# verses

book: Josh
contenido:
and all the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim, including all the land of the Sidonians. “I myself will drive these people out of the land ahead of the Israelites. So be sure to give this land to Israel as a special possession, just as I have commanded you.


book: Josh
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Include all this territory as Israel’s possession when you divide this land among the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.”


book: Josh
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The Land Divided East of the Jordan Half the tribe of Manasseh and the tribes of Reuben and Gad had already received their grants of land on the east side of the Jordan, for Moses, the servant of the Lord, had previously assigned this land to them.


book: Josh
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Their territory extended from Aroer on the edge of the Arnon Gorge (including the town in the middle of the gorge) to the plain beyond Medeba, as far as Dibon.


book: Josh
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It also included all the towns of King Sihon of the Amorites, who had reigned in Heshbon, and extended as far as the borders of Ammon.


book: Josh
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It included Gilead, the territory of the kingdoms of Geshur and Maacah, all of Mount Hermon, all of Bashan as far as Salecah,


book: Josh
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and all the territory of King Og of Bashan, who had reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei. King Og was the last of the Rephaites, for Moses had attacked them and driven them out.


book: Josh
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But the Israelites failed to drive out the people of Geshur and Maacah, so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day.


book: Josh
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An Allotment for the Tribe of Levi Moses did not assign any allotment of land to the tribe of Levi. Instead, as the Lord had promised them, their allotment came from the offerings burned on the altar to the Lord, the God of Israel.


book: Josh
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The Land Given to the Tribe of Reuben Moses had assigned the following area to the clans of the tribe of Reuben.


book: Josh
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Their territory extended from Aroer on the edge of the Arnon Gorge (including the town in the middle of the gorge) to the plain beyond Medeba.


book: Josh
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The land of Reuben also included all the towns of the plain and the entire kingdom of Sihon. Sihon was the Amorite king who had reigned in Heshbon and was killed by Moses along with the leaders of Midian—Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba—princes living in the region who were allied with Sihon.


book: Josh
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The Jordan River marked the western boundary for the tribe of Reuben. The towns and their surrounding villages in this area were given as a homeland to the clans of the tribe of Reuben.


book: Josh
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The Land Given to the Tribe of Gad Moses had assigned the following area to the clans of the tribe of Gad.


book: Josh
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Their territory included Jazer, all the towns of Gilead, and half of the land of Ammon, as far as the town of Aroer just west of Rabbah.


book: Josh
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It extended from Heshbon to Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the territory of Lo-debar.


book: Josh
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In the valley were Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, Zaphon, and the rest of the kingdom of King Sihon of Heshbon. The western boundary ran along the Jordan River, extended as far north as the tip of the Sea of Galilee, and then turned eastward.


book: Josh
contenido:
The towns and their surrounding villages in this area were given as a homeland to the clans of the tribe of Gad.


book: Josh
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The Land Given to the Half-Tribe of Manasseh Moses had assigned the following area to the clans of the half-tribe of Manasseh.


book: Josh
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Their territory extended from Mahanaim, including all of Bashan, all the former kingdom of King Og, and the sixty towns of Jair in Bashan.


book: Josh
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It also included half of Gilead and King Og’s royal cities of Ashtaroth and Edrei. All this was given to the clans of the descendants of Makir, who was Manasseh’s son.


book: Josh
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These are the allotments Moses had made while he was on the plains of Moab, across the Jordan River, east of Jericho.


book: Josh
contenido:
But Moses gave no allotment of land to the tribe of Levi, for the Lord, the God of Israel, had promised that he himself would be their allotment.


book: Josh
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The Land Divided West of the Jordan The remaining tribes of Israel received land in Canaan as allotted by Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the tribal leaders.


book: Josh
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These nine and a half tribes received their grants of land by means of sacred lots, in accordance with the Lord’s command through Moses.


book: Josh
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Moses had already given a grant of land to the two and a half tribes on the east side of the Jordan River, but he had given the Levites no such allotment.


book: Josh
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The descendants of Joseph had become two separate tribes—Manasseh and Ephraim. And the Levites were given no land at all, only towns to live in with surrounding pasturelands for their livestock and all their possessions.


book: Josh
contenido:
Caleb Requests His Land A delegation from the tribe of Judah, led by Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, came to Joshua at Gilgal. Caleb said to Joshua, “Remember what the Lord said to Moses, the man of God, about you and me when we were at Kadesh-barnea.


book: Josh
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I was forty years old when Moses, the servant of the Lord, sent me from Kadesh-barnea to explore the land of Canaan. I returned and gave an honest report,


book: Josh
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but my brothers who went with me frightened the people from entering the Promised Land. For my part, I wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God.


book: Josh
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So that day Moses solemnly promised me, ‘The land of Canaan on which you were just walking will be your grant of land and that of your descendants forever, because you wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God.’


book: Josh
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“Now, as you can see, the Lord has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise—even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old.


book: Josh
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I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then.


book: Josh
contenido:
So give me the hill country that the Lord promised me. You will remember that as scouts we found the descendants of Anak living there in great, walled towns. But if the Lord is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the Lord said.”


book: Josh
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Hebron still belongs to the descendants of Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite because he wholeheartedly followed the Lord, the God of Israel.


book: Josh
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(Previously Hebron had been called Kiriath-arba. It had been named after Arba, a great hero of the descendants of Anak.) And the land had rest from war.


book: Josh
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The Land Given to the Tribe of Judah The allotment for the clans of the tribe of Judah reached southward to the border of Edom, as far south as the wilderness of Zin.


book: Josh
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ran south of Scorpion Pass into the wilderness of Zin, and then went south of Kadesh-barnea to Hezron. Then it went up to Addar, where it turned toward Karka.


book: Josh
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From there it passed to Azmon until it finally reached the Brook of Egypt, which it followed to the Mediterranean Sea. This was their southern boundary.


book: Josh
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The eastern boundary extended along the Dead Sea to the mouth of the Jordan River. The northern boundary began at the bay where the Jordan River empties into the Dead Sea,


book: Josh
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went up from there to Beth-hoglah, then proceeded north of Beth-arabah to the Stone of Bohan. (Bohan was Reuben’s son.)


book: Josh
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From that point it went through the valley of Achor to Debir, turning north toward Gilgal, which is across from the slopes of Adummim on the south side of the valley. From there the boundary extended to the springs at En-shemesh and on to En-rogel.


book: Josh
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The boundary then passed through the valley of Ben-Hinnom, along the southern slopes of the Jebusites, where the city of Jerusalem is located. Then it went west to the top of the mountain above the valley of Hinnom, and on up to the northern end of the valley of Rephaim.


book: Josh
contenido:
From there the boundary extended from the top of the mountain to the spring at the waters of Nephtoah, and from there to the towns on Mount Ephron. Then it turned toward Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim).


book: Josh
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The boundary circled west of Baalah to Mount Seir, passed along to the town of Kesalon on the northern slope of Mount Jearim, and went down to Beth-shemesh and on to Timnah.


book: Josh
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The boundary then proceeded to the slope of the hill north of Ekron, where it turned toward Shikkeron and Mount Baalah. It passed Jabneel and ended at the Mediterranean Sea.


book: Josh
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The western boundary was the shoreline of the Mediterranean Sea. These are the boundaries for the clans of the tribe of Judah.


book: Josh
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The Land Given to Caleb The Lord commanded Joshua to assign some of Judah’s territory to Caleb son of Jephunneh. So Caleb was given the town of Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), which had been named after Anak’s ancestor.


book: Josh
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Caleb drove out the three groups of Anakites—the descendants of Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the sons of Anak.


book: Josh
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From there he went to fight against the people living in the town of Debir (formerly called Kiriath-sepher).


book: Josh
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Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the one who attacks and captures Kiriath-sepher.”


book: Josh
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Othniel, the son of Caleb’s brother Kenaz, was the one who conquered it, so Acsah became Othniel’s wife.


book: Josh
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When Acsah married Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field. As she got down off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What’s the matter?”


book: Josh
contenido:
She said, “Give me another gift. You have already given me land in the Negev; now please give me springs of water, too.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.


book: Josh
contenido:
The towns of Judah situated along the borders of Edom in the extreme south were Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,


book: Josh
contenido:
The following towns situated in the western foothills were also given to Judah: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,


book: Josh
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The territory of the tribe of Judah also included Ekron and its surrounding settlements and villages.


book: Josh
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From Ekron the boundary extended west and included the towns near Ashdod with their surrounding villages.


book: Josh
contenido:
It also included Ashdod with its surrounding settlements and villages and Gaza with its settlements and villages, as far as the Brook of Egypt and along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.


book: Josh
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There were also Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim) and Rabbah—two towns with their surrounding villages.


book: Josh
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But the tribe of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites, who lived in the city of Jerusalem, so the Jebusites live there among the people of Judah to this day.


book: Josh
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The Land Given to Ephraim and West Manasseh The allotment for the descendants of Joseph extended from the Jordan River near Jericho, east of the springs of Jericho, through the wilderness and into the hill country of Bethel.


book: Josh
contenido:
Then it descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as Lower Beth-horon, then to Gezer and over to the Mediterranean Sea.


book: Josh
contenido:
The Land Given to Ephraim The following territory was given to the clans of the tribe of Ephraim. The boundary of their homeland began at Ataroth-addar in the east. From there it ran to Upper Beth-horon,


book: Josh
contenido:
then on to the Mediterranean Sea. From Micmethath on the north, the boundary curved eastward past Taanath-shiloh to the east of Janoah.


book: Josh
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From Janoah it turned southward to Ataroth and Naarah, touched Jericho, and ended at the Jordan River.


book: Josh
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From Tappuah the boundary extended westward, following the Kanah Ravine to the Mediterranean Sea. This is the homeland allocated to the clans of the tribe of Ephraim.


book: Josh
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In addition, some towns with their surrounding villages in the territory allocated to the half-tribe of Manasseh were set aside for the tribe of Ephraim.


book: Josh
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They did not drive the Canaanites out of Gezer, however, so the people of Gezer live as slaves among the people of Ephraim to this day.


book: Josh
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The Land Given to West Manasseh The next allotment of land was given to the half-tribe of Manasseh, the descendants of Joseph’s older son. Makir, the firstborn son of Manasseh, was the father of Gilead. Because his descendants were experienced soldiers, the regions of Gilead and Bashan on the east side of the Jordan had already been given to them.


book: Josh
contenido:
So the allotment on the west side of the Jordan was for the remaining families within the clans of the tribe of Manasseh: Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These clans represent the male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph.


book: Josh
contenido:
However, Zelophehad, a descendant of Hepher son of Gilead, son of Makir, son of Manasseh, had no sons. He had only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.


book: Josh
contenido:
These women came to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the Israelite leaders and said, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us a grant of land along with the men of our tribe.” So Joshua gave them a grant of land along with their uncles, as the Lord had commanded.


book: Josh
contenido:
As a result, Manasseh’s total allocation came to ten parcels of land, in addition to the land of Gilead and Bashan across the Jordan River,


book: Josh
contenido:
because the female descendants of Manasseh received a grant of land along with the male descendants. (The land of Gilead was given to the rest of the male descendants of Manasseh.)


book: Josh
contenido:
The boundary of the tribe of Manasseh extended from the border of Asher to Micmethath, near Shechem. Then the boundary went south from Micmethath to the settlement near the spring of Tappuah.


book: Josh
contenido:
The land surrounding Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but the town of Tappuah itself, on the border of Manasseh’s territory, belonged to the tribe of Ephraim.


book: Josh
contenido:
From the spring of Tappuah, the boundary of Manasseh followed the Kanah Ravine to the Mediterranean Sea. Several towns south of the ravine were inside Manasseh’s territory, but they actually belonged to the tribe of Ephraim.


book: Josh
contenido:
In general, however, the land south of the ravine belonged to Ephraim, and the land north of the ravine belonged to Manasseh. Manasseh’s boundary ran along the northern side of the ravine and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. North of Manasseh was the territory of Asher, and to the east was the territory of Issachar.


book: Josh
contenido:
The following towns within the territory of Issachar and Asher, however, were given to Manasseh: Beth-shan, Ibleam, Dor (that is, Naphoth-dor), Endor, Taanach, and Megiddo, each with their surrounding settlements.


book: Josh
contenido:
But the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy these towns. They could not drive out the Canaanites who continued to live there.


book: Josh
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Later, however, when the Israelites became strong enough, they forced the Canaanites to work as slaves. But they did not drive them out of the land.


book: Josh
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The descendants of Joseph came to Joshua and asked, “Why have you given us only one portion of land as our homeland when the Lord has blessed us with so many people?”


book: Josh
contenido:
Joshua replied, “If there are so many of you, and if the hill country of Ephraim is not large enough for you, clear out land for yourselves in the forest where the Perizzites and Rephaites live.”


book: Josh
contenido:
The descendants of Joseph responded, “It’s true that the hill country is not large enough for us. But all the Canaanites in the lowlands have iron chariots, both those in Beth-shan and its surrounding settlements and those in the valley of Jezreel. They are too strong for us.”


book: Josh
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Then Joshua said to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the descendants of Joseph, “Since you are so large and strong, you will be given more than one portion.


book: Josh
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The forests of the hill country will be yours as well. Clear as much of the land as you wish, and take possession of its farthest corners. And you will drive out the Canaanites from the valleys, too, even though they are strong and have iron chariots.”


book: Josh
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The Allotments of the Remaining Land Now that the land was under Israelite control, the entire community of Israel gathered at Shiloh and set up the Tabernacle.


book: Josh
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Then Joshua asked them, “How long are you going to wait before taking possession of the remaining land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given to you?


book: Josh
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Select three men from each tribe, and I will send them out to explore the land and map it out. They will then return to me with a written report of their proposed divisions of their new homeland.


book: Josh
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Let them divide the land into seven sections, excluding Judah’s territory in the south and Joseph’s territory in the north.


book: Josh
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And when you record the seven divisions of the land and bring them to me, I will cast sacred lots in the presence of the Lord our God to assign land to each tribe.


book: Josh
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“The Levites, however, will not receive any allotment of land. Their role as priests of the Lord is their allotment. And the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh won’t receive any more land, for they have already received their grant of land, which Moses, the servant of the Lord, gave them on the east side of the Jordan River.”


book: Josh
contenido:
As the men started on their way to map out the land, Joshua commanded them, “Go and explore the land and write a description of it. Then return to me, and I will assign the land to the tribes by casting sacred lots here in the presence of the Lord at Shiloh.”


book: Josh
contenido:
The men did as they were told and mapped the entire territory into seven sections, listing the towns in each section. They made a written record and then returned to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh.


book: Josh
contenido:
And there at Shiloh, Joshua cast sacred lots in the presence of the Lord to determine which tribe should have each section.


book: Josh
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The Land Given to Benjamin The first allotment of land went to the clans of the tribe of Benjamin. It lay between the territory assigned to the tribes of Judah and Joseph.


book: Josh
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The northern boundary of Benjamin’s land began at the Jordan River, went north of the slope of Jericho, then west through the hill country and the wilderness of Beth-aven.


book: Josh
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From there the boundary went south to Luz (that is, Bethel) and proceeded down to Ataroth-addar on the hill that lies south of Lower Beth-horon.


book: Josh
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The boundary then made a turn and swung south along the western edge of the hill facing Beth-horon, ending at the village of Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), a town belonging to the tribe of Judah. This was the western boundary.


book: Josh
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The southern boundary began at the outskirts of Kiriath-jearim. From that western point it ran to the spring at the waters of Nephtoah,


book: Josh
contenido:
and down to the base of the mountain beside the valley of Ben-Hinnom, at the northern end of the valley of Rephaim. From there it went down the valley of Hinnom, crossing south of the slope where the Jebusites lived, and continued down to En-rogel.


book: Josh
contenido:
From En-rogel the boundary proceeded in a northerly direction and came to En-shemesh and on to Geliloth (which is across from the slopes of Adummim). Then it went down to the Stone of Bohan. (Bohan was Reuben’s son.)


book: Josh
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From there it passed along the north side of the slope overlooking the Jordan Valley. The border then went down into the valley,


book: Josh
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ran past the north slope of Beth-hoglah, and ended at the north bay of the Dead Sea, which is the southern end of the Jordan River. This was the southern boundary.


book: Josh
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The eastern boundary was the Jordan River. These were the boundaries of the homeland allocated to the clans of the tribe of Benjamin.


book: Josh
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The Towns Given to Benjamin These were the towns given to the clans of the tribe of Benjamin. Jericho, Beth-hoglah, Emek-keziz,


book: Josh
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Zela, Haeleph, Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath—fourteen towns with their surrounding villages. This was the homeland allocated to the clans of the tribe of Benjamin.


book: Josh
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The Land Given to Simeon The second allotment of land went to the clans of the tribe of Simeon. Their homeland was surrounded by Judah’s territory.


book: Josh
contenido:
including all the surrounding villages as far south as Baalath-beer (also known as Ramah of the Negev). This was the homeland allocated to the clans of the tribe of Simeon.


book: Josh
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Their allocation of land came from part of what had been given to Judah because Judah’s territory was too large for them. So the tribe of Simeon received an allocation within the territory of Judah.


book: Josh
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The Land Given to Zebulun The third allotment of land went to the clans of the tribe of Zebulun. The boundary of Zebulun’s homeland started at Sarid.


book: Josh
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From there it went west, going past Maralah, touching Dabbesheth, and proceeding to the brook east of Jokneam.


book: Josh
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In the other direction, the boundary went east from Sarid to the border of Kisloth-tabor, and from there to Daberath and up to Japhia.


book: Josh
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The towns in these areas included Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem—twelve towns with their surrounding villages.


book: Josh
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The homeland allocated to the clans of the tribe of Zebulun included these towns and their surrounding villages.


book: Josh
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The boundary also touched Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh, ending at the Jordan River—sixteen towns with their surrounding villages.


book: Josh
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The homeland allocated to the clans of the tribe of Issachar included these towns and their surrounding villages.


book: Josh
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then it turned east toward Beth-dagon, and ran as far as Zebulun in the valley of Iphtah-el, going north to Beth-emek and Neiel. It then continued north to Cabul,


book: Josh
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Then the boundary turned toward Ramah and the fortress of Tyre, where it turned toward Hosah and came to the Mediterranean Sea. The territory also included Mehebel, Aczib,


book: Josh
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The homeland allocated to the clans of the tribe of Asher included these towns and their surrounding villages.


book: Josh
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Its boundary ran from Heleph, from the oak at Zaanannim, and extended across to Adami-nekeb, Jabneel, and as far as Lakkum, ending at the Jordan River.


book: Josh
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The western boundary ran past Aznoth-tabor, then to Hukkok, and touched the border of Zebulun in the south, the border of Asher on the west, and the Jordan River on the east.


book: Josh
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Yiron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh—nineteen towns with their surrounding villages.


book: Josh
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The homeland allocated to the clans of the tribe of Naphtali included these towns and their surrounding villages.


book: Josh
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But the tribe of Dan had trouble taking possession of their land, so they attacked the town of Laish. They captured it, slaughtered its people, and settled there. They renamed the town Dan after their ancestor.


book: Josh
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The homeland allocated to the clans of the tribe of Dan included these towns and their surrounding villages.


book: Josh
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The Land Given to Joshua After all the land was divided among the tribes, the Israelites gave a piece of land to Joshua as his allocation.


book: Josh
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For the Lord had said he could have any town he wanted. He chose Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. He rebuilt the town and lived there.


book: Josh
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These are the territories that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the tribal leaders allocated as grants of land to the tribes of Israel by casting sacred lots in the presence of the Lord at the entrance of the Tabernacle at Shiloh. So the division of the land was completed.


book: Josh
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Anyone who kills another person accidentally and unintentionally can run to one of these cities; they will be places of refuge from relatives seeking revenge for the person who was killed.


book: Josh
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“Upon reaching one of these cities, the one who caused the death will appear before the elders at the city gate and present his case. They must allow him to enter the city and give him a place to live among them.


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If the relatives of the victim come to avenge the killing, the leaders must not release the slayer to them, for he killed the other person unintentionally and without previous hostility.


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But the slayer must stay in that city and be tried by the local assembly, which will render a judgment. And he must continue to live in that city until the death of the high priest who was in office at the time of the accident. After that, he is free to return to his own home in the town from which he fled.”


book: Josh
contenido:
The following cities were designated as cities of refuge: Kedesh of Galilee, in the hill country of Naphtali; Shechem, in the hill country of Ephraim; and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), in the hill country of Judah.


book: Josh
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On the east side of the Jordan River, across from Jericho, the following cities were designated: Bezer, in the wilderness plain of the tribe of Reuben; Ramoth in Gilead, in the territory of the tribe of Gad; and Golan in Bashan, in the land of the tribe of Manasseh.


book: Josh
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These cities were set apart for all the Israelites as well as the foreigners living among them. Anyone who accidentally killed another person could take refuge in one of these cities. In this way, they could escape being killed in revenge prior to standing trial before the local assembly.


book: Josh
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The Towns Given to the Levites Then the leaders of the tribe of Levi came to consult with Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders of the other tribes of Israel.


book: Josh
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They came to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan and said, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us towns to live in and pasturelands for our livestock.”


book: Josh
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So by the command of the Lord the people of Israel gave the Levites the following towns and pasturelands out of their own grants of land.


book: Josh
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The descendants of Aaron, who were members of the Kohathite clan within the tribe of Levi, were allotted thirteen towns that were originally assigned to the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.


book: Josh
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The other families of the Kohathite clan were allotted ten towns from the tribes of Ephraim, Dan, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.


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The clan of Gershon was allotted thirteen towns from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.


book: Josh
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So the Israelites obeyed the Lord’s command to Moses and assigned these towns and pasturelands to the Levites by casting sacred lots.


book: Josh
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to the descendants of Aaron, who were members of the Kohathite clan within the tribe of Levi, since the sacred lot fell to them first:


book: Josh
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Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), in the hill country of Judah, along with its surrounding pasturelands. (Arba was an ancestor of Anak.)


book: Josh
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But the open fields beyond the town and the surrounding villages were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession.


book: Josh
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The following towns with their pasturelands were given to the descendants of Aaron the priest: Hebron (a city of refuge for those who accidentally killed someone), Libnah,


book: Josh
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From the tribe of Benjamin the priests were given the following towns with their pasturelands: Gibeon, Geba,


book: Josh
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So in all, thirteen towns with their pasturelands were given to the priests, the descendants of Aaron.


book: Josh
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The rest of the Kohathite clan from the tribe of Levi was allotted the following towns and pasturelands from the tribe of Ephraim:


book: Josh
contenido:
Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim (a city of refuge for those who accidentally killed someone), Gezer,


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The following towns and pasturelands were allotted to the priests from the tribe of Dan: Eltekeh, Gibbethon,


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contenido:
The half-tribe of Manasseh allotted the following towns with their pasturelands to the priests: Taanach and Gath-rimmon—two towns.


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contenido:
The descendants of Gershon, another clan within the tribe of Levi, received the following towns with their pasturelands from the half-tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan (a city of refuge for those who accidentally killed someone) and Be-eshterah—two towns.


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From the tribe of Issachar they received the following towns with their pasturelands: Kishion, Daberath,


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contenido:
From the tribe of Naphtali they received the following towns with their pasturelands: Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for those who accidentally killed someone), Hammoth-dor, and Kartan—three towns.


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contenido:
The rest of the Levites—the Merari clan—were given the following towns with their pasturelands from the tribe of Zebulun: Jokneam, Kartah,


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contenido:
From the tribe of Gad they received the following towns with their pasturelands: Ramoth in Gilead (a city of refuge for those who accidentally killed someone), Mahanaim,


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contenido:
The total number of towns and pasturelands within Israelite territory given to the Levites came to forty-eight.


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contenido:
So the Lord gave to Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there.


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contenido:
And the Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had solemnly promised their ancestors. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the Lord helped them conquer all their enemies.


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contenido:
Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.


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contenido:
The Eastern Tribes Return Home Then Joshua called together the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.


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contenido:
He told them, “You have done as Moses, the servant of the Lord, commanded you, and you have obeyed every order I have given you.


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contenido:
During all this time you have not deserted the other tribes. You have been careful to obey the commands of the Lord your God right up to the present day.


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contenido:
And now the Lord your God has given the other tribes rest, as he promised them. So go back home to the land that Moses, the servant of the Lord, gave you as your possession on the east side of the Jordan River.


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contenido:
But be very careful to obey all the commands and the instructions that Moses gave to you. Love the Lord your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul.”


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Moses had given the land of Bashan, east of the Jordan River, to the half-tribe of Manasseh. (The other half of the tribe was given land west of the Jordan.) As Joshua sent them away and blessed them,


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contenido:
he said to them, “Go back to your homes with the great wealth you have taken from your enemies—the vast herds of livestock, the silver, gold, bronze, and iron, and the large supply of clothing. Share the plunder with your relatives.”


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So the men of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the rest of Israel at Shiloh in the land of Canaan. They started the journey back to their own land of Gilead, the territory that belonged to them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.


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The Eastern Tribes Build an Altar But while they were still in Canaan, and when they came to a place called Geliloth near the Jordan River, the men of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh stopped to build a large and imposing altar.


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The rest of Israel heard that the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had built an altar at Geliloth at the edge of the land of Canaan, on the west side of the Jordan River.


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First, however, they sent a delegation led by Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, to talk with the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.


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contenido:
In this delegation were ten leaders of Israel, one from each of the ten tribes, and each the head of his family within the clans of Israel.


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contenido:
When they arrived in the land of Gilead, they said to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh,


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“The whole community of the Lord demands to know why you are betraying the God of Israel. How could you turn away from the Lord and build an altar for yourselves in rebellion against him?


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contenido:
Was our sin at Peor not enough? To this day we are not fully cleansed of it, even after the plague that struck the entire community of the Lord.


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And yet today you are turning away from following the Lord. If you rebel against the Lord today, he will be angry with all of us tomorrow.


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“If you need the altar because the land you possess is defiled, then join us in the Lord’s land, where the Tabernacle of the Lord is situated, and share our land with us. But do not rebel against the Lord or against us by building an altar other than the one true altar of the Lord our God.


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Didn’t divine anger fall on the entire community of Israel when Achan, a member of the clan of Zerah, sinned by stealing the things set apart for the Lord? He was not the only one who died because of his sin.”


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Then the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the heads of the clans of Israel:


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contenido:
“The Lord, the Mighty One, is God! The Lord, the Mighty One, is God! He knows the truth, and may Israel know it, too! We have not built the altar in treacherous rebellion against the Lord. If we have done so, do not spare our lives this day.


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If we have built an altar for ourselves to turn away from the Lord or to offer burnt offerings or grain offerings or peace offerings, may the Lord himself punish us.


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“The truth is, we have built this altar because we fear that in the future your descendants will say to ours, ‘What right do you have to worship the Lord, the God of Israel?


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contenido:
The Lord has placed the Jordan River as a barrier between our people and you people of Reuben and Gad. You have no claim to the Lord.’ So your descendants may prevent our descendants from worshiping the Lord.


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contenido:
but as a memorial. It will remind our descendants and your descendants that we, too, have the right to worship the Lord at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices, and peace offerings. Then your descendants will not be able to say to ours, ‘You have no claim to the Lord.’


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“If they say this, our descendants can reply, ‘Look at this copy of the Lord’s altar that our ancestors made. It is not for burnt offerings or sacrifices; it is a reminder of the relationship both of us have with the Lord.’


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Far be it from us to rebel against the Lord or turn away from him by building our own altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or sacrifices. Only the altar of the Lord our God that stands in front of the Tabernacle may be used for that purpose.”


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When Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the community—the heads of the clans of Israel—heard this from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, they were satisfied.


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contenido:
Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, replied to them, “Today we know the Lord is among us because you have not committed this treachery against the Lord as we thought. Instead, you have rescued Israel from being destroyed by the hand of the Lord.”


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Then Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, and the other leaders left the tribes of Reuben and Gad in Gilead and returned to the land of Canaan to tell the Israelites what had happened.


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And all the Israelites were satisfied and praised God and spoke no more of war against Reuben and Gad.


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contenido:
The people of Reuben and Gad named the altar “Witness,” for they said, “It is a witness between us and them that the Lord is our God, too.”


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contenido:
Joshua’s Final Words to Israel The years passed, and the Lord had given the people of Israel rest from all their enemies. Joshua, who was now very old,


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contenido:
called together all the elders, leaders, judges, and officers of Israel. He said to them, “I am now a very old man.


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contenido:
You have seen everything the Lord your God has done for you during my lifetime. The Lord your God has fought for you against your enemies.


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contenido:
I have allotted to you as your homeland all the land of the nations yet unconquered, as well as the land of those we have already conquered—from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.


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This land will be yours, for the Lord your God will himself drive out all the people living there now. You will take possession of their land, just as the Lord your God promised you.


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contenido:
“So be very careful to follow everything Moses wrote in the Book of Instruction. Do not deviate from it, turning either to the right or to the left.


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contenido:
Make sure you do not associate with the other people still remaining in the land. Do not even mention the names of their gods, much less swear by them or serve them or worship them.


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contenido:
“For the Lord has driven out great and powerful nations for you, and no one has yet been able to defeat you.


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contenido:
Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the Lord your God fights for you, just as he has promised.


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contenido:
“But if you turn away from him and cling to the customs of the survivors of these nations remaining among you, and if you intermarry with them,


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contenido:
then know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive them out of your land. Instead, they will be a snare and a trap to you, a whip for your backs and thorny brambles in your eyes, and you will vanish from this good land the Lord your God has given you.


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“Soon I will die, going the way of everything on earth. Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the Lord your God has come true. Not a single one has failed!


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But as surely as the Lord your God has given you the good things he promised, he will also bring disaster on you if you disobey him. He will completely destroy you from this good land he has given you.


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contenido:
If you break the covenant of the Lord your God by worshiping and serving other gods, his anger will burn against you, and you will quickly vanish from the good land he has given you.”


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contenido:
The Lord’s Covenant Renewed Then Joshua summoned all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, including their elders, leaders, judges, and officers. So they came and presented themselves to God.


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contenido:
Joshua said to the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Long ago your ancestors, including Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River, and they worshiped other gods.


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But I took your ancestor Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates and led him into the land of Canaan. I gave him many descendants through his son Isaac.


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contenido:
To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I gave the mountains of Seir, while Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.


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contenido:
“Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I brought terrible plagues on Egypt; and afterward I brought you out as a free people.


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contenido:
But when your ancestors arrived at the Red Sea, the Egyptians chased after you with chariots and charioteers.


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When your ancestors cried out to the Lord, I put darkness between you and the Egyptians. I brought the sea crashing down on the Egyptians, drowning them. With your very own eyes you saw what I did. Then you lived in the wilderness for many years.


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“Finally, I brought you into the land of the Amorites on the east side of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I destroyed them before you. I gave you victory over them, and you took possession of their land.


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contenido:
Then Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, started a war against Israel. He summoned Balaam son of Beor to curse you,


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“When you crossed the Jordan River and came to Jericho, the men of Jericho fought against you, as did the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. But I gave you victory over them.


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And I sent terror ahead of you to drive out the two kings of the Amorites. It was not your swords or bows that brought you victory.


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contenido:
I gave you land you had not worked on, and I gave you towns you did not build—the towns where you are now living. I gave you vineyards and olive groves for food, though you did not plant them.


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“So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone.


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But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”


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For the Lord our God is the one who rescued us and our ancestors from slavery in the land of Egypt. He performed mighty miracles before our very eyes. As we traveled through the wilderness among our enemies, he preserved us.


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It was the Lord who drove out the Amorites and the other nations living here in the land. So we, too, will serve the Lord, for he alone is our God.”


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contenido:
Then Joshua warned the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy and jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins.


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If you abandon the Lord and serve other gods, he will turn against you and destroy you, even though he has been so good to you.”


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“You are a witness to your own decision,” Joshua said. “You have chosen to serve the Lord.” “Yes,” they replied, “we are witnesses to what we have said.”


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“All right then,” Joshua said, “destroy the idols among you, and turn your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”


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contenido:
So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day at Shechem, committing them to follow the decrees and regulations of the Lord.


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contenido:
Joshua recorded these things in the Book of God’s Instructions. As a reminder of their agreement, he took a huge stone and rolled it beneath the terebinth tree beside the Tabernacle of the Lord.


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Joshua said to all the people, “This stone has heard everything the Lord said to us. It will be a witness to testify against you if you go back on your word to God.”


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contenido:
Leaders Buried in the Promised Land After this, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110.


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They buried him in the land he had been allocated, at Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.


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The people of Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him—those who had personally experienced all that the Lord had done for Israel.


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The bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought along with them when they left Egypt, were buried at Shechem, in the parcel of ground Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor for 100 pieces of silver. This land was located in the territory allotted to the descendants of Joseph.


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contenido:
Eleazar son of Aaron also died. He was buried in the hill country of Ephraim, in the town of Gibeah, which had been given to his son Phinehas.


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Judah and Simeon Conquer the Land After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the Lord, “Which tribe should go first to attack the Canaanites?”


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The men of Judah said to their relatives from the tribe of Simeon, “Join with us to fight against the Canaanites living in the territory allotted to us. Then we will help you conquer your territory.” So the men of Simeon went with Judah.


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When the men of Judah attacked, the Lord gave them victory over the Canaanites and Perizzites, and they killed 10,000 enemy warriors at the town of Bezek.


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contenido:
While at Bezek they encountered King Adoni-bezek and fought against him, and the Canaanites and Perizzites were defeated.


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contenido:
Adoni-bezek said, “I once had seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off, eating scraps from under my table. Now God has paid me back for what I did to them.” They took him to Jerusalem, and he died there.


book: Judg
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The men of Judah attacked Jerusalem and captured it, killing all its people and setting the city on fire.


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Then they went down to fight the Canaanites living in the hill country, the Negev, and the western foothills.


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contenido:
Judah marched against the Canaanites in Hebron (formerly called Kiriath-arba), defeating the forces of Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.


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From there they went to fight against the people living in the town of Debir (formerly called Kiriath-sepher).


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contenido:
Othniel, the son of Caleb’s younger brother, Kenaz, was the one who conquered it, so Acsah became Othniel’s wife.


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contenido:
She said, “Let me have another gift. You have already given me land in the Negev; now please give me springs of water, too.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.


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contenido:
When the tribe of Judah left Jericho—the city of palms—the Kenites, who were descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, traveled with them into the wilderness of Judah. They settled among the people there, near the town of Arad in the Negev.


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Then Judah joined with Simeon to fight against the Canaanites living in Zephath, and they completely destroyed the town. So the town was named Hormah.


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In addition, Judah captured the towns of Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron, along with their surrounding territories.


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contenido:
Israel Fails to Conquer the Land The Lord was with the people of Judah, and they took possession of the hill country. But they failed to drive out the people living in the plains, who had iron chariots.


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contenido:
The town of Hebron was given to Caleb as Moses had promised. And Caleb drove out the people living there, who were descendants of the three sons of Anak.


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contenido:
The tribe of Benjamin, however, failed to drive out the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live in Jerusalem among the people of Benjamin.


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contenido:
They confronted a man coming out of the town and said to him, “Show us a way into the town, and we will have mercy on you.”


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contenido:
Later the man moved to the land of the Hittites, where he built a town. He named it Luz, which is its name to this day.


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contenido:
The tribe of Manasseh failed to drive out the people living in Beth-shan, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, and all their surrounding settlements, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in that region.


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When the Israelites grew stronger, they forced the Canaanites to work as slaves, but they never did drive them completely out of the land.


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The tribe of Ephraim failed to drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer, so the Canaanites continued to live there among them.


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The tribe of Zebulun failed to drive out the residents of Kitron and Nahalol, so the Canaanites continued to live among them. But the Canaanites were forced to work as slaves for the people of Zebulun.


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The tribe of Asher failed to drive out the residents of Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Aczib, Helbah, Aphik, and Rehob.


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contenido:
Instead, the people of Asher moved in among the Canaanites, who controlled the land, for they failed to drive them out.


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contenido:
Likewise, the tribe of Naphtali failed to drive out the residents of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath. Instead, they moved in among the Canaanites, who controlled the land. Nevertheless, the people of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath were forced to work as slaves for the people of Naphtali.


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As for the tribe of Dan, the Amorites forced them back into the hill country and would not let them come down into the plains.


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contenido:
The Amorites were determined to stay in Mount Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim, but when the descendants of Joseph became stronger, they forced the Amorites to work as slaves.


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contenido:
The Lord’s Messenger Comes to Bokim The angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said to the Israelites, “I brought you out of Egypt into this land that I swore to give your ancestors, and I said I would never break my covenant with you.


book: Judg
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For your part, you were not to make any covenants with the people living in this land; instead, you were to destroy their altars. But you disobeyed my command. Why did you do this?


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contenido:
So now I declare that I will no longer drive out the people living in your land. They will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a constant temptation to you.”


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contenido:
So they called the place Bokim (which means “weeping”), and they offered sacrifices there to the Lord.


book: Judg
contenido:
The Death of Joshua After Joshua sent the people away, each of the tribes left to take possession of the land allotted to them.


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contenido:
And the Israelites served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and the leaders who outlived him—those who had seen all the great things the Lord had done for Israel.


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contenido:
Israel Disobeys the Lord After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel.


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contenido:
They abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods, worshiping the gods of the people around them. And they angered the Lord.


book: Judg
contenido:
This made the Lord burn with anger against Israel, so he handed them over to raiders who stole their possessions. He turned them over to their enemies all around, and they were no longer able to resist them.


book: Judg
contenido:
Every time Israel went out to battle, the Lord fought against them, causing them to be defeated, just as he had warned. And the people were in great distress.


book: Judg
contenido:
The Lord Rescues His People Then the Lord raised up judges to rescue the Israelites from their attackers.


book: Judg
contenido:
Yet Israel did not listen to the judges but prostituted themselves by worshiping other gods. How quickly they turned away from the path of their ancestors, who had walked in obedience to the Lord’s commands.


book: Judg
contenido:
Whenever the Lord raised up a judge over Israel, he was with that judge and rescued the people from their enemies throughout the judge’s lifetime. For the Lord took pity on his people, who were burdened by oppression and suffering.


book: Judg
contenido:
But when the judge died, the people returned to their corrupt ways, behaving worse than those who had lived before them. They went after other gods, serving and worshiping them. And they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.


book: Judg
contenido:
So the Lord burned with anger against Israel. He said, “Because these people have violated my covenant, which I made with their ancestors, and have ignored my commands,


book: Judg
contenido:
I did this to test Israel—to see whether or not they would follow the ways of the Lord as their ancestors did.”


book: Judg
contenido:
That is why the Lord left those nations in place. He did not quickly drive them out or allow Joshua to conquer them all.


book: Judg
contenido:
The Nations Left in Canaan These are the nations that the Lord left in the land to test those Israelites who had not experienced the wars of Canaan.


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contenido:
These are the nations: the Philistines (those living under the five Philistine rulers), all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in the mountains of Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon to Lebo-hamath.


book: Judg
contenido:
These people were left to test the Israelites—to see whether they would obey the commands the Lord had given to their ancestors through Moses.


book: Judg
contenido:
So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites,


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contenido:
and they intermarried with them. Israelite sons married their daughters, and Israelite daughters were given in marriage to their sons. And the Israelites served their gods.


book: Judg
contenido:
Othniel Becomes Israel’s Judge The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight. They forgot about the Lord their God, and they served the images of Baal and the Asherah poles.


book: Judg
contenido:
Then the Lord burned with anger against Israel, and he turned them over to King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim. And the Israelites served Cushan-rishathaim for eight years.


book: Judg
contenido:
But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, the Lord raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Othniel, the son of Caleb’s younger brother, Kenaz.


book: Judg
contenido:
The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge. He went to war against King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram, and the Lord gave Othniel victory over him.


book: Judg
contenido:
Ehud Becomes Israel’s Judge Once again the Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight, and the Lord gave King Eglon of Moab control over Israel because of their evil.


book: Judg
contenido:
Eglon enlisted the Ammonites and Amalekites as allies, and then he went out and defeated Israel, taking possession of Jericho, the city of palms.


book: Judg
contenido:
But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, the Lord again raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed man of the tribe of Benjamin. The Israelites sent Ehud to deliver their tribute money to King Eglon of Moab.


book: Judg
contenido:
So Ehud made a double-edged dagger that was about a foot long, and he strapped it to his right thigh, keeping it hidden under his clothing.


book: Judg
contenido:
But when Ehud reached the stone idols near Gilgal, he turned back. He came to Eglon and said, “I have a secret message for you.” So the king commanded his servants, “Be quiet!” and he sent them all out of the room.


book: Judg
contenido:
Ehud walked over to Eglon, who was sitting alone in a cool upstairs room. And Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you!” As King Eglon rose from his seat,


book: Judg
contenido:
Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled out the dagger strapped to his right thigh, and plunged it into the king’s belly.


book: Judg
contenido:
The dagger went so deep that the handle disappeared beneath the king’s fat. So Ehud did not pull out the dagger, and the king’s bowels emptied.


book: Judg
contenido:
After Ehud was gone, the king’s servants returned and found the doors to the upstairs room locked. They thought he might be using the latrine in the room,


book: Judg
contenido:
so they waited. But when the king didn’t come out after a long delay, they became concerned and got a key. And when they opened the doors, they found their master dead on the floor.


book: Judg
contenido:
When he arrived in the hill country of Ephraim, Ehud sounded a call to arms. Then he led a band of Israelites down from the hills.


book: Judg
contenido:
“Follow me,” he said, “for the Lord has given you victory over Moab your enemy.” So they followed him. And the Israelites took control of the shallow crossings of the Jordan River across from Moab, preventing anyone from crossing.


book: Judg
contenido:
They attacked the Moabites and killed about 10,000 of their strongest and most able-bodied warriors. Not one of them escaped.


book: Judg
contenido:
Shamgar Becomes Israel’s Judge After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath rescued Israel. He once killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad.


book: Judg
contenido:
Deborah Becomes Israel’s Judge After Ehud’s death, the Israelites again did evil in the Lord’s sight.


book: Judg
contenido:
So the Lord turned them over to King Jabin of Hazor, a Canaanite king. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-haggoyim.


book: Judg
contenido:
Sisera, who had 900 iron chariots, ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help.


book: Judg
contenido:
She would sit under the Palm of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites would go to her for judgment.


book: Judg
contenido:
One day she sent for Barak son of Abinoam, who lived in Kedesh in the land of Naphtali. She said to him, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: Call out 10,000 warriors from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun at Mount Tabor.


book: Judg
contenido:
And I will call out Sisera, commander of Jabin’s army, along with his chariots and warriors, to the Kishon River. There I will give you victory over him.”


book: Judg
contenido:
“Very well,” she replied, “I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the Lord’s victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh.


book: Judg
contenido:
At Kedesh, Barak called together the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali, and 10,000 warriors went up with him. Deborah also went with him.


book: Judg
contenido:
Now Heber the Kenite, a descendant of Moses’ brother-in-law Hobab, had moved away from the other members of his tribe and pitched his tent by the oak of Zaanannim near Kedesh.


book: Judg
contenido:
he called for all 900 of his iron chariots and all of his warriors, and they marched from Harosheth-haggoyim to the Kishon River.


book: Judg
contenido:
Then Deborah said to Barak, “Get ready! This is the day the Lord will give you victory over Sisera, for the Lord is marching ahead of you.” So Barak led his 10,000 warriors down the slopes of Mount Tabor into battle.


book: Judg
contenido:
When Barak attacked, the Lord threw Sisera and all his chariots and warriors into a panic. Sisera leaped down from his chariot and escaped on foot.


book: Judg
contenido:
Then Barak chased the chariots and the enemy army all the way to Harosheth-haggoyim, killing all of Sisera’s warriors. Not a single one was left alive.


book: Judg
contenido:
Meanwhile, Sisera ran to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because Heber’s family was on friendly terms with King Jabin of Hazor.


book: Judg
contenido:
Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Come into my tent, sir. Come in. Don’t be afraid.” So he went into her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.


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contenido:
“Please give me some water,” he said. “I’m thirsty.” So she gave him some milk from a leather bag and covered him again.


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contenido:
“Stand at the door of the tent,” he told her. “If anybody comes and asks you if there is anyone here, say no.”


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contenido:
But when Sisera fell asleep from exhaustion, Jael quietly crept up to him with a hammer and tent peg in her hand. Then she drove the tent peg through his temple and into the ground, and so he died.


book: Judg
contenido:
When Barak came looking for Sisera, Jael went out to meet him. She said, “Come, and I will show you the man you are looking for.” So he followed her into the tent and found Sisera lying there dead, with the tent peg through his temple.


book: Judg
contenido:
And from that time on Israel became stronger and stronger against King Jabin until they finally destroyed him.


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contenido:
“Listen, you kings! Pay attention, you mighty rulers! For I will sing to the Lord. I will make music to the Lord, the God of Israel.


book: Judg
contenido:
“Lord, when you set out from Seir and marched across the fields of Edom, the earth trembled, and the cloudy skies poured down rain.


book: Judg
contenido:
The mountains quaked in the presence of the Lord, the God of Mount Sinai— in the presence of the Lord, the God of Israel.


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contenido:
“In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, and in the days of Jael, people avoided the main roads, and travelers stayed on winding pathways.


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When Israel chose new gods, war erupted at the city gates. Yet not a shield or spear could be seen among forty thousand warriors in Israel!


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contenido:
“Consider this, you who ride on fine donkeys, you who sit on fancy saddle blankets, and you who walk along the road.


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contenido:
Listen to the village musicians gathered at the watering holes. They recount the righteous victories of the Lord and the victories of his villagers in Israel. Then the people of the Lord marched down to the city gates.


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contenido:
“Wake up, Deborah, wake up! Wake up, wake up, and sing a song! Arise, Barak! Lead your captives away, son of Abinoam!


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contenido:
“Down from Tabor marched the few against the nobles. The people of the Lord marched down against mighty warriors.


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contenido:
They came down from Ephraim— a land that once belonged to the Amalekites; they followed you, Benjamin, with your troops. From Makir the commanders marched down; from Zebulun came those who carry a commander’s staff.


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The princes of Issachar were with Deborah and Barak. They followed Barak, rushing into the valley. But in the tribe of Reuben there was great indecision.


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Why did you sit at home among the sheepfolds— to hear the shepherds whistle for their flocks? Yes, in the tribe of Reuben there was great indecision.


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contenido:
Gilead remained east of the Jordan. And why did Dan stay home? Asher sat unmoved at the seashore, remaining in his harbors.


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contenido:
“The kings of Canaan came and fought, at Taanach near Megiddo’s springs, but they carried off no silver treasures.


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contenido:
‘Let the people of Meroz be cursed,’ said the angel of the Lord. ‘Let them be utterly cursed, because they did not come to help the Lord— to help the Lord against the mighty warriors.’


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contenido:
“Most blessed among women is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. May she be blessed above all women who live in tents.


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Then with her left hand she reached for a tent peg, and with her right hand for the workman’s hammer. She struck Sisera with the hammer, crushing his head. With a shattering blow, she pierced his temples.


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contenido:
“From the window Sisera’s mother looked out. Through the window she watched for his return, saying, ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why don’t we hear the sound of chariot wheels?’


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contenido:
‘They must be dividing the captured plunder— with a woman or two for every man. There will be colorful robes for Sisera, and colorful, embroidered robes for me. Yes, the plunder will include colorful robes embroidered on both sides.’


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“Lord, may all your enemies die like Sisera! But may those who love you rise like the sun in all its power!” Then there was peace in the land for forty years.


book: Judg
contenido:
Gideon Becomes Israel’s Judge The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight. So the Lord handed them over to the Midianites for seven years.


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contenido:
The Midianites were so cruel that the Israelites made hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds.


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contenido:
Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, marauders from Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east would attack Israel,


book: Judg
contenido:
camping in the land and destroying crops as far away as Gaza. They left the Israelites with nothing to eat, taking all the sheep, goats, cattle, and donkeys.


book: Judg
contenido:
These enemy hordes, coming with their livestock and tents, were as thick as locusts; they arrived on droves of camels too numerous to count. And they stayed until the land was stripped bare.


book: Judg
contenido:
So Israel was reduced to starvation by the Midianites. Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help.


book: Judg
contenido:
the Lord sent a prophet to the Israelites. He said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of slavery in Egypt.


book: Judg
contenido:
I rescued you from the Egyptians and from all who oppressed you. I drove out your enemies and gave you their land.


book: Judg
contenido:
I told you, ‘I am the Lord your God. You must not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you now live.’ But you have not listened to me.”


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contenido:
Then the angel of the Lord came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites.


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“Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.”


book: Judg
contenido:
Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”


book: Judg
contenido:
“But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!”


book: Judg
contenido:
The Lord said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.”


book: Judg
contenido:
Gideon replied, “If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it is really the Lord speaking to me.


book: Judg
contenido:
Don’t go away until I come back and bring my offering to you.” He answered, “I will stay here until you return.”


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contenido:
Gideon hurried home. He cooked a young goat, and with a basket of flour he baked some bread without yeast. Then, carrying the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot, he brought them out and presented them to the angel, who was under the great tree.


book: Judg
contenido:
The angel of God said to him, “Place the meat and the unleavened bread on this rock, and pour the broth over it.” And Gideon did as he was told.


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contenido:
Then the angel of the Lord touched the meat and bread with the tip of the staff in his hand, and fire flamed up from the rock and consumed all he had brought. And the angel of the Lord disappeared.


book: Judg
contenido:
When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he cried out, “Oh, Sovereign Lord, I’m doomed! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!”


book: Judg
contenido:
And Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and named it Yahweh-Shalom (which means “the Lord is peace”). The altar remains in Ophrah in the land of the clan of Abiezer to this day.


book: Judg
contenido:
That night the Lord said to Gideon, “Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one that is seven years old. Pull down your father’s altar to Baal, and cut down the Asherah pole standing beside it.


book: Judg
contenido:
Then build an altar to the Lord your God here on this hilltop sanctuary, laying the stones carefully. Sacrifice the bull as a burnt offering on the altar, using as fuel the wood of the Asherah pole you cut down.”


book: Judg
contenido:
So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord had commanded. But he did it at night because he was afraid of the other members of his father’s household and the people of the town.


book: Judg
contenido:
Early the next morning, as the people of the town began to stir, someone discovered that the altar of Baal had been broken down and that the Asherah pole beside it had been cut down. In their place a new altar had been built, and on it were the remains of the bull that had been sacrificed.


book: Judg
contenido:
The people said to each other, “Who did this?” And after asking around and making a careful search, they learned that it was Gideon, the son of Joash.


book: Judg
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“Bring out your son,” the men of the town demanded of Joash. “He must die for destroying the altar of Baal and for cutting down the Asherah pole.”


book: Judg
contenido:
But Joash shouted to the mob that confronted him, “Why are you defending Baal? Will you argue his case? Whoever pleads his case will be put to death by morning! If Baal truly is a god, let him defend himself and destroy the one who broke down his altar!”


book: Judg
contenido:
From then on Gideon was called Jerub-baal, which means “Let Baal defend himself,” because he broke down Baal’s altar.


book: Judg
contenido:
Gideon Asks for a Sign Soon afterward the armies of Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east formed an alliance against Israel and crossed the Jordan, camping in the valley of Jezreel.


book: Judg
contenido:
Then the Spirit of the Lord took possession of Gideon. He blew a ram’s horn as a call to arms, and the men of the clan of Abiezer came to him.


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contenido:
He also sent messengers throughout Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, summoning their warriors, and all of them responded.


book: Judg
contenido:
prove it to me in this way. I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised.”


book: Judg
contenido:
And that is just what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out a whole bowlful of water.


book: Judg
contenido:
Then Gideon said to God, “Please don’t be angry with me, but let me make one more request. Let me use the fleece for one more test. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew.”


book: Judg
contenido:
So that night God did as Gideon asked. The fleece was dry in the morning, but the ground was covered with dew.


book: Judg
contenido:
Gideon Defeats the Midianites So Jerub-baal (that is, Gideon) and his army got up early and went as far as the spring of Harod. The armies of Midian were camped north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh.


book: Judg
contenido:
The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength.


book: Judg
contenido:
Therefore, tell the people, ‘Whoever is timid or afraid may leave this mountain and go home.’” So 22,000 of them went home, leaving only 10,000 who were willing to fight.


book: Judg
contenido:
But the Lord told Gideon, “There are still too many! Bring them down to the spring, and I will test them to determine who will go with you and who will not.”


book: Judg
contenido:
When Gideon took his warriors down to the water, the Lord told him, “Divide the men into two groups. In one group put all those who cup water in their hands and lap it up with their tongues like dogs. In the other group put all those who kneel down and drink with their mouths in the stream.”


book: Judg
contenido:
Only 300 of the men drank from their hands. All the others got down on their knees and drank with their mouths in the stream.


book: Judg
contenido:
The Lord told Gideon, “With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home.”


book: Judg
contenido:
So Gideon collected the provisions and rams’ horns of the other warriors and sent them home. But he kept the 300 men with him. The Midianite camp was in the valley just below Gideon.


book: Judg
contenido:
That night the Lord said, “Get up! Go down into the Midianite camp, for I have given you victory over them!


book: Judg
contenido:
Listen to what the Midianites are saying, and you will be greatly encouraged. Then you will be eager to attack.” So Gideon took Purah and went down to the edge of the enemy camp.


book: Judg
contenido:
The armies of Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east had settled in the valley like a swarm of locusts. Their camels were like grains of sand on the seashore—too many to count!


book: Judg
contenido:
Gideon crept up just as a man was telling his companion about a dream. The man said, “I had this dream, and in my dream a loaf of barley bread came tumbling down into the Midianite camp. It hit a tent, turned it over, and knocked it flat!”


book: Judg
contenido:
His companion answered, “Your dream can mean only one thing—God has given Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite, victory over Midian and all its allies!”


book: Judg
contenido:
When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship before the Lord. Then he returned to the Israelite camp and shouted, “Get up! For the Lord has given you victory over the Midianite hordes!”


book: Judg
contenido:
He divided the 300 men into three groups and gave each man a ram’s horn and a clay jar with a torch in it.


book: Judg
contenido:
As soon as I and those with me blow the rams’ horns, blow your horns, too, all around the entire camp, and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon!’”


book: Judg
contenido:
It was just after midnight, after the changing of the guard, when Gideon and the 100 men with him reached the edge of the Midianite camp. Suddenly, they blew the rams’ horns and broke their clay jars.


book: Judg
contenido:
Then all three groups blew their horns and broke their jars. They held the blazing torches in their left hands and the horns in their right hands, and they all shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!”


book: Judg
contenido:
Each man stood at his position around the camp and watched as all the Midianites rushed around in a panic, shouting as they ran to escape.


book: Judg
contenido:
When the 300 Israelites blew their rams’ horns, the Lord caused the warriors in the camp to fight against each other with their swords. Those who were not killed fled to places as far away as Beth-shittah near Zererah and to the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath.


book: Judg
contenido:
Then Gideon sent for the warriors of Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh, who joined in chasing the army of Midian.


book: Judg
contenido:
Gideon also sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down to attack the Midianites. Cut them off at the shallow crossings of the Jordan River at Beth-barah.” So all the men of Ephraim did as they were told.


book: Judg
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They captured Oreb and Zeeb, the two Midianite commanders, killing Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. And they continued to chase the Midianites. Afterward the Israelites brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was by the Jordan River.


book: Judg
contenido:
Gideon Kills Zebah and Zalmunna Then the people of Ephraim asked Gideon, “Why have you treated us this way? Why didn’t you send for us when you first went out to fight the Midianites?” And they argued heatedly with Gideon.


book: Judg
contenido:
But Gideon replied, “What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren’t even the leftover grapes of Ephraim’s harvest better than the entire crop of my little clan of Abiezer?


book: Judg
contenido:
God gave you victory over Oreb and Zeeb, the commanders of the Midianite army. What have I accomplished compared to that?” When the men of Ephraim heard Gideon’s answer, their anger subsided.


book: Judg
contenido:
Gideon then crossed the Jordan River with his 300 men, and though exhausted, they continued to chase the enemy.


book: Judg
contenido:
When they reached Succoth, Gideon asked the leaders of the town, “Please give my warriors some food. They are very tired. I am chasing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”


book: Judg
contenido:
But the officials of Succoth replied, “Catch Zebah and Zalmunna first, and then we will feed your army.”


book: Judg
contenido:
So Gideon said, “After the Lord gives me victory over Zebah and Zalmunna, I will return and tear your flesh with the thorns and briers from the wilderness.”


book: Judg
contenido:
By this time Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with 15,000 warriors—all that remained of the allied armies of the east, for 120,000 had already been killed.


book: Judg
contenido:
Gideon circled around by the caravan route east of Nobah and Jogbehah, taking the Midianite army by surprise.


book: Judg
contenido:
Zebah and Zalmunna, the two Midianite kings, fled, but Gideon chased them down and captured all their warriors.


book: Judg
contenido:
There he captured a young man from Succoth and demanded that he write down the names of all the seventy-seven officials and elders in the town.


book: Judg
contenido:
Gideon then returned to Succoth and said to the leaders, “Here are Zebah and Zalmunna. When we were here before, you taunted me, saying, ‘Catch Zebah and Zalmunna first, and then we will feed your exhausted army.’”


book: Judg
contenido:
Then Gideon took the elders of the town and taught them a lesson, punishing them with thorns and briers from the wilderness.


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contenido:
Then Gideon asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “The men you killed at Tabor—what were they like?” “Like you,” they replied. “They all had the look of a king’s son.”


book: Judg
contenido:
“They were my brothers, the sons of my own mother!” Gideon exclaimed. “As surely as the Lord lives, I wouldn’t kill you if you hadn’t killed them.”


book: Judg
contenido:
Turning to Jether, his oldest son, he said, “Kill them!” But Jether did not draw his sword, for he was only a boy and was afraid.


book: Judg
contenido:
Then Zebah and Zalmunna said to Gideon, “Be a man! Kill us yourself!” So Gideon killed them both and took the royal ornaments from the necks of their camels.


book: Judg
contenido:
Gideon’s Sacred Ephod Then the Israelites said to Gideon, “Be our ruler! You and your son and your grandson will be our rulers, for you have rescued us from Midian.”


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contenido:
However, I do have one request—that each of you give me an earring from the plunder you collected from your fallen enemies.” (The enemies, being Ishmaelites, all wore gold earrings.)


book: Judg
contenido:
“Gladly!” they replied. They spread out a cloak, and each one threw in a gold earring he had gathered from the plunder.


book: Judg
contenido:
The weight of the gold earrings was forty-three pounds, not including the royal ornaments and pendants, the purple clothing worn by the kings of Midian, or the chains around the necks of their camels.


book: Judg
contenido:
Gideon made a sacred ephod from the gold and put it in Ophrah, his hometown. But soon all the Israelites prostituted themselves by worshiping it, and it became a trap for Gideon and his family.


book: Judg
contenido:
That is the story of how the people of Israel defeated Midian, which never recovered. Throughout the rest of Gideon’s lifetime—about forty years—there was peace in the land.


book: Judg
contenido:
Gideon died when he was very old, and he was buried in the grave of his father, Joash, at Ophrah in the land of the clan of Abiezer.


book: Judg
contenido:
As soon as Gideon died, the Israelites prostituted themselves by worshiping the images of Baal, making Baal-berith their god.


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contenido:
Nor did they show any loyalty to the family of Jerub-baal (that is, Gideon), despite all the good he had done for Israel.


book: Judg
contenido:
Abimelech Rules over Shechem One day Gideon’s son Abimelech went to Shechem to visit his uncles—his mother’s brothers. He said to them and to the rest of his mother’s family,


book: Judg
contenido:
“Ask the leading citizens of Shechem whether they want to be ruled by all seventy of Gideon’s sons or by one man. And remember that I am your own flesh and blood!”


book: Judg
contenido:
So Abimelech’s uncles gave his message to all the citizens of Shechem on his behalf. And after listening to this proposal, the people of Shechem decided in favor of Abimelech because he was their relative.


book: Judg
contenido:
They gave him seventy silver coins from the temple of Baal-berith, which he used to hire some reckless troublemakers who agreed to follow him.


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contenido:
He went to his father’s home at Ophrah, and there, on one stone, they killed all seventy of his half brothers, the sons of Gideon. But the youngest brother, Jotham, escaped and hid.


book: Judg
contenido:
Then all the leading citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo called a meeting under the oak beside the pillar at Shechem and made Abimelech their king.


book: Judg
contenido:
Jotham’s Parable When Jotham heard about this, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted, “Listen to me, citizens of Shechem! Listen to me if you want God to listen to you!


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contenido:
Once upon a time the trees decided to choose a king. First they said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king!’


book: Judg
contenido:
But the olive tree refused, saying, ‘Should I quit producing the olive oil that blesses both God and people, just to wave back and forth over the trees?’


book: Judg
contenido:
But the fig tree also refused, saying, ‘Should I quit producing my sweet fruit just to wave back and forth over the trees?’


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contenido:
But the grapevine also refused, saying, ‘Should I quit producing the wine that cheers both God and people, just to wave back and forth over the trees?’


book: Judg
contenido:
And the thornbush replied to the trees, ‘If you truly want to make me your king, come and take shelter in my shade. If not, let fire come out from me and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’”


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contenido:
Jotham continued, “Now make sure you have acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelech your king, and that you have done right by Gideon and all of his descendants. Have you treated him with the honor he deserves for all he accomplished?


book: Judg
contenido:
But today you have revolted against my father and his descendants, killing his seventy sons on one stone. And you have chosen his slave woman’s son, Abimelech, to be your king just because he is your relative.


book: Judg
contenido:
“If you have acted honorably and in good faith toward Gideon and his descendants today, then may you find joy in Abimelech, and may he find joy in you.


book: Judg
contenido:
But if you have not acted in good faith, then may fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leading citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo; and may fire come out from the citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo and devour Abimelech!”


book: Judg
contenido:
God sent a spirit that stirred up trouble between Abimelech and the leading citizens of Shechem, and they revolted.


book: Judg
contenido:
God was punishing Abimelech for murdering Gideon’s seventy sons, and the citizens of Shechem for supporting him in this treachery of murdering his brothers.


book: Judg
contenido:
The citizens of Shechem set an ambush for Abimelech on the hilltops and robbed everyone who passed that way. But someone warned Abimelech about their plot.


book: Judg
contenido:
One day Gaal son of Ebed moved to Shechem with his brothers and gained the confidence of the leading citizens of Shechem.


book: Judg
contenido:
During the annual harvest festival at Shechem, held in the temple of the local god, the wine flowed freely, and everyone began cursing Abimelech.


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contenido:
“Who is Abimelech?” Gaal shouted. “He’s not a true son of Shechem, so why should we be his servants? He’s merely the son of Gideon, and this Zebul is merely his deputy. Serve the true sons of Hamor, the founder of Shechem. Why should we serve Abimelech?


book: Judg
contenido:
If I were in charge here, I would get rid of Abimelech. I would say to him, ‘Get some soldiers, and come out and fight!’”


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contenido:
He sent messengers to Abimelech in Arumah, telling him, “Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to live in Shechem, and now they are inciting the city to rebel against you.


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In the morning, as soon as it is daylight, attack the city. When Gaal and those who are with him come out against you, you can do with them as you wish.”


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So Abimelech and all his men went by night and split into four groups, stationing themselves around Shechem.


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When Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, “Look, there are people coming down from the hilltops!” Zebul replied, “It’s just the shadows on the hills that look like men.”


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But again Gaal said, “No, people are coming down from the hills. And another group is coming down the road past the Diviners’ Oak.”


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Then Zebul turned on him and asked, “Now where is that big mouth of yours? Wasn’t it you that said, ‘Who is Abimelech, and why should we be his servants?’ The men you mocked are right outside the city! Go out and fight them!”


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But Abimelech chased him, and many of Shechem’s men were wounded and fell along the road as they retreated to the city gate.


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The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields to battle. When Abimelech heard about it,


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he divided his men into three groups and set an ambush in the fields. When Abimelech saw the people coming out of the city, he and his men jumped up from their hiding places and attacked them.


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contenido:
Abimelech and his group stormed the city gate to keep the men of Shechem from getting back in, while Abimelech’s other two groups cut them down in the fields.


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contenido:
The battle went on all day before Abimelech finally captured the city. He killed the people, leveled the city, and scattered salt all over the ground.


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When the leading citizens who lived in the tower of Shechem heard what had happened, they ran and hid in the temple of Baal-berith.


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so he led his forces to Mount Zalmon. He took an ax and chopped some branches from a tree, then put them on his shoulder. “Quick, do as I have done!” he told his men.


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So each of them cut down some branches, following Abimelech’s example. They piled the branches against the walls of the temple and set them on fire. So all the people who had lived in the tower of Shechem died—about 1,000 men and women.


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But there was a strong tower inside the town, and all the men and women—the entire population—fled to it. They barricaded themselves in and climbed up to the roof of the tower.


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He quickly said to his young armor bearer, “Draw your sword and kill me! Don’t let it be said that a woman killed Abimelech!” So the young man ran him through with his sword, and he died.


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contenido:
In this way, God punished Abimelech for the evil he had done against his father by murdering his seventy brothers.


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God also punished the men of Shechem for all their evil. So the curse of Jotham son of Gideon was fulfilled.


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Tola Becomes Israel’s Judge After Abimelech died, Tola son of Puah, son of Dodo, was the next person to rescue Israel. He was from the tribe of Issachar but lived in the town of Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim.


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His thirty sons rode around on thirty donkeys, and they owned thirty towns in the land of Gilead, which are still called the Towns of Jair.


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The Ammonites Oppress Israel Again the Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight. They served the images of Baal and Ashtoreth, and the gods of Aram, Sidon, Moab, Ammon, and Philistia. They abandoned the Lord and no longer served him at all.


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So the Lord burned with anger against Israel, and he turned them over to the Philistines and the Ammonites,


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who began to oppress them that year. For eighteen years they oppressed all the Israelites east of the Jordan River in the land of the Amorites (that is, in Gilead).


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The Ammonites also crossed to the west side of the Jordan and attacked Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. The Israelites were in great distress.


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Finally, they cried out to the Lord for help, saying, “We have sinned against you because we have abandoned you as our God and have served the images of Baal.”


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contenido:
The Lord replied, “Did I not rescue you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines,


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contenido:
the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites? When they oppressed you, you cried out to me for help, and I rescued you.


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But the Israelites pleaded with the Lord and said, “We have sinned. Punish us as you see fit, only rescue us today from our enemies.”


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Then the Israelites put aside their foreign gods and served the Lord. And he was grieved by their misery.


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At that time the armies of Ammon had gathered for war and were camped in Gilead, and the people of Israel assembled and camped at Mizpah.


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The leaders of Gilead said to each other, “Whoever attacks the Ammonites first will become ruler over all the people of Gilead.”


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Jephthah Becomes Israel’s Judge Now Jephthah of Gilead was a great warrior. He was the son of Gilead, but his mother was a prostitute.


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Gilead’s wife also had several sons, and when these half brothers grew up, they chased Jephthah off the land. “You will not get any of our father’s inheritance,” they said, “for you are the son of a prostitute.”


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So Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob. Soon he had a band of worthless rebels following him.


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When the Ammonites attacked, the elders of Gilead sent for Jephthah in the land of Tob. The elders said,


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contenido:
But Jephthah said to them, “Aren’t you the ones who hated me and drove me from my father’s house? Why do you come to me now when you’re in trouble?”


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“Because we need you,” the elders replied. “If you lead us in battle against the Ammonites, we will make you ruler over all the people of Gilead.”


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Jephthah said to the elders, “Let me get this straight. If I come with you and if the Lord gives me victory over the Ammonites, will you really make me ruler over all the people?”


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So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him their ruler and commander of the army. At Mizpah, in the presence of the Lord, Jephthah repeated what he had said to the elders.


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Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of Ammon, asking, “Why have you come out to fight against my land?”


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The king of Ammon answered Jephthah’s messengers, “When the Israelites came out of Egypt, they stole my land from the Arnon River to the Jabbok River and all the way to the Jordan. Now then, give back the land peaceably.”


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they sent messengers to the king of Edom asking for permission to pass through his land. But their request was denied. Then they asked the king of Moab for similar permission, but he wouldn’t let them pass through either. So the people of Israel stayed in Kadesh.


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“Finally, they went around Edom and Moab through the wilderness. They traveled along Moab’s eastern border and camped on the other side of the Arnon River. But they never once crossed the Arnon River into Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab.


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“Then Israel sent messengers to King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled from Heshbon, asking for permission to cross through his land to get to their destination.


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But King Sihon didn’t trust Israel to pass through his land. Instead, he mobilized his army at Jahaz and attacked them.


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But the Lord, the God of Israel, gave his people victory over King Sihon. So Israel took control of all the land of the Amorites, who lived in that region,


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“So you see, it was the Lord, the God of Israel, who took away the land from the Amorites and gave it to Israel. Why, then, should we give it back to you?


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Are you any better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he try to make a case against Israel for disputed land? Did he go to war against them?


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“Israel has been living here for 300 years, inhabiting Heshbon and its surrounding settlements, all the way to Aroer and its settlements, and in all the towns along the Arnon River. Why have you made no effort to recover it before now?


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Therefore, I have not sinned against you. Rather, you have wronged me by attacking me. Let the Lord, who is judge, decide today which of us is right—Israel or Ammon.”


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Jephthah’s Vow At that time the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he went throughout the land of Gilead and Manasseh, including Mizpah in Gilead, and from there he led an army against the Ammonites.


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I will give to the Lord whatever comes out of my house to meet me when I return in triumph. I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.”


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He crushed the Ammonites, devastating about twenty towns from Aroer to an area near Minnith and as far away as Abel-keramim. In this way Israel defeated the Ammonites.


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When Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, his daughter came out to meet him, playing on a tambourine and dancing for joy. She was his one and only child; he had no other sons or daughters.


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When he saw her, he tore his clothes in anguish. “Oh, my daughter!” he cried out. “You have completely destroyed me! You’ve brought disaster on me! For I have made a vow to the Lord, and I cannot take it back.”


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And she said, “Father, if you have made a vow to the Lord, you must do to me what you have vowed, for the Lord has given you a great victory over your enemies, the Ammonites.


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But first let me do this one thing: Let me go up and roam in the hills and weep with my friends for two months, because I will die a virgin.”


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“You may go,” Jephthah said. And he sent her away for two months. She and her friends went into the hills and wept because she would never have children.


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When she returned home, her father kept the vow he had made, and she died a virgin. So it has become a custom in Israel


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for young Israelite women to go away for four days each year to lament the fate of Jephthah’s daughter.


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Ephraim Fights with Jephthah Then the people of Ephraim mobilized an army and crossed over the Jordan River to Zaphon. They sent this message to Jephthah: “Why didn’t you call for us to help you fight against the Ammonites? We are going to burn down your house with you in it!”


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Jephthah replied, “I summoned you at the beginning of the dispute, but you refused to come! You failed to help us in our struggle against Ammon.


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So when I realized you weren’t coming, I risked my life and went to battle without you, and the Lord gave me victory over the Ammonites. So why have you now come to fight me?”


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The people of Ephraim responded, “You men of Gilead are nothing more than fugitives from Ephraim and Manasseh.” So Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and attacked the men of Ephraim and defeated them.


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Jephthah captured the shallow crossings of the Jordan River, and whenever a fugitive from Ephraim tried to go back across, the men of Gilead would challenge him. “Are you a member of the tribe of Ephraim?” they would ask. If the man said, “No, I’m not,”


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they would tell him to say “Shibboleth.” If he was from Ephraim, he would say “Sibboleth,” because people from Ephraim cannot pronounce the word correctly. Then they would take him and kill him at the shallow crossings of the Jordan. In all, 42,000 Ephraimites were killed at that time.


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He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He sent his daughters to marry men outside his clan, and he brought in thirty young women from outside his clan to marry his sons. Ibzan judged Israel for seven years.


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Elon Becomes Israel’s Judge After Ibzan died, Elon from the tribe of Zebulun judged Israel for ten years.


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He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. He judged Israel for eight years.


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The Birth of Samson Again the Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord handed them over to the Philistines, who oppressed them for forty years.


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In those days a man named Manoah from the tribe of Dan lived in the town of Zorah. His wife was unable to become pregnant, and they had no children.


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The angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah’s wife and said, “Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son.


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You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines.”


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The woman ran and told her husband, “A man of God appeared to me! He looked like one of God’s angels, terrifying to see. I didn’t ask where he was from, and he didn’t tell me his name.


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But he told me, ‘You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink nor eat any forbidden food. For your son will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from the moment of his birth until the day of his death.’”


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Then Manoah prayed to the Lord, saying, “Lord, please let the man of God come back to us again and give us more instructions about this son who is to be born.”


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God answered Manoah’s prayer, and the angel of God appeared once again to his wife as she was sitting in the field. But her husband, Manoah, was not with her.


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Manoah ran back with his wife and asked, “Are you the man who spoke to my wife the other day?” “Yes,” he replied, “I am.”


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So Manoah asked him, “When your words come true, what kind of rules should govern the boy’s life and work?”


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She must not eat grapes or raisins, drink wine or any other alcoholic drink, or eat any forbidden food.”


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Then Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “Please stay here until we can prepare a young goat for you to eat.”


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“I will stay,” the angel of the Lord replied, “but I will not eat anything. However, you may prepare a burnt offering as a sacrifice to the Lord.” (Manoah didn’t realize it was the angel of the Lord.)


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Then Manoah asked the angel of the Lord, “What is your name? For when all this comes true, we want to honor you.”


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“Why do you ask my name?” the angel of the Lord replied. “It is too wonderful for you to understand.”


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Then Manoah took a young goat and a grain offering and offered it on a rock as a sacrifice to the Lord. And as Manoah and his wife watched, the Lord did an amazing thing.


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As the flames from the altar shot up toward the sky, the angel of the Lord ascended in the fire. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell with their faces to the ground.


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The angel did not appear again to Manoah and his wife. Manoah finally realized it was the angel of the Lord,


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But his wife said, “If the Lord were going to kill us, he wouldn’t have accepted our burnt offering and grain offering. He wouldn’t have appeared to us and told us this wonderful thing and done these miracles.”


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And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him while he lived in Mahaneh-dan, which is located between the towns of Zorah and Eshtaol.


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When he returned home, he told his father and mother, “A young Philistine woman in Timnah caught my eye. I want to marry her. Get her for me.”


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His father and mother objected. “Isn’t there even one woman in our tribe or among all the Israelites you could marry?” they asked. “Why must you go to the pagan Philistines to find a wife?” But Samson told his father, “Get her for me! She looks good to me.”


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His father and mother didn’t realize the Lord was at work in this, creating an opportunity to work against the Philistines, who ruled over Israel at that time.


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As Samson and his parents were going down to Timnah, a young lion suddenly attacked Samson near the vineyards of Timnah.


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At that moment the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him, and he ripped the lion’s jaws apart with his bare hands. He did it as easily as if it were a young goat. But he didn’t tell his father or mother about it.


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Later, when he returned to Timnah for the wedding, he turned off the path to look at the carcass of the lion. And he found that a swarm of bees had made some honey in the carcass.


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He scooped some of the honey into his hands and ate it along the way. He also gave some to his father and mother, and they ate it. But he didn’t tell them he had taken the honey from the carcass of the lion.


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As his father was making final arrangements for the marriage, Samson threw a party at Timnah, as was the custom for elite young men.


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When the bride’s parents saw him, they selected thirty young men from the town to be his companions.


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Samson said to them, “Let me tell you a riddle. If you solve my riddle during these seven days of the celebration, I will give you thirty fine linen robes and thirty sets of festive clothing.


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But if you can’t solve it, then you must give me thirty fine linen robes and thirty sets of festive clothing.” “All right,” they agreed, “let’s hear your riddle.”


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So he said: “Out of the one who eats came something to eat; out of the strong came something sweet.” Three days later they were still trying to figure it out.


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On the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband to explain the riddle for us, or we will burn down your father’s house with you in it. Did you invite us to this party just to make us poor?”


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So Samson’s wife came to him in tears and said, “You don’t love me; you hate me! You have given my people a riddle, but you haven’t told me the answer.” “I haven’t even given the answer to my father or mother,” he replied. “Why should I tell you?”


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So she cried whenever she was with him and kept it up for the rest of the celebration. At last, on the seventh day he told her the answer because she was tormenting him with her nagging. Then she explained the riddle to the young men.


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So before sunset of the seventh day, the men of the town came to Samson with their answer: “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” Samson replied, “If you hadn’t plowed with my heifer, you wouldn’t have solved my riddle!”


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Then the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. He went down to the town of Ashkelon, killed thirty men, took their belongings, and gave their clothing to the men who had solved his riddle. But Samson was furious about what had happened, and he went back home to live with his father and mother.


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Samson’s Vengeance on the Philistines Later on, during the wheat harvest, Samson took a young goat as a present to his wife. He said, “I’m going into my wife’s room to sleep with her,” but her father wouldn’t let him in.


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“I truly thought you must hate her,” her father explained, “so I gave her in marriage to your best man. But look, her younger sister is even more beautiful than she is. Marry her instead.”


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Then he went out and caught 300 foxes. He tied their tails together in pairs, and he fastened a torch to each pair of tails.


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Then he lit the torches and let the foxes run through the grain fields of the Philistines. He burned all their grain to the ground, including the sheaves and the uncut grain. He also destroyed their vineyards and olive groves.


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“Who did this?” the Philistines demanded. “Samson,” was the reply, “because his father-in-law from Timnah gave Samson’s wife to be married to his best man.” So the Philistines went and got the woman and her father and burned them to death.


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So he attacked the Philistines with great fury and killed many of them. Then he went to live in a cave in the rock of Etam.


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The men of Judah asked the Philistines, “Why are you attacking us?” The Philistines replied, “We’ve come to capture Samson. We’ve come to pay him back for what he did to us.”


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So 3,000 men of Judah went down to get Samson at the cave in the rock of Etam. They said to Samson, “Don’t you realize the Philistines rule over us? What are you doing to us?” But Samson replied, “I only did to them what they did to me.”


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But the men of Judah told him, “We have come to tie you up and hand you over to the Philistines.” “All right,” Samson said. “But promise that you won’t kill me yourselves.”


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“We will only tie you up and hand you over to the Philistines,” they replied. “We won’t kill you.” So they tied him up with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock.


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As Samson arrived at Lehi, the Philistines came shouting in triumph. But the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon Samson, and he snapped the ropes on his arms as if they were burnt strands of flax, and they fell from his wrists.


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Then he found the jawbone of a recently killed donkey. He picked it up and killed 1,000 Philistines with it.


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Then Samson said, “With the jawbone of a donkey, I’ve piled them in heaps! With the jawbone of a donkey, I’ve killed a thousand men!”


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Samson was now very thirsty, and he cried out to the Lord, “You have accomplished this great victory by the strength of your servant. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of these pagans?”


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So God caused water to gush out of a hollow in the ground at Lehi, and Samson was revived as he drank. Then he named that place “The Spring of the One Who Cried Out,” and it is still in Lehi to this day.


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Samson Carries Away Gaza’s Gates One day Samson went to the Philistine town of Gaza and spent the night with a prostitute.


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Word soon spread that Samson was there, so the men of Gaza gathered together and waited all night at the town gates. They kept quiet during the night, saying to themselves, “When the light of morning comes, we will kill him.”


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But Samson stayed in bed only until midnight. Then he got up, took hold of the doors of the town gate, including the two posts, and lifted them up, bar and all. He put them on his shoulders and carried them all the way to the top of the hill across from Hebron.


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Samson and Delilah Some time later Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who lived in the valley of Sorek.


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The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, “Entice Samson to tell you what makes him so strong and how he can be overpowered and tied up securely. Then each of us will give you 1,100 pieces of silver.”


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So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me what makes you so strong and what it would take to tie you up securely.”


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Samson replied, “If I were tied up with seven new bowstrings that have not yet been dried, I would become as weak as anyone else.”


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She had hidden some men in one of the inner rooms of her house, and she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” But Samson snapped the bowstrings as a piece of string snaps when it is burned by a fire. So the secret of his strength was not discovered.


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Afterward Delilah said to him, “You’ve been making fun of me and telling me lies! Now please tell me how you can be tied up securely.”


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Samson replied, “If I were tied up with brand-new ropes that had never been used, I would become as weak as anyone else.”


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So Delilah took new ropes and tied him up with them. The men were hiding in the inner room as before, and again Delilah cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” But again Samson snapped the ropes from his arms as if they were thread.


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Then Delilah said, “You’ve been making fun of me and telling me lies! Now tell me how you can be tied up securely.” Samson replied, “If you were to weave the seven braids of my hair into the fabric on your loom and tighten it with the loom shuttle, I would become as weak as anyone else.” So while he slept, Delilah wove the seven braids of his hair into the fabric.


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Then she tightened it with the loom shuttle. Again she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” But Samson woke up, pulled back the loom shuttle, and yanked his hair away from the loom and the fabric.


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Then Delilah pouted, “How can you tell me, ‘I love you,’ when you don’t share your secrets with me? You’ve made fun of me three times now, and you still haven’t told me what makes you so strong!”


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Finally, Samson shared his secret with her. “My hair has never been cut,” he confessed, “for I was dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as anyone else.”


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Delilah realized he had finally told her the truth, so she sent for the Philistine rulers. “Come back one more time,” she said, “for he has finally told me his secret.” So the Philistine rulers returned with the money in their hands.


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Delilah lulled Samson to sleep with his head in her lap, and then she called in a man to shave off the seven locks of his hair. In this way she began to bring him down, and his strength left him.


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Then she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him.


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So the Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They took him to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze chains and forced to grind grain in the prison.


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Samson’s Final Victory The Philistine rulers held a great festival, offering sacrifices and praising their god, Dagon. They said, “Our god has given us victory over our enemy Samson!”


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When the people saw him, they praised their god, saying, “Our god has delivered our enemy to us! The one who killed so many of us is now in our power!”


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contenido:
Half drunk by now, the people demanded, “Bring out Samson so he can amuse us!” So he was brought from the prison to amuse them, and they had him stand between the pillars supporting the roof.


book: Judg
contenido:
Samson said to the young servant who was leading him by the hand, “Place my hands against the pillars that hold up the temple. I want to rest against them.”


book: Judg
contenido:
Now the temple was completely filled with people. All the Philistine rulers were there, and there were about 3,000 men and women on the roof who were watching as Samson amused them.


book: Judg
contenido:
Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the loss of my two eyes.”


book: Judg
contenido:
Then Samson put his hands on the two center pillars that held up the temple. Pushing against them with both hands,


book: Judg
contenido:
he prayed, “Let me die with the Philistines.” And the temple crashed down on the Philistine rulers and all the people. So he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime.


book: Judg
contenido:
Later his brothers and other relatives went down to get his body. They took him back home and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol, where his father, Manoah, was buried. Samson had judged Israel for twenty years.


book: Judg
contenido:
One day he said to his mother, “I heard you place a curse on the person who stole 1,100 pieces of silver from you. Well, I have the money. I was the one who took it.” “The Lord bless you for admitting it,” his mother replied.


book: Judg
contenido:
He returned the money to her, and she said, “I now dedicate these silver coins to the Lord. In honor of my son, I will have an image carved and an idol cast.”


book: Judg
contenido:
So when he returned the money to his mother, she took 200 silver coins and gave them to a silversmith, who made them into an image and an idol. And these were placed in Micah’s house.


book: Judg
contenido:
Micah set up a shrine for the idol, and he made a sacred ephod and some household idols. Then he installed one of his sons as his personal priest.


book: Judg
contenido:
He had left Bethlehem in search of another place to live, and as he traveled, he came to the hill country of Ephraim. He happened to stop at Micah’s house as he was traveling through.


book: Judg
contenido:
“Where are you from?” Micah asked him. He replied, “I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, and I am looking for a place to live.”


book: Judg
contenido:
“Stay here with me,” Micah said, “and you can be a father and priest to me. I will give you ten pieces of silver a year, plus a change of clothes and your food.”


book: Judg
contenido:
Idolatry in the Tribe of Dan Now in those days Israel had no king. And the tribe of Dan was trying to find a place where they could settle, for they had not yet moved into the land assigned to them when the land was divided among the tribes of Israel.


book: Judg
contenido:
So the men of Dan chose from their clans five capable warriors from the towns of Zorah and Eshtaol to scout out a land for them to settle in. When these warriors arrived in the hill country of Ephraim, they came to Micah’s house and spent the night there.


book: Judg
contenido:
While at Micah’s house, they recognized the young Levite’s accent, so they went over and asked him, “Who brought you here, and what are you doing in this place? Why are you here?”


book: Judg
contenido:
So the five men went on to the town of Laish, where they noticed the people living carefree lives, like the Sidonians; they were peaceful and secure. The people were also wealthy because their land was very fertile. And they lived a great distance from Sidon and had no allies nearby.


book: Judg
contenido:
The men replied, “Come on, let’s attack them! We have seen the land, and it is very good. What are you waiting for? Don’t hesitate to go and take possession of it.


book: Judg
contenido:
When you get there, you will find the people living carefree lives. God has given us a spacious and fertile land, lacking in nothing!”


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contenido:
The five men who had scouted out the land around Laish explained to the others, “These buildings contain a sacred ephod, as well as some household idols, a carved image, and a cast idol. What do you think you should do?”


book: Judg
contenido:
Then the five men turned off the road and went over to Micah’s house, where the young Levite lived, and greeted him kindly.


book: Judg
contenido:
the five scouts entered the shrine and removed the carved image, the sacred ephod, the household idols, and the cast idol. Meanwhile, the priest was standing at the gate with the 600 armed warriors.


book: Judg
contenido:
When the priest saw the men carrying all the sacred objects out of Micah’s shrine, he said, “What are you doing?”


book: Judg
contenido:
“Be quiet and come with us,” they said. “Be a father and priest to all of us. Isn’t it better to be a priest for an entire tribe and clan of Israel than for the household of just one man?”


book: Judg
contenido:
The young priest was quite happy to go with them, so he took along the sacred ephod, the household idols, and the carved image.


book: Judg
contenido:
They turned and started on their way again, placing their children, livestock, and possessions in front of them.


book: Judg
contenido:
When the people from the tribe of Dan were quite a distance from Micah’s house, the people who lived near Micah came chasing after them.


book: Judg
contenido:
They were shouting as they caught up with them. The men of Dan turned around and said to Micah, “What’s the matter? Why have you called these men together and chased after us like this?”


book: Judg
contenido:
“What do you mean, ‘What’s the matter?’” Micah replied. “You’ve taken away all the gods I have made, and my priest, and I have nothing left!”


book: Judg
contenido:
The men of Dan said, “Watch what you say! There are some short-tempered men around here who might get angry and kill you and your family.”


book: Judg
contenido:
So the men of Dan continued on their way. When Micah saw that there were too many of them for him to attack, he turned around and went home.


book: Judg
contenido:
Then, with Micah’s idols and his priest, the men of Dan came to the town of Laish, whose people were peaceful and secure. They attacked with swords and burned the town to the ground.


book: Judg
contenido:
There was no one to rescue the people, for they lived a great distance from Sidon and had no allies nearby. This happened in the valley near Beth-rehob. Then the people of the tribe of Dan rebuilt the town and lived there.


book: Judg
contenido:
They renamed the town Dan after their ancestor, Israel’s son, but it had originally been called Laish.


book: Judg
contenido:
Then they set up the carved image, and they appointed Jonathan son of Gershom, son of Moses, as their priest. This family continued as priests for the tribe of Dan until the Exile.


book: Judg
contenido:
So Micah’s carved image was worshiped by the tribe of Dan as long as the Tabernacle of God remained at Shiloh.


book: Judg
contenido:
The Levite and His Concubine Now in those days Israel had no king. There was a man from the tribe of Levi living in a remote area of the hill country of Ephraim. One day he brought home a woman from Bethlehem in Judah to be his concubine.


book: Judg
contenido:
But she became angry with him and returned to her father’s home in Bethlehem. After about four months,


book: Judg
contenido:
her husband set out for Bethlehem to speak personally to her and persuade her to come back. He took with him a servant and a pair of donkeys. When he arrived at her father’s house, her father saw him and welcomed him.


book: Judg
contenido:
On the fourth day the man was up early, ready to leave, but the woman’s father said to his son-in-law, “Have something to eat before you go.”


book: Judg
contenido:
So the two men sat down together and had something to eat and drink. Then the woman’s father said, “Please stay another night and enjoy yourself.”


book: Judg
contenido:
The man got up to leave, but his father-in-law kept urging him to stay, so he finally gave in and stayed the night.


book: Judg
contenido:
On the morning of the fifth day he was up early again, ready to leave, and again the woman’s father said, “Have something to eat; then you can leave later this afternoon.” So they had another day of feasting.


book: Judg
contenido:
Later, as the man and his concubine and servant were preparing to leave, his father-in-law said, “Look, it’s almost evening. Stay the night and enjoy yourself. Tomorrow you can get up early and be on your way.”


book: Judg
contenido:
But this time the man was determined to leave. So he took his two saddled donkeys and his concubine and headed in the direction of Jebus (that is, Jerusalem).


book: Judg
contenido:
It was late in the day when they neared Jebus, and the man’s servant said to him, “Let’s stop at this Jebusite town and spend the night there.”


book: Judg
contenido:
“No,” his master said, “we can’t stay in this foreign town where there are no Israelites. Instead, we will go on to Gibeah.


book: Judg
contenido:
Come on, let’s try to get as far as Gibeah or Ramah, and we’ll spend the night in one of those towns.”


book: Judg
contenido:
so they stopped there to spend the night. They rested in the town square, but no one took them in for the night.


book: Judg
contenido:
That evening an old man came home from his work in the fields. He was from the hill country of Ephraim, but he was living in Gibeah, where the people were from the tribe of Benjamin.


book: Judg
contenido:
When he saw the travelers sitting in the town square, he asked them where they were from and where they were going.


book: Judg
contenido:
“We have been in Bethlehem in Judah,” the man replied. “We are on our way to a remote area in the hill country of Ephraim, which is my home. I traveled to Bethlehem, and now I’m returning home. But no one has taken us in for the night,


book: Judg
contenido:
even though we have everything we need. We have straw and feed for our donkeys and plenty of bread and wine for ourselves.”


book: Judg
contenido:
“You are welcome to stay with me,” the old man said. “I will give you anything you might need. But whatever you do, don’t spend the night in the square.”


book: Judg
contenido:
So he took them home with him and fed the donkeys. After they washed their feet, they ate and drank together.


book: Judg
contenido:
While they were enjoying themselves, a crowd of troublemakers from the town surrounded the house. They began beating at the door and shouting to the old man, “Bring out the man who is staying with you so we can have sex with him.”


book: Judg
contenido:
The old man stepped outside to talk to them. “No, my brothers, don’t do such an evil thing. For this man is a guest in my house, and such a thing would be shameful.


book: Judg
contenido:
Here, take my virgin daughter and this man’s concubine. I will bring them out to you, and you can abuse them and do whatever you like. But don’t do such a shameful thing to this man.”


book: Judg
contenido:
But they wouldn’t listen to him. So the Levite took hold of his concubine and pushed her out the door. The men of the town abused her all night, taking turns raping her until morning. Finally, at dawn they let her go.


book: Judg
contenido:
At daybreak the woman returned to the house where her husband was staying. She collapsed at the door of the house and lay there until it was light.


book: Judg
contenido:
He said, “Get up! Let’s go!” But there was no answer. So he put her body on his donkey and took her home.


book: Judg
contenido:
When he got home, he took a knife and cut his concubine’s body into twelve pieces. Then he sent one piece to each tribe throughout all the territory of Israel.


book: Judg
contenido:
Everyone who saw it said, “Such a horrible crime has not been committed in all the time since Israel left Egypt. Think about it! What are we going to do? Who’s going to speak up?”


book: Judg
contenido:
Israel’s War with Benjamin Then all the Israelites were united as one man, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, including those from across the Jordan in the land of Gilead. The entire community assembled in the presence of the Lord at Mizpah.


book: Judg
contenido:
The leaders of all the people and all the tribes of Israel—400,000 warriors armed with swords—took their positions in the assembly of the people of God.


book: Judg
contenido:
(Word soon reached the land of Benjamin that the other tribes had gone up to Mizpah.) The Israelites then asked how this terrible crime had happened.


book: Judg
contenido:
The Levite, the husband of the woman who had been murdered, said, “My concubine and I came to spend the night in Gibeah, a town that belongs to the people of Benjamin.


book: Judg
contenido:
That night some of the leading citizens of Gibeah surrounded the house, planning to kill me, and they raped my concubine until she was dead.


book: Judg
contenido:
So I cut her body into twelve pieces and sent the pieces throughout the territory assigned to Israel, for these men have committed a terrible and shameful crime.


book: Judg
contenido:
Now then, all of you—the entire community of Israel—must decide here and now what should be done about this!”


book: Judg
contenido:
And all the people rose to their feet in unison and declared, “None of us will return home! No, not even one of us!


book: Judg
contenido:
One-tenth of the men from each tribe will be chosen to supply the warriors with food, and the rest of us will take revenge on Gibeah of Benjamin for this shameful thing they have done in Israel.”


book: Judg
contenido:
The Israelites sent messengers to the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What a terrible thing has been done among you!


book: Judg
contenido:
Give up those evil men, those troublemakers from Gibeah, so we can execute them and purge Israel of this evil.” But the people of Benjamin would not listen.


book: Judg
contenido:
In all, 26,000 of their warriors armed with swords arrived in Gibeah to join the 700 elite troops who lived there.


book: Judg
contenido:
Among Benjamin’s elite troops, 700 were left-handed, and each of them could sling a rock and hit a target within a hairsbreadth without missing.


book: Judg
contenido:
Before the battle the Israelites went to Bethel and asked God, “Which tribe should go first to attack the people of Benjamin?” The Lord answered, “Judah is to go first.”


book: Judg
contenido:
But Benjamin’s warriors, who were defending the town, came out and killed 22,000 Israelites on the battlefield that day.


book: Judg
contenido:
But the Israelites encouraged each other and took their positions again at the same place they had fought the previous day.


book: Judg
contenido:
For they had gone up to Bethel and wept in the presence of the Lord until evening. They had asked the Lord, “Should we fight against our relatives from Benjamin again?” And the Lord had said, “Go out and fight against them.”


book: Judg
contenido:
but the men of Benjamin killed another 18,000 Israelites, all of whom were experienced with the sword.


book: Judg
contenido:
Then all the Israelites went up to Bethel and wept in the presence of the Lord and fasted until evening. They also brought burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord.


book: Judg
contenido:
The Israelites went up seeking direction from the Lord. (In those days the Ark of the Covenant of God was in Bethel,


book: Judg
contenido:
and Phinehas son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron was the priest.) The Israelites asked the Lord, “Should we fight against our relatives from Benjamin again, or should we stop?” The Lord said, “Go! Tomorrow I will hand them over to you.”


book: Judg
contenido:
When the men of Benjamin came out to attack, they were drawn away from the town. And as they had done before, they began to kill the Israelites. About thirty Israelites died in the open fields and along the roads, one leading to Bethel and the other leading back to Gibeah.


book: Judg
contenido:
Then the warriors of Benjamin shouted, “We’re defeating them as we did before!” But the Israelites had planned in advance to run away so that the men of Benjamin would chase them along the roads and be drawn away from the town.


book: Judg
contenido:
When the main group of Israelite warriors reached Baal-tamar, they turned and took up their positions. Meanwhile, the Israelites hiding in ambush to the west of Gibeah jumped up to fight.


book: Judg
contenido:
There were 10,000 elite Israelite troops who advanced against Gibeah. The fighting was so heavy that Benjamin didn’t realize the impending disaster.


book: Judg
contenido:
So the Lord helped Israel defeat Benjamin, and that day the Israelites killed 25,100 of Benjamin’s warriors, all of whom were experienced swordsmen.


book: Judg
contenido:
Then the men of Benjamin saw that they were beaten. The Israelites had retreated from Benjamin’s warriors in order to give those hiding in ambush more room to maneuver against Gibeah.


book: Judg
contenido:
When the Israelites saw the smoke, they turned and attacked Benjamin’s warriors. By that time Benjamin’s warriors had killed about thirty Israelites, and they shouted, “We’re defeating them as we did in the first battle!”


book: Judg
contenido:
But when the warriors of Benjamin looked behind them and saw the smoke rising into the sky from every part of the town,


book: Judg
contenido:
the men of Israel turned and attacked. At this point the men of Benjamin became terrified, because they realized disaster was close at hand.


book: Judg
contenido:
So they turned around and fled before the Israelites toward the wilderness. But they couldn’t escape the battle, and the people who came out of the nearby towns were also killed.


book: Judg
contenido:
The Israelites surrounded the men of Benjamin and chased them relentlessly, finally overtaking them east of Gibeah.


book: Judg
contenido:
The survivors fled into the wilderness toward the rock of Rimmon, but Israel killed 5,000 of them along the road. They continued the chase until they had killed another 2,000 near Gidom.


book: Judg
contenido:
And the Israelites returned and slaughtered every living thing in all the towns—the people, the livestock, and everything they found. They also burned down all the towns they came to.


book: Judg
contenido:
Israel Provides Wives for Benjamin The Israelites had vowed at Mizpah, “We will never give our daughters in marriage to a man from the tribe of Benjamin.”


book: Judg
contenido:
Now the people went to Bethel and sat in the presence of God until evening, weeping loudly and bitterly.


book: Judg
contenido:
“O Lord, God of Israel,” they cried out, “why has this happened in Israel? Now one of our tribes is missing from Israel!”


book: Judg
contenido:
Early the next morning the people built an altar and presented their burnt offerings and peace offerings on it.


book: Judg
contenido:
Then they said, “Who among the tribes of Israel did not join us at Mizpah when we held our assembly in the presence of the Lord?” At that time they had taken a solemn oath in the Lord’s presence, vowing that anyone who refused to come would be put to death.


book: Judg
contenido:
The Israelites felt sorry for their brother Benjamin and said, “Today one of the tribes of Israel has been cut off.


book: Judg
contenido:
How can we find wives for the few who remain, since we have sworn by the Lord not to give them our daughters in marriage?”


book: Judg
contenido:
So they asked, “Who among the tribes of Israel did not join us at Mizpah when we assembled in the presence of the Lord?” And they discovered that no one from Jabesh-gilead had attended the assembly.


book: Judg
contenido:
So the assembly sent 12,000 of their best warriors to Jabesh-gilead with orders to kill everyone there, including women and children.


book: Judg
contenido:
“This is what you are to do,” they said. “Completely destroy all the males and every woman who is not a virgin.”


book: Judg
contenido:
Among the residents of Jabesh-gilead they found 400 young virgins who had never slept with a man, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh in the land of Canaan.


book: Judg
contenido:
The Israelite assembly sent a peace delegation to the remaining people of Benjamin who were living at the rock of Rimmon.


book: Judg
contenido:
Then the men of Benjamin returned to their homes, and the 400 women of Jabesh-gilead who had been spared were given to them as wives. But there were not enough women for all of them.


book: Judg
contenido:
So the elders of the assembly asked, “How can we find wives for the few who remain, since the women of the tribe of Benjamin are dead?


book: Judg
contenido:
But we cannot give them our own daughters in marriage because we have sworn with a solemn oath that anyone who does this will fall under God’s curse.”


book: Judg
contenido:
Then they thought of the annual festival of the Lord held in Shiloh, south of Lebonah and north of Bethel, along the east side of the road that goes from Bethel to Shechem.


book: Judg
contenido:
When you see the young women of Shiloh come out for their dances, rush out from the vineyards, and each of you can take one of them home to the land of Benjamin to be your wife!


book: Judg
contenido:
And when their fathers and brothers come to us in protest, we will tell them, ‘Please be sympathetic. Let them have your daughters, for we didn’t find wives for all of them when we destroyed Jabesh-gilead. And you are not guilty of breaking the vow since you did not actually give your daughters to them in marriage.’”


book: Judg
contenido:
So the men of Benjamin did as they were told. Each man caught one of the women as she danced in the celebration and carried her off to be his wife. They returned to their own land, and they rebuilt their towns and lived in them.


book: Ruth
contenido:
Elimelech Moves His Family to Moab In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah left his home and went to live in the country of Moab, taking his wife and two sons with him.


book: Ruth
contenido:
The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. And when they reached Moab, they settled there.


book: Ruth
contenido:
The two sons married Moabite women. One married a woman named Orpah, and the other a woman named Ruth. But about ten years later,


book: Ruth
contenido:
Naomi and Ruth Return Then Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had blessed his people in Judah by giving them good crops again. So Naomi and her daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab to return to her homeland.


book: Ruth
contenido:
With her two daughters-in-law she set out from the place where she had been living, and they took the road that would lead them back to Judah.


book: Ruth
contenido:
But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back to your mothers’ homes. And may the Lord reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me.


book: Ruth
contenido:
May the Lord bless you with the security of another marriage.” Then she kissed them good-bye, and they all broke down and wept.


book: Ruth
contenido:
But Naomi replied, “Why should you go on with me? Can I still give birth to other sons who could grow up to be your husbands?


book: Ruth
contenido:
No, my daughters, return to your parents’ homes, for I am too old to marry again. And even if it were possible, and I were to get married tonight and bear sons, then what?


book: Ruth
contenido:
Would you wait for them to grow up and refuse to marry someone else? No, of course not, my daughters! Things are far more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord himself has raised his fist against me.”


book: Ruth
contenido:
And again they wept together, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye. But Ruth clung tightly to Naomi.


book: Ruth
contenido:
“Look,” Naomi said to her, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. You should do the same.”


book: Ruth
contenido:
But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.


book: Ruth
contenido:
Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!”


book: Ruth
contenido:
So the two of them continued on their journey. When they came to Bethlehem, the entire town was excited by their arrival. “Is it really Naomi?” the women asked.


book: Ruth
contenido:
“Don’t call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me.


book: Ruth
contenido:
I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?”


book: Ruth
contenido:
So Naomi returned from Moab, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth, the young Moabite woman. They arrived in Bethlehem in late spring, at the beginning of the barley harvest.


book: Ruth
contenido:
Ruth Works in Boaz’s Field Now there was a wealthy and influential man in Bethlehem named Boaz, who was a relative of Naomi’s husband, Elimelech.


book: Ruth
contenido:
One day Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go out into the harvest fields to pick up the stalks of grain left behind by anyone who is kind enough to let me do it.” Naomi replied, “All right, my daughter, go ahead.”


book: Ruth
contenido:
So Ruth went out to gather grain behind the harvesters. And as it happened, she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of her father-in-law, Elimelech.


book: Ruth
contenido:
While she was there, Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters. “The Lord be with you!” he said. “The Lord bless you!” the harvesters replied.


book: Ruth
contenido:
She asked me this morning if she could gather grain behind the harvesters. She has been hard at work ever since, except for a few minutes’ rest in the shelter.”


book: Ruth
contenido:
Boaz went over and said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Stay right here with us when you gather grain; don’t go to any other fields. Stay right behind the young women working in my field.


book: Ruth
contenido:
See which part of the field they are harvesting, and then follow them. I have warned the young men not to treat you roughly. And when you are thirsty, help yourself to the water they have drawn from the well.”


book: Ruth
contenido:
Ruth fell at his feet and thanked him warmly. “What have I done to deserve such kindness?” she asked. “I am only a foreigner.”


book: Ruth
contenido:
“Yes, I know,” Boaz replied. “But I also know about everything you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband. I have heard how you left your father and mother and your own land to live here among complete strangers.


book: Ruth
contenido:
May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.”


book: Ruth
contenido:
“I hope I continue to please you, sir,” she replied. “You have comforted me by speaking so kindly to me, even though I am not one of your workers.”


book: Ruth
contenido:
At mealtime Boaz called to her, “Come over here, and help yourself to some food. You can dip your bread in the sour wine.” So she sat with his harvesters, and Boaz gave her some roasted grain to eat. She ate all she wanted and still had some left over.


book: Ruth
contenido:
When Ruth went back to work again, Boaz ordered his young men, “Let her gather grain right among the sheaves without stopping her.


book: Ruth
contenido:
And pull out some heads of barley from the bundles and drop them on purpose for her. Let her pick them up, and don’t give her a hard time!”


book: Ruth
contenido:
So Ruth gathered barley there all day, and when she beat out the grain that evening, it filled an entire basket.


book: Ruth
contenido:
She carried it back into town and showed it to her mother-in-law. Ruth also gave her the roasted grain that was left over from her meal.


book: Ruth
contenido:
“Where did you gather all this grain today?” Naomi asked. “Where did you work? May the Lord bless the one who helped you!” So Ruth told her mother-in-law about the man in whose field she had worked. She said, “The man I worked with today is named Boaz.”


book: Ruth
contenido:
“May the Lord bless him!” Naomi told her daughter-in-law. “He is showing his kindness to us as well as to your dead husband. That man is one of our closest relatives, one of our family redeemers.”


book: Ruth
contenido:
Then Ruth said, “What’s more, Boaz even told me to come back and stay with his harvesters until the entire harvest is completed.”


book: Ruth
contenido:
“Good!” Naomi exclaimed. “Do as he said, my daughter. Stay with his young women right through the whole harvest. You might be harassed in other fields, but you’ll be safe with him.”


book: Ruth
contenido:
So Ruth worked alongside the women in Boaz’s fields and gathered grain with them until the end of the barley harvest. Then she continued working with them through the wheat harvest in early summer. And all the while she lived with her mother-in-law.


book: Ruth
contenido:
Ruth at the Threshing Floor One day Naomi said to Ruth, “My daughter, it’s time that I found a permanent home for you, so that you will be provided for.


book: Ruth
contenido:
Boaz is a close relative of ours, and he’s been very kind by letting you gather grain with his young women. Tonight he will be winnowing barley at the threshing floor.


book: Ruth
contenido:
Now do as I tell you—take a bath and put on perfume and dress in your nicest clothes. Then go to the threshing floor, but don’t let Boaz see you until he has finished eating and drinking.


book: Ruth
contenido:
Be sure to notice where he lies down; then go and uncover his feet and lie down there. He will tell you what to do.”


book: Ruth
contenido:
So she went down to the threshing floor that night and followed the instructions of her mother-in-law.


book: Ruth
contenido:
After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he lay down at the far end of the pile of grain and went to sleep. Then Ruth came quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.


book: Ruth
contenido:
Around midnight Boaz suddenly woke up and turned over. He was surprised to find a woman lying at his feet!


book: Ruth
contenido:
“Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.”


book: Ruth
contenido:
“The Lord bless you, my daughter!” Boaz exclaimed. “You are showing even more family loyalty now than you did before, for you have not gone after a younger man, whether rich or poor.


book: Ruth
contenido:
Now don’t worry about a thing, my daughter. I will do what is necessary, for everyone in town knows you are a virtuous woman.


book: Ruth
contenido:
But while it’s true that I am one of your family redeemers, there is another man who is more closely related to you than I am.


book: Ruth
contenido:
Stay here tonight, and in the morning I will talk to him. If he is willing to redeem you, very well. Let him marry you. But if he is not willing, then as surely as the Lord lives, I will redeem you myself! Now lie down here until morning.”


book: Ruth
contenido:
So Ruth lay at Boaz’s feet until the morning, but she got up before it was light enough for people to recognize each other. For Boaz had said, “No one must know that a woman was here at the threshing floor.”


book: Ruth
contenido:
Then Boaz said to her, “Bring your cloak and spread it out.” He measured six scoops of barley into the cloak and placed it on her back. Then he returned to the town.


book: Ruth
contenido:
When Ruth went back to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “What happened, my daughter?” Ruth told Naomi everything Boaz had done for her,


book: Ruth
contenido:
and she added, “He gave me these six scoops of barley and said, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”


book: Ruth
contenido:
Then Naomi said to her, “Just be patient, my daughter, until we hear what happens. The man won’t rest until he has settled things today.”


book: Ruth
contenido:
Boaz Marries Ruth Boaz went to the town gate and took a seat there. Just then the family redeemer he had mentioned came by, so Boaz called out to him, “Come over here and sit down, friend. I want to talk to you.” So they sat down together.


book: Ruth
contenido:
And Boaz said to the family redeemer, “You know Naomi, who came back from Moab. She is selling the land that belonged to our relative Elimelech.


book: Ruth
contenido:
I thought I should speak to you about it so that you can redeem it if you wish. If you want the land, then buy it here in the presence of these witnesses. But if you don’t want it, let me know right away, because I am next in line to redeem it after you.” The man replied, “All right, I’ll redeem it.”


book: Ruth
contenido:
Then Boaz told him, “Of course, your purchase of the land from Naomi also requires that you marry Ruth, the Moabite widow. That way she can have children who will carry on her husband’s name and keep the land in the family.”


book: Ruth
contenido:
“Then I can’t redeem it,” the family redeemer replied, “because this might endanger my own estate. You redeem the land; I cannot do it.”


book: Ruth
contenido:
Now in those days it was the custom in Israel for anyone transferring a right of purchase to remove his sandal and hand it to the other party. This publicly validated the transaction.


book: Ruth
contenido:
Then Boaz said to the elders and to the crowd standing around, “You are witnesses that today I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon.


book: Ruth
contenido:
And with the land I have acquired Ruth, the Moabite widow of Mahlon, to be my wife. This way she can have a son to carry on the family name of her dead husband and to inherit the family property here in his hometown. You are all witnesses today.”


book: Ruth
contenido:
Then the elders and all the people standing in the gate replied, “We are witnesses! May the Lord make this woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, from whom all the nation of Israel descended! May you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem.


book: Ruth
contenido:
And may the Lord give you descendants by this young woman who will be like those of our ancestor Perez, the son of Tamar and Judah.”


book: Ruth
contenido:
The Descendants of Boaz So Boaz took Ruth into his home, and she became his wife. When he slept with her, the Lord enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son.


book: Ruth
contenido:
Then the women of the town said to Naomi, “Praise the Lord, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel.


book: Ruth
contenido:
May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!”


book: Ruth
contenido:
The neighbor women said, “Now at last Naomi has a son again!” And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Elkanah and His Family There was a man named Elkanah who lived in Ramah in the region of Zuph in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, of Ephraim.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Each year Elkanah would travel to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies at the Tabernacle. The priests of the Lord at that time were the two sons of Eli—Hophni and Phinehas.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
On the days Elkanah presented his sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to Peninnah and each of her children.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
And though he loved Hannah, he would give her only one choice portion because the Lord had given her no children.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So Peninnah would taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the Lord had kept her from having children.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Year after year it was the same—Peninnah would taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle. Each time, Hannah would be reduced to tears and would not even eat.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Why are you crying, Hannah?” Elkanah would ask. “Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me—isn’t that better than having ten sons?”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Hannah’s Prayer for a Son Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance of the Tabernacle.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
And she made this vow: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“In that case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Oh, thank you, sir!” she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Samuel’s Birth and Dedication The entire family got up early the next morning and went to worship the Lord once more. Then they returned home to Ramah. When Elkanah slept with Hannah, the Lord remembered her plea,


book: 1Sam
contenido:
and in due time she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I asked the Lord for him.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But Hannah did not go. She told her husband, “Wait until the boy is weaned. Then I will take him to the Tabernacle and leave him there with the Lord permanently.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Whatever you think is best,” Elkanah agreed. “Stay here for now, and may the Lord help you keep your promise.” So she stayed home and nursed the boy until he was weaned.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When the child was weaned, Hannah took him to the Tabernacle in Shiloh. They brought along a three-year-old bull for the sacrifice and a basket of flour and some wine.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Sir, do you remember me?” Hannah asked. “I am the woman who stood here several years ago praying to the Lord.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Now I am giving him to the Lord, and he will belong to the Lord his whole life.” And they worshiped the Lord there.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Hannah’s Prayer of Praise Then Hannah prayed: “My heart rejoices in the Lord! The Lord has made me strong. Now I have an answer for my enemies; I rejoice because you rescued me.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Stop acting so proud and haughty! Don’t speak with such arrogance! For the Lord is a God who knows what you have done; he will judge your actions.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Those who were well fed are now starving, and those who were starving are now full. The childless woman now has seven children, and the woman with many children wastes away.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, placing them in seats of honor. For all the earth is the Lord’s, and he has set the world in order.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“He will protect his faithful ones, but the wicked will disappear in darkness. No one will succeed by strength alone.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Those who fight against the Lord will be shattered. He thunders against them from heaven; the Lord judges throughout the earth. He gives power to his king; he increases the strength of his anointed one.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then Elkanah returned home to Ramah without Samuel. And the boy served the Lord by assisting Eli the priest.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
or for their duties as priests. Whenever anyone offered a sacrifice, Eli’s sons would send over a servant with a three-pronged fork. While the meat of the sacrificed animal was still boiling,


book: 1Sam
contenido:
the servant would stick the fork into the pot and demand that whatever it brought up be given to Eli’s sons. All the Israelites who came to worship at Shiloh were treated this way.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Sometimes the servant would come even before the animal’s fat had been burned on the altar. He would demand raw meat before it had been boiled so that it could be used for roasting.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The man offering the sacrifice might reply, “Take as much as you want, but the fat must be burned first.” Then the servant would demand, “No, give it to me now, or I’ll take it by force.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So the sin of these young men was very serious in the Lord’s sight, for they treated the Lord’s offerings with contempt.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But Samuel, though he was only a boy, served the Lord. He wore a linen garment like that of a priest.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Each year his mother made a small coat for him and brought it to him when she came with her husband for the sacrifice.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Before they returned home, Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, “May the Lord give you other children to take the place of this one she gave to the Lord.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
And the Lord gave Hannah three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Now Eli was very old, but he was aware of what his sons were doing to the people of Israel. He knew, for instance, that his sons were seducing the young women who assisted at the entrance of the Tabernacle.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Eli said to them, “I have been hearing reports from all the people about the wicked things you are doing. Why do you keep sinning?


book: 1Sam
contenido:
If someone sins against another person, God can mediate for the guilty party. But if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede?” But Eli’s sons wouldn’t listen to their father, for the Lord was already planning to put them to death.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
A Warning for Eli’s Family One day a man of God came to Eli and gave him this message from the Lord: “I revealed myself to your ancestors when the people of Israel were slaves in Egypt.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
I chose your ancestor Aaron from among all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer sacrifices on my altar, to burn incense, and to wear the priestly vest as he served me. And I assigned the sacrificial offerings to you priests.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So why do you scorn my sacrifices and offerings? Why do you give your sons more honor than you give me—for you and they have become fat from the best offerings of my people Israel!


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Therefore, the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I promised that your branch of the tribe of Levi would always be my priests. But I will honor those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The time is coming when I will put an end to your family, so it will no longer serve as my priests. All the members of your family will die before their time. None will reach old age.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
You will watch with envy as I pour out prosperity on the people of Israel. But no members of your family will ever live out their days.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
And to prove that what I have said will come true, I will cause your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, to die on the same day!


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Then I will raise up a faithful priest who will serve me and do what I desire. I will establish his family, and they will be priests to my anointed kings forever.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then all of your surviving family will bow before him, begging for money and food. ‘Please,’ they will say, ‘give us jobs among the priests so we will have enough to eat.’”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The Lord Speaks to Samuel Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the Lord by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
He got up and ran to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” “I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So he did.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then the Lord called out again, “Samuel!” Again Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” “I didn’t call you, my son,” Eli said. “Go back to bed.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So the Lord called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
I have warned him that judgment is coming upon his family forever, because his sons are blaspheming God and he hasn’t disciplined them.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So I have vowed that the sins of Eli and his sons will never be forgiven by sacrifices or offerings.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Samuel Speaks for the Lord Samuel stayed in bed until morning, then got up and opened the doors of the Tabernacle as usual. He was afraid to tell Eli what the Lord had said to him.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“What did the Lord say to you? Tell me everything. And may God strike you and even kill you if you hide anything from me!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So Samuel told Eli everything; he didn’t hold anything back. “It is the Lord’s will,” Eli replied. “Let him do what he thinks best.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
And all Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
4 And Samuel’s words went out to all the people of Israel. The Philistines Capture the Ark At that time Israel was at war with the Philistines. The Israelite army was camped near Ebenezer, and the Philistines were at Aphek.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
After the battle was over, the troops retreated to their camp, and the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord allow us to be defeated by the Philistines?” Then they said, “Let’s bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Shiloh. If we carry it into battle with us, it will save us from our enemies.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So they sent men to Shiloh to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, were also there with the Ark of the Covenant of God.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When all the Israelites saw the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord coming into the camp, their shout of joy was so loud it made the ground shake!


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“What’s going on?” the Philistines asked. “What’s all the shouting about in the Hebrew camp?” When they were told it was because the Ark of the Lord had arrived,


book: 1Sam
contenido:
they panicked. “The gods have come into their camp!” they cried. “This is a disaster! We have never had to face anything like this before!


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Help! Who can save us from these mighty gods of Israel? They are the same gods who destroyed the Egyptians with plagues when Israel was in the wilderness.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Fight as never before, Philistines! If you don’t, we will become the Hebrews’ slaves just as they have been ours! Stand up like men and fight!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So the Philistines fought desperately, and Israel was defeated again. The slaughter was great; 30,000 Israelite soldiers died that day. The survivors turned and fled to their tents.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The Death of Eli A man from the tribe of Benjamin ran from the battlefield and arrived at Shiloh later that same day. He had torn his clothes and put dust on his head to show his grief.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Eli was waiting beside the road to hear the news of the battle, for his heart trembled for the safety of the Ark of God. When the messenger arrived and told what had happened, an outcry resounded throughout the town.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
He said to Eli, “I have just come from the battlefield—I was there this very day.” “What happened, my son?” Eli demanded.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Israel has been defeated by the Philistines,” the messenger replied. “The people have been slaughtered, and your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were also killed. And the Ark of God has been captured.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When the messenger mentioned what had happened to the Ark of God, Eli fell backward from his seat beside the gate. He broke his neck and died, for he was old and overweight. He had been Israel’s judge for forty years.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near her time of delivery. When she heard that the Ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
She died in childbirth, but before she passed away the midwives tried to encourage her. “Don’t be afraid,” they said. “You have a baby boy!” But she did not answer or pay attention to them.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
She named the child Ichabod (which means “Where is the glory?”), for she said, “Israel’s glory is gone.” She named him this because the Ark of God had been captured and because her father-in-law and husband were dead.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The Ark in Philistia After the Philistines captured the Ark of God, they took it from the battleground at Ebenezer to the town of Ashdod.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But when the citizens of Ashdod went to see it the next morning, Dagon had fallen with his face to the ground in front of the Ark of the Lord! So they took Dagon and put him in his place again.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But the next morning the same thing happened—Dagon had fallen face down before the Ark of the Lord again. This time his head and hands had broken off and were lying in the doorway. Only the trunk of his body was left intact.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor anyone who enters the temple of Dagon in Ashdod will step on its threshold.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then the Lord’s heavy hand struck the people of Ashdod and the nearby villages with a plague of tumors.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When the people realized what was happening, they cried out, “We can’t keep the Ark of the God of Israel here any longer! He is against us! We will all be destroyed along with Dagon, our god.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So they called together the rulers of the Philistine towns and asked, “What should we do with the Ark of the God of Israel?” The rulers discussed it and replied, “Move it to the town of Gath.” So they moved the Ark of the God of Israel to Gath.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But when the Ark arrived at Gath, the Lord’s heavy hand fell on its men, young and old; he struck them with a plague of tumors, and there was a great panic.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So they sent the Ark of God to the town of Ekron, but when the people of Ekron saw it coming they cried out, “They are bringing the Ark of the God of Israel here to kill us, too!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The people summoned the Philistine rulers again and begged them, “Please send the Ark of the God of Israel back to its own country, or it will kill us all.” For the deadly plague from God had already begun, and great fear was sweeping across the town.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The Philistines Return the Ark The Ark of the Lord remained in Philistine territory seven months in all.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then the Philistines called in their priests and diviners and asked them, “What should we do about the Ark of the Lord? Tell us how to return it to its own country.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Send the Ark of the God of Israel back with a gift,” they were told. “Send a guilt offering so the plague will stop. Then, if you are healed, you will know it was his hand that caused the plague.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“What sort of guilt offering should we send?” they asked. And they were told, “Since the plague has struck both you and your five rulers, make five gold tumors and five gold rats, just like those that have ravaged your land.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Make these things to show honor to the God of Israel. Perhaps then he will stop afflicting you, your gods, and your land.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Don’t be stubborn and rebellious as Pharaoh and the Egyptians were. By the time God was finished with them, they were eager to let Israel go.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Now build a new cart, and find two cows that have just given birth to calves. Make sure the cows have never been yoked to a cart. Hitch the cows to the cart, but shut their calves away from them in a pen.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Put the Ark of the Lord on the cart, and beside it place a chest containing the gold rats and gold tumors you are sending as a guilt offering. Then let the cows go wherever they want.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
If they cross the border of our land and go to Beth-shemesh, we will know it was the Lord who brought this great disaster upon us. If they don’t, we will know it was not his hand that caused the plague. It came simply by chance.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So these instructions were carried out. Two cows were hitched to the cart, and their newborn calves were shut up in a pen.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then the Ark of the Lord and the chest containing the gold rats and gold tumors were placed on the cart.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
And sure enough, without veering off in other directions, the cows went straight along the road toward Beth-shemesh, lowing as they went. The Philistine rulers followed them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The people of Beth-shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley, and when they saw the Ark, they were overjoyed!


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The cart came into the field of a man named Joshua and stopped beside a large rock. So the people broke up the wood of the cart for a fire and killed the cows and sacrificed them to the Lord as a burnt offering.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Several men of the tribe of Levi lifted the Ark of the Lord and the chest containing the gold rats and gold tumors from the cart and placed them on the large rock. Many sacrifices and burnt offerings were offered to the Lord that day by the people of Beth-shemesh.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The five gold tumors sent by the Philistines as a guilt offering to the Lord were gifts from the rulers of Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The five gold rats represented the five Philistine towns and their surrounding villages, which were controlled by the five rulers. The large rock at Beth-shemesh, where they set the Ark of the Lord, still stands in the field of Joshua as a witness to what happened there.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The Ark Moved to Kiriath-Jearim But the Lord killed seventy men from Beth-shemesh because they looked into the Ark of the Lord. And the people mourned greatly because of what the Lord had done.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Who is able to stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God?” they cried out. “Where can we send the Ark from here?”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So they sent messengers to the people at Kiriath-jearim and told them, “The Philistines have returned the Ark of the Lord. Come here and get it!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So the men of Kiriath-jearim came to get the Ark of the Lord. They took it to the hillside home of Abinadab and ordained Eleazar, his son, to be in charge of it.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The Ark remained in Kiriath-jearim for a long time—twenty years in all. During that time all Israel mourned because it seemed the Lord had abandoned them.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Samuel Leads Israel to Victory Then Samuel said to all the people of Israel, “If you are really serious about wanting to return to the Lord, get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Determine to obey only the Lord; then he will rescue you from the Philistines.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So they gathered at Mizpah and, in a great ceremony, drew water from a well and poured it out before the Lord. They also went without food all day and confessed that they had sinned against the Lord. (It was at Mizpah that Samuel became Israel’s judge.)


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When the Philistine rulers heard that Israel had gathered at Mizpah, they mobilized their army and advanced. The Israelites were badly frightened when they learned that the Philistines were approaching.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So Samuel took a young lamb and offered it to the Lord as a whole burnt offering. He pleaded with the Lord to help Israel, and the Lord answered him.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Just as Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines arrived to attack Israel. But the Lord spoke with a mighty voice of thunder from heaven that day, and the Philistines were thrown into such confusion that the Israelites defeated them.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The men of Israel chased them from Mizpah to a place below Beth-car, slaughtering them all along the way.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Samuel then took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. He named it Ebenezer (which means “the stone of help”), for he said, “Up to this point the Lord has helped us!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So the Philistines were subdued and didn’t invade Israel again for some time. And throughout Samuel’s lifetime, the Lord’s powerful hand was raised against the Philistines.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The Israelite villages near Ekron and Gath that the Philistines had captured were restored to Israel, along with the rest of the territory that the Philistines had taken. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites in those days.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Each year he traveled around, setting up his court first at Bethel, then at Gilgal, and then at Mizpah. He judged the people of Israel at each of these places.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then he would return to his home at Ramah, and he would hear cases there, too. And Samuel built an altar to the Lord at Ramah.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Do everything they say to you,” the Lord replied, “for it is me they are rejecting, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Samuel Warns against a Kingdom So Samuel passed on the Lord’s warning to the people who were asking him for a king.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“This is how a king will reign over you,” Samuel said. “The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Some will be generals and captains in his army, some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the Lord will not help you.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
and the Lord replied, “Do as they say, and give them a king.” Then Samuel agreed and sent the people home.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul Meets Samuel There was a wealthy, influential man named Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. He was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, of the tribe of Benjamin.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
One day Kish’s donkeys strayed away, and he told Saul, “Take a servant with you, and go look for the donkeys.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So Saul took one of the servants and traveled through the hill country of Ephraim, the land of Shalishah, the Shaalim area, and the entire land of Benjamin, but they couldn’t find the donkeys anywhere.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Finally, they entered the region of Zuph, and Saul said to his servant, “Let’s go home. By now my father will be more worried about us than about the donkeys!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But the servant said, “I’ve just thought of something! There is a man of God who lives here in this town. He is held in high honor by all the people because everything he says comes true. Let’s go find him. Perhaps he can tell us which way to go.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“But we don’t have anything to offer him,” Saul replied. “Even our food is gone, and we don’t have a thing to give him.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Well,” the servant said, “I have one small silver piece. We can at least offer it to the man of God and see what happens!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
(In those days if people wanted a message from God, they would say, “Let’s go and ask the seer,” for prophets used to be called seers.)


book: 1Sam
contenido:
As they were climbing the hill to the town, they met some young women coming out to draw water. So Saul and his servant asked, “Is the seer here today?”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Yes,” they replied. “Stay right on this road. He is at the town gates. He has just arrived to take part in a public sacrifice up at the place of worship.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Hurry and catch him before he goes up there to eat. The guests won’t begin eating until he arrives to bless the food.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So they entered the town, and as they passed through the gates, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the place of worship.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him to be the leader of my people, Israel. He will rescue them from the Philistines, for I have looked down on my people in mercy and have heard their cry.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Just then Saul approached Samuel at the gateway and asked, “Can you please tell me where the seer’s house is?”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“I am the seer!” Samuel replied. “Go up to the place of worship ahead of me. We will eat there together, and in the morning I’ll tell you what you want to know and send you on your way.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
And don’t worry about those donkeys that were lost three days ago, for they have been found. And I am here to tell you that you and your family are the focus of all Israel’s hopes.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul replied, “But I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! Why are you talking like this to me?”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and placed them at the head of the table, honoring them above the thirty special guests.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Samuel then instructed the cook to bring Saul the finest cut of meat, the piece that had been set aside for the guest of honor.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So the cook brought in the meat and placed it before Saul. “Go ahead and eat it,” Samuel said. “I was saving it for you even before I invited these others!” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When they came down from the place of worship and returned to town, Samuel took Saul up to the roof of the house and prepared a bed for him there.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
At daybreak the next morning, Samuel called to Saul, “Get up! It’s time you were on your way.” So Saul got ready, and he and Samuel left the house together.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When they reached the edge of town, Samuel told Saul to send his servant on ahead. After the servant was gone, Samuel said, “Stay here, for I have received a special message for you from God.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Samuel Anoints Saul as King Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it over Saul’s head. He kissed Saul and said, “I am doing this because the Lord has appointed you to be the ruler over Israel, his special possession.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When you leave me today, you will see two men beside Rachel’s tomb at Zelzah, on the border of Benjamin. They will tell you that the donkeys have been found and that your father has stopped worrying about them and is now worried about you. He is asking, ‘Have you seen my son?’


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“When you get to the oak of Tabor, you will see three men coming toward you who are on their way to worship God at Bethel. One will be bringing three young goats, another will have three loaves of bread, and the third will be carrying a wineskin full of wine.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“When you arrive at Gibeah of God, where the garrison of the Philistines is located, you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the place of worship. They will be playing a harp, a tambourine, a flute, and a lyre, and they will be prophesying.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
At that time the Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then go down to Gilgal ahead of me. I will join you there to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. You must wait for seven days until I arrive and give you further instructions.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Samuel’s Signs Are Fulfilled As Saul turned and started to leave, God gave him a new heart, and all Samuel’s signs were fulfilled that day.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, they saw a group of prophets coming toward them. Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he, too, began to prophesy.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When those who knew Saul heard about it, they exclaimed, “What? Is even Saul a prophet? How did the son of Kish become a prophet?”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
And one of those standing there said, “Can anyone become a prophet, no matter who his father is?” So that is the origin of the saying “Is even Saul a prophet?”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Where have you been?” Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant. “We were looking for the donkeys,” Saul replied, “but we couldn’t find them. So we went to Samuel to ask him where they were.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“He told us that the donkeys had already been found,” Saul replied. But Saul didn’t tell his uncle what Samuel said about the kingdom.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul Is Acclaimed King Later Samuel called all the people of Israel to meet before the Lord at Mizpah.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
And he said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, has declared: I brought you from Egypt and rescued you from the Egyptians and from all of the nations that were oppressing you.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But though I have rescued you from your misery and distress, you have rejected your God today and have said, ‘No, we want a king instead!’ Now, therefore, present yourselves before the Lord by tribes and clans.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel before the Lord, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then he brought each family of the tribe of Benjamin before the Lord, and the family of the Matrites was chosen. And finally Saul son of Kish was chosen from among them. But when they looked for him, he had disappeared!


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then Samuel said to all the people, “This is the man the Lord has chosen as your king. No one in all Israel is like him!” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then Samuel told the people what the rights and duties of a king were. He wrote them down on a scroll and placed it before the Lord. Then Samuel sent the people home again.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When Saul returned to his home at Gibeah, a group of men whose hearts God had touched went with him.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But there were some scoundrels who complained, “How can this man save us?” And they scorned him and refused to bring him gifts. But Saul ignored them. [Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had been grievously oppressing the people of Gad and Reuben who lived east of the Jordan River. He gouged out the right eye of each of the Israelites living there, and he didn’t allow anyone to come and rescue them. In fact, of all the Israelites east of the Jordan, there wasn’t a single one whose right eye Nahash had not gouged out. But there were 7,000 men who had escaped from the Ammonites, and they had settled in Jabesh-gilead.]


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul Defeats the Ammonites About a month later, King Nahash of Ammon led his army against the Israelite town of Jabesh-gilead. But all the citizens of Jabesh asked for peace. “Make a treaty with us, and we will be your servants,” they pleaded.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“All right,” Nahash said, “but only on one condition. I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you as a disgrace to all Israel!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Give us seven days to send messengers throughout Israel!” replied the elders of Jabesh. “If no one comes to save us, we will agree to your terms.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and told the people about their plight, everyone broke into tears.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul had been plowing a field with his oxen, and when he returned to town, he asked, “What’s the matter? Why is everyone crying?” So they told him about the message from Jabesh.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
He took two oxen and cut them into pieces and sent the messengers to carry them throughout Israel with this message: “This is what will happen to the oxen of anyone who refuses to follow Saul and Samuel into battle!” And the Lord made the people afraid of Saul’s anger, and all of them came out together as one.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When Saul mobilized them at Bezek, he found that there were 300,000 men from Israel and 30,000 men from Judah.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So Saul sent the messengers back to Jabesh-gilead to say, “We will rescue you by noontime tomorrow!” There was great joy throughout the town when that message arrived!


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The men of Jabesh then told their enemies, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you can do to us whatever you wish.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But before dawn the next morning, Saul arrived, having divided his army into three detachments. He launched a surprise attack against the Ammonites and slaughtered them the whole morning. The remnant of their army was so badly scattered that no two of them were left together.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then the people exclaimed to Samuel, “Now where are those men who said, ‘Why should Saul rule over us?’ Bring them here, and we will kill them!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So they all went to Gilgal, and in a solemn ceremony before the Lord they made Saul king. Then they offered peace offerings to the Lord, and Saul and all the Israelites were filled with joy.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Samuel’s Farewell Address Then Samuel addressed all Israel: “I have done as you asked and given you a king.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Your king is now your leader. I stand here before you—an old, gray-haired man—and my sons serve you. I have served as your leader from the time I was a boy to this very day.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Now testify against me in the presence of the Lord and before his anointed one. Whose ox or donkey have I stolen? Have I ever cheated any of you? Have I ever oppressed you? Have I ever taken a bribe and perverted justice? Tell me and I will make right whatever I have done wrong.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“No,” they replied, “you have never cheated or oppressed us, and you have never taken even a single bribe.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“The Lord and his anointed one are my witnesses today,” Samuel declared, “that my hands are clean.” “Yes, he is a witness,” they replied.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“It was the Lord who appointed Moses and Aaron,” Samuel continued. “He brought your ancestors out of the land of Egypt.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Now stand here quietly before the Lord as I remind you of all the great things the Lord has done for you and your ancestors.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“When the Israelites were in Egypt and cried out to the Lord, he sent Moses and Aaron to rescue them from Egypt and to bring them into this land.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But the people soon forgot about the Lord their God, so he handed them over to Sisera, the commander of Hazor’s army, and also to the Philistines and to the king of Moab, who fought against them.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Then they cried to the Lord again and confessed, ‘We have sinned by turning away from the Lord and worshiping the images of Baal and Ashtoreth. But we will worship you and you alone if you will rescue us from our enemies.’


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“But when you were afraid of Nahash, the king of Ammon, you came to me and said that you wanted a king to reign over you, even though the Lord your God was already your king.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
All right, here is the king you have chosen. You asked for him, and the Lord has granted your request.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Now if you fear and worship the Lord and listen to his voice, and if you do not rebel against the Lord’s commands, then both you and your king will show that you recognize the Lord as your God.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But if you rebel against the Lord’s commands and refuse to listen to him, then his hand will be as heavy upon you as it was upon your ancestors.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
You know that it does not rain at this time of the year during the wheat harvest. I will ask the Lord to send thunder and rain today. Then you will realize how wicked you have been in asking the Lord for a king!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day. And all the people were terrified of the Lord and of Samuel.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Pray to the Lord your God for us, or we will die!” they all said to Samuel. “For now we have added to our sins by asking for a king.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Don’t be afraid,” Samuel reassured them. “You have certainly done wrong, but make sure now that you worship the Lord with all your heart, and don’t turn your back on him.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Don’t go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you—they are totally useless!


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The Lord will not abandon his people, because that would dishonor his great name. For it has pleased the Lord to make you his very own people.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“As for me, I will certainly not sin against the Lord by ending my prayers for you. And I will continue to teach you what is good and right.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But be sure to fear the Lord and faithfully serve him. Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Continued War with Philistia Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty-two years.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul selected 3,000 special troops from the army of Israel and sent the rest of the men home. He took 2,000 of the chosen men with him to Micmash and the hill country of Bethel. The other 1,000 went with Saul’s son Jonathan to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Soon after this, Jonathan attacked and defeated the garrison of Philistines at Geba. The news spread quickly among the Philistines. So Saul blew the ram’s horn throughout the land, saying, “Hebrews, hear this! Rise up in revolt!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
All Israel heard the news that Saul had destroyed the Philistine garrison at Geba and that the Philistines now hated the Israelites more than ever. So the entire Israelite army was summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The Philistines mustered a mighty army of 3,000 chariots, 6,000 charioteers, and as many warriors as the grains of sand on the seashore! They camped at Micmash east of Beth-aven.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The men of Israel saw what a tight spot they were in; and because they were hard pressed by the enemy, they tried to hide in caves, thickets, rocks, holes, and cisterns.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Some of them crossed the Jordan River and escaped into the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul’s Disobedience and Samuel’s Rebuke Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and his men were trembling with fear.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn’t come. Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So he demanded, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!” And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him,


book: 1Sam
contenido:
but Samuel said, “What is this you have done?” Saul replied, “I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn’t arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So I said, ‘The Philistines are ready to march against us at Gilgal, and I haven’t even asked for the Lord’s help!’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself before you came.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Israel’s Military Disadvantage Samuel then left Gilgal and went on his way, but the rest of the troops went with Saul to meet the army. They went up from Gilgal to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. When Saul counted the men who were still with him, he found only 600 were left!


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul and Jonathan and the troops with them were staying at Geba in the land of Benjamin. The Philistines set up their camp at Micmash.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Three raiding parties soon left the camp of the Philistines. One went north toward Ophrah in the land of Shual,


book: 1Sam
contenido:
another went west to Beth-horon, and the third moved toward the border above the valley of Zeboim near the wilderness.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
There were no blacksmiths in the land of Israel in those days. The Philistines wouldn’t allow them for fear they would make swords and spears for the Hebrews.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So whenever the Israelites needed to sharpen their plowshares, picks, axes, or sickles, they had to take them to a Philistine blacksmith.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
(The charges were as follows: a quarter of an ounce of silver for sharpening a plowshare or a pick, and an eighth of an ounce for sharpening an ax, a sickle, or an ox goad.)


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So on the day of the battle none of the people of Israel had a sword or spear, except for Saul and Jonathan.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Jonathan’s Daring Plan One day Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come on, let’s go over to where the Philistines have their outpost.” But Jonathan did not tell his father what he was doing.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Meanwhile, Saul and his 600 men were camped on the outskirts of Gibeah, around the pomegranate tree at Migron.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Among Saul’s men was Ahijah the priest, who was wearing the ephod, the priestly vest. Ahijah was the son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the Lord who had served at Shiloh. No one realized that Jonathan had left the Israelite camp.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
To reach the Philistine outpost, Jonathan had to go down between two rocky cliffs that were called Bozez and Seneh.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer. “Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Do what you think is best,” the armor bearer replied. “I’m with you completely, whatever you decide.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But if they say, ‘Come on up and fight,’ then we will go up. That will be the Lord’s sign that he will help us defeat them.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When the Philistines saw them coming, they shouted, “Look! The Hebrews are crawling out of their holes!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then the men from the outpost shouted to Jonathan, “Come on up here, and we’ll teach you a lesson!” “Come on, climb right behind me,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “for the Lord will help us defeat them!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So they climbed up using both hands and feet, and the Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer killed those who came behind them.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Suddenly, panic broke out in the Philistine army, both in the camp and in the field, including even the outposts and raiding parties. And just then an earthquake struck, and everyone was terrified.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Israel Defeats the Philistines Saul’s lookouts in Gibeah of Benjamin saw a strange sight—the vast army of Philistines began to melt away in every direction.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Call the roll and find out who’s missing,” Saul ordered. And when they checked, they found that Jonathan and his armor bearer were gone.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then Saul shouted to Ahijah, “Bring the ephod here!” For at that time Ahijah was wearing the ephod in front of the Israelites.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But while Saul was talking to the priest, the confusion in the Philistine camp grew louder and louder. So Saul said to the priest, “Never mind; let’s get going!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then Saul and all his men rushed out to the battle and found the Philistines killing each other. There was terrible confusion everywhere.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Even the Hebrews who had previously gone over to the Philistine army revolted and joined in with Saul, Jonathan, and the rest of the Israelites.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Likewise, the men of Israel who were hiding in the hill country of Ephraim joined the chase when they saw the Philistines running away.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul’s Foolish Oath Now the men of Israel were pressed to exhaustion that day, because Saul had placed them under an oath, saying, “Let a curse fall on anyone who eats before evening—before I have full revenge on my enemies.” So no one ate anything all day,


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But Jonathan had not heard his father’s command, and he dipped the end of his stick into a piece of honeycomb and ate the honey. After he had eaten it, he felt refreshed.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But one of the men saw him and said, “Your father made the army take a strict oath that anyone who eats food today will be cursed. That is why everyone is weary and faint.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“My father has made trouble for us all!” Jonathan exclaimed. “A command like that only hurts us. See how refreshed I am now that I have eaten this little bit of honey.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
If the men had been allowed to eat freely from the food they found among our enemies, think how many more Philistines we could have killed!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
They chased and killed the Philistines all day from Micmash to Aijalon, growing more and more faint.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
That evening they rushed for the battle plunder and butchered the sheep, goats, cattle, and calves, but they ate them without draining the blood.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Someone reported to Saul, “Look, the men are sinning against the Lord by eating meat that still has blood in it.” “That is very wrong,” Saul said. “Find a large stone and roll it over here.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then go out among the troops and tell them, ‘Bring the cattle, sheep, and goats here to me. Kill them here, and drain the blood before you eat them. Do not sin against the Lord by eating meat with the blood still in it.’” So that night all the troops brought their animals and slaughtered them there.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then Saul said, “Let’s chase the Philistines all night and plunder them until sunrise. Let’s destroy every last one of them.” His men replied, “We’ll do whatever you think is best.” But the priest said, “Let’s ask God first.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So Saul asked God, “Should we go after the Philistines? Will you help us defeat them?” But God made no reply that day.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then Saul said to the leaders, “Something’s wrong! I want all my army commanders to come here. We must find out what sin was committed today.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
I vow by the name of the Lord who rescued Israel that the sinner will surely die, even if it is my own son Jonathan!” But no one would tell him what the trouble was.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then Saul said, “Jonathan and I will stand over here, and all of you stand over there.” And the people responded to Saul, “Whatever you think is best.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then Saul prayed, “O Lord, God of Israel, please show us who is guilty and who is innocent.” Then they cast sacred lots, and Jonathan and Saul were chosen as the guilty ones, and the people were declared innocent.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then Saul said, “Now cast lots again and choose between me and Jonathan.” And Jonathan was shown to be the guilty one.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Tell me what you have done,” Saul demanded of Jonathan. “I tasted a little honey,” Jonathan admitted. “It was only a little bit on the end of my stick. Does that deserve death?”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Yes, Jonathan,” Saul said, “you must die! May God strike me and even kill me if you do not die for this.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But the people broke in and said to Saul, “Jonathan has won this great victory for Israel. Should he die? Far from it! As surely as the Lord lives, not one hair on his head will be touched, for God helped him do a great deed today.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul’s Military Successes Now when Saul had secured his grasp on Israel’s throne, he fought against his enemies in every direction—against Moab, Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. And wherever he turned, he was victorious.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
He performed great deeds and conquered the Amalekites, saving Israel from all those who had plundered them.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul’s sons included Jonathan, Ishbosheth, and Malkishua. He also had two daughters: Merab, who was older, and Michal.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of Saul’s army was Abner, the son of Saul’s uncle Ner.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The Israelites fought constantly with the Philistines throughout Saul’s lifetime. So whenever Saul observed a young man who was brave and strong, he drafted him into his army.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul Destroys the Amalekites One day Samuel said to Saul, “It was the Lord who told me to anoint you as king of his people, Israel. Now listen to this message from the Lord!


book: 1Sam
contenido:
This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So Saul mobilized his army at Telaim. There were 200,000 soldiers from Israel and 10,000 men from Judah.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul sent this warning to the Kenites: “Move away from where the Amalekites live, or you will die with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up from Egypt.” So the Kenites packed up and left.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul and his men spared Agag’s life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs—everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.” Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the Lord all night.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Early the next morning Samuel went to find Saul. Someone told him, “Saul went to the town of Carmel to set up a monument to himself; then he went on to Gilgal.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When Samuel finally found him, Saul greeted him cheerfully. “May the Lord bless you,” he said. “I have carried out the Lord’s command!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Then what is all the bleating of sheep and goats and the lowing of cattle I hear?” Samuel demanded.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“It’s true that the army spared the best of the sheep, goats, and cattle,” Saul admitted. “But they are going to sacrifice them to the Lord your God. We have destroyed everything else.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! Listen to what the Lord told me last night!” “What did he tell you?” Saul asked.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
And Samuel told him, “Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The Lord has anointed you king of Israel.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
And the Lord sent you on a mission and told you, ‘Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, until they are all dead.’


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Why haven’t you obeyed the Lord? Why did you rush for the plunder and do what was evil in the Lord’s sight?”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“But I did obey the Lord,” Saul insisted. “I carried out the mission he gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul Pleads for Forgiveness Then Saul admitted to Samuel, “Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the Lord’s command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But Samuel replied, “I will not go back with you! Since you have rejected the Lord’s command, he has rejected you as king of Israel.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
And Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to someone else—one who is better than you.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
And he who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then Saul pleaded again, “I know I have sinned. But please, at least honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel by coming back with me so that I may worship the Lord your God.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Samuel Executes King Agag Then Samuel said, “Bring King Agag to me.” Agag arrived full of hope, for he thought, “Surely the worst is over, and I have been spared!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But Samuel said, “As your sword has killed the sons of many mothers, now your mother will be childless.” And Samuel cut Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Samuel never went to meet with Saul again, but he mourned constantly for him. And the Lord was sorry he had ever made Saul king of Israel.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Samuel Anoints David as King Now the Lord said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But Samuel asked, “How can I do that? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” “Take a heifer with you,” the Lord replied, “and say that you have come to make a sacrifice to the Lord.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So Samuel did as the Lord instructed. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town came trembling to meet him. “What’s wrong?” they asked. “Do you come in peace?”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Yes,” Samuel replied. “I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Purify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then Samuel performed the purification rite for Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice, too.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then Jesse told his son Abinadab to step forward and walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “This is not the one the Lord has chosen.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
In the same way all seven of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.” “Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David Serves in Saul’s Court Now the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul, and the Lord sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Let us find a good musician to play the harp whenever the tormenting spirit troubles you. He will play soothing music, and you will soon be well again.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
One of the servants said to Saul, “One of Jesse’s sons from Bethlehem is a talented harp player. Not only that—he is a brave warrior, a man of war, and has good judgment. He is also a fine-looking young man, and the Lord is with him.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Jesse responded by sending David to Saul, along with a young goat, a donkey loaded with bread, and a wineskin full of wine.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So David went to Saul and began serving him. Saul loved David very much, and David became his armor bearer.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then Saul sent word to Jesse asking, “Please let David remain in my service, for I am very pleased with him.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Goliath Challenges the Israelites The Philistines now mustered their army for battle and camped between Socoh in Judah and Azekah at Ephes-dammim.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall!


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds. His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Goliath stood and shouted a taunt across to the Israelites. “Why are you all coming out to fight?” he called. “I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me!


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Jesse Sends David to Saul’s Camp Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. Jesse was an old man at that time, and he had eight sons.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Jesse’s three oldest sons—Eliab, Abinadab, and Shimea—had already joined Saul’s army to fight the Philistines.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
For forty days, every morning and evening, the Philistine champion strutted in front of the Israelite army.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
One day Jesse said to David, “Take this basket of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread, and carry them quickly to your brothers.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
And give these ten cuts of cheese to their captain. See how your brothers are getting along, and bring back a report on how they are doing.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David’s brothers were with Saul and the Israelite army at the valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So David left the sheep with another shepherd and set out early the next morning with the gifts, as Jesse had directed him. He arrived at the camp just as the Israelite army was leaving for the battlefield with shouts and battle cries.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David left his things with the keeper of supplies and hurried out to the ranks to greet his brothers.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, came out from the Philistine ranks. Then David heard him shout his usual taunt to the army of Israel.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Have you seen the giant?” the men asked. “He comes out each day to defy Israel. The king has offered a huge reward to anyone who kills him. He will give that man one of his daughters for a wife, and the man’s entire family will be exempted from paying taxes!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David asked the soldiers standing nearby, “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But when David’s oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. “What are you doing around here anyway?” he demanded. “What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock,


book: 1Sam
contenido:
I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God!


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before. “I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel!


book: 1Sam
contenido:
And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head. Israel Routs the Philistines When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then the men of Israel and Judah gave a great shout of triumph and rushed after the Philistines, chasing them as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron. The bodies of the dead and wounded Philistines were strewn all along the road from Shaaraim, as far as Gath and Ekron.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
As Saul watched David go out to fight the Philistine, he asked Abner, the commander of his army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” “I really don’t know,” Abner declared.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
As soon as David returned from killing Goliath, Abner brought him to Saul with the Philistine’s head still in his hand.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Tell me about your father, young man,” Saul said. And David replied, “His name is Jesse, and we live in Bethlehem.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul Becomes Jealous of David After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king’s son. There was an immediate bond between them, for Jonathan loved David.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Jonathan sealed the pact by taking off his robe and giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Whatever Saul asked David to do, David did it successfully. So Saul made him a commander over the men of war, an appointment that was welcomed by the people and Saul’s officers alike.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
This made Saul very angry. “What’s this?” he said. “They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be making him their king!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The very next day a tormenting spirit from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to rave in his house like a madman. David was playing the harp, as he did each day. But Saul had a spear in his hand,


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Finally, Saul sent him away and appointed him commander over 1,000 men, and David faithfully led his troops into battle.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was so successful at leading his troops into battle.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David Marries Saul’s Daughter One day Saul said to David, “I am ready to give you my older daughter, Merab, as your wife. But first you must prove yourself to be a real warrior by fighting the Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “I’ll send him out against the Philistines and let them kill him rather than doing it myself.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Who am I, and what is my family in Israel that I should be the king’s son-in-law?” David exclaimed. “My father’s family is nothing!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So when the time came for Saul to give his daughter Merab in marriage to David, he gave her instead to Adriel, a man from Meholah.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
In the meantime, Saul’s daughter Michal had fallen in love with David, and Saul was delighted when he heard about it.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Here’s another chance to see him killed by the Philistines!” Saul said to himself. But to David he said, “Today you have a second chance to become my son-in-law!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then Saul told his men to say to David, “The king really likes you, and so do we. Why don’t you accept the king’s offer and become his son-in-law?”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When Saul’s men said these things to David, he replied, “How can a poor man from a humble family afford the bride price for the daughter of a king?”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
he told them, “Tell David that all I want for the bride price is 100 Philistine foreskins! Vengeance on my enemies is all I really want.” But what Saul had in mind was that David would be killed in the fight.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
he and his men went out and killed 200 Philistines. Then David fulfilled the king’s requirement by presenting all their foreskins to him. So Saul gave his daughter Michal to David to be his wife.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Every time the commanders of the Philistines attacked, David was more successful against them than all the rest of Saul’s officers. So David’s name became very famous.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul Tries to Kill David Saul now urged his servants and his son Jonathan to assassinate David. But Jonathan, because of his strong affection for David,


book: 1Sam
contenido:
told him what his father was planning. “Tomorrow morning,” he warned him, “you must find a hiding place out in the fields.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
I’ll ask my father to go out there with me, and I’ll talk to him about you. Then I’ll tell you everything I can find out.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The next morning Jonathan spoke with his father about David, saying many good things about him. “The king must not sin against his servant David,” Jonathan said. “He’s never done anything to harm you. He has always helped you in any way he could.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Have you forgotten about the time he risked his life to kill the Philistine giant and how the Lord brought a great victory to all Israel as a result? You were certainly happy about it then. Why should you murder an innocent man like David? There is no reason for it at all!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Afterward Jonathan called David and told him what had happened. Then he brought David to Saul, and David served in the court as before.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
War broke out again after that, and David led his troops against the Philistines. He attacked them with such fury that they all ran away.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But one day when Saul was sitting at home, with spear in hand, the tormenting spirit from the Lord suddenly came upon him again. As David played his harp,


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul hurled his spear at David. But David dodged out of the way, and leaving the spear stuck in the wall, he fled and escaped into the night.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Michal Saves David’s Life Then Saul sent troops to watch David’s house. They were told to kill David when he came out the next morning. But Michal, David’s wife, warned him, “If you don’t escape tonight, you will be dead by morning.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then she took an idol and put it in his bed, covered it with blankets, and put a cushion of goat’s hair at its head.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But Saul sent the troops back to get David. He ordered, “Bring him to me in his bed so I can kill him!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But when they came to carry David out, they discovered that it was only an idol in the bed with a cushion of goat’s hair at its head.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Why have you betrayed me like this and let my enemy escape?” Saul demanded of Michal. “I had to,” Michal replied. “He threatened to kill me if I didn’t help him.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So David escaped and went to Ramah to see Samuel, and he told him all that Saul had done to him. Then Samuel took David with him to live at Naioth.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
he sent troops to capture him. But when they arrived and saw Samuel leading a group of prophets who were prophesying, the Spirit of God came upon Saul’s men, and they also began to prophesy.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When Saul heard what had happened, he sent other troops, but they, too, prophesied! The same thing happened a third time.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Finally, Saul himself went to Ramah and arrived at the great well in Secu. “Where are Samuel and David?” he demanded. “They are at Naioth in Ramah,” someone told him.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But on the way to Naioth in Ramah the Spirit of God came even upon Saul, and he, too, began to prophesy all the way to Naioth!


book: 1Sam
contenido:
He tore off his clothes and lay naked on the ground all day and all night, prophesying in the presence of Samuel. The people who were watching exclaimed, “What? Is even Saul a prophet?”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Jonathan Helps David David now fled from Naioth in Ramah and found Jonathan. “What have I done?” he exclaimed. “What is my crime? How have I offended your father that he is so determined to kill me?”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“That’s not true!” Jonathan protested. “You’re not going to die. He always tells me everything he’s going to do, even the little things. I know my father wouldn’t hide something like this from me. It just isn’t so!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then David took an oath before Jonathan and said, “Your father knows perfectly well about our friendship, so he has said to himself, ‘I won’t tell Jonathan—why should I hurt him?’ But I swear to you that I am only a step away from death! I swear it by the Lord and by your own soul!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David replied, “Tomorrow we celebrate the new moon festival. I’ve always eaten with the king on this occasion, but tomorrow I’ll hide in the field and stay there until the evening of the third day.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
If your father asks where I am, tell him I asked permission to go home to Bethlehem for an annual family sacrifice.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
If he says, ‘Fine!’ you will know all is well. But if he is angry and loses his temper, you will know he is determined to kill me.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Show me this loyalty as my sworn friend—for we made a solemn pact before the Lord—or kill me yourself if I have sinned against your father. But please don’t betray me to him!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Never!” Jonathan exclaimed. “You know that if I had the slightest notion my father was planning to kill you, I would tell you at once.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then Jonathan told David, “I promise by the Lord, the God of Israel, that by this time tomorrow, or the next day at the latest, I will talk to my father and let you know at once how he feels about you. If he speaks favorably about you, I will let you know.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But if he is angry and wants you killed, may the Lord strike me and even kill me if I don’t warn you so you can escape and live. May the Lord be with you as he used to be with my father.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
treat my family with this faithful love, even when the Lord destroys all your enemies from the face of the earth.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
And Jonathan made David reaffirm his vow of friendship again, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then Jonathan said, “Tomorrow we celebrate the new moon festival. You will be missed when your place at the table is empty.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The day after tomorrow, toward evening, go to the place where you hid before, and wait there by the stone pile.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
I will come out and shoot three arrows to the side of the stone pile as though I were shooting at a target.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then I will send a boy to bring the arrows back. If you hear me tell him, ‘They’re on this side,’ then you will know, as surely as the Lord lives, that all is well, and there is no trouble.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But if I tell him, ‘Go farther—the arrows are still ahead of you,’ then it will mean that you must leave immediately, for the Lord is sending you away.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
He sat at his usual place against the wall, with Jonathan sitting opposite him and Abner beside him. But David’s place was empty.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul didn’t say anything about it that day, for he said to himself, “Something must have made David ceremonially unclean.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But when David’s place was empty again the next day, Saul asked Jonathan, “Why hasn’t the son of Jesse been here for the meal either yesterday or today?”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
He said, ‘Please let me go, for we are having a family sacrifice. My brother demanded that I be there. So please let me get away to see my brothers.’ That’s why he isn’t here at the king’s table.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul boiled with rage at Jonathan. “You stupid son of a whore!” he swore at him. “Do you think I don’t know that you want him to be king in your place, shaming yourself and your mother?


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then Saul hurled his spear at Jonathan, intending to kill him. So at last Jonathan realized that his father was really determined to kill David.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Jonathan left the table in fierce anger and refused to eat on that second day of the festival, for he was crushed by his father’s shameful behavior toward David.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The next morning, as agreed, Jonathan went out into the field and took a young boy with him to gather his arrows.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Start running,” he told the boy, “so you can find the arrows as I shoot them.” So the boy ran, and Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
As soon as the boy was gone, David came out from where he had been hiding near the stone pile. Then David bowed three times to Jonathan with his face to the ground. Both of them were in tears as they embraced each other and said good-bye, especially David.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
At last Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn loyalty to each other in the Lord’s name. The Lord is the witness of a bond between us and our children forever.” Then David left, and Jonathan returned to the town.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David Runs from Saul David went to the town of Nob to see Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech trembled when he saw him. “Why are you alone?” he asked. “Why is no one with you?”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“The king has sent me on a private matter,” David said. “He told me not to tell anyone why I am here. I have told my men where to meet me later.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“We don’t have any regular bread,” the priest replied. “But there is the holy bread, which you can have if your young men have not slept with any women recently.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Don’t worry,” David replied. “I never allow my men to be with women when they are on a campaign. And since they stay clean even on ordinary trips, how much more on this one!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Since there was no other food available, the priest gave him the holy bread—the Bread of the Presence that was placed before the Lord in the Tabernacle. It had just been replaced that day with fresh bread.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Now Doeg the Edomite, Saul’s chief herdsman, was there that day, having been detained before the Lord.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David asked Ahimelech, “Do you have a spear or sword? The king’s business was so urgent that I didn’t even have time to grab a weapon!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“I only have the sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah,” the priest replied. “It is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. Take that if you want it, for there is nothing else here.” “There is nothing like it!” David replied. “Give it to me!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But the officers of Achish were unhappy about his being there. “Isn’t this David, the king of the land?” they asked. “Isn’t he the one the people honor with dances, singing, ‘Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David at the Cave of Adullam So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Later David went to Mizpeh in Moab, where he asked the king, “Please allow my father and mother to live here with you until I know what God is going to do for me.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So David’s parents stayed in Moab with the king during the entire time David was living in his stronghold.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
One day the prophet Gad told David, “Leave the stronghold and return to the land of Judah.” So David went to the forest of Hereth.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The news of his arrival in Judah soon reached Saul. At the time, the king was sitting beneath the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, holding his spear and surrounded by his officers.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Listen here, you men of Benjamin!” Saul shouted to his officers when he heard the news. “Has that son of Jesse promised every one of you fields and vineyards? Has he promised to make you all generals and captains in his army?


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Is that why you have conspired against me? For not one of you told me when my own son made a solemn pact with the son of Jesse. You’re not even sorry for me. Think of it! My own son—encouraging him to kill me, as he is trying to do this very day!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then Doeg the Edomite, who was standing there with Saul’s men, spoke up. “When I was at Nob,” he said, “I saw the son of Jesse talking to the priest, Ahimelech son of Ahitub.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Ahimelech consulted the Lord for him. Then he gave him food and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The Slaughter of the Priests King Saul immediately sent for Ahimelech and all his family, who served as priests at Nob.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When they arrived, Saul shouted at him, “Listen to me, you son of Ahitub!” “What is it, my king?” Ahimelech asked.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me?” Saul demanded. “Why did you give him food and a sword? Why have you consulted God for him? Why have you encouraged him to kill me, as he is trying to do this very day?”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“But sir,” Ahimelech replied, “is anyone among all your servants as faithful as David, your son-in-law? Why, he is the captain of your bodyguard and a highly honored member of your household!


book: 1Sam
contenido:
This was certainly not the first time I had consulted God for him! May the king not accuse me and my family in this matter, for I knew nothing at all of any plot against you.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
And he ordered his bodyguards, “Kill these priests of the Lord, for they are allies and conspirators with David! They knew he was running away from me, but they didn’t tell me!” But Saul’s men refused to kill the Lord’s priests.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then the king said to Doeg, “You do it.” So Doeg the Edomite turned on them and killed them that day, eighty-five priests in all, still wearing their priestly garments.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then he went to Nob, the town of the priests, and killed the priests’ families—men and women, children and babies—and all the cattle, donkeys, sheep, and goats.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David exclaimed, “I knew it! When I saw Doeg the Edomite there that day, I knew he was sure to tell Saul. Now I have caused the death of all your father’s family.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Stay here with me, and don’t be afraid. I will protect you with my own life, for the same person wants to kill us both.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David Protects the Town of Keilah One day news came to David that the Philistines were at Keilah stealing grain from the threshing floors.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But David’s men said, “We’re afraid even here in Judah. We certainly don’t want to go to Keilah to fight the whole Philistine army!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So David asked the Lord again, and again the Lord replied, “Go down to Keilah, for I will help you conquer the Philistines.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So David and his men went to Keilah. They slaughtered the Philistines and took all their livestock and rescued the people of Keilah.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul soon learned that David was at Keilah. “Good!” he exclaimed. “We’ve got him now! God has handed him over to me, for he has trapped himself in a walled town!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But David learned of Saul’s plan and told Abiathar the priest to bring the ephod and ask the Lord what he should do.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then David prayed, “O Lord, God of Israel, I have heard that Saul is planning to come and destroy Keilah because I am here.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Will the leaders of Keilah betray me to him? And will Saul actually come as I have heard? O Lord, God of Israel, please tell me.” And the Lord said, “He will come.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Again David asked, “Will the leaders of Keilah betray me and my men to Saul?” And the Lord replied, “Yes, they will betray you.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David Hides in the Wilderness So David and his men—about 600 of them now—left Keilah and began roaming the countryside. Word soon reached Saul that David had escaped, so he didn’t go to Keilah after all.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David now stayed in the strongholds of the wilderness and in the hill country of Ziph. Saul hunted him day after day, but God didn’t let Saul find him.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
One day near Horesh, David received the news that Saul was on the way to Ziph to search for him and kill him.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Don’t be afraid,” Jonathan reassured him. “My father will never find you! You are going to be the king of Israel, and I will be next to you, as my father, Saul, is well aware.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So the two of them renewed their solemn pact before the Lord. Then Jonathan returned home, while David stayed at Horesh.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But now the men of Ziph went to Saul in Gibeah and betrayed David to him. “We know where David is hiding,” they said. “He is in the strongholds of Horesh on the hill of Hakilah, which is in the southern part of Jeshimon.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Go and check again to be sure of where he is staying and who has seen him there, for I know that he is very crafty.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Discover his hiding places, and come back when you are sure. Then I’ll go with you. And if he is in the area at all, I’ll track him down, even if I have to search every hiding place in Judah!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So the men of Ziph returned home ahead of Saul. Meanwhile, David and his men had moved into the wilderness of Maon in the Arabah Valley south of Jeshimon.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When David heard that Saul and his men were searching for him, he went even farther into the wilderness to the great rock, and he remained there in the wilderness of Maon. But Saul kept after him in the wilderness.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul and David were now on opposite sides of a mountain. Just as Saul and his men began to close in on David and his men,


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So Saul quit chasing David and returned to fight the Philistines. Ever since that time, the place where David was camped has been called the Rock of Escape.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David Spares Saul’s Life After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of En-gedi.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So Saul chose 3,000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the wild goats.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave!


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the Lord is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’” So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“The Lord knows I shouldn’t have done that to my lord the king,” he said to his men. “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king and attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul. After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way,


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David came out and shouted after him, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn’t true. For the Lord placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king—he is the Lord’s anointed one.’


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“May the Lord judge between us. Perhaps the Lord will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
As that old proverb says, ‘From evil people come evil deeds.’ So you can be sure I will never harm you.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Who is the king of Israel trying to catch anyway? Should he spend his time chasing one who is as worthless as a dead dog or a single flea?


book: 1Sam
contenido:
May the Lord therefore judge which of us is right and punish the guilty one. He is my advocate, and he will rescue me from your power!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, “Is that really you, my son David?” Then he began to cry.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Yes, you have been amazingly kind to me today, for when the Lord put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn’t do it.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the Lord reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
And now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Now swear to me by the Lord that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So David promised this to Saul with an oath. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went back to their stronghold.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The Death of Samuel Now Samuel died, and all Israel gathered for his funeral. They buried him at his house in Ramah. Nabal Angers David Then David moved down to the wilderness of Maon.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
There was a wealthy man from Maon who owned property near the town of Carmel. He had 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats, and it was sheep-shearing time.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
This man’s name was Nabal, and his wife, Abigail, was a sensible and beautiful woman. But Nabal, a descendant of Caleb, was crude and mean in all his dealings.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
I am told that it is sheep-shearing time. While your shepherds stayed among us near Carmel, we never harmed them, and nothing was ever stolen from them.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Ask your own men, and they will tell you this is true. So would you be kind to us, since we have come at a time of celebration? Please share any provisions you might have on hand with us and with your friend David.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Who is this fellow David?” Nabal sneered to the young men. “Who does this son of Jesse think he is? There are lots of servants these days who run away from their masters.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Should I take my bread and my water and my meat that I’ve slaughtered for my shearers and give it to a band of outlaws who come from who knows where?”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Get your swords!” was David’s reply as he strapped on his own. Then 400 men started off with David, and 200 remained behind to guard their equipment.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Meanwhile, one of Nabal’s servants went to Abigail and told her, “David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, but he screamed insults at them.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
These men have been very good to us, and we never suffered any harm from them. Nothing was stolen from us the whole time they were with us.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
You need to know this and figure out what to do, for there is going to be trouble for our master and his whole family. He’s so ill-tempered that no one can even talk to him!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Abigail wasted no time. She quickly gathered 200 loaves of bread, two wineskins full of wine, five sheep that had been slaughtered, nearly a bushel of roasted grain, 100 clusters of raisins, and 200 fig cakes. She packed them on donkeys


book: 1Sam
contenido:
and said to her servants, “Go on ahead. I will follow you shortly.” But she didn’t tell her husband Nabal what she was doing.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David had just been saying, “A lot of good it did to help this fellow. We protected his flocks in the wilderness, and nothing he owned was lost or stolen. But he has repaid me evil for good.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Abigail Intercedes for Nabal When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed low before him.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
She fell at his feet and said, “I accept all blame in this matter, my lord. Please listen to what I have to say.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
I know Nabal is a wicked and ill-tempered man; please don’t pay any attention to him. He is a fool, just as his name suggests. But I never even saw the young men you sent.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Now, my lord, as surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, since the Lord has kept you from murdering and taking vengeance into your own hands, let all your enemies and those who try to harm you be as cursed as Nabal is.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Please forgive me if I have offended you in any way. The Lord will surely reward you with a lasting dynasty, for you are fighting the Lord’s battles. And you have not done wrong throughout your entire life.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Even when you are chased by those who seek to kill you, your life is safe in the care of the Lord your God, secure in his treasure pouch! But the lives of your enemies will disappear like stones shot from a sling!


book: 1Sam
contenido:
don’t let this be a blemish on your record. Then your conscience won’t have to bear the staggering burden of needless bloodshed and vengeance. And when the Lord has done these great things for you, please remember me, your servant!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Thank God for your good sense! Bless you for keeping me from murder and from carrying out vengeance with my own hands.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
For I swear by the Lord, the God of Israel, who has kept me from hurting you, that if you had not hurried out to meet me, not one of Nabal’s men would still be alive tomorrow morning.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then David accepted her present and told her, “Return home in peace. I have heard what you said. We will not kill your husband.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When Abigail arrived home, she found that Nabal was throwing a big party and was celebrating like a king. He was very drunk, so she didn’t tell him anything about her meeting with David until dawn the next day.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
In the morning when Nabal was sober, his wife told him what had happened. As a result he had a stroke, and he lay paralyzed on his bed like a stone.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David Marries Abigail When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Praise the Lord, who has avenged the insult I received from Nabal and has kept me from doing it myself. Nabal has received the punishment for his sin.” Then David sent messengers to Abigail to ask her to become his wife.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When the messengers arrived at Carmel, they told Abigail, “David has sent us to take you back to marry him.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
She bowed low to the ground and responded, “I, your servant, would be happy to marry David. I would even be willing to become a slave, washing the feet of his servants!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Quickly getting ready, she took along five of her servant girls as attendants, mounted her donkey, and went with David’s messengers. And so she became his wife.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul, meanwhile, had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to a man from Gallim named Palti son of Laish.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David Spares Saul Again Now some men from Ziph came to Saul at Gibeah to tell him, “David is hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which overlooks Jeshimon.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul camped along the road beside the hill of Hakilah, near Jeshimon, where David was hiding. When David learned that Saul had come after him into the wilderness,


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David slipped over to Saul’s camp one night to look around. Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of his army, were sleeping inside a ring formed by the slumbering warriors.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Who will volunteer to go in there with me?” David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother. “I’ll go with you,” Abishai replied.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So David and Abishai went right into Saul’s camp and found him asleep, with his spear stuck in the ground beside his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying asleep around him.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“God has surely handed your enemy over to you this time!” Abishai whispered to David. “Let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t need to strike twice!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“No!” David said. “Don’t kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the Lord’s anointed one?


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The Lord forbid that I should kill the one he has anointed! But take his spear and that jug of water beside his head, and then let’s get out of here!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So David took the spear and jug of water that were near Saul’s head. Then he and Abishai got away without anyone seeing them or even waking up, because the Lord had put Saul’s men into a deep sleep.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then he shouted down to the soldiers and to Abner son of Ner, “Wake up, Abner!” “Who is it?” Abner demanded.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Well, Abner, you’re a great man, aren’t you?” David taunted. “Where in all Israel is there anyone as mighty? So why haven’t you guarded your master the king when someone came to kill him?


book: 1Sam
contenido:
This isn’t good at all! I swear by the Lord that you and your men deserve to die, because you failed to protect your master, the Lord’s anointed! Look around! Where are the king’s spear and the jug of water that were beside his head?”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul recognized David’s voice and called out, “Is that you, my son David?” And David replied, “Yes, my lord the king.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But now let my lord the king listen to his servant. If the Lord has stirred you up against me, then let him accept my offering. But if this is simply a human scheme, then may those involved be cursed by the Lord. For they have driven me from my home, so I can no longer live among the Lord’s people, and they have said, ‘Go, worship pagan gods.’


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Must I die on foreign soil, far from the presence of the Lord? Why has the king of Israel come out to search for a single flea? Why does he hunt me down like a partridge on the mountains?”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then Saul confessed, “I have sinned. Come back home, my son, and I will no longer try to harm you, for you valued my life today. I have been a fool and very, very wrong.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The Lord gives his own reward for doing good and for being loyal, and I refused to kill you even when the Lord placed you in my power, for you are the Lord’s anointed one.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Now may the Lord value my life, even as I have valued yours today. May he rescue me from all my troubles.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
And Saul said to David, “Blessings on you, my son David. You will do many heroic deeds, and you will surely succeed.” Then David went away, and Saul returned home.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David among the Philistines But David kept thinking to himself, “Someday Saul is going to get me. The best thing I can do is escape to the Philistines. Then Saul will stop hunting for me in Israelite territory, and I will finally be safe.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David and his men and their families settled there with Achish at Gath. David brought his two wives along with him—Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, Nabal’s widow from Carmel.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
One day David said to Achish, “If it is all right with you, we would rather live in one of the country towns instead of here in the royal city.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David and his men spent their time raiding the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites—people who had lived near Shur, toward the land of Egypt, since ancient times.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David did not leave one person alive in the villages he attacked. He took the sheep, goats, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing before returning home to see King Achish.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Where did you make your raid today?” Achish would ask. And David would reply, “Against the south of Judah, the Jerahmeelites, and the Kenites.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
No one was left alive to come to Gath and tell where he had really been. This happened again and again while he was living among the Philistines.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Achish believed David and thought to himself, “By now the people of Israel must hate him bitterly. Now he will have to stay here and serve me forever!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul Consults a Medium About that time the Philistines mustered their armies for another war with Israel. King Achish told David, “You and your men will be expected to join me in battle.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Very well!” David agreed. “Now you will see for yourself what we can do.” Then Achish told David, “I will make you my personal bodyguard for life.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Meanwhile, Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him. He was buried in Ramah, his hometown. And Saul had banned from the land of Israel all mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The Philistines set up their camp at Shunem, and Saul gathered all the army of Israel and camped at Gilboa.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
He asked the Lord what he should do, but the Lord refused to answer him, either by dreams or by sacred lots or by the prophets.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul then said to his advisers, “Find a woman who is a medium, so I can go and ask her what to do.” His advisers replied, “There is a medium at Endor.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So Saul disguised himself by wearing ordinary clothing instead of his royal robes. Then he went to the woman’s home at night, accompanied by two of his men. “I have to talk to a man who has died,” he said. “Will you call up his spirit for me?”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Are you trying to get me killed?” the woman demanded. “You know that Saul has outlawed all the mediums and all who consult the spirits of the dead. Why are you setting a trap for me?”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But Saul took an oath in the name of the Lord and promised, “As surely as the Lord lives, nothing bad will happen to you for doing this.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Finally, the woman said, “Well, whose spirit do you want me to call up?” “Call up Samuel,” Saul replied.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Don’t be afraid!” the king told her. “What do you see?” “I see a god coming up out of the earth,” she said.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“What does he look like?” Saul asked. “He is an old man wrapped in a robe,” she replied. Saul realized it was Samuel, and he fell to the ground before him.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Why have you disturbed me by calling me back?” Samuel asked Saul. “Because I am in deep trouble,” Saul replied. “The Philistines are at war with me, and God has left me and won’t reply by prophets or dreams. So I have called for you to tell me what to do.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The Lord has done just as he said he would. He has torn the kingdom from you and given it to your rival, David.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The Lord has done this to you today because you refused to carry out his fierce anger against the Amalekites.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
What’s more, the Lord will hand you and the army of Israel over to the Philistines tomorrow, and you and your sons will be here with me. The Lord will bring down the entire army of Israel in defeat.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul fell full length on the ground, paralyzed with fright because of Samuel’s words. He was also faint with hunger, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When the woman saw how distraught he was, she said, “Sir, I obeyed your command at the risk of my life.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Now do what I say, and let me give you a little something to eat so you can regain your strength for the trip back.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But Saul refused to eat anything. Then his advisers joined the woman in urging him to eat, so he finally yielded and got up from the ground and sat on the couch.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The woman had been fattening a calf, so she hurried out and killed it. She took some flour, kneaded it into dough and baked unleavened bread.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The Philistines Reject David The entire Philistine army now mobilized at Aphek, and the Israelites camped at the spring in Jezreel.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
As the Philistine rulers were leading out their troops in groups of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched at the rear with King Achish.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But the Philistine commanders demanded, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” And Achish told them, “This is David, the servant of King Saul of Israel. He’s been with me for years, and I’ve never found a single fault in him from the day he arrived until today.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But the Philistine commanders were angry. “Send him back to the town you’ve given him!” they demanded. “He can’t go into the battle with us. What if he turns against us in battle and becomes our adversary? Is there any better way for him to reconcile himself with his master than by handing our heads over to him?


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Isn’t this the same David about whom the women of Israel sing in their dances, ‘Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So Achish finally summoned David and said to him, “I swear by the Lord that you have been a trustworthy ally. I think you should go with me into battle, for I’ve never found a single flaw in you from the day you arrived until today. But the other Philistine rulers won’t hear of it.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“What have I done to deserve this treatment?” David demanded. “What have you ever found in your servant, that I can’t go and fight the enemies of my lord the king?”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But Achish insisted, “As far as I’m concerned, you’re as perfect as an angel of God. But the Philistine commanders are afraid to have you with them in the battle.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So David and his men headed back into the land of the Philistines, while the Philistine army went on to Jezreel.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David Destroys the Amalekites Three days later, when David and his men arrived home at their town of Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had made a raid into the Negev and Ziklag; they had crushed Ziklag and burned it to the ground.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David’s two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel, were among those captured.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the Lord his God.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then David asked the Lord, “Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?” And the Lord told him, “Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But 200 of the men were too exhausted to cross the brook, so David continued the pursuit with 400 men.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Along the way they found an Egyptian man in a field and brought him to David. They gave him some bread to eat and water to drink.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
They also gave him part of a fig cake and two clusters of raisins, for he hadn’t had anything to eat or drink for three days and nights. Before long his strength returned.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“To whom do you belong, and where do you come from?” David asked him. “I am an Egyptian—the slave of an Amalekite,” he replied. “My master abandoned me three days ago because I was sick.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
We were on our way back from raiding the Kerethites in the Negev, the territory of Judah, and the land of Caleb, and we had just burned Ziklag.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
“Will you lead me to this band of raiders?” David asked. The young man replied, “If you take an oath in God’s name that you will not kill me or give me back to my master, then I will guide you to them.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So he led David to them, and they found the Amalekites spread out across the fields, eating and drinking and dancing with joy because of the vast amount of plunder they had taken from the Philistines and the land of Judah.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
David and his men rushed in among them and slaughtered them throughout that night and the entire next day until evening. None of the Amalekites escaped except 400 young men who fled on camels.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Nothing was missing: small or great, son or daughter, nor anything else that had been taken. David brought everything back.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
He also recovered all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock. “This plunder belongs to David!” they said.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then David returned to the brook Besor and met up with the 200 men who had been left behind because they were too exhausted to go with him. They went out to meet David and his men, and David greeted them joyfully.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But some evil troublemakers among David’s men said, “They didn’t go with us, so they can’t have any of the plunder we recovered. Give them their wives and children, and tell them to be gone.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
But David said, “No, my brothers! Don’t be selfish with what the Lord has given us. He has kept us safe and helped us defeat the band of raiders that attacked us.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Who will listen when you talk like this? We share and share alike—those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment.”


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When he arrived at Ziklag, David sent part of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends. “Here is a present for you, taken from the Lord’s enemies,” he said.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The gifts were sent to the people of the following towns David had visited: Bethel, Ramoth-negev, Jattir,


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The Death of Saul Now the Philistines attacked Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them. Many were slaughtered on the slopes of Mount Gilboa.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The Philistines closed in on Saul and his sons, and they killed three of his sons—Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malkishua.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The fighting grew very fierce around Saul, and the Philistine archers caught up with him and wounded him severely.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Saul groaned to his armor bearer, “Take your sword and kill me before these pagan Philistines come to run me through and taunt and torture me.” But his armor bearer was afraid and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When his armor bearer realized that Saul was dead, he fell on his own sword and died beside the king.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
When the Israelites on the other side of the Jezreel Valley and beyond the Jordan saw that the Israelite army had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their towns and fled. So the Philistines moved in and occupied their towns.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
The next day, when the Philistines went out to strip the dead, they found the bodies of Saul and his three sons on Mount Gilboa.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
So they cut off Saul’s head and stripped off his armor. Then they proclaimed the good news of Saul’s death in their pagan temple and to the people throughout the land of Philistia.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
They placed his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths, and they fastened his body to the wall of the city of Beth-shan.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
all their mighty warriors traveled through the night to Beth-shan and took the bodies of Saul and his sons down from the wall. They brought them to Jabesh, where they burned the bodies.


book: 1Sam
contenido:
Then they took their bones and buried them beneath the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted for seven days.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David Learns of Saul’s Death After the death of Saul, David returned from his victory over the Amalekites and spent two days in Ziklag.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s army camp. He had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head to show that he was in mourning. He fell to the ground before David in deep respect.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“What happened?” David demanded. “Tell me how the battle went.” The man replied, “Our entire army fled from the battle. Many of the men are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The man answered, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear with the enemy chariots and charioteers closing in on him.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“Then he begged me, ‘Come over here and put me out of my misery, for I am in terrible pain and want to die.’


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“So I killed him,” the Amalekite told David, “for I knew he couldn’t live. Then I took his crown and his armband, and I have brought them here to you, my lord.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
They mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the Lord’s army and the nation of Israel, because they had died by the sword that day.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then David said to the young man who had brought the news, “Where are you from?” And he replied, “I am a foreigner, an Amalekite, who lives in your land.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then David said to one of his men, “Kill him!” So the man thrust his sword into the Amalekite and killed him.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“You have condemned yourself,” David said, “for you yourself confessed that you killed the Lord’s anointed one.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
and he commanded that it be taught to the people of Judah. It is known as the Song of the Bow, and it is recorded in The Book of Jashar.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Don’t announce the news in Gath, don’t proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon, or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice and the pagans will laugh in triumph.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
O mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor fruitful fields producing offerings of grain. For there the shield of the mighty heroes was defiled; the shield of Saul will no longer be anointed with oil.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The bow of Jonathan was powerful, and the sword of Saul did its mighty work. They shed the blood of their enemies and pierced the bodies of mighty heroes.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
How beloved and gracious were Saul and Jonathan! They were together in life and in death. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
O women of Israel, weep for Saul, for he dressed you in luxurious scarlet clothing, in garments decorated with gold.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
How I weep for you, my brother Jonathan! Oh, how much I loved you! And your love for me was deep, deeper than the love of women!


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David Anointed King of Judah After this, David asked the Lord, “Should I move back to one of the towns of Judah?” “Yes,” the Lord replied. Then David asked, “Which town should I go to?” “To Hebron,” the Lord answered.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David’s two wives were Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel. So David and his wives


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then the men of Judah came to David and anointed him king over the people of Judah. When David heard that the men of Jabesh-gilead had buried Saul,


book: 2Sam
contenido:
he sent them this message: “May the Lord bless you for being so loyal to your master Saul and giving him a decent burial.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
May the Lord be loyal to you in return and reward you with his unfailing love! And I, too, will reward you for what you have done.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Now that Saul is dead, I ask you to be my strong and loyal subjects like the people of Judah, who have anointed me as their new king.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Ishbosheth Proclaimed King of Israel But Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had already gone to Mahanaim with Saul’s son Ishbosheth.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
There he proclaimed Ishbosheth king over Gilead, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, the land of the Ashurites, and all the rest of Israel.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king, and he ruled from Mahanaim for two years. Meanwhile, the people of Judah remained loyal to David.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
About the same time, Joab son of Zeruiah led David’s troops out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. The two groups sat down there, facing each other from opposite sides of the pool.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then Abner suggested to Joab, “Let’s have a few of our warriors fight hand to hand here in front of us.” “All right,” Joab agreed.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So twelve men were chosen to fight from each side—twelve men of Benjamin representing Ishbosheth son of Saul, and twelve representing David.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Each one grabbed his opponent by the hair and thrust his sword into the other’s side so that all of them died. So this place at Gibeon has been known ever since as the Field of Swords.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
A fierce battle followed that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the forces of David.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The Death of Asahel Joab, Abishai, and Asahel—the three sons of Zeruiah—were among David’s forces that day. Asahel could run like a gazelle,


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When Abner looked back and saw him coming, he called out, “Is that you, Asahel?” “Yes, it is,” he replied.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“Go fight someone else!” Abner warned. “Take on one of the younger men, and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahel kept right on chasing Abner.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Again Abner shouted to him, “Get away from here! I don’t want to kill you. How could I ever face your brother Joab again?”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
But Asahel refused to turn back, so Abner thrust the butt end of his spear through Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He stumbled to the ground and died there. And everyone who came by that spot stopped and stood still when they saw Asahel lying there.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When Joab and Abishai found out what had happened, they set out after Abner. The sun was just going down as they arrived at the hill of Ammah near Giah, along the road to the wilderness of Gibeon.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Abner shouted down to Joab, “Must we always be killing each other? Don’t you realize that bitterness is the only result? When will you call off your men from chasing their Israelite brothers?”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then Joab said, “God only knows what would have happened if you hadn’t spoken, for we would have chased you all night if necessary.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
All that night Abner and his men retreated through the Jordan Valley. They crossed the Jordan River, traveling all through the morning, and didn’t stop until they arrived at Mahanaim.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Meanwhile, Joab and his men also returned home. When Joab counted his casualties, he discovered that only 19 men were missing in addition to Asahel.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Joab and his men took Asahel’s body to Bethlehem and buried him there in his father’s tomb. Then they traveled all night and reached Hebron at daybreak.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
That was the beginning of a long war between those who were loyal to Saul and those loyal to David. As time passed David became stronger and stronger, while Saul’s dynasty became weaker and weaker.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David’s Sons Born in Hebron These are the sons who were born to David in Hebron: The oldest was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The second was Daniel, whose mother was Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel. The third was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The fourth was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith. The fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The sixth was Ithream, whose mother was Eglah, David’s wife. These sons were all born to David in Hebron.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Abner Joins Forces with David As the war between the house of Saul and the house of David went on, Abner became a powerful leader among those loyal to Saul.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
One day Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, accused Abner of sleeping with one of his father’s concubines, a woman named Rizpah, daughter of Aiah.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Abner was furious. “Am I some Judean dog to be kicked around like this?” he shouted. “After all I have done for your father, Saul, and his family and friends by not handing you over to David, is this my reward—that you find fault with me about this woman?


book: 2Sam
contenido:
May God strike me and even kill me if I don’t do everything I can to help David get what the Lord has promised him!


book: 2Sam
contenido:
I’m going to take Saul’s kingdom and give it to David. I will establish the throne of David over Israel as well as Judah, all the way from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then Abner sent messengers to David, saying, “Doesn’t the entire land belong to you? Make a solemn pact with me, and I will help turn over all of Israel to you.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“All right,” David replied, “but I will not negotiate with you unless you bring back my wife Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David then sent this message to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son: “Give me back my wife Michal, for I bought her with the lives of 100 Philistines.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Palti followed along behind her as far as Bahurim, weeping as he went. Then Abner told him, “Go back home!” So Palti returned.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Meanwhile, Abner had consulted with the elders of Israel. “For some time now,” he told them, “you have wanted to make David your king.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Now is the time! For the Lord has said, ‘I have chosen David to save my people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and from all their other enemies.’”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Abner also spoke with the men of Benjamin. Then he went to Hebron to tell David that all the people of Israel and Benjamin had agreed to support him.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then Abner said to David, “Let me go and call an assembly of all Israel to support my lord the king. They will make a covenant with you to make you their king, and you will rule over everything your heart desires.” So David sent Abner safely on his way.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Joab Murders Abner But just after David had sent Abner away in safety, Joab and some of David’s troops returned from a raid, bringing much plunder with them.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When Joab arrived, he was told that Abner had just been there visiting the king and had been sent away in safety.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Joab rushed to the king and demanded, “What have you done? What do you mean by letting Abner get away?


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Joab then left David and sent messengers to catch up with Abner, asking him to return. They found him at the well of Sirah and brought him back, though David knew nothing about it.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When Abner arrived back at Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gateway as if to speak with him privately. But then he stabbed Abner in the stomach and killed him in revenge for killing his brother Asahel.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When David heard about it, he declared, “I vow by the Lord that I and my kingdom are forever innocent of this crime against Abner son of Ner.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Joab and his family are the guilty ones. May the family of Joab be cursed in every generation with a man who has open sores or leprosy or who walks on crutches or dies by the sword or begs for food!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because Abner had killed their brother Asahel at the battle of Gibeon.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David Mourns Abner’s Death Then David said to Joab and all those who were with him, “Tear your clothes and put on burlap. Mourn for Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the procession to the grave.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Your hands were not bound; your feet were not chained. No, you were murdered— the victim of a wicked plot.” All the people wept again for Abner.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David had refused to eat anything on the day of the funeral, and now everyone begged him to eat. But David had made a vow, saying, “May God strike me and even kill me if I eat anything before sundown.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then King David said to his officials, “Don’t you realize that a great commander has fallen today in Israel?


book: 2Sam
contenido:
And even though I am the anointed king, these two sons of Zeruiah—Joab and Abishai—are too strong for me to control. So may the Lord repay these evil men for their evil deeds.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The Murder of Ishbosheth When Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, heard about Abner’s death at Hebron, he lost all courage, and all Israel became paralyzed with fear.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Now there were two brothers, Baanah and Recab, who were captains of Ishbosheth’s raiding parties. They were sons of Rimmon, a member of the tribe of Benjamin who lived in Beeroth. The town of Beeroth is now part of Benjamin’s territory


book: 2Sam
contenido:
(Saul’s son Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth, who was crippled as a child. He was five years old when the report came from Jezreel that Saul and Jonathan had been killed in battle. When the child’s nurse heard the news, she picked him up and fled. But as she hurried away, she dropped him, and he became crippled.)


book: 2Sam
contenido:
One day Recab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon from Beeroth, went to Ishbosheth’s house around noon as he was taking his midday rest.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The doorkeeper, who had been sifting wheat, became drowsy and fell asleep. So Recab and Baanah slipped past her.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
They went into the house and found Ishbosheth sleeping on his bed. They struck and killed him and cut off his head. Then, taking his head with them, they fled across the Jordan Valley through the night.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When they arrived at Hebron, they presented Ishbosheth’s head to David. “Look!” they exclaimed to the king. “Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of your enemy Saul who tried to kill you. Today the Lord has given my lord the king revenge on Saul and his entire family!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Someone once told me, ‘Saul is dead,’ thinking he was bringing me good news. But I seized him and killed him at Ziklag. That’s the reward I gave him for his news!


book: 2Sam
contenido:
How much more should I reward evil men who have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed? Shouldn’t I hold you responsible for his blood and rid the earth of you?”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So David ordered his young men to kill them, and they did. They cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies beside the pool in Hebron. Then they took Ishbosheth’s head and buried it in Abner’s tomb in Hebron.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David Becomes King of All Israel Then all the tribes of Israel went to David at Hebron and told him, “We are your own flesh and blood.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
In the past, when Saul was our king, you were the one who really led the forces of Israel. And the Lord told you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people Israel. You will be Israel’s leader.’”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So there at Hebron, King David made a covenant before the Lord with all the elders of Israel. And they anointed him king of Israel.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
He had reigned over Judah from Hebron for seven years and six months, and from Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David Captures Jerusalem David then led his men to Jerusalem to fight against the Jebusites, the original inhabitants of the land who were living there. The Jebusites taunted David, saying, “You’ll never get in here! Even the blind and lame could keep you out!” For the Jebusites thought they were safe.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
On the day of the attack, David said to his troops, “I hate those ‘lame’ and ‘blind’ Jebusites. Whoever attacks them should strike by going into the city through the water tunnel.” That is the origin of the saying, “The blind and the lame may not enter the house.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So David made the fortress his home, and he called it the City of David. He extended the city, starting at the supporting terraces and working inward.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar timber and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built David a palace.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
And David realized that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel and had blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
After moving from Hebron to Jerusalem, David married more concubines and wives, and they had more sons and daughters.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David Conquers the Philistines When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he went into the stronghold.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So David asked the Lord, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord replied to David, “Yes, go ahead. I will certainly hand them over to you.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. “The Lord did it!” David exclaimed. “He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” So he named that place Baal-perazim (which means “the Lord who bursts through”).


book: 2Sam
contenido:
And again David asked the Lord what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” the Lord replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be the signal that the Lord is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So David did what the Lord commanded, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Moving the Ark to Jerusalem Then David again gathered all the elite troops in Israel, 30,000 in all.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
He led them to Baalah of Judah to bring back the Ark of God, which bears the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab’s house, which was on a hill. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab’s sons, were guiding the cart as it left the house,


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David and all the people of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments—lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand and steadied the Ark of God.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then the Lord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him dead because of this. So Uzzah died right there beside the Ark of God.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David was angry because the Lord’s anger had burst out against Uzzah. He named that place Perez-uzzah (which means “to burst out against Uzzah”), as it is still called today.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David was now afraid of the Lord, and he asked, “How can I ever bring the Ark of the Lord back into my care?”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So David decided not to move the Ark of the Lord into the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom of Gath.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The Ark of the Lord remained there in Obed-edom’s house for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and his entire household.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then King David was told, “The Lord has blessed Obed-edom’s household and everything he has because of the Ark of God.” So David went there and brought the Ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the City of David with a great celebration.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
After the men who were carrying the Ark of the Lord had gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams’ horns.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Michal’s Contempt for David But as the Ark of the Lord entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she was filled with contempt for him.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
They brought the Ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And David sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When he had finished his sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then he gave to every Israelite man and woman in the crowd a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people returned to their homes.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When David returned home to bless his own family, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said in disgust, “How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! But those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The Lord’s Covenant Promise to David When King David was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all the surrounding enemies,


book: 2Sam
contenido:
the king summoned Nathan the prophet. “Look,” David said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord has declared: Are you the one to build a house for me to live in?


book: 2Sam
contenido:
I have never lived in a house, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until this very day. I have always moved from one place to another with a tent and a Tabernacle as my dwelling.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Yet no matter where I have gone with the Israelites, I have never once complained to Israel’s tribal leaders, the shepherds of my people Israel. I have never asked them, “Why haven’t you built me a beautiful cedar house?”’


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth!


book: 2Sam
contenido:
And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past,


book: 2Sam
contenido:
starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. “‘Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings!


book: 2Sam
contenido:
For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David’s Prayer of Thanks Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed, “Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?


book: 2Sam
contenido:
And now, Sovereign Lord, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! Do you deal with everyone this way, O Sovereign Lord?


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Because of your promise and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have made them known to your servant.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you!


book: 2Sam
contenido:
What other nation on earth is like your people Israel? What other nation, O God, have you redeemed from slavery to be your own people? You made a great name for yourself when you redeemed your people from Egypt. You performed awesome miracles and drove out the nations and gods that stood in their way.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“And now, O Lord God, I am your servant; do as you have promised concerning me and my family. Confirm it as a promise that will last forever.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
And may your name be honored forever so that everyone will say, ‘The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is God over Israel!’ And may the house of your servant David continue before you forever.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, God of Israel, I have been bold enough to pray this prayer to you because you have revealed all this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you—a dynasty of kings!’


book: 2Sam
contenido:
For you are God, O Sovereign Lord. Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to your servant.


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contenido:
And now, may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you have spoken, and when you grant a blessing to your servant, O Sovereign Lord, it is an eternal blessing!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David’s Military Victories After this, David defeated and subdued the Philistines by conquering Gath, their largest town.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David also conquered the land of Moab. He made the people lie down on the ground in a row, and he measured them off in groups with a length of rope. He measured off two groups to be executed for every one group to be spared. The Moabites who were spared became David’s subjects and paid him tribute money.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David also destroyed the forces of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when Hadadezer marched out to strengthen his control along the Euphrates River.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David captured 1,000 chariots, 7,000 charioteers, and 20,000 foot soldiers. He crippled all the chariot horses except enough for 100 chariots.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then he placed several army garrisons in Damascus, the Aramean capital, and the Arameans became David’s subjects and paid him tribute money. So the Lord made David victorious wherever he went.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
he sent his son Joram to congratulate King David for his successful campaign. Hadadezer and Toi had been enemies and were often at war. Joram presented David with many gifts of silver, gold, and bronze.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
King David dedicated all these gifts to the Lord, as he did with the silver and gold from the other nations he had defeated—


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So David became even more famous when he returned from destroying 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
He placed army garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. In fact, the Lord made David victorious wherever he went.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were the priests. Seraiah was the court secretary.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was captain of the king’s bodyguard. And David’s sons served as priestly leaders.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
He summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul’s servants. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked. “Yes sir, I am,” Ziba replied.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The king then asked him, “Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness to them.” Ziba replied, “Yes, one of Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
His name was Mephibosheth; he was Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson. When he came to David, he bowed low to the ground in deep respect. David said, “Greetings, Mephibosheth.” Mephibosheth replied, “I am your servant.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, “Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
You and your sons and servants are to farm the land for him to produce food for your master’s household. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will eat here at my table.” (Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Ziba replied, “Yes, my lord the king; I am your servant, and I will do all that you have commanded.” And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly at David’s table, like one of the king’s own sons.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. From then on, all the members of Ziba’s household were Mephibosheth’s servants.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
And Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet, lived in Jerusalem and ate regularly at the king’s table.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David Defeats the Ammonites Some time after this, King Nahash of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun became king.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David said, “I am going to show loyalty to Hanun just as his father, Nahash, was always loyal to me.” So David sent ambassadors to express sympathy to Hanun about his father’s death. But when David’s ambassadors arrived in the land of Ammon,


book: 2Sam
contenido:
the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, their master, “Do you really think these men are coming here to honor your father? No! David has sent them to spy out the city so they can come in and conquer it!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So Hanun seized David’s ambassadors and shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their robes at the buttocks, and sent them back to David in shame.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When David heard what had happened, he sent messengers to tell the men, “Stay at Jericho until your beards grow out, and then come back.” For they felt deep shame because of their appearance.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When the people of Ammon realized how seriously they had angered David, they sent and hired 20,000 Aramean foot soldiers from the lands of Beth-rehob and Zobah, 1,000 from the king of Maacah, and 12,000 from the land of Tob.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The Ammonite troops came out and drew up their battle lines at the entrance of the city gate, while the Arameans from Zobah and Rehob and the men from Tob and Maacah positioned themselves to fight in the open fields.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When Joab saw that he would have to fight on both the front and the rear, he chose some of Israel’s elite troops and placed them under his personal command to fight the Arameans in the fields.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
He left the rest of the army under the command of his brother Abishai, who was to attack the Ammonites.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“If the Arameans are too strong for me, then come over and help me,” Joab told his brother. “And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will come and help you.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Be courageous! Let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. May the Lord’s will be done.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
And when the Ammonites saw the Arameans running, they ran from Abishai and retreated into the city. After the battle was over, Joab returned to Jerusalem.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
they were joined by additional Aramean troops summoned by Hadadezer from the other side of the Euphrates River. These troops arrived at Helam under the command of Shobach, the commander of Hadadezer’s forces.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When David heard what was happening, he mobilized all Israel, crossed the Jordan River, and led the army to Helam. The Arameans positioned themselves in battle formation and fought against David.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
But again the Arameans fled from the Israelites. This time David’s forces killed 700 charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers, including Shobach, the commander of their army.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When all the kings allied with Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they surrendered to Israel and became their subjects. After that, the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David and Bathsheba In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent David a message, saying, “I’m pregnant.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When Uriah arrived, David asked him how Joab and the army were getting along and how the war was progressing.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then he told Uriah, “Go on home and relax.” David even sent a gift to Uriah after he had left the palace.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When David heard that Uriah had not gone home, he summoned him and asked, “What’s the matter? Why didn’t you go home last night after being away for so long?”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Uriah replied, “The Ark and the armies of Israel and Judah are living in tents, and Joab and my master’s men are camping in the open fields. How could I go home to wine and dine and sleep with my wife? I swear that I would never do such a thing.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“Well, stay here today,” David told him, “and tomorrow you may return to the army.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then David invited him to dinner and got him drunk. But even then he couldn’t get Uriah to go home to his wife. Again he slept at the palace entrance with the king’s palace guard.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David Arranges for Uriah’s Death So the next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and gave it to Uriah to deliver.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The letter instructed Joab, “Station Uriah on the front lines where the battle is fiercest. Then pull back so that he will be killed.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So Joab assigned Uriah to a spot close to the city wall where he knew the enemy’s strongest men were fighting.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
And when the enemy soldiers came out of the city to fight, Uriah the Hittite was killed along with several other Israelite soldiers.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
But he might get angry and ask, ‘Why did the troops go so close to the city? Didn’t they know there would be shooting from the walls?


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Wasn’t Abimelech son of Gideon killed at Thebez by a woman who threw a millstone down on him from the wall? Why would you get so close to the wall?’ Then tell him, ‘Uriah the Hittite was killed, too.’”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“The enemy came out against us in the open fields,” he said. “And as we chased them back to the city gate,


book: 2Sam
contenido:
the archers on the wall shot arrows at us. Some of the king’s men were killed, including Uriah the Hittite.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“Well, tell Joab not to be discouraged,” David said. “The sword devours this one today and that one tomorrow! Fight harder next time, and conquer the city!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When the period of mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to the palace, and she became one of his wives. Then she gave birth to a son. But the Lord was displeased with what David had done.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Nathan Rebukes David So the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: “There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man’s own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man’s lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David was furious. “As surely as the Lord lives,” he vowed, “any man who would do such a thing deserves to die!


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! The Lord, the God of Israel, says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
I gave you your master’s house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Why, then, have you despised the word of the Lord and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah’s wife to be your own.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“This is what the Lord says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David Confesses His Guilt Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Nevertheless, because you have shown utter contempt for the Lord by doing this, your child will die.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
After Nathan returned to his home, the Lord sent a deadly illness to the child of David and Uriah’s wife.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then on the seventh day the child died. David’s advisers were afraid to tell him. “He wouldn’t listen to reason while the child was ill,” they said. “What drastic thing will he do when we tell him the child is dead?”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When David saw them whispering, he realized what had happened. “Is the child dead?” he asked. “Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then David got up from the ground, washed himself, put on lotions, and changed his clothes. He went to the Tabernacle and worshiped the Lord. After that, he returned to the palace and was served food and ate.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
His advisers were amazed. “We don’t understand you,” they told him. “While the child was still living, you wept and refused to eat. But now that the child is dead, you have stopped your mourning and are eating again.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David replied, “I fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said, ‘Perhaps the Lord will be gracious to me and let the child live.’


book: 2Sam
contenido:
But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then David comforted Bathsheba, his wife, and slept with her. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and David named him Solomon. The Lord loved the child


book: 2Sam
contenido:
and sent word through Nathan the prophet that they should name him Jedidiah (which means “beloved of the Lord”), as the Lord had commanded.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David Captures Rabbah Meanwhile, Joab was fighting against Rabbah, the capital of Ammon, and he captured the royal fortifications.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Now bring the rest of the army and capture the city. Otherwise, I will capture it and get credit for the victory.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So David gathered the rest of the army and went to Rabbah, and he fought against it and captured it.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David removed the crown from the king’s head, and it was placed on his own head. The crown was made of gold and set with gems, and it weighed seventy-five pounds. David took a vast amount of plunder from the city.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
He also made slaves of the people of Rabbah and forced them to labor with saws, iron picks, and iron axes, and to work in the brick kilns. That is how he dealt with the people of all the Ammonite towns. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The Rape of Tamar Now David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar. And Amnon, her half brother, fell desperately in love with her.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Amnon became so obsessed with Tamar that he became ill. She was a virgin, and Amnon thought he could never have her.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
One day Jonadab said to Amnon, “What’s the trouble? Why should the son of a king look so dejected morning after morning?” So Amnon told him, “I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“Well,” Jonadab said, “I’ll tell you what to do. Go back to bed and pretend you are ill. When your father comes to see you, ask him to let Tamar come and prepare some food for you. Tell him you’ll feel better if she prepares it as you watch and feeds you with her own hands.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. And when the king came to see him, Amnon asked him, “Please let my sister Tamar come and cook my favorite dish as I watch. Then I can eat it from her own hands.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When Tamar arrived at Amnon’s house, she went to the place where he was lying down so he could watch her mix some dough. Then she baked his favorite dish for him.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
But when she set the serving tray before him, he refused to eat. “Everyone get out of here,” Amnon told his servants. So they all left.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then he said to Tamar, “Now bring the food into my bedroom and feed it to me here.” So Tamar took his favorite dish to him.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“No, my brother!” she cried. “Don’t be foolish! Don’t do this to me! Such wicked things aren’t done in Israel.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Where could I go in my shame? And you would be called one of the greatest fools in Israel. Please, just speak to the king about it, and he will let you marry me.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then suddenly Amnon’s love turned to hate, and he hated her even more than he had loved her. “Get out of here!” he snarled at her.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“No, no!” Tamar cried. “Sending me away now is worse than what you’ve already done to me.” But Amnon wouldn’t listen to her.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So the servant put her out and locked the door behind her. She was wearing a long, beautiful robe, as was the custom in those days for the king’s virgin daughters.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
But now Tamar tore her robe and put ashes on her head. And then, with her face in her hands, she went away crying.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Her brother Absalom saw her and asked, “Is it true that Amnon has been with you? Well, my sister, keep quiet for now, since he’s your brother. Don’t you worry about it.” So Tamar lived as a desolate woman in her brother Absalom’s house.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
And though Absalom never spoke to Amnon about this, he hated Amnon deeply because of what he had done to his sister.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Absalom’s Revenge on Amnon Two years later, when Absalom’s sheep were being sheared at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, Absalom invited all the king’s sons to come to a feast.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
He went to the king and said, “My sheep-shearers are now at work. Would the king and his servants please come to celebrate the occasion with me?”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The king replied, “No, my son. If we all came, we would be too much of a burden on you.” Absalom pressed him, but the king would not come, though he gave Absalom his blessing.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“Well, then,” Absalom said, “if you can’t come, how about sending my brother Amnon with us?” “Why Amnon?” the king asked.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
But Absalom kept on pressing the king until he finally agreed to let all his sons attend, including Amnon. So Absalom prepared a feast fit for a king.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Absalom told his men, “Wait until Amnon gets drunk; then at my signal, kill him! Don’t be afraid. I’m the one who has given the command. Take courage and do it!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So at Absalom’s signal they murdered Amnon. Then the other sons of the king jumped on their mules and fled.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
As they were on the way back to Jerusalem, this report reached David: “Absalom has killed all the king’s sons; not one is left alive!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The king got up, tore his robe, and threw himself on the ground. His advisers also tore their clothes in horror and sorrow.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
But just then Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimea, arrived and said, “No, don’t believe that all the king’s sons have been killed! It was only Amnon! Absalom has been plotting this ever since Amnon raped his sister Tamar.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Meanwhile Absalom escaped. Then the watchman on the Jerusalem wall saw a great crowd coming down the hill on the road from the west. He ran to tell the king, “I see a crowd of people coming from the Horonaim road along the side of the hill.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
And David mourned many days for his son Amnon. Absalom fled to his grandfather, Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So he sent for a woman from Tekoa who had a reputation for great wisdom. He said to her, “Pretend you are in mourning; wear mourning clothes and don’t put on lotions. Act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When the woman from Tekoa approached the king, she bowed with her face to the ground in deep respect and cried out, “O king! Help me!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
My two sons had a fight out in the field. And since no one was there to stop it, one of them was killed.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Now the rest of the family is demanding, ‘Let us have your son. We will execute him for murdering his brother. He doesn’t deserve to inherit his family’s property.’ They want to extinguish the only coal I have left, and my husband’s name and family will disappear from the face of the earth.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“Oh, thank you, my lord the king,” the woman from Tekoa replied. “If you are criticized for helping me, let the blame fall on me and on my father’s house, and let the king and his throne be innocent.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“If anyone objects,” the king said, “bring him to me. I can assure you he will never complain again!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then she said, “Please swear to me by the Lord your God that you won’t let anyone take vengeance against my son. I want no more bloodshed.” “As surely as the Lord lives,” he replied, “not a hair on your son’s head will be disturbed!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“Please allow me to ask one more thing of my lord the king,” she said. “Go ahead and speak,” he responded.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
She replied, “Why don’t you do as much for the people of God as you have promised to do for me? You have convicted yourself in making this decision, because you have refused to bring home your own banished son.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“I have come to plead with my lord the king because people have threatened me. I said to myself, ‘Perhaps the king will listen to me


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Yes, my lord the king will give us peace of mind again.’ I know that you are like an angel of God in discerning good from evil. May the Lord your God be with you.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“I must know one thing,” the king replied, “and tell me the truth.” “Yes, my lord the king,” she responded.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“Did Joab put you up to this?” And the woman replied, “My lord the king, how can I deny it? Nobody can hide anything from you. Yes, Joab sent me and told me what to say.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
He did it to place the matter before you in a different light. But you are as wise as an angel of God, and you understand everything that happens among us!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Joab bowed with his face to the ground in deep respect and said, “At last I know that I have gained your approval, my lord the king, for you have granted me this request!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
But the king gave this order: “Absalom may go to his own house, but he must never come into my presence.” So Absalom did not see the king.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Absalom Reconciled to David Now Absalom was praised as the most handsome man in all Israel. He was flawless from head to foot.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
He cut his hair only once a year, and then only because it was so heavy. When he weighed it out, it came to five pounds!


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then Absalom sent for Joab to ask him to intercede for him, but Joab refused to come. Absalom sent for him a second time, but again Joab refused to come.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So Absalom said to his servants, “Go and set fire to Joab’s barley field, the field next to mine.” So they set his field on fire, as Absalom had commanded.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
And Absalom replied, “Because I wanted you to ask the king why he brought me back from Geshur if he didn’t intend to see me. I might as well have stayed there. Let me see the king; if he finds me guilty of anything, then let him kill me.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So Joab told the king what Absalom had said. Then at last David summoned Absalom, who came and bowed low before the king, and the king kissed him.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Absalom’s Rebellion After this, Absalom bought a chariot and horses, and he hired fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
He got up early every morning and went out to the gate of the city. When people brought a case to the king for judgment, Absalom would ask where in Israel they were from, and they would tell him their tribe.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then Absalom would say, “You’ve really got a strong case here! It’s too bad the king doesn’t have anyone to hear it.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
I wish I were the judge. Then everyone could bring their cases to me for judgment, and I would give them justice!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When people tried to bow before him, Absalom wouldn’t let them. Instead, he took them by the hand and kissed them.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Absalom did this with everyone who came to the king for judgment, and so he stole the hearts of all the people of Israel.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
After four years, Absalom said to the king, “Let me go to Hebron to offer a sacrifice to the Lord and fulfill a vow I made to him.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
For while your servant was at Geshur in Aram, I promised to sacrifice to the Lord in Hebron if he would bring me back to Jerusalem.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
But while he was there, he sent secret messengers to all the tribes of Israel to stir up a rebellion against the king. “As soon as you hear the ram’s horn,” his message read, “you are to say, ‘Absalom has been crowned king in Hebron.’”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel, one of David’s counselors who lived in Giloh. Soon many others also joined Absalom, and the conspiracy gained momentum.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David Escapes from Jerusalem A messenger soon arrived in Jerusalem to tell David, “All Israel has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“Then we must flee at once, or it will be too late!” David urged his men. “Hurry! If we get out of the city before Absalom arrives, both we and the city of Jerusalem will be spared from disaster.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So the king and all his household set out at once. He left no one behind except ten of his concubines to look after the palace.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
to let all the king’s men move past to lead the way. There were 600 men from Gath who had come with David, along with the king’s bodyguard.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then the king turned and said to Ittai, a leader of the men from Gath, “Why are you coming with us? Go on back to King Absalom, for you are a guest in Israel, a foreigner in exile.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
You arrived only recently, and should I force you today to wander with us? I don’t even know where we will go. Go on back and take your kinsmen with you, and may the Lord show you his unfailing love and faithfulness.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
But Ittai said to the king, “I vow by the Lord and by your own life that I will go wherever my lord the king goes, no matter what happens—whether it means life or death.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Everyone cried loudly as the king and his followers passed by. They crossed the Kidron Valley and then went out toward the wilderness.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Zadok and all the Levites also came along, carrying the Ark of the Covenant of God. They set down the Ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until everyone had passed out of the city.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then the king instructed Zadok to take the Ark of God back into the city. “If the Lord sees fit,” David said, “he will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle again.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The king also told Zadok the priest, “Look, here is my plan. You and Abiathar should return quietly to the city with your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David walked up the road to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. His head was covered and his feet were bare as a sign of mourning. And the people who were with him covered their heads and wept as they climbed the hill.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When someone told David that his adviser Ahithophel was now backing Absalom, David prayed, “O Lord, let Ahithophel give Absalom foolish advice!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When David reached the summit of the Mount of Olives where people worshiped God, Hushai the Arkite was waiting there for him. Hushai had torn his clothing and put dirt on his head as a sign of mourning.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Return to Jerusalem and tell Absalom, ‘I will now be your adviser, O king, just as I was your father’s adviser in the past.’ Then you can frustrate and counter Ahithophel’s advice.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, will be there. Tell them about the plans being made in the king’s palace,


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David and Ziba When David had gone a little beyond the summit of the Mount of Olives, Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, was waiting there for him. He had two donkeys loaded with 200 loaves of bread, 100 clusters of raisins, 100 bunches of summer fruit, and a wineskin full of wine.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“What are these for?” the king asked Ziba. Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for the king’s people to ride on, and the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat. The wine is for those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“And where is Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson?” the king asked him. “He stayed in Jerusalem,” Ziba replied. “He said, ‘Today I will get back the kingdom of my grandfather Saul.’”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“In that case,” the king told Ziba, “I give you everything Mephibosheth owns.” “I bow before you,” Ziba replied. “May I always be pleasing to you, my lord the king.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Shimei Curses David As King David came to Bahurim, a man came out of the village cursing them. It was Shimei son of Gera, from the same clan as Saul’s family.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“The Lord is paying you back for all the bloodshed in Saul’s clan. You stole his throne, and now the Lord has given it to your son Absalom. At last you will taste some of your own medicine, for you are a murderer!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king?” Abishai son of Zeruiah demanded. “Let me go over and cut off his head!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“No!” the king said. “Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah! If the Lord has told him to curse me, who are you to stop him?”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to do it.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
And perhaps the Lord will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So David and his men continued down the road, and Shimei kept pace with them on a nearby hillside, cursing as he went and throwing stones at David and tossing dust into the air.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The king and all who were with him grew weary along the way, so they rested when they reached the Jordan River.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Ahithophel Advises Absalom Meanwhile, Absalom and all the army of Israel arrived at Jerusalem, accompanied by Ahithophel.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When David’s friend Hushai the Arkite arrived, he went immediately to see Absalom. “Long live the king!” he exclaimed. “Long live the king!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“I’m here because I belong to the man who is chosen by the Lord and by all the men of Israel,” Hushai replied.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“And anyway, why shouldn’t I serve you? Just as I was your father’s adviser, now I will be your adviser!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Ahithophel told him, “Go and sleep with your father’s concubines, for he has left them here to look after the palace. Then all Israel will know that you have insulted your father beyond hope of reconciliation, and they will throw their support to you.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So they set up a tent on the palace roof where everyone could see it, and Absalom went in and had sex with his father’s concubines.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Absalom followed Ahithophel’s advice, just as David had done. For every word Ahithophel spoke seemed as wise as though it had come directly from the mouth of God.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
I will catch up with him while he is weary and discouraged. He and his troops will panic, and everyone will run away. Then I will kill only the king,


book: 2Sam
contenido:
and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride returns to her husband. After all, it is only one man’s life that you seek. Then you will be at peace with all the people.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Hushai Counters Ahithophel’s Advice But then Absalom said, “Bring in Hushai the Arkite. Let’s see what he thinks about this.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When Hushai arrived, Absalom told him what Ahithophel had said. Then he asked, “What is your opinion? Should we follow Ahithophel’s advice? If not, what do you suggest?”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
You know your father and his men; they are mighty warriors. Right now they are as enraged as a mother bear who has been robbed of her cubs. And remember that your father is an experienced man of war. He won’t be spending the night among the troops.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
He has probably already hidden in some pit or cave. And when he comes out and attacks and a few of your men fall, there will be panic among your troops, and the word will spread that Absalom’s men are being slaughtered.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then even the bravest soldiers, though they have the heart of a lion, will be paralyzed with fear. For all Israel knows what a mighty warrior your father is and how courageous his men are.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“I recommend that you mobilize the entire army of Israel, bringing them from as far away as Dan in the north and Beersheba in the south. That way you will have an army as numerous as the sand on the seashore. And I advise that you personally lead the troops.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When we find David, we’ll fall on him like dew that falls on the ground. Then neither he nor any of his men will be left alive.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
And if David were to escape into some town, you will have all Israel there at your command. Then we can take ropes and drag the walls of the town into the nearest valley until every stone is torn down.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “Hushai’s advice is better than Ahithophel’s.” For the Lord had determined to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel, which really was the better plan, so that he could bring disaster on Absalom!


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Hushai Warns David to Escape Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, what Ahithophel had said to Absalom and the elders of Israel and what he himself had advised instead.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“Quick!” he told them. “Find David and urge him not to stay at the shallows of the Jordan River tonight. He must go across at once into the wilderness beyond. Otherwise he will die and his entire army with him.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Jonathan and Ahimaaz had been staying at En-rogel so as not to be seen entering and leaving the city. Arrangements had been made for a servant girl to bring them the message they were to take to King David.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
But a boy spotted them at En-rogel, and he told Absalom about it. So they quickly escaped to Bahurim, where a man hid them down inside a well in his courtyard.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The man’s wife put a cloth over the top of the well and scattered grain on it to dry in the sun; so no one suspected they were there.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When Absalom’s men arrived, they asked her, “Have you seen Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” The woman replied, “They were here, but they crossed over the brook.” Absalom’s men looked for them without success and returned to Jerusalem.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then the two men crawled out of the well and hurried on to King David. “Quick!” they told him, “cross the Jordan tonight!” And they told him how Ahithophel had advised that he be captured and killed.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So David and all the people with him went across the Jordan River during the night, and they were all on the other bank before dawn.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey, went to his hometown, set his affairs in order, and hanged himself. He died there and was buried in the family tomb.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David soon arrived at Mahanaim. By now, Absalom had mobilized the entire army of Israel and was leading his troops across the Jordan River.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Absalom had appointed Amasa as commander of his army, replacing Joab, who had been commander under David. (Amasa was Joab’s cousin. His father was Jether, an Ishmaelite. His mother, Abigail daughter of Nahash, was the sister of Joab’s mother, Zeruiah.)


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When David arrived at Mahanaim, he was warmly greeted by Shobi son of Nahash, who came from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and by Makir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and by Barzillai of Gilead from Rogelim.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
They brought sleeping mats, cooking pots, serving bowls, wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans, lentils,


book: 2Sam
contenido:
honey, butter, sheep, goats, and cheese for David and those who were with him. For they said, “You must all be very hungry and tired and thirsty after your long march through the wilderness.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Absalom’s Defeat and Death David now mustered the men who were with him and appointed generals and captains to lead them.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
He sent the troops out in three groups, placing one group under Joab, one under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and one under Ittai, the man from Gath. The king told his troops, “I am going out with you.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
But his men objected strongly. “You must not go,” they urged. “If we have to turn and run—and even if half of us die—it will make no difference to Absalom’s troops; they will be looking only for you. You are worth 10,000 of us, and it is better that you stay here in the town and send help if we need it.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“If you think that’s the best plan, I’ll do it,” the king answered. So he stood alongside the gate of the town as all the troops marched out in groups of hundreds and of thousands.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
And the king gave this command to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai: “For my sake, deal gently with young Absalom.” And all the troops heard the king give this order to his commanders.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
and the Israelite troops were beaten back by David’s men. There was a great slaughter that day, and 20,000 men laid down their lives.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The battle raged all across the countryside, and more men died because of the forest than were killed by the sword.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
During the battle, Absalom happened to come upon some of David’s men. He tried to escape on his mule, but as he rode beneath the thick branches of a great tree, his hair got caught in the tree. His mule kept going and left him dangling in the air.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“What?” Joab demanded. “You saw him there and didn’t kill him? I would have rewarded you with ten pieces of silver and a hero’s belt!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“I would not kill the king’s son for even a thousand pieces of silver,” the man replied to Joab. “We all heard the king say to you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘For my sake, please spare young Absalom.’


book: 2Sam
contenido:
And if I had betrayed the king by killing his son—and the king would certainly find out who did it—you yourself would be the first to abandon me.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“Enough of this nonsense,” Joab said. Then he took three daggers and plunged them into Absalom’s heart as he dangled, still alive, in the great tree.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
They threw Absalom’s body into a deep pit in the forest and piled a great heap of stones over it. And all Israel fled to their homes.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
During his lifetime, Absalom had built a monument to himself in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son to carry on my name.” He named the monument after himself, and it is known as Absalom’s Monument to this day.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David Mourns Absalom’s Death Then Zadok’s son Ahimaaz said, “Let me run to the king with the good news that the Lord has rescued him from his enemies.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“No,” Joab told him, “it wouldn’t be good news to the king that his son is dead. You can be my messenger another time, but not today.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then Joab said to a man from Ethiopia, “Go tell the king what you have seen.” The man bowed and ran off.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
But Ahimaaz continued to plead with Joab, “Whatever happens, please let me go, too.” “Why should you go, my son?” Joab replied. “There will be no reward for your news.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“Yes, but let me go anyway,” he begged. Joab finally said, “All right, go ahead.” So Ahimaaz took the less demanding route by way of the plain and ran to Mahanaim ahead of the Ethiopian.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
While David was sitting between the inner and outer gates of the town, the watchman climbed to the roof of the gateway by the wall. As he looked, he saw a lone man running toward them.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
He shouted the news down to David, and the king replied, “If he is alone, he has news.” As the messenger came closer,


book: 2Sam
contenido:
the watchman saw another man running toward them. He shouted down, “Here comes another one!” The king replied, “He also will have news.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“The first man runs like Ahimaaz son of Zadok,” the watchman said. “He is a good man and comes with good news,” the king replied.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, “Everything is all right!” He bowed before the king with his face to the ground and said, “Praise to the Lord your God, who has handed over the rebels who dared to stand against my lord the king.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“What about young Absalom?” the king demanded. “Is he all right?” Ahimaaz replied, “When Joab told me to come, there was a lot of commotion. But I didn’t know what was happening.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then the man from Ethiopia arrived and said, “I have good news for my lord the king. Today the Lord has rescued you from all those who rebelled against you.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“What about young Absalom?” the king demanded. “Is he all right?” And the Ethiopian replied, “May all of your enemies, my lord the king, both now and in the future, share the fate of that young man!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The king was overcome with emotion. He went up to the room over the gateway and burst into tears. And as he went, he cried, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
As all the people heard of the king’s deep grief for his son, the joy of that day’s victory was turned into deep sadness.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The king covered his face with his hands and kept on crying, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then Joab went to the king’s room and said to him, “We saved your life today and the lives of your sons, your daughters, and your wives and concubines. Yet you act like this, making us feel ashamed of ourselves.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
You seem to love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that your commanders and troops mean nothing to you. It seems that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died, you would be pleased.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Now go out there and congratulate your troops, for I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a single one of them will remain here tonight. Then you will be worse off than ever before.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So the king went out and took his seat at the town gate, and as the news spread throughout the town that he was there, everyone went to him. Meanwhile, the Israelites who had supported Absalom fled to their homes.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
And throughout all the tribes of Israel there was much discussion and argument going on. The people were saying, “The king rescued us from our enemies and saved us from the Philistines, but Absalom chased him out of the country.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Now Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, is dead. Why not ask David to come back and be our king again?”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then King David sent Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, to say to the elders of Judah, “Why are you the last ones to welcome back the king into his palace? For I have heard that all Israel is ready.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
You are my relatives, my own tribe, my own flesh and blood! So why are you the last ones to welcome back the king?”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
And David told them to tell Amasa, “Since you are my own flesh and blood, like Joab, may God strike me and even kill me if I do not appoint you as commander of my army in his place.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then Amasa convinced all the men of Judah, and they responded unanimously. They sent word to the king, “Return to us, and bring back all who are with you.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David’s Return to Jerusalem So the king started back to Jerusalem. And when he arrived at the Jordan River, the people of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him and escort him across the river.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin, hurried across with the men of Judah to welcome King David.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
A thousand other men from the tribe of Benjamin were with him, including Ziba, the chief servant of the house of Saul, and Ziba’s fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed down to the Jordan to meet the king.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
They crossed the shallows of the Jordan to bring the king’s household across the river, helping him in every way they could. David’s Mercy to Shimei As the king was about to cross the river, Shimei fell down before him.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“My lord the king, please forgive me,” he pleaded. “Forget the terrible thing your servant did when you left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
I know how much I sinned. That is why I have come here today, the very first person in all Israel to greet my lord the king.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah!” David exclaimed. “Why have you become my adversary today? This is not a day for execution but for celebration! Today I am once again the king of Israel!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth Now Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, came down from Jerusalem to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet, trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes since the day the king left Jerusalem.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Mephibosheth replied, “My lord the king, my servant Ziba deceived me. I told him, ‘Saddle my donkey so I can go with the king.’ For as you know I am crippled.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Ziba has slandered me by saying that I refused to come. But I know that my lord the king is like an angel of God, so do what you think is best.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
All my relatives and I could expect only death from you, my lord, but instead you have honored me by allowing me to eat at your own table! What more can I ask?”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“You’ve said enough,” David replied. “I’ve decided that you and Ziba will divide your land equally between you.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“Give him all of it,” Mephibosheth said. “I am content just to have you safely back again, my lord the king!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David’s Kindness to Barzillai Barzillai of Gilead had come down from Rogelim to escort the king across the Jordan.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
He was very old, about eighty, and very wealthy. He was the one who had provided food for the king during his stay in Mahanaim.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“Come across with me and live in Jerusalem,” the king said to Barzillai. “I will take care of you there.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
I am eighty years old today, and I can no longer enjoy anything. Food and wine are no longer tasty, and I cannot hear the singers as they sing. I would only be a burden to my lord the king.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then let me return again to die in my own town, where my father and mother are buried. But here is your servant, my son Kimham. Let him go with my lord the king and receive whatever you want to give him.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“Good,” the king agreed. “Kimham will go with me, and I will help him in any way you would like. And I will do for you anything you want.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So all the people crossed the Jordan with the king. After David had blessed Barzillai and kissed him, Barzillai returned to his own home.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The king then crossed over to Gilgal, taking Kimham with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel escorted the king on his way.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
An Argument over the King But all the men of Israel complained to the king, “The men of Judah stole the king and didn’t give us the honor of helping take you, your household, and all your men across the Jordan.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The men of Judah replied, “The king is one of our own kinsmen. Why should this make you angry? We haven’t eaten any of the king’s food or received any special favors!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“But there are ten tribes in Israel,” the others replied. “So we have ten times as much right to the king as you do. What right do you have to treat us with such contempt? Weren’t we the first to speak of bringing him back to be our king again?” The argument continued back and forth, and the men of Judah spoke even more harshly than the men of Israel.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The Revolt of Sheba There happened to be a troublemaker there named Sheba son of Bicri, a man from the tribe of Benjamin. Sheba blew a ram’s horn and began to chant: “Down with the dynasty of David! We have no interest in the son of Jesse. Come on, you men of Israel, back to your homes!”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So all the men of Israel deserted David and followed Sheba son of Bicri. But the men of Judah stayed with their king and escorted him from the Jordan River to Jerusalem.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When David came to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to look after the palace and placed them in seclusion. Their needs were provided for, but he no longer slept with them. So each of them lived like a widow until she died.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then the king told Amasa, “Mobilize the army of Judah within three days, and report back at that time.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then David said to Abishai, “Sheba son of Bicri is going to hurt us more than Absalom did. Quick, take my troops and chase after him before he gets into a fortified town where we can’t reach him.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So Abishai and Joab, together with the king’s bodyguard and all the mighty warriors, set out from Jerusalem to go after Sheba.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
As they arrived at the great stone in Gibeon, Amasa met them. Joab was wearing his military tunic with a dagger strapped to his belt. As he stepped forward to greet Amasa, he slipped the dagger from its sheath.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“How are you, my cousin?” Joab said and took him by the beard with his right hand as though to kiss him.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Amasa didn’t notice the dagger in his left hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach with it so that his insides gushed out onto the ground. Joab did not need to strike again, and Amasa soon died. Joab and his brother Abishai left him lying there and continued after Sheba.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
One of Joab’s young men shouted to Amasa’s troops, “If you are for Joab and David, come and follow Joab.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
But Amasa lay in his blood in the middle of the road, and Joab’s man saw that everyone was stopping to stare at him. So he pulled him off the road into a field and threw a cloak over him.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Meanwhile, Sheba traveled through all the tribes of Israel and eventually came to the town of Abel-beth-maacah. All the members of his own clan, the Bicrites, assembled for battle and followed him into the town.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When Joab’s forces arrived, they attacked Abel-beth-maacah. They built a siege ramp against the town’s fortifications and began battering down the wall.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
But a wise woman in the town called out to Joab, “Listen to me, Joab. Come over here so I can talk to you.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
As he approached, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” “I am,” he replied. So she said, “Listen carefully to your servant.” “I’m listening,” he said.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then she continued, “There used to be a saying, ‘If you want to settle an argument, ask advice at the town of Abel.’


book: 2Sam
contenido:
I am one who is peace loving and faithful in Israel. But you are destroying an important town in Israel. Why do you want to devour what belongs to the Lord?”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
That’s not my purpose. All I want is a man named Sheba son of Bicri from the hill country of Ephraim, who has revolted against King David. If you hand over this one man to me, I will leave the town in peace.” “All right,” the woman replied, “we will throw his head over the wall to you.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off Sheba’s head and threw it out to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn and called his troops back from the attack. They all returned to their homes, and Joab returned to the king at Jerusalem.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Now Joab was the commander of the army of Israel. Benaiah son of Jehoiada was captain of the king’s bodyguard.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David Avenges the Gibeonites There was a famine during David’s reign that lasted for three years, so David asked the Lord about it. And the Lord said, “The famine has come because Saul and his family are guilty of murdering the Gibeonites.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So the king summoned the Gibeonites. They were not part of Israel but were all that was left of the nation of the Amorites. The people of Israel had sworn not to kill them, but Saul, in his zeal for Israel and Judah, had tried to wipe them out.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David asked them, “What can I do for you? How can I make amends so that you will bless the Lord’s people again?”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“Well, money can’t settle this matter between us and the family of Saul,” the Gibeonites replied. “Neither can we demand the life of anyone in Israel.” “What can I do then?” David asked. “Just tell me and I will do it for you.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then they replied, “It was Saul who planned to destroy us, to keep us from having any place at all in the territory of Israel.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So let seven of Saul’s sons be handed over to us, and we will execute them before the Lord at Gibeon, on the mountain of the Lord.” “All right,” the king said, “I will do it.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The king spared Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth, who was Saul’s grandson, because of the oath David and Jonathan had sworn before the Lord.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
But he gave them Saul’s two sons Armoni and Mephibosheth, whose mother was Rizpah daughter of Aiah. He also gave them the five sons of Saul’s daughter Merab, the wife of Adriel son of Barzillai from Meholah.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The men of Gibeon executed them on the mountain before the Lord. So all seven of them died together at the beginning of the barley harvest.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then Rizpah daughter of Aiah, the mother of two of the men, spread burlap on a rock and stayed there the entire harvest season. She prevented the scavenger birds from tearing at their bodies during the day and stopped wild animals from eating them at night.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
he went to the people of Jabesh-gilead and retrieved the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan. (When the Philistines had killed Saul and Jonathan on Mount Gilboa, the people of Jabesh-gilead stole their bodies from the public square of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hung them.)


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So David obtained the bones of Saul and Jonathan, as well as the bones of the men the Gibeonites had executed.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then the king ordered that they bury the bones in the tomb of Kish, Saul’s father, at the town of Zela in the land of Benjamin. After that, God ended the famine in the land.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Battles against Philistine Giants Once again the Philistines were at war with Israel. And when David and his men were in the thick of battle, David became weak and exhausted.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Ishbi-benob was a descendant of the giants; his bronze spearhead weighed more than seven pounds, and he was armed with a new sword. He had cornered David and was about to kill him.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue and killed the Philistine. Then David’s men declared, “You are not going out to battle with us again! Why risk snuffing out the light of Israel?”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
After this, there was another battle against the Philistines at Gob. As they fought, Sibbecai from Hushah killed Saph, another descendant of the giants.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
During another battle at Gob, Elhanan son of Jair from Bethlehem killed the brother of Goliath of Gath. The handle of his spear was as thick as a weaver’s beam!


book: 2Sam
contenido:
In another battle with the Philistines at Gath, they encountered a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in all, who was also a descendant of the giants.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
But when he defied and taunted Israel, he was killed by Jonathan, the son of David’s brother Shimea.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
These four Philistines were descendants of the giants of Gath, but David and his warriors killed them.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David’s Song of Praise David sang this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I cried to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry reached his ears.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“Then the earth quaked and trembled. The foundations of the heavens shook; they quaked because of his anger.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Smoke poured from his nostrils; fierce flames leaped from his mouth. Glowing coals blazed forth from him.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then at the command of the Lord, at the blast of his breath, the bottom of the sea could be seen, and the foundations of the earth were laid bare.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
They looked for help, but no one came to their rescue. They even cried to the Lord, but he refused to answer.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“You gave me victory over my accusers. You preserved me as the ruler over nations; people I don’t even know now serve me.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and delivers me from my enemies. You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies; you save me from violent opponents.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
You give great victories to your king; you show unfailing love to your anointed, to David and all his descendants forever.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David’s Last Words These are the last words of David: “David, the son of Jesse, speaks— David, the man who was raised up so high, David, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, David, the sweet psalmist of Israel.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The God of Israel spoke. The Rock of Israel said to me: ‘The one who rules righteously, who rules in the fear of God,


book: 2Sam
contenido:
is like the light of morning at sunrise, like a morning without clouds, like the gleaming of the sun on new grass after rain.’


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“Is it not my family God has chosen? Yes, he has made an everlasting covenant with me. His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail. He will ensure my safety and success.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David’s Mightiest Warriors These are the names of David’s mightiest warriors. The first was Jashobeam the Hacmonite, who was leader of the Three—the three mightiest warriors among David’s men. He once used his spear to kill 800 enemy warriors in a single battle.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Next in rank among the Three was Eleazar son of Dodai, a descendant of Ahoah. Once Eleazar and David stood together against the Philistines when the entire Israelite army had fled.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
He killed Philistines until his hand was too tired to lift his sword, and the Lord gave him a great victory that day. The rest of the army did not return until it was time to collect the plunder!


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Next in rank was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. One time the Philistines gathered at Lehi and attacked the Israelites in a field full of lentils. The Israelite army fled,


book: 2Sam
contenido:
but Shammah held his ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Once during the harvest, when David was at the cave of Adullam, the Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim. The Three (who were among the Thirty—an elite group among David’s fighting men) went down to meet him there.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“The Lord forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David’s Thirty Mighty Men Abishai son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, was the leader of the Thirty. He once used his spear to kill 300 enemy warriors in a single battle. It was by such feats that he became as famous as the Three.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Abishai was the most famous of the Thirty and was their commander, though he was not one of the Three.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
There was also Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant warrior from Kabzeel. He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two champions of Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Once, armed only with a club, he killed a great Egyptian warrior who was armed with a spear. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with it.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
He was more honored than the other members of the Thirty, though he was not one of the Three. And David made him captain of his bodyguard.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David Takes a Census Once again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he caused David to harm them by taking a census. “Go and count the people of Israel and Judah,” the Lord told him.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So the king said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Take a census of all the tribes of Israel—from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south—so I may know how many people there are.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
But Joab replied to the king, “May the Lord your God let you live to see a hundred times as many people as there are now! But why, my lord the king, do you want to do this?”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
But the king insisted that they take the census, so Joab and the commanders of the army went out to count the people of Israel.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
First they crossed the Jordan and camped at Aroer, south of the town in the valley, in the direction of Gad. Then they went on to Jazer,


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Then they came to the fortress of Tyre, and all the towns of the Hivites and Canaanites. Finally, they went south to Judah as far as Beersheba.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Joab reported the number of people to the king. There were 800,000 capable warriors in Israel who could handle a sword, and 500,000 in Judah.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
Judgment for David’s Sin But after he had taken the census, David’s conscience began to bother him. And he said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt, Lord, for doing this foolish thing.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
The next morning the word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, who was David’s seer. This was the message:


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“Go and say to David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I will give you three choices. Choose one of these punishments, and I will inflict it on you.’”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So Gad came to David and asked him, “Will you choose three years of famine throughout your land, three months of fleeing from your enemies, or three days of severe plague throughout your land? Think this over and decide what answer I should give the Lord who sent me.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“I’m in a desperate situation!” David replied to Gad. “But let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
So the Lord sent a plague upon Israel that morning, and it lasted for three days. A total of 70,000 people died throughout the nation, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
But as the angel was preparing to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented and said to the death angel, “Stop! That is enough!” At that moment the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When David saw the angel, he said to the Lord, “I am the one who has sinned and done wrong! But these people are as innocent as sheep—what have they done? Let your anger fall against me and my family.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David Builds an Altar That day Gad came to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
When Araunah saw the king and his men coming toward him, he came and bowed before the king with his face to the ground.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“Why have you come, my lord the king?” Araunah asked. David replied, “I have come to buy your threshing floor and to build an altar to the Lord there, so that he will stop the plague.”


book: 2Sam
contenido:
“Take it, my lord the king, and use it as you wish,” Araunah said to David. “Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and you can use the threshing boards and ox yokes for wood to build a fire on the altar.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the Lord my God that have cost me nothing.” So David paid him fifty pieces of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen.


book: 2Sam
contenido:
David built an altar there to the Lord and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the Lord answered his prayer for the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
David in His Old Age King David was now very old, and no matter how many blankets covered him, he could not keep warm.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So his advisers told him, “Let us find a young virgin to wait on you and look after you, my lord. She will lie in your arms and keep you warm.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So they searched throughout the land of Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag from Shunem and brought her to the king.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The girl was very beautiful, and she looked after the king and took care of him. But the king had no sexual relations with her.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Adonijah Claims the Throne About that time David’s son Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, began boasting, “I will make myself king.” So he provided himself with chariots and charioteers and recruited fifty men to run in front of him.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Now his father, King David, had never disciplined him at any time, even by asking, “Why are you doing that?” Adonijah had been born next after Absalom, and he was very handsome.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Adonijah took Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest into his confidence, and they agreed to help him become king.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s personal bodyguard refused to support Adonijah.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Adonijah went to the Stone of Zoheleth near the spring of En-rogel, where he sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened calves. He invited all his brothers—the other sons of King David—and all the royal officials of Judah.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then Nathan went to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, and asked her, “Haven’t you heard that Haggith’s son, Adonijah, has made himself king, and our lord David doesn’t even know about it?


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Go at once to King David and say to him, ‘My lord the king, didn’t you make a vow and say to me, “Your son Solomon will surely be the next king and will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So Bathsheba went into the king’s bedroom. (He was very old now, and Abishag was taking care of him.)


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
She replied, “My lord, you made a vow before the Lord your God when you said to me, ‘Your son Solomon will surely be the next king and will sit on my throne.’


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
He has sacrificed many cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and he has invited all the king’s sons to attend the celebration. He also invited Abiathar the priest and Joab, the commander of the army. But he did not invite your servant Solomon.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
And now, my lord the king, all Israel is waiting for you to announce who will become king after you.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
If you do not act, my son Solomon and I will be treated as criminals as soon as my lord the king has died.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The king’s officials told him, “Nathan the prophet is here to see you.” Nathan went in and bowed before the king with his face to the ground.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Nathan asked, “My lord the king, have you decided that Adonijah will be the next king and that he will sit on your throne?


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Today he has sacrificed many cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and he has invited all the king’s sons to attend the celebration. He also invited the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest. They are feasting and drinking with him and shouting, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Has my lord the king really done this without letting any of his officials know who should be the next king?”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
David Makes Solomon King King David responded, “Call Bathsheba!” So she came back in and stood before the king.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
your son Solomon will be the next king and will sit on my throne this very day, just as I vowed to you before the Lord, the God of Israel.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground before the king and exclaimed, “May my lord King David live forever!”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then King David ordered, “Call Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” When they came into the king’s presence,


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
the king said to them, “Take Solomon and my officials down to Gihon Spring. Solomon is to ride on my own mule.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. Blow the ram’s horn and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then escort him back here, and he will sit on my throne. He will succeed me as king, for I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“Amen!” Benaiah son of Jehoiada replied. “May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, decree that it happen.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
And may the Lord be with Solomon as he has been with you, my lord the king, and may he make Solomon’s reign even greater than yours!”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the king’s bodyguard took Solomon down to Gihon Spring, with Solomon riding on King David’s own mule.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
There Zadok the priest took the flask of olive oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon with the oil. Then they sounded the ram’s horn and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
And all the people followed Solomon into Jerusalem, playing flutes and shouting for joy. The celebration was so joyous and noisy that the earth shook with the sound.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Adonijah and his guests heard the celebrating and shouting just as they were finishing their banquet. When Joab heard the sound of the ram’s horn, he asked, “What’s going on? Why is the city in such an uproar?”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
And while he was still speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. “Come in,” Adonijah said to him, “for you are a good man. You must have good news.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The king sent him down to Gihon Spring with Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, protected by the king’s bodyguard. They had him ride on the king’s own mule,


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
and Zadok and Nathan have anointed him at Gihon Spring as the new king. They have just returned, and the whole city is celebrating and rejoicing. That’s what all the noise is about.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
And all the royal officials have gone to King David and congratulated him, saying, ‘May your God make Solomon’s fame even greater than your own, and may Solomon’s reign be even greater than yours!’ Then the king bowed his head in worship as he lay in his bed,


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
and he said, ‘Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who today has chosen a successor to sit on my throne while I am still alive to see it.’”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he rushed to the sacred tent and grabbed on to the horns of the altar.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Word soon reached Solomon that Adonijah had seized the horns of the altar in fear, and that he was pleading, “Let King Solomon swear today that he will not kill me!”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Solomon replied, “If he proves himself to be loyal, not a hair on his head will be touched. But if he makes trouble, he will die.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So King Solomon summoned Adonijah, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and bowed respectfully before King Solomon, who dismissed him, saying, “Go on home.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
David’s Final Instructions to Solomon As the time of King David’s death approached, he gave this charge to his son Solomon:


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Observe the requirements of the Lord your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
If you do this, then the Lord will keep the promise he made to me. He told me, ‘If your descendants live as they should and follow me faithfully with all their heart and soul, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“And there is something else. You know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me when he murdered my two army commanders, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He pretended that it was an act of war, but it was done in a time of peace, staining his belt and sandals with innocent blood.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“Be kind to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead. Make them permanent guests at your table, for they took care of me when I fled from your brother Absalom.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“And remember Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin. He cursed me with a terrible curse as I was fleeing to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, I swore by the Lord that I would not kill him.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But that oath does not make him innocent. You are a wise man, and you will know how to arrange a bloody death for him.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
David had reigned over Israel for forty years, seven of them in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Solomon became king and sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established.


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contenido:
Solomon Establishes His Rule One day Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, came to see Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. “Have you come with peaceful intentions?” she asked him. “Yes,” he said, “I come in peace.


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He replied, “As you know, the kingdom was rightfully mine; all Israel wanted me to be the next king. But the tables were turned, and the kingdom went to my brother instead; for that is the way the Lord wanted it.


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He replied, “Speak to King Solomon on my behalf, for I know he will do anything you request. Ask him to let me marry Abishag, the girl from Shunem.”


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So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak on Adonijah’s behalf. The king rose from his throne to meet her, and he bowed down before her. When he sat down on his throne again, the king ordered that a throne be brought for his mother, and she sat at his right hand.


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“I have one small request to make of you,” she said. “I hope you won’t turn me down.” “What is it, my mother?” he asked. “You know I won’t refuse you.”


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“How can you possibly ask me to give Abishag to Adonijah?” King Solomon demanded. “You might as well ask me to give him the kingdom! You know that he is my older brother, and that he has Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah on his side.”


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Then King Solomon made a vow before the Lord: “May God strike me and even kill me if Adonijah has not sealed his fate with this request.


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The Lord has confirmed me and placed me on the throne of my father, David; he has established my dynasty as he promised. So as surely as the Lord lives, Adonijah will die this very day!”


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Then the king said to Abiathar the priest, “Go back to your home in Anathoth. You deserve to die, but I will not kill you now, because you carried the Ark of the Sovereign Lord for David my father and you shared all his hardships.”


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So Solomon deposed Abiathar from his position as priest of the Lord, thereby fulfilling the prophecy the Lord had given at Shiloh concerning the descendants of Eli.


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Joab had not joined Absalom’s earlier rebellion, but he had joined Adonijah’s rebellion. So when Joab heard about Adonijah’s death, he ran to the sacred tent of the Lord and grabbed on to the horns of the altar.


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Benaiah went to the sacred tent of the Lord and said to Joab, “The king orders you to come out!” But Joab answered, “No, I will die here.” So Benaiah returned to the king and told him what Joab had said.


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“Do as he said,” the king replied. “Kill him there beside the altar and bury him. This will remove the guilt of Joab’s senseless murders from me and from my father’s family.


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The Lord will repay him for the murders of two men who were more righteous and better than he. For my father knew nothing about the deaths of Abner son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and of Amasa son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah.


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May their blood be on Joab and his descendants forever, and may the Lord grant peace forever to David, his descendants, his dynasty, and his throne.”


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So Benaiah son of Jehoiada returned to the sacred tent and killed Joab, and he was buried at his home in the wilderness.


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Then the king appointed Benaiah to command the army in place of Joab, and he installed Zadok the priest to take the place of Abiathar.


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The king then sent for Shimei and told him, “Build a house here in Jerusalem and live there. But don’t step outside the city to go anywhere else.


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On the day you so much as cross the Kidron Valley, you will surely die; and your blood will be on your own head.”


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Shimei replied, “Your sentence is fair; I will do whatever my lord the king commands.” So Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time.


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But three years later two of Shimei’s slaves ran away to King Achish son of Maacah of Gath. When Shimei learned where they were,


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he saddled his donkey and went to Gath to search for them. When he found them, he brought them back to Jerusalem.


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So the king sent for Shimei and demanded, “Didn’t I make you swear by the Lord and warn you not to go anywhere else or you would surely die? And you replied, ‘The sentence is fair; I will do as you say.’


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The king also said to Shimei, “You certainly remember all the wicked things you did to my father, David. May the Lord now bring that evil on your own head.


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But may I, King Solomon, receive the Lord’s blessings, and may one of David’s descendants always sit on this throne in the presence of the Lord.”


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Then, at the king’s command, Benaiah son of Jehoiada took Shimei outside and killed him. So the kingdom was now firmly in Solomon’s grip.


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Solomon Asks for Wisdom Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and married one of his daughters. He brought her to live in the City of David until he could finish building his palace and the Temple of the Lord and the wall around the city.


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At that time the people of Israel sacrificed their offerings at local places of worship, for a temple honoring the name of the Lord had not yet been built.


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Solomon loved the Lord and followed all the decrees of his father, David, except that Solomon, too, offered sacrifices and burned incense at the local places of worship.


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The most important of these places of worship was at Gibeon, so the king went there and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings.


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That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”


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Solomon replied, “You showed faithful love to your servant my father, David, because he was honest and true and faithful to you. And you have continued your faithful love to him today by giving him a son to sit on his throne.


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“Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around.


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And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted!


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Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”


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So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies—


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I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have!


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And I will also give you what you did not ask for—riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life!


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And if you follow me and obey my decrees and my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life.”


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Then Solomon woke up and realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem and stood before the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, where he sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then he invited all his officials to a great banquet.


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“Please, my lord,” one of them began, “this woman and I live in the same house. I gave birth to a baby while she was with me in the house.


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Then she got up in the night and took my son from beside me while I was asleep. She laid her dead child in my arms and took mine to sleep beside her.


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And in the morning when I tried to nurse my son, he was dead! But when I looked more closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn’t my son at all.”


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Then the other woman interrupted, “It certainly was your son, and the living child is mine.” “No,” the first woman said, “the living child is mine, and the dead one is yours.” And so they argued back and forth before the king.


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Then the king said, “Let’s get the facts straight. Both of you claim the living child is yours, and each says that the dead one belongs to the other.


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Then the woman who was the real mother of the living child, and who loved him very much, cried out, “Oh no, my lord! Give her the child—please do not kill him!” But the other woman said, “All right, he will be neither yours nor mine; divide him between us!”


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Then the king said, “Do not kill the child, but give him to the woman who wants him to live, for she is his mother!”


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When all Israel heard the king’s decision, the people were in awe of the king, for they saw the wisdom God had given him for rendering justice.


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Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, were court secretaries. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the royal historian.


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Azariah son of Nathan was in charge of the district governors. Zabud son of Nathan, a priest, was a trusted adviser to the king.


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Solomon also had twelve district governors who were over all Israel. They were responsible for providing food for the king’s household. Each of them arranged provisions for one month of the year.


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Baana son of Ahilud, in Taanach and Megiddo, all of Beth-shan near Zarethan below Jezreel, and all the territory from Beth-shan to Abel-meholah and over to Jokmeam.


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Ben-geber, in Ramoth-gilead, including the Towns of Jair (named for Jair of the tribe of Manasseh) in Gilead, and in the Argob region of Bashan, including sixty large fortified towns with bronze bars on their gates.


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Geber son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, including the territories of King Sihon of the Amorites and King Og of Bashan. There was also one governor over the land of Judah.


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Solomon’s Prosperity and Wisdom The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They were very contented, with plenty to eat and drink.


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Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River in the north to the land of the Philistines and the border of Egypt in the south. The conquered peoples of those lands sent tribute money to Solomon and continued to serve him throughout his lifetime.


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The daily food requirements for Solomon’s palace were 150 bushels of choice flour and 300 bushels of meal;


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also 10 oxen from the fattening pens, 20 pasture-fed cattle, 100 sheep or goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roe deer, and choice poultry.


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Solomon’s dominion extended over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah to Gaza. And there was peace on all his borders.


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During the lifetime of Solomon, all of Judah and Israel lived in peace and safety. And from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, each family had its own home and garden.


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The district governors faithfully provided food for King Solomon and his court; each made sure nothing was lacking during the month assigned to him.


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God gave Solomon very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore.


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He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite and the sons of Mahol—Heman, Calcol, and Darda. His fame spread throughout all the surrounding nations.


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He could speak with authority about all kinds of plants, from the great cedar of Lebanon to the tiny hyssop that grows from cracks in a wall. He could also speak about animals, birds, small creatures, and fish.


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Preparations for Building the Temple King Hiram of Tyre had always been a loyal friend of David. When Hiram learned that David’s son Solomon was the new king of Israel, he sent ambassadors to congratulate him.


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“You know that my father, David, was not able to build a Temple to honor the name of the Lord his God because of the many wars waged against him by surrounding nations. He could not build until the Lord gave him victory over all his enemies.


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So I am planning to build a Temple to honor the name of the Lord my God, just as he had instructed my father, David. For the Lord told him, ‘Your son, whom I will place on your throne, will build the Temple to honor my name.’


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“Therefore, please command that cedars from Lebanon be cut for me. Let my men work alongside yours, and I will pay your men whatever wages you ask. As you know, there is no one among us who can cut timber like you Sidonians!”


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When Hiram received Solomon’s message, he was very pleased and said, “Praise the Lord today for giving David a wise son to be king of the great nation of Israel.”


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Then he sent this reply to Solomon: “I have received your message, and I will supply all the cedar and cypress timber you need.


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My servants will bring the logs from the Lebanon mountains to the Mediterranean Sea and make them into rafts and float them along the coast to whatever place you choose. Then we will break the rafts apart so you can carry the logs away. You can pay me by supplying me with food for my household.”


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In return, Solomon sent him an annual payment of 100,000 bushels of wheat for his household and 110,000 gallons of pure olive oil.


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So the Lord gave wisdom to Solomon, just as he had promised. And Hiram and Solomon made a formal alliance of peace.


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He sent them to Lebanon in shifts, 10,000 every month, so that each man would be one month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of this labor force.


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At the king’s command, they quarried large blocks of high-quality stone and shaped them to make the foundation of the Temple.


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Men from the city of Gebal helped Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders prepare the timber and stone for the Temple.


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Solomon Builds the Temple It was in midspring, in the month of Ziv, during the fourth year of Solomon’s reign, that he began to construct the Temple of the Lord. This was 480 years after the people of Israel were rescued from their slavery in the land of Egypt.


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The entry room at the front of the Temple was 30 feet wide, running across the entire width of the Temple. It projected outward 15 feet from the front of the Temple.


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He built a complex of rooms against the outer walls of the Temple, all the way around the sides and rear of the building.


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The complex was three stories high, the bottom floor being 7 1⁄2 feet wide, the second floor 9 feet wide, and the top floor 10 1⁄2 feet wide. The rooms were connected to the walls of the Temple by beams resting on ledges built out from the wall. So the beams were not inserted into the walls themselves.


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The stones used in the construction of the Temple were finished at the quarry, so there was no sound of hammer, ax, or any other iron tool at the building site.


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The entrance to the bottom floor was on the south side of the Temple. There were winding stairs going up to the second floor, and another flight of stairs between the second and third floors.


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As already stated, he built a complex of rooms on three sides of the building, attached to the Temple walls by cedar timbers. Each story of the complex was 7 1⁄2 feet high.


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“Concerning this Temple you are building, if you keep all my decrees and regulations and obey all my commands, I will fulfill through you the promise I made to your father, David.


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The entire inside, from floor to ceiling, was paneled with wood. He paneled the walls and ceilings with cedar, and he used planks of cypress for the floors.


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He partitioned off an inner sanctuary—the Most Holy Place—at the far end of the Temple. It was 30 feet deep and was paneled with cedar from floor to ceiling.


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Cedar paneling completely covered the stone walls throughout the Temple, and the paneling was decorated with carvings of gourds and open flowers.


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He prepared the inner sanctuary at the far end of the Temple, where the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant would be placed.


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This inner sanctuary was 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 30 feet high. He overlaid the inside with solid gold. He also overlaid the altar made of cedar.


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Then Solomon overlaid the rest of the Temple’s interior with solid gold, and he made gold chains to protect the entrance to the Most Holy Place.


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So he finished overlaying the entire Temple with gold, including the altar that belonged to the Most Holy Place.


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He placed them side by side in the inner sanctuary of the Temple. Their outspread wings reached from wall to wall, while their inner wings touched at the center of the room.


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He decorated all the walls of the inner sanctuary and the main room with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers.


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For the entrance to the inner sanctuary, he made double doors of wild olive wood with five-sided doorposts.


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These double doors were decorated with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers. The doors, including the decorations of cherubim and palm trees, were overlaid with gold.


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These doors were decorated with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers—all overlaid evenly with gold.


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The walls of the inner courtyard were built so that there was one layer of cedar beams between every three layers of finished stone.


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The foundation of the Lord’s Temple was laid in midspring, in the month of Ziv, during the fourth year of Solomon’s reign.


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The entire building was completed in every detail by midautumn, in the month of Bul, during the eleventh year of his reign. So it took seven years to build the Temple.


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Solomon Builds His Palace Solomon also built a palace for himself, and it took him thirteen years to complete the construction.


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One of Solomon’s buildings was called the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon. It was 150 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. There were four rows of cedar pillars, and great cedar beams rested on the pillars.


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The hall had a cedar roof. Above the beams on the pillars were forty-five side rooms, arranged in three tiers of fifteen each.


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All the doorways and doorposts had rectangular frames and were arranged in sets of three, facing each other.


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Solomon also built the Hall of Pillars, which was 75 feet long and 45 feet wide. There was a porch in front, along with a canopy supported by pillars.


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Solomon also built the throne room, known as the Hall of Justice, where he sat to hear legal matters. It was paneled with cedar from floor to ceiling.


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Solomon’s living quarters surrounded a courtyard behind this hall, and they were constructed the same way. He also built similar living quarters for Pharaoh’s daughter, whom he had married.


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From foundation to eaves, all these buildings were built from huge blocks of high-quality stone, cut with saws and trimmed to exact measure on all sides.


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The blocks of high-quality stone used in the walls were also cut to measure, and cedar beams were also used.


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The walls of the great courtyard were built so that there was one layer of cedar beams between every three layers of finished stone, just like the walls of the inner courtyard of the Lord’s Temple with its entry room.


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He was half Israelite, since his mother was a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father had been a craftsman in bronze from Tyre. Huram was extremely skillful and talented in any work in bronze, and he came to do all the metal work for King Solomon.


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He also encircled the latticework with two rows of pomegranates to decorate the capitals over the pillars.


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The capitals on the columns inside the entry room were shaped like water lilies, and they were six feet tall.


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The capitals on the two pillars had 200 pomegranates in two rows around them, beside the rounded surface next to the latticework.


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Huram set the pillars at the entrance of the Temple, one toward the south and one toward the north. He named the one on the south Jakin, and the one on the north Boaz.


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The capitals on the pillars were shaped like water lilies. And so the work on the pillars was finished.


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Then Huram cast a great round basin, 15 feet across from rim to rim, called the Sea. It was 7 1⁄2 feet deep and about 45 feet in circumference.


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It was encircled just below its rim by two rows of decorative gourds. There were about six gourds per foot all the way around, and they were cast as part of the basin.


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The Sea was placed on a base of twelve bronze oxen, all facing outward. Three faced north, three faced west, three faced south, and three faced east, and the Sea rested on them.


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The walls of the Sea were about three inches thick, and its rim flared out like a cup and resembled a water lily blossom. It could hold about 11,000 gallons of water.


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Both the panels and the crossbars were decorated with carved lions, oxen, and cherubim. Above and below the lions and oxen were wreath decorations.


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Each of these carts had four bronze wheels and bronze axles. There were supporting posts for the bronze basins at the corners of the carts; these supports were decorated on each side with carvings of wreaths.


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The top of each cart had a rounded frame for the basin. It projected 1 1⁄2 feet above the cart’s top like a round pedestal, and its opening was 2 1⁄4 feet across; it was decorated on the outside with carvings of wreaths. The panels of the carts were square, not round.


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Under the panels were four wheels that were connected to axles that had been cast as one unit with the cart. The wheels were 2 1⁄4 feet in diameter


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and were similar to chariot wheels. The axles, spokes, rims, and hubs were all cast from molten bronze.


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There were handles at each of the four corners of the carts, and these, too, were cast as one unit with the cart.


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Around the top of each cart was a rim nine inches wide. The corner supports and side panels were cast as one unit with the cart.


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Carvings of cherubim, lions, and palm trees decorated the panels and corner supports wherever there was room, and there were wreaths all around.


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Huram also made ten smaller bronze basins, one for each cart. Each basin was six feet across and could hold 220 gallons of water.


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He set five water carts on the south side of the Temple and five on the north side. The great bronze basin called the Sea was placed near the southeast corner of the Temple.


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He also made the necessary washbasins, shovels, and bowls. So at last Huram completed everything King Solomon had assigned him to make for the Temple of the Lord:


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the two pillars; the two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars; the two networks of interwoven chains that decorated the capitals;


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the 400 pomegranates that hung from the chains on the capitals (two rows of pomegranates for each of the chain networks that decorated the capitals on top of the pillars);


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the ash buckets, the shovels, and the bowls. Huram made all these things of burnished bronze for the Temple of the Lord, just as King Solomon had directed.


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Solomon did not weigh all these things because there were so many; the weight of the bronze could not be measured.


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Solomon also made all the furnishings of the Temple of the Lord: the gold altar; the gold table for the Bread of the Presence;


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the lampstands of solid gold, five on the south and five on the north, in front of the Most Holy Place; the flower decorations, lamps, and tongs—all of gold;


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the small bowls, lamp snuffers, bowls, dishes, and incense burners—all of solid gold; the doors for the entrances to the Most Holy Place and the main room of the Temple, with their fronts overlaid with gold.


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So King Solomon finished all his work on the Temple of the Lord. Then he brought all the gifts his father, David, had dedicated—the silver, the gold, and the various articles—and he stored them in the treasuries of the Lord’s Temple.


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The Ark Brought to the Temple Solomon then summoned to Jerusalem the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes—the leaders of the ancestral families of the Israelites. They were to bring the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant to the Temple from its location in the City of David, also known as Zion.


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So all the men of Israel assembled before King Solomon at the annual Festival of Shelters, which is held in early autumn in the month of Ethanim.


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The priests and Levites brought up the Ark of the Lord along with the special tent and all the sacred items that had been in it.


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There, before the Ark, King Solomon and the entire community of Israel sacrificed so many sheep, goats, and cattle that no one could keep count!


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Then the priests carried the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant into the inner sanctuary of the Temple—the Most Holy Place—and placed it beneath the wings of the cherubim.


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These poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the Temple’s main room—the Holy Place—but not from the outside. They are still there to this day.


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Nothing was in the Ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Mount Sinai, where the Lord made a covenant with the people of Israel when they left the land of Egypt.


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The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple.


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Solomon Praises the Lord Then Solomon prayed, “O Lord, you have said that you would live in a thick cloud of darkness.


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Then the king turned around to the entire community of Israel standing before him and gave this blessing:


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“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who has kept the promise he made to my father, David. For he told my father,


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‘From the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I have never chosen a city among any of the tribes of Israel as the place where a Temple should be built to honor my name. But I have chosen David to be king over my people Israel.’”


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Then Solomon said, “My father, David, wanted to build this Temple to honor the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.


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“And now the Lord has fulfilled the promise he made, for I have become king in my father’s place, and I now sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised. I have built this Temple to honor the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.


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And I have prepared a place there for the Ark, which contains the covenant that the Lord made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire community of Israel. He lifted his hands toward heaven,


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
and he prayed, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven above or on the earth below. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion.


