Rehoboam in Jerusalem

20 When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had come back,(A) they summoned him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel.(B) No one followed the house of David except the tribe of Judah alone.(C) 21 When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem,(D) he mobilized 180,000 choice warriors from the entire house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin(E) to fight against the house of Israel to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam son of Solomon. 22 But a revelation from God came to Shemaiah,(F) the man of God: 23 “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, to the whole house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, 24 ‘This is what the Lord says: You are not to march up and fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Each of you must return home, for I have done this.’”(G)

So they listened to what the Lord said and went back as He had told them.

Jeroboam’s Idolatry

25 Jeroboam built Shechem(H) in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. From there he went out and built Penuel.(I) 26 Jeroboam said to himself, “The way things are going now, the kingdom might return to the house of David.(J) 27 If these people regularly go to offer sacrifices in the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem,(K) the heart of these people will return to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will murder me and go back to the king of Judah.” 28 So the king sought advice.

Then he made two golden calves, and he said to the people, “Going to Jerusalem is too difficult for you. Israel, here is your God[a] who brought you out of the land of Egypt.”(L) 29 He set up one in Bethel,(M) and put the other in Dan.(N) 30 This led to sin;(O) the people walked in procession before one of the calves all the way to Dan.[b](P)

31 Jeroboam also built shrines on the high places(Q) and set up priests from every class of people who were not Levites.(R) 32 Jeroboam made a festival in the eighth month on the fifteenth day of the month, like the festival in Judah.(S) He offered sacrifices on the altar; he made this offering in Bethel to sacrifice to the calves he had set up. He also stationed the priests in Bethel for the high places he had set up.(T) 33 He offered sacrifices on[c] the altar he had set up in Bethel on the fifteenth day of the eighth month. He chose this month on his own.(U) He made a festival for the Israelites, offered sacrifices on the altar, and burned incense.(V)

Judgment on Jeroboam

13 A man of God(W) came from Judah to Bethel by a revelation from the Lord while Jeroboam was standing beside the altar to burn incense.(X) The man of God cried out against the altar by a revelation from the Lord: “Altar, altar, this is what the Lord says, ‘A son will be born to the house of David, named Josiah, and he will sacrifice on you the priests of the high places who are burning incense on you. Human bones will be burned on you.’”(Y) He gave a sign(Z) that day. He said, “This is the sign that the Lord has spoken: ‘The altar will now be ripped apart, and the ashes that are on it will be poured out.’”(AA)

When the king heard the word that the man of God had cried out against the altar at Bethel, Jeroboam stretched out his hand from the altar and said, “Arrest him!” But the hand he stretched out against him withered, and he could not pull it back to himself. The altar was ripped apart, and the ashes poured from the altar, according to the sign that the man of God had given by the word of the Lord.

Then the king responded to the man of God, “Plead for the favor of the Lord your God and pray for me(AB) so that my hand may be restored to me.” So the man of God pleaded for the favor of the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored to him and became as it had been at first.

Then the king declared to the man of God, “Come home with me, refresh yourself, and I’ll give you a reward.”(AC)

But the man of God replied, “If you were to give me half your house,(AD) I still wouldn’t go with you, and I wouldn’t eat bread or drink water in this place, for this is what I was commanded by the word of the Lord:(AE) ‘You must not eat bread or drink water or go back the way you came.’” 10 So he went another way; he did not go back by the way he had come to Bethel.

The Old Prophet and the Man of God

11 Now a certain old prophet was living in Bethel.(AF) His son[d] came and told him all the deeds that the man of God had done that day in Bethel. His sons also told their father the words that he had spoken to the king.(AG) 12 Then their father said to them, “Which way did he go?” His sons had seen[e] the way taken by the man of God who had come from Judah. 13 Then he said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” So they saddled the donkey for him, and he got on it. 14 He followed the man of God and found him sitting under an oak tree. He asked him, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?”

“I am,” he said.

15 Then he said to him, “Come home with me and eat bread.”

16 But he answered, “I cannot go back with you, eat bread, or drink water with you in this place, 17 for a message came to me by the word of the Lord: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water there(AH) or go back by the way you came.’”

18 He said to him, “I am also a prophet(AI) like you. An angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord: ‘Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water.’” The old prophet deceived him,(AJ) 19 and the man of God went back with him, ate bread in his house, and drank water.

20 While they were sitting at the table, the word of the Lord came to the prophet who had brought him back, 21 and the prophet cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Because you rebelled against the command of the Lord and did not keep the command that the Lord your God commanded you— 22 but you went back and ate bread and drank water in the place that He said to you, “Do not eat bread and do not drink water”—(AK) your corpse will never reach the grave of your fathers.’”(AL)

23 So after he had eaten bread and after he had drunk, the old prophet saddled the donkey for the prophet he had brought back. 24 When he left,[f] a lion attacked[g] him along the way and killed him.(AM) His corpse was thrown on the road, and the donkey was standing beside it; the lion was standing beside the corpse too.

25 There were men passing by who saw the corpse thrown on the road and the lion standing beside it, and they went and spoke about it in the city where the old prophet lived. 26 When the prophet who had brought him back from his way heard about it, he said, “He is the man of God who disobeyed the command of the Lord. The Lord has given him to the lion, and it has mauled and killed him, according to the word of the Lord that He spoke to him.”

27 Then the old prophet instructed his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” They saddled it,(AN) 28 and he went and found the corpse of the man of God thrown on the road with the donkey and the lion standing beside the corpse. The lion had not eaten the corpse or mauled the donkey. 29 So the prophet lifted the corpse of the man of God and laid it on the donkey and brought it back. The old prophet came into the city to mourn and bury him. 30 Then he laid the corpse in his own grave,(AO) and they mourned over him: “Oh, my brother!”(AP)

31 After he had buried him, he said to his sons, “When I die, you must bury me in the grave where the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones, 32 for the word that he cried out by a revelation from the Lord against the altar in Bethel(AQ) and against all the shrines of the high places(AR) in the cities of Samaria(AS) is certain to happen.”(AT)

33 After all this(AU) Jeroboam did not repent(AV) of his evil way but again set up priests for the high places from every class of people.(AW) He ordained whoever so desired it, and they became priests of the high places.(AX) 34 This was the sin that caused the house of Jeroboam to be wiped out and annihilated from the face of the earth.(AY)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 12:28 Or here are your gods
  2. 1 Kings 12:30 Some LXX mss read calves to Bethel and the other to Dan
  3. 1 Kings 12:33 Or He went up to
  4. 1 Kings 13:11 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg read sons
  5. 1 Kings 13:12 LXX, Syr, Tg, Vg read sons showed him
  6. 1 Kings 13:24 LXX reads donkey, and he turned 24 and left, and
  7. 1 Kings 13:24 Lit met

20 When all the Israelites heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the house of David.(A)

21 When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mustered all Judah and the tribe of Benjamin—a hundred and eighty thousand able young men—to go to war(B) against Israel and to regain the kingdom for Rehoboam son of Solomon.

22 But this word of God came to Shemaiah(C) the man of God:(D) 23 “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah, to all Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, 24 ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not go up to fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.’” So they obeyed the word of the Lord and went home again, as the Lord had ordered.

Golden Calves at Bethel and Dan

25 Then Jeroboam fortified Shechem(E) in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. From there he went out and built up Peniel.[a](F)

26 Jeroboam thought to himself, “The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. 27 If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem,(G) they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam.”

28 After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves.(H) He said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”(I) 29 One he set up in Bethel,(J) and the other in Dan.(K) 30 And this thing became a sin;(L) the people came to worship the one at Bethel and went as far as Dan to worship the other.[b]

31 Jeroboam built shrines(M) on high places and appointed priests(N) from all sorts of people, even though they were not Levites. 32 He instituted a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth(O) month, like the festival held in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. This he did in Bethel,(P) sacrificing to the calves he had made. And at Bethel he also installed priests at the high places he had made. 33 On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a month of his own choosing, he offered sacrifices on the altar he had built at Bethel.(Q) So he instituted the festival for the Israelites and went up to the altar to make offerings.

The Man of God From Judah

13 By the word of the Lord a man of God(R) came from Judah to Bethel,(S) as Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make an offering. By the word of the Lord he cried out against the altar: “Altar, altar! This is what the Lord says: ‘A son named Josiah(T) will be born to the house of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places(U) who make offerings here, and human bones will be burned on you.’” That same day the man of God gave a sign:(V) “This is the sign the Lord has declared: The altar will be split apart and the ashes on it will be poured out.”

When King Jeroboam heard what the man of God cried out against the altar at Bethel, he stretched out his hand from the altar and said, “Seize him!” But the hand he stretched out toward the man shriveled up, so that he could not pull it back. Also, the altar was split apart and its ashes poured out according to the sign given by the man of God by the word of the Lord.

Then the king said to the man of God, “Intercede(W) with the Lord your God and pray for me that my hand may be restored.” So the man of God interceded with the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored and became as it was before.

The king said to the man of God, “Come home with me for a meal, and I will give you a gift.”(X)

But the man of God answered the king, “Even if you were to give me half your possessions,(Y) I would not go with you, nor would I eat bread(Z) or drink water here. For I was commanded by the word of the Lord: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water or return by the way you came.’” 10 So he took another road and did not return by the way he had come to Bethel.

11 Now there was a certain old prophet living in Bethel, whose sons came and told him all that the man of God had done there that day. They also told their father what he had said to the king. 12 Their father asked them, “Which way did he go?” And his sons showed him which road the man of God from Judah had taken. 13 So he said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” And when they had saddled the donkey for him, he mounted it 14 and rode after the man of God. He found him sitting under an oak tree and asked, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?”

“I am,” he replied.

15 So the prophet said to him, “Come home with me and eat.”

16 The man of God said, “I cannot turn back and go with you, nor can I eat bread(AA) or drink water with you in this place. 17 I have been told by the word of the Lord: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way you came.’”

18 The old prophet answered, “I too am a prophet, as you are. And an angel said to me by the word of the Lord:(AB) ‘Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water.’” (But he was lying(AC) to him.) 19 So the man of God returned with him and ate and drank in his house.

20 While they were sitting at the table, the word of the Lord came to the old prophet who had brought him back. 21 He cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You have defied(AD) the word of the Lord and have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. 22 You came back and ate bread and drank water in the place where he told you not to eat or drink. Therefore your body will not be buried in the tomb of your ancestors.’”

23 When the man of God had finished eating and drinking, the prophet who had brought him back saddled his donkey for him. 24 As he went on his way, a lion(AE) met him on the road and killed him, and his body was left lying on the road, with both the donkey and the lion standing beside it. 25 Some people who passed by saw the body lying there, with the lion standing beside the body, and they went and reported it in the city where the old prophet lived.

26 When the prophet who had brought him back from his journey heard of it, he said, “It is the man of God who defied(AF) the word of the Lord. The Lord has given him over to the lion, which has mauled him and killed him, as the word of the Lord had warned him.”

27 The prophet said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me,” and they did so. 28 Then he went out and found the body lying on the road, with the donkey and the lion standing beside it. The lion had neither eaten the body nor mauled the donkey. 29 So the prophet picked up the body of the man of God, laid it on the donkey, and brought it back to his own city to mourn for him and bury him. 30 Then he laid the body in his own tomb,(AG) and they mourned over him and said, “Alas, my brother!”(AH)

31 After burying him, he said to his sons, “When I die, bury me in the grave where the man of God is buried; lay my bones(AI) beside his bones. 32 For the message he declared by the word of the Lord against the altar in Bethel and against all the shrines on the high places(AJ) in the towns of Samaria(AK) will certainly come true.”(AL)

33 Even after this, Jeroboam did not change his evil ways,(AM) but once more appointed priests for the high places from all sorts(AN) of people. Anyone who wanted to become a priest he consecrated for the high places. 34 This was the sin(AO) of the house of Jeroboam that led to its downfall and to its destruction(AP) from the face of the earth.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 12:25 Hebrew Penuel, a variant of Peniel
  2. 1 Kings 12:30 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text people went to the one as far as Dan

Saul in Jerusalem

26 When he arrived in Jerusalem,(A) he tried to associate with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, since they did not believe he was a disciple. 27 Barnabas, however, took him and brought him to the apostles and explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that He had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly(B) in the name of Jesus.(C) 28 Saul was coming and going with them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He conversed and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,[a] but they attempted to kill him.(D) 30 When the brothers found out, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.(E)

31 So the church(F) throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace, being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, and it increased in numbers.

The Healing of Aeneas

32 As Peter was traveling from place to place,[b] he also came down to the saints(G) who lived in Lydda.(H) 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed,”[c] and immediately he got up.(I) 35 So all who lived in Lydda and Sharon(J) saw him and turned to the Lord.

Dorcas Restored to Life

36 In Joppa(K) there was a disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas.[d] She was always doing good works(L) and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became sick and died. After washing her, they placed her in a room upstairs. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him who begged him, “Don’t delay in coming with us.” 39 So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they led him to the room upstairs. And all the widows approached him, weeping and showing him the robes and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down, prayed, and turning toward the body said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.(M) 41 He gave her his hand and helped her stand up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her alive. 42 This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And Peter stayed on many days in Joppa with Simon,(N) a leather tanner.[e]

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 9:29 Lit Hellenists; that is, Gk-speaking Jews
  2. Acts 9:32 Lit Peter was passing through all
  3. Acts 9:34 Or and get ready to eat
  4. Acts 9:36 = Gazelle
  5. Acts 9:43 Tanners were considered ritually unclean because of their occupation.

26 When he came to Jerusalem,(A) he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas(B) took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him,(C) and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.(D) 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,[a](E) but they tried to kill him.(F) 30 When the believers(G) learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea(H) and sent him off to Tarsus.(I)

31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria(J) enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.(K)

Aeneas and Dorcas

32 As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people(L) who lived in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you.(M) Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. 35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon(N) saw him and turned to the Lord.(O)

36 In Joppa(P) there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good(Q) and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.(R) 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples(S) heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”

39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows(T) stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

40 Peter sent them all out of the room;(U) then he got down on his knees(V) and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.”(W) She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.(X) 43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.(Y)

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 9:29 That is, Jews who had adopted the Greek language and culture

Psalm 132

David and Zion Chosen

A song of ascents.

Lord, remember David
and all the hardships he endured,(A)
and how he swore an oath to the Lord,
making a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:(B)
“I will not enter my house[a]
or get into my bed,[b]
I will not allow my eyes to sleep
or my eyelids to slumber(C)
until I find a place for the Lord,
a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”(D)

We heard of the ark in Ephrathah;[c](E)
we found it in the fields of Jaar.[d](F)
Let us go to His dwelling place;
let us worship at His footstool.(G)
Rise up, Lord, come to Your resting place,
You and Your powerful ark.(H)
May Your priests be clothed with righteousness,
and may Your godly people shout for joy.(I)
10 Because of Your servant David,
do not reject Your anointed one.[e](J)

11 The Lord swore an oath to David,
a promise He will not abandon:
“I will set one of your descendants[f]
on your throne.(K)
12 If your sons keep My covenant
and My decrees that I will teach them,
their sons will also sit on your throne forever.”(L)

13 For the Lord has chosen Zion;
He has desired it for His home:(M)
14 “This is My resting place forever;
I will make My home here
because I have desired it.(N)
15 I will abundantly bless its food;
I will satisfy its needy with bread.(O)
16 I will clothe its priests with salvation,
and its godly people will shout for joy.(P)
17 There I will make a horn grow for David;(Q)
I have prepared a lamp for My anointed one.(R)
18 I will clothe his enemies with shame,(S)
but the crown he wears[g] will be glorious.”(T)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 132:3 Lit enter the tent of my house
  2. Psalm 132:3 Lit into the couch of my bed
  3. Psalm 132:6 = Bethlehem
  4. Psalm 132:6 = Kiriath-jearim
  5. Psalm 132:10 = the king
  6. Psalm 132:11 Lit set the fruit of your womb
  7. Psalm 132:18 Lit but on him his crown

Psalm 132(A)

A song of ascents.

Lord, remember David
    and all his self-denial.(B)

He swore an oath to the Lord,
    he made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:(C)
“I will not enter my house(D)
    or go to my bed,
I will allow no sleep to my eyes
    or slumber to my eyelids,
till I find a place(E) for the Lord,
    a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

We heard it in Ephrathah,(F)
    we came upon it in the fields of Jaar:[a](G)
“Let us go to his dwelling place,(H)
    let us worship at his footstool,(I) saying,
‘Arise, Lord,(J) and come to your resting place,
    you and the ark of your might.
May your priests be clothed with your righteousness;(K)
    may your faithful people(L) sing for joy.’”

10 For the sake of your servant David,
    do not reject your anointed one.

11 The Lord swore an oath to David,(M)
    a sure oath he will not revoke:
“One of your own descendants(N)
    I will place on your throne.
12 If your sons keep my covenant(O)
    and the statutes I teach them,
then their sons will sit
    on your throne(P) for ever and ever.”

13 For the Lord has chosen Zion,(Q)
    he has desired it for his dwelling,(R) saying,
14 “This is my resting place for ever and ever;(S)
    here I will sit enthroned,(T) for I have desired it.
15 I will bless her with abundant provisions;
    her poor I will satisfy with food.(U)
16 I will clothe her priests(V) with salvation,
    and her faithful people will ever sing for joy.(W)

17 “Here I will make a horn[b] grow(X) for David
    and set up a lamp(Y) for my anointed one.(Z)
18 I will clothe his enemies with shame,(AA)
    but his head will be adorned with a radiant crown.”(AB)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 132:6 Or heard of it in Ephrathah, / we found it in the fields of Jearim. (See 1 Chron. 13:5,6) (And no quotation marks around verses 7-9)
  2. Psalm 132:17 Horn here symbolizes strong one, that is, king.

Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly,
and the pride of sons is their fathers.

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Children’s children(A) are a crown to the aged,
    and parents are the pride of their children.

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