Hoshea Last King of Israel^(A)

17 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea^(B) son of Elah became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned nine years. ² He did evil^(C) in the eyes of the Lord, but not like the kings of Israel who preceded him.

³ Shalmaneser^(D) king of Assyria came up to attack Hoshea, who had been Shalmaneser’s vassal and had paid him tribute.^{(E) 4} But the king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea was a traitor, for he had sent envoys to So^[a] king of Egypt,^(F) and he no longer paid tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore Shalmaneser seized him and put him in prison.^{(G) 5} The king of Assyria invaded the entire land, marched against Samaria and laid siege^(H) to it for three years. ⁶ In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria^(I) captured Samaria^(J) and deported^(K) the Israelites to Assyria. He settled them in Halah, in Gozan^(L) on the Habor River and in the towns of the Medes.

Israel Exiled Because of Sin

⁷ All this took place because the Israelites had sinned^(M) against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt^(N) from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods ⁸ and followed the practices of the nations^(O) the Lord had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced. ⁹ The Israelites secretly did things against the Lord their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city^(P) they built themselves high places in all their towns. ¹⁰ They set up sacred stones^(Q) and Asherah poles^(R) on every high hill and under every spreading tree.^{(S) 11} At every high place they burned incense, as the nations whom the Lord had driven out before them had done. They did wicked things that aroused the Lord’s anger. ¹² They worshiped idols,^(T) though the Lord had said, “You shall not do this.”^{[b] 13} The Lord warned^(U) Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers:^(V) “Turn from your evil ways.^(W) Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your ancestors to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.”^(X)

¹⁴ But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked^(Y) as their ancestors, who did not trust in the Lord their God. ¹⁵ They rejected his decrees and the covenant^(Z) he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols^(AA) and themselves became worthless.^(AB) They imitated the nations^(AC) around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”

¹⁶ They forsook all the commands of the Lord their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves,^(AD) and an Asherah^(AE) pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts,^(AF) and they worshiped Baal.^{(AG) 17} They sacrificed^(AH) their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sought omens^(AI) and sold^(AJ) themselves to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.

¹⁸ So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence.^(AK) Only the tribe of Judah was left, ¹⁹ and even Judah did not keep the commands of the Lord their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced.^{(AL) 20} Therefore the Lord rejected all the people of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers,^(AM) until he thrust them from his presence.^(AN)

²¹ When he tore^(AO) Israel away from the house of David, they made Jeroboam son of Nebat their king.^(AP) Jeroboam enticed Israel away from following the Lord and caused them to commit a great sin.^{(AQ) 22} The Israelites persisted in all the sins of Jeroboam and did not turn away from them ²³ until the Lord removed them from his presence,^(AR) as he had warned^(AS) through all his servants the prophets. So the people of Israel were taken from their homeland^(AT) into exile in Assyria, and they are still there.

Samaria Resettled

²⁴ The king of Assyria^(AU) brought people from Babylon, Kuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim^(AV) and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took over Samaria and lived in its towns. ²⁵ When they first lived there, they did not worship the Lord; so he sent lions^(AW) among them and they killed some of the people. ²⁶ It was reported to the king of Assyria: “The people you deported and resettled in the towns of Samaria do not know what the god of that country requires. He has sent lions among them, which are killing them off, because the people do not know what he requires.”

²⁷ Then the king of Assyria gave this order: “Have one of the priests you took captive from Samaria go back to live there and teach the people what the god of the land requires.” ²⁸ So one of the priests who had been exiled from Samaria came to live in Bethel and taught them how to worship the Lord.

²⁹ Nevertheless, each national group made its own gods in the several towns^(AX) where they settled, and set them up in the shrines^(AY) the people of Samaria had made at the high places.^{(AZ) 30} The people from Babylon made Sukkoth Benoth, those from Kuthah made Nergal, and those from Hamath made Ashima; ³¹ the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire as sacrifices to Adrammelek^(BA) and Anammelek, the gods of Sepharvaim.^{(BB) 32} They worshiped the Lord, but they also appointed all sorts^(BC) of their own people to officiate for them as priests in the shrines at the high places. ³³ They worshiped the Lord, but they also served their own gods in accordance with the customs of the nations from which they had been brought.

³⁴ To this day they persist in their former practices. They neither worship the Lord nor adhere to the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands that the Lord gave the descendants of Jacob, whom he named Israel.^{(BD) 35} When the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites, he commanded them: “Do not worship^(BE) any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them.^{(BF) 36} But the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm,^(BG) is the one you must worship. To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices. ³⁷ You must always be careful^(BH) to keep the decrees^(BI) and regulations, the laws and commands he wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. ³⁸ Do not forget^(BJ) the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods. ³⁹ Rather, worship the Lord your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.”

⁴⁰ They would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices. ⁴¹ Even while these people were worshiping the Lord,^(BK) they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their ancestors did.

3 So when we could stand it no longer,^(A) we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens.^{(B) 2} We sent Timothy,^(C) who is our brother and co-worker^(D) in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ,^(E) to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, ³ so that no one would be unsettled by these trials.^(F) For you know quite well that we are destined for them.^{(G) 4} In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.^{(H) 5} For this reason, when I could stand it no longer,^(I) I sent to find out about your faith.^(J) I was afraid that in some way the tempter^(K) had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.^(L)

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

⁶ But Timothy^(M) has just now come to us from you^(N) and has brought good news about your faith and love.^(O) He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.^{(P) 7} Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. ⁸ For now we really live, since you are standing firm^(Q) in the Lord. ⁹ How can we thank God enough for you^(R) in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?^{(S) 10} Night and day we pray^(T) most earnestly that we may see you again^(U) and supply what is lacking in your faith.

¹¹ Now may our God and Father^(V) himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. ¹² May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other^(W) and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. ¹³ May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless^(X) and holy in the presence of our God and Father^(Y) when our Lord Jesus comes^(Z) with all his holy ones.^(AA)

Daniel’s Vision of a Man

10 In the third year of Cyrus^(A) king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar).^(B) Its message was true^(C) and it concerned a great war.^[a] The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.

² At that time I, Daniel, mourned^(D) for three weeks. ³ I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips;^(E) and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

⁴ On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank^(F) of the great river, the Tigris,^{(G) 5} I looked up^(H) and there before me was a man dressed in linen,^(I) with a belt of fine gold^(J) from Uphaz around his waist. ⁶ His body was like topaz,^(K) his face like lightning,^(L) his eyes like flaming torches,^(M) his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze,^(N) and his voice^(O) like the sound of a multitude.

⁷ I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it,^(P) but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. ⁸ So I was left alone,^(Q) gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left,^(R) my face turned deathly pale^(S) and I was helpless.^{(T) 9} Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.^(U)

¹⁰ A hand touched me^(V) and set me trembling on my hands and knees.^{(W) 11} He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed,^(X) consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up,^(Y) for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

¹² Then he continued, “Do not be afraid,^(Z) Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble^(AA) yourself before your God, your words^(AB) were heard, and I have come in response to them.^{(AC) 13} But the prince^(AD) of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael,^(AE) one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. ¹⁴ Now I have come to explain^(AF) to you what will happen to your people in the future,^(AG) for the vision concerns a time yet to come.^(AH)”

¹⁵ While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless.^{(AI) 16} Then one who looked like a man^[b] touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak.^(AJ) I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguish^(AK) because of the vision, my lord, and I feel very weak. ¹⁷ How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.”^(AL)

¹⁸ Again the one who looked like a man touched^(AM) me and gave me strength.^{(AN) 19} “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,”^(AO) he said. “Peace!^(AP) Be strong now; be strong.”^(AQ)

When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”^(AR)

²⁰ So he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece^(AS) will come; ²¹ but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth.^(AT) (No one supports me against them except Michael,^(AU) your prince. 11 ¹ And in the first year of Darius^(AV) the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.)

The Kings of the South and the North

² “Now then, I tell you the truth:^(AW) Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.^{(AX) 3} Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases.^{(AY) 4} After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven.^(AZ) It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted^(BA) and given to others.

⁵ “The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power. ⁶ After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power^[c] will not last. In those days she will be betrayed, together with her royal escort and her father^[d] and the one who supported her.

⁷ “One from her family line will arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North^(BB) and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious. ⁸ He will also seize their gods,^(BC) their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt.^(BD) For some years he will leave the king of the North alone. ⁹ Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country. ¹⁰ His sons will prepare for war and assemble a great army, which will sweep on like an irresistible flood^(BE) and carry the battle as far as his fortress.

¹¹ “Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be defeated.^{(BF) 12} When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be filled with pride and will slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain triumphant. ¹³ For the king of the North will muster another army, larger than the first; and after several years, he will advance with a huge army fully equipped.

¹⁴ “In those times many will rise against the king of the South. Those who are violent among your own people will rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but without success. ¹⁵ Then the king of the North will come and build up siege ramps^(BG) and will capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will be powerless to resist; even their best troops will not have the strength to stand. ¹⁶ The invader will do as he pleases;^(BH) no one will be able to stand against him.^(BI) He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land and will have the power to destroy it.^{(BJ) 17} He will determine to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will make an alliance with the king of the South. And he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plans^[e] will not succeed^(BK) or help him. ¹⁸ Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands^(BL) and will take many of them, but a commander will put an end to his insolence and will turn his insolence back on him.^{(BM) 19} After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own country but will stumble and fall,^(BN) to be seen no more.^(BO)

²⁰ “His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor.^(BP) In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle.

²¹ “He will be succeeded by a contemptible^(BQ) person who has not been given the honor of royalty.^(BR) He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue. ²² Then an overwhelming army will be swept away^(BS) before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed.^{(BT) 23} After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully,^(BU) and with only a few people he will rise to power. ²⁴ When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his followers.^(BV) He will plot the overthrow of fortresses—but only for a time.

²⁵ “With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him. ²⁶ Those who eat from the king’s provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle. ²⁷ The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil,^(BW) will sit at the same table and lie^(BX) to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time.^{(BY) 28} The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country.

²⁹ “At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. ³⁰ Ships of the western coastlands^(BZ) will oppose him, and he will lose heart.^(CA) Then he will turn back and vent his fury^(CB) against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant.

³¹ “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice.^(CC) Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.^{(CD) 32} With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist^(CE) him.

³³ “Those who are wise will instruct^(CF) many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered.^{(CG) 34} When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere^(CH) will join them. ³⁵ Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined,^(CI) purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.

The King Who Exalts Himself

³⁶ “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself^(CJ) above every god and will say unheard-of things^(CK) against the God of gods.^(CL) He will be successful until the time of wrath^(CM) is completed, for what has been determined must take place.^{(CN) 37} He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all. ³⁸ Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. ³⁹ He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.^[f]

⁴⁰ “At the time of the end the king of the South^(CO) will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm^(CP) out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood.^{(CQ) 41} He will also invade the Beautiful Land.^(CR) Many countries will fall, but Edom,^(CS) Moab^(CT) and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. ⁴² He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. ⁴³ He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt,^(CU) with the Libyans^(CV) and Cushites^[g] in submission. ⁴⁴ But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. ⁴⁵ He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at^[h] the beautiful holy mountain.^(CW) Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.

Psalm 120

A song of ascents.