Category: DAB Readings

Sennacherib’s Invasion

¹³ In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Assyria’s King Sennacherib attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them.^{(A) 14} So King Hezekiah of Judah sent word to the king of Assyria at Lachish:^(B) “I have done wrong;^(C) withdraw from me. Whatever you demand from me, I will pay.” The king of Assyria demanded eleven tons^[a] of silver and one ton^[b] of gold from King Hezekiah of Judah. ¹⁵ So Hezekiah gave him all the silver found in the Lord’s temple and in the treasuries of the king’s palace.

¹⁶ At that time Hezekiah stripped the gold from the doors of the Lord’s sanctuary and from the doorposts he had overlaid and gave it to the king of Assyria.^(D)

¹⁷ Then the king of Assyria sent the field marshal,^(E) the chief of staff, and his royal spokesman, along with a massive army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem.^(F) They advanced and came to Jerusalem, and^[c] they took their position by the aqueduct of the upper pool, by the road to the Launderer’s Field.^{(G) 18} They called for the king, but Eliakim^(H) son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, Shebnah^(I) the court secretary, and Joah son of Asaph, the court historian, came out to them.^(J)

The Royal Spokesman’s Speech

¹⁹ Then^(K) the royal spokesman said to them, “Tell Hezekiah this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: ‘What are you relying on?^{[d](L) 20} You think mere words are strategy and strength for war. Who are you now relying on so that you have rebelled against me?^{(M) 21} Now look, you are relying on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff^(N) that will pierce the hand of anyone who grabs it and leans on it.^(O) This is what Pharaoh king of Egypt is to all who rely on him. ²² Suppose you say to me, “We rely on the Lord our God.” Isn’t he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed,^(P) saying to Judah and to Jerusalem, “You must worship at this altar in Jerusalem”?’

²³ “So now, make a bargain with my master the king of Assyria. I’ll give you two thousand horses if you’re able to supply riders for them! ²⁴ How then can you drive back a single officer^(Q) among the least of my master’s servants? How can you rely on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen? ²⁵ Now, have I attacked this place to destroy it without the Lord’s approval?^(R) The Lord said to me, ‘Attack this land and destroy it.’”

²⁶ Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, Shebnah, and Joah said to the royal spokesman, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic,^(S) since we understand it. Don’t speak with us in Hebrew^[e] within earshot of the people on the wall.”

²⁷ But the royal spokesman said to them, “Has my master sent me to speak these words only to your master and to you? Hasn’t he also sent me to the men who sit on the wall, destined with you to eat their own excrement and drink their own urine?” ^(T)

²⁸ The royal spokesman stood and called out loudly in Hebrew: “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria. ²⁹ This is what the king says: ‘Don’t let Hezekiah deceive^(U) you; he can’t rescue you from my power.^{(V) 30} Don’t let Hezekiah persuade you to rely on the Lord by saying, “Certainly the Lord will rescue us! This city will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.”’^(W)

³¹ “Don’t listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: ‘Make peace^[f] with me and surrender to me. Then each of you may eat from his own vine and his own fig tree,^(X) and each may drink water from his own cistern ³² until I come and take you away to a land like your own land—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey^(Y)—so that you may live^(Z) and not die. But don’t listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you, saying, “The Lord will rescue us.” ³³ Has any of the gods of the nations ever rescued^(AA) his land from the power of the king of Assyria? ³⁴ Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?^[g] Have they rescued Samaria from my power?^{(AB) 35} Who among all the gods of the lands has rescued his land from my power? So will the Lord rescue Jerusalem from my power?’” ^(AC)

³⁶ But the people kept silent; they did not answer him at all, for the king’s command was, “Don’t answer him.” ³⁷ Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the court secretary, and Joah son of Asaph, the court historian,^(AD) came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn^(AE) and reported to him the words of the royal spokesman.

Hezekiah Seeks Isaiah’s Counsel

19 When King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth,^(AF) and went into the Lord’s temple.^{(AG) 2} He sent Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the court secretary,^(AH) and the leading priests, who were covered with sackcloth,^(AI) to the prophet Isaiah^(AJ) son of Amoz. ³ They said to him, “This is what Hezekiah says: ‘Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace, for children have come to the point of birth,^(AK) but there is no strength to deliver them. ⁴ Perhaps the Lord your God^(AL) will hear^(AM) all the words of the royal spokesman, whom his master the king of Assyria sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke^(AN) him for the words that the Lord your God has heard. Therefore, offer a prayer for the surviving remnant.’”^(AO)

⁵ So the servants of King Hezekiah went to Isaiah, ⁶ who said to them, “Tell your master, ‘The Lord says this: Don’t be afraid^(AP) because of the words you have heard, with which the king of Assyria’s attendants^(AQ) have blasphemed^(AR) me. ⁷ I am about to put a spirit in him, and he will hear a rumor and return to his own land,^(AS) where I will cause him to fall by the sword.’”^(AT)

Sennacherib’s Departing Threat

⁸ When^(AU) the royal spokesman heard that the king of Assyria had pulled out of Lachish,^(AV) he left and found him fighting against Libnah.^{(AW) 9} The king had heard concerning King Tirhakah of Cush, “Look, he has set out to fight against you.” So he again sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, ¹⁰ “Say this to King Hezekiah of Judah: ‘Don’t let your God, on whom you rely,^(AX) deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.^{(AY) 11} Look, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries: They completely destroyed them. Will you be rescued? ¹² Did the gods of the nations^(AZ) that my predecessors destroyed rescue them—nations such as Gozan,^(BA) Haran,^(BB) Rezeph, and the Edenites^(BC) in Telassar? ¹³ Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of^[h] Sepharvaim, Hena, or Ivvah?’” ^(BD)

Hezekiah’s Prayer

¹⁴ Hezekiah took^(BE) the letter^(BF) from the messengers’ hands, read it, then went up to the Lord’s temple, and spread it out before the Lord.^{(BG) 15} Then Hezekiah prayed before the Lord:

Lord God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim,^(BH) you are God—you alone—of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.^{(BI) 16} Listen closely, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see.^(BJ) Hear the words that Sennacherib has sent to mock the living God.^{(BK) 17} Lord, it is true that the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations and their lands.^{(BL) 18} They have thrown their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but made by human hands—wood and stone.^(BM) So they have destroyed them. ¹⁹ Now, Lord our God, please save us from his power so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Lord, are God—you alone.^(BN)

God’s Answer through Isaiah

²⁰ Then^(BO) Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: “The Lord, the God of Israel says, ‘I have heard your prayer^(BP) to me about King Sennacherib of Assyria.’^{(BQ) 21} This is the word the Lord has spoken against him:

²⁹ “This will be the sign^(CD) for you: This year you will eat what grows on its own, and in the second year what grows from that. But in the third year sow and reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit. ³⁰ The surviving remnant^(CE) of the house of Judah will again take root downward and bear fruit upward. ³¹ For a remnant will go out from Jerusalem, and survivors, from Mount Zion.^(CF) The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this.^(CG)

This is the Lord’s declaration.

Defeat and Death of Sennacherib

³⁵ That night the angel of the Lord went out and struck down one hundred eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies!^{(CJ) 36} So King Sennacherib of Assyria broke camp and left. He returned home and lived in Nineveh.^(CK)

³⁷ One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech^(CL) and Sharezer struck him down with the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat.^(CM) Then his son Esar-haddon^(CN) became king in his place.

Warnings on the Journey to Jerusalem

21 After^(A) we tore ourselves away from them, we set sail straight for Cos, the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. ² Finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we boarded and set sail. ³ After we sighted Cyprus, passing to the south of it,^[a] we sailed on to Syria and arrived at Tyre, since the ship was to unload its cargo there. ⁴ We sought out the disciples and stayed there seven days. Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go to Jerusalem.^{(B) 5} When our time had come to an end, we left to continue our journey, while all of them, with their wives and children, accompanied us out of the city. After kneeling down on the beach to pray, ⁶ we said farewell to one another and boarded the ship, and they returned home.

⁷ When we completed our voyage^[b] from Tyre, we reached Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed with them for a day.^{(C) 8} The next day we left and came to Caesarea, where we entered the house of Philip^(D) the evangelist,^(E) who was one of the Seven, and stayed with him. ⁹ This man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.^(F)

¹⁰ After we had been there for several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹ He came to us, took Paul’s belt, tied his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him over to the Gentiles.’”^{(G) 12} When we heard this, both we and the local people pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.

¹³ Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”^(H)

¹⁴ Since he would not be persuaded, we said no more except, “The Lord’s will be done.”^(I)

Conflict over the Gentile Mission

¹⁵ After this we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁶ Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us and brought us to Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to stay.^(J)

¹⁷ When we reached Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters welcomed us warmly.^(K)

Psalm 149

Praise for God’s Triumph

Israel’s King Hoshea

17 In the twelfth year of Judah’s King Ahaz, Hoshea^(A) son of Elah became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned nine years. ² He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, but not like the kings of Israel who preceded him.^(B)

³ King Shalmaneser^(C) of Assyria attacked him,^(D) and Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute. ⁴ But the king of Assyria caught Hoshea in a conspiracy: He had sent envoys to So king of Egypt^(E) and had not paid tribute to the king of Assyria as in previous years.^[a] Therefore the king of Assyria arrested him and put him in prison. ⁵ The king of Assyria invaded the whole land, marched up to Samaria, and besieged it for three years.^(F)

The Fall of Samaria

⁶ In the ninth year of Hoshea,^(G) the king of Assyria captured Samaria. He deported^(H) the Israelites to Assyria and settled them in Halah, along the Habor (Gozan’s river), and in the cities of the Medes.^(I)

Why Israel Fell

⁷ This disaster happened because the people of Israel sinned against the Lord their God who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt^(J) and because they worshiped^[b] other gods.^{(K) 8} They lived according to the customs of the nations that the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites^(L) and according to what the kings of Israel did.^{(M) 9} The Israelites secretly did things^[c] against the Lord their God that were not right. They built high places in all their towns from watchtower^(N) to fortified city. ¹⁰ They set up for themselves sacred pillars^(O) and Asherah poles^(P) on every high hill and under every green tree.^{(Q) 11} They burned incense there on all the high places just like the nations that the Lord had driven out before them had done. They did evil things, angering the Lord. ¹² They served idols, although the Lord had told them, “You must not do this.”^{(R) 13} Still, the Lord warned^(S) Israel and Judah through every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commands and statutes according to the whole law I commanded your ancestors and sent to you through my servants the prophets.”^(T)

¹⁴ But they would not listen. Instead they became obstinate like^[d] their ancestors who did not believe the Lord their God.^{(U) 15} They rejected his statutes and his covenant he had made with their ancestors^(V) and the warnings he had given them. They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves,^(W) following the surrounding nations the Lord had commanded them not to imitate.^(X)

¹⁶ They abandoned all the commands of the Lord their God. They made cast images^(Y) for themselves, two calves, and an Asherah pole.^(Z) They bowed in worship to all the stars in the sky^(AA) and served Baal.^{(AB) 17} They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire^[e](AC) and practiced divination and interpreted omens.^(AD) They devoted themselves to do what was evil in the Lord’s sight and angered him.^(AE)

¹⁸ Therefore, the Lord was very angry with Israel, and he removed them from his presence.^(AF) Only the tribe of Judah remained.^{(AG) 19} Even Judah did not keep the commands of the Lord their God^(AH) but lived according to the customs Israel had practiced.^{(AI) 20} So the Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel, punished them, and handed them over to plunderers until he had banished them from his presence.^(AJ)

Summary of Israel’s History

²¹ When the Lord tore^(AK) Israel from the house of David, Israel made Jeroboam son of Nebat king.^(AL) Then Jeroboam led Israel away from following the Lord and caused them to commit grave sin. ²² The Israelites persisted in all the sins that Jeroboam committed and did not turn away from them.^{(AM) 23} Finally, the Lord removed Israel from his presence just as he had declared through all his servants the prophets. So Israel has been exiled to Assyria from their homeland to this very day.^(AN)

Foreign Refugees in Israel

²⁴ Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in place of the Israelites in the cities of Samaria. The settlers took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities.^{(AO) 25} When they first lived there, they did not fear the Lord. So the Lord sent lions among them, which killed some of them.^{(AP) 26} The settlers said to the king of Assyria, “The nations that you have deported and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the requirements of the god of the land. Therefore he has sent lions among them that are killing them because the people don’t know the requirements of the god of the land.”

²⁷ Then the king of Assyria issued a command: “Send back one of the priests you deported.^(AQ) Have him go and live there so he can teach them the requirements of the god of the land.” ²⁸ So one of the priests they had deported came and lived in Bethel,^(AR) and he began to teach them how they should fear the Lord.

²⁹ But the people of each nation were still making their own gods in the cities where they lived and putting them in the shrines of the high places that the people of Samaria had made.^{(AS) 30} The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, ³¹ the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire^(AT) to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. ³² They feared the Lord, but they also made from their ranks priests for the high places, who were working for them at the shrines of the high places.^{(AU) 33} They feared the Lord, but they also worshiped their own gods^(AV) according to the practice of the nations from which they had been deported.

³⁴ They are still observing the former practices to this day. None of them fear the Lord or observe the statutes and ordinances, the law and commandments that the Lord had commanded the descendants of Jacob, whom he had given the name Israel.^{(AW) 35} The Lord made a covenant with Jacob’s descendants and commanded them, “Do not fear other gods; do not bow in worship to them;^(AX) do not serve them; do not sacrifice to them.^{(AY) 36} Instead fear the Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power^(AZ) and an outstretched arm.^(BA) You are to bow down to him, and you are to sacrifice to him. ³⁷ You are to be careful always^(BB) to observe the statutes, the ordinances, the law, and the commandments he wrote for you; do not fear other gods. ³⁸ Do not forget the covenant that I have made with you.^(BC) Do not fear other gods, ³⁹ but fear the Lord your God, and he will rescue you from all your enemies.”^(BD)

⁴⁰ However, these nations would not listen but continued observing their former practices. ⁴¹ They feared the Lord but also served their idols. Still today, their children and grandchildren continue doing as their ancestors did.^(BE)

Judah’s King Hezekiah

18 In the third year of Israel’s King Hoshea^(BF) son of Elah, Hezekiah^(BG) son of Ahaz became king of Judah. ² He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abi^[f] daughter of Zechariah. ³ He did what was right in the Lord’s sight just as his ancestor David had done.^{(BH) 4} He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles.^(BI) He broke into pieces the bronze snake that Moses made,^(BJ) for until then the Israelites were burning incense to it. It was called Nehushtan.^[g]

⁵ Hezekiah relied on the Lord God of Israel;^(BK) not one of the kings of Judah was like him, either before him or after him.^{(BL) 6} He remained faithful to the Lord^(BM) and did not turn from following him but kept the commands the Lord had commanded Moses.

⁷ The Lord was with him, and wherever he went he prospered.^(BN) He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.^{(BO) 8} He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its borders,^(BP) from watchtower^(BQ) to fortified city.

Review of Israel’s Fall

⁹ In the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Israel’s King Hoshea son of Elah, Assyria’s King Shalmaneser marched against Samaria and besieged it.^{(BR) 10} The Assyrians captured it at the end of three years. In the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Israel’s King Hoshea, Samaria was captured. ¹¹ The king of Assyria deported the Israelites to Assyria and put them in Halah, along the Habor (Gozan’s river), and in the cities of the Medes,^{(BS) 12} because they did not listen to the Lord their God but violated his covenant—all he had commanded Moses the servant of the Lord. They did not listen, and they did not obey.^(BT)

Paul in Macedonia

20 After the uproar was over, Paul sent for the disciples, encouraged them, and after saying farewell, departed to go to Macedonia.^{(A) 2} And when he had passed through those areas and offered them many words of encouragement, he came to Greece ³ and stayed three months. The Jews plotted against him when he was about to set sail for Syria, and so he decided to go back through Macedonia.^{(B) 4} He was accompanied^[a] by Sopater son of Pyrrhus^[b] from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy,^(C) and Tychicus^(D) and Trophimus^(E) from the province of Asia. ⁵ These men went on ahead and waited for us in Troas,^{(F) 6} but we sailed away from Philippi after the Festival of Unleavened Bread.^(G) In five days we reached them at Troas, where we spent seven days.

Eutychus Revived at Troas

⁷ On the first day of the week, we assembled to break bread.^(H) Paul spoke to them, and since he was about to depart the next day, he kept on talking until midnight. ⁸ There were many lamps in the room upstairs where we were assembled, ⁹ and a young man named Eutychus was sitting on a window sill and sank into a deep sleep as Paul kept on talking. When he was overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was picked up dead. ¹⁰ But Paul went down, bent over him, embraced him, and said, “Don’t be alarmed, because he’s alive.”^{(I) 11} After going upstairs, breaking the bread, and eating, Paul talked a long time until dawn. Then he left. ¹² They brought the boy home alive and were greatly comforted.

From Troas to Miletus

¹³ We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul on board, because these were his instructions, since he himself was going by land. ¹⁴ When he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went on to Mitylene. ¹⁵ Sailing from there, the next day we arrived off Chios. The following day we crossed over to Samos, and^[c] the day after, we came to Miletus.^{(J) 16} For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, because he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, for the day of Pentecost.^(K)

Farewell Address to the Ephesian Elders

¹⁷ Now from Miletus, he sent to Ephesus and summoned the elders of the church. ¹⁸ When they came to him, he said to them, “You know, from the first day I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time,^{(L) 19} serving the Lord with all humility, with tears, and during the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews.^{(M) 20} You know that I did not hesitate to proclaim anything to you that was profitable and to teach you publicly and from house to house. ²¹ I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God^(N) and faith in our Lord Jesus.^(O)

²² “And now I am on my way to Jerusalem, compelled by the Spirit,^[d] not knowing what I will encounter there,^{(P) 23} except that in every town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me.^{(Q) 24} But I consider my life of no value to myself; my purpose is to finish my course^[e] and the ministry^(R) I received from the Lord Jesus,^(S) to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.

²⁵ “And now I know that none of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will ever see me again. ²⁶ Therefore I declare to you this day that I am innocent^[f] of the blood of all of you,^{(T) 27} because I did not avoid declaring to you the whole plan of God.^{(U) 28} Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock^(V) of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers,^(W) to shepherd the church of God,^[g] which he purchased with his own blood.^{(X) 29} I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. ³⁰ Men will rise up even from your own number and distort the truth to lure the disciples into following them.^{(Y) 31} Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for three years I never stopped warning each one of you with tears.^(Z)

³² “And now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace,^(AA) which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance^(AB) among all who are sanctified. ³³ I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.^{(AC) 34} You yourselves know that I worked with my own hands to support myself and those who are with me.^{(AD) 35} In every way I’ve shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

³⁶ After he said this, he knelt down and prayed with all of them.^{(AE) 37} There were many tears shed by everyone. They embraced Paul and kissed him, ³⁸ grieving most of all over his statement that they would never see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.^(AF)

Psalm 148

Creation’s Praise of the Lord

Judah’s King Azariah

15 In the twenty-seventh year of Israel’s King Jeroboam, Azariah^[a](A) son of Amaziah became king of Judah.^{(B) 2} He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem. ³ Azariah did what was right in the Lord’s sight^(C) just as his father Amaziah had done. ⁴ Yet the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.^(D)

⁵ The Lord afflicted the king, and he had a serious skin disease until the day of his death.^(E) He lived in quarantine,^[b](F) while Jotham,^(G) the king’s son, was over the household governing the people of the land.^(H)

⁶ The rest of the events of Azariah’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.^{(I) 7} Azariah rested with his ancestors and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David. His son Jotham became king in his place.^(J)

Israel’s King Zechariah

⁸ In the thirty-eighth year of Judah’s King Azariah, Zechariah^(K) son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria for six months. ⁹ He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight as his predecessors had done.^(L) He did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.^(M)

¹⁰ Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah. He struck him down publicly,^[c] killed him, and became king in his place.^{(N) 11} As for the rest of the events of Zechariah’s reign, they are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.^{(O) 12} The word of the Lord that he spoke to Jehu was, “Four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel,”^(P) and it was so.

Israel’s King Shallum

¹³ In the thirty-ninth year of Judah’s King Uzziah,^[d] Shallum son of Jabesh became king; he reigned in Samaria^(Q) a full month. ¹⁴ Then Menahem son of Gadi came up from Tirzah^(R) to Samaria and struck down Shallum son of Jabesh there. He killed him and became king in his place. ¹⁵ As for the rest of the events of Shallum’s reign, along with the conspiracy that he formed, they are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

Israel’s King Menahem

¹⁶ At that time, starting from Tirzah, Menahem attacked Tiphsah,^(S) all who were in it, and its territory because they wouldn’t surrender.^(T) He ripped open all the pregnant women.^(U)

¹⁷ In the thirty-ninth year of Judah’s King Azariah, Menahem son of Gadi became king over Israel, and he reigned ten years in Samaria. ¹⁸ He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. Throughout his reign, he did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.^(V)

¹⁹ King Pul^[e](W) of Assyria invaded the land, so Menahem gave Pul seventy-five thousand pounds^[f] of silver so that Pul would support him to strengthen his grasp on the kingdom.^{(X) 20} Then Menahem exacted twenty ounces^[g] of silver from each of the prominent men of Israel to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and did not stay there in the land.^(Y)

²¹ The rest of the events of Menahem’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings. ²² Menahem rested with his ancestors, and his son Pekahiah became king in his place.^(Z)

Israel’s King Pekahiah

²³ In the fiftieth year of Judah’s King Azariah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned two years. ²⁴ He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight and did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.^(AA)

²⁵ Then his officer, Pekah^(AB) son of Remaliah, conspired against him^(AC) and struck him down in Samaria at the citadel of the king’s palace^(AD)—with Argob and Arieh.^[h] There were fifty Gileadite men with Pekah. He killed Pekahiah and became king in his place.

²⁶ As for the rest of the events of Pekahiah’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, they are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

Israel’s King Pekah

²⁷ In the fifty-second year of Judah’s King Azariah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twenty years. ²⁸ He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

²⁹ In the days of King Pekah of Israel, King Tiglath-pileser^(AE) of Assyria came and captured Ijon,^(AF) Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee—all the land of Naphtali^(AG)—and deported the people to Assyria.^(AH)

³⁰ Then Hoshea^(AI) son of Elah organized a conspiracy against Pekah son of Remaliah. He attacked him, killed him,^(AJ) and became king in his place in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah.

³¹ As for the rest of the events of Pekah’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, they are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

Judah’s King Jotham

³² In the second year of Israel’s King Pekah son of Remaliah, Jotham^(AK) son of Uzziah became king of Judah. ³³ He was twenty-five years old when he became king,^(AL) and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok. ³⁴ He did what was right in the Lord’s sight just as his father Uzziah had done.^{(AM) 35} Yet the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.

Jotham built the Upper Gate of the Lord’s temple.^{(AN) 36} The rest^(AO) of the events of Jotham’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.^{(AP) 37} In those days the Lord began sending Aram’s King Rezin and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah.^{(AQ) 38} Jotham rested with his ancestors and was buried with his ancestors in the city of his ancestor David.^(AR) His son Ahaz became king in his place.

Judah’s King Ahaz

16 In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah,^(AS) Ahaz^(AT) son of Jotham became king of Judah. ² Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord his God like his ancestor David^{(AU) 3} but walked in the ways of the kings of Israel.^(AV) He even sacrificed his son in the fire,^[i] imitating the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites.^{(AW) 4} He sacrificed and burned incense^(AX) on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.^(AY)

⁵ Then^(AZ) Aram’s King Rezin and Israel’s King Pekah son of Remaliah came to wage war against Jerusalem. They besieged Ahaz but were not able to conquer him.^{(BA) 6} At that time Aram’s King Rezin recovered Elath for Aram and expelled the Judahites from Elath.^(BB) Then the Arameans came to Elath, and they still live there today.^(BC)

⁷ So Ahaz sent messengers^(BD) to King Tiglath-pileser^(BE) of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and your son. March up and save me from the grasp of the king of Aram and of the king of Israel, who are rising up against me.” ⁸ Ahaz also took the silver and gold found in the Lord’s temple and in the treasuries of the king’s palace and sent them to the king of Assyria as a bribe.^{(BF) 9} So the king of Assyria listened to him^(BG) and marched up to Damascus and captured it.^(BH) He deported its people to Kir^(BI) but put Rezin to death.

Ahaz’s Idolatry

¹⁰ King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet King Tiglath-pileser^(BJ) of Assyria. When he saw the altar that was in Damascus, King Ahaz sent a model of the altar and complete plans for its construction to the priest Uriah.^{(BK) 11} Uriah built the altar according to all the instructions King Ahaz sent from Damascus. Therefore, by the time King Ahaz came back from Damascus, the priest Uriah had completed it. ¹² When the king came back from Damascus, he saw the altar. Then he approached the altar^(BL) and ascended it.^{[j] 13} He offered his burnt offering^(BM) and his grain offering, poured out his drink offering, and splattered the blood of his fellowship offerings^(BN) on the altar. ¹⁴ He took the bronze altar^(BO) that was before the Lord in front of the temple between his altar and the Lord’s temple, and put it on the north side of his altar.

¹⁵ Then King Ahaz commanded the priest Uriah, “Offer on the great altar the morning burnt offering, the evening grain offering, and the king’s burnt offering and his grain offering. Also offer the burnt offering of all the people of the land, their grain offering, and their drink offerings. Splatter on the altar all the blood of the burnt offering and all the blood of sacrifice. The bronze altar will be for me to seek guidance.”^{[k] 16} The priest Uriah did everything King Ahaz commanded.

¹⁷ Then King Ahaz cut off the frames of the water carts^[l](BP) and removed the bronze basin from each of them. He took the basin^[m](BQ) from the bronze oxen that were under it and put it on a stone pavement. ¹⁸ To satisfy the king of Assyria, he removed from the Lord’s temple the Sabbath canopy they had built in the palace, and he closed the outer entrance for the king.

Ahaz’s Death

¹⁹ The rest^(BR) of the events of Ahaz’s reign, along with his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.^{(BS) 20} Ahaz rested with his ancestors^(BT) and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David, and his son Hezekiah became king in his place.

¹³ Now some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists also attempted to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I command you by the Jesus that Paul preaches!” ^{(A) 14} Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this. ¹⁵ The evil spirit answered them, “I know Jesus, and I recognize Paul—but who are you?” ¹⁶ Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them, overpowered them all, and prevailed against them, so that they ran out of that house naked and wounded. ¹⁷ When this became known to everyone who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, they became afraid, and the name of the Lord Jesus^(B) was held in high esteem.^(C)

¹⁸ And many who had become believers came confessing and disclosing their practices, ¹⁹ while many of those who had practiced magic^(D) collected their books and burned them in front of everyone. So they calculated their value and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. ²⁰ In this way the word of the Lord spread and prevailed.^(E)

The Riot in Ephesus

²¹ After these events, Paul resolved by the Spirit^[a] to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem. “After I’ve been there,” he said, “It is necessary for me to see Rome as well.”^{(F) 22} After sending to Macedonia two of those who assisted him, Timothy and Erastus,^(G) he himself stayed in Asia for a while.^(H)

²³ About that time there was a major disturbance about the Way.^{(I) 24} For a person named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, provided a great deal of business for the craftsmen. ²⁵ When he had assembled them, as well as the workers engaged in this type of business, he said, “Men, you know that our prosperity is derived from this business. ²⁶ You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this man Paul has persuaded and misled a considerable number of people by saying that gods made by hand are not gods.^{(J) 27} Not only do we run a risk that our business may be discredited, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be despised and her magnificence come to the verge of ruin—the very one all of Asia and the world worship.”

²⁸ When they had heard this, they were filled with rage and began to cry out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” ²⁹ So the city was filled with confusion, and they rushed all together into the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius^(K) and Aristarchus,^(L) Macedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions. ³⁰ Although Paul wanted to go in before the people, the disciples did not let him. ³¹ Even some of the provincial officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent word to him, pleading with him not to venture^[b] into the amphitheater. ³² Some were shouting one thing and some another,^(M) because the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. ³³ Some Jews in the crowd gave instructions to Alexander^[c] after they pushed him to the front. Motioning with his hand, Alexander wanted to make his defense to the people.^{(N) 34} But when they recognized that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

³⁵ When the city clerk had calmed the crowd down, he said, “People of Ephesus! What person is there who doesn’t know that the city of the Ephesians is the temple guardian of the great^[d] Artemis, and of the image that fell from heaven? ³⁶ Therefore, since these things are undeniable, you must keep calm and not do anything rash. ³⁷ For you have brought these men here who are not temple robbers or blasphemers of our^[e] goddess. ³⁸ So if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a case against anyone, the courts are in session, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another.^{(O) 39} But if you seek anything further, it must be decided in a legal assembly. ⁴⁰ In fact, we run a risk of being charged with rioting^(P) for what happened today, since there is no justification that we can give as a reason for this disturbance.” ⁴¹ After saying this, he dismissed the assembly.

Psalm 147

God Restores Jerusalem

Israel’s King Jehoahaz

13 In the twenty-third year of Judah’s King Joash^(A) son of Ahaziah, Jehoahaz^(B) son of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years. ² He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight and followed the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.^{(C) 3} So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel,^(D) and he handed them over to King Hazael^(E) of Aram and to his son Ben-hadad^(F) during their reigns.

⁴ Then Jehoahaz sought the Lord’s favor, and the Lord heard him, for he saw the oppression the king of Aram inflicted on Israel.^{(G) 5} Therefore, the Lord gave Israel a deliverer,^(H) and they escaped from the power of the Arameans. Then the people of Israel returned to their former way of life,^{[a] 6} but they didn’t turn away from the sins that the house of Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit. Jehoahaz continued them,^(I) and the Asherah pole also remained standing in Samaria. ⁷ Jehoahaz did not have an army left, except for fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers, because the king of Aram had destroyed them,^(J) making them like dust at threshing.^(K)

⁸ The rest of the events of Jehoahaz’s reign, along with all his accomplishments and his might, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.^{(L) 9} Jehoahaz rested with his ancestors, and he was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoash^[b] became king in his place.

Israel’s King Jehoash

¹⁰ In the thirty-seventh year of Judah’s King Joash, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years. ¹¹ He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He did not turn away from all the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit, but he continued them.^(M)

¹² The rest of the events of Jehoash’s reign, along with all his accomplishments and the power he had to wage war against Judah’s King Amaziah,^(N) are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings. ¹³ Jehoash rested with his ancestors, and Jeroboam^(O) sat on his throne. Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

Elisha’s Death

¹⁴ When Elisha became sick with the illness from which he died, King Jehoash of Israel went down and wept over him and said, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!” ^(P)

¹⁵ Elisha responded, “Get a bow and arrows.” So he got a bow and arrows.^{(Q) 16} Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Grasp the bow.” So the king grasped it, and Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands. ¹⁷ Elisha said, “Open the east window.” So he opened it. Elisha said, “Shoot!” So he shot.^(R) Then Elisha said, “The Lord’s arrow of victory, yes, the arrow of victory over Aram. You are to strike down the Arameans in Aphek^(S) until you have put an end to them.”

¹⁸ Then Elisha said, “Take the arrows!” So he took them. Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground!” So he struck the ground three times and stopped. ¹⁹ The man of God^(T) was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times. Then you would have struck down Aram until you had put an end to them, but now you will strike down Aram only three times.” ²⁰ Then Elisha died and was buried.^(U)

Now Moabite raiders^(V) used to come into the land in the spring of the year. ²¹ Once, as the Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a raiding party, so they threw the man into Elisha’s tomb. When he touched Elisha’s bones, the man revived and stood up!^(W)

God’s Mercy on Israel

²² King Hazael^(X) of Aram oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz, ²³ but the Lord was gracious to them, had compassion on them,^(Y) and turned toward them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.^(Z) He was not willing to destroy them. Even now he has not banished them from his presence.^(AA)

²⁴ King Hazael of Aram died, and his son Ben-hadad^(AB) became king in his place. ²⁵ Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz took back from Ben-hadad son of Hazael the cities that Hazael had taken in war from Jehoash’s father Jehoahaz. Jehoash defeated Ben-hadad three times and recovered the cities of Israel.^(AC)

Judah’s King Amaziah

14 In^(AD) the second year of Israel’s King Jehoash^[c](AE) son of Jehoahaz,^[d] Amaziah^(AF) son of Joash became king of Judah. ² He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan;^[e] she was from Jerusalem. ³ He did what was right in the Lord’s sight, but not like his ancestor David. He did everything his father Joash had done.^{(AG) 4} Yet the high places were not taken away, and the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.^(AH)

⁵ As soon as the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, Amaziah killed his servants who had killed his father the king.^{(AI) 6} However, he did not put the children of the killers to death, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses where the Lord commanded, “Fathers are not to be put to death because of children, and children are not to be put to death because of fathers; instead, each one will be put to death for his own sin.”^(AJ)

⁷ Amaziah killed ten thousand Edomites in Salt Valley.^(AK) He took Sela^(AL) in battle and called it Joktheel,^(AM) which is still its name today. ⁸ Amaziah then sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, and challenged him: “Come, let’s meet face to face.”^(AN)

⁹ King Jehoash of Israel sent word to King Amaziah of Judah, saying, “The thistle in Lebanon once sent a message to the cedar^(AO) in Lebanon,^(AP) saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as a wife.’ Then a wild animal in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle. ¹⁰ You have indeed defeated Edom, and you have become overconfident.^[f](AQ) Enjoy your glory and stay at home. Why should you stir up such trouble that you fall—you and Judah with you?”

¹¹ But Amaziah would not listen, so King Jehoash of Israel advanced. He and King Amaziah of Judah met face to face at Beth-shemesh^(AR) that belonged to Judah. ¹² Judah was routed before Israel, and each man fled to his own tent.^{(AS) 13} King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash,^[g] son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down two hundred yards^[h] of Jerusalem’s wall from the Ephraim Gate^(AT) to the Corner Gate.^{(AU) 14} He took all the gold and silver, all the articles found in the Lord’s temple and in the treasuries of the king’s palace, and some hostages.^(AV) Then he returned to Samaria.

Jehoash’s Death

¹⁵ The rest of the events of Jehoash’s reign, along with his accomplishments, his might, and how he waged war against King Amaziah of Judah, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.^{(AW) 16} Jehoash rested with his ancestors, and he was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. His son Jeroboam became king in his place.

Amaziah’s Death

¹⁷ Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash lived fifteen years after the death of Israel’s King Jehoash son of Jehoahaz.^{(AX) 18} The rest of the events of Amaziah’s reign are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.^{(AY) 19} A conspiracy was formed against him in Jerusalem,^(AZ) and he fled to Lachish.^(BA) However, men were sent after him to Lachish, and they put him to death there. ²⁰ They carried him back^(BB) on horses, and he was buried in Jerusalem with his ancestors in the city of David.^(BC)

²¹ Then all the people of Judah took Azariah,^[i](BD) who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. ²² After Amaziah the king rested with his ancestors, Azariah rebuilt Elath^[j](BE) and restored it to Judah.

Israel’s King Jeroboam

²³ In the fifteenth year of Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash, Jeroboam^(BF) son of Jehoash became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. ²⁴ He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He did not turn away from all the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.^(BG)

²⁵ He restored Israel’s border^(BH) from Lebo-hamath^(BI) as far as the Sea of the Arabah,^(BJ) according to the word the Lord, the God of Israel, had spoken through his servant, the prophet Jonah^(BK) son of Amittai from Gath-hepher.^{(BL) 26} For the Lord saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter^(BM) for both slaves and free people.^[k] There was no one to help Israel. ²⁷ The Lord had not said he would blot out the name of Israel under heaven,^(BN) so he delivered^(BO) them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash.

²⁸ The rest of the events of Jeroboam’s reign—along with all his accomplishments, the power he had to wage war, and how he recovered for Israel Damascus^(BP) and Hamath,^(BQ) which had belonged to Judah^[l]—are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.^{(BR) 29} Jeroboam rested with his ancestors, the kings of Israel. His son Zechariah became king in his place.^(BS)

²³ After spending some time there, he set out, traveling through one place after another in the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.^(A)

The Eloquent Apollos

²⁴ Now a Jew named Apollos,^(B) a native Alexandrian, an eloquent man who was competent in the use of the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus. ²⁵ He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit,^[a] he was speaking and teaching accurately about Jesus, although he knew only John’s baptism.^{(C) 26} He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. After Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside^[b] and explained the way of God to him more accurately.^{(D) 27} When he wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers and sisters wrote to the disciples to welcome him. After he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.^{(E) 28} For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.^(F)

Twelve Disciples of John the Baptist

19 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples^{(G) 2} and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” ^(H)

“No,” they told him, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”^(I)

³ “Into what then were you baptized?” he asked them.

“Into John’s baptism,” they replied.^(J)

⁴ Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance,^(K) telling the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.”^(L)

⁵ When they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ And when Paul had laid his hands on^(M) them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began to speak in tongues^[c] and to prophesy.^{(N) 7} Now there were about twelve men in all.

In the Lecture Hall of Tyrannus

⁸ Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly over a period of three months, arguing and persuading them about the kingdom of God.^{(O) 9} But when some became hardened and would not believe, slandering the Way in front of the crowd, he withdrew from them, taking the disciples, and conducted discussions every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.^{(P) 10} This went on for two years, so that all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks,^(Q) heard the word of the Lord.^(R)

Demonism Defeated at Ephesus

¹¹ God was performing extraordinary miracles by Paul’s hands, ¹² so that even facecloths or aprons^[d] that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them.^(S)

Psalm 146

The God of Compassion

³² In those days the Lord began to reduce the size of Israel.^(A) Hazael^(B) defeated the Israelites throughout their territory ³³ from the Jordan eastward: the whole land of Gilead—the Gadites, the Reubenites, and the Manassites—from Aroer^(C) which is by the Arnon Valley^(D) through Gilead to Bashan.^[a]

³⁴ The rest of the events of Jehu’s reign, along with all his accomplishments and all his might, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.^{(E) 35} Jehu rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz^(F) became king in his place. ³⁶ The length of Jehu’s reign over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.^(G)

Athaliah Usurps the Throne

11 When Athaliah,^(H) Ahaziah’s mother,^(I) saw that her son was dead,^(J) she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs. ² Jehosheba,^(K) who was King Jehoram’s daughter and Ahaziah’s^(L) sister, secretly rescued Joash son of Ahaziah from among the king’s sons who were being killed and put him and the one who nursed him in a bedroom. So he was hidden from Athaliah and was not killed. ³ Joash was in hiding with her in the Lord’s temple six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.

Athaliah Overthrown

⁴ In^(M) the seventh year, Jehoiada^(N) sent for the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, and the guards.^(O) He had them come to him in the Lord’s temple, where he made a covenant with them and put them under oath. He showed them the king’s son ⁵ and commanded them, “This is what you are to do: A third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath^(P) are to provide protection for the king’s palace. ⁶ A third are to be at the Foundation^[b] Gate and a third at the gate behind the guards. You are to take turns providing protection for the palace.^[c](Q)

⁷ “Your two divisions that go off duty on the Sabbath are to provide the king protection at the Lord’s temple. ⁸ Completely surround the king with weapons in hand. Anyone who approaches the ranks is to be put to death. Be with the king in all his daily tasks.”^[d](R)

⁹ So the commanders of hundreds did everything the priest Jehoiada commanded. They each brought their men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—and came to the priest Jehoiada.^{(S) 10} The priest gave to the commanders of hundreds King David’s spears and shields^(T) that were in the Lord’s temple. ¹¹ Then the guards stood with their weapons in hand surrounding the king—from the right side of the temple to the left side, by the altar and by the temple.

¹² Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, put the crown^(U) on him, gave him the testimony,^[e](V) and made him king. They anointed^(W) him and clapped their hands and cried, “Long live the king!” ^(X)

¹³ When Athaliah^(Y) heard the noise from the guard and the crowd, she went out to the people at the Lord’s temple.^{(Z) 14} She looked, and there was the king standing by the pillar^(AA) according to the custom. The commanders and the trumpeters were by the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets.^(AB) Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed “Treason! Treason!” ^(AC)

¹⁵ Then the priest Jehoiada^(AD) ordered the commanders of hundreds^(AE) in charge of the army, “Take her out between the ranks, and put to death by the sword anyone who follows her,” for the priest had said, “She is not to be put to death in the Lord’s temple.”^{(AF) 16} So they arrested her, and she went through the horse entrance^(AG) to the king’s palace, where she was put to death.^(AH)

Jehoiada’s Reforms

¹⁷ Then^(AI) Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people that they would be the Lord’s people^(AJ) and another covenant between the king and the people.^{[f](AK) 18} So all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed its altars and images to pieces,^(AL) and they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, at the altars.^(AM)

Then Jehoiada the priest appointed guards for the Lord’s temple.^{(AN) 19} He took the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards,^(AO) and all the people of the land, and they brought the king from the Lord’s temple. They entered the king’s palace by way of the guards’ gate. Then Joash^(AP) sat on the throne of the kings. ²⁰ All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet, for they had put Athaliah to death by the sword in the king’s palace.

Judah’s King Joash

²¹ Joash^[g](AQ) was seven years old when he became king.^(AR)

12 In the seventh year of Jehu, Joash became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beer-sheba.^{(AS) 2} Throughout the time the priest Jehoiada^(AT) instructed^(AU) him, Joash did what was right in the Lord’s sight.^{(AV) 3} Yet the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.^(AW)

Repairing the Temple

⁴ Then^(AX) Joash said to the priests, “All the dedicated silver brought to the Lord’s temple,^(AY) census silver,^(AZ) silver from vows,^(BA) and all silver voluntarily given^(BB) for the Lord’s temple— ⁵ each priest is to take it from his assessor^[h] and repair whatever damage is found in the temple.”^[i](BC)

⁶ But by the twenty-third year^(BD) of the reign of King Joash, the priests had not repaired the damage^[j] to the temple.^{(BE) 7} So King Joash called the priest Jehoiada^(BF) and the other priests and asked, “Why haven’t you repaired the temple’s damage? Since you haven’t, don’t take any silver from your assessors; instead, hand it over for the repair of the temple.” ⁸ So the priests agreed that they would receive no silver from the people and would not be the ones to repair the temple’s damage.

⁹ Then the priest Jehoiada took a chest,^(BG) bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar on the right side as one enters the Lord’s temple; the priests who guarded the threshold put into the chest all the silver that was brought to the Lord’s temple.^{(BH) 10} Whenever they saw there was a large amount of silver in the chest, the king’s secretary^(BI) and the high priest would go bag up and tally the silver found in the Lord’s temple.^{(BJ) 11} Then they would give the weighed silver to those doing the work—those who oversaw the Lord’s temple. They in turn would pay it out to those working on the Lord’s temple—the carpenters, the builders, ¹² the masons, and the stonecutters—and would use it to buy timber and quarried stone to repair the damage to the Lord’s temple^(BK) and for all expenses for temple repairs.

¹³ However, no silver bowls, wick trimmers, sprinkling basins, trumpets, or any articles of gold or silver^(BL) were made for the Lord’s temple from the contributions^[k] brought to the Lord’s temple. ¹⁴ Instead, it was given to those doing the work, and they repaired the Lord’s temple with it. ¹⁵ No accounting was required from the men who received the silver to pay those doing the work, since they worked with integrity.^{(BM) 16} The silver from the guilt offering and the sin offering was not brought to the Lord’s temple since it belonged to the priests.^(BN)

Aramean Invasion of Judah

¹⁷ At that time King Hazael^(BO) of Aram marched up and fought against Gath and captured it. Then he planned to attack Jerusalem.^{(BP) 18} So King Joash of Judah took all the items consecrated by himself and by his ancestors—Judah’s kings Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah—as well as all the gold found in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and in the king’s palace, and he sent them to King Hazael of Aram.^(BQ) Then Hazael withdrew from Jerusalem.

Joash Assassinated

¹⁹ The rest of the events of Joash’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.^{(BR) 20} Joash’s servants conspired against him and attacked him^(BS) at Beth-millo^(BT) on the road that goes down to Silla. ²¹ It was his servants Jozabad^[l] son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer who attacked him. He died^(BU) and they buried him with his ancestors in the city of David, and his son Amaziah became king in his place.^(BV)

Founding the Corinthian Church

18 After this, he^[a] left Athens and went to Corinth,^{(A) 2} where he found a Jew named Aquila,^(B) a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul came to them, ³ and since they were of the same occupation, tentmakers by trade,^(C) he stayed with them and worked. ⁴ He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and tried to persuade both Jews and Greeks.^(D)

⁵ When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself to preaching the word^[b] and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah.^{(E) 6} When they resisted and blasphemed,^(F) he shook out his clothes^(G) and told them, “Your blood is on your own heads!^(H) I am innocent.^[c] From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”^{(I) 7} So he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. ⁸ Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, along with his whole household.^(J) Many of the Corinthians, when they heard, believed and were baptized.

⁹ The Lord said to Paul in a night vision, “Don’t be afraid, but keep on speaking and don’t be silent. ¹⁰ For I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to hurt you, because I have many people in this city.”^{(K) 11} He stayed there a year and a half, teaching the word of God among them.

¹² While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack against Paul and brought him to the tribunal.^{(L) 13} “This man,” they said, “is persuading people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”

¹⁴ As Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or of a serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to put up with you Jews. ¹⁵ But if these are questions about words, names, and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of such things.”^{(M) 16} So he drove them from the tribunal. ¹⁷ And they all^[d] seized Sosthenes,^(N) the leader of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal, but none of these things mattered to Gallio.

The Return Trip to Antioch

¹⁸ After staying for some time, Paul said farewell to the brothers and sisters and sailed away to Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. He shaved his head at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken.^{(O) 19} When they reached Ephesus^(P) he left them there, but he himself entered the synagogue and debated with the Jews. ²⁰ When they asked him to stay for a longer time, he declined, ²¹ but he said farewell and added,^[e] “I’ll come back to you again, if God wills.”^(Q) Then he set sail from Ephesus.

²² On landing at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church, then went down to Antioch.^(R)

Psalm 145

Praising God’s Greatness

A hymn of David.

¹⁴ Then Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram.^(A) Joram and all Israel had been at Ramoth-gilead on guard against King Hazael of Aram. ¹⁵ But King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds that the Arameans had inflicted on him when he fought against Aram’s King Hazael. Jehu said, “If you commanders wish to make me king,^[a] then don’t let anyone escape from the city to go tell about it in Jezreel.”

Jehu Kills Joram and Ahaziah

¹⁶ Jehu got into his chariot and went to Jezreel since Joram was laid up there and King Ahaziah of Judah had gone down to visit Joram. ¹⁷ Now the watchman^(B) was standing on the tower in Jezreel. He saw Jehu’s mob approaching and shouted, “I see a mob!”

Joram responded, “Choose a rider and send him to meet them and have him ask, ‘Do you come in peace?’” ^(C)

¹⁸ So a horseman went to meet Jehu and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Do you come in peace?’”

Jehu replied, “What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me.”

The watchman reported, “The messenger reached them but hasn’t started back.”

¹⁹ So he sent out a second horseman, who went to them and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Do you come in peace?’”

Jehu answered, “What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me.”

²⁰ Again the watchman reported, “He reached them but hasn’t started back. Also, the driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi^(D)—he drives like a madman.”

²¹ “Get the chariot ready!” Joram shouted, and they got it ready. Then King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah set out, each in his own chariot, and met Jehu at the plot of land of Naboth the Jezreelite.^{(E) 22} When Joram saw Jehu he asked, “Do you come in peace, Jehu?”

He answered, “What peace can there be as long as there is so much prostitution and sorcery from your mother Jezebel?” ^(F)

²³ Joram turned around and fled, shouting to Ahaziah, “It’s treachery,^(G) Ahaziah!”

²⁴ Then Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow went through his heart, and he slumped down in his chariot.^{(H) 25} Jehu said to Bidkar his aide, “Pick him up and throw him on the plot of ground belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite.^(I) For remember when you and I were riding side by side behind his father Ahab, and the Lord uttered this pronouncement against him: ²⁶ ‘As surely as I saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons yesterday’—this is the Lord’s declaration—‘so will I repay you on this plot of land’—this is the Lord’s declaration. So now, according to the word of the Lord, pick him up and throw him on the plot of land.”^(J)

²⁷ When King Ahaziah of Judah saw what was happening, he fled up the road toward Beth-haggan. Jehu pursued him, shouting, “Shoot him too!” So they shot him in his chariot^[b] at Gur Pass near Ibleam,^(K) but he fled to Megiddo^(L) and died there.^{(M) 28} Then his servants carried him to Jerusalem in a chariot and buried him in his ancestors’ tomb in the city of David.^{(N) 29} It was in the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab that Ahaziah had become king over Judah.^(O)

Jehu Kills Jezebel

³⁰ When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard about it, so she painted her eyes,^(P) fixed her hair,^[c] and looked down from the window. ³¹ As Jehu entered the city gate, she said, “Do you come in peace, Zimri,^(Q) killer of your master?”

³² He looked up toward the window and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs^(R) looked down at him, ³³ and he said, “Throw her down!” So they threw her down, and some of her blood splattered on the wall and on the horses, and Jehu rode over her.^(S)

³⁴ Then he went in, ate and drank, and said, “Take care of this cursed^(T) woman and bury her, since she’s a king’s daughter.”^{(U) 35} But when they went out to bury her, they did not find anything but the skull, the feet, and the hands. ³⁶ So they went back and told him, and he said, “This fulfills the Lord’s word that he spoke through his servant Elijah the Tishbite: ‘In the plot of land at Jezreel, the dogs will eat Jezebel’s flesh.^{(V) 37} Jezebel’s corpse will be like manure^(W) on the surface of the ground in the plot of land at Jezreel so that no one will be able to say: This is Jezebel.’”

Jehu Kills the House of Ahab

10 Since Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria,^(X) Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the rulers of Jezreel,^(Y) to the elders, and to the guardians of Ahab’s sons,^[d] saying:

² Your master’s sons are with you, and you have chariots, horses, a fortified city, and weaponry, so when this letter^(Z) arrives ³ select the most qualified^[e] of your master’s sons, set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.

⁴ However, they were terrified and reasoned, “Look, two kings^(AA) couldn’t stand against him; how can we?”

⁵ So the overseer of the palace, the overseer of the city, the elders, and the guardians sent a message to Jehu: “We are your servants, and we will do whatever you tell us. We will not make anyone king. Do whatever you think is right.”^[f](AB)

⁶ Then Jehu wrote them a second letter, saying:

If you are on my side, and if you will obey me, bring me the heads of your master’s sons^[g] at this time tomorrow at Jezreel.

All seventy of the king’s sons were being cared for by the city’s prominent men. ⁷ When the letter came to them, they took the king’s sons and slaughtered all seventy, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel. ⁸ When the messenger came and told him, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons,” the king said, “Pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the city gate until morning.”

⁹ The next morning when he went out and stood at the gate, he said to all the people, “You are innocent. It was I who conspired against my master and killed him.^(AC) But who struck down all these? ¹⁰ Know, then, that not a word the Lord spoke against the house of Ahab will fail,^(AD) for the Lord has done what he promised through his servant Elijah.”^{(AE) 11} So Jehu killed all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel—all his great men, close friends, and priests—leaving him no survivors.

¹² Then he set out and went to Samaria. On the way, while he was at Beth-eked of the Shepherds, ¹³ Jehu met the relatives of King Ahaziah of Judah and asked, “Who are you?”

They answered, “We’re Ahaziah’s^(AF) relatives. We’ve come down to greet the king’s sons and the queen mother’s^(AG) sons.”

¹⁴ Then Jehu ordered, “Take them alive.” So they took them alive and then slaughtered them at the pit of Beth-eked—forty-two men. He didn’t spare any of them.^(AH)

¹⁵ When he left there, he found Jehonadab son of Rechab^(AI) coming to meet him. He greeted him and then asked, “Is your heart one with mine?” ^[h]

“It is,” Jehonadab replied.

Jehu said, “If it is,^[i] give me your hand.”^(AJ)

So he gave him his hand, and Jehu pulled him up into the chariot with him. ¹⁶ Then he said, “Come with me and see my zeal^(AK) for the Lord!” So he let him ride with him in his chariot. ¹⁷ When Jehu came to Samaria, he struck down all who remained from the house of Ahab in Samaria until he had annihilated his house, according to the word of the Lord spoken to Elijah.^(AL)

Jehu Kills the Baal Worshipers

¹⁸ Then Jehu brought all the people together and said to them, “Ahab served Baal^(AM) a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot. ¹⁹ Now, therefore, summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests.^(AN) None must be missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is missing will not live.” However, Jehu was acting deceptively in order to destroy the servants of Baal. ²⁰ Jehu commanded, “Consecrate a solemn assembly^(AO) for Baal.” So they called one.

²¹ Then Jehu sent messengers throughout all Israel, and all the servants of Baal^[j] came; no one failed to come.^(AP) They entered the temple of Baal,^(AQ) and it was filled from one end to the other. ²² Then he said to the custodian of the wardrobe, “Bring out the garments for all the servants of Baal.” So he brought out their garments.

²³ Then Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rechab entered the temple of Baal, and Jehu said to the servants of Baal, “Look carefully to see that there are no servants of the Lord here among you—only servants of Baal.” ²⁴ Then they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings.

Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside, and he warned them, “Whoever allows any of the men I am placing in your hands to escape will forfeit his life for theirs.”^{(AR) 25} When he finished offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guards and officers, “Go in and kill them. Don’t let anyone out.”^(AS) So they struck them down with the sword. Then the guards and officers threw the bodies out and went into the inner room of the temple of Baal. ²⁶ They brought out the pillar of the temple of Baal and burned it, ²⁷ and they tore down the pillar^(AT) of Baal. Then they tore down the temple of Baal and made it a latrine^(AU)—which it still is today.

Evaluation of Jehu’s Reign

²⁸ Jehu eliminated Baal worship from Israel, ²⁹ but he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit—worshiping the gold calves that were in Bethel and Dan.^{(AV) 30} Nevertheless, the Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in my sight and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in my heart, four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel.”^(AW)

³¹ Yet Jehu was not careful to follow the instruction of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.

A Short Ministry in Thessalonica

17 After they passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica,^(A) where there was a Jewish synagogue. ² As usual, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures,^{(B) 3} explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and rise from the dead: “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah.”^{(C) 4} Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, including a large number of God-fearing Greeks, as well as a number of the leading women.^(D)

Riot in the City

⁵ But the Jews became jealous, and they brought together some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. Attacking Jason’s house, they searched for them to bring them out to the public assembly.^{(E) 6} When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too, ⁷ and Jason has welcomed them. They are all acting contrary to Caesar’s decrees,^(F) saying that there is another king—Jesus.”^{(G) 8} The crowd and city officials who heard these things were upset. ⁹ After taking a security bond from Jason and the others, they released them.

The Bereans Search the Scriptures

¹⁰ As soon as it was night, the brothers and sisters sent Paul and Silas away to Berea.^(H) Upon arrival, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. ¹¹ The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined^[a] the Scriptures^(I) daily to see if these things were so. ¹² Consequently, many of them believed, including a number of the prominent Greek women as well as men. ¹³ But when the Jews from Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul at Berea, they came there too, agitating and upsetting^[b] the crowds. ¹⁴ Then the brothers and sisters immediately sent Paul away to go to the coast, but Silas and Timothy^(J) stayed on there. ¹⁵ Those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving instructions for Silas and Timothy to come to him as quickly as possible, they departed.^(K)

Paul in Athens

¹⁶ While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply distressed when he saw that the city was full of idols. ¹⁷ So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with those who worshiped God, as well as in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.^{(L) 18} Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also debated with him. Some said, “What is this ignorant show-off^[c] trying to say?”

Others replied, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign deities”—because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.^(M)

¹⁹ They took him and brought him to the Areopagus,^[d] and said, “May we learn about this new teaching you are presenting?^{(N) 20} Because what you say sounds strange to us, and we want to know what these things mean.” ²¹ Now all the Athenians and the foreigners residing there spent their time on nothing else but telling or hearing something new.

The Areopagus Address

²² Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said, “People of Athens! I see that you are extremely religious in every respect. ²³ For as I was passing through and observing the objects of your worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed, ‘To an Unknown God.’ Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. ²⁴ The God who made the world and everything in it^(O)—he is Lord of heaven and earth^(P)—does not live in shrines made by hands.^{(Q) 25} Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything,^(R) since he himself gives everyone life and breath and all things.^{(S) 26} From one man^[e] he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live.^{(T) 27} He did this so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.^{(U) 28} For in him we live and move and have our being, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’^{(V) 29} Since, then, we are God’s offspring, we shouldn’t think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image fashioned by human art and imagination.^(W)

³⁰ “Therefore, having overlooked^(X) the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, ³¹ because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”^(Y)

³² When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him, but others said, “We’d like to hear from you again about this.” ³³ So Paul left their presence. ³⁴ However, some people joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Psalm 144

A King’s Prayer

Of David.

The Shunammite’s Land Restored

8 Now Elisha had said to the woman^(A) whose son he had restored to life, “Go away with your family and stay for a while wherever you can, because the Lord has decreed a famine^(B) in the land that will last seven years.”^{(C) 2} The woman proceeded to do as the man of God said. She and her family went away and stayed in the land of the Philistines seven years.

³ At the end of the seven years she came back from the land of the Philistines and went to appeal to the king for her house and land. ⁴ The king was talking to Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, and had said, “Tell me about all the great things Elisha has done.” ⁵ Just as Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had restored^(D) the dead to life, the woman whose son Elisha had brought back to life came to appeal to the king for her house and land.

Gehazi said, “This is the woman, my lord the king, and this is her son whom Elisha restored to life.” ⁶ The king asked the woman about it, and she told him.

Then he assigned an official to her case and said to him, “Give back everything that belonged to her, including all the income from her land from the day she left the country until now.”

Hazael Murders Ben-Hadad

⁷ Elisha went to Damascus,^(E) and Ben-Hadad^(F) king of Aram was ill. When the king was told, “The man of God has come all the way up here,” ⁸ he said to Hazael,^(G) “Take a gift^(H) with you and go to meet the man of God. Consult^(I) the Lord through him; ask him, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’”

⁹ Hazael went to meet Elisha, taking with him as a gift forty camel-loads of all the finest wares of Damascus. He went in and stood before him, and said, “Your son Ben-Hadad king of Aram has sent me to ask, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’”

¹⁰ Elisha answered, “Go and say to him, ‘You will certainly recover.’^(J) Nevertheless,^[a] the Lord has revealed to me that he will in fact die.” ¹¹ He stared at him with a fixed gaze until Hazael was embarrassed.^(K) Then the man of God began to weep.^(L)

¹² “Why is my lord weeping?” asked Hazael.

“Because I know the harm^(M) you will do to the Israelites,” he answered. “You will set fire to their fortified places, kill their young men with the sword, dash^(N) their little children^(O) to the ground, and rip open^(P) their pregnant women.”

¹³ Hazael said, “How could your servant, a mere dog,^(Q) accomplish such a feat?”

“The Lord has shown me that you will become king^(R) of Aram,” answered Elisha.

¹⁴ Then Hazael left Elisha and returned to his master. When Ben-Hadad asked, “What did Elisha say to you?” Hazael replied, “He told me that you would certainly recover.” ¹⁵ But the next day he took a thick cloth, soaked it in water and spread it over the king’s face, so that he died.^(S) Then Hazael succeeded him as king.

Jehoram King of Judah^(T)

¹⁶ In the fifth year of Joram^(U) son of Ahab king of Israel, when Jehoshaphat was king of Judah, Jehoram^(V) son of Jehoshaphat began his reign as king of Judah. ¹⁷ He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. ¹⁸ He followed the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter^(W) of Ahab. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. ¹⁹ Nevertheless, for the sake of his servant David, the Lord was not willing to destroy^(X) Judah. He had promised to maintain a lamp^(Y) for David and his descendants forever.

²⁰ In the time of Jehoram, Edom rebelled against Judah and set up its own king.^{(Z) 21} So Jehoram^[b] went to Zair with all his chariots. The Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, but he rose up and broke through by night; his army, however, fled back home. ²² To this day Edom has been in rebellion^(AA) against Judah. Libnah^(AB) revolted at the same time.

²³ As for the other events of Jehoram’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? ²⁴ Jehoram rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David. And Ahaziah his son succeeded him as king.

Ahaziah King of Judah^(AC)

²⁵ In the twelfth^(AD) year of Joram son of Ahab king of Israel, Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah began to reign. ²⁶ Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah,^(AE) a granddaughter of Omri^(AF) king of Israel. ²⁷ He followed the ways of the house of Ahab^(AG) and did evil^(AH) in the eyes of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done, for he was related by marriage to Ahab’s family.

²⁸ Ahaziah went with Joram son of Ahab to war against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth Gilead.^(AI) The Arameans wounded Joram; ²⁹ so King Joram returned to Jezreel^(AJ) to recover from the wounds the Arameans had inflicted on him at Ramoth^[c] in his battle with Hazael^(AK) king of Aram.

Then Ahaziah^(AL) son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to Jezreel to see Joram son of Ahab, because he had been wounded.

Jehu Anointed King of Israel

9 The prophet Elisha summoned a man from the company^(AM) of the prophets and said to him, “Tuck your cloak into your belt,^(AN) take this flask of olive oil^(AO) with you and go to Ramoth Gilead.^{(AP) 2} When you get there, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Go to him, get him away from his companions and take him into an inner room. ³ Then take the flask and pour the oil^(AQ) on his head and declare, ‘This is what the Lord says: I anoint you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and run; don’t delay!”

⁴ So the young prophet went to Ramoth Gilead. ⁵ When he arrived, he found the army officers sitting together. “I have a message for you, commander,” he said.

“For which of us?” asked Jehu.

“For you, commander,” he replied.

⁶ Jehu got up and went into the house. Then the prophet poured the oil^(AR) on Jehu’s head and declared, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anoint you king over the Lord’s people Israel. ⁷ You are to destroy the house of Ahab your master, and I will avenge^(AS) the blood of my servants^(AT) the prophets and the blood of all the Lord’s servants shed by Jezebel.^{(AU) 8} The whole house^(AV) of Ahab will perish. I will cut off from Ahab every last male^(AW) in Israel—slave or free.^{[d] 9} I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam^(AX) son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha^(AY) son of Ahijah. ¹⁰ As for Jezebel, dogs^(AZ) will devour her on the plot of ground at Jezreel, and no one will bury her.’” Then he opened the door and ran.

¹¹ When Jehu went out to his fellow officers, one of them asked him, “Is everything all right? Why did this maniac^(BA) come to you?”

“You know the man and the sort of things he says,” Jehu replied.

¹² “That’s not true!” they said. “Tell us.”

Jehu said, “Here is what he told me: ‘This is what the Lord says: I anoint you king over Israel.’”

¹³ They quickly took their cloaks and spread^(BB) them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet^(BC) and shouted, “Jehu is king!”

Paul and Silas in Prison

¹⁶ Once when we were going to the place of prayer,^(A) we were met by a female slave who had a spirit^(B) by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. ¹⁷ She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God,^(C) who are telling you the way to be saved.” ¹⁸ She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.^(D)

¹⁹ When her owners realized that their hope of making money^(E) was gone, they seized Paul and Silas^(F) and dragged^(G) them into the marketplace to face the authorities. ²⁰ They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar^{(H) 21} by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans^(I) to accept or practice.”^(J)

²² The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods.^{(K) 23} After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer^(L) was commanded to guard them carefully. ²⁴ When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.^(M)

²⁵ About midnight^(N) Paul and Silas^(O) were praying and singing hymns^(P) to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶ Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.^(Q) At once all the prison doors flew open,^(R) and everyone’s chains came loose.^{(S) 27} The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.^{(T) 28} But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

²⁹ The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.^{(U) 30} He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”^(V)

³¹ They replied, “Believe^(W) in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved^(X)—you and your household.”^{(Y) 32} Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. ³³ At that hour of the night^(Z) the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.^{(AA) 34} The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he^(AB) was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

³⁵ When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” ³⁶ The jailer^(AC) told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.”^(AD)

³⁷ But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens,^(AE) and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”

³⁸ The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed.^{(AF) 39} They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city.^{(AG) 40} After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house,^(AH) where they met with the brothers and sisters^(AI) and encouraged them. Then they left.

Psalm 143

A psalm of David.

An Axhead Floats

6 The company^(A) of the prophets said to Elisha, “Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. ² Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to meet.”

And he said, “Go.”

³ Then one of them said, “Won’t you please come with your servants?”

“I will,” Elisha replied. ⁴ And he went with them.

They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. ⁵ As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. “Oh no, my lord!” he cried out. “It was borrowed!”

⁶ The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw^(B) it there, and made the iron float. ⁷ “Lift it out,” he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it.

Elisha Traps Blinded Arameans

⁸ Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.”

⁹ The man of God sent word to the king^(C) of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.” ¹⁰ So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned^(D) the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.

¹¹ This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?”

¹² “None of us, my lord the king^(E),” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”

¹³ “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.”^{(F) 14} Then he sent^(G) horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.

¹⁵ When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.

¹⁶ “Don’t be afraid,”^(H) the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more^(I) than those who are with them.”

¹⁷ And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots^(J) of fire all around Elisha.

¹⁸ As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.”^(K) So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.

¹⁹ Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.

²⁰ After they entered the city, Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” Then the Lord opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.

²¹ When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father?^(L) Shall I kill them?”

²² “Do not kill them,” he answered. “Would you kill those you have captured^(M) with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.” ²³ So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands^(N) from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.

Famine in Besieged Samaria

²⁴ Some time later, Ben-Hadad^(O) king of Aram mobilized his entire army and marched up and laid siege^(P) to Samaria. ²⁵ There was a great famine^(Q) in the city; the siege lasted so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels^[a] of silver, and a quarter of a cab^[b] of seed pods^[c](R) for five shekels.^[d]

²⁶ As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried to him, “Help me, my lord the king!”

²⁷ The king replied, “If the Lord does not help you, where can I get help for you? From the threshing floor? From the winepress?” ²⁸ Then he asked her, “What’s the matter?”

She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son so we may eat him today, and tomorrow we’ll eat my son.’ ²⁹ So we cooked my son and ate^(S) him. The next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son so we may eat him,’ but she had hidden him.”

³⁰ When the king heard the woman’s words, he tore^(T) his robes. As he went along the wall, the people looked, and they saw that, under his robes, he had sackcloth^(U) on his body. ³¹ He said, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today!”

³² Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders^(V) were sitting with him. The king sent a messenger ahead, but before he arrived, Elisha said to the elders, “Don’t you see how this murderer^(W) is sending someone to cut off my head?^(X) Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold it shut against him. Is not the sound of his master’s footsteps behind him?” ³³ While he was still talking to them, the messenger came down to him.

The king said, “This disaster is from the Lord. Why should I wait^(Y) for the Lord any longer?”

7 Elisha replied, “Hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Lord says: About this time tomorrow, a seah^[e] of the finest flour will sell for a shekel^[f] and two seahs^[g] of barley for a shekel^(Z) at the gate of Samaria.”

² The officer on whose arm the king was leaning^(AA) said to the man of God, “Look, even if the Lord should open the floodgates^(AB) of the heavens, could this happen?”

“You will see it with your own eyes,” answered Elisha, “but you will not eat^(AC) any of it!”

The Siege Lifted

³ Now there were four men with leprosy^[h](AD) at the entrance of the city gate. They said to each other, “Why stay here until we die? ⁴ If we say, ‘We’ll go into the city’—the famine is there, and we will die. And if we stay here, we will die. So let’s go over to the camp of the Arameans and surrender. If they spare us, we live; if they kill us, then we die.”

⁵ At dusk they got up and went to the camp of the Arameans. When they reached the edge of the camp, no one was there, ⁶ for the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound^(AE) of chariots and horses and a great army, so that they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired^(AF) the Hittite^(AG) and Egyptian kings to attack us!” ⁷ So they got up and fled^(AH) in the dusk and abandoned their tents and their horses and donkeys. They left the camp as it was and ran for their lives.

⁸ The men who had leprosy^(AI) reached the edge of the camp, entered one of the tents and ate and drank. Then they took silver, gold and clothes, and went off and hid them. They returned and entered another tent and took some things from it and hid them also.

⁹ Then they said to each other, “What we’re doing is not right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves. If we wait until daylight, punishment will overtake us. Let’s go at once and report this to the royal palace.”

¹⁰ So they went and called out to the city gatekeepers and told them, “We went into the Aramean camp and no one was there—not a sound of anyone—only tethered horses and donkeys, and the tents left just as they were.” ¹¹ The gatekeepers shouted the news, and it was reported within the palace.

¹² The king got up in the night and said to his officers, “I will tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we are starving; so they have left the camp to hide^(AJ) in the countryside, thinking, ‘They will surely come out, and then we will take them alive and get into the city.’”

¹³ One of his officers answered, “Have some men take five of the horses that are left in the city. Their plight will be like that of all the Israelites left here—yes, they will only be like all these Israelites who are doomed. So let us send them to find out what happened.”

¹⁴ So they selected two chariots with their horses, and the king sent them after the Aramean army. He commanded the drivers, “Go and find out what has happened.” ¹⁵ They followed them as far as the Jordan, and they found the whole road strewn with the clothing and equipment the Arameans had thrown away in their headlong flight.^(AK) So the messengers returned and reported to the king. ¹⁶ Then the people went out and plundered^(AL) the camp of the Arameans. So a seah of the finest flour sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley sold for a shekel,^(AM) as the Lord had said.

¹⁷ Now the king had put the officer on whose arm he leaned in charge of the gate, and the people trampled him in the gateway, and he died,^(AN) just as the man of God had foretold when the king came down to his house. ¹⁸ It happened as the man of God had said to the king: “About this time tomorrow, a seah of the finest flour will sell for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria.”

¹⁹ The officer had said to the man of God, “Look, even if the Lord should open the floodgates^(AO) of the heavens, could this happen?” The man of God had replied, “You will see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of it!” ²⁰ And that is exactly what happened to him, for the people trampled him in the gateway, and he died.