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耶洗别寻索以利亚的性命

19 亚哈把以利亚所行的一切,和他用刀杀死众先知的一切事,都告诉了耶洗别。 耶洗别就差派一个使者去见以利亚说:“明天这个时候,如果我不使你的性命,像那些人一样,愿神明惩罚我,并且加倍惩罚我。”

以利亚逃往何烈山

以利亚害怕,就起来,逃命去了。他到了犹大的别是巴,就把自己的仆人留在那里。 他自己却在旷野走了一天的路,来到一棵罗腾树下,就坐在那里求死,说:“耶和华啊,现在已经够了,求你取我的性命吧,因为我并不比我的列祖好。” 他躺在那棵罗腾树下,睡着了。忽然有一位天使拍他,说:“起来,吃吧!” 他张眼一看,只见头旁有用炭火烤的饼和一瓶水。他就起来吃喝,然后又躺下去。 耶和华的使者第二次回来拍他,说:“起来吃吧!因为你要走的路程太远了。” 于是他起来吃喝,靠着那食物的力量,他走了四十昼夜,直走到 神的山,就是何烈山。

耶和华以微声向以利亚说话

他在那里进了一个洞,就在洞里过夜。耶和华的话临到他,说:“以利亚啊,你在这里干甚么?” 10 他说:“我为耶和华万军的 神大发热心,因为以色列人背弃了你的约,拆毁了你的祭坛,用刀杀死了你的众先知,只剩下我一个人,他们还在寻索,要取去我的性命。” 11 耶和华说:“你出来站在山上,在我耶和华面前。”那时,耶和华从那里经过。在耶和华面前有强烈的大风,山崩石碎,但耶和华不在风中;风过以后有地震,但耶和华也不在地震中; 12 地震过后有火,耶和华也不在火中;火后有低微柔和的声音。 13 以利亚听见了,就用自己的外衣蒙着脸,走出来,站在洞口。忽然有声音向他说:“以利亚啊,你在这里干甚么?” 14 以利亚说:“我为耶和华万军的 神大发热心,因为以色列人背弃了你的约,拆毁了你的祭坛,用刀杀了你的众先知,只剩下我一个人,他们还在寻索,要取去我的性命。”

以利亚奉命返回大马士革

15 耶和华对他说:“你离去吧,从你来的路回到大马士革的旷野去。你到了那里,就要膏哈薛作亚兰王。 16 又要膏宁示的孙子耶户作以色列王,还要膏亚伯.米何拉人沙法的儿子以利沙接续你作先知。 17 将来逃得过哈薛的刀的,必被耶户杀死;逃得过耶户的刀的,必被以利沙杀死。 18 但我在以色列人中留下七千人,他们全是未曾向巴力屈过膝的,也未曾与巴力亲过嘴的。”

以利亚呼召以利沙

19 于是以利亚离开那里去了。他遇见沙法的儿子以利沙正在耕田。在他面前有十二对牛,他自己正在赶着第十二对牛。以利亚走过他那里去,把自己的外衣披在以利沙身上。 20 以利沙就撇下那些牛,跑在以利亚的后面,说:“请你允许我与父母亲吻别,然后我就跟随你。”以利亚对他说:“你回去吧!我向你作了甚么呢?” 21 以利沙就离开他回去了。他牵了一对牛来宰了,用套牛的器具把牛煮熟,就分给众人,他们都吃了。然后以利沙就起来,跟随以利亚,服事他。

便.哈达进攻亚哈

20 亚兰王便.哈达聚集他的全军,有三十二个王与他在一起,他带着战马和战车,上去围困撒玛利亚,攻打那城。 他派遣一些使者进城去见以色列王亚哈,对他说:“便.哈达这样说: ‘你的银子,你的金子都是我的;你的妻子和你最健壮的儿女也是我的。’” 以色列王回答说:“我主我王啊,就照着你所说的,我和我所有的一切都可以归你。” 那些使者再来说:“便.哈达这样说:‘我曾经差派人对你说:你要把你的银子,你的金子,你的妻子和你的儿女都给我。 明天大约这个时间,我要差派我的臣仆到你那里去;他们要搜查你的王宫和你臣仆的家;凡是他们看为宝贵的,他们都要下手拿走。’”

以色列王把国中所有的长老都召了来,对他们说:“请你们想想,看这人怎样的麻烦,他曾经差派人来我这里要我的妻子、我的儿女、我的银子和我的金子,我都没有拒绝他。” 众长老和人民对王说:“不要听从他,也不要答应他。” 于是亚哈对便.哈达的使者说:“请你们告诉我主我王说:‘王第一次差派人来向你仆人所要的一切,我都必照办;可是这次所要的,我却不能照办。’”于是使者去了,把这些话回复便.哈达。 10 便.哈达又差派人去见亚哈说:“撒玛利亚的尘土若是足够跟从我的人每人捧一捧的话,愿神明惩罚我,并且加倍惩罚我。” 11 以色列王回答说:“你们去告诉他,佩戴武器的人,不可像解除武器的那样自夸。” 12 便.哈达与众王正在帐棚里喝酒,一听见了这话,就对他的臣仆说:“你们列队进攻。”他们就列队进攻那城。

先知预言便.哈达必败

13 这时,忽然有一个先知前来见以色列王亚哈,说:“耶和华这样说:‘你看见这些强大的军兵吗?看啊,今天我必把他们交在你手里,你就知道我是耶和华。’” 14 亚哈问:“借着谁呢?”先知回答:“耶和华这样说:‘借着跟从各省省长的年轻人。’”亚哈又问:“谁先开战呢?”先知说:“是你。” 15 于是亚哈数点了跟从各省省长的年轻人,共有二百三十二人。以后,他又数点所有的人民,以色列众民共有七千人。

亚兰人败逃

16 在正午,便.哈达与帮助他的三十二个王正在帐棚里痛饮的时候,他们出发了。 17 跟从各省省长的年轻人首先出发。便.哈达派人去察看,他们回报他说:“有人从撒玛利亚出来了。” 18 便.哈达说:“如果他们是为了求和出来,你们要活捉他们;如果他们是为了争战出来,你们也要活捉他们。” 19 从城里出来的这些人,就是跟从各省省长的年轻人,军兵跟在他们后面。 20 他们各人遇见对手就杀。亚兰人逃跑,以色列人追赶他们。亚兰王便.哈达骑着马,与一些骑兵一起逃走。 21 以色列王出来,攻打战马和战车,大大地击败了亚兰人。

先知警告亚哈

22 那先知前来见以色列王,对他说:“你要自强,留意看看你所要预备的,因为明年春天亚兰王必再上来攻击你。” 23 亚兰王的臣仆对亚兰王说:“以色列人的神是山神,所以他们比我们强;但我们若是在平原上与他们争战,我们必比他们强大。 24 王应该这样作:把众王各人的职务解除,另立军官代替他们; 25 又照着王损失的军兵的数目,招募一支新的军队,照数补充战马和战车。然后我们可以与他们在平原上作战,我们必定比他们强。”王听从他们的话,并且这样行了。

便.哈达再战再败

26 过了年,便.哈达数点了亚兰人,就上到亚弗去,要与以色列人争战。 27 以色列人数点人数,预备了粮食,就去迎战亚兰人。以色列人对着他们安营,好象两小群山羊羔;亚兰人却满布了那地。 28 有一位神人前来对以色列王说:“耶和华这样说:‘因为亚兰人说耶和华是山神,不是平原的神,所以我要把这些强大的军兵交在你手里,你们就知道我是耶和华。’” 29 以色列人和亚兰人相对安营,共七天。到了第七日,两军终于接战了。那一天,以色列人杀了亚兰人步兵十万。 30 余下来的都逃入亚弗城里,城墙倒塌,压死了余下来的二万七千人。便.哈达也逃到城里来,躲进一间密室里。

31 他的臣仆对他说:“我们听说以色列家的王都是仁慈的王;我们不如腰束麻布,头套绳索,出去投降以色列王,或许他会使你的性命存活。” 32 于是他们腰束麻布,头套绳索,来见以色列王,对他说:“你的仆人便.哈达说:‘求你使我的性命存活!’”亚哈说:“他还活着吗?他是我的兄弟!” 33 那些人认为这些话是个吉兆,急忙抓住他的话,说:“便.哈达是王的兄弟!”亚哈说:“你们去请他来。”便.哈达出来见王,亚哈就去请他上车。 34 便.哈达对王说:“我父亲从你父亲夺得的众城,我都必还给你;你可以为自己在大马士革设立市场,像我父亲在撒玛利亚设立市场一样。”亚哈说:“我与你立了这样的约,就放你去。”于是他和便.哈达立了约,就放他走了。

先知责备亚哈放走敌人

35 先知门徒中有一个人奉耶和华的命令对他的一个同伴说:“你打我吧!”可是,那人却不肯打他。 36 他就对那人说:“因为你不听从耶和华的话,你一离开我,就必有狮子咬死你。”那人一离开他,果然遇见了狮子,把他咬死。 37 先知的门徒又遇见另一个人,对他说:“你打我吧!”那人就打他,把他打伤。 38 于是那先知去了,在路旁等候王。他用头巾蒙住自己的眼睛,把自己改了装。 39 王从那里经过的时候,他向王呼叫说:“你仆人出征,在战阵之中,忽然有一个人转过来,带了另一个人来见我,说:‘你看守这个人,他若是走失了,就要你替他偿命,否则你要支付三十公斤银子。’ 40 你仆人正在忙这忙那的时候,那人就不见了。”以色列王对他说:“你的判案就是这样,你已经自己判决了。” 41 他急忙把蒙在眼上的头巾除下,以色列王就认出他是一个先知。 42 先知对王说:“耶和华这样说:因为你把我要灭绝的人从你手中放走,所以要你替他偿命。要你的人民抵偿他的人民。” 43 于是以色列王闷闷不乐回到撒玛利亚,自己的王宫里去了。

Elijah Flees to Horeb

19 Now Ahab told Jezebel(A) everything Elijah had done and how he had killed(B) all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely,(C) if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”(D)

Elijah was afraid[a] and ran(E) for his life.(F) When he came to Beersheba(G) in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush,(H) sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life;(I) I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.(J)

All at once an angel(K) touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty(L) days and forty nights until he reached Horeb,(M) the mountain of God. There he went into a cave(N) and spent the night.

The Lord Appears to Elijah

And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”(O)

10 He replied, “I have been very zealous(P) for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant,(Q) torn down your altars,(R) and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left,(S) and now they are trying to kill me too.”

11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain(T) in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”(U)

Then a great and powerful wind(V) tore the mountains apart and shattered(W) the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire,(X) but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.(Y) 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face(Z) and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left,(AA) and now they are trying to kill me too.”

15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael(AB) king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint(AC) Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha(AD) son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah(AE) to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael,(AF) and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu.(AG) 18 Yet I reserve(AH) seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed(AI) him.”

The Call of Elisha

19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak(AJ) around him. 20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,”(AK) he said, “and then I will come with you.”

“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”

21 So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen(AL) and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.(AM)

Ben-Hadad Attacks Samaria

20 Now Ben-Hadad(AN) king of Aram mustered his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots, he went up and besieged Samaria(AO) and attacked it. He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, saying, “This is what Ben-Hadad says: ‘Your silver and gold are mine, and the best of your wives and children are mine.’”

The king of Israel answered, “Just as you say, my lord the king. I and all I have are yours.”

The messengers came again and said, “This is what Ben-Hadad says: ‘I sent to demand your silver and gold, your wives and your children. But about this time tomorrow I am going to send my officials to search your palace and the houses of your officials. They will seize everything you value and carry it away.’”

The king of Israel summoned all the elders(AP) of the land and said to them, “See how this man is looking for trouble!(AQ) When he sent for my wives and my children, my silver and my gold, I did not refuse him.”

The elders and the people all answered, “Don’t listen to him or agree to his demands.”

So he replied to Ben-Hadad’s messengers, “Tell my lord the king, ‘Your servant will do all you demanded the first time, but this demand I cannot meet.’” They left and took the answer back to Ben-Hadad.

10 Then Ben-Hadad sent another message to Ahab: “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if enough dust(AR) remains in Samaria to give each of my men a handful.”

11 The king of Israel answered, “Tell him: ‘One who puts on his armor should not boast(AS) like one who takes it off.’”

12 Ben-Hadad heard this message while he and the kings were drinking(AT) in their tents,[b] and he ordered his men: “Prepare to attack.” So they prepared to attack the city.

Ahab Defeats Ben-Hadad

13 Meanwhile a prophet(AU) came to Ahab king of Israel and announced, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Do you see this vast army? I will give it into your hand today, and then you will know(AV) that I am the Lord.’”

14 “But who will do this?” asked Ahab.

The prophet replied, “This is what the Lord says: ‘The junior officers under the provincial commanders will do it.’”

“And who will start(AW) the battle?” he asked.

The prophet answered, “You will.”

15 So Ahab summoned the 232 junior officers under the provincial commanders. Then he assembled the rest of the Israelites, 7,000 in all. 16 They set out at noon while Ben-Hadad and the 32 kings allied with him were in their tents getting drunk.(AX) 17 The junior officers under the provincial commanders went out first.

Now Ben-Hadad had dispatched scouts, who reported, “Men are advancing from Samaria.”

18 He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; if they have come out for war, take them alive.”

19 The junior officers under the provincial commanders marched out of the city with the army behind them 20 and each one struck down his opponent. At that, the Arameans fled, with the Israelites in pursuit. But Ben-Hadad king of Aram escaped on horseback with some of his horsemen. 21 The king of Israel advanced and overpowered the horses and chariots and inflicted heavy losses on the Arameans.

22 Afterward, the prophet(AY) came to the king of Israel and said, “Strengthen your position and see what must be done, because next spring(AZ) the king of Aram will attack you again.”

23 Meanwhile, the officials of the king of Aram advised him, “Their gods are gods(BA) of the hills. That is why they were too strong for us. But if we fight them on the plains, surely we will be stronger than they. 24 Do this: Remove all the kings from their commands and replace them with other officers. 25 You must also raise an army like the one you lost—horse for horse and chariot for chariot—so we can fight Israel on the plains. Then surely we will be stronger than they.” He agreed with them and acted accordingly.

26 The next spring(BB) Ben-Hadad mustered the Arameans and went up to Aphek(BC) to fight against Israel. 27 When the Israelites were also mustered and given provisions, they marched out to meet them. The Israelites camped opposite them like two small flocks of goats, while the Arameans covered the countryside.(BD)

28 The man of God came up and told the king of Israel, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of the hills and not a god(BE) of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know(BF) that I am the Lord.’”

29 For seven days they camped opposite each other, and on the seventh day the battle was joined. The Israelites inflicted a hundred thousand casualties on the Aramean foot soldiers in one day. 30 The rest of them escaped to the city of Aphek,(BG) where the wall collapsed(BH) on twenty-seven thousand of them. And Ben-Hadad fled to the city and hid(BI) in an inner room.

31 His officials said to him, “Look, we have heard that the kings of Israel are merciful.(BJ) Let us go to the king of Israel with sackcloth(BK) around our waists and ropes around our heads. Perhaps he will spare your life.”

32 Wearing sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads, they went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-Hadad says: ‘Please let me live.’”

The king answered, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”

33 The men took this as a good sign and were quick to pick up his word. “Yes, your brother Ben-Hadad!” they said.

“Go and get him,” the king said. When Ben-Hadad came out, Ahab had him come up into his chariot.

34 “I will return the cities(BL) my father took from your father,” Ben-Hadad(BM) offered. “You may set up your own market areas(BN) in Damascus,(BO) as my father did in Samaria.”

Ahab said, “On the basis of a treaty(BP) I will set you free.” So he made a treaty with him, and let him go.

A Prophet Condemns Ahab

35 By the word of the Lord one of the company of the prophets(BQ) said to his companion, “Strike me with your weapon,” but he refused.(BR)

36 So the prophet said, “Because you have not obeyed the Lord, as soon as you leave me a lion(BS) will kill you.” And after the man went away, a lion found him and killed him.

37 The prophet found another man and said, “Strike me, please.” So the man struck him and wounded him. 38 Then the prophet went and stood by the road waiting for the king. He disguised himself with his headband down over his eyes. 39 As the king passed by, the prophet called out to him, “Your servant went into the thick of the battle, and someone came to me with a captive and said, ‘Guard this man. If he is missing, it will be your life for his life,(BT) or you must pay a talent[c] of silver.’ 40 While your servant was busy here and there, the man disappeared.”

“That is your sentence,”(BU) the king of Israel said. “You have pronounced it yourself.”

41 Then the prophet quickly removed the headband from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. 42 He said to the king, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You(BV) have set free a man I had determined should die.[d](BW) Therefore it is your life for his life,(BX) your people for his people.’” 43 Sullen and angry,(BY) the king of Israel went to his palace in Samaria.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 19:3 Or Elijah saw
  2. 1 Kings 20:12 Or in Sukkoth; also in verse 16
  3. 1 Kings 20:39 That is, about 75 pounds or about 34 kilograms
  4. 1 Kings 20:42 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.

19 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.

Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.

And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.

But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.

And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.

And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.

And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?

10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:

12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

15 And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:

16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.

17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.

18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.

20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?

21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.

20 And Benhadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together: and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots; and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it.

And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Benhadad,

Thy silver and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy children, even the goodliest, are mine.

And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have.

And the messengers came again, and said, Thus speaketh Benhadad, saying, Although I have sent unto thee, saying, Thou shalt deliver me thy silver, and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children;

Yet I will send my servants unto thee to morrow about this time, and they shall search thine house, and the houses of thy servants; and it shall be, that whatsoever is pleasant in thine eyes, they shall put it in their hand, and take it away.

Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeketh mischief: for he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I denied him not.

And all the elders and all the people said unto him, Hearken not unto him, nor consent.

Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Benhadad, Tell my lord the king, All that thou didst send for to thy servant at the first I will do: but this thing I may not do. And the messengers departed, and brought him word again.

10 And Benhadad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.

11 And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.

12 And it came to pass, when Ben-hadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against the city.

13 And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord.

14 And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, Thou.

15 Then he numbered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two: and after them he numbered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand.

16 And they went out at noon. But Benhadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.

17 And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Benhadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria.

18 And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.

19 So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them.

20 And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen.

21 And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.

22 And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.

23 And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.

24 And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their rooms:

25 And number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot: and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And he hearkened unto their voice, and did so.

26 And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Benhadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.

27 And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.

28 And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the Lord, Because the Syrians have said, The Lord is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

29 And they pitched one over against the other seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined: and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians an hundred thousand footmen in one day.

30 But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and there a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men that were left. And Benhadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.

31 And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life.

32 So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Benhadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother.

33 Now the men did diligently observe whether any thing would come from him, and did hastily catch it: and they said, Thy brother Benhadad. Then he said, Go ye, bring him. Then Benhadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.

34 And Ben-hadad said unto him, The cities, which my father took from thy father, I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. Then said Ahab, I will send thee away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away.

35 And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour in the word of the Lord, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him.

36 Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the Lord, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him.

37 Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him.

38 So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face.

39 And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king: and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver.

40 And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it.

41 And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets.

42 And he said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.

43 And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.

迦拿的婚筵

第三天,在加利利的迦拿有婚筵,耶稣的母亲在那里; 耶稣和门徒也被邀请参加婚筵。 酒用尽了,耶稣的母亲对他说:“他们没有酒了。” 耶稣说:“母亲(“母亲”原文作“妇人”),我跟你有甚么关系呢?我的时候还没有到。” 他母亲告诉仆人说:“他吩咐你们甚么,就作甚么。” 在那里有六口石缸,每口可盛两三桶水,是为犹太人行洁净礼用的。 耶稣吩咐仆人:“把缸都倒满水!”他们就倒满了,直到缸口。 耶稣又吩咐他们:“现在舀出来,送给筵席的总管!”他们就送去了。 总管尝了那水变的酒,不知道是从哪里来的,只有舀水的仆人知道。总管就叫新郎来, 10 对他说:“人人都是先摆上好酒,等到亲友喝够了,才摆上次等的,你倒把好酒留到现在。” 11 这是耶稣所行的第一件神迹,是在加利利的迦拿行的。他显出了自己的荣耀,他的门徒就信了他。

12 这事以后,耶稣和母亲、弟弟、门徒,都下到迦百农去,在那里住了没有几天。

洁净圣殿(A)

13 犹太人的逾越节近了,耶稣就上耶路撒冷去。 14 他在圣殿的外院里看见有卖牛羊鸽子的,和坐在那里兑换银钱的, 15 就用绳索做了一条鞭子,把众人连牛带羊都从外院赶出去,倒掉兑换银钱的人的钱,推翻他们的桌子; 16 又对卖鸽子的说:“把这些东西搬出去,不要把我父的殿当作巿场。” 17 他的门徒就想起经上记着:“我为你的殿心中迫切,如同火烧。” 18 犹太人就问他:“你可以显甚么神迹给我们看,证明你有权作这些事呢?” 19 耶稣回答:“你们拆毁这殿,我三天之内要把它建造起来。” 20 犹太人说:“这殿建了四十六年,你三天之内就能把它建造起来吗?” 21 但耶稣所说的殿,就是他的身体。 22 所以当耶稣从死人中复活以后,门徒想起了他说过这话,就信了圣经和耶稣所说的话。

耶稣知道人的内心

23 耶稣在耶路撒冷过逾越节的时候,许多人看见他所行的神迹,就信了他的名。 24 耶稣却不信任他们,因为他知道所有的人, 25 也不需要谁指证人是怎样的,因为他知道人心里存的是甚么。

Jesus Changes Water Into Wine

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee.(A) Jesus’ mother(B) was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

“Woman,[a](C) why do you involve me?”(D) Jesus replied. “My hour(E) has not yet come.”

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”(F)

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing,(G) each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.[b]

Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine.(H) He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs(I) through which he revealed his glory;(J) and his disciples believed in him.(K)

12 After this he went down to Capernaum(L) with his mother(M) and brothers(N) and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

Jesus Clears the Temple Courts(O)

13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover,(P) Jesus went up to Jerusalem.(Q) 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves,(R) and others sitting at tables exchanging money.(S) 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house(T) into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”[c](U)

18 The Jews(V) then responded to him, “What sign(W) can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”(X)

19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”(Y)

20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body.(Z) 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said.(AA) Then they believed the scripture(AB) and the words that Jesus had spoken.

23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival,(AC) many people saw the signs(AD) he was performing and believed(AE) in his name.[d] 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. 25 He did not need any testimony about mankind,(AF) for he knew what was in each person.(AG)

Footnotes

  1. John 2:4 The Greek for Woman does not denote any disrespect.
  2. John 2:6 Or from about 75 to about 115 liters
  3. John 2:17 Psalm 69:9
  4. John 2:23 Or in him

And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:

And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.

Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.

And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.

When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,

10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

12 After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.

13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?

21 But he spake of the temple of his body.

22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.

24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,

25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.