Psalm 51:9-19 Clean Heart
Ps 51:8 (Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness, That the bones which you have broken may rejoice.) 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. 11 Don’t throw me from your presence, and don’t take your holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners shall be converted to you.
14 Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness. 15 Lord, open my lips. My mouth shall declare your praise. 16 For you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 18 Do well in your good pleasure to Zion. Build the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer bulls on your altar."
Observations: 51:1-8 See this post for vv 1-8, in which David, heartbroken over his sin with Bathsheba, confesses his sin, and seeks forgiveness and cleansing which result in joy.
51:9-19 David, having confessed his sin, now turns his attention to the causes and consequences of his sin. He wants a clean heart and righteous spirit that will not repeat the sin. He had been anointed by God (and empowered by the Holy Spirit) for the task of leading the nation, and asks God to reinstate him in that role, and for the joy of experiencing God's deliverance. God doesn't delight in ritual sacrifices, but a repentant heart, that takes steps to prevent the recurrence of sin (independence from God).
Application: Every believer should have a Psalm 51 experience, of desiring a pure heart, that is so grieved by sin, that it avoids it (the heart is where decisions are made).
Prayer: God, thanks for being gracious to forgive when I confess my sin; create in me a heart that is totally focused on pleasing You rather than myself. Amen.
Proverbs 14:10-13 Joy, Prosperity, and Safety through Fellowship
Pr 14:10 “The heart knows its own bitterness and joy; he will not share these with a stranger. 11 The house of the wicked will be overthrown, but the tent of the upright will flourish. 12 There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. 13 Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful, and mirth may end in heaviness.
Observations: 14:10 Developing honest and transparent (real) relationships has lots of advantages. Sorrows that are shared are halved, and joys shared are doubled. God designed us to live as social creatures who can communicate. We're created to know and be known, to understand and be understood. Fellowship means to have in common, and that includes how we think about ourselves. Sin makes that process difficult.
14:11 The stronghold of the wicked will come to ruins, while the flimsy tent of the upright will be prospered by God. A tree or organization that looks solid might be rotten on the inside and on the verge of collapse; on the other hand, a seedling or start-up might have all the right stuff to succeed. The difference is whether the inside is good or bad.
14:12 People can be convinced they're doing the right thing, but are really headed over a cliff to get dashed to pieces on jagged rocks. That's why Proverbs advocates counsel, particularly in significant and emotional issues (like love and war).
14:13 Laughing on the outside, but crying on the inside is a common modern proverb, and when the party ends the hangover begins. Relationships provide the framework for dealing with the causes of sorrow and grief.
Application: Things aren't always what they seem, so being able to honestly share one's perspectives with another leads to an accurate picture of reality, and joy rather than sorrow.
1 John 1:4 "these things we write to you that your joy may be full. 7 if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship/commonality with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."
Prayer: God, may my relationship with You lead to joy in real fellowship with others. Amen.
1 Kings 15-17 In these chapters we meet a good king and a great prophet, and a bunch of bad guys that aren't worth remembering. Asa responds to the reward God offers for obedience and does some incredible things, but winds up being done in by athlete's foot. Elijah drops in and deliver's God's message of drought, then get's supernaturally protected under the wings of God as evil Ahab tries to harpoon him (more on this in the next post).
1 Kings 15 Good King Asa Starts Out Good
9 In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Asa to reign over Judah. 10 He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem 11 Asa did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, as did David his father. 12 He put away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. 13 Also Maacah his mother he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; and Asa cut down her image, and burnt it at the brook Kidron. 14 But the high places were not taken away: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect with Yahweh all his days. 15 He brought into the house of Yahweh the things that his father had dedicated, and the things that himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels.
16 There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 17 Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not allow anyone to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 18 Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king’s house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants; and king Asa sent them to Ben Hadad, the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who lived at Damascus, saying, 19 "There is a treaty between me and you, between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent to you a present of silver and gold. Go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me." 20 Ben Hadad listened to king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel, and struck Ijon, and Dan, and Abel Beth Maacah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. 21 When Baasha heard of it, that he left off building Ramah, and lived in Tirzah. 22 Then king Asa made a proclamation to all Judah; none was exempted: and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and its timber; and king Asa built Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah with them. 23 Now the rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? But in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet. 24 Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father; and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place.
25 Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah; and he reigned over Israel two years. 26 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin. 27 Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha struck him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon. 28 Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha killed him, and reigned in his place. 29 It happened that, as soon as he was king, he struck all the house of Jeroboam: he didn’t leave to Jeroboam any who breathed, until he had destroyed him; according to the saying of Yahweh, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite; 30 for the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and with which he made Israel to sin, because of his provocation with which he provoked Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger. 31 Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 32 There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 33 In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah began to reign over all Israel in Tirzah for twenty-four years. 34 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin.
Observations: 15:1-8 Rehoboam's son, Abijam, reigns and wars for three years following in the sins of his father, rather than walking with God like David. That means he served other gods. 2Chronicles 14 records some of the good things he did, but the bottom line evaluation here (and in our lives) is whether the heart was perfect, completely set on pleasing Yahweh. God didn't cut off David's line because of His promise in the Davidic Covenant (2Sam 7). In spite of David's irresponsibility regarding his family and judging, God says that his heart was perfect except in the matter of Uriah (what about Bathsheba?). David did not turn aside to other gods, which seems to be the major problem of the majority of the kings.
15:8-15 Abijam's son, Asa, reigns for 41 years. He did what is right in God's sight, following in the footsteps of David, his ancestral/spiritual father, rather than his biological father. He turns back Judah to Yahweh, removing the idols, his idol-worshiping mother, and the sodomites from the land, and even restores the temple. How does one account for this revival?
2 Chronicles 15 gives the secret of his motivation and success. We'll view it in more detail when we get there, but here's a peek at it:
2 Chronicles 15:2 "Hear me, Asa...Yahweh is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. 7 But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!" 8 And when Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and removed the abominable idols...”
15:16-24 Baasha, bad king of Israel warred with Judah, and built a city, Ramah to prevent anyone from the Northern Kingdom of Israel from going south to worship in Jerusalem, which belonged to Judah. Asa sent gold to Ben Hadad asking him to break off his treaty with Israel and honor a previous treaty with Judah. This is a departure from depending upon Yahweh, condemned in 2 Chronicles 16:7. He also doesn't seek Yahweh for a disease and winds up dying. So another guy starts out well, and ends poorly. Sigh.
15:25-33 Meanwhile up north we have flashback to one bad king being assassinated by Baasha who becomes another bad king. Both nations suffer from war. The noteworthy comment is that Baasha extinguishes the line of Jeroboam as God has promised. You'd think people would realize that God really means what He says.
Application: Starting well is good, ending well is better, passing on godliness is best, but the last two rarely happen.
Prayer: God, Your promises to bless those wholeheartedly devoted to You are awesome, show me where I might be headed off track, so I can reap You blessings rather than cursings. Amen.
1 Kings 16 Prophesy Always Fulfilled Eventually
15 In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned seven days in Tirzah. Now the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines. 16 The people who were encamped heard say, Zimri has conspired, and has also struck the king: therefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp. 17 Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah. 18 It happened, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the castle of the king’s house, and burnt the king’s house over him with fire, and died, 19 for his sins which he sinned in doing that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin. 20 Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he committed, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 21 Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri. 22 But the people who followed Omri prevailed against the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned. 23 In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri began to reign over Israel for twelve years. He reigned six years in Tirzah. 24 He bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver; and he built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill, Samaria. 25 Omri did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and dealt wickedly above all who were before him. 26 For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sins with which he made Israel to sin, to provoke Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger with their vanities. 27 Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might that he showed, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 28 So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria; and Ahab his son reigned in his place.
29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. 30 Ahab the son of Omri did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh above all that were before him. 31 It happened, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshiped him. 32 He reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. 33 Ahab made the Asherah; and Ahab did yet more to provoke Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. 34 In his days Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho: he laid its foundation with the loss of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates with the loss of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.
Observations: 16:1-16 The chapter opens and ends with prophesy, showing God does indeed keep His promises. God sends a prophesy against Baasha, a guy He raised up who didn't walk in God's way, that He will completely destroy him and all his descendents for their disobedience. Guess what? It happens. No repentance, not even a relative or friend left alive.
16:17-28 Baasha dies, his son Elah reigns two years, is done in while on a drinking binge, along with his entire house by Zimri, who last seven days, and then burns himself up when beseiged by the people's choice Omri. Omri wins the civil war with Tibni, and builds a new capital on a very defensible hill, Samaria. He follows the sinful path of the losers before him, distinguishing himself by outdoing their wickedness and his son Ahab takes over when he dies.
16:29-34 Ahab does even more than all the bad kings before him, instituting Baal worship. We'll see more of him and his wife Jezebel in the next chapters. The last verse of the chapter is a reminder that God is still accomplishing His purposes, particularly to bring promised curses on disobedience. Hiel was raised in paganized Bethel and paid no attention to God's word as spoken through Joshua; but God fulfilled it.
Joshua 6:26 Then Joshua charged them at that time, saying, "Cursed be the man before the LORD who rises up and builds this city Jericho; he shall lay its foundation with his firstborn, and with his youngest he shall set up its gates."
Application: God always keeps His word; we should too, or we'll regret it.
Prayer: God, You are so gracious in raising up individuals and offering them blessings, may I always qualify for them. Amen.
1 Kings 17 If You Give a Prophet a Cookie...
17:1 Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the foreigners of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As Yahweh, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word." 2 The word of Yahweh came to him, saying, 3 "Go away from here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan. 4 It shall be, that you shall drink of the brook. I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." 5 So he went and did according to the word of Yahweh; for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan. 6 The ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. 7 It happened after a while, that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
8 The word of Yahweh came to him, saying, 9 "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to sustain you." 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath; and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks: and he called to her, and said, "Please get me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink." 11 As she was going to get it, he called to her, and said, "Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." 12 She said, "As Yahweh your God lives, I don’t have a cake, but a handful of meal in the jar, and a little oil in the jar. Behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and bake it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die." 13 Elijah said to her, "Don’t be afraid. Go and do as you have said; but make me of it a little cake first, and bring it out to me, and afterward make some for you and for your son. 14 For thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of meal shall not empty, neither shall the jar of oil fail, until the day that Yahweh sends rain on the earth.’" 15 She went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, ate many days. 16 The jar of meal didn’t empty, neither did the jar of oil fail, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke by Elijah.
Observations: 17:1-8 A good guy arrives on the bleak scene, in the person of Elijah, bearing bad news: “No rain for years.” That leads to famine and death, a definite loss of blessing and fertility. God's word guides Elijah to hide out at a brook, from Ahab's prophet hunt, where quick flying ravens deliver the first fast food in history. God supernaturally uses natural means to meet the needs of His faithful servant. Eventually God's provision dries up, and then God gives new direction, but not until then, a point worth pondering. Elijah didn't have to fret as the brook got smaller and smaller, because God's grace and power were still as big as ever.
17:8-16 God's next plan for meeting Elijah's needs is a penniless widow about to make the last meal for herself and son before they die of hunger. This doesn't look promising. If you give a prophet some water, he'll ask for bread; if you give him bread, you won't have enough; but if you're going to die anyway, does it make a difference? Elijah asks for water, and she goes to get it (maybe he had his “man of God” name tag on). He asks for bread, and she explains her condition. Elijah says to serve him first, and God will supply her needs next, and abundantly. She follows his word...and gets blessed.
17:17-24 Her son falls sick and isn't breathing. Feeling the guilt of her previous sin (she's living in pagan land rather than fleeing to Judah), she blames Elijah. He asks for her son. If you give a prophet your dead son...you'll get blessed. Elijah calls to God, and performs the first CPR and resurrection. God brings her son back to life, and validates his spokesman as a miracle working prophet. The miracles follow the message (no rain until I say so) to authenticate it in a time of total apostasy.
Application: Obeying God's word results in blessings of protection and provision.
Prayer: God thanks for protecting Your servants and providing for their needs in creative ways. May I never fret, but always have faith in Your goodness and power. Amen.
Digging Deeper:
God in a nutshell: In the words of 2 Chronicles 15:2 “Yahweh is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.”
God offers incentives to honor and obey Him, promising to protect and honor His servants. He raises up both good and bad guys to fulfill His purposes. He lets evil people do their thing and lead others astray for a while, but then brings promised judgment, totally destroying the wicked who looked secure. He can use both natural and supernatural means to protect and bless His servants, always requiring them to trust Him. He validates His message and spokesman with fulfilling the promises they spoke in His name, and sometimes authenticates them supernaturally. He wants us to sacrifice what we have to put Him first, and frequently blesses more than we could imagine.
Us in a nutshell: In the words of 2 Chronicles 15:7 “But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!" We will certainly experience judgment if we fail to follow God as He specified. We will frequently experience persecution from wicked folks if we do obey, but we will always experience blessing if we do. We can experience a level of discomfort and need in serving God, but can expect Him to ultimately and eventually take care of us (it just won't always be cushy). The wicked, those who have their heart set on something other than God's will, rarely learn from history, their own mistakes, or even the discipline they earn. The righteous can serve God heroically, but still fail to trust Him to the very end. We must be a brain-damaged species (even the holy ones).
Where to Go for More:
Truthbase.net
1 Kings 15-17 complete text
1 Kings 15
15:1 Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat began Abijam to reign over Judah. 2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. 3 He walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him; and his heart was not perfect with Yahweh his God, as the heart of David his father. 4 Nevertheless for David’s sake, Yahweh his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem; 5 because David did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, and didn’t turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. 6 Now there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life. 7 The rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? There was war between Abijam and Jeroboam. 8 Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his place.
9 In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Asa to reign over Judah. 10 He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. 11 Asa did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, as did David his father. 12 He put away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. 13 Also Maacah his mother he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; and Asa cut down her image, and burnt it at the brook Kidron. 14 But the high places were not taken away: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect with Yahweh all his days. 15 He brought into the house of Yahweh the things that his father had dedicated, and the things that himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels. 16 There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 17 Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not allow anyone to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 18 Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king’s house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants; and king Asa sent them to Ben Hadad, the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who lived at Damascus, saying, 19 "There is a treaty between me and you, between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent to you a present of silver and gold. Go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me." 20 Ben Hadad listened to king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel, and struck Ijon, and Dan, and Abel Beth Maacah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. 21 It happened, when Baasha heard of it, that he left off building Ramah, and lived in Tirzah. 22 Then king Asa made a proclamation to all Judah; none was exempted: and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and its timber, with which Baasha had built; and king Asa built therewith Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah. 23 Now the rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? But in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet. 24 Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father; and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place.
25 Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah; and he reigned over Israel two years. 26 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin. 27 Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha struck him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon. 28 Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha killed him, and reigned in his place. 29 It happened that, as soon as he was king, he struck all the house of Jeroboam: he didn’t leave to Jeroboam any who breathed, until he had destroyed him; according to the saying of Yahweh, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite; 30 for the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and with which he made Israel to sin, because of his provocation with which he provoked Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger. 31 Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 32 There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 33 In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah began to reign over all Israel in Tirzah for twenty-four years. 34 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin.
1 Kings 16
16:1 The word of Yahweh came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying, 2 "Because I exalted you out of the dust, and made you prince over my people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam, and have made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins; 3 behold, I will utterly sweep away Baasha and his house; and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 4 The dogs will eat Baasha’s descendants who die in the city; and he who dies of his in the field the birds of the sky will eat." 5 Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 6 Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah; and Elah his son reigned in his place. 7 Moreover by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of Yahweh against Baasha, and against his house, both because of all the evil that he did in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and because he struck him. 8 In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha began to reign over Israel in Tirzah for two years. 9 His servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him. Now he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah: 10 and Zimri went in and struck him, and killed him, in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place. 11 It happened, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he struck all the house of Baasha: he didn’t leave him a single one who urinates on a wall, neither of his relatives, nor of his friends. 12 Thus Zimri destroyed all the house of Baasha, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet, 13 for all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, which they sinned, and with which they made Israel to sin, to provoke Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger with their vanities. 14 Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
15 In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned seven days in Tirzah. Now the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines. 16 The people who were encamped heard say, Zimri has conspired, and has also struck the king: therefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp. 17 Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah. 18 It happened, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the castle of the king’s house, and burnt the king’s house over him with fire, and died, 19 for his sins which he sinned in doing that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin. 20 Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he committed, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 21 Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri. 22 But the people who followed Omri prevailed against the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned. 23 In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri began to reign over Israel for twelve years. He reigned six years in Tirzah. 24 He bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver; and he built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill, Samaria. 25 Omri did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and dealt wickedly above all who were before him. 26 For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sins with which he made Israel to sin, to provoke Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger with their vanities. 27 Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might that he showed, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 28 So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria; and Ahab his son reigned in his place.
29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. 30 Ahab the son of Omri did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh above all that were before him. 31 It happened, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. 32 He reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. 33 Ahab made the Asherah; and Ahab did yet more to provoke Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. 34 In his days Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho: he laid its foundation with the loss of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates with the loss of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.
1 Kings 17
17:1 Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the foreigners of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As Yahweh, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word." 2 The word of Yahweh came to him, saying, 3 "Go away from here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan. 4 It shall be, that you shall drink of the brook. I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." 5 So he went and did according to the word of Yahweh; for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan. 6 The ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. 7 It happened after a while, that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
8 The word of Yahweh came to him, saying, 9 "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to sustain you." 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath; and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks: and he called to her, and said, "Please get me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink." 11 As she was going to get it, he called to her, and said, "Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." 12 She said, "As Yahweh your God lives, I don’t have a cake, but a handful of meal in the jar, and a little oil in the jar. Behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and bake it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die." 13 Elijah said to her, "Don’t be afraid. Go and do as you have said; but make me of it a little cake first, and bring it out to me, and afterward make some for you and for your son. 14 For thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of meal shall not empty, neither shall the jar of oil fail, until the day that Yahweh sends rain on the earth.’" 15 She went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, ate many days. 16 The jar of meal didn’t empty, neither did the jar of oil fail, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke by Elijah.
17 It happened after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so severe, that there was no breath left in him. 18 She said to Elijah, "What have I to do with you, you man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to memory, and to kill my son!" 19 He said to her, "Give me your son." He took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into the room where he stayed, and laid him on his own bed. 20 He cried to Yahweh, and said, "Yahweh my God, have you also brought evil on the widow with whom I stay, by killing her son?" 21 He stretched himself on the child three times, and cried to Yahweh, and said, "Yahweh my God, please let this child’s soul come into him again." 22 Yahweh listened to the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23 Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the room into the house, and delivered him to his mother; and Elijah said, "Behold, your son lives." 24 The woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of Yahweh in your mouth is truth."
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