Bible in 90 Days
21 Then, the people of Israel were divided into two parts: half the people followed Tibni, the son of Ginath, to make him king, and the other half followed Omri.
22 But the people who followed Omri prevailed against the people who followed Tibni, the son of Ginath. So Tibni died and Omri reigned.
23 During the thirty-one years of Asa, king of Judah, Omri began to reign over Israel, for twelve years. For six years he reigned in Tirzah.
24 And he bought the mountain, Samaria, from one Shemer for two talents of silver. And he built on the mountain and called the name of the city which he built after the name of Shemer, lord of the mountain: Samaria.
25 But Omri did evil in the Eyes of the LORD and did worse than all who were before him.
26 For he walked in all the ways of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, and in his sins with which he made Israel sin in provoking the LORD God of Israel with their vanities.
27 And the rest of the acts of Omri that he did, and his strength that he showed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
28 And Omri slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. And Ahab, his son, reigned in his place.
29 Now Ahab, the son of Omri, began to reign over Israel, during the thirty-eight years of Asa, king of Judah. And Ahab, the son of Omri, reigned over Israel in Samaria for twenty-two years.
30 And Ahab, the son of Omri, did worse in the sight of the LORD than all who were before him.
31 For as it happened, it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. For he also took Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians, as a wife, and went and served Baal and worshipped him.
32 Also, he raised up an altar to Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.
33 And Ahab made a grove. And Ahab proceeded, and provoked the LORD God of Israel more than all the kings of Israel who were before him.
34 In his days, Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho. He laid its foundation in Abiram, his eldest son, and set up its gates in his youngest son, Segub, according to the Word of the LORD which He spoke by Joshua, the son of Nun.
17 And Elijah the Tishbite, one of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD God of Israel lives, before Whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, but according to my Word.”
2 And the Word of the LORD came to him, saying:
3 “Go, and turn eastward, and hide yourself near the river, Cherith, that faces Jordan.
4 “And you shall drink from the river. And I have Commanded the ravens to feed you there.”
5 So he went and did according to the Word of the LORD. For he went and remained by the river, Cherith, that faces Jordan.
6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening. And he drank from the river.
7 And after a while, the river dried up, because no rain fell upon the Earth.
8 And the Word of the LORD came to him, saying:
9 “Up! Get to Zarephath, which is in Sidon, and remain there. Behold, I have Commanded a widow there to sustain you.”
10 So, he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow was there, gathering sticks. And he called her, and said, “Please bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink.”
11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”
12 And she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I do not have a cake, but only a handful of meal in a barrel and a little oil in a jar. And behold, I am gathering a few sticks with which to go in and prepare it for me and my son, so that we may eat it, and die.”
13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear. Come, do as you have said. But make me a little cake from it first and bring it to me. And afterward make some for you and your son.
14 “For thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘The meal in the barrel shall not be finished, nor shall the oil in the jar be depleted, until the time that the LORD sends rain upon the Earth.’”
15 So she went and did as Elijah said. And she ate. So did he and her house for a certain time.
16 The barrel of the meal was not used up, nor was the oil in the jar finished, according to the Word of the LORD which He spoke by the hand of Elijah.
17 And after these things, the son of the wife of the house fell sick. And his sickness was so severe that there was no breath left in him.
18 And she said to Elijah, “What have I to do with you, O you man of God? Have you come to me to call my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?”
19 And he said to her, “Give me your son.” And he took him out of her bosom and carried him up into a chamber where he was staying and laid him upon his own bed.
20 Then he called to the LORD, and said, “O LORD, my God! Have You also punished this widow with whom I sojourn by killing her son?”
21 And he stretched himself upon the child three times and called to the LORD, and said, “O LORD my God! I pray, let this child’s soul come into him again.”
22 Then the LORD heard the voice of Elijah. And the soul of the child came into him again. And he revived.
23 And Elijah took the child and brought him down, out of the chamber, into the house, and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, “Behold, your son lives.”
24 And the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the Word of the LORD in your mouth is true!”
18 After many days, the Word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the Earth.”
2 And Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. and a great famine was in Samaria.
3 And Ahab called Obadiah, the governor of his House. And Obadiah feared God greatly.
4 For when Jezebel destroyed the Prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred Prophets and hid them in a cave, by fifties. And he fed them with bread and water.
5 And Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go into the land, to all the fountains of water, and to all the rivers, if so be that we may find grass to save the horses and the mules alive, lest we deprive the land of the beasts.”
6 And so, they divided the land between them, to walk through it. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7 And as Obadiah was on the road, behold, Elijah met him. And he knew him and fell on his face, and said, “Are not you my lord, Elijah?”
8 And he answered him, “Yes. Go tell your lord, ‘Behold, Elijah.’”
9 And he said, “What have I sinned, that you would deliver your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me?
10 “As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you. And when they said, ‘He is not here,’ he took an oath of the kingdom or nation that they had not found you.
11 “And now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah.”’
12 “And when I have gone from you, the Spirit of the LORD shall carry you into some place that I do not know. So, when I come and tell Ahab, if he cannot find you, then he will kill me! But I, your servant, fear the LORD from my youth.
13 “Was it not told to my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the Prophets of the LORD? How I hid a hundred men of the LORD’s Prophets by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water?
14 “And now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah,”’ so that he may kill me.’
15 And Elijah said, “As the LORD of Hosts lives, before Whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him this day.”
16 So, Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him. And Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17 And when Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Are you he who troubles Israel?”
18 And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but rather you and your father’s House, in that you have forsaken the Commandments of the LORD, and you have followed Baal.
19 “Now, therefore, send and gather to me all Israel to Mount Carmel, and the four hundred fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of the groves who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
20 So, Ahab sent to all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together to Mount Carmel.
21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is, then go after him.” And the people did not answer him a word.
22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I only remain as a Prophet of the LORD! But Baal’s prophets are four hundred fifty men!
23 “Let them, therefore, give us two bulls! And let them choose one, and cut him in pieces, and lay him on the wood! But put no fire! And I will prepare the other bull, and lay him on the wood, and will put no fire!
24 “Then you call on the name of your god! And I will call on the Name of the LORD! And then the God Who answers by fire, let him be God!” And all the people answered, and said, “It is well spoken!”
25 And Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose a bull for yourselves, and prepare him first (for you are many) and call on the name of your gods. But put no fire.”
26 So, they took the one bull that was given to them. And they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning to noon, saying, “O Baal! Hear us!” But there was no voice, nor anyone to answer. And they leapt upon the altar that was made.
27 And at noon, Elijah mocked them, and said, “Cry aloud. For he is a god. Either he talks or pursues or is on a journey. Or it may be that he sleeps, and must be awakened?”
28 And they cried loudly and cut themselves (as their manner was) with knives and lancers, until the blood gushed out upon them.
29 And when midday had passed, and they had prophesied until the offering of the sacrifice, there was neither voice nor one to answer nor any who paid attention.
30 And Elijah said to all the people, “Come to me!” And all the people came to him. And he repaired the Altar of the LORD that had broken down.
31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob (to whom the Word of the LORD came, saying, “Israel shall be your name”).
32 And with the stones he built an Altar in the Name of the LORD. And he made a ditch all around the Altar, as great as could contain two seahs of seed.
33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bull in pieces, and laid him on the wood,
34 and said, “Fill four barrels with water and pour it upon the Burnt Offering and on the wood.” Again, he said, “Do so again.” And they did so a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it a third time.
35 And the water ran all around the Altar. And he filled the ditch with water also.
36 And when they were to offer the sacrifice, Elijah the Prophet came and said, “LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel! Let it be known this day, that You are the God of Israel, and that I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your Commandment!
37 “Hear me, O LORD, hear me! And let this people know that You are the LORD God! And that You have turned their hearts back again!”
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the Burnt Offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the ditch.
39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces, and said, “The LORD is God! The LORD is God!”
40 And Elijah said to them, “Take the prophets of Baal! Do not let a man of them escape!” And they took them. And Elijah brought them to the brook Kishon and killed them there.
41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “Get up. Eat and drink. For there is a sound of much rain.”
42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel. And he crouched to the earth, and put his face between his knees,
43 and said to his servant, “Go up, now, and look toward the way of the sea.” And he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” Again, he said, “Go back seven times.”
44 And on the seventh time, he said, “Behold, there arises a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand.” Then he said, “Up! And say to Ahab, ‘Make ready. And get yourself down, so that the rain does not stop you.’”
45 And in the meantime, the sky was black with clouds and wind. And there was a heavy rain. Then Ahab went up and came to Jezreel.
46 And the Hand of the LORD was on Elijah. And he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab until he came to Jezreel.
19 Now Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “The gods do so to me and more also if I do not make your life like one of their lives by tomorrow at this time.”
3 When he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and came to Beersheba (which is in Judah) and left his servant there.
4 But he went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a Juniper tree, and desired that he might die, and said, “It is now enough! O LORD, take my soul. For I am no better than my fathers.”
5 And as he lay, and slept under the Juniper tree, behold, now, an Angel touched him, and said to him, “Up. Eat.”
6 And when he looked around, behold, there was a cake, baked on the coals, and a pot of water, by his head. So he ate and drank and returned and slept.
7 And the Angel of the LORD came again a second time, and touched him, and said, “Up. Eat. For you have a great journey.”
8 Then he arose and ate and drank and walked in the strength of that food for forty days and forty nights, to Horeb, the Mount of God.
9 And he entered into a cave there and lodged there. And behold, the LORD spoke to him, and said to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 And he answered, “I have been very jealous for the LORD God of Hosts. For the children of Israel have forsaken Your Covenant, broken down Your Altars, and killed Your Prophets with the sword. And I alone am left. And they seek my life, to take it away.”
11 And He said, “Come out and stand upon the Mount, before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD went by. And a mighty, strong wind tore the mountains and broke the rocks before the LORD. The LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind came an earthquake. The LORD was not in the earthquake.
12 And after the earthquake came fire. The LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still and soft voice.
13 And when Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his cloak and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 And he answered, “I have been very jealous for the LORD God of Hosts, because the children of Israel have forsaken Your Covenant, cast down Your Altars, and killed Your Prophets with the sword. And I alone am left. And they seek my life, to take it away.”
15 And the LORD said to him, “Go. Return by the wilderness to Damascus. And when you come, anoint Hazael king over Aram.
16 “And Jehu, the son of Nimshi, shall you anoint king over Israel. And Elisha, the son of Shaphat, of Abel Meholah, shall you anoint to be Prophet in your room.
17 “And he who escapes from the sword of Hazael, shall Jehu kill. And he who escapes from the sword of Jehu, shall Elisha kill.
18 “Still, I will leave seven thousand in Israel: all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
19 So he departed from there and found Elisha, the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yokes of oxen in front of him and was with the twelfth. And Elijah went towards him and cast his cloak upon him.
20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” Who answered him, “Go back. For what have I done to you?”
21 And when he went back from him again, he took a couple of oxen and killed them and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen and gave to the people and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and ministered to him.
20 Then Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram, assembled all his army, and thirty-two kings with him, with horses and chariots, and went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it.
2 And he sent messengers to Ahab, king of Israel, into the city,
3 and said to him, “Thus says Ben-Hadad, ‘Your silver and your gold is mine. Also, your women and your fair children are mine.’”
4 And the king of Israel answered, and said, “My lord king, according to your saying, I am yours, and all that I have.”
5 And when the messengers came back, they said, “Thus commands Ben-Hadad, and says, ‘When I shall send to you and command, you shall deliver to me your silver and your gold and your women and your children.
6 ‘Or else, I will send my servants to you by tomorrow at this time, and they shall search your house, and the houses of your servants, and whatever is pleasant in your eyes they shall take it in their hands and bring it away.’”
7 Then the king of Israel sent for all the elders of the land, and said, “Take heed, please, and see how he seeks mischief. For he sent to me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold. And I did not deny him.”
8 And all the elders and all the people said to him, “Do not listen to him, or consent.”
9 Therefore he said to the messengers of Ben-Hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you sent for to your servant the first time, that I will do. But this thing I cannot do.’” And the messengers departed and brought him an answer.
10 And Ben-Hadad sent to him, and said, “The gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria is enough for every man who follows me to have a handful.”
11 And the king of Israel answered, and said, “Tell him, ‘Do not let him who girds his harness boast of himself just as he who takes it off.’”
12 And when he heard that news, as he was with the kings drinking in the pavilions, he said to the servants, “Make ready.” And they set themselves against the city.
13 And behold, there came a Prophet to Ahab, king of Israel, saying, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand this day, so that you may know that I am the LORD.’”
14 And Ahab said, “By whom?” And he said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘By the servants of the princes of the provinces.’” He said again, “Who shall order the battle?” And he answered, “You.”
15 Then he mustered the servants of the princes of the provinces. And there were two hundred thirty-two. And after them, he mustered the whole people of all the children of Israel: seven thousand.
16 And they went out at noon. But Ben-Hadad drank in the tents, until he was drunk, he and the kings. Thirty-two kings helped him.
17 So, the servants of the princes of the provinces went out first. And Ben-Hadad sent out. And they told him, saying, “There are men who came out of Samaria.”
18 And he said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive. Or if they have come out to fight, still take them alive.”
19 So they came out of the city, the servants of the princes of the provinces, and the army which followed them.
20 And each one killed his enemy. And the Aramites fled. And Israel pursued them. But Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram, escaped on a horse, with horsemen.
21 And the king of Israel went out and struck the horses and chariots and killed the Aramites with a great slaughter.
22 (For there had come a Prophet to the king of Israel, and had said to him, “Go. Be of good courage. And consider and take heed to what you do. For when the year has gone around, the king of Aram will come up against you.”)
23 Then the servants of the king of Aram said to him, “Their gods are gods of the mountains, and therefore they overcame us. But let us fight against them on the plain, and doubtless we shall overcome them.
24 “And do this: take the kings away, each one out of his place, and place captains for them.
25 “And muster an army for yourself, like the army that you have lost, with the same horses and the same chariots, and we will fight against them on the plain. And doubtless we shall overcome them.” And he listened to their voice and did so.
26 And after the year had gone around, Ben-Hadad mustered the Aramites, and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.
27 And the children of Israel were mustered and were all assembled and went against them. And the children of Israel camped before them, like two little flocks of kids. But the Aramites filled the country.
28 And a man of God came and spoke to the king of Israel, saying, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Because the Aramites have said, “The LORD is the God of the mountains, and not God of the valleys,” I will therefore deliver all this great multitude into your hand. And you shall know that I am the LORD.’”
29 And they camped opposite each other for seven days. And on the seventh day, the battle was joined. And the children of Israel killed a hundred thousand Aramite footmen in one day.
30 But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city. And a wall fell upon twenty-seven thousand men who were left. And Ben-Hadad fled into the city and came into a secret chamber.
31 And his servants said to him, “Behold, now, we have heard say that the kings of the House of Israel are merciful kings. Please, let us put sackcloth around our loins, and ropes around our heads, and go out to the king of Israel. It may be that he will spare your life.”
32 Then they girded sackcloth around their loins, and ropes around their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, “Your servant Ben-Hadad says, ‘Please let me live.’” And he said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”
33 Now the men took diligent care, for they were anxious to perceive something more, and said, “Your brother, Ben-Hadad!” And he said, “Go. Bring him.” So, Ben-Hadad came out to him. And he had him brought up into the chariot.
34 And Ben-Hadad said to him, “The cities which my father took from your father, I will restore. And you shall make streets for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” Then Ahab said, “I will let you go with this covenant.” So, he made a covenant with him and let him go.
35 Then, a certain man of the children of the Prophets said to his neighbor by the Commandment of the LORD, “Strike me, please!” But the man refused to strike him.
36 Then he said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the Voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as you have departed from me, a lion shall kill you.” So, after he had departed from him, a lion found him and killed him.
37 Then he found another man, and said, “Strike me, please!” And the man struck him. And in smiting, wounded him.
38 So, the Prophet departed and waited for the king by the road and disguised himself with ashes upon his face.
39 And when the king came by, he cried to the king, and said, “Your servant went into the midst of the battle, and behold, there went away a man whom another man brought to me, and said, ‘Guard this man. If he is lost for any reason, your life shall go for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.’
40 “And as your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” And the king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be. You have given sentence.”
41 And he hurried and took the ashes away from his face. And the king of Israel knew him, that he was of the Prophets.
42 And he said to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Because you have let go out of your hands a man whom I appointed to die, your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.”
43 And the king of Israel went to his house, heavy and in displeasure, and came to Samaria.
21 After these things, Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, near the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria.
2 And Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyard, so that I may make myself a garden of herbs from it, because it is nearby my house. And I will give you a better vineyard for it than what you have. Or if you prefer, I will give you its worth in money.”
3 And Naboth said to Ahab, “The LORD keep me from giving the inheritance of my father to you.”
4 Then Ahab came into his house, heavy and in displeasure because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him. For he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay upon his bed and turned his face and would eat no bread.
5 Then Jezebel, his wife, came to him, and said to him, “Why is your spirit so sad that you eat no bread?”
6 And he said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite, and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money, or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard for it.’” but he answered, “I will not give you my vineyard.”
7 Then Jezebel his wife said to him, “Do you now govern the kingdom of Israel? Up! Eat bread and be of good cheer. I will deliver to you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”
8 So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and to the nobles who were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.
9 And she wrote in the letters, saying, “Proclaim a fast and set Naboth among the chief of the people.
10 “And set two wicked men before him. And let them witness against him, saying, ‘You blasphemed God and the king!’ Then carry him out and stone him so that he may die.”
11 And the men of the city, the elders and governors who dwelt in his city, did as Jezebel had sent to them, as it was written in the letters which she had sent to them.
12 They proclaimed a fast and set Naboth among the chief of the people.
13 And two wicked men came and sat before him. And the wicked men witnessed against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth blasphemed God and the king!” Then they carried him away out of the city and stoned him with stones, so that he died.
14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned and is dead.”
15 And when Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, “Up! Take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite which he refused to give you for money. For Naboth is not alive, but is dead.”
16 And when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he rose to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.
17 And the Word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying:
18 “Arise! Go down to meet Ahab, king of Israel, who is in Samaria, lo, in the vineyard of Naboth. He has gone down to take possession of it.
19 “Therefore, you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Have you killed and also gotten possession?”’ And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD: “In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your blood also.”’”
20 And Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” And he answered, “I have found you. For you have sold yourself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD.
21 ‘Behold, I will bring misery upon you, and will take away your posterity, and will cut off every male in Israel from Ahab, him who is shut up as well as him who is left in Israel.
22 ‘And I will make your House like the House of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, and like the House of Baasha, the son of Ahijah, for the provocation with which you have provoked and made Israel sin.’”
23 And also, the LORD spoke of Jezebel, saying, “The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.
24 “The dogs shall eat him of Ahab’s stock who dies in the city. And him who dies in the fields shall the birds of the air eat.”
25 (But there was no one like Ahab, who sold himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, and whom Jezebel, his wife, provoked.
26 For he had acted very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites did, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.)
27 Now, when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth upon himself, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
28 And the Word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying:
29 “Do you see how Ahab is humbled before Me? Because he submits himself before Me, I will not bring that misery in his days. But I will bring misery upon his House in his sons’ days.”
22 And they continued for three years without war between Aram and Israel.
2 And in the third year, Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, came down to the king of Israel.
3 (For the king of Israel had said to his servants, “Did you not know that Ramoth Gilead was ours? But we stay and do not take it out of the hand of the king of Aram?)
4 And he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to battle against Ramoth Gilead?” And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, and my horses as your horses.”
5 Then Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please ask counsel of the LORD today.”
6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I let it alone?” And they said, “Go up. For the LORD shall deliver it into the hands of the king.”
7 And Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not still here a Prophet of the LORD, that we might inquire of him?”
8 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man (Micaiah, the son of Imlah) by whom we may ask counsel of the LORD, but I hate him. For he does not prophesy good to me, but evil.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Do not let the king say so.”
9 Then the king of Israel called a eunuch, and said, “Quickly, call Micaiah the son of Imlah.”
10 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, each sat on his throne, in their apparel, in the threshing floor, at the entrance of the gate of Samaria. And all the prophets prophesied before them.
11 And Zedekiah, the son of Chenaanah, made himself horns of iron, and said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘With these shall you push the Aramites, until you have consumed them.’”
12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, “Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper, for the LORD shall deliver it into the king’s hand.”
13 And the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, “Behold, now, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one accord. Please let your word, therefore, be like the word of one of them, and speak good.
14 And Micaiah said, “As the LORD lives, whatever the LORD says to me, that will I speak.”
15 So he came to the king, and the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go against Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall we leave off?” And he answered him, “Go up, and prosper. And the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.”
16 And the king said to him, “How often shall I charge you to tell me nothing but that which is true in the Name of the LORD?”
17 Then he said, “I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that had no shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These have no master. Let every man return to his house in peace.’”
18 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would prophesy no good to me, but evil?”
19 Again he said, “Hear, therefore, the Word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sit on His throne. And all the host of Heaven stood around Him on His right and on His left.
20 “And the LORD said, ‘Who shall entice Ahab, so that he may go and fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ And one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner.
21 “Then a spirit came forth and stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ And the LORD said to him, ‘With what?’
22 “And he said, ‘I will go out and be a false spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then He said, ‘You shall entice and shall also prevail. Go forth and do so.’
23 “Now, therefore, behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these, your prophets. And the LORD has appointed misery upon you.”
24 Then Zedekiah, the son of Chenaanah, came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, “When did the spirit of the LORD go from me, to speak to you?”
25 And Micaiah said, “Behold, you shall see on that day, when you shall go from chamber to chamber to hide yourself.”
26 And the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and carry him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the king’s son,
27 “and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this man in the prison house and feed him with bread of affliction, and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.”’”
28 And Micaiah said, “If you return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Listen, all you people!”
29 So, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, went up to Ramoth Gilead.
30 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will change my apparel, and will enter into the battle. But you put on your apparel.” And the king of Israel changed himself and went into the battle.
31 And the king of Aram commanded his thirty-two captains over his chariots, saying, “Fight with neither small nor great, but only against the king of Israel!”
32 And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “Surely it is the king of Israel!” And they turned to fight against him. And Jehoshaphat cried.
33 And when the captains of the chariots saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from him.
34 Then a man drew a bow mightily and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. Therefore, he said to his chariot man, “Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am hurt.”
35 And the battle increased that day. And the king stood still in his chariot, against the Aramites, and died at evening. And the blood ran out of the wound, into the midst of the chariot.
36 And there was a proclamation throughout the battle, around the going down of the Sun, saying, “Every man to his city. And every man to his own country.”
37 So the king died and was brought to Samaria. And they buried the king in Samaria.
38 And someone washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria. And the dogs licked up his blood (and they washed his armor), according to the Word of the LORD which He spoke.
39 Concerning the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he built, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
40 So Ahab slept with his fathers. And Ahaziah, his son, reigned in his place.
41 And Jehoshaphat, the son of Asa, began to reign upon Judah in the fourth year of Ahab, king of Israel.
42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign and reigned for twenty-five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.
43 And he walked in all the ways of Asa, his father, and did not depart from them, but did that which was right in the Eyes of the LORD. Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away. The people still offered and burnt incense in the high places.
44 And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.
45 Concerning the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his worthy deeds that he did, and his battles which he fought, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?
46 And the Sodomites who remained in the days of his father, Asa, he put clear out of the land.
47 There was then no king in Edom. The deputy was king.
48 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to sail to Ophir for gold. But they did not go, for the ships were broken at Ezion Geber.
49 Then Ahaziah, the son of Ahab, said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships.” But Jehoshaphat would not.
50 And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the City of David, his father. And Jehoram, his son, reigned in his place.
51 Ahaziah, the son of Ahab, began to reign over Israel in Samaria, in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel.
52 But he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin.
53 For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked the LORD God of Israel to wrath, according to all that his father had done.
1 Then, after the death of Ahab, Moab rebelled against Israel.
2 And Ahaziah fell through the lattice window in his upper chamber, which was in Samaria. So he was sick. Then he sent messengers, to whom he said, “Go. Inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, if I shall recover from this, my disease.”
3 Then the Angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise. Go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, “Is it not because there is no God in Israel that you go to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?
4 “Therefore, thus says the LORD: ‘You shall not come down from the bed on which you have gone up but shall die the death.’” So, Elijah departed.
5 And the messengers returned to him, to whom he said, “Why have you now returned?”
6 And they answered him, “A man came and met us, and said to us, ‘Go. Return to the king who sent you, and say to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Is it not because there is no God in Israel that you send to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the God of Ekron? Therefore, you shall not come down from the bed on which you have gone up but shall die the death.’”’”
7 And he said to them, “What kind of man was he who came and met you and told you these words?”
8 And they said to him, “He was a hairy man, and girded with a girdle of leather around his loins.” Then he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”
9 Therefore, the king sent to him a captain over fifty, with his fifty, who went up to him. Behold, he sat on the top of a mountain, and he said to him, “O man of God, the king has commanded that you come down.”
10 But Elijah answered, and said to the captain over the fifty, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from the sky and devour you and your fifty.” So, fire came down from the sky and devoured him and his fifty.
11 Again also, he sent to him another captain over fifty, with his fifty, who spoke, and said to him, “O man of God! The king commands thus, “Come down quickly!”
12 But Elijah answered, and said to them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from the sky and devour you and your fifty.” So, fire came down from the sky and devoured him and his fifty.
13 Yet again, he sent a third captain over fifty, with his fifty. And the third captain over fifty went up and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and begged him, and said to him, “O man of God! Please let my life and the lives of these, your fifty servants, be precious in your sight!
14 “Behold, fire came down from the sky and devoured the two previous captains over fifty, with their fifties. Therefore, let my life now be precious in your sight!”
15 And the Angel of the LORD said to Elijah, “Go down with him, do not be afraid of his presence.” So, he arose and went down with him to the king.
16 And he said to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron (was it not because there was no God in Israel to inquire of His Word?), therefore you shall not come down off the bed on which you have gone up but shall die the death.’”
17 So he died, according to the Word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram began to reign in his place, in the second year of Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, because he had no son.
18 Concerning the rest of the acts of Ahaziah, that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
2 And when the LORD was ready to take up Elijah into Heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
2 Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here. For the LORD has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So, they came down to Bethel.
3 And the children of the Prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you this day?” And he said, “Yes, I know it. Hold your peace.”
4 Again, Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please wait here. For the LORD has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So, they came to Jericho.
5 And the children of the Prophets who were in Jericho came to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you this day?” And he said, “Yes, I know it. Hold your peace.”
6 Moreover, Elijah said to him, “Please wait here. For the LORD has sent me to Jordan.” But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So, they both went.
7 And fifty men of the sons of the Prophets went and stood on the other side, far off. And those two stood by Jordan.
8 Then, Elijah took his cloak and wrapped it up and struck the waters. And they were divided here and there. And the two of them went over on the dry land.
9 Now, when they had passed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let your spirit be double upon me.”
10 And he said, “You have asked a hard thing. If, when I am taken from you, you see me, you shall have it so. But if not, it shall not be.”
11 And as they went walking and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, which separated the two of them. So, Elijah went up, in a whirlwind, into Heaven.
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, “My father! My father! The chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” And he no longer saw him. And he took his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
13 He also took up the cloak of Elijah which fell from him and returned and stood by the bank of Jordan.
14 Afterward, he took the cloak of Elijah which fell from him and struck the waters, and said, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” And so, he also, after he had struck the waters, so that they were divided this way and that way, went over, Elisha.
15 And when the children of the Prophets who were at Jericho saw him on the other side, they said, “The spirit of Elijah does rest on Elisha!” And they came to meet him, and fell to the ground before him,
16 and said to him, “Behold, now, there are fifty strong men with your servants. Please let them go and seek your master, if so be that the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley.” But he said, “You shall not send.”
17 Still, they urged him until he was ashamed. Therefore, he said, “Send.” So, they sent fifty men, who looked for three days but did not find him.
18 Therefore they returned to him (for he waited in Jericho). And he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”
19 And the men of the city said to Elisha, “Behold, if you please. The situation of this city is pleasant, as you, my lord, see. But the water is bad, and the ground barren.”
20 Then he said, “Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it.” And they brought it to him.
21 And he went to the spring of the waters, and cast the salt there, and said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘I have healed this water. Death shall no longer come from it, nor barrenness.”
22 So the waters have been healed to this day, according to the Word of Elisha which he had spoken.
23 And he went up from there to Bethel. And as he was going up the road, little children came out of the city, and mocked him, and said to him, “Come up, you bald head! Come up, you bald head!”
24 And he turned back and looked at them and cursed them in the Name of the LORD. And two bears came out of the forest and tore forty-two of those children in pieces.
25 So, he went from there to Mount Carmel. And from there he returned to Samaria.
3 Now Jehoram, the son of Ahab, began to reign over Israel in Samaria, in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, and reigned for twelve years.
2 And he worked evil in the sight of the LORD, but not like his father or like his mother. For he took away the image of Baal that his father had made.
3 Nevertheless, he clung to the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin, and did not depart from them.
4 Then Mesha, king of Moab, had store of sheep and rendered a hundred thousand rams to the king of Israel, with the wool.
5 But after Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
6 Therefore, King Jehoram went out of Samaria in the same season, and counted all Israel.
7 And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, saying, “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to battle against Moab?” And he answered, “I will go up. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”
8 Then he said, “What way shall we go up?” And he answered, “The way of the wilderness of Edom.”
9 So went the king of Israel and the king of Judah and the king of Edom. And after they had traveled on the way for seven days, they had no water for the army or for the cattle that followed them.
10 Therefore the king of Israel said, “Alas! For the LORD has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab!”
11 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here a Prophet of the LORD, so that we may inquire of the LORD by him?” And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered, and said, “Here is Elisha, the son of Shaphat, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.”
12 Then Jehoshaphat said, “The Word of the LORD is with him.” Therefore, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
13 And Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father, and to the prophets of your mother.” And the king of Israel said to him, “No. For the LORD has called these three kings, to give them into the hand of Moab.”
14 Then Elisha said, “As the LORD of Hosts lives, in Whose sight I stand, if it were not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, I would not have looked toward you, nor seen you.
15 “But now, bring me a minstrel.” And when the minstrel played, the Hand of the LORD came upon him.
16 And he said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’
17 “For thus says the LORD: ‘You shall neither see wind nor see rain. Yet the valley shall be filled with water, so that you may drink, you and your cattle and your beasts.’
18 “But, this is a small thing in the sight of the LORD. For He will give Moab into your hand.
19 “And you shall strike every strong town, and every chief city, and shall fell every fair tree, and shall stop all the fountains of water and mar every good field with stones.”
20 And in the morning, when the Meat Offering was offered, behold, there came water by the way of Edom. And the country was filled with water.
21 And when all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, they gathered all who were able to put on harness, and upward, and stood at the border.
22 And they rose early in the morning, when the Sun arose upon the water. And the Moabites saw the water opposite them, as red as blood.
23 And they said, “This is blood! The kings are surely killed, and one has strickten another! Now, therefore, Moab, to the spoil!”
24 And when they came to the army of Israel, the Israelites rose up and struck the Moabites, so that they fled before them. But they invaded them and struck Moab.
25 And they destroyed the cities. And every man cast his stone on all the good fields and filled them. And they stopped all the fountains of water and felled all the good trees. Only in Kir Haraseth did they leave its stones. However, they went around it with slings and struck it.
26 And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took with him seven hundred men who drew the sword, to break through to the king of Edom. But they could not.
27 Then, he took his eldest son, who should have reigned in his place, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall, so that Israel was very grieved. And they departed from him and returned to their country.
4 And one of the wives of the sons of the Prophets cried to Elisha, saying, “Your servant, my husband, is dead! And you know that your servant feared the LORD! And the creditor has come to take my two sons to be his bondmen.”
2 Then Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have at home?” And she said, “Your handmaid has nothing at home, except a pitcher of oil.”
3 And he said, “Go around and borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels, and not just a few.
4 “And when you have come in, you shall shut the door upon yourself and upon your sons, and pour out into all those vessels, and set aside those that are full.”
5 So she departed from him and shut the door upon herself and upon her sons. And they brought to her, and she poured out.
6 And when the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There are no more vessels.” And the oil ceased.
7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go. Sell the oil and pay those to whom you are in debt, and you and your children live off the rest.”
8 And it happened at that time that Elisha came to Shunem. And while there, an older woman persuaded him to eat food. And whenever he passed by, he would turn in there to eat food.
9 And she said to her husband, “Behold, I know now that this is a holy man of God who continually passes by us.
10 “Please, let us make him a little chamber, with walls. And let us set him up a bed there, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick, so that he may turn in there when he comes to us.”
11 And one day, he came there, and turned into the chamber, and lay in it,
12 and said to Gehazi, his servant, “Call this Shunammite.” And when he called her, she stood before him.
13 Then he said to him, “Say to her now, ‘Behold, you have had all this great care for us. What shall we do for you? Is there anything to be spoken to the king for you, or to the captain of the army?” And she answered, “I dwell among my own people.”
14 Again he said, “What is then to be done for her?” Then Gehazi answered, “Indeed, she has no son, and her husband is old.
15 Then he said, “Call her.” And he called her, and she stood in the door.
16 And he said, “At this time next year, according to the time of life, you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “Oh my Lord, you man of God, do not lie to your handmaid.”
17 So the woman conceived, and bore a son, in that same season, according to the time of life that Elisha had said to her.
18 And when the child was grown, it happened one day that he went out to his father, to the reapers.
19 And he said to his father, “My head, my head!” Who said to his servant, “Take him to his mother.”
20 And he took him and brought him to his mother. And he sat on her knees until noon and died.
21 Then she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God and shut the door upon him and went out.
22 Then she called to her husband, and said, “Please send one of the young men and one of the donkeys with me, for I will hurry to the man of God, and come back.”
23 And he said, “Why would you go to him today? It is neither new moon nor Sabbath day.” And she answered, “All shall be well.”
24 Then she saddled a donkey, and said to her servant, “Drive and go forward. Do not slow down the pace for me unless I tell you.”
25 So, she went and came to the man of God, to Mount Carmel. And when the man of God saw her from a distance, he said to Gehazi, his servant, “Behold, the Shunammite.
26 “Run now, I say, to meet her, and say to her, ‘Are you well? Is your husband well? Is the child well?’” And she answered, “We are well.”
27 And when she came to the man of God, to the mountain, she caught him by his feet. And Gehazi went to her, to thrust her away. But the man of God said, “Let her alone! For her soul is troubled within her, and the LORD has hidden it from me, and has not told me.”
28 Then she said, “Did I desire a son of my lord? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me?’”
29 Then he said to Gehazi, “Gird your loins and take my staff in your hand and go your way. If you meet anyone, do not greet him. And if anyone greets you, do not answer him. And lay my staff upon the face of the child.”
30 And the mother of the child said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” Therefore, he arose and followed her.
31 But Gehazi had gone before them and had laid the staff upon the face of the child. But he neither spoke nor heard. Therefore, he returned to meet him and told him, saying, “The child is not awake.”
32 Then Elisha came into the house. And behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed.
33 Therefore, he went in and shut the door upon the two of them and prayed to the LORD.
34 Afterward, he went up and lay upon the child and put his mouth on his mouth and his eyes upon his eyes and his hands upon his hands and stretched himself upon him. And the flesh of the child grew warm.
35 And he went and walked up and down in the house and went up and spread himself upon him. Then, the child sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.
36 Then he called Gehazi, and said, “Call this Shunammite.” So, he called her, who came in to him. And he said to her, “Take your son.”
37 And she came and fell at his feet and bowed herself to the ground and took up her son and went out.
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