# verses

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And Jehovah delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel. And he took it on the second day and killed* it with the edge of the sword and all the souls that were in it, according to all that he had done to Libnah.


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Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish. And Joshua killed* him and his people until he had left him none remaining.


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<pb/>And Joshua passed from Lachish and all Israel with him, to Eglon. And they encamped against it and fought against it.


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And they took it on that day and killed* it with the edge of the sword. And all the souls that were in it he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.


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and they took it and killed* it with the edge of the sword and the king of it and all the cities of it and all the souls that were in it. He left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon, but he utterly destroyed it and all the souls that were in it.


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And he took it and the king of it and all the cities of it. And they killed* them with the edge of the sword and utterly destroyed all the souls that were in it. He left none remaining. As he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir and to the king of it, as he had done also to Libnah and to the king of it.


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<pb/>So Joshua killed* all the land, the hill-country and the South and the lowland and the slopes and all their kings. He left none remaining, but he utterly destroyed all that breathed, as Jehovah, the God of Israel, commanded.


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And Joshua killed* them from Kadesh-barnea even to Gaza and all the country of Goshen, even to Gibeon.


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And all these kings and their land Joshua took at one time, because Jehovah, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.


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<pb/>And it happened, when Jabin king of Hazor heard of it, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon and to the king of Shimron and to the king of Achshaph,


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and to the kings who were on the north, in the hill-country and in the Arabah south of Chinneroth and in the lowland and in the heights of Dor on the west,


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to the Canaanite on the east and on the west and the Amorite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Jebusite in the hill-country and the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpah.


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<pb/>And they went out, they and all their armies with them, many people, even as the sand that is upon the sea-shore in multitude, with horses and chariots, very many.


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And all these kings met together. And they came and encamped together at the waters of Merom, to fight with Israel.


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<pb/>And Jehovah said to Joshua, Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow at this time I will deliver them up all slain before Israel. You will hock their horses and burn their chariots with fire.


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So Joshua came and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly and fell upon them.


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<pb/>And Jehovah delivered them into the hand of Israel and they killed* them and chased them to great Sidon and to Misrephoth-maim and to the valley of Mizpeh eastward. And they killed* them until they left them none remaining.


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And Joshua did to them as Jehovah commanded him. He hocked their horses and burnt their chariots with fire.


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<pb/>And Joshua turned back at that time and took Hazor and killed* the king of it with the sword, for Hazor was formerly the head of all those kingdoms.


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And they killed* all the souls who were in it with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them. There was none left that breathed and he burnt Hazor with fire.


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<pb/>And all the cities of those kings and all the kings of them, Joshua took and he killed* them with the edge of the sword and utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded.


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But as for the cities that stood on their mounds, Israel burned none of them, except only Hazor. Joshua burned that.


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<pb/>And all the spoil of these cities and the cattle, the sons of Israel took for a prey to themselves, but every man they killed* with the edge of the sword until they had destroyed them, neither did they leave any who breathed.


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<pb/>As Jehovah commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua and so Joshua did. He left nothing undone of all that Jehovah commanded Moses.


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So Joshua took all that land, the hill-country and all the South and all the land of Goshen and the lowland and the Arabah and the hill-country of Israel and the lowland of the same,


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from Mount Halak, that goes up to Seir, even to Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon under Mount Hermon. And he took all their kings and killed* them and put them to death.


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<pb/>There was not a city that made peace with the sons of Israel, except the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon. They took all in battle.


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For it was of Jehovah to harden their hearts, to come against Israel in battle, that he might utterly destroy them, that they might have no favor, but that he might destroy them as Jehovah commanded Moses.


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<pb/>And Joshua came at that time and cut off the Anakim from the hill-country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab and from all the hill-country of Judah and from all the hill-country of Israel. Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities.


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There was none of the Anakim left in the land of the sons of Israel. Only in Gaza, in Gath and in Ashdod some remained.


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<pb/>So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that Jehovah spoke to Moses. And Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land had rest from war.


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<pb/>Now these are the kings of the land, whom the sons of Israel killed* and possessed their land beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise, from the valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon and all the Arabah eastward:


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<pb/>Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon and the middle of the valley and half Gilead, even to the brook of Jabbok, the border of the sons of Ammon,


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and the Arabah to the sea of Chinneroth, eastward and to the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, eastward, the way to Beth-jeshimoth and on the south, under the slopes of Pisgah,


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and the border of Og king of Bashan, of the remnant of the Rephaim, who dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,


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and ruled in Mount Hermon and in Salecah and in all Bashan, to the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.


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<pb/>Moses the servant of Jehovah and the sons of Israel killed* them. And Moses the servant of Jehovah gave it for a possession to the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh.


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<pb/>And these are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the sons of Israel killed* beyond the Jordan westward, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon even to Mount Halak, that goes up to Seir and Joshua gave it to the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions,


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in the hill-country and in the lowland and in the Arabah and in the slopes and in the wilderness and in the South, the Hittite, the Amorite and the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite:


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<pb/>Now Joshua was old and well stricken in years and Jehovah said to him, You are old and well stricken in years and there remains yet very much land to be possessed.


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from the Shihor, which is before Egypt, even to the border of Ekron northward, <i>which</i> is reckoned to the Canaanites; the five lords of the Philistines; the Gazites  <n>{of Gaza}</n>  and the Ashdodites  <n>{of Ashdod}</n>, the Ashkelonites  <n>{of Ashkelon}</n>, the Gittites   <n>{of Gath}</n>  and the Ekronites  <n>{of Ekron}</n>  ; also the Avvim   <n>{Or: Avvite}</n>


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on the south; all the land of the Canaanites and Mearah that belongs to the Sidonians, to Aphek, to the border of the Amorites;


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and the land of the Gebalites and all Lebanon, toward the sunrise, from Baal-gad under Mount Hermon to the entrance of Hamath;


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all the inhabitants of the hill-country from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim, even all the Sidonians. I will drive them out from before the sons of Israel, only allot you it to Israel for an inheritance as I have commanded you.


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<pb/>Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.


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With him the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond the Jordan eastward, even as Moses the servant of Jehovah gave them:


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from Aroer, that is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon and the city that is in the middle of the valley and all the plain of Medeba to Dibon;


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and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, to the border of the sons of Ammon;


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and Gilead and the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites and all Mount Hermon and all Bashan to Salecah;


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all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei (what was left of the remnant of the Rephaim), for these Moses killed* and drove them out.


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<pb/>Nevertheless the sons of Israel did not drive out the Geshurites, nor the Maacathites, but Geshur and Maacath dwell in the midst of Israel to this day.


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<pb/>Only to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance. The offerings of Jehovah, the God of Israel, made by fire are his inheritance as he spoke to him.


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And their border was from Aroer, that is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon and the city that is in the middle of the valley and all the plain by Medeba;


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and all the cities of the plain and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses killed* with the chiefs of Midian, Evi and Rekem and Zur and Hur and Reba, the rulers of Sihon who dwelt in the land.


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<pb/>The sons of Israel also killed Balaam the son of Beor, the enchanter, with the sword among the rest of their slain.


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<pb/>And the border of the sons of Reuben was the Jordan and the border <i>of it</i>. This was the inheritance of the sons of Reuben according to their families, the cities and the villages of it.


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And their border was Jazer and all the cities of Gilead and half the land of the sons of Ammon, to Aroer that is before Rabbah,


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and in the valley, Beth-haram and Beth-nimrah and Succoth and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, the Jordan and the border <i>of it</i>, to the outermost part of the sea of Chinnereth beyond the Jordan eastward.


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This is the inheritance of the sons of Gad according to their families, the cities and the villages of it.


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<pb/>And Moses gave to the half-tribe of Manasseh and it was for the half-tribe of the sons of Manasseh according to their families.


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And their border 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.


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And half Gilead and Ashtaroth and Edrei, the cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were for the sons of Machir the son of Manasseh, even for the half of the sons of Machir according to their families.


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These are the inheritances which Moses distributed in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan at Jericho, eastward.


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<pb/>But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance. Jehovah, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he spoke to them.


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<pb/>And these are the inheritances which the sons of Israel took in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the sons of Israel, distributed to them,


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by the lot of their inheritance, as Jehovah commanded by Moses, for the nine tribes and for the half-tribe.


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<pb/>For Moses had given the inheritance of the two tribes and the half-tribe beyond the Jordan, but to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them.


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For the sons of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. And they gave no portion to the Levites in the land except cities to dwell in with the suburbs of it for their cattle and for their substance.


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<pb/>Then the sons of Judah drew near to Joshua in Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, You know the thing that Jehovah spoke to Moses the man of God concerning me and concerning you in Kadesh-barnea.


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I was forty years old when Moses the servant of Jehovah sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land and I brought him word again as it was in my heart.


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<pb/>Nevertheless my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I entirely followed Jehovah my God.


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And Moses swore on that day, saying, Surely the land in which your foot has trodden will be an inheritance to you and to your sons everlasting because you have entirely followed Jehovah my God.


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<pb/>And now, behold, Jehovah has kept me alive, as he spoke, these forty-five years, from the time that Jehovah spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now behold, I am this day eighty-five years old.


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As yet 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 now, for war and to go out and to come in.


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<pb/>Now therefore give me this hill-country of which Jehovah spoke in that day. For you heard in that day how the Anakim were there and cities great and fortified. It may be that Jehovah will be with me and I will drive them out, as Jehovah spoke.


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Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day because he entirely followed Jehovah, the God of Israel.


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Now the name of Hebron was formerly Kiriath-arba. <i>Arba was</i> the greatest man among the Anakim. <pb/>And the land had rest from war.


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<pb/>And the lot for the tribe of the sons of Judah according to their families was to the border of Edom, even to the wilderness of Zin southward, at the outermost part of the south.


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<pb/>And their south border was from the outermost part of the Salt Sea, from the bay that looks southward.


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And it went out southward of the ascent of Akrabbim and passed along to Zin and went up by the south of Kadesh-barnea and passed along by Hezron and went up to Addar and turned about to Karka,


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and it passed along to Azmon and went out at the brook of Egypt. And the goings out of the border were at the sea. This will be your* south border.


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<pb/>And the east border was the Salt Sea, even to the end of the Jordan. And the border of the north quarter was from the bay of the sea at the end of the Jordan,


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and the border went up to Beth-hoglah and passed along by the north of Beth-arabah and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben,


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and the border went up to Debir from the valley of Achor and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is opposite the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the river and the border passed along to the waters of En-shemesh. And the goings out of it were at En-rogel,


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and the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom to the side of the Jebusite southward (what 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 outermost part of the vale of Rephaim northward,


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and the border extended from the top of the mountain to the fountain of the waters of Nephtoah and went out to the cities of Mount Ephron and the border extended to Baalah (what is Kiriath-jearim),


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and the border turned about from Baalah westward to Mount Seir and passed along to the side of Mount Jearim on the north (what is Chesalon) and went down to Beth-shemesh and passed along by Timnah,


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and the border went out to the side of Ekron northward and the border extended to Shikkeron and passed along to Mount Baalah and went out at Jabneel. And the goings out of the border were at the sea.


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<pb/>And the west border was to the great sea and the border <i>of it</i>. This is the border of the sons of Judah all around according to their families.


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<pb/>And to Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a portion among the sons of Judah, according to the commandment of Jehovah to Joshua, even Kiriath-arba. <i>Arba was</i> the father of Anak (what is Hebron).


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And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai, the sons of Anak.


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And he went up from there against the inhabitants of Debir. Now the name of Debir formerly was Kiriath-sepher  <n>{City of Sepher}</n>.


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<pb/>And Caleb said, He who slays Kiriath-sepher and takes it, to him I will give Achsah my daughter as a wife.


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And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it and he gave him Achsah his daughter as a wife.


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<pb/>And it happened, when she came, that she moved him to ask of her father a field. And she dismounted from her donkey and Caleb said, What would you?


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And she said, Give me a blessing, because you have set me in the land of the South, give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.


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<pb/>And the outermost cities of the tribe of the sons of Judah toward the border of Edom in the South were <i>thus</i>: Kabzeel and Eder and Jagur,


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and Hazor-hadattah,  <n>{Or: Hazor, Hadattah}</n>  and Kerioth-hezron  <n>{Or: Kerioth and Hezron}</n>   (what is Hazor),


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and Shaaraim   <n>{Sharaim}</n>  and Adithaim and Gederah and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages.


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Ashdod, its towns and its villages, Gaza, its towns and its villages, to the brook of Egypt and the great sea and the border <i>of it</i>.


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and Humtah and Kiriath-arba  <n>{City of Arba}</n>  (what is Hebron) and Zior; nine cities with their villages.


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<pb/>And as for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the sons of Judah could not drive them out, but the Jebusites dwell with the sons of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.


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<pb/>And the lot came out for the sons of Joseph from the Jordan at Jericho, at the waters of Jericho on the east, even the wilderness, going up from Jericho through the hill-country to Bethel.


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and it went down westward to the border of the Japhletites, to the border of Beth-horon the nether, even to Gezer. And the goings out of it were at the sea.


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<pb/>And the border of the sons of Ephraim according to their families was <i>thus</i>: the border of their inheritance eastward was Ataroth-addar, to Beth-horon the upper,


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and the border went out westward at Michmethath on the north and the border turned about eastward to Taanath-shiloh and passed along it on the east of Janoah  <n>{Janohah}</n>,


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and it went down from Janoah   <n>{Janohah}</n>  to Ataroth and to Naarah and reached to Jericho and went out at the Jordan.


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From Tappuah the border went along westward to the brook of Kanah. And the goings out of it were at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Ephraim according to their families,


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together with the cities which were set apart for the sons of Ephraim in the midst of the inheritance of the sons of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.


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<pb/>And they did not drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer, but the Canaanites dwell in the midst of Ephraim to this day and have become servants to do forced-labor.


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<pb/>And <i>this</i> was the lot for the tribe of Manasseh, for he was the firstborn of Joseph. As for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.


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So <i>it</i> was for the rest of the sons of Manasseh according to their families: for the sons of Abiezer and for the sons of Helek and for the sons of Asriel and for the sons of Shechem and for the sons of Hepher and for the sons of Shemida. These were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph according to their families.


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<pb/>But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters. And these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah.


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And they came near before Eleazar the priest and before Joshua the son of Nun and before the rulers, 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.


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<pb/>And there fell ten parts to Manasseh, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which is beyond the Jordan,


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because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons. And the land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the sons of Manasseh.


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<pb/>And the border of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethath, which is before Shechem. And the border went along to the right hand, to the inhabitants of En-tappuah.


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The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the sons of Ephraim.


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And the border went down to the brook of Kanah, southward of the brook. These cities belonged to Ephraim among the cities of Manasseh. And the border of Manasseh was on the north side of the brook. And the goings out of it were at the sea.


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<pb/>Southward it was Ephraim's and northward it was Manasseh's and the sea was his border and they reached to Asher on the north and to Issachar on the east.


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<pb/>And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher, Beth-shean and its towns and Ibleam and its towns and the inhabitants of Dor and its towns and the inhabitants of En-dor and its towns and the inhabitants of Taanach and its towns and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns, even the three heights.


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<pb/>Yet the sons of Manasseh could not drive out those cities, but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.


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And it happened, when the sons of Israel grew strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced-labor and did not utterly drive them out.


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<pb/>And the sons of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, Why have you given me but one lot and one part for an inheritance, seeing I am a great people, inasmuch as until now Jehovah has blessed me?


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And Joshua said to them, If you are a great people, get up to the forest and cut down for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the Rephaim, since the hill-country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.


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<pb/>And the sons of Joseph said, The hill-country is not enough for us and all the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both those who are in Beth-shean and its towns and those who are in the valley of Jezreel.


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<pb/>And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, You are a great people and have great power. You will not have only one lot,


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but the hill-country will be your, for though it is a forest, you will cut it down and the goings out of it will be your. For you will drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron and though they are strong.


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<pb/>And the whole congregation of the sons of Israel assembled themselves together at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there and the land was subdued before them.


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<pb/>And Joshua said to the sons of Israel, How long are you* slack to go in to possess the land, which Jehovah, the God of your* fathers, has given you*?


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Appoint for you* three men of each tribe. And I will send them and they will arise and walk through the land and describe it according to their inheritance and they will come to me.


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<pb/>And they will divide it into seven portions: Judah will abide in his border on the south and the house of Joseph will abide in their border on the north.


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And you* will describe the land into seven portions and bring <i>it</i> here to me. And I will cast lots for you* here before Jehovah our God.


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For the Levites have no portion among you*, for the priesthood of Jehovah is their inheritance and Gad and Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan eastward, which Moses the servant of Jehovah gave them.


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<pb/>And the men arose and went. And Joshua charged those who went to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the land and describe it and come again to me. And I will cast lots for you* here before Jehovah in Shiloh.


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And the men went and passed through the land and described it by cities into seven portions in a book. And they came to Joshua to the camp at Shiloh.


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<pb/>And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before Jehovah. And there Joshua divided the land to the sons of Israel according to their divisions.


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<pb/>And the lot of the tribe of the sons of Benjamin came up according to their families and the border of their lot went out between the sons of Judah and the sons of Joseph.


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<pb/>And their border on the north quarter was from the Jordan and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north and went up through the hill-country westward. And the goings out of it were at the wilderness of Beth-aven.


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And the border passed along from there to Luz, to the side of Luz (what is Bethel), southward and the border went down to Ataroth-addar, by the mountain that lies on the south of Beth-horon the nether.


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<pb/>And the border extended and turned around on the west quarter southward, from the mountain that lies before Beth-horon southward. And the goings out of it were at Kiriath-baal (what is Kiriath-jearim), a city of the sons of Judah. This was the west quarter.


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<pb/>And the south quarter was from the uttermost part of Kiriath-jearim and the border went out westward and went out to the fountain of the waters of Nephtoah,


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and the border went down to the uttermost part of the mountain that lies before the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is in the vale of Rephaim northward and it went down to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of the Jebusite southward and went down to En-rogel,


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and it extended northward and went out at En-shemesh and went out to Geliloth, which is opposite the ascent of Adummim and it went down to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben,


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and the border passed along to the side of Beth-hoglah northward. And the goings out of the border were at the north bay of the Salt Sea, at the south end of the Jordan. This was the south border.


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<pb/>And the Jordan was the border of it on the east quarter. This was the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin, by the borders of it all around, according to their families.


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<pb/>Now the cities of the tribe of the sons of Benjamin according to their families were: Jericho and Beth-hoglah and Emek-keziz  <n>{Or: valley of Keziz}</n>,


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and Zelah, Eleph and the Jebusite (what is Jerusalem), Gibeath, <i>and</i> Kiriath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin according to their families.


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<pb/>And the second lot came out for Simeon, even for the tribe of the sons of Simeon according to their families. And their inheritance was in the midst of the inheritance of the sons of Judah.


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and all the villages that were all around these cities to Baalath-beer, Ramah of the South. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Simeon according to their families.


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<pb/>The inheritance of the sons of Simeon was out of the part of the sons of Judah, for the portion of the sons of Judah was too much for them. Therefore the sons of Simeon had inheritance in the midst of their inheritance.


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<pb/>And the third lot came up for the sons of Zebulun according to their families. And the border of their inheritance was to Sarid,


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and their border went up westward, even to Maralah and reached to Dabbesheth and it reached to the brook that is before Jokneam,


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and it turned from Sarid eastward toward the sun-rising to the border of Chisloth-tabor   <n>{The Flames of Tabor}</n>   and it went out to Daberath and went up to Japhia.


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And from there it passed along eastward to Gath-hepher, to Eth-kazin   <n>{Ittah-Kazin}</n>   and it went out at Rimmon which stretches to Neah,


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and the border turned about it on the north to Hannathon. And the goings out of it were at the valley of Iphtahel   <n>{Jipthan-el}</n>,


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<pb/>This is the inheritance of the sons of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.


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<pb/>The fourth lot came out for Issachar, even for the sons of Issachar according to their families.


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and the border reached to Tabor and Shahazumah and Beth-shemesh. And the goings out of their border were at the Jordan; sixteen cities with their villages.


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<pb/>This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Issachar according to their families, the cities with their villages.


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and it turned toward the sun-rising to Beth-dagon and reached to Zebulun and to the valley of Iph-tah-el northward to Beth-emek and Neiel and it went out to Cabul on the left hand,


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and the border turned to Ramah and to the fortified city of Tyre and the border turned to Hosah. And the goings out of it were at the sea by the region of Achzib,


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<pb/>This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.


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<pb/>The sixth lot came out for the sons of Naphtali, even for the sons of Naphtali according to their families.


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And their border was from Heleph, from the oak in Zaanannim and Adami-nekeb and Jabneel, to Lakkum. And the goings out of it were at the Jordan.


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And the border turned westward to Aznoth-tabor and went out from there to Hukkok and it reached to Zebulun on the south and reached to Asher on the west and to Judah at the Jordan toward the sun-rising.


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<pb/>This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Naphtali according to their families, the cities with their villages.


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<pb/>And the border of the sons of Dan went out beyond them, for the sons of Dan went up and fought against Leshem and took it and killed* it with the edge of the sword and possessed it and dwelt in it and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.


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<pb/>This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.


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<pb/>So they made an end of distributing the land for inheritance by the borders of it. And the sons of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun in the midst of them.


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According to the commandment of Jehovah they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnath-serah in the hill-country of Ephraim. And he built the city and dwelt in it.


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<pb/>These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the sons of Israel, distributed for inheritance by lot in Shiloh before Jehovah, at the door of the tent of meeting. So they made an end of dividing the land.


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Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, Assign for you* the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you* by Moses,


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that the manslayer who kills any soul unwittingly <i>and</i> unawares may flee there. And they will be to you* for a refuge from the avenger of blood.


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And he will flee to one of those cities and will stand at the entrance of the gate of the city and declare his case in the ears of the elders of that city. And they will take him into the city to them and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.


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<pb/>And if the avenger of blood pursues after him, then they will not deliver up the manslayer into his hand, because he killed* his neighbor unawares and did not hate him formerly.


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And he will dwell in that city, until he stands before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the high priest who will be in those days. Then the manslayer will return and come to his own city and to his own house, to the city from where he fled.


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<pb/>And they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill-country of Naphtali and Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim and Kiriath-arba (what is Hebron) in the hill-country of Judah.


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And beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Reuben and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.


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<pb/>These were the appointed cities for all the sons of Israel and for the stranger who travels among them, that whoever kills any soul unwittingly might flee there and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood until he stood before the congregation.


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<pb/>Then the heads of fathers of the Levites came near to Eleazar the priest and to Joshua the son of Nun and to the heads of fathers of the tribes of the sons of Israel.


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And they spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, Jehovah commanded Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs of it for our cattle.


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And the sons of Israel gave to the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the commandment of Jehovah, these cities with their suburbs:


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<pb/>And the lot came out for the Kohathite families. And the sons of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah and out of the tribe of the Simeonites and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.


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And the rest of the sons of Kohath had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim and out of the tribe of Dan and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.


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<pb/>And the sons of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar and out of the tribe of Asher and out of the tribe of Naphtali and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.


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<pb/>The sons of Merari according to their families had out of the tribe of Reuben and out of the tribe of Gad and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.


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<pb/>And the sons of Israel gave these cities by lot to the Levites with their suburbs, as Jehovah commanded by Moses.


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<pb/>And they gave out of the tribe of the sons of Judah and out of the tribe of the sons of Simeon, these cities which are <i>here</i> mentioned by name,


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and they were for the sons of Aaron, of the Kohathite families, who were of the sons of Levi, for theirs was the first lot.


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And they gave them Kiriath-arba, <i>Arba was</i> the father of Anak (what is Hebron), in the hill-country of Judah, with the suburbs of it all around it.


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<pb/>But the fields of the city and the villages of it, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.


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<pb/>And to the sons of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer and Libnah with its suburbs,


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and Ain with its suburbs and Juttah with its suburbs, <i>and</i> Beth-shemesh with its suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.


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<pb/>And the families of the sons of Kohath, the Levites, even the rest of the sons of Kohath, they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.


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And they gave them Shechem with its suburbs in the hill-country of Ephraim, the city of refuge for the manslayer and Gezer with its suburbs,


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<pb/>And out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Taanach with its suburbs and Gath-rimmon with its suburbs; two cities.


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<pb/>And to the sons of Gershon, of the Levite families, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh <i>they gave</i> Golan in Bashan with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer and Beeshterah with its suburbs; two cities.


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<pb/>And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer and Hammoth-dor with its suburbs and Kartan with its suburbs; three cities.


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<pb/>All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs.


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<pb/>And to the families of the sons of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its suburbs and Kartah with its suburbs,


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<pb/>And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer and Mahanaim with its suburbs,


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<pb/>All <i>these were</i> the cities of the sons of Merari according to their families, even the rest of the Levite families; and their lot was twelve cities.


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<pb/>All the cities of the Levites in the midst of the possession of the sons of Israel were forty-eight cities with their suburbs.


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<pb/>So Jehovah gave to Israel all the land which he swore to give to their fathers and they possessed it and dwelt in it.


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And Jehovah gave them rest all around, according to all that he swore to their fathers. And there stood not a man of all their enemies before them. Jehovah delivered all their enemies into their hand.


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There failed not anything of any good thing which Jehovah had spoken to the house of Israel; all happened.


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and said to them, You* have kept all that Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded you* and have listened to my voice in all that I commanded you*.


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You* have not left your* brothers these many days to this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of Jehovah your* God.


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<pb/>And now Jehovah your* God has given rest to your* brothers, as he spoke to them. Therefore now turn and you* get to your* tents, to the land of your* possession, which Moses the servant of Jehovah gave you* beyond the Jordan.


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<pb/>Only take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded you*, to love Jehovah your* God and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your* heart and with all your* soul.


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<pb/>Now to the one half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given in Bashan, but to the other half Joshua gave among their brothers beyond the Jordan westward. Moreover when Joshua sent them away to their tents, he blessed them,


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and spoke to them, saying, Return with much wealth to your* tents and with very much cattle, with silver and with gold and with brass and with iron and with very much garments. Divide the spoil of your* enemies with your* brothers.


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<pb/>And the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh returned and departed from the sons of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the land of Gilead, to the land of their possession, of which they were possessed, according to the commandment of Jehovah by Moses.


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<pb/>And when they came to the region about the Jordan that is in the land of Canaan, the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by the Jordan, a great altar to look upon.


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And the sons of Israel heard say, Behold, the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar in the forefront of the land of Canaan, in the region about the Jordan, on the side that pertains to the sons of Israel.


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<pb/>And when the sons of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the sons of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up against them to war.


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And the sons of Israel sent Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest, to the sons of Reuben and to the sons of Gad and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead,


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and with him ten rulers, one ruler of a fathers' house for each of the tribes of Israel. And they were each man of them head of their fathers' houses among the thousands of Israel.


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<pb/>And they came to the sons of Reuben and to the sons of Gad and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, to the land of Gilead and they spoke with them, saying,


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Thus says the whole congregation of Jehovah, What trespass is this that you* have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following Jehovah, in that you* have built for you* an altar, to rebel this day against Jehovah?


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<pb/>Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves to this day, although there came a plague upon the congregation of Jehovah,


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that you* must turn away this day from following Jehovah? And it will be, seeing you* rebel today against Jehovah, that tomorrow he will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel.


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<pb/>However, if the land of your* possession is unclean, then pass over to the land of the possession of Jehovah, in which Jehovah's tabernacle dwells and take possession among us, but do not rebel against Jehovah, nor rebel against us, in building for you* an altar besides the altar of Jehovah our God.


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Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in what was set apart and wrath fell upon all the congregation of Israel? And that man did not perish alone in his iniquity.


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<pb/>Then the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered and spoke to the heads of the thousands of Israel,


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The Mighty One, God, Jehovah, the Mighty One, God, Jehovah, he knows and Israel he will know, if it is in rebellion, or if in trespass against Jehovah (do not save us this day),


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that we have built us an altar to turn away from following Jehovah, or if to offer burnt offering or meal offering on it, or if to offer sacrifices of peace offerings on it, let Jehovah himself require it,


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and if we have not <i>rather</i> out of carefulness done this, from purpose, saying, In time to come your* sons might speak to our sons, saying, What have you* to do with Jehovah, the God of Israel?


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<pb/>For Jehovah has made the Jordan a border between us and you*, you* sons of Reuben and sons of Gad. You* have no portion in Jehovah. So your* sons might make our sons cease from fearing Jehovah.


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<pb/>Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice,


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but it will be a witness between us and you* and between our generations after us, that we may do the service of Jehovah before him with our burnt offerings and with our sacrifices and with our peace offerings, that your* sons may not say to our sons in time to come, You* have no portion in Jehovah.


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<pb/>Therefore we said, It will be, when they so say to us or to our genealogy in time to come, that we will say, Behold the pattern of the altar of Jehovah, which our fathers made, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice, but it is a witness between us and you*.


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<pb/>Far be it from us that we should rebel against Jehovah and turn away this day from following Jehovah, to build an altar for burnt offering, for meal offering, or for sacrifice, besides the altar of Jehovah our God that is before his tabernacle.


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<pb/>And when Phinehas the priest and the rulers of the congregation, even the heads of the thousands of Israel that were with him, heard the words that the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the sons of Manasseh spoke, it pleased them well.


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<pb/>And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the sons of Reuben and to the sons of Gad and to the sons of Manasseh, This day we know that Jehovah is in the midst of us, because you* have not committed this trespass against Jehovah. Now you* have delivered the sons of Israel out of the hand of Jehovah.


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<pb/>And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest and the rulers, returned from the sons of Reuben and from the sons of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, to the land of Canaan, to the sons of Israel and brought them word again.


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<pb/>And the thing pleased the sons of Israel. And the sons of Israel blessed God and spoke no more of going up against them to war, to destroy the land in which the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad dwelt.


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And the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad called the altar <i>Witness.</i> For, <i>they said</i>, it is a witness between us that Jehovah is God.


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<pb/>And it happened after many days, when Jehovah had given rest to Israel from all their enemies all around and Joshua was old and well stricken in years,


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that Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders and for their heads and for their judges and for their officers and said to them, I am old and well stricken in years,


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and you* have seen all that Jehovah your* God has done to all these nations because of you*, for Jehovah your* God, he it is who has fought for you*.


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<pb/>Behold, I have allotted to you* these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your* tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even to the great sea toward the going down of the sun.


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And Jehovah your* God, he will thrust them out from before you* and drive them from out of your* sight. And you* will possess their land, as Jehovah your* God spoke to you*.


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<pb/>Therefore be you* very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that you* not turn aside from there to the right hand or to the left;


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that you* do not come among these nations, these that remain among you*, neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear <i>by them</i>, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves down to them,


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<pb/>For Jehovah has driven out from before you* great nations and strong. But as for you*, no man has stood before you* to this day.


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One man of you* will chase a thousand, for Jehovah your* God, he it is who fights for you*, as he spoke to you*.


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Else if you* do at all go back and cling to the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you* and make marriages with them and go in to them and they to you*,


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know for a certainty that Jehovah your* God will no more drive these nations from out of your* sight, but they will be a snare and a trap to you* and a scourge in your* sides and thorns in your* eyes, until you* perish from this good land which Jehovah your* God has given you*.


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<pb/>And behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. And you* know in all your* hearts and in all your* souls, that not one thing has failed of all the good things which Jehovah your* God spoke concerning you*. All have happen to you*; not one thing has failed of it.


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<pb/>And it will happen, that as all the good things have come upon you* of which Jehovah your* God spoke to you*, so will Jehovah bring upon you* all the evil things, until he has destroyed you* from this good land which Jehovah your* God has given you*.


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When you* transgress the covenant of Jehovah your* God, which he commanded you* and go and serve other gods and bow down yourselves to them, then the anger of Jehovah will be kindled against you* and you* will perish quickly from the good land which he has given to you*.


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<pb/>And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and called for the elders of Israel and for their heads and for their judges and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.


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<pb/>And Joshua said to all the people, Jehovah says thus, the God of Israel: Your* fathers dwelt of old time beyond the River, even Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor and they served other gods.


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And I took your* father Abraham from beyond the River and led him throughout all the land of Canaan and multiplied his seed and gave him Isaac.


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And I gave to Isaac, Jacob and Esau. And I gave to Esau Mount Seir to possess it. And Jacob and his sons went down into Egypt.


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<pb/>And I sent Moses and Aaron and I plagued Egypt, according to what I did in the midst of it and afterward I brought you* out.


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And I brought your* fathers out of Egypt. And you* came to the sea and the Egyptians pursued after your* fathers with chariots and with horsemen to the Red Sea.


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And when they cried out to Jehovah, he put darkness between you* and the Egyptians and brought the sea upon them and covered them. And your* eyes saw what I did in Egypt and you* dwelt in the wilderness many days.


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<pb/>And I brought you* into the land of the Amorites, who dwelt beyond the Jordan. And they fought with you*. And I gave them into your* hand and you* possessed their land and I destroyed them from before you*.


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<pb/>Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel. And he sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you*,


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but I would not listen to Balaam. Therefore he blessed you* greatly. So I delivered you* out of his hand.


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<pb/>And you* went over the Jordan and came to Jericho. And the men of Jericho fought against you*, the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Girgashite, the Hivite and the Jebusite. And I delivered them into your* hand.


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And I sent the hornet before you*, which drove them out from before you*, even the two kings of the Amorites, not with your sword, nor with your bow.


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<pb/>And I gave you* a land in which you had not labored and cities which you* did not build and you* dwell in it. You* eat of vineyards and olive-groves which you* did not plant.


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<pb/>Now therefore fear Jehovah and serve him in sincerity and in truth. And put away the gods which your* fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt and serve you* Jehovah.


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<pb/>And if it seems evil to you* to serve Jehovah, choose you* this day whom you* will serve: whether the gods which your* fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you* dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah.


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<pb/>And the people answered and said, Far be it from us that we should forsake Jehovah, to serve other gods.


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For Jehovah our God, he it is who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way in which we went and among all the peoples through the midst of whom we passed.


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And Jehovah drove out from before us all the peoples, even the Amorites who dwelt in the land. Therefore we also will serve Jehovah, for he is our God.


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<pb/>And Joshua said to the people, You* cannot serve Jehovah, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God. He will not forgive your* transgression nor your* sins.


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If you* forsake Jehovah and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you* evil and consume you*, after he has done you* good.


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<pb/>And Joshua said to the people, You* are witnesses against yourselves that you* have chosen for you*, Jehovah, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.


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Now therefore, <i>he said</i>, put away the foreign gods which are among you* and incline your* heart to Jehovah, the God of Israel.


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<pb/>So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.


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<pb/>And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God. And he took a great stone and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of Jehovah.


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<pb/>And Joshua said to all the people, Behold, this stone will be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of Jehovah which he spoke to us. It will be therefore a witness against you*, lest you* deny your* God.


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<pb/>And it happened after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Jehovah, died, being a hundred and ten years old.


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And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-Serah, which is in the hill-country of Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaash.


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<pb/>And Israel served Jehovah all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the work of Jehovah that he had worked for Israel.


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And they buried the bones of Joseph, which the sons of Israel brought up out of Egypt, in Shechem, in the portion of the land which Jacob bought from the Amorites who dwelt in Shechem for a hundred ewe-lambs. And he gave it to Joseph for a portion.


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<pb/>And Eleazar the son of Aaron died. And they buried him in the hill of Phinehas his son, which was given him in the hill-country of Ephraim.


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<pb/>And it happened after the death of Joshua, that the sons of Israel asked of Jehovah, saying, Who will go up for us first against the Canaanites, to fight against them?


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<pb/>And Judah said to Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites and I likewise will go with you into your lot. So Simeon went with him.


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<pb/>And Judah went up and Jehovah delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand and they killed* of them in Bezek ten thousand men.


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And they found Adoni-bezek in Bezek and they fought against him and they killed* the Canaanites and the Perizzites.


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But Adoni-bezek fled and they pursued after him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.


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<pb/>And Adoni-bezek said, Seventy kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered <i>scraps</i> under my table. As I have done, so God has requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem and he died there.


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<pb/>And the sons of Judah fought against Jerusalem and took it and killed* it with the edge of the sword and set the city on fire.


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<pb/>And afterward the sons of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites who dwelt in the hill-country and in the South and in the lowland.


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And Judah went against the Canaanites who dwelt in Hebron (now the name of Hebron was formerly Kiriath-arba) and they killed* Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai.


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And from there he went against the inhabitants of Debir. (Now the name of Debir was formerly Kiriath-sepher.)


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<pb/>And Caleb said, He who slays Kiriath-sepher and takes it, I will give to him Achsah my daughter as a wife.


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And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it and he gave him Achsah his daughter as a wife.


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<pb/>And it happened, when she came <i>to him</i>, that she moved him to ask of her father a field. And she dismounted from her donkey and Caleb said to her, What would you?


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And she said to him, Give me a blessing, since you have set me in the land of the South, give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.


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<pb/>And the sons of the Kenite, Moses' brother-in-law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the sons of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which is in the south of Arad and they went and dwelt with the people.


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<pb/>And Judah went with Simeon his brother and they killed* the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Hormah.


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Also Judah took Gaza with the border of it and Ashkelon with the border of it and Ekron with the border of it.


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<pb/>And Jehovah was with Judah and drove out <i>those of</i> the hill-country. But they could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley because they had chariots of iron.


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<pb/>And they gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had spoken and he drove out the three sons of Anak from there.


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<pb/>And the sons of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem, but the Jebusites dwell with the sons of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.


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<pb/>And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city and they said to him, Please show us, the entrance into the city and we will deal kindly with you.


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And he showed them the entrance into the city. And they killed* the city with the edge of the sword, but they let the man go and all his family.


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<pb/>And the man went into the land of the Hittites and built a city and called the name of it Luz, which is the name of it to this day.


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<pb/>And Manasseh did not drive out <i>those of</i> Beth-shean and its towns, nor <i>of</i> Taanach and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns, but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.


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And it happened, when Israel grew strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced-labor and did not utterly drive them out.


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<pb/>And Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer, but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.


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<pb/>Zebulun did not drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol, but the Canaanites dwelt among them and became subject to forced-labor.


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<pb/>Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Acco, nor the inhabitants of Sidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob,


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but the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land, for they did not drive them out.


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<pb/>Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth-anath, but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land. Nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of Beth-anath became subject to forced-labor.


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<pb/>And the Amorites forced the sons of Dan into the hill-country, for they would not allow them to come down to the valley,


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but the Amorites would dwell in Mount Heres, in Aijalon and in Shaalbim. Yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became subject to forced-labor.


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<pb/>And the messenger of Jehovah came up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, I made you* go up out of Egypt and have brought you* to the land which I swore to your* fathers. And I said, I will not break my everlasting covenant with you*.


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And you* will make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land. You* will break down their altars. But you* have not listened to my voice. Why have you* done this?


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<pb/>Therefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you*, but they will be <i>as thorns</i> in your* sides and their gods will be a snare to you*.


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<pb/>And it happened, when the messenger of Jehovah spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice and wept.


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<pb/>Now when Joshua had sent the people away, the sons of Israel went every man to his inheritance to possess the land.


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And the people served Jehovah all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of Jehovah that he had worked for Israel.


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And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill-country of Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaash.


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And also all that generation were gathered to their fathers. <pb/>And there arose another generation after them that did not know Jehovah, nor yet the work which he had worked for Israel.


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And the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of Jehovah and served the Baals   <n>{Baalim}</n>.


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<pb/>And they forsook Jehovah, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt and followed other gods, of the gods of the peoples that were all around them and bowed themselves down to them. And they provoked Jehovah to anger.


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<pb/>And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that despoiled them. And he sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.


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Wherever they went out, the hand of Jehovah was against them for evil, as Jehovah had spoken and as Jehovah had sworn to them. And they were exceedingly distressed.


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And yet they did not listen to their judges, for they played the prostitute after other gods and bowed themselves to them. They turned aside quickly out of the way in which their fathers walked, obeying the commandments of Jehovah. They did not do so.


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<pb/>And when Jehovah raised up judges for them, then Jehovah was with the judge and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For Jehovah regretted because of their groaning because of those who oppressed them and distressed them.


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<pb/>But it happened, when the judge was dead, that they turned back and dealt more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them and to bow down to them. They did not cease from their practices, nor from their stubborn way.


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<pb/>And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel and he said, Because this nation has transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers and has not listened to my voice,


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I also will not hereafter drive out any from before them of the nations that Joshua left when he died,


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that by them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of Jehovah to walk in it, as their fathers kept it, or not.


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<pb/>So Jehovah left those nations, without driving them out quickly. Neither did he deliver them into the hand of Joshua.


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<pb/>Now these are the nations which Jehovah left to prove Israel by them, (even as many <i>of Israel</i> as had not known all the wars of Canaan,


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only that the generations of the sons of Israel might know, to teach them war, at least to such as formerly knew nothing of that):


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<i>namely</i>, the five lords of the Philistines and all the Canaanites and the Sidonians and the Hivites that dwelt in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon to the entrance of Hamath.


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<pb/>And they were <i>left</i>, to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would listen to the commandments of Jehovah, which he commanded their fathers by Moses.


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<pb/>And the sons of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites.


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And they took their daughters to be their wives and gave their own daughters to their sons and served their gods.


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And the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of Jehovah and forgot Jehovah their God and served the Baals   <n>{Baalim}</n>   and the Asheroth   <n>{Asherahs}</n>.


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<pb/>Therefore the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia, And the sons of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years.


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<pb/>And when the sons of Israel cried to Jehovah, Jehovah raised up a savior to the sons of Israel, who saved them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.


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And the Spirit of Jehovah came upon him and he judged Israel. And he went out to war and Jehovah delivered Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand and his hand prevailed against Cushan-rishathaim.


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<pb/>And the sons of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of Jehovah. And Jehovah strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel because they had done what was evil in the sight of Jehovah.


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And he gathered to him the sons of Ammon and Amalek and he went and killed* Israel and they possessed the city of palm trees.


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<pb/>But when the sons of Israel cried to Jehovah, Jehovah raised up for them a savior, Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man. And the sons of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab.


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And Ehud made for himself a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length. And he girded it under his garments upon his right thigh.


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But he himself turned back from the quarries that were by Gilgal and said, I have a secret errand to you, O king. And he said, Keep silence. And all who stood by him went out from him.


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<pb/>And Ehud came to him. And he was sitting by himself alone in the cool upper room. And Ehud said, I have a message from God to you. And he arose out of his seat.


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And Ehud put forth his left hand and took the sword from his right thigh and thrust it into his body.


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And the handle also went in after the blade and the fat closed upon the blade, for he did not draw the sword out of his body and it came out behind.


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<pb/>Then Ehud went forth into the porch and shut the doors of the upper room upon him and locked them.


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Now when he had gone out, his servants came and they saw, and behold, the doors of the upper room were locked. And they said, Surely he is covering his feet in the upper chamber.


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<pb/>And they delayed till they were ashamed, and behold, he did not open the doors of the upper room. Therefore they took the key and opened, and behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.


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<pb/>And it happened, when he came, that he blew a trumpet in the hill-country of Ephraim. And the sons of Israel went down with him from the hill-country and he before them.


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And he said to them, Follow after me, for Jehovah has delivered your* enemies the Moabites into your* hand. And they went down after him and took the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites and did not allow a man to pass over.


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And they killed* about ten thousand men of Moab at that time, every robust man and every man of valor and there escaped not a man.


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<pb/>And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed* six hundred men of the Philistines with an cattle-prod and he also saved Israel.


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And Jehovah sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan who reigned in Hazor, the captain of whose army was Sisera who dwelt in Harosheth-hagoyim   <n>{Harosheth of the Nations}</n>.


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And the sons of Israel cried to Jehovah, for he had nine hundred chariots of iron and he mightily oppressed the sons of Israel twenty years.


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And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill-country of Ephraim and the sons of Israel came up to her for judgment.


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<pb/>And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh-naphtali and said to him, Has not Jehovah, the God of Israel, commanded, <i>saying</i>, Go and draw <i>near</i> to Mount Tabor and take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun?


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And I will draw Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, to you, to the river Kishon, with his chariots and his multitude and I will deliver him into your hand.


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<pb/>And Barak said to her, If you will go with me, then I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go.


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And she said, I will surely go with you. Notwithstanding, the journey that you take will not be for your honor, for Jehovah will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh.


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<pb/>And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh. And there went up ten thousand men at his feet and Deborah went up with him.


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<pb/>Now Heber the Kenite had separated himself from the Kenites, from the sons of Hobab the brother-in-law of Moses and had pitched his tent as far as the oak in Zaanannim, which is by Kedesh.


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And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth-hagoyim   <n>{Harosheth of the Nations}</n>, to the river Kishon.


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<pb/>And Deborah said to Barak, Up, for this is the day in which Jehovah has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not Jehovah gone out before you? So Barak went down from Mount Tabor and ten thousand men after him.


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<pb/>And Jehovah confused Sisera and all his chariots and all his army, with the edge of the sword before Barak. And Sisera alighted from his chariot and fled away on his feet.


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But Barak pursued after the chariots and after the army, to Harosheth-hagoyim   <n>{Harosheth of the Nations}</n>. And all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword. There was not a man left.


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<pb/>However Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.


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And Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; do not fear. And he turned in to her into the tent and she covered him with a rug.


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<pb/>And he said to her, I beseech you, Give me a little water to drink, because I am thirsty. And she opened a skin-container of milk and gave him a drink and covered him.


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And he said to her, Stand in the door of the tent and it will be, when any man comes and inquires of you and says, Is there any man here? that you will say, No.


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<pb/>Then Jael Heber's wife took a tent-stake and took a hammer in her hand and went softly to him and struck the pin into his temples and it pierced through into the ground, for he was in a deep sleep, so he fainted and died.


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<pb/>And behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him and said to him, Come and I will show you the man whom you seek. And he came to her, and behold, Sisera lay dead and the tent-stake was in his temples.


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And the hand of the sons of Israel prevailed more and more against Jabin the king of Canaan until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.


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<pb/>That the leaders took the lead in Israel, that the people offered themselves willingly, praise Jehovah.


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Hear, O you* kings. Listen, O you* rulers. I, <i>even</i> I, will sing to Jehovah. I will sing praise to Jehovah, the God of Israel.


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Jehovah, when you went forth out of Seir, <pb/>when you marched out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, the heavens also dropped, <pb/>yes, the clouds dropped water.


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The mountains flowed <i>like lava</i> at the presence of Jehovah, even <pb/>yon Sinai at the presence of Jehovah, the God of Israel.


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<pb/>In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied and the travelers walked through byways.


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The rulers ceased in Israel, they ceased, until that I, Deborah, arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.


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They chose new gods, then war was in the gates. Was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?


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<pb/>My heart is toward the governors of Israel, who offered themselves willingly among the people. Praise Jehovah.


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Far from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water, there they will rehearse the righteous acts of Jehovah, the righteous acts of his rule in Israel. Then the people of Jehovah went down to the gates.


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<pb/>Awake, awake, Deborah, awake, awake, utter a song. Arise, Barak and lead away your captives, you son of Abinoam.


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Then a remnant of the nobles <i>and</i> the people came down. Jehovah came down for me against the mighty.


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Out of Ephraim, those whose root is in Amalek, after you, Benjamin, among your peoples, out of Machir, came down governors and out of Zebulun those who draw out the marshal's staff.


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And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah, as was Issachar, so was Barak, into the valley they rushed forth at his feet. By the watercourses of Reuben there were great resolves of heart.


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<pb/>Why did you sit among the sheepfolds, to hear the piping for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben there were great searches of heart.


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Gilead abode beyond the Jordan. And Dan, why did he remain in ships? Asher sat still at the haven of the sea and abode by his creeks.


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<pb/>Zebulun was a people who jeopardized their lives to the death and Naphtali, upon the high places of the field.


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The kings came and fought. Then the kings of Canaan fought in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo. They took no gain of money.


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The river Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, march on with strength.


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<pb/>Curse you* Meroz, said the messenger of Jehovah. Curse bitterly the inhabitants of it, because they did not come to the help of Jehovah, to the help of Jehovah against the mighty.


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<pb/>Blessed above women will Jael be, the wife of Heber the Kenite. Blessed will she be above women in the tent.


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She put her hand to the tent-stake and her right hand to the workmen's hammer. And with the hammer she killed* Sisera; she struck through his head. Yes, she pierced and struck through his temples.


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At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay. At her feet he bowed, he fell. Where he bowed, there he fell down dead.


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<pb/>Through the window she looked forth and cried — the mother of Sisera through the lattice — Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why do the wheels of his chariots delay?


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Have they not found, have they not divided the spoil? A maiden, two maidens to every man, to Sisera a spoil of dyed garments, a spoil of dyed garments embroidered, of dyed garments embroidered on both sides, on the necks of the spoil?


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<pb/>So let all your enemies perish, O Jehovah, but let those who love him be as the sun when he goes forth in his might. <pb/>And the land had rest forty years.


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<pb/>And the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of Jehovah and Jehovah delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.


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And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. And because of Midian the sons of Israel made for themselves the dens which are in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds.


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<pb/>And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up and the Amalekites and the sons of the east, they came up against them.


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And they encamped against them and destroyed the increase of the earth, till you come to Gaza and left no sustenance in Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor donkey.


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<pb/>For they came up with their cattle and their tents. They came in as locusts for multitude. Both they and their camels were without number and they came into the land to destroy it.


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that Jehovah sent a prophet to the sons of Israel. And he said to them, Jehovah says thus, the God of Israel, I brought you* up from Egypt and brought you* forth out of the house of bondage.


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And I delivered you* out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all that oppressed you* and drove them out from before you* and gave you* their land.


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And I said to you*, I am Jehovah your* God. You* will not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you* dwell, but you* have not listened to my voice.


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<pb/>And the messenger of Jehovah came and sat under the oak which was in Ophrah that pertained to Joash the Abiezrite. And his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.


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And the messenger of Jehovah appeared to him and said to him, Jehovah is with you, you mighty man of valor.


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<pb/>And Gideon said to him, Oh, my lord, if Jehovah is with us, then why has all this befallen us? And where are all his wondrous works which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not Jehovah bring us up from Egypt? But now Jehovah has cast us off and delivered us into the hand of Midian.


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<pb/>And Jehovah looked upon him and said, Go in this your might and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?


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And he said to him, Oh, Lord, with what shall I save Israel? Behold, my family is the poorest in Manasseh and I am the least in my father's house.


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<pb/>And he said to him, If now I have found favor in your sight, then show me a sign that it is you who talk with me.


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I beseech you, do not depart from here, until I come to you and bring forth my present and lay it before you. And he said, I will abide until you come again.


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<pb/>And Gideon went in and made ready a kid and unleavened cakes of an ephah of meal. He put the flesh in a basket and he put the broth in a pot and brought it out to him under the oak and presented it.


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<pb/>And the messenger of God said to him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes and lay them upon this rock and pour out the broth. And he did so.


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Then the messenger of Jehovah put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes. And there went up fire out of the rock and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. And the messenger of Jehovah departed out of his sight.


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<pb/>And Gideon saw that he was the messenger of Jehovah. And Gideon said, Alas, O lord Jehovah! Inasmuch as I have seen the messenger of Jehovah face to face.


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Then Gideon built an altar there to Jehovah and called it Jehovah-shalom. To this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.


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<pb/>And it happened the same night, that Jehovah said to him, Take your father's bullock, even the second bullock seven years old and throw down the altar of Baal that your father has and cut down the Asherah that is by it.


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And build an altar to Jehovah your God upon the top of this stronghold, in the orderly manner and take the second bullock and offer a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah which you will cut down.


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<pb/>Then Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as Jehovah had spoken to him. And it happened, because he feared his father's household and the men of the city, so that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.


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<pb/>And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down and the Asherah was cut down that was by it and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.


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And they said one to another, Who has done this thing? And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.


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<pb/>Then the men of the city said to Joash, Bring out your son, that he may die, because he has broken down the altar of Baal and because he has cut down the Asherah that was by it.


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<pb/>And Joash said to all who stood against him, Will you* contend for Baal? Or will you* save him? He who will contend for him, let him be put to death while <i>it is</i> morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself because he has broken down his altar.


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<pb/>Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal contend against him because he has broken down his altar.


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<pb/>Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the sons of the east assembled themselves together. And they passed over and encamped in the valley of Jezreel.


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But the Spirit of Jehovah came upon Gideon and he blew a trumpet and Abiezer was gathered together after him.


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And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh and they also were gathered together after him. And he sent messengers to Asher and to Zebulun and to Naphtali and they came up to meet them.


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behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing-floor. If there is dew on the fleece only and it is dry upon all the ground, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand as you have spoken.


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And it was so, for he rose up early on the morrow and pressed the fleece together and wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowlful of water.


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<pb/>And Gideon said to God, Do not let your anger be kindled against me and I will speak but this once. I beseech you, let me make a trial but this once with the fleece. Let it now be dry only upon the fleece and upon all the ground let there be dew.


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<pb/>Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon and all the people who were with him, rose up early and encamped beside the spring of Harod. And the camp of Midian was on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.


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<pb/>And Jehovah said to Gideon, The people who are with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, My own hand has saved me.


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Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty-two thousand and there remained ten thousand.


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<pb/>And Jehovah said to Gideon, The people are yet too many. Bring them down to the water and I will try them for you there. And it will be, that of whom I say to you, This man will go with you, the same will go with you and of whomever I say to you, This man will not go with you, the same will not go.


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So he brought down the people to the water. And Jehovah said to Gideon, Everyone who laps of the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you will set him by himself. Likewise everyone who bows down upon his knees to drink.


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<pb/>And the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men, but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.


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<pb/>And Jehovah said to Gideon, By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you* and deliver the Midianites into your hand. And let all the people go every man to his place.


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So the people took provision in their hand and their trumpets. And he sent all the men of Israel every man to his tent, but retained the three hundred men. And the camp of Midian was beneath him in the valley.


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<pb/>And it happened the same night, that Jehovah said to him, Arise, get you down into the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand.


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And you will hear what they say and afterward your hands will be strengthened to go down into the camp. Then he went down with Purah his servant to the outermost part of the armed men who were in the camp.


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<pb/>And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the sons of the east lay along in the valley like locusts for multitude and their camels were without number, as the sand which is upon the sea-shore for multitude.


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<pb/>And when Gideon came, behold, there was a man telling a dream to his fellow. And he said, Behold, I dreamed a dream. And behold, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian and came to the tent and killed* it so that it fell and turned it upside down so that the tent lay flat.


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And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else except the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel. Into his hand God has delivered Midian and all the army.


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<pb/>And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and the interpretation of it, that he worshiped. And he returned into the camp of Israel and said, Arise, for Jehovah has delivered the army of Midian into your* hand.


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<pb/>And he divided the three hundred men into three companies and he put trumpets into the hands of all of them and empty pitchers, with torches inside the pitchers.


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<pb/>And he said to them, Look on me and do likewise, and behold, when I come to the outermost part of the camp, it will be that, as I do, so you* will do.


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When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then blow you* the trumpets also on every side of all the camp and say, For Jehovah and for Gideon.


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<pb/>So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him, came to the outermost part of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch when they had but newly set the watch. And they blew the trumpets and smashed the pitchers that were in their hands.


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And the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers and held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands with which to blow. And they cried out, The sword of Jehovah and of Gideon.


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<pb/>And they stood every man in his place all around the camp. And all the army ran and they shouted and put <i>them</i> to flight.


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And they blew the three hundred trumpets and Jehovah set every man's sword against his fellow and against all the army. And the army fled as far as Beth-shittah  <n>{Beth Acacia; Place of Acacia}</n>   toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath.


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<pb/>And the men of Israel were gathered together out of Naphtali and out of Asher and out of all Manasseh and pursued after Midian.


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And Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill-country of Ephraim, saying, Come down against Midian and take before them the waters, as far as Beth-barah, even the Jordan. So all the men of Ephraim were gathered together and took the waters as far as Beth-barah, even the Jordan.


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<pb/>And they took the two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. And they killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb and Zeeb they killed at the winepress of Zeeb and pursued Midian. And they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon beyond the Jordan.


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<pb/>And the men of Ephraim said to him, Why have you done thus to us, that you did not call us when you went to fight with Midian? And they chided with him sharply.


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<pb/>And he said to them, What have I now done in comparison with you*? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?


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God has delivered into your* hand the rulers of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb and what was I able to do in comparison with you*? Then their anger was abated toward him when he had said that.


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<pb/>And Gideon came to the Jordan, <i>and</i> passed over, he and the three hundred men who were with him, faint, yet pursuing.


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And he said to the men of Succoth, Give, I beseech you*, loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are faint and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.


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And the rulers of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand that we should give bread to your army?


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<pb/>And Gideon said, Therefore when Jehovah has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your* flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.


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<pb/>And he went up from there to Penuel and spoke to them in like manner and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered.


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And he spoke also to the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.


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<pb/>Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor and their armies with them, about fifteen thousand men, all who were left of all the army of the sons of the east, for there fell a hundred and twenty thousand men who drew a sword.


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<pb/>And Gideon went up by the way of those who dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah and killed* the army, for the army was confident.


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<pb/>And Zebah and Zalmunna fled and he pursued after them. And he took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna and confused all the army.


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<pb/>And he caught a young man of the men of Succoth and inquired of him. And he described for him the rulers of Succoth and the elders of it, seventy-seven men.


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And he came to the men of Succoth and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, concerning whom you* taunted me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are weary?


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<pb/>And he took the elders of the city and thorns of the wilderness and briers and with them he taught the men of Succoth.


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<pb/>Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom you* killed at Tabor? And they answered, As you are, so were they. Each one resembled the sons of a king.


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And he said, They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As Jehovah lives, if you* had saved them alive, I would not kill you*.


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<pb/>And he said to Jether his firstborn, Up and kill them. But the youth did not draw his sword, for he feared because he was yet a youth.


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Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise and fall upon us, for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna and took the crescents that were on their camels' necks.


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<pb/>Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, Rule over us, both you and your son and your son's son also, for you have saved us out of the hand of Midian.


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And Gideon said to them, I will not rule over you*, neither will my son rule over you*. Jehovah will rule over you*.


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<pb/>And Gideon said to them, I would make a request of you*, that you* would give me every man the earrings of his spoil. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)


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And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment and cast in it every man the earrings of his spoil.


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And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred <i>shekels</i> of gold, besides the crescents and the pendants and the purple garments that was on the kings of Midian and besides the chains that were about their camels' necks.


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<pb/>And Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his city, even in Ophrah. And all Israel played the prostitute after it there and it became a snare to Gideon and to his house.


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<pb/>So Midian was subdued before the sons of Israel and they lifted up their heads no more. And the land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon.


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<pb/>And his concubine who was in Shechem, she also bore him a son and he called his name Abimelech.


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And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age and was buried in the sepulcher of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.


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<pb/>And it happened, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the sons of Israel turned again and played the prostitute after the Baals   <n>{Baalim}</n>   and made Baal-berith their god.


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And the sons of Israel did not remember Jehovah their God, who had delivered them out of the hand of all their enemies on every side,


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neither did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, <i>who is</i> Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shown to Israel.


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<pb/>And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's brothers and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,


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Speak, I beseech you*, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Which is better for you*, that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are seventy men, rule over you*, or that one rule over you*? Remember also that I am your* bone and your* flesh.


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<pb/>And his mother's brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words. And their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, He is our brother.


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And they gave him seventy <i>pieces</i> of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and unstable fellows who followed him.


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<pb/>And he went to his father's house at Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy men, upon one stone, but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself.


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<pb/>And all the men of Shechem assembled themselves together and all the Beth-millo   <n>{House of Millo}</n>   and went and made Abimelech king by the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem.


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And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and lifted up his voice and cried out and said to them, Listen to me, you* men of Shechem, that God may listen to you*.


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<pb/>The trees went forth a time to anoint a king over them. And they said to the olive tree, Reign over us.


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But the olive tree said to them, Should I leave my fatness with which by me they honor God and man and go to wave to and fro over the trees?


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But the fig tree said to them, Should I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go to wave to and fro over the trees?


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And the vine said to them, Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man and go to wave to and fro over the trees?


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And the bramble said to the trees, If in truth you* anoint me king over you*, then come and take refuge in my shade and if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.


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<pb/>Now therefore, if you* have dealt truly and uprightly, in that you* have made Abimelech king and if you* have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house and have done to him according to the deed of his hands


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and you* have risen up against my father's house this day and have slain his sons, seventy men, upon one stone and have made Abimelech, the son of his maid-servant, king over the men of Shechem because he is your* brother),


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if you* then have dealt truly and uprightly with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech and let him also rejoice in you*.


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<pb/>But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and Beth-millo   <n>{House of Millo}</n>   and let fire come out from the men of Shechem and from Beth-millo   <n>{House of Millo}</n>   and devour Abimelech.


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And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,


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that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come and that their blood might be laid upon Abimelech their brother who killed them and upon the men of Shechem who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.


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<pb/>And the men of Shechem set ambushes for him on the tops of the mountains and they robbed all who came along that way by them and it was told Abimelech.


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<pb/>And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers and went over to Shechem and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.


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And they went out into the field and gathered their vineyards and trod <i>the grapes</i> and held festival and went into the house of their god and ate and drank and cursed Abimelech.


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<pb/>And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is not he the son of Jerubbaal and Zebul his officer? Serve you* the men of Hamor the father of Shechem, but why should we serve him?


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And would that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase your army and come out.


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<pb/>And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.


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And he sent messengers to Abimelech privately, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem, and behold, they are fortifying the city against you.


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And it will be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you will rise early and rush upon the city, and behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, then you may do to them as you will find occasion.


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<pb/>And Abimelech rose up and all the people who were with him, by night and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.


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<pb/>And Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city. And Abimelech rose up and the people who were with him, from the ambush.


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<pb/>And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there comes a people down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said to him, You see the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.


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And Gaal spoke again and said, See, there comes a people down by the middle of the land and one company comes by the way of the oak of Meonenim   <n>{Diviners' Oak}</n>.


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<pb/>Then Zebul said to him, Where is now your mouth, that you said, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? Is not this the people that you have despised? Go out now, I pray and fight with them.


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And Abimelech chased him and he fled before him and there fell many wounded, even to the entrance of the gate.


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And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, that they should not dwell in Shechem.


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<pb/>And it happened on the morrow, that the people went out into the field and they told Abimelech.


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And he took the people and divided them into three companies and laid wait in the field. And he looked, and behold, the people came forth out of the city. And he rose up against them and killed* them.


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<pb/>And Abimelech and the companies who were with him, rushed forward and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city and the two companies rushed upon all who were in the field and killed* them.


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And Abimelech fought against the city all that day. And he took the city and killed the people that were in it and he beat down the city and sowed it with salt.


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<pb/>And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of the house of El-berith.


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<pb/>And Abimelech got up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him. And Abimelech took an axe in his hand and cut down a bough from the trees and took it up and laid it on his shoulder. And he said to the people who were with him, What you* have seen me do, make haste and do as I have done.


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<pb/>And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough and followed Abimelech and put them to the stronghold and set the stronghold on fire upon them, so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.


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<pb/>But there was a strong tower inside the city. And all the men and women fled and all those of the city and shut themselves in and got up to the roof of the tower.


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And Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.


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Then he called hastily to the young man his armor bearer and said to him, Draw your sword and kill me, that men not say of me, A woman killed him. And his young man thrust him through and he died.


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<pb/>Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father, in slaying his seventy brothers.


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And God requited all the wickedness of the men of Shechem upon their heads. And the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came upon them.


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<pb/>And after Abimelech there arose Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, to save Israel and he dwelt in Shamir in the hill-country of Ephraim.


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And he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkey colts and they had thirty cities, which are called Havvoth-jair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead.


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<pb/>And the sons of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of Jehovah and served the Baals   <n>{Baalim}</n>   and the Ashtaroth and the gods of Syria and the gods of Sidon and the gods of Moab and the gods of the sons of Ammon and the gods of the Philistines. And they forsook Jehovah and did not serve him.


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<pb/>And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the sons of Ammon.


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And they distressed and oppressed the sons of Israel that year. Eighteen years <i>they oppressed</i> all the sons of Israel who were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.


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And the sons of Ammon passed over the Jordan to also fight against Judah and against Benjamin and against the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was exceedingly distressed.


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<pb/>And the sons of Israel cried to Jehovah, saying, We have sinned against you, even because we have forsaken our God and have served the Baals   <n>{Baalim}</n>.


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And Jehovah said to the sons of Israel, <i>Did not I save you</i>* from the Egyptians and from the Amorites, from the sons of Ammon and from the Philistines?


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The Sidonians also and the Amalekites and the Maonites, oppressed you*. And you* cried to me and I saved you* out of their hand.


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<pb/>And the sons of Israel said to Jehovah, We have sinned. Do to us whatever seems good to you, please only deliver us this day.


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And they put away the foreign gods from among them and served Jehovah. And his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.


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<pb/>Then the sons of Ammon were gathered together and encamped in Gilead. And the sons of Israel assembled themselves together and encamped in Mizpah.


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And the people, the rulers of Gilead, said one to another, What man is he who will begin to fight against the sons of Ammon? He will be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.


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<pb/>Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor and he was the son of a prostitute and Gilead fathered Jephthah.


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And Gilead's wife bore sons to him. And when his wife's sons grew up, they drove out Jephthah and said to him, You will not inherit in our father's house, for you are the son of another woman.


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Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and dwelt in the land of Tob. And vain fellows were gathered to Jephthah and they went out with him.


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And it was so, that, when the sons of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob.


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<pb/>And Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, Did you* not hate me and drive me out of my father's house? And why have you* come to me now when you* are in distress?


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And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, For that reason we turned again to you now, that you may go with us and fight with the sons of Ammon. And you will be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.


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<pb/>And Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, If you* bring me home again to fight with the sons of Ammon and Jehovah delivers them before me, shall I be your* head?


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And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, Jehovah will be witness between us. Surely according to your word so will we do.


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Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead and the people made him head and chief over them. And Jephthah spoke all his words before Jehovah in Mizpah.


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<pb/>And Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the sons of Ammon, saying, What have you to do with me, that you have come to me to fight against my land?


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And the king of the sons of Ammon answered to the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land when he came up out of Egypt, from the Arnon even to the Jabbok and to the Jordan. Now therefore restore those <i>lands</i> again peaceably.


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And he said to him, Thus says Jephthah: Israel did not take away the land of Moab, nor the land of the sons of Ammon,


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but when they came up from Egypt and Israel went through the wilderness to the Red Sea and came to Kadesh,


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then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, I beseech you, let me pass through your land, but the king of Edom did not listen. And in like manner he sent to the king of Moab, but he would not. And Israel abode in Kadesh.


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<pb/>Then they went through the wilderness and went around the land of Edom and the land of Moab and came by the east side of the land of Moab. And they encamped on the other side of the Arnon, but they did not come within the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab.


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<pb/>And Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon. And Israel said to him, Please let us pass, through your land to my place.


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But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his border, but Sihon gathered all his people together and encamped in Jahaz and fought against Israel.


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<pb/>And Jehovah, the God of Israel, delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel and they killed* them. So Israel possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country.


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And they possessed all the border of the Amorites, from the Arnon even to the Jabbok and from the wilderness even to the Jordan.


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<pb/>So now Jehovah, the God of Israel, has dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel and should you possess them?


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Will you not possess what Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So whomever Jehovah our God has dispossessed from before us, them will we possess.


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<pb/>And now are you anything better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever contend against Israel, or did he ever fight against them?


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While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and its towns and in Aroer and its towns and in all the cities that are along by the side of the Arnon, three hundred years, why did you* not recover them within that time?


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<pb/>I therefore have not sinned against you, but you do me wrong to war against me. Jehovah, the Judge, be judge this day between the sons of Israel and the sons of Ammon.


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<pb/>Then the Spirit of Jehovah came upon Jephthah and he passed over Gilead and Manasseh and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over to the sons of Ammon.


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<pb/>And Jephthah vowed a vow to Jehovah and said, If you will indeed deliver the sons of Ammon into my hand,


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then it will be, that whatever comes forth from the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the sons of Ammon, it will be Jehovah's and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.


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<pb/>So Jephthah passed over to the sons of Ammon to fight against them and Jehovah delivered them into his hand.


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And he killed* them from Aroer until you come to Minnith, even twenty cities and to Abel-keramim   <n>{Meadow of the Vineyards}</n>, with a very great slaughter. So the sons of Ammon were subdued before the sons of Israel.


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<pb/>And Jephthah came to Mizpah to his house, and behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances. And she was his only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter.


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And it happened, when he saw her, that he tore his clothes and said, Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low and you are one of those who trouble me, for I have opened my mouth to Jehovah and I cannot go back.


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<pb/>And she said to him, My father, you have opened your mouth to Jehovah. Do to me according to what has proceeded out of your mouth, inasmuch as Jehovah has taken vengeance for you on your enemies, even on the sons of Ammon.


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<pb/>And she said to her father, Let this thing be done for me: Let me alone two months, that I may depart and go down upon the mountains and weep for my virginity, I and my companions.


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And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months. And she departed, she and her companions and wept for her virginity upon the mountains.


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<pb/>And it happened at the end of two months, that she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel,


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that the daughters of Israel went yearly to celebrate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.


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<pb/>And the men of Ephraim were gathered together and passed northward. And they said to Jephthah, Why did you pass over to fight against the sons of Ammon and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house upon you with fire.


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<pb/>And Jephthah said to them, I and my people were at great strife with the sons of Ammon and when I called you*, you* did not save me out of their hand.


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And when I saw that you* did not save me, I put my life in my hand and passed opposite the sons of Ammon and Jehovah delivered them into my hand. Why then have you* come up to me this day, to fight against me?


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<pb/>Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead and fought with Ephraim. And the men of Gilead killed* Ephraim, because they said, You* are fugitives of Ephraim, you* Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim, <i>and</i> in the midst of Manasseh.


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<pb/>And the Gileadites took the fords of the Jordan against the Ephraimites. And it was so, that, when <i>any of</i> the fugitives of Ephraim said, Let me go over, the men of Gilead said to him, Are you an Ephraimite? If he said, No,


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then they said to him, Say now Shibboleth and he said Sibboleth, for he could not frame to pronounce it right, then they laid hold on him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. And there fell at that time of Ephraim forty-two thousand.


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<pb/>And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in <i>one of</i> the cities of Gilead.


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And he had thirty sons. And he sent abroad thirty daughters and thirty daughters he brought in from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.


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And he had forty sons and thirty sons' sons who rode on seventy donkey colts and he judged Israel eight years.


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And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill-country of the Amalekites.


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<pb/>And the sons of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of Jehovah and Jehovah delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.


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<pb/>And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah and his wife was barren and did not bear.


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<pb/>And the messenger of Jehovah appeared to the woman and said to her, Behold now, you are barren and do not bear, but you will conceive and bear a son.


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Now therefore beware, I beseech you and drink no wine nor strong drink and do not eat any unclean thing,


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for behold, you will conceive and bear a son. And no razor will come upon his head, for the child will be a Nazirite to God from the womb. And he will begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.


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<pb/>Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came to me and his countenance was like the countenance of the messenger of God, very awesome. And I did not ask him from where he was, neither did he tell me his name,


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but he said to me, Behold, you will conceive and bear a son. And now drink no wine nor strong drink and do not eat any unclean thing, for the child will be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.


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<pb/>Then Manoah entreated Jehovah and said, Oh, Lord, I beseech you, let the man of God whom you sent come again to us and teach us what we will do to the child that will be born.


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And God listened to the voice of Manoah and the messenger of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field, but Manoah her husband was not with her.


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And the woman made haste and ran and told her husband and said to him, Behold, the man has appeared to me, who came to me the <i>other</i> day.


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<pb/>And Manoah arose and went after his wife and came to the man and said to him, Are you the man who spoke to the woman? And he said, I am.


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And Manoah said, Now let your words happen. What will be the ordering of the child and <i>what</i> will we do to him?


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She may not eat of anything that comes of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing. All that I commanded her let her observe.


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<pb/>And Manoah said to the messenger of Jehovah, I beseech you, let us detain you, that we may make ready a kid for you.


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And the messenger of Jehovah said to Manoah, Though you detain me, I will not eat of your bread and if you will make ready a burnt offering, you must offer it to Jehovah. For Manoah did not know that he was the messenger of Jehovah.


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<pb/>And Manoah said to the messenger of Jehovah, What is your name, that, when your words happen, we may do you honor?


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<pb/>So Manoah took the kid with the meal offering and offered it upon the rock to Jehovah. And <i>the messenger</i> did wondrously and Manoah and his wife looked on,


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for it happened, when the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, that the messenger of Jehovah ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on and they fell on their faces to the ground.


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<pb/>But the messenger of Jehovah appeared no more to Manoah or to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the messenger of Jehovah.


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But his wife said to him, If Jehovah were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meal offering at our hand, neither would he have shown us all these things, nor would at this time have told such things as these.


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<pb/>And the woman bore a son and called his name Samson. And the child grew and Jehovah blessed him.


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And the Spirit of Jehovah began to move him in Mahaneh-dan   <n>{Camp of Dan}</n>, between Zorah and Eshtaol.


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And he came up and told his father and his mother and said, I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. Now therefore get her for me as a wife.


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Then his father and his mother said to him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of your brothers, or among all my people, that you go to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said to his father, Get her for me, for she pleases me well.


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<pb/>But his father and his mother did not know that it was of Jehovah, for he sought an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines had rule over Israel.


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<pb/>Then Samson went down and his father and his mother, to Timnah and came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion roared against him.


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And the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon him and he tore him apart as he would have torn a kid and he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.


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<pb/>And after a while he returned to take her. And he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion and honey.


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And he took it into his hands and went on, eating as he went. And he came to his father and mother and gave to them and they ate, but he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the body of the lion.


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<pb/>And his father went down to the woman and Samson made a feast there, for so the young men used to do.


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<pb/>And Samson said to them, Let me now put forth a riddle to you*. If you* can declare it to me within the seven days of the feast and find it out, then I will give you* thirty linen garments and thirty changes of garments,


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but if you* cannot declare it to me, then you* will give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of garments. <pb/>And they said to him, Put forth your riddle, that we may hear it.


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And he said to them, Out of the eater came out food and out of the strong came out sweetness. And they could not in three days declare the riddle.


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<pb/>And it happened on the seventh day, that they said to Samson's wife, Entice your husband, that he may declare to us the riddle, lest we burn you and your father's house with fire. Have you* called us to impoverish us? Is it not <i>so</i>?


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<pb/>And Samson's wife wept before him and said, You do but hate me and not love me. You have put forth a riddle to the sons of my people and have not told it to me. And he said to her, Behold, I have not told it to my father nor my mother and shall I tell you?


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<pb/>And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted. And it happened on the seventh day, that he told her because she pressed him greatly. And she told the riddle to the sons of her people.


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<pb/>And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said to them, If you* had not plowed with my heifer, you* would not have found out my riddle.


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<pb/>And the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon him and he went down to Ashkelon and killed* thirty men of them and took their spoil and gave the changes <i>of garments</i> to those who declared the riddle. And his anger was kindled and he went up to his father's house.


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<pb/>But it happened after a while, in the time of wheat harvest, that Samson visited his wife with a kid. And he said, I will go in to my wife into the chamber, but her father would not allow him to go in.


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And her father said, I truly thought that you had utterly hated her, therefore I gave her to your companion. Is not her younger sister fairer than she? I beseech you, take her instead of her.


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<pb/>And Samson said to them, This time I will be blameless in regard of the Philistines when I do them a mischief.


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And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes and took firebrands and turned tail to tail and put a firebrand in the midst between every two tails.


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And when he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the standing grain of the Philistines and burnt up both the shocks and the standing grain and also the olive-groves.


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<pb/>Then the Philistines said, Who has done this? And they said, Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife and given her to his companion. And the Philistines came up and burnt her and her father with fire.


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<pb/>And Samson said to them, If you* do after this manner, surely I will be avenged of you* and after that I will cease.


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And he killed* them hip and thigh with a great slaughter. And he went down and dwelt in the cleft of the rock of Etam.


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And the men of Judah said, Why have you* come up against us? And they said, We come up to bind Samson, to do to him as he has done to us.


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<pb/>Then three thousand men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam and said to Samson, Do you not know that the Philistines are rulers over us? What then is this that you have done to us? And he said to them, As they did to me, so have I done to them.


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<pb/>And they said to him, We have come down to bind you, that we may deliver you into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson said to them, Swear to me, that you* will not fall upon me yourselves.


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And they spoke to him, saying, No, but we will bind you fast and deliver you into their hand, but truly we will not kill you. And they bound him with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock.


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<pb/>When he came to Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him. And the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon him and the ropes that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire and his bands dropped from his hands.


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<pb/>And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey and put forth his hand and took it and killed* a thousand men with it.


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And Samson said, With the jawbone of a donkey, heaps upon heaps, with the jawbone of a donkey I have struck a thousand men.


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And it happened, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand. And that place was called Ramath-lehi.


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<pb/>And he was very thirsty and called on Jehovah and said, You have given this great deliverance by the hand of your servant and now shall I die for thirst and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?


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But God split the hollow place that is in Lehi and water came out there. And when he had drunk his spirit came again and he revived. Therefore the name of it was called En-hakkore, which is in Lehi to this day.


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<i>And it was told</i> the Gazites, saying, Samson has come here. And they encompassed him in and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city and were quiet all the night, saying, <i>Not</i> till morning light, then we will kill him.


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<pb/>And Samson lay till midnight and arose at midnight and laid hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two posts and plucked them up, bar and all and put them upon his shoulders and carried them up to the top of the mountain that is before Hebron.


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<pb/>And it happened afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.


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And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, Entice him and see in what his great strength lies and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him. And we will give you every one of us eleven hundred <i>pieces</i> of silver.


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<pb/>And Delilah said to Samson, I beseech you, tell me in what your great strength lies and with what you might be bound to afflict you.


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And Samson said to her, If they bind me with seven green withes that were never dried, then I will become weak and be as another man.


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<pb/>Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withes which had not been dried and she bound him with them.


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Now she had an ambush abiding in the inner chamber. And she said to him, The Philistines are upon you, Samson. And he broke the withes, as a string of tow is broken when it touches the fire. So his strength was not known.


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<pb/>And Delilah said to Samson, Behold, you have mocked me and told me lies. I beseech you, now tell me with what you might be bound.


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And he said to her, If they only bind me with new ropes with which no work has been done, then I will become weak and be as another man.


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<pb/>So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with it and said to him, The Philistines are upon you, Samson. And the ambush was abiding in the inner chamber. And he broke them off his arms like a thread.


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<pb/>And Delilah said to Samson, Until now you have mocked me and told me lies. Tell me with what you might be bound. And he said to her, If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web.


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And she fastened it with the pin and said to him, The Philistines are upon you, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep and plucked away the pin of the beam and the web.


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<pb/>And she said to him, How can you say, I love you, when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times and have not told me with what your great strength lies.


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<pb/>And it happened, when she pressed him daily with her words and urged him, that his soul was distressed to death.


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And he told her all his heart and said to her, There has not come a razor upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother's womb. If I am shaven, then my strength will go from me and I will become weak and be like any other man.


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<pb/>And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he has told me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hand.


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And she made him sleep upon her knees and she called for a man and shaved off the seven locks of his head. And she began to afflict him and his strength went from him.


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<pb/>And she said, The Philistines are upon you, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep and said, I will go out as at other times and shake myself free, but he did not know that Jehovah was departed from him.


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And the Philistines laid hold on him and put out his eyes. And they brought him down to Gaza and bound him with fetters of brass and he did grinding in the prison-house.


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<pb/>And the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to rejoice, for they said, Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.


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And when the people saw him, they praised their god, for they said, Our god has delivered into our hand our enemy and the destroyer of our country who has slain many of us.


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<pb/>And it happened, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may be amusing to us. And they called for Samson out of the prison-house and he made sport before them. And they set him between the pillars.


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<pb/>And Samson said to the lad who held him by the hand, Allow me that I may feel the pillars upon which the house rests, that I may lean upon them.


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Now the house was full of men and women and all the lords of the Philistines were there. And there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, who beheld while Samson was amusing <i>them</i>.


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<pb/>And Samson called to Jehovah and said, O lord Jehovah, remember me, I beseech you and strengthen me, I beseech you, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.


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And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house rested and leaned upon them, the one with his right hand and the other with his left.


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<pb/>And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people that were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than those that he killed in his life.


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<pb/>Then his brothers and all the house of his father came down and took him and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the burying-place of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.


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And he said to his mother, The eleven hundred <i>pieces</i> of silver that were taken from you, about which you uttered a curse and also spoke it in my ears, behold, the silver is with me. I took it. And his mother said, My son from Jehovah is blessed.


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<pb/>And he restored the eleven hundred <i>pieces</i> of silver to his mother. And his mother said, I verily dedicate the silver to Jehovah from my hand for my son to make a graven image and a molten image. Now therefore I will restore it to you.


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<pb/>And when he restored the money to his mother, his mother took two hundred <i>pieces</i> of silver and gave them to the founder, who made of it a graven image and a molten image. And it was in the house of Micah.


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And the man Micah had a house of gods and he made an ephod and household-idol and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.


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<pb/>And there was a young man out of Bethlehem in Judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite and he traveled there.


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And the man departed out of the city, out of Bethlehem in Judah, to journey where he could find <i>a place</i>. And he came to the hill-country of Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.


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And Micah said to him, From where <i>do</i> you come? And he said to him, I am a Levite of Bethlehem in Judah and I go to journey where I may find <i>a place</i>.


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<pb/>And Micah said to him, Dwell with me and be to me a father and a priest and I will give you ten <i>pieces</i> of silver by the year and a suit of apparel and your food. So the Levite went in.


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<pb/>And the Levite was content to dwell with the man and the young man was to him as one of his sons.


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<pb/>In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the Danites sought for them an inheritance to dwell in, for to that day <i>their</i> inheritance had not fallen to them among the tribes of Israel.


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<pb/>And the sons of Dan sent of their family five men from their whole number, men of valor, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to search it. And they said to them, Go, search the land. And they came to the hill-country of Ephraim to the house of Micah and lodged there.


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<pb/>When they were by the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young man the Levite. And they turned aside there and said to him, Who brought you here? And what are you doing in this place? And what have you here?


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And he said to them, Thus and thus has Micah dealt with me and he has hired me and I have become his priest.


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<pb/>And they said to him, Please ask counsel from God, that we may know whether our way which we go will be prosperous.


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<pb/>Then the five men departed and came to Laish and saw the people that were in it, how they dwelt in security, according to the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and secure, for there was none in the land possessing authority, that might put <i>them</i> to shame in anything. And they were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with any man.


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<pb/>And they came to their brothers to Zorah and Eshtaol. And their brothers said to them, What <i>do</i> you* <i>say</i>?


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And they said, Arise and let us go up against them, for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good and are you* idle? Do not be slothful to go and to enter in to possess the land.


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When you* go, you* will come to a people secure. And the land is large, for God has given it into your* hand, a place where there is no want of anything that is on the earth.


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<pb/>And there set forth from there of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men girded with weapons of war.


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And they went up and encamped in Kiriath-jearim, in Judah. Therefore they called that place Mahaneh-dan   <n>{Camp of Dan}</n>, to this day. Behold, it is behind Kiriath-jearim.


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<pb/>Then the five men who went to spy out the country of Laish, answered and said to their brothers, Do you* know that there is in these houses an ephod and household-idol and a graven image and a molten image? Now therefore consider what you* have to do.


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And they turned aside there and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even to the house of Micah and asked him of his welfare.


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And the six hundred men girded with their weapons of war, who were of the sons of Dan, stood by the entrance of the gate.


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<pb/>And the five men who went to spy out the land went up and came in there and took the graven image and the ephod and the household-idol and the molten image. And the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men girded with weapons of war.


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And when these went into Micah's house and fetched the graven image, the ephod and the household-idol and the molten image, the priest said to them, What do you* <i>say</i>?


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<pb/>And they said to him, Hold your peace, lay your hand upon your mouth and go with us and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?


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And the priest's heart was glad and he took the ephod and the household-idol and the graven image and went in the midst of the people.


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When they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men who were in the houses near to Micah's house were gathered together and overtook the sons of Dan.


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<pb/>And they cried out to the sons of Dan. And they turned their faces and said to Micah, What troubles you that you come with such a company?


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And he said, you* have taken away my gods which I made and the priest and have gone away and what have I more? And how do you* then say to me, What troubles you?


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<pb/>And the sons of Dan said to him, Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows fall upon you* and you lose your life, with the lives of your household.


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And the sons of Dan went their way. And when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his house.


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<pb/>And they took what Micah had made and the priest whom he had and came to Laish, to a people quiet and secure and killed* them with the edge of the sword and they burnt the city with fire.


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And there was no deliverer because it was far from Sidon and they had no dealings with any man and it was in the valley that lies by Beth-rehob. And they built the city and dwelt in it.


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And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father who was born to Israel. However the name of the city was Laish at first.


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<pb/>And the sons of Dan set up for themselves the graven image. And Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land.


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So they set up for them Micah's graven image which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.


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<pb/>And it happened in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite traveling on the farther side of the hill-country of Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehem in Judah.


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And his concubine played the prostitute against him and went away from him to her father's house to Bethlehem in Judah and was there the space of four months.


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<pb/>And her husband arose and went after her, to speak kindly to her, to bring her again, having his servant with him and a couple of donkeys. And she brought him into her father's house and when the father of the maiden saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.


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<pb/>And his father-in-law, the maiden's father, retained him and he abode with him three days. So they ate and drank and lodged there.


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And it happened on the fourth day, that they arose early in the morning and he rose up to depart. And the maiden's father said to his son-in-law, Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread and afterward you* will go your* way.


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<pb/>So they sat down and ate and drank, both of them together. And the maiden's father said to the man, I beseech you, be pleased to abide all night and let your heart be merry.


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<pb/>And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart. And the maiden's father said, Strengthen your heart, I beseech you and abide until the day declines. And they ate, both of them.


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And when the man rose up to depart, he and his concubine and his servant, his father-in-law, the maiden's father, said to him, Behold, now the day draws toward evening, I beseech you* abide all night. Behold, the day grows to an end, lodge here that your heart may be merry and tomorrow get early on your* way that you may go home.


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<pb/>But the man would not abide that night, but he rose up and departed and came opposite Jebus (what is Jerusalem). And there were with him a couple of saddled donkeys. His concubine was also with him.


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<pb/>When they were by Jebus, the day was far spent and the servant said to his master, Come, I beseech you and let us turn aside into this city of the Jebusites and lodge in it.


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And his master said to him, We will not turn aside into the city of a foreigner that is not of the sons of Israel, but we will pass over to Gibeah.


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And he said to his servant, Come and let us draw near to one of these places and we will lodge in Gibeah, or in Ramah.


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<pb/>So they passed on and went their way. And the sun went down upon them near to Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin.


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And they turned aside there, to go in to lodge in Gibeah. And he went in and sat down in the street of the city, for there was no man that took them into his house to lodge.


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<pb/>And behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at evening. Now the man was of the hill-country of Ephraim and he traveled in Gibeah, but the men of the place were Benjamites.


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<pb/>And he lifted up his eyes and saw the wayfaring man in the street of the city. And the old man said, Where do you go? And from where do you come?


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<pb/>And he said to him, We are passing from Bethlehem in Judah to the farther side of the hill-country of Ephraim. I am from there and I went to Bethlehem in Judah. And I am <i>now</i> going to the house of Jehovah and there is no man that takes me into his house.


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Yet there is both straw and fodder for our donkeys and there is bread and wine also for me and for your handmaid and for the young man who is with your servants. There is no want of anything.


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<pb/>And the old man said, Peace be to you. However let all your wants lie upon me, only do not lodge in the street.


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So he brought him into his house and gave the donkeys fodder. And they washed their feet and ate and drank.


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<pb/>As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain worthless fellows, beset the house all around, beating at the door. And they spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man who came into your house, that we may know him.


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<pb/>And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, No, my brothers, I beseech you*, do not so wickedly, seeing that this man has come into my house. Do not this senselessness.


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Behold, here is my daughter a virgin and his concubine. I will bring them out now and humble you* them and do with them what seems good to you*, but to this man do not do any such senselessness.


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<pb/>But the men would not listen to him. So the man laid hold on his concubine and brought her forth to them. And they knew her and abused her all the night until the morning and when the day began to spring, they let her go.


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Then the woman came in the dawning of the day and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light.


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<pb/>And her lord rose up in the morning and opened the doors of the house and went out to go his way, and behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, with her hands upon the threshold.


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<pb/>And he said to her, Up and let us be going, but there was no answering. Then he took her up upon the donkey and the man rose up and got to his place.


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And when he came into his house, he took a knife and laid hold on his concubine and divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces and sent her throughout all the borders of Israel.


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<pb/>And it was so, that all who saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the sons of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt to this day. Consider it, take counsel and speak.


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<pb/>Then all the sons of Israel went out. And the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, with the land of Gilead, to Jehovah at Mizpah.


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And the chiefs of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen who drew a sword.


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(Now the sons of Benjamin heard that the sons of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the sons of Israel said, Tell us, how did this wickedness happen?


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<pb/>And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.


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And the men of Gibeah rose against me and beset the house all around me by night. They thought to have me slain and they forced my concubine and she is dead.


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<pb/>And I took my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel, for they have committed lewdness and senselessness in Israel.


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<pb/>And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn to his house.


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and we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel and a hundred of a thousand and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch provision for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the senselessness that they have done in Israel.


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<pb/>And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that has happen among you*?


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Now therefore deliver up the men, the worthless fellows, who are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and put away evil from Israel. But Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brothers the sons of Israel.


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And the sons of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle against the sons of Israel.


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<pb/>And the sons of Benjamin were numbered on that day out of the cities twenty-six thousand men who drew a sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were numbered seven hundred chosen men.


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Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men left-handed. Every one could sling stones at a hair and not miss.


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<pb/>And the men of Israel, besides Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men who drew a sword. All these were men of war.


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<pb/>And the sons of Israel arose and went up to Bethel and asked counsel of God. And they said, Who will go up for us first to battle against the sons of Benjamin? And Jehovah said, Judah first.


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And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin. And the men of Israel arranged for battle against them at Gibeah.


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And the sons of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites on that day twenty-two thousand men.


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<pb/>And the people, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves and set the battle again in array in the place where they set themselves in array the first day.


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And the sons of Israel went up and wept before Jehovah until evening. And they asked of Jehovah, saying, Shall I again draw near to battle against the sons of Benjamin my brother? And Jehovah said, Go up against him.


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And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day and destroyed down to the ground of the sons of Israel again eighteen thousand men. All these drew the sword.


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<pb/>Then all the sons of Israel and all the people, went up and came to Bethel and wept and sat there before Jehovah and fasted that day until evening and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Jehovah.


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<pb/>And the sons of Israel asked of Jehovah (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,


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and Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days), saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the sons of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And Jehovah said, Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver him into your hand.


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<pb/>And the sons of Israel went up against the sons of Benjamin on the third day and set themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.


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And the sons of Benjamin went out against the people and were drawn away from the city. And they began to kill* and kill of the people as at other times, in the highways, of which one goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, in the field about thirty men of Israel.


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And the sons of Benjamin said, They are struck down before us as at the first. But the sons of Israel said, Let us flee and draw them away from the city to the highways.


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And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place and set themselves in array at Baal-tamar and the ambush of Israel broke forth out of their place, even out of Maareh-geba   <n>{Plain of Geba}</n>.


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And there came opposite Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel and the battle was severe, but they did not know that evil was close upon them.


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<pb/>And Jehovah killed* Benjamin before Israel and the sons of Israel destroyed of Benjamin that day twenty-five thousand and a hundred men. All these drew the sword.


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So the sons of Benjamin saw that they were struck, for the men of Israel gave place to Benjamin because they trusted to the ambush whom they had set against Gibeah.


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And the ambush hastened and rushed upon Gibeah. And the ambush drew themselves along and killed* all the city with the edge of the sword.


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<pb/>Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the ambush was, that they should make a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city.


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And the men of Israel turned in the battle and Benjamin began to kill* and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons, for they said, Surely they are struck down before us as in the first battle.


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But when the cloud began to arise up out of the city in a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and behold, the whole of the city went up <i>in smoke</i> to heaven.


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<pb/>And the men of Israel turned and the men of Benjamin were dismayed, for they saw that evil had come upon them.


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Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel to the way of the wilderness. But the battle followed hard after them and those who came out of the cities destroyed them in the midst of it.


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They enclosed the Benjamites all around, <i>and</i> chased them, <i>and</i> trod them down at <i>their</i> resting-place, as far as opposite Gibeah toward the sunrise.


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And they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon. And they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men and followed hard after them to Gidom and killed* of them two thousand men.


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So that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword. All these <i>were</i> men of valor.


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<pb/>But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon and abode in the rock of Rimmon four months.


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And the men of Israel turned again upon the sons of Benjamin and killed* them with the edge of the sword, both the entire city and the cattle and all that they found. Moreover they set on fire all the cities which they found.


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<pb/>Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, There will not any of us give his daughter to Benjamin as a wife.


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And the people came to Bethel and sat there till evening before God and lifted up their voices and wept bitterly.


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And they said, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, why has this happen in Israel, that there should be today one tribe lacking in Israel?


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And it happened on the morrow, that the people rose early and built there an altar and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.


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<pb/>And the sons of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that did not come up in the assembly to Jehovah? For they had made a great oath concerning him who did not come up to Jehovah to Mizpah, saying, He will surely be put to death.


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And the sons of Israel regretted for Benjamin their brother and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.


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What will we do for wives for those who remain, since we have sworn by Jehovah that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?


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And they said, Which one is there of the tribes of Israel that did not come up to Jehovah to Mizpah? And behold, there came none to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly.


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For when the people were numbered, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead there.


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<pb/>And the congregation sent there twelve thousand men of the most valiant and commanded them, saying, Go and kill* the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the little ones.


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And this is the thing that you* will do: You* will utterly destroy every male and every woman that has lain by man.


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<pb/>And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young virgins who had not known man by lying with him and they brought them to the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.


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<pb/>And the whole congregation sent and spoke to the sons of Benjamin who were in the rock of Rimmon and proclaimed peace to them.


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And Benjamin returned at that time and they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead. And even so they were not sufficient for them.


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<pb/>Then the elders of the congregation said, What will we do for wives for those who remain, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?


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And they said, There must be an inheritance for those who are escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe is not blotted out from Israel.


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However we may not give them wives of our daughters, for the sons of Israel had sworn, saying, Cursed be he who gives a wife to Benjamin.


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<pb/>And they said, Behold, there is a feast of Jehovah from year to year in Shiloh, which is on the north of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem and on the south of Lebonah.


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and watch. And behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then come out of the vineyards and catch for you* every man his wife from the daughters of Shiloh and go to the land of Benjamin.


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<pb/>And it will be, when their fathers or their brothers come to complain to us, that we will say to them, Grant them graciously to us, because we did not take for each man <i>of them</i> his wife in battle, neither did you* give them to them, else you* would now be guilty.


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<pb/>And the sons of Benjamin did so and took for them wives, according to their number, of those who danced, whom they carried off. And they went and returned to their inheritance and built the cities and dwelt in them.


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And the sons of Israel departed from there at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family and they went out from there every man to his inheritance.


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<pb/>And it happened in the days when the judges judged, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to journey in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.


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And the name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. And they came into the country of Moab and continued there.


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And they took wives for them of the women of Moab. The name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth and they dwelt there about ten years.


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And Mahlon and Chilion died, both of them and the woman was left of her two children and of her husband.


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<pb/>Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab how that Jehovah had visited his people in giving them bread.


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And she went forth out of the place where she was and her two daughters-in-law with her and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.


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<pb/>And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each of you* to her mother's house. Jehovah deal kindly with you*, as you* have dealt with the dead and with me.


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Jehovah grant you* that you* may find rest, each of you* in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them and they lifted up their voices and wept.


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<pb/>And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters. Why will you* go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your* husbands?


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Turn again, my daughters. Go your* way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, I have hope. If I should even have a husband tonight and should also bear sons,


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would you* therefore delay till they were grown? Would you* therefore stay from having husbands? No, my daughters, for it grieves me much for your* sakes, for the hand of Jehovah has gone forth against me.


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<pb/>And they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.


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And she said, Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her god. Return after your sister-in-law.


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<pb/>And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave you and to return from following after you, for where you go, I will go and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people will be my people and your God my God.


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Where you die, I will die and there I will be buried. Jehovah do so to me and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.


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<pb/>So those two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they came to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them and <i>the women</i> said, Is this Naomi?


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And she said to them, Call me not Naomi. Call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.


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I went out full and Jehovah has brought me home again empty. Why do you* call me Naomi, seeing Jehovah has testified against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?


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<pb/>So Naomi returned and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned out of the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.


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<pb/>And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech and his name was Boaz.


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And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, Let me now go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I will find favor. And she said to her, Go, my daughter.


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And she went and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And her chance was to land on the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.


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<pb/>And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, Jehovah be with you*. And they answered him, Jehovah bless you.


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<pb/>And the servant who was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabite maiden who came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab.


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And she said, Let me glean, I beseech you* and gather behind the reapers among the sheaves. So she came and has continued even from the morning until now, except that she stayed a little in the house.


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<pb/>Then Boaz said to Ruth, Do you not hear, my daughter? Do not go to glean in another field, neither pass from here, but abide here close by my maidens.


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Let your eyes be on the field that they reap and go after them. Have I not charged the young men that they will not touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink of what the young men have drawn.


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<pb/>Then she fell on her face and bowed herself to the ground and said to him, Why have I found favor in your sight that you should take knowledge of me, seeing I am a foreigner?


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<pb/>And Boaz answered and said to her, It has been fully shown me all that you have done to your mother-in-law since the death of your husband and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your nativity and have come to a people that you did not know formerly.


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<pb/>Jehovah recompense your work and a full reward be given you of Jehovah, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.


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Then she said, Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, because you have comforted me and because you have spoken kindly to your handmaid, though I am not as one of your handmaidens.


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<pb/>And at mealtime Boaz said to her, Come here and eat of the bread and dip your morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers and they passed her parched grain and she ate and was satisfied and left of it.


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<pb/>And when she arose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves and do not reproach her.


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And also pull out some for her from the bundles and leave it and let her glean and do not rebuke her.


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So she gleaned in the field until evening. And she beat out what she had gleaned and it was about an ephah of barley.


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<pb/>And she took it up and went into the city and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. And she brought out and gave to her what she had left after she was satisfied.


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And her mother-in-law said to her, Where have you gleaned today? And where have you worked? He who took knowledge of you is blessed. And she showed her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, The man's name with whom I worked today is Boaz.


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<pb/>And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, He of Jehovah is blessed who has not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said to her, The man is near of kin to us, one of our near kinsmen.


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And Ruth the Moabitess said, Yes, he said to me, You will keep close by my young men until they have ended all my harvest.


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<pb/>And Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his maidens and that they not meet you in any other field.


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So she kept close by the maidens of Boaz, to glean to the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest. And she dwelt with her mother-in-law.


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<pb/>And Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?


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And now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens you were? Behold, he winnows barley tonight in the threshing-floor.


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Therefore wash yourself and anoint you and put your garments upon you and get you down to the threshing-floor. But do not make yourself known to the man until he will have done eating and drinking.


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<pb/>And it will be, when he lies down, that you will notice the place where he will lie. And you will go in and uncover his feet and lie you down. And he will tell you what you will do.


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<pb/>And she went down to the threshing-floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law commanded her.


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And when Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. And she came softly and uncovered his feet and laid down.


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<pb/>And it happened at midnight, that the man was startled and turned himself, and behold, a woman lay at his feet.


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And he said, Who are you? And she answered, I am Ruth your handmaid. Therefore spread your skirt over your handmaid, for you are a near kinsman.


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<pb/>And he said, You are blessed of Jehovah, my daughter. You have shown more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as you did not follow young men, whether poor or rich.


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And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do to you all that you say, for all the city of my people know that you are a worthy woman.


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Remain this night and it will be in the morning that if he will perform to you the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part. But if he will not do the part of a kinsman to you, then I will do the part of a kinsman to you, as Jehovah lives. Lie down until the morning.


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<pb/>And she lay at his feet until the morning. And she rose up before one could discern another. For he said, Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing-floor.


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And he said, Give me the cloak that is upon you and hold it. And she held it and he measured six <i>measures</i> of barley and laid it on her and he went into the city.


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<pb/>And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, Who are you, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.


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And she said, He gave me these six <i>measures</i> of barley, for he said, Do not go empty to your mother-in-law.


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Then she said, Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will fall, for the man will not rest until he has finished the thing this day.


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<pb/>Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the near kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by, to whom he said, Such man, stay, turn aside. Sit down here. And he turned aside and sat down.


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<pb/>And he said to the near kinsman, Naomi, who has come again out of the country of Moab, sells the parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's.


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And I thought to disclose it to you, saying, Buy it before those who sit here and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it, but if you will not redeem it, then tell me that I may know, for there is none to redeem it besides you and I am after you. And he said, I will redeem it.


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<pb/>Then Boaz said, That day you buy the field of the hand of Naomi, you must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.


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And the near kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself lest I mar my own inheritance. You take my right of redemption on you, for I cannot redeem it.


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<pb/>Now this was <i>the custom</i> in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning exchanging, to confirm all things: A man drew off his shoe and gave it to his neighbor. And this was the <i>manner of</i> attestation in Israel.


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<pb/>And Boaz said to the elders and to all the people, You* are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, from the hand of Naomi.


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Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, I have purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his place. You* are witnesses this day.


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<pb/>And all the people who were in the gate and the elders, said, We are witnesses. Jehovah make the woman that has come into your house like Rachel and like Leah, which two built the house of Israel and do you worthily in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem.


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And let your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, of the seed which Jehovah will give you by this young woman.


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<pb/>So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. And he went in to her and Jehovah gave her conception and she bore a son.


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And the women said to Naomi, Praise Jehovah, who has not left you this day without a near kinsman. And let his name be famous in Israel.


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And he will be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him.


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And the women, her neighbors, gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi. And they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.


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<pb/>Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill-country of Ephraim. And his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.


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And he had two wives: the name of the one was Hannah and the name of the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.


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<pb/>And this man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to Jehovah of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests to Jehovah, were there.


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<pb/>And when the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters, portions,


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And <i>as</i> he did so year by year when she went up to the house of Jehovah, so she provoked her. Therefore she wept and did not eat.


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And Elkanah her husband said to her, Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am not I better to you than ten sons?


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<pb/>So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest was sitting upon his seat by the door-post of the temple of Jehovah.


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<pb/>And she vowed a vow and said, O Jehovah of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your handmaid and remember me and not forget your handmaid, but will give to your handmaid a male-child, then I will give him to Jehovah all the days of his life and there will no razor come upon his head.


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Now Hannah, she spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.


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And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I poured out my soul before Jehovah.


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Count not your handmaid for a worthless woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation have I spoken until now.


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<pb/>Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him.


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And she said, Let your handmaid find favor in your sight. So the woman went her way and ate and her countenance was no more <i>sad</i>.


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<pb/>And they rose up in the morning early and worshiped before Jehovah and returned and came to their house to Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife and Jehovah remembered her.


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And it happened, when the time came about, that Hannah conceived and bore a son. And she called his name Samuel, <i>saying</i>, Because I have asked him of Jehovah.


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<pb/>And the man Elkanah and all his house, went up to offer to Jehovah the yearly sacrifice and his vow.


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But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, <i>Not</i> until the child be weaned and then I will bring him, that he may appear before Jehovah and abide there everlasting.


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And Elkanah her husband said to her, Do what seems good to you. Remain until you have weaned him, only Jehovah establish his word. So the woman remained and gave her son suck, until she weaned him.


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<pb/>And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks and one ephah of meal and a jug of wine and brought him to the house of Jehovah in Shiloh and the child was young.


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<pb/>And she said, Oh, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to Jehovah.


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Therefore also I have granted him to Jehovah; as long as he lives he is granted to Jehovah. And he worshiped Jehovah there.


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<pb/>And Hannah prayed and said, My heart rejoices in Jehovah. My heart is exalted in Jehovah. My mouth is enlarged over my enemies because I rejoice in your salvation.


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There is none holy as Jehovah, for there is none besides you, neither is there any rock like our God.


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<pb/>Talk no more so very proudly. Do not let arrogance come out of your* mouth, for Jehovah is a God of knowledge and by him actions are weighed.


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Those who were full have hired out themselves for bread and those who were hungry have ceased <i>to hunger</i>. Yes, the barren has borne seven and she who has many sons languishes.


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He raises up the poor out of the dust, he lifts up the needy from the dunghill, to make them sit with rulers and inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are Jehovah's and he has set the world upon them.


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He will keep the feet of his holy ones, but the wicked will be put to silence in darkness, for by strength no man will prevail.


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<pb/>Those who contend with Jehovah will be broken to pieces. He will thunder against them in heaven. Jehovah will judge the ends of the earth and he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.


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<pb/>And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house and the child ministered to Jehovah before Eli the priest.


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And the custom of the priests with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was boiling, with a fork of three teeth in his hand,


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and he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest took with it. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there.


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<pb/>And 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.


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And if the man said to him, They will surely burn the fat first and then take as much as your soul desires, then he would say, No, but you will give it to me now and if not, I will take it by force.


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<pb/>And the sin of the young men was very great before Jehovah, for the men despised the offering of Jehovah.


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Moreover his mother made him a little robe and brought it to him from year to year when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.


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And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife and said, Jehovah give you seed by this woman for the petition which was asked of Jehovah. And they went to their own home.


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<pb/>And Jehovah visited Hannah and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before Jehovah.


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<pb/>Now Eli was very old. And he heard all that his sons did to all Israel and how that they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tent of meeting.


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<pb/>And he said to them, Why do you* such things? For I hear of your* evil dealings from all this people.


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If one man sins against another, God will judge him, but if a man sins against Jehovah, who will entreat for him? Notwithstanding, they did not listen to the voice of their father, because Jehovah intended to kill them.


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<pb/>And there came a man of God to Eli and said to him, Jehovah says thus, Did I reveal myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt <i>in bondage</i> to Pharaoh's house?


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And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? And did I give to the house of your father all the offerings of the sons of Israel made by fire?


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<pb/>Why do you* kick at my sacrifice and at my offering, which I have commanded in <i>my</i> habitation and honor your sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chief of all the offerings of Israel my people?


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<pb/>Therefore Jehovah, the God of Israel, says, I said indeed that your house and the house of your father, should walk before me everlasting, but now Jehovah says, Be it far from me, for those who honor me I will honor and those who despise me will be lightly esteemed.


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<pb/>Behold, the days come, that I will cut off your arm and the arm of your father's house, that there will not be an old man in your house.


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And you will see an enemy <i>in my</i> habitation, in all that I will give Israel and there will not be an old man in your house forever.


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And the man of your, <i>whom</i> I will not cut off from my altar, will be to consume your eyes and to grieve your heart. And all the increase of your house will die in the flower of their age.


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<pb/>And this will be the sign to you, that will come upon your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: In one day they will die, both of them.


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And I will raise up for me a faithful priest who will do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build for him a sure house and he will walk before my anointed forever.


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<pb/>And it will happen, that everyone who is left in your house will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread and will say, I beseech you, put me into one of the priests' offices that I may eat a morsel of bread.


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<pb/>And the child Samuel served Jehovah before Eli. And the word of Jehovah was precious in those days; there was no frequent vision.


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<pb/>And it happened at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place (now his eyes had begun to grow dim so that he could not see),


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and the lamp of God was not yet gone out and Samuel was laid down in the temple of Jehovah where the ark of God was,


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<pb/>And he ran to Eli and said, Here I am, for you called me. And he said, I did not call. Lie down again. And he went and lay down.


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And Jehovah called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, Here I am, for you called me. And he answered, I did not call, my son. Lie down again.


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And Jehovah called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, Here I am, for you called me. And Eli perceived that Jehovah had called the child.


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<pb/>Therefore Eli said to Samuel, Go, lie down and it will be, if he calls you, that you will say, Speak, Jehovah, for your servant hears. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.


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And Jehovah came and stood and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel said, Speak, for your servant hears.


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<pb/>And Jehovah said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel at which both the ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.


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In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from the beginning even to the end.


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For I have told him that I will judge his house everlasting, for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse upon themselves and he did not restrain them.


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And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house will not be expiated with sacrifice nor offering everlasting.


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<pb/>And Samuel lay until the morning and opened the doors of the house of Jehovah. And Samuel was afraid to show Eli the vision.


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And he said, What is the thing that <i>Jehovah</i> has spoken to you? I beseech you, do not hide it from me. God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that he spoke to you.


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And Samuel told him every whit and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is Jehovah. Let him do what seems him good.


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And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of Jehovah.


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And Jehovah appeared again in Shiloh, for Jehovah revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of Jehovah.


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<pb/>And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle and encamped beside Ebenezer and the Philistines encamped in Aphek.


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And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel. And when they joined battle, Israel was struck before the Philistines; and they killed of the army in the field about four thousand men.


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<pb/>And when the people came into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Why has Jehovah struck us today before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of Jehovah out of Shiloh to us, that it may come among us and save us out of the hand of our enemies.


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<pb/>So the people sent to Shiloh and they brought from there the ark of the covenant of Jehovah of hosts, who sits <i>above</i> the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.


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And when the ark of the covenant of Jehovah came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.


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<pb/>And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What is the meaning of the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of Jehovah came into the camp.


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And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God has come into the camp. And they said, Woe to us! For there has not been such a thing yesterday and the day before.


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Woe to us! Who will deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods that killed* the Egyptians with all manner of plagues in the wilderness.


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<pb/>Be strong and strengthen yourselves like men, O you* Philistines, that you* are not servants to the Hebrews, as they have been to you*. Conduct yourselves like men and fight.


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And the Philistines fought and Israel was struck and they fled every man to his tent. And there was a very great slaughter, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.


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<pb/>And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn and with dirt upon his head.


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And when he came behold, Eli was sitting upon his seat by the wayside watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told it, all the city cried out.


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And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What does the noise of this tumult mean? And the man hastened and came and told Eli.


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And the man said to Eli, I am he who came out of the army and I fled today out of the army. And he said, How did the matter go, my son?


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And he who brought the news answered and said, Israel has fled before the Philistines and there has been also a great slaughter among the people. And your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead and the ark of God is taken.


text:
<pb/>And it happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that <i>Eli</i> fell from his seat backward by the side of the gate. And his neck broke and he died, for he was an old man and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.


text:
<pb/>And his daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered. And when she heard the news that the ark of God was taken and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and brought forth, for her pains came upon her.


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And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, Do not fear, for you have brought out a son. But she did not answer, neither did she regard it.


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And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory has departed from Israel, because the ark of God was taken and because of her father-in-law and her husband.


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And when those of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of Jehovah. And they took Dagon and set him in his place again.


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<pb/>And when they arose early on the morning of the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of Jehovah and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands <i>lay</i> cut off upon the threshold. Only <i>the stump of</i> Dagon was left to him.


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Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any who come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod, to this day.


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<pb/>But the hand of Jehovah was heavy upon them of Ashdod and he destroyed them and killed* them with tumors, even Ashdod and the borders of it.


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And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel will not abide with us, for his hand is hard upon us and upon Dagon our god.


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<pb/>They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them and said, What will we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about to Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel <i>there</i>.


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And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of Jehovah was against the city with a very great confusion. And he killed* the men of the city, both small and great and tumors broke out upon them.


text:
<pb/>So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it happened, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people.


text:
<pb/>They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and they said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel and let it go again to its own place, that it not kill us and our people. For there was a deadly confusion throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.


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<pb/>And the Philistines called for the priests and the psychics, saying, What will we do with the ark of Jehovah? Show us with what we will sent it to its place.


text:
And they said, If you* send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty, but by all means return for him a trespass offering. Then you* will be healed and it will be known to you* why his hand is not removed from you*.


text:
<pb/>Then they said, What will be the trespass offering which we will return to him? And they said, Five golden tumors and five golden mice, <i>according to</i> the number of the lords of the Philistines, for one plague was on you* all and on your* lords.


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Therefore you* will make images of your* tumors and images of your* mice that mar the land. And you* will give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps he will lighten his hand from you* and from your* gods and from your* land.


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<pb/>Why then do you* harden your* hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When he had worked wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go and they departed?


text:
Now therefore take and prepare for you* a new cart and two milk cows on which there has come no yoke. And tie the cows to the cart and bring their calves home from them.


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And take the ark of Jehovah and lay it upon the cart. And put the jewels of gold, which you* return to him for a trespass offering, in a coffer by the side of it and send it away, that it may go.


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<pb/>And watch. If it goes up by the way of its own border to Beth-shemesh, then he has done to us this great evil, but if not, then we will know that it is not his hand that killed* us; it was a chance that happened to us.


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<pb/>And the men did so and took two milk cows and tied them to the cart and shut up their calves at home.


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And they put the ark of Jehovah upon the cart and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their tumors.


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<pb/>And the cows took the straight way by the way to Beth-shemesh. They went along the highway, mooing as they went and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left. And the lords of the Philistines went behind them to the border of Beth-shemesh.


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<pb/>And those of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley. And they lifted up their eyes and saw the ark and rejoiced to see it.


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And the cart came into the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite and stood there where there was a great stone. And they split the wood of the cart and offered up the cows for a burnt offering to Jehovah.


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And the Levites took down the ark of Jehovah and the coffer that was with it, in which the jewels of gold were and put them on the great stone. And the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day to Jehovah.


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And these are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering to Jehovah: for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Ashkelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one.


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And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of un-walled towns, even to the great stone on which they set down the ark of Jehovah, <i>which stone remains</i> to this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite.


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<pb/>And he killed* of the men of Beth-shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of Jehovah. He killed* of the people fifty thousand and seventy men. And the people mourned, because Jehovah had struck the people with a great slaughter.


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<pb/>And the men of Beth-shemesh said, Who is able to stand before Jehovah, this holy God? And to whom will he go up from us?


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And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, The Philistines have brought back the ark of Jehovah. Come down and fetch it up to you*.


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<pb/>And the men of Kiriath-jearim came and fetched up the ark of Jehovah and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill and made Eleazar his son holy to keep the ark of Jehovah.


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And it happened, from the day that the ark abode in Kiriath-jearim, that the time was long, for it was twenty years and all the house of Israel lamented after Jehovah.


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<pb/>And Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, If you* do return to Jehovah with all your* heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you* and direct your* hearts to Jehovah and serve him only. And he will deliver you* out of the hand of the Philistines.


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Then the sons of Israel did put away the Baals   <n>{Baalim}</n>   and the Ashtaroth and served Jehovah only.


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And they gathered together to Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before Jehovah and fasted on that day and said there, We have sinned against Jehovah. And Samuel judged the sons of Israel in Mizpah.


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<pb/>And when the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel were gathered together to Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the sons of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.


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And the sons of Israel said to Samuel, Do not cease to cry to Jehovah our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.


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<pb/>And Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it for a whole burnt offering to Jehovah. And Samuel cried to Jehovah for Israel and Jehovah answered him.


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<pb/>And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel, but Jehovah thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines and confused them and they were struck down before Israel.


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And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and killed* them until they came under Beth-car.


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<pb/>Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Jehovah has helped us to now.


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So the Philistines were subdued and they came no more within the border of Israel and the hand of Jehovah was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.


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And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath. And Israel delivered the border of it out of the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.


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And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel and Gilgal and Mizpah. And he judged Israel in all those places.


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And his return was to Ramah, for his house was there. And there he judged Israel and there he built an altar to Jehovah.


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Now the name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second, Abijah. They were judges in Beer-sheba.


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And his sons did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice.


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And they said to him, Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make for us a king to judge us like all the nations.


text:
<pb/>But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed to Jehovah.


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<pb/>And Jehovah said to Samuel, Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, that I should not be king over them.


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<pb/>According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, in that they have forsaken me and served other gods, so do they also to you.


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<pb/>Now therefore listen to their voice. However you will protest solemnly to them and will show them the manner of the king who will reign over them.


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And he said, This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you*: he will take your* sons and appoint them to him for his chariots and to be his horsemen and they will run before his chariots.


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And he will appoint them to him for captains of thousands and captains of fifties. And <i>he will set some</i> to plow his ground and to reap his harvest and to make his instruments of war and the instruments of his chariots.


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And he will take your* fields and your* vineyards and your* olive-groves, even the best of them and give them to his servants.


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<pb/>And he will take the tenth of your* seed and of your* vineyards and give to his officers and to his servants.


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And he will take your* men-servants and your* maid-servants and your* finest young men and your* donkeys and put them to his work.


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<pb/>And you* will cry out in that day because of your* king whom you* will have chosen you* and Jehovah will not answer you* in that day.


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<pb/>But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel. And they said, No, but we will have a king over us


text:
that we also may be like all the nations and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.


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And Jehovah said to Samuel, Listen to their voice and make for them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel, Go every man to his city.


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<pb/>Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor.


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And he had a son whose name was Saul, a young man and fine looking. And there was not among the sons of Israel a man better looking than he. From his shoulders and upward he was taller than any of the people.


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<pb/>And the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with you and arise, go seek the donkeys.


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And he passed through the hill-country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim and they were not there. And he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them.


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<pb/>When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, Come and let us return, lest my father leave off caring for the donkeys and be anxious for us.


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And he said to him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God and he is a man who is held in honor. All that he says occurs. Now let us go there, perhaps he can tell us concerning our journey on which we go.


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<pb/>Then Saul said to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what will we bring the man? For the bread is spent in our vessels and there is not a present to bring to the man of God. What have we?


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And the servant answered Saul again and said, Behold, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver. I will give that to the man of God, to tell us our way.


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(Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he said, Come and let us go to the seer, for he who is now called a Prophet was formerly called a Seer.)


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<pb/>Then Saul said to his servant, Well said. Come, let us go. So they went to the city where the man of God was.


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As they went up the ascent to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water and said to them, Is the seer here?


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And they answered them and said, He is. Behold, <i>he is</i> before you. Make haste now, for he has come today into the city, for the people have a sacrifice today in the high place.


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<pb/>As soon as you* have come into the city, you* will immediately find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people will not eat until he comes, because he graces the sacrifice, <i>and</i> afterwards those who are bidden eat. Therefore now you* get up, for at this time you* will find him.


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And they went up to the city. <i>And</i> as they came within the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them, to go up to the high place.


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Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin and you will anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. And he will save my people out of the hand of the Philistines, for I have looked upon my people, because their cry has come to me.


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And when Samuel saw Saul, Jehovah said to him, Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! This man will have authority over my people.


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<pb/>Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate and said, I beseech you, tell me where the seer's house is.


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And Samuel answered Saul and said, I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you* will eat with me today. And in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart.


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And as for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they are found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father's house?


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And Saul answered and said, Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me according to this manner?


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<pb/>And Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the guest-chamber and made them sit in the chief place among those who were bidden, who were about thirty men.


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<pb/>And Samuel said to the cook, Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, Set it by you.


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And the cook took up the thigh and what was upon it and set it before Saul. And <i>Samuel</i> said, Behold, what has been reserved! Set it before you and eat, because it has been kept for you to the appointed time, for I said, I have invited the people. So Saul ate with Samuel that day.


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<pb/>And they arose early. And it happened about the dawning of the day, that Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, saying, Up, that I may send you away. And Saul arose and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.


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<pb/>As they were going down at the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us (and he passed on), but stand still first, that I may cause you to hear the word of God.


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<pb/>Then Samuel took the vial of oil and poured it upon his head and kissed him and said, Is it not that Jehovah has anointed you to be prince over his inheritance?


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<pb/>When you have departed from me today, then you will find two men by Rachel's sepulcher in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah. And they will say to you, The donkeys which you went to seek are found, and behold, your father has left off caring for the donkeys and is anxious for you*, saying, What shall I do for my son?


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<pb/>Then you will go on forward from there and you will come to the oak of Tabor. And there will meet you there three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids and another carrying three loaves of bread and another carrying a jug of wine.


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<pb/>After that you will come to the hill of God where is the garrison of the Philistines. And it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery and a timbrel and a pipe and a harp, before them and they will be prophesying.


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<pb/>And the Spirit of Jehovah will come mightily upon you and you will prophesy with them and will be turned into another man.


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<pb/>And let it be, when these signs have come to you, that you do as occasion will serve you, for God is with you.


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And you will go down before me to Gilgal. And behold, I will come down to you, to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings. You will abide seven days till I come to you and show you what you will do.


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<pb/>And it was so, that, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all those signs happened that day.


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And when they came there to the hill, behold, a band of prophets met him. And the Spirit of God came mightily upon him and he prophesied among them.


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<pb/>And it happened, when all who knew him formerly saw, that, behold, he prophesied with the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that has come to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?


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And a man from the same place answered and said, And who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?


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And Saul's uncle said to him and to his servant, Where did you* go? And he said, To seek the donkeys and when we saw that they were not found, we came to Samuel.


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And Saul said to his uncle, He told us plainly that the donkeys were found. But concerning the matter of the kingdom, of which Samuel spoke, he did not tell him.


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And he said to the sons of Israel, Jehovah says thus, the God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt and I delivered you* out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all the kingdoms that oppressed you*,


text:
but you* have this day rejected your* God who himself saves you* out of all your* calamities and your* distresses and you* have said to him, No, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before Jehovah by your* tribes and by your* thousands.


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And he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by their families and the family of the Matrites   <n>{Martri}</n>   was taken and Saul the son of Kish was taken. But when they sought him, he could not be found.


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<pb/>Therefore they asked of Jehovah further, Is there yet a man to come here? And Jehovah answered, Behold, he has hid himself among the baggage.


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And they ran and fetched him from there. And when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.


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<pb/>And Samuel said to all the people, See him whom Jehovah has chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted and said, Live, O king!


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<pb/>Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom and wrote it in a book and laid it up before Jehovah. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.


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And Saul also went to his house to Gibeah and mighty men went with him, whose hearts God had touched.


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<pb/>But certain worthless fellows said, How will this man save us? And they despised him and brought him no present. But he held his peace.


text:
<pb/>Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh-gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Make a covenant with us and we will serve you.


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And Nahash the Ammonite said to them, On this condition will I make it with you*, that all your* right eyes be put out and I will lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.


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<pb/>And the elders of Jabesh said to him, Give us seven days' respite that we may send messengers to all the borders of Israel and then, if there is none to save us, we will come out to you.


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Then the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and spoke these words in the ears of the people. And all the people lifted up their voice and wept.


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<pb/>And behold, Saul came following the oxen out of the field and Saul said, What troubles the people that they weep? And they told him the words of the men of Jabesh.


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And the Spirit of God came mightily upon Saul when he heard those words and his anger was greatly kindled.


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<pb/>And he took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, Whoever does not come out behind Saul and behind Samuel, so it will be done to his oxen. And the dread of Jehovah fell on the people and they came out as one man.


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And he numbered them in Bezek and the sons of Israel were three hundred thousand and the men of Judah thirty thousand.


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<pb/>And they said to the messengers who came, Thus you* will say to the men of Jabesh-gilead, Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you* will have deliverance. And the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh and they were glad.


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Therefore the men of Jabesh said, Tomorrow we will come out to you* and you* will do with us all that seems good to you*.


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<pb/>And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies. And they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch and killed* the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And it happened, that those who remained were scattered so that not two of them were left together.


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<pb/>And the people said to Samuel, Who is he who said, Shall Saul reign over us? Bring the men that we may put them to death.


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And Saul said, There will not a man be put to death this day, for today Jehovah has worked deliverance in Israel.


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And all the people went to Gilgal. And there they made Saul king before Jehovah in Gilgal and there they offered sacrifices of peace offerings before Jehovah and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.


text:
<pb/>And Samuel said to all Israel, Behold, I have listened to your* voice in all that you* said to me and have made a king over you*.


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And now, behold, the king walks before you*. And I am old and gray headed, and behold, my sons are with you*. And I have walked before you* from my youth to this day.


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<pb/>Here I am. Witness against me before Jehovah and before his anointed: Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or of whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? And I will restore it to you*.


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<pb/>And they said, You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither have you taken anything of any man's hand.


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And he said to them, Jehovah is witness against you* and his anointed is witness this day, that you* have not found anything in my hand. And they said, He is witness.


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<pb/>And Samuel said to the people, It is Jehovah who appointed Moses and Aaron and who brought your* fathers up out of the land of Egypt.


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Now therefore stand still that I may plead with you* before Jehovah concerning all the righteous acts of Jehovah, which he did to you* and to your* fathers.


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<pb/>When Jacob had come into Egypt and your* fathers cried to Jehovah, then Jehovah sent Moses and Aaron who brought out your* fathers out of Egypt and made them to dwell in this place.


text:
<pb/>But they forgot Jehovah their God and he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the army of Hazor and into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the king of Moab and they fought against them.


text:
And they cried to Jehovah and said, We have sinned because we have forsaken Jehovah and have served the Baals   <n>{Baalim}</n>   and the Ashtaroth, but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies and we will serve you.


text:
<pb/>And Jehovah sent Jerubbaal and Bedan and Jephthah and Samuel and delivered you* out of the hand of your* enemies on every side and you* dwelt in safety.


text:
<pb/>And when you* saw that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon came against you*, you* said to me, No, but a king will reign over us, when Jehovah your* God was your* king.


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<pb/>Now therefore behold the king whom you* have chosen and whom you* have asked for. And behold, Jehovah has set a king over you*.


text:
If you* will fear Jehovah and serve him and listen to his voice and not rebel against the commandment of Jehovah, then both you* and also the king who reigns over you* will be followers of Jehovah your* God.


text:
But if you* will not listen to the voice of Jehovah, but rebel against the commandment of Jehovah, then the hand of Jehovah will be against you* as it was against your* fathers.


text:
Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call to Jehovah that he may send thunder and rain and you* will know and see that your* wickedness is great, which you* have done in the sight of Jehovah in asking a king for you*.


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<pb/>So Samuel called to Jehovah and Jehovah sent thunder and rain that day. And all the people greatly feared Jehovah and Samuel.


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And all the people said to Samuel, Pray for your servants to Jehovah your God that we not die, for we have added to all our sins <i>this</i> evil, to ask a king for us.


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<pb/>And Samuel said to the people, Do not fear. You* have indeed done all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following Jehovah, but serve Jehovah with all your* heart.


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<pb/>For Jehovah will not forsake his people for his great name's sake, because it has pleased Jehovah to make you* a people to himself.


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Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Jehovah in ceasing to pray for you*. But I will instruct you* in the good and the right way.


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<pb/>Only fear Jehovah and serve him in truth with all your* heart, for consider what great things he has done for you*.


text:
Saul chose for him three thousand men of Israel, of which two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.


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<pb/>And Jonathan killed* the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.


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And all Israel heard say that Saul had struck the garrison of the Philistines and also that Israel was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were gathered together after Saul to Gilgal.


text:
<pb/>And the Philistines assembled themselves together to fight with Israel: thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen and people as the sand which is on the sea-shore in multitude. And they came up and encamped in Michmash, eastward of Beth-aven.


text:
<pb/>When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were distressed), then the people hid themselves in caves and in thickets and in rocks and in coverts and in pits.


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<pb/>Now some of the Hebrews had gone over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead, but as for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal and all the people followed him trembling.


text:
And he stayed seven days, according to the set time that Samuel <i>had appointed</i>, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal and the people were scattered from him.


text:
And Saul said, Bring here the burnt offering to me and the peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.


text:
<pb/>And it happened that, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.


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<pb/>And Samuel said, What have you done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me and that you did not come within the days appointed and that the Philistines assembled themselves together at Michmash,


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therefore I said, Now the Philistines will come down upon me to Gilgal and I have not entreated the favor of Jehovah. I forced myself therefore and offered the burnt offering.


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<pb/>And Samuel said to Saul, You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of Jehovah your God, which he commanded you. For now Jehovah would have established your kingdom upon Israel until everlasting,


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but now your kingdom will not continue. Jehovah has sought for him a man after his own heart and Jehovah has appointed him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what Jehovah commanded you.


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<pb/>And Samuel arose and got up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men.


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And Saul and Jonathan his son and the people that were present with them, abode in Geba of Benjamin, but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.


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<pb/>And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies. One company turned to the way that leads to Ophrah, to the land of Shual,


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and another company turned the way to Beth-horon and another company turned the way of the border that looks down upon the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.


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<pb/>Now there was no blacksmith found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make for them swords or spears,


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but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen every man his share and his coulter and his axe and his mattock.


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Yet they had a file for the mattocks and for the coulters and for the pitchforks and for the axes and to set the cattle-prods.


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<pb/>So it happened in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan. But with Saul and with Jonathan his son there was found.


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<pb/>Now it fell upon a day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, Come and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison that is on yonder side. But he did not tell his father.


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<pb/>And Saul abode in the outermost part of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree which is in Migron. And the people who were with him were about six hundred men,


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and Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of Jehovah in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.


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<pb/>And between the passes by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines' garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side and a rocky crag on the other side. And the name of the one was Bozez and the name of the other Seneh.


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<pb/>And Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, Come and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that Jehovah will work for us, for there is no limitation to Jehovah to save by many or by few.


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And his armor bearer said to him, Do all that is in your heart. Turn <i>and</i> behold, I am with you according to your heart.


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<pb/>Then Jonathan said, Behold, we will pass over to the men and we will disclose ourselves to them.


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If they say thus to us, Abide until we come to you*, then we will stand still in our place and will not go up to them.


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But if they say thus, Come up to us, then we will go up, for Jehovah has delivered them into our hand and this will be the sign to us.


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<pb/>And both of them disclosed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.


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And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor bearer and said, Come up to us and we will show you* a thing. And Jonathan said to his armor bearer, Come up after me, for Jehovah has delivered them into the hand of Israel.


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<pb/>And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet and his armor bearer after him. And they fell before Jonathan and his armor bearer killed them after him.


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<pb/>And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor bearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were half a furrow's length in an acre of land.


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And there was a trembling in the camp, in the field and among all the people. The garrison and the spoilers, they also trembled. And the earth quaked, so there was an exceedingly great trembling.


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And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude melted away and they went <i>here</i> and there.


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<pb/>Then Saul said to the people who were with him, Number now and see who has gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.


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And Saul said to Ahijah, Bring here the ark of God. For the ark of God was <i>there</i> at that time with the sons of Israel.


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<pb/>And it happened, while Saul talked to the priest, that the tumult that was in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased. And Saul said to the priest, Withdraw your hand.


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And Saul and all the people who were with him were gathered together and came to the battle. And behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, <i>and there was</i> a very great confusion.


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<pb/>Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines as formerly and who went up with them into the camp, <i>from the country</i> all around, even they also <i>turned</i> to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.


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Likewise all the men of Israel who had hid themselves in the hill-country of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed close after them in the battle.


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<pb/>And the men of Israel were distressed that day, for Saul had put the people under an oath, saying, Cursed be the man who eats any food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies. So none of the people tasted food.


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And when the people came to the forest, behold, the honey dropped, but no man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.


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<pb/>But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath, therefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth and his eyes were enlightened.


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Then one of the people answered and said, Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man who eats food this day and the people were faint.


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<pb/>Then Jonathan said, My father has troubled the land. See, I beseech you*, how my eyes have been enlightened because I tasted a little of this honey.


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How much more, if perhaps the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found? For now there has been no great slaughter among the Philistines.


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<pb/>And they killed* of the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very faint,


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and the people flew upon the spoil and took sheep and oxen and calves and killed them on the ground. And the people ate them with the blood.


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Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against Jehovah, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, you* have dealt treacherously. Roll a great stone to me this day.


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<pb/>And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, Bring me here every man his ox and every man his sheep and kill them here and eat. And do not sin against Jehovah in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night and killed them there.


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<pb/>And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night and take spoil among them until the morning light and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatever seems good to you. Then the priest said, Let us draw near here to God.


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And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he did not answer him that day.


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<pb/>And Saul said, Draw near here, all you* chiefs of the people and know and see how this sin has been this day.


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For, as Jehovah lives, who saves Israel, though it is in Jonathan my son, he will surely die. But there was not a man among all the people who answered him.


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Then he said to all Israel, Be you* on one side and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said to Saul, Do what seems good to you.


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<pb/>Therefore Saul said to Jehovah, the God of Israel, Show the right. And Jonathan and Saul were taken <i>by lot</i>, but the people escaped.


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<pb/>Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what you have done. And Jonathan told him and said, I did certainly taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand. And behold, I must die.


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<pb/>And the people said to Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it. As Jehovah lives, there will not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he did not die.


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<pb/>Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab and against the sons of Ammon and against Edom and against the kings of Zobah and against the Philistines. And wherever he turned himself, he put <i>them</i> to the worse.


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And he did valiantly and killed* the Amalekites and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who despoiled them.


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<pb/>Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan and Ishvi and Malchi-shua. And the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn Merab and the name of the younger Michal.


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And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the captain of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.


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<pb/>And there was great war against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any mighty man, or any valiant man, he took him to him.


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<pb/>And Samuel said to Saul, Jehovah sent me to anoint you to be king over his people, over Israel. Now therefore listen you to the voice of the words of Jehovah.


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Jehovah of hosts says thus, I have remembered what Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him in the way when he came up out of Egypt.


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<pb/>Now go and kill* Amalek and utterly destroy all that they have and spare them not, but kill both man and woman, infant and nursing-baby, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.


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And Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen and ten thousand men of Judah.


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And Saul said to the Kenites, Go, depart, you* get down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you* with them, for you* showed kindness to all the sons of Israel when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.


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And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.


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But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the seconds and the lambs and all that was good and would not utterly destroy them. But everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.


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I regret that I have set up Saul to be king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments. And Samuel was angry and he cried out to Jehovah all night.


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And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning and it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up for him a monument and turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal.


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<pb/>And Samuel came to Saul. And Saul said to him, You are blessed of Jehovah. I have performed the commandment of Jehovah.


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And Samuel said, What then means this voice of the sheep in my ears and the voice of the oxen which I hear?


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<pb/>And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to Jehovah your God and the rest we have utterly destroyed.


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<pb/>Then Samuel said to Saul, Stop and I will tell you what Jehovah has said to me this night. And he said to him, Say on.


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<pb/>And Samuel said, Though you were little in your own sight, were you not made the head of the tribes of Israel? And Jehovah anointed you king over Israel.


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And Jehovah sent you on a journey and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites and fight against them until they are consumed.


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<pb/>Why then did you not obey the voice of Jehovah, but did fly upon the spoil and did what was evil in the sight of Jehovah?


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<pb/>And Saul said to Samuel, Yes, I have obeyed the voice of Jehovah and have gone the way which Jehovah sent me and have brought Agag the king of Amalek and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.


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But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the devoted things, to sacrifice to Jehovah your God in Gilgal.


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<pb/>And Samuel said, Has Jehovah as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Jehovah? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice and to listen than the fat of rams.


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For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as idolatry and household-idol. Because you have rejected the word of Jehovah, he has also rejected you from being king.


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<pb/>And Saul said to Samuel, I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of Jehovah and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.


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And Samuel said to Saul, I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of Jehovah and Jehovah has rejected you from being king over Israel.


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<pb/>And as Samuel turned about to go away, <i>Saul</i> laid hold upon the skirt of his robe and it tore.


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And Samuel said to him, Jehovah has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of your, who is better than you.


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<pb/>Then he said, I have sinned. I beseech you, yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel and turn again with me, that I may worship Jehovah your God.


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Then Samuel said, Bring here to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came to him cheerfully. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.


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<pb/>And Samuel said, As your sword has made women childless, so will your mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before Jehovah in Gilgal.


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And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death, for Samuel mourned for Saul and Jehovah regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.


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<pb/>And Jehovah said to Samuel, How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for me a king among his sons.


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<pb/>And Samuel said, How do I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me. And Jehovah said, Take a heifer with you and say, I have come to sacrifice to Jehovah.


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And call Jesse to the sacrifice and I will show you what you will do. And you will anoint for me he whom I name to you.


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<pb/>And Samuel did what Jehovah spoke and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, Do you come peaceably?


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And he said, Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to Jehovah. Sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice. And he made Jesse and his sons holy and called them to the sacrifice.


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<pb/>And it happened, when they came, that he looked on Eliab and said, Surely Jehovah's anointed is before him.


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But Jehovah said to Samuel, Do not look on his countenance, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For <i>Jehovah sees</i> not as man sees, for man looks on the outward appearance, but Jehovah looks on the heart.


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<pb/>Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither has Jehovah chosen this man.


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And Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, Jehovah has not chosen these men.


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<pb/>And Samuel said to Jesse, Are all your sons here? And he said, There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is keeping the sheep. And Samuel said to Jesse, Send and fetch him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.


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<pb/>And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and of a beautiful countenance and fine to look upon. And Jehovah said, Arise, anoint him, for this is he.


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Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.


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Let our lord now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. And it will happen, when the evil spirit from God is upon you, that he will play with his hand and you will be well.


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Then one of the young men answered and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skillful in playing and a mighty man of valor and a man of war and prudent in speech and a handsome man and Jehovah is with him.


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<pb/>Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, Send to me David your son, who is with the sheep.


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And Jesse took a donkey with bread and a skin-container of wine and a kid and sent them by David his son to Saul.


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And David came to Saul and stood before him. And he loved him greatly and he became his armor bearer.


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And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, I beseech you, let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.


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<pb/>And it happened, when the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took the harp and played with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well and the evil spirit departed from him.


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<pb/>Now the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle. And they were gathered together at Socoh, which belongs to Judah and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.


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And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together and encamped in the vale of Elah and arranged for battle against the Philistines.


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And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side and there was a valley between them.


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<pb/>And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.


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And he had a helmet of brass upon his head and he was clad with a coat of mail. And the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.


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And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam and his spear's head <i>weighed</i> six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him.


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<pb/>And he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel and said to them, Why have you* come out to set your* battle in array? Am I not a Philistine and you* servants to Saul? Choose you* a man for you* and let him come down to me.


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If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your* servants, but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you* will be our servants and serve us.


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<pb/>And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.


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And when Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.


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<pb/>Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, whose name was Jesse. And he had eight sons and the man was an old man in the days of Saul, stricken <i>in years</i> among men.


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And the three eldest sons of Jesse had gone after Saul to the battle. And the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn and next to him Abinadab and the third Shammah.


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And Jesse said to David his son, Take now for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain and these ten loaves and carry <i>them</i> quickly to the camp to your brothers.


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And bring these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand. And look how your brothers fare and take their pledge.


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<pb/>Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.


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And David rose up early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the place of the wagons as the army which was going forth to the fight shouted for the battle.


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<pb/>And David left his baggage in the hand of the keeper of the baggage and ran to the army and came and saluted his brothers.


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And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the ranks of the Philistines and spoke according to the same words and David heard them.


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<pb/>And the men of Israel said, Have you* seen this man who has come up? Surely to defy Israel he has come up. And it will be, that the man who kills him, the king will enrich him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel.


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<pb/>And David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, What will be done to the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?


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And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So it will be done to the man that kills him.


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<pb/>And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab's anger was kindled against David and he said, Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the mischief of your heart, for you have come down that you might see the battle.


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And he turned away from him toward another and spoke after the same manner and the people answered him again after the former manner.


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<pb/>And when the words were heard which David spoke, they repeated them before Saul and he sent for him.


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And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.


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And Saul said to David, You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth and he a man of war from his youth.


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<pb/>And David said to Saul, Your servant was keeping his father's sheep and when there came a lion, or a bear and took a lamb out of the flock,


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I went out after him and killed* him and delivered it out of his mouth. And when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and killed* him and killed him.


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Your servant killed* both the lion and the bear and this uncircumcised Philistine will be as one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.


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<pb/>And David said, Jehovah who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Go and Jehovah will be with you.


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<pb/>And Saul clad David with his apparel and he put a helmet of brass upon his head and he clad him with a coat of mail.


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And David girded his sword upon his apparel and he attempted to go, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them. And David put them off of him.


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<pb/>And he took his staff in his hand and chose for him five smooth stones out of the brook and put them in the shepherd's bag which he had, even in his wallet. And his sling was in his hand and he drew near to the Philistine.


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<pb/>And the Philistine came on and drew near to David and the man who bore the shield went before him.


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And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth and ruddy and of a fair countenance.


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<pb/>And the Philistine said to David, Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.


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And the Philistine said to David, Come to me and I will give your flesh to the birds of the heavens and to the beasts of the field.


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<pb/>Then David said to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of Jehovah of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.


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<pb/>This day Jehovah will deliver you into my hand and I will kill* you and take your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the armies of the Philistines this day to the birds of the heavens and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,


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and that all this assembly may know that Jehovah saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is Jehovah's and he will give you* into our hand.


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<pb/>And it happened, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hastened and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.


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And David put his hand in his bag and took from there a stone and slung it and killed* the Philistine in his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead and he fell upon his face to the earth.


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<pb/>So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone and killed* the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David.


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<pb/>Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of the sheath of it and killed him and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.


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<pb/>And the men of Israel and of Judah arose and shouted and pursued the Philistines until you come to Gai and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim   <n>{Sharaim}</n>, even to Gath and to Ekron.


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<pb/>And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.


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<pb/>And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the captain of the army, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As your soul lives, O king, I cannot tell.


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<pb/>And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.


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And Saul said to him, Whose son are you, young man? And David answered, I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.


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<pb/>And it happened, when he had made an end of speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.


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And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him and gave it to David and his apparel, even to his sword and to his bow and to his belt.


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<pb/>And David went out wherever Saul sent him, <i>and</i> behaved himself wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war and it was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.


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<pb/>And it happened as they came, when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with timbrels, with joy and with instruments of music.


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And the women sang one to another as they played and said, Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands.


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<pb/>And Saul was very angry and this saying displeased him and he said, They have bestowed to David ten thousands and to me they have bestowed but thousands and what can he have more but the kingdom?


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<pb/>And it happened on the morrow, that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul and he prophesied in the midst of the house. And David played with his hand, as he did day by day and Saul had his spear in his hand.


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And Saul cast the spear, for he said, I will kill* David even to the wall. And David turned away from his presence twice.


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Therefore Saul removed him from him and made him his captain over a thousand and he went out and came in before the people.


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<pb/>And Saul said to David, Behold, my elder daughter Merab, I will give her to you for a wife. Only be valiant for me and fight Jehovah's battles. For Saul said, Do not let my hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.


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And David said to Saul, Who am I and what is my life, <i>or</i> my father's family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?


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<pb/>But it happened at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.


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And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Therefore Saul said to David, You will this day be my son-in-law a second time.


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<pb/>And Saul commanded his servants, <i>saying</i>, Speak with David secretly and say, Behold, the king has delight in you and all his servants love you. Now therefore be the king's son-in-law.


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And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, Does it seem to you* a light thing to be the king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?


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And Saul said, Thus you* will say to David, The king does not desire any wedding-money, but a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.


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<pb/>And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law. And the days were not expired.


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And David arose and went, he and his men and killed of the Philistines two hundred men. And David brought their foreskins and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might be the king's son-in-law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter as a wife.


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<pb/>Then the rulers of the Philistines went forth and it happened, as often as they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was very precious.


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<pb/>And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David.


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And Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeks to kill you. Now therefore, I beseech you, take heed to yourself in the morning and abide in a secret place and hide yourself.


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And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are and I will speak with my father of you and if I see anything, I will tell you.


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<pb/>And Jonathan spoke good of David to Saul his father and said to him, Do not let the king sin against his servant, against David, because he has not sinned against you and because his works have been very good toward you.


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For he put his life in his hand and killed* the Philistine and Jehovah worked a great victory for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a cause?


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<pb/>And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan. And Saul swore, As Jehovah lives, he will not be put to death.


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And Jonathan called David and Jonathan showed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul and he was in his presence as formerly.


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<pb/>And there was war again. And David went out and fought with the Philistines and killed them with a great slaughter and they fled before him.


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And an evil spirit from Jehovah was upon Saul as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand and David was playing with his hand.


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And Saul sought to kill* David even to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away out of Saul's presence and he killed* the spear into the wall. And David fled and escaped that night.


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<pb/>And Saul sent messengers to David's house, to watch him and to kill him in the morning. And Michal, David's wife, told him, saying, If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be slain.


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<pb/>And Michal took the household-idol and laid it in the bed and put a pillow of goats' <i>hair</i> at the head of it and covered it with the clothes.


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And Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.


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<pb/>And when the messengers came in, behold, the household-idol was in the bed, with the pillow of goats' <i>hair</i> at the head of it.


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And Saul said to Michal, Why have you deceived me thus and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said to me, Let me go. Why should I kill you?


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<pb/>Now David fled and escaped and came to Samuel to Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.


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<pb/>And Saul sent messengers to take David. And when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul and they also prophesied.


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And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers and they also prophesied. And Saul sent messengers again the third time and they also prophesied.


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<pb/>Then he also went to Ramah and came to the great well that is in Secu. And he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah.


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<pb/>And he went there to Naioth in Ramah and the Spirit of God came upon him also and he went on and prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah.


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And he also stripped off his clothes and he also prophesied before Samuel and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?


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<pb/>And David fled from Naioth in Ramah and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? What is my iniquity and what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?


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And he said to him, Far from it. You will not die. Behold, my father does nothing either great or small, but that he discloses it to me and why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so.


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<pb/>And David swore moreover and said, Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes and he says, Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he is grieved. But truly as Jehovah lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.


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<pb/>And David said to Jonathan, Behold, tomorrow is the new moon and I should not fail to sit with the king to eat. But let me go that I may hide myself in the field to the third day at evening.


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If your father misses me at all, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city, for it is the yearly sacrifice there for all the family.


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If he says thus, It is well. Your servant will have peace. But if he is angry, then know that evil is determined by him.


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<pb/>Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of Jehovah with you. But if there is in me iniquity, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?


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<pb/>And Jonathan said, Far be it from you, for if I should at all know that evil were determined by my father to come upon you, then would I not tell it to you?


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And Jonathan said to David, Come and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field.


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<pb/>And Jonathan said to David, Jehovah, the God of Israel, when I have searched out my father about this time tomorrow, <i>or</i> the third day, behold, if there is good toward David, shall I not then send to you and disclose it to you?


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Jehovah do so to Jonathan and more also, should it please my father to do you evil, if I not disclose it to you and send you away that you may go in peace. And Jehovah be with you as he has been with my father.


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<pb/>And you will not only show me the loving kindness of Jehovah, while I yet live, that I not die,


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but also you will not cut off your kindness from my house until everlasting. No, not when Jehovah has cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.


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<pb/>So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, <i>saying</i>, And Jehovah will require it at the hand of David's enemies.


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And Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had to him. For he loved him as he loved his own soul.


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<pb/>Then Jonathan said to him, Tomorrow is the new moon and you will be missed because your seat will be empty.


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And when you have stayed three days, you will go down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself when the business was in hand and will remain by the stone Ezel.


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<pb/>And behold, I will send the lad, <i>saying</i>, Go, find the arrows. If I say to the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of you, take them and come, for there is peace to you and no hurt, as Jehovah lives.


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But if I say thus to the boy, Behold, the arrows are beyond you, go your way, for Jehovah has sent you away.


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And concerning the matter which you and I have spoken of, behold, Jehovah is between you and me until everlasting.


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And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon the seat by the wall and Jonathan stood up and Abner sat by Saul's side, but David's place was empty.


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Nevertheless Saul spoke nothing that day, for he thought, Something has befallen him. He is not clean. Surely he is not clean.


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<pb/>And it happened on the morrow after the new moon, <i>which</i> was the second <i>day</i>, that David's place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, Why has the son of Jesse not come in to the food, neither yesterday, nor today?


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And he said, I beseech you, let me go because our family has a sacrifice in the city and my brother, he has commanded me. And now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away, I beseech you and see my brothers. Therefore he has not come to the king's table.


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<pb/>Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan and he said to him, You son of a perverse rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of your mother's nakedness?


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For as long as the son of Jesse lives upon the ground, you will not be established, nor your kingdom. Therefore now send and fetch him to me, for he will surely die.


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<pb/>And Jonathan answered Saul his father and said to him, Why should he be put to death? What has he done?


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And Saul cast his spear at him to kill* him. By this Jonathan knew that it was determined by his father to put David to death.


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<pb/>So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David because his father had done him shame.


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<pb/>And it happened in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David and a little lad with him.


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And he said to his lad, Run, now find the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.


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And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad and said, Is not the arrow beyond you?


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<pb/>And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows and came to his master.


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<pb/>And as soon as the lad had gone, David arose out of <i>a place</i> toward the South and fell on his face to the ground and bowed himself three times. And they kissed each other and wept one with another until David surpassed <i>him</i>.


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And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, inasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of Jehovah, saying, Jehovah will be between me and you and between my seed and your seed, until everlasting. And he arose and departed and Jonathan went into the city.


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<pb/>Then David came to Nob to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech came to meet David trembling and said to him, Why are you alone and no man with you?


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And David said to Ahimelech the priest, The king has commanded me a business and has said to me, Let no man know anything of the business about which I send you and what I have commanded you and I have assigned the young men to such and such a place.


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Now therefore what is under your hand? Give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or whatever there is present.


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<pb/>And the priest answered David and said, There is no common bread under my hand, but there is holy bread. If only the young men have kept themselves from women.


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And David answered the priest and said to him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days. When I came out the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was but a common journey. How much more then today will their vessels be holy?


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<pb/>So the priest gave him holy <i>bread</i>, for there was no bread there but the showbread that was taken from before Jehovah to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.


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<pb/>Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before Jehovah. And his name was Doeg the Edomite, the foremost of the herdsmen who belonged to Saul.


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<pb/>And David said to Ahimelech, And is there not here under your hand spear or sword? For I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.


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And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the vale of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is no other except that here. And David said, There is none like that. Give it to me.


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And the servants of Achish said to him, Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands?


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<pb/>And he changed his behavior before them and pretend to be mad in their hands and scrabbled on the doors of the gate and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.


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Then Achish said to his servants, Behold, you* see the man is mad. Why then have you* brought him to me?


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Do I lack madmen, that you* have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?


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<pb/>David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him.


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And every man who was in distress and every man who was in debt and every man who was discontented, gathered themselves to him and he became captain over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.


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<pb/>And David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab and he said to the king of Moab, I beseech you, let my father and my mother come forth, <i>and be</i> with you*, till I know what God will do for me.


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And he brought them before the king of Moab and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the stronghold.


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<pb/>And the prophet Gad said to David, Do not abide in the stronghold. Depart and get you into the land of Judah. Then David departed and came into the forest of Hereth.


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<pb/>And Saul heard that David was discovered and the men who were with him. Now Saul was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree in Ramah with his spear in his hand and all his servants were standing about him.


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<pb/>And Saul said to his servants who stood about him, Hear now, you* Benjamites. Will the son of Jesse give every one of you* fields and vineyards? Will he make you* all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds,


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that all of you* have conspired against me and there is none who discloses to me when my son makes a league with the son of Jesse? And there is none of you* who is sorry for me, or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day.


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<pb/>Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.


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And he inquired of Jehovah for him and gave him food and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.


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Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub and all his father's house, the priests who were in Nob. And they came to the king, all of them.


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And Saul said to him, Why have you* conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me to lie in wait as at this day?


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<pb/>Then Ahimelech answered the king and said, And who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law and is taken into your council and is honorable in your house?


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Have I today begun to inquire of God for him? Be it far from me. Do not let the king impute anything to his servant, nor to all the house of my father, for your servant knows nothing of all this, less or more.


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And the king said to the guard who stood about him, Turn and kill the priests of Jehovah, because their hand also is with David and because they knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of Jehovah.


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<pb/>And the king said to Doeg, Turn and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned and he fell upon the priests and he killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore a linen ephod.


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And Nob, the city of the priests, he killed* with the edge of the sword, both men and women, sons and nursing-babes and oxen and donkeys and sheep, with the edge of the sword.


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<pb/>And one of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David.


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And David said to Abiathar, I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have occasioned <i>the death</i> of all the persons of your father's house.


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Abide with me. Do not fear, for he who seeks my life seeks your life, for with me you will be in safeguard.


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<pb/>And they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing-floors.


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Therefore David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go and kill* these Philistines? And Jehovah said to David, Go and kill* the Philistines and save Keilah.


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<pb/>And David's men said to him, Behold, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?


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Then David inquired of Jehovah yet again. And Jehovah answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.


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<pb/>And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines and brought away their cattle and killed them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.


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<pb/>And it happened, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.


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And it was told Saul that David came to Keilah. And Saul said, God has delivered him into my hand, for he is shut in by entering into a town that has gates and bars.


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And David knew that Saul was devising mischief against him and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring here the ephod.


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<pb/>Then said David, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake.


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Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? Will Saul come down as your servant has heard? O Jehovah, the God of Israel, I beseech you, tell your servant. And Jehovah said, He will come down.


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Then David said, Will the men of Keilah deliver up me and my men into the hand of Saul? And Jehovah said, They will deliver you up.


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<pb/>Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah and went wherever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah and he ceased to go forth.


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<pb/>And David abode in the wilderness in the strongholds and remained in the hill-country in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand.


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And David saw that Saul came out to seek his life and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in the forest.


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<pb/>And Jonathan, Saul's son, arose and went to David into the forest and strengthened his hand in God.


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And he said to him, Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father will not find you. And you will be king over Israel and I will be next to you. And that, Saul my father also knows.


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And those two made a covenant before Jehovah. And David abode in the forest and Jonathan went to his house.


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<pb/>Then the Ziphites came up to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Does not David hide himself with us in the strongholds in the forest, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of the desert?


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Now therefore, O king, come down, according to all the desire of your soul to come down and our part will be to deliver him up into the king's hand.


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Go, I beseech you*, make yet more sure and know and see his place where his haunt is, <i>and</i> who has seen him there, for it is told me that he deals very shrewdly.


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<pb/>See therefore and take knowledge of all the lurking-places where he hides himself and come you* again to me of a certainty. And I will go with you* and it will happen, if he is in the land, that I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.


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<pb/>And they arose and went to Ziph before Saul, but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah on the south of the desert.


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And Saul and his men went to seek him. And they told David. Therefore he came down to the rock and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard <i>that</i>, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.


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<pb/>And Saul went on this side of the mountain and David and his men on that side of the mountain. And David made haste to get away for fear of Saul. For Saul and his men encompassed David and his men all around to take them.


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<pb/>But there came a messenger to Saul, saying, You hasten and come, for the Philistines have made a raid upon the land.


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So Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth   <n>{Cliff of Division}</n>.


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<pb/>And it happened, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.


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Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.


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<pb/>And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where was a cave and Saul went in to cover his feet. Now David and his men were abiding in the innermost parts of the cave.


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And the men of David said to him, Behold, the day of which Jehovah said to you, Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand and you will do to him as it will seem good to you. Then David arose and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe secretly.


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<pb/>And it happened afterward, that David's heart killed* him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.


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And he said to his men, Jehovah forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, Jehovah's anointed, to put forth my hand against him, since he is Jehovah's anointed.


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So David restrained his men with these words and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul rose up out of the cave and went on his way.


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<pb/>David also arose afterward and went out of the cave and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and <i>then</i> bowed-down.


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Behold, this day your eyes have seen how that Jehovah had delivered you today into my hand in the cave. And some commanded me kill you, but <i>I</i> spared you. And I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord, for he is Jehovah's anointed.


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<pb/>Moreover, my father, see, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand, for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe and killed you not. Know and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand and I have not sinned against you, though you hunt after my life to take it.


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<pb/>Jehovah judge between me and you and Jehovah avenge me of you, but my hand will not be upon you.


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As says the proverb of the ancients, Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness, but my hand will not be upon you.


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After whom is the King of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog, after a flea.


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Jehovah therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you and see and plead my cause and deliver me out of your hand.


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<pb/>And it happened, when David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, Is this your voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.


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And he said to David, You are more righteous than I, for you have rendered to me good, and I have rendered to you evil.


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And you have declared this day how that you have dealt well with me, inasmuch as when Jehovah had delivered me up into your hand, you killed me not.


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For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away well? Therefore Jehovah reward you good for what you have done to me this day.


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<pb/>And now, behold, I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.


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Swear now therefore to me by Jehovah, that you will not cut off my seed after me and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house.


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<pb/>And Samuel died. And all Israel gathered themselves together and lamented him and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose and went down to the wilderness of Paran.


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And there was a man in Maon whose possessions were in Carmel. And the man was very great <i>in goods</i> and he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. And he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.


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<pb/>Now the name of the man was Nabal and the name of his wife Abigail. And the woman was of good understanding and of a beautiful countenance, but the man was cruel and evil in his practices and he was of the house of Caleb.


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And David sent ten young men and David said to the young men, You* get up to Carmel and go to Nabal and greet him in my name.


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And thus you* will say to him who lives <i>in prosperity</i>, Peace be to you and peace be to your house and peace be to all that you have.


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<pb/>And now I have heard that you have shearers. Your shepherds have now been with us and we did them no hurt, neither was there anything missing to them all the while they were in Carmel.


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Ask your young men and they will tell you. Therefore let the young men find favor in your eyes, for we come in a good day. I beseech you, give whatever comes to your hand to your servants and to your son David.


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<pb/>And when David's young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David and ceased.


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And Nabal answered David's servants and said, Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants now-a-days who break away every man from his master.


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Shall I then take my bread and my water and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers and give it to men of whom I do not know from where they are?


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So David's young men turned on their way and went back and came and told him according to all these words.


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<pb/>And David said to his men, Gird you* on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword and David also girded on his sword. And there went up after David about four hundred men and two hundred abode by the baggage.


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<pb/>But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master and he railed at them.


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But the men were very good to us and we were not hurt, neither did we miss anything as long as we went with them when we were in the fields.


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<pb/>Now therefore know and consider what you will do, for evil is determined against our master and against all his house. For he is such a worthless fellow that <i>a man</i> cannot speak to him.


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<pb/>Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves and two jugs of wine and five sheep ready dressed and five measures of parched grain and a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs and laid them on donkeys.


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And she said to her young men, Go on before me, behold, I come after you*. But she did not tell her husband Nabal.


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And it was so, as she rode on her donkey and came down by the covert of the mountain, that, behold, David and his men came down toward her and she met them.


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<pb/>Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow has in the wilderness so that nothing was missed of all that pertained to him and he has returned me evil for good.


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God do so to the enemies of David and more also, if I leave of all that pertains to him by the morning light so much as one who urinates on the wall   <n>{i.e. a male}</n>.


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<pb/>And when Abigail saw David, she hastened and alighted from her donkey and fell before David on her face and bowed herself to the ground.


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And she fell at his feet and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me be the iniquity and I beseech you, let your handmaid speak in your ears and hear the words of your handmaid.


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I beseech you, do not let my lord regard this worthless fellow, even Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name and senselessness is with him. But I your handmaid saw not the young men of my lord whom you sent.


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<pb/>Now therefore, my lord, as Jehovah lives and as your soul lives, since Jehovah has withheld you from blood guiltiness and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now therefore let your enemies and those who seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.


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And now this present which your servant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord.


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<pb/>I beseech you, forgive the trespass of your handmaid. For Jehovah will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord fights the battles of Jehovah and evil will not be found in you all your days.


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And though men have risen up to pursue you and to seek your soul, yet the soul of my lord will be bound in the bundle of life with Jehovah your God. And the souls of your enemies, them he will sling out as from the hollow of a sling.


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<pb/>And it will happen, when Jehovah will have done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you and will have appointed you prince over Israel,


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that this will be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. And when Jehovah will have dealt well with my lord, then remember your handmaid.


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<pb/>And David said to Abigail, Praise Jehovah, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me,


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and your discretion is blessed and you are blessed, who have kept me this day from blood guiltiness and from avenging myself with my own hand.


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For in very deed, as Jehovah, the God of Israel, lives, who has withheld me from hurting you, unless you had hastened and come to meet me, surely there had not been left to Nabal by the morning light <i>so much as</i> one who urinates on the wall   <n>{i.e. a male}</n>.


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<pb/>So David received from her hand what she had brought him. And he said to her, Go up in peace to your house. See, I have listened to your voice and have accepted your person.


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<pb/>And Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he held a feast in his house like the feast of a king. And Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk. Therefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.


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<pb/>And it happened in the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, that his wife told him these things and his heart died within him and he became as a stone.


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<pb/>And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Praise Jehovah, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal and has kept back his servant from evil and Jehovah has returned the evil-doing of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and spoke concerning Abigail, to take her to him as a wife.


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<pb/>And when the servants of David came to Abigail to Carmel, they spoke to her, saying, David has sent us to you, to take you to him as a wife.


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And she arose and bowed herself with her face to the earth and said, Behold, your handmaid is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.


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<pb/>And Abigail hastened and arose and rode upon a donkey, with five of her maidens who followed her. And she went after the messengers of David and became his wife.


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<pb/>Now Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim.


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<pb/>And the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, Does not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert?


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Then Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.


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And Saul encamped in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert by the way. But David abode in the wilderness and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.


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And David arose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David beheld the place where Saul lay and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his army. And Saul lay within the place of the wagons and the people were encamped around about him.


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<pb/>Then David answered and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with you.


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<pb/>So David and Abishai came to the people by night. And behold, Saul lay sleeping within the place of the wagons with his spear stuck in the ground at his head and Abner and the people lay all around him.


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Then said Abishai to David, God has delivered up your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, I beseech you, let me kill* him with the spear to the earth at one stroke and I will not kill* him the second time.


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<pb/>And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not, for who can put forth his hand against Jehovah's anointed and be guiltless?


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And David said, As Jehovah lives, Jehovah will kill* him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish.


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Jehovah forbid that I should put forth my hand against Jehovah's anointed. But now I beseech you, take the spear that is at his head and the jar of water and let us go.


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<pb/>So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul's head and they got away. And no man saw it, nor knew it, neither did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from Jehovah was fallen upon them.


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Then David went over to the other side and stood on the top of the mountain afar off, a great space being between them.


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<pb/>And David cried out to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answer you not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who are you that cries to the king?


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And David said to Abner, Are not you a <i>valiant</i> man? And who is like to you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For there came one of the people in to destroy the king your lord.


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<pb/>This thing is not good that you have done. As Jehovah lives, you* are worthy to die because you* have not kept watch over your* lord, Jehovah's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is and the jar of water that was at his head.


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<pb/>And Saul knew David's voice and said, Is this your voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.


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And he said, Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand?


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<pb/>Now therefore, I beseech you, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is Jehovah who has stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering, but if it is the sons of men, cursed be they before Jehovah. For they have driven me out this day that I should not cling to the inheritance of Jehovah, saying, Go, serve other gods.


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<pb/>Now therefore, do not let my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of Jehovah. For the King of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when <i>a man</i> hunts a partridge in the mountains.


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<pb/>Then Saul said, I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have played the fool and have erred exceedingly.


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<pb/>And David answered and said, Behold the spear, O king! Let then one of the young men come over and fetch it.


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And Jehovah will render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness, inasmuch as Jehovah delivered you into my hand today and I would not put forth my hand against Jehovah's anointed.


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And behold, as your life was much set by this day in my eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of Jehovah and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.


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<pb/>Then Saul said to David, You are blessed, my son David. You will both do mightily and will surely prevail. So David went his way and Saul returned to his place.


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<pb/>And David said in his heart, I will now perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape into the land of the Philistines and Saul will despair of me, to seek me any more in all the borders of Israel, so I will escape out of his hand.


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<pb/>And David arose and passed over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath.


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And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.


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<pb/>And David said to Achish, If now I have found favor in your eyes, let them give me a place in one of the cities in the country that I may dwell there, for why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?


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And the number of the days that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.


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<pb/>And David and his men went up and made a raid upon the Geshurites and the Girzites and the Amalekites, for those <i>nations</i> were the inhabitants of the land, who were of old as you go to Shur, even to the land of Egypt.


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<pb/>And David killed* the land and saved neither man nor woman alive and took away the sheep and the oxen and the donkeys and the camels and the apparel and he returned and came to Achish.


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<pb/>And Achish said, Against whom have you* made a raid today? And David said, Against the South of Judah and against the South of the Jerahmeelites and against the South of the Kenites.


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And David saved neither man nor woman alive to bring them to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell of us, saying, So did David and so has been his manner all the while he has dwelt in the country of the Philistines.


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<pb/>And Achish believed David, saying, He has made his people Israel utterly to abhor him. Therefore he will be my servant everlasting.


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<pb/>And it happened in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare to fight with Israel. And Achish said to David, Know assuredly, that you will go out with me in the army, you and your men.


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And David said to Achish, Therefore you will know what your servant will do. And Achish said to David, Therefore I will make you my chief bodyguard forever.


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<pb/>Now Samuel was dead and all Israel had lamented him and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those who had familiar spirits and the wizards, out of the land.


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<pb/>And the Philistines gathered themselves together and came and encamped in Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel together and they encamped in Gilboa.


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And when Saul inquired of Jehovah, Jehovah answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.


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<pb/>Then Saul said to his servants, Seek me a woman who has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman who has a familiar spirit at En-dor.


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<pb/>And Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night and he said, I beseech you, divine to me, by the familiar spirit and bring me up whomever I will name to you.


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<pb/>And the woman said to him, Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off those who have familiar spirits and the wizards, out of the land. Why then do you lay a snare for my life, to cause me to die?


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<pb/>And Saul swore to her by Jehovah, saying, As Jehovah lives, there will no punishment happen to you for this thing.


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<pb/>And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul.


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<pb/>And the king said to her, Do not be afraid, for what do you see? And the woman said to Saul, I see a god coming up out of the earth.


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And he said to her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man comes up and he is covered with a robe. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel and he bowed with his face to the ground and then bowed-down.


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<pb/>And Samuel said to Saul, Why have you shaken me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am greatly distressed, for the Philistines make war against me and God is departed from me and answers me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I will do.


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<pb/>And Samuel said, Why then do you ask of me, since Jehovah departed from you and has become your adversary?


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And Jehovah has done to you, as he spoke by me. And Jehovah has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, even to David.


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Because you obeyed not the voice of Jehovah and did not execute his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore Jehovah has done this thing to you this day.


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<pb/>Moreover Jehovah will deliver Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. Jehovah will also deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.


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<pb/>Then Saul fell immediately his full length upon the earth and was greatly afraid because of the words of Samuel and there was no strength in him, for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.


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<pb/>And the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly troubled and said to him, Behold, your handmaid has listened to your voice and I have put my life in my hand and have listened to your words which you spoke to me.


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Now therefore, I beseech you, listen you also to the voice of your handmaid and let me set a morsel of bread before you and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.


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<pb/>But he refused and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, constrained him and he listened to their voice. So he arose from the ground and sat upon the bed.


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And the woman had a fatted calf in the house. And she hastened and killed it and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it.


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And she brought it before Saul and before his servants and they ate. Then they rose up and went away that night.


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<pb/>Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek and the Israelites encamped by the fountain which is in Jezreel.


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And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds and by thousands and David and his men passed on in the rearward with Achish.


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<pb/>Then the rulers of the Philistines said, What <i>are</i> these Hebrews? And Achish said to the rulers of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the King of Israel, who has been with me these days, or <i>rather</i> these years and I have found no fault in him since he fell away <i>to me</i> to this day?


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<pb/>But the rulers of the Philistines were angry with him. And the rulers of the Philistines said to him, Make the man return, that he may go back to his place where you have appointed him and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For with what does this <i>man</i> reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of these men?


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Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands?


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<pb/>Then Achish called David and said to him, As Jehovah lives, you have been upright and your going out and your coming in with me in the army is good in my sight, for I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless the lords do not favor you.


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<pb/>And David said to Achish, But what have I done? And what have you found in your servant so long as I have been before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?


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And Achish answered and said to David, I know that you are good in my sight, as a messenger of God, notwithstanding the rulers of the Philistines have said, He will not go up with us to the battle.


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<pb/>Therefore now rise up early in the morning with the servants of your lord who have come with you and as soon as you* are up early in the morning and have light, depart.


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<pb/>So David rose up early, he and his men, to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.


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<pb/>And it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid upon the South and upon Ziklag and had struck Ziklag and burned it with fire,


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and had taken captive the women <i>and all</i> that were in it, both small and great. They did not kill any, but carried them off and went their way.


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<pb/>And when David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire. And their wives and their sons and their daughters, were taken captive.


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<pb/>Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.


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And David's two wives were taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.


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<pb/>And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters. But David strengthened himself in Jehovah his God.


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<pb/>And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, I beseech you, bring me here the ephod. And Abiathar brought there the ephod to David.


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And David inquired of Jehovah, saying, If I pursue after this troop, shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue, for you will surely overtake <i>them</i> and will without fail recover <i>all</i>.


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<pb/>So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him and came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed.


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But David pursued, he and four hundred men, for two hundred stayed behind, who were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor.


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<pb/>And they found an Egyptian in the field and brought him to David and gave him bread. And he ate and they gave him water to drink.


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And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. And when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him, for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights.


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<pb/>And David said to him, To whom do you belong? And from where are you? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite. And my master left me because three days ago I fell sick.


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We made a raid upon the South of the Cherethites and upon what belongs to Judah and upon the South of Caleb and we burned Ziklag with fire.


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<pb/>And David said to him, Will you bring me down to this troop? And he said, Swear to me by God, that you will neither kill me, nor deliver me up into the hands of my master and I will bring you down to this troop.


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<pb/>And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad over all the ground, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines and out of the land of Judah.


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<pb/>And David killed* them from the twilight even to the evening of the next day. And there escaped not a man of them, except four hundred young men who rode upon camels and fled.


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And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor anything that they had taken to them; David brought back all.


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<pb/>And David took all the flocks and the herds, <i>which</i> they drove before those <i>other</i> cattle and said, This is David's spoil.


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And David came to the two hundred men, who were so faint that they could not follow David, whom also they had made to abide at the brook Besor. And they went forth to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near to the people, he saluted them.


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<pb/>Then answered all the wicked men and worthless fellows of those who went with David and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them anything of the spoil that we have recovered except to every man his wife and his children that he may lead them away and depart.


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<pb/>Then David said, You* will not do so, my brothers, with what Jehovah has given to us, who has preserved us and delivered the troop that came against us into our hand.


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And who will listen to you* in this matter? For as his share is who goes down to the battle so will his share be who remains by the baggage; they will share alike.


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And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.


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<pb/>And when David came to Ziklag, he sent from the spoil to the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold, a present for you* from the spoil of the enemies of Jehovah:


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to those who were in Bethel and to those who were in Ramoth of the South and to those who were in Jattir,


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and to those who were in Racal and to those who were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites and to those who were in the cities of the Kenites,


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and to those who were in Hebron and to all the places where David himself and his men were accustomed to frequent.


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<pb/>Now the Philistines fought against Israel. And the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines and fell down slain in Mount Gilboa.


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<pb/>And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons and the Philistines killed Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi shua, the sons of Saul.


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And the battle went severely against Saul and the archers overtook him and he was greatly distressed because of the archers.


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<pb/>Then Saul said to his armor bearer, Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through and abuse me. But his armor bearer would not, for he was very afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword and fell upon it.


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<pb/>And when his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell upon his sword and died with him.


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<pb/>And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those who were beyond the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities and fled. And the Philistines came and dwelt in them.


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And it happened on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in Mount Gilboa.


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<pb/>And they cut off his head and stripped off his armor and sent into the land of the Philistines all around to carry the news to the house of their idols and to the people.


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And they put his armor in the house of the Ashtaroth and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan.


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<pb/>And when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard concerning him, what the Philistines had done to Saul,


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all the valiant men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan and they came to Jabesh and burnt them there.


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<pb/>And it happened after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites and David had abode two days in Ziklag,


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it happened on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes torn and earth upon his head. And so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the ground and bowed-down.


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<pb/>And David said to him, From where did you come? And he said to him, I escaped out of the camp of Israel.


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And David said to him, How did the matter go? I beseech you, tell me. And he answered, The people are fled from the battle and many of the people also are fallen and dead and Saul and Jonathan his son are also dead.


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And David said to the young man who told him, How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?


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<pb/>And the young man who told him said, As I happened by chance upon Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning upon his spear, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen followed close after him.


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And he said to me, I beseech you, stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has taken hold of me, because my life is yet whole in me.


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<pb/>So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he was fallen. And I took the crown that was upon his head and the bracelet that was on his arm and have brought them here to my lord.


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And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening, for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of Jehovah and for the house of Israel, because they were fallen by the sword.


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<pb/>And David said to the young man who told him, From where are you? And he answered, I am the son of a traveler, an Amalekite.


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And David said to him, Why were you not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy Jehovah's anointed?


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And David called one of the young men and said, Go near and fall upon him. And he killed* him so that he died.


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And David said to him, Your blood be upon your head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, I have slain Jehovah's anointed.


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(and he commanded them teach the sons of Judah <i>the song of</i> the bow; behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):


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Do not tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.


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You* mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew nor rain upon you*, neither fields of offerings, for there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.


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<pb/>From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back and the sword of Saul returned not empty.


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Saul and Jonathan, men who were loved and pleasant, undivided; handsome in their lives and undivided in their death; swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.


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<pb/>You* daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you* delicately in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold upon your* apparel.


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<pb/>I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, exceeding the love of women.


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<pb/>And it happened after this, that David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And Jehovah said to him, Go up. And David said, Where shall I go up? And he said, To Hebron.


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So David went up there and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.


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And David brought up his men who were with him, every man with his household and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.


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<pb/>And the men of Judah came and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, The men of Jabesh-gilead were those who buried Saul.


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<pb/>And David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, You* are blessed of Jehovah, that you* have shown this kindness to your* lord, even to Saul and have buried him.


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And now Jehovah show loving kindness and truth to you*. And I also will reward you* this kindness because you* have done this thing.


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<pb/>Now therefore let your* hands be strong and be you* valiant, for Saul your* lord is dead and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.


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<pb/>Now Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's army, had taken Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.


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And he made him king over Gilead and over the Ashurites and over Jezreel and over Ephraim and over Benjamin and over all Israel.


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<pb/>Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.


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<pb/>And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.


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<pb/>And Abner the son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.


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And Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David, went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. And they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool.


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<pb/>And Abner said to Joab, I beseech you, let the young men arise and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.


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Then they arose and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin and for Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and twelve of the servants of David.


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<pb/>And each man caught his fellow by the head and <i>thrust</i> his sword in his fellow's side, so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim   <n>{Field of Sword Edges}</n>, which is in Gibeon.


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And the battle was very severe that day. And Abner was beaten and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.


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<pb/>And the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab and Abishai and Asahel. And Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.


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And Asahel pursued after Abner and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.


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<pb/>And Abner said to him, Turn aside to your right hand or to your left and lay hold on one of the young men and take his armor. But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.


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And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn aside from following me. Why should I kill* you to the ground? How then would I hold up my face to Joab your brother?


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<pb/>However he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear killed* him in the body, so that the spear came out behind him. And he fell down there and died in the same place. And it happened, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.


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<pb/>But Joab and Abishai pursued after Abner. And the sun went down when they came to the hill of Ammah that lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.


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And the sons of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner and became one band and stood on the top of a hill.


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<pb/>Then Abner called to Joab and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? Do you not know that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long will it be then, before you bid the people return from following their brothers?


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And Joab said, As God lives unless you had spoken, surely then in the morning the people would have gone up every man from following his brother.


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So Joab blew the trumpet. And all the people stood still and pursued after Israel no more, neither did they fight any more.


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<pb/>And Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah   <n>{Or: waste land}</n>   and they passed over the Jordan and went through all Bithron   <n>{Or: the ravine}</n>   and came to Mahanaim.


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<pb/>And Joab returned from following Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel.


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But the servants of David had struck of Benjamin and of Abner's men, <i>so that</i> three hundred and sixty men died.


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<pb/>And they took up Asahel and buried him in the sepulcher of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night and the day broke upon them at Hebron.


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<pb/>Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.


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<pb/>And sons were born to David in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess,


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and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur,


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<pb/>And it happened, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong in the house of Saul.


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<pb/>Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And <i>Ish-bosheth</i> said to Abner, Why have you gone in to my father's concubine?


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<pb/>Then Abner was very angry for the words of Ish-bosheth and said, Am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah? This day I show kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers and to his friends and have not delivered you into the hand of David and yet you charge me this day with a fault concerning this woman.


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to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba.


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<pb/>And Abner sent messengers to David in his place, saying, Whose is the land? <i>And</i> saying, Make your league with me, and behold, my hand will be with you to bring about all Israel to you.


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<pb/>And he said, Well! I will make a league with you, but one thing I require of you. That is, you will not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see my face.


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<pb/>And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, saying, Deliver to me my wife Michal whom I betrothed to me for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.


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And her husband went with her, weeping as he went and followed her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, Go, return and he returned.


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<pb/>And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, In times past you* sought for David to be king over you*.


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Now then do it, for Jehovah has spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines and out of the hand of all their enemies.


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And Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin. And Abner also went to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.


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<pb/>So Abner came to David to Hebron and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men who were with him a feast.


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And Abner said to David, I will arise and go and will gather all Israel to my lord the king that they may make a covenant with you and that you may reign over all that your soul desires. And David sent Abner away and he went in peace.


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And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a foray and brought in a great spoil with them, but Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away and he had gone in peace.


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<pb/>When Joab and all the army that was with him came, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king and he has sent him away and he has gone in peace.


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<pb/>Then Joab came to the king and said, What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away and he has gone?


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You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you and to know your going out and your coming in and to know all that you do.


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<pb/>And when Joab came out from David, he sent messengers after Abner and they brought him back from the well of Sirah, but David knew it not.


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And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly and killed* him there in the body, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.


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<pb/>And afterward, when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before Jehovah until everlasting of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.


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Let it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father's house. And let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.


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So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.


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<pb/>And David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, Tear your* clothes and gird yourselves with sackcloth and mourn before Abner. And king David followed the funeral.


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And they buried Abner in Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner and all the people wept.


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Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put into fetters. As a man falls before the sons of iniquity, so did you fall. And all the people wept again over him.


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<pb/>And all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day, but David swore, saying, God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread, or anything else, till the sun is down.


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<pb/>And all the people took notice of it and it pleased them, as whatever the king did pleased all the people.


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So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to kill Abner the son of Ner.


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And the king said to his servants, Do you* not know that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?


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And I am this day weak, though anointed king and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. Jehovah reward the evildoer according to his wickedness.


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<pb/>And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands became feeble and all the Israelites were troubled.


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<pb/>And Saul's son had two men who were captains of bands. The name of the one was Baanah and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the sons of Benjamin, for Beeroth also is reckoned to Benjamin.


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<pb/>Now Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel and his nurse took him up and fled. And it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.


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<pb/>And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish-bosheth, as he took his rest at noon.


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And they came there into the midst of the house as though they would have fetched wheat and they killed* him in the body. And Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.


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<pb/>Now when they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bedroom, they killed* him and killed him and beheaded him and took his head and went by the way of the Arabah all night.


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<pb/>And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David to Hebron and said to the king, Behold, the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life. And Jehovah has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and of his seed.


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<pb/>And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite and said to them, As Jehovah lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity,


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when he who told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good news, I took hold of him and killed him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news.


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<pb/>How much more, when evil men have slain a righteous man in his own house upon his bed, shall I not now require his blood of your* hand and take you* away from the earth?


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<pb/>And David commanded his young men and they killed them and cut off their hands and their feet and hanged them up beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron.


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<pb/>Then all the tribes of Israel came to David to Hebron and spoke, saying, Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.


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In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And Jehovah said to you, You will be shepherd of my people Israel and you will be prince over Israel.


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<pb/>So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron. And king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Jehovah and they anointed David king over Israel.


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In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.


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<pb/>And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, Unless you take away the blind and the lame, you will not come in here, thinking, David cannot come in here.


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<pb/>And David said on that day, Whoever slays the Jebusites, let him get up to the watercourse and <i>kill</i>* the lame and the blind, the hated by David's soul, because the blind and the lame say, He cannot come into the house.


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<pb/>And David dwelt in the stronghold and called it the city of David. And David built all around from Millo and inward.


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<pb/>And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David and cedar trees and carpenters and masons and they built David a house.


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And David perceived that Jehovah had established him king over Israel and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.


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<pb/>And David took for him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.


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And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua and Shobab and Nathan and Solomon,


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<pb/>And when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David. And David heard of it and went down to the stronghold.


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<pb/>And David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hand? And Jehovah said to David, Go up, for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into your hand.


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<pb/>And David came to Baal-perazim and David killed* them there. And he said, Jehovah has broken my enemies before me, like the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim.


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And when David inquired of Jehovah, he said, You will not go up. Make a circuit behind them and come upon them opposite the mulberry trees.


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And it will be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then you will move yourself, for then Jehovah has gone out before you to kill* the army of the Philistines.


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<pb/>And David did so, as Jehovah commanded him and killed* the Philistines from Geba until you come to Gezer.


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And David arose and went with all the people who were with him, from Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, even the name of Jehovah of hosts who sits <i>above</i> the cherubim.


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<pb/>And they set the ark of God upon a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.


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And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, with the ark of God and Ahio went before the ark.


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<pb/>And David and all the house of Israel played before Jehovah with all manner of <i>instruments of</i> fir-wood and with harps and with psalteries and with timbrels and with castanets and with cymbals.


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<pb/>And when they came to the threshing-floor of Nacon, Uzzah put forth to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.


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And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Uzzah and God killed* him there for his error and he died there by the ark of God.


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<pb/>And David was displeased, because Jehovah had broken forth upon Uzzah. And he called that place Perez-uzzah, to this day.


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<pb/>So David would not remove the ark of Jehovah to him into the city of David, but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.


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And the ark of Jehovah remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months and Jehovah blessed Obed-edom and all his house.


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<pb/>And it was told king David, saying, Jehovah has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that pertains to him, because of the ark of God. And David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with joy.


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And it was so, that, when those who bore the ark of Jehovah had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatten <i>sheep</i>.


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So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of Jehovah with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.


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<pb/>And it was so, as the ark of Jehovah came into the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window and saw king David leaping and dancing before Jehovah and she despised him in her heart.


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<pb/>And they brought in the ark of Jehovah and set it in its place, in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Jehovah.


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And when David had made an end of offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Jehovah of hosts.


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<pb/>And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, both to men and women, to every one a cake of bread and a portion <i>of flesh</i> and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed every one to his house.


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<pb/>Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, How glorious was the King of Israel today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!


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<pb/>And David said to Michal, <i>It was</i> before Jehovah, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of Jehovah, over Israel. Therefore I will play before Jehovah.


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And I will be yet more vile than this and will be humble in my own sight, but of the handmaids of whom you have spoken, of them I will be had in honor.


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<pb/>And it happened, when the king dwelt in his house and Jehovah had given him rest from all his enemies all around,


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that the king said to Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within curtains.


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For I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up the sons of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.


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In all places in which I have walked with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people Israel, saying, Why have you* not built for me a house of cedar?


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<pb/>Now therefore thus you will say to my servant David, Jehovah of hosts says thus, I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people, over Israel.


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And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make you a great name, like the name of the great ones that are on the earth.


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<pb/>And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be moved no more. Neither will the sons of wicked afflict them any more, as at the first,


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and <i>as</i> from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel and I will cause you to rest from all your enemies. Moreover Jehovah tells you that Jehovah will make you a house.


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When your days are fulfilled and you will sleep with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will proceed out of your guts and I will establish his kingdom.


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<pb/>I will be his father and he will be my son. If he commits wicked things, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the sons of men,


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And your house and your kingdom will be made sure forever before you; your throne will be established until everlasting.


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Then David the king went in and sat before Jehovah. And he said, Who am I, O lord Jehovah and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?


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And this was yet a small thing in your eyes, O lord Jehovah, but you have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come and this <i>too</i> according to the manner of men, O lord Jehovah!


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For your word's sake and according to your own heart, you have worked all this greatness, to make your servant know it.


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Therefore you are great, O Jehovah God, for there is none like you, neither is there any God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.


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<pb/>And what one nation on the earth is like your people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem to himself for a people and to make him a name and to do great things for you* and awesome things for your land, before your people whom you redeemed to you out of Egypt, <i>from</i> the nations and their gods?


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And you established to yourself your people Israel to be a people to you until everlasting and you, Jehovah, became their God.


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<pb/>And now, O Jehovah God, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, confirm it until everlasting and do as you have spoken.


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And let your name be magnified until everlasting, saying, Jehovah of hosts is God over Israel and the house of your servant David will be established before you.


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For you, O Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, have revealed to your servant, saying, I will build you a house. Therefore your servant has found in his heart to pray this prayer to you.


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<pb/>And now, O lord Jehovah, you are God and your words are truth and you have promised this good thing to your servant.


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Now therefore let it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue everlasting before you, for you, O lord Jehovah, have spoken it. And with your blessing let the house of your servant be blessed forever.


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<pb/>And after this it happened, that David killed* the Philistines and subdued them. And David took the bridle of the mother city out of the hand of the Philistines.


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<pb/>And he killed* Moab and measured them with the line, making them to lie down on the ground. And he measured two lines to put to death and one full line to keep alive. And the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute.


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<pb/>David also killed* Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his dominion at the River.


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And David took from him a thousand and seven hundred horsemen and twenty thousand footmen. And David hocked all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for a hundred chariots.


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<pb/>And when the Syrians of Damascus came to aid Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed* of the Syrians twenty-two thousand men.


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Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. And Jehovah gave victory to David wherever he went.


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<pb/>And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.


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then Toi sent Joram his son to king David to salute him and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and struck him, for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And <i>Joram</i> brought with him vessels of silver and vessels of gold and vessels of brass.


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<pb/>These also king David dedicated to Jehovah with the silver and gold that he dedicated of all the nations which he subdued:


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of Syria and of Moab and of the sons of Ammon and of the Philistines and of Amalek and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.


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<pb/>And David got a name for him when he returned from slaying the Syrians in the Valley of Salt, even eighteen thousand men.


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And he put garrisons in Edom. He put garrisons throughout all Edom and all the Edomites became servants to David. And Jehovah gave victory to David wherever he went.


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<pb/>And David reigned over all Israel. And David executed justice and righteousness to all his people.


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and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada <i>was over</i> the Cherethites and the Pelethites and David's sons were chief ministers.


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<pb/>And David said, Is there yet any who is left of the house of Saul that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?


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<pb/>And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba and they called him to David. And the king said to him, Are you Ziba? And he said, Your servant is he.


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And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul that I may show the kindness of God to him? And Ziba said to the king, Jonathan has yet a son who is lame in his feet.


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And the king said to him, Where is he? And Ziba said to the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.


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<pb/>And Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and bowed-down. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold, your servant!


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And David said to him, Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake and will restore to you all the land of Saul your father and you will eat bread at my table continually.


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<pb/>Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant and said to him, All that pertained to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master's son.


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And you will till the land for him, you and your sons and your servants. And you will bring in <i>the fruits</i> that your master's son may have bread to eat, but Mephibosheth your master's son will always eat bread at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.


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<pb/>Then Ziba said to the king, According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so will your servant do. As for Mephibosheth, <i>the king said</i>, he will eat at my table as one of the king's sons.


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<pb/>And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth.


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So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king's table. And he was lame in both his feet.


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<pb/>And it happened after this, that the king of the sons of Ammon died and Hanun his son reigned instead of him.


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And David said, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me. So David sent by his servants to comfort him concerning his father. And David's servants came into the land of the sons of Ammon.


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<pb/>But the rulers of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, Think you that David honors your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Has not David sent his servants to you to search the city and to spy it out and to overthrow it?


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<pb/>So Hanun took David's servants and shaved off the one half of their beards and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks and sent them away.


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When they told it to David, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Abide at Jericho until your* beards be grown and then return.


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<pb/>And when the sons of Ammon saw that they stunk to David, the sons of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob and the Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen and the king of Maacah with a thousand men and the men of Tob twelve thousand men.


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And the sons of Ammon came out and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate. And the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.


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<pb/>Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him in front and behind, he chose from all the choice men of Israel and put them in array against the Syrians.


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And the rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother. And he put them in array against the sons of Ammon.


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<pb/>And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then you will help me, but if the sons of Ammon be too strong for you, then I will come and help you.


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Be of good courage and let us play the man on behalf of our people and the cities of our God. And Jehovah do what seems good to him.


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<pb/>So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to the battle against the Syrians. And they fled before him.


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And when the sons of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they likewise fled before Abishai and entered into the city. Then Joab returned from the sons of Ammon and came to Jerusalem.


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<pb/>And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they gathered themselves together.


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And Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the River and they came to Helam, with Shobach the captain of the army of Hadadezer at their head.


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<pb/>And it was told David. And he gathered all Israel together and passed over the Jordan and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David and fought with him.


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And the Syrians fled before Israel. And David killed of the Syrians <i>the men of</i> seven hundred chariots and forty thousand horsemen and killed* Shobach the captain of their army so that he died there.


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<pb/>And when all the kings who were servants to Hadadezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with Israel and served them. So the Syrians were afraid to help the sons of Ammon any more.


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<pb/>And it happened, at the return of the year, at the time when kings go out <i>to battle</i>, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel. And they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.


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<pb/>And it happened at evening, that David arose from his bed and walked upon the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.


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And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?


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<pb/>And David sent messengers and took her. And she came in to him and he lay with her (for she was purified from her uncleanness) and she returned to her house.


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<pb/>And David sent to Joab, <i>saying</i>, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.


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And when Uriah came to him, David asked of him how Joab did and how the people fared and how the war prospered.


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And David said to Uriah, Go down to your house and wash your feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house and a gift from the king followed him.


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<pb/>But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord and did not go down to his house.


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And when they had told David, saying, Uriah did not go down to his house, David said to Uriah, Have you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?


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<pb/>And Uriah said to David, The ark and Israel and Judah, abide in booths and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open field. Shall I then go into my house, to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? As you live and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.


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<pb/>And David said to Uriah, Remain here today also and tomorrow I will let you depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day and the morrow.


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And when David had called him, he ate and drank before him and he made him drunk. And at evening he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but did not go down to his house.


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<pb/>And it happened in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah.


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And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle and retreat from him, that he may be struck and die.


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<pb/>And it happened, when Joab kept watch upon the city, that he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew that valiant men were.


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And the men of the city went out and fought with Joab. And there fell some of the people, even of the servants of David and Uriah the Hittite died also.


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And he charged the messenger, saying, When you have made an end of telling all the things concerning the war to the king,


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it will be that, if the king's wrath arise and he says to you, Why did you* go so near to the city to fight? Did you* not know that they would shoot from the wall?


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Who killed* Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman cast an upper millstone upon him from the wall so that he died at Thebez? Why did you* go so near the wall? Then you will say, Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.


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And the messenger said to David, The men prevailed against us and came out to us into the field and we were upon them even to the entrance of the gate.


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And the shooters shot at your servants from the wall. And some of the king's servants are dead and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.


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<pb/>Then David said to the messenger, Thus you will say to Joab, Do not let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Make your battle stronger against the city and overthrow it. And encourage him.


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<pb/>And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she made lamentation for her husband.


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And when the mourning was past, David sent and took her home to his house and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased Jehovah.


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<pb/>And Jehovah sent Nathan to David. And he came to him and said to him, There were two men in one city: the one rich and the other poor.


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but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe-lamb, which he had bought and nourished up. And it grew up together with him and with his sons. It ate of his own morsel and drank of his own cup and lay in his bosom and was to him as a daughter.


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<pb/>And there came a traveler to the rich man and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd to dress for the wayfaring man who came to him, but took the poor man's lamb and dressed it for the man who came to him.


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<pb/>And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man and he said to Nathan, As Jehovah lives, the man who has done this is worthy to die.


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<pb/>And Nathan said to David, You are the man. Jehovah says thus, the God of Israel, I anointed you king over Israel and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.


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And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your bosom and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if that had been too little, I would have added to you such and such things.


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<pb/>Why have you despised the word of Jehovah, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have slain him with the sword of the sons of Ammon.


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<pb/>Now therefore the sword will not depart (everlasting <i>and</i> forever) from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.


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Jehovah says thus, Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor and he will lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.


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<pb/>And David said to Nathan, I have sinned against Jehovah. And Nathan said to David, Jehovah also has put away your sin; you will not die.


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However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of Jehovah to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you will surely die.


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And Nathan departed to his house. And Jehovah struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David and it was very sick.


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David therefore besought God for the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night upon the ground.


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And the elders of his house arose, <i>and stood</i> beside him, to raise him up from the ground, but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.


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<pb/>And it happened on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive we spoke to him and he did not listen to our voice, how will he then distress himself, if we tell him that the child is dead!


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But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.


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<pb/>Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his apparel. And he came into the house of Jehovah and worshiped. Then he came to his own house and when he required, they set bread before him and he ate.


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Then his servants said to him, What thing is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while it was alive, but when the child was dead, you arose and ate bread.


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<pb/>And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept. For I said, Who knows whether Jehovah will not be gracious to me, that the child may live?


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But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.


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<pb/>And David comforted Bathsheba his wife and went in to her and lay with her. And she bore a son and he called his name Solomon. And Jehovah loved him,


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And Joab sent messengers to David and said, I have fought against Rabbah; yes, I have taken the city of waters.


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Now therefore gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it is called after my name.


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<pb/>And David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah and fought against it and took it.


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And he took the crown of their king from his head. And the weight of it was a talant of gold and <i>in it were</i> precious stones. And it was set on David's head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, exceedingly much.


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<pb/>And he brought out the people that were in it and put them under saws and under harrows of iron and under axes of iron and made them pass through the brick-kiln. And thus he did to all the cities of the sons of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.


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<pb/>And it happened after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister whose name was Tamar. And Amnon the son of David loved her.


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And Amnon was so frustrated that he fell sick because of his sister Tamar. For she was a virgin and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her.


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<pb/>But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother. And Jonadab was a very sly man.


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And he said to him, Why, O son of the king, are you emaciated this way from day to day? Will you not tell me? And Amnon said to him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.


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<pb/>And Jonadab said to him, Lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, Let my sister Tamar come, I beseech you and give me bread to eat and dress the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.


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<pb/>So Amnon lay down and pretend to be sick. And when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, Let my sister Tamar come, I beseech you and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.


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<pb/>So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house and he was laid down. And she took dough and kneaded it and made cakes in his sight and baked the cakes.


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And she took the pan and poured them out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have all men out from me. And they went out every man from him.


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<pb/>And Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the food into the chamber that I may eat from your hand. And Tamar took the cakes that she had made and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. And she laid her hand on her head and went her way, crying aloud as she went.


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<pb/>And when she had brought them near to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, Come, lie with me, my sister.


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And she answered him, No, my brother, do not force me, for no such thing ought to be done in Israel. Do not do this senselessness.


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And I, where shall I carry my shame? And as for you, you will be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I beseech you, speak to the king, because he will not withhold me from you.


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However he would not listen to her voice, but being stronger than she, he forced her and lay with her.


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<pb/>Then Amnon hated her with exceedingly great hatred, for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, Arise, be gone.


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And she said to him, Not so, because this great wrong in putting me forth is <i>worse</i> than the other that you did to me. But he would not listen to her.


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Then he called his servant who ministered to him and said, Put this woman out from me now and bolt the door after her.


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<pb/>And she had a garment of various colors upon her, for with such robes were the king's daughters who were virgins appareled. Then his servant brought her out and bolted the door after her.


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<pb/>And Absalom her brother said to her, Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother. Do not take this thing to heart. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.


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And Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.


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<pb/>And it happened after two full years, that Absalom had sheep-shearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim and Absalom invited all the king's sons.


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And Absalom came to the king and said, Behold now, your servant has sheep-shearers. Let the king, I beseech you and his servants go with your servant.


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And the king said to Absalom, No, my son, let us not all go, lest we are burdensome to you. And he pressed him. However he would not go, but blessed him.


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<pb/>Then Absalom said, If not, I beseech you, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said to him, Why should he go with you?


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<pb/>And Absalom commanded his servants, saying, Notice you* now, when Amnon's heart is merry with wine and when I say to you*, Strike Amnon, then kill him. Do not fear; have I not commanded you*? Be courageous and be valiant.


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And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose and every man got up upon his mule and fled.


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<pb/>And it happened, while they were in the way, that the news came to David, saying, Absalom has slain all the king's sons and there is not one of them left.


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Then the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the earth and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.


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<pb/>And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother, answered and said, Do not let my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men the king's sons, for Amnon only is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.


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Now therefore do not let my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead, for only Amnon is dead.


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But Absalom fled. And the young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, there came many people by the way of the hill-side behind him.


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And it happened, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came and lifted up their voice and wept. And the king also and all his servants wept very much.


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<pb/>But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihur, king of Geshur. And <i>David</i> mourned for his son every day.


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And <i>the soul of</i> king David longed to go forth to Absalom, for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.


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<pb/>Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was <i>yearning</i> toward Absalom.


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And Joab sent to Tekoa and fetched from there a wise woman and said to her, I beseech you, <i>pretend</i> to be a mourner and put on mourning apparel, I beseech you and do not anoint yourself with oil, but be as a woman who has a long time mourned for the dead.


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<pb/>And when the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and bowed-down and said, Help, O king.


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And the king said to her, What troubles you? And she answered, Of a truth I am a widow and my husband is dead.


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And your handmaid had two sons and they two strove together in the field and there was none to part them, but the one killed* the other and killed him.


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And behold, the whole family is risen against your handmaid and they say, Deliver him who killed* his brother that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he killed and so destroy the heir also. Thus they will quench my coal which is left and will leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the face of the earth.


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And the woman of Tekoa said to the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me and on my father's house and the king and his throne be guiltless.


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And the king said, Whoever says anything to you, bring him to me and he will not touch you any more.


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Then she said, I beseech you, let the king remember Jehovah your God, that the avenger of blood not destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As Jehovah lives, there will not one hair of your son fall to the earth.


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<pb/>Then the woman said, I beseech you, let your handmaid speak a word to my lord the king. And he said, Say on.


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And the woman said, Why then have you devised such a thing against the people of God? For in speaking this word the king is as he who is guilty, in that the king does not fetch home again his banished one.


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For we must die and are as water split on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; God does not take away life, but devises means that he who is banished is not an outcast from him.


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<pb/>Now therefore seeing that I have come to speak this word to my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid. And your handmaid said, I will now speak to the king. It may be that the king will perform the request of his servant.


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For the king will hear to deliver his servant out of the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.


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<pb/>Then your handmaid said, I beseech you, let the word of my lord the king be gracious, for as a messenger of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad. And Jehovah your God be with you.


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<pb/>Then the king answered and said to the woman, I beseech you, do not hide from me, anything that I will ask you. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.


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And the king said, Is the hand of Joab with you in all this? <pb/>And the woman answered and said, As your soul lives, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken, for your servant Joab, he commanded me and he put all these words in the mouth of your handmaid.


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Your servant Joab has done this thing to change the face of the matter. And my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of a messenger of God, to know all things that are on the earth.


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<pb/>And the king said to Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing. Go therefore, bring the young man Absalom back.


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And Joab fell to the ground on his face and bowed-down and blessed the king. And Joab said, Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord, O king, in that the king has performed the request of his servant.


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And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, but let him not see my face. So Absalom turned to his own house and did not see the king's face.


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<pb/>Now in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty; from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.


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And when he cut the hair of his head (now it was at every year's end that he cut it, because it was heavy on him, therefore he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels, after the king's weight.


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<pb/>And to Absalom there were born three sons and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a woman of a fair countenance.


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<pb/>Then Absalom sent for Joab to send him to the king, but he would not come to him. And he sent again a second time, but he would not come.


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Therefore he said to his servants, See, Joab's field is near mine and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the field on fire.


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<pb/>Then Joab arose and came to Absalom to his house and said to him, Why have your servants set my field on fire?


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And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent to you, saying, Come here, that I may send you to the king to say, Why have I come from Geshur? It were better for me to still be there. Now therefore let me see the king's face and if there is iniquity in me, let him kill me.


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<pb/>So Joab came to the king and told him. And when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king. And the king kissed Absalom.


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<pb/>And it happened after this, that Absalom prepared for him a chariot and horses and fifty men to run before him.


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<pb/>And Absalom rose up early and stood beside the way of the gate. And it was so, that, when any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him and said, Of what city are you? And he said, Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.


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And Absalom said to him, See, your matters are good and right, but there is no man appointed by the king to hear you.


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<pb/>Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or case might come to me and I would do for him justice!


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<pb/>And it was so, that, when any man came near to do him bowed-down, he put forth his hand and took hold of him and kissed him.


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And on this manner Absalom did to all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.


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<pb/>And it happened at the end of forty years, that Absalom said to the king, I beseech you, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to Jehovah, in Hebron.


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For your servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If Jehovah will indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve Jehovah.


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<pb/>But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as you* hear the sound of the trumpet, then you* will say, Absalom is king in Hebron.


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And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem who were invited and went in their simplicity. And they did not know anything.


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<pb/>And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, for the people increased continually with Absalom.


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<pb/>And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.


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<pb/>And David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, Arise and let us flee, for otherwise none of us will escape from Absalom. Make speed to depart, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down evil upon us and kill* the city with the edge of the sword.


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And the king's servants said to the king, Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king will choose.


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<pb/>And the king went forth and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep the house.


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<pb/>And the king went forth and all the people after him and they remained in the distant house   <n>{Beth-merhak}</n>.


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And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites and all the Pelethites and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.


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<pb/>Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, Why do you also go with us? Return and abide with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile. <i>Return</i> to your own place.


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You came but yesterday, should I this day make you go up and down with us, seeing I go where I may? Return and take back your brothers. Mercy and truth be with you.


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<pb/>And Ittai answered the king and said, As Jehovah lives and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king will be, whether for death or for life, even there your servant will also be.


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And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over and all his men and all the little ones that were with him.


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<pb/>And all the country wept with a loud voice and all the people passed over. The king himself also passed over the brook Kidron and all the people passed over toward the way of the wilderness.


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<pb/>And behold, Zadok also <i>came</i> and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God and Abiathar went up until all the people had finished passing out of the city.


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<pb/>And the king said to Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city. If I will find favor in the eyes of Jehovah he will bring me again and show me both it and his habitation.


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But if he says thus, I have no delight in you, behold, here I am. Let him do to me as seems good to him.


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<pb/>The king said also to Zadok the priest, Are you <i>not</i> a seer? Return into the city in peace and your* two sons with you*, Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.


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<pb/>And David went up by the ascent of the <i>Mount of</i> Olives and wept as he went up and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered every man his head and they went up, weeping as they went up.


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<pb/>And it was told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Jehovah, I beseech you, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.


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<pb/>And it happened, that, when David came to the top <i>of the ascent</i>, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn and dirt upon his head.


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but if you return to the city and say to Absalom, I will be your servant, O king. As I have been your father's servant in time past, so I will now be your servant, then you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.


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<pb/>And have you not there with you Zadok and Abiathar the priests? Therefore it will be, that whatever thing you will hear out of the king's house, you will tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.


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Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son and Jonathan, Abiathar's son. And you* will send by them to me everything that you* will hear.


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<pb/>And when David was a little past the top <i>of the ascent</i>, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of saddled donkeys and upon them two hundred loaves of bread and a hundred clusters of raisins and a hundred of summer fruits and a jug of wine.


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<pb/>And the king said to Ziba, What do you mean by these? And Ziba said, The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat and the wine, that such as are faint in the wilderness may drink.


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<pb/>And the king said, And where is your master's son? And Ziba said to the king, Behold, he abides at Jerusalem, for he said, Today the house of Israel will restore for me the kingdom of my father.


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Then the king said to Ziba, Behold, all that pertains to Mephibosheth is your. And Ziba said, I bow-down. Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, O king.


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<pb/>And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, there came out from there a man of the family of the house of Saul whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He came out, cursing as he came.


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And he cast stones at David and at all the servants of king David and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.


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Jehovah has returned upon you all the blood of the house of Saul in whose stead you have reigned. And Jehovah has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son, and behold, you are <i>taken</i> in your own mischief because you are a man of blood.


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<pb/>Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over, I beseech you and take off his head.


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And the king said, What have I to do with you*, you* sons of Zeruiah? Because he curses and because Jehovah has said to him, Curse David, who then will say, Why have you done so?


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<pb/>And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who came out from my guts, seeks my life. How much more this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him curse, for Jehovah has bidden him.


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It may be that Jehovah will look on the wrong done to me and that Jehovah will reward me good for <i>his</i> cursing of me this day.


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<pb/>So David and his men went by the way and Shimei went along on the hill-side opposite him and cursed as he went and threw stones at him and cast dust.


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<pb/>And it happened, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, Live, O king. Live, O king.


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And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this your kindness to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?


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<pb/>And Hushai said to Absalom, No, but whom Jehovah and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, I am his will and I will abide with him.


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And again, whom should I serve? <i>Is it</i> not in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father's presence, so I will be in your presence.


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And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in to your father's concubines that he has left to keep the house and all Israel will hear that you are a stink with your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong.


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<pb/>So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.


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<pb/>And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the oracle of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.


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<pb/>Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men and I will arise and pursue after David this night.


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And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak-handed and will make him afraid. And all the people who are with him will flee. And I will only kill* the king,


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and I will bring back all the people to you. The man whom you seek is as if all returned, <i>so</i> all the people will be in peace.


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And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, Ahithophel has spoken after this manner. Shall we do <i>after</i> his saying? If not, speak.


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Hushai said moreover, You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men and they are chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. And your father is a man of war and will not lodge with the people.


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<pb/>Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some <i>other</i> place. And it will happen, when some of them are fallen at the first, that whoever hears it will say, There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.


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And even he who is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, will utterly melt, for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man and those who are with him are valiant men.


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<pb/>But I counsel that all Israel be gathered together to you, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude and that you go to battle in your own person.


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So we will come upon him in some place where he will be found and we will light upon him as the dew falls on the ground and of him and of all the men who are with him we will not leave so much as one.


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<pb/>Moreover, if he is gathered into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city and we will draw it into the river until there is not one small stone found there.


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<pb/>And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For Jehovah had commanded to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Jehovah might bring evil upon Absalom.


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<pb/>Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel and thus and thus have I counseled.


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Now therefore send quickly and tell David, saying, Do not lodge this night at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over, lest the king be swallowed up and all the people who are with him.


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<pb/>Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying by En-rogel. And a maid-servant used to go and tell them and they went and told king David, for they might not be seen to come into the city.


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<pb/>But a lad saw them and told Absalom. And they went away quickly, both of them and came to the house of a man in Bahurim who had a well in his court and they went down there.


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And the woman took and spread the covering over the well's mouth and spread ground grain on it. And nothing was known.


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<pb/>And Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house and they said, Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said to them, They have gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.


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<pb/>And it happened, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well and went and told king David. And they said to David, Arise and pass quickly over the water, for thus Ahithophel has counseled against you*.


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<pb/>Then David arose and all the people who were with him and they passed over the Jordan. By the morning light there lacked not one of them who was not gone over the Jordan.


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<pb/>And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and arose and got home to his city and set his house in order and hanged himself. And he died and was buried in the sepulcher of his father.


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<pb/>Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.


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And Absalom set Amasa over the army instead of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man, whose name was Ithra   <n>{Jithra or Jether}</n>   the Israelite, who went in to Abigal the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab's mother.


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<pb/>And it happened, when David came to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the sons of Ammon and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lo-debar and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,


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brought beds and basins and earthen vessels and wheat and barley and meal and roasted <i>grain</i> and beans and lentils and roasted <i>pulse</i>,


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and honey and butter and sheep and cheese of the herd, for David and for the people who were with him, to eat. For they said, The people are hungry and weary and thirsty, in the wilderness.


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<pb/>And David numbered the people who were with him and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.


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And David sent forth the people, a third part under the hand of Joab and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, I will surely go forth with you* myself also.


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<pb/>But the people said, You will not go forth. For if we flee away, they will not care for us, neither if half of us die, will they care for us, but you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore now it is better that you are ready to help us out of the city.


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And the king said to them, What seems best to you* I will do. And the king stood by the gate-side and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.


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<pb/>And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.


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<pb/>So the people went out into the field against Israel and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim.


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And the people of Israel were struck there before the servants of David and there was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men.


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For the battle was there spread over the face of all the country and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.


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<pb/>And Absalom chanced to meet the servants of David. And Absalom was riding upon his mule and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak and his head caught hold of the oak. And he was taken up between sky and earth and the mule that was under him went on.


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And Joab said to the man who told him, and behold, you saw it and why did you not kill* him there to the ground? And I would have given you ten <i>pieces of</i> silver and a belt.


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<pb/>And the man said to Joab, Though I should receive a thousand <i>pieces of</i> silver in my hand, yet I would not put forth my hand against the king's son, for in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.


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Otherwise if I had dealt falsely against his life (and there is no matter hid from the king), then you yourself would have set yourself against <i>me</i>.


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<pb/>Then Joab said, I will not delay thus with you. And he took three darts in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.


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<pb/>And Joab blew the trumpet and the people returned from pursuing after Israel, for Joab held back the people.


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And they took Absalom and cast him into the great pit in the forest and raised over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled every man to his tent.


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<pb/>Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself the pillar which is in the king's valley, for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance. And he called the pillar after his own name and it is called Absalom's monument to this day.


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<pb/>Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, Let me now run and bear the king news, how that Jehovah has avenged him of his enemies.


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And Joab said to him, You will not be the bearer of news this day, but you will bear news another day. But this day you will bear no news, because the king's son is dead.


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Then Joab said to the Cushite, Go, tell the king what you have seen. And the Cushite bowed himself to Joab and ran.


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<pb/>Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said yet again to Joab, But come what may, I beseech you, let me also run after the Cushite. And Joab said, Why will you run, my son, seeing that you will have no reward for the news?


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But come what may, <i>he said</i>, I will run. And he said to him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Plain and outran the Cushite.


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<pb/>Now David was sitting between the two gates. And the watchman went up to the roof of the gate to the wall and lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running alone.


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And the watchman cried and told the king. And the king said, If he is alone, there is news in his mouth. And he came and drew near.


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<pb/>And the watchman saw another man running. And the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, Behold, <i>another</i> man running alone. And the king said, He also brings news.


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And the watchman said, I think the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man and comes with good news.


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<pb/>And Ahimaaz called and said to the king, All is well. And he bowed himself before the king with his face to the earth and said, Praise Jehovah your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king.


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<pb/>And the king said, Is it well with the young man Absalom? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, even me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was.


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And behold, the Cushite came. And the Cushite said, News for my lord the king, for Jehovah has avenged you this day of all those who rose up against you.


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And the king said to the Cushite, Is it well with the young man Absalom? And the Cushite answered, The enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up against you to do you hurt, be as that young man is.


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<pb/>And the king was much moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died for you, O Absalom, my son, my son!


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And the victory that day was turned into mourning to all the people, for the people heard say that day, The king grieves for his son.


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And the people slipped away that day into the city, as people who are ashamed sneak away when they flee in battle.


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And the king covered his face and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!


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<pb/>And Joab came into the house to the king and said, You have shamed this day the faces of all your servants, who this day have saved your life and the lives of your sons and of your daughters and the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines,


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in that you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have declared this day that rulers and servants are nothing to you. For this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived and all we had died this day, then it would have pleased you well.


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<pb/>Now therefore arise, go forth and speak graciously to your servants. For I swear by Jehovah, if you do not go forth, there will not remain a man with you this night. And that will be worse to you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.


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<pb/>Then the king arose and sat in the gate. And they told to all the people, saying, Behold, the king is sitting in the gate. And all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled every man to his tent.


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<pb/>And all the people were contending throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king delivered us out of the hand of our enemies and he saved us out of the hand of the Philistines. And now he fled out of the land from Absalom.


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And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why so you* speak not a word of bringing the king back?


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<pb/>And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, Why are you* the last to bring the king back to his house? Since the speech of all Israel has come to the king, <i>to bring him</i> to his house.


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You* are my brothers, you* are my bone and my flesh. Why then are you* the last to bring back the king?


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<pb/>And say you* to Amasa, Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me and more also, if you not be captain of the army before me continually in the place of Joab.


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<pb/>And he inclined the heart of all the men of Judah, even as <i>the heart of</i> one man, so that they sent to the king, <i>saying</i>, Return and all your servants.


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So the king returned and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to bring the king over the Jordan.


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<pb/>And Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite, who was of Bahurim, hastened and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.


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And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him. And they went through the Jordan in the presence of the king.


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<pb/>And there went over a ferry-boat to bring over the king's household and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king when he came over the Jordan.


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<pb/>And he said to the king, Do not let my lord impute iniquity to me, neither you remember what your servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.


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For your servant knows that I have sinned. Therefore, behold, I have come this day the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.


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<pb/>But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed Jehovah's anointed?


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And David said, What have I to do with you*, you* sons of Zeruiah, that you* should this day be adversaries to me? Shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? For I do not know that I am this day king over Israel?


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<pb/>And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. And he had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace.


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And it happened, when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?


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<pb/>And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, I will saddle for me a donkey, that I may ride on it and go with the king, because your servant is lame.


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And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king is as a messenger of God; do therefore what is good in your eyes.


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For all my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king. Yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right therefore have I yet that I should cry any more to the king?


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<pb/>And the king said to him, Why do you speak any more of your matters? I say, you and Ziba divide the land.


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And Mephibosheth said to the king, Yes, let him take all, inasmuch as my lord the king has come in peace to his own house.


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<pb/>And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim. And he went over the Jordan with the king to conduct him over the Jordan.


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Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even eighty years old. And he had provided the king with sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man <i>of wealth</i>.


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<pb/>And Barzillai said to the king, How many are the days of the years of my life that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?


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I am this day eighty years old. Can I discern between good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be yet a burden to my lord the king?


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<pb/>Your servant would but just go over the Jordan with the king and why should the king recompense it to me with such a reward?


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Let your servant, I beseech you, turn back again, that I may die in my own city by the grave of my father and my mother. But, behold, your servant Chimham, let him go over with my lord the king and do to him what will seem good to you.


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<pb/>And the king answered, Chimham will go over with me and I will do to him what will seem good to you. And whatever you will require of me, that I will do for you.


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And all the people went over the Jordan and the king went over. And the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him and he returned to his own place.


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<pb/>So the king went over to Gilgal and Chimham went over with him. And all the people of Judah brought the king over and also half the people of Israel.


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<pb/>And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, Why have our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away and brought the king and his household, over the Jordan and all David's men with him?


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<pb/>And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us. Why then are you* angry for this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king's cost, or has he given us any gift?


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<pb/>And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, We have ten parts in the king and we have also more <i>right</i> in David than you*. Why then did you* despise us, that our advice should not be had first in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.


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<pb/>And there happened to be there a worthless fellow whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite. And he blew the trumpet and said, We have no portion in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tents, O Israel.


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So all the men of Israel went up from following David and followed Sheba the son of Bichri, but the men of Judah clung to their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.


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<pb/>And David came to his house at Jerusalem. And the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house and put them in confinement and provided them with sustenance, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.


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<pb/>Then the king said to Amasa, Call the men of Judah together to me within three days and be here present.


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So Amasa went to call <i>the men of</i> Judah together, but he delayed longer than the set time which he had appointed him.


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And David said to Abishai, Now will Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom. You take your lord's servants and pursue after him, lest he get him fortified cities and escape out of our sight.


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<pb/>And there went out after him Joab's men and the Cherethites and the Pelethites and all the mighty men. And they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.


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<pb/>When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. And Joab was girded with his apparel of war that he had put on and on it was a belt with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath of it. And as he went forth it fell out.


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And Joab said to Amasa, Is it well with you, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.


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<pb/>But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand. So he killed* him with it in the body and shed out his guts to the ground and struck him not again and he died. And Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.


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<pb/>And there stood by him one of Joab's young men and said, He who favors Joab and he who is for David, let him follow Joab.


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And Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the men stood still, he carried Amasa out of the highway into the field and cast a garment over him, when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.


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When he was removed out of the highway, all the men went on after Joab to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.


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<pb/>And he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel and to Beth-maacah and all the Berites. And they were gathered together and also went after him.


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And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maacah and they cast up a mound against the city and it stood against the rampart. And all the men who were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.


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<pb/>Then a wise woman out of the city cried out, Hear, hear. Say, I beseech you*, to Joab, Come near here, that I may speak with you.


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And he came near to her and the woman said, Are you Joab? And he answered, I am. Then she said to him, Hear the words of your handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.


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<pb/>Then she spoke, saying, They were accustomed to speak in old time, saying, They will surely ask <i>counsel</i> at Abel and so they ended <i>the matter</i>.


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I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the inheritance of Jehovah?


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The matter is not so, but a man of the hill-country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against the king, even against David. Deliver him only and I will depart from the city. And the woman said to Joab, Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.


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<pb/>Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it out to Joab. And he blew the trumpet and they were dispersed from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.


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<pb/>Now Joab was over all the army of Israel and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites,


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and Adoram   <n>{Adoniram}</n>   was over the men subject to forced-labor and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder,


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<pb/>And there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Jehovah. And Jehovah said, It is for Saul and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites.


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<pb/>And the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them (now the Gibeonites were not of the sons of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites and the sons of Israel had sworn to them and <i>yet</i> Saul sought to kill them in his zeal for the sons of Israel and Judah),


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and David said to the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you*? And with what shall I make atonement that you* may bless the inheritance of Jehovah?


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<pb/>And the Gibeonites said to him, It is no matter of silver or gold between us and Saul or his house, neither is it for us to put any man to death in Israel. And he said, Whatever you* will say, that I will do for you*.


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And they said to the king, The man who consumed us and who devised against us, <i>that</i> we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the borders of Israel,


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let seven men of his sons be delivered to us and we will hang them up to Jehovah in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of Jehovah. And the king said, I will give them.


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<pb/>But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of Jehovah's oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.


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But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah whom she bore to Saul, and the five sons of Merab the daughter of Saul whom she bore to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite.


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<pb/>And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites. And they hanged them in the mountain before Jehovah and they fell <i>all</i> seven together. And they were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, at the beginning of barley harvest.


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<pb/>And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water was poured upon them from heaven. And she neither allowed the birds of the heaven to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.


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<pb/>And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the street of Beth-shan where the Philistines had hanged them in the day that the Philistines killed Saul in Gilboa,


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and he brought up from there the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son and they gathered the bones of those who were hanged.


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<pb/>And they buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zela   <n>{Zelah}</n>, in the sepulcher of Kish his father. And they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was entreated for the land.


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<pb/>And the Philistines had war again with Israel. And David went down and his servants with him and fought against the Philistines. And David grew faint,


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and Ishbi-benob, who was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred <i>shekels</i> of brass in weight, he being girded with a new <i>sword</i>, thought to have slain David.


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<pb/>But Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him and killed* the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, You will no more go out with us to battle, that you not quench the lamp of Israel.


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<pb/>And it happened after this, that there was again war with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbecai   <n>{Sibbechai}</n>   the Hushathite killed Saph, who was of the sons of the giant.


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<pb/>And there was again war with the Philistines at Gob. And Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.


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<pb/>And there was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature who had on every hand six fingers and on every foot six toes, twenty-four in number and he also was born to the giant.


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These four were born to the giant in Gath and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.


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<pb/>And David spoke to Jehovah the words of this song in the day that Jehovah delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies and out of the hand of Saul:


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God, my rock, in him I will take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my high tower and my refuge, my savior. You save me from violence.


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In my distress I called upon Jehovah. Yes, I called to my God. And he heard my voice out of his temple and my cry <i>came</i> into his ears.


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<pb/>Then the earth shook and trembled, the foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, because he was angry.


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There went up a smoke out of his nostrils and fire out of his mouth devoured. Coals were kindled by it.


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Then the channels of the sea appeared. The foundations of the world were laid bare by the rebuke of Jehovah, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.


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<pb/>Jehovah rewarded me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.


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Therefore Jehovah has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his eyesight.


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<pb/>With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man you will show yourself perfect.


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And the afflicted people you will save, but your eyes are upon the haughty, that you may bring them down.


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<pb/>As for God, his way is perfect. The word of Jehovah is tried. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.


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<pb/>I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them, neither did I turn again till they were consumed.


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And I have consumed them and struck them through, so that they cannot arise. Yes, they are fallen under my feet.


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For you have girded me with strength to the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.


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Then I beat them small as the dust of the earth. I crushed them as the mud of the streets and spread them abroad.


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You have also delivered me from the contentions of my people. You have kept me to be the head of the nations. A people whom I have not known will serve me.


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and who brings me forth from my enemies. Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me. You deliver me from the violent man.


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<pb/>Therefore I will give thanks to you, O Jehovah, among gentiles and will sing praises to your name.


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He gives great deliverance to his king and shows loving kindness to his anointed, to David and to his seed, until everlasting.


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<pb/>Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse says and the man who was raised on high says, the anointed of the God of Jacob and the sweet psalmist of Israel:


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The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me. He who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of God,


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<i>he will be</i> as the light of the morning, when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, <i>when</i> the tender grass <i>springs</i> out of the earth, through clear shining after rain.


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Truly my house is not so with God. Yet he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure. For it is all my salvation and all <i>my</i> desire, though he does not make it to grow.


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<pb/>But the worthless will be as thorns to be thrust away, all of them, because they cannot be taken with the hand.


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But the man who touches them must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear and they will be utterly burned with fire in <i>their</i> place.


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<pb/>These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains, the same was Adino the Eznite, against eight hundred slain at one time.


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<pb/>And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo   <n>{Dodai}</n>   the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were there gathered together to battle and the men of Israel were gone away.


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He arose and killed* the Philistines until his hand was weary and his hand clung to the sword. And Jehovah worked a great victory that day and the people returned after him only to take spoil.


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<pb/>And after him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop where was a plot of ground full of lentils and the people fled from the Philistines.


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But he stood in the midst of the plot and defended it and killed the Philistines. And Jehovah worked a great victory.


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<pb/>And three of the thirty chief men went down and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam and the troop of the Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim.


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And David longed and said, Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!


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<pb/>And the three mighty men broke through the army of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and took it and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it, but poured it out to Jehovah.


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<pb/>And he said, Be it far from me, O Jehovah, that I should do this, <i>to drink</i> the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives? Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.


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<pb/>And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them and had a name among the three.


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Was he not most honorable of the three? Therefore he was made their captain. However he did not attain to the <i>first</i> three.


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<pb/>And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, he killed the two <i>sons of</i> Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow.


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And he killed an Egyptian, a good-looking man. And the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but he went down to him with a staff and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear.


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He was more honorable than the thirty, but he did not attain to the <i>first</i> three. And David set him over his guard.


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Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maacathite   <n>{Maachathite}</n>, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,


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<pb/>And again the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel and he moved David against them, saying, Go, number Israel and Judah.


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And the king said to Joab the captain of the army, who was with him, Go now to and fro through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba and number you* the people, that I may know the sum of the people.


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And Joab said to the king, Now Jehovah your God add to the people, however many they may be, a hundredfold and may the eyes of my lord the king see it, but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?


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<pb/>Notwithstanding, the king's word prevailed against Joab and against the captains of the army. And Joab and the captains of the army went out from the presence of the king to number the people of Israel.


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And they passed over the Jordan and encamped in Aroer on the right side of the city that is in the middle of the valley of Gad and to Jazer.


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Then they came to Gilead and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi. And they came to Dan-jaan and all around to Sidon,


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and came to the stronghold of Tyre and to all the cities of the Hivites and of the Canaanites. And they went out to the south of Judah, at Beer-sheba.


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<pb/>So when they had gone to and fro through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.


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And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to the king. And there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.


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<pb/>And David's heart killed* him after he had numbered the people. And David said to Jehovah, I have sinned greatly in what I have done, but now, O Jehovah, I beseech you, put away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly.


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<pb/>And when David rose up in the morning, the word of Jehovah came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,


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Go and speak to David, Jehovah says thus, I offer you three things. Choose you one of them, that I may do it to you.


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So Gad came to David and told him and said to him, Shall three years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or will there be three days' pestilence in your land? Now decide and see what answer I will return to him who sent me.


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<pb/>And David said to Gad, I am in a great strait. Let us fall now into the hand of Jehovah, for his mercies are great and do not let me fall into the hand of man.


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So Jehovah sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed. And there died of the people from Dan even to Beer-sheba seventy thousand men.


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<pb/>And when the messenger stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, Jehovah relented of the evil and said to the messenger who destroyed the people, It is enough. Now stay your hand. And the messenger of Jehovah was by the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.


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<pb/>And David spoke to Jehovah when he saw the messenger who killed* the people and said, Behold, I have sinned and I have done perversely, but these sheep, what have they done? I beseech you, let your hand, be against me and against my father's house.


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<pb/>And Gad came that day to David and said to him, Go up, rear an altar to Jehovah in the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.


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And Araunah looked forth and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him. And Araunah went out and bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.


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<pb/>And Araunah said, Why has my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshing-floor from you, to build an altar to Jehovah that the plague may be halted from the people.


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And Araunah said to David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him. Behold, the oxen for the burnt offering and the threshing instruments and the yokes of the oxen for the wood.


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All this, O king, Araunah gives to the king. And Araunah said to the king, Jehovah your God accept you.


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<pb/>And the king said to Araunah, No, but I will truly buy it from you at a price. Neither will I offer burnt offerings to Jehovah my God which cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing-floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.


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And David built there an altar to Jehovah and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So Jehovah was entreated for the land and the plague was halted from Israel.


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<pb/>Now king David was old and stricken in years and they covered him with clothes, but he did not get warm.


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Therefore his servants said to him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin. And let her stand before the king and take care of him. And let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may get warmth.


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So they sought for a fair maiden throughout all the borders of Israel and found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.


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And the maiden was very fair. And she took care of the king and ministered to him, but the king knew her not.


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<pb/>Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king. And he prepared chariots for him and horsemen and fifty men to run before him.


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And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why have you done so? And he was also a very handsome man. And he was born after Absalom.


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<pb/>And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest. And following Adonijah, they helped him.


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But Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and Nathan the prophet and Shimei and Rei and the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.


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<pb/>And Adonijah killed sheep and oxen and fatten <i>sheep</i> by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En-rogel. And he called all his brothers, the king's sons and all the men of Judah, the king's servants.


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<pb/>Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith reigns and David our lord does not know it?


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Now therefore I beseech you, come, let me give you counsel, that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.


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Go and get you in to king David and say to him, Did you not, my lord, O king, swear to your handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon your son will reign after me and he will sit upon my throne? Why then does Adonijah reign?


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Behold, while you yet talk there with the king, I also will come in after you and confirm your words.


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<pb/>And Bathsheba went in to the king into the chamber. And the king was very old and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering to the king.


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And Bathsheba bowed <i>the head</i> and bowed-down to the king. And the king said, What do you want?


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And she said to him, My lord, you swore by Jehovah your God to your handmaid, <i>saying</i>, Assuredly Solomon your son will reign after me and he will sit upon my throne.


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And he has slain oxen and fatten <i>sheep</i> and sheep in abundance and has called all the sons of the king and Abiathar the priest and Joab the captain of the army, but he has not called Solomon your servant.


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<pb/>And you, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon you, that you should tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.


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Otherwise it will happen, when my lord the king will sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be considered offenders.


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And they told the king, saying, Behold, Nathan the prophet. And when he came in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.


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<pb/>And Nathan said, My lord, O king, have you said, Adonijah will reign after me and he will sit upon my throne?


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For he has gone down this day and has slain oxen and fatten <i>sheep</i> and sheep in abundance and has called all the king's sons and the captains of the army and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him and say, Live, king Adonijah.


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<pb/>But me, even me your servant and Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and your servant Solomon, he has not called.


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Is this thing done by my lord the king and you have not shown to your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?


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<pb/>Then king David answered and said, Call Bathsheba to me. And she came into the king's presence and stood before the king.


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truly as I swore to you by Jehovah, the God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon your son will reign after me and he will sit upon my throne in my stead. Surely so I will do this day.


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Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth and bowed-down to the king and said, Let my lord king David live everlasting.


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<pb/>And king David said, Call to me Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.


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And the king said to them, Take with you* the servants of your* lord and cause Solomon my son to ride upon my own mule and bring him down to Gihon.


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And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel. And blow you* the trumpet and say, Live, king Solomon.


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Then you* will come up after him and he will come and sit upon my throne, for he will be king in my stead. And I have appointed him to be prince over Israel and over Judah.


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<pb/>And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, Truly. Jehovah, the God of my lord the king, say so <i>too</i>.


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As Jehovah has been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.


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<pb/>So Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, went down and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule and brought him to Gihon.


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And Zadok the priest took the horn of oil out of the tent and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet and all the people said, Live, king Solomon.


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And all the people came up after him and the people piped with pipes and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth quivered with the sound of them.


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<pb/>And Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Why is this noise of the city being in an uproar?


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While he yet spoke, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came. And Adonijah said, Come in, for you are a worthy man and bring good news.


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And the king has sent with him Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule.


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And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon. And they have come up from there rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that you* have heard.


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And moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, Your God make the name of Solomon better than your name and make his throne greater than your throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed.


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And also thus said the king, Praise Jehovah, the God of Israel, who has given one of my seed to sit on my throne this day, my eyes even seeing it.


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<pb/>And Adonijah feared because of Solomon. And he arose and went and caught hold on the horns of the altar.


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And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah fears king Solomon, for behold, he has laid hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear to me first that he will not kill his servant with the sword.


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And Solomon said, If he will show himself a worthy man, there will not a hair of him fall to the earth, but if wickedness be found in him, he will die.


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So king Solomon sent and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed-down to king Solomon. And Solomon said to him, Go to your house.


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and keep the charge of Jehovah your God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, <i>and</i> his commandments and his ordinances and his testimonies, according to what is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn yourself.


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That Jehovah may establish his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there will not fail you a man on the throne of Israel.


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<pb/>Moreover you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, even what he did to the two captains of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner and to Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed and shed the blood of war in peace and put the blood of war upon his belt that was about his loins and in his shoes that were on his feet.


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<pb/>But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite and let them be of those who eat at your table, for so they came to me when I fled from Absalom your brother.


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<pb/>And behold, there is with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite, of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim. But he came down to meet me at the Jordan and I swore to him by Jehovah, saying, I will not put you to death with the sword.


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Now therefore do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man and you will know what you ought to do to him and you will bring his hoar head down to Sheol with blood.


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And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years. He reigned seven years in Hebron and he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem.


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<pb/>Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Do you come peaceably? And he said, Peaceably.


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And he said, You know that the kingdom was mine and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign. However the kingdom is turned about and has become my brother's, for it was his from Jehovah.


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And he said, I beseech you, speak to Solomon the king (for he will not say no you), that he give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife.


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<pb/>Bathsheba therefore went to king Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her and bowed himself to her and sat down on his throne and caused a throne to be set for the king's mother. And she sat on his right hand.


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Then she said, I ask one small petition of you; do not deny me. And the king said to her, Ask on, my mother, for I will not deny you.


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And king Solomon answered and said to his mother, And why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also, for he is my elder brother, even for him and for Abiathar the priest and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.


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<pb/>Then king Solomon swore by Jehovah, saying, God do so to me and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life.


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Now therefore as Jehovah lives, who has established me and set me on the throne of David my father and who has made me a house as he promised, surely Adonijah will be put to death this day.


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<pb/>And the king said to Abiathar the priest, You get to Anathoth, to your own fields, for you are worthy of death. But I will not at this time put you to death, because you bore the ark of the lord Jehovah before David my father and because you were afflicted in all in which my father was afflicted.


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So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest to Jehovah, that he might fulfill the word of Jehovah, which he spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.


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<pb/>And the news came to Joab, for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he did not turn after Absalom. And Joab fled to the tent of Jehovah and caught hold on the horns of the altar.


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And it was told king Solomon, Joab has fled to the tent of Jehovah, and behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him.


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And Benaiah came to the tent of Jehovah and said to him, Thus says the king, Come forth. And he said, No, but I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab and thus he answered me.


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<pb/>And the king said to him, Do as he has said and fall upon him and bury him, that you may take away the blood, which Joab shed without cause, from me and from my father's house.


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And Jehovah will return his blood upon his own head, because he fell upon two men more righteous and better than he and killed them with the sword and my father David did not know it, <i>namely</i>, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the army of Israel and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the army of Judah.


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<pb/>So will their blood return upon the head of Joab and upon the head of his seed everlasting. But to David and to his seed and to his house and to his throne, there will be peace everlasting from Jehovah.


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<pb/>Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and fell upon him and killed him. And he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.


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And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the army. And the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar.


