The World English Bible (WEB) Part 38

20:23 Now Joab was over all the army of Israel; and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites; 20:24 and Adoram was over the men subject to forced labor; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder; 20:25 and Sheva was scribe; and Zadok and Abiathar were priests; 20:26 and also Ira the Jairite was chief minister to David.

21:1 There was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Yahweh. Yahweh said, It is for Saul, and for his b.l.o.o.d.y house, because he put to death the Gibeonites. 21:2 The king called the Gibeonites, and said to them (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn to them: and Saul sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah); 21:3 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 Yahweh? 21:4 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. He said, What you shall say, that will I do for you. 21:5 They said to the king, The man who consumed us, and who devised against us, that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the borders of Israel, 21:6 let seven men of his sons be delivered to us, and we will hang them up to Yahweh in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of Yahweh. The king said, I will give them. 21:7 But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of Yahweh's oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. 21:8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite: 21:9 He delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the mountain before Yahweh, and they fell all seven together. They were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, at the beginning of barley harvest. 21:10 Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water was poured on them from the sky; and she allowed neither the birds of the sky to rest on them by day, nor the animals of the field by night. 21:11 It was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done. 21:12 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; 21:13 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. 21:14 They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. After that G.o.d was entreated for the land. 21:15 The Philistines had war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines. David grew faint; 21:16 and Ishbiben.o.b, who was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of bra.s.s in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David. 21:17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, You shall go no more out with us to battle, that you don't quench the lamp of Israel. 21:18 It came to pa.s.s after this, that there was again war with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was of the sons of the giant. 21:19 There was again war with the Philistines at Gob; and Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gitt.i.te's brother, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. 21:20 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, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. 21:21 When he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of s.h.i.+mei, David's brother, killed him. 21:22 These four were born to the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

22:1 David spoke to Yahweh the words of this song in the day that Yahweh delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: 22:2 and he said,

Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine; 22:3 G.o.d, my rock, in him I will take refuge; my s.h.i.+eld, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge. My savior, you save me from violence. 22:4 I will call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from my enemies. 22:5 For the waves of death surrounded me. The floods of unG.o.dliness made me afraid. 22:6 The cords of Sheol were around me. The snares of death caught me. 22:7 In my distress I called on Yahweh. Yes, I called to my G.o.d. He heard my voice out of his temple. My cry came into his ears. 22:8 Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, because he was angry. 22:9 Smoke went up out of his nostrils. Fire out of his mouth devoured. Coals were kindled by it. 22:10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down. Thick darkness was under his feet. 22:11 He rode on a cherub, and flew. Yes, he was seen on the wings of the wind. 22:12 He made darkness pavilions around himself: gathering of waters, and thick clouds of the skies. 22:13 At the brightness before him, coals of fire were kindled. 22:14 Yahweh thundered from heaven. The Most High uttered his voice. 22:15 He sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and confused them. 22:16 Then the channels of the sea appeared. The foundations of the world were laid bare by the rebuke of Yahweh, At the blast of the breath of his nostrils. 22:17 He sent from on high and he took me. He drew me out of many waters. 22:18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.

22:19 They came on me in the day of my calamity, but Yahweh was my support. 22:20 He also brought me out into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me. 22:21 Yahweh rewarded me according to my righteousness. He rewarded me according to the cleanness of my hands.

22:22 For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, and have not wickedly departed from my G.o.d. 22:23 For all his ordinances were before me. As for his statutes, I did not depart from them. 22:24 I was also perfect toward him. I kept myself from my iniquity. 22:25 Therefore Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness in his eyesight. 22:26 With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man you will show yourself perfect. 22:27 With the pure you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd.

22:28 You will save the afflicted people, But your eyes are on the haughty, that you may bring them down. 22:29 For you are my lamp, Yahweh. Yahweh will light up my darkness. 22:30 For by you, I run against a troop. By my G.o.d, I leap over a wall. 22:31 As for G.o.d, his way is perfect. The word of Yahweh is tested. He is a s.h.i.+eld to all those who take refuge in him. 22:32 For who is G.o.d, besides Yahweh? Who is a rock, besides our G.o.d? 22:33 G.o.d is my strong fortress. He makes my way perfect. 22:34 He makes his feet like hinds' feet, and sets me on my high places. 22:35 He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms bend a bow of bra.s.s. 22:36 You have also given me the s.h.i.+eld of your salvation.

Your gentleness has made me great. 22:37 You have enlarged my steps under me. My feet have not slipped. 22:38 I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them. I didn't turn again until they were consumed. 22:39 I have consumed them, and struck them through, so that they can't arise.

Yes, they have fallen under my feet. 22:40 For you have armed me with strength for the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. 22:41 You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me. 22:42 They looked, but there was none to save; even to Yahweh, but he didn't answer them. 22:43 Then I beat them as small as the dust of the earth. I crushed them as the mire of the streets, and spread them abroad. 22:44 You also have delivered me from the strivings of my people. You have kept me to be the head of the nations. A people whom I have not known will serve me. 22:45 The foreigners will submit themselves to me. As soon as they hear of me, they will obey me. 22:46 The foreigners will fade away, and will come trembling out of their close places. 22:47 Yahweh lives! Blessed be my rock! Exalted be G.o.d, the rock of my salvation, 22:48 even the G.o.d who executes vengeance for me, who brings down peoples under me, 22:49 who brings me away from my enemies. Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me. You deliver me from the violent man. 22:50 Therefore I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations. Will sing praises to your name. 22:51 He gives great deliverance to his king, and shows loving kindness to his anointed, to David and to his seed, forevermore.

23:1 Now these are the last words of David.

David the son of Jesse says, the man who was raised on high says, the anointed of the G.o.d of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel: 23:2 The Spirit of Yahweh spoke by me. His word was on my tongue. 23:3 The G.o.d of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, one who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of G.o.d, 23:4 He shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, When the tender gra.s.s springs out of the earth, Through clear s.h.i.+ning after rain.

23:5 Most certainly my house is not so with G.o.d, yet he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure, for it is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he doesn't make it grow. 23:6 But all of the unG.o.dly shall be as thorns to be thrust away, because they can't be taken with the hand, 23:7 But the man who touches them must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear. They shall be utterly burned with fire in their place. 23:8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb Ba.s.shebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite, against eight hundred slain at one time. 23:9 After him was Eleazar the son of Dodai the son of an 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. 23:10 He arose, and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand froze to the sword; and Yahweh worked a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to take spoil. 23:11 After him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. The Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the people fled from the Philistines.

23:12 But he stood in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and killed the Philistines; and Yahweh worked a great victory. 23:13 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. 23:14 David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 23:15 David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate! 23:16 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 Yahweh. 23:17 He said, Be it far from me, Yahweh, that I should do this: shall I drink the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men. 23:18 Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. He lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three. 23:19 Wasn't he most honorable of the three?

therefore he was made their captain: however he didn't attain to the first three. 23:20 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, he killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab: he went down also and killed a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow. 23:21 He killed an Egyptian, a goodly 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. 23:22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had a name among the three mighty men. 23:23 He was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn't attain to the first three. David set him over his guard. 23:24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 23:25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, 23:26 Helez the Palt.i.te, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, 23:27 Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 23:28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, 23:29 Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, 23:30 Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash. 23:31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, 23:32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, 23:33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite, 23:34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 23:35 Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 23:36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 23:37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armor bearers to Joab the son of Zeruiah, 23:38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 23:39 Uriah the Hitt.i.te: thirty- seven in all.

24:1 Again the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them, saying, Go, number Israel and Judah. 24:2 The king said to Joab the captain of the army, who was with him, Go now back and forth through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number you the people, that I may know the sum of the people. 24:3 Joab said to the king, Now Yahweh your G.o.d add to the people, however many they may be, one hundred times; and may the eyes of my lord the king see it: but why does my lord the king delight in this thing? 24:4 Notwithstanding, the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the army. Joab and the captains of the army went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel. 24:5 They pa.s.sed 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: 24:6 then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtim Hods.h.i.+; and they came to Dan Jaan, and around to Sidon, 24:7 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 Beersheba. 24:8 So when they had gone back and forth through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. 24:9 Joab gave up 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. 24:10 David's heart struck him after that he had numbered the people. David said to Yahweh, I have sinned greatly in that which I have done: but now, Yahweh, put away, I beg you, the iniquity of your servant; for I have done very foolishly. 24:11 When David rose up in the morning, the word of Yahweh came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, 24:12 Go and speak to David, Thus says Yahweh, I offer you three things: choose one of them, that I may do it to you. 24:13 So Gad came to David, and told him, and said to him, Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land? or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? or shall there be three days' pestilence in your land? now advise you, and consider what answer I shall return to him who sent me. 24:14 David said to Gad, I am in distress. Let us fall now into the hand of Yahweh; for his mercies are great; and let me not fall into the hand of man. 24:15 So Yahweh sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning even to the time appointed; and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men. 24:16 When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, Yahweh relented of the disaster, and said to the angel who destroyed the people, It is enough; now stay your hand. The angel of Yahweh was by the thres.h.i.+ng floor of Araunah the Jebusite. 24:17 David spoke to Yahweh when he saw the angel who struck the people, and said, Behold, I have sinned, and I have done perversely; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me, and against my father's house. 24:18 Gad came that day to David, and said to him, Go up, rear an altar to Yahweh in the thres.h.i.+ng floor of Araunah the Jebusite. 24:19 David went up according to the saying of Gad, as Yahweh commanded. 24:20 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. 24:21 Araunah said, Why is my lord the king come to his servant? David said, To buy the thres.h.i.+ng floor of you, to build an altar to Yahweh, that the plague may be stopped from afflicting the people. 24:22 Araunah said to David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him: behold, the cattle for the burnt offering, and the thres.h.i.+ng instruments and the yokes of the oxen for the wood: 24:23 all this, king, does Araunah give to the king.

Araunah said to the king, Yahweh your G.o.d accept you. 24:24 The king said to Araunah, No; but I will most certainly buy it of you at a price.

Neither will I offer burnt offerings to Yahweh my G.o.d which cost me nothing. So David bought the thres.h.i.+ng floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 24:25 David built there an altar to Yahweh, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So Yahweh was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

The First Book of Kings

1:1 Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he got no heat. 1:2 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 cherish him; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may keep warm. 1:3 So they sought for a beautiful young lady throughout all the borders of Israel, and found Abis.h.a.g the Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 1:4 The young lady was very beautiful; and she cherished the king, and ministered to him; but the king didn't know her intimately. 1:5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and hors.e.m.e.n, and fifty men to run before him. 1:6 His father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why have you done so? and he was also a very goodly man; and he was born after Absalom. 1:7 He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him. 1:8 But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and s.h.i.+mei, and Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

1:9 Adonijah killed sheep and cattle and fatlings 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: 1:10 but Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he didn't call. 1:11 Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Haven't you heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith reigns, and David our lord doesn't know it? 1:12 Now therefore come, please let me give you counsel, that you may save your own life, and the life of your son Solomon. 1:13 Go and get you in to king David, and tell him, Didn't you, my lord, king, swear to your handmaid, saying, a.s.suredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne? why then does Adonijah reign? 1:14 Behold, while you yet talk there with the king, I also will come in after you, and confirm your words. 1:15 Bathsheba went in to the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abis.h.a.g the Shunammite was ministering to the king.

1:16 Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance to the king. The king said, What would you? 1:17 She said to him, My lord, you swore by Yahweh your G.o.d to your handmaid, saying, a.s.suredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne. 1:18 Now, behold, Adonijah reigns; and you, my lord the king, don't know it: 1:19 and he has slain cattle and fatlings 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 hasn't called Solomon your servant. 1:20 You, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, that you should tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 1:21 Otherwise it will happen, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders. 1:22 Behold, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet came in. 1:23 They told the king, saying, Behold, Nathan the prophet. When he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground. 1:24 Nathan said, My lord, king, have you said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne? 1:25 For he is gone down this day, and has slain cattle and fatlings 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, Long live king Adonijah. 1:26 But he hasn't called me, even me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon. 1:27 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and you haven't shown to your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him? 1:28 Then king David answered, Call to me Bathsheba.

She came into the king's presence, and stood before the king. 1:29 The king swore, and said, As Yahweh lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity, 1:30 most certainly as I swore to you by Yahweh, the G.o.d of Israel, saying, a.s.suredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place; most certainly so will I do this day. 1:31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did obeisance to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live forever.

1:32 King David said, Call to me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. They came before the king.

1:33 The king said to them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon: 1:34 and let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel; and blow you the trumpet, and say, Long live king Solomon. 1:35 Then you shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne; for he shall be king in my place; and I have appointed him to be prince over Israel and over Judah. 1:36 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: Yahweh, the G.o.d of my lord the king, say so too. 1:37 As Yahweh 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. 1:38 So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride on king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon. 1:39 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil out of the Tent, and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet; and all the people said, Long live king Solomon. 1:40 All the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth shook with the sound of them. 1:41 Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating.

When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Why is this noise of the city being in an uproar? 1:42 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. 1:43 Jonathan answered Adonijah, Most certainly our lord king David has made Solomon king: 1:44 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 on the king's mule; 1:45 and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon; and they are come up from there rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that you have heard. 1:46 Also Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom. 1:47 Moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, Your G.o.d make the name of Solomon better than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne: and the king bowed himself on the bed. 1:48 Also thus said the king, Blessed be Yahweh, the G.o.d of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne this day, my eyes even seeing it. 1:49 All the guests of Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way. 1:50 Adonijah feared because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. 1:51 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. 1:52 Solomon said, If he shall show himself a worthy man, there shall not a hair of him fall to the earth; but if wickedness be found in him, he shall die. 1:53 So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and did obeisance to king Solomon; and Solomon said to him, Go to your house.

2:1 Now the days of David drew near that he should die; and he commanded Solomon his son, saying, 2:2 I am going the way of all the earth: be you strong therefore, and show yourself a man; 2:3 and keep the instruction of Yahweh your G.o.d, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his ordinances, and his testimonies, according to that which is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do, and wherever you turn yourself. 2:4 That Yahweh may establish his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, If your children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you (said he) a man on the throne of Israel. 2:5 Moreover you know also 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 on his sash that was about his waist, and in his shoes that were on his feet. 2:6 Do therefore according to your wisdom, and don't let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace. 2:7 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. 2:8 Behold, there is with you s.h.i.+mei 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 Yahweh, saying, I will not put you to death with the sword. 2:9 Now therefore don't hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man; and you will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood. 2:10 David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David. 2:11 The days that David reigned over Israel were forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty-three years reigned he in Jerusalem. 2:12 Solomon sat on the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly. 2:13 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. She said, Come you peaceably? He said, Peaceably. 2:14 He said moreover, I have somewhat to tell you. She said, Say on. 2:15 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 is become my brother's; for it was his from Yahweh. 2:16 Now I ask one pet.i.tion of you; don't deny me. She said to him, Say on. 2:17 He said, "Please speak to Solomon the king (for he will not tell you 'no'), that he give me Abis.h.a.g the Shunammite as wife." 2:18 Bathsheba said, Well; I will speak for you to the king. 2:19 Bathsheba therefore went to king Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. 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. 2:20 Then she said, I ask one small pet.i.tion of you; don't deny me. The king said to her, Ask on, my mother; for I will not deny you. 2:21 She said, Let Abis.h.a.g the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife. 2:22 King Solomon answered his mother, Why do you ask Abis.h.a.g 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. 2:23 Then king Solomon swore by Yahweh, saying, G.o.d do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life. 2:24 Now therefore as Yahweh lives, who has established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as he promised, surely Adonijah shall be put to death this day. 2:25 King Solomon sent by Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell on him, so that he died. 2:26 To Abiathar the priest said the king, Get you 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 bear the ark of the Lord Yahweh before David my father, and because you were afflicted in all in which my father was afflicted. 2:27 So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest to Yahweh, that he might fulfill the word of Yahweh, which he spoke concerning the house of Eli in s.h.i.+loh. 2:28 The news came to Joab; for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he didn't turn after Absalom.

Joab fled to the Tent of Yahweh, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. 2:29 It was told king Solomon, Joab is fled to the Tent of Yahweh, and behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall on him. 2:30 Benaiah came to the Tent of Yahweh, and said to him, Thus says the king, Come forth. He said, No; but I will die here. Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me. 2:31 The king said to him, Do as he has said, and fall on him, and bury him; that you may take away the blood, which Joab shed without cause, from me and from my father's house. 2:32 Yahweh will return his blood on his own head, because he fell on two men more righteous and better than he, and killed them with the sword, and my father David didn't know it, to wit, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the army of Judah. 2:33 So shall their blood return on the head of Joab, and on the head of his seed forever: but to David, and to his seed, and to his house, and to his throne, shall there be peace for ever from Yahweh. 2:34 Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell on him, and killed him; and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness. 2:35 The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the army; and Zadok the priest did the king put in the room of Abiathar. 2:36 The king sent and called for s.h.i.+mei, and said to him, Build yourself a house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and don't go forth from there any where. 2:37 For on the day you go out, and pa.s.s over the brook Kidron, know you for certain that you shall surely die: your blood shall be on your own head. 2:38 s.h.i.+mei said to the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king has said, so will your servant do. s.h.i.+mei lived in Jerusalem many days. 2:39 It happened at the end of three years, that two of the servants of s.h.i.+mei ran away to Achish, son of Maacah, king of Gath. They told s.h.i.+mei, saying, Behold, your servants are in Gath. 2:40 s.h.i.+mei arose, and saddled his donkey, and went to Gath to Achish, to seek his servants; and s.h.i.+mei went, and brought his servants from Gath. 2:41 It was told Solomon that s.h.i.+mei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again. 2:42 The king sent and called for s.h.i.+mei, and said to him, Didn't I adjure you by Yahweh, and protest to you, saying, Know for certain, that on the day you go out, and walk abroad any where, you shall surely die? and you said to me, The saying that I have heard is good. 2:43 Why then have you not kept the oath of Yahweh, and the commandment that I have instructed you with? 2:44 The king said moreover to s.h.i.+mei, You know all the wickedness which your heart is privy to, that you did to David my father: therefore Yahweh shall return your wickedness on your own head. 2:45 But king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before Yahweh forever. 2:46 So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he went out, and fell on him, so that he died. The kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

3:1 Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of Yahweh, and the wall of Jerusalem all around. 3:2 Only the people sacrificed in the high places, because there was no house built for the name of Yahweh until those days. 3:3 Solomon loved Yahweh, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places. 3:4 The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer on that altar. 3:5 In Gibeon Yahweh appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and G.o.d said, Ask what I shall give you. 3:6 Solomon said, You have shown to your servant David my father great loving kindness, according as he walked before you in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with you; and you have kept for him this great loving kindness, that you have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 3:7 Now, Yahweh my G.o.d, you have made your servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child; I don't know how to go out or come in. 3:8 Your servant is in the midst of your people which you have chosen, a great people, that can't be numbered nor counted for mult.i.tude. 3:9 Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this your great people? 3:10 The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 3:11 G.o.d said to him, Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life, neither have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice; 3:12 behold, I have done according to your word: behold, I have given you a wise and an understanding heart; so that there has been none like you before you, neither after you shall any arise like you. 3:13 I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there shall not be any among the kings like you, all your days.

3:14 If you will walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as your father David did walk, then I will lengthen your days. 3:15 Solomon awoke; and behold, it was a dream: and he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants. 3:16 Then there came two women who were prost.i.tutes, to the king, and stood before him. 3:17 The one woman said, Oh, my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house. 3:18 It happened the third day after I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also; and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.

3:19 This woman's child died in the night, because she lay on it. 3:20 She arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while your handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. 3:21 When I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead; but when I had looked at it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, whom I bore. 3:22 The other woman said, No; but the living is my son, and the dead is your son. This said, No; but the dead is your son, and the living is my son. Thus they spoke before the king. 3:23 Then said the king, The one says, This is my son who lives, and your son is the dead: and the other says, No; but your son is the dead, and my son is the living. 3:24 The king said, Get me a sword. They brought a sword before the king. 3:25 The king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other. 3:26 Then spoke the woman whose the living child was to the king, for her heart yearned over her son, and she said, Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and in no way kill it. But the other said, It shall be neither mine nor yours; divide it. 3:27 Then the king answered, Give her the living child, and in no way kill it: she is its mother. 3:28 All Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of G.o.d was in him, to do justice.

4:1 King Solomon was king over all Israel. 4:2 These were the princes whom he had: Azariah the son of Zadok, the priest; 4:3 Elih.o.r.eph and Ahijah, the sons of s.h.i.+sha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder; 4:4 and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the army; and Zadok and Abiathar were priests; 4:5 and Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; and Zabud the son of Nathan was chief minister, and the king's friend; 4:6 and Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the men subject to forced labor. 4:7 Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household: each man had to make provision for a month in the year.

4:8 These are their names: Ben Hur, in the hill country of Ephraim; 4:9 Ben Deker, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Beth Shemesh, and Elon Beth Hanan; 4:10 Ben Hesed, in Arubboth (to him pertained Socoh, and all the land of Hepher); 4:11 Ben Abinadab, in all the height of Dor (he had Taphath the daughter of Solomon as wife); 4:12 Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth Shean which is beside Zarethan, beneath Jezreel, from Beth Shean to Abel Meholah, as far as beyond Jokmeam; 4:13 Ben Geber, in Ramoth Gilead (to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Mana.s.seh, which are in Gilead; even to him pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars); 4:14 Ahinadab the son of Iddo, in Mahanaim; 4:15 Ahimaaz, in Naphtali (he also took Basemath the daughter of Solomon as wife); 4:16 Baana the son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth; 4:17 Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar; 4:18 s.h.i.+mei the son of Ela, in Benjamin; 4:19 Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan; and he was the only officer who was in the land. 4:20 Judah and Israel were many as the sand which is by the sea in mult.i.tude, eating and drinking and making merry.

4:21 Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt: they brought tribute, and served Solomon all the days of his life. 4:22 Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and sixty measures of meal, 4:23 ten head of fat cattle, and twenty head of cattle out of the pastures, and one hundred sheep, besides harts, and gazelles, and roebucks, and fattened fowl. 4:24 For he had dominion over all the region on this side the River, from Tiphsah even to Gaza, over all the kings on this side the River: and he had peace on all sides around him.

4:25 Judah and Israel lived safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. 4:26 Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand hors.e.m.e.n. 4:27 Those officers provided food for king Solomon, and for all who came to king Solomon's table, every man in his month; they let nothing be lacking. 4:28 Barley also and straw for the horses and swift steeds brought they to the place where the officers were, every man according to his duty. 4:29 G.o.d gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and very great understanding, even as the sand that is on the seash.o.r.e. 4:30 Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east, and all the wisdom of Egypt. 4:31 For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all the nations all around. 4:32 He spoke three thousand proverbs; and his songs were one thousand five. 4:33 He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, and of birds, and of creeping things, and of fish. 4:34 There came of all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.

5:1 Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David. 5:2 Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, 5:3 You know how that David my father could not build a house for the name of Yahweh his G.o.d for the wars which were about him on every side, until Yahweh put them under the soles of his feet. 5:4 But now Yahweh my G.o.d has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary, nor evil occurrence. 5:5 Behold, I purpose to build a house for the name of Yahweh my G.o.d, as Yahweh spoke to David my father, saying, Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your room, he shall build the house for my name. 5:6 Now therefore command you that they cut me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with your servants; and I will give you hire for your servants according to all that you shall say: for you know that there is not among us any who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians. 5:7 It happened, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be Yahweh this day, who has given to David a wise son over this great people. 5:8 Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have heard the message which you have sent to me: I will do all your desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir. 5:9 My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon to the sea; and I will make them into rafts to go by sea to the place that you shall appoint me, and will cause them to be broken up there, and you shall receive them; and you shall accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household. 5:10 So Hiram gave Solomon timber of cedar and timber of fir according to all his desire. 5:11 Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year. 5:12 Yahweh gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together. 5:13 King Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men. 5:14 He sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses; a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home; and Adoniram was over the men subject to forced labor. 5:15 Solomon had seventy thousand who bore burdens, and eighty thousand who were stone cutters in the mountains; 5:16 besides Solomon's chief officers who were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, who bore rule over the people who labored in the work. 5:17 The king commanded, and they cut out great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with worked stone. 5:18 Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the Gebalites did fas.h.i.+on them, and prepared the timber and the stones to build the house.

6:1 It happened in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Ziv, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of Yahweh. 6:2 The house which king Solomon built for Yahweh, its length was sixty cubits, and its breadth twenty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. 6:3 The porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was its length, according to the breadth of the house; and ten cubits was its breadth before the house. 6:4 For the house he made windows of fixed lattice work. 6:5 Against the wall of the house he built stories all around, against the walls of the house all around, both of the temple and of the oracle; and he made side chambers all around. 6:6 The nethermost story was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad; for on the outside he made offsets in the wall of the house all around, that the beams should not have hold in the walls of the house. 6:7 The house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready at the quarry; and there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building. 6:8 The door for the middle side chambers was in the right side of the house: and they went up by winding stairs into the middle story, and out of the middle into the third. 6:9 So he built the house, and finished it; and he covered the house with beams and planks of cedar. 6:10 He built the stories against all the house, each five cubits high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar. 6:11 The word of Yahweh came to Solomon, saying, 6:12 Concerning this house which you are building, if you will walk in my statutes, and execute my ordinances, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I establish my word with you, which I spoke to David your father. 6:13 I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel. 6:14 So Solomon built the house, and finished it. 6:15 He built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar: from the floor of the house to the walls of the ceiling, he covered them on the inside with wood; and he covered the floor of the house with boards of fir. 6:16 He built twenty cubits on the hinder part of the house with boards of cedar from the floor to the walls of the ceiling: he built them for it within, for an oracle, even for the most holy place. 6:17 The house, that is, the temple before the oracle, was forty cubits long. 6:18 There was cedar on the house within, carved with buds and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen. 6:19 He prepared an oracle in the midst of the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of Yahweh. 6:20 Within the oracle was a s.p.a.ce of twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in its height; and he overlaid it with pure gold: and he covered the altar with cedar. 6:21 So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he drew chains of gold across before the oracle; and he overlaid it with gold. 6:22 The whole house he overlaid with gold, until all the house was finished: also the whole altar that belonged to the oracle he overlaid with gold. 6:23 In the oracle he made two cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits high. 6:24 Five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing to the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits. 6:25 The other cherub was ten cubits: both the cherubim were of one measure and one form. 6:26 The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was it of the other cherub. 6:27 He set the cherubim within the inner house; and the wings of the cherubim were stretched forth, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house. 6:28 He overlaid the cherubim with gold. 6:29 He carved all the walls of the house around with carved figures of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, inside and outside. 6:30 The floor of the house he overlaid with gold, inside and outside. 6:31 For the entrance of the oracle he made doors of olive wood: the lintel and door posts were a fifth part of the wall. 6:32 So he made two doors of olive wood; and he carved on them carvings of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold; and he spread the gold on the cherubim, and on the palm trees. 6:33 So also made he for the entrance of the temple door posts of olive wood, out of a fourth part of the wall; 6:34 and two doors of fir wood: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding. 6:35 He carved thereon cherubim and palm trees and open flowers; and he overlaid them with gold fitted on the engraved work. 6:36 He built the inner court with three courses of cut stone, and a course of cedar beams. 6:37 In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of Yahweh laid, in the month Ziv. 6:38 In the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all its parts, and according to all its fas.h.i.+on. So was he seven years in building it.

7:1 Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house. 7:2 For he built the house of the forest of Lebanon; its length was one hundred cubits, and its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits, on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on the pillars. 7:3 It was covered with cedar above over the forty-five beams, that were on the pillars; fifteen in a row. 7:4 There were beams in three rows, and window was over against window in three ranks. 7:5 All the doors and posts were made square with beams: and window was over against window in three ranks. 7:6 He made the porch of pillars; its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth thirty cubits; and a porch before them; and pillars and a threshold before them. 7:7 He made the porch of the throne where he was to judge, even the porch of judgment: and it was covered with cedar from floor to floor. 7:8 His house where he was to dwell, the other court within the porch, was of the like work.

He made also a house for Pharaoh's daughter (whom Solomon had taken as wife), like this porch. 7:9 All these were of costly stones, even of cut stone, according to measure, sawed with saws, inside and outside, even from the foundation to the coping, and so on the outside to the great court. 7:10 The foundation was of costly stones, even great stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits. 7:11 Above were costly stones, even cut stone, according to measure, and cedar wood. 7:12 The great court around had three courses of cut stone, and a course of cedar beams; like as the inner court of the house of Yahweh, and the porch of the house. 7:13 King Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre. 7:14 He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bra.s.s; and he was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill, to work all works in bra.s.s. He came to king Solomon, and performed all his work. 7:15 For he fas.h.i.+oned the two pillars of bra.s.s, eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits encircled either of them about. 7:16 He made two capitals of molten bra.s.s, to set on the tops of the pillars: the height of the one capital was five cubits, and the height of the other capital was five cubits. 7:17 There were nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work, for the capitals which were on the top of the pillars; seven for the one capital, and seven for the other capital. 7:18 So he made the pillars; and there were two rows around on the one network, to cover the capitals that were on the top of the pillars: and so did he for the other capital. 7:19 The capitals that were on the top of the pillars in the porch were of lily work, four cubits. 7:20 There were capitals above also on the two pillars, close by the belly which was beside the network: and the pomegranates were two hundred, in rows around on the other capital. 7:21 He set up the pillars at the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called its name Jachin; and he set up the left pillar, and called its name Boaz. 7:22 On the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished. 7:23 He made the molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compa.s.s, and its height was five cubits; and a line of thirty cubits encircled it. 7:24 Under its brim around there were buds which encircled it, for ten cubits, encircling the sea: the buds were in two rows, cast when it was cast. 7:25 It stood on twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east; and the sea was set on them above, and all their hinder parts were inward. 7:26 It was a handbreadth thick: and its brim was worked like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily: it held two thousand baths. 7:27 He made the ten bases of bra.s.s; four cubits was the length of one base, and four cubits its breadth, and three cubits its height. 7:28 The work of the bases was on this manner: they had panels; and there were panels between the ledges; 7:29 and on the panels that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, and cherubim; and on the ledges there was a pedestal above; and beneath the lions and oxen were wreaths of hanging work. 7:30 Every base had four bronze wheels, and axles of bra.s.s; and the four feet of it had supports: beneath the basin were the supports molten, with wreaths at the side of each. 7:31 The mouth of it within the capital and above was a cubit: and its mouth was round after the work of a pedestal, a cubit and a half; and also on its mouth were engravings, and their panels were foursquare, not round. 7:32 The four wheels were underneath the panels; and the axles of the wheels were in the base: and the height of a wheel was a cubit and half a cubit. 7:33 The work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel: their axles, and their rims, and their spokes, and their naves, were all molten. 7:34 There were four supports at the four corners of each base: its supports were of the base itself. 7:35 In the top of the base was there a round compa.s.s half a cubit high; and on the top of the base its stays and its panels were of the same. 7:36 On the plates of its stays, and on its panels, he engraved cherubim, lions, and palm trees, according to the s.p.a.ce of each, with wreaths all around.

7:37 After this manner he made the ten bases: all of them had one casting, one measure, and one form. 7:38 He made ten basins of bra.s.s: one basin contained forty baths; and every basin was four cubits; and on very one of the ten bases one basin. 7:39 He set the bases, five on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward, toward the south.

7:40 Hiram made the basins, and the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he worked for king Solomon in the house of Yahweh: 7:41 the two pillars, and the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars; and the two networks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars; 7:42 and the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks; two rows of pomegranates for each network, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the pillars; 7:43 and the ten bases, and the ten basins on the bases; 7:44 and the one sea, and the twelve oxen under the sea; 7:45 and the pots, and the shovels, and the basins: even all these vessels, which Hiram made for king Solomon, in the house of Yahweh, were of burnished bra.s.s. 7:46 In the plain of the Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarethan. 7:47 Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because they were exceeding many: the weight of the bra.s.s could not be found out. 7:48 Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of Yahweh: the golden altar, and the table whereupon the show bread was, of gold; 7:49 and the lampstands, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, of pure gold; and the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, of gold; 7:50 and the cups, and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the fire pans, of pure gold; and the hinges, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, to wit, of the temple, of gold. 7:51 Thus all the work that king Solomon worked in the house of Yahweh was finished. Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated, even the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, and put them in the treasuries of the house of Yahweh.

8:1 Then Solomon a.s.sembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers' houses of the children of Israel, to king Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh out of the city of David, which is Zion. 8:2 All the men of Israel a.s.sembled themselves to king Solomon at the feast, in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. 8:3 All the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark. 8:4 They brought up the ark of Yahweh, and the Tent of Meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the Tent; even these did the priests and the Levites bring up. 8:5 King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who were a.s.sembled to him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and cattle, that could not be counted nor numbered for mult.i.tude. 8:6 The priests brought in the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to its place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubim. 8:7 For the cherubim spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and its poles above. 8:8 The poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the holy place before the oracle; but they were not seen outside: and there they are to this day.

8:9 There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone which Moses put there at h.o.r.eb, when Yahweh made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. 8:10 It came to pa.s.s, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of Yahweh, 8:11 so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for the glory of Yahweh filled the house of Yahweh. 8:12 Then spoke Solomon, Yahweh has said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. 8:13 I have surely built you a house of habitation, a place for you to dwell in forever. 8:14 The king turned his face about, and blessed all the a.s.sembly of Israel: and all the a.s.sembly of Israel stood. 8:15 He said, Blessed be Yahweh, the G.o.d of Israel, who spoke with his mouth to David your father, and has with his hand fulfilled it, saying, 8:16 Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house, that my name might be there; but I chose David to be over my people Israel. 8:17 Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of Yahweh, the G.o.d of Israel. 8:18 But Yahweh said to David my father, Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart: 8:19 nevertheless you shall not build the house; but your son who shall come forth out of your body, he shall build the house for my name. 8:20 Yahweh has established his word that he spoke; for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as Yahweh promised, and have built the house for the name of Yahweh, the G.o.d of Israel. 8:21 There have I set a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of Yahweh, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt. 8:22 Solomon stood before the altar of Yahweh in the presence of all the a.s.sembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven; 8:23 and he said, Yahweh, the G.o.d of Israel, there is no G.o.d like you, in heaven above, or on earth beneath; who keep covenant and loving kindness with your servants, who walk before you with all their heart; 8:24 who have kept with your servant David my father that which you did promise him: yes, you spoke with your mouth, and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is this day. 8:25 Now therefore, Yahweh, the G.o.d of Israel, keep with your servant David my father that which you have promised him, saying, There shall not fail you a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children take heed to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me. 8:26 Now therefore, G.o.d of Israel, Please let your word be verified, which you spoke to your servant David my father. 8:27 But will G.o.d in very deed dwell on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can't contain you; how much less this house that I have built!

8:28 Yet have respect for the prayer of your servant, and for his supplication, Yahweh my G.o.d, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which your servant prays before you this day; 8:29 that your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which you have said, My name shall be there; to listen to the prayer which your servant shall pray toward this place. 8:30 Listen you to the supplication of your servant, and of your people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: yes, hear in heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive. 8:31 If a man sin against his neighbor, and an oath be laid on him to cause him to swear, and he come and swear before your altar in this house; 8:32 then hear you in heaven, and do, and judge your servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness. 8:33 When your people Israel are struck down before the enemy, because they have sinned against you; if they turn again to you, and confess your name, and pray and make supplication to you in this house: 8:34 then hear you in heaven, and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them again to the land which you gave to their fathers. 8:35 When the sky is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against you; if they pray toward this place, and confess your name, and turn from their sin, when you do afflict them: 8:36 then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants, and of your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on your land, which you have given to your people for an inheritance. 8:37 If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, if there is blight or mildew, locust or caterpillar; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatever plague, whatever sickness there be; 8:38 whatever prayer and supplication be made by any man, or by all your people Israel, who shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house: 8:39 then hear in heaven, your dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and render to every man according to all his ways, whose heart you know; (for you, even you only, know the hearts of all the children of men;) 8:40 that they may fear you all the days that they live in the land which you gave to our fathers. 8:41 Moreover concerning the foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, when he shall come out of a far country for your name's sake 8:42 (for they shall hear of your great name, and of your mighty hand, and of your outstretched arm); when he shall come and pray toward this house; 8:43 hear in heaven, your dwelling place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you for; that all the peoples of the earth may know your name, to fear you,