Bible in 90 Days
21 At that time the people of Israel were divided: half the people followed Tibni son of Ginath, to make him king, and half followed Omri. 22 However, the people who followed Omri proved stronger than those who followed Tibni son of Ginath. So Tibni died and Omri became king.
Israel’s King Omri
23 In the thirty-first year of Judah’s King Asa, Omri became king over Israel and reigned 12 years. He reigned six years in Tirzah,(A) 24 then he bought the hill of Samaria(B) from Shemer for 150 pounds[a] of silver, and he built up the hill. He named the city he built Samaria[b] based on the name Shemer, the owner of the hill.
25 Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s sight; he did more evil than all who were before him.(C) 26 He followed the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat and in his sins that he caused Israel to commit, provoking the Lord God of Israel with their worthless idols.(D) 27 The rest of the events of Omri’s reign, along with his accomplishments and the might he exercised, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings. 28 Omri rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab became king in his place.
Israel’s King Ahab
29 Ahab son of Omri became king over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of Judah’s King Asa; Ahab son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria 22 years. 30 But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s sight more than all who were before him.(E) 31 Then, as if following the sin of Jeroboam son of Nebat were a trivial matter, he married Jezebel,(F) the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians,(G) and then proceeded to serve Baal and worship him.(H) 32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal(I) that he had built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole.(J) Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.(K)
34 During his reign, Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho. At the cost of Abiram his firstborn, he laid its foundation, and at the cost of Segub his youngest, he set up its gates, according to the word of the Lord He had spoken through Joshua son of Nun.(L)
Elijah Announces Famine
17 Now Elijah(M) the Tishbite, from the Gilead settlers,[c](N) said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives,(O) I stand before Him, and there will be no dew or rain during these years except by my command!”(P)
2 Then a revelation from the Lord came to him: 3 “Leave here, turn eastward, and hide(Q) yourself at the Wadi Cherith where it enters the Jordan. 4 You are to drink from the wadi. I have commanded the ravens(R) to provide for you there.”
5 So he did what the Lord commanded. Elijah left and lived by the Wadi Cherith where it enters the Jordan. 6 The ravens kept bringing him bread and meat in the morning and in the evening,(S) and he drank from the wadi. 7 After a while, the wadi dried up because there had been no rain in the land.
Elijah and the Widow
8 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 9 “Get up, go to Zarephath(T) that belongs to Sidon and stay there. Look, I have commanded a woman who is a widow to provide for you there.” 10 So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath. When he arrived at the city gate, there was a widow woman gathering wood. Elijah called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup and let me drink.”(U) 11 As she went to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.”
12 But she said, “As the Lord your God lives,(V) I don’t have anything baked—only a handful of flour in the jar and a bit of oil(W) in the jug. Just now, I am gathering a couple of sticks in order to go prepare it for myself and my son so we can eat it and die.”(X)
13 Then Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid; go and do as you have said. But first make me a small loaf from it and bring it out to me. Afterward, you may make some for yourself and your son, 14 for this is what the Lord God of Israel says, ‘The flour jar will not become empty and the oil jug will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the surface of the land.”(Y)
15 So she proceeded to do according to the word of Elijah. Then the woman, Elijah, and her household ate for many days.(Z) 16 The flour jar did not become empty, and the oil jug did not run dry, according to the word of the Lord He had spoken through[d] Elijah.
The Widow’s Son Raised
17 After this, the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. His illness became very severe until no breath remained in him.(AA) 18 She said to Elijah, “Man of God,(AB) what do we have in common?(AC) Have you come to remind me of my guilt(AD) and to kill my son?”
19 But Elijah said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him from her arms, brought him up to the upper room(AE) where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. 20 Then he cried out to the Lord(AF) and said, “My Lord God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow I am staying with by killing her son?” 21 Then he stretched himself out over the boy three times.(AG) He cried out to the Lord and said, “My Lord God, please let this boy’s life return to him!”
22 So the Lord listened to Elijah’s voice, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived.(AH) 23 Then Elijah took the boy, brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother.(AI) Elijah said, “Look, your son is alive.”
24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know you are a man of God(AJ) and the Lord’s word from your mouth is true.”(AK)
Elijah’s Message to Ahab
18 After a long time, the word of the Lord(AL) came to Elijah in the third year:(AM) “Go and present yourself to Ahab.(AN) I will send rain on the surface of the land.” 2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.
The famine was severe in Samaria.(AO) 3 Ahab called for Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace.(AP) Obadiah was a man who greatly feared the Lord(AQ) 4 and took 100 prophets and hid them, 50 men to a cave, and provided them with food and water when Jezebel(AR) slaughtered the Lord’s prophets.(AS) 5 Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go throughout the land to every spring of water and to every wadi. Perhaps we’ll find grass so we can keep the horses and mules alive and not have to destroy any cattle.”(AT) 6 They divided the land between them in order to cover it. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went the other way by himself.
7 While Obadiah was walking along the road, Elijah suddenly met him.(AU) When Obadiah recognized him, he fell with his face to the ground and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”
8 “It is I,” he replied. “Go tell your lord, ‘Elijah is here!’”
9 But Obadiah said, “What sin have I committed,(AV) that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to put me to death? 10 As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent someone to search for you. When they said, ‘He is not here,’ he made that kingdom or nation swear they had not found you.
11 “Now you say, ‘Go tell your lord, “Elijah is here!”’ 12 But when I leave you, the Spirit of the Lord may carry you off(AW) to some place I don’t know. Then when I go report to Ahab and he doesn’t find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared the Lord from my youth. 13 Wasn’t it reported to my lord what I did when Jezebel slaughtered the Lord’s prophets? I hid 100 of the prophets of the Lord, 50 men to a cave, and I provided them with food and water. 14 Now you say, ‘Go tell your lord, “Elijah is here!”’ He will kill me!”
15 Then Elijah said, “As the Lord of Hosts lives,(AX) before whom I stand, today I will present myself to Ahab.”
16 Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him. Then Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is that you, you destroyer of Israel?”(AY)
18 He replied, “I have not destroyed Israel, but you and your father’s house have, because you have abandoned the Lord’s commands(AZ) and followed the Baals.(BA) 19 Now summon all Israel to meet me at Mount Carmel,(BB) along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah(BC) who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
Elijah at Mount Carmel
20 So Ahab summoned all the Israelites and gathered the prophets at Mount Carmel. 21 Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions?(BD) If Yahweh is God, follow Him. But if Baal, follow him.”(BE) But the people didn’t answer him a word.
22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I am the only remaining prophet of the Lord,(BF) but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. 23 Let two bulls be given to us. They are to choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and place it on the wood but not light the fire. I will prepare the other bull and place it on the wood but not light the fire. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of Yahweh.(BG) The God who answers with fire, He is God.”
All the people answered, “That sounds good.”
25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Since you are so numerous, choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first. Then call on the name of your god but don’t light the fire.”
26 So they took the bull that he gave them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound;(BH) no one answered. Then they danced, hobbling around the altar they had made.
27 At noon Elijah mocked them. He said, “Shout loudly, for he’s a god! Maybe he’s thinking it over; maybe he has wandered away;[e] or maybe he’s on the road. Perhaps he’s sleeping and will wake up!”(BI) 28 They shouted loudly, and cut themselves(BJ) with knives and spears, according to their custom, until blood gushed over them. 29 All afternoon they kept on raving until the offering of the evening sacrifice,(BK) but there was no sound; no one answered, no one paid attention.(BL)
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near me.” So all the people approached him. Then he repaired the Lord’s altar that had been torn down:(BM) 31 Elijah took 12 stones—according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Israel will be your name”(BN)— 32 and he built an altar(BO) with the stones in the name of Yahweh. Then he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold about four gallons.[f][g] 33 Next, he arranged the wood, cut up the bull, and placed it on the wood. He said, “Fill four water pots with water and pour it on the offering to be burned and on the wood.” 34 Then he said, “A second time!” and they did it a second time. And then he said, “A third time!” and they did it a third time. 35 So the water ran all around the altar; he even filled the trench with water.
36 At the time for offering the evening sacrifice,(BP) Elijah the prophet approached the altar and said, “Yahweh, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,(BQ) today let it be known(BR) that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that at Your word I have done all these things. 37 Answer me, Lord! Answer me so that this people will know that You, Yahweh, are God(BS) and that You have turned their hearts back.”
38 Then Yahweh’s fire fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 When all the people saw it, they fell facedown(BT) and said, “Yahweh, He is God! Yahweh, He is God!”(BU)
40 Then Elijah ordered them, “Seize the prophets of Baal!(BV) Do not let even one of them escape.” So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Wadi Kishon(BW) and slaughtered them there.(BX) 41 Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a rainstorm.”(BY)
42 So Ahab went to eat and drink, but Elijah went up to the summit of Carmel.(BZ) He bowed down on the ground and put his face between his knees.(CA) 43 Then he said to his servant, “Go up and look toward the sea.”
So he went up, looked, and said, “There’s nothing.”
Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”
44 On the seventh(CB) time, he reported, “There’s a cloud as small as a man’s hand coming from the sea.”
Then Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Get your chariot ready and go down so the rain doesn’t stop you.’”
45 In a little while, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and there was a downpour. So Ahab got in his chariot and went to Jezreel.(CC) 46 The power of the Lord(CD) was on Elijah, and he tucked his mantle under his belt(CE) and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
Elijah’s Journey to Horeb
19 Ahab told Jezebel(CF) everything that Elijah had done(CG) and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.(CH) 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods punish me and do so severely(CI) if I don’t make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow!”
3 Then Elijah became afraid[h](CJ) and immediately ran for his life.(CK) When he came to Beer-sheba(CL) that belonged to Judah, he left his servant there,(CM) 4 but he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree(CN) and prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough! Lord, take my life,(CO) for I’m no better than my fathers.” 5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree.
Suddenly, an angel touched him.(CP) 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.(CQ) So he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 Then the angel of the Lord(CR) 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 40 days and 40 nights(CS) to Horeb, the mountain of God.(CT) 9 He entered a cave(CU) there and spent the night.
Elijah’s Encounter with the Lord
Then the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”(CV)
10 He replied, “I have been very zealous(CW) for the Lord God of Hosts, but the Israelites have abandoned Your covenant,(CX) torn down Your altars,(CY) and killed Your prophets(CZ) with the sword. I alone am left,(DA) and they are looking for me to take my life.”(DB)
11 Then He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.”(DC)
At that moment, the Lord passed by.(DD) A great and mighty wind(DE) 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,(DF) but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake there was a fire,(DG) but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper.(DH) 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle(DI) 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 Hosts,” 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.”(DJ)
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(DK) as king over Aram. 16 You are to anoint Jehu(DL) son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha(DM) son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. 17 Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael,(DN) and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu.(DO) 18 But I will leave 7,000 in Israel(DP)—every knee that has not bowed to Baal(DQ) and every mouth that has not kissed him.”(DR)
Elisha’s Appointment as Elijah’s Successor
19 Elijah left there and found Elisha(DS) 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.(DT) 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.”(DU)
“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 them. With the oxen’s wooden yoke and plow,(DV) he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he left, followed Elijah, and served him.(DW)
Victory over Ben-hadad
20 Now Ben-hadad(DX) king of Aram assembled his entire army. Thirty-two kings,(DY) along with horses and chariots, were with him. He marched up, besieged Samaria,(DZ) and fought against it. 2 He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king 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!’”(EA)
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, 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, “Think it over and you will see that this one is only looking for trouble,(EB) 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(EC) if Samaria’s dust(ED) 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(EE) like the one who takes it off.’”
12 When Ben-hadad heard this response, while he and the kings were drinking(EF) in the tents, he said to his servants, “Take your positions.” So they took their positions against the city.
13 A prophet came to Ahab king of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Do you see this entire great army? Watch, I am handing it over to you today so that you may know that I am Yahweh.’”(EG)
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?”(EH)
He said, “You.”
15 So Ahab counted the young men of the provincial leaders, and there were 232. After them he counted all the Israelite troops: 7,000.(EI) 16 They marched out at noon while Ben-hadad and the 32 kings(EJ) who were helping him were getting drunk in the tents. 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.”(EK)
18 So he said, “If they have marched out in peace,(EL) 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.(EM) So the Arameans fled and Israel pursued them,(EN) but Ben-hadad king 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 great slaughter on Aram.
22 The prophet approached the king of Israel and said to him, “Go and strengthen yourself, then consider what you should do, for in the spring(EO) the king of Aram will march against you.”
23 Now the king of Aram’s servants said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hill country.(EP) 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 will be. 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 will be.” The king listened to them and did so.
26 In the spring, Ben-hadad mobilized the Arameans and went up to Aphek(EQ) 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.(ER)
28 Then the man of God(ES) approached and said to the king of Israel, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Because the Arameans have said: Yahweh is a god of the mountains and not a god of the valleys,(ET) I will hand over all this great army to you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”(EU)
29 They camped opposite each other for seven days. On the seventh day,(EV) the battle took place, and the Israelites struck down the Arameans—100,000 foot soldiers in one day. 30 The ones who remained fled into the city of Aphek, and the wall fell on those 27,000 remaining men.
Ben-hadad also fled and went into an inner room(EW) 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(EX) 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[i] 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,(EY) and you may set up marketplaces for yourself in Damascus, like my father set up in Samaria.”(EZ)
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(FA) 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 voice of the Lord, mark my words: When you leave me, a lion will kill you.”(FB) 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(FC) 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,(FD) or you will weigh out 75 pounds[j] 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.”(FE)
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,(FF) 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,(FG) 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(FH) next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.(FI) 2 So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyard(FJ) 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, “I will never give my fathers’ inheritance(FK) to you.”
4 So Ahab went to his palace resentful and angry(FL) because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had told him. He had said, “I will not give you my fathers’ inheritance.” He lay down on his bed, turned his face away,(FM) and didn’t eat any food.(FN)
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.”(FO) 8 So she wrote letters(FP) in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal.(FQ) She sent the letters to the elders(FR) and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. 9 In the letters, she wrote:
Proclaim a fast(FS) and seat Naboth at the head of the people. 10 Then seat two wicked men(FT) opposite him and have them testify against him, saying, “You have cursed God and the king!”(FU) Then take him out and stone him to death.(FV)
11 The men of his city, the elders and nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had commanded them, as 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.”(FW)
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,(FX) 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:(FY) 18 “Get up and go to meet Ahab king of Israel,(FZ) who is in Samaria.(GA) You’ll find him 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(GB) and also taken possession?’(GC) Then tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where the dogs licked Naboth’s blood, the dogs will also lick your blood!’”(GD)
20 Ahab said to Elijah, “So, you have caught me, my enemy.”(GE)
He replied, “I have caught you because you devoted(GF) yourself to do what is evil in the Lord’s sight. 21 This is what the Lord says:[k] ‘I am about to bring disaster on you and will sweep away your descendants:
22 I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam(GH) son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha(GI) son of Ahijah, because you have provoked My anger and caused Israel to sin.(GJ) 23 The Lord also speaks of Jezebel: The dogs will eat Jezebel in the plot of land[m] at Jezreel:(GK)
24 He who belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, the dogs will eat,
and he who dies in the field, the birds of the sky will eat.’”(GL)
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.(GM) 26 He committed the most detestable acts by going after idols(GN) as the Amorites(GO) 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(GP) 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,(GQ) because he has humbled himself before Me. I will bring the disaster on his house during his son’s lifetime.”(GR)
Jehoshaphat’s Alliance with Ahab
22 There was(GS) a lull of three years(GT) without war between Aram and Israel. 2 However, in the third year, Jehoshaphat(GU) king of Judah went to visit the king of Israel.(GV) 3 The king of Israel had said to his servants, “Don’t you know that Ramoth-gilead(GW) is ours, but we have failed to take it from the hand of the king of Aram?” 4 So(GX) he asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight Ramoth-gilead?”(GY)
Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”(GZ) 5 But Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “First, please ask what the Lord’s will is.”(HA)
6 So the king of Israel gathered the prophets, about 400 men,(HB) and asked them, “Should I go against Ramoth-gilead for war or should I refrain?”
They replied, “March up, and the Lord will hand it over to the king.”(HC)
7 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn’t there a prophet of Yahweh here anymore?(HD) Let’s ask him.”
8 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man who can ask Yahweh, but I hate him(HE) because he never prophesies good about me,(HF) but only disaster. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”
“The king shouldn’t say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.
9 So the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Hurry and get Micaiah son of Imlah!”
10 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah,(HG) clothed in royal attire, were each sitting on his own throne. They were on the threshing floor(HH) at the entrance to Samaria’s gate, and all the prophets were prophesying in front of them. 11 Then Zedekiah(HI) son of Chenaanah made iron horns(HJ) and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You will gore the Arameans with these until they are finished off.’” 12 And all the prophets were prophesying the same: “March up to Ramoth-gilead(HK) and succeed, for the Lord will hand it over to the king.”
Micaiah’s Message of Defeat
13 The messenger(HL) who went to call Micaiah instructed him, “Look, the words of the prophets are unanimously favorable for the king. So let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.”
14 But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives,(HM) I will say whatever the Lord says to me.”(HN)
15 So he went to the king, and the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to Ramoth-gilead for war, or should we refrain?”
Micaiah told him, “March up and succeed. Yahweh will hand it over to the king.”
16 But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of Yahweh?”
17 So Micaiah said:
I saw all Israel scattered on the hills
like sheep without a shepherd.(HO)
And the Lord said,
“They have no master;
let everyone return home in peace.”(HP)
18 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you he never prophesies good about me, but only disaster?”
19 Then Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne,(HQ) and the whole heavenly host(HR) was standing by Him at His right hand and at His left hand. 20 And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’(HS) So one was saying this and another was saying that.
21 “Then a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will entice him.’
22 “The Lord asked him, ‘How?’
“He said, ‘I will go and become a lying spirit(HT) in the mouth of all his prophets.’
“Then He said, ‘You will certainly entice him and prevail.(HU) Go and do that.’
23 “You see, the Lord has put a lying spirit into the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the Lord has pronounced disaster against you.”
24 Then Zedekiah(HV) son of Chenaanah came up, hit Micaiah in the face, and demanded, “Did[n] the Spirit of the Lord leave me to speak to you?”(HW)
25 Micaiah replied, “You will soon see when you go to hide yourself in an inner chamber on that day.”(HX)
26 Then the king of Israel ordered, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the king’s son,(HY) 27 and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this guy in prison(HZ) and feed him only bread and water[o] until I come back safely.’”
28 But Micaiah said, “If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spoken through me.”(IA) Then he said, “Listen, all you people!”[p](IB)
Ahab’s Death
29 Then(IC) the king of Israel and Judah’s King Jehoshaphat went up to Ramoth-gilead.(ID) 30 But the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise(IE) myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal attire.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.(IF)
31 Now the king of Aram had ordered his 32 chariot commanders,(IG) “Do not fight with anyone at all except the king of Israel.”(IH)
32 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they shouted, “He must be the king of Israel!” So they turned to fight against him, but Jehoshaphat cried out. 33 When the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.
34 But a man drew his bow(II) without taking special aim and struck the king of Israel through the joints of his armor. So he said to his charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle,[q] for I am badly wounded!”(IJ) 35 The battle raged throughout that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. He died that evening,(IK) and blood from his wound flowed into the bottom of the chariot. 36 Then the cry rang out in the army as the sun set, declaring:
Each man to his own city,
and each man to his own land!(IL)
37 So the king died and was brought to Samaria. They buried the king in Samaria.(IM) 38 Then someone washed the chariot at the pool of Samaria. The dogs licked up his blood, and the prostitutes bathed in it, according to the word of the Lord that He had spoken.(IN)
39 The rest of the events of Ahab’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, including the ivory palace(IO) he built, and all the cities he built, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.(IP) 40 Ahab rested with his fathers,(IQ) and his son Ahaziah(IR) became king in his place.
Judah’s King Jehoshaphat
41 Jehoshaphat(IS) son of Asa became king over Judah in the fourth year of Israel’s King Ahab. 42 Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he became king; he reigned 25 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. 43 He walked in all the ways of his father Asa;(IT) he did not turn away from them but did what was right in the Lord’s sight. However, the high places were not taken away;[r] the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.(IU) 44 Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel.(IV)
45 The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, along with the might he exercised and how he waged war, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.(IW) 46 He removed from the land the rest of the male cult prostitutes who were left from the days of his father Asa.(IX) 47 There was no king in Edom;(IY) a deputy served as king. 48 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish(IZ) to go to Ophir(JA) for gold, but they did not go because the ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber.(JB) 49 At that time, Ahaziah(JC) son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships,” but Jehoshaphat was not willing. 50 Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the city of his ancestor David.(JD) His son Jehoram(JE) became king in his place.
Israel’s King Ahaziah
51 Ahaziah(JF) son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria(JG) in the seventeenth year of Judah’s King Jehoshaphat(JH) and reigned over Israel two years. 52 He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight.(JI) He walked in the way of his father,(JJ) in the way of his mother,(JK) and in the way of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin.(JL) 53 He served Baal and worshiped him.(JM) He provoked the Lord God of Israel just as his father had done.(JN)
Ahaziah’s Sickness and Death
1 After the death of Ahab, Moab(JO) rebelled against Israel.(JP) 2 Ahaziah(JQ) had fallen through the latticed window of his upper room in Samaria(JR) and was injured. So he sent messengers instructing them: “Go inquire of Baal-zebub,[s](JS) the god of Ekron,(JT) if I will recover from this injury.”(JU)
3 But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite,(JV) “Go and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria(JW) and ask them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?’ 4 Therefore, this is what the Lord says: ‘You will not get up from your sickbed—you will certainly die.’” Then Elijah left.
5 The messengers returned to the king, who asked them, “Why have you come back?”
6 They replied, “A man came to meet us and said, ‘Go back to the king who sent you and declare to him: This is what the Lord says: Is it because there is no God in Israel that you’re sending these men to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore, you will not get up from your sickbed—you will certainly die.’”
7 The king asked them, “What sort of man came up to meet you and spoke those words to you?”
8 They replied, “A hairy man with a leather belt around his waist.”(JX)
He said, “It’s Elijah the Tishbite.”(JY)
9 So King Ahaziah sent a captain of 50 with his 50 men(JZ) to Elijah. When the captain went up to him, he was sitting on top of the hill. He announced, “Man of God,(KA) the king declares, ‘Come down!’”
10 Elijah responded to the captain of the 50, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your 50 men.” Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his 50 men.(KB)
11 So the king sent another captain of 50 with his 50 men to Elijah. He took in the situation[t] and announced, “Man of God, this is what the king says: ‘Come down immediately!’”
12 Elijah responded, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your 50 men.” So a divine fire[u] came down from heaven and consumed him and his 50 men.
13 Then the king sent a third captain of 50 with his 50 men. The third captain of 50 went up and fell on his knees in front of Elijah and begged him, “Man of God,(KC) please let my life and the lives of these 50 servants of yours be precious in your sight.(KD) 14 Already fire has come down from heaven and consumed the first two captains of 50 with their fifties, but this time let my life be precious in your sight.”
15 The angel of the Lord(KE) said to Elijah, “Go down with him. Don’t be afraid of him.”(KF) So he got up and went down with him to the king.
16 Then Elijah said to King Ahaziah, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron—is it because there is no God in Israel for you to inquire of His will?—you will not get up from your sickbed; you will certainly die.’”
17 Ahaziah died according to the word of the Lord that Elijah had spoken. Since he had no son, Joram[v](KG) became king in his place. This happened in the second year of Judah’s King Jehoram(KH) son of Jehoshaphat.[w] 18 The rest of the events of Ahaziah’s reign, along with his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.[x](KI)
Elijah in the Whirlwind
2 The time had come for the Lord to take Elijah up to heaven(KJ) in a whirlwind.(KK) Elijah and Elisha(KL) were traveling from Gilgal,(KM) 2 and Elijah said to Elisha,(KN) “Stay here;(KO) the Lord is sending me on to Bethel.”(KP)
But Elisha replied, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.”(KQ) So they went down to Bethel.
3 Then the sons of the prophets(KR) who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today?”(KS)
He said, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”
4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; the Lord is sending me to Jericho.”(KT)
But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.
5 Then the sons of the prophets who were in Jericho came up to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today?”
He said, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”
6 Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord is sending me to the Jordan.”(KU)
But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on.
7 Fifty men from the sons of the prophets came and stood facing them from a distance while the two of them stood by the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his mantle,(KV) rolled it up, and struck the waters, which parted to the right and left. Then the two of them crossed over on dry ground.(KW) 9 After they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken from you.”
So Elisha answered, “Please, let me inherit two shares[y] of your spirit.”(KX)
10 Elijah replied, “You have asked for something difficult. If you see me being taken from you,(KY) you will have it. If not, you won’t.”
11 As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire with horses of fire(KZ) suddenly appeared and separated the two of them. Then Elijah went up into heaven in the whirlwind.(LA) 12 As Elisha watched, he kept crying out, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!”(LB) Then he never saw Elijah again. He took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.(LC)
Elisha Succeeds Elijah
13 Elisha picked up the mantle(LD) that had fallen off Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the mantle Elijah had dropped and struck the waters. “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” he asked. He struck the waters himself, and they parted to the right and the left, and Elisha crossed over.
15 When the sons of the prophets from Jericho who were facing him saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” They came to meet him and bowed down to the ground in front of him.
16 Then the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Since there are 50 strong men here with your servants, please let them go and search for your master. Maybe the Spirit of the Lord has carried him away and put him on one of the mountains or into one of the valleys.”(LE)
He answered, “Don’t send them.”
17 However, they urged him to the point of embarrassment,(LF) so he said, “Send them.” They sent 50 men, who looked for three days but did not find him. 18 When they returned to him in Jericho(LG) where he was staying, he said to them, “Didn’t I tell you not to go?”
19 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Even though our lord can see that the city’s location is good, the water is bad and the land unfruitful.”(LH)
20 He replied, “Bring me a new bowl and put salt in it.”(LI)
After they had brought him one, 21 Elisha went out to the spring of water, threw salt in it,(LJ) and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I have healed this water. No longer will death or unfruitfulness result from it.’” 22 Therefore, the water remains healthy to this very day according to the word that Elisha spoke.
23 From there Elisha went up to Bethel.(LK) As he was walking up the path, some small boys came out of the city and harassed him,(LL) chanting, “Go up, baldy! Go up, baldy!” 24 He turned around, looked at them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord.(LM) Then two female bears came out of the woods and mauled 42 of the children. 25 From there Elisha went to Mount Carmel,(LN) and then he returned to Samaria.(LO)
Israel’s King Joram
3 Joram son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria during the eighteenth year of Judah’s King Jehoshaphat and reigned 12 years.(LP) 2 He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, but not like his father and mother,(LQ) for he removed the sacred pillar of Baal his father had made. 3 Nevertheless, Joram clung to the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.(LR) He did not turn away from them.
Moab’s Rebellion against Israel
4 King Mesha of Moab(LS) was a sheep breeder. He used to pay(LT) the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams,(LU) 5 but when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.(LV) 6 So King Joram marched out from Samaria at that time and mobilized all Israel. 7 Then he sent a message to King Jehoshaphat(LW) of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me.(LX) Will you go with me to fight against Moab?”
Jehoshaphat said, “I will go. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”(LY) 8 Then he asked, “Which route should we take?”
Joram replied, “The route of the Wilderness of Edom.”
9 So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom(LZ) set out. After they had traveled their indirect route for seven days, they had no water for the army or their animals.
10 Then the king of Israel said, “Oh no, the Lord has summoned three kings, only to hand them over to Moab.”
11 But Jehoshaphat said, “Isn’t there a prophet of the Lord here? Let’s inquire of Yahweh through him.”(MA)
One of the servants of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat,(MB) who used to pour water on Elijah’s hands, is here.”
12 Jehoshaphat affirmed, “The Lord’s words are with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went to him.(MC)
13 However, Elisha said to King Joram of Israel, “We have nothing in common. Go to the prophets of your father and your mother!”(MD)
But the king of Israel replied, “No, because it is the Lord who has summoned these three kings to hand them over to Moab.”
14 Elisha responded, “As the Lord of Hosts lives,(ME) I stand before Him. If I did not have respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah,(MF) I would not look at you; I wouldn’t take notice of you. 15 Now, bring me a musician.”(MG)
While the musician played,(MH) the Lord’s hand(MI) came on Elisha. 16 Then he said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Dig ditch after ditch in this wadi.’ 17 For the Lord says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the wadi will be filled with water,(MJ) and you will drink—you and your cattle and your animals.’ 18 This is easy in the Lord’s sight.(MK) He will also hand Moab over to you.(ML) 19 Then you must attack every fortified city and every choice city. You must cut down every good tree and stop up every spring of water. You must ruin every good piece of land with stones.”
20 About the time for the grain offering(MM) the next morning, water suddenly came from the direction of Edom and filled the land.
21 All Moab had heard that the kings(MN) had come up to fight against them. So all who could bear arms, from the youngest to the oldest, were summoned and took their stand at the border. 22 When they got up early in the morning, the sun was shining on the water, and the Moabites saw that the water across from them was red like blood.(MO) 23 “This is blood!” they exclaimed. “The kings(MP) have clashed swords and killed each other. So, to the spoil, Moab!”
24 However, when the Moabites came to Israel’s camp, the Israelites attacked them, and they fled from them. So Israel went into the land and struck down the Moabites. 25 They destroyed the cities, and each of them threw stones to cover every good piece of land. They stopped up every spring of water and cut down every good tree. In the end, only the buildings of Kir-hareseth(MQ) were left. Then men with slings surrounded the city and attacked it.
26 When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took 700 swordsmen with him to try to break through to the king of Edom,(MR) but they could not do it. 27 So he took his firstborn son,(MS) who was to become king in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering on the city wall. Great wrath was on the Israelites, and they withdrew from him and returned to their land.
The Widow’s Oil Multiplied
4 One of the wives of the sons of the prophets(MT) cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, has died. You know that your servant feared the Lord.(MU) Now the creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves.”(MV)
2 Elisha asked her, “What can I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?”
She said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.”(MW)
3 Then he said, “Go and borrow empty containers from everyone—from all your neighbors. Do not get just a few.(MX) 4 Then go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour oil into all these containers. Set the full ones to one side.” 5 So she left.
After she had shut the door behind her and her sons, they kept bringing her containers, and she kept pouring.(MY) 6 When they were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another container.”
But he replied, “There aren’t any more.” Then the oil stopped.
7 She went and told the man of God,(MZ) and he said, “Go sell the oil and pay your debt; you and your sons can live on the rest.”(NA)
The Shunammite Woman’s Hospitality
8 One day Elisha went to Shunem.(NB) A prominent woman who lived there persuaded him to eat some food. So whenever he passed by, he stopped there to eat.(NC) 9 Then she said to her husband, “I know that the one who often passes by here is a holy man of God, 10 so let’s make a small room upstairs and put a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp there for him. Whenever he comes, he can stay there.”(ND)
The Shunammite Woman’s Son
11 One day he came there and stopped and went to the room upstairs to lie down. 12 He ordered his attendant Gehazi,(NE) “Call this Shunammite woman.” So he called her and she stood before him.
13 Then he said to Gehazi, “Say to her, ‘Look, you’ve gone to all this trouble for us. What can we do for you?(NF) Can we speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’”
She answered, “I am living among my own people.”
14 So he asked, “Then what should be done for her?”
Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.”
15 “Call her,” Elisha said. So Gehazi called her, and she stood in the doorway. 16 Elisha said, “At this time next year you will have a son in your arms.”(NG)
Then she said, “No, my lord. Man of God, do not deceive your servant.”(NH)
17 The woman conceived and gave birth to a son at the same time the following year, as Elisha had promised her.
The Shunammite’s Son Raised
18 The child grew and one day went out to his father and the harvesters.(NI) 19 Suddenly he complained to his father, “My head! My head!”
His father told his servant, “Carry him to his mother.” 20 So he picked him up and took him to his mother. The child sat on her lap until noon and then died. 21 Then she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, shut him in, and left.
22 She summoned her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, so I can hurry to the man of God and then come back.”
23 But he said, “Why go to him today? It’s not a New Moon or a Sabbath.”(NJ)
She replied, “Everything is all right.”(NK)
24 Then she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Hurry, don’t slow the pace for me unless I tell you.” 25 So she set out and went to the man of God at Mount Carmel.(NL)
When the man of God saw her at a distance, he said to his attendant Gehazi,(NM) “Look, there’s the Shunammite woman.(NN) 26 Run out to meet her and ask, ‘Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your son all right?’”
And she answered, “Everything’s all right.”
27 When she came up to the man of God at the mountain, she clung to his feet.(NO) Gehazi came to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone—she is in severe anguish,(NP) and the Lord has hidden it from me. He hasn’t told me.”
28 Then she said, “Did I ask my lord for a son? Didn’t I say, ‘Do not deceive me?’”(NQ)
29 So Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tuck your mantle(NR) under your belt, take my staff with you, and go. If you meet anyone, don’t stop to greet him, and if a man greets you, don’t answer him.(NS) Then place my staff on the boy’s face.”
30 The boy’s mother said to Elisha, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.”(NT) So he got up and followed her.
31 Gehazi went ahead of them and placed the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or sign of life, so he went back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy didn’t wake up.”(NU)
32 When Elisha got to the house, he discovered the boy lying dead on his bed.(NV) 33 So he went in, closed the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the Lord.(NW) 34 Then he went up and lay on the boy:(NX) he put mouth to mouth, eye to eye, hand to hand. While he bent down over him, the boy’s flesh became warm.(NY) 35 Elisha got up, went into the house, and paced back and forth. Then he went up and bent down over him again. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.(NZ)
36 Elisha called Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite woman.” He called her and she came. Then Elisha said, “Pick up your son.” 37 She came, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; she picked up her son and left.(OA)
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