1 Kings 19-21
Christian Standard Bible
Elijah’s Journey to Horeb
19 Ahab told Jezebel(A) everything that Elijah had done(B) and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.(C) 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods punish me and do so severely(D) if I don’t make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow!”
3 Then Elijah became afraid[a](E) and immediately ran for his life.(F) When he came to Beer-sheba(G) that belonged to Judah, he left his servant there,(H) 4 but he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree(I) and prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough! Lord, take my life,(J) for I’m no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree.
Suddenly, an angel touched him.(K) The angel told him, “Get up and eat.” 6 Then he looked, and there at his head was a loaf of bread baked over hot stones, and a jug of water.(L) So he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 Then the angel of the Lord(M) returned for a second time and touched him. He said, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.” 8 So he got up, ate, and drank. Then on the strength from that food, he walked forty days and forty nights(N) to Horeb, the mountain of God.(O) 9 He entered a cave(P) there and spent the night.
Elijah’s Encounter with the Lord
Suddenly, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (Q)
10 He replied, “I have been very zealous(R) for the Lord God of Armies, but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant,(S) torn down your altars,(T) and killed your prophets(U) with the sword. I alone am left,(V) and they are looking for me to take my life.”(W)
11 Then he said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.”(X)
At that moment, the Lord passed by.(Y) A great and mighty wind(Z) was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake,(AA) but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake there was a fire,(AB) but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper.(AC) 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle(AD) and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies,” he replied, “but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they’re looking for me to take my life.”(AE)
15 Then the Lord said to him, “Go and return by the way you came to the Wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael(AF) as king over Aram. 16 You are to anoint Jehu(AG) son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha(AH) son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. 17 Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael,(AI) and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu.(AJ) 18 But I will leave seven thousand in Israel(AK)—every knee that has not bowed to Baal(AL) and every mouth that has not kissed him.”(AM)
Elisha’s Appointment as Elijah’s Successor
19 Elijah left there and found Elisha(AN) son of Shaphat as he was plowing. Twelve teams of oxen were in front of him, and he was with the twelfth team. Elijah walked by him and threw his mantle over him.(AO) 20 Elisha left the oxen, ran to follow Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow you.”(AP)
“Go on back,” he replied, “for what have I done to you?”
21 So he turned back from following him, took the team of oxen, and slaughtered[b] them. With the oxen’s wooden yoke and plow,(AQ) he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he left, followed Elijah, and served him.(AR)
Victory over Ben-hadad
20 Now King Ben-hadad(AS) of Aram assembled his entire army. Thirty-two kings,(AT) along with horses and chariots, were with him. He marched up, besieged Samaria,(AU) and fought against it. 2 He sent messengers into the city to King Ahab of Israel and said to him, “This is what Ben-hadad says: 3 ‘Your silver and your gold are mine! And your best wives and children are mine as well!’” (AV)
4 Then the king of Israel answered, “Just as you say, my lord the king: I am yours, along with all that I have.”
5 The messengers then returned and said, “This is what Ben-hadad says: ‘I have sent messengers to you, saying, “You are to give me your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children.” 6 But at this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you,[c](AW) and they will search your palace and your servants’ houses. They will lay their hands on and take away whatever is precious to you.’”
7 Then the king of Israel called for all the elders of the land and said, “Recognize[d] that this one is only looking for trouble,(AX) for he demanded my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold, and I didn’t turn him down.”
8 All the elders and all the people said to him, “Don’t listen or agree.”
9 So he said to Ben-hadad’s messengers, “Say to my lord the king, ‘Everything you demanded of your servant the first time, I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’” So the messengers left and took word back to him.
10 Then Ben-hadad sent messengers to him and said, “May the gods punish me and do so severely(AY) if Samaria’s dust(AZ) amounts to a handful for each of the people who follow me.”
11 The king of Israel answered, “Say this: ‘Don’t let the one who puts on his armor boast(BA) like the one who takes it off.’”
12 When Ben-hadad heard this response, while he and the kings were drinking(BB) in their quarters,[e] he said to his servants, “Take your positions.” So they took their positions against the city.
13 A prophet approached King Ahab of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Do you see this whole huge army? Watch, I am handing it over to you today so that you may know that I am the Lord.’”(BC)
14 Ahab asked, “By whom?”
And the prophet said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘By the young men of the provincial leaders.’”
Then he asked, “Who is to start the battle?” (BD)
He said, “You.”
15 So Ahab mobilized the young men of the provincial leaders, and there were 232. After them he mobilized all the Israelite troops: 7,000.(BE) 16 They marched out at noon while Ben-hadad and the thirty-two kings(BF) who were helping him were getting drunk in their quarters. 17 The young men of the provincial leaders marched out first. Then Ben-hadad sent out scouts, and they reported to him, saying, “Men are marching out of Samaria.”(BG)
18 So he said, “If they have marched out in peace,(BH) take them alive, and if they have marched out for battle, take them alive.”
19 The young men of the provincial leaders and the army behind them marched out from the city, 20 and each one struck down his opponent.(BI) So the Arameans fled and Israel pursued them,(BJ) but King Ben-hadad of Aram escaped on a horse with the cavalry. 21 Then the king of Israel marched out and attacked the cavalry and the chariots. He inflicted a severe slaughter on Aram.
22 The prophet approached the king of Israel and said to him, “Go and strengthen yourself, then consider carefully[f] what you should do, for in the spring(BK) the king of Aram will attack you.”
23 Now the king of Aram’s servants said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hill country.(BL) That’s why they were stronger than we were. Instead, we should fight with them on the plain; then we will certainly be stronger than they are. 24 Also do this: remove each king from his position and appoint captains in their place. 25 Raise another army for yourself like the army you lost—horse for horse, chariot for chariot—and let’s fight with them on the plain; and we will certainly be stronger than they are.” The king listened to them and did it.
26 In the spring, Ben-hadad mobilized the Arameans and went up to Aphek(BM) to battle Israel. 27 The Israelites mobilized, gathered supplies, and went to fight them. The Israelites camped in front of them like two little flocks of goats, while the Arameans filled the landscape.(BN)
28 Then the man of God(BO) approached and said to the king of Israel, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Because the Arameans have said, “The Lord is a god of the mountains and not a god of the valleys,”(BP) I will hand over all this whole huge army to you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”(BQ)
29 They camped opposite each other for seven days. On the seventh day,(BR) the battle took place, and the Israelites struck down the Arameans—one hundred thousand foot soldiers in one day. 30 The ones who remained fled into the city of Aphek, and the wall fell on those twenty-seven thousand remaining men.
Ben-hadad also fled and went into an inner room(BS) in the city. 31 His servants said to him, “Consider this: we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. So let’s put sackcloth around our waists(BT) and ropes around our heads, and let’s go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life.”
32 So they dressed with sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads, went to the king of Israel, and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please spare my life.’”
So he said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”
33 Now the men were looking for a sign of hope, so they quickly picked up on this[g] and responded, “Yes, it is your brother Ben-hadad.”
Then he said, “Go and bring him.”
So Ben-hadad came out to him, and Ahab had him come up into the chariot. 34 Then Ben-hadad said to him, “I restore to you the cities that my father took from your father,(BU) and you may set up marketplaces for yourself in Damascus, like my father set up in Samaria.”(BV)
Ahab responded, “On the basis of this treaty, I release you.” So he made a treaty with him and released him.
Ahab Rebuked by the Lord
35 One of the sons of the prophets(BW) said to his fellow prophet by the word of the Lord, “Strike me!” But the man refused to strike him.
36 He told him, “Because you did not listen to the Lord, mark my words: When you leave me, a lion will kill you.”(BX) When he left him, a lion attacked and killed him.
37 The prophet found another man and said to him, “Strike me!” So the man struck him, inflicting a wound. 38 Then the prophet went and waited for the king on the road. He disguised(BY) himself with a bandage over his eyes. 39 As the king was passing by, he cried out to the king and said, “Your servant marched out into the middle of the battle. Suddenly, a man turned aside and brought someone to me and said, ‘Guard this man! If he is ever missing, it will be your life in place of his life,(BZ) or you will weigh out seventy-five pounds[h] of silver.’ 40 But while your servant was busy here and there, he disappeared.”
The king of Israel said to him, “That will be your sentence; you yourself have decided it.”(CA)
41 He quickly removed the bandage from his eyes. The king of Israel recognized that he was one of the prophets. 42 The prophet said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Because you released from your hand the man I had set apart for destruction,(CB) it will be your life in place of his life and your people in place of his people.’” 43 The king of Israel left for home resentful and angry,(CC) and he entered Samaria.
Ahab and Naboth’s Vineyard
21 Some time passed after these events. Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard; it was in Jezreel(CD) next to the palace of King Ahab of Samaria.(CE) 2 So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyard(CF) so I can have it for a vegetable garden, since it is right next to my palace. I will give you a better vineyard in its place, or if you prefer, I will give you its value in silver.”
3 But Naboth said to Ahab, “As the Lord is my witness, I will never give my ancestors’ inheritance(CG) to you.”
4 So Ahab went to his palace resentful and angry(CH) because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had told him. He had said, “I will not give you my ancestors’ inheritance.” He lay down on his bed, turned his face away,(CI) and didn’t eat any food.(CJ)
5 Then his wife Jezebel came to him and said to him, “Why are you so upset that you refuse to eat?”
6 “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite,” he replied. “I told him, ‘Give me your vineyard for silver, or if you wish, I will give you a vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I won’t give you my vineyard!’”
7 Then his wife Jezebel said to him, “Now, exercise your royal power over Israel. Get up, eat some food, and be happy. For I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”(CK) 8 So she wrote letters(CL) in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal.(CM) She sent the letters to the elders(CN) and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. 9 In the letters, she wrote:
Proclaim a fast(CO) and seat Naboth at the head of the people. 10 Then seat two wicked men(CP) opposite him and have them testify against him, saying, “You have cursed God and the king!” (CQ) Then take him out and stone him to death.(CR)
11 The men of his city, the elders and nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them, just as it was written in the letters she had sent them. 12 They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the people. 13 The two wicked men came in and sat opposite him. Then the wicked men testified against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed God and the king!” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death with stones. 14 Then they sent word to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned to death.”(CS)
15 When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite who refused to give it to you for silver,(CT) since Naboth isn’t alive, but dead.” 16 When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite to take possession of it.
The Lord’s Judgment on Ahab
17 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite:(CU) 18 “Get up and go to meet King Ahab of Israel,(CV) who is in Samaria.(CW) He’s in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. 19 Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you murdered(CX) and also taken possession?’ (CY) Then tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where the dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, the dogs will also lick up your blood!’” (CZ)
20 Ahab said to Elijah, “So, my enemy, you’ve found me, have you?” (DA)
He replied, “I have found you because you devoted(DB) yourself to do what is evil in the Lord’s sight. 21 This is what the Lord says:[i] ‘I am about to bring disaster on you and will eradicate your descendants:
22 I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam(DD) son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha(DE) son of Ahijah, because you have angered me and caused Israel to sin.’(DF) 23 The Lord also speaks of Jezebel: ‘The dogs will eat Jezebel in the plot of land[l] at Jezreel:(DG)
24 Anyone who belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, the dogs will eat,
and anyone who dies in the field, the birds[m] will eat.’”(DH)
25 Still, there was no one like Ahab, who devoted himself to do what was evil in the Lord’s sight, because his wife Jezebel incited him.(DI) 26 He committed the most detestable acts by following idols(DJ) as the Amorites(DK) had, whom the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites.
27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put sackcloth over his body, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth(DL) and walked around subdued. 28 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: 29 “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? I will not bring the disaster during his lifetime,(DM) because he has humbled himself before me. I will bring the disaster on his house during his son’s lifetime.”(DN)
Footnotes
- 19:3 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg; other Hb mss read He saw
- 19:21 Or sacrificed
- 20:6 Lit take all the delight of your eyes
- 20:7 Lit “Know and see
- 20:12 Lit booths, also in v. 16
- 20:22 Lit then know and see
- 20:33 Some Hb mss, alt Hb tradition, LXX; other Hb mss read they hastened and caught hold; “Is this it?”
- 20:39 Lit a talent
- 21:21 LXX; MT omits This is what the Lord says
- 21:21 Lit eliminate Ahab’s one who urinates against the wall
- 21:21 Or males, even the weak and impaired; Hb obscure
- 21:23 Some Hb mss, Syr, Tg, Vg, 2Kg 9:36; other Hb mss, LXX read the rampart
- 21:24 Lit birds of the sky
2 Chronicles 17
Christian Standard Bible
Judah’s King Jehoshaphat
17 His son Jehoshaphat became king in his place(A) and strengthened himself against Israel. 2 He stationed troops in every fortified city of Judah(B) and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.(C)
3 Now the Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the former ways of his ancestor David.[a] He did not seek the Baals 4 but sought the God of his father and walked by his commands, not according to the practices of Israel.(D) 5 So the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. Then all Judah brought him tribute, and he had riches and honor in abundance.(E) 6 He took great pride in the Lord’s ways, and he again(F) removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.(G)
Jehoshaphat’s Educational Plan
7 In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials—Ben-hail,[b] Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah—to teach in the cities of Judah.(H) 8 The Levites with them were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah,[c] Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah; the priests, Elishama and Jehoram, were with these Levites. 9 They taught throughout Judah, having the book of the Lord’s instruction with them.(I) They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people.
10 The terror of the Lord was on all the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah,(J) so they didn’t fight against Jehoshaphat. 11 Some of the Philistines also brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and the Arabs brought him flocks: 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.(K)
Jehoshaphat’s Military Might
12 Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger. He built fortresses(L) and storage cities in Judah 13 and carried out great works in the towns of Judah. He had fighting men, valiant warriors, in Jerusalem. 14 These are their numbers according to their ancestral families.[d] For Judah, the commanders of thousands:
Adnah the commander and three hundred thousand valiant warriors with him;
15 next to him, Jehohanan the commander and two hundred eighty thousand with him;
16 next to him, Amasiah son of Zichri, the volunteer(M) of the Lord, and two hundred thousand valiant warriors with him;
17 from Benjamin, Eliada, a valiant warrior, and two hundred thousand with him armed with bow and shield;
18 next to him, Jehozabad and one hundred eighty thousand with him equipped for war.
19 These were the ones who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.(N)
Psalm 129
Christian Standard Bible
Psalm 129
Protection of the Oppressed
A song of ascents.
1 Since my youth they have often attacked me—
let Israel say—
2 since my youth they have often attacked me,
but they have not prevailed against me.(A)
3 Plowmen plowed over my back;
they made their furrows long.(B)
4 The Lord is righteous;
he has cut the ropes of the wicked.(C)
5 Let all who hate Zion
be driven back in disgrace.(D)
6 Let them be like grass on the rooftops,
which withers before it grows up[a](E)
7 and can’t even fill the hands of the reaper
or the arms of the one who binds sheaves.(F)
8 Then none who pass by will say,
“May the Lord’s blessing be on you.
We bless you in the name of the Lord.”(G)
Footnotes
- 129:6 Or it can be pulled out
Matthew 1
Christian Standard Bible
The Genealogy of Jesus Christ
1 An(A) account(B) of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David,(C) the Son of Abraham:(D)
From Abraham to David
2 Abraham fathered[a] Isaac,
Isaac fathered Jacob,
Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers,(E)
3 Judah fathered Perez and Zerah by Tamar,
Perez fathered Hezron,
Hezron fathered Aram,(F)
4 Aram fathered Amminadab,
Amminadab fathered Nahshon,
Nahshon fathered Salmon,
5 Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab,
Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth,
Obed fathered Jesse,(G)
6 and Jesse fathered King David.
From David to the Babylonian Exile
David fathered Solomon[b] by Uriah’s wife,(H)
7 Solomon fathered Rehoboam,
Rehoboam fathered Abijah,
Abijah fathered Asa,[c]
8 Asa[d] fathered Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat fathered Joram,[e]
Joram fathered Uzziah,(I)
9 Uzziah fathered Jotham,
Jotham fathered Ahaz,
Ahaz fathered Hezekiah,
10 Hezekiah fathered Manasseh,
Manasseh fathered Amon,[f]
Amon fathered Josiah,(J)
11 and Josiah fathered Jeconiah and his brothers
at the time of the exile to Babylon.(K)
From the Exile to the Messiah
12 After the exile to Babylon
Jeconiah fathered Shealtiel,
Shealtiel fathered Zerubbabel,
13 Zerubbabel fathered Abiud,
Abiud fathered Eliakim,
Eliakim fathered Azor,(L)
14 Azor fathered Zadok,
Zadok fathered Achim,
Achim fathered Eliud,
15 Eliud fathered Eleazar,
Eleazar fathered Matthan,
Matthan fathered Jacob,
16 and Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary,
who gave birth to Jesus who is called the Messiah.(M)
17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations; and from David until the exile to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the exile to Babylon until the Messiah, fourteen generations.(N)
The Nativity of the Messiah
18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged[g] to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit.(O) 19 So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man,(P) and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.(Q)
20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.(R) 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus,(S) because he will save his people from their sins.”(T)
22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 See, the virgin will become pregnant
and give birth to a son,
and they will name him Immanuel,[h]
which is translated “God is with us.”(U)
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her(V) 25 but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son.[i] And he named him Jesus.(W)
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