¹ And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people:² But for his kin, that is near unto him, that is, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother.³ And for his sister a virgin, that is nigh unto him, which hath had no husband; for her may he be defiled.⁴ But he shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself.⁵ They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.⁶ They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy.⁷ They shall not take a wife that is a whore, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God.⁸ Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee: for I the LORD, which sanctify you, am holy.⁹ And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.¹⁰ And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes;¹¹ Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;¹² Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD.¹³ And he shall take a wife in her virginity.¹⁴ A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife.¹⁵ Neither shall he profane his seed among his people: for I the LORD do sanctify him.¹⁶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,¹⁷ Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.¹⁸ For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous,¹⁹ Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded,²⁰ Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken;²¹ No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.²² He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy.²³ Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them.²⁴ And Moses told it unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel.

¹ These are the journeys of the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt with their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron.² And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of the LORD: and these are their journeys according to their goings out.³ And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians.⁴ For the Egyptians buried all their firstborn, which the LORD had smitten among them: upon their gods also the LORD executed judgments.⁵ And the children of Israel removed from Rameses, and pitched in Succoth.⁶ And they departed from Succoth, and pitched in Etham, which is in the edge of the wilderness.⁷ And they removed from Etham, and turned again unto Pihahiroth, which is before Baalzephon: and they pitched before Migdol.⁸ And they departed from before Pihahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham, and pitched in Marah.⁹ And they removed from Marah, and came unto Elim: and in Elim were twelve fountains of water, and threescore and ten palm trees; and they pitched there.¹⁰ And they removed from Elim, and encamped by the Red sea.¹¹ And they removed from the Red sea, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin.¹² And they took their journey out of the wilderness of Sin, and encamped in Dophkah.¹³ And they departed from Dophkah, and encamped in Alush.¹⁴ And they removed from Alush, and encamped at Rephidim, where was no water for the people to drink.¹⁵ And they departed from Rephidim, and pitched in the wilderness of Sinai.¹⁶ And they removed from the desert of Sinai, and pitched at Kibrothhattaavah.¹⁷ And they departed from Kibrothhattaavah, and encamped at Hazeroth.¹⁸ And they departed from Hazeroth, and pitched in Rithmah.¹⁹ And they departed from Rithmah, and pitched at Rimmonparez.²⁰ And they departed from Rimmonparez, and pitched in Libnah.²¹ And they removed from Libnah, and pitched at Rissah.²² And they journeyed from Rissah, and pitched in Kehelathah.²³ And they went from Kehelathah, and pitched in mount Shapher.²⁴ And they removed from mount Shapher, and encamped in Haradah.²⁵ And they removed from Haradah, and pitched in Makheloth.²⁶ And they removed from Makheloth, and encamped at Tahath.²⁷ And they departed from Tahath, and pitched at Tarah.²⁸ And they removed from Tarah, and pitched in Mithcah.²⁹ And they went from Mithcah, and pitched in Hashmonah.³⁰ And they departed from Hashmonah, and encamped at Moseroth.³¹ And they departed from Moseroth, and pitched in Benejaakan.³² And they removed from Benejaakan, and encamped at Horhagidgad.³³ And they went from Horhagidgad, and pitched in Jotbathah.³⁴ And they removed from Jotbathah, and encamped at Ebronah.³⁵ And they departed from Ebronah, and encamped at Eziongaber.³⁶ And they removed from Eziongaber, and pitched in the wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh.³⁷ And they removed from Kadesh, and pitched in mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom.³⁸ And Aaron the priest went up into mount Hor at the commandment of the LORD, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the first day of the fifth month.³⁹ And Aaron was an hundred and twenty and three years old when he died in mount Hor.⁴⁰ And king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel.⁴¹ And they departed from mount Hor, and pitched in Zalmonah.⁴² And they departed from Zalmonah, and pitched in Punon.⁴³ And they departed from Punon, and pitched in Oboth.⁴⁴ And they departed from Oboth, and pitched in Ijeabarim, in the border of Moab.⁴⁵ And they departed from Iim, and pitched in Dibongad.⁴⁶ And they removed from Dibongad, and encamped in Almondiblathaim.⁴⁷ And they removed from Almondiblathaim, and pitched in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo.⁴⁸ And they departed from the mountains of Abarim, and pitched in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho.⁴⁹ And they pitched by Jordan, from Bethjesimoth even unto Abelshittim in the plains of Moab.⁵⁰ And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,⁵¹ Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan;⁵² Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places:⁵³ And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it.⁵⁴ And ye shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families: and to the more ye shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer ye shall give the less inheritance: every man's inheritance shall be in the place where his lot falleth; according to the tribes of your fathers ye shall inherit.⁵⁵ But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.⁵⁶ Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them.

¹ And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.² And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.³ Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.⁴ Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.⁵ And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together.⁶ Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.⁷ And this is the blessing of Judah: and he said, Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his people: let his hands be sufficient for him; and be thou an help to him from his enemies.⁸ And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;⁹ Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant.¹⁰ They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar.¹¹ Bless, LORD, his substance, and accept the work of his hands; smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again.¹² And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.¹³ And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the LORD be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath,¹⁴ And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon,¹⁵ And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills,¹⁶ And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren.¹⁷ His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.¹⁸ And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and, Issachar, in thy tents.¹⁹ They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand.²⁰ And of Gad he said, Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad: he dwelleth as a lion, and teareth the arm with the crown of the head.²¹ And he provided the first part for himself, because there, in a portion of the lawgiver, was he seated; and he came with the heads of the people, he executed the justice of the LORD, and his judgments with Israel.²² And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.²³ And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the LORD: possess thou the west and the south.²⁴ And of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.²⁵ Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.²⁶ There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.²⁷ The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.²⁸ Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.²⁹ Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.

¹ And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,² And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea,³ And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.⁴ And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.⁵ So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.⁶ And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.⁷ And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.⁸ And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.⁹ And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.¹⁰ And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,¹¹ In all the signs and the wonders, which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land,¹² And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel.

¹ And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah.² And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father's house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months.³ And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father's house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.⁴ And his father in law, the damsel's father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.⁵ And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel's father said unto his son in law, Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way.⁶ And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together: for the damsel's father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart be merry.⁷ And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again.⁸ And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the damsel's father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray thee. And they tarried until afternoon, and they did eat both of them.⁹ And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel's father, said unto him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry; and to morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home.¹⁰ But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and there were with him two asses saddled, his concubine also was with him.¹¹ And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.¹² And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside hither into the city of a stranger, that is not of the children of Israel; we will pass over to Gibeah.¹³ And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah.¹⁴ And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin.¹⁵ And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city: for there was no man that took them into his house to lodging.¹⁶ And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites.¹⁷ And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?¹⁸ And he said unto him, We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me to house.¹⁹ Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing.²⁰ And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.²¹ So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.²² Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.²³ And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly.²⁴ Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing.²⁵ But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.²⁶ Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light.²⁷ And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold.²⁸ And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none answered. Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place.²⁹ And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel.³⁰ And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds.

¹ Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.² And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;³ And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;⁴ And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;⁵ And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.⁶ And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.⁷ And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?⁸ Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?⁹ So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;¹⁰ To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.¹¹ And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.¹² And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.¹³ And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.¹⁴ And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.¹⁵ And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.¹⁶ And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.¹⁷ And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:¹⁸ Now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.¹⁹ And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.²⁰ So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.²¹ And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.²² And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.²³ When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.²⁴ Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?²⁵ Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.²⁶ And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.²⁷ And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.²⁸ And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:²⁹ Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.³⁰ So Joab, and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.³¹ And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.³² And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.³³ And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?³⁴ Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.³⁵ And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.³⁶ And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.³⁷ For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.³⁸ And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?³⁹ And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.

¹ Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah.² Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. and his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.³ And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.⁴ Nevertheless for David's sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem:⁵ Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.⁶ And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.⁷ Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.⁸ And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.⁹ And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah.¹⁰ And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.¹¹ And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father.¹² And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.¹³ And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.¹⁴ But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days.¹⁵ And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated, and the things which himself had dedicated, into the house of the LORD, silver, and gold, and vessels.¹⁶ And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.¹⁷ And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.¹⁸ Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,¹⁹ There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.²⁰ So Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.²¹ And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah.²² Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.²³ The rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Nevertheless in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.²⁴ And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead.²⁵ And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years.²⁶ And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.²⁷ And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha smote him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon.²⁸ Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead.²⁹ And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite:³⁰ Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger.³¹ Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?³² And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.³³ In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty and four years.³⁴ And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.

¹ The sons of Judah; Pharez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal.² And Reaiah the son of Shobal begat Jahath; and Jahath begat Ahumai, and Lahad. These are the families of the Zorathites.³ And these were of the father of Etam; Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash: and the name of their sister was Hazelelponi:⁴ And Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These are the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah, the father of Bethlehem.⁵ And Ashur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.⁶ And Naarah bare him Ahuzam, and Hepher, and Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah.⁷ And the sons of Helah were, Zereth, and Jezoar, and Ethnan.⁸ And Coz begat Anub, and Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.⁹ And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.¹⁰ And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.¹¹ And Chelub the brother of Shuah begat Mehir, which was the father of Eshton.¹² And Eshton begat Bethrapha, and Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Irnahash. These are the men of Rechah.¹³ And the sons of Kenaz; Othniel, and Seraiah: and the sons of Othniel; Hathath.¹⁴ And Meonothai begat Ophrah: and Seraiah begat Joab, the father of the valley of Charashim; for they were craftsmen.¹⁵ And the sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh; Iru, Elah, and Naam: and the sons of Elah, even Kenaz.¹⁶ And the sons of Jehaleleel; Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asareel.¹⁷ And the sons of Ezra were, Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon: and she bare Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.¹⁸ And his wife Jehudijah bare Jered the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Socho, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. And these are the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, which Mered took.¹⁹ And the sons of his wife Hodiah the sister of Naham, the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maachathite.²⁰ And the sons of Shimon were, Amnon, and Rinnah, Benhanan, and Tilon. And the sons of Ishi were, Zoheth, and Benzoheth.²¹ The sons of Shelah the son of Judah were, Er the father of Lecah, and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of them that wrought fine linen, of the house of Ashbea,²² And Jokim, and the men of Chozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who had the dominion in Moab, and Jashubilehem. And these are ancient things.²³ These were the potters, and those that dwelt among plants and hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work.²⁴ The sons of Simeon were, Nemuel, and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul:²⁵ Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son.²⁶ And the sons of Mishma; Hamuel his son, Zacchur his son, Shimei his son.²⁷ And Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters: but his brethren had not many children, neither did all their family multiply, like to the children of Judah.²⁸ And they dwelt at Beersheba, and Moladah, and Hazarshual,²⁹ And at Bilhah, and at Ezem, and at Tolad,³⁰ And at Bethuel, and at Hormah, and at Ziklag,³¹ And at Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusim, and at Bethbirei, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities unto the reign of David.³² And their villages were, Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and Tochen, and Ashan, five cities:³³ And all their villages that were round about the same cities, unto Baal. These were their habitations, and their genealogy.³⁴ And Meshobab, and Jamlech, and Joshah, the son of Amaziah,³⁵ And Joel, and Jehu the son of Josibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel,³⁶ And Elioenai, and Jaakobah, and Jeshohaiah, and Asaiah, and Adiel, and Jesimiel, and Benaiah,³⁷ And Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah;³⁸ These mentioned by their names were princes in their families: and the house of their fathers increased greatly.³⁹ And they went to the entrance of Gedor, even unto the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks.⁴⁰ And they found fat pasture and good, and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceable; for they of Ham had dwelt there of old.⁴¹ And these written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and smote their tents, and the habitations that were found there, and destroyed them utterly unto this day, and dwelt in their rooms: because there was pasture there for their flocks.⁴² And some of them, even of the sons of Simeon, five hundred men, went to mount Seir, having for their captains Pelatiah, and Neariah, and Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi.⁴³ And they smote the rest of the Amalekites that were escaped, and dwelt there unto this day.

¹ Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.² And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramothgilead.³ And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramothgilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.⁴ And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.⁵ Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king's hand.⁶ But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?⁷ And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.⁸ And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.⁹ And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.¹⁰ And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed.¹¹ And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.¹² And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of their's, and speak thou good.¹³ And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.¹⁴ And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.¹⁵ And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD?¹⁶ Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace.¹⁷ And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?¹⁸ Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.¹⁹ And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.²⁰ Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?²¹ And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.²² Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.²³ Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?²⁴ And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.²⁵ Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;²⁶ And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.²⁷ And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye people.²⁸ So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.²⁹ And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and I will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.³⁰ Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, saying, Fight ye not with small or great, save only with the king of Israel.³¹ And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.³² For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him.³³ And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: therefore he said to his chariot man, Turn thine hand, that thou mayest carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.³⁴ And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even: and about the time of the sun going down he died.

¹ And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.² And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.³ Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.⁴ And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers.⁵ And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,⁶ And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.⁷ Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.⁸ Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem.⁹ And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.¹⁰ And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in your cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the LORD, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass.¹¹ And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and the LORD shall be with the good.

¹ Now these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,² Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,³ Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,⁴ Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah,⁵ Miamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,⁶ Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah,⁷ Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chief of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua.⁸ Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, which was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren.⁹ Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, were over against them in the watches.¹⁰ And Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim also begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada,¹¹ And Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua.¹² And in the days of Joiakim were priests, the chief of the fathers: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;¹³ Of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;¹⁴ Of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;¹⁵ Of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai;¹⁶ Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;¹⁷ Of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai:¹⁸ Of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;¹⁹ And of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi;²⁰ Of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber;²¹ Of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel.²² The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, were recorded chief of the fathers: also the priests, to the reign of Darius the Persian.²³ The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib.²⁴ And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, ward over against ward.²⁵ Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates.²⁶ These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe.²⁷ And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.²⁸ And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi;²⁹ Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem.³⁰ And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.³¹ Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate:³² And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah,³³ And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,³⁴ Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,³⁵ And certain of the priests' sons with trumpets; namely, Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph:³⁶ And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them.³⁷ And at the fountain gate, which was over against them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the water gate eastward.³⁸ And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall;³⁹ And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fish gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even unto the sheep gate: and they stood still in the prison gate.⁴⁰ So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me:⁴¹ And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;⁴² And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.⁴³ Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.⁴⁴ And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.⁴⁵ And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son.⁴⁶ For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.⁴⁷ And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion: and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron.

¹ Elihu spake moreover, and said,² Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's?³ For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?⁴ I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee.⁵ Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.⁶ If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?⁷ If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?⁸ Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.⁹ By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.¹⁰ But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;¹¹ Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?¹² There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.¹³ Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.¹⁴ Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.¹⁵ But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity:¹⁶ Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.

¹ Elihu also proceeded, and said,² Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.³ I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.⁴ For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.⁵ Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.⁶ He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.⁷ He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.⁸ And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;⁹ Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.¹⁰ He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.¹¹ If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.¹² But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.¹³ But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.¹⁴ They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.¹⁵ He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.¹⁶ Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.¹⁷ But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.¹⁸ Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.¹⁹ Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.²⁰ Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.²¹ Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.²² Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?²³ Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?²⁴ Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.²⁵ Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.²⁶ Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.²⁷ For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:²⁸ Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.²⁹ Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?³⁰ Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.³¹ For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.³² With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.³³ The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.