Joab turned back from fighting the Ammonites and went back to Jerusalem.

nsb@2Samuel:10:15 @ The Syrians knew they had been defeated by the Israelites. They called all their troops together.

nsb@2Samuel:10:16 @ King Hadadezer sent for the Syrians who were on the east side of the Euphrates River. They came to Helam under the command of Shobach, commander of the army of King Hadadezer of Zobah.

nsb@2Samuel:10:17 @ David heard of it. So he gathered the Israelite troops and crossed the Jordan River. They marched to Helam, where the Syrians took up their position facing him. The fighting began,

nsb@2Samuel:10:19 @ As soon as the kings who were subject to Hadadezer realized that they had been defeated by the Israelites, they made peace with them and became their subjects. The Syrians were afraid to help the Ammonites any more.

nsb@2Samuel:11:1 @ In the spring, at the time of the year when kings usually go to war, David sent out Joab with his officers and the Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged the city of Rabbah. David stayed in Jerusalem.

nsb@2Samuel:11:2 @ Late one afternoon, David got up from his nap and went to the palace roof. He walked around on the roof. He saw a woman taking a bath. She was very beautiful.

nsb@2Samuel:11:3 @ He sent a messenger to find out who she was. He learned that she was Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.

nsb@2Samuel:11:4 @ So David sent messengers to get her. She came to him and they had sexual intercourse. She had just cleansed herself after her monthly period. Then she went home.

nsb@2Samuel:11:5 @ The woman became pregnant. So she sent someone to tell David that she was pregnant.

nsb@2Samuel:11:6 @ David sent a messenger to Joab, saying: »Send me Uriah the Hittite.« So Joab sent Uriah to David.

nsb@2Samuel:11:8 @ »Go home,« David said to Uriah, »and wash your feet.« Uriah left the royal palace, and the king sent a present to him.

nsb@2Samuel:11:10 @ Someone told David that Uriah did not go home. So the next morning David asked him: »Why did you not go home? Have you been away for a long time?«

nsb@2Samuel:11:11 @ Uriah answered: »The Ark of the Covenant and the armies of Israel and Judah are camping out somewhere in the fields with our commander Joab and his officers and troops. Do you think I would go home to eat and drink and sleep with my wife? I swear by your life that I would not!«

nsb@2Samuel:11:12 @ David said: »Stay here in Jerusalem and I will send you back tomorrow.« Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next day.

nsb@2Samuel:11:14 @ The next morning, David wrote a letter and told Uriah to deliver it to Joab.

nsb@2Samuel:11:18 @ Joab sent a messenger to report to David all the details of the battle.

nsb@2Samuel:11:20 @ the king may become angry. He might ask you: ‘Why did you go so close to the city to fight? Did you not know they would shoot from the wall?’

nsb@2Samuel:11:21 @ »Who killed Jerubbesheth’s son Abimelech? Did a woman on the wall of Thebez throw a small millstone at him and kill him? Why did you go so close to the wall? If the king asks this, tell him: ‘Your man Uriah the Hittite is also dead.’«

nsb@2Samuel:11:22 @ The messenger left. When he arrived he reported to David everything Joab told him to say.

nsb@2Samuel:11:23 @ The messenger said to David: »Their men overpowered us when they came to attack us in the field. Then we forced them back to the entrance of the city gate.

nsb@2Samuel:11:25 @ David replied: »This is what you are to say to Joab: ‘Do not let this thing trouble you. After all a sword can kill one person as easily as another. Strengthen your attack against the city, and destroy it. Say this to encourage him.’«

nsb@2Samuel:11:27 @ When her mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to his home. She became his wife. Then she gave birth to a son. However, Jehovah considered David’s actions evil.

nsb@2Samuel:12:1 @ Jehovah sent Nathan to David. Nathan came to him and said: »There were two men in a certain city. One was rich and the other was poor.

nsb@2Samuel:12:3 @ But the poor man had only one little female lamb that he bought. He raised her, and she grew up in his home with his children. She would eat his food and drink from his cup. She rested in his arms and was like a daughter to him.

nsb@2Samuel:12:4 @ »Now, a visitor came to the rich man. The rich man thought it would be a pity to take one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler. So he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the traveler.«

nsb@2Samuel:12:6 @ »For doing such a cruel thing he should pay back four times for the lamb he took, for he had no compassion.«

nsb@2Samuel:12:7 @ »You are that man!« Nathan said to David. »And this is what the Lord Jehovah the God of Israel says: ‘I made you king of Israel and rescued you from Saul.

nsb@2Samuel:12:9 @ »‘Why have you disobeyed my commands? Why did you do this evil thing? You had Uriah killed in battle! You let the Ammonites kill him. Then you took his wife!

nsb@2Samuel:12:11 @ »‘I swear to you that I will cause someone from your own family to bring trouble to you. You will see it when I take your wives from you and give them to another man. He will have intercourse with them in broad daylight.

nsb@2Samuel:12:13 @ David said to Nathan: »I have sinned against Jehovah.« Nathan replied: »Jehovah has taken away your sin. You will not die.

nsb@2Samuel:12:14 @ »You have shown total contempt for Jehovah by this affair. Therefore the son that is born to you must die.«

nsb@2Samuel:12:15 @ Nathan went home. Jehovah struck the child that Uriah’s wife had given birth to David. The child became sick.

nsb@2Samuel:12:17 @ The elders in his palace stood beside him to raise him up from the ground. But he was unwilling and he would not eat with them.

nsb@2Samuel:12:18 @ On the seventh day the child died. David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. They thought: »While the child was alive, we talked to him, and he would not listen to us. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may harm himself.«

nsb@2Samuel:12:19 @ David saw that his servants were whispering to one another. He realized that the child was dead. »Is the child dead?« David asked them. »Yes, he is dead.« They answered.

nsb@2Samuel:12:20 @ David got up from the floor. He took a bath, combed his hair, and changed his clothes. Then he went and worshiped in the Temple of Jehovah. After that he returned to the palace and ate.

nsb@2Samuel:12:22 @ David replied: »I fasted and cried while the child lived. I thought Jehovah might be gracious to me and let the child live.

nsb@2Samuel:12:23 @ »Why should I fast now that he is dead? Can I bring him back? Someday I will go to him. However he will not come back to me.«

nsb@2Samuel:12:24 @ David comforted his wife Bathsheba. He went to bed with her, and she later gave birth to a son. David named him Solomon. Jehovah loved the child.

nsb@2Samuel:12:25 @ He sent a message through the prophet Nathan to name the baby Jedidiah.

nsb@2Samuel:12:27 @ He sent messengers to tell David: »I fought against Rabbah and captured the fortress guarding its water supply.

nsb@2Samuel:12:31 @ David made the people of Rabbah tear down the city walls with iron picks and axes. He also put them to work making bricks. He did the same thing with all the other Ammonite cities. David went back to Jerusalem. The people of Israel returned to their homes.

nsb@2Samuel:13:2 @ Tamar was a virgin. Amnon could not think of a way to be alone with her. He was so upset about it that he made himself sick.

nsb@2Samuel:13:3 @ Amnon had a friend named Jonadab. He was the son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab usually knew how to get what he wanted.

nsb@2Samuel:13:4 @ Jonadab said to Amnon: »You are the king’s son. Even so day after day I see you looking sad. What is the problem?« Amnon answered: »I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my half brother Absalom.«

nsb@2Samuel:13:5 @ Jonadab said: »Pretend that you are sick and go to bed. When your father comes to see you, say to him: ‘Please ask my sister Tamar to come and feed me. I want her to fix the food here where I can see her. Then she can serve it to me.’«

nsb@2Samuel:13:6 @ So Amnon went to bed and pretended that he was sick. King David went to see him. Amnon said: »Please have Tamar come and make a few cakes here where I can see her. Then she can serve them to me.«

nsb@2Samuel:13:7 @ David sent word to Tamar at the palace: »Go to Amnon’s house and fix him some food.«

nsb@2Samuel:13:9 @ Tamar emptied them out of the pan for him to eat. But he refused to eat. He said: Send everyone away. So they all left.

nsb@2Samuel:13:10 @ He said to her: »Bring the cakes here to my bed and serve them to me.« She took the cakes and went over to him.

nsb@2Samuel:13:11 @ She offered them to him. He grabbed her and said: »Come to bed with me!«

nsb@2Samuel:13:12 @ She said: »No! Do not force me to do this disgraceful thing. It is evil.

nsb@2Samuel:13:13 @ »How could I ever hold up my head in public again? And you, you would be completely disgraced in Israel. Please speak to the king. I am sure he will give me to you.«

nsb@2Samuel:13:14 @ Amnon wouldn’t listen to her. He grabbed his sister and raped her.

nsb@2Samuel:13:15 @ After that Amnon developed an intense hatred for her. His hatred for her was greater than the lust he felt for her. »Get out of here,« he told her.

nsb@2Samuel:13:16 @ She said: »No, You do a greater wrong by sending me away than the other thing you did to me!« He would not listen to her.

nsb@2Samuel:13:18 @ The servant forced her to leave. He locked the door behind her. The king’s unmarried daughters used to wear long robes with sleeves.

nsb@2Samuel:13:19 @ Tamar tore the robe she was wearing. She put ashes on her head. Then she covered her face with her hands. She cried loudly as she walked away.

nsb@2Samuel:13:20 @ Tamar’s brother Absalom said to her: »How could Amnon have done such a terrible thing to you! But since he is your brother, do not tell anyone what happened. Just try not to think about it.« Tamar soon moved into Absalom’s house. She was always sad and lonely.

nsb@2Samuel:13:22 @ Absalom hated Amnon so much because he raped his sister Tamar. He would not speak to him anymore.

nsb@2Samuel:13:23 @ Two years later Absalom had sheep sheared at Baal Hazor, near the town of Ephraim. He invited all the king’s sons to be there.

nsb@2Samuel:13:24 @ He went to King David and said: »Your Majesty, I am having my sheep sheared. Will you and your officials take part in the festivities?«

nsb@2Samuel:13:25 @ The king answered: No, my son. It would be too much trouble for you if we all went. Absalom insisted, but the king would not give in. So he asked Absalom to leave.

nsb@2Samuel:13:28 @ Absalom gave an order to his servants: »Watch now and when Amnon begins to feel good from drinking too much wine, I will tell you, Attack Amnon. Then kill him. Do not be afraid. I give this order. Be strong and courageous.«

nsb@2Samuel:13:29 @ Absalom’s servants did to Amnon as Absalom ordered. Then all the king’s sons got up, mounted their mules, and fled.

nsb@2Samuel:13:31 @ The king stood up and tore his clothes. Then he lay down on the ground. All his servants stood beside him with their clothes torn to show their grief.

nsb@2Samuel:13:32 @ Jonadab son of David’s brother Shimea, said: »Do not think that all the young men are dead. They have not killed all the king’s sons. Only Amnon is dead. Absalom decided to do this the day his half brother raped his sister Tamar.

nsb@2Samuel:13:35 @ Jonadab said: »Your Majesty, look! Here come your sons now, just as I told you.«

nsb@2Samuel:13:38 @ Absalom ran away to Geshur. He stayed there for three years with King Talmai the son of Ammihud.

nsb@2Samuel:14:2 @ Joab sent someone to Tekoa to get a wise woman from there. He told her: »Please act like a mourner. Dress in mourning clothes. Do not use any cosmetic lotions. Act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time.

nsb@2Samuel:14:3 @ »Go to the king and speak to him in this way.« Then Joab told her exactly what to say.

nsb@2Samuel:14:4 @ The woman from Tekoa came to the king. She immediately bowed down with her face touching the ground. »Help me, Your Majesty,« she said.

nsb@2Samuel:14:6 @ »I had two sons who fought with each other in the field. There was no one to separate them. One killed the other.

nsb@2Samuel:14:7 @ »All my relatives have turned against me and are demanding that I hand my son over to them. They want to kill him for murdering his brother. If they do this, I will be left without a son. They will destroy my last hope. They will leave my husband without a son to keep his name alive.«

nsb@2Samuel:14:10 @ The king replied: »If someone threatens you, bring him to me. He will never bother you again.«

nsb@2Samuel:14:11 @ She said: »Please pray to Jehovah your God, Your Majesty, so that my relative who is responsible for avenging the death of my son will not commit a greater crime by killing my other son.« »I promise by the living Jehovah,« David replied, »your son will not be harmed.«

nsb@2Samuel:14:13 @ The woman said: »Have you been hurting God’s people? Your own son had to leave the country. When you judged in my favor, it was the same as admitting that you should have let him come back.

nsb@2Samuel:14:15 @ »Your Majesty, I came here to tell you about my problem. I was afraid of what someone might do to me. I decided to come to you, because I thought you could help.

nsb@2Samuel:14:16 @ »In fact, I knew that you would listen and save my son and me from those who want to take the land that God gave us.

nsb@2Samuel:14:18 @ David said: »Now I ask you a question. Do not try to hide the truth!« The woman replied: »Please go ahead, Your Majesty.«

nsb@2Samuel:14:19 @ »Did Joab put you up to this?« The king asked. The woman answered: »I solemnly swear on your life, Your Majesty, you are absolutely right! Yes, your servant Joab ordered me to do this. He told me to say exactly what I said.

nsb@2Samuel:14:20 @ »Your servant Joab has done this to view this matter from a different angle. You are as wise as an angel of God, who knows everything on earth.«

nsb@2Samuel:14:21 @ Later on the king said to Joab: »I have decided to do what you want. Go and get the young man Absalom and bring him back here.«

nsb@2Samuel:14:22 @ Joab quickly bowed down with his face touching the ground. He blessed the king. He said: »Today I know that you have been kind to me because you did what I wanted.«

nsb@2Samuel:14:23 @ Joab went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem.

nsb@2Samuel:14:24 @ The king said: »Absalom should return to his own house. Do not let him see me.« So Absalom returned to his house. He did not see the king.

nsb@2Samuel:14:25 @ No one in all Israel was praised for his good looks as much as Absalom was. He had no blemish from head to toe.

nsb@2Samuel:14:26 @ From time to time, he used to cut his hair because it became heavy for him. When he cut the hair on his head and weighed it, it weighed five pounds according to the king’s standard.

nsb@2Samuel:14:29 @ So Absalom sent for Joab in order to send him to the king. Joab refused to come. Absalom sent for him a second time. He still refused to come.

nsb@2Samuel:14:30 @ Finally, Absalom told his servants: »Joab’s barley field is next to mine. Set it on fire!« So they set it on fire.

nsb@2Samuel:14:31 @ Joab went to Absalom’s house and demanded: »Why have your servants set my field on fire?«

nsb@2Samuel:14:32 @ Absalom answered: »You did not pay any attention when I sent for you. I want you to ask my father why he told me to come back from Geshur. I was better off there. I want to see my father now! If I am guilty, let him kill me.«

nsb@2Samuel:14:33 @ So Joab went to King David. He told him what Absalom said. The king sent for Absalom. He went to the king and bowed down to the ground in front of him. The king welcomed him with a kiss.

nsb@2Samuel:15:1 @ Absalom provided a chariot and horses for himself. He had an escort of fifty men to run ahead of him.

nsb@2Samuel:15:2 @ He would rise early in the morning and stand by the road at the city gate. When someone came there with a dispute that he wanted the king to settle, Absalom would call him over and ask him where he was from. After the man told him what tribe he was from,

nsb@2Samuel:15:3 @ Absalom would say: »My friend, the law is on your side. However, there is no representative of the king to hear your case.«

nsb@2Samuel:15:4 @ He added: »How I wish I were a judge! Then anyone who had a dispute or a claim could come to me. I would give him justice.«

nsb@2Samuel:15:6 @ Absalom did this with every Israelite who came to the king for judgment. That way he won their loyalty.

nsb@2Samuel:15:7 @ After four years Absalom said to King David: »My lord let me go to Hebron and keep a promise I made to Jehovah.

nsb@2Samuel:15:8 @ »When I lived at Geshur in Syria, I promised Jehovah that if he would take me back to Jerusalem, I would worship him in Hebron.«

nsb@2Samuel:15:9 @ »Go in peace,« the king said. »So Absalom went to Hebron.«

nsb@2Samuel:15:10 @ He sent messengers to all the tribes of Israel. He told them: »When you hear the sound of trumpets, shout: ‘Absalom is king in Hebron!’«

nsb@2Samuel:15:12 @ Absalom was offering sacrifices. He sent for Ahithophel, David’s adviser, to come from his home in Giloh. Meanwhile, the conspiracy grew stronger. The number of people siding with Absalom kept getting larger.

nsb@2Samuel:15:13 @ A messenger told David: »Absalom has the hearts of the people of Israel.«

nsb@2Samuel:15:14 @ David told all his men who were with him in Jerusalem: »We must run away quickly, or none of us will escape from Absalom. Leave right away or he will catch up to us and bring ruin upon us when he massacres the city.«

nsb@2Samuel:15:15 @ The king’s servants told him: »No matter what happens, we are Your Majesty’s servants.«

nsb@2Samuel:15:16 @ The king left on foot. His whole household followed him. The king left ten concubines behind to take care of the palace.

nsb@2Samuel:15:17 @ The king and his troops left the city on foot. They stopped at the city limits.

nsb@2Samuel:15:20 @ »In fact you came to us just yesterday. Should I make you wander around with me when I do not even know where I am going? Go back and take your countrymen with you. May Jehovah always show you kindness.«

nsb@2Samuel:15:21 @ Ittai answered: »Your Majesty, I swear to you in the name of Jehovah that I will always go with you wherever you go, even if it means death.«

nsb@2Samuel:15:23 @ The people cried loudly as David’s followers left. The king crossed Kidron Brook. His men followed him. They went to the wilderness.

nsb@2Samuel:15:24 @ Zadok the priest was there. He had Levites there carrying the sacred Ark of God. They set it down and did not pick it up again until all the people left the city. The priest Abiathar was there too.

nsb@2Samuel:15:25 @ The king said to Zadok: »Take the Ark of the Covenant back to the city. If Jehovah is pleased with me he will let me come back to see it and the place where it stays.

nsb@2Samuel:15:26 @ »Let him do to me what he wishes if he is not pleased with me.«

nsb@2Samuel:15:27 @ He also said to Zadok: »You are a seer, are you? Take your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan and go back to the city in peace.

nsb@2Samuel:15:29 @ Zadok and Abiathar took the Ark of the Covenant back into Jerusalem and stayed there.

nsb@2Samuel:15:30 @ David went up the slope of the Mount of Olives. He was barefoot and crying. He covered his head to show his sorrow. Everyone with him was crying. They covered their heads too.

nsb@2Samuel:15:31 @ Someone told David: »Ahithophel is helping Absalom conspire against you!« David said: »Please Jehovah keep Ahithophel’s plans from working!«

nsb@2Samuel:15:32 @ David reached the top of the Mount of Olives. He met Hushai the Archite at a place of worship. Hushai’s robe was torn, and dust was on his head.

nsb@2Samuel:15:33 @ David told him: »You might slow me down if you come with me.«

nsb@2Samuel:15:34 @ Go back into the city and tell Absalom: »Your Majesty, I am your servant. I will serve you just as I served your father in the past. Hushai, if you do that you can help me ruin Ahithophel’s plans.

nsb@2Samuel:15:36 @ »Have them send their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan to tell me what you hear.«

nsb@2Samuel:15:37 @ David’s advisor Hushai slipped back into Jerusalem. Absalom came into the city at the same time.

nsb@2Samuel:16:2 @ »What is all this?« David asked. Ziba said: »The donkeys are for your family to ride. The bread and fruit are for the people to eat. The wine is for them to drink in the desert when they are tired out.«

nsb@2Samuel:16:3 @ »Where is your master Saul’s grandson?« The king asked. »He stayed in Jerusalem,« said Ziba. He said: »Today the house of Israel will give me back my grandfather’s kingdom.«

nsb@2Samuel:16:4 @ The king told Ziba: »In that case everything that belonged to Mephibosheth now belongs to you. I sincerely thank you,« said Ziba, »I hope to remain in your good graces, Your Majesty.«

nsb@2Samuel:16:6 @ Shimei threw stones at David and his officials. This was in spite of the fact that his men and his bodyguards surrounded David.

nsb@2Samuel:16:8 @ »You took Saul’s kingdom. Now Jehovah is punishing you for murdering so many of Saul’s family. Jehovah has given the kingdom to your son Absalom. You are ruined, you bloodthirsty murderer!«

nsb@2Samuel:16:9 @ Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king: »Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over there and cut off his head!«

nsb@2Samuel:16:10 @ »What business is this of yours?« The king said to Abishai and his brother Joab. »If Jehovah told him to curse me who am I to stop him?«

nsb@2Samuel:16:11 @ David said to Abishai and to all his officials: »My own son is trying to kill me. Why should you be surprised at this Benjaminite? Jehovah told him to curse. Leave him alone and let him curse.

nsb@2Samuel:16:12 @ »Perhaps Jehovah will acknowledge my misery and give me some blessings to take away this curse.«

nsb@2Samuel:16:13 @ David and his men continued along the road. Shimei kept up with them. He walked on the hillside. He cursed and threw stones and dirt at them as he went.

nsb@2Samuel:16:15 @ Absalom and all Israel’s troops came to Jerusalem. Ahithophel was with him.

nsb@2Samuel:16:16 @ David’s friend Hushai from Archi’s family came to Absalom. He said: »Long live the king! Long live the king!«

nsb@2Samuel:16:17 @ »Is this how loyal you are to your friend?« Absalom asked Hushai. »Why did you not go with him?«

nsb@2Samuel:16:18 @ Hushai answered: »Jehovah and the people of Israel have chosen you to be king. I cannot leave. I must stay and serve the one they have chosen.

nsb@2Samuel:16:19 @ »After all it seems right for me to serve you, just as I served your father.«

nsb@2Samuel:16:20 @ Absalom turned to Ahithophel and said: »Give us your advice! What should we do?«

nsb@2Samuel:16:21 @ Ahithophel answered: »Some of your father’s wives were left here to take care of the palace. You should have sex with them. Then everyone will find out that you have publicly disgraced your father. This will make you and your followers even more powerful.«

nsb@2Samuel:17:1 @ Later Ahithophel said to Absalom: »Let me choose twelve thousand men. Tonight I will set out after David.

nsb@2Samuel:17:3 @ »Then I will bring back all his men to you. It will be like a bride returning to her husband. Kill one man and the rest of the people return safely.«

nsb@2Samuel:17:4 @ This seemed like good advice to Absalom and all the Israelite leaders.

nsb@2Samuel:17:5 @ Absalom said: »Bring in Hushai. Let us hear what he has to say about this.«

nsb@2Samuel:17:6 @ Hushai came to Absalom. He told him what Ahithophel planned. Then Absalom said: »Should we do what he says? If we should not, can you come up with something better?«

nsb@2Samuel:17:11 @ »My advice is to gather all Israel’s troops from Dan to Beersheba. They are as numerous as the sand on the seashore. Lead them into battle yourself.

nsb@2Samuel:17:13 @ »If he retreats into a city, all Israel will bring ropes to that city and drag it into a valley. Not even a pebble will be found there.«

nsb@2Samuel:17:14 @ Absalom and all the people of Israel said: »The advice of Hushai from Archi’s family is better than Ahithophel’s advice. Jehovah commanded Ahithophel’s good advice to be defeated in order to ruin Absalom.«

nsb@2Samuel:17:15 @ Hushai told the priests Zadok and Abiathar: »Ahithophel advised Absalom and the leaders of Israel to do one thing. But I advised them to do something else.

nsb@2Samuel:17:16 @ »Quickly send messengers to tell David: ‘Do not rest tonight in the river crossings in the desert. Make sure you cross the river. Otherwise Your Majesty and all the troops with him will be wiped out.’«

nsb@2Samuel:17:17 @ Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at En Rogel. They could not risk being seen coming into the city. A servant girl was to go and tell them. They were to go and tell King David.

nsb@2Samuel:17:18 @ A young man saw Jonathan and Ahimaaz and told Absalom. So both of them left quickly. They went to the home of a man in Bahurim who had a cistern in his courtyard. They climbed down into it.

nsb@2Samuel:17:19 @ The man’s wife took a covering and spread it over the opening of the cistern. She scattered grain over it so that no one would notice anything.

nsb@2Samuel:17:20 @ Absalom’s officials came to the house and asked the woman: »Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?« She answered: »They crossed the river. The men looked for them but could not find them. So they returned to Jerusalem.«

nsb@2Samuel:17:21 @ After they left, Ahimaaz and Jonathan came up out of the cistern. Then they reported to King David. They told him what Ahithophel planned against him. They said: »Hurry up and cross the river.«

nsb@2Samuel:17:23 @ Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed. He saddled his donkey and went back to his hometown. He arranged his affairs in order and he hanged himself. He was buried in the family grave.

nsb@2Samuel:17:24 @ David went to the town of Mahanaim, and Absalom crossed the Jordan River with the army of Israel.

nsb@2Samuel:17:27 @ David went to the town of Mahanaim. Shobi son of Nahash came from Rabbah in Ammon, Machir son of Ammiel came from Lo-Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite came from Rogelim.

nsb@2Samuel:18:2 @ David assigned a third of the troops under Joab’s command. He put another third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah. Then he placed the last third under Ittai from Gath. »I am going into battle with you,« the king said to the troops.

nsb@2Samuel:18:3 @ »You must not go with us,« they answered. »It will not make any difference to the enemy if the rest of us turn and run. It will not matter even if half of us are killed. But you are worth ten thousand of us. It will be better if you stay here in the city and send us help.«

nsb@2Samuel:18:4 @ »I will do what you think best,« the king answered. Then he stood by the side of the gate as his men marched out in units of a thousand and of a hundred.

nsb@2Samuel:18:6 @ So the troops went to the country to fight Israel in the forest of Ephraim.

nsb@2Samuel:18:9 @ Absalom happened to come face to face with some of David’s men. He was riding on a mule. The mule went under the tangled branches of a large tree. Absalom’s head became caught in the tree. He was left hanging in midair when the mule under him ran away.

nsb@2Samuel:18:10 @ A man who saw this told Joab: »I saw Absalom hanging in a tree.«

nsb@2Samuel:18:11 @ »What! You saw what?« Joab said. »Why did you not strike him to the ground? Then I would have felt obligated to give you four ounces of silver and a belt.«

nsb@2Samuel:18:12 @ The man told Joab: »Even if I felt the weight of twenty pounds of silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son. We heard the order the king gave you, Abishai, and Ittai. Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.

nsb@2Samuel:18:13 @ »Would you have stood by me if I did something treacherous to him? There is nothing hidden from the king. You would turn against me.«

nsb@2Samuel:18:14 @ »I will not waste any more time with you,« Joab said. He took three spears and plunged them into Absalom’s chest while he was still alive and hanging in the oak tree.

nsb@2Samuel:18:16 @ Joab ordered the trumpet blown to stop the fighting. His troops came back from pursuing the Israelites.

nsb@2Samuel:18:17 @ They took Absalom’s body and threw it into a deep pit in the forest. Then they covered it with a huge pile of stones. All the Israelites fled to their own hometowns.

nsb@2Samuel:18:18 @ During his lifetime Absalom built a monument for himself in King’s Valley. He had no son to keep his name alive. So he named it after himself. To this day it is known as Absalom’s Monument.

nsb@2Samuel:18:20 @ Joab answered: »You are not the one to tell the king his son is dead. You can take him a message some other time, but not today.«

nsb@2Samuel:18:21 @ Someone from Ethiopia was standing there. Joab told him: »Go tell the king what you have seen.« The man knelt down in front of Joab and then got up and started running.

nsb@2Samuel:18:22 @ Ahimaaz spoke to Joab again: »No matter what happens, I still want to run. The Ethiopian has already left.« Joab said: »Why should you run? You will not get a reward for the news you have!«

nsb@2Samuel:18:23 @ »I would like to run whatever happens, Let me run,« replied Ahimaaz. Joab told him: »Run!« So Ahimaaz ran along the valley road and got ahead of the Sudanese messenger.

nsb@2Samuel:18:25 @ The watchman called and alerted the king. If he is alone, the king said, »He has good news to tell.« The runner came closer.

nsb@2Samuel:18:30 @ »Step aside, and stand here,« the king said. He stepped aside and stood there.

nsb@2Samuel:18:31 @ Then the Sudanese messenger came. Good news for Your Majesty! He said. Today Jehovah freed you from all who turned against you.

nsb@2Samuel:18:33 @ The king was shaken by the news. He went to the room above the gate and cried. »My son Absalom!« He said. »My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died in your place! Absalom, my son, my son!«

nsb@2Samuel:19:2 @ David’s army found out he was crying because his son died. Suddenly their day of victory turned into a day of sadness.

nsb@2Samuel:19:3 @ The troops returned to Mahanaim without celebration. It was as if they ran away from battle and were ashamed.

nsb@2Samuel:19:5 @ Joab went to the house where David was staying and told him: »You have made your soldiers ashamed! They saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and wives as well.

nsb@2Samuel:19:6 @ »You are more loyal to your enemies than to your friends. You show your officers and soldiers that they do not mean a thing to you. You would be happy if Absalom was still alive even if the rest of us were dead.

nsb@2Samuel:19:7 @ »Now stand up! Go out there and thank them for what they did. If you do not, I swear by Jehovah you will not even have one man left on your side tomorrow morning. You may have had a lot of troubles in the past. But this will be the worst thing that has ever happened to you!«

nsb@2Samuel:19:8 @ The king sat in the gateway. The troops were told: »The king is sitting in the gateway.« So they went to the king. Meanwhile, Israel fled back to their homes.

nsb@2Samuel:19:10 @ »Absalom, whom we anointed to rule us, has died in battle. Why is no one talking about reinstating the king?«

nsb@2Samuel:19:11 @ What all Israel was saying reached the king at his house. So King David sent this message to the priests Zadok and Abiathar: »Ask the leaders of Judah, Why should you be the last tribe to reinstate the king back to his palace?

nsb@2Samuel:19:12 @ »You are my relatives, my own flesh and blood. Why should you be the last to reinstate the king?«

nsb@2Samuel:19:13 @ »Say to Amasa: ‘Are you my flesh and blood? May God strike me dead unless you are given Joab’s place to serve me always as the commander of the army.’«

nsb@2Samuel:19:14 @ All the people of Judah were in total agreement. So they sent the king this message: »Come back with all your servants.«

nsb@2Samuel:19:15 @ The king returned to the Jordan River. The people of Judah went to Gilgal to meet the king and bring him across the Jordan River.

nsb@2Samuel:19:16 @ Shimei son of Gera from the tribe of Benjamin and the town of Bahurim, hurried down with the people of Judah to meet King David.

nsb@2Samuel:19:17 @ One thousand people from Benjamin were with him. Ziba the servant of Saul’s family rushed to the Jordan River across from the king. Ziba brought his fifteen sons and twenty servants.

nsb@2Samuel:19:18 @ They brought David’s family and servants back across the river. They did everything he wanted them to do. Shimei crossed the Jordan River and bowed down in front of David.

nsb@2Samuel:19:19 @ He said: »I beg you not to punish me! Please forget what I did when you left Jerusalem. Do not even think about it.

nsb@2Samuel:19:20 @ »I know I was wrong and have sinned. That is why I wanted to be the first one from the northern tribes to meet you.«

nsb@2Samuel:19:22 @ David exclaimed: »Abishai, what will I do with you and your brother Joab? Is it your job to tell me who has done wrong? I have been made king of all Israel today. No one will be put to death!«

nsb@2Samuel:19:24 @ Mephibosheth grandson of Saul also came to meet David. He missed David so much that he did not take a bath or trim his beard or wash his clothes the whole time David was gone.

nsb@2Samuel:19:25 @ They returned to Jerusalem. Mephibosheth came to see David. David asked him: »Why did you not go with me?«

nsb@2Samuel:19:26 @ He answered: »Your Majesty, you know I cannot walk. I told my servant to saddle a donkey for me so I could go with you. But my servant left without me.

nsb@2Samuel:19:27 @ »He told you lies about me. My lord the king is like an angel of God. Do what you think is right.

nsb@2Samuel:19:28 @ »You could have killed anyone in my entire family. Instead you seated me with those who eat at your table. I no longer have the right to complain to my lord the king.«

nsb@2Samuel:19:30 @ »Let him take it all,« Mephibosheth told the king. »It is enough for me that you have come home safely.«

nsb@2Samuel:19:31 @ Barzillai, the man from Gilead, came from Rogelim with the king to the Jordan River to send him on his way.

nsb@2Samuel:19:33 @ The king said to him: »Come with me to Jerusalem. I will take care of you.«

nsb@2Samuel:19:34 @ Barzillai answered: »I do not have long to live. Why should I go with Your Majesty to Jerusalem?

nsb@2Samuel:19:35 @ »I am already eighty years old. Nothing gives me pleasure any more. I cannot taste what I eat and drink. I cannot hear the voices of singers. I would only be a burden to my lord the king.

nsb@2Samuel:19:36 @ »I will cross the river with you. But I will only go a little way on the other side. You do not have to be so kind to me.

nsb@2Samuel:19:37 @ »Please let me return to my hometown. There I can someday be buried near my father and mother. My servant Chimham can go with you. You can treat him as your own.«

nsb@2Samuel:19:38 @ David said: »I will take Chimham with me. Whatever you ask me to do for him, I will do. If you want anything else I will do it.«

nsb@2Samuel:19:39 @ David’s soldiers went across the river. He stayed behind to tell Barzillai good-by and to wish him well. Barzillai returned home.

nsb@2Samuel:19:40 @ Chimham crossed the river with David. All of Judah’s army and half of Israel’s army were there to help David cross the river.

nsb@2Samuel:19:41 @ All the people of Israel came to the king. They asked: »Why did our brothers, the people of Judah, kidnap you and bring you and your family across the Jordan River?«

nsb@2Samuel:19:43 @ The Israelites replied: »We have ten times as many claims on King David as you have! We know he is one of you. Why do you look down on us? Do not forget that we were the first to talk about bringing the king back!« The men of Judah were more violent in making their claims than the men of Israel.

nsb@2Samuel:20:2 @ The Israelites deserted David and went with Sheba. The men of Judah remained loyal and followed David from the Jordan to Jerusalem.

nsb@2Samuel:20:3 @ David left ten of his concubines in Jerusalem to take care of his palace. When he returned, he had them taken to another house. He placed soldiers there to guard them. He gave them what they needed. He never slept with any of them again. They had to live there for the rest of their lives as if they were widows.

nsb@2Samuel:20:4 @ David said to Amasa: »Three days from now I want you and all of Judah’s army to be here!«

nsb@2Samuel:20:5 @ Amasa assembled the army of Judah. It took longer than three days.

nsb@2Samuel:20:6 @ David said to Abishai: »Sheba will hurt us more than Absalom ever did. Take my best soldiers and go after him. We do not want him to take over any walled cities and get away from us.«

nsb@2Samuel:20:7 @ Joab’s men, the Cherethites, Pelethites, and all the soldiers went with Abishai. They left Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.

nsb@2Samuel:20:8 @ Amasa met them at the large rock in Gibeon. Joab wore a military uniform. He strapped a sword in a scabbard at his hip. He stepped forward and the sword dropped into his hand.

nsb@2Samuel:20:9 @ »How are you, my brother?« Joab asked Amasa. He took hold of Amasa’s beard with his right hand to kiss him.

nsb@2Samuel:20:10 @ Amasa was not on guard against the sword in Joab’s left hand. Joab stabbed him in the stomach. Then he stabbed him in his intestines and they poured out on the ground. He died without being stabbed again. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.

nsb@2Samuel:20:11 @ One of Joab’s young men stood beside Amasa and said: »Those who favor Joab and are on David’s side should follow Joab.«

nsb@2Samuel:20:12 @ Amasa’s body was covered with blood in the middle of the road. Joab’s man saw that everybody was stopped. He dragged the body from the road out into the field and threw a blanket over it.

nsb@2Samuel:20:14 @ Sheba went through all of the tribes of Israel when he came to the town of Abel Beth-Maacah. His best soldiers met him there and followed him into the town.

nsb@2Samuel:20:15 @ Joab and his troops surrounded Abel, so no one could go in or come out. They made a dirt ramp up to the town wall. Then they used a battering ram to knock the wall down.

nsb@2Samuel:20:16 @ A wise woman shouted from the top of the wall: »Hear this! Listen to me! I must talk to Joab! Tell him to come here!«

nsb@2Samuel:20:17 @ He came near. She asked: »Are you Joab?« »I am,« He answered. »Listen to what I have to say,« She told him. »I am listening,« He answered.

nsb@2Samuel:20:18 @ She said: »There is an old saying: ‘Be sure to seek guidance from Abel before doing anything.’ That is the way they settle disputes.

nsb@2Samuel:20:19 @ »We are peaceful and faithful Israelites. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel? Why should you swallow up what belongs to Jehovah?’«

nsb@2Samuel:20:20 @ Joab answered: »That is unthinkable! I do not wish to swallow it up or destroy it.

nsb@2Samuel:20:21 @ »That is not so. A man from the mountains of Ephraim by the name of Sheba son of Bichri has rebelled against King David. Give him to me and I will withdraw from the city.« The woman told Joab: »Watch, for his head will be thrown to you from the wall.«

nsb@2Samuel:20:22 @ She went to the people of the city with her plan. They cut off Sheba’s head and threw it over the wall to Joab. He blew the trumpet as a signal for his men to leave the city. They went back home. Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.

nsb@2Samuel:20:26 @ And Ira, a descendant of Jair, was a priest to David.

nsb@2Samuel:21:2 @ The Gibeonites were not a part of Israel but were left over from the Amorites. The Israelites swore to spare them. Saul, in his eagerness, tried to destroy them for Israel and Judah. The king called the Gibeonites.

nsb@2Samuel:21:3 @ He asked them: »What can I do for you? What shall I give you to make peace with you so that you will bless what belongs to Jehovah?«

nsb@2Samuel:21:4 @ The Gibeonites responded: »Our quarrel with Saul and his family cannot be settled with silver or gold. We do not want to kill any Israelite.« What do you want me to do?« David asked.

nsb@2Samuel:21:5 @ They answered: »Saul wanted to destroy us and leave none of us alive anywhere in Israel.

nsb@2Samuel:21:6 @ »Hand over seven of his male descendants. We will hang them before Jehovah at Gibeah, the hometown of Saul, Jehovah’s chosen king.« The king responded: »I will hand them over to you.«

nsb@2Samuel:21:7 @ David made a promise to Jonathan with Jehovah as his witness. He spared Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth, the grandson of Saul.

nsb@2Samuel:21:8 @ Saul and Rizpah the daughter of Aiah had two sons named Armoni and Mephibosheth. Saul’s daughter Merab had five sons whose father was Adriel the son of Barzillai from Meholah. David took Rizpah’s two sons and Merab’s five sons.

nsb@2Samuel:21:9 @ He turned them over to the Gibeonites. They hanged all seven of them on the mountain near the place where Jehovah was worshiped. This happened right at the beginning of the barley harvest.

nsb@2Samuel:21:10 @ Rizpah daughter of Aiah spread some sackcloth on a nearby rock. She would not let the birds land on the bodies during the day. She kept the wild animals away at night. She stayed there from the beginning of the harvest until it started to rain.

nsb@2Samuel:21:11 @ David found out what Saul’s wife Rizpah did. So he went to the leaders of Jabesh to get the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan.

nsb@2Samuel:21:12 @ David took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead. They had stolen them from the public square of Beth Shean, where the Philistines hung them the day they killed Saul at Gilboa.

nsb@2Samuel:21:14 @ Then they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the land of Benjamin, at Zela, in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish. They did everything the king ordered. After that God answered the prayers for the land.

nsb@2Samuel:21:15 @ Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David and his men went to fight the Philistines. David became exhausted.

nsb@2Samuel:21:16 @ A descendant of Haraphah named Benob had a copper spear weighing seven and one half pounds. He wore it on a new belt. He captured David and intended to kill him.

nsb@2Samuel:21:17 @ Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue. Abishai attacked the giant and killed him. Then David’s men made David promise that he would never again go out with them to battle. »You are the hope of Israel. We do not want to lose you!« They said.

nsb@2Samuel:21:20 @ There was another war, this time in Gath. One of the enemy soldiers was a descendant of the Rephaim. He was as big as a giant and had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot.

nsb@2Samuel:22:1 @ David sang this song to Jehovah when Jehovah rescued him from all his enemies, especially from Saul.

nsb@2Samuel:22:5 @ »The waves of death had surrounded me. The torrents of destruction had overwhelmed me.

nsb@2Samuel:22:7 @ »I called to Jehovah in my trouble. I called to my God for help. In his temple he heard my voice. He listened to my cry for help.

nsb@2Samuel:22:10 @ »You opened the heavens like curtains. You came down with storm clouds under your feet.

nsb@2Samuel:22:17 @ »You reached down from high above and took hold of me. You pulled me out of the raging water.

nsb@2Samuel:22:18 @ »You rescued me from enemies who were hateful and too powerful for me.

nsb@2Samuel:22:26 @ »O Jehovah, you are faithful to those who are faithful to you, and completely good to those who are faultless.

nsb@2Samuel:22:27 @ »You are pure to those who are pure, but hostile to those who are wicked.

nsb@2Samuel:22:28 @ »You rescue the humble. You find ways to humiliate the proud.

nsb@2Samuel:22:29 @ »Jehovah our God, you are my lamp. You turn darkness into light.

nsb@2Samuel:22:31 @ »Your way is perfect Jehovah. Your word is correct. You are a shield for those who run to you for help.

nsb@2Samuel:22:40 @ »You armed me and gave me strength to fight. You subdued and brought low those who came against me.

nsb@2Samuel:22:42 @ »They cried for help, but there was no help. They called to you Jehovah and you did not answer.

nsb@2Samuel:22:48 @ »You, Jehovah, give me victory over my enemies! You subdue nations under me.

nsb@2Samuel:22:51 @ »You give glorious victories to your anointed king. Your faithful love for David and for his descendants will never end.«

nsb@2Samuel:23:2 @ »The Spirit of Jehovah spoke through me. His word was on my tongue.

nsb@2Samuel:23:3 @ »The God of Israel has spoken. The protector of Israel said to me: ‘The king who rules with justice, who rules in obedience to God.

nsb@2Samuel:23:5 @ »‘That is how God will bless my descendants. He made an eternal covenant with me. It is an agreement that will not be broken, a promise that will not be changed. That is all I desire. That will be my victory, and God will surely bring it about.

nsb@2Samuel:23:6 @ »‘All the evildoers will be like thorns to be pushed away. They may not be gripped in the hand:

nsb@2Samuel:23:9 @ The next one of the Three Warriors was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite. One time when the Philistines were at war with Israel, he and David dared the Philistines to fight them. Every one of the Israelite soldiers turned and ran.

nsb@2Samuel:23:10 @ Eleazar was the exception. He killed Philistines until his hand was cramped. He could not let go of his sword. When Eleazar finished, all the Israelite troops had to do was come back and take the enemies’ weapons and armor. Jehovah gave Israel a great victory that day.

nsb@2Samuel:23:11 @ Next in rank to him was Shammah, the son of Agee from Harar. The Philistines had gathered at Lehi, where there was a field of ripe lentils. When the troops fled from the Philistines,

nsb@2Samuel:23:12 @ he stood in the middle of the field and defended it by killing Philistines. So Jehovah won an impressive victory.

nsb@2Samuel:23:13 @ At harvest time three of the thirty leading men came to David at the cave of Adullam when a troop from the Philistine army was camping in the valley of Rephaim.

nsb@2Samuel:23:16 @ The three famous soldiers forced their way through the Philistine camp. They then drew some water from the well, and brought it back to David. But he would not drink it. He poured it out as an offering to Jehovah.

nsb@2Samuel:23:17 @ David said: »Jehovah, I could never drink this! It would be like drinking the blood of these men who risked their lives!« So he refused to drink it. Those were the brave deeds of the three famous soldiers.

nsb@2Samuel:23:20 @ Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave man from Kabzeel who did some amazing things. He killed two of Moab’s best fighters. On a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion.

nsb@2Samuel:23:23 @ He was honored over the rest of the Thirty Warriors. But he was not equal to the first three. David made him in charge over the fighting men who kept him safe.

nsb@2Samuel:23:28 @ Zalmon descendant of Ahohi, Maharai from Netophah,

nsb@2Samuel:23:29 @ Heleb son of Baanah from Netophah, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin,

nsb@2Samuel:24:1 @ Jehovah became angry at Israel again. He provoked David to turn against Israel. He said: »Go count the people of Israel and Judah.«

nsb@2Samuel:24:2 @ King David said to Joab the commander of the army: »Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and count the people. That way I will know how many there are.«

nsb@2Samuel:24:3 @ Joab answered reluctantly: »Your Majesty, may Jehovah your God make the people of Israel a hundred times more numerous than they are now. May you live to see him do it. But why does Your Majesty want to do this?«

nsb@2Samuel:24:4 @ The king made Joab and his officers obey his order. They left his presence and went out to count the people of Israel.

nsb@2Samuel:24:5 @ They crossed the Jordan and camped south of Aroer, the city in the middle of the valley, in the territory of Gad. Then they went north to Jazer.

nsb@2Samuel:24:6 @ They went to Gilead and to Kadesh in Syria. Then they went to Dan, Ijon, and on toward Sidon.

nsb@2Samuel:24:7 @ They came to the fortress of Tyre. They went through every town of the Hivites and the Canaanites. Finally, they went to Beersheba in the Southern Desert of Judah.

nsb@2Samuel:24:8 @ After they went through the whole land, they went back to Jerusalem. It took them nine months and twenty days.

nsb@2Samuel:24:9 @ Joab told David: In Israel there is eight hundred thousand who can serve in the army. In Judah there are five hundred thousand.

nsb@2Samuel:24:10 @ After David had everyone counted, he felt guilty and told Jehovah: »What I did was stupid and terribly wrong. Jehovah, please forgive me.«

nsb@2Samuel:24:11 @ When David got up in the morning, Jehovah spoke his word to the prophet Gad, David’s seer.

nsb@2Samuel:24:12 @ »Go tell David: ‘This is what Jehovah says: »I offer you three choices. Choose the one you want me to do to you.« ’«

nsb@2Samuel:24:13 @ Gad told David the three choices as follows: »Seven years of famine could come to you and your land. You could flee from your enemies as they pursue you for three months. Or there could be a three-day plague in your land? Think it over, and decide what answer I should give the one who sent me.«

nsb@2Samuel:24:14 @ »I am in a desperate situation,« David told Gad. »Please let us fall into Jehovah’s hands because he is very merciful. But do not let me fall into human hands.«

nsb@2Samuel:24:15 @ So Jehovah sent a plague among the Israelites from that morning until the time he had chosen. Of the people from Dan to Beersheba, seventy thousand died.

nsb@2Samuel:24:16 @ When the angel stretched out his arm to destroy Jerusalem, Jehovah changed his mind about the disaster. »Enough!« He said to the angel who was destroying the people. »Put down your weapon.« The angel of Jehovah was at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

nsb@2Samuel:24:17 @ David saw the angel who had been killing the people. He said to Jehovah: »I have sinned. I have done wrong. What have these sheep done? Please let your punishment be against me and against my father’s family.«

nsb@2Samuel:24:18 @ Gad came to David and said: »Go, set up an altar for Jehovah at Araunah the Jebusite’s threshing floor.«

nsb@2Samuel:24:19 @ David obeyed Jehovah’s command and went as Gad had told him to.

nsb@2Samuel:24:20 @ Araunah saw David and his soldiers coming toward him. He went over to David and bowed down low,

nsb@2Samuel:24:21 @ and said: »My lord the king! Why have you come to see me?« David answered: »I came to buy your threshing place. I have to build Jehovah an altar here, so this disease will stop killing the people.«

nsb@2Samuel:24:23 @ Araunah gave this to the king and said: »May Jehovah your God accept you.«

nsb@2Samuel:24:24 @ »No!« The king said to Araunah. »I must buy it from you at a fair price. I will not offer Jehovah my God burnt sacrifices that cost me nothing.« So David bought the threshing floor and the cattle for one and one quarter pounds of silver.

nsb@2Samuel:24:25 @ David built an altar for Jehovah there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. So Jehovah heard the prayers for the country. The plague on Israel stopped.

nsb@1Kings:1:2 @ His servants said to him: »Your Majesty let us find a young woman to stay with you and take care of you. She will lie close to you and keep you warm.«

nsb@1Kings:1:3 @ They searched all over Israel for a beautiful young woman, and in Shunem they found such a woman named Abishag, and brought her to the king.

nsb@1Kings:1:4 @ She was very beautiful. She waited on the king and took care of him. However, he did not have intercourse with her.

nsb@1Kings:1:5 @ Adonijah, son of Haggith, was very handsome. His mother gave birth to him after Maacah had Absalom. Adonijah boasted about himself, saying, »I will be king.« He got a chariot and horses and fifty men to run ahead of him.

nsb@1Kings:1:12 @ »Bathsheba, let me give you some advice about how to save your life and your son's life.

nsb@1Kings:1:13 @ »‘Go now to King David and ask him: ‘Your Majesty, did you solemnly promise me that my son Solomon would succeed you as king? How is it that Adonijah has become king?’

nsb@1Kings:1:14 @ Nathan added: »While you are still talking with King David, I will come in and confirm your story.«

nsb@1Kings:1:15 @ So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. He was very old, and Abishag, the young woman from Shunem, was taking care of him.

nsb@1Kings:1:19 @ »He has offered a sacrifice of many bulls, sheep, and fattened calves. He invited your sons, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of your army to the feast. However he did not invite your son Solomon.

nsb@1Kings:1:20 @ »Your Majesty. The people of Israel want you to tell them who is to succeed you as king.

nsb@1Kings:1:21 @ »If you do not my son Solomon and I will be treated as traitors when you die.«

nsb@1Kings:1:23 @ The king was told that the prophet was there. Nathan went in and bowed low before the king.

nsb@1Kings:1:27 @ »Did Your Majesty approve all this and not even tell your officials who is to succeed you as king?«

nsb@1Kings:1:28 @ King David said: »Ask Bathsheba to come back in.« She came and stood before him.

nsb@1Kings:1:29 @ Then he said to her: »I promise you by the living God Jehovah, who has rescued me from all my troubles,

nsb@1Kings:1:30 @ that today I will keep the promise I made to you in the name of Jehovah the God of Israel, that your son Solomon would succeed me as king.«

nsb@1Kings:1:33 @ he said to them: »Take my court officials with you; have my son Solomon ride my own mule, and escort him to Gihon Spring,

nsb@1Kings:1:34 @ Zadok and Nathan are to anoint him as king of Israel. Then blow the trumpet and shout: Long live King Solomon!

nsb@1Kings:1:35 @ »Follow him back here when he comes to sit on my throne. He will succeed me as king. He is the one I have chosen to be the ruler over Israel and Judah.«

nsb@1Kings:1:38 @ So Zadok, Nathan, Benaiah, and the royal bodyguards put Solomon on King David's mule and escorted him to Gihon Spring.

nsb@1Kings:1:39 @ Zadok took the container of olive oil that he had brought from the Tent of Jehovah’s presence, and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet, and all the people shouted: »Long live King Solomon!«

nsb@1Kings:1:47 @ »Even the royal officials have come to congratulate His Majesty King David, saying: May your God make Solomon's name more famous than yours and his reign greater than your reign. The king himself bowed down on his bed

nsb@1Kings:1:48 @ and prayed: ‘Let us praise Jehovah the God of Israel. Today he made one of my descendants succeed me as king.’ He let me live to see it!«

nsb@1Kings:1:50 @ Adonijah, in great fear of Solomon, went to the Tent of Jehovah’s presence and grabbed hold of the corners of the altar.

nsb@1Kings:1:51 @ King Solomon was told that Adonijah was afraid of him and that he was holding on to the corners of the altar. He heard that he said: »First, I want King Solomon to swear to me that he will not have me put to death.«

nsb@1Kings:1:52 @ Solomon replied: »If he is loyal, not even a hair on his head will be touched. If he is not, he will die.«

nsb@1Kings:1:53 @ King Solomon then sent for Adonijah and had him brought down from the altar. Adonijah went to the king and bowed low before him. The king said to him: »You may go home.«

nsb@1Kings:2:1 @ David was about to die. He called his son Solomon and gave him his last instructions:

nsb@1Kings:2:2 @ »It is my time to die. I go the way of all people of the earth. Be strong and be a man.

nsb@1Kings:2:3 @ »Do what Jehovah your God orders you to do. Obey all his laws and commands, as written in the Law of Moses. That way wherever you go you may prosper in everything you do.

nsb@1Kings:2:4 @ »‘If you obey Jehovah he will keep the promise he made when he told me, ‘Your descendants will rule Israel as long as they are careful to obey my commands faithfully with all their heart and being.’

nsb@1Kings:2:5 @ »Remember what Joab did to me by killing the two commanders of Israel's armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. You remember how he murdered them in time of peace. This was revenge for deaths they had caused in time of war. He killed innocent men. I bear the responsibility for what he did. I suffer the consequences.

nsb@1Kings:2:6 @ »You know what to do. You must not let him die a natural death.

nsb@1Kings:2:7 @ »But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai from Gilead and take care of them. They were kind to me when I was fleeing from your brother Absalom.

nsb@1Kings:2:8 @ "There is also Shimei son of Gera, from the town of Bahurim in Benjamin. He cursed me with a bitter curse the day I went to Mahanaim. When he met me at the Jordan River, I gave him my solemn promise in the name of Jehovah, saying, ‘I will not have you killed by the sword.’«

nsb@1Kings:2:9 @ »However you must not let him go unpunished. You know what to do. You must make sure he is put to death.«

nsb@1Kings:2:13 @ Adonijah, son of Haggith, went to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. »Is this a friendly visit?« She asked. »Yes,« he answered.

nsb@1Kings:2:14 @ I have something to discuss with you. He said. What is it? She asked.

nsb@1Kings:2:15 @ He said: »You know the kingship was mine. All Israel expected me to be their king. But the kingship has been turned over to my brother because Jehovah gave it to him.

nsb@1Kings:2:16 @ »I have one request to make to you. Do not say no to me.« She responded: »Tell me.«

nsb@1Kings:2:17 @ He said: »Will you go to Solomon the king for he will not say ‘No’ to you. And make my request that he give me Abishag the Shunammite for a wife?«

nsb@1Kings:2:18 @ Bathsheba said: »Indeed, I will make your request to the king.«

nsb@1Kings:2:19 @ So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to talk to him for Adonijah. The king stood up to meet her and bowed down to her. He took his place on the king's throne and she sat at his right hand on the seat made ready for the king's mother.

nsb@1Kings:2:20 @ Then she said: »I have one small request to make of you. Do not say ‘No’ to me.« The king replied: »Speak mother for I will not say no to you.«

nsb@1Kings:2:21 @ She said: »Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother for a wife.«

nsb@1Kings:2:22 @ Then King Solomon answered: »Why are you requesting me to give Abishag the Shunammite to Adonijah? Take the kingdom for him in addition, for he is my older brother, and Abiathar the priest and Joab, the son of Zeruiah, are on his side.«

nsb@1Kings:2:23 @ King Solomon took an oath by Jehovah, saying: »May God's punishment be on me if Adonijah does not give payment for these words with his life.

nsb@1Kings:2:24 @ »Now by the living God Jehovah who has given me my throne from David my father. He made me one of a line of kings. He gave me his word. Adonijah will be put to death this day.«

nsb@1Kings:2:25 @ King Solomon sent Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada to attack and kill him.

nsb@1Kings:2:26 @ The king spoke to Abiathar the priest: »Go to your fields at Anathoth. You deserve death. But I will not put you to death now, because you carried the Ark of Jehovah God before David my father. You were with him in all his troubles.«

nsb@1Kings:2:27 @ Solomon did not allow Abiathar to be priest any longer. So the word of Jehovah came true concerning the sons of Eli in Shiloh.

nsb@1Kings:2:28 @ Joab received news of this for Joab had been one of Adonijah's supporters. He was not on Absalom's side. Then Joab went in flight to the Tent of Jehovah and put his hands on the corners of the altar.

nsb@1Kings:2:29 @ When King Solomon heard about this he sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada to kill him.

nsb@1Kings:2:30 @ Benaiah went to the Tent of Jehovah and told Joab: Come out. Joab said: »No! Let me die here.« So Benaiah returned to the king and gave him the answer Joab gave him.

nsb@1Kings:2:33 @ »Jehovah will repay him for the blood Joab shed. The blood will fall on Joab and on his descendants as long as they live. Jehovah will always give success to David's descendants who sit on his throne.«

nsb@1Kings:2:34 @ So Benaiah went to the Tent of Jehovah’s presence and killed Joab. He was buried at his home in the wilderness.

nsb@1Kings:2:36 @ The king sent for Shimei and said to him: »Build a house for yourself here in Jerusalem. Live in it and do not leave the city.

nsb@1Kings:2:39 @ Three years later, however, two of Shimei's slaves ran away to the king of Gath, Achish son of Maacah. When Shimei heard that they were in Gath,

nsb@1Kings:2:40 @ he saddled his donkey and went to King Achish in Gath, to find his slaves. He found them and brought them back home.

nsb@1Kings:2:42 @ he sent for him and said: »I made you promise in Jehovah’s name not to leave Jerusalem. I warned you that if you ever did, you would die. Did you not agree to it and say that you would obey me?

nsb@1Kings:2:44 @ »You know very well all the wrong that you did to my father David. Jehovah will punish you for it.

nsb@1Kings:2:46 @ The king gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada. He killed Shimei. Solomon was now in complete control.

nsb@1Kings:3:1 @ Solomon made an alliance with the king of Egypt by marrying his daughter. He brought her to live in David's City until he finished building his palace, the Temple, and the wall around Jerusalem.

nsb@1Kings:3:4 @ One time he went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices because that was where the most used altar was. He offered hundreds of burnt offerings there in the past.

nsb@1Kings:3:5 @ That night Jehovah appeared to him in a dream and asked him: »What do you want me to give you?«

nsb@1Kings:3:6 @ Solomon answered: »You always showed great love for my father David, your servant. He was good, loyal, and honest in his relation with you. You have continued to show him your great and constant love by giving him a son who today rules in his place.

nsb@1Kings:3:7 @ »O Jehovah God, you allowed me to succeed my father as king, even though I am very young and do not know how to rule.

nsb@1Kings:3:8 @ »I am among the people you have chosen to be your own. They are a people who are so many that they cannot be counted.

nsb@1Kings:3:9 @ ‘Give me the wisdom I need to rule your people with justice. Help me know the difference between good and evil. Otherwise, how would I ever be able to rule this great people of yours?«

nsb@1Kings:3:11 @ He said to him: »Because you have asked for the wisdom to rule justly, instead of long life for yourself or riches or the death of your enemies,

nsb@1Kings:3:15 @ Solomon woke up and was aware that God had spoken to him in the dream. Then he went to Jerusalem and stood in front of Jehovah’s Ark of the Covenant. He offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to Jehovah. Then he gave a feast for all his officials.

nsb@1Kings:3:16 @ One day two women who were prostitutes came to the king.

nsb@1Kings:3:17 @ One of them said: »Your Majesty, this woman and I live in the same house. I gave birth to a baby boy at home while she was there.

nsb@1Kings:3:18 @ »Two days after my child was born she also gave birth to a baby boy. Only the two of us were there in the house. No one else was there.

nsb@1Kings:3:20 @ »She got up during the night and took my son from my side while I was asleep. She took him to her bed and put the dead child in my bed.

nsb@1Kings:3:21 @ »The next morning I woke up and was going to nurse my baby. It was dead. I looked at it more closely and saw that it was not my child.«

nsb@1Kings:3:23 @ King Solomon said: »Each of you claims that the living child is hers and that the dead child belongs to the other one.«

nsb@1Kings:3:26 @ With a heart full of love for her son the real mother said: »Please, Your Majesty, do not kill the child! Give it to her!« But the other woman said: »Do not give it to either of us cut it in two.«

nsb@1Kings:3:27 @ Then Solomon said: »Do not kill the child! Give it to the first woman. She is the real mother.«

nsb@1Kings:3:28 @ The people of Israel heard of Solomon's decision and were all filled with deep respect for him. They knew then that God had given him the wisdom to settle disputes fairly.

nsb@1Kings:4:10 @ Benhesed: the cities of Arubboth and Socoh and all the territory of Hepher,

nsb@1Kings:4:11 @ Benabinadab, who was married to Solomon's daughter Taphath: the whole region of Dor.

nsb@1Kings:4:12 @ Baana son of Ahilud: the cities of Taanach, Megiddo, and all the region near Beth Shan, near the town of Zarethan, south of the town of Jezreel, as far as the city of Abel Meholah and the city of Jokmeam.

nsb@1Kings:4:13 @ Bengeber: the city of Ramoth in Gilead, and the villages in Gilead belonging to the clan of Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, and the region of Argob in Bashan, sixty large towns in all, fortified with walls and with bronze bars on the gates.

nsb@1Kings:4:15 @ Ahimaaz, who was married to Basemath, another of Solomon's daughters: the territory of Naphtali.

nsb@1Kings:4:16 @ Baana son of Hushai: the region of Asher and the town of Bealoth.

nsb@1Kings:4:17 @ Jehoshaphat son of Paruah: the territory of Issachar.

nsb@1Kings:4:18 @ Shimei son of Ela: the territory of Benjamin.

nsb@1Kings:4:21 @ Solomon's kingdom included all the nations from the Euphrates River to Philistia and the Egyptian border. They paid him taxes and were subject to him all his life.

nsb@1Kings:4:24 @ Solomon ruled over all the land west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah on the Euphrates as far west as the city of Gaza. All the kings west of the Euphrates were subject to him. He was at peace with all the neighboring countries.

nsb@1Kings:4:29 @ God gave Solomon great wisdom and insight, and knowledge too great to be measured.

nsb@1Kings:4:33 @ He spoke of trees and plants, from the Lebanon cedars to the hyssop that grows on walls. He talked about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish.

nsb@1Kings:4:34 @ Kings all over the world heard of his wisdom and sent people to listen to the Wisdom of Solomon.

nsb@1Kings:5:1 @ When King Hiram of Tyre heard that Solomon succeeded his father as king he sent ambassadors to Solomon. He had always been a friend of David's.

nsb@1Kings:5:2 @ Solomon sent this message to Hiram:

nsb@1Kings:5:3 @ »You know my father David could not build a Temple for the worship of Jehovah due to the constant wars he had to fight. There were enemies in countries all around him. First Jehovah had to give him victory over all his enemies.

nsb@1Kings:5:5 @ »Jehovah promised my father David: ‘Your son, whom I will make king after you, will build a Temple for me. I have decided to build that Temple for the worship of Jehovah my God.’

nsb@1Kings:5:6 @ »Send your men to Lebanon to cut down cedars for me. My men will work with them. I will pay your men whatever you decide. You may already know, my men do not know how to cut down trees as well as yours do.«

nsb@1Kings:5:7 @ Hiram was extremely pleased when he received Solomon's message. He said: »Praise Jehovah today for giving David such a wise son to succeed him as king of the great nation of Israel!«

nsb@1Kings:5:8 @ Then Hiram sent Solomon the following message: »I received your message. I am ready to do what you ask. I will provide the cedars and the pine trees.

nsb@1Kings:5:9 @ »My men will bring the logs from Lebanon to the sea and will tie them together in rafts to float them down the coast to the place you choose. My men will untie them. There your men will take charge of them. On your part, I would like you to supply the food for my men.«

nsb@1Kings:5:11 @ Solomon provided Hiram with one hundred thousand bushels of wheat and one hundred and ten thousand gallons of pure olive oil every year to feed his men.

nsb@1Kings:5:14 @ He appointed Adoniram to be in charge of them. He divided them into three groups of ten thousand men. Each group spent one month in Lebanon and two months back home.

nsb@1Kings:5:15 @ Solomon also had eighty thousand stonecutters in the mountains. There were seventy thousand men to carry the stones.

nsb@1Kings:5:16 @ He placed three thousand three hundred foremen there to supervise their work.

nsb@1Kings:5:17 @ King Solomon command that they cut fine large stones for the foundation of the Temple.

nsb@1Kings:5:18 @ Solomon's and Hiram's workers and men from the city of Gebal prepared the stones and the timber to build the Temple.

nsb@1Kings:6:5 @ A third-story annex, seven and one half feet high, was built against the outside walls. It was on the sides and the back of the Temple.

nsb@1Kings:6:6 @ Each room in the lowest story was seven and one half feet wide. The middle story was nine feet wide. The top story was ten and one half feet wide. The Temple wall on each floor was thinner than on the floor below, so that the rooms could rest on the wall without having their beams built into it.

nsb@1Kings:6:7 @ The stones with which the Temple was built were prepared at the quarry. That way there was no noise made by hammers, axes, or any other iron tools as the Temple was built.

nsb@1Kings:6:8 @ The entrance to the lowest story of the annex was on the south side of the Temple. It had stairs leading up to the second and third stories.

nsb@1Kings:6:10 @ The three-story annex, each story seven and one half feet high, was built against the outside walls of the Temple. Cedar beams were used to join it to them.

nsb@1Kings:6:11 @ Jehovah spoke to Solomon:

nsb@1Kings:6:15 @ The inside walls were covered with cedar panels from the floor to the ceiling. The floor was made of pine.

nsb@1Kings:6:16 @ An inner room, called the Most Holy Place, was built in the rear of the Temple. It was thirty feet long and was partitioned off by cedar boards reaching from the floor to the ceiling.

nsb@1Kings:6:18 @ The cedar panels were decorated with carvings of gourds and flowers. The entire interior was covered with cedar. The stones of the walls could not be seen.

nsb@1Kings:6:19 @ An inner room was built in the rear of the Temple. The Ark of the Covenant was to be placed there.

nsb@1Kings:6:24 @ Each had two wings, each wing was seven and one half feet long. The distance from one wing tip to the other was fifteen feet.

nsb@1Kings:6:27 @ They were placed side by side in the Most Holy Place. Their outstretched wings touched each other in the middle of the room, and the other two wings touched the walls.

nsb@1Kings:6:31 @ A double door made of olive wood was hung at the entrance of the Most Holy Place. There was a pointed arch on top of the doorway.

nsb@1Kings:6:33 @ A rectangular doorframe of olive wood was made for the entrance to the main room.

nsb@1Kings:6:36 @ An inner court was built in front of the Temple. They enclosed it with walls that had one layer of cedar beams for every three layers of stone.

nsb@1Kings:6:38 @ In the eighth month, the month of Bul, in the eleventh year of Solomon's reign, the Temple was completely finished exactly as it had been planned. It took Solomon seven years to build it.

nsb@1Kings:7:1 @ Solomon took thirteen years to build a palace for himself.

nsb@1Kings:7:3 @ It had three rows of cedar pillars, fifteen in each row, with cedar beams resting on them. The ceiling was of cedar, extending over storerooms, which were supported by the pillars.

nsb@1Kings:7:7 @ He made the hall for the throne. It was a place where he could sit on his throne and judge. The hall was covered with cedar from floor to ceiling.

nsb@1Kings:7:9 @ From the foundation to the roof, all these buildings, including the large courtyard, were built with high-grade stone blocks. The stone blocks were cut to size and trimmed with saws on their inner and outer faces.

nsb@1Kings:7:10 @ The foundation was made with large, high-grade expensive stones. Some were twelve feet and others fifteen feet long.

nsb@1Kings:7:11 @ Above the foundation were cedar beams and high-grade expensive stone blocks, which were cut to size.

nsb@1Kings:7:12 @ The large courtyard had three layers of cut stone blocks and a layer of cedar beams, like the inner courtyard of Jehovah’s Temple and the entrance hall.

nsb@1Kings:7:14 @ Huram was knowledgeable and skilled in making things out of copper. He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali. His father had been from Tyre. He went to do all of King Solomon’s work.

nsb@1Kings:7:16 @ He also made two copper crowns. Each one was seven and one half feet tall. They were to be placed on top of the columns.

nsb@1Kings:7:17 @ The top of each column was decorated with a design of interwoven chains.

nsb@1Kings:7:19 @ The crowns on the top of the columns were shaped like lilies, six feet tall,

nsb@1Kings:7:22 @ The lily-shaped copper crowns were on top of the columns. The work on the columns was completed.

nsb@1Kings:7:31 @ There was a circular frame on top for the basin. It projected eighteen inches upward from the top of the cart and seven inches down into it. It had carvings around it.

nsb@1Kings:7:34 @ There were four supports at the bottom corners of each cart. They were of one piece with the cart.

nsb@1Kings:7:35 @ There was a nine-inch band around the top of each cart. Its supports and the panels were of one piece with the cart.

nsb@1Kings:7:41 @ The two pillars and the two cups of the crowns which were on the tops of the two pillars; and the network covering the two cups of the crowns on the tops of the pillars,

nsb@1Kings:7:47 @ Solomon did not weigh all the utensils because so much copper was used. No one tried to determine how much the copper weighed.

nsb@1Kings:7:49 @ lamps stands of pure gold, five on the south side and five on the north in front of the inner room, flowers, lamps, gold tongs,

nsb@1Kings:7:51 @ All the work King Solomon did on Jehovah’s Temple was finished. He brought the holy things that belonged to his father David: the silver, gold, and utensils and put them in the storerooms of Jehovah’s Temple.

nsb@1Kings:8:1 @ King Solomon summoned all the leaders of the tribes and clans of Israel to come to him in Jerusalem. They were to take Jehovah’s Ark of the Covenant from Zion, David's City, to the Temple.

nsb@1Kings:8:4 @ and carried it to the Temple. The Levites and the priests also moved the Tent of Jehovah’s presence and all its equipment to the Temple.

nsb@1Kings:8:5 @ King Solomon and all the people of Israel assembled in front of the Ark and sacrificed a large number of sheep and cattle, too many to count.

nsb@1Kings:8:6 @ Then the priests carried the Ark of the Covenant into the Temple and put it in the Most Holy Place, beneath the cherubim.

nsb@1Kings:8:9 @ There was nothing inside the Ark of the Covenant except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed there at Mount Sinai, when Jehovah made a covenant with the people of Israel as they were coming from Egypt.

nsb@1Kings:8:11 @ It shined with the dazzling light of Jehovah’s presence. They could not go back in to perform their duties.

nsb@1Kings:8:12 @ Solomon prayed: »Jehovah, you have placed the sun in the sky, yet you have chosen to live in clouds and darkness.

nsb@1Kings:8:13 @ »Now I have built a majestic temple for you, a place for you to live in for a very long time.«

nsb@1Kings:8:14 @ King Solomon turned to face the people standing there. He asked God's blessing on them.

nsb@1Kings:8:15 @ He said: »Praise Jehovah the God of Israel! He kept the promise he made to my father David, when he told him:

nsb@1Kings:8:16 @ »‘Since the time I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen any city in all the land of Israel in which a temple should be built where I would be worshiped. But I chose you, David, to rule my people.’«

nsb@1Kings:8:17 @ Solomon continued: »My father David planned to build a temple for the worship of Jehovah the God of Israel,

nsb@1Kings:8:18 @ »‘Jehovah said to him: ‘You were right in wanting to build a temple for me.

nsb@1Kings:8:21 @ »I also provided a place in the Temple for the Ark of the Covenant containing the stone tablets of the covenant Jehovah made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt.«

nsb@1Kings:8:22 @ In the presence of the people Solomon stood in front of the altar. He raised his arms

nsb@1Kings:8:23 @ and prayed: »Jehovah God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven above or on earth below! You keep your covenant with your people and show them your love when they live in wholehearted obedience to you.

nsb@1Kings:8:24 @ »You kept the promise you made to my father David. Every word has been fulfilled.

nsb@1Kings:8:25 @ »Jehovah, God of Israel, I pray that you will also keep the other promise you made to my father when you told him there would always be one of his descendants ruling as king of Israel, provided they obeyed you as carefully as he did.

nsb@1Kings:8:26 @ »So now, O God of Israel, let your word come true that you promised to my father David, your servant.

nsb@1Kings:8:27 @ »Can you, O God, really live on earth? Not even heaven or the heaven of heavens is large enough to hold you. How can this Temple I have built be large enough?

nsb@1Kings:8:28 @ »Jehovah my God, I am your servant. Listen to my prayer. Grant the requests I make to you today.

nsb@1Kings:8:29 @ »Watch over this Temple day and night. For this is the place where you have chosen to be worshiped. Hear me when I face this Temple and pray.

nsb@1Kings:8:31 @ »When a person is accused of wronging another and is brought to your altar in this Temple to take an oath that he is innocent,

nsb@1Kings:8:33 @ »When your people Israel have sinned against you their enemies defeat them. They can turn to you and come to this Temple, humbly praying to you for forgiveness.

nsb@1Kings:8:34 @ Listen to them in heaven. Forgive the sins of your people and bring them back to the land that you gave to their ancestors.

nsb@1Kings:8:35 @ »When you hold back the rain because your people have sinned against you. And when they repent in this Temple, humbly praying to you,

nsb@1Kings:8:36 @ listen to them in heaven. Forgive the sins of the king and of the people of Israel, and teach them to do what is right. Then, O Jehovah, send rain on this land of yours, which you gave to your people as a permanent possession.

nsb@1Kings:8:38 @ listen to their prayers. If any of your people Israel, out of heartfelt sorrow, stretch out their hands in prayer toward this Temple,

nsb@1Kings:8:39 @ hear their prayer. Listen to them in your home in heaven, help them and forgive them. You alone know the thoughts of the human heart. Deal with each person, as he deserves,

nsb@1Kings:8:40 @ so that your people may obey you all the time they live in the land you gave to our ancestors.

nsb@1Kings:8:41 @ »When a foreigner who lives in a distant land hears of your fame and of the great things you have done for your people and comes to worship you and to pray at this Temple,

nsb@1Kings:8:42 @ »For they will have news of your great name and your strong hand and your out-stretched arm. When he comes to pray in this house:

nsb@1Kings:8:43 @ »Listen to him and give him his desire. Let all the peoples of the earth know about your name. Let them worship you as your people Israel, and that they may see that this house which I have built is truly named by your name.

nsb@1Kings:8:44 @ »When your people go to war against their enemies, they pray to you, O Jehovah, toward the city you have chosen and the temple I built for your name.

nsb@1Kings:8:46 @ »They may sin against you, for everyone sins. You may become angry with them and hand them over to an enemy far or near who takes them to another country as captives.

nsb@1Kings:8:47 @ »If they come to their senses and are sorry for what they have done, and plead with you in the land where they are captives, saying: We have sinned. We have done wrong. We have been wicked.

nsb@1Kings:8:48 @ »If they change their attitude toward you in the land of their enemies where they are captives, if they pray to you toward the land that you gave their ancestors, and the city you have chosen, and the temple I have built for your name,

nsb@1Kings:8:50 @ »Forgive your people, who have sinned against you. Forgive all their wrongs when they rebelled against you. Cause those who captured them to have mercy on them.

nsb@1Kings:8:52 @ »May your eyes always see my plea and your people Israel's plea so that you will listen to them whenever they call on you.

nsb@1Kings:8:53 @ »You Jehovah set them apart from all the people of the world. They are your own as you promised through your servant Moses when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt.«

nsb@1Kings:8:54 @ When Solomon finished praying this prayer for mercy to Jehovah, he stood in front of Jehovah’s altar, where he had been kneeling with his hands stretched out toward heaven.

nsb@1Kings:8:55 @ Then he stood and in a loud voice blessed the entire assembly of Israel:

nsb@1Kings:8:56 @ "THANKS TO JEHOVAH! He has given his people Israel rest, as he has promised. None of the good promises he made through his servant Moses has failed to come true.

nsb@1Kings:8:57 @ »May Jehovah our God be with us as he was with our ancestors. May he not leave us or abandon us.

nsb@1Kings:8:58 @ »May he bend our hearts toward him. Then we will follow him and obey his commands, laws, and rules, which he commanded our ancestors to obey.

nsb@1Kings:8:59 @ »May these words I have prayed to Jehovah be near Jehovah our God day and night. Then he will give his people Israel and me justice every day as it is needed.

nsb@1Kings:8:61 @ »Let your hearts be committed to Jehovah our God. Then you will live by his laws and keep his commands as you have today.«

nsb@1Kings:8:62 @ Then the king and all Israel offered sacrifices to Jehovah.

nsb@1Kings:8:63 @ Solomon sacrificed twenty-two thousand cattle and one hundred twenty thousand sheep as fellowship offerings to Jehovah. So the king and all the people of Israel dedicated Jehovah’s Temple.

nsb@1Kings:8:64 @ On that day the king designated the courtyard in front of Jehovah’s Temple as a holy place. He sacrificed the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat from the fellowship offerings because the copper altar in front of Jehovah was too small to hold all of them.

nsb@1Kings:8:65 @ At that time Solomon and all Israel celebrated the festival. A large crowd had come from the territory between the border of Hamath and the River of Egypt to be near Jehovah our God for seven days.

nsb@1Kings:8:66 @ On the eighth day he dismissed the people. They blessed the king and went to their tents. They rejoiced with cheerful hearts for all the blessings Jehovah had given his servant David and his people Israel.

nsb@1Kings:9:1 @ Solomon finished building Jehovah’s Temple, the royal palace, and everything else he wanted to build.

nsb@1Kings:9:2 @ Jehovah came to him again in a vision just as he had done at Gibeon.

nsb@1Kings:9:4 @ »As for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father did, uprightly and with a true heart, doing what I have given you orders to do, keeping my laws and my decisions;

nsb@1Kings:9:5 @ »I will make the seat of your rule over Israel certain forever. I gave my word to David your father. I said: You will never be without a man to be king in Israel.

nsb@1Kings:9:6 @ »But if you turn from my ways, you or your children, and do not keep my orders and my laws which I have put before you, but go and make yourselves servants to other gods and give them worship:

nsb@1Kings:9:8 @ This house will become a mass of broken walls. Everyone who goes by will be overcome with wonder at it and make whistling sounds. They will say: Why has Jehovah done this to this land and to this house?

nsb@1Kings:9:9 @ »‘The answer will be: ‘Because they turned away from Jehovah their God. The one who took their fathers out of the land of Egypt. They took for themselves other gods and gave them worship and became their servants: that is why Jehovah has sent this evil on them.’«

nsb@1Kings:9:10 @ It took twenty years for Solomon to build two houses, the Temple of Jehovah and the king's house.

nsb@1Kings:9:11 @ Hiram, king of Tyre, had given Solomon cedar-trees and cypress-trees and gold, as much as he needed. King Solomon gave Hiram twenty towns in the land of Galilee.

nsb@1Kings:9:12 @ But when Hiram came from Tyre to see the towns that Solomon had given him, he was not pleased with them.

nsb@1Kings:9:13 @ He said: »What sort of towns are these you have given me, my brother?« So they were named the land of Cabul, to this day.

nsb@1Kings:9:15 @ King Solomon used forced labor to build the Temple and the palace, to fill in land on the east side of the city, and to build the city wall. He also used it to rebuild the cities of Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.

nsb@1Kings:9:16 @ The king of Egypt attacked Gezer and captured it. They killed its inhabitants and set fire to the city. He gave it as a wedding present to his daughter when she married Solomon.

nsb@1Kings:9:19 @ the cities where his supplies were kept, the cities for his horses and chariots, and everything else he wanted to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and elsewhere in his kingdom.

nsb@1Kings:9:20 @ Solomon used the descendants of the people of Canaan whom the Israelites had not killed when they took possession of their land as his forced labor. These included Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

nsb@1Kings:9:21 @ Their descendants continue to be slaves down to the present time.

nsb@1Kings:9:24 @ Solomon filled in the land on the east side of the city, after his wife, the daughter of the king of Egypt, had moved from David's City to the palace Solomon built for her.

nsb@1Kings:9:25 @ Three times a year Solomon offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on the altar he had built to Jehovah. He also burned incense to Jehovah. He finished building the Temple.

nsb@1Kings:9:27 @ King Hiram sent experienced sailors from his fleet to serve with Solomon's men.

nsb@1Kings:9:28 @ They sailed to the land of Ophir and brought back to Solomon about sixteen tons of gold.

nsb@1Kings:10:1 @ The queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame. She traveled to Jerusalem to test him with difficult questions.

nsb@1Kings:10:2 @ So she came to Jerusalem with a very large caravan. The camels carried spices and very much gold and precious stones. When she approached Solomon, she talked about everything she had on her mind.

nsb@1Kings:10:3 @ Solomon answered all her questions. Nothing was hidden from the king that he did not explain to her.

nsb@1Kings:10:5 @ the food of his table, the seating of his servants, the attendance of his waiters and their attire, his cupbearers, and his stairway by which he went up to the house of Jehovah, she was overwhelmed.

nsb@1Kings:10:6 @ She said to the king: »The report I heard in my country about your acts and your wisdom was true.

nsb@1Kings:10:7 @ »But I had no faith in what was said about you, till I came and saw for myself. Now I see that what I was told was not the half of it! Your wisdom and your wealth are much greater than they said.

nsb@1Kings:10:9 @ »Praise Jehovah your God! He delighted in you and made you king of Israel. Jehovah’s love for Israel is long lasting, he has made you king, to be their judge in righteousness.«

nsb@1Kings:10:10 @ She gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and a great store of spices and jewels. Never again was such a wealth of spices seen as that which the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon.

nsb@1Kings:10:11 @ Hiram's fleet that brought gold from Ophir also brought a large quantity of sandalwood and precious stones from Ophir.

nsb@1Kings:10:12 @ With the sandalwood the king made supports for Jehovah’s Temple and the royal palace, and lyres and harps for the singers. Never again was sandalwood like this imported into Israel, nor has any been seen there to this day.

nsb@1Kings:10:13 @ King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all her desire. Whatever she requested in addition to what he gave her freely from the impulse of his heart. She and her servants went back to her country.

nsb@1Kings:10:14 @ Each year King Solomon received about twenty-five tons of gold.

nsb@1Kings:10:15 @ This was in addition to what came to him from the business of the traders, and from all the kings of the Arabians, and from the rulers of the country.

nsb@1Kings:10:16 @ Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold. About fifteen pounds of gold went into each shield.

nsb@1Kings:10:19 @ There were six steps going up to it. The top of it was round at the back. There were arms on the two sides of the throne and two lions by the side of the arms.

nsb@1Kings:10:21 @ All King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold. All the vessels of the house of the Woods of Lebanon were of the best gold. Not one was of silver, for no one gave a thought to silver in the days of King Solomon.

nsb@1Kings:10:24 @ They came from all over the earth to see Solomon and to listen to his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.

nsb@1Kings:10:25 @ Everyone took presents such as vessels of silver and vessels of gold, and robes, and coats of metal, and spices, and horses, and beasts of transport, regularly year by year.

nsb@1Kings:10:26 @ Solomon gathered war-carriages and horsemen. He had one thousand, four hundred carriages and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he kept, some in the carriage-towns and some with the king at Jerusalem.

nsb@1Kings:10:27 @ The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem and cedars like the sycamore-trees of the lowlands in number.

nsb@1Kings:11:2 @ Jehovah warned the children of Israel about these nations. He said: »You are not to take wives from them and they are not to take wives from you. They will certainly turn your hearts to go after their gods.« Solomon loved his wives anyway.

nsb@1Kings:11:3 @ He had seven hundred wives, daughters of kings, and three hundred other wives. His wives influenced his heart to turn away.

nsb@1Kings:11:4 @ When Solomon was old he allowed his heart to be turned away to other gods by his wives. His heart was no longer true to Jehovah his God as the heart of his father David had been.

nsb@1Kings:11:5 @ Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Zidonians, and Milcom, the disgusting god of the Ammonites.

nsb@1Kings:11:8 @ He did likewise for all his strange wives, who made offerings with burning of perfumes to their gods.

nsb@1Kings:11:9 @ Jehovah was angry with Solomon. This is because his heart turned away from Jehovah, the God of Israel, who had twice come to him in a vision.

nsb@1Kings:11:10 @ Jehovah had given him orders about this very thing that he was not to go after other gods. But he did not obey the orders of Jehovah.

nsb@1Kings:11:11 @ So Jehovah said to Solomon: »Because you have done this, and have not kept the agreement and laws I gave you, I will take the kingdom away from you by force and will give it to your servant.

nsb@1Kings:11:13 @ »Still I will not take the entire kingdom from him. I will give one tribe to your son, because of my servant David, and because of Jerusalem, the town of my selection.«

nsb@1Kings:11:14 @ Jehovah sent Hadad the Edomite to make trouble for Solomon. He was of the king's seed in Edom.

nsb@1Kings:11:15 @ When David had sent destruction on Edom, and Joab, the commander of the army went to bury the dead. They put to death every male in Edom.

nsb@1Kings:11:17 @ Hadad was a young boy at the time. He and some of his father's Edomite servants fled to Egypt.

nsb@1Kings:11:18 @ They left Midian and went to Paran. Taking some men from Paran with them, they went to Pharaoh the king of Egypt. Pharaoh gave Hadad a home, a food allowance, and land.

nsb@1Kings:11:19 @ Pharaoh approved of Hadad. So he gave Hadad his sister-in-law, the sister of Queen Tahpenes, to be Hadad's wife.

nsb@1Kings:11:20 @ Tahpenes' sister had a son named Genubath. Tahpenes presented the boy to Pharaoh in the palace, and Genubath lived in the palace among Pharaoh's children.

nsb@1Kings:11:21 @ When the news reached Hadad in Egypt that David had died and that Joab the commander of the army was dead, Hadad said to the king: »Let me go back to my own country.«

nsb@1Kings:11:22 @ »Why?« The king asked. »Have I failed to give you something? Is that why you want to go back home?« Hadad answered: »Just let me go.« He went back to his country. As king of Edom, Hadad was an evil, bitter enemy of Israel.

nsb@1Kings:11:23 @ God also caused Rezon son of Eliada to turn against Solomon. Rezon had fled from his master, King Hadadezer of Zobah,

nsb@1Kings:11:25 @ He was trouble to Israel all through the days of Solomon. This is the damage Hadad did: he was cruel to Israel while he was ruler over Edom.

nsb@1Kings:11:27 @ This is how he rebelled: Solomon was building the Millo and making good the damaged parts of the town of his father David.

nsb@1Kings:11:28 @ Jeroboam was a capable and responsible man. Solomon saw that he was a good worker and made him overseer of all the work given to the sons of Joseph.

nsb@1Kings:11:30 @ Ahijah took his new robe in his hands and tore it into twelve pieces.

nsb@1Kings:11:31 @ He said to Jeroboam: »Take ten of the parts, for this is what Jehovah said: ‘I will take the kingdom away from Solomon by force. I will give ten tribes to you.

nsb@1Kings:11:32 @ »‘But one tribe will be his because of my servant David, and because of Jerusalem. Out of the tribes of Israel he will have the town I have made mine.

nsb@1Kings:11:33 @ »‘I am going to do this because Solomon has rejected me and has worshiped foreign gods. Astarte, the goddess of Sidon; Chemosh, the god of Moab; and Molech, the god of Ammon. Solomon disobeyed me. He has done wrong! He has not obeyed my laws and commands as his father David did.

nsb@1Kings:11:37 @ »‘Jeroboam, I will make you king of Israel. You will rule over all the territory that you want.

nsb@1Kings:11:40 @ For this reason Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam. Jeroboam escaped to King Shishak of Egypt and stayed there until Solomon's death.

nsb@1Kings:11:41 @ Everything else that Solomon did, his career, and his wisdom, are all recorded in The History of Solomon.

nsb@1Kings:12:1 @ Rehoboam went to Shechem. All the people of northern Israel gathered to make him king.

nsb@1Kings:12:2 @ Jeroboam son of Nebat went to Egypt to escape from King Solomon. When he heard this news he returned from Egypt.

nsb@1Kings:12:3 @ The people of the northern tribes sent for him. Then they all went together to Rehoboam and said to him:

nsb@1Kings:12:6 @ Then King Rehoboam consulted elders who had been with Solomon his father when he was living. He said: »In your opinion, what answer am I to give to these people?«

nsb@1Kings:12:7 @ They said to him: »If you will be a servant to this people today, caring for them and giving them a favorable answer, then they will be your servants for ever.«

nsb@1Kings:12:8 @ But he paid no attention to the opinion of the elders. He went to the young men who were his advisors:

nsb@1Kings:12:9 @ »What is your opinion?« He asked: »What answer are we to give to this people? They want me to lighten the burdens placed on them by my father.«

nsb@1Kings:12:10 @ His young advisors said: »This is the answer to give to the people who came to you saying: ‘Your father put a hard yoke on us; will you make it less?’ Say to them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father's body.’

nsb@1Kings:12:12 @ So all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day just as the king ordered.

nsb@1Kings:12:13 @ The king gave them a harsh answer. He paid no attention to the suggestion of the elders.

nsb@1Kings:12:15 @ The king did not listen to the people. This came about by Jehovah’s purpose, so that what he had said by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam, son of Nebat, might be fulfilled.

nsb@1Kings:12:16 @ When all Israel realized that the king would not respond to their request, the people in answer said to the king: »What share do we have in David? What is our heritage in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel; now see to your people, David.« So Israel went away to their tents.

nsb@1Kings:12:17 @ Rehoboam was still king over those of the children of Israel who were living in the towns of Judah.

nsb@1Kings:12:18 @ Then King Rehoboam sent Adoniram, the overseer of the forced work. He was stoned to death by all Israel. King Rehoboam went quickly and got into his carriage to escape to Jerusalem.

nsb@1Kings:12:19 @ Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

nsb@1Kings:12:21 @ When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he called together one hundred and eighty thousand of the best soldiers from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. He wanted to go to war and restore his control over the northern tribes of Israel.

nsb@1Kings:12:22 @ But God told the prophet Shemaiah:

nsb@1Kings:12:23 @ »Give this message to Rehoboam and to all the people of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin:

nsb@1Kings:12:25 @ King Jeroboam of Israel fortified the town of Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there for a while. Then he left and fortified the town of Penuel.

nsb@1Kings:12:26 @ He thought to himself: »The way things are my people will go to Jerusalem and offer sacrifices to Jehovah at the Temple there.

nsb@1Kings:12:27 @ »They will transfer their allegiance to King Rehoboam of Judah and will kill me.«

nsb@1Kings:12:30 @ This became Israel’s sin, worshiping the golden calves. The people went as far as Dan to worship the one calf.

nsb@1Kings:12:31 @ Jeroboam built worship sites on hilltops. He appointed men who were not descended from Levi to be priests.

nsb@1Kings:12:32 @ Jeroboam appointed a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, just like the festival in Judah. He went to the altar in Bethel to sacrifice to the calves he had made. He appointed priests from the illegal worship sites to serve in Bethel.

nsb@1Kings:12:33 @ He went to his altar in Bethel to burn an offering on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, the festival he invented for the Israelites.

nsb@1Kings:13:1 @ A man of God from Judah went to Bethel. He arrived there while Jeroboam was at the altar ready to offer a sacrifice.

nsb@1Kings:13:2 @ He actually spoke against the altar: »O altar, altar, this is what Jehovah says: ‘A child, whose name will be Josiah, will be born to the family of David. He will slaughter the priests serving at the pagan altars who offer sacrifices on you. He will burn human bones on you.’«

nsb@1Kings:13:3 @ The prophet went on to say: »This altar will fall apart. The ashes on it will be scattered. Then you will know that Jehovah has spoken through me.«

nsb@1Kings:13:5 @ The altar suddenly fell apart and the ashes spilled to the ground. This is what the prophet predicted in the name of Jehovah.

nsb@1Kings:13:6 @ King Jeroboam said to the prophet: »Please pray to Jehovah your God for me, and ask him to heal my arm!« The prophet prayed to Jehovah and the king's arm was healed.

nsb@1Kings:13:7 @ Then the king said to the prophet: »Come home with me and have something to eat. I will reward you for what you have done.«

nsb@1Kings:13:9 @ I was ordered by the word of Jehovah, he said: »You are not to take food or a drink of water, and you are not to go back the way you came.«

nsb@1Kings:13:10 @ So he went another way, and not by the way he came to Bethel.

nsb@1Kings:13:11 @ There was an old prophet living in Bethel. His sons told him what the man of God had done that day in Bethel. They reported what he said to the king.

nsb@1Kings:13:13 @ So the prophet said to his sons: »Saddle the donkey for me.« So they saddled the donkey and he mounted it.

nsb@1Kings:13:15 @ He said: »Come back to the house with me and have a meal.«

nsb@1Kings:13:16 @ But the man of God from Judah replied: »I may not go back with you or go into your house. I will not take food or a drink of water with you in this place.

nsb@1Kings:13:17 @ »Jehovah said to me: ‘You are not to take food or water there, or go back again by the way you came.’«

nsb@1Kings:13:18 @ Then he said: »I am a prophet like you. An angel said to me by the word of Jehovah, Take him back with you and give him food and water.« But he lied to him.

nsb@1Kings:13:20 @ But while they were seated at the table, the word of Jehovah came to the old prophet who had brought him back.

nsb@1Kings:13:21 @ Crying out to the man of God who came from Judah, he said: »Jehovah says, ‘because you have gone against the voice of Jehovah, and have not done as Jehovah ordered you,

nsb@1Kings:13:22 @ but have come back, and have taken food and water in this place where he said you were to take no food or water; your dead body will not be put to rest with your fathers.’«

nsb@1Kings:13:25 @ Some people who passed by saw the body stretched out in the road with the lion by its side. They brought the news to the town where the old prophet lived.

nsb@1Kings:13:26 @ The old prophet heard about it and said: »That is the prophet who disobeyed Jehovah’s command! Jehovah sent the lion to attack and kill him, just as Jehovah said he would.«

nsb@1Kings:13:27 @ He said to his sons: »Saddle my donkey for me.« They did so.

nsb@1Kings:13:28 @ He rode away to find the prophet's body lying on the road. The donkey and the lion were still standing by it. The lion had not eaten the body or attacked the donkey.

nsb@1Kings:13:29 @ The old prophet picked up the body and brought it back to Bethel on the donkey. There he mourned over it and buried it.

nsb@1Kings:13:31 @ After the burial the prophet said to his sons: »When I die, bury me in this grave and lay my body next to his.

nsb@1Kings:13:32 @ »The words that he spoke at Jehovah’s command against the altar in Bethel and against all the places of worship in the towns of Samaria will surely come true.«

nsb@1Kings:13:33 @ King Jeroboam of Israel still did not turn from his evil ways. He continued to choose priests from ordinary families to serve at the altars he had built. He ordained as priest anyone who wanted to be one.

nsb@1Kings:13:34 @ This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam. It brought about its ruin and total destruction from the face of the earth.

nsb@1Kings:14:2 @ Jeroboam said to his wife: »Disguise yourself so that no one will recognize you, and go to Shiloh. That is where the prophet Ahijah lives. He is the one who said I would be king of Israel.

nsb@1Kings:14:3 @ »Take him ten loaves of bread, some cakes, and a jar of honey. Ask him what is going to happen to our son. He will tell you.«

nsb@1Kings:14:4 @ She went to Ahijah's home in Shiloh. Old age had made Ahijah blind.

nsb@1Kings:14:5 @ Jehovah told him: »Jeroboam's wife is coming to ask you about her son, for he is sick.« Jehovah told Ahijah what to say. Jeroboam's wife pretended to be someone else when she arrived there.

nsb@1Kings:14:6 @ Ahijah heard her coming in the door and said: »Come in. I know you are Jeroboam's wife. Why do you pretend to be someone else? I have bad news for you.

nsb@1Kings:14:7 @ »Go and tell Jeroboam that this is what Jehovah, the God of Israel, says to him: I chose you from among the people and made you the ruler of my people Israel.

nsb@1Kings:14:8 @ »I took the kingdom away from David's descendants and gave it to you. You have not been like my servant David. He was completely loyal to me. He obeyed my commands, and did only what I approve of.

nsb@1Kings:14:9 @ »You have committed far greater sins than those who ruled before you. You have rejected me and have aroused my anger by making idols and metal images to worship.

nsb@1Kings:14:12 @ Ahijah went on to say to Jeroboam's wife: »Go back home. As soon as you enter the town, your son will die.

nsb@1Kings:14:14 @ »Jehovah will place a king over Israel who will put an end to Jeroboam's house.

nsb@1Kings:14:15 @ »Jehovah will punish Israel, and she will shake like a reed shaking in a stream. He will uproot the people of Israel from this good land that he gave to their ancestors. He will scatter them beyond the Euphrates River, because they have aroused his anger by making idols of the goddess Asherah.

nsb@1Kings:14:16 @ »Jehovah will abandon Israel because Jeroboam sinned and led the people of Israel into sin.«

nsb@1Kings:14:17 @ Jeroboam's wife went back to Tirzah. Just as she entered her home, the child died.

nsb@1Kings:14:19 @ Everything else that King Jeroboam did, the wars he fought and how he ruled, are all recorded in The History of the Kings of Israel.

nsb@1Kings:14:21 @ Solomon's son Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king of Judah. He ruled seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city Jehovah chose from all the territory of Israel as the place where he was to be worshiped. Rehoboam's mother was Naamah from Ammon.

nsb@1Kings:14:22 @ The people of Judah sinned against Jehovah. They did more to arouse his anger against them than all their ancestors had done.

nsb@1Kings:14:23 @ They built places of worship for false gods. They put up stone pillars and symbols of Asherah to worship on the hills and under shady trees.

nsb@1Kings:14:26 @ He took the treasures from Jehovah’s Temple and the royal palace. He took them all. He took all the gold shields Solomon had made.

nsb@1Kings:14:27 @ King Rehoboam replaced them with bronze shields and entrusted them to the officers responsible for guarding the palace gates.

nsb@1Kings:14:28 @ The guards carried the shields every time the king went to the Temple and then returned them to the guardroom.

nsb@1Kings:14:29 @ The rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and everything he did are recorded in the book of the History of the Kings of Judah.

nsb@1Kings:14:31 @ Rehoboam went to rest with his fathers, and was buried with them in the city of David. His mother's name was Naamah, an Ammonite woman. And Abijam his son became king in his place.

nsb@1Kings:15:3 @ He was not completely loyal to Jehovah his God as his great-grandfather David had been. He committed the same sins as his father did.

nsb@1Kings:15:4 @ For David's sake Jehovah his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising Abijam a son to rule after him to keep Jerusalem secure.

nsb@1Kings:15:7 @ Everything else that Abijah did is recorded in The History of the Kings of Judah.

nsb@1Kings:15:8 @ Then Abijam went to rest with his fathers, and they buried him in the earth in the town of David. Asa his son became king in his place.

nsb@1Kings:15:14 @ The high places were not taken away. Nevertheless Asa’s heart was true to Jehovah all his life.

nsb@1Kings:15:15 @ He brought into the Temple of Jehovah all the things he and his father made holy, silver and gold and vessels.

nsb@1Kings:15:17 @ And Baasha, king of Israel, went up against Judah. He fortified Ramah in order to prevent anyone from going out or in to Asa the king of Judah.

nsb@1Kings:15:18 @ Then Asa took all the silver and gold still stored in Jehovah’s Temple, and in the king's house, and delivered them, in the care of his servants, to Ben-hadad, son of Tabrimmon, son of Rezon, king of Aram, at Damascus. He said:

nsb@1Kings:15:20 @ Ben-hadad agreed to King Asa’s request and sent his armies to attack Israel. He conquered Ijon and Dan and Abel-beth-maacah, and all Chinneroth as far as the land of Naphtali.

nsb@1Kings:15:21 @ When Baasha heard this he stopped fortifying Ramah and withdrew to Tirzah.

nsb@1Kings:15:22 @ Then King Asa issued an order to all Judah. Every man came to carry away the stone and the timber Baasha used to fortify Ramah. King Asa used them for building Geba in the land of Benjamin, and Mizpah.

nsb@1Kings:15:23 @ The rest of the events of Asa’s reign, the extent of his power and the names of the cities he built are all recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Judah. His feet became diseased, as he grew old.

nsb@1Kings:15:24 @ So Asa went to rest with his fathers and was buried in the town of David his father. Jehoshaphat his son became king in his place.

nsb@1Kings:15:26 @ He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah. He copied the evil ways of his father. He made Israel sin so much that they provoked Jehovah to anger with their idols.

nsb@1Kings:15:27 @ And Baasha, the son of Ahijah, of the family of Issachar, made a secret design against him, attacking him at Gibbethon, a town of the Philistines. Nadab and the armies of Israel were making war on Gibbethon.

nsb@1Kings:15:28 @ In the third year of the rule of Asa, king of Judah, Baasha put him to death, and became king in his place.

nsb@1Kings:15:29 @ When he became king, he sent destruction on all the offspring of Jeroboam. He killed every person of the family of Jeroboam according to the word of Jehovah as stated by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite.

nsb@1Kings:15:30 @ This happened because Jeroboam aroused the anger of Jehovah, the God of Israel, by the sins he committed and that he caused Israel to commit.

nsb@1Kings:15:31 @ Everything else that Nadab did is recorded in The History of the Kings of Israel.

nsb@1Kings:15:34 @ Like King Jeroboam before him, he sinned against Jehovah and led Israel into sin.

nsb@1Kings:16:1 @ Jehovah spoke to the prophet Jehu son of Hanani and gave him this message to give to Baasha:

nsb@1Kings:16:2 @ »I lifted you out of the dust and made you ruler over my people Israel. You have gone the way of Jeroboam. You made my people Israel do evil, moving me to wrath by their sins.

nsb@1Kings:16:4 @ »Dogs will eat anyone of the family of Baasha who dies in town. The birds of the air will eat anyone who dies in the open country.«

nsb@1Kings:16:5 @ The rest of the acts of Baasha, what he did, and his power, are recorded in the book of the History of the Kings of Israel.

nsb@1Kings:16:7 @ The word of Jehovah came to the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani. This was a warning against Baasha and his family because of all the evil he did in the eyes of Jehovah. He made Jehovah angry by the work of his hands, because he was like the family of Jeroboam, and because he killed him.

nsb@1Kings:16:9 @ His servant Zimri, commander of half his war-carriages made plans to kill him. He was in Tirzah, drinking hard at the house of Arza, controller of the king's house in Tirzah.

nsb@1Kings:16:11 @ Immediately after he became king and took his place on the throne of the kingdom, he put to death all the family of Baasha. Not one male child survived.

nsb@1Kings:16:13 @ This happened because of the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, and because of all the sins they led Israel to commit. It aroused the anger of Jehovah the God of Israel.

nsb@1Kings:16:14 @ The rest of the acts of Elah are recorded in the book of the History of the Kings of Israel.

nsb@1Kings:16:18 @ Zimri saw that the city had fallen. So he went into the palace's inner fortress and set the palace on fire. He died in the flames.

nsb@1Kings:16:19 @ This happened because of his sins against Jehovah. Like his predecessor Jeroboam, he displeased Jehovah by his own sins and by leading Israel into sin.

nsb@1Kings:16:20 @ Everything else that Zimri did, including the account of his conspiracy, is recorded in The History of the Kings of Israel.

nsb@1Kings:16:21 @ Then the army of Israel was divided into two factions. Half of the army followed Tibni, son of Ginath, and wanted to make him king. The other half followed Omri.

nsb@1Kings:16:23 @ Omri began to rule Israel in Asa's thirty-first year as king of Judah. He ruled for twelve years, six of them in Tirzah.

nsb@1Kings:16:26 @ He lived exactly like Jeroboam, Nebat's son. He sinned and led Israel to sin with worthless idols. The Israelites made Jehovah the God of Israel furious.

nsb@1Kings:16:31 @ It was as if he copied the evil ways of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. He took as his wife Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, king of Zidon, and became a servant and worshipper of Baal.

nsb@1Kings:16:33 @ Ahab made an image of Asherah. He did more than all the kings of Israel before him to make Jehovah, the God of Israel, angry.

nsb@1Kings:16:34 @ In his days Hiel rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundation at the price of Abiram, his oldest son, and he put its doors in place at the price of his youngest son Segub. This was according to the word of Jehovah spoken through Joshua, the son of Nun.

nsb@1Kings:17:1 @ Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab: »By the living Jehovah, the God of Israel, whose servant I am, there will be no dew or rain in these years, but only at my word.«

nsb@1Kings:17:2 @ Then the word of Jehovah came to him, saying:

nsb@1Kings:17:4 @ »You will drink from the brook. I have ordered the ravens to feed you there.«

nsb@1Kings:17:6 @ The ravens took him bread in the morning and meat in the evening. And he drank water from the brook.

nsb@1Kings:17:8 @ Then the word of Jehovah came to him, saying:

nsb@1Kings:17:9 @ »Go now to Zarephath, in Zidon, and live there. I have given orders to a widow woman there to see that you have food.«

nsb@1Kings:17:10 @ He went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, he saw a widow woman gathering sticks. He said to her: »Will you give me a little water in a vessel for my drink?«

nsb@1Kings:17:11 @ As she was going to get it, he said: »And get me some bread.«

nsb@1Kings:17:12 @ Then she said: »By the life of Jehovah your God, I have nothing but a little meal, and a drop of oil in the bottle; and now I am getting two sticks together so that I may go in and make it ready for me and my son, so that we may have a meal before our death.«

nsb@1Kings:17:13 @ Elijah said to her: »Have no fear. Go and do as you said, but first make me a little cake of it and come and give it to me. Then make something for yourself and your son.

nsb@1Kings:17:14 @ »For this is the word of Jehovah, the God of Israel: ‘Your supply of meal will not come to an end. The bottle will never be without oil, till the day when Jehovah sends rain on the earth.’«

nsb@1Kings:17:15 @ She did as Elijah told her and they all had food for a long time.

nsb@1Kings:17:16 @ The store of meal did not come to an end. The bottle was never without oil. This was just as Jehovah said through the mouth of Elijah.

nsb@1Kings:17:18 @ She said to Elijah: »What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to put God in mind of my sin, and to put my son to death?«

nsb@1Kings:17:19 @ He said: »Give your son to me.« And lifting him out of her arms, he took him up to his room and put him down on his bed.

nsb@1Kings:17:20 @ Crying to Jehovah he said: »O Jehovah my God, have you sent evil even on the widow I now visit, by causing her son's death?«

nsb@1Kings:17:21 @ Stretching himself out on the child three times, he made his prayer to Jehovah. He said: »O Jehovah my God, be pleased to let this child's life come back to him again.«

nsb@1Kings:17:22 @ Jehovah listened to the voice of Elijah. The child began to breath and came back to life.

nsb@1Kings:17:23 @ Elijah took the child down from his room into the house and gave him to his mother. »See, your son is alive.« He said.

nsb@1Kings:17:24 @ Then the woman said to Elijah: »Now I am certain that you are a man of God, and that the word of Jehovah in your mouth is truth.«

nsb@1Kings:18:1 @ After a long time, the word of Jehovah came to Elijah. In the third year he said: »Go and let Ahab see you. I will send rain on the earth.«

nsb@1Kings:18:2 @ So Elijah went to let Ahab see him. There was no food to be had in Samaria.

nsb@1Kings:18:4 @ When Jezebel massacred the prophets of Jehovah, Obadiah took a hundred of them, and hid them secretly in a hole in the rock, fifty at a time, and gave them bread and water.

nsb@1Kings:18:5 @ Ahab said to Obadiah: »Come! Let us go through all the country, to all the fountains of water and all the rivers. Let us see if there is any grass for the horses and the transport beasts. We must save some of the livestock.«

nsb@1Kings:18:7 @ While Obadiah was on his way, he came face to face with Elijah. Seeing who it was, he went down on his face and said: »Is it you, my lord Elijah?«

nsb@1Kings:18:9 @ He said: »What sin have I done that you are delivering your servant into the hand of Ahab to kill him?

nsb@1Kings:18:11 @ »Now you say: ‘Go, say to your lord Elijah is here.’«

nsb@1Kings:18:12 @ »What if the Spirit of Jehovah carries you off to some unknown place as soon as I leave? Then, when I tell Ahab that you are here and he cannot find you, he will put me to death. Remember that I have been a devout worshiper of Jehovah ever since I was a boy.

nsb@1Kings:18:14 @ »So how can you order me to go and tell the king that you are here? He will kill me!«

nsb@1Kings:18:15 @ Elijah said: »By the life of Jehovah of armies, whose servant I am, I will certainly let him see me today.«

nsb@1Kings:18:16 @ So Obadiah went to Ahab and gave him the news. Ahab went to see Elijah.

nsb@1Kings:18:19 @ »Now gather all Israel together before me at Mount Carmel. Also gather the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal who get their food at Jezebel's table.«

nsb@1Kings:18:20 @ So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and assembled the prophets together at Mount Carmel.

nsb@1Kings:18:21 @ Elijah came near to all the people and said: »How long will you balance between two opinions? If Jehovah is God, then give worship to him. If Baal is, give worship to him.« The people did not answer him.

nsb@1Kings:18:22 @ Then Elijah said to the people: »I, even I, am the only living prophet of Jehovah but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.«

nsb@1Kings:18:24 @ »You pray to your god and I will pray to Jehovah. The God who answers with fire is God!« All the people answered: »It is well said.«

nsb@1Kings:18:25 @ Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal: »Take one bull for yourselves and get it ready first, for there are so many of you; and make your prayers to your god, but do not light the fire.

nsb@1Kings:18:26 @ So they took the bull that was given them, and made it ready. They cried out to Baal from morning till the middle of the day. They said: »O Baal, give ear to us.« But there was no voice and no answer. They jumped up and down before the altar they had made.

nsb@1Kings:18:29 @ They went on with their prayers from midday till the time of the offering; but there was no voice, or any answer, or any who gave attention to them.

nsb@1Kings:18:30 @ Then Elijah said to all the people: »Come near to me.« Then all the people came near. He repaired the altar of Jehovah that was broken down.

nsb@1Kings:18:31 @ Elijah took twelve stones, the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom Jehovah said: »Israel will be your name.«

nsb@1Kings:18:32 @ He used the stones to make an altar to the name of Jehovah. He dug a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two seahs of seed.

nsb@1Kings:18:38 @ Then the fire of Jehovah came down. It burned up the offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and drinking up the water in the drain.

nsb@1Kings:18:40 @ Elijah said to them: »Take the prophets of Baal. Do not let one of them get away.« So they took them, and Elijah made them go down to the stream Kishon, and executed them there.

nsb@1Kings:18:41 @ Then Elijah said to Ahab: »Get up and take food and drink, for there is a sound of much rain.«

nsb@1Kings:18:42 @ So Ahab went up to have food and drink. Elijah went up to the top of Carmel. He bowed down to the earth and put his face between his knees.

nsb@1Kings:18:43 @ He told his servant to look in the direction of the sea. After he looked the servant said: »There is nothing.« Elijah said: »Go again seven times.« So he went seven times.

nsb@1Kings:18:44 @ The seventh time he said: »I see a cloud coming up out of the sea, as small as a man's hand.« Then Elijah said: »Go up and say to Ahab, Get your carriage ready and go down or the rain will keep you back.«

nsb@1Kings:18:45 @ After a very little time, the heaven became black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. Ahab went in his carriage to Jezreel.

nsb@1Kings:18:46 @ The hand of Jehovah was on Elijah. Jehovah gave special strength to Elijah and he ran ahead of Ahab until they came to Jezreel.

nsb@1Kings:19:1 @ King Ahab told his wife Jezebel everything Elijah had done. He told how he put all the prophets of Baal to death.

nsb@1Kings:19:2 @ She sent a message to Elijah: »May the gods strike me dead if by this time tomorrow I do not do the same thing to you that you did to the prophets.«

nsb@1Kings:19:3 @ Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He took his servant and went to Beersheba in Judah. He left the servant there.

nsb@1Kings:19:4 @ Elijah walked a whole day into the wilderness. He stopped and sat down under a broom plant and wished he would die. »It is just too much, Jehovah,« he prayed. »Take away my life. I could just as well be dead.«

nsb@1Kings:19:5 @ Stretching himself on the earth, he went to sleep under the broom-plant. An angel touched him and said: »Get up and eat some food.«

nsb@1Kings:19:6 @ Looking up, he saw near his head a cake cooked on coals and a bottle of water. So he ate food and drink water and went to sleep again.

nsb@1Kings:19:7 @ The angel of Jehovah came again a second time, and touched him and said: »Get up and have some food, or you will not have strength for the journey.«

nsb@1Kings:19:8 @ So he got up and took food and drink. He was strengthened to go for forty days and forty nights, to Horeb, the mountain of God.

nsb@1Kings:19:9 @ He went into a cave and spent the night. The word of Jehovah came to him, saying: »What are you doing here, Elijah?«

nsb@1Kings:19:10 @ He said: »I have been zealous for Jehovah, the God of hosts. The children of Israel have not kept your agreement. They have destroyed your altars. They killed your prophets with the sword. I, even I, am the only one living. Now they seek to take my life too.«

nsb@1Kings:19:13 @ Elijah heard it and went out covering his face with his robe. He stood by the entrance of the cave. He heard a voice saying: »What are you doing here, Elijah?«

nsb@1Kings:19:14 @ He replied: »I have been very zealous for Jehovah, the God of hosts. The children of Israel have not kept your agreement. They have torn down your altars. They killed your prophets with the sword. I, even I, am the only one living. Now they seek to take my life.«

nsb@1Kings:19:15 @ Jehovah said to him: »Go back on your way through the wasteland to Damascus.« When you get there, put holy oil on Hazael to make him king over Aram,

nsb@1Kings:19:16 @ »And also anoint Jehu, son of Nimshi, making him king over Israel; and Elisha, the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah, to be prophet in your place.

nsb@1Kings:19:17 @ »Whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will put to death. Whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will put to death.

nsb@1Kings:19:18 @ »I will leave seven thousand people alive in Israel; all those who are loyal to me and have not bowed to Baal or kissed his idol.«

nsb@1Kings:19:19 @ Elijah left there and found Elisha plowing with a team of bulls. There were eleven teams ahead of him. He was plowing with the last one. Elijah took off his cloak and put it on Elisha.

nsb@1Kings:19:20 @ Elisha then left his bulls and ran after Elijah. He said: »Let me kiss my father and mother good-bye and then I will go with you.« Elijah answered, »All right, go back. I am not stopping you!«

nsb@1Kings:19:21 @ Then Elisha went to his team of bulls, killed them, and cooked the meat. He used the yoke as fuel for the fire. He gave the meat to the people, and they ate it. Then he followed Elijah as his helper.

nsb@1Kings:20:2 @ He sent messengers into the city to King Ahab of Israel to say: »King Benhadad demands that

nsb@1Kings:20:3 @ you surrender to him your silver and gold, your women and the strongest of your children.«

nsb@1Kings:20:5 @ Later the messengers came back to Ahab with another demand from Benhadad: »I sent you word that you were to hand over to me your silver and gold, your women and your children.«

nsb@1Kings:20:6 @ Now I will send my officers to search your palace and the homes of your officials. They will take everything they consider valuable. They will be there about this time tomorrow.

nsb@1Kings:20:8 @ All the responsible men and the people said to him: »Do not pay attention to him or do what he says.«

nsb@1Kings:20:9 @ So he said to the representatives of Benhadad: »Say to my lord the king: ‘All the orders you sent the first time I will do. But I will not do this thing.« The representatives went back with this answer.

nsb@1Kings:20:10 @ Benhadad sent Ahab the following message: »May the gods strike me dead if there will be enough dust left from Samaria to give a handful to each soldier who follows me.«

nsb@1Kings:20:12 @ Benhadad heard this when he and his allies were drinking in their tents. He told his officers to get ready. So they got prepared to attack the city.

nsb@1Kings:20:13 @ A prophet approached King Ahab of Israel and said: »This is what Jehovah says: ‘Have you seen this large army? I will hand it over to you today. Then you will know that I am Jehovah.’«

nsb@1Kings:20:17 @ The servants of the chiefs who were over the divisions of the land went forward first. Benhadad sent out a patrol and they told him: »Men have come out from Samaria.«

nsb@1Kings:20:19 @ So the servants of the chiefs of the divisions of the land went out of the town, with the army following them.

nsb@1Kings:20:21 @ The king of Israel took the horses and the war-carriages and caused great destruction among the Syrians.

nsb@1Kings:20:22 @ Then the prophet came up to the king of Israel, and said: »Now make yourself strong. Be careful what you do. Otherwise a year from now the king of Aram will come up against you again.«

nsb@1Kings:20:23 @ Then the king of Aram's servants said to him: »Their god is a god of the hills. That is why they were stronger than us. If we attack them in the lowlands, we will certainly be stronger than they.

nsb@1Kings:20:26 @ So, a year later, Benhadad got the Syrians together and went to Aphek to make war on Israel.

nsb@1Kings:20:28 @ A man of God came to the king of Israel. He said: »Jehovah says, ‘Because the Aramaeans have said, »Jehovah is a god of the hills and not of the valleys; I will give all this great army into your hands, and you will see that I am Jehovah.« ’«

nsb@1Kings:20:29 @ The two armies kept their positions facing one another for seven days. The seventh day the fight was started. The children of Israel put to the sword a hundred thousand Aramaean footmen in one day.

nsb@1Kings:20:30 @ The rest went in flight to Aphek, into the town, where a wall came down on the twenty-seven thousand who were still living. Benhadad went in flight into the town, into an inner room.

nsb@1Kings:20:31 @ His servants said to him: »It is said that the kings of Israel are full of mercy: let us then put on haircloth, and cords on our heads, and go to the king of Israel. Maybe he will give you your life.«

nsb@1Kings:20:32 @ So they put on haircloth, and cords on their heads, and went to the king of Israel and said: »Your servant Benhadad says: ‘Let me now keep my life.’« And he said: »Is he still living? He is my brother.«

nsb@1Kings:20:33 @ Now the men took it as a sign, and were quick to pick up on his word. They said: »Benhadad is your brother.« Then he said: »Go and get him.« So Ben-hadad came out to him and he made him get up into his carriage.

nsb@1Kings:20:34 @ Benhadad said: »The towns my father took from your father I will give back. You may name streets for yourself in Damascus as my father did in Samaria.« As for me, at the price of this agreement you will let me go. So he made an agreement with him and let him go.

nsb@1Kings:20:35 @ A man of the sons of the prophets said to his neighbors by the word of Jehovah: »Give me a wound.« But the man would not.

nsb@1Kings:20:36 @ Then he said: »Because you have not listened to the voice of Jehovah, immediately after you leave me a lion will kill you.« When he went away a lion came rushing at him and killed him.

nsb@1Kings:20:38 @ So the prophet went away, and pulling his headband over his eyes to keep his face covered. He took his place by the road waiting for the king.

nsb@1Kings:20:39 @ When the king went by he cried out to him: »Your servant went out into the fight. A man came to me. He brought a man to me and said: ‘guard this man. Do not let him get away. Your life is the price of his life or you will have to give a talent of silver in payment.’

nsb@1Kings:20:40 @ »But while your servant was turning this way and that, he was gone. Then the king of Israel said to him: ‘You are responsible; you have given the decision against yourself.’«

nsb@1Kings:20:41 @ He quickly took the headband from his eyes. The king of Israel saw that he was one of the prophets.

nsb@1Kings:20:42 @ He said to him: »These are the words of Jehovah: ‘Because you have let go from your hands the man whom I had put to the curse, your life will be taken for his life, and your people for his people.’«

nsb@1Kings:20:43 @ Then the king of Israel went back to his house, bitter and angry, he went to Samaria.

nsb@1Kings:21:2 @ Ahab said to Naboth: »Give me your garden so that I may have it for a garden of sweet plants. Since it is near my house let me give you a better vine-garden in exchange. If it seems good to you, let me give you its value in money.«

nsb@1Kings:21:3 @ But Naboth said to Ahab, »God forbid that I give you the heritage of my fathers.«

nsb@1Kings:21:4 @ Ahab returned to his house bitter and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite said to him: »I will not give you the heritage of my fathers.« Stretching himself on the bed with his face turned away, he would not eat.

nsb@1Kings:21:5 @ Jezebel his wife came to him and asked: »Why is your spirit so bitter that you have no desire for food?«

nsb@1Kings:21:6 @ He replied: »I was talking to Naboth the Jezreelite. I said to him: ‘Let me have your garden for money, or, if it pleases you, I will give you another garden for it.’ ‘But he said: »I will not give you my garden.« ’«

nsb@1Kings:21:8 @ So she sent a letter in Ahab's name, stamped with his stamp, to the elders and nobles who were in authority with Naboth.

nsb@1Kings:21:10 @ »Get two good-for-nothing persons to come before him and give witness that he has been cursing God and the king. Then take him out and have him stoned to death.«

nsb@1Kings:21:11 @ So the elders and nobles in authority in his town did as Jezebel said in the letter she sent them.

nsb@1Kings:21:13 @ The two good-for-nothing persons came in and took their seats before him and gave witness against Naboth, in front of the people. They said: »Naboth has been cursing God and the king.« Then they took him outside the town and had him stoned to death.

nsb@1Kings:21:14 @ Then they sent word to Jezebel, saying: »Naboth has been stoned and is dead.«

nsb@1Kings:21:15 @ Jezebel, hearing that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, said to Ahab: »Get up and take as your heritage the garden of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he would not give you for money. Naboth is dead.«

nsb@1Kings:21:16 @ When he heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab went down to the garden of Naboth the Jezreelite to take it as his heritage.

nsb@1Kings:21:17 @ And the word of Jehovah came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying:

nsb@1Kings:21:18 @ »Go to Ahab, king of Israel, in Samaria. He is in the garden of Naboth the Jezreelite. He went there to take it as his heritage.«

nsb@1Kings:21:19 @ »Say to him: ‘Jehovah says: »Have you put a man to death and taken his heritage?« ’« »Then say: ‘Jehovah says: »Your blood will become the drink of dogs! You will go to the same place where the dogs drink the blood of Naboth.« ’«

nsb@1Kings:21:20 @ Ahab said to Elijah: »Have you come face to face with me, O my enemy?« Elijah said: »I have come to you because you have given yourself up to do evil in the eyes of Jehovah.«

nsb@1Kings:21:21 @ Jehovah says to you: »I will bring disaster on you. I will do away with you and get rid of every male in your family, young and old alike.

nsb@1Kings:21:22 @ »Your family will become like the family of King Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the family of King Baasha son of Ahijah. This is because you have stirred up my anger by leading Israel into sin.

nsb@1Kings:21:25 @ No one else devoted himself so completely to doing wrong in Jehovah’s sight as Ahab all at the urging of his wife Jezebel.

nsb@1Kings:21:27 @ Elijah finished speaking. Ahab tore his clothes and took them off. He dressed in sackcloth. He refused food and slept in the sackcloth. He was gloomy and depressed.

nsb@1Kings:21:28 @ Jehovah said to the prophet Elijah:

nsb@1Kings:22:2 @ In the third year King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to see King Ahab of Israel.

nsb@1Kings:22:3 @ Ahab asked his officials: »Why have we not done anything to get back Ramoth in Gilead from the king of Syria? It is ours!«

nsb@1Kings:22:4 @ Ahab asked Jehoshaphat: »Will you go with me to attack Ramoth?« »I am ready when you are,« Jehoshaphat answered. »And so are my soldiers and my cavalry.«

nsb@1Kings:22:6 @ So Ahab called in the prophets, about four hundred of them, and asked them: »Should I attack Ramoth, or not?« They answered: »Attack, Jehovah will give you victory.«

nsb@1Kings:22:9 @ Then Ahab called a court official and told him to get Micaiah at once.

nsb@1Kings:22:10 @ They dressed in their royal robes and sat on their thrones at the threshing place near the gate of Samaria. The two kings listened to all the prophets prophesy in front of them.

nsb@1Kings:22:11 @ One of them, Zedekiah son of Chenaanah, made iron horns and said to Ahab: »Jehovah says: ‘With these you will fight the Syrians and totally defeat them.’«

nsb@1Kings:22:12 @ All the other prophets said the same thing: »March against Ramoth and you will win,« they said. »Jehovah will give you victory.«

nsb@1Kings:22:13 @ The messenger who went to get Micaiah said to him: »All the other prophets have prophesied success for the king. You had better do the same.«

nsb@1Kings:22:14 @ Micaiah answered: »By the living God Jehovah I promise that I will say what he tells me to say!«

nsb@1Kings:22:15 @ He appeared before King Ahab. The king asked him: »Micaiah, should King Jehoshaphat and I go and attack Ramoth, or not?« »Attack!« Micaiah answered. »You will win. Jehovah will give you victory.«

nsb@1Kings:22:16 @ But Ahab replied: »Tell the truth when you speak to me in the name of Jehovah! How many times do I have to tell you that?«

nsb@1Kings:22:18 @ Israel’s king said to Jehoshaphat: »Did I not say to you, He will prophesy about me? It is always something bad!«

nsb@1Kings:22:19 @ Micaiah continued: »Now listen to what Jehovah says! I saw Jehovah sitting on his throne in heaven, with all his angels standing beside him.«

nsb@1Kings:22:23 @ Micaiah concluded: This is what has happened. Jehovah made these prophets of yours lie to you. He has decreed that you will meet with disaster!

nsb@1Kings:22:24 @ The prophet Zedekiah went to Micaiah and slapped his face. He asked: »Since when did Jehovah’s spirit leave me and speak to you?«

nsb@1Kings:22:25 @ »You will see when you go into an inner chamber to hide.« Micaiah replied.

nsb@1Kings:22:26 @ The king of Israel said: »Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon, the ruler of the town, and to Joash, the king's son.

nsb@1Kings:22:27 @ »‘Tell them: ‘It is the king's order that this man is to be put in prison and given prison food till I come again in peace.’«

nsb@1Kings:22:29 @ So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, went to Ramoth-gilead.

nsb@1Kings:22:30 @ The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat: »I will change my clothing, so that I do not seem to be the king. Then I will go into the fight. You put on your royal robes. So the king of Israel changed his dress and went into the battle.«

nsb@1Kings:22:31 @ Now the king of Aram had given orders to the thirty-two captains of his war-carriages, saying: »Make no attack on small or great, but only on the king of Israel.«

nsb@1Kings:22:34 @ A stray arrow wounded the king of Israel a wound where his breastplate was joined to his clothing. He said to the chariot driver: »Go to the side. Take me away from the fight for I am badly wounded.«

nsb@1Kings:22:36 @ About sundown a cry went up from all parts of the army, saying: »Let every man go back to his town and his country, for the king is dead.«

nsb@1Kings:22:37 @ They traveled to Samaria and buried the king there.

nsb@1Kings:22:39 @ Everything else that King Ahab did, including an account of his palace decorated with ivory and of all the cities he built, is recorded in The History of the Kings of Israel.

nsb@1Kings:22:43 @ Like his father Asa before him, he did what was right in the sight of Jehovah. However the places of worship were not destroyed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

nsb@1Kings:22:45 @ Everything else that Jehoshaphat did, all his bravery and his battles, are recorded in The History of the Kings of Judah.

nsb@1Kings:22:48 @ King Jehoshaphat had ocean-going ships built to sail to the land of Ophir for gold. They were wrecked at Eziongeber and never sailed.

nsb@1Kings:22:49 @ King Ahaziah of Israel offered to let his men sail with Jehoshaphat's men. Jehoshaphat refused the offer.

nsb@1Kings:22:50 @ Jehoshaphat died and was buried in the royal tombs in David's City. His son Jehoram succeeded him as king.

nsb@1Kings:22:52 @ He sinned against Jehovah, following the wicked example of his father Ahab, his mother Jezebel, and King Jeroboam, who had led Israel into sin.

nsb@2Kings:1:2 @ King Ahaziah of Israel fell off the balcony on the roof of his palace in Samaria and was seriously injured. He sent some messengers and said to them: »Go to consult Baalzebub, the god of the Philistine city of Ekron, to find out whether or not I will recover from this.«

nsb@2Kings:1:3 @ Jehovah’s angel commanded Elijah, the prophet from Tishbe, »Go and meet the messengers of King Ahaziah. Ask them: ‘Why are you going to consult Baalzebub, the god of Ekron? Do you think there is no god in Israel?’

nsb@2Kings:1:5 @ The messengers returned to the king. »Why have you come back?« He asked.

nsb@2Kings:1:6 @ They answered: »A man told us to come back and tell you that Jehovah says: ‘Why are you sending messengers to consult Baalzebub, the god of Ekron? Is it because you think there is no god in Israel? You will not recover from your injuries. You will die!’«

nsb@2Kings:1:9 @ Then he sent an officer with fifty men to get Elijah. The officer found him sitting on a hill and said to him: »Man of God, the king orders you to come down.«

nsb@2Kings:1:11 @ The king sent another officer with fifty men, who went up and said to Elijah: »Man of God, the king orders you to come down at once!«

nsb@2Kings:1:13 @ Once more the king sent an officer with fifty men. He went up the hill, fell on his knees in front of Elijah, and pleaded: »Man of God, be merciful to my men and me. Spare our lives!

nsb@2Kings:1:14 @ »The other officers and their men were killed by fire from heaven. Please, please be merciful to me!«

nsb@2Kings:1:15 @ The angel of Jehovah said to Elijah: »Go down with him. Do not be afraid of him.« So Elijah went with the officer to the king.

nsb@2Kings:1:16 @ Elijah spoke to the king: »This is what Jehovah says: ‘Because you sent messengers to consult Baalzebub, the god of Ekron acting as if there were no god in Israel to consult, you will not get well. You will die!«

nsb@2Kings:1:18 @ Everything else that King Ahaziah did is recorded in The History of the Kings of Israel.

nsb@2Kings:2:1 @ The time came for Jehovah to take Elijah up into the physical heavens in a whirlwind. Elijah and Elisha set out from Gilgal,

nsb@2Kings:2:2 @ and on the way Elijah said to Elisha: »Stay here for Jehovah has ordered me to go to Bethel.« But Elisha answered: »I swear by my loyalty to the living God Jehovah and to you that I will not leave you.« So they went on to Bethel.

nsb@2Kings:2:3 @ A group of prophets who lived at Bethel asked Elisha: »Do you know that Jehovah is going to take your master away from you today?« »Yes, I know,« Elisha answered. »But let us not talk about it.«

nsb@2Kings:2:4 @ Then Elijah said to Elisha: »Stay here for Jehovah has ordered me to go to Jericho.« But Elisha answered: »I swear by my loyalty to the living God Jehovah and to you that I will not leave you.« So the two of them went on to Jericho.

nsb@2Kings:2:5 @ A group of prophets who lived at Jericho went to Elisha and asked him: »Do you know that Jehovah is going to take your master away from you today?« »Yes, I know,« Elisha answered. »But let us not talk about it.«

nsb@2Kings:2:6 @ Then Elijah said to Elisha: »Stay here for Jehovah has ordered me to go to the Jordan River.« But Elisha answered: »I swear by my loyalty to the living God Jehovah and to you that I will not leave you.« So they went on,

nsb@2Kings:2:7 @ and fifty of the prophets followed them to the Jordan. Elijah and Elisha stopped by the river. The fifty prophets stood a short distance away.

nsb@2Kings:2:8 @ Then Elijah took off his cloak. He rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided, and he and Elisha crossed to the other side on dry ground.

nsb@2Kings:2:9 @ Elijah said to Elisha: »Tell me what you want me to do for you before I am taken from you.« Elisha answered: »Let me receive a double share of your spirit.«

nsb@2Kings:2:10 @ »That is a difficult request to grant,« Elijah replied. »But you will receive it if you see me as I am being taken away from you. If you do not see me, you will not receive it.«

nsb@2Kings:2:11 @ They kept talking as they walked. Then suddenly a chariot of fire pulled by horses of fire came between them. Elijah was taken up into the physical heaven by a whirlwind.

nsb@2Kings:2:12 @ Elisha saw it and cried out to Elijah: »My father, my father! Mighty defender of Israel! You are gone!« He never saw Elijah again. In grief Elisha tore his cloak in two.

nsb@2Kings:2:13 @ He picked up Elijah's cloak that had fallen from him. He returned to stand by the bank of the Jordan.

nsb@2Kings:2:14 @ Elisha struck the water with Elijah's cloak and said: »Where is Jehovah, the God of Elijah?« Then he struck the water again, and it divided, and he walked over to the other side.

nsb@2Kings:2:15 @ The fifty prophets from Jericho saw him and said: »The power of Elijah is on Elisha!« So they went to meet him and bowed down before him.

nsb@2Kings:2:18 @ Then they returned to Elisha. He waited at Jericho. He said to them: »Did I tell you not to go?«

nsb@2Kings:2:19 @ Men from Jericho went to Elisha and said: »You may know that this is a fine city but the water is bad and causes miscarriages.«

nsb@2Kings:2:20 @ He ordered them: »Put some salt in a new bowl and bring it to me.« They brought it to him,

nsb@2Kings:2:21 @ and he went to the spring, threw the salt in the water, and said: »This is what Jehovah says: ‘I make this water pure. It will not cause any more deaths or miscarriages.’«

nsb@2Kings:2:23 @ Elisha left Jericho to go to Bethel. On the way some boys came out of a town and taunted and made fun of him. They shouted: »Get out of here, baldy!«

nsb@2Kings:2:24 @ Elisha turned around and glared at them. He cursed them in the name of Jehovah. Then two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys to pieces.

nsb@2Kings:2:25 @ Elisha traveled to Mount Carmel and later returned to Samaria.

nsb@2Kings:3:3 @ Like King Jeroboam son of Nebat before him, he caused Israel to sin. He would not turn away from sin.

nsb@2Kings:3:4 @ King Mesha of Moab raised sheep. Yearly he gave as tribute to the king of Israel one hundred thousand lambs and the wool from one hundred thousand sheep.

nsb@2Kings:3:7 @ He sent this message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: »The king of Moab rebelled against me. Will you join me to war against Moab?« King Jehoshaphat replied: »I will. I am on your side. My men and horses are at your disposal.

nsb@2Kings:3:8 @ »Which way shall we go to the attack?« Joram answered: »We will go the long way through the wilderness of Edom.«

nsb@2Kings:3:10 @ »Alas, all is done,« King Joram exclaimed. »Has Jehovah called us together to be at the mercy of the king of Moab?«

nsb@2Kings:3:11 @ King Jehoshaphat asked: »Do we have a prophet here to consult Jehovah?« An officer of King Joram's forces answered: »Elisha son of Shaphat is here who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.«

nsb@2Kings:3:12 @ »The word of Jehovah is with him,« King Jehoshaphat said. So the three kings went to Elisha.

nsb@2Kings:3:13 @ »Why should I have anything to do with you?« Elisha said to the king of Israel. »Go consult the prophets your father and mother consulted.« »No!« Joram king of Israel replied. »It is Jehovah who placed us three kings at the mercy of the king of Moab.«

nsb@2Kings:3:14 @ Elisha answered: »By the living God Jehovah, whom I serve, I swear that I would have nothing to do with you if I did not respect your ally, King Jehoshaphat of Judah.

nsb@2Kings:3:17 @ »You will not see any rain or wind. This streambed will be filled with water and you and your animals will have plenty to drink.«

nsb@2Kings:3:18 @ Elisha continued: »This is an easy thing for Jehovah to do. He will also give you victory over the Moabites.

nsb@2Kings:3:19 @ »You will conquer all their beautiful fortified cities. You will cut down all their fruit trees, stop all their springs, and ruin all their fertile fields by covering them with stones.«

nsb@2Kings:3:21 @ The Moabites heard that the three kings came to attack them. All the young and old men who could bear arms were called out and stationed at the border.

nsb@2Kings:3:24 @ When they came to the camp the Israelites attacked them and drove them back. The Israelites kept up the pursuit, killing the Moabites.

nsb@2Kings:3:25 @ They destroyed their cities. As they passed by a fertile field, every Israelite would throw a stone on it until finally all the fields were covered with stones. They also stopped up the springs and cut down the fruit trees. At last only the capital city of Kir Heres was left. The slingers surrounded it and attacked it.

nsb@2Kings:3:26 @ The king of Moab realized that he was losing the battle. So he took seven hundred swordsmen with him and tried to force his way through the enemy lines and escape to the king of Edom. However they failed.

nsb@2Kings:3:27 @ He took his oldest son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him on the city wall as a sacrifice to the god of Moab. The Israelites were terrified and so they drew back from the city and returned to their own country.

nsb@2Kings:4:1 @ The widow of a member of a group of prophets said to Elisha: »My husband has died! As you know, he was a man who respected God. A man to whom he owed money came to take away my two sons as slaves in payment for my husband's debt.«

nsb@2Kings:4:3 @ »Ask your neighbors for empty jars. Borrow as many as you can,« Elisha told her.

nsb@2Kings:4:4 @ »You and your sons go into the house and shut the door behind you. Pour oil into the jars. Set each one aside as soon as it is full.«

nsb@2Kings:4:5 @ The woman went into her house with her sons. They closed the door and took the small jar of olive oil, and poured oil into the jars as her sons brought them to her.

nsb@2Kings:4:6 @ When the jars were full she asked if there were any more. »That was the last one,« one of her sons told her. So the olive oil stopped flowing.

nsb@2Kings:4:7 @ She returned to Elisha, the prophet. He said: »Sell the olive oil and pay all your debts. There will be enough money left over for you and your sons to pay your living expenses.«

nsb@2Kings:4:8 @ Elisha went to Shunem, where a rich woman lived. She invited him to a meal. From that time on every time he went to Shunem he would have his meals at her house.

nsb@2Kings:4:9 @ She said to her husband: »I know that this man who comes here often is a holy man.

nsb@2Kings:4:11 @ One day Elisha returned to Shunem and went to his room to rest.

nsb@2Kings:4:12 @ He told his servant Gehazi to call the woman. When she came,

nsb@2Kings:4:13 @ he said to Gehazi: »Ask her what I can do for her in return for all the trouble she has had in providing for our needs. Maybe she would like me to go to the king or the army commander and put in a good word for her.« »I have all I need here among my own people,« she answered.

nsb@2Kings:4:15 @ »Tell her to come here,« Elisha ordered. She came and stood in the doorway.

nsb@2Kings:4:16 @ Elisha said to her: »By this time next year you will hold a son in your arms.« »Please do not lie to me. You are a man of God!« She said.

nsb@2Kings:4:17 @ Just as Elisha said, about that time the following year she gave birth to a son.

nsb@2Kings:4:18 @ Years later at harvest time, the boy went out one morning to join his father, who was in the field with the harvest workers.

nsb@2Kings:4:19 @ Suddenly he cried out to his father: »My head hurts! My head hurts!« »Carry the boy to his mother,« the father said to a servant.

nsb@2Kings:4:20 @ The servant carried the boy back to his mother. She held him in her lap until noon. Then the boy died.

nsb@2Kings:4:21 @ She carried him up to Elisha's room and put him on the bed. She closed the door behind her and left.

nsb@2Kings:4:22 @ She called her husband and said to him: »Send a servant here with a donkey. I need to go to the prophet Elisha. I will be back as soon as I can.«

nsb@2Kings:4:23 @ »Why must you go today?« Her husband asked. »It is neither a Sabbath nor a New Moon Festival.« She replied: »Never mind.«

nsb@2Kings:4:25 @ She left for Mount Carmel, where Elisha was. Elisha saw her coming while she was still far off. He said to his servant Gehazi: »Look, there comes the woman from Shunem!

nsb@2Kings:4:26 @ »Hurry to her and find out if everything is all right with her and her family.« She told Gehazi that everything was all right,

nsb@2Kings:4:27 @ but when she came to Elisha, she bowed down before him and took hold of his feet. Gehazi was about to push her away. Elisha said: »Do not bother her. You can see she is deeply distressed. Jehovah has not told me a thing about it.«

nsb@2Kings:4:28 @ The woman said to him: »Did I ask you for a son? Did I not tell you not to get my hopes up?«

nsb@2Kings:4:29 @ Elisha told Gehazi:« Hurry! Take my walking stick. Do not stop to talk to anyone. If anyone speaks to you do not respond. Go straight to the house and hold my stick over the boy.«

nsb@2Kings:4:30 @ The woman said to Elisha:« I swear by my loyalty to the living God Jehovah and to you that I will not leave you! So the two of them started back together. »

nsb@2Kings:4:31 @ Gehazi went ahead and held Elisha's stick over the child. There was no sound or any other sign of life. He returned to meet Elisha and said: »The boy did not wake up.«

nsb@2Kings:4:32 @ When Elisha arrived he went alone into the room. He saw the boy lying dead on the bed.

nsb@2Kings:4:33 @ He closed the door and prayed to Jehovah.

nsb@2Kings:4:34 @ Then he lay down on the boy, placing his mouth, eyes, and hands on the boy's mouth, eyes, and hands. As he lay stretched out over the boy, the boy's body started to get warm.

nsb@2Kings:4:36 @ Elisha called Gehazi and told him to call the boy's mother. When she came in, he said to her: »Take your son!«

nsb@2Kings:4:37 @ She fell at Elisha's feet with her face on the ground. Then she took her son and left.

nsb@2Kings:4:38 @ When there was a famine throughout the land, Elisha returned to Gilgal. He was teaching a group of prophets. He told his servant to put a big pot on the fire and make some stew for them.

nsb@2Kings:4:39 @ One of them went out in the fields to gather herbs. He found a wild vine and picked as many gourds as he could carry. He brought them back and sliced them into the stew, not knowing what they were.

nsb@2Kings:4:40 @ The stew was poured out for the men to eat. They tasted it and exclaimed to Elisha: »It is poisoned!« They would not eat it.

nsb@2Kings:4:41 @ Elisha asked for some meal. He threw it into the pot and said: »Pour out some more stew for them.« Then there was nothing wrong with it.

nsb@2Kings:4:42 @ A man came from Baal Shalishah. He brought Elisha twenty loaves of bread made from the first barley harvested that year and some freshly cut heads of grain. Elisha told his servant to feed the group of prophets with this.

nsb@2Kings:4:43 @ He asked: »How am I to feed a hundred hungry men with this?« Elisha replied: »Give it to them to eat, because Jehovah says that they will eat and still have some left over.« (Matthew strkjv@14:20)

nsb@2Kings:5:1 @ Naaman was a great soldier. He was commander of the Syrian army and highly respected and esteemed by the king of Syria. Jehovah gave victory to the Syrian forces through Naaman. He suffered from a dreaded skin disease.

nsb@2Kings:5:3 @ She said to her mistress: »I wish my master could go to the prophet who lives in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.«

nsb@2Kings:5:4 @ Naaman heard of this and told the king what the girl said.

nsb@2Kings:5:5 @ The king said: »Go to the king of Israel and take this letter to him.« Naaman departed. He took thirty thousand pieces of silver, six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of fine clothes.

nsb@2Kings:5:6 @ The letter stated: »This letter will introduce my officer Naaman. I want you to cure him of his leprosy.«

nsb@2Kings:5:7 @ The king of Israel read the letter and tore his clothes and said: »How can the king of Syria expect me to cure this man? Does he think that I am God, with the power of life and death? It is plain that he is trying to start a quarrel with me!«

nsb@2Kings:5:8 @ When the prophet Elisha heard what happened, he sent word to the king: »Why are you so upset? Send Naaman to me. I will show him that there is a prophet in Israel!«

nsb@2Kings:5:9 @ Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the entrance to Elisha's house.

nsb@2Kings:5:10 @ Elisha sent a servant to tell him to wash himself seven times in the Jordan River. He would then be completely cured of his disease.

nsb@2Kings:5:11 @ Naaman left in a rage, saying: »I thought he would at least come out to me, pray to Jehovah his God, wave his hand over the diseased spot, and cure me!

nsb@2Kings:5:13 @ His servants went up to him and said: »If the prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would have done it. Now why can you not just wash yourself, as he said, and be cured?«

nsb@2Kings:5:14 @ So Naaman went to the Jordan River and dipped himself in it seven times, as Elisha had instructed. He was completely cured. His flesh became firm and healthy like that of a child.

nsb@2Kings:5:15 @ Naaman returned to Elisha with all his men and said: »Now I realize there is no god but the God of Israel. Please accept a gift from me.«

nsb@2Kings:5:17 @ So Naaman said: »If you will not accept my gift, then let me have two mule-loads of earth to take home with me. From now on I will not offer sacrifices or burnt offerings to any god except Jehovah.

nsb@2Kings:5:18 @ »I hope Jehovah will forgive me when I accompany my king to the temple of Rimmon, the god of Syria, and worship him. Surely Jehovah will forgive me!«

nsb@2Kings:5:20 @ when Elisha's servant Gehazi said to himself: »My master has let Naaman get away without paying a thing! He should have accepted what that Syrian offered him. By the living God Jehovah I will run after him and get something from him.«

nsb@2Kings:5:21 @ He ran after Naaman. When Naaman saw a man running after him, he got down from his chariot to meet him, and asked: »What is wrong?«

nsb@2Kings:5:22 @ »Nothing is wrong,« answered Gehazi. »But my master sent me to tell you that just now two members of the group of prophets in the hill country of Ephraim arrived. He would like you to give them three thousand pieces of silver and two changes of fine clothes.«

nsb@2Kings:5:23 @ »Please take six thousand pieces of silver,« Naaman replied. He tied the silver in two bags and gave them and two changes of fine clothes to two of his servants, and sent them on ahead of Gehazi.

nsb@2Kings:5:24 @ They reached the hill where Elisha lived. Gehazi took the two bags and carried them into the house. Then he sent Naaman's servants back.

nsb@2Kings:5:25 @ He went into the house. Elisha asked him: »Where have you been?« »Oh, nowhere,« he answered.

nsb@2Kings:5:26 @ Elisha said: »Was I there in spirit when the man got out of his chariot to meet you? This is no time to accept money and clothes, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, or servants!

nsb@2Kings:5:27 @ »Naaman's leprosy will come upon you. You and your descendants will have it from generation to generation!« When Gehazi left, he had the disease. His skin was as white as snow.

nsb@2Kings:6:1 @ The group of prophets Elisha was in charge of complained to him: »The place where we live is too small!

nsb@2Kings:6:2 @ »Allow us to go to the Jordan and cut down some trees. We can build a place to live.« Elisha answered: »Go.«

nsb@2Kings:6:3 @ One of them urged him to go with them and he agreed.

nsb@2Kings:6:4 @ They set out together and when they arrived at the Jordan they cut down trees.

nsb@2Kings:6:5 @ One of them was cutting down a tree when suddenly his ax head fell in the water. It was a borrowed ax, he exclaimed to Elisha. »What will I do?«

nsb@2Kings:6:8 @ The king of Syria was at war with Israel. He consulted his officers and chose a place to set up camp.

nsb@2Kings:6:9 @ Elisha sent word to the king of Israel. He warned him not to go near that place, because the Syrians were waiting to ambush him.

nsb@2Kings:6:13 @ »Locate him!« the king ordered, »and I will capture him. He was told: »Elisha is in Dothan.«

nsb@2Kings:6:14 @ He sent a large force there with horses and chariots. They surrounded the town at night.

nsb@2Kings:6:15 @ Early the next morning Elisha's servant got up and went out of the house. He saw the Syrian troops with their horses and chariots surrounding the town. He went to Elisha and said: »Alas my master what shall we do?«

nsb@2Kings:6:19 @ Elisha said to the Syrians: »This is not the way or the town you are looking for. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are after.« He led them to Samaria.

nsb@2Kings:6:20 @ When they entered the city, Elisha prayed: »Open their eyes and let them see.« Jehovah answered his prayer. He restored their sight, and they saw that they were inside Samaria.

nsb@2Kings:6:22 @ »No,« Elisha answered. »Would you put to death soldiers you captured in combat? Give them something to eat and drink. Then let them return to their king.«

nsb@2Kings:6:23 @ So the king of Israel provided a great feast for them. After they ate and drank he sent them back to the king of Syria. From then on the Syrians stopped raiding the land of Israel.

nsb@2Kings:6:29 @ »So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I told her that we would eat her son, but she had hidden him!«

nsb@2Kings:6:30 @ Hearing this, the king tore his clothes. The people close to the wall could see that he was wearing sackcloth under his clothes.

nsb@2Kings:6:32 @ He sent a messenger to get Elisha. Meanwhile Elisha was at home with some elders who were visiting him. Before the messenger arrived, Elisha said to the elders: »That murderer is sending someone to kill me! When he gets here, shut the door. Do not let him come in. The king will follow him.«

nsb@2Kings:6:33 @ While Elisha was still talking the king arrived and said: »Jehovah brought this trouble on us! Why should I wait any longer for him to do something?«

nsb@2Kings:7:1 @ Elisha answered: »Hear the word of Jehovah: ‘By this time tomorrow you will be able to buy in Samaria ten pounds of the best wheat or twenty pounds of barley for one piece of silver.’«

nsb@2Kings:7:2 @ The personal attendant of the king said to Elisha: »If Jehovah could make floodgates in the heavens could this happen?« Elisha replied: »You will see it with your own eyes. But you will not eat from it.«

nsb@2Kings:7:3 @ Four men who were suffering from a dreaded skin disease were outside the gates of Samaria. They said to each other: »Why should we wait here until we die?

nsb@2Kings:7:4 @ »If we go into the city we will starve to death. If we stay here we will also die. So let us go to the Syrian camp. The worst they can do is kill us. Maybe they will spare our lives.«

nsb@2Kings:7:5 @ They arose in the twilight and went to the Syrian camp. When they reached it, no one was there.

nsb@2Kings:7:6 @ Jehovah made the Syrians hear what sounded like the advance of a large army with horses and chariots. The Syrians thought that the king of Israel had hired Hittite and Egyptian kings and their armies to attack them.

nsb@2Kings:7:8 @ The lepers came to the edge of the camp. They went into one tent and ate and drank. They took silver and gold and clothing. They entered another tent and carried away spoil and hid it.

nsb@2Kings:7:9 @ They said to each other: »We should not do this! We have good news. We should not keep it to ourselves. If we wait until morning to tell it we will be punished. Let us go tell the king's officers!«

nsb@2Kings:7:10 @ They left the Syrian camp and went to Samaria. They called out to the guards at the gates: »We went to the Syrian camp and did not see or hear anyone. The horses and donkeys have not been untied. The tents are just as the Syrians left them.«

nsb@2Kings:7:12 @ The king got out of bed even though it was night. He said to his officials: »I will tell you what the Syrians are planning! They know about the famine here, so they have left their camp to go and hide in the countryside. They think that we will leave the city to find food. Then they will take us alive and capture the city.«

nsb@2Kings:7:14 @ They chose some men and the king sent them in two chariots with instructions to go and find out what had happened to the Syrian army.

nsb@2Kings:7:15 @ The men went to the Jordan. Along the road they saw the clothes and equipment that the Syrians had abandoned as they fled. Then they returned and reported to the king.

nsb@2Kings:7:17 @ The king of Israel put the city gate under the command of the officer who was his personal attendant. The officer was trampled to death there by the people and died, as Elisha had predicted when the king went to see him.

nsb@2Kings:7:18 @ Elisha told the king that by that time the following day ten pounds of the best wheat or twenty pounds of barley would be sold in Samaria for one piece of silver.

nsb@2Kings:7:20 @ And that is just what happened! He died. The people at the city gate trampled him to death.

nsb@2Kings:8:1 @ Elisha told the woman who lived in Shunem, whose son he brought back to life: »Jehovah is sending a famine on the land. It will last for seven years. Leave with your family and go live somewhere else.«

nsb@2Kings:8:2 @ She followed his instructions and left with her family to live in Philistia for the seven years.

nsb@2Kings:8:3 @ When the seven years ended she returned to Israel. She went to the king to ask that her house and her land be restored to her.

nsb@2Kings:8:4 @ The king was talking with Gehazi, Elisha's servant, when she found him. The king wanted to know about Elisha's miracles.

nsb@2Kings:8:5 @ Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had brought a dead person back to life. The woman made her appeal to the king. Gehazi said to him: »Your Majesty, here is the woman and here is her son whom Elisha brought back to life!«

nsb@2Kings:8:6 @ She responded to the king’s question by confirming Gehazi’s story. The king called an official and told him to give back to her everything that was hers. This included the value of all the crops that her fields produced during the seven years she was away.

nsb@2Kings:8:7 @ Elisha went to Damascus when King Benhadad of Syria was sick. The king was told that Elisha was there.

nsb@2Kings:8:8 @ He said to Hazael, one of his officials: »Take a gift to the prophet and ask him to consult Jehovah to find out whether or not I am going to get well.«

nsb@2Kings:8:9 @ Hazael loaded forty camels with all kinds of the finest products of Damascus and went to Elisha. Hazael said: »Your servant, King Benhadad sent me to ask if he will recover from his sickness.«

nsb@2Kings:8:10 @ Elisha answered: »Jehovah has revealed to me that he will die. However go to him and tell him that he will recover.«

nsb@2Kings:8:11 @ Elisha stared at him in horror until Hazael became ill at ease. Suddenly Elisha burst into tears.

nsb@2Kings:8:12 @ »Why are you crying?« Hazael asked. »Because I know the horrible things you will do against the people of Israel,« Elisha answered. »You will burn their fortresses, slaughter their finest young men, batter their children to death, and rip open their pregnant women.«

nsb@2Kings:8:13 @ »How could I ever be that powerful?« Hazael asked. »I am nobody, only a dog.« Elisha replied: »Jehovah has revealed to me that you will be king of Syria.«

nsb@2Kings:8:14 @ Hazael returned to Benhadad, who asked him: »What did Elisha say?« »He told me that you will certainly get well,« Hazael answered.

nsb@2Kings:8:15 @ The following day Hazael took a blanket, soaked it in water, and smothered the king. Hazael succeeded Benhadad as king of Syria.

nsb@2Kings:8:19 @ Jehovah was not willing to destroy Judah. He promised his servant David that his descendants would always continue to rule.

nsb@2Kings:8:21 @ Jehoram and his chariots went to Zair. The Edomite army surrounded them. He and his chariot commanders managed to break out and escape. His soldiers scattered to their homes.

nsb@2Kings:8:23 @ Everything Jehoram did is recorded in The History of the Kings of Judah.

nsb@2Kings:8:24 @ Jehoram died and was buried in the royal tombs in David's City. His son Ahaziah succeeded him as king.

nsb@2Kings:8:27 @ Ahaziah was related to King Ahab by marriage. He sinned against Jehovah as Ahab's family did.

nsb@2Kings:8:29 @ He returned to the city of Jezreel to recover from his wounds. Ahaziah went there to visit him.

nsb@2Kings:9:1 @ Elisha the prophet called one of the young prophets and said to him: »Prepare to go to Ramoth in Gilead. Take this jar of olive oil with you.

nsb@2Kings:9:2 @ »When you get there look for Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat and grandson of Nimshi. Take him to a private room away from his companions.

nsb@2Kings:9:4 @ The young prophet went to Ramoth.

nsb@2Kings:9:5 @ He found the army officers in conference. He said: »I have a message for you.« Jehu asked: »Who are you speaking to?« »To you, captain.« He replied.

nsb@2Kings:9:6 @ The two of them went indoors. The prophet poured the olive oil on Jehu's head and said to him: »Jehovah, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anoint you king of my people Israel.

nsb@2Kings:9:7 @ »‘You are to kill your master the king of the house of Ahab. I am punishing Jezebel for murdering my prophets and my other servants.

nsb@2Kings:9:10 @ »‘Jezebel will not be buried. Dogs in the territory of Jezreel will eat her body.’« After saying this, the young prophet opened the door and fled.

nsb@2Kings:9:11 @ Jehu went back to his fellow officers. They asked him: »Is everything all right? What did this mad fellow want with you?« Jehu answered: »You know what he wanted.«

nsb@2Kings:9:12 @ »No we do not!« They replied. »Tell us what he said!« They asked. »He told me that Jehovah says: ‘I anoint you king of Israel.’«

nsb@2Kings:9:13 @ At once Jehu's fellow officers spread their cloaks at the top of the steps for Jehu to stand on. They blew trumpets and shouted: »Jehu is king!«

nsb@2Kings:9:15 @ King Joram went back to Jezreel to recuperate from the wounds he received from the Aramaeans when he fought against Hazael, king of Aram. Jehu said: »If this is your purpose let no one get away to give news of it in Jezreel.«

nsb@2Kings:9:16 @ So Jehu got into his carriage and went to Jezreel. Joram was ill in bed there and Ahaziah, king of Judah came to see him.

nsb@2Kings:9:17 @ The watchman on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu and his company coming. He said: »I see a company of people.« Joram said: »Send out a horseman to them and let him ask: ‘Do you come in peace?’«

nsb@2Kings:9:18 @ So a horseman went out to them and said: »The king asks: ‘Do you come in peace? ‘« Jehu said: »What have you to do with peace? Follow me.« The watchman reported that the horseman reached the group and was returning.

nsb@2Kings:9:19 @ A second man was sent out on horseback. He approached them and asked the same thing: »Do you come in peace?« Jehu replied: »What have you to do with peace? Follow me.«

nsb@2Kings:9:20 @ The watchman reported: »He went up to them and has not come back. The driving is like the driving of Jehu, son of Nimshi, for he is driving violently.«

nsb@2Kings:9:21 @ Joram said: »Get ready.« They prepared his chariot and Joram, king of Israel, with Ahaziah, king of Judah, went out in their chariots to meet Jehu. They came face to face with him at the field of Naboth the Jezreelite.

nsb@2Kings:9:23 @ Then Joram turned his horses and fled. He said to Ahaziah: »Broken faith, O Ahaziah!«

nsb@2Kings:9:25 @ Jehu said to Bidkar, his captain: »Pick him up, and put him in the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. I remember when you and I were riding together after Ahab, his father. Jehovah offered this prophesy against him.

nsb@2Kings:9:26 @ »Even as I saw the blood of Naboth and his sons yesterday, ‘I will pay you back in this field,’ declares Jehovah. Now take him and throw him into the field as Jehovah predicted.«

nsb@2Kings:9:27 @ When King Ahaziah of Judah saw this, he fled on the road leading to Beth Haggan. Jehu pursued him and ordered: »Shoot him down in his chariot.« They shot him at Gur Pass, near Ibleam. Ahaziah continued to flee until he got to Megiddo, where he died.

nsb@2Kings:9:28 @ His servants brought him in a chariot to Jerusalem. They buried him in a tomb with his ancestors in the City of David.

nsb@2Kings:9:30 @ Jehu went to Jezreel. Jezebel had news of what happened. Painting her eyes and dressing her hair with ornaments, she put her head out of the window.

nsb@2Kings:9:31 @ As Jehu entered the town, she said: »Have you come in peace, you Zimri, who killed his master?«

nsb@2Kings:9:32 @ Then, looking up to the window, he said: »Who is on my side, who?« Two or three eunuchs look out at him.

nsb@2Kings:9:34 @ He came in and ate and drank. He said: »Now see to this cursed woman. Bury her body in the earth, for she is a king's daughter.«

nsb@2Kings:9:35 @ They went to bury her, but they found nothing to bury. There were only the bones of her head, and her feet, and parts of her hands.

nsb@2Kings:9:36 @ So they came back and told him about it. He said: »This is what Jehovah said by his servant Elijah the Tishbite: ‘In the heritage of Jezreel the flesh of Jezebel will become food for dogs.

nsb@2Kings:9:37 @ »‘The dead body of Jezebel will be like waste dropped on the face of the earth in the heritage of Jezreel. They will not be able to say: »This is Jezebel.« ’«

nsb@2Kings:10:1 @ Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu sent letters to Samaria, to the rulers of the town, and to the elders, and to those who took care of the sons of Ahab. The letter stated:

nsb@2Kings:10:3 @ choose the best qualified of the king's descendants and make him king, and fight to defend him.«

nsb@2Kings:10:5 @ So the officer in charge of the palace and the official in charge of the city, together with the leading citizens and the guardians, sent this message to Jehu: »We are your servants, and we are ready to do anything you say. But we will not make anyone king. Do whatever you think best.«

nsb@2Kings:10:6 @ Jehu wrote them another letter: »If you are with me and are ready to follow my orders, bring the heads of King Ahab's descendants to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow.« The seventy descendants of King Ahab were under the care and were being brought up by the leading citizens of Samaria.

nsb@2Kings:10:7 @ As soon as Jehu's letter arrived, the leaders of Samaria killed all seventy of Ahab's descendants and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel.

nsb@2Kings:10:8 @ Jehu was informed that the heads of Ahab's descendants had been brought. He ordered them to be piled up in two heaps at the city gate and left there until the following morning.

nsb@2Kings:10:9 @ In the morning he went out and said to all the people there: »You are upright people. It is true that I made designs against my master, and put him to death. Who is responsible for the death of all these?

nsb@2Kings:10:11 @ Jehu put to death all the rest of the seed of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his relations and his near friends and his priests, till there were no more of them.

nsb@2Kings:10:13 @ He came across the brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah, and asked: »Who are you?« They replied: »We are the brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah. We are going down to see the children of the king and of the queen.«

nsb@2Kings:10:14 @ He ordered: »Take them alive.« So they took them alive and then killed them at the cistern of the shearing house. He killed all forty-two of them.

nsb@2Kings:10:15 @ When he left there he met Jehonadab, the son of Rechab. He greeted him and said to him: »Is your heart true to mine, as mine is to yours?« Jehonadab in answer said: »It is.« Jehu said: »If it is give me your hand.« He gave him his hand and he made him come up into his chariot.

nsb@2Kings:10:17 @ When Jehu arrived at Samaria, he put to death all those of Ahab's family who were still in Samaria. There were no more of them, as Jehovah had said to Elijah.

nsb@2Kings:10:18 @ Jehu assembled all the people and said to them: »Ahab was Baal's servant in a small way, but Jehu will be his servant on a great scale.

nsb@2Kings:10:19 @ »Now send for all the prophets of Baal, all his servants and priests, to come to me. Let no one stay away for I have a great offering to make to Baal. Anyone who is not present will be put to death.« Jehu did this with deceit. It was his purpose to destroy the servants of Baal.

nsb@2Kings:10:21 @ Jehu sent through all Israel; and all the servants of Baal came, not one kept away. They entered the house of Baal. It was full from one end to the other end.

nsb@2Kings:10:22 @ Jehu said to the keeper of the robes: »Get out robes for all the servants of Baal.« So he got out robes for them.

nsb@2Kings:10:23 @ Jehu, with Jehonadab, the son of Rechab, went into the house of Baal. He said to the servants of Baal: »Make a search with care, to see that no servant of Jehovah is with you, but only servants of Baal.«

nsb@2Kings:10:24 @ They went in to make offerings and burned offerings. Jehu put eighty men outside. He told them: »If any man whom I give into your hands escapes, he who lets him go will forfeit his own life for that life.«

nsb@2Kings:10:25 @ As soon as he finished offering the burned offering Jehu said to the armed men and the captains: »Go in and put them to death! Do not let one come out!« So they put them to the sword. Pulling the images to the ground, they went into the holy place of the house of Baal.

nsb@2Kings:10:27 @ The altar of Baal was pulled down and the house of Baal was broken up and made an unclean place, as it is to this day.

nsb@2Kings:10:28 @ Jehu put an end to the worship of Baal in Israel.

nsb@2Kings:10:30 @ Jehovah said to Jehu: »You have done well by doing what is right in my eyes. You carried out my purpose for the family of Ahab. Therefore your sons will be kings of Israel to the fourth generation.«

nsb@2Kings:10:31 @ But Jehu did not take care to keep the law of Jehovah with all his heart. He did not keep himself from the sin that Jeroboam did and made Israel do.

nsb@2Kings:10:32 @ Jehovah began to reduce the size of Israel's territory. King Hazael of Syria conquered all the Israelite territory

nsb@2Kings:10:33 @ east of the Jordan, as far south as the town of Aroer on the Arnon River. This included the territories of Gilead and Bashan, where the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and East Manasseh lived.

nsb@2Kings:10:34 @ Everything else that Jehu did, including his brave deeds, is recorded in The History of the Kings of Israel.

nsb@2Kings:11:1 @ King Ahaziah's mother Athaliah learned of her son's murder. She gave orders for all the members of the royal family to be killed.

nsb@2Kings:11:2 @ Only Ahaziah's son Jehoash escaped. He was about to be killed with the others, but was rescued by his aunt Jehosheba, who was King Jehoram's daughter and Ahaziah's half sister. She hid him and his nurse in a bedroom in the Temple.

nsb@2Kings:11:3 @ Jehosheba took care of the boy and kept him hidden in the Temple for six years. During this time Athaliah ruled as queen.

nsb@2Kings:11:4 @ In the seventh year Jehoiada the priest sent for the officers in charge of the royal bodyguard and of the palace guards, and told them to come to the Temple. He made them agree under oath to what he planned to do. He showed them King Ahaziah's son Joash

nsb@2Kings:11:5 @ and gave them the following orders: »When you come on duty on the Sabbath, one third of you are to guard the palace.

nsb@2Kings:11:6 @ »One third are to stand guard at the Sur Gate. The other third are to stand guard at the gate behind the other guards.

nsb@2Kings:11:7 @ »The two groups that go off duty on the Sabbath are to stand guard at the Temple to protect the king.

nsb@2Kings:11:8 @ »You are to guard King Jehoash with drawn swords and stay with him wherever he goes. Anyone who comes near you is to be killed.«

nsb@2Kings:11:9 @ The officers obeyed Jehoiada's instructions and brought their men to him, those going off duty on the Sabbath and those going on duty.

nsb@2Kings:11:10 @ He gave the officers the spears and shields that had belonged to King David and had been kept in the Temple.

nsb@2Kings:11:11 @ He stationed the men with drawn swords all around the front of the Temple, to protect the king.

nsb@2Kings:11:13 @ Queen Athaliah heard the noise being made by the guards and the people. She hurried to the Temple, where the crowd had gathered.

nsb@2Kings:11:14 @ There she saw the new king standing by the column at the entrance of the Temple, as was the custom. The officers and the trumpeters surrounded him, and the people were all shouting joyfully and blowing trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes in distress and shouted: »Treason! Treason!«

nsb@2Kings:11:15 @ Jehoiada the priest did not want Athaliah killed in the Temple area. He ordered the army officers: »Take her out between the rows of guards, and kill anyone who tries to rescue her.«

nsb@2Kings:11:16 @ They seized her and took her to the palace. There at the Horse Gate they killed her.

nsb@2Kings:11:18 @ The people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and the idols, and killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars. Jehoiada put guards on duty at the Temple,

nsb@2Kings:11:19 @ Jehoiada the priest, the officers, the royal bodyguard, and the palace guards escorted the king from the Temple to the palace. All the people followed them. Jehoash entered by the Guard Gate and took his place on the royal throne.

nsb@2Kings:12:4 @ Jehoash said to the priests: »All the money of the holy things, which comes into the house of Jehovah, the amount fixed for every man's payment, and all the money given by any man freely by motivation of his heart,

nsb@2Kings:12:5 @ »Let the priests take, every man from his friends and neighbors, to make good what is damaged in the Temple, wherever it is to be seen.«

nsb@2Kings:12:7 @ He called in Jehoiada and the other priests and asked them: »Why are you not repairing the Temple? From now on you are not to keep the money you receive. You must hand it over, so that the repairs can be made.«

nsb@2Kings:12:8 @ The priests agreed to this and also agreed not to make the repairs in the Temple.

nsb@2Kings:12:9 @ Then Jehoiada took a box, made a hole in the lid, and placed the box by the altar, on the right side as one enters the Temple. The priests on duty at the entrance put in the box all the money given by the worshipers.

nsb@2Kings:12:11 @ After recording the exact amount, they would hand the silver over to the men in charge of the work in the Temple. These would pay the carpenters, the builders,

nsb@2Kings:12:12 @ the masons, and the stonecutters, buy the timber and the stones used in the repairs, and pay all other necessary expenses.

nsb@2Kings:12:13 @ None of the money was used to pay for making silver cups, bowls, trumpets, or tools for tending the lamps, or any other article of silver or of gold.

nsb@2Kings:12:14 @ It was all used to pay the workers and to buy the materials used in the repairs.

nsb@2Kings:12:15 @ The men in charge of the work were very honest. There was no need to require them to account for the funds.

nsb@2Kings:12:16 @ The money given for the repayment offerings and for the offerings for sin was not deposited in the box. It belonged to the priests.

nsb@2Kings:12:17 @ King Hazael of Syria attacked the city of Gath and conquered it. Then he decided to attack Jerusalem.

nsb@2Kings:12:18 @ King Jehoash of Judah took all the offerings that his predecessors Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah had dedicated to Jehovah, added to them his own offerings and all the gold in the treasuries of the Temple and the palace, and sent them all as a gift to King Hazael, who then led his army away from Jerusalem.

nsb@2Kings:12:19 @ The rest of the history of Jehoash is recorded in The Annals of the Kings of Judah.

nsb@2Kings:12:20 @ His own officials plotted against him and killed him at the House of the Mound on the road that goes down to Silla.

nsb@2Kings:12:21 @ Jehoash's officials Jozacar, son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad, son of Shomer, executed him. They buried him with his ancestors in the City of David. His son Amaziah succeeded him as king.

nsb@2Kings:13:3 @ The wrath of Jehovah burned against Israel! He gave them up into the power of Hazael, king of Aram, and into the power of Benhadad, the son of Hazael, again and again.

nsb@2Kings:13:4 @ Then Jehoahaz prayed to Jehovah. Jehovah listened to him. He saw how cruelly the king of Aram crushed Israel.

nsb@2Kings:13:7 @ Out of all his army, Jehoahaz had only fifty horsemen and ten carriages and ten thousand footmen. The king of Aram had given them up to destruction, crushing them like dust.

nsb@2Kings:13:8 @ Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all he did, and his great power are recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.

nsb@2Kings:13:9 @ Jehoahaz went to rest with his fathers. He was buried at Samaria. Joash his son became king.

nsb@2Kings:13:12 @ Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash, and all he did, and the force with which he went to war against Amaziah, king of Judah, are recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.

nsb@2Kings:13:13 @ Joash went to rest with his fathers. They buried Jehoash in Samaria with the kings of Israel. Jeroboam took his place as king.

nsb@2Kings:13:14 @ Elisha became ill with the disease that caused his death. Jehoash, king of Israel, came down to him, and weeping over him said: »My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!«

nsb@2Kings:13:15 @ Elisha said to him: »Take bow and arrows« So he took bow and arrows.

nsb@2Kings:13:16 @ He said to the king of Israel: »Put your hand on the bow« So he put his hand on it; and Elisha put his hands on the king's hands.

nsb@2Kings:13:17 @ Then he said: »Let the window be open to the east.« So he got it open. Then Elisha said: »Let the arrow go!« So he let it go. He said: »Jehovah’s arrow of salvation, of salvation over Aram for you will overcome the Aramaeans in Aphek and put an end to them.«

nsb@2Kings:13:18 @ He said: »Take the arrows!« So he took them. He said to the king of Israel: »Send them down into the earth.« He did so three times and no more.

nsb@2Kings:13:21 @ While they were burying a dead man they saw a band coming. They put the man quickly into the place where Elisha's body was. The dead man’s body touched Elisha's bones. The man came to life again and got up on his feet.

nsb@2Kings:13:23 @ But Jehovah was kind to them and had pity on them, caring for them, because of his agreement with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He would not put them to destruction or send them away from his presence until now.

nsb@2Kings:13:25 @ Jehoash son of Jehoahaz captured again from Benhadad, the son of Hazael, the towns he had taken from Jehoahaz, his father, in war. Three times Jehoash defeated him and recovered the towns of Israel.

nsb@2Kings:14:5 @ As soon as he firmly established the kingdom he immediately put to death those servants who had taken the life of his father, the king.

nsb@2Kings:14:6 @ But he did not put their children to death. The orders of Jehovah recorded in the book of the law of Moses say: »The fathers are not to be put to death for the children, or the children for their fathers; but each man shall be put to death for his own sin.«

nsb@2Kings:14:7 @ He put to the sword twelve thousand men of Edom in the Valley of Salt. He captured Sela in war, and named it Joktheel, as it is to this day.

nsb@2Kings:14:8 @ Then Amaziah sent representatives to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying: »Come let us have a meeting face to face.«

nsb@2Kings:14:9 @ Jehoash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying: »The thorn-tree in Lebanon sent to the cedar in Lebanon, saying: ‘Give your daughter to my son for a wife.’ A beast from the woodland in Lebanon went by, crushing the thorn under his feet.

nsb@2Kings:14:11 @ But Amaziah paid no attention. So Jehoash king of Israel went to Amaziah king of Judah to meet face to face at Bethshemesh in Judah.

nsb@2Kings:14:13 @ Jehoash king of Israel made Amaziah king of Judah son of Jehoash, son of Ahaziah, prisoner at Bethshemesh. He went to Jerusalem and had the wall of Jerusalem pulled down from the Gate of Ephraim to the gate in the angle, six hundred feet.

nsb@2Kings:14:14 @ He took all the gold and silver and all the vessels in the Temple of Jehovah and in the storehouse of the king, together with those whose lives would be the price of broken faith, and went back to Samaria.

nsb@2Kings:14:15 @ The rest of the acts of Jehoash, and his power, and how he went to war with Amaziah, king of Judah, are recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.

nsb@2Kings:14:16 @ Jehoash went to rest with his fathers. They buried him in Samaria with the kings of Israel. Jeroboam his son became king in his place.

nsb@2Kings:14:18 @ The rest of the acts of Amaziah are recorded in the book of the History of the Kings of Judah.

nsb@2Kings:14:19 @ Conspiracy was plotted against him in Jerusalem. He went in flight to Lachish, but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there.

nsb@2Kings:14:20 @ They took his body on horseback and buried him with his fathers in Jerusalem, the town of David.

nsb@2Kings:14:21 @ Then all the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah.

nsb@2Kings:14:25 @ He got back the old limits of Israel from the way into Hamath to the sea of the Arabah. This was what Jehovah said by his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet of Gathhepher.

nsb@2Kings:14:27 @ Jehovah had not said that the name of Israel was to be taken away from the earth. So he gave them a savior in Jeroboam, the son of Joash.

nsb@2Kings:14:28 @ Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all he did, and his power, and how he went to war with Damascus, causing the wrath of Jehovah to be turned away from Israel, are recorded in the book of the History of the Kings of Israel.

nsb@2Kings:14:29 @ Jeroboam went to rest with his fathers. He was buried with the kings of Israel. Zechariah his son became king in his place.

nsb@2Kings:15:4 @ He did not take away the high places. The people still continued to make and burn offerings in the high places.

nsb@2Kings:15:5 @ Jehovah sent disease on the king and he became a leper. To the day of his death he lived separately in his private house. Jotham his son was over his house, judging the people of the land.

nsb@2Kings:15:6 @ Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all he did are recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.

nsb@2Kings:15:7 @ Azariah slept with his fathers. He was buried with his fathers in the town of David. Jotham his son became king in his place.

nsb@2Kings:15:11 @ Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah are recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.

nsb@2Kings:15:12 @ Jehovah spoke to Jehu: »Your sons to the fourth generation will be kings of Israel. It happened that way.«

nsb@2Kings:15:14 @ Then Menahem son of Gadi went up from Tirzah to Samaria. He attacked Shallum, son of Jabesh, in Samaria. He killed him and made himself king in his place.

nsb@2Kings:15:15 @ Now the rest of the acts of Shallum, and the conspiracy he committed, are recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.

nsb@2Kings:15:16 @ Then Menahem sent destruction on the people of Tappuah and the nearby territory. He attacked it because they would not let him come in. He had all the pregnant women cut open.

nsb@2Kings:15:18 @ He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah. He did not keep himself from the sin of Jeroboam son of Nebat. He causes Israel to sin too.

nsb@2Kings:15:19 @ Pul king of Assyria came against the land. Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver to let him keep the kingdom.

nsb@2Kings:15:20 @ Menahem extracted the money from men of wealth in Israel. Every man gave fifty silver shekels to give to the king of Assyria. The king of Assyria turned back and did not stop in the land.

nsb@2Kings:15:21 @ The rest of the acts of Menahem are recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.

nsb@2Kings:15:24 @ He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah. He did not turn from the sin Jeroboam son of Nebat committed and caused Israel to commit.

nsb@2Kings:15:26 @ Now the rest of the acts of Pekahiah are recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.

nsb@2Kings:15:28 @ He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah. He did not turn from the sin Jeroboam son of Nebat committed and caused Israel to commit.

nsb@2Kings:15:29 @ In the days of Pekah king of Israel Tiglathpileser king of Assyria captured Ijon and Abelbethmaacah and Janoah and Kedesh and Hazor and Gilead and Galilee and all the land of Naphtali. He took the people captive to Assyria.

nsb@2Kings:15:31 @ The rest of the acts of Pekah are recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.

nsb@2Kings:15:36 @ The rest of the acts of Jotham are recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.

nsb@2Kings:15:38 @ Jotham died and was buried in the royal tombs in David's City. His son Ahaz succeeded him as king.

nsb@2Kings:16:3 @ He walked in ways of the kings of Israel. He even offered his son to walk through the fire. He copied the disgusting ways of the nations. Jehovah sent the people of the nations out of the land before the children of Israel.

nsb@2Kings:16:5 @ Rezin king of Aram, and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came to Jerusalem to make war. They attacked Ahaz but could not conquer him.

nsb@2Kings:16:6 @ Then the king of Edom got Elath back for Edom, and sent the Jews out of Elath. The Edomites returned to Elath where they are living to this day.

nsb@2Kings:16:7 @ Ahaz sent representatives to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, saying: »I am your servant and your son. Come help me against the kings of Aram and Israel who have taken up arms against me.«

nsb@2Kings:16:8 @ Ahaz took the silver and gold in the Temple of Jehovah and in the king's storehouse, and sent them as an offering to the king of Assyria.

nsb@2Kings:16:9 @ The king of Assyria, in answer to his request, went up against Damascus and captured it. He took its people away as prisoners to Kir, and put Rezin to death.

nsb@2Kings:16:10 @ Then King Ahaz went to Damascus for a meeting with Tiglathpileser king of Assyria. There he saw the altar at Damascus. King Ahaz sent a drawing of the altar, giving the design of it and all the details of its structure to Urijah the priest.

nsb@2Kings:16:15 @ King Ahaz gave orders to Urijah the priest: »Make the morning burned offering and the evening meal offering and the king's burned offering and meal offering, with the burned offerings of all the people and their meal offerings and drink offerings, on the great altar. Put on it all the blood of the burned offerings and of the animals that are offered. But the bronze altar will be for my use to get directions from Jehovah.«

nsb@2Kings:16:17 @ King Ahaz took off the sides of the wheeled bases, and took down the great water-vessel from off the copper bulls which were under it and put it on a floor of stone.

nsb@2Kings:16:19 @ The rest of the things Ahaz did are recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.

nsb@2Kings:16:20 @ Ahaz slept with his fathers. He was buried in the town of David. Hezekiah his son became king in his place.

nsb@2Kings:17:4 @ Hoshea's treachery became clear to the king of Assyria. He had sent representatives to the king of Egypt. He did not send his offering to the king of Assyria like he did in previous years. So the king of Assyria had him put in chains and locked in prison.

nsb@2Kings:17:5 @ Then the king of Assyria invaded the land and advanced to Samaria. He besieged the city for three years.

nsb@2Kings:17:6 @ In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria. He led the Israelites away to Assyria. He stationed them in Halah and Habor on the Gozan River, and in the towns of the Medes.

nsb@2Kings:17:7 @ The wrath of Jehovah came on Israel because they had done evil against Jehovah their God, who took them out of the land of Egypt from under the yoke of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. They worshipped other gods.

nsb@2Kings:17:9 @ The children of Israel secretly did things that were not right according to Jehovah their God. They built high places for themselves in all their towns, from the watchtower to the walled towns.

nsb@2Kings:17:10 @ They erected pillars of stone and wood on every high hill and under every green tree.

nsb@2Kings:17:11 @ They burned their offerings in all the high places, as those nations did whom Jehovah sent away from them. They did evil things, moving Jehovah to anger.

nsb@2Kings:17:13 @ Jehovah sent his messengers and prophets to warn Israel and Judah: »Abandon your evil ways and obey my commands. The commandments contained in the Law I gave to your ancestors. I handed them on to you through my servants the prophets.«

nsb@2Kings:17:14 @ They would not obey. They were stubborn like their ancestors. They did not trust in Jehovah their God.

nsb@2Kings:17:15 @ They refused to obey his instructions. They did not keep the covenant he made with their ancestors. They disregarded his warnings. They worshiped worthless idols and became worthless themselves. They followed the customs of the surrounding nations, disobeying Jehovah’s command not to imitate them.

nsb@2Kings:17:16 @ They broke all the laws of Jehovah their God. They made two metal bull-calves to worship. They also made an image of the goddess Asherah. Also they worshiped the stars and served the god Baal.

nsb@2Kings:17:17 @ They caused their sons and their daughters to go through the fire to be sacrificed. They made use of secret arts and unnatural powers, and gave themselves up to doing evil in the eyes of Jehovah, till they provoked him to anger.

nsb@2Kings:17:20 @ So Jehovah would have nothing to do with all the offspring of Israel. He caused trouble for them. He gave them up into the hands of their attackers, till he had sent them away from before his face.

nsb@2Kings:17:21 @ He tore Israel from the house of David and made Jeroboam son of Nebat king. Jeroboam drove them away from the laws of Jehovah and made them do a great sin.

nsb@2Kings:17:23 @ Jehovah removed Israel from his sight as he said he would through all his servants the prophets. Israel was taken away from their land to Assyria, to this day.

nsb@2Kings:17:24 @ Then the king of Assyria took men from Babylon and from Cuthah and Avva and Hamath and Sepharvaim, and put them in the towns of Samaria in place of the children of Israel. They acquired Samaria for their heritage, living in its towns.

nsb@2Kings:17:25 @ When they first lived there they did not respect Jehovah. So Jehovah sent lions among them, causing some of them to die.

nsb@2Kings:17:26 @ They said to the king of Assyria: »The nations you have taken as prisoners and put in the towns of Samaria have no knowledge of the way of the god of the land. He has sent lions among them causing their death. This is because they have no knowledge of his way.«

nsb@2Kings:17:27 @ Then the king of Assyria gave orders, saying: »Send one of the priests you took from there. Let him live there and teach the people the way of the god of the land.«

nsb@2Kings:17:28 @ So one of the priests they had taken away as a prisoner from Samaria came back. He lived in Bethel and taught them how to worship Jehovah.

nsb@2Kings:17:31 @ The Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites gave their children to be burned in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

nsb@2Kings:17:32 @ So they worshipped Jehovah. They appointed priests from the people for the high places. The priests were to make offerings for them in the houses of the high places.

nsb@2Kings:17:33 @ They worshipped Jehovah, but they gave honor to their gods like the nations did from whom they had been taken as prisoners.

nsb@2Kings:17:34 @ So to this day they go on in their old ways. They do not worship Jehovah. They do not keep his orders, his ways, or the law Jehovah gave to the children of Jacob. They are the ones he gave the name Israel.

nsb@2Kings:17:35 @ Jehovah made an agreement with them and gave them orders, saying: You are to have no other gods. You are not to worship them or be their servants or make them offerings.

nsb@2Kings:17:36 @ »Jehovah took you out of the land of Egypt with his great power and his outstretched arm. He is your God, to whom you are to give worship and make offerings:

nsb@2Kings:17:37 @ »You are to obey and do forever the law he put in writing for you. You are to have no other gods.

nsb@2Kings:17:38 @ »You are to keep in memory the agreement I made with you. You are to have no other gods.

nsb@2Kings:17:39 @ »You are to worship Jehovah your God. It is he who will give you salvation from the hands of all who are against you.«

nsb@2Kings:17:41 @ So these nations worshiped Jehovah and they still served the images they had made. Their children and their children's children did the same. They do just as their fathers did to this very day.

nsb@2Kings:18:4 @ He removed the high places. He broke the stone pillars to bits, and cut down the Asherah poles. The brass snake that Moses had made was crushed to powder at his command, because in those days the children of Israel had offerings burned before it, and he gave it the name Nehushtan.

nsb@2Kings:18:6 @ For his heart was fixed on Jehovah. He did not turn from his ways. Hezekiah obeyed Jehovah’s commandments that Jehovah gave to Moses.

nsb@2Kings:18:7 @ Jehovah was with Hezekiah. He did well in everything he did. He took up arms against the king of Assyria and was his servant no longer.

nsb@2Kings:18:8 @ He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its limits, from the tower of the watchman to the walled town.

nsb@2Kings:18:9 @ It was the fourth year of King Hezekiah, the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel. Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria and laid siege to it.

nsb@2Kings:18:11 @ The king of Assyria took Israel away as prisoners into Assyria. They placed them in Halah and in Habor on the river Gozan, and in towns of the Medes.

nsb@2Kings:18:12 @ They did not obey the voice of Jehovah their God. In fact they went against his agreement, even against everything ordered by Moses, the servant of Jehovah. They did not listen to or obey Jehovah.

nsb@2Kings:18:13 @ Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, came up against all the walled towns of Judah and took them.

nsb@2Kings:18:14 @ Hezekiah sent a message to Sennacherib at Lachish: »I have done wrong. Stop your attack and I will pay whatever you demand.« The emperor's answer was that Hezekiah should send him ten tons of silver and one ton of gold.

nsb@2Kings:18:16 @ Hezekiah had the gold from the doors of Jehovah’s Temple and from the doorposts plated by him. He stripped it off and gave it to the king of Assyria.

nsb@2Kings:18:17 @ The king of Assyria sent his commander-in-chief, his quartermaster, and his field commander with a large army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They stood at the channel for the Upper Pool on the road to the Laundryman's Field.

nsb@2Kings:18:18 @ They sent for the king, and Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, who was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, came out to them.

nsb@2Kings:18:19 @ The Rabshakeh said to them: »Say to Hezekiah: These are the words of the great king, the king of Assyria: »In what are you placing your hope?

nsb@2Kings:18:20 @ »You say you have counsel and strength for war. These are only words. To whom are you looking for support that you rebel against me?

nsb@2Kings:18:21 @ »You rely on Egypt that broken reed of a staff. If a man leans on it his hand will be pierced. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who put their faith in him.

nsb@2Kings:18:22 @ »If you say to me: We trust in Jehovah our God, is he not the one whose high places and altars have been taken away by Hezekiah. For he told Judah and Jerusalem that worship may only be given before this altar in Jerusalem?

nsb@2Kings:18:23 @ »And now, make an agreement with my master, the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able to put horsemen on them.

nsb@2Kings:18:24 @ »How then can you put to shame the least of my master's servants? You put your hope in Egypt for chariots and horsemen:

nsb@2Kings:18:25 @ »Have I now come to destroy this place without Jehovah? It was Jehovah who said to me: ‘Go up against this land and make it waste.« ’

nsb@2Kings:18:26 @ Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, and Shebna and Joah said to the Rabshakeh: »Will you kindly make use of the Aramaean language in talking to your servants. We are used to it. Do not use the Jews' language in the hearing of the people on the wall.«

nsb@2Kings:18:27 @ He replied: »Do you think you and the king are the only ones the king sent me to say these things? No, I am also talking to the people who are sitting on the wall. They will have to eat their excrement and drink their own urine, just as you will.«

nsb@2Kings:18:28 @ The official stood up and shouted in Hebrew: »Listen to what the king of Assyria is telling you!

nsb@2Kings:18:30 @ »Do not let Hezekiah convince you to rely on Jehovah. Do not think that Jehovah will save you or that he will stop our Assyrian army from capturing you.«

nsb@2Kings:18:31 @ »Do not listen to Hezekiah. The king of Assyria commands you to come out of the city and surrender. Make peace with me and you will be allowed to eat grapes from your own vines and figs from your own trees, and to drink water from your own wells.

nsb@2Kings:18:32 @ »The king will resettle you in a country much like your own. There are vineyards to give wine and there is grain for making bread there. It is a land of olives, olive oil, and honey. Do what he commands and you will not die. Do not let Hezekiah fool you into thinking Jehovah will rescue you.

nsb@2Kings:18:36 @ The people kept quiet. They did as King Hezekiah told them. They did not say a word.

nsb@2Kings:18:37 @ Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah tore their clothes in grief. They reported to the king what the Assyrian official had said.

nsb@2Kings:19:1 @ When King Hezekiah heard their report he tore his clothes in grief. He dressed in sackcloth and went to the Temple of Jehovah.

nsb@2Kings:19:2 @ He sent Eliakim the official in charge of the palace, Shebna the court secretary, and the senior priests to the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz. They also were dressed in sackcloth.

nsb@2Kings:19:3 @ They said to him: »This is what Hezekiah says: ‘Today is a day filled with misery, punishment, and disgrace. We are like a woman who is about to give birth but does not have the strength to do it.

nsb@2Kings:19:4 @ »‘The Assyrian emperor sent his chief official to insult the living God. May Jehovah your God hear these insults and punish those who spoke them. So pray to God for those of our people who survive.’«

nsb@2Kings:19:5 @ King Hezekiah's men went to Isaiah.

nsb@2Kings:19:6 @ Isaiah responded to them: »Tell this to your master: ‘This is what Jehovah says: »Do not be afraid of the message you heard when the Assyrian king's assistants slandered me.

nsb@2Kings:19:7 @ »I am going to put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own country. I will have him assassinated in his own country.« ’«

nsb@2Kings:19:9 @ Sennacherib heard that King Tirhakah of Sudan was coming to fight him. Sennacherib sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying:

nsb@2Kings:19:11 @ »‘You heard what the kings of Assyria did to all countries. They totally destroyed them. Will you be rescued?

nsb@2Kings:19:12 @ »‘Did the gods of the nations that my ancestors destroyed rescue Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Telassar?

nsb@2Kings:19:14 @ Hezekiah read the letters from the messengers. Then he went to Jehovah’s Temple and shared them with Jehovah.

nsb@2Kings:19:16 @ »Turn your ear to me, O Jehovah, and listen. Open your eyes, Jehovah, and see. Listen to the message Sennacherib sent to defy the living God.

nsb@2Kings:19:18 @ »They threw the gods from these countries into fires because these gods are not real gods. They are only wooden and stone statues made by human hands. So the Assyrians have destroyed them.

nsb@2Kings:19:20 @ Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: »This is what Jehovah the God of Israel says: ‘You prayed to me about King Sennacherib of Assyria. I have heard you.

nsb@2Kings:19:21 @ »This is Jehovah’s message to Sennacherib: ‘My people, the virgin daughter of Zion, despise you and laugh at you. My people in Jerusalem shake their heads behind your back.

nsb@2Kings:19:23 @ »‘You defy Jehovah and through your servants you say: ‘With my many chariots I ride up the high mountains, up the slopes of Lebanon. I cut down its tallest cedars and its finest cypresses. I travel to its most distant borders and its most fertile forests.

nsb@2Kings:19:25 @ »Have you not heard? I did this long ago. I planned it in the past. Now I make it happen so that you will turn fortified cities into piles of rubble.

nsb@2Kings:19:30 @ »The remnant in Judah who survives will flourish like plants that send roots deep into the ground and produce fruit.

nsb@2Kings:19:31 @ »There will be a remnant of people in Jerusalem and on Mount Zion who will survive. Jehovah is determined to make this happen.

nsb@2Kings:19:34 @ I will defend this city and protect it. It is for the sake of my own honor and because of the promise I made to my servant David.

nsb@2Kings:19:36 @ King Sennacherib of Assyria returned to his home at Nineveh and stayed there.

nsb@2Kings:19:37 @ While he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, Adrammelech and Sharezer assassinated him. They escaped to the land of Ararat. His son Esarhaddon succeeded him as king.

nsb@2Kings:20:1 @ Hezekiah became ill and was about to die. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz said to him: »This is what Jehovah says: ‘Give final instructions to your household. You will not recover. You will die.’«

nsb@2Kings:20:2 @ Hezekiah faced the wall and prayed to Jehovah:

nsb@2Kings:20:3 @ »Jehovah, Please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and truth. And consider my whole heart devoted to you. I have done what is good in your eyes.« Hezekiah wept bitterly.

nsb@2Kings:20:4 @ Isaiah had not gone as far as the middle courtyard when Jehovah spoke to him:

nsb@2Kings:20:5 @ »Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people: ‘This is what Jehovah God of your ancestor David says: »I heard your prayer. I saw your tears. Now I will heal you. The day after tomorrow you will go to Jehovah’s Temple.

nsb@2Kings:20:6 @ »I will add fifteen more years to your life. I will rescue you and defend this city from the control of the king of Assyria. I do this for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.« ’«

nsb@2Kings:20:8 @ King Hezekiah said to Isaiah: »What is the sign to prove that Jehovah will heal me and that three days later I will be able to go to the Temple?«

nsb@2Kings:20:9 @ Isaiah replied: »Jehovah will give you a sign to prove that he will keep his promise. Would you prefer to have the shadow on the stairway go forward ten steps or go back ten steps?«

nsb@2Kings:20:10 @ Then Hezekiah said: »It is an easy matter to have the shadow go forward ten steps. So have it go back ten steps.«

nsb@2Kings:20:11 @ Isaiah prayed to Jehovah and Jehovah made the shadow go back ten steps on the stairway set up by King Ahaz.

nsb@2Kings:20:13 @ Hezekiah welcomed the messengers and showed them his wealth. He showed his silver and gold. He also let them look at his spices and perfumes. He even showed all his military equipment. There was nothing in his storerooms or anywhere in his kingdom that he did not show them.

nsb@2Kings:20:14 @ The prophet Isaiah went to King Hezekiah and asked: »Where did these men come from and what did they say to you?« Hezekiah answered: »They came from a very distant country, from Babylonia.«

nsb@2Kings:20:16 @ Isaiah said to Hezekiah: »Hear the word of Jehovah!«

nsb@2Kings:20:17 @ »Jehovah says: ‘The time will come when everything in your palace, everything your ancestors have stored up to this day, will be taken away to Babylon. Nothing will be left.

nsb@2Kings:20:19 @ Hezekiah said to Isaiah: »The word of Jehovah that you spoke is good. He added: »Is it not good that there is peace and security as long as I live?«

nsb@2Kings:20:20 @ Everything else about Hezekiah, all his heroic acts and how he made the pool and tunnel to bring water into the city is written in the official records of the Kings of Judah.

nsb@2Kings:20:21 @ Hezekiah slept in death with his ancestors. His son Manasseh succeeded him as king.

nsb@2Kings:21:6 @ He made his own son pass through fire. He burned him as an offering to Molech. He practiced reading the future; gave positions to those who had control of spirits and to wonder-workers. He did much evil in the eyes of Jehovah and provoked him to anger.

nsb@2Kings:21:7 @ He made an image of the goddess Asherah and set it in the Temple of Jehovah. This is the same Temple that Jehovah said to David and to Solomon his son: »In this house, and in Jerusalem, the town which I have made mine out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever.

nsb@2Kings:21:8 @ »And never again will I send the feet of Israel wandering from the land that I gave to their fathers. If only they will take care to do all my orders, and obey all the law my servant Moses gave them.«

nsb@2Kings:21:9 @ But they would not listen. Manasseh enticed them to do evil. In fact they committed more evil than the nations whom Jehovah destroyed before the children of Israel.

nsb@2Kings:21:11 @ »Manasseh king of Judah committed detestable sins. He did more evil than all the Amorites before him. He enticed Judah to do evil with his false gods.

nsb@2Kings:21:14 @ »‘I will discard the rest of my heritage. I will give them into the hands of their enemies. They will take their property and their goods for themselves.

nsb@2Kings:21:15 @ »‘Because they have done evil in my eyes. They moved me to anger from the day their fathers came out of Egypt till this day.’«

nsb@2Kings:21:16 @ Even more, Manasseh killed many innocent men. He filled Jerusalem from one end to the other with blood. He also caused Judah to sin and do evil in the eyes of Jehovah.

nsb@2Kings:21:17 @ Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all he did, and his sins, are recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Judah.

nsb@2Kings:21:18 @ So Manasseh went to rest with his fathers. He was buried in the garden of his house, in the garden of Uzza. Amon his son became king in his place.

nsb@2Kings:21:21 @ He followed all the practices of his father. He was a servant and worshipper of the false gods to which his father had been a servant.

nsb@2Kings:21:24 @ But the people of the land put to death all those who had taken part in the design against the king. Then they made Josiah his son king in his place.

nsb@2Kings:21:25 @ Now the rest of the acts which Amon did, are recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.

nsb@2Kings:21:26 @ He was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza. Josiah his son became king in his place.

nsb@2Kings:22:2 @ He did what was right in the eyes of Jehovah. He walked in the ways of David his father, without turning to the right hand or to the left.

nsb@2Kings:22:3 @ Now in the eighteenth year after he became king, Josiah sent Shaphan son of Azaliah son of Meshullam the scribe, to the Temple of Jehovah. He said to him:

nsb@2Kings:22:4 @ »Go to Hilkiah the high priest. Let him count the money brought into the Temple of Jehovah that the keepers of the door gathered from the people.

nsb@2Kings:22:5 @ »Let them deliver it to the workmen who have oversight of the work of Jehovah’s Temple. Then they can pay it to the workmen who are making good what was damaged in the Temple of Jehovah.

nsb@2Kings:22:6 @ »To the woodworkers and the builders and the stonecutters; and for getting wood and cut stones for building the Temple.

nsb@2Kings:22:7 @ »Since the workmen are honest, do not require them to account for the money you give them.«

nsb@2Kings:22:8 @ The chief priest Hilkiah told the scribe Shaphan: »I found the Book of the Law in Jehovah’s House.« Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, who then read it.

nsb@2Kings:22:9 @ The scribe Shaphan reported to the king: »We have taken the money donated in the temple and have given it to the workmen who are in charge of Jehovah’s House.«

nsb@2Kings:22:10 @ Then the scribe Shaphan told the king: The priest Hilkiah has given me a book. Shaphan read it to the king.

nsb@2Kings:22:11 @ When the king heard what the book of the Law said, he tore his clothes in distress.

nsb@2Kings:22:12 @ The king gave an order to the priest Hilkiah, to Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, the scribe Shaphan, and the royal official Asaiah. He said:

nsb@2Kings:22:13 @ »Go inquire of Jehovah on my behalf and for the people. This is concerning the words in this book that has been found. Jehovah’s fierce anger is directed towards us because our ancestors did not obey the things in this book or do everything written in it.«

nsb@2Kings:22:14 @ So the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to talk to the prophet Huldah. She was the wife of Shallum, son of Tikvah and grandson of Harhas. Shallum was in charge of the royal wardrobe. Huldah was living in the Second Part of Jerusalem.

nsb@2Kings:22:15 @ She told them: »This is what Jehovah God of Israel says: Tell the man who sent you to me:

nsb@2Kings:22:16 @ ‘This is what Jehovah says: »I am going to bring disaster on this place and on the people living here. This is according to everything written in the book that the king of Judah has read.

nsb@2Kings:22:17 @ »‘I will do this because they abandoned me. They sacrificed to other gods in order to make me furious. Therefore, my burning anger against this place will never be extinguished.« ’«

nsb@2Kings:22:18 @ Huldah added: »Tell Judah's king who sent you to me to ask Jehovah a question. This is what Jehovah God of Israel says about the words you heard:

nsb@2Kings:22:19 @ ‘You had a change of heart and humbled yourself in front of Jehovah when you heard my words against this place and those who live here. I said that those who live here would be destroyed and cursed. You also tore your clothes in distress and cried in front of me. So I will listen to you,’« declares Jehovah.

nsb@2Kings:22:20 @ »That is why I will bring you to your ancestors. I will bring you to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see any of the disaster I will bring on this place.« ’« They reported this to the king.

nsb@2Kings:23:1 @ Then the king sent for all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem to join him.

nsb@2Kings:23:2 @ The king went up to the Temple of Jehovah. All the inhabitants of Judah young and old also went to Jehovah’s Temple. Josiah read everything written in the Book of the Promise found in Jehovah’s Temple so they could all hear it.

nsb@2Kings:23:3 @ The king stood beside the pillar and made a promise to Jehovah that he would follow Jehovah and obey his commands, instructions, and laws with all his heart and mind. He confirmed the terms of the promise written in this book. All the people joined in the promise.

nsb@2Kings:23:4 @ Then the king ordered the high priest Hilkiah, the priests who served under Hilkiah, and the doorkeepers to remove from Jehovah’s Temple all utensils that had been made for Baal, Asherah, and the entire army of heaven. Josiah burned the utensils outside Jerusalem. It was in an open field near the Kidron Brook. Then he carried their ashes to Bethel.

nsb@2Kings:23:5 @ He got rid of the pagan priests. The kings of Judah appointed them to sacrifice at the illegal places of worship in the cities of Judah and all around Jerusalem. They had been sacrificing to Baal, the sun god, the moon god, the constellations of the zodiac (Mazzalohth Constellation-Job strkjv@38:32), and the entire army of heaven.

nsb@2Kings:23:6 @ He removed the pole dedicated to the goddess Asherah from the temple. He took it to the Kidron Valley outside Jerusalem. There he burned it in the Kidron Valley, ground it to dust, and threw its ashes on the tombs of the common people.

nsb@2Kings:23:7 @ He tore down the houses of the male temple prostitutes who were in Jehovah’s Temple. This is where women did weaving for Asherah.

nsb@2Kings:23:8 @ He brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah from Geba to Beersheba and made the places where those priests sacrificed unclean. He tore down the worship site at the entrance of the Gate of Joshua, the gate named after the mayor of the city. The worship site was to the left of anyone going through the city gate.

nsb@2Kings:23:9 @ The priests of the illegal worship sites had never gone to Jehovah’s altar in Jerusalem. Instead, they ate their unleavened bread among the other worshipers.

nsb@2Kings:23:10 @ Josiah also made Topheth in the valley of Ben Hinnom unclean so that people would never again sacrifice their sons or daughters by burning them to the god Molech.

nsb@2Kings:23:11 @ He also removed the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the worship of the sun. He burned the chariots used in this worship.

nsb@2Kings:23:12 @ The altars the kings of Judah built on the palace roof above King Ahaz' quarters, King Josiah tore down, along with the altars put up by King Manasseh in the two courtyards of the Temple. He smashed the altars to bits and threw them into Kidron Valley.

nsb@2Kings:23:13 @ The king made the illegal places of worship east of Jerusalem unclean. They were on the southern part of the Hill of Destruction. King Solomon of Israel built them for Astarte the disgusting goddess of the Sidonians. Also made unclean were references to Chemosh the disgusting god of Moab, and Milcom the disgusting god of the Ammonites.

nsb@2Kings:23:14 @ Josiah crushed the sacred stones. He cut down the poles dedicated to Asherah. And he filled their places with human bones.

nsb@2Kings:23:15 @ He also tore down the altar at Bethel the place of worship made by Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin. He tore down both the altar and the place of worship. They burned the worship site. They crushed it into powder and burned the pole dedicated to Asherah.

nsb@2Kings:23:16 @ Josiah turned and saw the tombs on the hill. He sent men to take the bones out of the tombs and burn them on the altar to make it unclean. This fulfilled the word of Jehovah announced by the man of God.

nsb@2Kings:23:17 @ »What is that headstone I see over there?« Josiah asked. The men of the town said: »It is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah. The one who foretold all these things you have done to the altar of Bethel.«

nsb@2Kings:23:19 @ Josiah removed all the houses of the high places the kings of Israel built in the towns of Samaria. This provoked Jehovah to anger and he did with them as he had done in Bethel.

nsb@2Kings:23:20 @ He killed all the priests of the high places on the altars. Their bones were burned on the altars. Then the king went back to Jerusalem.

nsb@2Kings:23:21 @ The king gave orders to all the people. He said: »Keep the Passover to Jehovah your God, as it says in this book of the law.«

nsb@2Kings:23:23 @ In the eighteenth year of the rule of King Josiah this Passover was kept to Jehovah in Jerusalem.

nsb@2Kings:23:25 @ Never before had there been a king like him. He turned to Jehovah with all his heart and his entire mind and all his power. As the Law of Moses says: and after him there was no king like him.

nsb@2Kings:23:26 @ Still the heat of Jehovah’s anger was not turned back from Judah. This is because of all Manasseh had done in moving him to anger.

nsb@2Kings:23:27 @ Jehovah said: »I will send Judah away from before my face, as I have sent Israel. I will have nothing more to do with this town. It is Jerusalem my town. And the holy house of which I said: ‘My name will be there.’«

nsb@2Kings:23:28 @ Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and all he did are recorded in the book of the History of the Kings of Judah.

nsb@2Kings:23:29 @ In his days, Pharaoh Necho, king of Egypt, sent his armies against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates. King Josiah went out against him. Josiah was killed when he saw him at Megiddo.

nsb@2Kings:23:30 @ His servants took his body in a carriage from Megiddo to Jerusalem. They buried him there. The people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah, and put the holy oil on him and made him king in place of his father.

nsb@2Kings:23:34 @ Then Pharaoh Necho made Eliakim son of Josiah king in place of Josiah his father. He changed his name to Jehoiakim. He took Jehoahaz away to Egypt, where he remained till he died.

nsb@2Kings:23:35 @ Jehoiakim gave the silver and gold to Pharaoh. He ordered that the land be taxed to get the money. All the people of the land had to give silver and gold in order to make the payment to Pharaoh Necho.

nsb@2Kings:24:1 @ Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded Judah. Jehoiakim king of Judah was forced to serve him for three years. Then he rebelled and fought against him.

nsb@2Kings:24:2 @ Jehovah sent raiding parties of Babylonians, Arameans, Moabites, and Ammonites against Jehoiakim to destroy Judah as Jehovah predicted through his servants the prophets.

nsb@2Kings:24:3 @ This happened to Judah because Jehovah commanded it to happen. He wanted to remove the people of Judah from his sight because of Manasseh's sins and everything he had done,

nsb@2Kings:24:5 @ The rest of the acts of Jehoiakim are written in the Book of the History of the Days of the Kings of Judah.

nsb@2Kings:24:7 @ The king of Egypt did not leave his own country again because the king of Babylon captured all the territory from the River of Egypt to the Euphrates River. This territory belonged to the king of Egypt.

nsb@2Kings:24:11 @ During the siege Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem in person.

nsb@2Kings:24:12 @ King Jehoiachin of Judah, along with his mother, his sons, his officers, and the palace officials, surrendered to the Babylonians. In the eighth year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign he took Jehoiachin prisoner.

nsb@2Kings:24:13 @ The Babylonians carried off to Babylon all the treasures in the Temple and the palace. As Jehovah foretold, Nebuchadnezzar broke up all the gold utensils King Solomon had made for use in the Temple.

nsb@2Kings:24:15 @ He took Jehoiakin to Babylon as a captive. He also took the king's mother, wives, eunuchs, and the leading citizens of the land from Jerusalem as captives to Babylon.

nsb@2Kings:24:16 @ Included as prisoners were all the men of war, seven thousand of them, and a thousand expert workmen and metalworkers, all of them strong and able to take up arms.

nsb@2Kings:24:17 @ The king of Babylon installed Mattaniah, his father's brother, king in place of Jehoiachin. He changed his name to Zedekiah.

nsb@2Kings:24:20 @ This happened in Jerusalem and Judah because of Jehovah’s anger. It continued until he had sent them all away from before him. Then Zedekiah took up arms and rebelled against the king of Babylon.

nsb@2Kings:25:1 @ Now in the ninth year of his rule, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked Jerusalem with all his army. He took his position and laid siege to it. They built earthworks all round the town.

nsb@2Kings:25:2 @ They surrounded the town and laid siege till the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.

nsb@2Kings:25:3 @ On the ninth day of the fourth month, the store of food in the town was almost gone. There was no food for the people of the land.

nsb@2Kings:25:4 @ An opening was made in the wall of the town. All the men of war went in flight by night through the doorway between the two walls by the king's garden. The Chaldaeans were stationed around the town: and the king went by the way toward the plain of Arabah.

nsb@2Kings:25:5 @ But the Chaldaean army went after the king. They overtook him in the lowlands of Jericho. All his army went in flight from him in every direction.

nsb@2Kings:25:6 @ They made the king a prisoner and took him to the king of Babylon at Riblah to be judged.

nsb@2Kings:25:7 @ They put the sons of Zedekiah to death before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, chained him with iron bands and took him to Babylon.

nsb@2Kings:25:8 @ It was the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. Nebuzaradan, the captain of the armed men, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.

nsb@2Kings:25:11 @ The rest of the people still in the town, and all those who had given themselves up to the king of Babylon, and all the rest of the workmen were taken away as prisoners by Nebuzaradan, the captain of the army.

nsb@2Kings:25:12 @ He let the poorest of the land go on living there, to take care of the vines and the fields.

nsb@2Kings:25:13 @ The copper pillars in the Temple of Jehovah, and the wheeled bases, and the great copper water-vessel in the Temple of Jehovah were broken up by the Chaldaeans. They took the copper to Babylon.

nsb@2Kings:25:15 @ The captain of the guard took all of the incense burners and bowls that were made of gold or silver.

nsb@2Kings:25:18 @ The captain of the guard took the high priest Seraiah, the second priest Zephaniah, and the three doorkeepers.

nsb@2Kings:25:19 @ From the city he also took an army commander, five men who had access to the king whom he found in the city, the scribe who was in charge of the militia, and sixty of the common people whom he found in the city.

nsb@2Kings:25:20 @ Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.

nsb@2Kings:25:21 @ The king of Babylon executed them at Riblah in the territory of Hamath. So the people of Judah were captives when they left their land.

nsb@2Kings:25:23 @ The captains of the armed forces heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah ruler. They brought their men to Gedaliah at Mizpah. Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan, the son of Kareah, and Seraiah, the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah, the son of the Maacathite, came with all their men.

nsb@2Kings:25:24 @ Then Gedaliah gave his oath to them and their men. He said: Have no fear because of the servants of the Chaldaeans. Go on living in the land under the rule of the king of Babylon, and all will be well.

nsb@2Kings:25:26 @ Then all the people, small and great, and the captains of the forces, got up and went away to Egypt, for fear of the Chaldaeans.

nsb@2Kings:25:27 @ In the thirty-seventh year after Jehoiachin king of Judah had been taken prisoner, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, Evil-merodach, king of Babylon, in the first year of his rule, took Jehoiachin, king of Judah, out of prison.

nsb@2Kings:25:28 @ He said kind things to him and placed his seat higher than the seats of the other kings who were with him in Babylon.

nsb@1Chronicles:1:6 @ Gomer’s descendants were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.

nsb@1Chronicles:1:12 @ Pathrusites, Casluhites and Caphtorites.

nsb@1Chronicles:1:19 @ Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, because in his time the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan.

nsb@1Chronicles:1:32 @ The sons born to Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan.

nsb@1Chronicles:2:3 @ The sons of Judah: Er, Onan and Shelah. These three were born to him by a Canaanite woman, the daughter of Shua. Er, Judah’s firstborn was wicked in Jehovah’s sight; so Jehovah put him to death.

nsb@1Chronicles:2:9 @ The sons born to Hezron were: Jerahmeel, Ram and Caleb.

nsb@1Chronicles:2:22 @ Segub was the father of Jair, who controlled twenty-three towns in Gilead.

nsb@1Chronicles:2:23 @ But Geshur and Aram captured Havvoth Jair, as well as Kenath with its surrounding settlements— sixty towns. All these were descendants of Makir the father of Gilead.

nsb@1Chronicles:2:35 @ Sheshan gave his daughter in marriage to his servant Jarha, and she bore him Attai.

nsb@1Chronicles:2:49 @ She also gave birth to Shaaph the father of Madmannah and to Sheva the father of Macbenah and Gibea. Caleb’s daughter was Acsah.

nsb@1Chronicles:2:54 @ The descendants of Salma: Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth Beth Joab, half the Manahathites, the Zorites,

nsb@1Chronicles:3:1 @ These were the sons of David born to him in Hebron: The firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel; the second, Daniel the son of Abigail of Carmel;

nsb@1Chronicles:3:4 @ These six were born to David in Hebron, where he reigned seven years and six months. David reigned in Jerusalem thirty-three years,

nsb@1Chronicles:3:5 @ and these were the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon. These four were by Bathsheba daughter of Ammiel.

nsb@1Chronicles:4:9 @ Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez. She said: I gave birth to him in pain.

nsb@1Chronicles:4:10 @ Jabez cried out to the God of Israel: Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain. And God granted his request.

nsb@1Chronicles:4:11 @ Chelub, Shuhah’s brother, was the father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton.

nsb@1Chronicles:4:12 @ Eshton was the father of Beth Rapha, Paseah and Tehinnah the father of Ir Nahash. These were the men of Recah.

nsb@1Chronicles:4:17 @ The sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher and Jalon. One of Mered’s wives gave birth to Miriam, Shammai and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.

nsb@1Chronicles:4:18 @ His Judean wife gave birth to Jered the father of Gedor, Heber the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. These were the children of Pharaoh’s daughter Bithiah, whom Mered had married.

nsb@1Chronicles:4:29 @ Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad,

nsb@1Chronicles:4:31 @ Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susim, Beth Biri and Shaaraim. These were their towns until the reign of David.

nsb@1Chronicles:4:32 @ Their surrounding villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Token and Ashan— five towns—

nsb@1Chronicles:4:33 @ and all the villages around these towns as far as Baalath. These were their settlements. And they kept a genealogical record.

nsb@1Chronicles:4:39 @ and they went to the outskirts of Gedor to the east of the valley in search of pasture for their flocks.

nsb@1Chronicles:4:41 @ The men whose names were listed came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. They attacked the Hamites in their dwellings and also the Meunites who were there and completely destroyed them, as is evident to this day. Then they settled in their place, because there was pasture for their flocks.

nsb@1Chronicles:4:43 @ They killed the remaining Amalekites who had escaped, and they have lived there to this day.

nsb@1Chronicles:5:1 @ The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s marriage bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright,

nsb@1Chronicles:5:2 @ and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph

nsb@1Chronicles:5:6 @ and Beerah his son, whom Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria took into exile. Beerah was a leader of the Reubenites.

nsb@1Chronicles:5:7 @ Their relatives by clans, listed according to their genealogical records: Jeiel the chief, Zechariah,

nsb@1Chronicles:5:8 @ and Bela son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel. They settled in the area from Aroer to Nebo and Baal Meon.

nsb@1Chronicles:5:9 @ To the east they occupied the land up to the edge of the desert that extends to the Euphrates River, because their livestock had increased in Gilead.

nsb@1Chronicles:5:11 @ The Gadites lived next to them in Bashan, as far as Salecah:

nsb@1Chronicles:5:20 @ They were helped in fighting them, and God handed the Hagrites and all their allies over to them, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him.

nsb@1Chronicles:5:21 @ They seized the livestock of the Hagrites, fifty thousand camels, two hundred fifty thousand sheep and two thousand donkeys. They also took one hundred thousand people captive,

nsb@1Chronicles:5:23 @ The people of the half-tribe of Manasseh were numerous; they settled in the land from Bashan to Baal Hermon, that is, to Senir.

nsb@1Chronicles:5:25 @ But they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them.

nsb@1Chronicles:5:26 @ So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, who took the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. He took them to Halah, Habor, Hara and the river of Gozan, where they are to this day.

nsb@1Chronicles:6:15 @ Jehozadak was deported when Jehovah sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

nsb@1Chronicles:6:19 @ The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites listed according to their fathers:

nsb@1Chronicles:6:31 @ These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of Jehovah after the ark came to rest there.

nsb@1Chronicles:6:32 @ They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon built the temple of Jehovah in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them.

nsb@1Chronicles:6:33 @ Here are the men who served, together with their sons: From the Kohathites: Heman, the musician, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel,

nsb@1Chronicles:6:34 @ the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,

nsb@1Chronicles:6:48 @ Their fellow Levites was assigned to all the other duties of the tabernacle, the house of God.

nsb@1Chronicles:6:49 @ But Aaron and his descendants were the ones who presented offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense in connection with all that was done in the Most Holy Place, making atonement for Israel, in accordance with all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.

nsb@1Chronicles:6:54 @ These were the locations of their settlements allotted as their territory:

nsb@1Chronicles:6:56 @ But the fields and villages around the city were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh.

nsb@1Chronicles:6:59 @ Ashan, Juttah and Beth Shemesh, together with their pasturelands.

nsb@1Chronicles:6:60 @ And from the tribe of Benjamin they were given Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth and Anathoth, together with their pasturelands. These towns, which were distributed among the Kohathite clans, were thirteen in all.

nsb@1Chronicles:6:61 @ The rest of Kohath’s descendants were allotted ten towns from the clans of half the tribe of Manasseh.

nsb@1Chronicles:6:62 @ The descendants of Gershon, clan by clan, were allotted thirteen towns from the tribes of Issachar, Asher and Naphtali, and from the part of the tribe of Manasseh that is in Bashan.

nsb@1Chronicles:6:63 @ The descendants of Merari, clan by clan, were allotted twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Zebulun.

nsb@1Chronicles:6:64 @ So the Israelites gave the Levites these towns and their pasturelands.

nsb@1Chronicles:6:65 @ From the tribes of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin they allotted the previously named towns.

nsb@1Chronicles:6:66 @ Some of the Kohathite clans were given as their territory towns from the tribe of Ephraim.

nsb@1Chronicles:6:69 @ Aijalon and Gath Rimmon, together with their pasturelands.

nsb@1Chronicles:6:70 @ And from half the tribe of Manasseh the Israelites gave Aner and Bileam, together with their pasturelands, to the rest of the Kohathite clans.

nsb@1Chronicles:6:71 @ The Gershonites received the following: From the clan of the half-tribe of Manasseh they received Golan in Bashan and also Ashtaroth, together with their pasturelands,

nsb@1Chronicles:6:73 @ Ramoth and Anem, together with their pasturelands;

nsb@1Chronicles:6:75 @ Hukok and Rehob, together with their pasturelands;

nsb@1Chronicles:6:76 @ and from the tribe of Naphtali they received Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon and Kiriathaim, together with their pasturelands.

nsb@1Chronicles:6:77 @ The Merarites ) received the following: From the tribe of Zebulun they received Jokneam, Kartah, Rimmono and Tabor, together with their pasturelands,

nsb@1Chronicles:6:79 @ Kedemoth and Mephaath, together with their pasturelands;

nsb@1Chronicles:7:1 @ The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub and Shimron, four in all.

nsb@1Chronicles:7:2 @ The sons of Tola: Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam and Samuel, heads of their families. During the reign of David, the descendants of Tola listed as fighting men in their genealogy numbered twenty-two thousand six hundred.

nsb@1Chronicles:7:4 @ According to their family genealogy, they had thirty-six men ready for battle, for they had many wives and children.

nsb@1Chronicles:7:5 @ The relatives who were fighting men belonging to all the clans of Issachar, as listed in their genealogy, were eighty-seven thousand in all.

nsb@1Chronicles:7:11 @ All these sons of Jediael were heads of families. There were seventeen thousand two hundred fighting men ready to go out to war.

nsb@1Chronicles:7:14 @ The descendants of Manasseh: Asriel was his descendant through his Aramean concubine. She gave birth to Makir the father of Gilead.

nsb@1Chronicles:7:15 @ Makir took a wife from among the Huppites and Shuppites. His sister’s name was Maacah. Another descendant was named Zelophehad, who had only daughters.

nsb@1Chronicles:7:16 @ Makir’s wife Maacah gave birth to a son and named him Peresh. His brother was named Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.

nsb@1Chronicles:7:18 @ His sister Hammoleketh gave birth to Ishhod, Abiezer and Mahlah.

nsb@1Chronicles:7:21 @ Zabad his son and Shuthelah his son. The native-born men of Gath killed Ezer and Elead, when they went down to seize their livestock.

nsb@1Chronicles:7:22 @ Their father Ephraim mourned for them many days, and his relatives came to comfort him.

nsb@1Chronicles:7:23 @ Then he lay with his wife again, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. He named him Beriah, because there had been misfortune in his family.

nsb@1Chronicles:7:28 @ Their lands and settlements included Bethel and its surrounding villages, Naaran to the east, Gezer and its villages to the west, and Shechem and its villages all the way to Ayyah and its villages.

nsb@1Chronicles:7:29 @ Along the borders of Manasseh were Beth Shan, Taanach, Megiddo and Dor, together with their villages. The descendants of Joseph son of Israel lived in these towns.

nsb@1Chronicles:8:6 @ These were the descendants of Ehud, who were heads of families of those living in Geba and were deported to Manahath:

nsb@1Chronicles:8:8 @ Sons were born to Shaharaim in Moab after he had divorced his wives Hushim and Baara.

nsb@1Chronicles:8:32 @ and Mikloth, who was the father of Shimeah. They too lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.

nsb@1Chronicles:9:1 @ All Israel was listed in the genealogies recorded in the book of the kings of Israel. The people of Judah were taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness.

nsb@1Chronicles:9:2 @ Now the first to resettle on their own property in their own towns were some Israelites, priests, Levites and temple servants.

nsb@1Chronicles:9:16 @ Obadiah son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun; and Berekiah son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.

nsb@1Chronicles:9:18 @ being stationed at the King’s Gate on the east, up to the present time. These were the gatekeepers belonging to the camp of the Levites.

nsb@1Chronicles:9:19 @ Shallum son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his fellow gatekeepers from his family, the Korahites, were responsible for guarding the thresholds of the tent just as their fathers had been responsible for guarding the entrance to the dwelling of Jehovah.

nsb@1Chronicles:9:21 @ Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

nsb@1Chronicles:9:22 @ Altogether, those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds numbered two hundred and twelve. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. David and Samuel the seer had assigned the gatekeepers to their positions of trust.

nsb@1Chronicles:9:25 @ Their brothers in their villages had to come from time to time and share their duties for seven-day periods.

nsb@1Chronicles:9:27 @ They would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they had to guard it; and they had charge of the key for opening it each morning.

nsb@1Chronicles:9:29 @ Others were assigned to take care of the furnishings and all the other articles of the sanctuary, as well as the flour and wine, and the oil, incense and spices.

nsb@1Chronicles:9:30 @ But some of the priests took care of mixing the spices.

nsb@1Chronicles:9:38 @ Mikloth was the father of Shimeam. They too lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.

nsb@1Chronicles:10:3 @ The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him.

nsb@1Chronicles:10:4 @ Saul said to his armor-bearer: »Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and abuse me.« But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.

nsb@1Chronicles:10:5 @ When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died.

nsb@1Chronicles:10:6 @ Saul, his three sons and his entire house died together.

nsb@1Chronicles:10:7 @ When all the Israelites in the valley saw that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their towns and fled. And the Philistines came and occupied them.

nsb@1Chronicles:10:8 @ The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.

nsb@1Chronicles:10:9 @ They stripped him and took his head and his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news among their idols and their people.

nsb@1Chronicles:10:11 @ When all the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard of everything the Philistines had done to Saul,

nsb@1Chronicles:10:12 @ all their fighting men took the bodies of Saul and his sons and brought them to Jabesh. They buried their bones under the great tree in Jabesh. Then they fasted seven days.

nsb@1Chronicles:10:13 @ Saul died because of his unfaithfulness to Jehovah. He did not obey the word of Jehovah. He asked a medium to request information from a dead person.

nsb@1Chronicles:10:14 @ He did not request information from Jehovah. Thus Jehovah killed him and turned the kingship over to David, Jesse’s son.

nsb@1Chronicles:11:1 @ Then all Israel came together to David at Hebron. They said: »Indeed we are your bone and your flesh.

nsb@1Chronicles:11:2 @ »In time past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in.« Jehovah your God said to you: »You will shepherd my people Israel, and be ruler over my people Israel.«

nsb@1Chronicles:11:3 @ Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. David made a covenant with them at Hebron in the presence of Jehovah. Then they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of Jehovah by Samuel.

nsb@1Chronicles:11:4 @ David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.

nsb@1Chronicles:11:5 @ Then the inhabitants of Jebus said to David: »You shall not come in here!« Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion that is, the City of David.

nsb@1Chronicles:11:8 @ He built the city around it, from the stronghold on the mound to the surrounding area. Joab repaired the rest of the city.

nsb@1Chronicles:11:10 @ These were the men in charge of David’s mighty men. They strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of Jehovah concerning Israel.

nsb@1Chronicles:11:14 @ They stationed themselves in the middle of that field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So Jehovah brought about a great victory.

nsb@1Chronicles:11:15 @ Now three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam. The army of the Philistines encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.

nsb@1Chronicles:11:18 @ So the three broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate. They took it to David. Nevertheless David would not drink it, but poured it out to Jehovah.

nsb@1Chronicles:11:21 @ Of the three he was more honored than the other two men. Therefore he became their captain. However he did not attain to the first three.

nsb@1Chronicles:11:23 @ And he killed an Egyptian, a man of great height, seven and a half feet tall. Egyptian had a spear like a weaver’s beam in his hand. He went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.

nsb@1Chronicles:11:25 @ Indeed he was more honored than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. David appointed him over his guard.

nsb@1Chronicles:11:30 @ Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,

nsb@1Chronicles:12:2 @ All of them were expert archers who could shoot arrows or sling stones with their left hand as well as their right. They were all relatives of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin.

nsb@1Chronicles:12:8 @ Some brave and experienced warriors from the tribe of Gad also defected to David while he was at the stronghold in the wilderness. They were expert with both shield and spear, as fierce as lions and as swift as deer on the mountains.

nsb@1Chronicles:12:16 @ Others from Benjamin and Judah came to David at the stronghold.

nsb@1Chronicles:12:17 @ David went out to meet them and said: »If you have come in peace to help me, we are friends. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies when I am innocent, then may the God of our ancestors see and judge you.«

nsb@1Chronicles:12:18 @ Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, who later became a leader among the Thirty, and he said: »We are yours, David! We are on your side, son of Jesse. Peace and prosperity be with you, and success to all who help you, for your God is the one who helps you.« So David let them join him, and he made them officers over his troops.

nsb@1Chronicles:12:19 @ Some men from Manasseh defected from the Israelite army and joined David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. But as it turned out, the Philistine leaders refused to let David and his men go with them. After much discussion, they sent them back, for they said: »It will cost us our lives if David switches loyalties to Saul and turns against us.«

nsb@1Chronicles:12:20 @ Here is a list of the men from Manasseh who defected to David as he was returning to Ziklag: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai. Each commanded a thousand troops from the tribe of Manasseh.

nsb@1Chronicles:12:23 @ These are the numbers of armed warriors who joined David at Hebron. They were all eager to see David become king instead of Saul, just as Jehovah had promised.

nsb@1Chronicles:12:29 @ From the tribe of Benjamin, Saul’s relatives, there were three thousand warriors. Most of the men from Benjamin had remained loyal to Saul until this time.

nsb@1Chronicles:12:32 @ From the tribe of Issachar, there were two hundred leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the temper of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.

nsb@1Chronicles:12:33 @ From the tribe of Zebulun, there were fifty thousand skilled warriors. They were fully armed and prepared for battle and completely loyal to David.

nsb@1Chronicles:12:38 @ All these men came in battle array to Hebron with the single purpose of making David the king of Israel. In fact, all Israel agreed that David should be their king.

nsb@1Chronicles:12:40 @ People from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali brought food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. Vast supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisins, wine; olive oil, cattle, and sheep were brought to the celebration. There was great joy throughout the land of Israel

nsb@1Chronicles:13:2 @ He then said to the whole assembly of Israel: »If it seems good to you and if it is the will of Jehovah our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our brothers throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites with them in their towns and pasturelands, to come and join us.

nsb@1Chronicles:13:3 @ »Let us bring the Ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul.«

nsb@1Chronicles:13:4 @ The whole assembly agreed to do this, because it seemed right to all the people.

nsb@1Chronicles:13:5 @ David assembled all the Israelites, from the Shihor River in Egypt to Lebo to the entrance to Hamath, to bring the Ark of God from Kiriath Jearim.

nsb@1Chronicles:13:6 @ David and all the people of Israel with him went to Baalah of Judah. They went to bring the Ark of Jehovah God from there. He is enthroned between the cherubim on the Ark that is called by his name.

nsb@1Chronicles:13:9 @ When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark, because the bulls stumbled.

nsb@1Chronicles:13:11 @ David was angry because Jehovah’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah. To this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.

nsb@1Chronicles:13:12 @ David was afraid of God that day and asked: »How can I ever bring the Ark of God to me?«

nsb@1Chronicles:13:13 @ He did not take the Ark to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.

nsb@1Chronicles:14:1 @ Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David. He also sent cedar logs, stonemasons and carpenters to build a palace for him.

nsb@1Chronicles:14:3 @ In Jerusalem David took more wives and became the father of more sons and daughters.

nsb@1Chronicles:14:4 @ These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

nsb@1Chronicles:14:8 @ The Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel. So they went up in full force to search for him. David heard about it and went out to meet them.

nsb@1Chronicles:14:10 @ David inquired of God: »Should I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?« Jehovah answered him: »Go, I will hand them over to you.«

nsb@1Chronicles:14:11 @ David and his men went to Baal Perazim. He defeated them there. He said: »As waters break out, God has broken out against my enemies by my hand.« So that place was called Baal Perazim.

nsb@1Chronicles:14:12 @ The Philistines abandoned their gods. So David gave orders to burn them in the fire.

nsb@1Chronicles:14:15 @ »As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move out to battle. That will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.«

nsb@1Chronicles:14:16 @ David did as God commanded him. They struck down the Philistine army all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

nsb@1Chronicles:15:2 @ David insisted that only the Levites carry God’s Ark because Jehovah had chosen them to carry his Ark and to serve him from generation to generation.

nsb@1Chronicles:15:3 @ David called together all Israel at Jerusalem to bring Jehovah’s Ark to the place he had prepared for it.

nsb@1Chronicles:15:4 @ David also called together Aaron’s descendants and the Levites.

nsb@1Chronicles:15:12 @ He said to them: »You are the heads of the Levite families. You and your brothers must perform the ceremonies to make yourselves holy. Then bring the Ark of Jehovah the God of Israel to the place I prepared for it.

nsb@1Chronicles:15:13 @ »Because you Levites were not there the first time, Jehovah our God struck us. We had not dedicated our lives to serving him in the way he designated.«

nsb@1Chronicles:15:14 @ So the priests and the Levites made themselves holy in order to move the Ark of Jehovah the God of Israel.

nsb@1Chronicles:15:15 @ The Levites carried God’s Ark on their shoulders. They used poles as Moses had commanded according to Jehovah’s instructions.

nsb@1Chronicles:15:16 @ David told the Levite leaders to appoint some of their brothers to serve as musicians. They were expected to play music on harps, lyres, and cymbals to produce joyful music for singing.

nsb@1Chronicles:15:19 @ The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were appointed to play bronze cymbals.

nsb@1Chronicles:15:20 @ Zechariah, Jaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were appointed to play harps tuned according to alamoth.

nsb@1Chronicles:15:21 @ Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were appointed to play lyres and to conduct the eighth.

nsb@1Chronicles:15:22 @ Chenaniah, a Levite leader, instructed others how to sing prophetic songs because he was skilled at it.

nsb@1Chronicles:15:25 @ Thus David, the leaders of Israel, and the army’s commanders joyfully went to get the Ark of Jehovah’s Covenant from Obed Edom’s house.

nsb@1Chronicles:15:29 @ When the Ark of Jehovah’s Covenant came to the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked out of a window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, so she despised him.

nsb@1Chronicles:16:3 @ He also distributed to every person in Israel, both men and women, a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake.

nsb@1Chronicles:16:4 @ David appointed some Levites to serve in front of Jehovah’s Ark by offering prayers, thanks, and praise to Jehovah the God of Israel.

nsb@1Chronicles:16:7 @ For the first time David entrusted Asaph and his relatives with the task of singing songs of thanks to Jehovah:

nsb@1Chronicles:16:8 @ Give thanks to Jehovah. Call on his name. Make known among the nations what he has done.

nsb@1Chronicles:16:9 @ Sing to him. Make music to praise him. Meditate on all the miracles he has done.

nsb@1Chronicles:16:16 @ Remember the covenant that he made to Abraham, and his sworn promise to Isaac.

nsb@1Chronicles:16:17 @ He confirmed it as a law for Jacob, as a long lasting covenant to Israel.

nsb@1Chronicles:16:20 @ They wandered from nation to nation and from one kingdom to another.

nsb@1Chronicles:16:21 @ He did not permit anyone to oppress them. He warned kings about them:

nsb@1Chronicles:16:22 @ »Do not touch my anointed ones or harm my prophets.«

nsb@1Chronicles:16:23 @ Sing to Jehovah, all the earth! Day after day announce that Jehovah saves his people.

nsb@1Chronicles:16:28 @ Appreciate Jehovah’s glory and power you families of the nations. Ascribe to Jehovah glory and strength.

nsb@1Chronicles:16:29 @ Ascribe to Jehovah the glory his name deserves. Bring an offering, and come to him. Worship Jehovah in his holy splendor.

nsb@1Chronicles:16:31 @ Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad. Say to the nations: »JEHOVAH RULES AS KING!«

nsb@1Chronicles:16:33 @ Then the trees in the forest will sing with joy in the presence of Jehovah when he comes to judge the earth.

nsb@1Chronicles:16:34 @ Give thanks to Jehovah because he is good, because his mercy endures forever!

nsb@1Chronicles:16:35 @ Say: »Rescue us, O God our Salvation. Gather us and save us from the nations that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.«

nsb@1Chronicles:16:36 @ Thanks be to Jehovah, God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said »amen« and praised Jehovah.

nsb@1Chronicles:16:37 @ David left Asaph and his relatives to serve continually in front of the Ark of Jehovah’s Covenant, as the daily work required.

nsb@1Chronicles:16:38 @ David also left Obed Edom and sixty-eight of his relatives to serve there. Obed Edom Jeduthun’s son and Hosah were to be gatekeepers.

nsb@1Chronicles:16:39 @ David left Zadok and his priestly relatives to serve in Jehovah’s Tent at the place of worship in Gibeon.

nsb@1Chronicles:16:40 @ They were ordered to sacrifice burnt offerings to Jehovah. This happened on the altar of burnt offerings continually, morning and evening, as written in the Law of Jehovah that he gave Israel.

nsb@1Chronicles:16:41 @ With Zadok and his relatives were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of the Levites who had been selected. They were chosen by name, to give thanks to Jehovah by singing, because His mercy endures forever.

nsb@1Chronicles:16:43 @ Then all the people went home. David went back to bless his family.

nsb@1Chronicles:17:1 @ David settled in his palace. He said to Nathan the prophet: »Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah is under a tent.«

nsb@1Chronicles:17:2 @ Nathan replied to David: »Do what you have in mind, for God is with you.«

nsb@1Chronicles:17:3 @ That night God spoke to Nathan. He said:

nsb@1Chronicles:17:4 @ »Go tell my servant David, This is what Jehovah says: ‘You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in.

nsb@1Chronicles:17:5 @ »I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from one tent site to another, from one dwelling place to another.

nsb@1Chronicles:17:6 @ »In all the places where I have moved with the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their leaders whom I commanded to shepherd my people: Why have you not built me a house of cedar?«

nsb@1Chronicles:17:7 @ Therefore, tell my servant David: »This is what Jehovah of Hosts says: ‘I took you from the pasture and from following the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel.

nsb@1Chronicles:17:10 @ »‘They have done this since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies. I declare to you that Jehovah will build a house for you!

nsb@1Chronicles:17:11 @ »‘When your days are over and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you. It will be one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.

nsb@1Chronicles:17:13 @ »‘I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor.

nsb@1Chronicles:17:15 @ Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.

nsb@1Chronicles:17:18 @ »What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant

nsb@1Chronicles:17:19 @ »Jehovah. For the sake of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made known all these great promises.

nsb@1Chronicles:17:21 @ »Who is like your people Israel? Israel is the one nation on earth who’s God went out to redeem a people. You redeemed your people from Egypt. You make a name for yourself, and perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations from before your people.

nsb@1Chronicles:17:23 @ »Now, Jehovah, let the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house be established from generation to generation. Do as you promised!

nsb@1Chronicles:17:25 @ »You, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. So your servant has found courage to pray to you.

nsb@1Chronicles:17:26 @ »O JEHOVAH, YOU ARE GOD! You have promised these good things to your servant.

nsb@1Chronicles:17:27 @ »You have been pleased to bless the house of your servant that it may continue for a very long time in your sight. You Jehovah have blessed it and it will be blessed from generation to generation.«

nsb@1Chronicles:18:2 @ He also defeated Moab, and the Moabites became David’s subjects and paid taxes to him.

nsb@1Chronicles:18:3 @ David went to establish his control over the territory along the Euphrates River. He defeated King Hadadezer at Hamath.

nsb@1Chronicles:18:4 @ David took one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers from him. David also disabled all but one hundred of their horses so that they could not pull chariots.

nsb@1Chronicles:18:5 @ When the Arameans from Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of them.

nsb@1Chronicles:18:6 @ David stationed troops in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus. The Arameans became his subjects and paid taxes to him. Everywhere David went Jehovah gave him victories.

nsb@1Chronicles:18:7 @ David took the gold shields that Hadadezer’s servants carried. He brought them to Jerusalem.

nsb@1Chronicles:18:8 @ David also took a large quantity of bronze from Tibhath and Cun, Hadadezer’s cities. Later Solomon used it to make the pool, pillars, and utensils for the temple.

nsb@1Chronicles:18:9 @ When King Tou of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Zobah’s King Hadadezer,

nsb@1Chronicles:18:10 @ he sent his son Hadoram to greet King David and congratulate him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer. There had often been war between Hadadezer and Tou.

nsb@1Chronicles:18:11 @ King David dedicated all the articles of gold, silver, and bronze to Jehovah, along with the silver and gold he had taken from other nations-from Edom, Moab, Ammon, the Philistines, and Amalek.

nsb@1Chronicles:18:13 @ He put troops in Edom, and all its people became David’s subjects. Everywhere David went Jehovah gave him victories.

nsb@1Chronicles:18:15 @ Zeruiah’s son Joab was in charge of the army. Ahilud’s son Jehoshaphat was the royal historian.

nsb@1Chronicles:19:2 @ David thought: »I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.« So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father. David’s men came to Hanun in the land of the Ammonites to express sympathy to him.

nsb@1Chronicles:19:3 @ The Ammonite nobles said to Hanun: »Do you think David honors your father by sending men to you to express sympathy? Or have his men come to you to explore and spy out the country and overthrow it?«

nsb@1Chronicles:19:4 @ Therefore Hanun seized David’s men, shaved them, cut off their garments in the middle at the buttocks, and sent them away.

nsb@1Chronicles:19:5 @ When David was told about the men he sent messengers to meet them, for they were greatly humiliated. The king said: »Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown and then come back.«

nsb@1Chronicles:19:6 @ The Ammonites realized that they had become a stench in David’s nostrils. Then Hanun and the Ammonites sent seventy-five thousand pounds of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram Naharaim, Aram Maacah and Zobah.

nsb@1Chronicles:19:7 @ They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and charioteers, as well as the king of Maacah with his troops, who came and camped near Medeba, while the Ammonites were mustered from their towns and moved out for battle.

nsb@1Chronicles:19:9 @ The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance to their city, while the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country.

nsb@1Chronicles:19:12 @ Joab said: »If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to rescue me. But if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will rescue you.

nsb@1Chronicles:19:14 @ Then Joab and the troops with him advanced to fight the Arameans, and they fled before him.

nsb@1Chronicles:19:15 @ When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans were fleeing, they too fled before his brother Abishai and went inside the city. So Joab went back to Jerusalem.

nsb@1Chronicles:19:17 @ David was told of this, so he gathered all Israel and crossed the Jordan. He advanced against them and formed his battle lines opposite them. David formed his lines to meet the Arameans in battle, and they fought against him.

nsb@1Chronicles:19:19 @ When the vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him. So the Arameans were not willing to help the Ammonites anymore.

nsb@1Chronicles:20:1 @ In the spring, the time when kings go out to battle, Joab led the army to war. They destroyed the Ammonites and came to Rabbah to attack it, while David stayed in Jerusalem. Joab defeated Rabbah and tore it down.

nsb@1Chronicles:20:2 @ David took the gold crown from the head of Rabbah’s king. It was placed on David’s head. The crown was found to weigh seventy-five pounds, and in it was a precious stone. David also took a lot of goods from the city.

nsb@1Chronicles:20:3 @ He took the troops who were there and put them to work with saws, hoes, and axes. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. After that David and all the troops returned to Jerusalem.

nsb@1Chronicles:20:6 @ In another battle at Gath, there was a tall man who had twenty-four fingers and toes: six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. He also was a descendant of Haraphah.

nsb@1Chronicles:21:1 @ Satan wanted to bring trouble on the people of Israel. He made David decide to take a census.

nsb@1Chronicles:21:2 @ David gave orders to Joab and the other officers. He said: »Go through Israel, from one end of the country to the other, and count the people. I want to know how many there are.«

nsb@1Chronicles:21:3 @ Joab answered: »May Jehovah make the people of Israel a hundred times more numerous than they are now! They are all your servants, Your Majesty. Why do you want to do this and make the whole nation guilty?«

nsb@1Chronicles:21:4 @ But the king made Joab obey the order. Joab traveled through the whole country of Israel, and then returned to Jerusalem.

nsb@1Chronicles:21:5 @ He reported to King David the total number of men capable of military service. There were one million one hundred thousand in Israel and four hundred seventy thousand in Judah.

nsb@1Chronicles:21:8 @ David said to God: »I have committed a terrible sin in doing this! Please forgive me. I have acted foolishly.«

nsb@1Chronicles:21:9 @ Jehovah said to Gad, David’s prophet:

nsb@1Chronicles:21:11 @ Gad went to David and told him what Jehovah said. He asked: »Which is it to be?

nsb@1Chronicles:21:12 @ »Three years of famine? Three months of running away from the armies of your enemies? Or: three days in which Jehovah attacks you with his sword and sends an epidemic on your land. He will use his angel to bring death throughout Israel? What answer shall I give Jehovah?«

nsb@1Chronicles:21:13 @ David replied to Gad: »I am in a desperate situation! But I do not want to be punished by the people. Let Jehovah be the one to punish me, because he is merciful.«

nsb@1Chronicles:21:15 @ Then God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem. Then he changed his mind. He said to the angel: »Stop! That is enough!« The angel was standing at the threshing place of Araunah, a Jebusite.

nsb@1Chronicles:21:16 @ David saw the angel standing in midair, holding his sword in his hand, ready to destroy Jerusalem. Then David and the leaders of the people, all of whom were wearing sackcloth bowed low, with their faces touching the ground.

nsb@1Chronicles:21:18 @ Jehovah’s angel told Gad to command David to go and build an altar to Jehovah at Araunah’s threshing place.

nsb@1Chronicles:21:19 @ David obeyed Jehovah’s command and did what Gad told him to do.

nsb@1Chronicles:21:21 @ Araunah saw King David approaching. He left the threshing place and bowed low with his face touching the ground.

nsb@1Chronicles:21:22 @ David said to him: »Sell me your threshing place so that I can build an altar to Jehovah, to stop the epidemic. I will give you the full price.«

nsb@1Chronicles:21:23 @ »Take it, Your Majesty,« Araunah said, »and do whatever you wish. Here are these bulls to burn as an offering on the altar. Here are the threshing boards to use as fuel and wheat to give as an offering. I give it all to you.«

nsb@1Chronicles:21:24 @ The king answered: »No, I will pay you the full price. I will not give as an offering to Jehovah something that belongs to you, something that costs me nothing.«

nsb@1Chronicles:21:26 @ David built an altar to Jehovah there and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He prayed, and Jehovah answered him by sending fire from heaven to burn the sacrifices on the altar.

nsb@1Chronicles:21:27 @ Jehovah told the angel to put his sword away, and the angel obeyed.

nsb@1Chronicles:21:30 @ David could not go there to consult God because the sword of Jehovah’s angel frightened him.

nsb@1Chronicles:22:1 @ David said: »The house of Jehovah God is to be here, and also the altar of burnt offering for Israel.«

nsb@1Chronicles:22:2 @ So David gave orders to assemble the foreigners living in Israel. He appointed stonecutters from among them to prepare dressed stone for building the house of God.

nsb@1Chronicles:22:3 @ He provided a large amount of iron to make nails for the doors of the gateways and for the fittings, and more copper than could be weighed.

nsb@1Chronicles:22:4 @ He also provided more cedar logs than could be counted. The Sidonians and Tyrians had brought large numbers of them to David.

nsb@1Chronicles:22:5 @ David said: »My son Solomon is young and inexperienced. The house to be built for Jehovah should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it. So David made extensive preparations before his death.«

nsb@1Chronicles:22:6 @ Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build a house for Jehovah, the God of Israel.

nsb@1Chronicles:22:7 @ David said to Solomon: »My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of Jehovah my God.

nsb@1Chronicles:22:8 @ »The word of Jehovah came to me, saying: ‘You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for my name. This is because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight.

nsb@1Chronicles:22:13 @ »You will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that Jehovah gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.

nsb@1Chronicles:22:14 @ »I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of Jehovah three thousand seven hundred and fifty tons of gold, about thirty-seven thousand five hundred tons of silver, quantities of copper and iron too great to be weighed, and wood and stone. And you may add to them.

nsb@1Chronicles:22:15 @ »You have many workmen: stonecutters, masons and carpenters, as well as men skilled in every kind of work

nsb@1Chronicles:22:17 @ David ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon.

nsb@1Chronicles:22:18 @ He said to them: »Is not Jehovah your God with you? And has he not granted you rest on every side? For he has handed the inhabitants of the land over to me, and the land is subject to Jehovah and to his people.

nsb@1Chronicles:22:19 @ »Devote your mind and heart to seek Jehovah your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of Jehovah God. That way you may bring the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah and the sacred articles belonging to God into the Temple that will be built for the name of Jehovah.«

nsb@1Chronicles:23:3 @ The Levites thirty years old or older were counted, and the total number of men was thirty-eight thousand.

nsb@1Chronicles:23:4 @ David said: Of these, twenty-four thousand are to supervise the work of Jehovah’s Temple and six thousand are to be officials and judges.

nsb@1Chronicles:23:5 @ Four thousand are to be gatekeepers and four thousand are to praise Jehovah with musical instruments I have provided for that purpose.

nsb@1Chronicles:23:6 @ David divided the Levites into groups corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

nsb@1Chronicles:23:7 @ Belonging to the Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.

nsb@1Chronicles:23:13 @ The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart, he and his descendants from generation to generation, to consecrate the most holy things, to offer sacrifices before Jehovah, to minister before him and to pronounce blessings in his name as long as they live.

nsb@1Chronicles:23:25 @ For David had said: »Since Jehovah, the God of Israel, has granted rest to his people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem from generation to generation,

nsb@1Chronicles:23:26 @ the Levites no longer need to carry the Tabernacle or any of the articles used in its service.«

nsb@1Chronicles:23:27 @ According to the last instructions of David, the Levites were counted from those twenty years old or more.

nsb@1Chronicles:23:28 @ The duty of the Levites was to help Aaron’s descendants in the service of the Temple of Jehovah: to be in charge of the courtyards, the side rooms, the purification of all sacred things and the performance of other duties at the House of God.

nsb@1Chronicles:23:30 @ They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise Jehovah. They were to do the same in the evening

nsb@1Chronicles:23:31 @ and whenever burnt offerings were presented to Jehovah on Sabbaths and at New Moon festivals and at appointed feasts. They were to serve before Jehovah regularly in the proper number and in the way prescribed for them.

nsb@1Chronicles:24:3 @ David, Eleazar’s descendant Zadok, and Ithamar’s descendant Ahimelech divided Aaron’s descendants into groups for service.

nsb@1Chronicles:24:19 @ These were their priestly groups when they went to serve at Jehovah’s temple. Their ancestor Aaron made these rules for them, as Jehovah God of Israel had commanded him.

nsb@1Chronicles:24:30 @ Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth for Mushi’s descendants. These were Levi’s descendants according to their families.

nsb@1Chronicles:25:1 @ David and the commanders of the army set apart for the service some of the sons of Asaph and of Heman and of Jeduthun, who were to prophesy with lyres, harps and cymbals; and the number of those who performed their service was:

nsb@1Chronicles:25:5 @ All these the sons of Heman the king’s seer to exalt him according to the words of God, for God gave fourteen sons and three daughters to Heman.

nsb@1Chronicles:25:6 @ All these were under the direction of their father to sing in the house of Jehovah, with cymbals, harps and lyres, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman under the direction of the king.

nsb@1Chronicles:25:7 @ Their number who were trained in singing to Jehovah, with their relatives, all who were skillful, two hundred eighty-eight.

nsb@1Chronicles:25:9 @ Now the first lot came out for Asaph to Joseph, the second for Gedaliah, he with his relatives and sons were twelve.

nsb@1Chronicles:25:10 @ the third to Zaccur, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

nsb@1Chronicles:25:11 @ the fourth to Izri, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

nsb@1Chronicles:25:12 @ the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

nsb@1Chronicles:25:13 @ the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

nsb@1Chronicles:25:14 @ the seventh to Jesharelah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

nsb@1Chronicles:25:15 @ the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

nsb@1Chronicles:25:16 @ the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

nsb@1Chronicles:25:17 @ the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

nsb@1Chronicles:25:18 @ the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

nsb@1Chronicles:25:19 @ the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

nsb@1Chronicles:25:22 @ for the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

nsb@1Chronicles:25:23 @ for the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

nsb@1Chronicles:25:24 @ for the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

nsb@1Chronicles:25:25 @ for the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

nsb@1Chronicles:25:26 @ for the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

nsb@1Chronicles:25:27 @ for the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

nsb@1Chronicles:25:28 @ for the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

nsb@1Chronicles:25:29 @ for the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

nsb@1Chronicles:25:30 @ for the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

nsb@1Chronicles:25:31 @ for the twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer, his sons and his relatives, twelve.

nsb@1Chronicles:26:8 @ All these were descendants of Obed-Edom; they and their sons and their relatives were capable men with the strength to do the work, descendants of Obed-Edom, sixty-two in all.

nsb@1Chronicles:26:13 @ Lots were cast for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.

nsb@1Chronicles:26:14 @ The lot for the East Gate fell to Shelemiah. Then lots were cast for his son Zechariah, a wise counselor, and the lot for the North Gate fell to him.

nsb@1Chronicles:26:15 @ The lot for the South Gate fell to Obed-Edom, and the lot for the storehouse fell to his sons.

nsb@1Chronicles:26:16 @ The lots for the West Gate and the Shalleketh Gate on the upper road fell to Shuppim and Hosah. Guard was alongside of guard:

nsb@1Chronicles:26:17 @ There were six Levites a day on the east, four a day on the north, four a day on the south and two at a time at the storehouse.

nsb@1Chronicles:26:18 @ As for the court to the west, there were four at the road and two at the court itself.

nsb@1Chronicles:26:21 @ The descendants of Ladan, who were Gershonites through Ladan and who were heads of families belonging to Ladan the Gershonite, were Jehieli,

nsb@1Chronicles:26:31 @ As for the Hebronites, Jeriah was their chief according to the genealogical records of their families. In the fortieth year of David’s reign a search was made in the records, and capable men among the Hebronites were found at Jazer in Gilead.

nsb@1Chronicles:26:32 @ Jeriah had twenty-seven hundred relatives, who were able men and heads of families, and King David put them in charge of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh for every matter pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king.

nsb@1Chronicles:27:13 @ Mahrai, a descendant of Zerah from Netophah, was in charge of the tenth unit during the tenth month. In his unit there were twenty-four thousand.

nsb@1Chronicles:27:15 @ During the twelfth month, the twelfth unit was commanded by Heldai from Netophah. He was Othniel’s descendant. In his unit there were twenty-four thousand.

nsb@1Chronicles:27:24 @ Joab, son of Zeruiah, started to count them but did not finish. God was angry with Israel because of this, and the report from it was never included in the official records of King David.

nsb@1Chronicles:27:25 @ These were all the commanders in charge of King David’s property: for the royal treasuries, Azmaveth, son of Adiel for the goods in the fields, cities, villages, and watchtowers- Jonathan, son of Uzziah

nsb@1Chronicles:27:27 @ for the vineyards, Shimei from Ramah for storing wine that came from the vineyards- Zabdi from Shepham

nsb@1Chronicles:27:28 @ for the olive and fig trees in the foothills, Baal Hanan from Gedor for storing olive oil- Joash

nsb@1Chronicles:28:1 @ David held a meeting in Jerusalem for all the leaders of Israel, the leaders of the tribes, the leaders of the army units that served the king, the commanders of regiments and battalions, the officials in charge of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, the palace officials, the soldiers, and the fighting men.

nsb@1Chronicles:28:2 @ King David stood there and said: »Listen to me relatives and subjects. I had my heart set on building the Temple where the Ark of Jehovah’s Covenant could be placed. This Temple will be a stool for our God’s feet, and I have made preparations to build it.«

nsb@1Chronicles:28:3 @ »However God told me: ‘You must not build the Temple for my name because you have fought wars and caused bloodshed.’«

nsb@1Chronicles:28:4 @ »Yet, from my entire family Jehovah God of Israel chose me to be king of Israel for as long as I live. He had chosen the tribe of Judah to lead Israel. From the families of Judah he chose my father’s family. From among my father’s sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel.

nsb@1Chronicles:28:5 @ »Of all my sons, for Jehovah has given me many sons, he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of Jehovah’s kingdom to rule Israel.

nsb@1Chronicles:28:6 @ »He told me: ‘Your son Solomon will build my Temple and my courtyards because I have chosen him to be my son. I will be his father.

nsb@1Chronicles:28:7 @ »‘I will establish his kingdom for a very long time if he will remain determined to obey my commands and laws, as he is doing today.’«

nsb@1Chronicles:28:8 @ »I order you in the sight of Israel, Jehovah’s congregation. And as our God listens dedicate your lives to doing everything Jehovah your God has commanded. Then you will be able to possess this good land and leave it as an inheritance for your descendants.

nsb@1Chronicles:28:9 @ »You my son Solomon, learn to know your father’s God. Serve Jehovah wholeheartedly and willingly because he searches every heart and understands every thought we have. If you dedicate your life to serving him, he will accept you. On the other hand if you abandon him, he will reject you from then on.

nsb@1Chronicles:28:10 @ »So be careful, because Jehovah has chosen you to build the Temple as his holy place. Be strong, and do it.«

nsb@1Chronicles:28:11 @ Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the entrance hall and the Temple, the storerooms, upper rooms, inner rooms, and the room for the throne of mercy.

nsb@1Chronicles:28:12 @ He gave him plans for the courtyards of Jehovah’s Temple and for all the rooms around it. These rooms served as treasuries for God’s Temple and the gifts dedicated to God.

nsb@1Chronicles:28:14 @ David specified the weight of gold to be used for each of the utensils for worship,

nsb@1Chronicles:28:15 @ the weight of the gold lamp stands and their gold lamps that is, the weight of gold for each lamp stand and its lamps, the weight of silver for each silver lamp stand and its lamps according to the use of each lamp stand for worship,

nsb@1Chronicles:28:18 @ and the refined gold for the altar of incense. He also gave Solomon the plans for the chariot, that is, the gold angels with their wings spread to cover the Ark of Jehovah’s Covenant.

nsb@1Chronicles:28:19 @ David said: »All this was written for me by Jehovah’s hand. He made all the details of the plan clear to me.«

nsb@1Chronicles:28:20 @ David also told his son Solomon: Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do no be afraid or terrified. Jehovah God, my God, will be with you. He will not abandon you until all the work on Jehovah’s Temple is finished.

nsb@1Chronicles:28:21 @ Here are the divisions of the priests and Levites for every type of worship in God’s Temple. You have with you every skilled worker to do the work. In addition, all the leaders and people are at your command.

nsb@1Chronicles:29:1 @ King David announced to the entire assembly: »God has chosen my son Solomon. He is however young and lacks experience. The work to be done is enormous, because this is not a palace for people but a Temple for Jehovah God.

nsb@1Chronicles:29:2 @ »I have made every effort to prepare materials for the Temple: gold, silver, bronze, iron, timber, precious stones and gems, stones for mosaics, and quantities of marble.

nsb@1Chronicles:29:4 @ »I have given one hundred and fifteen tons of the finest gold and two hundred and sixty five tons of pure silver for decorating the walls of the Temple

nsb@1Chronicles:29:5 @ and for all the objects which the skilled workers are to make. Now who else is willing to give a generous offering to Jehovah?«

nsb@1Chronicles:29:6 @ Then the heads of the clans, the officials of the tribes, the commanders of the army, and the administrators of the royal property volunteered to give.

nsb@1Chronicles:29:7 @ They gave the following for the work on the Temple: one hundred and ninety tons of gold, three hundred and eighty tons of silver, six hundred and seventy five tons of bronze, and three thousand seven hundred and fifty tons of iron.

nsb@1Chronicles:29:8 @ Those who had precious stones gave them to the Temple treasury, which was administered by Jehiel of the Levite clan of Gershon.

nsb@1Chronicles:29:9 @ The people gave willingly to Jehovah and were happy that so much had been given. King David also was extremely happy.

nsb@1Chronicles:29:12 @ »All riches and wealth come from you. You rule everything by your strength and power. You are able to make anyone great and strong.

nsb@1Chronicles:29:15 @ »You know, O Jehovah that we pass through life like exiles and strangers, as our ancestors did. Our days are like a passing shadow, and we cannot escape death.

nsb@1Chronicles:29:16 @ »O Jehovah, our God, we have brought together all this wealth to build a Temple to honor your holy name. It all came from you and all belongs to you.

nsb@1Chronicles:29:17 @ »I well know, O my God, that you test everyone’s heart and are pleased with people of integrity. In honesty and sincerity I have willingly given all this to you. I have seen how your people who are gathered here have been happy to bring offerings to you.

nsb@1Chronicles:29:18 @ »Jehovah, God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep such devotion always strong in your people’s hearts and keep them always faithful to you.

nsb@1Chronicles:29:19 @ »Give my son Solomon a wholehearted desire to obey everything that you command and to build the Temple for which I have made these preparations.«

nsb@1Chronicles:29:20 @ Then David commanded the people: Praise Jehovah your God! The entire assembly praised Jehovah, the God of their ancestors. They bowed low and gave honor to Jehovah and also to the king.

nsb@1Chronicles:29:21 @ The following day they killed animals as sacrifices, dedicating them to Jehovah. Then they gave them to the people to eat. In addition, they sacrificed a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, which they burned whole on the altar. They also brought the offerings of wine.

nsb@1Chronicles:29:24 @ All the officials and soldiers, and even all of David’s other sons, promised to be loyal to Solomon as king.

nsb@1Chronicles:29:29 @ The history of King David from beginning to end is recorded in the records of the three prophets, Samuel, Nathan, and Gad.

nsb@1Chronicles:29:30 @ The records tell how he ruled, how powerful he was, and all the things that happened to him, to Israel, and to the surrounding kingdoms.

nsb@2Chronicles:1:2 @ Solomon spoke to all Israel. He spoke to the commanders of regiments and battalions, judges, every prince, and to the heads of Israel’s families.

nsb@2Chronicles:1:3 @ Then Solomon and the entire assembly went to the place of worship in Gibeon because God’s Tent of Meeting was there. Jehovah’s servant Moses pitched the tent in the desert.

nsb@2Chronicles:1:4 @ David already brought God’s Ark from Kiriath Jearim to a place he had prepared for it. He pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.

nsb@2Chronicles:1:6 @ Solomon went to the copper altar in front of the Tent of Meeting and in Jehovah’s presence sacrificed one thousand burnt offerings on it.

nsb@2Chronicles:1:7 @ That night God appeared to Solomon. He said: »What do you want me to I give you?«

nsb@2Chronicles:1:8 @ Solomon answered: »You always showed great love for my father David. Now you have allowed me to succeed him as king.

nsb@2Chronicles:1:9 @ »O Jehovah my God, fulfill the promise you made to my father David. You have made me king over a people, who are so many that they cannot be counted.

nsb@2Chronicles:1:10 @ »Please give me the wisdom and knowledge I need to rule over them. Otherwise, how would I ever be able to rule this great people of yours?«

nsb@2Chronicles:1:11 @ God replied to Solomon: »You have made the right choice. Instead of asking for wealth, treasure, fame or the death of your enemies or even for long life for yourself, you have asked for wisdom and knowledge so that you can rule my people, over whom I have made you king.

nsb@2Chronicles:1:13 @ So Solomon left the place of worship at Gibeon, where the Tent of Jehovah’s presence was, and returned to Jerusalem. There he ruled over Israel.

nsb@2Chronicles:1:15 @ During his reign silver and gold became as common in Jerusalem as stone, and cedar was as plentiful as ordinary sycamore in the foothills of Judah.

nsb@2Chronicles:1:17 @ They imported each chariot from Egypt for fifteen pounds of silver and each horse for six ounces of silver. For the same price they obtained horses to export to all the Hittite and Syrian kings.

nsb@2Chronicles:2:1 @ Solomon gave orders to begin building the Temple for Jehovah’s name and a royal palace for himself.

nsb@2Chronicles:2:2 @ He drafted seventy thousand men to carry heavy loads, eighty thousand to quarry stones in the mountains, and three thousand six hundred foremen.

nsb@2Chronicles:2:3 @ Solomon sent a message to King Hiram of Tyre: »Do business with me as you did with my father, King David, when you sold him cedar logs for building his palace.

nsb@2Chronicles:2:4 @ »I am building a Temple to honor Jehovah my God. It will be a holy place where my people and I will worship him by burning incense of fragrant spices. We will present offerings of sacred bread to him continuously, and we will offer burnt offerings every morning and evening, as well as on Sabbaths, New Moon Festivals, and other holy days honoring Jehovah our God. He has commanded Israel to do this from generation to generation.

nsb@2Chronicles:2:5 @ »I am determined to build a great Temple. This is because our God is greater than all other gods.

nsb@2Chronicles:2:6 @ »No one can really build a Temple for God. This is because even all the vastness of heaven cannot contain him. How then can I build a Temple that would be anything more than a place to burn incense to God?

nsb@2Chronicles:2:8 @ »I know how skillful your lumbermen are, so send me cedar, cypress, and juniper logs from Lebanon. I am ready to send my men to assist yours.

nsb@2Chronicles:2:9 @ »Prepare large quantities of timber, because this Temple I intend to build will be large and magnificent.

nsb@2Chronicles:2:12 @ »Praise Jehovah the God of Israel, Creator of heaven and earth! He has given King David a wise son, full of understanding and skill. He now plans to build a Temple for Jehovah and a palace for himself.

nsb@2Chronicles:2:14 @ »He was the son of a woman from the tribe of Daniel. His father is a native of Tyre. Huram knows how to work with gold, silver, copper, iron, stone, wood, purple, violet, and dark red cloth, and linen. He also knows how to make all kinds of engravings and follow any set of plans that will be given to him. He can work with your skilled workmen and the skilled workmen of His Majesty David, your father.

nsb@2Chronicles:2:16 @ »We will cut all the trees for lumber you need in Lebanon. Then we will make rafts out of it and send them to you in Joppa by sea. You can take it from there to Jerusalem.«

nsb@2Chronicles:2:18 @ He directed seventy thousand of them carry heavy loads, eighty thousand of them quarry stone in the mountains, and three thousand six hundred of them supervise the work as foremen.

nsb@2Chronicles:3:1 @ Solomon began to build Jehovah’s Temple in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah. That is where Jehovah appeared to his father David. David had prepared the site on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

nsb@2Chronicles:3:2 @ He began to build on the second day in the second month of the fourth year of his reign. It was in the place David had povided.

nsb@2Chronicles:3:3 @ This is how Solomon laid the foundation to build God’s Temple. It was ninety feet long and thirty feet wide.

nsb@2Chronicles:3:6 @ He covered the building with gems to beautify it and used gold from Parvaim.

nsb@2Chronicles:3:11 @ The combined length of the cherubim wings was thirty feet. A wing of one of the cherub was seven and one half feet long and touched the wall of the building. Its other wing was seven and one half feet long and touched one wing of the other cherub.

nsb@2Chronicles:3:12 @ The wing of the other one of the cherub was seven and one half feet long and touched the other wall of the building. Its other wing was seven and one half feet long and touched the wing of the first cherub. So the cherubs’ combined wingspan was thirty feet.

nsb@2Chronicles:3:13 @ They stood on their feet facing the main hall.

nsb@2Chronicles:4:6 @ They also made ten basins, five to be placed on the south side of the Temple and five on the north side. They were to be used to rinse the parts of the animals that were burned as sacrifices. The water in the large tank was for the priests to use for washing.

nsb@2Chronicles:4:7 @ They made ten gold lamp stands according to the usual pattern, and ten tables, and placed them in the main room of the Temple.

nsb@2Chronicles:4:12 @ Two pillars, bowl-shaped crowns on top of the two pillars, and two sets of filigree to cover the two bowl-shaped crowns on top of the pillars,

nsb@2Chronicles:4:18 @ Solomon made so many of these products that no one tried to determine how much the copper weighed.

nsb@2Chronicles:4:21 @ flowers, lamps, pure gold tongs,

nsb@2Chronicles:4:22 @ snuffers, basins, dishes, incense burners of pure gold, the gold entrance to the temple, the gold doors of the most holy place, and the gold doors of the Temple.

nsb@2Chronicles:5:1 @ The work Solomon did on Jehovah’s Temple was finished. He brought the holy things that had belonged to his father David, the silver, gold, and all the utensils. He put them in the storerooms of God’s Temple.

nsb@2Chronicles:5:2 @ Then Solomon assembled the respected leaders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes, and the leaders of the Israelite families. They came to Jerusalem to take the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah from the City of David, which is Zion.

nsb@2Chronicles:5:5 @ They brought the Ark, the Tent of Meeting, and all the holy utensils in it to the Temple. The priests and the Levites carried them

nsb@2Chronicles:5:7 @ The priests brought Jehovah’s Ark of the Covenant to its place in the inner room of the Temple, the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubim.

nsb@2Chronicles:5:9 @ The poles were so long that their ends could be seen in the holy place by anyone standing in front of the inner room. However they could not be seen outside. They are still there today.

nsb@2Chronicles:5:11 @ All the priests who were present had performed the ceremonies to make themselves holy to God without regard to staying in their divisions.

nsb@2Chronicles:5:12 @ All the Levites who were musicians: Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, their sons, and their relatives were dressed in fine linen and stood east of the altar with cymbals, harps, and lyres. With the musicians were one hundred and twenty priests blowing trumpets. When the priests left the holy place,

nsb@2Chronicles:5:13 @ the trumpeters and singers praised and thanked Jehovah in unison. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other musical instruments, they sang in praise to Jehovah: »He is good; his mercy endures forever.« Then Jehovah’s Temple was filled with a cloud.

nsb@2Chronicles:6:2 @ »But I have built you a high Temple. It is a home for you to live in permanently.«

nsb@2Chronicles:6:4 @ »Thanks be to Jehovah God of Israel. With his mouth he made a promise to my father David. With his hand he carried it out.« He said:

nsb@2Chronicles:6:5 @ »Since I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I did not choose any city from the tribes of Israel as a place to build a Temple for my name. And I did not choose any man to be prince over my people Israel.

nsb@2Chronicles:6:6 @ »Now I have chosen Jerusalem to be a place for my name. I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.

nsb@2Chronicles:6:8 @ »However, Jehovah said to my father David: Since you had your heart set on building a Temple for my name, your intentions were good.

nsb@2Chronicles:6:11 @ »I put the Ark that contains Jehovah’s promise to Israel there.«

nsb@2Chronicles:6:12 @ In the presence of the entire assembly of Israel, Solomon stood in front of Jehovah’s altar. He stretched out his hands to pray.

nsb@2Chronicles:6:13 @ Solomon had made a copper platform seven and one half feet long, seven and one half feet wide, and four and one half feet high. He put it in the middle of the courtyard. He stood on the platform, knelt in front of the entire assembly, and stretched out his hands toward heaven.

nsb@2Chronicles:6:14 @ He said: »Jehovah God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven or on earth. You keep your promise of mercy to your servants, who obey you wholeheartedly.

nsb@2Chronicles:6:15 @ »You have kept your promise to my father David, your servant. With your mouth you promised it. With your hand you carried it out as it is today.

nsb@2Chronicles:6:16 @ »Now then, O Jehovah, God of Israel, keep your promise to my father David, your servant. You said: You will never fail to have an heir sitting in front of me on the throne of Israel if your descendants are faithful to me as you have been faithful to me.

nsb@2Chronicles:6:17 @ »Therefore, Jehovah, God of Israel, may the promise you made to David, your servant, come true.

nsb@2Chronicles:6:19 @ »Nevertheless, O Jehovah my God, please pay attention to my prayer for mercy. Listen to my cry for help as I pray to you.

nsb@2Chronicles:6:20 @ »Day and night may your eyes be on this Temple, the place where you said your name will be. Listen to me as I pray toward this place.

nsb@2Chronicles:6:21 @ »Hear the plea for mercy that your people Israel and I pray toward this place. Hear us in heaven, the place where you live. Hear and forgive.

nsb@2Chronicles:6:22 @ »If anyone sins against another person and is required to take an oath and comes to take the oath in front of your altar in this temple,

nsb@2Chronicles:6:25 @ then hear them in heaven, forgive the sins of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land that you gave to them and their ancestors.

nsb@2Chronicles:6:26 @ »When the sky is shut and there is no rain because they are sinning against you and they pray toward this place, praise your name, and turn away from their sin because you made them suffer,

nsb@2Chronicles:6:27 @ then hear them in heaven. Forgive the sins of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the proper way to live. Then send rain on the land, which you gave to your people as an inheritance.

nsb@2Chronicles:6:29 @ hear every prayer for mercy made by one person or by all the people in Israel, all who know suffering or pain, who stretch out their hands toward this Temple.

nsb@2Chronicles:6:31 @ as long as they live in the land that you gave to our ancestors, they will reverence you and follow you.

nsb@2Chronicles:6:32 @ »People who are not Israelites will come from distant countries because of your great name, mighty hand, and powerful arm. When they come to pray facing this Temple,

nsb@2Chronicles:6:34 @ »When your people go to war against their enemies, you send them and they pray to you toward this city you have chosen and the Temple I built for your name,

nsb@2Chronicles:6:36 @ »They may sin against you. There is no man who is without sin. You may become angry with them and hand them over to an enemy who takes them to another country as captives, whether it is far or near.

nsb@2Chronicles:6:37 @ »If they come to their senses, are sorry for what they’ve done, and plead with you in the land where they are captives, saying: We have sinned. We have done wrong. We have been wicked.

nsb@2Chronicles:6:38 @ »If they change their attitude toward you in the land where they are captives. If they pray to you toward the land that you gave their ancestors, and the city you have chosen, and the Temple I have built for your name,

nsb@2Chronicles:6:40 @ »Finally, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.

nsb@2Chronicles:6:41 @ »Now arise, and come to your resting place, Jehovah our God, you and the ark of your power. Clothe your priests, Jehovah God, with salvation. Let your godly ones rejoice in what is good.

nsb@2Chronicles:6:42 @ »O Jehovah our God, do not reject your anointed one. Remember your mercy to your servant David!«

nsb@2Chronicles:7:2 @ The priests could not go into Jehovah’s Temple because Jehovah’s glory had filled it.

nsb@2Chronicles:7:4 @ Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices to Jehovah.

nsb@2Chronicles:7:5 @ King Solomon offered twenty-two thousand cattle and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep as sacrifices to Jehovah. Thus the king and all the people dedicated God’s Temple.

nsb@2Chronicles:7:6 @ The priests were standing at their posts. So were the Levites who had Jehovah’s musical instruments that King David made for praising Jehovah. They were saying: »his mercy endures forever.« This he used to offer praise. The priests were opposite the Levites blowing trumpets while all Israel was standing there.

nsb@2Chronicles:7:7 @ Solomon designated the courtyard in front of Jehovah’s Temple as a holy place. He sacrificed the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat because the copper altar that he had made and that was in front of Jehovah was not able to hold all of them.

nsb@2Chronicles:7:8 @ Then Solomon and all Israel celebrated the Festival of Booths. A very large crowd came from the territory between the border of Hamath and the River of Egypt.

nsb@2Chronicles:7:10 @ Solomon dismissed the people to their tents on the twenty-third day of the seventh month. They rejoiced with cheerful hearts for all the blessings Jehovah had given David, Solomon, and his people Israel.

nsb@2Chronicles:7:12 @ JEHOVAH APPEARED TO SOLOMON THAT NIGHT. He said to Solomon: »I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a Temple for sacrifices.

nsb@2Chronicles:7:13 @ »I may shut the sky so that there is no rain, or command grasshoppers to devour the countryside, or send an epidemic among my people.

nsb@2Chronicles:7:15 @ »My eyes will be open! My ears will pay attention to the prayers offered at this place.

nsb@2Chronicles:7:17 @ »If you will be faithful to me as your father David was, do everything I command, and obey my laws and rules,

nsb@2Chronicles:7:18 @ »I will establish your royal dynasty just as I said in a promise to your father David, when I said: ‘You will never fail to have an heir ruling over Israel.’«

nsb@2Chronicles:7:21 @ »Everyone passing by this impressive Temple will be appalled. They will ask: Why did Jehovah do these things to this land and to this Temple?

nsb@2Chronicles:7:22 @ »They will answer their own question: ‘They abandoned Jehovah the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt. They adopted other gods, worshiped, and served them. That is why he brought this disaster on them.’«

nsb@2Chronicles:8:1 @ It took Solomon twenty years to build Jehovah’s house and his own house.

nsb@2Chronicles:8:4 @ He rebuilt Tadmor in the desert and built all the storage cities in Hamath.

nsb@2Chronicles:8:5 @ He also rebuilt Upper Beth Horon and Lower Beth Horon into cities fortified with walls, double-door gates, and bars.

nsb@2Chronicles:8:6 @ He also rebuilt Baalath and all the storage cities that he owned. He built all the cities for his chariots, all the cities for his warhorses, and whatever else he wanted to build in Jerusalem, Lebanon, or the entire territory that he governed.

nsb@2Chronicles:8:7 @ The Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites had been left in the land because the Israelites had not been able to destroy them. They were not Israelites.

nsb@2Chronicles:8:8 @ They had descendants who were still in the land. Solomon drafted them for slave labor. They are still Israel’s slaves today.

nsb@2Chronicles:8:11 @ Then Solomon brought Pharaoh’s daughter up from the city of David to the house he had built for her. He said: »My wife must not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy where the Ark of Jehovah’s Covenant has entered.«

nsb@2Chronicles:8:12 @ Solomon offered burnt offerings to Jehovah on the altar of Jehovah he had built before the porch.

nsb@2Chronicles:8:13 @ He did so according to the daily rule, offering them up according to the commandment of Moses, for the Sabbaths, the new moons and the three annual feasts, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Booths.

nsb@2Chronicles:8:14 @ As Solomon’s father David had directed, he set up the divisions of priests for their service and the divisions of Levites for their appointed places. The Levites were to lead in praising Jehovah and to serve beside the priests by doing whatever needed to be done each day. Solomon also set up divisions of doorkeepers at every gate because this was what David, the man of God, had commanded.

nsb@2Chronicles:8:15 @ No one neglected the king’s orders to the priests or the Levites in any matter, including the Temple’s finances.

nsb@2Chronicles:8:17 @ Then Solomon went to the coast near Ezion Geber and Elath in Edom.

nsb@2Chronicles:8:18 @ Huram sent his own servants and his experienced sailors with ships to Solomon. They went with Solomon’s servants to Ophir. There they procured thirty three thousand seven hundred and fifty pounds of gold, and brought it to King Solomon.

nsb@2Chronicles:9:1 @ The QUEEN OF SHEBA heard about Solomon’s reputation. So she came to Jerusalem to test him with difficult questions. She arrived with a large group of servants. They had camels carrying spices, a large quantity of gold, and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she talked with him about everything she had on her mind.

nsb@2Chronicles:9:2 @ Solomon answered all her questions. No question was too difficult for Solomon to answer.

nsb@2Chronicles:9:5 @ She told the king: »What I heard in my country about your words and your wisdom is true!

nsb@2Chronicles:9:6 @ »I did not believe the reports until I came and saw it with my own eyes. I was not even told about half of the extent of your wisdom. You have surpassed the stories I heard.

nsb@2Chronicles:9:7 @ »Your men are indeed blessed! Your servants are truly blessed. It is because they are always stationed near you and listen to your wisdom!

nsb@2Chronicles:9:8 @ »I thank Jehovah your God, who is pleased with you. He has put you on his throne to be king on behalf of Jehovah your God. Because of your God’s love for the people of Israel, he has established them permanently and made you king over them so that you would maintain justice and righteousness.«

nsb@2Chronicles:9:9 @ The queen gave the king nine thousand pounds of gold, a very large quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never was there such a large quantity of spices in Israel as those that the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon.

nsb@2Chronicles:9:10 @ Huram’s servants and Solomon’s servants who brought gold from Ophir also brought sandalwood and precious stones.

nsb@2Chronicles:9:11 @ With the sandalwood the king made gateways to Jehovah’s Temple and the royal palace. They also made lyres and harps for the singers. No one had ever seen anything like them in Judah.

nsb@2Chronicles:9:12 @ King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba anything she wanted. Whatever she asked for, more than what she had brought him. Then she and her servants went back to her country.

nsb@2Chronicles:9:13 @ The gold that came to Solomon in one year weighed forty nine thousand nine hundred and fifty pounds,

nsb@2Chronicles:9:14 @ not counting the gold that the merchants and traders brought. All the Arab kings and governors of the land also brought gold and silver to Solomon.

nsb@2Chronicles:9:18 @ Six steps led to the throne. It had a gold footstool attached to it. There were armrests on both sides of the seat. Two lions stood beside the armrests.

nsb@2Chronicles:9:19 @ Twelve lions stood on six steps, one on each side. Nothing like this had been made for any other kingdom.

nsb@2Chronicles:9:21 @ The king had ships going to Tarshish with Huram’s sailors. Once every three years the Tarshish ships would bring gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys.

nsb@2Chronicles:9:23 @ All the kings of the world wanted to listen to the wisdom that God gave Solomon.

nsb@2Chronicles:9:26 @ He ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates River to the country of the Philistines and as far as the Egyptian border.

nsb@2Chronicles:9:27 @ The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones. He made cedars as plentiful as fig trees in the foothills.

nsb@2Chronicles:9:29 @ The rest of the acts of Solomon from first to last are written in the records of Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah from Shiloh, and in Iddo the seer’s visions about Jeroboam son of Nebat.

nsb@2Chronicles:9:31 @ Solomon lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. His son Rehoboam succeeded him as king.

nsb@2Chronicles:10:1 @ Rehoboam went to Shechem because all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king.

nsb@2Chronicles:10:3 @ Israel sent for Jeroboam and invited him back. Jeroboam and all Israel went to speak to Rehoboam. They said:

nsb@2Chronicles:10:5 @ He said to them: »Come back the day after tomorrow.« So the people left.

nsb@2Chronicles:10:6 @ King Rehoboam sought advice from the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive. He asked: »What do you advise? How should I respond to these people?«

nsb@2Chronicles:10:7 @ They told him: »If you are good to these people and try to please them by speaking gently to them, then they will always be your servants.«

nsb@2Chronicles:10:9 @ He asked: »What is your advice? How should we respond to these people who are asking me to lighten the burden my father put on them?«

nsb@2Chronicles:10:11 @ »‘If my father put a heavy burden on you, I will add to it. If my father punished you with whips, I will punish you with scorpions.’«

nsb@2Chronicles:10:12 @ So Jeroboam and all the people came back to Rehoboam two days later, as the king had instructed them.

nsb@2Chronicles:10:14 @ He spoke to them as the young men advised. He said: »If my father made your burden heavy, I will add to it. If my father punished you with whips, I will use scorpions.«

nsb@2Chronicles:10:15 @ The king refused to listen to the people because Jehovah was directing these events to carry out the promise he had made to Jeroboam, Nebat’s son through Ahijah from Shiloh.

nsb@2Chronicles:10:16 @ When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, the people answered the king: »What share do we have in David’s kingdom? We will not receive an inheritance from Jesse’s son. Everyone to his own tent, Israel! Now look after your own house, David!« So all Israel went home to their tents.

nsb@2Chronicles:10:18 @ King Rehoboam sent Hadoram to the Israelites. He was in charge of forced labor, but they stoned him to death. So King Rehoboam got on his chariot as fast as he could and fled to Jerusalem.

nsb@2Chronicles:10:19 @ Israel has rebelled against David’s dynasty to this day.

nsb@2Chronicles:11:1 @ Rehoboam came to Jerusalem and gathered the people of Judah and Benjamin. There were one hundred and eighty thousand of the best soldiers, to fight against Israel and return the kingdom to Rehoboam.

nsb@2Chronicles:11:2 @ God spoke his word to Shemaiah, the man of God. He said:

nsb@2Chronicles:11:3 @ »Speak to Judah’s King Rehoboam, son of Solomon, and all Israel in Judah and Benjamin.«

nsb@2Chronicles:11:12 @ He stored shields and spears in each city. He made the cities very secure. Rehoboam held on to Judah and Benjamin.

nsb@2Chronicles:11:14 @ The priests abandoned their land and property and went to Judah and Jerusalem because Jeroboam and his descendants rejected them as Jehovah’s priests.

nsb@2Chronicles:11:16 @ People from every tribe of Israel who were determined to seek Jehovah the true God of Israel followed the Levitical priests to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Jehovah God of their ancestors.

nsb@2Chronicles:11:19 @ Mahalath gave birth to the following sons: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.

nsb@2Chronicles:11:20 @ After marrying Mahalath, he married Maacah, Absalom’s granddaughter. She gave birth to Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

nsb@2Chronicles:12:2 @ King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. This took place in the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign. It happened because all Israel was not loyal to Jehovah.

nsb@2Chronicles:12:5 @ Shemaiah the prophet approached Rehoboam and the princes of Judah who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak. He said to them: »Jehovah says: ‘You have forsaken me, so I also have forsaken you to Shishak.’«

nsb@2Chronicles:12:7 @ Jehovah saw that they humbled themselves. The word of Jehovah came to Shemaiah. He said: »They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them. I will grant them deliverance. I will not use Shishak to pour out my anger on Jerusalem.

nsb@2Chronicles:12:9 @ King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem and took away the treasures from Jehovah’s temple and the royal palace. He took them all! He even took the gold shields Solomon had made.

nsb@2Chronicles:12:10 @ As a result King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them. He put them by the entrance to the royal palace, where the captains of the guards were stationed.

nsb@2Chronicles:12:11 @ When the king went into Jehovah’s Temple, guards carried the shields and then returned them to the guardroom.

nsb@2Chronicles:12:13 @ King Rehoboam strengthened his position in Jerusalem and ruled. He was forty-one years old when he began to rule. He ruled for seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city that Jehovah chose from all the tribes of Israel, and the city where Jehovah put his name. Rehoboam’s mother was an Ammonite woman named Naamah.

nsb@2Chronicles:12:14 @ He did evil because he did not seriously dedicate his life to Jehovah.

nsb@2Chronicles:12:15 @ The events concerning Rehoboam from first to last are written in the records of the prophet Shemaiah and the records of the seer Iddo in the genealogies? There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam as long as they lived.

nsb@2Chronicles:12:16 @ Rehoboam lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. His son Abijah succeeded him as king.

nsb@2Chronicles:13:4 @ The armies met in the hill country of Ephraim. King Abijah went up Mount Zemaraim and called out to Jeroboam and the Israelites: »Listen to me!« He shouted.

nsb@2Chronicles:13:5 @ »Do you not know that Jehovah, the God of Israel, made an unbreakable covenant with David, giving him and his descendants kingship over Israel from generation to generation?

nsb@2Chronicles:13:7 @ »Later he organized a group of worthless scoundrels. They forced their will on Rehoboam son of Solomon, who was too young and inexperienced to resist them.

nsb@2Chronicles:13:8 @ »Now you plan to fight against the royal authority Jehovah gave to David’s descendants. You have a huge army! You have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made to be your gods.

nsb@2Chronicles:13:12 @ »God is with us as our leader. His priests will sound their trumpets to call the army to fight you. Men of Israel do not wage war against Jehovah the God of your ancestors. You will not succeed.«

nsb@2Chronicles:13:13 @ Jeroboam set an ambush to attack them from behind. So Jeroboam’s army was in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them.

nsb@2Chronicles:13:14 @ Judah’s soldiers looked around and found the battle was in front of them and behind them. They cried out to Jehovah! The priests blew the trumpets,

nsb@2Chronicles:13:16 @ The Israelites fled from Judah’s army. God handed them over to Judah.

nsb@2Chronicles:13:18 @ The Israelites were humbled at that time. The people of Judah won because they trusted Jehovah God of their ancestors.

nsb@2Chronicles:13:20 @ Jeroboam never regained power during Abijah’s time. Jehovah caused Jeroboam to become sick, and Jeroboam died.

nsb@2Chronicles:13:22 @ The history of Abijah, including how he lived, is written by the prophet Iddo.

nsb@2Chronicles:14:1 @ Abijah slept in death with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. His son Asa succeeded him as king. In Asa’s time the land had peace for ten years.

nsb@2Chronicles:14:3 @ He got rid of the altars of foreign gods. He broke down the sacred stones. He cut down the poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah.

nsb@2Chronicles:14:4 @ He told the people of Judah to dedicate their lives to Jehovah. They were to serve the God of their ancestors and observe his teachings and commandments.

nsb@2Chronicles:14:7 @ Asa told Judah: »Let us build these cities and make walls around them with towers and doors that can be barred. The country is still ours because we have dedicated our lives to serve Jehovah our God. We have dedicated our lives to him. He has surrounded us with peace.« So they built the cities, and everything went well.

nsb@2Chronicles:14:9 @ Zerah from Ethiopia led an army of a million soldiers and three hundred chariots to the town of Mareshah in Judah.

nsb@2Chronicles:14:11 @ Asa prayed: »Jehovah, only you can help a powerless army defeat a stronger one. We depend on you to help us. We will fight against this powerful army to honor your name! We know that you will not be defeated. You are Jehovah our God. Do not let man prevail against you.«

nsb@2Chronicles:14:13 @ Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. It was a total defeat! The Ethiopians could not even fight back! The soldiers from Judah took everything that had belonged to the Ethiopians.

nsb@2Chronicles:14:14 @ Asa and his army attacked all the cities around Gerar because the cities were in dread of Jehovah. The army looted all the cities because there were many things to take.

nsb@2Chronicles:14:15 @ They also attacked those who were letting their cattle graze and captured many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.

nsb@2Chronicles:15:1 @ God’s Spirit came to Azariah, son of Oded.

nsb@2Chronicles:15:2 @ Azariah went to Asa and said: »Listen to me Asa and all you men from Judah and Benjamin. Jehovah is with you when you are with him. If you will dedicate your lives to serve him, he will accept you. But if you abandon him, he will abandon you.

nsb@2Chronicles:15:4 @ »When they were in trouble they turned to Jehovah the God of Israel. When they searched for him, he let them find him.

nsb@2Chronicles:15:6 @ »One nation crushed another nation. One city crushed another. God tormented them with every kind of trouble.

nsb@2Chronicles:15:9 @ Then Asa gathered all the people from Judah and Benjamin and the foreigners who had come from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon. Many of them had come to him from Israel when they saw that Asa’s God, Jehovah, was with him.

nsb@2Chronicles:15:11 @ They sacrificed to Jehovah a part of the loot they brought with them: seven hundred cattle and seven thousand sheep.

nsb@2Chronicles:15:12 @ They made an agreement with one another to dedicate their lives to serve the true God Jehovah, the God of their ancestors with all their heart and all their being.

nsb@2Chronicles:15:13 @ All people, young and old, male and female, who refused to dedicate their lives to the true God Jehovah the God of Israel were to be killed.

nsb@2Chronicles:15:14 @ Asa and the people swore their oath to Jehovah with shouts, singing, and the blowing of trumpets and rams’ horns.

nsb@2Chronicles:15:15 @ All the people of Judah were overjoyed because of the oath. They took the oath wholeheartedly. They took great pleasure in looking for Jehovah. And he let them find him. So Jehovah surrounded them with rest and peace.

nsb@2Chronicles:15:17 @ Although the illegal worship sites in Israel were not taken down, Asa remained committed to Jehovah his entire life.

nsb@2Chronicles:15:18 @ He brought into God’s Temple the silver, the gold, and the utensils he and his father had set apart as holy.

nsb@2Chronicles:16:1 @ It was the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign. King Baasha of Israel invaded Judah and built fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from going to or coming from King Asa of Judah.

nsb@2Chronicles:16:2 @ Then Asa brought out all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of Jehovah’s Temple and the royal palace. He sent them to Damascus to King Benhadad.

nsb@2Chronicles:16:4 @ Benhadad agreed to do what King Asa requested. He sent his generals and their armies to attack the cities of Israel. He conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storage cities in the territory of Naphtali.

nsb@2Chronicles:16:5 @ When King Baasha heard what happened he stopped fortifying Ramah and abandoned the work.

nsb@2Chronicles:16:6 @ King Asa gathered men from throughout Judah and had them carry off the stones and timbers that Baasha had been using at Ramah. They used them to fortify the cities of Geba and Mizpah.

nsb@2Chronicles:16:7 @ Then the prophet Hanani went to King Asa. He said: »Because you relied on the king of Syria instead of relying on Jehovah your God, the army of the king of Israel has escaped from you.

nsb@2Chronicles:16:8 @ »The Ethiopians and the Libyans, did they have large armies with many chariots and cavalry troops? But because you relied on Jehovah he gave you victory over them.

nsb@2Chronicles:16:9 @ »The eyes of Jehovah keep close watch over the entire world. He gives strength to those whose hearts are loyal to him. You have acted foolishly! Therefore from now on you will always be at war.«

nsb@2Chronicles:16:11 @ All the events of Asa’s reign from beginning to end are recorded in The History of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

nsb@2Chronicles:16:12 @ In the thirty-ninth year that Asa was king a severe foot disease crippled him. Even then he did not turn to Jehovah for help, but to doctors.

nsb@2Chronicles:16:14 @ Asa was buried in the rock tomb that he had carved out for himself in David’s City. They used spices and perfumed oils to prepare his body for burial. They built a huge bonfire to mourn his death.

nsb@2Chronicles:17:2 @ He stationed troops in the fortified cities of Judah. He also put troops in the Judean countryside, and in the cities that Asa had captured in the territory of Ephraim.

nsb@2Chronicles:17:6 @ His heart was devoted to the ways of Jehovah. He destroyed all the pagan places of worship and the symbols of the goddess Asherah in Judah.

nsb@2Chronicles:17:7 @ In the third year of his reign he sent out the following officials to teach in the cities of Judah: Benhail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah.

nsb@2Chronicles:17:8 @ With them were the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, Tob Adonijah, and the priests Elishama and Jehoram.

nsb@2Chronicles:17:9 @ They taught in Judah. They had the Book of Torah with them when they taught the people in all the cities of Judah.

nsb@2Chronicles:17:12 @ Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful. He built fortresses and cities where supplies were stored in Judah.

nsb@2Chronicles:17:13 @ He stored large supplies of food in the cities of Judah and an army of professional soldiers served him in Jerusalem.

nsb@2Chronicles:17:15 @ next to him was Commander Jehohanan with two hundred and eighty thousand men.

nsb@2Chronicles:17:16 @ There was Amasiah, Zichri’s son, who volunteered to serve Jehovah with two hundred thousand fighting men.

nsb@2Chronicles:17:18 @ Next to him was Jehozabad with an army of one hundred and eighty thousand armed men.

nsb@2Chronicles:17:19 @ These were the men who served the king in addition to those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout Judah.

nsb@2Chronicles:18:2 @ After that he went to visit Ahab in Samaria. Ahab slaughtered many sheep and cattle for a banquet in honor of Jehoshaphat and the people who were with him. Ahab persuaded Jehoshaphat to attack Ramoth in Gilead with him.

nsb@2Chronicles:18:3 @ He asked: »Will you go with me to attack Ramoth?« Jehoshaphat replied: »I am ready when you are. My army is ready. We will join you.«

nsb@2Chronicles:18:5 @ Ahab called in about four hundred prophets. He asked them: »Should I go and attack Ramoth, or not?« »Attack it,« they answered. »God will give you victory.«

nsb@2Chronicles:18:8 @ Consequently King Ahab called in a court official and told him to go and get Micaiah at once.

nsb@2Chronicles:18:10 @ One of them, Zedekiah son of Chenaanah, made iron horns and said to Ahab: This is what Jehovah says: »With these you will fight the Syrians and totally defeat them.«

nsb@2Chronicles:18:11 @ All the other prophets said the same thing. »March against Ramoth and you will win,« they said. Jehovah will give you victory.

nsb@2Chronicles:18:12 @ The official who had gone to get Micaiah said to him: All the other prophets have prophesied success for the king. You had better do the same.

nsb@2Chronicles:18:13 @ But Micaiah answered: »By the living God Jehovah I will say what my God tells me to say.«

nsb@2Chronicles:18:14 @ When he appeared before King Ahab, the king asked him: »Micaiah, should King Jehoshaphat and I go and attack Ramoth, or not?« »Attack!« Micaiah answered. »You will win! Jehovah will give you victory.«

nsb@2Chronicles:18:15 @ Ahab replied: »When you speak to me in the name of Jehovah, tell the truth! How many times do I have to tell you that?«

nsb@2Chronicles:18:17 @ Ahab said to Jehoshaphat: »I told you that he never prophesies anything good for me. It is always something bad!«

nsb@2Chronicles:18:18 @ Micaiah continued: »Now listen to what Jehovah says! I saw Jehovah sitting on his throne in heaven. All his angels were standing beside him.«

nsb@2Chronicles:18:22 @ Micaiah concluded: »This is what has happened. Jehovah made these prophets of yours lie to you. But he has decreed that you will meet with disaster!«

nsb@2Chronicles:18:23 @ Then the prophet Zedekiah went up to Micaiah and slapped his face. He asked: »Since when did Jehovah’s spirit leave me and speak to you?«

nsb@2Chronicles:18:24 @ »You will find out when you go into some back room to hide,« Micaiah replied.

nsb@2Chronicles:18:25 @ Then King Ahab ordered one of his officers: »Arrest Micaiah and take him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Prince Joash.«

nsb@2Chronicles:18:27 @ Micaiah said: »If you really do come back safely, then Jehovah was not speaking through me. Pay attention to this, everyone!«

nsb@2Chronicles:18:28 @ Thus the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to Ramoth in Gilead.

nsb@2Chronicles:18:29 @ The king of Israel told Jehoshaphat: »I will disguise myself and go into battle. You, however, should wear your royal robes.« So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

nsb@2Chronicles:18:30 @ The king of Aram gave orders to the chariot commanders. He said: »Do not fight anyone except the king of Israel.«

nsb@2Chronicles:18:31 @ When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said: »He must be the king of Israel.« So they surrounded him in order to fight him. When Jehoshaphat cried out Jehovah helped him. God drew them away from him.

nsb@2Chronicles:18:33 @ One man aimed his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between his scale armor and his breastplate. Ahab told the chariot driver: »Turn around, and get me away from these troops for I am badly wounded.«

nsb@2Chronicles:19:1 @ King Jehoshaphat of Judah returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem.

nsb@2Chronicles:19:2 @ A prophet, Jehu son of Hanani, went to meet the king. He said to him: »Do you think it is right to help those who are wicked and to take the side of those who hate Jehovah? What you have done has brought Jehovah’s anger upon you.

nsb@2Chronicles:19:3 @ »Regardless of this, there is some good in you. You have removed all the symbols of the goddess Asherah that people worshiped. You have tried to follow God’s will.«

nsb@2Chronicles:19:4 @ While Jehoshaphat was living in Jerusalem, he regularly went to the people between Beersheba and the mountains of Ephraim. He brought the people back to Jehovah the God of their ancestors.

nsb@2Chronicles:19:6 @ He told the judges: »Be careful when you make your decisions in court. Remember these are Jehovah’s people. He will know the judgements you decide.

nsb@2Chronicles:19:7 @ »Do your work in honor of him and know that he will not allow you to be unfair to anyone or to take bribes.«

nsb@2Chronicles:19:8 @ Jehoshaphat also appointed some Levites, some priests, and some of the family leaders to serve as judges in Jerusalem.

nsb@2Chronicles:19:9 @ He told them: »Faithfully serve Jehovah!

nsb@2Chronicles:19:10 @ »Warn your relatives living in other cities about every case they bring to you, even if the case involves bloodshed or commandments, rules, or regulations derived from the law. Then your relatives will not become guilty in front of Jehovah. Otherwise, he will become angry with you and your relatives. Do this and you will not be guilty of anything.

nsb@2Chronicles:20:1 @ Shortly after that the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat.

nsb@2Chronicles:20:2 @ Some men reported to Jehoshaphat: »A large crowd is coming against you from the other side of the Dead Sea, from Edom. The crowd is already in Hazazon Tamar.«

nsb@2Chronicles:20:3 @ Jehoshaphat was frightened and decided to ask for Jehovah’s help. He announced a fast throughout Judah.

nsb@2Chronicles:20:4 @ The people of Judah gathered to seek Jehovah’s help. They came from every city in Judah.

nsb@2Chronicles:20:5 @ In the new courtyard at Jehovah’s Temple, Jehoshaphat stood in front of the people.

nsb@2Chronicles:20:6 @ He prayed aloud: »O Jehovah, God of our ancestors, you rule in heaven over all the nations of the world. You are powerful and mighty. No one can oppose you.

nsb@2Chronicles:20:7 @ »You are our God. When your people Israel moved into this land, you drove out the people who were living here and gave the land to the descendants of Abraham, your friend, to be theirs from generation to generation.

nsb@2Chronicles:20:8 @ »Our ancestors lived in this land and built a Temple to honor you.

nsb@2Chronicles:20:9 @ »They believed that whenever this land is struck by war, judgement, disease, or famine, your people can pray to you at the Temple. You will hear their prayer and save them.

nsb@2Chronicles:20:10 @ »You can see that the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Edom are attacking us! Those are the nations you would not let our ancestors invade on their way from Egypt. Consequently these nations were not destroyed.

nsb@2Chronicles:20:11 @ »They are now paying us back by coming to force us out of your land that you gave to us.

nsb@2Chronicles:20:12 @ »You are our God. Will you judge them? We do not have the strength to face this large crowd that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, so we are looking to you.«

nsb@2Chronicles:20:14 @ Then Jehovah’s Spirit came to Jahaziel. He was the son of Zechariah, grandson of Benaiah, great-grandson of Jeiel, whose father was Mattaniah, a Levite descended from Asaph.

nsb@2Chronicles:20:15 @ Jahaziel said: »Pay attention to me, everyone from Judah, everyone living in Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what Jehovah says to you: ‘Do not be frightened or terrified by this large crowd. The battle is not yours. It is God’s.

nsb@2Chronicles:20:16 @ »‘Attack them tomorrow as they come up the pass at Ziz. Meet them at the end of the valley that leads to the wild country near Jeruel.

nsb@2Chronicles:20:17 @ »‘You will not have to fight this battle. Just take up your positions and wait. You will see Jehovah give you victory. People of Judah and Jerusalem, do not hesitate or be afraid.’ Go out to battle. Jehovah will be with you!

nsb@2Chronicles:20:18 @ »Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low. His face was touching the ground. All the people bowed with him and worshiped Jehovah.

nsb@2Chronicles:20:19 @ »The members of the Levite clans of Kohath and Korah stood up and with a loud shout praised Jehovah, the God of Israel.

nsb@2Chronicles:20:20 @ »Early the next morning the people went out to the wild country near Tekoa. Before they began Jehoshaphat addressed them with these words: ‘People of Judah and Jerusalem! Put your trust in Jehovah your God. You will stand your ground. Believe what his prophets tell you, and you will succeed.

nsb@2Chronicles:20:21 @ »After consulting with the people, the king ordered some musicians to put on the robes they wore on sacred occasions and to march ahead of the army. They sang: ‘Praise Jehovah! His love is eternal!’«

nsb@2Chronicles:20:24 @ Judah’s army reached the tower that overlooked the desert. They saw that every soldier in the enemy’s army was lying dead on the ground.

nsb@2Chronicles:20:25 @ Jehoshaphat and his troops came to take the loot. They found among them a lot of goods, clothes, and valuables. They found more than they could carry. They spent three days collecting the loot.

nsb@2Chronicles:20:26 @ They gathered in the valley of Beracah on the fourth day. Because they thanked Jehovah there, that place is still called the »Valley of Beracah« today.

nsb@2Chronicles:20:27 @ All the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned to Jerusalem. They rejoiced while Jehoshaphat led them. Jehovah gave them a reason to rejoice about what had happened to their enemies.

nsb@2Chronicles:20:28 @ They brought harps, lyres, and trumpets to Jehovah’s Temple in Jerusalem.

nsb@2Chronicles:20:31 @ Jehoshaphat ruled as king of Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he began to rule. He ruled for twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah, daughter of Shilhi.

nsb@2Chronicles:20:33 @ However the illegal worship sites on the hills were not torn down. The people still did not have their hearts set on the God of their ancestors.

nsb@2Chronicles:20:34 @ Everything else about Jehoshaphat from first to last is written in the records of Jehu, son of Hanani, which is included in the Book of the Kings of Israel.

nsb@2Chronicles:20:35 @ After this, King Jehoshaphat of Judah allied himself with King Ahaziah of Israel, who led him to do evil.

nsb@2Chronicles:20:36 @ Jehoshaphat joined him in making ships to go to Tarshish. They made the ships in Ezion Geber.

nsb@2Chronicles:20:37 @ Eliezer was the son of Dodavahu from Mareshah. He prophesied against Jehoshaphat. He said: »Jehovah will destroy your work because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah.« The ships were wrecked and could not go to Tarshish.

nsb@2Chronicles:21:1 @ Jehoshaphat died and was buried in the royal tombs in David’s City and his son Jehoram succeeded him as king.

nsb@2Chronicles:21:7 @ Jehovah was not willing to destroy the dynasty of David. This is because he made a covenant with David and promised that his descendants would always continue to rule.

nsb@2Chronicles:21:9 @ Jehoram took all his chariot commanders to attack. The Edomites and their chariot commanders surrounded him. He got up during the night and broke through their lines.

nsb@2Chronicles:21:10 @ So Edom rebelled against Judah’s rule and is still independent today. At the same time Edom rebelled, Libnah rebelled because Jehoram had abandoned Jehovah the God of his ancestors.

nsb@2Chronicles:21:11 @ Jehoram made illegal places of worship in the hills of Judah. This caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to chase after foreign gods as if they were prostitutes. So he led Judah astray.

nsb@2Chronicles:21:12 @ A letter came to him from the prophet Elijah. It read: This is what Jehovah the God of your ancestor David says: You have not followed the ways of your father Jehoshaphat or the ways of King Asa of Judah.

nsb@2Chronicles:21:13 @ Instead, you have followed the ways of the kings of Israel. You, like Ahab’s family, have caused Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to chase after foreign gods as if they were prostitutes. You have killed your brothers, your father’s family. Your brothers were better than you.

nsb@2Chronicles:21:14 @ Jehovah will strike a great blow to your people, your sons, your wives, and all your property because you did this.

nsb@2Chronicles:21:15 @ You will be affected by a painful stomach disease and suffer until you die.

nsb@2Chronicles:21:16 @ Later Jehovah caused the Philistines and the Arabs who lived near the Ethiopians to become angry with Jehoram.

nsb@2Chronicles:21:17 @ They invaded Judah and stole the royal property from the palace. They led Jehoram’s wives and sons away as prisoners. The only one left behind was Ahaziah, his youngest son.

nsb@2Chronicles:21:18 @ After this happened; Jehovah struck Jehoram with an incurable stomach disease.

nsb@2Chronicles:21:19 @ Two years later Jehoram died in terrible pain. No bonfire was built to honor him. The people had done this for his ancestors, but not him.

nsb@2Chronicles:21:20 @ Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king. He ruled eight years from Jerusalem. He died, and no one even felt sad. He was buried in Jerusalem, but not in the royal tombs.

nsb@2Chronicles:22:1 @ The people of Jerusalem made Jehoram’s youngest son Ahaziah king in his place, because the raiders who came to the camp with the Arabs had killed all the older sons. So Jehoram’s son Ahaziah became king of Judah.

nsb@2Chronicles:22:2 @ Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to rule. He ruled for one year in Jerusalem. His mother was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri.

nsb@2Chronicles:22:3 @ Ahaziah also followed the ways of Ahab’s family, because his mother gave him advice that led him to sin.

nsb@2Chronicles:22:4 @ He did what Jehovah considered evil the same as Ahab’s family had done. After his father died, they advised him to do what Ahab’s family had done. They did this to destroy him.

nsb@2Chronicles:22:6 @ He returned to the city of Jezreel to recover from his wounds. Ahaziah went there to visit him.

nsb@2Chronicles:22:7 @ God used this visit to Joram to bring about Ahaziah’s downfall. While Ahaziah was there, a man named Jehu confronted him and Joram. Jehu was the son of Nimshi, whom Jehovah chose to destroy the dynasty of Ahab.

nsb@2Chronicles:22:9 @ A search was made for Ahaziah. He was found hiding in Samaria. They took him to Jehu and put him to death. But they did bury his body out of respect for his grandfather King Jehoshaphat, who had done all he could to serve Jehovah. No member of Ahaziah’s family was left who could rule the kingdom.

nsb@2Chronicles:22:10 @ When King Ahaziah’s mother Athaliah learned of her son’s murder, she gave orders for all the members of the royal family of Judah to be killed.

nsb@2Chronicles:22:11 @ Ahaziah had a half sister, Jehosheba, who was married to a priest named Jehoiada. She secretly rescued one of Ahaziah’s sons, Joash, took him away from the other princes who were about to be murdered. She hid him and a nurse in a bedroom at the Temple. By keeping him hidden, she saved him from death at the hands of Athaliah.

nsb@2Chronicles:23:1 @ After a six-year wait Jehoiada the priest decided that it was time to take action. He made a pact with five army officers: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zichri.

nsb@2Chronicles:23:2 @ They went around Judah, gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah and the leaders of the families of Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

nsb@2Chronicles:23:3 @ The entire assembly made an agreement with the king in God’s Temple. Then Jehoiada said to them: Here is the king’s son. He should be king, as Jehovah said about David’s descendants.

nsb@2Chronicles:23:6 @ Only the priests and Levites who are on duty should come into Jehovah’s Temple. They may enter because they are holy. The other people should follow Jehovah’s regulations.

nsb@2Chronicles:23:7 @ The Levites should surround the king. Each man should have his weapon in his hand. Kill anyone who tries to come into the Temple. Stay with the king wherever he goes.

nsb@2Chronicles:23:8 @ The Levites and all the Judeans did what the priest Jehoiada had ordered them. Each took his men who were coming on duty on the day of worship as well as those who were about to go off duty. Jehoiada did not dismiss the priestly divisions.

nsb@2Chronicles:23:9 @ Jehoiada gave the commanders the spears and the small and large shields. They once belonged to King David but were now in God’s Temple.

nsb@2Chronicles:23:10 @ The troops stood with their weapons drawn. They were stationed around the king, the altar and the Temple. They were located from the south side to the north side of the Temple.

nsb@2Chronicles:23:12 @ Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king. She entered into the house of Jehovah to the people.

nsb@2Chronicles:23:13 @ She saw the king was standing by his pillar at the entrance. The captains and the trumpeters were beside the king. All the people of the land rejoiced and blew trumpets. The singers with their musical instruments lead the praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and said: »This is treason! Treason!«

nsb@2Chronicles:23:14 @ Jehoiada did not want Athaliah killed in the Temple area. He called out the army officers and said: »Take her out between the rows of guards. Kill anyone who tries to rescue her.«

nsb@2Chronicles:23:15 @ They seized her and took her to the palace. There at the Horse Gate they killed her.

nsb@2Chronicles:23:17 @ Then they all went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols. Then they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars.

nsb@2Chronicles:23:18 @ Jehoiada put the priests and Levites in charge of the work of the Temple. They were to carry out the duties assigned to them by King David. This included burning the sacrifices offered to Jehovah in accordance with the Law of Moses. They were also in charge of the music and the celebrations.

nsb@2Chronicles:23:20 @ He took the company commanders, the nobles, the people’s governors, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king from Jehovah’s Temple. They went through Upper Gate to the royal palace and seated the king on the royal throne. The nobles, the governors of the people, and

nsb@2Chronicles:24:1 @ Joash began to rule when he was seven years old. He ruled for forty years in Jerusalem. His mother was Zibiah from Beersheba.

nsb@2Chronicles:24:4 @ Joash wanted to renovate Jehovah’s Temple.

nsb@2Chronicles:24:5 @ He gathered the priests and the Levites and said to them: »Go to the cities of Judah, and collect money throughout Israel to repair the Temple of your God every year. Do it immediately!« But the Levites did not do it immediately.

nsb@2Chronicles:24:6 @ The king called for the chief priest Jehoiada and asked him: »Why have you not required the Levites to bring the contributions from Judah and Jerusalem? Jehovah’s servant Moses and the assembly required Israel to give contributions for the use of the Tent of Testimony of God’s promise.«

nsb@2Chronicles:24:7 @ The sons of that wicked woman Athaliah had broken into God’s Temple and used all the holy things of Jehovah’s Temple to worship other gods, the Baals.

nsb@2Chronicles:24:9 @ They issued a proclamation in Judah and Jerusalem that the contributions should be brought to Jehovah. Moses required Israel to make contributions while they were in the desert.

nsb@2Chronicles:24:10 @ All the officials and all the people were filled with joy. They brought money and dropped it into the box until it was full.

nsb@2Chronicles:24:11 @ When the Levites brought the box to the king’s officers and they saw a lot of money. The king’s scribe and the chief priest’s officer would empty the box and put it back in its place. They would do this every day. They collected a lot of money.

nsb@2Chronicles:24:12 @ The king and Jehoiada gave the money to the foremen who were working on Jehovah’s Temple. They hired masons and carpenters to renovate Jehovah’s Temple. They also hired men who worked with iron and bronze to repair Jehovah’s Temple.

nsb@2Chronicles:24:13 @ The men worked and the project progressed under the foremen’s guidance. They restored God’s Temple to its proper condition and reinforced it.

nsb@2Chronicles:24:14 @ When the repairs were finished, the remaining gold and silver was given to the king and Jehoiada. They used it to have bowls and other utensils made for the Temple. As long as Jehoiada was alive, sacrifices were offered regularly at the Temple.

nsb@2Chronicles:24:16 @ He was buried in the royal tombs in Jerusalem. This was because he had done so much good for the people of Israel, for God, and for the Temple.

nsb@2Chronicles:24:17 @ After the death of Jehoiada the priest, the leaders of Judah went to Joash and talked him into doing what they wanted.

nsb@2Chronicles:24:18 @ The people of Judah stopped worshiping in the Temple of Jehovah God. They started worshiping idols and the symbols of the goddess Asherah. These sinful things made Jehovah God angry with the people of Judah and Jerusalem,

nsb@2Chronicles:24:19 @ However he still sent prophets who warned them to turn back to him. The people refused to listen.

nsb@2Chronicles:24:20 @ God’s Spirit spoke to Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. Zechariah told everyone that God was saying: »Why are you disobeying me and my Laws? This will only bring punishment! You have deserted me, so now I will desert you.«

nsb@2Chronicles:24:21 @ They plotted against Zechariah. Then they followed the king’s order and stoned him to death in the courtyard of Jehovah’s Temple.

nsb@2Chronicles:24:22 @ King Joash forgot that Zechariah’s father had always been a loyal friend. So when the people of Judah plotted to kill Zechariah, Joash joined them and gave orders for them to stone him to death in the courtyard of the Temple. As Zechariah was dying, he said: »I pray that Jehovah will see this and punish all of you.«

nsb@2Chronicles:24:23 @ The Aramean army attacked Joash at year’s end. They came to Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the people’s leaders. The Arameans sent all the loot they took from Judah and Jerusalem to the king of Damascus.

nsb@2Chronicles:24:24 @ The Aramean army came with a small number of men. Jehovah handed Joash’s large army over to them because Joash’s soldiers had abandoned Jehovah the God of their ancestors. So the Arameans carried out Jehovah’s judgment on Joash.

nsb@2Chronicles:24:25 @ The Arameans withdrew. They left him suffering from many wounds. His own officials plotted against him for murdering the son of the priest Jehoiada. They killed Joash in his bed and buried him in the City of David. But they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.

nsb@2Chronicles:25:1 @ Amaziah began to rule at age twenty-five. He ruled for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jehoaddan from Jerusalem.

nsb@2Chronicles:25:4 @ He did not execute their children. He obeyed Jehovah’s command written in the Book of Moses’ Teachings: »Parents must never be put to death for the crimes of their children, and children must never be put to death for the crimes of their parents. Each person must be put to death for his own crime.«

nsb@2Chronicles:25:5 @ Amaziah called the people of Judah together and assigned them by families to regiment and battalion commanders for all of Judah and Benjamin. He organized those who were at least twenty years old. He had three hundred thousand of the best men for the army, those who could handle a spear and a shield.

nsb@2Chronicles:25:8 @ »If you go into battle with them God will use the enemy to defeat you. It does not matter how courageous you are because God has the power to help you or to defeat you.«

nsb@2Chronicles:25:10 @ Amaziah dismissed the troops that had come to him from Ephraim. They became furious with Judah and returned home.

nsb@2Chronicles:25:11 @ Amaziah courageously led his troops. When he came to the Dead Sea region, he killed ten thousand men from Seir.

nsb@2Chronicles:25:12 @ The Judeans captured another ten thousand alive. They took them to the top of a cliff, and threw them off the top of the cliff so that they were dismembered.

nsb@2Chronicles:25:13 @ The troops that Amaziah sent back so that they couldn’t go with him into battle raided the towns in Judah from Samaria to Beth Horon. They killed three thousand people and took a lot of goods.

nsb@2Chronicles:25:14 @ After Amaziah came back from defeating the Edomites, he brought the gods of the people of Seir, set them up as his gods, bowed down to them, and burned sacrifices to them.

nsb@2Chronicles:25:15 @ Jehovah became angry with Amaziah. He sent him a prophet who asked: »Why do you dedicate your life to serving the gods of those people? Those gods could not save their own people from you!«

nsb@2Chronicles:25:16 @ The king asked him: »Did we make you an adviser to the king? Stop! Do you want me to have you killed?« The prophet stopped. He said: »I know that God has decided to destroy you because you did this. Yet you refuse to listen to my advice.«

nsb@2Chronicles:25:17 @ After receiving counsel from his advisers, King Amaziah of Judah sent messengers to King Jehoash, son of Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu of Israel, to declare war on Israel.

nsb@2Chronicles:25:18 @ King Jehoash of Israel sent this message to King Amaziah of Judah: »A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon. It said: ‘Let your daughter marry my son, but a wild animal from Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle.

nsb@2Chronicles:25:19 @ »‘You say you defeated Edom. Now you have become arrogant enough to look for more fame. Stay home! Why must you invite disaster and your own defeat and take Judah with you?’«

nsb@2Chronicles:25:20 @ But Amaziah would not listen. God made this happen because he wanted to hand over the Judeans to Jehoash because they had sought help from Edom’s gods.

nsb@2Chronicles:25:22 @ Israel defeated the army of Judah. The Judeans fled to their homes.

nsb@2Chronicles:25:23 @ King Jehoash of Israel captured King Amaziah, son of Joash and grandson of Ahaziah of Judah, at Beth Shemesh and brought him to Jerusalem. He tore down a six hundred foot section of the wall around Jerusalem from Ephraim Gate to Corner Gate.

nsb@2Chronicles:25:24 @ He took all the gold, silver, and all the utensils he found in God’s temple with Obed Edom and in the royal palace treasury. He also took hostages. Then he returned to Samaria.

nsb@2Chronicles:25:26 @ Everything else about Amaziah, from beginning to end, is written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

nsb@2Chronicles:25:27 @ Amaziah turned away from Jehovah. So conspirators in Jerusalem plotted against him. Amaziah fled to Lachish, but they sent men to Lachish after him and killed him there.

nsb@2Chronicles:25:28 @ They brought him back by horse and buried him in the city of Judah with his ancestors.

nsb@2Chronicles:26:1 @ All the people of Judah took Uzziah and made him king in place of his father Amaziah.

nsb@2Chronicles:26:2 @ Uzziah rebuilt Elath and returned it to Judah after King Amaziah slept in death.

nsb@2Chronicles:26:3 @ Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to rule. He ruled for fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jecoliah from Jerusalem.

nsb@2Chronicles:26:5 @ He dedicated his life to serving God in the days of Zechariah. Zechariah taught him to respect God. As long as he dedicated his life to serve God, Jehovah gave him success.

nsb@2Chronicles:26:6 @ Uzziah went to wage war against the Philistines. He tore down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. He built cities near Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines.

nsb@2Chronicles:26:8 @ The Ammonites paid taxes to Uzziah. His fame spread to the border of Egypt because he became very powerful.

nsb@2Chronicles:26:9 @ Uzziah strengthened the fortifications of Jerusalem. He built towers at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and where the wall turned.

nsb@2Chronicles:26:10 @ He also built fortified towers in the open country and dug many cisterns, because he had large herds of livestock in the western foothills and plains. Because he loved farming, he encouraged the people to plant vineyards in the hill country and to farm the fertile land.

nsb@2Chronicles:26:12 @ The total number of family heads among these warriors was twenty-six hundred.

nsb@2Chronicles:26:14 @ Uzziah prepared shields, spears, helmets, armor, bows, and stones for slings for the entire army.

nsb@2Chronicles:26:15 @ In Jerusalem he manufactured machines designed by inventive people. The machines were placed on the towers and corners to shoot arrows and hurl large stones. Uzziah’s fame spread far and wide because he had strong support until he became powerful.

nsb@2Chronicles:26:16 @ However when he became powerful, his pride destroyed him. He was unfaithful to Jehovah his God. He went into Jehovah’s Temple to burn incense on the incense altar.

nsb@2Chronicles:26:18 @ They opposed King Uzziah. They said to him: »Uzziah, you have no right to burn incense as an offering to Jehovah. That right belongs to the priests, Aaron’s descendants, who have been given the holy task of burning incense. Get out of the holy place because you have been unfaithful. Jehovah God will not honor you for this.«

nsb@2Chronicles:26:20 @ When the chief priest Azariah and all the priests turned toward him, a skin disease was on his forehead. They rushed him away. Uzziah was in a hurry to get out because Jehovah had inflicted him with the disease.

nsb@2Chronicles:26:23 @ Uzziah lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried with them in a field containing tombs that belonged to the kings. People said: »He has a skin disease.« His son Jotham succeeded him as king.

nsb@2Chronicles:27:1 @ Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to rule. He ruled for sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jerushah, daughter of Zadok.

nsb@2Chronicles:27:4 @ He built cities in the hills of Judah. He also built forts and towers in the wooded areas.

nsb@2Chronicles:27:6 @ Jotham grew powerful because he was determined to live the way Jehovah his God wanted.

nsb@2Chronicles:27:8 @ He was twenty-five years old when he began to rule as king. He ruled for sixteen years in Jerusalem.

nsb@2Chronicles:27:9 @ Jotham lay down in death with his ancestors. They buried him in the City of David. His son Ahaz succeeded him as king.

nsb@2Chronicles:28:1 @ Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to rule. He ruled for sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what Jehovah considered right, as his ancestor David had done.

nsb@2Chronicles:28:5 @ Jehovah his God handed him over to the king of Aram, who defeated him, captured many prisoners, and brought them to Damascus. He also handed him over to the king of Israel, who decisively defeated him.

nsb@2Chronicles:28:6 @ In one day Pekah, son of Remaliah, killed one hundred and twenty thousand soldiers in Judah because they had abandoned Jehovah the God of their ancestors.

nsb@2Chronicles:28:8 @ The Israelites captured two hundred thousand women, boys, and girls from their relatives the Judeans. They also took a lot of goods from Judah and brought them to Samaria.

nsb@2Chronicles:28:9 @ A prophet of Jehovah named Oded was there. He went to meet the army coming home to Samaria. He said: »Jehovah the God of your ancestors handed Judah over to you in his anger. You killed them in a rage that reaches up to heaven.

nsb@2Chronicles:28:10 @ »Now you intend to enslave the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem. But are you not also guilty of sinning against Jehovah your God?

nsb@2Chronicles:28:11 @ »Listen to me. Return the prisoners you have captured from your relatives, because Jehovah is very angry with you.«

nsb@2Chronicles:28:13 @ They said to the army: »Do not bring the prisoners here. You will make us responsible for this sin against Jehovah. Do you intend to add to all our sins? Jehovah is very angry at Israel because we have already sinned.«

nsb@2Chronicles:28:15 @ Then the men who were mentioned by name took charge of the prisoners and gave clothes from the loot to all the prisoners who were naked. They provided clothes for them, gave them sandals, gave them something to eat and drink, and let them bathe. They put everyone who was exhausted on donkeys and brought them to Jericho, the City of Palms, near their own people. Then they returned to Samaria.

nsb@2Chronicles:28:19 @ Jehovah humbled Judah because of King Ahaz of Israel. Ahaz had spread sin throughout Judah and was unfaithful to Jehovah.

nsb@2Chronicles:28:21 @ Ahaz took some of the things from Jehovah’s temple, the royal palace, and the princes. He gave them to the king of Assyria. But that did not help him.

nsb@2Chronicles:28:22 @ When he had this trouble, King Ahaz became more unfaithful to Jehovah!

nsb@2Chronicles:28:23 @ He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus. These were the gods who had defeated him. He thought: »The gods of the kings of Aram are helping them. I will sacrifice to them so that they will help me. But they ruined him and all Israel.«

nsb@2Chronicles:28:24 @ Ahaz collected the utensils in God’s Temple. He cut them up and closed the doors to Jehovah’s Temple. He made altars for himself on every corner in Jerusalem.

nsb@2Chronicles:28:25 @ And in each city of Judah, he made places of worship to sacrifice to other gods. He angered Jehovah the God of his ancestors.

nsb@2Chronicles:28:26 @ Everything else about him from beginning to end is written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

nsb@2Chronicles:28:27 @ Ahaz slept in death with his ancestors. He was buried in the city of Jerusalem because they did not put him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. His son Hezekiah succeeded him as king.

nsb@2Chronicles:29:1 @ Hezekiah began to rule as king when he was twenty-five years old. He ruled for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother was Abijah, daughter of Zechariah.

nsb@2Chronicles:29:2 @ He did right in the eyes of Jehovah, as his ancestor David had done.

nsb@2Chronicles:29:5 @ He said: »Listen to me, Levites. Perform the ceremonies to make the temple of Jehovah the God of your ancestors holy. Remove anything that has been corrupted from the holy place.

nsb@2Chronicles:29:6 @ »Our ancestors were unfaithful and did what Jehovah our God considered evil. They deserted him. They turned away from Jehovah’s tent and turned their backs on him.

nsb@2Chronicles:29:7 @ »They also shut the doors of the temple’s entrance hall. They extinguished the lamps, and did not burn incense or sacrifice burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel.

nsb@2Chronicles:29:10 @ »Now I intend to make a pledge to Jehovah the God of Israel so that he may turn his burning anger away from us.

nsb@2Chronicles:29:11 @ »Do not be negligent, my sons. Jehovah has chosen you to stand in front of him, serve him, be his servants, and burn sacrifices.«

nsb@2Chronicles:29:12 @ So the Levites started to work. From Kohath’s descendants were Mahath, son of Amasai, and Joel, son of Azariah. From Merari’s descendants were Kish, son of Abdi, and Azariah, son of Jehallelel. From Gershon’s descendants were Joah, son of Zimmah, and Eden, son of Joah.

nsb@2Chronicles:29:15 @ These men gathered their relatives and performed the ceremonies to make themselves holy. They obeyed the king’s order from Jehovah’s word and entered the Temple to make it clean.

nsb@2Chronicles:29:16 @ The priests entered Jehovah’s temple to make it clean. They carried into the courtyard every unclean thing that they found in Jehovah’s Temple. Then the Levites took the unclean items outside the city to the Kidron Brook.

nsb@2Chronicles:29:17 @ They started on the first day of the first month. On the eighth day they went into Jehovah’s entrance hall. For eight days they performed the ceremonies to make Jehovah’s Temple holy. They finished on the sixteenth day of the first month.

nsb@2Chronicles:29:18 @ Then they went to King Hezekiah. They said: »We have made Jehovah’s entire temple clean. This includes the altar for burnt offerings, all its utensils, the table for the rows of bread and all its utensils,

nsb@2Chronicles:29:19 @ and all the utensils King Ahaz refused to use during his reign when he was unfaithful. We have restored them and made them holy. They are in front of Jehovah’s altar.«

nsb@2Chronicles:29:20 @ Early in the morning Hezekiah assembled the leaders of the city and went to Jehovah’s Temple.

nsb@2Chronicles:29:21 @ They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as an offering for sin for the kingdom, the holy place, and Judah. Hezekiah told the priests, Aaron’s descendants, to sacrifice the animals on Jehovah’s altar.

nsb@2Chronicles:29:24 @ The priests killed the goats and poured their blood on the altar as a sacrifice to take away the sin of all the people. The king commanded that burnt offerings and sin offerings be made for all Israel.

nsb@2Chronicles:29:25 @ The king followed the instructions Jehovah gave to King David through Gad, the king’s prophet, and through the prophet Nathan. He stationed Levites in the Temple, with harps and cymbals,

nsb@2Chronicles:29:26 @ and instruments like those that King David used. The priests also stood there with trumpets.

nsb@2Chronicles:29:27 @ Hezekiah gave the order for the burnt offering to be presented. The offering began and the people sang praise to Jehovah. The musicians began to play the trumpets and all the other instruments.

nsb@2Chronicles:29:30 @ The king and the leaders of the nation told the Levites to sing to Jehovah the songs of praise that were written by David and by Asaph the prophet. So everyone sang with great joy as they knelt and worshiped God.

nsb@2Chronicles:29:31 @ Hezekiah said to the people: »Now that you are ritually clean, bring sacrifices as offerings of thanksgiving to Jehovah.« They obeyed, and some of them also voluntarily brought animals to be sacrificed as burnt offerings.

nsb@2Chronicles:29:33 @ They also brought six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep as sacrifices for the people to eat.

nsb@2Chronicles:29:34 @ Since there were not enough priests to kill all these animals, the Levites helped them until the work was finished. By then more priests had made themselves ritually clean. The Levites were more faithful in keeping ritually clean than the priests were.

nsb@2Chronicles:29:35 @ In addition to offering the sacrifices that were burned whole, the priests were responsible for burning the fat that was offered from the sacrifices the people ate, and for pouring out the wine that was presented with the burnt offerings. Thus worship in the Temple began again.

nsb@2Chronicles:29:36 @ King Hezekiah and the people were happy. For God helped them to do all this so quickly.

nsb@2Chronicles:30:1 @ Hezekiah sent a message to all Israel and Judah. He wrote letters to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. He invited them to come to Jehovah’s Temple in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of Jehovah the God of Israel.

nsb@2Chronicles:30:2 @ The king, his officials, and the whole assembly in Jerusalem decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month.

nsb@2Chronicles:30:3 @ They could not celebrate it at the regular time because not enough priests had performed the ceremonies to make themselves holy and the people had not gathered in Jerusalem.

nsb@2Chronicles:30:4 @ The king and the entire assembly considered their plan to be the right thing to do.

nsb@2Chronicles:30:5 @ They decided to send an announcement throughout Israel from Beersheba to Daniel. They summoned everyone to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of Jehovah God of Israel. These people had not celebrated it in large numbers as the written instructions said they should.

nsb@2Chronicles:30:6 @ Messengers carried letters from the king and his officials throughout Israel and Judah. The king’s order said: »Israelites should return to Jehovah the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Then he will return to the few of you who escaped from the power of the kings of Assyria.

nsb@2Chronicles:30:7 @ »Do not be like your ancestors and your relatives who were unfaithful to Jehovah the God of their ancestors. He made them something that shocks people, as you have seen.

nsb@2Chronicles:30:8 @ »Do not stiffen your neck like your fathers, but yield to Jehovah and enter his sanctuary that he has consecrated from generation to generation. Serve Jehovah your God that His burning anger may turn away from you.

nsb@2Chronicles:30:9 @ »If you return to Jehovah, your brothers and your sons will find compassion before those who led them captive and will return to this land. Jehovah your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face away from you if you return to him.«

nsb@2Chronicles:30:10 @ So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them.

nsb@2Chronicles:30:11 @ Nevertheless some men of Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.

nsb@2Chronicles:30:12 @ The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of Jehovah.

nsb@2Chronicles:30:13 @ Many people were gathered at Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month. It was a very large assembly.

nsb@2Chronicles:30:14 @ They arose and removed the altars in Jerusalem. They also removed all the incense altars and cast them into the Kidron Brook.

nsb@2Chronicles:30:15 @ They slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth of the second month. The priests and Levites were ashamed of themselves. They consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of Jehovah.

nsb@2Chronicles:30:16 @ They stood in their regular places as instructed by the law of Moses. Moses was a man of God. The priests sprinkled the blood they received from the Levites.

nsb@2Chronicles:30:17 @ Many people in the assembly had not made themselves holy. So the Levites had to kill the Passover lambs for all who were not clean and could not make their lambs holy for Jehovah.

nsb@2Chronicles:30:19 @ who have their hearts set on dedicating their lives to serve God. May Jehovah the God of their ancestors do this for those who are not clean as required for the holy place.«

nsb@2Chronicles:30:20 @ Jehovah listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.

nsb@2Chronicles:30:22 @ Hezekiah spoke encouraging words to all the Levites who had the skills to serve Jehovah. They ate the festival meals for seven days, sacrificed fellowship offerings, and confessed their sins to Jehovah the God of their ancestors.

nsb@2Chronicles:30:23 @ Then the whole assembly decided to celebrate the festival for seven more days. So they joyfully celebrated for seven more days.

nsb@2Chronicles:30:24 @ Hezekiah king of Judah contributed one thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep to the assembly. The princes contributed one thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep to the assembly. A large number of priests consecrated themselves.

nsb@2Chronicles:30:27 @ The Levitical priests arose and blessed the people. Their voice was heard and their prayer came to God’s holy dwelling place, to heaven.

nsb@2Chronicles:31:1 @ When this ended, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, broke the pillars in pieces, cut down the Asherim and pulled down the high places and the altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh. They destroyed them all. Then all the sons of Israel returned to their cities, each to his possession.

nsb@2Chronicles:31:2 @ Hezekiah assigned the priests and the Levites to divisions. Each priest or Levite was put in a division based on the service he performed. The services included: sacrificing burnt offerings, sacrificing fellowship offerings, serving, giving thanks, or praising within the gates of Jehovah’s camp.

nsb@2Chronicles:31:4 @ He told the people living in Jerusalem to give the priests and Levites the portions they were due so that they could devote themselves to Jehovah’s Law.

nsb@2Chronicles:31:6 @ All the people who lived in the cities of Judah brought tithes of their cattle and sheep. They also brought large quantities of gifts they dedicated to Jehovah their God.

nsb@2Chronicles:31:7 @ The gifts started arriving in the third month. They continued to pile up for the next four months.

nsb@2Chronicles:31:9 @ The king spoke to the priests and the Levites about these gifts,

nsb@2Chronicles:31:10 @ and Azariah the High Priest, a descendant of Zadok, said to him: Since the people started bringing their gifts to the temple, there has been enough to eat and a large surplus besides. We have all this because Jehovah has blessed his people.

nsb@2Chronicles:31:11 @ On the king’s orders they prepared storerooms in the Temple area

nsb@2Chronicles:31:13 @ Ten Levites were assigned to work under them: Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah. This was done by authority of King Hezekiah and Azariah the High Priest.

nsb@2Chronicles:31:14 @ Kore son of Imnah, a Levite who was chief guard at the East Gate of the temple, was in charge of receiving the gifts offered to Jehovah and of distributing them.

nsb@2Chronicles:31:15 @ In the other cities where priests lived, he was faithfully assisted in this by other Levites: Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah. They distributed the food equally to their fellow Levites according to what their duties were.

nsb@2Chronicles:31:16 @ They were appointed to distribute them to males who were at least three years old. The way they were enrolled in the genealogical records did not matter. The six men who served under Kore were to distribute the offerings to everyone who went to Jehovah’s Temple to perform the daily service that each division was responsible for.

nsb@2Chronicles:31:17 @ They were to distribute offerings to the priests who were enrolled by families and to the Levites who were at least twenty years old. Distribution was based on the way they served in their divisions.

nsb@2Chronicles:31:18 @ The priests and Levites were enrolled with their wives, sons, daughters, and other people who depended on them in the community. The priests and Levites had to be faithful in keeping themselves holy for the holy work.

nsb@2Chronicles:31:19 @ Men were appointed to give a portion of the offerings to all the males in the priestly families and to everyone listed in the genealogies of the Levites. These men were Aaron’s descendants, priests who lived in the pasturelands of every Levite city.

nsb@2Chronicles:31:20 @ This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah. He did what was good and right and true to Jehovah his God.

nsb@2Chronicles:31:21 @ Hezekiah incorporated Moses’ teachings and commands into worship and dedicated his life to serving God. Whatever he did for the worship in God’s Temple, he did wholeheartedly, and he succeeded.

nsb@2Chronicles:32:1 @ After everything Hezekiah had done so faithfully, King Sennacherib of Assyria came to invade Judah. He set up camp to attack the fortified cities. He intended to conquer them himself.

nsb@2Chronicles:32:2 @ Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come to wage war against Jerusalem,

nsb@2Chronicles:32:3 @ He and his officers and military staff made plans to stop the water from flowing out of the springs outside the city. They helped him do it.

nsb@2Chronicles:32:4 @ A large crowd gathered as they stopped all the springs and the brook that flowed through the land. They said: Why should the kings of Assyria find plenty of water?

nsb@2Chronicles:32:5 @ Hezekiah worked hard. He rebuilt all the broken sections of the wall. He built the towers taller and built another wall outside the city wall. He strengthened the Millo in the City of David, and made plenty of weapons and shields.

nsb@2Chronicles:32:9 @ Sennacherib and his troops were camped at the town of Lachish. He sent a message to Hezekiah and the people in Jerusalem. It said:

nsb@2Chronicles:32:12 @ »‘Did Hezekiah not tear down all except one of Jehovah’s altars and places of worship? And did he not tell you people of Jerusalem and Judah to worship at that one place?

nsb@2Chronicles:32:13 @ »‘You have heard what my ancestors and I have done to other nations. Were the gods of those nations able to defend their land against us?

nsb@2Chronicles:32:15 @ »‘Do not be fooled by Hezekiah! No god of any nation has been able to stand up to Assyria. Believe me, your God cannot keep you safe!’«

nsb@2Chronicles:32:18 @ Sennacherib’s officers shouted loudly in the Judean language to the troops who were on the wall of Jerusalem. They tried to frighten and terrify the troops so that they could capture the city.

nsb@2Chronicles:32:20 @ King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, prayed about this and called to heaven.

nsb@2Chronicles:32:21 @ Jehovah sent an angel who exterminated all the soldiers, officials, and commanders in the Assyrian king’s camp. Sennacherib was humiliated and returned to his own country. When he went into the temple of his god, some of his own sons killed him with a sword.

nsb@2Chronicles:32:23 @ Many people still went to Jerusalem to bring gifts to Jehovah and expensive presents to King Hezekiah of Judah. From that point in history he was considered important by all the nations.

nsb@2Chronicles:32:24 @ Hezekiah became sick and was about to die. He prayed to Jehovah, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign.

nsb@2Chronicles:32:27 @ Hezekiah became richer and was highly honored. He prepared storehouses for himself to hold silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all kinds of valuables.

nsb@2Chronicles:32:28 @ He built storehouses for the produce of grain and wine and oil; and buildings for all sorts of beasts and flocks.

nsb@2Chronicles:32:29 @ He made towns for himself. He gathered much property in flocks and herds: for God had given him great wealth.

nsb@2Chronicles:32:30 @ It was Hezekiah who had the higher spring of the water of Gihon stopped, and the water taken down on the west side of the town of David. Hezekiah did well in everything he tried.

nsb@2Chronicles:32:31 @ When the leaders of Babylon sent ambassadors to ask him about the miraculous sign that had happened in the land, God left him. God did this to test him, to find out everything that was in Hezekiah’s heart.

nsb@2Chronicles:32:32 @ Everything else about Hezekiah, including his devotion to God, is written in the vision of the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, and in the records of the kings of Judah and Israel.

nsb@2Chronicles:32:33 @ Hezekiah slept in death with his ancestors. He was buried in the upper tombs of David’s descendants. When Hezekiah died, all of Judah and the people in Jerusalem honored him. His son Manasseh succeeded him as king.

nsb@2Chronicles:33:3 @ He rebuilt the illegal places of worship that his father Hezekiah had torn down. He set up altars dedicated to other gods such as the Baals. He erected a pole dedicated to the goddess Asherah as King Ahab of Israel had done. Manasseh, like Ahab, worshiped and served the entire army of heaven.

nsb@2Chronicles:33:4 @ He built altars in Jehovah’s Temple, of which Jehovah said: »My name will be in Jerusalem from generation to generation.«

nsb@2Chronicles:33:7 @ Manasseh had a carved idol made. Then he set it up in God’s Temple, where God had said to David and his son Solomon: »I have chosen this temple and Jerusalem from all the tribes of Israel. I will put my name here from generation to generation.

nsb@2Chronicles:33:8 @ »I will never again remove Israel from the land that I set aside for their ancestors if they will obey all the commandments, all the teachings, the ordinances, and the regulations I gave through Moses.«

nsb@2Chronicles:33:10 @ Jehovah spoke to Manasseh and his people. But they would not pay attention.

nsb@2Chronicles:33:11 @ So Jehovah made the army commanders of the king of Assyria invade Judah. They took Manasseh captive, put a hook in his nose, put him in bronze shackles, and brought him to Babylon.

nsb@2Chronicles:33:12 @ When he experienced distress, he begged Jehovah his God to be kind and humbled himself in front of the God of his ancestors.

nsb@2Chronicles:33:13 @ He prayed to Jehovah. And Jehovah accepted his prayer and listened to his request. Jehovah brought him back to his kingdom in Jerusalem. Then Manasseh knew that Jehovah is God.

nsb@2Chronicles:33:14 @ Then Manasseh rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David from west of Gihon Spring in the valley to the entrance of Fish Gate. He made the wall go around the Ophel. He built it very high. He put army commanders in every fortified city in Judah.

nsb@2Chronicles:33:16 @ He built Jehovah’s altar and sacrificed fellowship offerings and thank offerings on it. And he told Judah to serve Jehovah the God of Israel.

nsb@2Chronicles:33:17 @ However the people continued to sacrifice at the illegal places of worship. But they sacrificed only to Jehovah their God.

nsb@2Chronicles:33:18 @ Everything else about Manasseh, including his prayer to his God and the words that the seers spoke to him in the name of Jehovah the God of Israel are in the records of the kings of Israel.

nsb@2Chronicles:33:19 @ His prayer and how God accepted it are written in the records of Hozai. The things he did before he humbled himself are also written there. This includes all his sins and unfaithfulness and the places where he built illegal worship sites and set up idols and poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah.

nsb@2Chronicles:33:20 @ Manasseh lay down in death with his ancestors. They buried him in his own palace. His son Amon succeeded him as king.

nsb@2Chronicles:33:22 @ He did what Jehovah considered evil, as his father Manasseh had done. Amon sacrificed to all the idols his father Manasseh had made, and he worshiped them.

nsb@2Chronicles:33:23 @ He did not humble himself in front of Jehovah as his father Manasseh had humbled himself. Instead, Amon continued to sin.

nsb@2Chronicles:34:2 @ He did what Jehovah considered right. He lived in the ways of his ancestor David and never stopped living this way.

nsb@2Chronicles:34:3 @ It was the eighth year of his reign. He was still a boy when he dedicated his life to service of the God of his ancestor David. In his twelfth year as king he purged Judah and Jerusalem by destroying the illegal places of worship, poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah, carved idols, and metal idols.

nsb@2Chronicles:34:4 @ He tore down the altars of the Baal gods. He cut down the incense altars that were above them. He destroyed the Asherah poles, carved idols, and metal idols. He ground them into powder and scattered the powder over the tombs of those who had sacrificed to them.

nsb@2Chronicles:34:7 @ Then he tore down the altars, beat the Asherah poles and idols into powder, and cut down all the incense altars everywhere in Israel. Then he went back to Jerusalem.

nsb@2Chronicles:34:8 @ In his eighteenth year as king as he was making the land and the temple clean, Josiah sent Shaphan, son of Azaliah, Maaseiah, the mayor of the city, and Joah, the royal historian and son of Joahaz, to repair the Temple of Jehovah his God.

nsb@2Chronicles:34:9 @ They came to the chief priest Hilkiah and gave him the money that had been brought into God’s Temple. It was the money that the Levite doorkeepers had collected from the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim, from all who were left in Israel, from everyone in the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and from the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

nsb@2Chronicles:34:10 @ They gave the money to the foremen who were in charge of Jehovah’s Temple. These foremen gave it to the workmen who were restoring and repairing the Temple.

nsb@2Chronicles:34:11 @ These workers included carpenters and builders. They were to buy quarried stones and wood for the fittings and beams of the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to become run-down.

nsb@2Chronicles:34:15 @ Hilkiah told the scribe Shaphan: »I have found the book of the Law in Jehovah’s Temple.« Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.

nsb@2Chronicles:34:16 @ Shaphan took the book to the king and reported: »We are doing everything you told us to do.

nsb@2Chronicles:34:17 @ »We took the money that was donated in Jehovah’s Temple and gave it to the supervisors and the workmen.«

nsb@2Chronicles:34:18 @ The scribe Shaphan told the king: »The priest Hilkiah has given me a book.« Shaphan read it to the king.

nsb@2Chronicles:34:19 @ As soon as the king heard what the Law said, he tore his clothes in distress.

nsb@2Chronicles:34:20 @ Then the king gave an order to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, the scribe Shaphan, and the royal official Asaiah. He said:

nsb@2Chronicles:34:21 @ »On behalf of those who are left in Israel and Judah and me, ask Jehovah about the words in this book that was found. Jehovah’s fierce anger has been poured on us because our ancestors did not obey the word of Jehovah by doing everything written in this book.«

nsb@2Chronicles:34:22 @ Hilkiah and the king’s officials went to talk to the prophet Huldah about this matter. She was the wife of Shallum, son of Tokhath and grandson of Hasrah. Shallum was in charge of the royal wardrobe. Huldah was living in the Second Part of Jerusalem.

nsb@2Chronicles:34:23 @ She told them: »This is what Jehovah the God of Israel says: »Tell the man who sent you to me,

nsb@2Chronicles:34:24 @ »This is what Jehovah says: ‘I am going to bring disaster on this place and on the people living here. This is according to the curses written in the book that was read to the king of Judah.

nsb@2Chronicles:34:25 @ »‘I will do this because they have abandoned me. They have sacrificed to other gods in order to make me furious. Therefore, my anger will be poured on this place and it will not be extinguished.’«

nsb@2Chronicles:34:26 @ Huldah continued: »Tell Judah’s king who sent you to me to ask Jehovah a question: ‘This is what Jehovah the God of Israel says about the words you heard:

nsb@2Chronicles:34:27 @ »‘»You had a change of heart and humbled yourself in front of God when you heard my words against this place and those who live here. You humbled yourself, tore your clothes in distress, and cried in front of me. So I will listen to you, proclaims Jehovah.

nsb@2Chronicles:34:28 @ »‘‘That is why I am going to bring you to your ancestors. I am going to bring you to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see any of the disaster I am going to bring on this place and those who live here.« ’« They reported this to the king.

nsb@2Chronicles:34:29 @ The king sent for all the respected leaders of Judah and Jerusalem to join him.

nsb@2Chronicles:34:30 @ The king, everyone in Judah, everyone living in Jerusalem, the priests, the Levites, and all the people, young and old, went up to Jehovah’s Temple. He read everything written in the Book of the Covenant found in Jehovah’s Temple so that they could hear it.

nsb@2Chronicles:34:31 @ The king stood in his place and made a promise to Jehovah that he would follow Jehovah and obey his commandments, instructions, and laws with his entire heart and being. He said he would live by the terms of the covenant written in this book.

nsb@2Chronicles:34:32 @ He also made all those found in Jerusalem and Benjamin join with him in the covenant. Then the people of Jerusalem lived according to the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.

nsb@2Chronicles:34:33 @ Josiah got rid of all the disgusting idols throughout Israelite territory. He required all people in Israel to serve Jehovah their God. As long as he lived, they did not stop following Jehovah the God of their ancestors.

nsb@2Chronicles:35:1 @ Josiah celebrated the Passover to Jehovah in Jerusalem. The Passover lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month.

nsb@2Chronicles:35:2 @ Josiah appointed the priests to their duties and encouraged them to serve in Jehovah’s Temple.

nsb@2Chronicles:35:3 @ He told the Levites, who instructed all Israel and performed ceremonies to make themselves holy to Jehovah: Put the Holy Ark in the Temple that Solomon, son of David and king of Israel, built. It should not be carried on your shoulders any longer. Serve Jehovah your God and his people Israel.

nsb@2Chronicles:35:5 @ »Divide yourselves into groups. Then spread out throughout the Temple so that each family of worshipers will be able to get help from one of you.

nsb@2Chronicles:35:6 @ »When the people bring you their Passover lamb, you must slaughter it and prepare it to be sacrificed to Jehovah. Make sure the people celebrate according to the instructions Jehovah gave Moses. Do not do anything to become unclean and unacceptable.«

nsb@2Chronicles:35:7 @ Josiah donated thirty thousand sheep and goats, and three thousand bulls from his own flocks and herds for the people to offer as sacrifices.

nsb@2Chronicles:35:8 @ Josiah’s officials also voluntarily gave some of their animals to the people, the priests, and the Levites as sacrifices. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, who were the officials in charge of the Temple, gave the priests twenty-six hundred sheep and lambs and three hundred bulls to sacrifice during the Passover celebration.

nsb@2Chronicles:35:10 @ Thus the service was prepared. The priests took their positions with the Levites according to their divisions, as the king had ordered.

nsb@2Chronicles:35:12 @ They set aside the burnt offerings to give them to the people according to their family divisions. The people could then present them to Jehovah as is written in the Book of Moses. The Levites did the same with the bulls.

nsb@2Chronicles:35:13 @ The Levites roasted the Passover sacrifices over the fire, according to the regulations. They boiled the sacred offerings in pots, kettles, and pans, and quickly distributed the meat to the people.

nsb@2Chronicles:35:15 @ The following musicians of the Levite clan of Asaph were in the places assigned to them by King David’s instructions: Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, the king’s prophet. The guards at the Temple gates did not need to leave their posts, because the other Levites prepared the Passover for them.

nsb@2Chronicles:35:20 @ Later, when Josiah had repaired the Temple, King Necho of Egypt came to fight a battle at Carchemish at the Euphrates River. Josiah went to attack him.

nsb@2Chronicles:35:21 @ Neco sent messengers to Josiah. He said: »What is your quarrel with me, king of Judah? I am not attacking you. I have come to fight those who are at war with me. God told me to hurry. God is with me, so stop now or he will destroy you.«

nsb@2Chronicles:35:22 @ But Josiah would not stop his attack. He disguised himself as he went into battle. He refused to listen to Necho’s words, which came from God. He went to fight in the valley of Megiddo.

nsb@2Chronicles:35:23 @ Some archers shot King Josiah. The king told his officers: »Take me away because I am badly wounded.«

nsb@2Chronicles:35:24 @ His officers took him out of the chariot and brought him to Jerusalem in his other chariot. He died and was buried in the tombs of his ancestors. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.

nsb@2Chronicles:35:25 @ Then Jeremiah chanted a lament for Josiah. All the male and female singers speak about Josiah in their lamentations to this day. They made them an ordinance in Israel. They are also written in the Lamentations.

nsb@2Chronicles:35:27 @ and his acts, first to last, are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.

nsb@2Chronicles:36:4 @ The king of Egypt made Jehoahaz’s brother Eliakim king of Judah and Jerusalem and changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. Necho took Jehoahaz away to Egypt.

nsb@2Chronicles:36:6 @ Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked Jehoiakim and put him in bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.

nsb@2Chronicles:36:7 @ Nebuchadnezzar also brought some of the utensils of Jehovah’s Temple to Babylon. He put them in his palace in Babylon.

nsb@2Chronicles:36:9 @ Jehoiakin was eight years old when he began to rule as king. He was king for three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what Jehovah considered evil.

nsb@2Chronicles:36:10 @ In the spring King Nebuchadnezzar sent for Jehoiakin and brought him to Babylon with the valuable utensils from Jehovah’s Temple. Nebuchadnezzar made Jehoiakin’s uncle Zedekiah king of Judah and Jerusalem.

nsb@2Chronicles:36:11 @ Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to rule. He ruled for eleven years in Jerusalem.

nsb@2Chronicles:36:13 @ Zedekiah also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar made Zedekiah swear an oath of allegiance to him in God’s name. But Zedekiah became so stubborn and so impossible to deal with that he refused to turn back to Jehovah the God of Israel.

nsb@2Chronicles:36:15 @ Jehovah the God of their ancestors repeatedly sent messages through his prophets because he wanted to spare his people and his dwelling place.

nsb@2Chronicles:36:17 @ So he had the Babylonian king attack them and execute their best young men in their holy temple. He did not spare the best men or the unmarried women, the old people or the sick people. God handed all of them over to him.

nsb@2Chronicles:36:18 @ He brought to Babylon each of the utensils from God’s temple, the treasures from Jehovah’s Temple, and the treasures of the king and his officials.

nsb@2Chronicles:36:20 @ The survivors were taken to Babylonia as prisoners. They served as slaves of the king and his sons, until Persia became a powerful nation.

nsb@2Chronicles:36:22 @ In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of Jehovah by the mouth of Jeremiah, Jehovah stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia. He sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom, and also put it in writing. He said:

nsb@2Chronicles:36:23 @ Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: »Jehovah, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all his people, may Jehovah his God be with him, and let him go up!«

nsb@Ezra:1:3 @ »‘May your God be with you and let you go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah. There you are to build the house of Jehovah the God of Israel. He is the God who is in Jerusalem.

nsb@Ezra:1:4 @ »‘If any of his people in exile need help to return, their neighbors should give them help. They are to provide them with silver and gold, supplies and pack animals, as well as offerings to present in the Temple of God in Jerusalem.’«

nsb@Ezra:1:5 @ The heads of the clans of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, the priests and Levites, and everyone else whose heart God had moved got ready to go and rebuild Jehovah’s Temple in Jerusalem.

nsb@Ezra:1:7 @ King Cyrus gave back the bowls and cups that King Nebuchadnezzar took from the Temple in Jerusalem and put in the temple of his god.

nsb@Ezra:1:8 @ And King Cyrus turned them over to Mithredath, chief of the royal treasury, who made an inventory of them for Sheshbazzar, the governor of Judah,

nsb@Ezra:1:9 @ Now this was their inventory: 30 gold dishes, 1,000 silver dishes and 29 duplicates.

nsb@Ezra:1:11 @ All the articles of gold and silver numbered 5,400. Sheshbazzar brought all of them along with the exiles who traveled from Babylon to Jerusalem.

nsb@Ezra:2:1 @ These are the people of the divisions of the kingdom. Included were those who had been made prisoners by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and taken away to Babylon, who went back to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his town.

nsb@Ezra:2:22 @ The men of Netophah, fifty-six.

nsb@Ezra:2:60 @ The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred and fifty-two.

nsb@Ezra:2:61 @ Of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who was married to one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and took their name.

nsb@Ezra:2:62 @ They made search for their record among the lists of families. Their names were nowhere to be found. So they were looked on as unclean and no longer priests.

nsb@Ezra:2:63 @ The Tirshatha said they were not to have the most holy things for their food, till a priest came to give decision by Urim and Thummim.

nsb@Ezra:2:64 @ The number of all the people together was forty-two thousand, three hundred and sixty,

nsb@Ezra:2:65 @ As well as their men-servants and their women-servants, of whom there were seven thousand, three hundred and thirty-seven: and they had two hundred men and women to make music.

nsb@Ezra:2:68 @ And some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of Jehovah which is in Jerusalem, gave freely of their wealth for the building up of the house of God in its place:

nsb@Ezra:2:70 @ So the priests and the Levites, the people and the music-makers, the doorkeepers and the Nethinim, took their places in their towns.

nsb@Ezra:3:1 @ When the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were in the towns, the people came together like one man to Jerusalem.

nsb@Ezra:3:2 @ Then Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, with his brothers, got up and built the altar of the God of Israel for burned offerings. This was according to the Law of Moses, the man of God.

nsb@Ezra:3:3 @ The returning exiles were afraid of the people who were living in the land. Regardless of that, they rebuilt the altar where it had stood before. Then they began once again to burn on it the regular morning and evening sacrifices.

nsb@Ezra:3:4 @ They celebrated the Festival of Booths according to what is written. Each day they offered the sacrifices required for that day.

nsb@Ezra:3:5 @ They also offered the regular sacrifices to be burned whole and those to be offered at the New Moon Festival and at all the other Festivals of Jehovah, as well as all the offerings that were given to Jehovah voluntarily.

nsb@Ezra:3:6 @ The people had not yet started to rebuild the Temple. Yet they began on the first day of the seventh month to burn sacrifices to Jehovah.

nsb@Ezra:3:7 @ They gave money to the stoneworkers and woodworkers. Meat and drink and oil were given to the people of Zidon and of Tyre, for the transport of cedar-trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, as Cyrus, king of Persia, had given them authority to do.

nsb@Ezra:3:8 @ The second year and third month of their coming to the house of God in Jerusalem Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, took charge of the construction. Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come from the land where they were prisoners to Jerusalem: and the Levites, of twenty years or older, were responsible for overseeing the work of the house of Jehovah.

nsb@Ezra:3:9 @ Then Jeshua with his sons and his brothers, Kadmiel with his sons, the sons of Hodaviah, together took up the work of overseeing the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad with their sons and their brothers, the Levites.

nsb@Ezra:3:10 @ When the builders laid the foundation of the Temple of Jehovah, the priests, dressed in their robes, took their places with horns, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with brass instruments, to give praise to Jehovah in the way ordered by David, king of Israel.

nsb@Ezra:3:11 @ They praised Jehovah and thanked him, saying: »He is good; his loving kindness to Israel is for all generations.« All the people gave a joyful cry. They praised Jehovah because the foundation of Jehovah’s house was in place.

nsb@Ezra:3:13 @ So that in the ears of the people the cry of joy was mixed with the sound of weeping. The cries of the people were loud and came to the ears of those who were a long way off.

nsb@Ezra:4:1 @ News came to the enemies of Judah and Benjamin that the people who had come back were building a Temple to Jehovah, the God of Israel.

nsb@Ezra:4:2 @ They approached Zerubbabel and the heads of families and said: »Let us help you build for we are servants of your God, the same as you. We have been making offerings to him from the days of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, who sent us here.«

nsb@Ezra:4:3 @ But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of families in Israel said to them: »You have no part with us in the building of a house for our God. We will do the work for Jehovah, the God of Israel, as Cyrus, king of Persia, has given us orders.«

nsb@Ezra:4:4 @ The people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and tried to make them afraid to go on building.

nsb@Ezra:4:5 @ They hired men to work against them and kept them from accomplishing their plans during the reign of Cyrus, king of Persia, till Darius became king.

nsb@Ezra:4:7 @ In the time of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his friends, sent a letter to Artaxerxes, king of Persia, writing it in the Aramaic language.

nsb@Ezra:4:8 @ Rehum, the chief ruler, and Shimshai the scribe, sent a letter against Jerusalem, to Artaxerxes the king as follows:

nsb@Ezra:4:10 @ The rest of the nations the great and noble Osnappar took over and put in Samaria and the rest of the country over the river:

nsb@Ezra:4:11 @ »This is a copy of the letter that they sent to Artaxerxes the king: ‘Your servants living across the river send these words:

nsb@Ezra:4:12 @ »We give news to the king that the Jews who came from you have come to us at Jerusalem. They are again building that uncontrolled and evil town. The walls are complete and they are repairing the bases.

nsb@Ezra:4:13 @ »The king may be certain that when the town and its wall are completely rebuilt they will pay no tax or payment in goods or forced payments, and in the end it will be a cause of loss to the kings.

nsb@Ezra:4:14 @ »Because we are responsible to the king, and it is not right for us to see the king's honor damaged, we have sent to give the king word of these things.

nsb@Ezra:4:15 @ »That way a search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will see in the book of the records that this town has been uncontrolled. It has been a cause of trouble to kings and countries. There were outbursts against authority in the past. That is the reason the town was laid waste.

nsb@Ezra:4:16 @ »We give you word, that if this town and its walls is completely rebuilt, your power in the country across the river will end.«

nsb@Ezra:4:17 @ The king sent an answer to Rehum, the chief ruler, and Shimshai the scribe, and their friends living in Samaria, and to the rest of those across the river, saying, »Peace to you:

nsb@Ezra:4:18 @ »The meaning of the letter you sent to us has been made clear to me,

nsb@Ezra:4:19 @ »I gave orders for a search to be made, and it is certain that in the past this town has made trouble for kings, and that outbursts against authority have taken place there.

nsb@Ezra:4:20 @ »Further, there have been great kings in Jerusalem. They ruled over all the country across the river. Taxes and tribute was paid to them.

nsb@Ezra:4:21 @ »Give an order now that these men are to do no more work and that the building of the town is to be stopped till I give an order.

nsb@Ezra:4:22 @ »Be sure to do this with all care. Do not let trouble increase to damage the king.«

nsb@Ezra:4:23 @ Then, after reading the king's letter, Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their friends went quickly to Jerusalem, to the Jews to compel them by force to stop.

nsb@Ezra:4:24 @ So the work of the house of God at Jerusalem was stopped, till the second year of the rule of Darius, king of Persia.

nsb@Ezra:5:1 @ The prophets Haggai and Zechariah, the son of Iddo, were preaching to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel.

nsb@Ezra:5:2 @ Then Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, went to work building the house of God at Jerusalem. The prophets of God were with them, helping them.

nsb@Ezra:5:3 @ At the same time, Tattenai, ruler of the land across the river, and Shethar-bozenai, and their men, came to them and said, »Who gave you orders to go on building this house and this wall?«

nsb@Ezra:5:4 @ Then they said these words to them: »What are the names of the men who are at work on this building?«

nsb@Ezra:5:6 @ This is a copy of the letter Tattenai, the ruler of the land across the river, and Shethar-bozenai and his friends the Apharsachites, from across the river, sent to Darius the king.

nsb@Ezra:5:7 @ They sent him a letter saying: »To Darius the king, all peace:

nsb@Ezra:5:8 @ »This is to give the king word that we went to the land of Judah, to the house of the great God. It is made of large stones and has its walls supported with wood. The work is going on with diligence and they are making rapid progress.

nsb@Ezra:5:12 @ »‘But when our fathers moved the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them up into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, the Chaldaean. He sent destruction on this house and took the people away to Babylon.

nsb@Ezra:5:14 @ »‘The gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the Temple in Jerusalem, were put into the house of his god in Babylon. Cyrus the king took these from the house of his god in Babylon, and gave them to Sheshbazzar, whom he had made ruler.’

nsb@Ezra:5:15 @ He said to him: »Go, take these vessels, and put them in the Temple in Jerusalem. Let the house of God be constructed again in its place.«

nsb@Ezra:5:17 @ »If it seems good to the king, let search be made in the king's storehouse at Babylon. See if it is true that an order was given by Cyrus the king for the building of this house of God at Jerusalem. Let the king send us word of his pleasure in connection with this business.«

nsb@Ezra:6:1 @ Then Darius the king gave an order and a search was made in the house of the records. This is where the things of value were stored in Babylon.

nsb@Ezra:6:4 @ »with three lines of large stones and one line of new wood supports. Let the necessary money be given out of the king's storehouse.

nsb@Ezra:6:5 @ »And let the gold and silver vessels from the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the Temple at Jerusalem to Babylon, be given back and taken again to the Temple at Jerusalem, every one in its place, and put them in the house of God.

nsb@Ezra:6:8 @ »Further, I give orders as to what you are to do for the responsible men of the Jews in connection with the building of this house of God: That from the king's wealth, that is, from the taxes got together in the land over the river, the money needed is to be given to these men readily, so that their work may not be stopped.

nsb@Ezra:6:9 @ »When they need young bulls and sheep and lambs, for burned offerings to the God of heaven and grain, salt, wine, and oil, whatever the priests in Jerusalem say is necessary, is to be given to them day by day regularly:

nsb@Ezra:6:10 @ »That they may make offerings of a sweet smell to the God of heaven, with prayers for the life of the king and of his sons.

nsb@Ezra:6:11 @ »I further give orders that if anyone makes any change in this word; one of the supports is to be pulled out of his house. He is to be lifted up and fixed to it and his house is to be destroyed.

nsb@Ezra:6:12 @ »May the God who has made it a resting-place for his name send destruction on all kings and peoples whose hands are outstretched to make any change in this or to do damage to this house of God at Jerusalem. I, Darius, have given this order. Let it be done with all care.«

nsb@Ezra:6:20 @ the priests and the Levites made themselves clean together. They were all clean when they put the Passover lamb to death for all those who had come back, and for their brothers the priests and for themselves.

nsb@Ezra:6:21 @ The children of Israel, who had come back, and all those who were joined to them, after separating themselves from the evil ways of the people of the land to become the servants of Jehovah, the God of Israel, ate together.

nsb@Ezra:6:22 @ They joyfully kept the feast of unleavened bread for seven days. Jehovah filled them with joy by turning the heart of the king of Assyria to them to give them help in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

nsb@Ezra:7:6 @ Ezra came from Babylon. He was a scribe and an expert in the Law of Moses which Jehovah, the God of Israel, had given. The king was moved by Jehovah his God to give him whatever he requested.

nsb@Ezra:7:7 @ Some of the children of Israel went with some of the priests and Levites and the music-makers and the doorkeepers and the Nethinim, to Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

nsb@Ezra:7:8 @ He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, in the seventh year of the king's rule.

nsb@Ezra:7:10 @ Ezra devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of Jehovah. He taught its decrees and laws in Israel.

nsb@Ezra:7:11 @ This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra, the priest and the scribe-copyist, who put into writing the words of the orders of Jehovah and of his rules for Israel:

nsb@Ezra:7:12 @ »Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, scribe of the law of the God of heaven, all peace;

nsb@Ezra:7:13 @ »It is my order that all the people of Israel, including their priests and Levites in my kingdom, who are ready and have a desire to go to Jerusalem, are to go with you.

nsb@Ezra:7:14 @ »The king and his seven wise men send you to get knowledge about Judah and Jerusalem. The Law of your God orders you.

nsb@Ezra:7:15 @ »You are to take with you the silver and gold freely offered by the king and his wise men to the God of Israel, who’s Temple is in Jerusalem,

nsb@Ezra:7:16 @ »As well as all the silver and gold which you get from the land of Babylon, together with the offering of the people and of the priests, freely given for the house of their God in Jerusalem.

nsb@Ezra:7:17 @ »Use this money to buy bulls, sheep, and lambs, with their meal offerings and their drink offerings, to be offered on the altar of the house of your God, which is in Jerusalem.

nsb@Ezra:7:18 @ »Whatever seems right to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, that do, as may be pleasing to your God.

nsb@Ezra:7:19 @ »The vessels that have been given to you for the uses of the house of your God, you are to give to the God of Jerusalem.

nsb@Ezra:7:20 @ »Whatever is needed for the house of your God, and which you may have to give, take it from the king's storehouse.

nsb@Ezra:7:21 @ »And I, even I, Artaxerxes the king, now give orders to all keepers of the king's money across the river, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, may have need of from you, is to be done with all care,

nsb@Ezra:7:22 @ »Up to a hundred talents of silver, a hundred measures of grain, a hundred measures of wine, and a hundred measures of oil, and salt without measure.

nsb@Ezra:7:24 @ »In addition, we make it clear to you, that it will be against the law to put any tax or payment in goods or forced payment on any of the priests or Levites, the music-makers, doorkeepers, Nethinim, or any servants of this house of God.

nsb@Ezra:7:25 @ »And you, Ezra, by the wisdom of your God which is in you, are to put rulers and judges to have authority over all the people across the river who have knowledge of the laws of your God. You are to teach any who have no knowledge of them.

nsb@Ezra:7:26 @ »If anyone does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, take care that punishment is given to him. This is by death or by driving him from his country or by taking away his goods or by putting him in prison.«

nsb@Ezra:7:27 @ Praise be to Jehovah, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing into the heart of the king, to make fair the house of Jehovah that is in Jerusalem.

nsb@Ezra:7:28 @ He has given mercy to me before the king and his government and before all the king's great captains. I was made strong by the hand of Jehovah my God which was on me, and I got together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

nsb@Ezra:8:15 @ I made them come together by the river flowing to Ahava. We were there in tents for three days. And after viewing the people and the priests I saw that no sons of Levi were there.

nsb@Ezra:8:17 @ I sent them to Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and gave them orders what to say to Iddo and his brothers the Nethinim at the place Casiphia, so that they might come back to us with men to do the work of the house of our God.

nsb@Ezra:8:20 @ Of the Nethinim, to whom David and the captains had given the work of helping the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim, all of them specially named.

nsb@Ezra:8:22 @ I would not make request to the king for a band of armed men and horsemen to give us help against those who might attack us on the way. We said to the king: »The hand of our God is on his servants for good, but his power and his wrath are against all those who have turned away from him.«

nsb@Ezra:8:23 @ So we went without food, requesting our God for this: and his ear was open to our prayer.

nsb@Ezra:8:25 @ I gave to them by weight the silver and the gold and the vessels, all the offering for the house of our God that the king and his wise men and his captains and all Israel there present had given:

nsb@Ezra:8:26 @ Measuring into their hands six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels, a hundred talents' weight, and a hundred talents of gold,

nsb@Ezra:8:27 @ And twenty gold basins, of a thousand darics, and two vessels of the best bright brass, equal in value to gold.

nsb@Ezra:8:28 @ I said to them: »You are holy to Jehovah and the vessels are holy. The silver and the gold are an offering freely given to Jehovah, the God of your fathers.

nsb@Ezra:8:30 @ So the priests and the Levites took the weight of silver and gold and the vessels, to take them to Jerusalem into the house of our God.

nsb@Ezra:8:31 @ Then we went away from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us. He gave us salvation from our enemies and those who were waiting to attack us on the way.

nsb@Ezra:8:32 @ We went to Jerusalem and were there for three days.

nsb@Ezra:8:33 @ On the fourth day, the silver and the gold and the vessels were measured out by weight in the house of our God into the hands of Meremoth, the son of Uriah, the priest; and with him was Eleazar, the son of Phinehas; and with them were Jozabad, the son of Jeshua, and Obadiah, the son of Binnui, the Levites.

nsb@Ezra:8:35 @ Those who had been prisoners, who had come back from a strange land, made burned offerings to the God of Israel, twelve oxen for all Israel, ninety-six male sheep, seventy-seven lambs, twelve he-goats for a sin-offering: all this was a burned offering to Jehovah.

nsb@Ezra:8:36 @ They gave the king's orders to the king's captains and the rulers across the river. They gave the people and the house of God the help that was needed.

nsb@Ezra:9:1 @ After these things were done, the captains came to me and said: »The people of Israel and the priests and Levites have not kept themselves separate from the people of the lands. They have taken part in the disgusting ways of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

nsb@Ezra:9:2 @ »They have taken their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons. They have mingled the holy race with peoples around them. In fact the leaders and officials were first to do this evil.«

nsb@Ezra:9:3 @ Hearing this, with signs of grief and pulling out the hair of my head and my chin, I took my seat on the earth deeply troubled.

nsb@Ezra:9:5 @ I humbled myself before God at the evening offering. I got up, with signs of grief, and fell on my knees with my hands stretched out to Jehovah my God,

nsb@Ezra:9:6 @ I said, »O my God, shame keeps me from lifting up my face to you, my God: for our sins have increased higher than our heads and our evil-doing has come up to heaven.

nsb@Ezra:9:7 @ »From the days of our fathers till this day we have been great sinners. Because of our sins, the kings of the lands captured us. We were given to the sword and to prison and to loss of goods and to shame of face, as it is this day.

nsb@Ezra:9:8 @ »Now for a little time grace has come to us from Jehovah our God, to let a small band of us go free and to give us a nail in his holy place. Our God gives light to our eyes and a measure of new life in our prison chains.

nsb@Ezra:9:9 @ »We are servants. Our God has not been turned away from us in our prison. He had mercy on us before the eyes of the kings of Persia, to give us new strength, to put up again the house of our God and to restore its desolate places, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.

nsb@Ezra:9:10 @ »And now, O our God, what are we to say after this? For we have not obeyed your laws,

nsb@Ezra:9:11 @ ‘»Which you gave to your servants the prophets, saying: ‘The land where you are going, you should take for a heritage. It is an unclean land, because of the evil lives of the peoples of the land and their disgusting ways, which have made the land unclean from end to end.’

nsb@Ezra:9:12 @ »Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons or do anything for their peace or well being for a very long time. That way you may be strong, living on the good of the land, and handing it on to your children for a heritage for as long as they live.

nsb@Ezra:9:14 @ »Are we again to go against your orders, taking wives from among the people who do these disgusting things? Would you not be angry with us till our destruction was complete, till there was not one who got away safe?

nsb@Ezra:10:1 @ While Ezra was saying his prayer and his confession of wrongdoing he wept and fell down before the house of God. A very great number of men and women and children out of Israel came together around him, for the people were weeping bitterly.

nsb@Ezra:10:2 @ Shecaniah, the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answering, said to Ezra, We have done evil against our God, and have taken as our wives strange women of the peoples of the land. But still there is hope for Israel in this question.

nsb@Ezra:10:3 @ »Let us make an agreement with our God to put away all the wives and all their children, if it seems right to my lord and to those who go in fear of the words of our God. Let it be done in keeping with the law.

nsb@Ezra:10:5 @ Then Ezra got up, and made the chiefs of the priests and the Levites and all Israel take an oath that they would do this. So they took an oath.

nsb@Ezra:10:6 @ Then Ezra got up from before the house of God and went into the room of Jehohanan, the son of Eliashib. When he arrived there, he took no food or drink, for he was sorrowing for the sin of those who had come back.

nsb@Ezra:10:7 @ They made a public statement to all Judah and Jerusalem, to all those who came back, that they were to come together to Jerusalem.

nsb@Ezra:10:9 @ Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin came together to Jerusalem before three days were past. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people were seated in the wide square in front of the house of God. They shook with fear because of this business of this business and because of the great rain.

nsb@Ezra:10:10 @ Ezra the priest got to his feet and said to them: »You have done wrong and taken strange women for your wives, thus increasing the sin of Israel.

nsb@Ezra:10:11 @ « Give praise to Jehovah, the God of your fathers, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the strange women.«

nsb@Ezra:10:12 @ Then all the people, answered with a loud voice: As you have said, so it is right for us to do.

nsb@Ezra:10:13 @ »The number of people is great, and it is a time of much rain; it is not possible for us to go on waiting outside. This is not a thing that may be done in one day or even two: for our sin in this business is great.

nsb@Ezra:10:14 @ »So now let our rulers be representatives for all the people. Let all those in our towns who are married to strange women come at fixed times, and with them the responsible men and the judges of every town, till the burning wrath of our God is turned away from us, and this has been done.«

nsb@Ezra:10:16 @ So those who had come back did so. Ezra the priest, with certain heads of families, by their fathers' families, all of them by their names, were marked out. On the first day of the tenth month they took their places to go into the question with care.

nsb@Ezra:10:17 @ they reached the end of all the men who were married to strange women by the first day of the first month.

nsb@Ezra:10:18 @ Among the sons of the priests who were married to strange women were these: of the sons of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak and his brothers, Maaseiah and Eliezer and Jarib and Gedaliah.

nsb@Nehemiah:1:1 @ The history of Nehemiah, the son of Hacaliah. Now it came about, in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, when I was in Shushan, the castle,

nsb@Nehemiah:1:2 @ Hanani, one of my brothers, came with men from Judah. This was in answer to my request for news about the Jews who had been prisoners and escaped from captivity and about Jerusalem.

nsb@Nehemiah:1:3 @ They said to me: »The small band of Jews now living there in the land is in deep trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem has been broken down, and its doorways burned with fire.«

nsb@Nehemiah:1:4 @ After I heard these words I sat down on the ground and cried for days. I ate no food and offered prayer to the God of heaven.

nsb@Nehemiah:1:5 @ I said: »O Jehovah, the God of heaven, the great God, greatly to be respected, keeping faith and mercy with those who have love for him and are true to his laws:

nsb@Nehemiah:1:6 @ »Let your ear now take note and let your eyes be open. Please give ear to the prayer of your servant. At this time, day and night I pray for the children of Israel, your servants. I put before you the sins of the children of Israel that we have done against you: truly, my father’s people and I are sinners.

nsb@Nehemiah:1:7 @ »We have done great wrong against you. We have not obeyed the orders, the rules, and the decisions, which you gave to your servant Moses.

nsb@Nehemiah:1:9 @ »If you come back to me and obey my orders, even if you have been forced out and are living in the farthest horizons, I will gather you from there, and bring you to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my name.’

nsb@Nehemiah:1:11 @ »O Jehovah, let your ear take note of the prayer of your servant. Of the prayers of all your servants, who take delight in worshipping your name: give help, O Jehovah, to your servant this day, and let him have mercy in the eyes of this man.« Now I was the king's wine-servant.

nsb@Nehemiah:2:1 @ In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him. I served the wine to the king. Never before had I been sad when the king was present.

nsb@Nehemiah:2:2 @ The king said to me: »Why is your face sad, seeing that you are not ill? This is nothing but sorrow of heart.« Then I was full of fear.

nsb@Nehemiah:2:3 @ I said to the king: »May the king live a very long time. My face should look sad for the town where my fathers are buried is devastated. It has been destroyed by fire.«

nsb@Nehemiah:2:4 @ The king asked: »What is your desire?« So I made prayer to the God of heaven.

nsb@Nehemiah:2:5 @ I said to the king: »If it is the king's will, and if your servant has your approval, send me to Judah, to the town where the bodies of my fathers are buried, so that I may rebuild it.«

nsb@Nehemiah:2:6 @ The queen sat by him when the king said: »How long will your journey take? When will you come back? So the king was pleased to send me, and I gave him a fixed time.

nsb@Nehemiah:2:7 @ Further, I said to the king: »If it is the king's pleasure, let letters be given to me for the rulers across the river so that they may let me go through till I come to Judah.

nsb@Nehemiah:2:8 @ »I need a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's park, so that he may give me wood to make boards for the doors of the tower of the house, and for the wall of the town, and for the house which is to be mine.« The king gave me this, for the hand of my God was on me.

nsb@Nehemiah:2:9 @ Then I came to the rulers of the lands across the river and gave them the king's letters. Now the king sent with me captains of the army and horsemen.

nsb@Nehemiah:2:10 @ Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard I was coming. They were greatly troubled because a man came to help from the children of Israel.

nsb@Nehemiah:2:12 @ I got up in the night and took a small band of men with me. I said nothing to any man of what God put into my heart to do for Jerusalem, I had no beast with me but the one on which I was seated.

nsb@Nehemiah:2:13 @ I went in the dark through the gateway of the valley past the Fountain of the Snake as far as the place where waste material was stored. From there I viewed the broken down walls of Jerusalem and the gateways that were burned with fire.

nsb@Nehemiah:2:14 @ Then I went on to the door of the fountain and to the king's pool: but there was no room for my beast to get through.

nsb@Nehemiah:2:16 @ The chiefs had no knowledge of where I had been or what I was doing. I had not then said anything to the Jews or to the priests or the great ones or the chiefs or the rest of those who were doing the work.

nsb@Nehemiah:2:17 @ Then I said to them: »You see what a bad condition we are in. How Jerusalem is a waste. It’s gateways burned with fire. Come; let us get to work, building up the wall of Jerusalem, so that we may no longer be put to shame.«

nsb@Nehemiah:2:18 @ Then I gave them an account of how the hand of my God was on me, helping me. I told them of the king's words he said to me. They said: »Let us get to work on the building.« So they made their hands strong for the good work.

nsb@Nehemiah:2:19 @ But Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, hearing of it, made sport of us. They laughed at us and said: »What are you doing? Will you go against the king?«

nsb@Nehemiah:3:1 @ The high priest Eliashib worked with his brother priest to rebuild the Sheep Gateway. They made it holy and put its doors in position. They sanctified everything as far as the tower of Hammeah including to the tower of Hananel.

nsb@Nehemiah:3:5 @ Near them, the Tekoites were at work; but their chiefs did not put their necks to the work of their masters.

nsb@Nehemiah:3:11 @ Malchijah, the son of Harim, and Hasshub, the son of Pahath-moab, were working on another part, and the tower of the ovens.

nsb@Nehemiah:3:15 @ And Shallun, the son of Col-hozeh, the ruler of the division of Mizpah, made good the doorway of the fountain, building it up and covering it and putting up its doors, with their locks and rods, with the wall of the pool of Shelah by the king's garden, as far as the steps which go down from the town of David.

nsb@Nehemiah:3:19 @ And by his side was working Ezer, the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, making good another part opposite the way up to the store of arms at the turning of the wall.

nsb@Nehemiah:3:20 @ After him Baruch, the son of Zabbai, was hard at work on another part, from the turning of the wall to the door of the house of Eliashib, the chief priest.

nsb@Nehemiah:3:25 @ Palal, the son of Uzai, made good the wall opposite the angle and the tower which comes out from the higher part of the king's house, by the open space of the watch. After him was Pedaiah, the son of Parosh.

nsb@Nehemiah:3:26 @ Now the Nethinim were living in the Ophel, as far as the place facing the water doorway to the east, and the tower that comes out.

nsb@Nehemiah:3:27 @ After him the Tekoites were making good another part, opposite the great tower that comes out, and up to the wall of the Ophel.

nsb@Nehemiah:3:31 @ After him Malchijah, one of the gold-workers to the Nethinim and the traders, made good the wall opposite the doorway of Hammiphkad and as far as the way up to the angle.

nsb@Nehemiah:3:32 @ And between the way up to the angle and the Sheep Gate, the gold-workers and the traders made good the wall.

nsb@Nehemiah:4:2 @ And in the hearing of his countrymen and the army of Samaria he said: »What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they make themselves strong? Will they make offerings? Will they get the work done in a day? Will they make the stones that have been burned come again out of the dust?«

nsb@Nehemiah:4:3 @ Now Tobiah the Ammonite was with him, and he said: Such is their building that if a fox climbs to the top of it, their stonewall will be broken down.

nsb@Nehemiah:4:4 @ Give ear, O our God, for we are ridiculed. Let their words of shame be turned back upon them, and let them be given up to plunder in a land where they are prisoners.

nsb@Nehemiah:4:6 @ So we went on building the wall. The entire wall was joined together halfway up. The people were working hard.

nsb@Nehemiah:4:7 @ When the Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabians and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites, heard that the building of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and the broken places were being made good, they were very angry.

nsb@Nehemiah:4:8 @ All of them conspired to come and launch an attack on Jerusalem, causing trouble there.

nsb@Nehemiah:4:9 @ We prayed to God and stationed men on watch against them day and night.

nsb@Nehemiah:4:10 @ Judah said: »The strength of the workmen is giving way. There is a lot of rubbish so it is impossible for us to put up the wall.«

nsb@Nehemiah:4:11 @ And our adversaries kept saying: »They will not know and they will not see until we come right in among them and put them to death. We will cause the work to cease.«

nsb@Nehemiah:4:12 @ When the Jews who were living near them came, they said to us ten times: »From all directions they are coming against us.«

nsb@Nehemiah:4:14 @ And after looking, I got up and said to the great ones and to the chiefs and to the rest of the people, »Have no fear of them. Keep in mind Jehovah who is great and greatly to be feared. Take up arms for your brothers, your sons, and your daughters, your wives and your houses.«

nsb@Nehemiah:4:15 @ When our enemies heard that we had knowledge of their designs and that God had made their purpose come to nothing, we all went back to the wall, everyone to his work.

nsb@Nehemiah:4:19 @ I said to the leaders and the rest of the people: »The work is extensive and widely spaced and we are far away from one another on the wall.

nsb@Nehemiah:4:20 @ »Wherever you may be when the horn is sounded, come here to us. Our God will fight for us.«

nsb@Nehemiah:4:22 @ At the same time I said to the people: »Let everyone with his servant come inside Jerusalem for the night. At night they may keep watch for us, and go on working by day.«

nsb@Nehemiah:4:23 @ Not one of us, I or my brothers or my servants or the watchmen who were with me, changed clothes. Everyone went armed to the water.

nsb@Nehemiah:5:4 @ Yet others said: »We have given up our fields and our vine-gardens to get money for the king's taxes.

nsb@Nehemiah:5:5 @ »But our flesh is the same as the flesh of our countrymen, and our children as their children. Now we give our sons and daughters into the hands of others, to be their servants. Some of our daughters are servants even now. We have no power to stop this. For other men have our fields and our vine-gardens.«

nsb@Nehemiah:5:7 @ After giving it much thought, I made a protest to the chiefs and the rulers, and said to them: »Everyone of you is collecting interest from his brothers.« I organized a big meeting of protest.

nsb@Nehemiah:5:8 @ I said to them: »We have given whatever we were able to give, to make our brothers the Jews free. They were servants and prisoners of the nations. Would you now give up your brothers for a price? Are they to become our property?« They said nothing. They answered not a word!

nsb@Nehemiah:5:9 @ I said: »What you are doing is not good. Is it not necessary for you to walk out of respect for our God, because of the shame the nations put on us?

nsb@Nehemiah:5:11 @ »Give back to them this very day their fields, their vine-gardens, their olive-gardens, and their houses, as well as a hundredth part of the money and the grain and the wine and the oil that you have taken from them.«

nsb@Nehemiah:5:15 @ Earlier rulers who came before me made the people responsible for their upkeep, and took from them bread and wine at the rate of forty shekels of silver. Even their servants were lords over the people. But I did not do so, out of reverence for God.

nsb@Nehemiah:5:17 @ There is more, a hundred and fifty of the Jews and the rulers were guests at my table, in addition to those who came to us from the nations nearby.

nsb@Nehemiah:5:18 @ The food for one day included: one bull and six fat sheep, as well as fowls; and once in ten days a store of all sorts of wine. All the same, I did not take the food to which the ruler had a right, because the people were crushed under a hard yoke.

nsb@Nehemiah:6:1 @ Word was given to Sanballat and Tobiah and to Geshem the Arabian and to the rest of our enemies, that I had done the building of the wall and that there were no more broken places in it though even then I had not put up the gates in the gateways.

nsb@Nehemiah:6:2 @ Sanballat and Geshem sent to me saying: »Come; let us have a meeting in one of the little towns in the lowland of Ono.« But their purpose was to do me evil.

nsb@Nehemiah:6:3 @ I sent men to them saying: »I am doing a great work, so that it is not possible for me to come. Should the work to be stopped while I go away from it and come to you?«

nsb@Nehemiah:6:4 @ They sent this to me four times. I sent them the same answer.

nsb@Nehemiah:6:5 @ Then Sanballat sent his servant to me a fifth time with an open letter in his hand.

nsb@Nehemiah:6:6 @ There was written in it: »It has been heard among the nations what Geshem is saying. / He is saying that you and the Jews are hoping to make yourselves free from the king's authority. That this is why you are building the wall. They say that it is your purpose to be their king.

nsb@Nehemiah:6:7 @ »And that you have prophets preaching about you in Jerusalem, and saying: ‘There is a king in Judah.’ Now an account of these things will be sent to the king. So come now, and let us have a discussion.«

nsb@Nehemiah:6:8 @ I responded to him, saying: »No such things as you say are being done. They are only a fiction you have made up yourself.«

nsb@Nehemiah:6:9 @ They hoped to put fear in us, saying: »Their hands will become feeble and give up the work so that it may not get done.« But now, O God, make my hands strong.

nsb@Nehemiah:6:10 @ And I went to the house of Shemaiah, the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was confined in his house. He said: »Let us have a meeting in the house of God, inside the Temple, and let the doors be closed for they will come to kill you. Truly, in the night they will come to kill you.«

nsb@Nehemiah:6:11 @ I replied: »Am I the sort of man to go in flight? What man, in my position, would go into the Temple to keep safe? I will not go in.«

nsb@Nehemiah:6:12 @ Then it became clear to me that God had not sent him. He spoke prophecy against me. Tobiah and Sanballat paid him money to do so.

nsb@Nehemiah:6:13 @ For this reason they paid him money, in order that I might be overcome by fear and do what he said and do wrong. Then they would have reason to say evil about me and put shame on me.

nsb@Nehemiah:6:14 @ Keep in mind, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat and what they did, and Noadiah, the woman prophet, and the rest of the prophets whose purpose was to frighten me.

nsb@Nehemiah:6:15 @ The wall was complete on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul. It took fifty-two days.

nsb@Nehemiah:6:17 @ The leaders of Judah exchanged letters with Tobiah.

nsb@Nehemiah:6:19 @ They spoke a good deal about the good he had done in my presence, and reported what I said to him. Tobiah sent letters with the purpose of causing me fear.

nsb@Nehemiah:7:2 @ I appointed my brother Hanani, and Hananiah, the ruler of the tower, responsible for the government of Jerusalem. For he was a man of good faith, respecting God more than most.

nsb@Nehemiah:7:3 @ I said to them: »Do not let the doors of Jerusalem be open till the sun is high and when the watchmen are in their places. Shut the doors and lock them. Let the people of Jerusalem be responsible for the watch, every one in his watch near his house.«

nsb@Nehemiah:7:4 @ The town was large and spacious. But the people in it were only a small number, and the houses had not been built.

nsb@Nehemiah:7:5 @ My God put it into my heart to get together the rulers and the chiefs and the people to list them by families. I came across a record of the names of those who came up at the first, and in it I saw these words:

nsb@Nehemiah:7:6 @ These are the people of the divisions of the kingdom, among those who had been made prisoners by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, and taken away by him, who went back to Jerusalem and Judah, every one to his town:

nsb@Nehemiah:7:26 @ The men of Beth-lehem and Netophah, a hundred and eighty-eight.

nsb@Nehemiah:7:62 @ The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred and forty-two.

nsb@Nehemiah:7:63 @ And of the priests: the children of Hobaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who was married to one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and took their name.

nsb@Nehemiah:7:64 @ They searched for their record among the lists of families, but their names were nowhere to be seen, so they were looked on as unclean and no longer priests.

nsb@Nehemiah:7:65 @ And the Tirshatha said that they were not to have the most holy things for their food, till a priest came to give decision by the Urim and Thummim.

nsb@Nehemiah:7:66 @ The number of all the people together was forty-two thousand, three hundred and sixty.

nsb@Nehemiah:7:67 @ As well as their men-servants and their women-servants, of whom there were seven thousand, three hundred and thirty-seven. They had two hundred and forty-five men and women to make music.

nsb@Nehemiah:7:70 @ Some of the heads of families gave money for the work. The Tirshatha gave to the store a thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, and five hundred and thirty priests' robes.

nsb@Nehemiah:7:71 @ Some of the heads of families gave to the store for the work twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand, two hundred pounds of silver.

nsb@Nehemiah:7:73 @ The priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, some of the people and the Nethinim, and all Israel, were living in their towns. When the seventh months arrived, the sons of Israel were then in their cities.

nsb@Nehemiah:8:1 @ When the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their towns. All the people came together like one man into the wide place in front of the Water Gate. They requested Ezra the scribe that he would bring them the book of the Law of Moses that Jehovah gave to Israel.

nsb@Nehemiah:8:2 @ Ezra the priest brought the law to the meeting of the people. They were all able to listen to it. It was the first day of the seventh month.

nsb@Nehemiah:8:3 @ He read it in the wide place in front of the Water Gate from early morning till the middle of the day. Everyone who could understand it, men and women alike were able to listen to it. All the people got to hear the Book of the Law.

nsb@Nehemiah:8:4 @ Ezra the scribe took his place on a tower of wood that they had made for the purpose. By his side were placed Mattithiah and Shema and Anaiah and Uriah and Hilkiah and Maaseiah on the right; and on the left, Pedaiah and Mishael and Malchijah and Hashum and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.

nsb@Nehemiah:8:5 @ Ezra took the book and opened it before the eyes of all the people for he was higher than the people. When it was open, all the people stood on their feet.

nsb@Nehemiah:8:6 @ Ezra praised Jehovah, the great God. And all the people said: »Amen!« With lifted hands and bent heads they worshiped Jehovah. They dropped to their faces on the earth.

nsb@Nehemiah:8:7 @ And Jeshua and Bani and Sherebiah and Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites made the law clear to the people: and the people kept in their places.

nsb@Nehemiah:8:8 @ They read from the book the Law of God making it clear, so that their minds were able to take it in.

nsb@Nehemiah:8:9 @ Nehemiah, who was the Tirshatha, and Ezra, the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were the teachers of the people, said to all the people: »This day is holy to Jehovah your God. Let there be no sorrow or weeping.« For all the people were weeping on hearing the words of the law.

nsb@Nehemiah:8:10 @ He said to them: »Go away now, and take the fat for your food and the sweet for your drink, and send some to him for whom nothing is made ready. This day is holy to our Lord. Let there be no grief in your hearts. The joy of Jehovah is your strong place.«

nsb@Nehemiah:8:11 @ So the Levites made all the people quiet, saying: »Be quiet, for the day is holy; and do not give way to grief.«

nsb@Nehemiah:8:12 @ All the people went away to take food and drink, and to send food to others, and to be glad, because the words that were said to them had been clearly communicated.

nsb@Nehemiah:8:13 @ The second day the heads of families of all the people and the priests and the Levites came together to Ezra the scribe, to give attention to the words of the law.

nsb@Nehemiah:8:14 @ They saw that it was recorded in the law that Jehovah gave orders by Moses, that the children of Israel were to have tents for their living-places in the feast of the seventh month:

nsb@Nehemiah:8:15 @ They were to give an order, and make it public in all their towns and in Jerusalem, saying: Go out to the mountain and get olive branches and branches of field olives and of myrtle, and palm branches and branches of thick trees, to make tents, as it says in the book.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:1 @ Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel came together, taking no food and putting sackcloth and dust on their bodies.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:4 @ Then Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani took their places on the steps of the Levites and cried in a loud voice to Jehovah their God.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:5 @ Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah said: »Get up and give praise to Jehovah your God forever and ever. Praise your great name that is lifted up high over all, blessing and praise.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:7 @ »You are Jehovah, the true God, who took Abram and made him yours, guiding him from Ur of the Chaldees, and gave him the name of Abraham;

nsb@Nehemiah:9:8 @ »You saw that his heart was true to you, and made an agreement with him to give the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Jebusite and the Girgashite, even to give it to his seed, and you have done what you said; for righteousness is yours.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:9 @ »You saw the trouble of our fathers in Egypt, and their cry came to your ears by the Red Sea.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:10 @ »You did signs and wonders on Pharaoh and all his servants and all the people of his land. You saw how cruel they were to them. So you made a name for yourself as it is today.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:11 @ »You parted the sea before them, so that they went through the sea on dry land; and those who went after them went down into the deep, like a stone into great waters.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:12 @ »And you went before them by day in a pillar of cloud and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light on the way they were to go.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:13 @ »You came down on Mount Sinai, and your voice came to them from heaven, giving them right decisions and true laws, good rules and orders.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:15 @ »They received bread from heaven when they were in need, and you made water come out of the rock for their drink, and gave them orders to go in and take for their heritage the land that your hand give them.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:16 @ »But they and our fathers, in their pride, made their necks stiff, and paid no attention to your orders.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:17 @ »They would not obey you and gave no thought to the wonders you did among them. They became stubborn and turning away from you. They appointed a leader over themselves to take them back to their prison in Egypt. However, you are a God of forgiveness, full of grace and pity, slow to wrath and great in mercy, and you did not give them up.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:18 @ »Even when they made for themselves a bull out of metal, and said: ‘This is your God who took you up out of Egypt, and had done so much to make you angry.’

nsb@Nehemiah:9:19 @ »Even then, in your great mercy, you did not give them up in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud still went before them by day, guiding them on their way, and the pillar of fire by night, to give them light, and make clear the way they were to go.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:20 @ »You gave your good Spirit to be their teacher. You did not hold back your manna from their mouths. You gave them water when they had need of it.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:22 @ »You gave them kingdoms and peoples, making distribution to them in every part of the land. They took for their heritage the land of Sihon, even the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og, king of Bashan.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:23 @ »You made their children as great in number as the stars of heaven. You took them into the land, of which you had said to their fathers that they were to go in and take it for themselves.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:24 @ »So the children went in and took the land. You overcame before them the people of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them up into their hands, with their kings and the people of the land, so that they might do with them whatever it was their pleasure to do.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:25 @ »And they took walled towns and a fat land. They became the owners of houses full of all good things, water-holes cut in the rock, vine-gardens and olive-gardens and a wealth of fruit-trees. They had food enough and became fat, and had joy in the good you gave them.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:26 @ »But they were hard-hearted, and went against your authority. They turned their backs on your law, and murdered your prophets. These prophets gave witness against them with the purpose of turning them back again to you. They did much to make you angry.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:27 @ »So you gave them up into the hands of their enemies who were cruel to them. In the time of their trouble, when they prayed to you, you listened to them from heaven. In your great mercy you gave them saviors, who made them free from the hands of their enemies.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:28 @ »When they had rest, they did evil again before you: so you gave them into the hands of their enemies who ruled over them. When they came back and prayed to you, you listened to them from heaven; again and again, in your mercy, you gave them salvation.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:29 @ »You admonished them so that you might make them come back again to your law. Their hearts were lifted up, and they paid no attention to your orders. They went against your life giving decisions and turned their backs on you. They were stubborn and did not listen.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:30 @ »You put up with them for years. You admonished them by your Spirit through your prophets. Still they did not listen. So you gave them up into the hands of the peoples of the lands.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:31 @ »Even then, in your great mercy, you did not put an end to them completely, or give them up; for you are a God of grace and mercy.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:32 @ »Now, our God, the great, the strong, the God who is to be respected, who keeps faith and mercy, do not let his trouble seem small to you. It has come on us, and on our kings and our rulers and on our priests and our prophets and our fathers and on all your people from the time of the kings of Assyria till this day.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:33 @ »You have been in the right in everything that happened to us. You have been true to us, but we have done evil!

nsb@Nehemiah:9:34 @ »Our kings, our rulers, our priests, and our fathers have not obeyed your Law or given attention to your orders and your witness, with which you gave witness against them.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:36 @ »Today, we are servants! As for the land you gave to our fathers, so that the produce of it and the good might be theirs, see, we are servants in it!

nsb@Nehemiah:9:37 @ »And it gives much increase to the kings whom you have put over us because of our sins. They have power over our bodies and over our cattle at their pleasure, and we are in great trouble.

nsb@Nehemiah:9:38 @ »And because of all this we are making an agreement in good faith, and putting it in writing. Our rulers, our Levites, and our priests are putting their names to it.«

nsb@Nehemiah:10:28 @ And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gate keepers, the music-makers, the Nethinim, and all those who made themselves separate from the peoples of the lands, to keep the Law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone who had knowledge and wisdom;

nsb@Nehemiah:10:29 @ They were united with their brothers, their rulers, and put themselves under a curse and an oath, to keep their steps in the way of God's law, which was given by Moses, the servant of God, and to keep and do all the orders of the Jehovah, our Lord, and his decisions and his rules.

nsb@Nehemiah:10:30 @ That way we would not give our daughters to the peoples of the lands, or take their daughters for our sons;

nsb@Nehemiah:10:31 @ If the peoples of the lands come to do trade in goods or food on the Sabbath day, that we would do no trade with them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. In the seventh year we would take no payment from any debtor.

nsb@Nehemiah:10:33 @ For the holy bread, and for the regular meal offering and the regular burned offering on the Sabbaths and at the new moon and the fixed feasts, and for the sin-offerings to take away the sin of Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.

nsb@Nehemiah:10:34 @ And we, the priests and the Levites and the people, made selection, by the decision of Jehovah, of those who were to take the wood offering into the house of God, by families at the regular times, year by year, to be burned on the altar of Jehovah our God, as it is recorded in the law;

nsb@Nehemiah:10:35 @ To take the first fruits of our land, and the first fruits of every sort of tree, year by year, into the house of Jehovah.

nsb@Nehemiah:10:36 @ As well as the first of our sons and of our cattle, as it is recorded in the law. The first lambs of our herds and of our flocks, which are to be taken to the house of our God, to the priests who are servants in the house of our God:

nsb@Nehemiah:10:37 @ That we would take the first of our rough meal, and our lifted offerings, and the fruit of every sort of tree, and wine and oil, to the priests, to the rooms of the house of our God. The tenth of the produce of our land to the Levites for the Levites, take a tenth in all the towns of our ploughed land.

nsb@Nehemiah:10:38 @ The priest, the son of Aaron, is to be with the Levites, when the Levites take the tenths. The Levites are to take a tenth of the tenths into the house of our God, to the rooms, into the storehouse.

nsb@Nehemiah:10:39 @ The children of Israel and the children of Levi are to take the lifted offering of the grain and wine and oil into the rooms where the vessels of the holy place are. This is together with the priests and the gatekeepers and the makers of music. We will not give up caring for the House of our God.

nsb@Nehemiah:11:1 @ The rulers of the people lived in Jerusalem. One out of every ten people was selected by chance to live in Jerusalem, the holy town. The other nine were to go to the other towns.

nsb@Nehemiah:11:2 @ the people gave a blessing to all the men who freely offered to take up their places in Jerusalem.

nsb@Nehemiah:11:3 @ These are the chiefs of the divisions of the country who were living in Jerusalem: but in the towns of Judah everyone was living on his heritage in the towns, that is, Israel, the priests, the Levites, the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon's servants.

nsb@Nehemiah:11:9 @ Joel, the son of Zichri, was their overseer; and Judah, the son of Hassenuah, was second over the town.

nsb@Nehemiah:11:17 @ And Mattaniah, the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who had to give the first note of the song of praise in prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brothers, and Abda, the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.

nsb@Nehemiah:11:18 @ All the Levites in the holy town were two hundred and eighty-four.

nsb@Nehemiah:11:20 @ And the rest of Israel, of the priests, the Levites, in all the towns of Judah, every one in his heritage.

nsb@Nehemiah:11:24 @ Pethahiah, the son of Meshezabel, of the sons of Zerah, the son of Judah, was the king's servant in everything to do with the people.

nsb@Nehemiah:11:30 @ And Zanoah, Adullam and their villages, Lachish and its fields, Azekah and its villages. So they were living from Beer-sheba to the valley of Hinnom.

nsb@Nehemiah:11:36 @ Certain divisions in Judah were joined to Benjamin of the Levites.

nsb@Nehemiah:12:23 @ The sons of Levi, heads of families, were recorded in the book of the histories, even till the days of Johanan, the son of Eliashib.

nsb@Nehemiah:12:24 @ The chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua, the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers opposite them, to give blessing and praise as ordered by David, the man of God, watch against watch.

nsb@Nehemiah:12:25 @ Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were gatekeepers keeping the watch at the storehouses of the gates.

nsb@Nehemiah:12:27 @ When the time came for the wall of Jerusalem to be made holy, they sent for the Levites out of all their places to come to Jerusalem, to keep the feast with joy, and with praise and melody, with brass and corded instruments of music.

nsb@Nehemiah:12:28 @ The sons of the music-makers came together from the lowland round about Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites,

nsb@Nehemiah:12:31 @ Then I made the rulers of Judah come up on the wall, and I put in position two great bands of them who gave praise, walking in ordered lines. One went to the right on the wall toward the gateway where the waste was put.

nsb@Nehemiah:12:37 @ By the doorway of the fountain and straight in front of them, they went up by the steps of the town of David, at the slope up of the wall, over the house of David, as far as the water-doorway to the east.

nsb@Nehemiah:12:38 @ The other band of those who gave praise went to the left, and I went after them with half the people, on the wall, over the tower of the ovens, as far as the wide wall,

nsb@Nehemiah:12:39 @ Over the Gate of Ephraim and by the old door and the fish door and the tower of Hananel and the tower of Hammeah, as far as the Sheep Gate: and at the doorway of the watchmen they came to a stop.

nsb@Nehemiah:12:40 @ So the two bands of those who gave praise took up their positions in the house of God, and I and half of the chiefs with me:

nsb@Nehemiah:12:43 @ On that day they made great offerings and were glad. God made them glad with great joy. The women and the children were glad with them. The joy of Jerusalem came to the ears of those who were far off.

nsb@Nehemiah:12:44 @ Men were stationed over the houses where the contributions and the first fruits and the tenths were stored. They were to take into them the amounts, from the fields of every town. The law fixed this for the priests and the Levites: Judah was glad on account of the priests and the Levites who were in their places.

nsb@Nehemiah:12:46 @ For in the days of David and Asaph in the past, there was a master of the music, and songs of blessing and praise to God.

nsb@Nehemiah:13:1 @ On that day there was a reading from the book of Moses while the people listened. They heard that it said in the book that no Ammonite or Moabite might ever come into the meeting of God at any time.

nsb@Nehemiah:13:2 @ This is because they did not give the children of Israel bread and water when they came to them, but got Balaam to put a curse on them. Our God turned the curse into a blessing.

nsb@Nehemiah:13:3 @ So after hearing the law, they took out of Israel all the mixed people.

nsb@Nehemiah:13:4 @ Before this, Eliashib the priest had been placed over the rooms of the house of our God. He was a friend of Tobiah.

nsb@Nehemiah:13:5 @ Had made a great room ready for him. This is where they once kept the meal offerings, the perfume, the vessels and the tenths of the grain and wine and oil. They were given by order to the Levites and the music-makers and the gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.

nsb@Nehemiah:13:6 @ I was not at Jerusalem all this time in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes, king of Babylon. I went to the king; and after some days, I got the king to let me go.

nsb@Nehemiah:13:7 @ I went to Jerusalem. It was clear to me what evil Eliashib had done for Tobiah by making ready for him a room in the buildings of the house of God.

nsb@Nehemiah:13:8 @ It was evil in my eyes so I had all Tobiah's things removed from the room.

nsb@Nehemiah:13:10 @ I saw that the Levites had not been given what was needed for their support. So the Levites and the music-makers, who did the work, had gone away, everyone to his field.

nsb@Nehemiah:13:11 @ Then I made protests to the chiefs, and said: »Why has the house of God been given up?« I got them together and put them in their places.

nsb@Nehemiah:13:12 @ All Judah came with the tenth part of the grain and wine and oil and put it into the storehouses.

nsb@Nehemiah:13:13 @ I made controllers over the storehouses, Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and with them was Hanan, the son of Zaccur the son of Mattaniah. They were taken to be honest men and their business was the distribution of these things to their brothers.

nsb@Nehemiah:13:15 @ In those days, I saw in Judah some who were crushing grapes on the Sabbath, and harvesting grain and putting it on Asses; as well as wine and grapes and figs and all sorts of goods that they took into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. I gave witness against them on the day when they were marketing food.

nsb@Nehemiah:13:17 @ Then I made protests to the chiefs of Judah, and said to them: »What is this evil you are doing, not keeping the Sabbath day holy?

nsb@Nehemiah:13:18 @ »Did not your fathers do the same, and did not our God send all this evil on us and on this town? You are causing more anger to come on Israel by not keeping the Sabbath holy.«

nsb@Nehemiah:13:19 @ When the streets of Jerusalem were getting dark before the Sabbath, I gave orders for the gate to be shut and not to be open again until after the Sabbath. I put some of my servants by the gate so that nothing might be taken in on the Sabbath day.

nsb@Nehemiah:13:20 @ So the traders in all sorts of goods took their night's rest outside Jerusalem once or twice.

nsb@Nehemiah:13:22 @ I gave the Levites orders to make themselves clean and come and keep the gates and make the Sabbath holy. »Keep this in mind to my credit, O my God, and have mercy on me, for great is your mercy.«

nsb@Nehemiah:13:23 @ I saw the Jews who were married to women of Ashdod and Ammon and Moab:

nsb@Nehemiah:13:25 @ I took up the cause against them, cursing them and giving blows to some of them and pulling out their hair. I made them take an oath by God, saying: »You are not to give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.

nsb@Nehemiah:13:26 @ »Was it not in these things that Solomon, king of Israel, did wrong? Among a number of nations there was no king like him. He was dear to his God, and God made him king over all Israel. But even he was made to do evil by strange women.

nsb@Nehemiah:13:27 @ »Are we then without protest to let you do all this great evil, sinning against our God by taking strange women for your wives?«

nsb@Nehemiah:13:28 @ One of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib, the chief priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite, so I sent him away from me.

nsb@Esther:1:2 @ When King Ahasuerus was ruling in Shushan, his strong town,

nsb@Esther:1:3 @ In the third year of his rule he gave a feast to all his captains and his servants. The captains of the army of Persia and Media, the great men and the rulers of the divisions of his kingdom, were present before him.

nsb@Esther:1:5 @ At the end of that time, the king gave a feast for all the people who were present in Shushan, the king's town, small as well as great, for seven days, in the outer square of the garden of the king's house.

nsb@Esther:1:6 @ There were hangings of white and green and blue, fixed with cords of purple and the best linen to silver rings and pillars of polished stone. The seats were of gold and silver on a floor of red and white and yellow and black stone.

nsb@Esther:1:8 @ The drinking was in keeping with the law. No one was forced: for the king gave orders to all the chief servants of his house to do as was pleasing to every man.

nsb@Esther:1:10 @ On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was glad with wine, he gave orders to Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presences of King Ahasuerus.

nsb@Esther:1:11 @ That Vashti the queen was to come before him, with her royal crown, and let the people and the captains see her beauty: for she was very beautiful.

nsb@Esther:1:13 @ The king spoke to the wise men that were experts with knowledge of the times. It was the king's practice.

nsb@Esther:1:14 @ The closest to the king were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven rulers of Persia and Media. They were friends of the king, and had the first places in the kingdom.

nsb@Esther:1:15 @ »By law, what is to be done to Vashti the queen? She has not done what King Ahasuerus ordered her to do.«

nsb@Esther:1:16 @ Before the king and the captains, Memucan gave his answer: »Vashti the queen has done wrong, not only to the king, but also to all the captains and to all the peoples in all the divisions of the kingdom of King Ahasuerus.

nsb@Esther:1:17 @ »For news of what the queen has done will come to the attention of all women. They will no longer give respect to their husbands when it is said to them, ‘King Ahasuerus gave orders for Vashti the queen to come before him and she did not come.’

nsb@Esther:1:18 @ »The wives of the captains of Persia and Media, hearing what the queen has done, will say the same to all the king's captains. So there will be much shame and anger.

nsb@Esther:1:19 @ »If it is pleasing to the king, let an order go out from him. Let it be recorded among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it may never be changed. That Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus. Let the king give her place to another who is better than she.

nsb@Esther:1:20 @ »When the king’s order is made public through all his great kingdom all the wives will give honor to their husbands, great as well as small.«

nsb@Esther:1:21 @ This suggestion seemed good to the king and the captains. The king did as Memucan said.

nsb@Esther:1:22 @ He sent letters to all the divisions of the kingdom where their language is used. The letter said that every man was to be the ruler in his house, and that this order was to be given out in the language of his people.

nsb@Esther:2:1 @ When the king's rage subsided, the thought of Vashti and what she had done and the order he had made against her came back to his mind.

nsb@Esther:2:2 @ Then the servants who were waiting on the king said to him, »Let a search be made for some fair young virgins for the king.

nsb@Esther:2:3 @ »Let the king give authority to some men in all the divisions of his kingdom, to get together all the fair young virgins and send them to Shushan, the king's town. Send them to the women's house. This is under the care of Hegai, the king's servant, the keeper of the women. Let the things needed for making them clean be given to them.

nsb@Esther:2:4 @ »And let the girl who is pleasing to the king be queen in place of Vashti.« The king was pleased with this suggestion; and he did so.

nsb@Esther:2:7 @ And he had been a father to Hadassah who is Esther, the daughter of his father's brother: for she had no father or mother. When her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his daughter. She was very beautiful.

nsb@Esther:2:8 @ When the order made by the king was made public a number of girls were placed in the care of Hegai in the king's house in Shushan. Esther was taken to the king's house and put in the care of Hegai, the keeper of the women.

nsb@Esther:2:9 @ He was pleased with the girl and was kind to her. He quickly provided her with cosmetics and food. He gave her seven choice servant girls who were to be hers from the king's house. He had her and her servant-girls moved to the best place in the women's part of the house.

nsb@Esther:2:10 @ Esther had not said what family or people she came from, for Mordecai gave her orders not to do so.

nsb@Esther:2:11 @ Every day Mordecai took his walk before the square of the women's house, to see how Esther was and what would be done to her.

nsb@Esther:2:12 @ Now every girl, when her turn came, had to go in to King Ahasuerus. After undergoing, for a space of twelve months, what was ordered by the law for the women for this was the time necessary for making them clean, that is, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with sweet perfumes and such things as are needed for making women clean.

nsb@Esther:2:13 @ In this way the girl was presented to the king. Whatever she desired was given to her to take with her from the women's house into the house of the king.

nsb@Esther:2:14 @ In the evening she went, and in the morning she would return to the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, one of the king's eunuchs who had the care of the king's wives. If the king had delight in her and sent for her by name she would go to him again.

nsb@Esther:2:15 @ When the time came for Esther, the daughter of Abihail, his father's brother, whom Mordecai had taken as his daughter, to go in to the king, she made request for nothing but what Hegai, the king's servant and keeper of the women, had given her. And all who saw her looked on Esther kindly.

nsb@Esther:2:16 @ Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus in his house in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his rule.

nsb@Esther:2:17 @ Esther was more pleasing to the king than all the women. To his eyes she was fairer and more full of grace than all the other virgins. So he put his crown on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti.

nsb@Esther:2:18 @ The king gave a great feast for all his captains and his servants and Esther. He gave orders through all the divisions of his kingdom for a release to the provinces, and gave wealth from his store.

nsb@Esther:2:19 @ When the virgins came together in the second house of the women, Mordecai took his seat in the gate of the king's house.

nsb@Esther:2:21 @ In those days, while Mordecai was seated at the king's gate two of the king's servants, Bigthan and Teresh, keepers of the gate, being angry, looked for a chance to attack King Ahasuerus.

nsb@Esther:2:22 @ Mordecai had knowledge of their purpose and sent word of it to Esther the queen. Esther gave the news to the king in Mordecai's name.

nsb@Esther:2:23 @ It was investigated and found to be true. The two men were put to death by hanging on a tree: and it was recorded in the records before the king.

nsb@Esther:3:2 @ All the king's servants who were in the king's house went down to the earth before Haman and gave him honor just as the king ordered. But Mordecai did not go down before him or give him honor.

nsb@Esther:3:3 @ Then the king's servants in the king's house said to Mordecai, »Why do you go against the king's order?«

nsb@Esther:3:4 @ Now when they repeatedly said this to him day after day and he gave no attention, they told Haman about it. To see if Mordecai's behavior would be overlooked: for he said to them that he was a Jew.

nsb@Esther:3:6 @ But it was not enough for him to attack Mordecai only. They made clear to him who Mordecai's people were. So Haman made it his purpose to put an end to all the Jews, even Mordecai's people, through all the kingdom of Ahasuerus.

nsb@Esther:3:7 @ In the first month, the month Nissan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, from day to day and from month to month they went on looking for a sign given by Pur that is chance before Haman, till the sign came out for the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month Adar.

nsb@Esther:3:8 @ Haman said to King Ahasuerus, »There is a nation living here and there in small groups among the people in all the divisions of your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of any other nation. They do not keep the king's laws. For this reason it is not right for the king to let them be.

nsb@Esther:3:9 @ »If it is the king's pleasure, let a statement ordering their destruction be put in writing. I will give to those responsible for the king's business, ten thousand talents of silver for the king's storehouse.«

nsb@Esther:3:10 @ The king took his ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the hater of the Jews.

nsb@Esther:3:11 @ The king said to Haman: »The money is yours, and the people, to do with them whatever seems right to you.«

nsb@Esther:3:12 @ Then on the thirteenth day of the first month, the king's scribes were summoned. They put in writing Haman's orders to all the king's captains and the rulers of every division of his kingdom and the chiefs of every people. It was to be for every division of the kingdom in the writing commonly used there, and to every people in the language which was theirs. It was signed in the name of King Ahasuerus and stamped with the king's ring.

nsb@Esther:3:13 @ Runners delivered letters to every division of the kingdom. They ordered the death and destruction of all Jews, young and old, little children and women, on the same day, even the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month Adar, and the taking of all their goods by force.

nsb@Esther:3:14 @ A copy of the writing, to be made public in every part of the kingdom, was sent out to all the peoples, so that they might be ready when that day came.

nsb@Esther:3:15 @ The runners went out quickly with the king's order. A public statement was made in Shushan. The king and Haman took wine together, but the town of Shushan was troubled.

nsb@Esther:4:1 @ When Mordecai learned what had been done, he tore his clothes in anguish. Then he dressed in sackcloth, covered his head with ashes, and walked through the city, wailing loudly and bitterly,

nsb@Esther:4:2 @ until he came to the entrance of the palace. He did not go in because no one wearing sackcloth was allowed inside.

nsb@Esther:4:5 @ Then Esther sent for Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs whom he had given her to wait on her. She gave him orders to go to Mordecai and see what this was and why it was.

nsb@Esther:4:6 @ So Hathach went out and saw Mordecai in the open square of the town before the king's gate.

nsb@Esther:4:7 @ Mordecai gave him an account of what had taken place. He told about the amount of money that Haman said he would put in the king's store for the destruction of the Jews.

nsb@Esther:4:8 @ He gave him the copy of the order that was given in Shushan for their destruction. He ordered him to let Esther see it, and to make it clear to her. To say to her that she was to go in to the king to request his mercy and make prayer for her people.

nsb@Esther:4:10 @ Then Esther sent Hathach to say to Mordecai:

nsb@Esther:4:11 @ »It is common knowledge among all the king's servants and the people of every part of the kingdom, that if anyone, man or woman, comes to the king in his inner room without being sent for, there is only one law for him, that he is to be put to death. Only those to whom the king's rod of gold is stretched out may keep their lives. I have not been sent for to come before the king in the past thirty days.«

nsb@Esther:4:12 @ They conveyed this message to Mordecai.

nsb@Esther:4:13 @ Mordecai sent this answer back to Esther: »Do not have the idea that you in the king's house will be safe from the fate of all the Jews.

nsb@Esther:4:14 @ »If at this time you say nothing. Then help and salvation will come to the Jews from some other place. But you and your father's family will come to destruction. Who is to say that you have not come to the kingdom even for such a time as this?«

nsb@Esther:4:15 @ Esther sent them back to Mordecai with this answer:

nsb@Esther:4:16 @ »Go assemble all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me. Take no food or drink night or day for three days. My women and I will do the same. Then I will go in to the king even though it is against the law. If death is to be my fate, then let it come.«

nsb@Esther:5:1 @ Esther put on her queen's robes on the third day and took her place in the inner room of the king's house, facing the king's house. The king was seated on his high seat in the king's house, facing the doorway of the house.

nsb@Esther:5:2 @ When the king saw Esther the queen waiting in the inner room, looking kindly on her he put out the rod of gold in his hand to her. So Esther came near and put her fingers on top of the rod.

nsb@Esther:5:3 @ The king said: »What is your desire, Queen Esther, and what is your request? I will give it to you, even to the half of my kingdom.«

nsb@Esther:5:4 @ Esther answered him: »If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the feast I have made ready for him.«

nsb@Esther:5:5 @ Then the king said, »Let Haman come quickly, so that what Esther said may be done.« So the king and Haman went to the feast Esther prepared.

nsb@Esther:5:6 @ While they were drinking wine the king said to Esther: »What is your prayer? For it will be given to you. What is your request? For it will be done, even to the half of my kingdom.«

nsb@Esther:5:8 @ »‘If I have the king's approval, and if it is the king's pleasure to give me my prayer and do my request, let the king and Haman come to the feast that I will make ready for them. Tomorrow I will do as the king has said.’«

nsb@Esther:5:9 @ Then on that day Haman went out full of joy and glad in heart. When he saw Mordecai in the king's gate and he did not get to his feet or give any sign of fear before him, Haman was full of wrath against Mordecai.

nsb@Esther:5:10 @ But controlling himself, he went to his house; and he sent for his friends and Zeresh, his wife.

nsb@Esther:5:12 @ Haman continued: »Truly, Esther the queen let no man but myself come in to the feast she made ready for the king. Tomorrow again I am to be her guest with the king.

nsb@Esther:5:13 @ »But all this is nothing to me as long as I see Mordecai the Jew seated by the king's gate.«

nsb@Esther:5:14 @ Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him: »Let a pillar, fifty cubits high, be made ready for hanging him. In the morning get the king to give orders for the hanging of Mordecai. Then you will be able to go to the feast with the king with a glad heart.« Haman was pleased with the suggestion, and he had the pillar made.

nsb@Esther:6:1 @ That night the king was unable to get any sleep. He sent for the books of the records and had some one was read them to him.

nsb@Esther:6:2 @ It was recorded in the book how Mordecai had given word of the designs of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's servants, keepers of the gate who conspired to kill the king.

nsb@Esther:6:3 @ The king said: »What honor and reward have been given to Mordecai for this?« The servants waiting on the king said: »Nothing has been done for him.«

nsb@Esther:6:4 @ The king asked: »Who is in the outer room?« Haman came into the outer room to get the king's authority for the hanging of Mordecai on the pillar that he made ready for him.

nsb@Esther:6:6 @ So Haman came in. And the king said to him: »What is to be done to the man whom the king has delight in honoring?« Then the thought came into Haman's mind, whom, more than myself, would the king have pleasure in honoring?

nsb@Esther:6:9 @ »And let the robes and the horse be given to one of the king's most noble captains, so that they may put them on the man whom the king has delight in honoring. Let him go on horseback through the streets of the town, with men crying out before him. So let it be done to the man whom the king has delight in honoring.«

nsb@Esther:6:10 @ Then the king said to Haman: »Go quickly, and take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, who is seated at the king's gate. See that you do everything as you have said.«

nsb@Esther:6:11 @ Haman took the robes and the horse, and dressing Mordecai in the robes, he made him go on horseback through the streets of the town, crying out before him: »So let it be done to the man whom the king has delight in honoring.«

nsb@Esther:6:12 @ Mordecai came back to the king's gate. But Haman went quickly back to his house, sad and with his head covered.

nsb@Esther:6:13 @ And Haman gave his wife Zeresh and all his friends an account of what took place. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, »If Mordecai, who is starting to get the better of you, is of the seed of the Jews, you will not be able to do anything against him, but you will certainly go down before him.«

nsb@Esther:6:14 @ While they were still talking, the king's servants came to take Haman to the feast that Esther made ready.

nsb@Esther:7:1 @ The king and Haman came to dine with queen Esther.

nsb@Esther:7:2 @ The king said to Esther again on the second day, while they were drinking: »What is your petition, Queen Esther? For it will be given to you. What is your request? For it will be done, even to the half of my kingdom.«

nsb@Esther:7:3 @ Esther the queen, answered: »If I have your approval, O king, and if it is the king's pleasure, let my life be given to me in answer to my petition. My people at my request:

nsb@Esther:7:5 @ Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen: »Who is he and where is he who has had this evil thought in his heart?«

nsb@Esther:7:7 @ The king in his anger got up from the feast and went into the garden. Haman got to his feet to plead to Esther the queen for his life. He saw that the king had already decided against him.

nsb@Esther:7:8 @ Then the king came back from the garden into the room where they had been drinking. Haman was stretched out on the seat where Esther was. Then the king said: »Is he taking the queen by force before my eyes in my house?« While the words were on the king's lips, they put a cloth over Haman's face.

nsb@Esther:7:9 @ Then Harbonah, one of the court officials waiting before the king, said: »See, the pillar fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai, who said a good word for the king, is still in its place near Haman's house.« Then the king said: »Put him to death by hanging him on it.«

nsb@Esther:7:10 @ So Haman was put to death by hanging him on the pillar he made for Mordecai. Then the king's rage subsided.

nsb@Esther:8:1 @ That day the king gave all the estate of Haman, the hater of the Jews, to Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had made clear what he was to her.

nsb@Esther:8:2 @ The king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. Esther put Mordecai over the family of Haman.

nsb@Esther:8:3 @ Then Esther again came before the king. She fell down at his feet and wept as she requested: that he would put a stop to the evil purposes of Haman the Agagite and the designs that he had made against the Jews.

nsb@Esther:8:4 @ Then the king extended the rod of gold to Esther and she stood before the king.

nsb@Esther:8:5 @ She said: »If it is the king's pleasure and if I have his approval and this thing seems right to the king and I am pleasing to him, then let letters be sent giving orders against those which Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, sent out for the destruction of the Jews in all divisions of the kingdom.

nsb@Esther:8:6 @ »For how can it be possible for me to see the evil that is to overtake my nation? How may I see the destruction of my people?«

nsb@Esther:8:7 @ Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew: »See now, I have given Esther the family of Haman, and he has come to his death by hanging, because he made an attack on the Jews.

nsb@Esther:8:8 @ »Send a letter about the Jews, writing whatever seems good to you, in the king's name, and stamp it with the king's ring: for a writing signed in the king's name and stamped with the king's ring may not be changed.«

nsb@Esther:8:9 @ Then at that time, on the twenty-third day of the third month, which is the month Sivan, the king's scribes were summoned. Everything ordered by Mordecai was put in writing and sent to the Jews and the captains and the rulers and the chiefs of all the divisions of the kingdom from India to Ethiopia, a hundred and twenty-seven divisions, to every division in the writing commonly used there, and to every people in their language, and to the Jews in their writing and their language.

nsb@Esther:8:11 @ In these letters the king gave authority to the Jews in every town to come together and make a fight for their lives. To send death and destruction on the power of any people in any part of the kingdom attacking them or their children or their women, and to take their goods from them by force.

nsb@Esther:8:13 @ A copy of the writing, to be made public as an order in every division of the kingdom, was given out to all the peoples, so that the Jews might be ready when that day came to give punishment to their enemies.

nsb@Esther:8:14 @ So the men went out on the quick-running horses used on the king's business. They wasted no time and forced on by the king's order; and the order was given out in Shushan, the king's town.

nsb@Esther:8:15 @ Mordecai went out from before the king, dressed in king-like robes of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold and clothing of purple and the best linen. The entire town of Shushan gave loud cries of joy.

nsb@Esther:8:17 @ And in every part of the kingdom and in every town, wherever the king's letter and his order came, the Jews were glad with great joy. They had a feast and a good day. A large number of the people of the land became Jews: for the fear of the Jews had come on them.

nsb@Esther:9:1 @ Now on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, when the time came for the king's order to be put into effect, on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to rule over them the opposite occurred, and the Jews had rule over their enemies.

nsb@Esther:9:2 @ On that day, the Jews came together in their towns through all the divisions of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, for the purpose of attacking all those who were attempting evil against them. Everyone had to give way before them. All the people feared them.

nsb@Esther:9:5 @ So the Jews overcame all their attackers with the sword and with death and destruction, and did to their enemies whatever they had a desire to do.

nsb@Esther:9:6 @ The Jews put to death five hundred men in Shushan.

nsb@Esther:9:7 @ They put to death Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha,

nsb@Esther:9:11 @ On that day the number of those who had been put to death in the town of Shushan was given to the king.

nsb@Esther:9:12 @ The king said to Esther the queen: »The Jews have put five hundred men to death in Shushan, as well as the ten sons of Haman. What then have they done in the rest of the kingdom! Now what is your petition? For it will be given to you. What other request have you? And it will be done.«

nsb@Esther:9:13 @ Then Esther said: »If it is the king's pleasure, let authority be given to the Jews in Shushan to do tomorrow as has been done today, and let orders be given for the hanging of Haman's ten sons.«

nsb@Esther:9:14 @ The king said that this was to be done, and the order was given out in Shushan. The hanging of Haman's ten sons was carried out.

nsb@Esther:9:15 @ The Jews who were in Shushan came together again on the fourteenth day of the month Adar and put to death three hundred men in Shushan. They did not take their material goods.

nsb@Esther:9:16 @ The other Jews in every division of the kingdom came together, fighting for their lives, and got salvation from their enemies and put seventy-five thousand of them to death. They did not put a hand on their material goods.

nsb@Esther:9:17 @ This they did on the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same month they took their rest, and made it a day of feasting and joy.

nsb@Esther:9:18 @ The Jews in Shushan came together on the thirteenth and on the fourteenth day of the month. On the fifteenth day they took their rest, and made it a day of feasting and joy.

nsb@Esther:9:19 @ So the Jews of the country places living in unwalled towns make the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of feasting and joy and a good day, a day for sending offerings one to another.

nsb@Esther:9:20 @ Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews in every division of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, near and far.

nsb@Esther:9:21 @ He ordered them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and the fifteenth day of the same month, every year.

nsb@Esther:9:22 @ As days on which the Jews had rest from their haters, and the month which for them was turned from sorrow to joy, and from weeping to a good day: and that they were to keep them as days of feasting and joy, of sending offerings to one another and good things to the poor.

nsb@Esther:9:23 @ The Jews gave their word to go on as they had been doing and as Mordecai had given them orders in writing.

nsb@Esther:9:24 @ Because Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the hater of all the Jews, conspired for their destruction, attempting to get a decision by Pur that is, chance with a view to putting an end to them and cutting them off.

nsb@Esther:9:25 @ But when the business was put before the king, he gave orders by letters that the evil design that he had made against the Jews was to be turned against him. That he and his sons were to be put to death by hanging.

nsb@Esther:9:26 @ So these days were named Purim, after the name of Pur. And so, because of the words of this letter, and of what they had seen in connection with this business, and what had come to them,

nsb@Esther:9:27 @ The Jews made a rule and established a custom that all their descendents should observe two days every year as ordered in the letter, at the fixed time every year.

nsb@Esther:9:28 @ Those days were to be kept in memory through every generation and every family, in every division of the kingdom and every town, that there might never be a time when these days of Purim would not be kept among the Jews, or when the memory of them would go from the minds of their descendents.

nsb@Esther:9:29 @ Esther the queen, daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, sent a second letter giving the force of their authority to the order about the Purim.

nsb@Esther:9:30 @ He sent letters to all the Jews in the hundred and twenty-seven divisions of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with true words of peace,

nsb@Esther:9:31 @ Giving the force of law to these days of Purim at their fixed times, as they had been ordered by Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen. This was in keeping with the rules they had made for themselves and their descendents, in connection with their time of going without food and their cry for help.

nsb@Esther:9:32 @ The order given by Esther gave the force of law to the rules about the Purim. It was recorded in the book.

nsb@Esther:10:2 @ And all his acts of power and his great strength and the full story of the high place that the king gave Mordecai are they not recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Media and Persia?

nsb@Esther:10:3 @ For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus. He was great among the Jews and respected by the body of his countrymen. He worked for the good of his people. He said words of peace to all his descendents.


[pBiblx2]
Mon Jul 8 08:49:22 2024
pBiblx2 Field Wise Bible System Version 2.1.11 - GPL3 2009-2020