A Prophet Condemns Ahab

³⁵ At the command of the Lord a certain member of a company of prophets^[a] said to another, “Strike me!” But the man refused to strike him.^(A)

¹⁵ When the company of prophets who were at Jericho saw him at a distance, they declared, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” They came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.^(A)

¹⁷ for it was said to me by the word of the Lord, ‘You shall not eat food or drink water there or return by the way that you came.’ ”^{(A) 18} Then the other^[a] said to him, “I also am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, ‘Bring him back with you into your house so that he may eat food and drink water.’ ” But he was deceiving him.

The Cross and Self-Denial

²⁴ Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.^(A)

¹⁴ Then Amos answered Amaziah, “I am^[a] no prophet nor a prophet’s son, but I am^[b] a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore trees,^(A)

³ Then take an iron plate and place it as an iron wall between you and the city; set your face toward it, and let it be in a state of siege, and press the siege against it. This is a sign for the house of Israel.^(A)

² Thus the Lord said to me: Make for yourself yoke straps and bars and put them on your neck.^{(A) 3} Send them to the king of Edom, the king of Moab, the king of the Ammonites, the king of Tyre, and the king of Sidon by the hand of the envoys who have come to Jerusalem to King Zedekiah of Judah.^(B)

² at that time the Lord had spoken to Isaiah son of Amoz, saying, “Go and loose the sackcloth from your loins and take your sandals off your feet,” and he had done so, walking naked and barefoot.^{(A) 3} Then the Lord said, “Just as my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and a portent against Egypt and Cush,^(B)

¹⁸ See, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.^(A)

Elisha Purifies the Pot of Stew

³⁸ When Elisha returned to Gilgal, there was a famine in the land. As the company of prophets was sitting before him, he said to his servant, “Put the large pot on, and make some stew for the company of prophets.”^(A)