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II Chronicles Before we start, I have to be honest, this task really sucks. I really want to get through this Bible, and I am sure I will, but, my goodness, it really fucking sucks. There is no way someone reads every word of this book. Chronicles is a complete rehash of Samuel 1, 2, and Kings 1 and 2, as far as I can tell. In addition, according to WordPerfect, this is 43 pages of single spaced text, 12 point font. Since it is more interesting, I just wanted to let you know I read and add my comments in WordPerfect 6.2 for DOS. It works great under DosBox, and is probably the best word processor ever made. I run in text mode, so it is much easier on the eyes. Also, a shout out to LibreOffice and its ability to read and properly format WordPerfect files. I am sure I could just save in text or rich text, but the writes are pretty darn slow in non WordPerfect formats. And Solomon the son of David was made strong in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and made him very great. And Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers. And Solomon and all the congregation with him went to the high place at Gibeon. For there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness. But the ark of God David had brought up from Kirjath-jearim to the place which David had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem. And he put the bronze altar which Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made before the tabernacle of the LORD. And Solomon and the congregation of the LORD sought to it. And Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the LORD, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it. In that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, Ask what I shall give you. And Solomon said to God, You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me to reign in his stead. Now, O LORD God, Your promise to David my father has been fulfilled. For You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. Give me now wisdom and knowledge that I may go out and come in before this people. For who can judge this Your great people? And God said to Solomon, Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches, wealth, nor honor, nor the life of your enemies, nor yet have asked for long life but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may judge My people, over whom I have made you king. wisdom and knowledge is granted to you. And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before you, nor shall any after you have the like. Fuck, is all of Chronicles just a rehash? And Solomon came from the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and reigned over Israel. And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen. And he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen which he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem like stones, and he made cedar trees as plentiful as the sycamore trees in the valley. And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt and Kue. The king’s merchants received them from Kue at a price. And they carried up, and brought forth out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. And so they brought out horses for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, by their hands. Oh, wow, new information…the exact number of chariots, horsemen, and blah blah blah. And Solomon purposed to build a house for the name of the LORD, and a house for his kingdom. And Solomon counted out seventy thousand men to bear burdens, and eighty thousand as cutters in the mountains, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them. And Solomon sent to Hiram the king of Tyre, saying, As you dealt with David my father, and sent him cedars to build him a house to dwell in, so deal with me. Behold, I am building a house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to Him, and to burn before Him sweet incense, and for the continual showbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance forever to Israel. And the house which I am building is great. For our God is great above all gods. But who is able to build Him a house, since the heavens and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him? Who am I then, that I should build Him a house, except only to burn sacrifice before Him? And now send me a man skillful to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and one who is skillful to engrave with the skillful men who are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father provided. And send me cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees out of Lebanon. For I know that your servants are skillful to cut timber in Lebanon. And, behold, my servants shall be with your servants in order to prepare plenty of timber for me. For the house which I am about to build shall be great and wonderful. And behold, I will give to the hewers, those who cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil. Rehashed Home Depot receipt. And Hiram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon, Because the LORD has loved His people, He has made you king over them. And Hiram said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given to David the king a wise son blessed with judgment and understanding, who might build a house for the LORD and a house for his kingdom. And now I have sent a skillful man blessed with understanding, of Hiram my father, the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skillful to work in gold, and in silver, in bronze, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson. He also can engrave any kind of engraving, and can invent every device which shall be put to him, with your skillful men, and with the skillful men of my lord David your father. And now the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and the wine, which my lord has spoken of, let him send to his servants. And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as you shall need. And we will bring it to you in floats by sea to Joppa. And you shall carry it up to Jerusalem. And Solomon numbered all the aliens in the land of Israel, according to the numbering with which David his father had numbered them. And they were found to be a hundred and fifty-three thousand and six hundred. And he set seventy thousand of them to be bearers of burdens, and eighty thousand to be cutters in the mountains, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set the people to work. Rehashed, boring details. And Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in Mount Moriah, where He appeared to David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite. And he began to build in the second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign. Now these are the foundations Solomon laid, to build the house of God. The length by cubits according to the first measure, sixty cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits. And the porch on the front, the length according to the breadth of the house, was twenty cubits, and the height a hundred and twenty. And he overlaid it inside with pure gold. And he made the ceiling of the greater house with fir wood, which he overlaid with fine gold. And he set palm trees and chains on it. And he covered the house with precious stones for beauty. And the gold was gold of Parvaim. He also overlaid the house, the beams, the posts, and its walls, and its doors, with gold. And he engraved cherubs on the walls. And he made the Most Holy Place. Its length was by the front, of the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and its breadth, twenty cubits. And he overlaid it with fine gold, to six hundred talents. And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. And he overlaid the upper rooms with gold. Copy and paste, anyone? And in the most holy house he made two cherubs of carved work, and overlaid them with gold. And the wings of the cherubs were twenty cubits long. One wing was five cubits, touching to the wall of the house; and the other wing five cubits, touching to the wing of the other cherub. And one wing of the other cherub was five cubits, touching to the wall of the house; and the other wing five cubits, touching to the wing of the other cherub. The wings of these cherubims spread themselves forth twenty cubits. And they stood on their feet, and their faces were inward. And he made the veil of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and worked cherubs on it. He also made two pillars of thirty-five cubits high in front of the house, and the capital on the tops of each of them was five cubits. And he made chains, as in the holy place, and put them on the tops of the pillars. And he made a hundred pomegranates and put them on the chains. And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand and the other on the left. And he called the name of the one on the right Jachin, and the name of the one on the left Boaz. Copy and paste, anyone? And he made an altar of bronze. Twenty cubits was the length of it, and twenty cubits its breadth, and ten cubits its height. And He cast a sea of melted bronze, ten cubits from brim to brim. It was round, and five cubits was its height. And a line of thirty cubits went around it. And under it was the shape of oxen, under it and all around it for ten cubits, going all around the sea. Two rows of oxen were cast when it was cast. It stood on twelve oxen, three facing the north, and three facing the west, and three facing the south, and three facing the east. And the sea was set above on them, and all their hinder parts were inward. And its thickness was a handbreadth, and its brim like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies. It received and held three thousand baths. He also made ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them. They washed in them such things as they offered for the burnt offering. But the sea was for the priests to wash in. And he made ten lampstands of gold according to their form, and set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left. And He made ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left. And he made a hundred basins of gold. And he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid their doors with bronze. And he set the sea on the right side of the east end, over against the south. Copy and paste, anyone? And Hiram made the pots, and the shovels, and the basins. And Hiram finished the work that he was to make for king Solomon for the house of God: the two pillars, and the bowls, and the capitals on the tops of the two pillars, and the two wreaths to cover the two bowls of the capitals which were on the top of the pillars, and four hundred pomegranates on the two wreaths, two rows of pomegranates on each wreath, to cover the two bowls of the capitals on the pillars. He also made bases, and he made lavers on the bases; and one sea, and twelve oxen under it. And Hiram made the pots, and the shovels, and the flesh-hooks, and all their vessels of burnished bronze for king Solomon for the house of the LORD. In the plain of Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredathah. And Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance. For the weight of the bronze could not be found out. And Solomon made all the vessels for the house of God, and the golden altar, and the tables on which the showbread was set; and the lampstands of pure gold with their lamps, so that they should burn according to the law before the holy place; and the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold, perfect gold; and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the censers, of pure gold; and the entrance of the house, the inner doors of it for the Holy of Holies, and the doors of the house of the temple, of gold. Copy and paste, anyone? Fuck me, really? This was the worst part of Samuel (I think) and here he have it…again. And all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated. And he put the silver and the gold, and all the vessels among the treasures of the house of God. And Solomon gathered the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the sons of Israel, to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. And all the men of Israel gathered themselves to the king in the feast in the seventh month. And all the elders of Israel came. And the Levites took up the ark. And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle. The priests and the Levites brought these up. And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were gathered to him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen which could not be counted nor numbered for multitude. And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, to the Holy of Holies in the house, into the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubs. For the cherubs spread out their wings over the ark, and the cherubs covered the ark and its staves above. And they drew out the staves so that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle. But they were not seen outside. And there it is until this day. Nothing was in the ark except the two tables which Moses put in it at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the sons of Israel when they came out of Egypt. Copy and paste, anyone? And it happened as the priests came out of the holy place, for all the priests present were sanctified, and did not wait by division. And the Levitical singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brothers, being clothed in white linen, having cymbals and with harps and lyres, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them a hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets, and they were as one to the trumpeters and to the singers, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and as they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For He is good, for His mercy endures forever, the house was filled with a cloud, the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God! Copy and paste, anyone? Trumpets and cymbals. Yippiee. And Solomon said, The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick darkness. And I have built a house for You to live in, and a place for Your dwelling forever. And the king turned his face and blessed the whole congregation of Israel. And all the congregation of Israel stood. And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who has with His hands fulfilled that which He spoke with His mouth to my father David, saying, From the day that I brought My people out of the land of Egypt I have not chosen any city among all the tribes of Israel to build a house in, so that My name might be there. Nor have I chosen any man to be a ruler over My people Israel. But now I have chosen Jerusalem, so that My name might be there, and now I have chosen David to be over My people Israel. And it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. But the LORD said to David my father, Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well in that it was in your heart. But you shall not build the house; but your son, who shall come forth out of your loins, shall build the house for My name. And the LORD has lifted up His word that He has spoken. For I have risen up in place of David my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and I have built the house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. And I have put the ark in it, in which is the covenant of the LORD which He made with the sons of Israel. Rehash of a rehash of a rehash of a rehash. Fuck me. And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands. For Solomon had made a bronze scaffold, five cubits long and five cubits broad and three cubits high. And he had set it in the midst of the court. And he stood on it, and kneeled down on his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward Heaven. And he said, O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like You in Heaven or in earth. You keep Your covenant and show mercy to Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts. You have kept with Your servant David my father that which You have promised him. And You spoke with Your mouth, and have fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day. And now, O LORD God of Israel, keep with Your servant David my father that which You have promised him, saying, There shall not fail you a man in My sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons take heed to their way to walk in My law, as you have walked before Me. And now, O LORD God of Israel, let Your word be proven true, which You have spoken to Your servant David. But truly will God in deed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, Heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You! How much less this house which I have built? And You have turned toward the prayer of Your servant, and to his cry, O LORD my God, to listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant prays before You. I pray that Your eyes may be open on this house day and night, on the place of which You have said that You would put Your name there, to listen to the prayer which Your servant prays toward this place. And You will listen to the cries of Your servant, and of Your people Israel, which they shall pray toward this place, and You will from Your dwelling-place, from Heaven, and shall hear and forgive. If a man sins against his neighbor, and if an oath is laid on him to make him swear, and if the oath comes before Your altar in this house, then hear from Heaven, and do, and judge Your servants by repaying the wicked, by bringing his way back on his own head, and by justifying the righteous, by giving to him according to his righteousness. And if Your people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy because they have sinned against You, and if they shall return and confess Your name, and shall pray and cry before You in this house, then hear from Heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them again into the land which You give to them and to their fathers. When the heavens shall be shut up, and there is no rain because they have sinned against You; if they pray toward this place, and confess Your name, and turn from their sin when You afflict them, then hear from Heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and of Your people Israel, when You have taught them the good way in which they should walk. And send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people for an inheritance. If there is famine in the land, if there is a plague, if blasting or mildew, locusts or ravagers, if their enemies have distressed them in the gates of their land, with any plague and any sickness; whatever prayer, whatever cry shall be made by any man, or by all Your people Israel, when everyone shall know his own plague and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house; then hear from Heaven, Your dwelling-place, and forgive, and give to every man according to all his ways, whose heart You know. For You only know the hearts of the sons of men. Do this so that they may fear You, to walk in Your ways, as long as they live in the land which You gave to our fathers. And also to the stranger who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for Your great name’s sake, and Your mighty hand, and Your stretched out arm, if they come and pray in this house; then hear from Heaven, from Your dwelling-place, and do according to all that the stranger calls to You for, so that all people of the earth may know Your name, and fear You, as Your people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by Your name. If Your people go out to war against their enemies by the way that You shall send them, and if they pray to You toward this city which You have chosen, and the house which I have built for Your name, then hear from Heaven their prayer and their cry and maintain their cause. If they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin), and if You are angry with them and deliver them up before their enemies, and they carry them away captives to a land far off or near, yet if they think within themselves in the land where they are carried captive, and turn and pray to You in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done wrong and have dealt wickedly if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity where they have carried them captives, and if they pray toward their land which You gave to their fathers and toward the city which You have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Your name; then hear from Heaven, from Your dwelling-place, their prayer and their cries, and maintain their cause, and forgive Your people who have sinned against You. Now, my God, I beseech You, let Your eyes be open and Your ears hear the prayer made in this place. And now arise, O LORD God, into Your resting-place, You, and the ark of Your strength. Let Your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let Your saints rejoice in goodness. O LORD God, do not turn away the face of Your anointed. Remember the good deeds of David Your servant. Repeat. And when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from Heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices. And the glory of the LORD filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’s house. And when all the sons of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD on the house, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying, For He is good, for His mercy endures forever. And the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD. And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand oxen, and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep. And the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. And the priests waited on their offices, and the Levites with instruments of music of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because His mercy endures forever, when David praised by their ministry. And the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood. And Solomon made the middle of the court before the house of the LORD holy. For there he offered burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the food offerings, and the fat. And at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath to the river of Egypt. And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly. For they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days. And on the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the LORD had shown to David, and to Solomon, and to Israel His people. So Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the king’s house. And all that came into Solomon’s heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, he did with success. Repeat. And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him, I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place to Myself for a house of sacrifice. If I shut up the heavens, and there is no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send a plague among My people; if My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now My eyes shall be open, and My ears shall be open to the prayer of this place. For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, so that My name may be there forever. And My eyes and My heart shall be there forever. And you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and shall observe My statutes and My judgments, then I will make the throne of your kingdom sure, as I have covenanted with David your father, saying, There shall not fail you a man to be ruler in Israel. But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and if you shall go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will pluck them up by the roots out of My land which I have given them. And this house which I have sanctified for My name, I will cast out of My sight, and I will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations. And this house, which is high, shall be a wonder to everyone who passes by it, so that they shall shudder and say, Why has the LORD done this to this land and to this house? And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers who brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore He has brought all this evil on them. How many times will this be repeated? Same thing, again. And it happened at the end of twenty years, Solomon had built the house of the LORD and his own house. As to the cities that Hiram had given to Solomon, Solomon had built them, and he caused the sons of Israel to live there. And Solomon went to Hamath-zobah, and prevailed against it. And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities which he built in Hamath. And he built Beth-horon the upper and Beth-horon the lower, fenced cities with walls, gates, and bars. And he built Baalath, and all the store cities which Solomon had, and all the chariot cities, and the cities of the horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion. All the people who were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of Israel, of their sons who were left after them in the land, whom the sons of Israel did not destroy, Solomon made them subject to forced labor until this day. And of the sons of Israel, Solomon did not make any servants for his work. But they were men of war, and commanders of his officers, and commanders of his chariots, and his horsemen. And these were the chief of king Solomon’s officers, two hundred and fifty who bore rule over the people. And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David to the house which he had built for her. For he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places into which the ark of the LORD has come are holy. Repeat. And Solomon offered burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of the LORD which he had built before the porch, even as the duty of every day required, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and in the Feast of Weeks, and in the Feast of Tabernacles. And according to the order of David his father, he appointed the divisions of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required; and the gatekeepers by their divisions at every gate; for so David the man of God had commanded. And they did not depart from the command of the king to the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures. And all the work of Solomon was prepared until the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. And the house of the LORD was complete. And Solomon went to Ezion-geber, and to Eloth, at the seaside in the land of Edom. And Hiram sent ships to him by the hand of his servants, and servants who knew the sea. And they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took four hundred and fifty talents of gold from there, and brought them to king Solomon. Repeat. Levites are special. And the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, and came to test Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that carried spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones. And she came in to Solomon and spoke with him of all that was in her heart. And Solomon told her all her questions. And there was nothing hidden from Solomon which he did not tell her. And the queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built, and the food of his table, and the sitting of his servants, the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers and their apparel, and his burnt offerings that he offered up in the house of the LORD, there was no more spirit in her. And she said to the king, The word that I heard in my own land of your acts and of your wisdom is true. But I did not believe their words until I came, and my eyes had seen. And behold, the one half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me. You are greater than the fame which I heard. Happy are your men, and happy are these your servants who stand always before you and hear your wisdom. Blessed be the LORD your God, who delighted in you to set you on His throne to be king for the LORD your God. Because your God loved Israel to establish them forever, therefore He made you king over them to do judgment and justice. And she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and an abundance of spices, and precious stones. And there has not been any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon. And also the servants of Hiram, and the servants of Solomon who brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones. And the king made terraces to the house of the LORD with the algum trees, and terraces to the king’s palace, and lyres and harps for singers. And there were none such seen before in the land of Judah. And King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, besides what she had brought to the king. And she returned and went away to her own land, she and her servants. Repeat. This has to be copied verbatum. And the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold, besides that from the traders, and that the merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon. And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold. Six hundred shekels of gold went to one target. And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold. Three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield. And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. And the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold. And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold. fastened to the throne. And there were stays on each side of the sitting place, and two lions standing by the stays. And twelve lions stood there on the one side, and on the other, on the six steps. There was not the like made in any kingdom. And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None were of silver. It was not prized in the days of Solomon. For the king’s ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Hiram. Once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. And king Solomon was greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom that God had put in his heart. And they each brought his present, vessels of silver and vessels of gold, and clothing, weapons, and spices, horses, and mules, a ration year by year. And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he put in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem. And he reigned over all the kings from the River even to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. And the king made silver in Jerusalem like stones, and he made cedar trees as the sycamore trees in the low plains. And they brought to Solomon horses out of Egypt and out of all lands. And the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah of Shiloh, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat? And Solomon reigned forty years in Jerusalem over all Israel. And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father. And his son Rehoboam reigned in his place. Repeat. Home Depot and grocery receipt…again. And Rehoboam went to Shechem. For all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. And it happened when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt where he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard it, Jeroboam returned out of Egypt. And they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, Your father made our yoke heavy. And now lighten the heavy service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you. And he said to them, Come again to me after three days. And the people departed. And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What advice do you give me to return answer to this people? And they spoke to him saying, If you are kind to this people and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be your servants forever. But he departed from the advice which the old men gave him and listened to the young men who were brought up with him, who stood before him. And he said to them, What advice do you give that we may return answer to this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Lighten the yoke which your father put on us? And the young men who were brought up with him spoke to him saying, In this way shall you answer the people who spoke to you, saying, Your father made our yoke heavy, but you lighten our yoke, this you shall say to them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins. And now my father put a heavy yoke on you, and I will surely add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. Repeat. This wording would be great, except we have heard it several times already. And Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day as the king commanded, saying, Come again to me on the third day. And the king answered them roughly. And king Rehoboam departed from the advice of the old men, and answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. And the king did not listen to the people, for the revolution was from God so that the LORD might perform His word which He spoke by the hand of Ahijah of Shiloh to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. And all Israel saw that the king would not listen to them, and the people answered the king saying, What part do we have in David? And we have no inheritance in the son of Jesse! Every man to your tents, O Israel! Now, David, see to your own house. And all Israel went to their tents. As for the sons of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. And king Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over the forced labor. And the sons of Israel stoned him with stones so that he died. But king Rehoboam was warned to get up into his chariot to flee to Jerusalem. And Israel rebelled against the house of David until this day. Repeat. And Rehoboam came to Jerusalem and gathered a hundred and eighty thousand chosen warriors from the house of Judah, to fight against Israel, so that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam. But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, So says the LORD, You shall not go up nor fight against your brothers. Let every man return to his house. For this thing is done by Me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam. And Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built cities for defense in Judah. And he built Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa, and Beth-zur, and Shoco, and Adullam, and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph, and Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah, and Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin, fortified cities. And he fortified the strongholds and put commanders in them, and stores of food, and of oil and wine. And he put in each separate city shields and spears, and made them very strong, and Judah and Benjamin were his. 180,000 troops, sure you have them, sure you do. And the priests and the Levites in all Israel presented themselves to him out of all their borders. For the Levites left their open lands and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem. For Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priests’ office to the LORD. And he ordained priests for himself for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made. And after them, those who gave their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel, out of all the tribes of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD God of their fathers. And they made the kingdom of Judah stronger, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong for three years. For three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon. And Rehoboam took Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David as a wife for himself, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse, who bore him sons, Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham. And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom, who bore Abijah to him, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines (for he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and had twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters). And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brothers, in order to make him king. And he dealt wisely and dispersed all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to all the fortified cities. And he gave them food in abundance. And he demanded many wives. Repeat. Also, ‘traditional’ marriage. And he demanded many wives. And it happened when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had made himself strong, he departed from the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him. And it happened in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had sinned against the LORD with twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen. And the people who came with him out of Egypt were without number: Lubim, the Sukkiim, and the Ethiopians. And he took the fortified cities in Judah, and came to Jerusalem. And Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam, and to the rulers of Judah who were gathered to Jerusalem because of Shishak. And he said to them, So says the LORD, You have forsaken Me, and therefore I also have left you in the hand of Shishak. And the rulers of Israel and the king humbled themselves. And they said, The LORD is righteous. And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will give them some deliverance. And My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. But they shall be his servants, so that they may know My service, and the service of the kings of the countries. And Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king’s house. He took all. And he carried away the shields of gold which Solomon had made. In place of these king Rehoboam made shields of bronze, and gave them into the hands of the chief of the guard who kept the entrance of the king’s house. And when the king entered into the house of the LORD, the guard came and carried them and brought them again into the guardroom. And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him so that He would not destroy him altogether. And also things went well in Judah. Repeat. And king Rehoboam strengthened himself at Jerusalem, and reigned. For Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put His name there. And his mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess. And he did the evil because he did not prepare his heart to seek the LORD. And the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? And the wars of Rehoboam and Jeroboam lasted all their days. And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David. And his son Abijah reigned in his place. Repeat. And in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam Abijah began to reign over Judah. He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. And Abijah set the battle in order with an army of mighty men of war, four hundred thousand chosen men. Jeroboam also set the battle in order against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, mighty men of valor. And Abijah stood up on mount Zemaraim, in the hills of Ephraim, and said, Hear me, Jeroboam and all Israel. Should you not know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David forever, to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt? Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, has risen up and has rebelled against his lord. And there are gathered to him vain men, the sons of Belial, and have made themselves strong against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, and Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted and could not withstand them. And now you think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hands of the sons of David. And you are a great multitude, and there are with you golden calves which Jeroboam made you for gods. Have you not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made priests to yourselves like the peoples of the lands? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams, he may be a priest of those who are no gods. But as for us, Jehovah is our God, and we have not forsaken Him. And the priests who minister to the LORD are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites in the work. And they burn to the Lord every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense, and the showbread on the pure table, and the lampstand of gold with its lamps, to burn every evening. For we keep the charge of the LORD our God. But you have forsaken Him. And behold, God Himself is with us as Commander, and His priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against the LORD God of your fathers, for you shall not prosper! Repeat. But Jeroboam caused an ambush to come around behind them, so that they were in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them. And Judah turned, and, behold, the battle was before and behind. And they cried to the LORD, and the priests sounded with the trumpets. And the men of Judah shouted. And it happened as the men of Judah shouted, God struck Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. And the sons of Israel fled before Judah. And God delivered them into their hand. And Abijah and his people killed them with a great slaughter. And there fell down dead five hundred thousand chosen men of Israel. And the sons of Israel were humbled at that time, and the sons of Judah won because they relied on the LORD God of their fathers. And Abijah pursued Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with its villages, and Jeshanah with its villages, and Ephrain with its villages. And Jeroboam did not recover strength again in the days of Abijah. And the LORD struck him and he died. And Abijah became mighty, and married fourteen wives, and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters. And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the inquiry of the prophet Iddo. Repeat. And Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David. And his son Asa reigned in his place. In his days the land was quiet ten years. And Asa did the good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and broke down the images, and cut down the Asherahs. And he commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. He also took out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images. And the kingdom was quiet before him. And he built fortified cities in Judah. For the land had rest, and he had no war in those years, because the LORD had given him rest. And he said to Judah, Let us build these cities and make walls around them, and towers, gates and bars, while the land is still before us. Because we have sought the LORD our God, we have sought, and He has given us rest on every side. And they built and were blessed. And Asa had an army which bore bucklers and spears, three hundred thousand out of Judah. And out of Benjamin there were two hundred and eighty thousand who bore shields and drew bows; all these mighty men of valor. Repeat. 300,000 troops, bullshit. And Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men, and three hundred chariots. And he came to Mareshah. And Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in order in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. And Asa cried to the LORD his God and said, LORD, it is nothing with You to help, whether with many or with him who has no power. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God. Do not let man prevail against You. And the LORD struck the Cushites before Asa and before Judah. And the Cushites fled. And Asa and the people with him pursued them to Gerar. And the Cushites fell, for none was left alive of them. For they were destroyed before the LORD and before His army. And they carried away very much plunder. And they struck all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the LORD came on them. And they plundered all the cities, for there was very much plunder in them. And they struck the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance and returned to Jerusalem. Repeat. Plundering. And the Spirit of God came on Azariah the son of Oded. And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him, Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you while you are with Him. And if you seek Him, He will be found by you. But if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. And for a long time Israel had been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law. And when they turned in their trouble to the LORD God of Israel, and sought Him, He was found by them. And in those times there was no peace to him who went out, nor to him who came in, but great tumult was on all the people of the lands. And nation was beaten by nation, and city by city, for God troubled them with every distress. But you be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded. Repeat. And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim. And he renewed the altar of the LORD before the porch of the LORD. And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon. For they fell to him out of Israel in great numbers, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him. And they gathered to Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. And they offered to the LORD in that day part of the plunder which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep. And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul, and that whoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. And they swore to the LORD with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with ram’s horns. And all Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought Him with their whole desire. And He was found by them, and the LORD gave them rest all around. And also as to Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen mother, because she had made an idol in a grove. And Asa cut down her idol and stamped it and burned it at the brook Kidron. But the high places were not taken away out of Israel. But the heart of Asa was perfect all his days. And he brought into the house of God the things which his father had dedicated, and which he himself had dedicated, silver and gold and vessels. And there was no war to the thirty-fifth year of the reign of Asa. Repeat. Suck my Asa. In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, so that he might let no one go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. And Asa brought out silver and gold from the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king’s house and sent them to Ben-hadad king of Syria, who lived at Damascus, saying, A treaty between you and me, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent you silver and gold. Go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he may depart from me. And Ben-hadad listened to king Asa, and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel. And they struck Ijon and Dan, and Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali. And it happened when Baasha heard, he left off building Ramah, and let his work stop. And Asa the king took all Judah. And they carried away the stones of Ramah, and timber with which Baasha was building. And he built with it Geba and Mizpah. Repeat. Lumber stolen. And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped out of your hand. Were not the Cushites and the Libyans a huge army with many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro in all the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward Him. You have done foolishly in this; therefore from now on you shall have wars. And Asa was angry with the seer and put him in a prison-house. For he was in a rage with him because of this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at that time. And behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa was diseased in his feet, until his disease was very grievous. Yet in his disease he did not seek to the LORD, but to the physicians. And Asa slept with his fathers and died in the forty-first year of his reign. And they buried him in his own tomb, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odors and kinds of spices prepared by the perfumers art. And they made a very great burning for him. Repeat. And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place. And he made himself strong against Israel. And he placed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set troops in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim which Asa his father had taken. And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the first ways of his father David and did not seek to Baals. But he looked to the God of his father, and walked in His commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. And the LORD made the kingdom sure in his hand. And all Judah brought presents to Jehoshaphat. And he had great riches and honor. And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD. And he took away the high places and Asherahs out of Judah. And in the third year of his reign he sent to his rulers, to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah. And with them he sent Levites, Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah, Levites. And with them he sent Elishama and Jehoram the priests. And they taught in Judah and had the book of the law of the LORD with them, and went around throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people. And the fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. And from the Philistines they brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute. Also the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he-goats. And Jehoshaphat became exceedingly great. And he built fortresses in Judah, and store cities. And he had much business in the cities of Judah. And the men of war, mighty men of valor, were in Jerusalem. And these were their numbers, for the house of their fathers from Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah the chief, and with him were three hundred thousand mighty men of valor. And on his hand, Jehohanan the chief, and with him were two hundred and eighty thousand. And on his hand, Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to the LORD, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor. And from Benjamin was Eliada, a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand men armed with bow and shield. And on his hand, Jehozabad, and with him a hundred and eighty thousand ready and prepared for war. These waited on the king, besides those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah. Repeat. Mighty men… And Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and he contracted a marriage with Ahab. And after some years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen in abundance for him, and for the people that were with him. And he persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth-gilead. And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he answered him, I am as you, and my people are as your people, and we with you in the war. So much animal sacrifice. And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Please inquire at the word of the LORD today. And the king of Israel gathered four hundred men of the prophets and said to them, Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I wait? And they said, Go up, for God will deliver it into the king’s hand. But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not a prophet of Jehovah here besides, so that we might ask of Him? And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD. But I hate him, for he never prophesied good to me, but always evil. The same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. And the king of Israel called to a certain eunuch and said, Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imla. And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat each of them on his throne, clothed in robes. And they sat in a grain floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria. And all the prophets prophesied before them. And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made horns of iron for himself. And he said, And says the LORD, With these you shall push Syria until they are crushed. And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead and be blessed. For the LORD shall deliver it into the king’s hand. And the messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one Mouth, and please let your word be like one of theirs, and speak good. And Micaiah said, As the Lord lives, even what my God says, that I will speak. And he came to the king. And the king said to him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I wait? And he said, Go up and be blessed. And they shall be delivered into your hand. And the king said to him, How many times shall I warn you that you say nothing but the truth to me in the name of Jehovah? And he said, I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, These have no master; let them return, each man to his own house in peace. And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil? Again he said, And hear the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of Heaven were standing on His right hand and on His left. And the LORD said, Who shall tempt Ahab king of Israel so that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one spoke saying in one way, and another saying in another way. And a spirit came out and stood before the LORD and said, I will tempt him. And the LORD said, With what? And he said, I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, You shall tempt him, and you are able. Go out and do so. And now behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets, and the LORD has spoken evil against you. And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek. And he said, Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go from me to speak to you? And Micaiah said, Behold, you shall see on that day when you shall go into an inner room to hide yourself. And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son. And you shall say, So says the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction until I return in peace. And Micaiah said, If you certainly return in peace, then the LORD has not spoken by me. And he said, Listen, all you people. Repeat. And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself and will go to the battle. But you put on your robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself. And they went to the battle. And the king of Syria had commanded the commanders of the chariots with him, saying, Do not fight with small or great, but only with the king of Israel. And it happened when the commanders of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, It is the king of Israel. And they surrounded him to fight. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him. And God moved them to leave him. For it happened when the commanders of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him. And a certain man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joinings and the breastplate. And he said to the charioteer, Turn your hand, and you shall bring me out of the army, for I am wounded. And the battle increased that day; and the king of Israel was made to stand up in his chariot against the Syrians until the evening. And about the time of the sunset he died. Repeat. And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem. And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him. And he said to king Jehoshaphat, Should you help the ungodly and love those who hate the LORD? And by this bring wrath on you from before the LORD. But there are good things found in you, in that you have taken away the Asherahs out of the land and have prepared your heart to seek God. And Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem. And he went out again among the people from Beer-sheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back to the LORD God of their fathers. Repeat. And he set judges in the land, in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city. And he said to the judges, Take heed what you do. For you do not judge for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment. And now let the fear of the LORD be on you. Be careful and act wisely, for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts. And Jehoshaphat set some of the Levites and of the priests and of the chief of the fathers of Israel in Jerusalem for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem. And he charged them, saying, And you shall act in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. And whatever cause shall come to you from your brothers that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, you shall even warn them so that they do not sin against the LORD, and wrath come on you and your brothers. Do this and you shall not sin. And behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD. And Zebadiah the son of Ishmael is the ruler of the house of Judah for all the king’s matters. Also the Levites shall be officers before you. Take courage and act, and the LORD shall be with the good. Repeat. Levites, blah blah. And it happened after this the sons of Moab, and the sons of Ammon came in, and with them others besides the Ammonites, to battle against Jehoshaphat. And they came in and spoke to Jehoshaphat, saying, A great multitude has come against you from beyond the sea on this side of Syria. And behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar, which is En-gedi. And Jehoshaphat feared and set himself to seek the LORD, and called for a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves to ask of the LORD. Even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD. And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, and said, O LORD God of our Fathers, are You not God in Heaven? And do You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? And is there power and might in Your hand, so that none is able to withstand You? Are You not our God? Did You not drive out the people of this land before Israel, and give it to the seed of Your friend Abraham forever? And they lived in it. And they have built You a temple in it for Your name, saying, If evil comes on us, whether the sword, judgment, or plague, or famine, and we stand before this house and in Your presence (for Your name is in this house) and cry to You in our affliction, then You will hear and help. And now, behold, the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them, behold, they reward us by coming to cast us out of Your possession, which You have given us to inherit. O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no might against this great company which comes against us. Nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You. And all Judah stood before the LORD with their little ones, their wives, and their sons. Fuck this is so repetetive. And the Spirit of the LORD came on Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the congregation. And he said, Listen, all Judah, and you people of Jerusalem, and king Jehoshaphat! So says the LORD to you, Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz. And you shall find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel. You shall not fight in this battle. Set yourselves and stand, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear nor be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD will be with you. And Jehoshaphat bowed his face to the ground. And all Judah and the people of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. And the Levites, of the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high. Repeat…of the fucking paragraph before it. And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and you people of Jerusalem. Believe in the LORD your God, and so you shall be established. Believe His prophets, and so you shall be blessed. And he consulted with the people, and he appointed singers to the LORD and praisers to praise the beauty of holiness as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD, for His mercy endures forever. And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, who had come against Judah. And they were beaten. For the sons of Ammon and Moab stood up against the people of mount Seir to completely kill and destroy. And when they had made an end of the people of Seir, everyone helped to destroy another. And when Judah came to the watchtower in the wilderness, they looked at the multitude. And behold! They were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped. And Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their plunder, they found among them in abundance both riches and precious jewels in great number with the dead bodies, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away. And they were three days in gathering of the plunder, it was so much. And on the fourth day they gathered themselves in the Valley of Blessing. For there they blessed the LORD. And the name of the same place was called the Valley of Blessing until this day. And they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in front of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy. For the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies. And they came into Jerusalem with harps and with lyres, and with trumpets to the house of the LORD. And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel. And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was quiet. For his God gave him rest round about. Repeat. Wow, this is going nowhere. And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah, thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and did not depart from it, doing the right in the sight of the LORD. But, the high places were not taken away, for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts to the God of their fathers. And the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, which were taken up in the /Book of the Kings of Israel. And after this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined himself with Ahaziah king of Israel; he did wickedly to do so. And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish. And they made the ships in Ezion-geber. And Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because you have joined yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has broken your works. And the ships were broken so that they were not able to go to Tarshish. Repeat. Broken ships this time around. And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his place. And he had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah. All these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. And their father gave them great gifts of silver and of gold and of precious things, with fortified cities in Judah. But the kingdom he gave to Jehoram, because he was the first-born. And when Jehoram had risen up to the kingdom of his father, he made himself strong and killed all his brothers with the sword, and also many of the rulers of Israel. Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he began to reign. And he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like the house of Ahab for he had the daughter of Ahab for a wife. And he did the evil in the eyes of the LORD. And the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that He had made with David, and as He promised to give a light to him and to his sons forever. In his days Edom revolted from under the rule of Judah, and made themselves a king. And Jehoram went forth with his rulers, and all his chariots with him. And he rose up by night and struck the Edomites who surrounded him, and the commanders of the chariots. And the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah until this day. The same time Libnah revolted from under his hand, because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers. Besides he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the people of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and led astray Judah. Repeat. Fuck me, how, how many times do we have to read EXACTLY THE SAME FUCKING THING!?! And a writing came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, So says the LORD God of David your father, Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah, but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the people of Jerusalem to go lusting like the fornications of the house of Ahab, and also have killed your brothers of your fathers house ( who were better than you), behold, the LORD will strike your people with a great plague, and your sons, and your wives, and all your goods. And you shall have great sickness by disease in your bowels, until your bowels fall out because of the sickness day by day. And the LORD stirred up the spirit of the Philistines against Jehoram, and of the Arabians who were near the Ethiopians. And they came up into Judah and broke into it, and carried away all the stuff that was found in the king’s house, and his sons also, and his wives, so that there was not a son left with him except Ahaziah, the youngest of his sons. And after this the LORD struck him in his bowels with a disease that could not be cured. And it happened as days and as the time went out, at the end of two years, his bowels fell out because of his sickness. And he died of painful diseases. And his people made no burning for him like the burning of his fathers. He was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. And they buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. Ewww, shit himself to death. I don’t remember that. I do remember takig all of their stuff. And the people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his place. For the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had killed all the older ones. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned. Ahaziah’s dynasty was forty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri. He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab. For his mother was his counselor to do wickedly. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab. For they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his ruin. He also walked after their advice and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead. And the Syrians struck Jehoram. And he returned to be healed in Jezreel, because of the wounds which were given him at Ramah, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was sick. And by coming to Jehoram, the destruction of Ahaziah was of God. He went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab. And it happened when Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, and found the rulers of Judah and the sons of the brothers of Ahaziah, the servants of Ahaziah, he killed them. And he looked for Ahaziah. And they caught him (for he was hidden in Samaria), and brought him to Jehu. And when they had killed him, they buried him because they said, He is the son of Jehoshaphat who looked to the LORD with all his heart. And the house of Ahaziah had no power still to keep the kingdom. Repeat. And Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, and she arose and spoke to destroy all the royal seed of the house of Judah. But Jehoshabeath the daughter of the king took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons who were killed. And she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. And Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of Ahaziah) hid him from Athaliah so that she did not kill him. And he was with them six years, hidden in the house of God. And Athaliah reigned over the land. Repeat. And in the seventh year Jehoiada made himself strong. And he took the commanders of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri into covenant with him. And they went about in Judah and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said to them, Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as the LORD has said of the sons of David. This is the thing that you shall do. A third part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be keepers of the doors. And a third part shall be at the king’s house. And a third part shall be at the gate of the foundation. And all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD. But let none come into the house of the LORD except the priests, and those of the Levites who minister. They shall go in, for they are holy. But all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD. And the Levites shall surround the king, each man with his weapons in his hand. And whoever comes into the house, he shall be put to death. But you be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out. And the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded. And every man took his men who were to come in on the sabbath, with the ones who were to go out on the sabbath. For Jehoiada the priest did not dismiss the divisions. And Jehoiada the priest delivered to the commanders of hundreds king David’s spears and bucklers and shields, which were in the house of God. And he set all the people, each man having his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the king round about. And they brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and said, Let the king live! Repeat. Same shit, different names. And Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, and she came to the people into the house of the LORD. And she looked, and behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entrance, and the rulers and the trumpets by the king. And all the people of the land were rejoicing and sounding with trumpets, and the singers with instruments of music, and giving signals to praise. And Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, Treason! Treason! And Jehoiada the priest brought out the commanders of hundreds who were set over the army, and said to them, Take her out of the ranks. And whoever follows her shall be killed with the sword. For the priest said, Do not kill her in the house of the LORD. And they laid hands on her; and she came to the entrance of the Gate of the Horses, beside the king’s house, and they executed her there. And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people and between the king, that they should be the LORD’s people. And all the people went to the house of Baal and broke it down, and smashed his altars and his images. And they killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And Jehoiada chose the officers of the house of the LORD by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses, with joy and with singing, by the hands of David. And he set the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the LORD, so that the unclean in any way could not go in. And he took the commanders of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from the house of the LORD. And they came through the Upper Gate into the king’s house, and set the king on the throne of the kingdom. And all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet after they had killed Athaliah with the sword. Repeat. Moving along. Joash was seven years old when he began to reign. And he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Zibiah of Beer-sheba. And Joash did the right in the eyes of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest. And Jehoiada took two wives for him, and he fathered sons and daughters And it happened after this, it had been in the mind of Joash to repair the house of the LORD. And he gathered together the priests and the Levites and said to them, Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather silver from all Israel to repair the house of your God from year to year. And see that you hasten the matter. And the Levites did not hasten it. And the king called for Jehoiada and said to him, Why have you not made the Levites bring in the collection out of Judah and out of Jerusalem, according to Moses the servant of the LORD, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness? For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, have broken up the house of God. And also all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD they have given to Baals. And the king commanded, and they made a chest, and set it outside at the gate of the house of the LORD. And they gave a call in Judah and in Jerusalem, to bring in to the LORD the collection that Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness. And all the rulers and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and threw into the chests until it was finished. And it happened at the time the chest was brought into the king’s office by the Levites, and when they saw that the silver was abundant, the king’s scribe and the high priest’s officer came and emptied the chest, and took it and carried it to its place again. So they did day by day, and gathered a great amount of silver. And the king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of the LORD. And they hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the LORD, and also artisans in iron and bronze, to mend the house of the LORD. And the workmen worked, and the work was completed by them, and they set the house of God in its proper state and made it strong. And when they had finished, they brought the rest of the silver before the king and Jehoiada. Of this silver were made vessels for the house of the LORD, vessels to minister and to offer, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they continually offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada. Repeat. Just a copy and paste. But Jehoiada became old, and was full of days when he died. He was a hundred and thirty years old when he died. And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God and toward His house. And after the death of Jehoiada the rulers of Judah came and bowed down to the king. And the king listened to them. And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served Asherahs and idols. And wrath came on Judah and Jerusalem for this their guilt. Yet He sent prophets to them to bring them again to the LORD. And they testified against them. But they would not listen. And the Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people and said to them, So says God, Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD so that you cannot be blessed? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He has also forsaken you. And they conspired against him and stoned him with stones at the command of the king in the court of the house of the LORD. And Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD will seek you out. And it happened at the end of the year the army of Syria came up against him. And they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the rulers of the people from among the people, and sent all the plunder of them to the king of Damascus. For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great army into their hand, because they had forsaken the God of the fathers. And they executed judgment against Joash. And when they had departed from him (for they left him in great diseases), his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed, and he died. And they buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings. And these are the ones who conspired against him Zabad the son of Shimeath of Ammon, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess. And as to his sons, and the greatness of the burdens on him, and the repairing of the house of God, behold, they are written in the story of the Book of the Kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his place. Repeat. Why was any of this included in the Bible? Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. And he did the right in the eyes of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart. And it happened when the kingdom was made sure to him, he killed his servants who had killed his father, the king. But he did not kill their sons, but as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, saying, The father shall not die for the sons, nor shall the sons die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin. And Amaziah gathered Judah and made them commanders over thousands and commanders over hundreds, according to the houses of the fathers, for all Judah and Benjamin. And he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield. And he hired a hundred thousand mighty men of war out of Israel for a hundred talents of silver. But a man of God came to him saying, O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel, with all the sons of Ephraim. But if you will go, do it! Be strong for the battle, for God shall make you fall before the enemy, for God has power to help and to throw down. And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give you much more than this. And Amaziah separated them, the army that had come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again. And their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in great anger. And Amaziah made himself strong, and led forth his people, and went to the Valley of Salt, and struck ten thousand of the sons of Seir. And the sons of Judah carried away captive ten thousand alive, and brought them to the top of the rock, and threw them down from the top of the rock so they were all broken in pieces. And the sons of the army which Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell on the cities of Judah from Samaria even to Beth-horon, and struck three thousand of them and took much plunder. Repeat. Bullshit. And it happened after Amaziah had come from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought the gods of the sons of Seir and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them and burned incense to them. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and He sent to him a prophet who said to him, Why have you sought after the gods of the people which could not deliver their own people out of your hand? And it happened as he talked with him, the king said to him, Have we made you of the king’s counsel? Stop! Why should you be stricken? And the prophet stopped. And he said, I know that God has determined to destroy you because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel. Repeat. And Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come let us look one another in the face. And Jehoash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar in Lebanon, saying, Give your daughter to my son for a wife. And a beast of the field in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle down. You have said, Lo, I have stricken the Edomites, and your heart lifts you up to boast. Now stay at home why should you meddle to your hurt, so that you should fall, you and Judah with you? But Amaziah would not hear, for it was from God so that He might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom. And Jehoash the king of Israel went up. And they saw one another in the face, he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Beth-shemesh of Judah. And Judah was beaten before Israel, and each man fled to his tent. And Jehoash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate, four hundred cubits. And he took all the gold and the silver, and all the vessels which were found in the house of God with Obed-edom, and the treasures of the king’s house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria. And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived fifteen years after the death of Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz king of Israel. And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, are they not written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel? And after the time that Amaziah turned away from following the LORD, they made a plot against him in Jerusalem. And he fled to Lachish. But they sent to Lachish after him and killed him there. And they brought him on horses and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah. Repeat. Copy and paste. And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, and he was sixteen years old, and made him king in his father Amaziah’s place. He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after the king lay with his fathers. Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. And he did the right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did. And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God. As long as he sought the LORD, God blessed him. And he went out and warred against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities around Ashdod, and among the Philistines. And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gurbaal, and the Meunites. And the Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah. And his name spread abroad even to the entrance of Egypt, for he was made very strong. And, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate and at the Valley Gate, and at the Turning, and fortified them. And he built towers in the desert, and dug many wells. For he had many cattle, both in the low country and in the plains. He also had husbandmen and vinedressers in the mountains, and in Carmel. For he loved the earth. And, Uzziah had an army of making war, going out to war by troops, according to the number of their oversight by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king’s leaders. The whole number of the heads of the fathers of the mighty men of power was two thousand and six hundred. And under their hand was an army of three hundred and seven thousand, five hundred, that made war with mighty power to help the king against the enemy. And Uzziah prepared for them, for all the army, shields and spears and helmets and coats of armor and bows and stones for the slings. And he made engines in Jerusalem, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and on the corners, to shoot arrows and great stones with. And his name spread far abroad. For he was wonderfully helped until he was strong. Who cares? But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to ruin. For he sinned against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him eighty priests of the LORD, mighty men. And they withstood Uzziah the king and said to him, It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but to the priests, the sons of Aaron who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the temple, for you have sinned. Nor shall it be for your honor from the LORD God. And Uzziah was angry. And he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar. And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked on him. And, behold, he was leprous in his forehead! And they thrust him out from there. Yes, he himself hurried to go out also, because the LORD had stricken him. And Uzziah the king was a leper until the day of his death, and lived in a separate house a leper. For he was cut off from the house of the LORD. And Jotham his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land. And the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, wrote. And Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial of the kings. For they said, He is a leper. And his son Jotham reigned in his place. Repeat. Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok. And he did the right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah did. Only, he did not enter into the temple of the LORD. And the people still did evilly. He built the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel he built much. And he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built palaces and towers. And He fought with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed over them. And the sons of Ammon gave him the same year a hundred talents of silver and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. This the sons of Ammon paid to him, both the second year and the third. And Jotham became mighty because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God. And the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways, lo, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David. And his son Ahaz reigned in his place. Repeat. Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. But he did not do the right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father. For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and also made molded images for Baals. And he burned incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burned his sons in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had cast out before the sons of Israel. And He sacrificed and burned incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. And the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria. And they struck him and carried away a great captivity, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with a great slaughter. Repeat. And Pekah the son of Remaliah killed a hundred and twenty thousand in Judah in one day, all mighty men, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king’s son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah who was next to the king. And the sons of Israel carried away captive two hundred thousand of their brothers, women, and daughters, and also took away much plunder from them and brought the plunder to Samaria. But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded. And he went out before the army that came to Samaria and said to them, Behold, because the Lord God of your fathers was angry with Judah, He has delivered them into your hands, and you have killed them in a rage which reaches up to Heaven. And now you intend to keep under the sons of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen to you. Are there not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God? And now hear me, and deliver again the captives which you have taken captive of your brothers. For the fierce wrath of the LORD is on you. And certain of the heads of the sons of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them who came from the war. And they said to them, You shall not bring the captives here. For we have offended the LORD, and you intend to add to our sins and to our trespass. For our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel. And the armed men left the captives and the plunder before the rulers and all the congregation. And the men who were called by name rose up and took the captives and clothed all that were naked among them with the plunder, and dressed them, and shod them, and made them eat and drink, and anointed them, and led the feeble ones on asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers. And they returned to Samaria. Repeat. Fuck me, they don’t even bother to change it up at all. At that time king Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to help him. For again the Edomites had come and had beaten Judah and had carried away captives. The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country and of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh and Aijalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with its villages, and Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo and its villages. And they lived there. For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel. For he loosed immorality in Judah, and sinned grievously against the LORD. And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came to him and troubled him, but did not strengthen him. For Ahaz took away a portion of the house of the LORD, and of the house of the king, and of the rulers, and gave it to the king of Assyria. But it was no help to him. And in the time of his distress he trespassed even more against the LORD, this king Ahaz. For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus who struck him. And he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, I will sacrifice to them so that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel. And Ahaz gathered the vessels of the house of God and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD. And he made himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem. And in each separate city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers. And the rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem. But they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. And his son Hezekiah reigned in his place. Repeat. Angered god, blah blah. Hezekiah began to reign being twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Abijah the daughter of Zechariah. And he did the right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done. In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the LORD and repaired them. And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them into the east street. And he said to them, Hear me, Levites, now sanctify yourselves and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry out the filthiness out of the holy place. For our fathers have sinned and did the evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken Him, and have turned away their faces from the house of the LORD, and have turned their backs. Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the sanctuary to the God of Israel. Therefore the wrath of the LORD was on Judah and Jerusalem, and He has delivered them to trouble, to ruin, and to hissing as you see with your eyes. For lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. And it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us. My sons, do not be negligent now. For the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense. Repeat. And the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites. And of the sons of Merari arose Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehalelel. And of the Gershonites: Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah. And of the sons of Elizaphan: Shimri and Jeiel. And of the sons of Asaph: Zechariah and Mattaniah. And of the sons of Heman: Jehiel and Shimei. And of the sons of Jeduthun: Shemaiah and Uzziel. And they gathered their brothers and sanctified themselves, and came, according to the command of the king, by the words of the LORD, to clean the house of the LORD. And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD to clean it. And they brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took it out to the brook Kidron. And they began to sanctify on the first of the first month. And on the eighth day of the month they came to the porch of the LORD. And they made the house of the LORD pure in eight days, and in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end. And they went in to Hezekiah the king and said, We have cleaned all the house of the LORD, and the altar of burnt offering, with all its vessels, and the showbread table, and all its vessels. And we have prepared and sanctified all the vessels which king Ahaz in his reign cast away in his sin. And behold, they are before the altar of the LORD. Repeat. Burnt offerings, vessels, etc. And Hezekiah the king rose early and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the LORD. And they brought seven bulls and seven rams and seven lambs and seven he-goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the LORD. And they killed the bulls, and the priests received the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. And they killed the rams, and sprinkled the blood on the altar. They also killed the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood on the altar. And they brought out the he-goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation. And they laid their hands on them. And the priest killed them, and they made atonement with their blood on the altar, to make atonement for all Israel. For the king commanded the burnt offering and the sin offering to be made for all Israel. And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with harps, and with lyres, according to the command of David, and of Gad the king’s seer and Nathan the prophet. For the commandment was by the hand of the LORD by His prophets. And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began with the trumpets and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel. And all the congregation worshiped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded. All this went on until the burnt offering was finished. And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped. And Hezekiah the king and the rulers commanded the Levites to sing praise to the LORD with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshiped. And Hezekiah answered and said, And you have consecrated yourselves to the LORD. Come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the LORD. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings. And as many as were of a free heart brought burnt offerings. And the number of the burnt offerings which the congregation brought was seventy oxen, a hundred rams, two hundred lambs. All these were for a burnt offering to the LORD. And the things consecrated were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep. But the priests were too few, so that they could not skin all the burnt offerings. And their brothers the Levites helped them until the work was ended, and until the priests had sanctified themselves. For the Levites were more upright of heart to make themselves pure than the priests. And also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings and the drink offerings for every burnt offering. And the service of the house of the LORD was set in order. And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people. For the thing happened suddenly. Repeat. Shitty writing here. SO clunky. And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to the LORD God of Israel. And the king and his leaders, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, took counsel to keep the Passover in the second month. For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not made themselves pure enough, nor had the people gathered to Jerusalem. And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation. And they established a decree to send a notice throughout all Israel, from Beer-sheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover to the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem. For not many of them had done as it was written. And the runners went with the letters from the king and his rulers to Israel and Judah, and according to the command of the king, saying, O sons of Israel, turn again to the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and He will return to the remnant of you who have escaped out of the hands of the king of Assyria. And do not be like your fathers and like your brothers who sinned against the LORD God of their fathers, and He made them for a horror, as you see. And do not be stiffnecked like your fathers. Yield yourselves to the LORD and enter into His temple which He has sanctified forever. And serve the LORD your God, so that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you. For if you turn again to the LORD, your brothers and your sons will have mercies before those who lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him. And the runners passed from city to city in the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, even to Zebulun. But they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them. However, men from Asher and Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the command of the king and of the rulers, by the word of the LORD. Repeat. And many people gathered at Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month, a very great congregation. And they arose and took away the altars in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense they took away, and threw them into the brook Kidron. And they killed the Passover on the fourteenth of the second month. And the priests and the Levites were ashamed and made themselves pure, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD. And they stood in their place in their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God. The priests sprinkled the blood from the hand of the Levites. For many in the congregation were not sanctified. And the Levites were over the killing of the passovers for every one who was not clean, to sanctify them to the LORD. For many of the people, many from Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not been cleansed, but ate the Passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, May the good LORD pardon everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. And the LORD listened to Hezekiah and healed the people. Repeat. And the sons of Israel found at Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great gladness. And the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day with loud instruments to the LORD. And Hezekiah spoke comfortably to all the Levites who taught the good knowledge of the LORD. And they ate the appointed things seven days, offering peace offerings and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers. And the whole gathering agreed to keep another seven days. And they kept another seven days with gladness. For Hezekiah king of Judah gave to the congregation a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep. And the rulers gave to the congregation a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep. And a great number of priests sanctified themselves. And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and who lived in Judah, rejoiced. And there was great joy in Jerusalem. For from the days of Solomon the son of David the king of Israel there was nothing like this in Jerusalem. And the priests, the Levites, arose and blessed the people. And their voice was heard, and their prayer came to His holy dwelling-place, to Heaven. Mention of where God lives, Heaven. Not very omnipotent. And when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke the images in pieces, and cut down the Asherahs, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, also in Ephraim and Manasseh, even to the end. And all the sons of Israel returned, each to his possession, into their own cities. And Hezekiah set the courses of the priests and the Levites according to their divisions, each according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD. And the king’s portion from his goods was for burnt offerings, and for burnt offerings, of the morning and the evening and the burnt offerings of the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the LORD. And he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites so that they might be strong in the law of the LORD. And as the command spread, the sons of Israel brought plentifully of the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field. And the tithe of all things they brought in abundance. And the sons of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated to the LORD their God, and laid it up by heaps. In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished in the seventh month. And Hezekiah and the rulers came and saw the heaps, and they blessed the LORD and His people Israel. And Hezekiah asked the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat and have plenty left. For the LORD has blessed His people, and this great store is left. Repeat. Fuck, will this ever end? And Hezekiah commanded storehouses to be prepared in the house of the LORD. And they prepared, and brought in the offerings and the tithes and the things dedicated to God faithfully. And over them was Cononiah the Levite ruler, and Shimei his brother the next. And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the command of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God. And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the gatekeeper toward the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the sacrifices of the LORD and the most holy things. And next to him Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their brothers by divisions, to the great as well as to the small, besides registering the males from three years and upward, to everyone who enters into the house of the LORD, giving his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their divisions both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, and their charges by their divisions, and to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation. For in their set office they set themselves apart in holiness. And to the sons of Aaron, the priests, in the fields of the open lands of their cities, in each separate city were the men who were named by name, to give shares to all the males among the priests, and to all who were counted by genealogies among the Levites. And Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and did the good and the right and the true before the LORD his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered. Repeated pointless. After these things done in faithfulness, Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, came and entered into Judah, and camped against the fortified cities, and commanded to break them open to himself. And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come, and that he had set his face to fight against Jerusalem, he took counsel with his rulers and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains outside the city. And they helped him. And there were gathered many people, who stopped all the fountains, and the torrent which ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the king of Assyria come and find much water? And he made himself strong and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall outside, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance. And he set commanders of war over the people and gathered them to himself in the street of the gate of the city. And he spoke to their heart, saying, Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of the king of Assyria, or for all the multitude with him. For there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. Repeat. After this Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem; and he was against Lachish, and all his forces with him against Hezekiah king of Judah, and against all Judah in Jerusalem, saying, Sennacherib king of Assyria says this, On what do you trust that you sit under siege in Jerusalem? Does not Hezekiah persuade you to give yourselves over to die by famine and by thirst, saying, Jehovah our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria? Has not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, You shall worship before one altar and burn incense on it? Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the people of other lands? Were the gods of the nations of those lands in any way able to deliver their lands out of my hands? Who among all the gods of those nations that my fathers completely destroyed is able to deliver his people out of my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of my hand? And now do not let Hezekiah deceive you or persuade you in this way, nor yet believe him. For no god of any nation was able to deliver his people out of my hand, and out of the hand of my fathers. How much less shall your god deliver you out of my hand? And his servants spoke still more against the LORD God, and against His servant Hezekiah. He also wrote letters to revile the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against Him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of my hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver His people out of my hand. And they cried out with a loud voice in Jewish to the people of Jerusalem on the wall, in order to frighten them and to trouble them, so that they might take the city. And they spoke against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the peoples of the earth, the work of the hands of man. And for this reason Hezekiah the king and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz prayed and cried to Heaven. And the LORD sent an angel to cut off all the mighty men of power, and the leaders and commanders in the camp of the king of Assyria. And he returned with shame of face to his own land. And he came into the house of his god, and those from his own bowels killed him there with the sword. And the LORD saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side. And many brought gifts to the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from that time on. Repeat. In those days Hezekiah was sick to death, and prayed to the LORD. And He spoke to him, and He gave him a sign. But Hezekiah did not give again according to the good done to him, for his heart was lifted up. And there was wrath on him and on Judah and Jerusalem. And Hezekiah was humbled for the pride of his heart, he and the people of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come on them in the days of Hezekiah. And Hezekiah had exceedingly much riches and honor. And he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all kinds of pleasant jewels. And he made storehouses for the increase of grain and wine and oil, and stalls for all kinds of animals, and stalls for flocks. And he provided himself cities, and possessions of flocks and herds, in abundance. For God had given him very many things. And Hezekiah himself stopped the upper water courses of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah was blessed in all his works. But, in regard to the ambassadors of the rulers of Babylon who sent to him to ask about the wonder that was done in the land, God left him in order to try him, to know all that was in his heart. And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the highest of the tombs of the sons of David. And all Judah and the people of Jerusalem honored him at his death. And his son Manasseh reigned in his place. Repeat. Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. But he did the evil in the sight of the LORD, like the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the sons of Israel. For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for the Baals, and made Asherahs, and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall My name be forever. And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. And he caused his sons to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom. He also practiced secret arts, and used fortune-telling, and used witchcraft, and dealt with mediums, and with soothsayers. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD in order to provoke Him to anger. And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever. Nor will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have set apart for your fathers; only if they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses. And Manasseh made Judah and the people of Jerusalem to err, to do worse than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed before the sons of Israel. And the LORD spoke to Manasseh and to His people, but they would not listen. Repeat. Verbatum. And the LORD brought on them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh among the thorns and bound him with chains and carried him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he sought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. And he prayed to Him, and He was entreated of him, and heard his prayer, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that Jehovah is God. And after this he built a wall outside the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entrance of the Fish Gate, and went around Ophel, and raised it to a very great height. And he put army commanders in all the fortified cities of Judah. And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mountain of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and threw them out of the city. And he repaired the altar of the LORD and sacrificed on it peace offerings and thank-offerings. And he commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel. But the people still sacrificed in the high places, but only to the LORD their God. And the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel; and his prayer, and his entreaty, and all his sin and his trespass, and the places in which he built high places and set up Asherahs and graven images, before he was humbled, behold, they are written among the Matters of the Seers. And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house. And his son Amon reigned in his place. Repeat. Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. And he did evil in the eyes of the LORD, as his father Manasseh did; and to all the graven images that his father Manasseh had made, Amon sacrificed, and served them. And he did not bow before the LORD, like the humbling of his father Manasseh. For Amon himself multiplied guilt. And his servants conspired against him and killed him in his own house. And the people of the land killed all those who conspired against king Amon. And the people of the land made his son Josiah to reign in his place. Repeat. Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. And he did the right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and did not turn aside to the right nor to the left. For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek after the God of David his father. And in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the Asherahs, and the carved images, and the molten images. And they broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence. And he cut down the images which were on high above them, and the Asherahs. And the carved images and the molten images he also broke in pieces and made dust from them, and scattered on the graves of the ones who had sacrificed to them. And he burned the bones of the priests on their altars and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem. And so he did in the cities of Manasseh and Ephraim and Simeon, even to Naphtali, with their tools round about. And he broke down the altars and the Asherahs, and had beaten the carved images into powder, and cut down all the idols in all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem. Repeat. And in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God. And they came to Hilkiah the high priest, and they delivered the silver that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the doors had gathered from the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and from all the remnant of Israel, and from all Judah and Benjamin, and they returned to Jerusalem. And they put it in the hands of the workmen who had the oversight of the house of the LORD. And they gave it to the workmen who worked in the house of the LORD, to repair and mend the house. They gave to the artisans and builders, to buy cut stone and timber for joints, and beams to build up the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed. And the men did the work faithfully. And the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, and of the Levites, all who were skillful with instruments of music; and over the bearers of burdens, and overseers of all who worked the work in any manner of service. And of the Levites were scribes and officers and gatekeepers. Repeat. And Levites. And when they brought out the silver that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD by Moses. And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan. And Shaphan carried the Book to the king, and brought the king word back again, saying, All that was given into the hands of your servants, they are doing. And they poured out the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and to the hand of the workmen. And Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest has given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king. And it happened when the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his garments. And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan. and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying, Go inquire of the LORD for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD to do according to all that is written in this Book. And Hilkiah, and those of the king, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, the keeper of the robes. (And she lived in Jerusalem in the second part.) And they spoke to her about this. And she answered them, So says the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man who sent you to me, So says the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil on this place and upon its people, all the curses that are written in the Book which they have read before the king of Judah, because they have forsaken Me, and have burned incense to other gods, so that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. And My wrath shall be poured out on this place and shall not be quenched. And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, so shall you say to him, So says the LORD God of Israel whose words you have heard, Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before your God when you heard His words against this place and against its people, and humbled yourself before Me, and tore your garments and wept before Me, I have even heard also, says the LORD. Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, nor shall your eyes see all the evil which I will bring on this place and upon its people. And they brought the king word again. Repeat. And the king sent and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the people of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people from the great to the small. And he read in their ears all the words of the Book of the Covenant that was found in the house of the LORD. And the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD and to keep His commandments and His testimonies, and His statutes, with all his heart and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book. And he caused all who were found in Jerusalem and in Benjamin, and the people of Jerusalem, to stand to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the territories that belonged to the sons of Israel. And he made all that were present in Israel to serve, to serve the LORD their God. All his days they did not depart from following the LORD, the God of their fathers. Repeat. And Josiah kept a Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem. And they killed the passover lamb on the fourteenth of the first month. And he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the house of the LORD. And he said to the Levites who taught all Israel, who were holy to the LORD, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David, king of Israel, built. It shall not be a burden on your shoulders. And serve the LORD your God and His people Israel, and prepare by the houses of your fathers, according to your divisions, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon his son. And stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the families of the fathers of your brothers, the sons of the people, and the division of the families of the Levites. And kill the passover lamb, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare your brothers so that they may do according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses. And Josiah gave to the people from the flock, lambs and kids, all for the Passover offerings, for all who were present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand oxen. These were from what the king owned. And his rulers offered to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites. Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, rulers of the house of God, gave to the priests for the Passover offerings two thousand, six hundred sheep, and three hundred oxen. And Conaniah, and Shemaiah and Nethaneel, his brothers, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, chiefs of the Levites, gave to the Levites for Passover offerings five thousand sheep and five hundred oxen. And the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their divisions, according to the king’s command. And they killed the passover lamb, and the priests sprinkled from their hands, and the Levites skinned them. And they removed the burnt offerings so that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer to the LORD, as it is written in the book of Moses; and so they did to the oxen. And they roasted the passover lamb with fire according to the law. But the holy offerings they boiled in pots, and in kettles, and in pans, and carried to all the sons of the people. And afterward they made ready for themselves, and for the priests, because the priests the sons of Aaron were offering up the burnt offerings and the fat until nightfall. And the Levites prepared for themselves and for the priests, the sons of Aaron. And the singers, the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the command of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun, the king’s seer. And the gatekeepers were at every gate. It was not for them to depart from their service; for their brothers the Levites prepared for them. And all the service of the LORD was prepared the same day, to keep the Passover, and to offer burnt offerings on the altar of the LORD, according to the command of king Josiah. And the sons of Israel present kept the Passover at that time, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days. And there was no Passover like that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet. Yea, none of the kings of Israel kept such a Passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel who were found, and the people of Jerusalem. This Passover was kept in the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah. Repeat. Levites and boring lists. After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates. And Josiah went out against him. But he sent messengers to him, saying, What have I to do with you, king of Judah? I do not come against you today, but against the house with which I have war. For God commanded me to make haste. You must cease from opposing God, who is with me, so that He does not destroy you. But Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself so that he might fight with him. And he did not listen to the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo. And the archers shot at king Josiah. And the king said to his servants, Take me away, for I am grievously wounded. And his servants took him out of that chariot and put him in the second chariot that he had. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in the tombs of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. And Jeremiah mourned for Josiah. And all the singing men and the singing women have spoken of Josiah in their lamentations until this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel. And behold, they are written in the Lamentations. And the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, are according as it is written in the law of the LORD, and his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. Repeat. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father’s place in Jerusalem. Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And the king of Egypt put him down at Jerusalem, and laid a fine of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold on the land. And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho took Jehoahaz his brother and carried him to Egypt. Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And he did the evil in the sight of the LORD his God. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him and bound him in chains to carry him to Babylon. And Nebuchadnezzar carried away some of the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon. And the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. And Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place. Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. And he did the evil in the sight of the LORD. And when the year had ended, king Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylon, with the valuable vessels of the house of the LORD. And he made his brother Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem. Repeat. Nebuchadenezzar conquers. Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And he did the evil in the sight of the LORD his God. He was not humbled before Jeremiah the prophet, from the mouth of the LORD. And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. But he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart from turning to the LORD God of Israel. Also all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the nations. And they polluted the house of the LORD which He had made holy in Jerusalem. And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending, for He had pity on His people and on His dwelling-place. But they mocked the messengers of God and despised His words, and ill-treated His prophets until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, until there was no healing. And He caused the king of the Chaldeans to go up against them. And he killed their choice ones by the sword in the house of their holy place, and had no pity on the young man and the virgin, the old man and the very aged; He gave all into his hand. And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king, and of his rulers, he brought all these to Babylon. And they burned the house of God, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and burned all the palaces of it with fire, and destroyed all its beautiful vessels. And the ones who had escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon, where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD in the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its sabbaths. All the days of the desolation it kept the sabbath, to the full measure of seventy years. Jerusalem falls (not again) but repeated. And in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, so that the word of the LORD in the mouth of Jeremiah might be done, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also in writing, saying, So says Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth have been given to me by the LORD God. And He has commanded me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up. How does Cyrus suddenly become a Jew?
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अध्याय 1 1 त्यहाँ एल्काना नाउँ भएका एकजना मानिस थिए। तिनी एप्रैमको पहाडी प्रदेश रामा शहरमा बस्थे। तिनी सूपी परिवारका थिए। तिनका पिताको नाउँ यरोहाम, बाजेको नाउँ एलीहू र बराजुको नाउँ तोहू थियो। तोहू चाहि सूपका छोरा थिए। सूप एप्रेम परिवार समूहबाटका थिए। 2 एल्कानाका दुइवटी पत्नी थिए। एउटीको नाउँ हन्ना र अर्कीको नाउँ पनिन्ना थियो। पनिन्नाका नानीहरू थिए, तर हन्नाका नानीहरू थिएनन्। 3 परमप्रभु सर्वशक्तिमानको अघि आराधना गर्न र बलि चढाउन प्रत्येक वर्ष एल्काना रामाबाट शीलोमा जाने गर्थे। शीलोमा परमप्रभुका पूजाहारीको रूपमा होप्नी र पीनहासले सेवा गर्थे। यी दुइ एलीका छोरा थिए। 4 जब एल्काना बलि चढाउने गर्थे, उसले उनकी पत्नी पनिन्नाह र उनका छोरा-छोरीलाई भाग दिने गर्थे। 5 उनले हन्नालाई जहिले पनि बराबरी भाग भोजन दिन्थे उनले हन्नालाई बढी माया गर्थे किनभने परमेश्वरले उनको कोख बन्द गरिदिनु भएको थियो। 6 परमप्रभुले हन्नालाई बाँझी पार्नु भएको कारण पनिन्नाले तिनलाई रिस उठाउने गर्थी। 7 शीलोमा प्रत्येक वर्ष जब त्यो परिवार परमप्रभुलाई आराधना गर्न र बलिदान चढाउन जान्थे तब पनिन्नाहले हन्नालाई दुःख दिने र्गथिन्। र खसालेर कुरा गर्ने र तिनलाई रूवाएर खाना नखानेसम्म बनाउदथिइन्। 8 यो सब देखेर एल्काना उनका पतिले भन्थे, “हन्ना तिमी किन रून्छौ? किन केही खाँदिनौ? तिमी किन यति दुःखी छौ? म तिम्रो लोग्ने हुँ र म तिम्रै हुँ। तिमीले सोच्नु पर्छ कि म दशजना छोराहरू भन्दा बढता नै छु।” 9 त्यसपछि हन्ना चुपचाप उठिन् र परमप्रभुको सामु प्रार्थना गर्न गइन्। त्यस समय पूजाहारी एली परमप्रभुको पवित्र आराधनालयको दैलोकै छेउमा एउटा कुर्सीमा बसिरहेका थिए। 10 हन्ना साह्रै नै दुःखी थिइन्। यसर्थ जब तिनले प्रार्थना गर्न शुरू गरिन तिनी साह्रै रोइन्। 11 तिनले परमेश्वरलाई भाकल गर्दै भनिन्, “हे सर्वशक्तिमान परमप्रभु म अफसोसमा छु। तपाईंले मलाई दया गर्नुहोस्। ममाथि कृपालु हुनुहोस् म तपाईंकी दासी हुँ। यदि तपाईंले मलाई एउटा छोरा दिनुभयो भने त्यो बाँचुञ्जेलसम्म म त्यसलाई तपाईंकै सेवामा अर्पण गर्नेछु। त्यस बालकले कहिले पनि दाखरस पिउने छैन र त्यसको कपाल पनि काटीने छैन्।” 12 हन्नाले धेरै बेरसम्म परमप्रभुलाई प्रार्थना गरिरहिनन्। प्रार्थना गर्दा एलीले हन्नाका ओंठ आवाज बिनै चलिरहेका देखे। 13 हन्नाले ओठ चलाए पनि आवाज ननिकालिकन साँच्चै उनको हृदयमा प्रार्थना गरिरहेकी थिइन्। 14 हन्नाले ज्यादै मद्यपान गरेकी ठानेर एलीले भने, “तिमीले ज्यादै पिएकी छौ। यो दाखरस छोडने समय हो।” 15 हन्नाले उत्तर दिइन्, “महाशय, मैले कुनै प्रकारको मद्यपान गरेकी छैन। म साह्रै दुःखमा परेकी छु। म त परमप्रभुसँग मेरो दुःखहरू पो बिन्ति गर्दैथिएँ। 16 तपाईंले मलाई नराम्री स्त्री ठान्नु हुँदैन। म साह्रै ठूलो कष्टमा परेकी छु र साह्रै दुःखी भएकी छु। मैले धेरै बेरसम्म परमेश्वरलाई प्रार्थना चढाएकी हुँ।” 17 एलीले भने, “यदि त्यसो हो भने शान्तिसित जाऊ। इस्राएलका परमेश्वरले तिम्रो प्रार्थना अवश्य सुन्नु हुनेछ, अनि तिम्रो विन्ती पूरा गर्नु हुनेछ।” 18 हन्नाले भनिन्, “म आशा गर्छु तपाईं पनि मसँग खुशी हुनुहुन्छ।” तब हन्ना गइन् र केही खाने कुरा खाइन्। तिनी फेरि दुःखीत भइनन्। 19 भोलिपल्ट बिहानै एल्कानाका परिवारका सदस्यहरू उठे अनि परमप्रभुको आराधना गरे र आफ्नो घर रामामा फर्के।एल्कानाले आफ्नी पत्नी हन्नासित सहवास गरे। परमप्रभुले पछि हन्नालाई सम्झनु भयो। 20 तिनी गर्भवती भइन्। समय पुगेपछि हन्नाले एउटा छोरो जन्माइन्। तिनले छोराको नाउँ शमूएलराखिन्। तिनले भनिन्, “यसको नाउँ शामूएल हो किनभने यसलाई मैले परमप्रभुसित मागेकी हुँ।” 21 त्यस वर्ष एल्कानाले परमेश्वरसित राखेको भाकल पूरा गर्न र बलि चढाउन (शीलोमा) गए। उनका परिवारका अरू सदस्यहरू पनि गए। 22 तर हन्ना गइनन्। तिनले एल्कानालाई भनिन्, “बालकले जब दूध खान छोड्छ र ठोस आहार खान थाल्छ, म यसलाई लिएर शीलोमा जानेछु। तब म बालकलाई परमप्रभुमा अर्पण गर्नेछु। बालक सधैंलाई शीलोमा नै रहनेछ।” 23 हन्नाका लोग्ने एल्कानाले भने, “तिमीलाई जे राम्रो लाग्छ त्यही गर बालकले ठोस भोजन गर्नसक्ने नभइञ्जेल तिमी घरैमा बस। परमप्रभुले तिम्रो वचनपूरा गरिदिउन्।” यसर्थ तिनी छोराले आमाको दूध नछाडेसम्म घरैमा बसिन्। 24 जब नानी ठूलो भयो अनि ठोस भोजन खान थाल्यो हन्नाले नानीलाई परमप्रभुको मन्दिर शीलोमा लगिन्। हन्नाले आफूसँग एउटा तीन वर्षको साँढे, चार पाथी पीठो र एक मसक दाखरस पनि लिएर गइन्। 25 तिनीहरूले परमप्रभुको आराधना गरे। त्यसपछि साँढेलाई बलि चढाए पश्चात तिनीहरूले नानी पूजाहारी एलीलाई दिए। 26 हन्नाले बालकलाई एलीको अघिल्तिर लिएर गइन् र भनिन्, “महाशाय, मलाई क्षमा गर्नु होला। म त्यही स्त्री हुँ, जो परमप्रभुलाई प्रार्थना गर्दागर्दै तपाईंका सामु उभिएकी थिएँ। मैले साँचो भनिरहेको छु। 27 मैले बालकको निम्ति प्रार्थना गरेकी थिएँ अनि परमप्रभुले मलाई बालक दिनुभयो र आभारी तुल्याउनु भयो। 28 अब यस बालकलाई परमप्रभुमा अर्पण गर्दैछु। सारा जीवन नै परमप्रभुको भएर यो यही रहनेछ।”तब हन्नाले बालकलाई त्यही छोडीदिइन् अनि परमप्रभुको आराधना गरिन्।हन्नाले धन्यवाद दिन्छिन् अध्याय 2 1 हन्नाले प्रार्थना गरिन्, “परमप्रभुमा, म खुशी छु! परमप्रभुमा म विजयको अनुभव गर्छु। तपाईंको मुक्तिमा म खुशी छु अनि मेरो शत्रुहरू माथि धाक जमाउँछु। 2 परमप्रभु जस्तो पवित्र कोही छैन। तपाईं बाहेक कोही परमेश्वर छैन। हाम्रो परमेश्वर बाहेक यहाँ अरू कुनै आश्रय छैन। 3 अब अहंकार हुदैन! अहंकारपूर्ण वचनहरू अब छैन कारण परमप्रभु परमेश्वर सर्वज्ञानी हुनुहुन्छ। परमेश्वरले मानिसका कार्यहरू तौलनु हुन्छ। 4 शूरबीर र योद्धाहरूका धनु भाँचिएका छन् अनि दुर्बलहरू बलिया भएका छन्। 5 विगतमा धेरै भोजन प्राप्त गर्नेहरू अब काम नगरी भोजन नपाउने भएका छन्। तर विगतमा जो भोक-भोकै थिए, तिनीहरू अहिले भोजन खाएर मोटाएका छन्। आमा बन्ने सौभाग्य नपाएकी स्त्रीहरू अहिले सातवटाकी आमा बन्न सफल छिन्! तर जुन स्त्रीका धेरै सन्तानहरू थिए, तिनीहरू सबै गएकाले ती स्त्री दुःखी छिन्। 6 परमप्रभुले कुनै मानिसहरूलाई मृत्युमा पार्नुहुन्छ, अनि परमप्रभुले नै कुनैलाई जीवन दिनुहुन्छ उहाँले कोही मानिसलाई तल पातालमा पठाउनुहुन्छ अनि अरू कोहीलाई जीउनको निम्ति उठाउनुहुन्छ र जीवन दिनुहुन्छ। 7 परमप्रभुले मानिसहरूलाई गरीब तुल्याउनु हुन्छ, अनि उहाँले नै धनी बनाउनुहुन्छ, परमप्रभुले मानिसहरूलाई तल पार्नु हुन्छ र फेरि उच्च आसनमा बसाउनुहुन्छ। 8 परमप्रभुले कंगालहरूलाई धूलोबाट उठाउँनुहुन्छ, अनि दुःख हटाई दिनुहुन्छ। परमप्रभुले कंगालीहरूलाई राजा संग-संगै बसाउनुहुन्छ। परमप्रभुले कंगालीहरूलाई सम्मानको सिंहासनमा राख्नुहुन्छ। परमप्रभु उनी हुन जसले संसारको जग बसाल्नु भयो अनि त्यसमाथि संसार बनाउनु भयो। 9 परमप्रभुले आफ्ना पवित्र मानिसहरूको रक्षा गर्नुहुन्छ, ठेस लागेर लड्नबाट उनीहरूलाई बँचाउनु हुन्छ, तर पापीहरू अन्धकारमा नष्ट भएर डुब्ने छन्। तिनीहरूका शक्ति विजय प्राप्त गर्न सहायक सिद्ध हुनेछैन। 10 परमप्रभुले आफ्ना शत्रुहरूलाई नष्ट पार्नुहुन्छ। सर्वोच्च परमेश्वर स्वर्गबाट उहाँको दुश्मनहरूका विरूद्ध गर्जनुहुन्छ। उहाँले सारा पृथ्वीको न्याय गर्नुहुन्छ, परमप्रभुले आफ्ना राजालाई बलियो पार्नुहुन्छ। उहाँले चुनेका राजालाई बलियो पार्नुहुन्छ।” 11 एल्काना र तिनका परिवारका सदस्यहरू सबै रामामा आफ्नो घर फर्के, तर त्यो बालकचाहि शीलोमा नै परमप्रभुको सेवा गर्न पूजाहारीको रेखदेखमा रह्यो। 12 एलीका छोराहरू दुष्ट थिए। परमप्रभु प्रति तिनीहरूको कुनै वास्ता थिएन। 13 यसरी तिनीहरूले मानिसहरूलाई दुर्व्यवहार गर्थे। पूजाहारीहरूको कर्त्तव्य यो थियोः जब कोही मानिस बलिदान चढाउँथ्यो तब पूजाहारीले एउटा भाँडाको उम्लीएको पानीमा मासु पकाउनु पर्थ्यो। तब पूजाहारीको सेवकले त्रिशूल लिनु पर्थ्यो। 14 पूजाहारीको सेवकले हातमा तिखो त्रिशूल लिएर भाँडाको मासुलाई काँटाले घोच्नु पर्थ्यो। सेवकहरूले काँटाले घोचे जतिमात्र मासु पूजाहारीको भाग हुन्थ्यो। पूजाहारीले उनै इस्राएलीहरूका निम्ति यसो गर्नुपर्थ्यो जो शीलोमा बलिदान चढाउन आउँथे। 15 तर एलीका छोराहरूले यसो गरेनन्। बोसोलाई वेदीमा जलाउनु अघि नै पूजाहारीका सेवक आएर बलिदानको पवित्र भेटि यसरी भनेर सोध्ने गर्थ्यो, “पूजाहारीको लागि पकाउनलाई केहि मासु देऊ, पूजाहारीले पकाएको मासु ग्रहण गर्दैनन् खाली काँचो मासु मात्र।” 16 बलि चढाउने मानिसले भन्थ्यो, “पहिले बोसोलाई जलाउँ त्यसपछि तिमीलाई चाहिए जति लैजाऊ।” यदि यस्तो परिस्थितिमा भने पूजाहारीको सेवकले भन्थ्यो, “होइन, त्यो मलाई अहिले नै मासु दिइहाल, यदि दिंदैनौ भने म खोसेर लैजानेछु।” 17 यस्तो प्रकारले ती दुइ पूजाहारी होप्नी र पीनहासले परमप्रभु प्रति चढाइएको बलिदानहरूमा श्रद्धा देखाएनन्। तिनीहरूले परमप्रभुको विरूद्धमा महा पाप गरे। 18 तर शमूएलले एउटा सहयोगीको रूपमा परमप्रभुको सेवा गर्थ्यो। शमूएलले एउटा विशेष प्रकारको मलमलको पोशाक लगाउथ्यो जसलाई एपोद भनिन्छ। 19 प्रत्येक वर्ष शमूएलकी आमाले उसलाई एउटा सानो भोटो बनाइ दिन्थिनू। प्रत्येक वर्ष लोग्नेसित जब बलि चढाउन शीलो जान्थिन् त्यो भोटो शमूएलाई पुर्याइ दिन्थिन्। 20 एलीले एल्काना र तिनकी पत्नीलाई आशीर्वाद दिन्थे। एलीले भने, “परमप्रभुले यो बालक जसलाई तिमीले परमप्रभुको सेवाको लागि माग्यौ यसको ठाउँमा अरू धेरै नानीहरू परमप्रभु तिनीहरूका साथ अशिष दिउन्।”एल्काना र हन्ना घर फर्किए अनि 21 परमप्रभुको निगाह हन्ना माथि थियो। तिनले छोरा र दुइ छोरी जन्माइन्। शमूएल भने परमप्रभुको सामुन्ने बढ्न थाल्यो।एलीले दुष्ट छोराहरूलाई तह लगाउन सकेनन् 22 एली साह्रै वृद्ध भएका थिए। उसले आफ्ना छोराहरू बार-बार शीलोमा इस्राएलीहरूसित गरेका व्यवहार सुने। भेट हुने पालको ढोकामा सेवा गर्ने स्त्रीहरूसँग तिनीहरूले सहवास गरेको कुरा पनि एलीले सुने। 23 एलीले आफ्ना छोराहरूलाई भने, “तिमीहरूले गरेका दुष्ट कार्य मानिसहरूले मलाई सुनाउँछन्। त्यस्ता दुष्ट कार्य किन गर्छौ? 24 छोरा हो, त्यस्तो खराब कार्य नगर। परमप्रभुका मानिसहरूले तिमीहरूका बारेमा नराम्रो कुरा गर्दैछन्। 25 मानिसले मानिसको विरूद्धमा दुष्ट कार्य गरेकोमा परमेश्वरले त्यसको न्याय गर्नु हुनेछ। तर कसैले परमप्रभुको विरूद्धमा पाप गर्छ भने, कसले उसलाईं परमेश्वरसित सहायता गर्नेछ?” तर एलीका दुष्ट छोराहरूले पिताका कुरा सुन्न अस्वीकार गरे। तर परमेश्वरले पहिले नै निर्णय लिइसक्नु भएको थियो कि तिनीहरू मर्ने थिए। 26 बालक शमूएल भने दिन दिनै ठूलो हुँदै गयो। उसले परमेश्वर र मानिसहरूलाई प्रसन्न पार्थ्यो। 27 परमेश्वरका एकजना दास आएर एलीलाई भने, “परमप्रभु भन्नुहुन्छ, ‘म तेरो पिता-पुर्खाहरू मिश्रमा फिरऊनको दासत्वमा रहेको समयमा म तेरो पिताको परिवारमा प्रकट भएँ। 28 इस्राएल भरिका कुलहरू मध्ये तेरो पिताको कुललाई मेरो पूजाहारीको रूपमा चुनेको थिएँ। मैले तिनीहरूलाई मेरो वेदीमाथि धूप बाल्न र मेरो उपस्थितिमा एपोद लाउन छानेको थिएँ। इस्राएलीहरूले चढाएका बलिको भाग उनीहरूसित मैले बाँडे। 29 तर तैंले ती बलि र भेटीहरूमा मेरो आदेश अनुसार आदर गरिनस्। मलाई भन्दा ज्यादा तैंले तेरो छोराहरूलाई सम्मान दिइस्। इस्राएलका मेरा मानिसहरूले मलाई चढाएको पवित्र बलिको भोजन खाएर तँ मोटाएकोछस्।’ 30 “परमप्रभु इस्राएलका परमेश्वरले प्रतिज्ञा गर्नुभयो तँ अनि तेरा पिताको सन्तानले सदा-सर्वदा मेरो सेवा गर्नेछन्। तर परमप्रभु अब यसो भन्नुहुन्छ, ‘यस्तो कहिले हुँदैन! मलाई जसले सम्मान गर्छन् म तिनीहरूको सम्मान गर्छु। तर जसले मेरो अनादर गर्छ ऊ अपमानित हुनेछ। 31 समय आउँदैछ जब म तेरो सन्तानलाई नष्ट गर्नेछु। तेरो परिवारमा कसैले पनि बुढो भइञ्जेलसम्म जीउने छैनन। 32 इस्राएलको निम्ति असल दिन आउने छ, तर तैले घरमा खराब दिन देख्नेछस्। तेरो परिवारमा कोही पनि बुढो हुञ्जेल बाँच्ने छैन। 33 तर तेरा सन्तानको एकजना व्यक्ति मेरो वेदीको पूजाहारीको रूपमा रहनेछ। उसको आँखाको शक्ति रहुन्जेल र शारीरिक शाक्ति कम्ती नहुञ्जेल सम्म ऊ रहनेछ। तेरा सन्तान तरवारले काटिएको उसले देख्नेछ। 34 म तँलाई यो चिन्ह दिनेछु जसले गर्दा तैंले यो साँचो हो भनी जान्नेछसू। तेरा दुवै छोरा होप्नी र पीनहास एकै दिनमा मर्नेछन्। 35 म एउटा विश्वासयोग्य पूजाहारी नियुक्त गर्नेछु, जसलाई मैले आदेश गरे अनुसार काम गर्नेछ। म त्यस पूजाहारीको परिवारलाई शक्तिशाली बनाउनेछु। उसले जीवनभरी मैले चुनेको राजाको सामु सेवा गर्नेछ। 36 त्यसपछि तेरो परिवारमा कोही बाँचे भने तिनीहरूले पूजाहारीको अघि आएर झुक्नेछन् र भन्नेछन्, “दया गरी मलाई पूजाहारीको रूपमा नियुक्त गर्नुहोस् ताकि म सँग केही खाने चीज होस्।”‘ अध्याय 3 1 एलीको अधीनमा रहेर बालक शमूएलले परमप्रभुको सेवा गर्थे। त्यस बेला परमप्रभु मानिसहरूसंग सिधै धेरै जस्तो बोल्नुहुन्थेन। उहाँले धेरै मानिसहरूलाई दर्शनहरू दिनु भएन। 2 एली लगभग अन्धा जस्तै भइसकेका थिए। एक रात तिनी ओछ्यानमा पल्टिरहेका थिए। 3 शमूएल चाहि पवित्र सन्दूक भएको परमप्रभुको मन्दिरमा सुतिरहेका थिए। परमप्रभुको बत्ती जलिरहेकै थियो। 4 परमप्रभुले शमूएललाई बोलाउनु भयो। “म यहाँ हाजीर छु” शमूएलले उत्तर दिए। 5 शमूएलले सोचे एलीले उसलाई बोलाएको यसकारण शमूएल हतारीएर एलीकहाँ गए। शमूएलले आफ्नो उपस्थिति जाहेर गरेर भने, “तपाईंले मलाई बोलाउनुभयो, म यहाँ छु।”तर एलीले भने, “मैले तिमीलाई बोलाएको होइन। आफ्नो ओछ्यानमा गएर सुत”शमूएल आफ्नो ओछ्यानमा गए। 6 परमप्रभुले फेरि बोलाउनु भयो, “शमूएल!” शमूएल फेरि एलीको ओछ्यानमा गएर भने, “तपाईंले मलाई बोलाउनु भएको हो, म यहाँ छु।” एलीले भने, “मैले बोलाएको छैन मेरो छोरा! जाऊ, गएर सुत।” 7 अहिलेसम्म शमूएलले व्यक्तिगत रूपमा परमप्रभुलाई चिनेका थिएनन्। परमप्रभुले शमूएल सँग सिधै बातचित गर्नु भएको थिएन। 8 परमप्रभुले शमूललाई तेस्रो चोटि बोलाउनु भयो। शमूएल उठेर फेरि एलीको छेउ पुगे। शमूएलले भने, “म यहाँ छु, तपाईंले मलाई बोलाउँनु भयो।”त्यत्तिबेला भने एलीले बुझे कि परमप्रभुले शमूएललाई बोलाउँदै हुनुहुन्थ्यो। 9 एलीले शमूएललाई भने, “ओछ्यानमा जाऊ! यदि फेरि बेलाउँनु भयो भने भन्नु, ‘परमप्रभु भन्नुहोस्। म तपाईंको दास हुँ र तपाईंले भन्नु भएको सुन्दैछु।”‘यसकारण शमूएल ओछ्यानमा गए। 10 परमप्रभु त्यहाँ प्रकट हुनुभयो र पहिलेको जस्तै बोलाउनु भयो, “शमूएल, शमूएल!”शमूएलले भने, “भन्नुहोस्! परमप्रभु म तपाईंको दास हुँ अनि सुन्दैछु।” 11 परमप्रभुले शमूएललाई भन्नुभयो, “म इस्राएलमा केही अचम्मको काम गर्नेछु। जसले यस विषयमा सुन्छ तिनीहरू साह्रै अचम्मीत हुनेछन्। 12 मैले एली र त्यसको परिवारको विरूद्धमा जे जे गर्छु भनेको थिएँ ती सब गर्नेछु। म शुरू देखि अन्त्यसम्म सबै गर्नेछु। 13 मैले एलीलाई भनेकै छु कि म त्यसको परिवारलाई सधैंको लागि दण्ड दिनेछु। म त्यसो यसकारणले गर्दैछु भनि एलीलाई थाह छ। त्यसका छोराहरूले परमेश्वरलाई निन्दा गरे अनि उहाँसित खराब आचरण गरे। तर उसले तिनीहरूलाई शिक्षा दिएनन्। 14 यसैकारण मैले एलीको परिवारलाई श्राप दिएको छु कि बलिभेटी र अन्नबलिले तिनीहरूलाई पापबाट छुटकारा दिन सक्दैनन्।” 15 बिहानसम्म शमूएल आफ्नो ओछ्यानमै पल्टिरहे उज्यालो हुन साथ झट्पट् उठेर परमप्रभुका मन्दिरका ढोकाहरू खोले। दर्शनको विषयमा एलीलाई भन्न तिनी डराएका थिए। 16 तर एलीले नै शमूएललाई भने, “शमूएल, मेरो छोरा।”शमूएलले जवाफ दिए, “भन्नुहोस्, म यहाँ छु।” 17 एलीले सोधे, “परमप्रभुले तिमीलाई के भन्नु भयो! मलाई लुकाउने काम छैन। यदि परमेश्वरको सन्देश सबैलाई नभनेर लुकायो भने परमेश्वरले दण्ड दिनुहुनेछ।” 18 शमूएलले केही पनि नलुकाई सबै बताए। शमूएलले एलीबाट केही पनि लुकाएनन् एलीले भने, “उहाँ परमप्रभु हुनुहुन्छ। उहाँलाई जे इच्छा लाग्छ त्यसै गर्नुहुन्छ।” 19 शमूएल अझ ठूलो हुँदै गए। परमप्रभु शमूएलसित हुनु हुन्थ्यो। परमप्रभुले शमूएलको कुनै सन्देशलाई पनि झूटो हुने मौका दिनुभएन। 20 त्यसबेला सारा इस्राएलका, (दान देखि बेर्शेबा सम्मका) मानिसहरूले शमूएल परमप्रभुका साँचो अगमवक्ता भएको चाल पाए। 21 शीलोमा परमप्रभु शमूएलकहाँ प्रकट हुनु भयो। उहाँ आफै शमूएलको अघि परमप्रभुको वचन जस्तै प्रकट हुनु भयो। अध्याय 4 1 इस्राएलभरी शमूएलको विषयमा समाचार फैलिन थाल्यो। तर एली भने साह्रै बुढो भइसकेका थिए। तर उनका छोराहरूले भने अझै पनि परमप्रभुका अघि दुष्ट कार्य गरिनै रहे।त्यस समय, इस्राएलीहरू पलिश्तीहरूका विरूद्धमा युद्ध गर्नको निम्ति तयार भए। इस्राएलीले एबेन-एजेरमा छाउनी हाले अनि पलिश्तीहरूले अपेकमा छाउनी हाले। 2 पलिश्तीहरू इस्राएलीहरू माथि हमला गर्न तयार भए।पलिश्तीहरूले इस्राएलीहरूलाई हराए। पलिश्तीहरूले इस्राएलका 4,000 सैनिकहरू मारिदिए। 3 बाँकी इस्राएली सैनिकहरू फर्केर छाउनीमा पुगे। इस्राएलका बूढा प्रधानले सोधे, “परमप्रभुले पलिश्तीहरूद्वारा हामीलाई किन हराउन दिनुभयो? हामीले शीलोबाट परमप्रभुका करारको सन्दूक उठाएर ल्याऊ। यसो गरेपछि परमेश्वर हामीसँग युद्ध भूमिमा जानुहुनेछ र हामीलाई हाम्रो शत्रुबाट बचाउँनु हुनेछ।” 4 त्यसकारण तिनीहरूले शीलोमा मानिसहरू पठाए। सर्वशक्तिमान परमप्रभुको करारको सन्दूक लिएर मानिसहरू आए। सन्दूक माथि करूब स्वर्गदूत विराजमान थिए अनि तिनीहरू त्यस्तो प्रकारले बसेका छन् जसमाथि परमप्रभुले आसन लिनुहुन्थ्यो। एलीका छोरा होप्नी र पीनहास जो सन्दूकको रेखदेख गर्दथे तिनीहरू पनि उक्त सन्दूकसँगै आए। 5 जब परमप्रभुको करारको सन्दूक छाउनी भित्र ल्याइयो, इस्राएलीहरूले ठूलो हल्ला गरे। त्यस हल्लाले भूमि नै हल्लियो। 6 पलिश्तीहरूले पनि इस्राएलीहरूका हल्ला सुन। तिनीहरूले सोधे, “हिब्रूहरूका छाउनीमा यति साह्रौ हल्ला किन हुँदैछ?”पछि पलिश्तीहरूलाई थाहा भयो कि इस्राएलीहरूका छाउनीमा करारको सन्दूक आएको छ। 7 पलिश्तीहरू डराएर भने, “परमेश्वर नै तिनीहरूका छाउनीमा आए! अब हाम्रो के हुने हो। यस्तो पहिले कहिले भएको थिएन। 8 हामी चिन्तित भयौ यस्तो बलियो देवताबाट अब हामीलाई कसले बचाउँछ? यी तिनै देवता हुन् जसले मिश्रीहरूलाई जंगलमा महामारी र भंयकर रोगहरू दिएका थिए। 9 पलिश्तीहरू हो सहासी बन! मर्द झैं काम गर, नत्र ता विगतमा हिब्रूहरू हाम्रा दास थिए, भने अब लडेनौं भने तिमीहरू उनीहरूका दास हुनेछौ।” 10 पलिश्तीहरूले वीरताका साथ लडे र इस्राएलीहरूलाई परास्त पारे। प्रत्येक इस्राएली सेना भागेर आफ्ना छाउनीमा लुक्न पुगे। इस्राएलको यो साह्रै नराम्रो पराजय थियो। जम्मा 30,000 इस्राएली सैनिकहरू मारिएका थिए। 11 पलिश्तीहरूले परमेश्वरको पवित्र सन्दूक हात पारे र एलीका दुवै छोरा, होप्नी र पीनहासलाई मारे। 12 त्यस दिन बिन्यामिनी कूलका एकजना मानिस युद्ध भूमिबाट भागेर हारेको शोक प्रकट गर्न शरीरका बस्त्रहरू च्यातेर टाउकोभरी धूलै-धूलो खन्याए र शीलोमा पुगे। 13 त्यस समय एली शहरको फाटकहरूको मूल बाटोमा आफ्नो आसनमा बसिरहेका थिए। तिनी परमेश्वरको पवित्र सन्दूकको विषयमा ज्यादै चिन्तित थिए र समाचारको प्रतिक्षा गरिरहेका थिए। त्यो बिन्यामीनहरूले आए र दुःखी समाचार शहरलाई दियो। अनि सबै शहरवासी जोडले रून थाले। 14 एली अन्ठानब्बे वर्षका बूढा थिए अनि तिनी अन्धा थिए। जब एलीले रोएको स्वर सुने तिनले सोधे, “मानिसहरू किन यसरी चिच्याइ-चिच्याइ रोईरहेका?”उनै बिन्यामिनी मानिस एलीका सामुने पुगेर सारा घटना बताए। 16 तिनले भने, “म युद्धभूमिबाट भागेर आएको हुँ!”एलीले फेरि सोधे, “के भयो हँ छोरा?” 17 बिन्यामिनी मानिसले सार वृत्तान्त बताए, “इस्राएलीहरू पलिश्तीहरूका अघि टिक्न नसकेर भागे इस्राएली पक्षका धेरै सेना युद्धमा मारिए। तपाईंका दुवै छोरा, होप्नी र पीनहास पनि मारिए अनि परमेश्वरको पवित्र सन्दूक पनि पलिश्तीहरूले कब्जामा पारेका छन्।” 18 जब बिन्यामिनी मानिसले परमेश्वरको पवित्र सन्दूकको घटना बताए, एली ऊ बसेको कुर्सीबाट पछिल्तिर लडे, र तिनको मुन्टो भाँचियो, कारण एली साह्रै बूढा थिए र साह्रै मोटा थिए, उनी त्यही मरे। एलीले चालिस वर्षसम्म इस्राएलाई अगुवाइ गरेका थिए। 19 एलीकी बुहारी, पीनहासकी पत्नी त्यस समय गर्भवती थिईन्। तिनीको नानी जन्माउने समय पुगिसकेको थियो, परमेश्वरको पवित्र सन्दूक कब्जा गरेको घटना साथै ससुरा र लोग्नेको पनि मृत्यु भएको खबर सुन्नेबित्तीकै प्रसववेदना शुरू भयो, यसकारण उसले घुँडा टेकी र तत्कालै एउटा छोरा जन्माईन्। 20 जब तिनी मर्नै लागेकी थिईन्, तिनलाई स्याहार्ने आइमाईहरूले तिनलाई भने, “नडराऊ! तिम्रो एउटा छोरा भयो।”तर एलीकी बुहारीलाई त्यस सुखको खबरले कुनै असर गरेन। 21 तर इस्राएलको महिमा हराएको सुनेर तिनले छोराको नाउँ ईकावोद राखिन्, अर्थ “इस्राएलो महिमा लगियो!” यसले यो नाउँ राखी परमेश्वरको पवित्र सन्दूक लुटिएको र आफ्ना ससुरा अनि लोग्नेको मृत्यु भएको कुरा संकेत गराउँछ। 22 तिनले भनिन्, “इस्राएलको महिमा हरायो।” कारण पलिश्तीहरूले परमेश्वरको पवित्र सन्दूक कब्जा गरे। अध्याय 5 1 पलिश्तीहरूले परमेश्वरको पवित्र सन्दूकलाई एबेन-एजेरबाट अश्दोद पुर्याए। 2 पलिश्तीहरूले परमेश्वरको पवित्र सन्दूकलाई दागोनको मन्दिरमा लगेर दागोनकै मूर्तिको छेउमा राखे। 3 भोलिपल्ट बिहान अश्दोदवासीहरूले दागोनको मूर्ति घोप्टो परेर परमेश्वरको पवित्र सन्दूक अघि भूईमा लडिरहेको देखे। अश्दोदका मानिसहरूले फेरि त्यो मूर्ति त्यसको ठाउँमा उभ्याए। 4 अश्दोदवासीहरूले दागोनको मूर्तिलाई फेरि त्यहि ठाउँमा राखे। तर फेरि अर्को बिहान अश्दोदवासीहरूले दागोनको मूर्ति त्यसरी नै परमेश्वरको पवित्र सन्दूक अघिल्तिर लडिरहेको भेटे। यस बेला दागोनको टाउको र हातहरू भाँचिएर संघारको अघि लडिरहेको र जीउ मात्र त्यहाँ लडिरहेको भेटियो। 5 त्यही व्यवहार आजसम्म चल्दैछ कि अश्दोदमा दागोनका पुरोहित र मन्दिरभित्र पस्नेहरू कसैले पनि दागोनको संघारमा पाइला राख्दैनन्। 6 परमप्रभुले अश्दोदका मानिसहरू साथै छिमेकीहरूका जीवन पनि कष्ट पूर्ण बनाइदिनुभयो। परमप्रभुले तिनीहरूलाई असाध्यै दुःख दिनुभयो। गिर्खाको रूढी फैलाइ दिनुभयो। हुलका हुल मूसाहरू पठाउँनुभयो। मूसाहरू जहाज र जमिन जताततै दगुरिरहन्थे। शहरवासीहरू सबै डराउन थाले। 7 जब अश्दोदवासीहरूले यो देखे तिनीहरूले भने, “इस्राएलको परमेश्वरको सन्दूक यहाँ राख्न सकिन्न। परमेश्वरले हाम्रा देवता दागोनलाई मात्र होइन तर उहाँले हामीलाई पनि पूरा दण्ड दिनुभयो।” 8 अश्दोदका मानिसहरूले पश्लितीका सबै शासकहरूलाई बोलाए। अश्दोदवासीहरूले ती शासकहरूलाई सोधे, “हामीले इस्राएलका परमेश्वरको पवित्र सन्दूकलाई अब के गर्नु पर्ने हो?”शासकहरूले भने, “इस्राएलका परमेश्वरको पवित्र सन्दूकलाई अब गात शहरमा पुर्याइयोस्।” यसरी पलिश्तीहरूले परमेश्वरको पवित्र सन्दूक हटाए। 9 फेरि परमेश्वरको पवित्र सन्दूक जब गातमा पुग्यो तब देखि नै परमप्रभुले त्यस शहरलाई सजाय दिन थाल्नुभयो। मानिसहरूमा खैलाबैला भयो। परमप्रभुले के बालक के वृद्ध सबलाई दुःख दिनथाल्नु भयो। परमेश्वरले गातवासीहरूमा गिर्खाको रूढी फैलाइ दिनुभयो। 10 यसकारण पलिश्तीहरूले परमेश्वरको सन्दूकलाई एक्रोन पठाए।जति बेला परमेश्वरको सन्दूक एक्रोन आइपुग्यो मानिसहरू कराउन थाले, “इस्राएलका परमेश्वरको सन्दूक किन हाम्रो शहर एक्रोनमा ल्याएको? के तिमीहरूले हामीलाई र हाम्रा मानिसहरूलाई मार्न चाहन्छौ?” 11 एक्रोनका मानिसहरूले पलिश्ती शासकहरूलाई एकसाथ बोलाएर भने, “इस्राएलका परमेश्वरको सन्दूकलाई छिट्टो भन्दा छिट्टो आफ्नै ठाउँमा पठाइदिनु होस्। नत्र भने यसले हामीहरूलाई नष्ट पार्नेछ।”एक्रोनका मानिसहरू साह्रै डराएका थिए। परमेश्वरले त्यस शहरवासीहरूको जीवन कष्टमय बनाइदिनु भयो। 12 मानिसहरू धेरै संख्यामा मरे। जो मरेका थिएनन् तिनीहरूलाई गिर्खाको रूढीले सताउन थाल्यो र एक्रोनका मानिसहरूको रोदन स्वर्गसम्मै पुग्यो। अध्याय 6 1 पलिश्तीहरूले पवित्र सन्दूकलाई आफ्नो देशमा सात महीनासम्म राखे। 2 पलिश्तीहरूले आफ्ना पुरोहितहरू र ज्योतिषीहरूलाई बोलाएर भने, “हामीले परमप्रभुको पवित्र सन्दूकलाई के गर्नु पर्ने हो? सुझावदिनुहोस्, कसरी सन्दूकलाई फेरि यसको आफ्नै घरमा पठाउन सकिन्छ?” 3 पुरोहितहरू र ज्योतिषीहरूले सुझाव दिए, “यदि तिमीहरूले इस्राएलका परमेश्वरको पवित्र सन्दूकलाई पठाउनु भयो भने सौगात नराखी नपठाऊ। तिमीहरूले केही उपहार चढाउनै पर्छ, जसले तिमीहरूको पाप मोचन हुनेछ। त्यसपछि तिमीहरू स्वस्थ्य र पवित्र हुनेछौ। तिमीहरूले यसो गर्नैपर्छ अनि मात्र परमेश्वरले तिमीहरूलाई दण्डित हुनबाट बचाउँनु हुनेछ।” 4 पलिश्तीहरूले सोधे, “इस्राएलका परमेश्वरलाई कस्तो प्रकारका भेटीहरू दिएमा हामीलाई क्षमा मिल्ने छ?”पुरोहितहरू र ज्योतिषीहरूले भने, “यहाँ पलिश्तीहरूका शहरका एक-एकजना प्रमुख गरेर जम्मा पाँचजना प्रमुख छन्। तिमी जस्तै तिम्रो सबै प्रमुखहरूले एउटै विमार भोग्नु परिरहेछ। यसर्थ तिमीहरूले पाँचवटा सुनका गिर्खाको नमूना तयार गर। त्यसरी नै पाँचवटा सुनका मूसाको नमूना पनि तयार गर। 5 गिर्खाहरू र मूसाका नमूनाहरू बनाऊ त्यसले देशलाई नष्ट गरिरहेको छ। इस्राएलका परमेश्वरलाई ती सुनका नमूनाहरू भुक्तानीको रूपमा प्रदान गर। त्यसपछि यो हुन सक्ला इस्राएलका परमेश्वरले तिमीहरू, तिमीहरूका देवता र तिमीहरूको देशमा दण्ड दिन बन्द गर्नु हुनेछ। 6 फिरऊन र मिश्रीहरू जस्तै हठी स्वभावका नबन। परमेश्वरले मिश्रीहरूलाई दण्ड दिनुभयो। यसो गर्दा मात्र मिश्रीहरूले इस्राएलीहरूलाई मिश्र छोड्नदिए। 7 “तिमीहरूले एउटा गाडा बनाउनु पर्छ र कहिले खेत नजोतेका दुइवटा दुहुना गाई बन्दोबस्त गर्नुपर्छ। ती दुइवटा गाईलाई गाडा तान्ने गरी नारेर त्यसका बाछाहरूलाई भने गोठभित्र थुनिदिनुपर्छ। त्यसो गर्दा बाछाले माऊलाई पछ्याउँन पाउँदैनन्। 8 परमप्रभुको पवित्र सन्दूकलाई त्यस गाढा भित्र राखिदिनु। त्यसैको छेउमा नमूनाको थैलो पनि राखि दिनु। त्यो नमूना चाँहि तिम्रो पाप मोचनका निम्ति परमेश्वरलाई भेटी हो। बन्द गाडालाई सोझो बाटो लगाई देऊ। 9 त्यसपछि गाडा कता जान्छ ख्याल राख। यदि गाडा बेत-शेमेशपट्टि अघि बढेर इस्राएलको भूमितिर गयो भने त्यसले यो संकेत दिन्छ, परमप्रभुले नै हामीलाई त्यस्तो ठूलो रोग दिनुभएको हो। तर गाई बेत-शेमेश तिर गएन भने हामीले बुझ्नेछौं कि त्यो दण्ड स्वरूप भनिएको देशान इस्राएलका परमेश्वरबाट भएको होइन। हामीले त्यो बिमार आफै फैलिएको हो भनेर जान्नुपर्यो।” 10 पलिश्तीहरूले पूरोहित र ज्योतिषीहरूले भने झैं गरे। पलिश्तीहरूले भरखरै ब्याएका दुइवटा गाई खोजेर ल्याए। गाडामा ती गाईहरू नारे र बाछाहरूलाई गोठमा थुनिदिए। 11 त्यसपछि पलिश्तीहरूले गाडामा परमप्रभुको पवित्र सन्दूक राखे। सुनका मूसाहरू र गिर्खाको नमूनाहरू हालेको थैलो गाडामा (सन्दुको छेउमा) राखे। 12 गाई गाडा तान्दै सोझै बेत-शेमेशतिर लगे। गाईहरू कराउँदै सडकदेखि दाहिने देब्रे कतै नताकी अघि बढिरहे। पलिश्ती शासकहरू पनि बेत-शेमेशको सीमासम्म पछि-पछि गए। 13 बेत-शेमेशका मानिसहरू बेंसीमा धमाधम गहूँको फसल काटिरहेका थिए। तिनीहरूले शिर उठाएर हेर्दा पवित्र सन्दूक देखे। तिनीहरूले त्यस सन्दूकलाई फेरि देख्दा साह्रै रमाए र दौडेर लिन गए। 14 गाडा सोझै बेत-शेमेशका यहोशूको खेतमा एउटा ठूलो चट्टान अगाडि रोकियो।बेत-शेमेशका मानिसहरूले त्यो गाडा टुक्रा-टुक्रा पारे। गाईहरूलाई मारेर परमप्रभुलाई बलिको रूपमा चढाए। लेवी कुल समूहका मानिसहरूले परमप्रभुको पवित्र सन्दूक उठाए। तिनीहरूले सन्दूक र सुनका नमूनाहरू राखिएका थौला उठाएर त्यो चट्टानमाथि राखे। त्यस दिन बेत-शेमेशका मानिसहरूले परमप्रभुलाई होमबलि चढाए। 16 पलिश्ती शासकहरूले बेत-शेमेशमा घटेका सम्पूर्ण घटना हेरेर त्यही दिन एक्रोनतिर लागे। 17 यस प्रकार पलिश्तीहरूले आफूले गरेका पापबाट क्षमा पाउनलाई परमप्रभुमा गिर्खाको सुनको नमूना उपहार स्वरूप पठाए। तिनीहरूले पाँचवटा सुनका गिर्खाको नमूना प्रत्येक पलिश्ती शहरमा एक एकवटा पठाए। ती शहरहरू हुन् अश्दोद, गाजा, अश्कलोन, गात र एक्रोन। 18 पलिश्तीहरूले सुनका मूसाहरूको नमूना पनि पठाए। सुनका मूसाहरूको नमूना पनि त्यति नै संख्यामा थियो जति ती पाँचै पलिश्ती शासकहरूको शहरको संख्या थियो। ती शहरहरूका वरिपरि पर्खालहरू थिए अनि प्रत्येक शहरका वरिपरि बस्तीहरू थिए।बेत-शेमेशका मानिसहरूले परमप्रभुको पवित्र सन्दूकलाई जुन चट्टानमा राखे, त्यो चट्टान अहिले पनि बेत-शेमेशका यहोशूको खेतमा छ। 19 जब बेत-शेमेशका मानिसहरूले परमप्रभुको पवित्र सन्दूक देखे त्यो हेरचाह गर्न तिनीहरूलाई सिकाउने त्यहाँ कुनै पूजाहारी थिएन। यसकारणले बेत-शेमेशेका सत्तरीजना मानिसहरूलाई परमेश्वरले मार्नुभयो। परमप्रभुले कठोर दण्ड दिनुभयो भनेर बेत-शेमेशका मानिसहरूले अलाप विलाप गर्न थाले। 20 यसैले बेत-शेमेशका मानिसहरूले भने, “यस पवित्र सन्दूकलाई हेरचाह गर्ने पूजाहारी कहाँ छन्? अब यहाँबाट सन्दूक कता लैजाने हो?” 21 किर्यात्-यारीममा एकजना पूजाहारी छन्। बेत-शेमेशका मानिसहरूले किर्यात्-यारीमका मानिसहरू भएतिर दूत पठाए। दूतले गएर भने, “पलिश्तीहरूले परमप्रभुको पवित्र सन्दूक फिर्ता गरिदिए। तल आएर तपाईंहरूले त्यो आफ्नो शहरमा लानु होस्।” अध्याय 7 1 किर्यातू-यारीमका मानिसहरू आए र परमप्रभुको पवित्र सन्दूक लिएर गए। तिनीहरूले परमप्रभुको सन्दूकलाई पहाडमा भएको अबीनादाबको घरमा लगे। तिनीहरूले अबीनादाबको छोरा एलाजारलाई परमप्रभुको सन्दूकको रक्षा गर्ने तयारीको सम्बन्धमा एउटा विशेष उत्सव मनाए। 2 किर्यातू-यारीमा उक्त सन्दूक बीस वर्षसम्म रह्यो।इस्राएलका मानिसहरूले परमेश्वरको निम्ति चाहना गरे र फेरि परमप्रभुकै अनुशरण गर्न शुरू गरे। 3 शमूएलले इस्राएलका मानिसहरूलाई भने, “यदि तिमीहरू साँचो हृदयले परमप्रभुको शरणमा फर्कन्छौ भने तिमीहरूका माझबाट विदेशी देवताहरूलाई फ्याकी दिनुपर्छ। तिमीहरूले अश्तारोतका मूर्ति फ्याँकि देऊ। परमप्रभुमा सम्पूर्ण रूपले समप्रित गर्नुपर्छ। तिनीहरूले परमप्रभु कै मात्र सेवा गर्नुपर्छ! त्यसपछि परमप्रभुले तिमीहरूलाई पलिश्तीहरूका हातबाट बचाउँनु हुनेछ।” 4 यसरी इस्राएलीहरूले बाल अनि अश्तारोतका मूर्तिहरू फ्याँकिदिए। इस्राएलीहरूले परमप्रभुकै मात्र सेवा गर्नथाले।” 5 शमूएलले भने, “सबै इस्राएलका मानिसहरूलाई मिस्पामा भेला गर। म तिमीहरूका निम्ति परमप्रभुसँग प्रार्थना गर्छु।” 6 इस्राएलका मानिसहरू मिस्पामा भेला भए। तिनीहरू परमप्रभुको सामु पानी खन्याएर चोखिए। यसरी तिनीहरूले आफ्नो पाप स्वीकार गरे अनि दिनभरी उपवास बसेर तिनीहरूले भने, “हामीले परमप्रभुका विरूद्धमा पाप काम गर्यौं।” यसरी शमूएल इस्राएलको न्यायकर्त्ता र नायक भए। 7 पलिश्तीहरूले इस्राएलीहरू मिस्पामा भेला हुँदैछन् भन्ने कुरो थाहा पाए। पलिश्ती शासकहरू इस्राएलीहरू विरूद्ध युद्ध लड्न गए। इस्राएलीहरू पनि पलिश्तीहरू आउँदैछन् भन्ने सुनेर डराउन थाले। 8 इस्राएलीहरूले शमूएललाई भने, “परमप्रभु हाम्रा परमेश्वरसित प्रार्थना गर्नुहोस्। हामीहरूलाई पलिश्तीहरूबाट रक्षा गर्नुहोस् भनि परमप्रभुसित भन्नुहोस्।” 9 शमूएलले एउटा भेडाको पाठो लिए। उनले परमप्रभुलाई होमबलि अर्पण गर्दै भेडाको पाठोलाई पूर्ण रूपले जलाई दिए। शमूएलले इस्राएलका परमप्रभुलाई प्रार्थना चढाए। परमप्रभुले शमूएलको प्रार्थनाको जवाफ दिनुभयो। 10 जब शमूएलले होमबलि अर्पण गर्दैथिए पलिश्तीहरू युद्ध गर्न अघि बढे। तर परमप्रभुले पलिश्तीहरूका छेवैमा प्रचण्ड गर्जन उत्पन्न गराउनुभयो। पलिश्तीहरूले बुझ्नै सकेनन्। त्यस गर्जनले पलिश्तीहरू डराए र तितर-बितर भए। तिनीहरूका शासकले पनि त्यो अवस्थालाई नियन्त्रण गर्न सकेनन्। यसरी इस्राएलीहरूले पलिश्तीहरूलाई हराए। 11 इस्राएलका मानिसहरूले मिस्पाबाट पलिश्तीहरूलाई खेद्दै गए। तिनीहरूले पलिश्तीहरूलाई आक्रमण गरे अनि बेत-करसम्मै खेदे। बाटै भरी तिनीहरूले पलिश्ती सैनिकहरूलाई मारे। 12 त्यस पछि शमूएलले एउटा विशेष ढुङ्गालाई स्मारकको रूपमा मिस्पा र शेनको गाऊँको बीचमा राखे र “सहायताको चट्टान”नाउँ दिए। शमूएलले भने, “परमप्रभुले यस ठाउँसम्म बाटोभरी नै हामीलाई सहायता गर्नुभयो।” 13 पलिश्तीहरूको पूरै हार भयो। तिनीहरूले फेरि इस्राएलका भूमिमा प्रवेश गरेनन्। शमूएलको जीवनभरी नै परमप्रभु पलिश्तीहरूको विरूद्धमा रहनुभयो। 14 पलिश्तीहरूले इस्राएलका शहरहरू लिएका थिए। एक्रोन देखि गातसम्मका शहरहरू र त्यसका छेउ छाउका क्षेत्रहरू पनि फिर्ता लिए।त्यहाँ अमोरीतास र इस्राएली बीच पनि शान्ति थियो। 15 शमूएलले आफ्नो सम्पूर्ण जीवनभरी नै इस्राएलीहरूलाई मार्गदर्शन दिए। 16 शमूएलले इस्राएलका एक ठाउँ देखि अर्को ठाउँ सम्मका सम्पूर्ण मानिसहरूलाई न्याय दिलाए। प्रत्येक वर्ष देशको एक कूनादेखि अर्को कुनासम्म यात्रा गरे। उनी गिलगल, बेतेल र मिस्पाको फेरो मार्थे। यसरी शमूएलले इस्राएलमा कुशल र न्याय पूर्वक शासन गरे। 17 शमूएलको घर भने रामामा थियो। यसर्थ तिनी संधै त्यहाँ जान्थे। शमूएलले त्यस शहर देखि नै इस्राएलको न्याय र शासन गर्थे। परमप्रभुका निम्ति शमूएलले रामामा एउटा वेदी बनाए। अध्याय 8 1 शमूएल जब वृद्ध भए, तिनले आफ्ना छोराहरूलाई इस्राएलका न्यायकर्त्ता नियुक्त गरे। 2 शमूएलका जेठा छोराको नाउँ योएल थियो। माहिला छोराको नाउँ चाहिं अबियाह थियो। योएल र अबियाह बेर्शबामा न्यायकर्ता थिए। 3 तर शमूएलका छोराहरू बाबुको चालमा हिडेनन् योएल र अबियाहले घूस खाने गर्थे। चुपचाप घूस लिएर न्यायलयमा अन्याय गर्थे। 4 यसर्थ इस्राएलका सबै बूढा-प्रधानहरू शमूएललाई भेट्न रामामा भेला भए। 5 बूढा-प्रधानहरूले शमूएललाई भने, “तपाईं बूढा हुनुभयो, तपाईंका छोराहरू तपाईं जस्ता ठीक बाटामा छैनन्। अब, हामीलाई शासन अनि न्याय गर्न अरू देशहरूको जस्तै राजा दिनुहोस्।” 6 यसरी बूढा-प्रधानहरूले तिनीहरूलाई मार्ग दर्शन गर्ने एउटा राजा मागे। शमूएलले ठाने यो युक्ति गलत छ। यसर्थ शमूएलले परमप्रभुमा प्रार्थना गरे। 7 शमूएललाई परमप्रभुले भन्नुभयो, “मानिसहरूले जसो भन्छन् त्यसै गर। तिनीहरूले तँलाई अस्वीकार गरेका छैनन्। बरू मलाई अस्वीकार गर्दैछन्। तिनीहरूले मलाई तिनीहरूको राजा हुन अस्वीकार गरिरहेका छन्। 8 तिनीहरूले सधैं जे गर्थे त्यही गर्दैछन्। मैले तिनीहरूलाई मिश्रबाट बाहिर ल्याएँ। तर तिनीहरूले आज मलाई छाडेर अन्य देवताहरूको सेवा गरे। तिनीहरूले तँलाई पनि त्यस्तै गर्दैछन्। 9 यसर्थ मानिसहरूका कुरा सुनेर तिनीहरूले भने झैं गर। तर तिनीहरूलाई एउटा चेतावनी भने दिनू। तिनीहरूलाई भनिदिनु राजाले तिनीहरूलाई के गर्छ। एउटा राजाले मानिसहरूलाई कसरी शासन गर्छन्।” 10 ती मानिसहरूले एउटा राजाको माग गरे। यसकारण परमप्रभुले भन्नु भएका सम्पूर्ण कुराहरू शमूएलले मानिसहरूलाई बताए। 11 शमूएलले भने, “यदि तिमीहरू तिमीहरूमाथि शासन गर्ने राजा चाहान्छौ भने राजाले यसो गर्नेछन्। उसले तिमीहरूको छोराहरूलाई लाने छन् अनि उसको सेवा गर्न तिनीहरूलाई विवश पार्नेछन्। राजाले तिमीहरूका छोराहरूलाई सैनिक बनाएर उनका रथ सँगसँगै दौडन लगाउँने छन् र घोडचढी बनाएर आफ्नो सैनिकमा राख्नेछन्। तिमीहरूका छोरालाई आफ्ना रथको अघि दौडने रक्षक बनाउने छन्। 12 राजाले तिम्रो छोराहरूलाई सैनिक बन्न वाध्य गराउने छन्। त्यसमध्ये कोही 1,000 मानिसहरूका अधिकारी बन्ने छन अनि अरू 50 जना भन्दा ज्यादा मानिसका।राजाले तिम्रा छोरालाई उनको खेत जोत्न र फसल काट्न बाध्य गराउनेछन्। कतिलाई फेरि युद्धको निम्ति हातहतियार बनाउन लाउनेछन्। कतिलाई रथको चीजहरू बनाउँन लाउँनेछन्।” 13 “राजाले तिमीहरूका छोरीहरूलाई पनि लानेछन्। तिनीहरूमध्ये कतिलाई खाना पकाउन र रोटी पकाउन विवश गर्नेछन्। अनि कसैलाई अत्तर बनाउन बाध्य गर्नेछन्। 14 “राजाले तिमीहरूको सबभन्दा असल खेतहरू, दाखको बगैचा र भद्राक्षका रूखहरू लानेछन्। अनि तिनीहरूलाई उसको सेवकहरूको हातमा सुम्पिदिनेछन्। 15 तिमीहरूको अन्न र दाखको फसलको दशौ भाग राजाले लिनेछन्। अनि अधिकारीहरू अनि सेवकहरूको हातमा सुम्पिदिनेछन् 16 राजाले तिमीहरूका कमारा-कमारीहरूलाई पनि लैजाने छन्। उनले असल जातका पशु र गधाहरू पनि तिमीहरूबाट लिनेछन्। यी सबै लगेर आफ्नै प्रयोगमा लगाउँने छन्। 17 तिमीहरूका भेडा बाख्राको दशौ भाग पनि तिनले लिनेछन्।“अनि तिमी आफै पनि राजाको दास बनिनेछौ। 18 तब तिनीहरू आफूले चुनेको राजाबाट छुटकाराको निम्ति रूनेछौ। तर त्यस समय परमप्रभुले कुनै जवाफ दिनुहुने छैन।” 19 तर मानिसहरूले शमूएलको कुरा सुन्दैसुनेन्। तिनीहरूले भने, “होइन! हामीलाई शासन गर्ने एउटा राजा नै चाहिन्छ। 20 तब हामी पनि अरू देश सरह हुनेछौ, हामीलाई नेतृत्व दिने, हाम्रो अघि युद्ध लडने, हाम्रा निम्ति युद्ध गर्ने हाम्रा राजा हुनेछन्।” 21 शमूएलले मानिसहरूको भनाइ सुने पछि शमूएलले परमप्रभुलाई तिनीहरूका कुरा दोहोर्याइदिए। 22 परमप्रभुले जवाफ दिनु भयो, “तिनीहरूले चाहे जस्तै! तिनीहरूलाई एउटा राजा देऊ।”तब शमूएलले इस्राएलका मानिसहरूलाई भने, “ठीकै छ! तिमीहरूले एउटा राजा पाउँने भयौ। अहिले सबै तिमीहरूको शहरमा जाऊ।” अध्याय 9 1 कीश बिन्यामिनी कुलका एकजना महत्वपूर्ण मानिस थिए। कीश अबीएलका छोरा थिए। अबीएल जरोरका छोरा थिए। जरोर बकोरतका छोरा थिए। बकोरत, बिन्यामीन परिवारका मानिस ओपीहकका छोरा थिए। 2 कीशका एकजना शाऊल नाउँ गरेका छोरा थिए। शाऊल अत्यन्तै सुन्दर थिए। त्यहाँ शाऊल जस्तो सुन्दर कोही पनि थिएनन्। उभिँदा शाऊल इस्राएलमा अन्य मानिसहरू भन्दा अग्ला थिए। 3 एक दिन शाऊलका पिता कीशले आफ्ना गधाहरू हराए। यसकारण कीशले आफ्ना छोरा शाऊललाई भने, “एकजना नोकरलाई साथमा लिएर गधा खोज्न जा।” 4 शाऊलले गधाहरू खोज्न शुरू गरे। शाऊल एप्रैमका पहाडी देश हुदै शलीशको इलाकातिर पुगे। तर शाऊल र नोकरले कीशका गधाहरूको पत्तो लगाउन सकेनन्। ती दुइजना गधाहरू खोज्दै शालेमका चारैतिर घुमे। तर त्यहाँ पनि गधाहरू थिएनन्। यसकारण तिनीहरूले बिन्यामिनीको प्रदेशमा पनि गधा खोज्दै यात्रा गरे तर त्यहाँ पनि गधाहरू भेट्टाउन सकेनन्। 5 अन्त्यमा, शाऊल र उनका नोकर सूप नाउँका शहरमा पुगे। शाऊलले आफ्ना नोकरलाई भने, “हामीहरू फर्कौ। अब पिताजीलाई गधाहरूको भन्दा हाम्रो चिन्ता ज्यादा भइसक्यो होला।” 6 तर नोकरले भन्यो, “यस शहरमा परमेश्वरका एकजना मानिस हुनुहुन्छ। मानिसहरूले उहाँलाई धेरै मान्छन्। उहाँले जे भन्नुहुन्छ त्यो पुग्छ। यसकारण हामीहरू शहरमा जाऔ। हुनसक्छ परमेश्वरका मानिसले हामीलाई अब कता जानुपर्ने हो भनिदिनुहुन्छ होला।” 7 शाऊलले आफ्ना नोकरलाई भने, “ठीकै हो, हामी शहरमा जानसक्छौ। तर हामीले त्यस मानिसलाई के दिनसक्छौ र? हामीले बोकेका थैलाका भोजन पनि त सकिसक्यो। हाम्रोमा परमेश्वरका मानिसलाई दिने केहीभेंटी पनि छैन। हामी सँग दिने लायकको के छ र!” 8 फेरि पनि त्यस नोकरले शाऊललाई भन्यो, “हेर्नुहोस्, मसँग अलिकति धनको रूपमा चाँदीको एक चौथाइ शेकेल छ। यही हामीले ती परमेश्वरका मानिसलाई चढायौं भने उहाँले हामीलाई कता जानुपर्ने हो बताउनुहुन्छ।” 9 शाऊलले आफ्ना नोकरलाई भने, “त्यो असल सुझाव हो! हामी जाऔं!” यसरी तिनीहरू शहरमा गए जहाँ परमेश्वरका मानिस थिए। 11 शाऊल र तिनका नोकर पहाड उक्लँदै शहरतिर जाँदै थिए। तिनीहरूले केही जवान स्रीहरूलाई बाटोमा भेंटे जो पानी भर्न आएका थिइन्। शाऊल र तिनका नोकरले ती ठिटीहरूलाई सोधे, “के दर्शी घरैमा हुनुहुन्छ?” (प्राचीन समयमा अगमवक्तालाई “दर्शी” भन्थे।) 12 ठिटीहरूले जवाफ दिए, “ज्यू, उहाँ हुनुहुन्छ। उहाँ तपाईंहरू भन्दा अघि जादै हुनहुन्छ। उहाँ आजै शहरमा आउँनुभयो। मानिसहरूले भेला भएर उच्च स्थानहरूमा मेलबलि चढाउने भएका छन्। 13 कृपया जानुहोस् र उहाँलाई शहरमा भेट्नुहुन्छ। यदि तपाईंहरूले चाँडो गर्नुभयो भने उहाँ दर्शीलाई आराधनालयमा खान जानुभन्दा पहिले भेटिहाल्नुहुन्छ। किनभने दर्शीले बलिदानलाई आशीर्वाद दिनुपर्छ। मानिसहरूले उहाँ त्यहाँ नपुगञ्जेल भोजन ग्रहण गर्दैनन्। यसकारण चाडो जानुहोस्।” 14 शाऊल र तिनका नोकर शहर पुग्न पहाडको बाटो उक्लन थाले। जस्तो तिनीहरू शहरभित्र पस्दै थिए, त्यस्तै शमूएल उनीहरूका अघिल्तिर देखा परे। शमूएल आराधना स्थानतिर जानलाग्दै थिए। 15 एक दिन अगाडि परमप्रभुले शमूएललाई भन्नुभएको थियो, 16 “भोलि म यही समय पारेर एउटा मानिसलाई तँ कहाँ पठाउनेछु। यो मानिस बिन्यामिनी कुलको सदस्य हो। तैंले त्यसलाई अभिषेक गरिदिनुपर्छ। त्यसपछि त्यो मानिस मेरा इस्राएली मानिसहरूका प्रमुख हुनेछ। त्यस मानिसले हाम्रा मानिसहरूलाई पलिश्तीहरूबाट बचाउँने छ। मैले मेरा मानिसहरूको कष्ट देखे र रोदन सुनेकोछु।” 17 शमूएलले शाऊललाई देखे अनि परमप्रभुले भन्नु भयो, “मैले तँलाई भनेको मानिस यही हो। यसैले नै मेरो मानिसहरूलाई शासन गर्नेछ।” 18 शाऊलले मूल-द्वारमा शमूएल कहाँ आएर भने, “कृपया दर्शी कहाँ हुनुहुन्छ, बताइ दिनुहुन्छ कि?” 19 शमूएलले भने, “म नै दर्शी हुँ। म भन्दा पहिले नै आराधनाको ठाउँमा जाऊ। तिमी र तिम्रा सेवकले आज मसित खाना खानेछौ। म तिमीलाई भोलि बिहान घर जानदिनेछु र जे सोध्नु छ बिहानै सोध्नु। 20 ती गधाहरूको चिन्ता नगर जो तीन दिन पहिले हराएका थिए। ती गधाहरू फेला परिसकेका छन्। अब तिमीलाई सारा इस्राएलले नै खोजिरहेकोछ। तिनीहरूले तिमी र तिम्रा पिताका परिवारलाई नै चाहान्छन्।” 21 शाऊलले जवाफ दिए, “तर म त बिन्यामिनी कुलको सदस्य हुँ। हाम्रो परिवार इस्राएलको सबै भन्दा सानो परिवार समूह हो। त्यस माथि पनि बिन्यामिनी कुलभित्र पनि हाम्रो परिवार समूह सबैभन्दा सानो छ। तपाई किन भन्नुहुन्छ कि इस्राएलले मलाई चाहन्छ?” 22 त्यसपछि शमूएलले शाऊल र तिनका नोकरलाई भोजनालयतिर लिएर गए। लगभग तीस जना मानिसहरू एकसाथ खाना खान र बलिदानमा भाग गर्न निम्त्याइएका थिए। शमूएलले शाऊल र तिनका नोकरलाई महात्वपूर्ण स्थानमा बसाए। 23 शमूएलले भान्सेलाई भने, “जो मैले तिमीलाई दिएको थिए त्यो मासु ल्याउनु। त्यो मासुको अंश मैले तिमीलाई सुरक्षित राख्न भनेंको थिएँ।” 24 भान्सेले फिला ल्यायो अनि शाऊलको अघि टेबलमा राख्यो। शमूएलले भने, “यो त्यही मासु हो जुन मैले तिम्रो निम्ति सुरक्षित राखेको थिएँ। यो खाऊ कारण यो यस्तै विशेष दिनको निम्ति तिम्रो सम्मानको लागि सुरक्षित राखेको थियो।” यसरी त्यस दिन शाऊलले शमूएलसंगै खाना खाए। 25 खाना खाइसके पछि आराधनालयबाट झर्दै तिनीहरू शहरतिर लागे। शमूएलले शाऊलका निम्ति कौसीमा ओछ्यान लगाए शाऊल त्यहीं सुतें। 26 भोलिपल्ट बिहानै शमूएलले शाऊललाई उठाउँदै भनें, “उठ, म तिमीलाई बाटो देखाइदिन्छु।” शाऊल उठे अनि शमूएलकासाथ घरबाट बाहिरिए। 27 शहरको किनारतिर शाऊल, तिनका नोकर र शमूएल अघि बढदै थिए। शमूएलले शाऊललाई भने, “तपाईंको नोकरलाई हामी भन्दा अघि हिडनु भन्नुहोस्। मैले तपाईंलाई परमेश्वरको संदेश सुनाउन बाँकी नै छ।” नोकर तिनीहरू भन्दा केही अघि हिंड्न थाल्यो। अध्याय 10 1 शमूएलले एक ढुँग्रो विशेष तेल लिए र शाऊलको टाउकोमा खन्याई दिए। शमूएलले म्वाई खाँदै भने, “परमप्रभुले तपाईंलाई आफ्ना मानिसहरूका अगुवाको रूपमा अभिषेक गर्नुभएको छ। तपाईंले परमप्रभुका मानिसहरूलाई शासन गर्नुहुनेछ तपाईंले तिनीहरूलाई चारैतिरका शत्रुबाट रक्षा गर्नुपर्छ। परमप्रभुले तपाईंलाई आफ्नो मानिसहरूको शासकको रूपमा अभिषेक गर्नुभएको हो। यहाँ एउटा संकेत छ त्यसले यो सत्य हो भनि प्रमाण दिइने छ। 2 आज तपाईंले मबाट बिदा भएर जानु भएपछि बिन्यामिनीको सिमानामा भएको राहेलको चिहाननेर सेलमहमा दुइजना मानिसहरू भेट्टाउनु हुनेछ। ती दुइजना मानिसहरूले भन्नेछन्, ‘तपाईंले खोजिरहनु भएको गधाहरू कसैले पाएको छ। तपाईंका पिता गधाहरूबारे चिन्तित हुन छाडेर तपाईंको निम्ति सुर्ता गर्दै भन्दै हुनुहुन्छ, अब म मेरो छोराको लागि के गरूँ?”‘ 3 तब शमूएलले भने, “तपाईंहरू ताबेरमा बज्राँठको रूख नआइञ्जेलसम्म अघि बढ्नुहोस्। त्यहाँ तीनजना मानिसहरू भेट्नुहुनेछ। तिनीहरू बेतेलमा परमेश्वरको आराधना गर्न गइरहेका हुनेछन्। ती मध्येको पहिलोले तीनवटा पाठा बोकेको हुनेछ। दोस्रोले तीनवटा रोटी र तेस्रोले एक मशक दाखरस बोकेको हुनेछन्। 4 ती तीनै जना मानिसले तपाईंलाई अभिवादन गर्नेछन्। तिनीहरूले दुइवटा रोटी दिनेछन्। ती दुइवटै रोटी तपाईंले स्वीकार गर्नुपर्छ। 5 त्यहाँबाट तपाईं गिबियत एलोहिम जानुपर्छ। त्यहाँ पलिश्तीहरूको एउटा चौकी छ। जब तपाईं त्यस शहरमा पुग्नुहुन्छ केही अगमवक्ताहरू निक्लदै गरेको भेट्नु हुनेछ। ती अगमवक्ताहरू आराधनास्थानबाट झर्दै गरेका हुनेछन्। तिनीहरूले अगमवाणीहरू बोलिरहेका हुनेछन्। तिनीहरूले खैंजडी, ढोलक, बाँसुरी र वीणा बजाउँदै गरेका हुनेछन्। 6 त्यति बेला परमप्रभुको आत्मा तपाईंमाथि उत्रनुहुनेछ र तपाईंलाई शक्ति दिनुहुनेछ, तपाईं परिवर्तन हुनुहुनेछ। तपाईं भिन्न मानिस हुनुहुनेछ। तपाईं पनि ती अगमवक्ताहरूसितै अगमवाणी बोल्नसक्ने हुनुहुन्छ। 7 यी घटनाहरू घटिसके पछि तपाईं जे चाहनुहुन्छ गर्न सक्नुहुन्छ। किन? किनकी परमेश्वर तपाईंसित हुनुहुनेछ। 8 “म भन्दा पहिले गिलगाल जानुहोस्। त्यसपछि म तपाईं भएकोमा आउने छु। म त्यहाँ होमबलि र मेलबलि चढाउँनेछु। तर तपाईंले सात दिन पर्खनु पर्नेछ। तब म आउनेछु अनि तपाईंले के गर्नुपर्छ म बताँउनेछु।” 9 जब शाऊल शमूएलबाट बिदा लिन फर्के, परमेश्वरले शाऊलको जीवन नै अर्कै बनाइदिनुभयो। त्यही दिन यी सबै घटनाहरू घटे। 10 शाऊल र तिनको नोकर गिबियथ एलोहिम गए। त्यहाँ शाऊलले अगमवक्ताहरूको एक समूहलाई भेटे। परमेश्वरको आत्मा शक्तिसाथ शाऊलमाथि तुरून्तै उत्रियो अनि शाऊलले पनि ती अगमवक्ताहरूको समूहमा अगमवाणी गर्नुभयो। 11 ति-जसले शाऊललाई पहिले देखि चिन्थे उनीहरूले शाऊललाई अगमवाणी गरेका देखे। यसर्थ तिनीहरूले एक अर्कासित प्रश्न गर्न थाले, “कीशको छोरालाई के भयो? के शाऊल पनि अगमवक्ताहरू मध्ये एउटा हो?” 12 गिबियथ एलोहिमका एकजनाले भने, “हो! यस्तो देखिंदैछ, ऊ नै तिनीहरूका गुरू हुन्।” यसैकारण यो भनाइ प्रचलित छः “के शाऊल पनि एउटा अगमवक्ता नै हो?” 13 शाऊलले अगमवाणी बोल्न छोडेपछि घरकै छेउको स्थानमा आराधना गर्न गए। 14 शऊलका काकाले शाऊललाई र त्यस नोकरलाई भने, “कता गएका थियौ?”शाऊलले भने, “हामी गधाका खोजीमा थियौं। जब हामीहरूले तिनीहरूलाई पाउँन सकेनौ त्यसपछि हामी शमूएललाई भेट्न गयौं।” 15 शाऊलका काकाले भने, “मलाई भन त, शमूएलले के-के भने?” 16 शाऊलेले भने, “शमूएलले हामीलाई गधाहरू पाइसकेको छ भने।” शाऊलले प्रत्येक कुराहरू बताएनन्। राज्यको बारेमा शमूएलले भनेको कुरा बताएनन्। 17 शमूएलले सबै इस्राएलका मानिसहरूलाई मिस्पामा परमप्रभुकहाँ भेला हुन बोलाए। 18 शमूएलले इस्राएलका मानिसहरूलाई भने, “परमप्रभु इस्राएलका परमेश्वर भन्नुहुन्छ, ‘मैले इस्राएललाई मिश्रबाट बाहिर ल्याएँ। मैले तिमीहरूलाई मिश्रको अधीनबाट बचाएँ र अन्य राष्ट्रहरूबाट पनि बचाएँ जसले तिमीहरूलाई चोट पुर्याउन चाहन्थे।’ 19 तर आज तिमीहरूले आफ्नो परमेश्वरलाई अस्वीकार गर्यौ। तिमीहरूका परमेश्वरले तिमीहरूलाई सबै दुःख र कष्टहरूबाट बचाउनुभयो। तर तिमीहरू भन्छौ, ‘होइन, हामीलाई शासन गर्ने एउटा राजा चाहिन्छ। यसैकारणले अब परमप्रभुको अगाडि परिवारका सदस्यहरू र परिवार समूहहरू लिएर उपस्थित होऊ।” 20 शमूएलले इस्राएलका सबै परिवार समूहलाई उपस्थित गराए। त्यसपछि शमूएलले नयाँ राजा छान्न थाले। पहिलो बिन्यामिनी कुल समूह चुनियो। 21 शमूएलले बिन्यामिनी कुलसमूहका प्रत्येकलाई एक-एकजना गरेर अगाडि जानु भने। त्यसपछि मन्त्रीको परिवारालाई चुनियो। त्यसपछि त्यही मन्त्री परिवारको प्रत्येकलाई एक एकजना गरेर अगाडि जानु भने। यसरी कीशका छोरा शाऊललाई चुनियो।जब मानिसहरूले शाऊललाई खोजे, त्यहाँ शाऊललाई भेट्टाएनन्। 22 अनि तिनीहरूले परमप्रभुसित सोधे, “शाऊल यहाँ अझै आइपुगेकै छैनन्?”परमप्रभुले भन्नुभयो, “त्यो त्यहाँ भेटी चढाइएका सामानहरूको पछि लुकेकोछ।” 23 मानिसहरूले शाऊललाई सामानहरूको पछाडिबाट खोजेर निकाले। शाऊल मानिसहरूका माझमा खडा भए। त्यहाँ शाऊल अरू भन्दा अग्ला थिए। 24 शमूएलले सबै मानिसहरूलाई भने, “परमप्रभुले चुन्नु भएको मानिसलाई हेर। मानिसहरूमा शाऊल जस्तो मानिस अर्को कोही छैन।”त्यसपछि मानिसहरूले नारा लगाए, “हाम्रा राजा दीर्घायु रहुन्।” 25 शमूएलले राज्यका नियमहरू मानिसहरूलाई बुझाए। यो एउटा पुस्तकमा पनि लेखे र यस व्यवस्थाको पुस्तकलाई परमप्रभुको अघि राखे। तब तिनले मानिसहरूलाई घर जानु भने। 26 शाऊल पनि गिबामा आफ्ना घर गए। अनि केही वीरपुरूषहरू शाऊलसित गए। अनि परमेश्वरले यी वीर पुरूषहरूको हृदय छुनुभयो। 27 तर कोही बद्माशहरूले भने, “यो मानिसले हामीलाई कसरी रक्षा गर्छ?” तिनीहरूले शाऊलको विरूद्धमा नराम्रो भन्न थाले र उपहार नदिनेभए। तर शाऊलबाट कुनै प्रतिक्रिया भएन।अम्मोनीका राजा नाहाशले गाद र रूबेन कुल समूहरूलाई सताईरहेका थिए। नाहाशले प्रत्येक पुरूषको एउटा दाहिने आँखा निकाल्न लगायो। नाहाशले तिनीहरू कसैलाई पनि सहायता गर्न दिएनन्। अम्मोनीका राजा नाहाशले यर्दन नदीको पूर्वतिर बस्ने प्रत्येक इस्राएली मानिसहरूको दाहिने आँखा निकाले। तर 7,000 इस्राएली मानिसहरू अम्मोनीबाट भागेर याबेश गिलाद आए। अध्याय 11 1 झण्डै एक महिना पछि अम्मोनी नाहाश र तिनका सेनाहरूले याबेश गिलादलाई चारैतिरबाट घेरे। याबेशका सबै मानिसहरूले नाहाशलाई भने, “यदि तपाईंले हामीसँग सन्धि गर्नुभयो भने हामी तपाईंका प्रजा बन्न तयार छौ।” 2 तर अम्मोनी नाहाशले भने, “यदि मैले जम्मै इस्राएलीहरूका दाहिने आँखा घोंचेर निकाल्न सकें भने म तिमीहरूसित सन्धि गर्नेछु। तब मात्र सारा इस्राएलको बेइज्जत हुनेछ।” 3 याबेशका प्रमुखले भने, “हामीलाई सात दिनको समय दिनुहोस्। सारा इस्राएलमा हामी दूत पठाउँछौ। यदि कोही पनि सहायता गर्न आएनन् भने हामी आएर तपाईंको अघि समर्पित हुनेछौं।” 4 ती दूतहरू गिबामा आए जहाँ शाऊल बस्थे। तिनीहरूले मानिसहरूलाई समाचार दिए। मानिसहरू समाचार सुनेर रून थाले। 5 शाऊल आफ्ना खेतबाट गाईहरू लिएर फर्कंदै थिए। शाऊलले खेतको अघि आउँदा मानिसहरू रोइरहेका सुने। शाऊलले भने, “मानिसहरूले के कष्ट भयो? किन रोइरहेकाछन्।”मानिसहरूले याबेशका दूतहरूले जे खबर ल्याएका थिए शाऊललाई बताए। 6 शाऊले ध्यान दिएर सबै सुने। त्यति नै बेला शाऊलमाथि परमेश्वरको आत्मा उत्रिनुभयो। शाऊल साह्रै रिसाए। 7 शाऊलले एक जोडी गाई ल्याए अनि टुक्रा-टुक्रा पारे। अनि ती मासुका टुक्राहरू सबै ती खबर ल्याउने दूतहरूलाई दिए। तिनले ती सबै मासुको टुक्राहरू इस्राएलभरी पुर्याउन दूतहरूलाई आदेश दिए। यो सन्देश इस्राएलीहरूलाई दिनुभनि तिनीहरूलाई भने, “आऊ अनि शाऊल र शमूएललाई अनुशरण गर। यदि कसैले यसो गर्दैन भनि तिनीहरूलाई पनि उसको गाईलाई गरेको व्यवहार गरिनेछ!”परमप्रभुबाट मानिसहरूमा ज्यादै डर पस्यो। यसकारण मानिसहरू एकसाथ सबै एउटै मानिसजस्ता भई निस्के। 8 शाऊलले सबै मानिसहरूलाई बेजेकमा एकसाथ भेला गराए। त्यहाँ इस्राएलका 3,00,000 र यहूदाका 30,000 मानिसभेला भए। 9 शाऊल र तिनका सैनिकहरूले याबेशका दूतहरूलाई भने, “गिलादमा याबेशका मानिसहरूलाई भन भोलि मंध्यान्हभित्र तिमीहरूको उद्धार हुनेछ।”दूतहरूले शाऊलको सु-सन्देश याबेशका मानिसहरूलाई दिए। याबेशका मानिसहरू अतिनै खुशी भए। 10 त्यसपछि याबेशका मानिसहरूले अम्मोनी नाहाशलाई भने, “भोलि हामी तपाईंकहाँ आउनेछौं। तपाईंलाई जे इच्छा लाग्छ हमीलाई त्यही गर्नुहोस्।” 11 भोलिपल्ट शाऊलले आफ्ना सैनिकहरूलाई तीन खण्डमा बाँडे। सूर्योदयको समयपछि शाऊल र तिनका सैनिकहरू अम्मोनीहरूको छाउनी भित्र पसे। जब शाऊलले आक्रमण गरे यो रातमा बस्ने रक्षक दलको अदला-बदली गर्ने समय थियो, शाऊल र तिनका सैनिकहरूले अम्मोनीहरूलाई मध्याह्र भन्दा पहिले नै हराए। सबै अम्मोनी सैनिकहरू तितर-वितर भए। दुइजना अम्मोनी सैनिक एकसाथ हुने मौका कतै पाएनन्। 12 तब मानिसहरूले शमूएललाई भने, “ती मानिसहरू कहाँ छन् जसले शाऊललाई राजाको रूपमा शासन गरेको हेर्न चाहेनन्। ती मानिसहरू हाम्रा सामु झिकाईउन्। हामी तिनीहरूलाई मार्छौ।” 13 तर शाऊलले भने, “होइन, आज कसैलाई मार्नु हुँदैन। आज परमप्रभुले इस्राएलको रक्षा गर्नु भएको छ।” 14 त्यसपछि शमूएलले मानिसहरूलाई भने, “आऊ, हामी गिलगाल जाऊँ। गिलगालमा हामी शाऊललाई फेरि राजाकोरूपमा घोषणा गरौं।” 15 यसरी सबै गिलगाल गए। त्यहाँ परमप्रभुको अगाडि शाऊललाई मानिसहरूले राजा बनाए। तिनीहरूले परमप्रभुलाई मेलबलि पनि चढाए। शाऊल र सबै इस्राएलीहरूले ठूलो र्हषमा उत्सव मनाए। अध्याय 12 1 शमूएलले सबै इस्राएलीहरूलाई भनेः “तिमीहरूले भनेको प्रत्येक कुरा मैले गरे। तिमीहरू माथि राजा नियुक्त गरे। 2 अब तिमीहरूलाई अगुवाई गर्नको निम्ति राजा हुनुहुन्छ। म बुढो भएँ तर मेरा छोराहरू तिमीहरूसित छन्। जब म एउटा ठीटो थिएँ, त्यस बेला देखि तिमीहरूका अगुवा भएर थिएँ, त्यस बेला देखि तिमीहरूका अगुवा भएर आएँ। 3 अहिले म यहाँ छु। यदि मैले कुनै भूलचुक गरेको भए परमप्रभुको अघि अनि परमप्रभुले चुन्नु भएको राजाअघि तिमीहरूले भन्नुपर्छ। के मैले कसैको गाई अथवा गधा चोरें? कसैलाई ठगे वा कष्ट पुर्याएँ? के मैले पैसा अथवा एक जोडी जुत्ता कहिले घुस लिएकोछु? यदि मैले यस्तो केही गरेको भए त्यसलाई म सच्याउनेछु।” 4 सबै इस्राएलीहरूले जवाफ दिए, “होइन! तपाईंले हामी कसैलाई पनि केही नराम्रो गर्नुभएन। हामीलाई कहिले पनि ठग्नुभएन र केही पनि लिनुभएन।” 5 शमूएलले इस्राएलीहरूलाई भने, “परमप्रभु र उहाँले चुन्नु भएको राजा गवाही हुनुहुन्छ। तिमीहरूले जे-जे भन्दैछौ उहाँ दुइजनाले सुन्दैहुनुहुन्छ। उहाँहरूलाई पनि थाहा भयो तिमीहरूले मलाई कुनै दोष दिएनौ।” सबै मानिसहरूले एकसाथ जवाफ दिए, “साँच्चै हो! परमप्रभु नै गवाही हुनुहुन्छ!” 6 तब शमूएलले मानिसहरूलाई भने, “हो परमप्रभु हाम्रो गवाही हुनुहुन्छ। परमप्रभुले नै मोशा र हारूनलाई चुन्नुभयो। अनि उहाँ नै हुनुहुन्छ जसले तिम्रा पिता-पुर्खाहरूलाई मिश्रबाट बाहिर ल्याउनु भयो। 7 अब तिमीहरू त्यहाँ खडा होऊ, म तिमीहरूलाई परमप्रभुले तिम्रा पिता-पुर्खाहरू र तिमीहरूका लागि गर्नुभएका ती राम्रा अर्थहरू बताउँछु। 8 याकूब मिश्र गए पछि मिश्र बासीहरूले उसका सन्तानहरूको जीवनलाई धेरै कष्टमय बनाए। यसर्थ तिनीहरूले परमप्रभुलाई सहायताको निम्ति रोइकराइ गरे। परमप्रभुले मोशा र हारूनलाई पठाउनु भयो। मोशा र हारूनले तिमीहरूका पिता-पुर्खाहरूलाई मिश्रबाट बाहिर लिएर आए अनि यही ठाउँमा बस्ने व्यवस्था मिलाई दिए। 9 “तर तिम्रा पिता-पुर्खाहरूले परमप्रभु परमेश्वरलाई त्यागे। यसकारण परमप्रभुले तिनीहरूलाई सीसराका दास हुन दिनुभयो। सीसरा हासोरका सेनाका सेनापति थिए। त्यसपछि परमप्रभुले तिनीहरूलाई पलिश्ती र मोआबका राजाका हातमा सुम्पिदिनुभयो। तिनीहरू सबै तिम्रा पिता-पुर्खाहरूको विरूद्ध लडे। 10 तर तिमीहरूका पिता-पुर्खाहरूले रूँदै परमप्रभुलाई सहायता मागे। तिनीहरूले भने, ‘हामीले पाप गर्यौ। हामीले परमप्रभुलाई छाडेर झूटो देवता बाल र देवी अश्तारोतको सेवा गर्यौ। अब हामीलाई हाम्रा शत्रुहरूबाट बचाउनुहोस्, हामी तपाईंका सेवक बन्नेछौ।’ 11 “यसकारण परमप्रभुले यरूब्बाल, बाराक, यिप्तह अनि शमूएललाई त्यहाँ पठाउनुभयो। परमप्रभुले तिमीहरूको चारैतिरका शत्रुहरूबाट तिमीहरूलाई रक्षा गर्नुभयो यसकारण तिमीहरू सुरक्षित रह्यौ। 12 त्यस समयमा पनि अम्मोनीको राजा नाहाश तिमीहरूको विरूद्ध लडन आएको देख्यौ। तिमीहरूले भन्यौ, ‘होइन, हामीहरूमाथि शासन गर्ने राजा नै चाहिन्छ।’ तिमीहरूले यही भन्यौ यद्यपि परमप्रभु तिमीहरूका परमेश्वर नै राजा हुनुहुन्थ्यो। 13 अब तिमीहरूले चुनेका राजा यहाँ छन्। परमप्रभुले तिमीहरूमाथि राजालाई नियुक्ति गर्नुभयो। 14 यदि तिमीहरूले उहाँलाई सम्मान गर्यौ भने परमप्रभुले तिमीहरूको रक्षा गर्नु हुन्छ। तर तिमीहरूले परमप्रभुको डर राख्दै सम्मान गर्नु पर्नेछ। आदेश पालनगर्दै सेवा गर्नुपर्ने छ। उहाँको विरूद्धमा जाने छैनौ। तिमीहरूका साथै तिमीहरूलाई शासन गर्ने राजाले पनि परमप्रभु तिमीहरूका परमेश्वरको अनुसरण गर्नुपर्छ। यदि तिमीहरूलाई भनेका कुराहरू पालन गर्छौ भने परमेश्वरले तिमीहरूलाई रक्षा गर्नुहुनेछ। 15 तर यदि परमप्रभुले भनेका तिमीहरूले मानेनौ र उहाँको विरूद्धमा गयौ भने, उहाँ पनि तिमीहरू र तिमीहरूका शासकको विरूद्धमा जानुहुनेछ। 16 अब अझै चुपचाप उभिएर त्यो अचम्मको कामलाई हेर, जुन परमप्रभुले तिमीहरूका आँखा अगाडि गर्नुहुनेछ। 17 यो गहुँको फसल काट्ने समय हो। म परमप्रभुसँग प्रार्थना गर्नेछु। म उहाँसँग बिजुली चम्कँदै पानी पार्ने बिन्ती गर्नेछु। तब तिमीहरूलाई यो थाहा लाग्ने छ कि तिमीहरूले परमप्रभुको विरूद्धमा राजा मागेर भूल काम गरेका छौ।” 18 यसकारण शमूएलले परमप्रभुसँग प्रार्थना गरे। त्यही दिन परमप्रभुले मेघ गर्जनसित पानी बर्साउनु भयो। यसकारणले गर्दा मानिसहरू परमप्रभु र शमूएलसंग साह्रै डराए। 19 सबै मानिसहरूले शमूएललाई भने, “दया गरेर परमप्रभु तपाईंका परमेश्वरलाई हाम्रो निम्ति प्रार्थना गरिदिनु होस्, तपाईंका सेवकहरूका निम्ति हामीहरूलाई नष्ट हुन नदिनु होस्। हामीले धेरै चोटी पाप गरेका छौ। हामीले राजा मागेर फेरि अर्को पाप थपेका छौं।” 20 शमूएलले जवाफ दिए, “नडराऊ! यो सत्य हो! तिमीहरूले त्यस्ता नराम्रा कामहरू गर्यौ। तर परमप्रभुलाई पछ्ाउन नछोड। हृदय देखि नै परमप्रभुको सेवा गर। 21 देवताका मूर्तिहरू केवल मूर्ति मात्र हुन्। त्यसले तिमीहरूलाई सहायता गर्दैन। यसर्थ त्यसको पूजा नगर। देवताका मूर्तिहरूले न त तिमीहरूलाई सहायता गर्न सक्छन् न त रक्षा नै गरन सक्छन्। तिनीहरू केहि होइनन्। 22 तर परमप्रभुले आफ्ना मानिसहरूलाई छोडनु हुँदैन। परमप्रभु तिनीहरूलाई आफ्नो मानिस बनाएर प्रसन्न हुनुहुन्थयो। यसर्थ उहाँले आफ्नो नाउँको खातिर तिनीहरूलाई त्याग्नु हुनेछैन। 23 अनि म तिमीहरूका निम्ति प्रार्थना गर्न छोडने छैन। यदि मैले तिमीहरूका लागि प्रार्थना गरिनँ भने परमप्रभु विरूद्ध मेरो पाप हुनेछ। म तिमीहरूलाई शिक्षा दिइरहन्छु ताकि तिमीहरूले राम्रो र सही जीवन जिउनेछौ। 24 तर तिमीहरूले परमप्रभुको डर अनि आदर गर्नैपर्छ। तिमीहरूको सम्पूर्ण हृदयले परमप्रभुको सेवा हुनुपर्छ। उहाँले तिमीहरूका निम्ति गर्नुभएको अचम्मका कार्यहरूलाई सम्झौं। 25 तर यदि तिमीहरूले हठी र लगातार दुष्ट कार्य गरिरह्यौ भनेः परमेश्वरले तिमीहरू र तिमीहरूका राजालाई नष्ट गर्नु हुनेछ।” अध्याय 13 1 त्यसबेला शाऊलले राजाको रूपमा एक वर्ष विताइसकेका थिए। जब इस्राएलमा शासन गरेको दुइ वर्ष भएको थियो, 2 तिनले इस्राएलबाट 3,000 पुरूषलाई छाने। त्यसमध्ये 2,000 पुरूष मिकमाशमा बेतेलको पहाडी प्रदेशमा रहनथाले। त्यहाँ 1,000 मानिसहरू बिन्यामीनको अन्तरगत गिबामा जोनाथनसित रहनथाले। बाँकी रहेका सैनिकहरूलाई घर पठाइदिए। 3 जोनाथन गिबामा गए र पलिश्तीहरूलाई तिनीहरूकै छाउनीमा हराए। पलिश्तीहरूले यो सुने। तिनीहरूले भने, “हिब्रूहरूले विद्रोह गरे।”शाऊलले मानिसहरूलाई सारा इस्राएल भरी तुरही फुक्न आज्ञा गरे र भने, “जे भएको छ हिब्रूहरूले सुनोस्।” 4 सबै इस्राएलीहरूले यो खबर सुने। तिनीहरूले भने, “शाऊलले पलिश्तीका अगुवाहरूलाई मारे। अब भने पलिश्तीहरूले साँच्चै इस्राएलीहरूलाई घृणा गर्नेछन्।”इस्राएलीहरूलाई शाऊलसँग भेट्नका निम्ति गिलगालमा बोलाइयो। 5 पलिश्तीहरू इस्राएलसित लडनलाई भेला हुनथाले। पलिश्तीहरूसँग 3,000 रथ र 6,000 घोडसवारी थिए। बालुवाका कण किनारमा थुप्रिए झैं पलिश्ती सैनिकहरू थुप्रिएका थिए। मिकमाशमा पलिश्तीहरूले छाउनी हालेका थिए। (मिकमाश बेत-आवेनको पूर्वतिर पर्छ।) 6 इस्राएलीहरूले बुझे कि तिनीहरू खतरामा थिए। तिनीहरूलाई पलिश्तीहरूले धेरा हालेका थिए अनि तिनीहरू गुफा चर्कीएको चट्टानमा दगुरेर गए कुवा र अरू दुलोहरू तिर लुके। 7 कोही हिब्रूहरू त यर्दन नदी पार गरेर गाद अथवा भागेर गिलाद तिर पुगे। शाऊल भने गिलगालमा नै थिए। तिनका सम्पूर्ण सैनिकहरू डरले कामिरहेका थिए। 8 शमूएलले भने उनी शाऊलसित गिलगालमा भेट्ने छन्। शाऊलले सात दिनसम्म पर्खे। तर शमूएल गिलगाल जाँदै गएनन् यसर्थ शाऊललाई सैनिकहरूले छोड्न शुरू गरे। 9 त्यति बेला शाऊलले भने, “मेरो निम्ति होमबलि र मेलबलि जुटाइदेऊ।” त्यसपछि शाऊलले होमबलि चढाए। 10 तब शाऊलले बलि भेटी चढाऊन सके, शमूएल पनि त्यहाँ आइपुगे। शाऊल तिनीलाई भेट्न गए। 11 शमूएलले सोधे, “तपाईंले यो के गर्नुभयो?”शाऊलले जवाफ दिए, “धमाधम सैनिकहरूले मलाई छोड्नलागे। तपाईं पनि यहाँ हुनुहुन्न थियो, अनि पलिश्तीहरू मिकमाशमा भरिएका थिए। 12 मैले सोचें, पलिश्तीहरू यहाँ गिलगालमा आएर मलाई आक्रमण गर्नेछन्। मैले अहिलेसम्म परमप्रभुलाई सहायताको निम्ति बिन्ती पनि गरिन। अन्त्यमा बाध्य भएर मैले होमबलि चढाएँ।”‘ 13 शमूएलले भने, “तपाईंले मूर्खता पूर्ण काम गर्नुभयो। तपाईंले परमप्रभु तपाईंका परमेश्वरको आदेशको पालन गर्नुभएन! यदि तपाईंले परमेश्वरको आदेशको उङ्घन नगरेको भए परमेश्वरले तपाईंको परिवारलाई सदाको निम्ति इस्राएलको शासन दिनुहुन्थ्यो। 14 अब तपाईंको शासन अझ अघि बडने छैन। परमप्रभुले यस्तो मानिस खोज्नु भएको थियो जसले उहाँको आदेश पालन गर्छ। परमप्रभुले उहाँले चाहेको जस्तो मानिस भेट्ट्याउनु भएको छ र परमप्रभुले त्यही मानिसलाई आफ्ना मानिसहरूको प्रमुख बनाउँनु हुनेछ। तपाईंले परमप्रभुको आदेश पालन गर्नु भएन यसकारण उहाँले अर्को नया राजा छान्नु हुनेछ।” 15 त्यसपछि शमूएल उठे र गिलगाल छाडेर गए।शाऊल र उसका केही बँचेका सैनिकहरूले गिलगाल छोडे। तिनीहरू बिन्यामीनको गिबातिर गए। शाऊलले अहिलेसम्म आफ्ना साथ नछोडने मानिसहरूको गन्ती गरे। तिनीहरू प्रायः 600 जति रहेछन्। 16 शाऊल, तिनका छोरा जोनाथन र उनीसित भएका सैनिकहरू बिन्यामीन कहाँ गिबामा गए।पलिश्तीहरूले मिकमाशमा छाउनी हालेका थिए। 17 पलिश्तीहरूले त्यहाँ रहेका इस्राएलीहरूलाई दण्ड दिने निश्चय गरे। तिनीहरूका शक्तिशाली सैनिकहरूले आक्रमण शुरू गरे। पलिश्ती सैनिकहरू तीन भागमा बाँडिएका थिए। पहिलो दल उत्तरतिरको ओप्रा जाने सडकबाट शूआल तर्फ लागे। 18 दोस्रो दक्षिण पूर्व बेथ-होरोन जाने सडक तर्फ लागे तेस्रो दल चाहि पूर्वतिरको सीमासम्म पुग्ने सडकतिर लागे। यो सडक सबोइमको बेंसीमा मरूभूमि तर्फ फैलिएर गएको थियो। 19 इस्राएलका मानिसहरूले फलामका हात हतियार बनाउन जान्दैनथे। त्यस समय इस्राएलमा लोहार पाइँदैनथ्यो। पलिश्तीहरूले इस्राएलीहरूलाई फलामको हात हतियार बनाउन सिकाएनन् कारण इस्राएलीहरू आफैंले फलामको हात हतियार बनाए भने पलिश्तीहरूलाई खतरा हुन्छ। 20 पलिश्तीहरूले मात्र हात हतियारमा उध्याउँथे। यदि इस्राएलीहरूलाई आ-आफ्ना हात हतियार जस्तै, फाली, कोदालो, बञ्चरो र हँसिया उध्याउँनु पर्यो भने तिनीहरू पलिश्तीहरू भएको मै जानुपर्थ्यो। 21 पलिश्ती लोहारहरूले फाली र कोदालोमा साँध लगाउन शेकेलको दुइ-तिहाई चाँदी लिन्थे भने बञ्चरो र गोरू धपाउने अंकुसे मिलाउनलाई शेकेलको एक-तिहाई लाग्थ्यो। 22 यसर्थ युद्धका दिनहरूमा शाऊलका सैनिकसित न त फलामको तरवार थियो न त भाला नै। खालि शाऊल र तिनका छोरा जोनाथनसित फलामको हतियार थियो। 23 पलिश्तीहरूको एक दल सैनिकले मिकमाशको बेंसीलाई पूर्ण सुरक्षित तुल्याइरहेका थिए। अध्याय 14 1 एक दिन शाऊलका छोरा जोनाथनले तिनका हतियार बोक्ने युवकलाई भने, “हिंडे र बेंसीको पल्लो पट्टि पलिश्तीहरूको छाउनीमा जाऔं।” तर जोनाथनले यो कुरा आफ्ना पितालाई भनेन। 2 शाऊल पहाडको किनारा मिग्रोनमा एउटा अनारको रूखमुनि बसिरहेका थिए। छेवैमा खला पनि थियो। शाऊलसँग प्राय 600 मानिसहरू थिए। 3 एकजनाको नाउँ अहियाह थियो। अहिया ईकाबोदका भाइ अहीतूबका छोरा थिए। ईकाबोद पीनहासका छोरा थिए। पीनहास एलीका छोरा थिए। अहिले एली शीलोमा परमप्रभुको पूजाहारी थिए। अहियाह पूजाहारी थिए अनि तिनले एपोद लगाएका थिए। यी मानिसहरूले जोनाथन गइसकेको कुरा चाल पाएनन्। 4 वाटोको दुवै पट्टि ठूला-ठूला चट्टानहरू थिए। जोनाथनले त्यही बेंसीको बाटो भएर पलिश्तीहरूको छाउनीमा पुग्ने निश्चय गरे। बाटोको एकापट्टि बोसेस नाउँ भएको एउटा ठूला चट्टान थियो र अर्को तर्फ सेन नाउँ गरेको अर्को चट्टान थियो। 5 एउटा ठूलो चट्टान भने उत्तरतिर मिकमाशलाई हेरिरहे झैं देखिन्थ्यो। अर्को चट्टानले भने दक्षिणतिर गिबालाई हेरिरहे झैं देखिन्थ्यो। 6 जोनाथनले आफ्नो हतियार बोक्ने युवा सहयोगीलाई भने, “आऊ, ती विदेशीहरूको छाउनीमा जाऔ। हुन सक्छ, परमप्रभुले तिनीहरूलाई डराउनको निम्ति हामीलाई प्रयोग गर्नुहुनेछ। हामीसँग ज्यादा सैनिक होस् कि नहोस् परमप्रभुलाई कसैले रोक्न सक्दैन।” 7 जोनाथनको हतियार बोक्ने युवकले भन्यो, “तपाईंलाई जे राम्रो लाग्छ त्यहि गर्नुहोस्। म त तपाईंको साथमा छँदैछु।” 8 जोनाथनले भन्यो, “जाऔ! त्यो बेंसीबाट भएर सिधै पलिश्ती रक्षकहरू भएतिर जाऔं। हामी तिनीहरूले देख्ने गरी अघि बढौं। 9 यदि तिनीहरूले हामीलाई, ‘तिमीहरू त्यही उभिनु जबसम्म हामी त्यहाँ आइपुग्दैनौं भन्छन् भने हामी जहिंको तहीं उभिनेछौं। हामी अघि बढ्दैनौं। 10 तर यदि पलिश्तीहरूले हामीहरूलाई ‘अगाडि बढ’ भने, हामी तिनीहरू भएसम्म चढछौं। किनभने यो परमेश्वरको चिन्ह हो यो चिन्हको अर्थ हुनेछ परमप्रभुले तिनीहरूलाई हराउनु हुनेछ।” 11 यसर्थ जोनाथन र तिनका सहयोगी पलिश्तीहरूले देख्ने गरी उभिए। पलिश्ती रक्षकहरूले भने, “हेर! हिब्रूहरू लुकेको खाल्टोबाट निस्केर आउँदैछन्।” 12 किल्लाको रक्षक पलिश्तीहरूले जोनाथन र तिनका सहायकलाई कराएर भने, “यहाँ आऊ, तिमीहरूलाई हामी पाठ सिकाउँने छौं।”जोनाथनले आफ्नो सहयोगीलाई भन्यो, “पहाड चढ्दा मेरो पछि आउनु, परमेश्वरले यसरी मिलाउनु भएको छ कि इस्राएलीहरूले पलिश्तीहरूलाई हराउने छ।” 13 जोनाथन हात खुट्टा टेकेर पहाडमाथि उकले। तिनका सहायक पनि पछि लागे। जोनाथन र तिनका सहायकले पलिश्तीहरूलाई आक्रमण गरे। पहिलो आक्रमणमा तिनीहरूले बीसजना पलिश्तीहरूलाई आधा एकर जमीनमा मारे। जोनाथनले उसको अघाडि आएकाहरूसित लडाई गरिनै रहे। पछाडिबाट तिनका सहायक आए अनि घाईतेहरूलाई मारे। 15 मैदान, छाउनीमा र किल्लामा भएका सबै पलिश्ती सैनिकहरू डराउन थाले। यहाँसम्म भयो कि पलिश्तीहरूका वीरभन्दा वीर सैनिक पनि डराए। जमीन काम्यो र पलिश्ती सैनिकहरू साह्रै नै डराए। 16 शाऊलका रक्षकहरूले बिन्यामीन देशको गिबामा भएका पलिश्ती सैनिकहरू चारै दिशातिर भाग-भाग गरेको देखे। 17 शाऊलले आफ्ना छेवैमा भएका सैनिकहरूलाई भने, “सैनिकहरूको गन्ती गर। म यो जान्न चाहन्छु कि कसले छाउनी छोडे।”तिनीहरूले गन्ती गरे। छाउनीमा जोनाथन र तिनका सहायक थिएनन्। 18 शाऊलले अहियाहलाई भने, “परमेश्वरको पवित्र सन्दूक ल्याऊ!” त्यस समय सन्दूक इस्राएलीहरूसँग नै थियो। 19 शाऊल पूजाहारी अहियाहसँग कुरा गर्दैथिए। शाऊलले परमेश्वरको सुझाव पर्खिरहेका थिए। तर पलिश्तीहरूको छाउनीमा होहल्ला र अशान्ती अझै बढ्दै थियो। शाऊलको धैर्य खतम भइसकेको थियो। अन्त्यमा पूजाहारी अहियालाई शाऊलले भने, “अब भयो प्रार्थना गर्न बन्द गर, हात तल झार।” 20 शाऊलले आफ्ना सैनिकहरूलाई एकत्रित पारे र युद्धको निम्ति निस्किए। पलिश्ती सेनाहरू साँच्चै नै अलमल्ल परिरहेका थिए। तिनीहरूले एक-अर्कामा तिनीहरूको तरवार लिएर झगडा गर्न शुरू गरे। 21 केही हिब्रूहरू पनि पलिश्तीहरूसित तिनीहरूका नोकरहरू जस्तै त्यही छाउनीमा थिए। तिनीहरूले पनि पलिश्तीहरूलाई आक्रमण गरे। तिनीहरू पनि इस्राएली शाऊल र जोनाथनसित मिले। 22 पलिश्ती सैनिकहरू भाग्दै छन् भन्ने खबर एप्रैमका पहाडी प्रदेशमा लुकेका सबै इस्राएलीहरूले सुने। यसैले ती इस्राएलीहरू पनि युद्धमा सामेल भएर पलिश्तीहरूलाई खेद्न थाले। 23 यसरी परमप्रभुले इस्राएलीहरूलाई त्यस दिन रक्षा गर्नुभयो। तिनीहरूले बेत-आवेनको पारिसम्मै लडाँईं लडे। सबै सैनिकहरू शाऊलका साथ थिए त्यहाँ झण्डै 10,000 पुरूष थिए। एप्रैमका पहाडी देशको प्रत्येक शहरमा युद्ध फैलियो। 24 त्यस दिन शाऊलले ठूलो भूल गरे। इस्राएलीहरू भोका र थकित थिए, कारण शाऊलले शपथ खान लगाएका थिए, शाऊलको शपथ थियो, साँझ अघि कसैले केही खाने छैन। “अथवा मैले मेरो शत्रुहरूलाई पराजित नगरूञ्जेलसम्म खानेकुरा खाए त्यसलाई दण्ड दिइनेछ।” यसर्थ कुनै इस्राएली सैनिकले केही खाएनन्। 25 युद्धको कारणले मानिसहरू जंगलमा गए। तिनीहरूले भुईमा महको चाको देखे। मह भएसम्म तिनीहरू पुगेर पनि मह खाएनन्। शपथ तोडिने हुनाले डराए। 27 तर जोनाथनलाई शपथ बारे केही थाह थिएन। जोनाथनले आफ्ना पिताले जबरदस्ती मानिसहरूलाई शपथ खुवाएको कुरा सुनेका थिएनन्। एउटा लट्टी जोनाथनसँग थियो। उनले महको चाकामा लट्टी घुसारे र लठ्ठीमा मह ल्याएर केही मह खाए र फूर्तिलो अनुभव गरे। 28 एउटा सैनिकले जोनाथनलाई भन्यो, “तपाईंका पिताले मानिसहरूलाई एउटा शपथ खान लगाए। तपाईंका पिताले मानिसहरूलाई केही खाएमा दण्डित गरिने शपथ खुवाए। यसैले मानिसहरू भोकभोकै छन्। यसैले गर्दा मानिसहरू कमजोरी भए।” 29 जोनाथनले भने, “मेरो पिताले देशलाई समस्यामा हाल्नुभयो। हेर त मैले अलिकति मह चाखेको मात्र थिएँ कस्तो फूर्तिलो भएँ। 30 आज मानिसहरूले शत्रु पक्षबाट जे-जे भोजन ल्याएका थिए, ती सब खान पाएका भए कति राम्रो हुन्थ्यो। हामीले अझ धेरै पलिश्तीहरूलाई मार्न सक्थ्यौं।” 31 त्यस दिन इस्राएलीहरूले पलिश्तीहरूलाई हराए। तिनीहरू मिकमाश देखि अय्यालोन सम्मका बाटोभरी लडे। यसैले मानिसहरू थकित र भोका थिए। 32 तिनीहरूले पलिश्तीहरूबाट भेडा, गाई र बाछाहरू खोसेका थिए। त्यस बेला इस्राएलका मानिसहरू यति भोका थिए कि तिनीहरूले ती पशुहरूलाई त्यही जमिनमा मारे र खाए। जबसम्म पशुहरूमा रगत थियो। 33 शाऊललाई एउटा मानिसले भन्यो, “हेर्नुहोस्! मानिसहरूले परमप्रभुको विरूद्धमा पाप गर्दैछन्। तिनीहरूले रगतै समेत मासु खाँदैछन्!”शाऊलले भने, “तिमीहरूले पाप गर्दैछौ। यहाँ एउटा ठूलो ढुङ्गालाई पल्टाऊ।” 34 फेरि शाऊलले भने, “मानिसहरूलाई गएर भन कि प्रत्येक मानिसले साँढे र भेडा लिएर मकहाँ आओस्। यहाँ तिनीहरूले आफ्ना साँढे र भेडा मार्नुपर्छ। परमप्रभु विरूद्ध पाप काम नगर! रगतै समेतको मासु नखाओ।”त्यस रात प्रत्येकले आ-आफ्नो पशुहरू ल्याएर त्यहाँ मारे। 35 शाऊलले परमप्रभुको निम्ति वेदी बनाए। शाऊल आफैले वेदी बनाउन शुरू गरे। 36 शाऊलले भने, “आज राती हामी पलिश्तीहरूलाई लखेट्नेे छौं। हामीले तिनीहरूबाट प्रत्येक बस्तु खोस्ने छौं। हामीले तिनीहरू सबैलाई मार्ने छौं।”सैनिकहरूले जवाफ दिए, “तपाईंलाई जे राम्रो लाग्छ, त्यही गर्नुहोस्।”तर पूजाहारीले भने, “परमेश्वरलाई सोध।” 37 यसकारण शाऊलले परमेश्वरलाई सोधे, “के म पलिश्तीहरूलाई पछ्याउँदै खेदौं? के मलाई पलिश्तीहरूलाई हराउन दिनुहुन्छ?” तर परमेश्वरबाट कुनै जवाफ आएन। 38 यसले गर्दा शाऊलले भने, “सबै नेताहरूलाई मेरो समक्ष बोलाउनु, आज कसले पाप काम गर्यो, बुझौ। 39 म इस्राएलको रक्षा गर्ने परमप्रभुको शपथ खाँदै यो प्रतिज्ञा गर्छु, यहाँ सम्म कि मेरो छोरा जोनाथनले नै पाप गरेको छ भने पनि छोडिने छैन मर्ने छ।” तर कसैले पनि उनलाई केही भनेनन्। 40 यसकारण शाऊलले सबै इस्राएलीहरूलाई भने, “तिमीहरू सबै एकतिर उभिनु। म र मेरो छोरा जोनाथन अर्कोतिर उभिन्छौ।”सबै सैनिकले भने, “तपाईंको जो इच्छा हजुर।” 41 तब शाऊलले प्रार्थना गर्न लागे, “परमप्रभु, इस्राएलको परमेश्वर, तपाईंले दासलाई आज किन जवाफ दिनुभएन, यदि मैले अथवा मेरो छोरा जोनाथनले कुनै पाप गरेको भए परमप्रभु इस्राएलका परमेश्वर ऊरीम दिनुहोस्। यदि तपाईंका इस्राएली मानिसहरूले पाप गरेका भए तुम्मीम दिनुहोस्।”यस प्रकारले शाऊल र जोनाथन चुनिएका थिए अन्य मानिसहरू चुनिएका थिएनन्। 42 शाऊलले भने, “अब म र मेरो छोरामा कसलाई दोष दिनु पर्ने हो? को दोषी हो?” जोनाथन चुनिएका थिए। 43 शाऊलले जोनाथनलाई भने, “मलाई भन्, तैले के गरिस्।”जोनाथनले शाऊललाई भन्यो, “मैले अलि कति लट्टीमा लागेको मह चाखें। यत्तिले नै म मर्नु पर्ने?” 44 शाऊलले भने, “यदि मैले गरेको प्रतिज्ञा पूरा गरिनँ भने परमेश्वरले मलाई खूबै नराम्रो गर्नुहुनेछ। यसर्थ जोनाथन मर्नै पर्छ।” 45 तर सबै सैनिकाहरूले भने, “आज जोनाथनले इस्राएललाई विजयी गरायो। के जोनाथन मर्नै पर्ने? होइन! हामी जीवित परमेश्वरको नाउँमा शपथ खान्छौ कि जोनाथनलाई कसैले हानि गर्न सक्दैन, उसको शिरको एउटा केशसम्म कसैले हल्लाउन सक्ने छैन। परमेश्वरले आज पलिश्तीहरूसँगको युद्धमा जोनाथनलाई सहायता गर्नुभएको छ।” यसरी मानिसहरूले जोनाथनलाई बचाए। तिनलाई मृत्युदण्ड दिइएन। 46 शाऊलले पलिश्तीहरूलाई खेदेनन्। पलिश्तीहरू आफ्नै ठाउँमा फर्किए। 47 शऊलले इस्राएलमा पूरा अधिकार जमाए। शाऊल इस्राएल वरिपरिका शत्रुहरूसित लडे। शाऊल मोआबी, अम्मोनी, एदोमी, सीबाका राजा र पलिश्तीहरूसंग लडे। जहाँ-जहाँ गएर लडे शाऊलले इस्राएलका शत्रुहरूलाई हराए। 48 शाऊल अत्यन्तै सहासी थिए। शाऊलले इस्राएलका मानिसहरूबाट सामान चीज-बीज खोस्न खोज्नहरूको हातबाट पनि इस्राएलीहरूलाई बचाए, शाऊलले यहाँ सम्म कि अमालेकीहरूलाई पनि हराए। 49 शाऊलको छोराहरू जोनाथन, यिश्वी र मल्कीशूअ थिए। शाऊलकी जेठी छोरीको नाउँ मेराब र कान्छी छोरीको नाउँ मीकल थियो। 50 शाऊलकी पत्नीको नाउँ अहीनोम थियो। अहीनोमचाहि अहीमासकी छोरी थिइन्।शाऊलका सेनापति नेरका छोरा अबनेर थिए। नेरचाहिं शाऊलका काका थिए। 51 शाऊलका पिता कीश र अबनेरका पिता नेरचाहि अबीएलका छोराहरू थिए। 52 शाऊल जीवनभरी नै साहसी थिए। पलिश्तीहरू विरूद्ध कठिन युद्ध लडे। जहिले पनि कुनै वीरलाई देखेमा शाऊलले आफ्नो सैनिक दलमा त्यसलाई सामेल गर्थे र आफ्नो छेवैमा राखेर राजाको रक्षक बनाउँथे। अध्याय 15 1 एक दिन शमूएलले शाऊललाई भने, “परमप्रभुले मलाई उहाँका इस्राएली मानिसहरूको राजाको रूपमा तिमीलाई अभिषेक गर्न पठाउनु भएको थियो। अब परमप्रभुको भनाइ सुन। 2 सर्वशक्तिमान परमप्रभु भन्नुहुन्छ, ‘जब इस्राएलीहरू मिश्रबाट बाहिर आए तब अमालेकीहरूले तिनीहरूलाई कनान जानलाग्दा रोक्ने चेष्टा गरे। अमालेकीहरूले जे गरे मैले देखे। 3 अब गएर अमालेकीहरूसित युद्ध गर। अमालेकीहरूसित जे जति छ सम्पूर्ण रूपले नष्ट गर। कसैलाई जिउँदो नछाड। तिमीहरूले ती सबलाई मार्नु पर्छ, लोग्ने मानिसहरू होस् कि स्त्रीहरू केटा-केटीहरू होस् कि काखका नानी। सबलाई मार गाई-गोरू, भेडा ऊँट गधा केही बाँकी नराख।”‘ 4 शाऊलले सबै सेनाहरूलाई तेलैममा भेला गराए। त्यहाँ 2,00,000 पैदल सेना र 10,000 अन्य मानिसहरू थिए। यसमा यहूदाका मानिसहरू पनि थिए। 5 त्यसपछि शाऊल अमालेक शहरतिर लागे र बेंसीमा पर्खेर बसे। 6 शाऊलले केनीहरूलाई भने, “तिमीहरू सबैले अमालेकीहरूलाई छोडी देऊ। म तिमीहरूलाई अमालेकीहरूसित मार्दिन। कारण तिमीहरूले मिश्रबाट आउँदा इस्राएलीहरूलाई दया गरेका थियौ।” यसपछि केनीहरूले अमालेकीहरूलाई छोडे। 7 शाऊलले अमालेकीहरूलाई हराए, तिनले हवीलाबाट शूरतक मिश्रको सीमानासम्म अमालेकीहरूलाई खद्दै गए। 8 शाऊलले अमालेकीहरूका राजा अगागलाई जिउँदै पक्रे र अगागका सबै सैनिकलाई मारे। 9 शाऊल र इस्राएली सैनिकहरूले सम्पूर्ण कुराहरू नष्ट गर्दा नराम्रो मन गरे। यसर्थ तिनीहरूले अगागलाई मारेनन् र बलिया गाईहरू राम्रा जातका भेडा र पाठाहरू पनि बचाएर राखे। राख्न योग्यका सामानहरू राखेर काम नलाग्ने जति नष्ट गरे। 10 शमूएलले परमप्रभुबाट खबर पाए। 11 परमप्रभुले भन्नुभयो, “शाऊलले मलाई पछ्याउन छोडीदियो। यसर्थ म शाऊललाई राजा बनाएर आफै दुःखी छु। म जे भन्छु त्यसले त्यो गर्दैन।” शमूएल धेरै रिसाए र रातभरी परमप्रभुसित प्रार्थना गरे। 12 शमूएल भोलिपल्ट बिहान चाँडै नै उठे र शाऊललाई भेट्न गए। तर मानिसलहरूले शमूएललाई भने, “शाऊल यहूदाको कर्मेल भन्ने ठाउँमा गएका छन्। शाऊल त्यहाँ उसको सम्मानमा एउटा स्मारक स्थापित गर्न गएका छन्। त्यसपछि धेरै ठाउँ भ्रमण गरेर तिनी अन्त्यमा गिलगाल जानेछन्।”त्यसपछि शमूएल शाऊल भएको ठाउँमा गए। अमालेकीहरूबाट लिएका चीजबिजको पहिलो अंश शाऊलले भेंटीको रूपमा चढाए, शाऊलले तिनीहरूलाई परमप्रभुको अघि एउटा होमबलि जस्तै चढाए। 13 शमूएल शाऊलको नजिक गए। शाऊलले स्वागत जनाएर भने, “परमप्रभुको आशीर्वाद तपाईंमा रहोस्। मैले परमप्रभुको आज्ञा पालन गरें।” 14 शमूएलले भने, “त्यसो हो भने म यो के सुन्दैछु। किन मैले भेडा र पशुहरूको आवाज सुनेको?” 15 शाऊलले भन्यो, “सैनिकहरूले अमालेकीहरूबाट पशुहरू लिए। सैनिकहरूले राम्रा भेडा र पशुहरू परमप्रभु तपाईंको परमेश्वरमा बलिचढाउन भनेर बचाए। तर हामीले अरू सबै चीज नष्ट पार्यौ।” 16 शमूएलले शाऊललाई भने, “चुप लाग! हिजो राती परमप्रभुले मलाई के भन्नुभयो त्यो म तपाईंलाई बताउनेछु।”शाऊलले भने, “ठीक छ, के भन्नु भयो भन्नुहोस्।” 17 शमूएलले भने, “विगतमा, तपाईंले आफैलाई तुच्छ सम्झनु हुन्थ्यो। तर त्यसपछि तपाईं इस्राएलका कुलहरूका अगुवा हुनुभयो। इस्राएलको राजाको रूपमा परमप्रभुले तपाईंलाई चुन्नुभयो। 18 परमप्रभुले तपाईंलाई एउटा विशेष सेवाकार्यको निम्ति पठाउनु भयो। परमप्रभुले भन्नुभयो, ‘अमालेकीहरूकहाँ जाऊ, अनि तिनीहरूलाई नष्ट पार किनभने तिनीहरू खराब मानिस हुन्। 19 तपाईंले परमप्रभुको कुरा सुन्नु भएन। किन? तपाईंले ती चीजहरू राख्न चाहनुहुन्छ। तपाईंको यो परमप्रभुको इच्छा विरूद्ध कार्य भयो।” 20 शऊलले भने, “तर मैले त परमप्रभुको सबै कुरा माने मलाई जहाँ पठाउनु भयो त्यही गए। मैले अमालेकीहरू सबैलाई नष्ट गरे। मैले खाली साथमा एकजना मानिस ल्याएँ तिनीहरूका राजा अगाग। 21 गिलगालमा परमप्रभु तपाईंका परमेश्वरलाई बलि चढाउन भनेर। सैनिकहरूले राम्रा-राम्रा भेडा र पशुहरू लिए।” 22 शमूएलले जवाफ दिए, “परमप्रभुलाई के ले खुशी पार्छ होमबलि र बलिदानहरू चढाएर कि उहाँको आज्ञालाई पालन गरेर? उहाँलाई बलि भेट दिएर भन्दा उहाँको प्रत्येक आदेशलाई पालन गर्नु राम्रो हो। भेडाको बोसो चढाउनु भन्दा पहिले परमेश्वरको वचन सुन्नु नै राम्रो हो। 23 आज्ञा पालन नगर्नु चाहि तन्त्रमन्त्रको पाप जस्तै हो। हठी स्वभावको हुनु र आफ्नै इच्छानुसार हिँड्नुचाहि मूर्ति पूजा गरे झैं पाप हो। तपाईंले परमप्रभुको आज्ञा मान्न इन्कार गर्नुभयो। यही कारणले, अब परमप्रभुले पनि तपाईंलाई राजाको रूपमा इन्कार गर्नुभयो।” 24 शाऊलले शमूएललाई भने, “मैले पाप गरे। मैले परमप्रभुको आज्ञा तपाईंले भन्नु भए जस्तै गरिन। म मानिसहरूसित साह्रै डराएँ अनि तिनीहरूले जे भने माने। 25 अब म बिन्ती गर्दछु यो पाप गरेको निम्ति मलाई क्षमा गरिदिनुहोस्। मतिर फर्किनु होस्, यसकारण म परमप्रभुको आराधाना गर्न सकौं।” 26 तर शमूएलले शाऊललाई भने, “म तपाईंसँग जाँदिन। तपाईंले परमप्रभुको वचनलाई उलंघन गर्नुभयो अनि अहिले परमप्रभुले पनि राजा अस्वीकार गरिदिनुभएको छ।” 27 जब शमूएले शाऊललाई छोडेर हिंड्न खोजे, शाऊलले शमूएलको खास्टोको किनार समाते र त्यो च्यातियो। 28 शमूएलले शाऊललाई भने, “जसरी तपाईंले मेरो खास्टो च्याति दिनुभयो। यसरी नै परमप्रभुले आज इस्राएलको राज्य तपाईंबाट च्यात्नु भएकोछ। परमप्रभुले इस्राएलको राज्य तपाईंको साथीहरू मध्ये एकजनालाई दिनुभयो। त्यो मानिस तपाईं भन्दा असल छ। 29 परमप्रभु इस्राएलका परमेश्वर हुनुहुन्छ। परमप्रभु शाश्वत हुनुहुन्छ। परमप्रभु न त झूट्टो बोल्नु हुन्छ न त विचार बदल्नु हुन्छ। परमप्रभु मानिस जस्तै छिन-छिनमा विचार बदल्ने हुनुहुन्न।” 30 शाऊलले भने, “ठीक छ, मैले पाप गरे। दया गरी मसित आइदिनुहोस्। इस्राएलका नेताहरू र मानिसहरूका अघि मेरो केही इज्जत राखिदिनु होस्। मसित आइदिनु होस्। ताकि म परमप्रभु तपाईंको परमेश्वरलाई आराधना गर्न सकूँ।” 31 शमूएल शाऊलसँग गए अनि शाऊलले परमप्रभुलाई आराधना गरे। 32 शमूएलले भने, “अमालेकीहरूका राजा अगागलाई मेरो सामु ल्याऊ।” अगागलाई शमूएलको अघि ल्याइयो। साङ्गलाले बाँधिएको अगागको मनमा थियो, “मलाई निश्चय पनि मार्दैनन् होला भनेर।” 33 तर शमूएलले अगागलाई भने, “तेरो तरवारले नानीहरूलाई आमाको काखबाट खोस्यो। त्यसकारण अब तेरो आमाले तिनका छोरा-छोरीहरू गुमाउने छन्।” यति भनेर गिलगालमा परमप्रभुको अघि शामूएलले अगागलाई टुक्रा-टुक्रा बनाएर काटिदिए। 34 त्यसपछि शमूएल त्यहाँबाट हिंडे र रामा गए। शाऊल चाहि गिबामा आफ्नो घर फर्के। 35 त्यसपछि शमूएलले शाऊललाई जीवनभरी कहिले भेटेनन्। शमूएल शाऊलसँग साह्रै दुःखी थिए। परमप्रभु पनि शाऊललाई इस्राएलका राजा बनाएकोमा दुःखी हुनुहुन्थ्यो। अध्याय 16 1 परमप्रभुले शमूएललाई भन्नुहुन्छ, “कति दिन शाऊलको निम्ति दुःखीत भइरहन्छसू? शाऊललाई मैले इस्राएलको राजापदबाट हटाइसके तरै पनि त्यसको दुःख मानिरहन्छस्। तँसित भएको सींङ तेलले भर र बेतलेहेम जा। म तँलाई बेतलेहेमको यिशै नाउँको मानिसकहाँ पठाउँदैछु। यिशै बेतलेहेममा बस्छ। मैले त्यसकै एकजना छोरालाई नयाँ राजाको रूपमा चुनें।” 2 शमूएलले भने, “यदि म गएँ भने यो समाचार शाऊलले सुन्ने छ र मलाई मार्ने छ।”परमप्रभुले भन्नुभयो, “बेतलेहेममा जा साथमा एउटा बाछा पनि लानु र भन्नु, ‘परमप्रभुलाई बलि चढाउन आएको।’ 3 यिशैलाई बलि चढाउन बोलाउनु। त्यसपछि म तँलाई के गर्नु पर्छ भन्ने छु। तैंले त्यस मानिसलाई अभिषेक गर्नु जुन म तँलाई देखाउँनेछु।” 4 शमूएलले त्यसै गरे जो परमप्रभुले तिनलाई गर्नु भन्नु भएको थियो। शमूएल बेतलेहेम गए। बेतलेहेमका बूढा-प्रधानहरू डरले कामे। तिनीहरूले शमूएललाई भेटे र सोधे, “के तपाईं शान्ति पूर्वक आउँनु भयो?” 5 शमूएलले भने, “ज्यू, म शान्ति पूर्वक आएँ। म परमप्रभुलाई बलिदान चढाउन आएको हुँ। तपाईंहरू पनि पूजाका निम्ति तयार भएर बलिदान चढाउन मसित आउनु होस्।” शमूएलले यिशै र तिनका छोराहरूलाई तयार पारे। त्यस पछि शमूएलले तिनीहरूलाई बलिदान चढाउन बोलाए। 6 जब यिशै र तिनका छोराहरू आइ पुगे, शमूएलले एलीआबलाई देखे। शमूएलले सोचे, “निश्चय पनि परमप्रभुले छान्नु भएको मानिस यिनै हुनु पर्छ।” 7 तर परमप्रभुले शमूएललाई भन्नु भयो, “एलीआब अग्लो र सुन्दर छ। तर यस्तो विचार गर्नु हुदैन। परमेश्वरले ती चीजहरू हेर्नु हुन्न हो मानिसहरूले हेर्छन्। मानिसले बाहिरी रूप मात्र हेर्छ, तर परमप्रभुले उसको हृदय हेर्नुहुन्छ। एलीआब त्यो ठीक मानिस होइन।” 8 त्यसपछि यिशैले तिनका दोस्रो छोरा अबीनादाबलाई बोलाए। अबीनादाब शमूएलकै छेउ भएर हिंडे। तर शमूएलले भने, “होइन, यसलाई पनि परमप्रभुले चुन्नु भएको छैन।” 9 त्यसपछि यिशैले शम्मालाई शमूएलको छेउमा बोलाए। तर शमूएलले भने, “होइन, यसलाई पनि परमप्रभुले चुन्नु भएको होइन।” 10 यिशैले सातौ छोरा देखाए। तर शमूएलले यिशैलाई भने, “परमप्रभुले यिनीहरू मध्ये कसैलाई पनि चुन्नु भएको छैन।” 11 शमूएले यिशैलाई सोधे, “के तपाईंका छोराहरू यति नै हुन्?”यिशैले भने, “होइन अर्को छोरा छ सब भन्दा कान्छो, तर अहिले भेडा चराउँदैछ।”शमूएलले भने, “उसलाई यहाँ तुरून्तै लिन पठाऊ। उ नआइञ्जेल सम्म हामी खान बस्ने छैनौं।” 12 यिशैले कान्छो छोरा लिन तुरून्तै कसैलाई पठाए। त्यो छोरा हेर्दै राम्रो थियो, रातो वर्णको युवक। उ साँच्चै सुन्दर थियो।परमप्रभुले शमूएललाई भन्नु भयो, “उठेर उसलाई अभिषेक गर। त्यहि एउटा हो।” 13 शमूएलले सीङबाट तेल निकालेर यिशैको कान्छा छोराको शिरमा दाजूहरूका अगाडी खन्याई दिए। परमप्रभुको आत्मा एकदमै शक्तिको साथ दाऊदमाथि त्यस दिन देखि उत्रियो। त्यस पछि शमूएल रामा घरतिर फर्के। 14 परमप्रभुको आत्माले शाऊललाई त्यागि दियो। परमप्रभुले दुष्ट आत्मा शाऊल कहाँ पठाउँनु भयो। त्यसले शाऊललाई साह्रै सतायो। 15 शाऊलको नोकरले भन्यो, “परमेश्वरद्वारा पठाउँनु भएको दुष्ट आत्माले तपाईंलाई साह्रै दुःख दियो। 16 हामीलाई आदेश दिनुहोस हामीले कुनै त्यस्तो व्यक्ति खोज्न सकौं जसले वीणा बजाउन सक्छ। यदि परमप्रभुबाट आएको त्यस दुष्ट आत्माले तपाईंलाई सताउन थालेछ भने त्यस मानिसले वीणा बजाउन थाल्नेछ र तपाईंलाई आराम अनुभव हुनेछ।” 17 शाऊलले नोकर-चाकरहरूलाई भने, “एउटा मानिसलाई मेरो निम्ति खोज जसले असल तरिकाले संगीत बजाउँछ। त्यसलाई म कहाँ ल्याऊ।” 18 एउटा नोकरले भन्यो, “एउटा यिशै नाउँका मानिस छन्। बेतलेहेममा बस्छन्। मैले देखेको छु यिशैको छोरा। उसले कसरी वीणा बजाउनु पर्छ जान्दछ। उ साह्रै वीर र युद्ध गर्न जान्दछ। उ साह्रै फुर्तिलो र सुन्दर छ। परमप्रभु पनि उसैको साथ हुनुहुन्छ।” 19 यसकारण शाऊलले समाचार दिने मानिसलाई यिशैकहाँ पठाए। तिनीहरूले यिशैलाई भने, “तिम्रो दाऊद नाउँको छोरा छ। जसले तिम्रा भेडाहरू चराउँछ। उसलाई मकहाँ पठाऊ।” 20 यिशैले शाऊलका निम्ति उपहारको बन्दोबस्त गर्यो। यिशैले उपहारको रूपमा एउटा गधा, केही रोटी, एक मशक दाखरस र एउटा बाख्राको पाठो तयार पार्यो। यिशैले ती चीजहरू दाऊदका साथ लगाएर शाऊल कहाँ पठायो। 21 यसरी दाऊद शाऊल कहाँ गयो र तिनका अगाडि हाजिर भयो। शाऊलले दाऊदलाई धेरै प्रेम गरे। दाऊद शाऊलको अस्त्र बोक्ने सहयोगी भए। 22 शाऊलले यिशैलाई खबर पठाए, “दाऊद बसेर मेरो सेवा गरोस्। ऊ मलाई असाध्यै मन पर्यो।” 23 जब परमेश्वरले पठाएको दुष्ट आत्माले शाऊललाई दुःख दिन थाल्थ्यो, दाऊदले हातमा वीणा लिएर बजाउँन थाल्दथे र दुष्ट आत्माले शाऊललाई छोडि हाल्थ्यो र शाऊल असल हुन्थे। अध्याय 17 1 पलिश्तीहरूले आफ्ना सैनिकहरूलाई युद्धको निम्ति भेला गराए। तिनीहरू यहूदा स्थित सोकोहमा भेला भए। तिनीहरूको छाउनी सोकोह र अजेकाको बीचमा एपेसदम्मीम नाउँका शहरमा थियो। 2 शाऊल र इस्राएली सैनिकहरू पनि एक ठाउँमा भेला भए। तिनीहरूको छाउनी एला बेंसीमा थियो। शाऊलका सैनिकहरूले पंक्ति बाँधे पलिश्तीहरूसित युद्ध गर्न तयार थिए। 3 पलिश्तीहरू एउटा पहाड माथि थिए, र इस्राएलीहरू अर्को पहाड माथि थिए। दुवै पक्षका बीचमा बेंसी थियो। 4 पलिश्तीहरूको गोल्यात नाउँ भएको एउटा वीर योद्धा थियो। गोल्यात गात निवासी थियो। गोल्यात झण्डै नौ फीट अग्लो थियो। गोल्यत पलिश्तीहरूका छाउनीबाट बाहिरियो। 5 शिरमा काँसाको टोपी लगाएको थियो। शरीरमा माछाको कत्ला जस्तै कवच कोट लगाएको थियो। त्यो रक्षा कवच काँसाको नै थियो यसको ओजन 5,000 शेकेलको थियो। 6 गोल्यतले खुट्टातिर पनि काँसाकै कवच लगाएको थियो। काँसाकै भाला पिठ्यूँमा बोकेको। 7 भालाको लट्टी जुलाहाको लुगा बुन्ने डण्डा जत्रो थियो। भालाको ओजन 600 शेकेलको थियो। गोल्यतको हात-हतियार बोक्ने तिनको अघि-अघि हिंडथ्यो। 8 प्रत्येक दिन गोल्यत बाहिर निस्कन्थ्यो र इस्राएली सैनिकहरूलाई चुनौती दिनथ्यो। उसको चुनौति थियो, “किन तिमीहरूले युद्धको निम्ति पंक्ति कसेको? तिमीहरू शाऊलका नोकर हौ म त पलिश्ती हुँ। एउटा मानिस छानेर मेरो विरूद्धमा लडनलाई पठाऊ। 9 यदि त्यस मानिसले मलाई मार्यो भने तब हामी सबै पलिश्तीहरू तिमीहरूका दास बन्नेछौ। तर यदि मैले त्यस मानिसलाई मारे भने मैले जितेको हुनेछ र तिमीहरू हाम्रो दास हुनेछौ। तिमीहरूले हाम्रा सेवा गर्नुपर्छ।” 10 पलिश्तीले यसो पनि भन्यो, “आज म इस्राएली सेनाहरूलाई गिल्ला गर्छु। एउटा मानिस पठाइदेऊ ताकि म त्यससित लडन सकुँ।” 11 शाऊल र इस्राएली सैनिकहरूले पलिश्तीले भनेको यी सब सुन्थे र साह्रै डराउँथे। 12 दाऊद यिशैका छोरा थिए। यिशै इफ्रातीका छोरा थिए जो बेतलेहेमको, यहूदाका थिए। यिशैका आठजना छोराहरू थिए। शाऊलका समयमा यिशै बूढा भइसकेका थिए। 13 यिशैका जेठा, माहिला र साहिंला छोराहरू शाऊलसित रणभूमिमा गएका थिए। जेठा छोराको नाउँ एलीआब थियो। माहिला छोराको नाउँ अबीनादाब र साँहिला छोराको नाउँ शम्मा थियो। 14 दाऊद चाहिं कान्छो छोरा थिए। जेठा, माहिला र साँहिला चाहिं शाऊलको सेनामा थिए। 15 कान्छा छोरा दाऊद शाऊलको छाउनी र बेतलेहेममा आफ्ना पिताका भेडाहरू हेरचाह गर्न आउने जानेगर्थे। 16 त्यो पलिश्ती गोल्यत प्रत्येक दिन बिहानै बेलुकी इस्राएलीहरूका छाउनीमा आएर ठट्टा गर्थ्यो। 40दिनसम्म त्यसले सधैं त्यस्तै गर्यो। 17 एक दिन यिशैले दाऊदलाई भने, “यस फुर्लुङमा चार पाथी (एक एपा) चिउरा र दशवटा रोटी छन् तिम्रा दाज्यूहरूलाई छाउनीमा लगि देऊ। 10 टुक्रा पनीर पनि लिए जाऊ। तिम्रा दाज्यूहरूको 1,000 सेनाको समूहलाई आदेश गर्ने अधिकारीलाई देऊ। दाज्यूहरूले के गर्दै छन् हेर। दाज्यूहरू ठीक-ठाक नै छन् भन्ने प्रमाण पनि लिएर आउनु। 19 तिम्रो दाज्यूहरू र सबै इस्राएली सैनिकहरू शाऊलसित एला बेंसीमा छन्। तिनीहरू त्यहाँ पलिश्तीहरूसँग लड्दैछन्।” 20 बिहानै दाऊदले अर्को एउटा गोठालोलाई भेडाहरू जिम्मा लगायो। दाऊदले भोजन लियो र यिशैले भने अनुसार हिंड्यो। दाऊदले गाडा सोझै छाउनीमा लिएर गयो। सैनिकहरू युद्ध पंक्तिमा गएका थिए अनि युद्ध गर्न लागे झैं हल्ला गरिरहेका थिए। 21 इस्राएली र पलिश्ती दुवैतिरका सैनिकहरू युद्ध गर्न तयार रहे। 22 दाऊदले भोजन र सामानहरू भण्डारेको हातमा सुम्पियो र इस्राएली सैनिकहरू भए तिर अगाडिको पंक्तिमा दगुर्यो अनि आफ्नो दाजूहरूको विषयमा सोध्यो। 23 जस्तो दाऊदले आफ्ना दाज्यूहरूसँग कुरा गरेको बेला त्यो श्रेष्ठ योद्धा पलिश्ती गोल्यत पलिश्ती सैनिकबाट निस्केर आयो। गोल्यतले सधैं झैं इस्राएललाई गाली दिन थाल्यो। दाऊदले पनि गोल्यातले भनेको कुरा सुन्यो। 24 इस्राएली सैनिकहरू त गोल्यतलाई देखे पछि भाग्न थाले। सबै नै भयभित थिए। 25 एकजना इस्राएलीले भने, “त्यसलाई देख्यौ त्यसले के गरिरहेछ राम्ररी हेर? त्यो गोल्यत घरि-घरि आएर इस्राएलीहरूलाई यसरी नै गाली गर्छ। जसले यसलाई मार्छ त्यो धेरै धनी हुनेछ। राजा शाऊलले धेरै सम्पत्ति दिनुहुनेछ। शाऊलले उसकी छोरी पनि विवाह गर्न दिनेछन् जसले त्यसलाई मार्न सक्छ। शाऊलले उसको परिवारलाई इस्राएलमा स्वतन्त्र बनाउनेछन्।” 26 दाऊदले छेवैका मानिसलाई सोध्यो, “त्यसले के भन्यो? यदि कसैले यो पलिश्तीलाई मार्छ अनि इस्राएलको इज्जत बचाउँछ भने एउटा विदेशी मात्र त हो, उसले के इनाम पाउनेछ? यो गोल्यत के हो र? गोल्यत एकजना पलिश्ती भन्दा बढी केही होइन। त्यसले यो के सोचिरहेछ? उसले जीवित परमेश्वरका सैनिकहरूलाई धम्काउन सक्छ।” 27 यसैले इस्राएलीहरूले गोल्यतलाई मार्नेको इनामबारे दाऊदलाई बताउँछन्। 28 दाऊदका जेठा दाज्यू एलीआबले दाऊद सैनिकहरूसित बात गर्दै गरेको सुने। एलीआब दाऊदसँग रिसाउँछ। एलीआबले दाऊदलाई भग्ने, “तँ यहाँ किन आइस्? भेडाहरू मरूभूमिमा कसलाई छोडेर आइस्? तँ यहाँ आउनुको कारण मैले जाने। तँलाई जे गर्न पठाइएको हो त्यो गर्न तँ चाहँदैनस्। तँ यहाँ खालि युद्ध हेर्नलाई मात्र आउन चाहन्थिस्।” 29 दाऊदले भन्यो, “मैले त्यस्तो के गरे र? मैले कुनै नराम्रो काम गरिन म खालि कुरा गर्दै थिएँ।” 30 दाऊद चारैतिर दौडिएर अरू सेनाहरूसित त्यही प्रश्नहरू सोध्न थाल्यो। तिनीहरूले पनि दाऊदलाई त्यही पहिले कै जस्तो उत्तर दिए। 31 केही मानिसहरूले दाऊदलाई कुरा गर्दै गरेको सुने। तिनीहरूले दाऊदलाई शाऊल कहाँ पुर्याएर दाऊदले गरेको कुरा सबैलाई सुनाए। 32 दाऊदले शाऊललाई भन्यो, “त्यस पलिश्ती गोल्यतको कारण तपाईं हतास नहुनुहोस्। म तपाईंको सेवक हुँ। त्यस पलिश्तीसँग म लडने छु।” 33 शाऊलले भने, “तिमी गएर त्यस पलिश्तीसँग लड्न सक्ने छैनौ। तिमी सैनिक पनि त होइनौ। तिमी सानै छौ तर गोल्यत सानै देखि युद्धभूमिमा लड्दै आएको हो।” 34 तर दाऊदले शाऊललाई फेरि भन्यो, “म, तपाईंको सेवक हुँ र मेरो पिताको भेडा पनि चराउने गर्छु। भेडाका बथानबाट सिंह र भालू आएर भेडा लैजान्थे। 35 म त्यस्ता जंगली पशुहरूलाई खेद्दै जान्थे र तिनीहरूका मुखबाट भेडा खोसेर ल्याउँथे। यदि जंगली जन्तुले मलाई आक्रमण गरे त्यसको मुख मुनिको भुत्ला समात्थें र त्यसलाई हिर्काउथें। 36 मैले सिंह र भालू मारेको छु। म त्यस विदेशी गोल्यतलाई त्यसरी नै मार्नेछु। गोल्यत मर्नु नै पर्छ किनकि त्यसले जीवित परमेश्वरका सेनाहरूको ठट्टा गरेको छ। 37 परमप्रभुले मलाई सिंह र भालूहरूबाट बचाउनु भएको छ। परमप्रभुले यी पलिश्ती गोल्यतबाट पनि बचाउनु हुनेछ।”शाऊलले दाऊदलाई भने, “ठीक छ जाऊ? परमप्रभु तिम्रो साथमा रहुन्।” 38 शाऊलले दाऊदलाई आफ्नै पोशाक पहिराइ दिए। शाऊलले काँसाको टोपी दाऊदको शिरमा अनि आफ्नो हातहतियर शरीरमा लगाइ दिए। 39 दाऊदले तरवार भिरेर यताउता हिँड्ने चेष्टा गर्यो। यसरी शाऊलको पोशाकले दाऊदलाई साह्रै असजिलो बनायो। यस्तो पोशाकको अभ्यास दाऊदलाई थिएन।दाऊदले शाऊललाई भन्यो, “म यसरी लडून सक्दिन मैले तिनीहरूको प्रयोग गरेको छैन।” यसर्थ दाऊदले सबै फूकाले। 40 दाऊदले हातमा एउटा टेकने लौरो लियो र खोलाबाट चिल्लो पाँचवटा ढुङ्गा टिप्यो। गोठालाको झोलाभित्रको थैलीमा उक्त पाँचवटा ढुङ्गा हाल्यो र घुयेत्रो हातमा बोक्यो। त्यसपछि त्यो पलिश्ती गोल्यतलाई हाँक दिन बढ्यो। 41 पलिश्ती गोल्यत विस्तारै दाऊदकहाँ आयो। गोल्यतको सहायक अघि-अघि ढाल बोकेर हिंडूदै थियो। 42 गोल्यतले दाऊदलाई हेर्यो र हाँस्यो। गोल्यतले सोच्यो यो सैनिक होइन, खालि सुन्दर र रातोवर्णको केटो हो। 43 गोल्यतले दाऊदलाई भन्यो, “यो लौरो केको निम्ति हो? कुकुरलाई जस्तै मलाई खेद्त चाहन्छौ?” अनि गोल्यतले आफ्ना देवताहरूको नाउँ उच्चारण गरेर दाऊदलाई सराप्न थाल्यो। 44 गोल्यतले दाऊदलाई भन्यो, “यता आइज, म तेरो मासु चराहरू र जंगली जनावरहरूलाई खुवाउँनेछु।” 45 दाऊदले पलिश्ती गोल्यतलाई भन्यो, “तँ मकहाँ तरवार, बर्छा र भाला प्रयोग गर्न आइस्। तर म तँ कहाँ इस्राएलका सेनाहरूका परमेश्वर सर्वशक्तिमान परमप्रभुका नाउँ मात्र लिएर आएको छु। तैंले उहाँको विरूद्धमा नराम्रो वचन बोलीस्। 46 आज परमप्रभुले मलाई तँमाथि विजय दिलाउनु हुन्छ! म तँलाई मार्छु। आज तेरो टाउको काटेर चरा र जंगली जनावरहरूलाई खुवाउँछु। हामी अन्य पलिश्तीहरूलाई पनि यसै गर्छौं। त्यसपछि संसारले नै बुझ्नेछ इस्राएलमा परमेश्वर हुनुहुन्छ भनेर। 47 यहाँ जम्मा भएका सबै मानिसहरूले बुझ्ने छन् कि परमप्रभुलाई आफ्ना मानिसहरूलाई बचाउँनका निम्ति तरवार र भाला चांहिदैन भनेर। युद्ध परमप्रभुको हो अनि तिमी पलिश्तीहरूलाई हराउनमा परमप्रभुले हामीलाई सहायता गर्नुहुन्छ।” 48 पलिश्ती गोल्यत दाऊदलाई आक्रमण गर्न सुरियो। र बिस्तारै दाऊद अघि बढन थाल्यो। त्यत्ति नै बेला दाऊद दौडिएर लडन चाडै अघि सर्यो। 49 दाऊदले आफ्नो झोलाबाट एउटा ढुङ्गा निकाल्यो र घुँयेत्रोमा राखेर मच्चायो। घुयेत्रोको ढुङ्गा गएर गोल्यतको आँखा बिच निधारमा लाग्यो। गोल्यत घोप्टो परेर भूईंमा लड्यो। 50 यसरी दाऊदले पलिश्तीलाई घुँयेत्रोको ढुङ्गाले हिर्काएर हरायो। उसले ढुङ्गाले हिर्कायो अनि पलिश्तीलाई मार्यो। दाऊदसंग तरवार थिएन। 51 यसर्थ उ दौडिएर पलिश्तीको छेउमा गयो। त्यसपछि दाऊदले गोल्यतकै म्यानबाट तरवार झिकेर गोल्यतको टाउको छिनायो। यसरी दाऊदले गोल्यतलाई मार्यो।जब अरू पलिश्तीले उनीहरूको वीर नै मरेको देखे अनि डरले भाग्न थाले। 52 इस्राएल र यहूदाका सैनिकहरूले जयघोषणा गर्दै दगुर्दै पलिश्तीहरूलाई खेद्न थाले। इस्राएलीहरूले पलिश्तीहरूलाई खेद्दै-खेद्दै गातको सिमाना र एक्रोनको ढोकासम्म पुर्याए र धेरै संख्यामा पलिश्तीहरू मारे। पलिश्तीहरूको लाश गात र एक्रोनको शारेमसम्म सडकभरी छरपष्ट थियो। 53 पलिश्तीहरूलाई खेद्दै सिमाना कटाए पछि इस्राएलीहरू फर्केर पलिश्तीहरूका छाउनीमा पसे र त्यहाँ धेरै सामानहरू फेला पारे। 54 दाऊदले पलिश्तीको टाउको यरूशलेममा नै पुर्यायो। पलिश्तीको हात-हतियार पनि आफ्नै पालमा राख्यो। 55 शाऊलले दाऊदलाई गोल्यतसँग लड्न गएको देखेका थिए। शाऊलले सेनाका सेनापति अबनेरसँग सोधे, “अबनेर, त्यस केटोको बाबु चाहिं को हुन्?”अबनेरले भने, “मेरो राजा, शपथ लिएर भन्दैछु, मलाई थाहा छैन।” 56 राजा शाऊले भने, “त्यसको बाबुको चाहिंको रहेछ खोजी गर।” 57 जब दाऊद गोल्यतलाई मारेर फर्के, अबनेरले उसलाई शाऊल कहाँ लग्यो। दाऊदको हातमा अझै पनि त्यस पलिश्तीको टाउको झुण्डिरहेको थियो। 58 शाऊलले उसलाई सोधे, “युवक, तिम्रो बाबु को हुन्?”दाऊदले जवाफ दिए, “म तपाईं कै सेवक बेतलेहेमका यिशैको छोरा हुँ।” अध्याय 18 1 दाऊदले शाऊलसँग कुरा गरिसके पछि जोनाथन र दाऊदको बीचमा मित्रमा शुरू भयो। जोनाथनले दाऊदलाई त्यति नै प्रेम गर्थ्यो जति उसले आफूलाई गर्थ्यो। 2 शाऊलले दाऊदलाई त्यस दिनदेखि आफूसँगै राख्न थाल्यो। शाऊलले दाऊदलाई आफ्नो बाबुको घर जान दिएन। 3 जोनाथनले दाऊदलाई असाध्यै प्रेम गरको हुनाले उसले दाऊदसित एउटा विशेष सन्धि गर्यो। 4 आफूले लगारहेको कोट फुकालेर जोनाथनले दाऊदलाई दियो। जोनाथनले आफ्नो र्वदिसमेत धनु, तरवार र पेटी दाऊदलाई दियो। 5 शाऊलले दाऊदलाई अरू धेरै युद्धहरूमा पठाए। प्रत्येक युद्धमा दाऊदले नै सफलता पाए। त्यसपछि शाऊलले दाऊदलाई सैनिकहरूको जिम्मा दिए। यसो हुँदा सबै खुशी भए, यहाँ सम्म शाऊलका सबै अधिकारी पनि खुशी भए। 6 दाऊद पलिश्तीहरू विरूद्ध युद्ध लड्न जाने गर्थ्यो। युद्ध भूमिबाट घरतिर फर्कंदा दाऊदलाई इस्राएलको प्रत्येक शहरबाट स्त्रीहरू स्वागत जनाउन आउँथे। ती स्त्रीहरू नाँच्थे, गाउँथे, सितारा र ढोलक बजाउँथे। तिनीहरूले शाऊलकै छेउमा यसो गरे। 7 स्त्रीहरूले यसरी गाउँथे,“शाऊलले हजार शत्रुहरू मारेतर दाऊदले दश हजार मारे।” 8 ती स्त्रीहरूका गीतले शाऊललाई खिन्न बनाउँथ्यो र तिनी रिसाउँथे। शाऊलले सोचे, “ती स्त्रीहरूले भन्छन् दाऊदले दश हजार शत्रु मार्यो र मैले खालि हजार मात्र मारे।” 9 त्यसपछि शाऊलले दाऊदको गतिविधिलाई धेरै नजिकबाट ख्याल राख्न थाले। 10 अर्को दिन परमेश्वरले पठाउनु भएको दुष्ट आत्माले शाऊललाई पकर्यो। शाऊलले आफ्नै घरमा अगमवाणी गर्दै थिए। दाऊदले सधैं झै वीणा बजाए। 11 तर शाऊलको हातमा भाला थियो। शाऊलले सोचे, “म दाऊदलाई भित्तैमा टँसाई दिन्छु।” शाऊलले दुइ पल्ट भाला हाने तर दाऊद दुवै चोटि तर्किए। 12 परमप्रभु दाऊदसित हुनुहुन्थ्यो अनि परमप्रभुले शाऊललाई त्याग्नु भएको थियो। यसकारण शाऊल दाऊद सँग भयभीत थिए। 13 शाऊलले दाऊदलाई आफू देखि पर गर्न चाहे र 1,000 सैनिकका सेनापति बनाइ दिए। दाऊदले आफ्नो सैनिकलाई युद्धमा अगुवाई गरे। 14 परमप्रभु दाऊदसित हुनुहुन्थ्यो यसकारण दाऊद प्रत्येक कुरामा सफल भए। 15 शाऊलले बुझे दाऊद सफल र योग्य थिए जसको कारण शाऊल दाऊदसित झन् ज्यादा भयभीत हुनथाले। 16 तर इस्राएल र यहूदाका सबै मानिसहरूले दाऊदलाई प्रेम गर्थे किनभने उसले तिनीहरूलाई युद्धमा डोह्राए अनि तिनीहरूको निम्ति युद्ध गरे। 17 तर शाऊलले दाऊदलाई मार्नै चाहन्थे, शाऊलले दाऊदलाई एउटा जालमा पार्ने योजना सोचे। शाऊलले दाऊदलाई भने, “म मेरी जेठी छोरी मेराबको विवाह तिमीसित गरिदिने छु। त्यस पछि तिमी एउटा शक्तिशाली सैनिक हुनेछौ। तिमी मेरो छोरा जस्तै छौ। त्यस पछि तिमीले परमप्रभुको युद्धहरूमा सैनिक भएर लडने छौ।” यो खालि धुर्त्याइँ मात्र थियो। शाऊलले साँच्चै सोच्दै थिए, “अब मैले दाऊदलाई मार्नु पर्दैन। म उसलाई मेरो निम्ति पलिश्तीहरूलाई मार्न लगाउँछु।” 18 तर दाऊदले भने, “म कुनै महत्वपूर्ण सन्तानबाटको अनि महत्वपूर्ण व्यक्ति होइन। म राजाकी छोरीलाई विवाह गर्न सक्दिन।” 19 जब शाऊलकी छोरी मेराबको विवाह दाऊदसँग गर्ने दिन आयो तब दाऊदले महोलका अद्रीएलसँग मेराबको विवाह गरिदिए। 20 शाऊलकी अर्की छोरी मीकलले दाऊदसँग प्रेम गर्थी। केही मानिसहरूले शाऊललाई मीकल र दाऊदको प्रेमको विषयमा सुनाए। यस खबरले शाऊल आनन्दीत भए। 21 शाऊलले सोचे, “म दाऊदलाई फसाउन मीकाललाई लगाउँनेछु। म दाऊदलाई मीकलसँग विवाह गर्न दिनेछु। त्यस पछि पलिश्तीहरूद्वारा उसलाई मार्नेछु।” यसर्थ शाऊलले दाऊदलाई दोस्रो पल्ट भने, “आज नै तिमीले मेरी छोरीसँग विवाह गर्न सक्छौ।” 22 शाऊलले आफ्ना अधिकारीहरूलाई आदेश दिएर भने, “दाऊदलाई एकान्त पारेर भन्नु, ‘हेर! राजाले तिमीलाई साह्रै मन पराउँनु हुन्छ। उहाँका अधिकारीहरूले पनि तिमीलाई मन पराउँछन्। तिमीले उहाँकी छोरीलाई विवाह गर्नु पर्छ।”‘ 23 शाऊलका अधिकारीहरूले दाऊदलाई त्यही भने। तर दाऊदले जवाफ दिए, “के तपाईंहरू सोच्नुहुन्छ राजाको ज्वाइँ बन्न सजिलो छ? मेरो त्यत्ति धन छैन, जो म राजाकी छोरीलाई दिऊँ। म त एउटा साधारण गरीब मानिस मात्र हुँ।” 24 अधिकारीहरूले राजालाई दाऊदको सबै कुरा बताइदिए। 25 शाऊलले फेरि भने, “दाऊदलाई भन, ‘दाऊद, राजाले उसका छोरीका निम्ति तिमीबाट दुलहीको दाम लिन चाहनु हुन्न, तर राजा आफ्ना शत्रुहरूसित बद्ला लिन चाहनुहुन्छ। यसर्थ राजाले रूपियाँको सट्टा एक सय पलिश्तीहरूका खलड्डी मात्र तिमीसँग माग्नुहुन्छ।”‘ यो शाऊलको धुर्त षड्यन्त्र थियो। शाऊलले सोच्थे पलिश्तीहरूले दाऊदलाई मार्ने छन् भनेर। 26 अधिकारीहरूले दाऊदलाई सबै कुरो बताए। दाऊद खुशी भए। राजाको ज्वाइँ हुने यो राम्रो अवसरलाई छोपेर दाऊदले त्यो कार्य गरे। 27 दाऊद र अरू मानिसहरू पलिश्तीहरूसँग युद्ध गर्न हिडे। तिनीहरूले 200 पलिश्तीहरूलाई मारे। दाऊदले पलिश्तीहरूका खलड्डी शाऊल कहाँ पुर्याए। राजाका ज्वाइँ हुनलाई दाऊदले यस्तो गरे।शाऊलले मीकलको विवाह दाऊदसँग गराए। 28 शाऊलले बुझे कि परमप्रभु दाऊदसँग हुनुहुन्छ। शाऊलले यो पनि बुझे, छोरी मीकलले दाऊदलाई प्रेम र्गथिन। 29 यसर्थ शाऊल झन्-झन् दाऊदसँग डराउन थाले। शाऊल सधैं दाऊदको विरोधी भए। 30 पलिश्ती सेनापतिले बारबार इस्राएलीहरू माथि लडाईं गर्थे। तर प्रत्येक पल्ट नै दाऊदले तिनीहरूलाई हराइदिन्थे। दाऊद शाऊलका अधिकारीहरू मध्ये सबैभन्दा सफल अधिकारी थिए यसैले दाऊद प्रसिद्ध भए। अध्याय 19 1 शाऊलले आफ्ना छोरा जोनाथन र उसका सबै अधिकारीहरूलाई दाऊदको हत्या गर्नु भने। तर जोनाथनले दाऊदलाई एक्दमै प्रेम गर्थे। 2 जोनाथनले दाऊदलाई होसियार गराए, “सावधान बस! शाऊलले तिमीलाई मार्ने मौका खेज्दैछन्। बिहानै खेतमा गएर लुक्नु। म मेरो पितासँग खेतमा आउँछु। हामीहरू तिमी लुकेकै छेउको खेतमा उभिने छौं। म पितासँग तिम्रो बारेमा चर्चा गर्छु। त्यसपछि जे थाहाँ पाउँछु तिमीलाई बताउँछु।” 4 जोनाथनले आफ्ना पिता शाऊलसँग कुरा गरे। जोनाथनले दाऊदको राम्रो पक्षको चर्चा गरे। जोनाथनले भने, “तपाईं राजा हुनुहुन्छ। दाऊद खालि तपाईंको सेवक मात्र हो। दाऊदले तपाईंलाई कुनै रीतिले हानि गरेको छैन। तपाईंले पनि उसको हानि गर्नु हुँदैन। दाऊदले सधै तपाईंको पक्षमा काम गरे। 5 पलिश्ती गोलियतलाई मार्दा पनि दाऊदले आफ्नो जीवन खतरामा हालेका थिए। परमप्रभुले सबै इस्राएललाई महान विजय दिलाउनु भयो। यो सब देखेर तपाईं खुशी हुनुभयो। अब दाऊदलाई किन मार्न चाहनुहुन्छ! दाऊद निर्दोष छ। दाऊदको हत्या गर्ने कुनै कारण नै छैन।” 6 शाऊलले जोनाथनको कुरा सुन्यो। शाऊलले शपथ खाए, “परमप्रभु जीवित रहनु भए झैं दाऊद मारिने छैन।” 7 यसर्थ जोनाथनले दाऊदलाई बोलाए र सबै कुरा सुनाए। त्यसपछि जोनाथनले दाऊदलाई शाऊल कहाँ लगे। यस पछि शाऊल र दाऊद पहिलेको जस्तै भए। 8 युद्ध फेरि शुरू भयो अनि दाऊद पलिश्तीहरूसँग लडन गए। दाऊदले पलिश्तीहरूलाई परास्त गरे र तिनीहरू भागे। 9 परमप्रभुबाटको दुष्ट आत्माले शाऊलमा प्रेवश गर्यो। शाऊल घरैमा बसिरहेका थिए। शाऊलको हातमा भाला थियो। दाऊदले वीणा बजाउँदै थिए। 10 शाऊलले भाला हानेर दाऊदलाई भित्तैमा उनिदिने प्रयास गरे। तर दाऊद उफ्रिएर बाँचे। भाला गएर भित्तामा गाडियो। त्यही रात दाऊद त्यहाँबाट भागे। 11 शाऊलले दाऊदको घरमा मानिस पठाए! मानिसहरूले दाऊदको घरलाई पहरा दिए। तिनीहरू रातभरी त्यही बसे। बिहानी पख दाऊदलाई मारौंला भने। तर दाऊदकी पत्नी मीकलले उसलाई सावधानी गराउँदै भनिन्, “आज राती भाग्नु होस् र आफ्नो ज्यान बचाउँनु होस्। यदि भाग्नु भएन भने भोलि विहान तपाईं मारिनु हुनेछ।” 12 त्यसपछि मीकलले झ्यालबाट झरेर भाग्न लगाईन्। 13 मीकलले एउटा परिवारिक मूर्तिलाई ओध्यानमा सुताएर टाउकोमा बाख्राको रौं राखेर लुगाले ढाकिदिईन्। 14 शाऊलले दाऊदलाई बन्दी बनाउनलाई दूत पठाए। तर मीकलले भनी, “दाऊद बिरामी हुनुहुन्छ।” 15 शाऊलले दूतलाई फेरि दाऊद पछि पठाए र भने, “दाऊदलाई यहाँ ल्याउँनु यदि तिमीले उसलाई आफ्नो आछ्यानमा सुतिरहेको अवस्थामा ल्याऊ ता की म उसलाई मार्न सकूँ।” 16 ती दूत फेरि दाऊदको घर गए। तिनीहरू दाऊदलाई पक्रन भनेर भित्र गए। तर त्यहाँ गएर देखे ओछ्यानमा त एउटा मूर्तिको कपाल बाख्राको रौं पो रहेछ। 17 शाऊलले मीकललाई सोधे, “तैले मलाई यसरी धोका किन दिइस्? तैंले मेरो शत्रुलाई भगाइस्। दाऊद भाग्यो।”मीकलले शाऊललाई भनी, “यदि मैले दाऊदलाई भाग्नमा सहायता गरिन भने मलाई नै मार्छु भन्यो।” 18 दाऊद भागेर शमूएल भएको ठाउँ रामामा पुगे। दाऊदले तिनी माथि शाऊलले गरेको प्रत्येक कुरा शमूएललाई सुनाए। त्यसपछि दाऊद र शमूएल दुवै अगमवक्ताहरू बसेका डेरामा पुगे। दाऊद त्यहीं बस्नथाले। 19 शाऊलले सुने कि दाऊद रामाको एउटा डेरामा बस्दैछन्। 20 शाऊलले दाऊदलाई पक्रिन मानिस पठाए। तर त्यस डेरामा मानिसहरूले अगमवक्तहरू अगमवाणी गरिरहेका देखे। त्यस दलको माझमा उभिएर शमूएलले नेतृत्व दिंदै थिए। परमेश्वरको आत्मा शाऊलका दूतहरूमा उत्रियो र तिनीहरूले पनि अगमवाणी गर्नथाले। 21 शाऊलले यो खबर पनि सुने र अरू दूतहरू पठाए। तर तिनीहरूले पनि अगमवाणी गर्न थाले। तेस्रो चोटि पनि शाऊलले दूतहरू पठाए तर तिनीहरूले पहिलो तरिका अप्नाए अनि अगमवाणी गर्न लागे। 22 अन्त्यमा, शाऊल आफै रामा गए। शाऊल सेकूको खलाको छेऊमा एउटा ठूलो कूवा भएतिर आइपुगे र “शमूएल र दाऊद कहाँ छन्” भनी सोधे। मानिसहरूले जवाफ दिए, “रामाको छाउनी छेऊमा।” 23 त्यसपछि शाऊल रामाको त्यस डेरामा पुगे। परमेश्वरको आत्मा पनि शाऊलमा उत्रियो। शाऊलले पनि अगमवाणी गर्न थाले। शाऊलले बाटोदेखि रामाको डेरा सम्मै अगमवाणी बोले। 24 त्यसपछि शाऊलले आफ्नो लुगाहरू खोल्न थाले। शमूएलको अघि पनि शाऊलले अगमवाणी गरिरहे। शाऊल त्यहाँ दिन रात नाङ्गै लडिरहे।यही कारणले मानिसहरू भन्ने गर्छन्, “के शाऊल पनि अगमवक्ताहरू मध्ये कै एकजना हो?” अध्याय 20 1 रामाको छेऊ डेराबाट दाऊद दगुर्दै जोनाथनकहाँ गए। दाऊदले जोनाथनलाई भने, “मैले के भूल गरें? मेरो दोष के हो? तिम्रा पिताले मलाई किन मार्न चाहनु हुन्छ?” 2 जोनाथनले भने, “त्यो सत्य हुन सक्दैन। तिमी मारिने छैनौ। मेरो पिताले मलाई नबताई कुनै काम पनि गर्नु हुँदैन। उहाँले मलाई मुख्य अनि साधारण सूचना भन्नुहुन्छ। यसकारण मेरो पिताले र यदि तिमीलाई मार्ने योजना बनाएको भए मलाई किन भन्नुहुन्न र? यो हुनै सक्दैन।” 3 तर दाऊदले भने, “म तिम्रो मित्र हुँ, भन्ने कुरा तिम्रो पितालाई राम्ररी थाह छ। तिम्रा पिताले सायद सोच्नुहुन्छ होला, ‘जोनाथनले यो कुरा थाह पाउँनु हुँदैन। यदि त्यसले थाहा पायो भने दाऊदलाई भन्छ।’ परमप्रभु र तपाईं जीवित रहेसम्म, नै यो सत्य हो मेरो मृत्यु नजिकै छ।” 4 जोनाथनले भने, “तपाईंले मलाई जसो भन्नुहुन्छ म त्यसैगर्छु।” 5 त्यसपछि दाऊदले भने, “हेर भोलि औंसीको चाड छ। मैले राजासँग खाना खानुपर्छ। तर साँझ सम्म मलाई खेतमा लुकेर बस्न देऊ। 6 यदि तिम्रा बुबाले म यहाँ उपस्थित छैन भन्ने थाहा पाउनुभयो भने, त्यत्तिबेला तिमीले भन्नु, ‘दाऊद बेतलेहेम घरमा जान चाहन्थ्यो। तिनका परिवारले नै मासिक बलि चढाउने कुरा छ। यसकारण दाऊदले मलाई बेतलेहेम झर्न र परिवारसँग भेटन देऊ भने।’ 7 यदि तिम्रा पिताले ठीक छ ‘भन्नु भयो भने म बाँचे। तर रिसाउनु भयो भने बुझ्नुहोस कि उहाँले मलाई घात गर्न चाहनुहुन्छ। 8 म माथि दया गर जोनाथन, म तिम्रो सेवक हुँ। परमप्रभुको अगाडि तिमीले मसँग सम्झौता गरेका छौ। यदि म दोषी छु भने तब तपाईंले नै मलाई मार्नु होस्। तर मलाई तिम्रा बुबा कहाँ नलैजाऊ।” 9 जोनाथनले भने, “त्यसो त कहिले पनि होइन। यदि मेरा पिताले तिमीलाई घात गर्न खोज्नु, भएको मैले थाह पाएँ भने म तिमीलाई सावधान गराउनेछु।” 10 दाऊदले भने, “यदि तपाईंलाई तपाईंका पिताले गाली गरे भने मलाई सावधान कसले गराउँछ?” 11 तब जोनाथनले भने, “हिंड खेततिर जाऔं।” त्यसपछि दुवैजनासँगै खेततिर लागे। 12 जोनाथनले दाऊदलाई भने, “म इस्राएलका परमेश्वर परमप्रभुको अगाडि प्रतिज्ञा गर्छु। मेरा पिताको तपाईंको बारेमा कस्तो सोचाइ छ म त्यो थाह गर्ने प्रतिज्ञा गर्छु। साँच्चै खराबै सोच्नु भएको छ कि असल सोच्नु भएको छ तीन दिनभित्र म तपाईंलाई खेतमा खबर पठाउँछु। 13 यदि मेरा पिताले तपाईंलाई चोट पुर्याउन चाहनुभएको हो भने म तपाईंलाई भन्नेछु म यहाँबाट तपाईंलाई सुरक्षित जानदिनेछु। प्रतिज्ञा गरेको काम मैले गरिन भने परमप्रभुले मलाई सजाय दिनुहुन्छ। परमप्रभु तिमीसँग रहून् जसरी उहाँ मेरा पितासँग हुनुहुन्छ। 14 जबसम्म म जीवित रहन्छु मलाई दया गर्नु अनि म मरेपछि 15 मेरा सन्तान माथि दया गर्न नछोड। परमप्रभुले पृथ्वीमा भएका तपाईंका सबै शत्रुहरूलाई नष्ट गर्नुहुनेछ। 16 त्यस समय यदि जोनाथनको परिवार दाऊदबाट अलग्गै हुन्छ भने पनि हबस्। परमप्रभुले चाहिं दाऊदका शत्रुहरूलाई सजाय दिउन्।” 17 त्यसपछि जोनाथनले दाऊदलाई तिनीहरूको बीचमा भएको प्रेमको प्रतिज्ञालाई नवीकरण गर्नु भनि सोधे किनकी जोनाथनले दाऊदलाई आफू भन्दा ज्यादै प्रेम गर्थे। 18 जोनाथनले दाऊदलाई भने, “भोलि औंसीको चाड हो। तपाईंको ठाउँ रित्तो देखेर मेरा पिताले तपाईं कहाँ जानुभयो भनि सोच्नुहुनेछ। 19 तेस्रो दिनमा पनि तपाईं जानुहोस् अनि त्यही ठाउँमा लुक्नु जहाँ तपाईं पहिला लुक्नु भएको थियो जब यो समस्या शुरू हुन्छ त्यहीं पहाडको छेउमा पर्खिन्छु। 20 तेस्रो दिन म त्यही पहाडमा निशान हान्ने बहनामा आउनेछु र म काँड हान्ने छु। 21 म एउटा केटालाई काँड खोज्न पठाउँनेछु। यदि सबै ठीक-ठाक छ भने म केटोलाई भन्ने छु, ‘हेर काँड नजिकै छ! तँ धेरै पर गइस्। मेरो नजिक काँड खोज। त्यस बेला लुकेको ठाउँबाट तिमी निस्कन सक्छौ। शपत खाएर भन्छु कि जसरी परमप्रभु सत्य र जीवित हुनुहुन्छ, तिमी सुरक्षित छौ। त्यहाँ कुनै खतरा हुनेछैन। 22 तर यदि स्थिति ठीक छैन भने म केटोलाई भन्नेछु ‘काँड धेरै पर पुगेको छ। उता गएर खोजेर आइज्।’ यदि मैले यसो भनेर अह्राएँ भने तिमी भाग्नै पर्छ। परमप्रभुले नै तिमीलाई टाढा पठाउनु भएको हो। 23 दया गरेर तिम्रो र मेरो बीचको सम्झौता चाहि नभुल्नू। परमप्रभु सँधै भरी हाम्रो साक्षी हुनुहुन्छ।” 24 त्यसपछि दाऊद खेतमा लुक्न गए।औंसीको चाड आयो। अनि राजा भोजनको निम्ति आफ्ना आसनमा बसे। 25 राजा पर्खाल कै छेउमा सधैं झैं बसे। उनको ठीक अगाडि जोनाथन बसे। अबनेर राजाको अलिक उता बसे र दाऊदको ठाउँ चाहि रित्तो थियो। 26 त्यस दिन शाऊलले केही पनि भनेनन्। उनले सोचे, “दाऊदलाई केही भयो होला अथवा रीतिपूर्वक शुद्ध छैन होला।” 27 तर भोलिपल्ट महिनाको दोस्रो दिन, दाऊदको ठाँउ अझै खाली नै थियो। त्यसपछि शाऊलले आफ्ना छोरा जोनाथनलाई सोधे, “हिजो र आज औंसीको चाडमा यिशैको छोरा किन उपस्थित भएन?” 28 जोनाथनले भने, “दाऊदले बेतलेहेम घर जान्छु भनेर मसित अनुमति माग्यो। 29 उसले भन्यो, “मेरो परिवारले हाम्रो शहरमा बलिदान चढाउँदैछन् अरे, यसकारण मलाई घरमा जान दिनुहोस्। मलाई त्यहाँ जानु भनी दाज्यूले हुकूम दिएका छन् यदि म तपाईंको साथी हुँ भने जान दिनुहोस् र दाजूहरूसँग भेट्न दिनुहोस्। त्यही कारणले दाऊद यहाँ राजाको भोजमा आएन।” 30 शाऊल जोनाथनसँग साह्रै क्रोधित भए। उसले जोनाथनलाई भने, “तँ दुष्ट आइमाईको छोरा होस, जसले भनेको मान्दैन। अनि त्यो तेरो स्वभाव पनि हो मलाई थाहा छ तैंले दाऊदको पक्ष लिएको छस्। तँ तेरो जन्म दिने आमा र तेरो आफ्नै लागि पनि लाज पार्छस्। 31 जब सम्म यिशैको छोरा जिउँदो छ तबसम्म तँ राजा हुने छैनस् नत तेरो राज्य पनि हुने छ। अब दाऊदलाई मकहाँ लिएर आइज। त्यो एउटा मरेको मानिस हो।” 32 जोनाथनले पितालाई भने, “दाऊदलाई चाहिं किन मार्ने? उसले के भूल गरेको छ?” 33 तर शाऊलले उसको छोरोलाई हत्या गर्नुको लागि भालाले हान्यो। यसबाट जोनाथनलाई थाहा लाग्यो कि उसका पिताले दाऊदलाई मार्ने चाहन्थ्यो। 34 जोनाथन रिसाएर टेबिल छोडेर हिँडे। जोनाथनलाई साह्रै अशान्ति लाग्यो कि आफ्नो पितासित रिसाएर दोस्रो दिनको भोजन पनि उसले खाएनन्। उसको पिताले उसलाई अपमान गरे। ती उसका पितासित साह्रै क्रोधित थिए अनि एकदमै दुःखी भए किनभने शाऊलले दाऊदलाई मार्न चाहन्थे। 35 भोलिपल्ट बिहान जोनाथन खेतमा गए। जब तिनीहरू एक मत भएका थिए जोनाथन एउटा केटालाई साथमा लिएर दाऊद भए कहाँ गए। 36 जोनाथनले केटोलाई भने, “कुद्दै गएर मैले हानेको काँड लिएर आउँनु।” जब केटो कुद्न थाल्यो जोनाथनले त्यस केटाको टाउको मास्तिर आकाशतिर काँड हाने। 37 काँड झरेको तिर केटो दगुर्यो। तर जोनाथनले कराएर भने, “काँड तँ भएदेखि धेरै पर पुगेको छ।” 38 फेरि जोनाथन चिच्यायो, “छिटो गर। काँड लिन जा। त्यहाँ उभिने होइन।” केटोले काँड ल्याएर आफ्नो मालिकलाई दियो। 39 यी सब के भइरहेछ केटोलाई केही थाहा भएन। खालि जोनाथन र दाऊदलाई मात्र थाहा थियो। 40 जोनाथनले धनुकाँड केटोलाई बोक्न दिए। त्यसपछि जोनाथनले केटोलाई “शहर जा” भनेर पठाए। 41 केटो गयो अनि पहाडको अर्को पट्टिबाट दाऊद आए। दाऊदले शिर भूईतिर झुकाएर तीन पटक जोनाथनलाई अभिवादन गरे। त्यसपछि दाऊद र जोनाथनले एक-अर्कामा म्वाई खाए र दुवै रोए। जोनाथन भन्दा दाऊद ज्यादा रोए। 42 जोनाथनले दाऊदलाई भने, “शान्तिसित जाऊ। हामीले परमप्रभुको नाउँमा एका-दोस्रोलाई इमानदारी साथी हौं भनि प्रतिज्ञा गरिरहेका छौ। “हामी र हाम्रा सन्तानहरूका निम्ति पनि परमप्रभु सधैं भरी साक्षी रहनु हुनेछ।” अध्याय 21 1 त्यसपछि दाऊद गए जोनाथन शहरमा फर्किए। 2 दाऊद पूजाहारी अहीमेलेकलाई भेट्न नोब नाउँको शहरमा गए।अहीमेलेक दाऊदलाई भेट्न बाहिर गए। अहीमेलेक डरले कामिरहेका थिए। अहीमेलेकले दाऊदलाई भने, “तपाईं किन एकलै हुनुहुन्छ? तपाईंसित कोही पनि छैनन्?” 3 दाऊदले अहीमेलेकलाई जवाफ दिए, “राजाले मलाई विशेष आदेश दिनुभएको छ। उहाँले भन्नु भएको छ, ‘यो यात्राको उद्देश्य कसैले पनि थाहा नपाओस्। कुनै पनि मानिसले थाहा नपाओस्। जो मैले भने।’ मैले आफ्ना मानिसहरूलाई कहाँ भेट्नुपर्ने हो बताइदिएको छु। 4 अब यो भन तिम्रोमा खानेकुरो के छ? मलाई पाँचवटा रोटी वा जे छ देऊ।” 5 पूजाहारीले दाऊदलाई भने, “मेरोमा त्यस्तो साधारण रोटी छैन। तर मसँग केही पवित्र रोटी छन्, यदि तपाईंका अधिकारीहरूले कुनै स्त्रीहरूसँग सहवास गरेका छैनन्, भने यो रोटी खान सक्छन्।” 6 दाऊदले पूजाहारीलाई जवाफ दिए, “आज भोलि हामीले कुनै स्त्री साथमा राखेका छैनौ। युद्धमा जाँदा हाम्रा मानिसहरू सधैं पवित्र भएर जान्छन् यहाँसम्म साधारण उद्देश्य सोध्न जाँदा पनि। आज त यो कुरा झन् साँचो हो कारण अति विशेष कुरा सोध्नु छ।” 7 त्यहाँ पवित्र रोटी बाहेक अरू कुनै रोटी थिएन। यसर्थ पूजाहारीले दाऊदलाई त्यही रोटी दिए। यो त्यही रोटी थियो जो पूजाहारीले परमप्रभुमा चढाएका थिए। पूजाहारीले प्रत्येक दिन त्यो रोटी बाहिर राखेर त्यसको सट्टामा ताजा रोटी राख्थे।” 8 त्यस दिन शाऊलका अधिकारीहरू मध्ये एकजना त्यहीं थिए। उनी हुन एदोमी दोएग। दोएगलाई त्यहाँ परमप्रभुको अघि राखेको थियो।दोएग शाऊलका गोठालाहरूका प्रमुख थिए। 9 दाऊदले अहीमेलेकलाई सोधे, “यहाँ एउटा भाला अथवा तरवार केही छ? राजाको ज्यादै जरूरी काम छ। मलाई छिटै जानु छ। मैले तरवार अथवा अन्य कुनै शस्त्र साथमा लिएर आइनँ।” 10 पूजाहारीले भने, “यहाँ खालि एउटा तरवार छ त्यो पनि पलिश्ती गोल्यतको हो। तपाईंले एलाको बेंसीमा त्यसलाई मारेर लिएको तरवार हो। त्यो तरवार एउटा लुगामा बेह्रेर एपोदको पछाडि राखेको छ। यदि तपाईंलाई चाहिन्छ भने लिए हुन्छ।”दाऊदले भने, “त्यो मलाई देऊ। गोल्यतको जस्तो तरवार अरू कसैको छैन।” 11 शाऊलबाट भागेर दाऊद गातका राजा आकीश कहाँ पुगे। 12 आकीशका अधिकारीहरूलाई यो राम्रो लागेन। तिनीहरूले भन्छन्, “यो दाऊद हो, इस्राएली भूमिको राजा। यो त्यही व्यक्ति हो जसको गीत इस्राएलीहरू गाउँछन्। तिनीहरू नाच्दै उसको बारेमा यस्तो गाउँछन्;“शाऊलले हजार शत्रुहरू मारेतर दाऊदले दश हजार मारे।” 13 तिनीहरूले के भन्दैछन् दाऊदले ध्यान दिए। दाऊद गातका राजा आकीशसँग डराए। 14 यसर्थ दाऊदले आकीश र तिनका अधिकारीहरू अघि बौलाहाको बहाना गरे। तिनीहरूका अघि दाऊदले बौलाहा भएको नाटक गरे। उनले मूल दोकामा नै थुके र दाह्रीमा थुक चुहुनु दिए। 15 आकीशले आफ्ना अधिकारीहरूलाई भने, “हेर यो मानिसलाई! यो त पागल हो। यस मानिसलाई मेरो उपस्थितिमा पागल कार्य गर्न यहाँ ल्याउनु अवश्यक छैन। भविष्यमा फेरि यो मानिसलाई मेरो घरमा नल्याउनु। 16 मसँग यस्ता बौलाहा मानिसहरू धेरै छन्। मलाई तिमीहरूले यसलाई यहाँ ल्याउने कुनै काम थियो भन्ने लाग्दैन। फेरि-फेरि यसलाई यहाँ मेरो घरमा नल्याउनू!” अध्याय 22 1 दाऊदले गात छोडेर भागे। दाऊद आदुल्लामको गुफामा पुगे। दाऊदका दाज्यू-भाइहरू र आफन्तहरूले दाऊद आदुल्लाममा छ भनी सुने। तिनीहरू दाऊदलाई भेट्न गए। 2 धेरै मानिसहरूले दाऊदलाई साथ दिएका थिए। दाऊदलाई साथ दिनेहरूमा तिनीहरू थिए जो केही न केही समस्यामा परेका थिए। कोही ऋणमा डुबेकाहरू थिए कोही आफ्नै जिन्दगीसँग असन्तुष्टि थिए। यिनीहरूले दाऊदलाई साथ दिए र तिनीहरूका नेता दाऊद थिए। त्यहाँ लगभग 400 पुरूषहरू दाऊदसँग थिए। 3 मोआबमा मिस्पा जाँदा दाऊदले आदुल्लाम छोडे। मोआबका राजालाई दाऊदले भने, “मलाई परमेश्वरले के गरिरहनु भएको छ भनि नजानुञ्जेलसम्म मेरा आमा बाबुलाई तपाईंले यहाँ बस्ने अनुमति दिनुहोस्।” 4 यसप्रकार दाऊदले उसका आमा-बुबालाई मोआबका राजा कहाँ ल्याए। जबसम्म दाऊद किल्लामा रहे तबसम्म उनका आमा बाबु मोआबका राजासंग बसे। 5 तर अगमवक्ता गादले दाऊदलाई भने, “किल्लामा नबस्नु होस्। बरू यहूदाको भूमिमा जानुहोस्।” यसर्थ दाऊद त्यहाँबाट हारेतको बन तिर गए। 6 शाऊलले सुने कि उसका मानिसहरूले दाऊद र उनका मानिसहरू कतातिर छन् भन्ने थाहा पाए। शाऊल गिबाको टाकुरामा एउटा रूखको छाहारीमुनि बसिरहेका थिए। शाऊलले हातमा भाला लिएका थिए। तिनका सबै अधिकारीहरू वरिपरि उभिएका थिए। 7 शाऊलले आफ्ना वरिपरि उभिएका अधिकारीहरूलाई भने, “बिन्यामीनका मानिसहरू हो सुन, तिमीहरूले विचार गरेका छौ, यिशैको छोरा दाऊदले तिमीहरूलाई खेत तथा दाखका बगान दिएको छ? तिमीहरूले यो पनि सोचेका छौ कि दाऊदले तिमीहरूको उन्नति गराउने छ अनि 1,000 र 100 मानिसहरूका अधिकारी बनाउने छ? 8 तिमीहरू सबैले मेरो विरूद्ध षड्यन्त्र रच्दैछौ। तिमीहरू कसैले पनि छोरा जोनाथनले यिशैका छोरासँग सन्धि गरेको छ भनेर भनेनौ कसैले मेरो वास्ता गरेनौ। मेरो छोरा जोनाथनले दाऊद मेरो नोकरलाई सहायता गरेको कुरा कसैले पनि भनेनौ। जोनाथनले दाऊदलाई लुकेर रहनु भन्ने गर्थ्यो ताकि उसले मलाई आक्रमण गर्न सकोस्। अनि दाऊदले अहिले त्यही नै गर्दैछ।” 9 एदोमी दोएग शाऊलका अधिकारीहरूसँगै उभिरहेको थियो। दोएगले भन्यो, “मैले यिशैका छोरा दाऊदलाई नोब भन्ने ठाउँमा देखें। दाऊद अहीतूबका छोरा अहीमेलेकलाई भेट्न आएका थिए। 10 अहीमेलेकले परमप्रभुसँग दाऊदका लागि प्रार्थना गरे। तिनले दाऊदलाई भोजन पनि दिए। अनि अहीमेलेकले दाऊदलाई पलिश्ती गोल्यतको त्यो तरवार पनि दिए।” 11 त्यस पछि राजा शाऊलले पूजाहारीहरूलाई हाजिर गराउनु भनेर मानिसहरूलाई आदेश दिए। शाऊलले अहीतूबका छोरा अहीमेलेकलाई तिनका आफन्तहरूसितै लिएर आउनु भन्ने आदेश दिए। अहीमेलेकका आफन्तहरू नोबमा पूजाहारी थिए। तिनीहरू सबै राजाका अगाडि हाजिर भए। 12 शाऊलले अहीमेलेकलाई भने, “हे अहीतूबका छोरा, सुन।”अहीमेलेकले जवाफ दिए, “भन्नुहोस, मेरो प्रभु।” 13 शाऊलले अहीमेलेकलाई भने, “तिमी र यिशैका छोरा दाऊदले मेरो विरूद्ध किन षड्यन्त्र रच्यौ? तिमीले दाऊदलाई रोटी र तरवार दियौ। परमेश्वरसँग तिमीले उसको लागि विन्तीभाउ पनि गर्यौ। अनि अहिले दाऊद सोझै मलाई आक्रमण गर्ने मौका हेर्दैछ।” 14 अहीमेलेकले जवाफ दिए, “दाऊद तपाईंको सबभन्दा भरोसा गर्न योग्यको पात्र हो। तपाईंका कुनै अधिकारी पनि दाऊद जस्ता विश्वासी छैनन्। दाऊद त तपाईंका आफ्नै ज्वाइँ हुन्। साथै दाऊद तपाईंका अंगरक्षकहरूका कप्तान पनि हुनू। तपाईंका परिवारका सबैले दाऊदलाई आदर गर्छन्। 15 दाऊदको लागि मैले प्रार्थना गरेको यो प्रथमचोटि होइन। मलाई र मेरा आफन्तहरूलाई दोष नदिनुहोस्। हामी त तपाईंका सेवक हौं। कहाँ के भइरहेछ मलाई केही थाहा छैन।” 16 तर राजाले भने, “अहीमेलेक, तिमी र तिम्रा आफन्तहरू मारिनु नै पर्छ।” 17 अनि राजाले आफ्ना छेऊमा उभिएको रक्षकलाई आदेश दिए, “जाऊ, परमप्रभुका ती पूजाहारीहरूलाई मार। यसो गर्नै पर्छ कारण तिनीहरू दाऊदका मानिसहरू हुन्। दाऊद भाग्दै थियो भन्ने जान्दा जान्दै पनि तिनीहरूले मलाई बताएनन्।” तर राजाका अधिकारीहरूले परमप्रभुका ती पूजाहारीहरूलाई मार्न अस्वीकार गरे। 18 यसर्थ राजाले दोएगलाई आदेश दिए। शाऊलले भने, “दोएग, तिमी गएर पूजाहारीहरूलाई मार।” एदोमी दोएग गएर पूजाहारीहरूको हत्या गरे। त्यस दिन दोएगले 85 जना पूजाहारीहरूलाई मारे। 19 नोब पूजाहारीहरूको शहर थियो। दोएगले नोबका सम्पूर्ण मानिसहरूलाई मारे। दोएगले तरवारले पुरूष, स्त्री बालक र शिशु लगायत सबैलाई मारे। यहाँ सम्म दोएगले गाईं गोरू गधा र भेडा समेत बाँकी राखेनन्। 20 तर एबीयातार उम्केर भागे, एबीयातार अहीमेलेकका छोरा थिए। अहीमेलेक चाहि अहीतूबका छोरा थिए। एबीयातार भागेर गए र दाऊदसँग मिले। 21 एबीयातारले दाऊदलाई शाऊलले पूजाहारीहरू मारेको वृतान्त बताए। 22 त्यसपछि दाऊदले एबीयातारलाई भने, “त्यस दिन नोबमा मैले एदोमी दोएगलाई देखेको थिएँ। मलाई थाहा थियो त्यसले शाऊललाई बताउने छ भनेर। तिम्रा पिताको परिवालाई मारेकोमा म आफूलाई जिममेवारी ठान्छु। 23 त्यो मानिस (शाऊलले) तपाईंलाई मार्न चाहान्छ र मलाई पनि। तिमी यहीं बस नडराऊ। तिमी यहाँ मसँग सुरक्षित रहने छौ।” अध्याय 23 1 मानिसहरूले दाऊदलाई भने, “हेर्नुहोस्, पलिश्तीहरूले कीलाको शहरमाथि आक्रमण गरिरहेका छन्। खलाबाट तिनीहरूले अन्न लूट्न शुरू गरे।” 2 दाऊदले परमप्रभुलाई सोधे, “के मैले पलिश्तीहरू विरूद्ध युद्ध गर्न जानु?”परमप्रभु परमेश्वरले दाऊदलाई भन्नु भयो, “जाऊ र पलिश्तीहरूमाथि जाइ लाग अनि कीला शहरको रक्षा गर।” 3 तर दाऊदका मानिसहरूले भने, “हेर्नुहोस्, हामी यहाँ यहूदामा डराएर बसिरहेका छौ। साँच्चै पलिश्ती सेनाहरू अघि पुग्दा हामी झन् ज्यादा डराउने छौं।” 4 दाऊदले फेरि परमप्रभुलाई सोधे अनि परमप्रभुले जवाफ दिनुभयो, “कीलामा जाऊ। म पलिश्तीहरूलाई हराउन म सहयोग गर्ने छु।” 5 यसरी दाऊद र तिनका मानिसहरू कीलामा गए। दाऊद र तिनका मानिसहरू पलिश्तीसँग लडे। दाऊदका मानिसहरूले पलिश्तीहरूलाई हराए अनि तिनीहरूका पशु लिए। यसरी दाऊदले कीलाका मानिसहरूलाई बँचाए। 6 जब एबीयातार भागेर दाऊदकहाँ पुगे तिनले आफूसँग एउटा एपोद पनि लगेका थिए। 7 मानिसहरूले शाऊललाई अहिले दाऊद कीलामा छ भनेर सुनाए। शाऊलले भने, “परमेश्वरले दाऊदलाई मेरा हातमा सुम्पिनु भएको छ। दाऊद फन्दामा परेकोछ। उ यस्तो शहरमा पस्यो जहाँ ढोकाहरू छन् र ढोकाहरूमा ताला लगाउने बारहरू छन्।” 8 शाऊलले आफ्ना सारा सेनाहरूलाई लडाईकोलागि भेला गराए। ती सेनाहरू कीलामा दाऊदका मानिसहरूसँग युद्ध गर्न तयार रहे। 9 शाऊलले दाऊदको विरूद्धमा बनाएको योजना उसलाई थाहा भयो। दाऊदले पूजाहारी एबीयातारलाई भने, “एपोद ल्याऊ।” 10 दाऊदले प्रार्थना गरे, “हे परमप्रभु इस्राएलका परमेश्वर, मैले सुनें कि मेरो कारण शाऊलले यो शहर नष्ट गर्ने योजना बनाउँदैछ। 11 के साँच्चै हुन आउँछ? के किलाका मानिसहरूले म र मेरो मानिसहरूलाई शाऊलको हातमा सुम्पी देलान्? परमप्रभु इस्राएलका परमेश्वर, म तपाईंको दास हुँ। मलाई बताउँनुहोस्।”परमप्रभुले भन्नु भयो, “शाऊल यो हुन आउँछ।” 12 दाऊदले फेरि आफ्नो प्रश्न दोहोर्याए, “के कीलाका मानिसहरूले मलाई शाऊलका हातमा सुम्पिनेछन्?”परमप्रभुले भन्नु भयो, “तिनीहरूले त्यसै गर्नेछन्।” 13 त्यसर्थ दाऊद र तिनका मानिसहरूले कीला छोडिदिए। दाऊदसँगै जानेहरू प्रायः 600 मानिस थिए। दाऊदको र उसका मानिसहरू एक ठाउँ देखि अर्को ठाउँ हुँदै घुमिरहे। शाऊलले दाऊद किलाबाट भागे भन्ने थाहा पाए। यसर्थ शाऊल त्यस शहरतिर गएनन्। 14 दाऊद मरूभूमिको किल्लामा बस्न पुगे। दाऊद जीपको मरूभूमिको पहाडी क्षेत्रमा गए। शाऊलले सधै नै दाऊदको खोजी गर्थे, तर परमप्रभुले शाऊलको हातबाट दाऊदलाई जोगाउनु हुन्थ्यो। 15 दाऊद जीपको मरूभूमिको होरेश भन्ने ठाउँमा थिए। त्यहाँ शाऊल दाऊदललाई मार्न आइरहेकाले तिनी साह्रै डराए। 16 तर शाऊलको छोरा जोनाथन दाऊदलाई भेट्न होरेश गए। जोनाथनले दाऊदलाई परमेश्वरलाई विश्वास गर्न अझ जोड गरे। 17 जोनाथनले दाऊदलाई भने, “डराउनु पर्दैन। मेरा पिता शाऊलले तपाईंलाई हानि गर्ने छैनन्। तपाईं इस्राएलका राजा हुनुहुनेछ। मचाहिं तपाईं पछिको हुनेछु। यो कुरा मेरा पिताले पनि जान्दछन्।” 18 जोनाथन र दाऊद दुवैले परमप्रभु अघि एउटा बाचा-बन्धन गरे। त्यसपछि जोनाथन घरतिर लागे अनि दाऊद होरेशमानै बसे। 19 जीपका बासिन्दाहरू गिबामा शाऊललाई भेट्न आए। तिनीहरूले शाऊललाई भने, “दाऊद हाम्रै क्षेत्रमा लुकेरहेका छन्। ऊ हकीला पहाडको होरेश नाउँको किल्लामा छन्, जो यशीमोनको दक्षिणमा पर्छ। 20 अब, महाराज, तपाईं जहिले आए पनि हुन्छ। दाऊदलाई तपाईंको जिम्मा लगाउने काम हाम्रो भयो।” 21 शाऊलले जवाफ दिए, “परमप्रभुले मलाई सहायता गरेकोमा तिमीहरूलाई आशीर्वाद दिऊन्। 22 जाऊ र उसको बारे अझ जानकारी लेऊ। दाऊद कहाँ बस्छ थाहा गर। दाऊदलाई त्यहाँ कसले देख्छ त्यो पनि बुझिराख। शाऊलले मनमनै विचारे, ‘दाऊद साह्रै चलाक छ। उसले मलाई छक्याउन सक्छ।’ 23 दाऊद लुकेको ठाउँहरू पत्ता लगाऊ। त्यसपछि आएर मलाई वृतान्त बताऊ। त्यस पछि म तिमीहरूसित जानेछु। यदि दाऊद ती ठाँउहरूमा कतै छ भने यहूदाको प्रत्येक घरहरूमा छापामारेर म त्यसलाई पत्तालगाउँनेछु।” 24 अनि जीपका मानिसहरू जीपमा फर्किए पछि शाऊल त्यहाँ गए। दाऊद र तिनका मानिसहरू यशीमोनको दक्षिणमा भएको अराबाको माओन वनमा थिए। 25 शाऊल र तिनका मानिसहरू दाऊदको खोजीमा गए। तर मानिसहरूले दाऊदलाई होसियार गराए। शाऊलले तिमीलाई खोज्दै छ भनेर खबर दिए। त्यसपछि दाऊद माओनको मरूभूमिको तल चट्टानतिर गए। शाऊलले दाऊद माओनको मरूभूमितिर गएको कुरा थाहा पाए। यसरी शाऊल दाऊदको खोजीमा त्यस ठाउँतिर गए। 26 शाऊल पहाडको एकापट्टि थिए, त्यही पहाडको अर्कोपट्टि दाऊद र तिनका मानिसहरू थिए। दाऊद शाऊलको पञ्जाबाट बाँच्न हतारिदै थिए। शाऊल र उसका सिपाहीहरू दाऊदलाई पक्रन पहाडको चारैतिर घुमिरहेका थिए। 27 त्यत्ति नै बेला एउटा समाचार-वाहक शाऊल कहाँ आयो अनि जानकारी दियो, “चाँडो आउनुहोस् पलिश्तीहरूले हामीलाई आक्रमण गर्दैछन्।” 28 यसकारण शाऊलले दाऊदको पिछा गर्न छोडे अनि पलिश्तीहरूसँग लडन गए। यही कारण मानिसहरूले त्यस ठाउँको नाउँ “छुट्टयाउने चट्टान” भन्न थाले। 29 दाऊद माओनको मरूभूमि त्यागेर एनगदीको छेउको किल्लामा गए। अध्याय 24 1 शाऊलले पलिश्तीहरूलाई खेदिसकेपछि मानिसहरूले शाऊललाई भने, “दाऊद त एनगदीको नजिककै मरूभूमिमा छ।” 2 सारा इस्राएलबाट शाऊलले 3,000 मानिसहरूलाई छाने। शाऊलले ती छानिएका मानिसहरू लिएर दाऊद र तिनका मानिसहरूको खोजी गर्न थाले। तिनीहरूले घोरल-चट्टानको छेउछाउमा खोजे। 3 शाऊल बाटो छेउको भेडा गोठमा आए। त्यहाँ छेउमा एउटा गुफा थियो। शाऊल आफैलाई लुकाउन गुफा भित्र पसे। दाऊद र तिनका मानिसहरू धेरै पर गुफाभित्र लुकिरहेका थिए। 4 मानिसहरूले दाऊदलाई भने, “आज परमप्रभुले भन्नु भएको दिन होइनू? उहाँले तपाईंलाई भन्नु भएको थियो, ‘तिम्रो शत्रुलाई म तिम्रो हातमा सुम्पिदिनेछु, त्यसपछि तिम्रो इच्छानुसार तिम्रो शत्रुलाई जे गर्छौ गर।”‘त्यसपछि दाऊद घस्रँदै-घस्रँदै शाऊलको छेउ पुगे। दाऊदले शाऊलको खास्टोको एक टुक्रा चाल नपाई काटिदिए। 5 पछि दाऊदलाई शाऊलको टुक्रा खास्टो काटेकोमा नराम्रो लाग्यो। 6 दाऊदले मानिसहरूलाई भने, “परमप्रभुले मलाई आफ्नो मालिकलाई क्षति गर्नबाट रोकुन्। शाऊल परमप्रभुले छान्नु भएको राजा हुन र मैले त्यसो नगरको भए हुने थियो।” 7 दाऊदले यसो भनेर आफ्ना मानिसहरूलाई रोकी राखे। उसले तिनीहरूलाई शाऊललाई हानि गर्न अनुमति दिएनन्।शाऊल गुफा छोडेर आफ्नै बाटो लागे। 8 दाऊद गुफाबाट निस्किएर आए र शाऊललाई बोलाउँदै भने, “हे मेरो प्रभु! महाराजा!” शाऊलले पछि फर्केर हेरे। दाऊदले शिर झुकाए। 9 दाऊदले शाऊललाई भने, “जब मानिसहरूले भन्छन्, ‘दाऊदले तपाईंलाई चोट पुर्याउने योजना बनाइरहेछ तपाईंले किन तिनीहरूको कुरा सुन्नुभयो।” 10 म तपाईंलाई हानि पुर्याउने छैन। तपाईं आफ्नै आँखाले देख्न सक्नुहुन्छ। परमप्रभुले तपाईंलाई आज मेरो हातमा गुफामै सुम्पिदिनु भएको थियो। तर मैले तपाईंको हत्या गरिन। तपाईंमाथि म कृपालु भएँ। मैले भनें, ‘म मेरो मालिकलाई हानि गर्ने छैन। किनभने उनी परमप्रभुले छान्नु भएको राजा हुनू।’ 11 यो लुगाको टुक्रा मेरो हातमा हेर्नुहोस्। मैले यो टुक्रा तपाईंको खास्टोबाट काटेको हुँ। म तपाईंलाई मार्न सक्थें, तर मैले त्यसो गरिन। यो कुरा तपाईंलाई थाहा होस् भन्ने म चाहान्छु। म तपाईंलाई यो जनाउन चाहान्छु कि तपाईंको विरूद्धमा मैले कुनै योजना बनाएको छैन। मैले तपाईंलाई कुनै अनिष्ट गरेको छैन। तर तपाईं मेरो पछि लागेर मलाई मार्न चाहानुहुन्छ। 12 परमप्रभुले नै यसको न्याय गर्नुहुन्छ। मलाई गर्नु भएको अत्यचारको बद्ला परमप्रभुले तपाईंलाई दण्डित तुल्याउनु हुनेछ। तर म आफैं तपाईंको विरूद्धमा जाँदिन। 13 त्यहाँ एउटा पूरानो भनाइ नै छ, ‘खराब कुरा दुष्ट मानिसहरूबाट फैलिन्छ।’मैले कुनै नराम्रो गरिन। म दुष्ट मानिस पनि त होइन। म तपाईंलाई हानि गर्नेछैन। 14 तपाईंले कसलाई खेदो गर्नु भएको छ? इस्राएलका राजा कसको विरूद्धमा आक्रमणमा ओर्लिएका छन्? तपाईंले आफ्ना वास्तविक शत्रुलाई खेदिरहनु भएको छैन। तपाईं मरेको कुकुर अथवा उपियाँको पछि लाग्नु जस्तै हो। 15 परमप्रभुले यस मामलामा न्याय गर्नुहुनेछ। उहाँले नै हामी दुई बीचमा निर्णय गरून्। जब उहाँले तपाईंबाट मलाई जोगाउनु हुन्छ परमप्रभु आफैले देखाउनु हुनेछ कि म सही छु।” 16 दाऊद चुप्प लागे अनि शाऊलले सोधे, “यो तिम्रो आवाज हो, मेरो छोरा दाऊद?” त्यसपछि शाऊल रूनथाले शाऊल धेरै नै रोए। 17 शाऊलले भने, “तिमी म भन्दा धर्मी अनि असल छौ तिमीले म प्रति असल काम गर्यौ, तर म नै तिम्रो विरूद्धमा थिएँ। 18 मेरो लागि गरेका असल कामहरूका बारे तिमीले भन्यौ। परमप्रभुले नै मलाई तिम्रो सामु ल्याउनु भयो। तर तिमीले मलाई केही गरेनौ। 19 यसले यो देखाउँछ म तिम्रो शत्रु होइन। मानिसले शत्रुलाई सहजै पक्रन सक्दैन र सहजै छोडदैन पनि उसले शत्रुलाई राम्रो गर्दैन। परमप्रभुले तिमीलाई इनाम दिनुहुन्छ, कारण तिमीले मलाई केही गरेनौ। 20 म जान्दछु तिमी राजा हुने नै छौ। तिमीले इस्राएल माथि शासन गर्ने नै छौ। 21 अब मलाई एउटा वचन देऊ। परमप्रभुको शपथ खाएर वचन देऊ कि मेरो सन्तानहरू कसैलाई पनि मार्ने छैनौ। मेरा पिताको परिवारबाट मेरो नाउँ निशान हटाउँने छैनौ।” 22 दाऊदले शाऊलसँग शपथ खाए। दाऊदले शाऊलका सन्ताहरू कसैलाई पनि मार्ने छैनन् भन्ने वचन सुनेर शाऊल घरतिर फर्के। दाऊद र तिनका मानिसहरू किल्लातिर लागे। अध्याय 25 1 शमूएलको मृत्यु भयो। सारा इस्राएलीहरू भेला भएर शमूएलको मृत्युमा दुःख प्रकट गरे। तिनीहरूले शमूएललाई तिनको आफ्नै घर रामामा गाडे। त्यसपछि दाऊद पारानको मरूभूमितिर लागे। 2 माओनमा एकजना असाध्यै धनी मानिस थिए। ऊसित 3,000 भेडाहरू र 1,000 बाख्राहरू थिए। उसको कर्मेलमा धन-सम्पत्ति थियो। ऊ त्यहाँ आफ्नो भेडाको ऊन कत्रन गयो। 3 त्यस मानिसको नाउँ नाबाल थियो। ऊ कालेब सन्तानको थियो। नाबालकी पत्नी अबीगेल थिईन, ऊ सुन्दरी र बुद्धिमती थिईन्। तर नाबाल, अति निष्ठुर र नीच स्वभावको मानिस थियो। 4 नाबालले भेडाको ऊन कत्रँदैछ भन्ने खबर दाऊदले मरूभूमिको क्षेत्रमा नै सुने। 5 दाऊदले दशजना युवकहरूलाई नाबालकहाँ पठाए। दाऊदले तिनीहरूलाई भने, “कर्मेलम जाऊ र नाबाललाई मेरो नाउँमा ‘अभिवादन’ गर।” 6 उसलाई भन, “म आशा गर्छु कि तपाईंको परिवार र तपाईं अधिकार गर्नु भएका सबै असलै होलान्। 7 मैले थाहाँ पाएँ कि तपाईं आफ्नो भेडाको ऊन कत्रँदै हुनुहुन्छ। तपाईंका गोठालाहरू केही समयदेखि हामीसित थिए। हामीले तिनीहरूसित खराब व्यवहार गरेनौ। जब तिनीहरू कर्मेलमा थिए तिनीहरूको केही पनि हराएन अथवा चोरेनन्। 8 तपाईंले सेवकहरूलाई सोध्नुहोस् अनि तिनीहरूले सत्य बोल्ने छन्। मेरो जवान मानिसहरूप्रति दया गर्नुहोस्। अहिले उत्सवको समय भएको कारण, तपाईंले जे गर्नु सक्नुहुन्छ मेरो सेनाहरूलाई गरिदिनुहोस्। मेरो निम्ति यति काम गरिदिनुहोस्, तपाईंको मित्र दाऊद।” 9 दाऊदका मानिसहरू नाबालकहाँ गए। तिनीहरूले दाऊदको समाचार नाबाललाई सुनाए। 10 तर नाबालले दुष्ट आचारण देखाए र भन्ने, “दाऊद को हो? यो यिशैको छोरो को हो? आज भोलि धेरै कमाराहरू आफ्ना मालिक छोडेर भाग्दैछन्। 11 मसँग रोटी-पानी छ। म सँग मासु पनि छ जुन मैले मेरो भेडाहरूबाट ऊन कत्रँने नोकरहरूका निम्ति तयार पारेकोछु। तर म यो मासु रोटी अनि पानी नचिनेको मानिसहरूलाई दिने छैनू।” 12 दाऊदका मानिसहरू फर्केर गएर नाबालले भनेका सबै कुराहरू दाऊदलाई सुनाए। 13 त्यसपछि दाऊदले आफ्ना मानिसहरूलाई भने, “आफ्नो-आफ्नो तरवार भिर।” यसरी दाऊद र उनका मानिसहरूले तरवार भिरे। झण्डै 400 मानिसहरू दाऊदसँग गए। 200 मानिसहरू मात्र सर-सामानसँग बसे। 14 नाबालको एउटा नोकरले नाबालकी पत्नी अबीगेललाई भन्यो, “दाऊदले आफ्ना समाचार-वाहकहरूलाई हाम्रा मालिक नाबाल भए ठाउँसम्म पठाए। तर नाबाल तिनीहरू प्रति तुच्छ थिए। 15 ती मानिसहरू हाम्रा निम्ति साह्रै असल थिए। जब हामी भेडाहरू मैदानमा लिएर जान्थ्यौ। दाऊदका मानिसहरू हामीसितै दिनभरी हुन्थे। अनि तिनीहरूले हाम्रो कुनै नोक्सान गरेनन्। तिनीहरूले कहिले पनि केही चोरेनन्। 16 दाऊदका मानिसहरूले दिन रात हाम्रो रक्षा गर्थे। हामीले भेडा चराइरहेको समयमा पनि तिनीहरूले हाम्रो चारैतिरबाट पर्खालले झैं रक्षा गर्यो। 17 यसको विषयमा सोचेर केही गर्नुहोस्। नाबाल साह्रै मूर्ख छन् ऊसित कुरा गर्न सकिंदैन अनि आउने विपत्तिको विषयमा उसलाई चेताउनी दिन सकिंदैन। अब नाबाल र तिनका सन्तानमाथि ठूलो विपत्ती आइलाग्नेछ।” 18 अबीगेलले हतार हतार 200 वटा रोटी, दुइ मशक दाखरस पाँचवटा पकाएको भेडा, पाँच पाथी पकाएको चिउरा 100 झुप्पा किसमिस र सुकाएको 200 झुप्पा नेभारा तयार पारी गधाहरूमा लदाइन्। 19 त्यसपछि नोकरहरूलाई भनिन्, “यो लिएर जाऊ। म पछि-पछि आउँदै छु।” तर यी सब तिनले आफ्नो लोग्नेलाई भनिनन्। 20 गधामा चढेर अबीगेल त्यस पहाडको अर्को पट्टिको पखेरामा गइन्। तिनले दाऊदलाई आफ्ना मानिसहरूसँग पहाडको अर्को पट्टिबाट आउँदै गरेका भेटिन्। 21 अबीगेललाई भेट्न भन्दा अघि दाऊदले भन्दै थिए, “मैले त्यस मरूभूमिमा नाबालको सम्पत्ति रक्षा गरें। मैले यति सुरक्षा गरें कि नाबालले केही नोक्सान भोगेनन्। मैले गरेको सबै व्यर्थ भयो। मैले भलाई गरें तर त्यसले त दुर्व्यवहार गर्यो। 22 यदि मैले नाबालको परिवारका कुनै पनि पुरूषलाई भोलि बिहान सम्म जीवित रहन दिएँ भने मलाई परमेश्वरले दण्ड दिउन्।” 23 त्यति नै बेला अबीगेल आइपुगिन्। अबीगेलले दाऊदलाई देख्न साथ गधाबाट ओर्लिन् र दाऊदको अघि शिर झुकाईन्। 24 तिनको अनुहार दाऊदको अघि भूँइमा निहुराए र अबीगेलले भनिन्, “महाशय कृपया, मलाई केही भन्न दिनुहोस्। मैले भनेका कुरा सुनिदिनुहोस्। जे भयो त्यसका निम्ति मलाई दोषी ठहराउनुहोस्। 25 तपाईंले पठाउँनु भएका मानिसहरू मैले देखिनँ। महाशय त्यो काम नलाग्ने नाबालको कुरामा ध्यान नदिनुहोस्। जस्तो उसको नाउँ छ मानिस पनि त्यस्तै छ। उसको नाउँको अर्थ ‘मूर्ख”, भए जस्तो उ पनि मूर्ख नै छ। 26 परमप्रभुले तपाईंलाई निर्दोष मानिसहरूको हत्या गर्नबाट जोगाउनु भयो। जस्तो परमप्रभु जीवित हुनुहुन्छ त्यस्तै तपाईं पनि जीवित हुनुहुन्छ। म प्रार्थना गर्छु कि तपाईंका सबै शत्रुहरू अनि जसले तपाईंलाई क्षति गराउँन चाहन्छन् तिनीहरू सबै नाबाल जस्तै होउन्। 27 मैले तपाईंलाई केही उपहार ल्याएकी छु। तपाईंका मानिसहरूलाई दिनुहोस्। 28 मेरो भूलमा क्षमा दिनु होस्। मलाई थाहा छ परमप्रभुले तपाईंको परिवारालाई शक्तिशाली तुल्याउनु हुनेछ र धेरै राजाहरू तपाईंकै परिवारबाट आउनेछन्। परमप्रभुले यसो गर्नु हुनेछ कारण तपाईंले उहाँको निम्ति युद्ध गर्नु भएको छ। यसर्थ तपाईं बाँचुञ्जेल मानिसहरूले तपाईमा कुनै खोट पाउने छैनन्। 29 यदि कसैले तपाईंलाई मार्न खेदो गर्यो भने परमप्रभु तपाईंको परमेश्वरले तपाईंको जीवनलाई बचाउँनु हुनेछ। तर घुँयेत्रोबाट ढुङ्गा फ्याँकिए झैं परमप्रभुले तपाईंका शत्रुहरूलाई फ्याँक्नु हुनेछ। 30 तपाईंलाई परमप्रभुले धेरै राम्रो कार्य गर्ने वचन दिनु भएको छ। उहाँले आफ्नो वचन पूरा गर्नुहुनेछ। परमेश्वरले तपाईंलाई इस्राएलको अगुवा बनाउनुहुनेछ। 31 तर तपाईं निर्दोष मानिसहरूको हत्या गरेर भूल नगर्नुहोस्। अझै भड्खालोमा नपस्नुहोस्। परमप्रभुले तपाईंलाई जब सफलता हासिल गराउनु हुन्छ दया गरी मलाई सम्झनुहोला।” 32 दाऊदले अबीगेललाई जवाफ दिए, “परमप्रभु इस्राएलका परमेश्वरको प्रशंसा गर। आज उहाँले तिमीलाई म भए कहाँ पठाउनु भएको निम्ति प्रशंसा गर। 33 तिम्रो सही विचारको निम्ति परमेश्वरले तिमीलाई आशीर्वाद दिऊनू। आज निर्दोष मानिसहरूको हत्या गर्नबाट तिमीले मलाई रोक्यौ। 34 साँच्चै नै परमप्रभु इस्राएलका परमेश्वर जीवित हुनुहुन्छ म त्यो भन्छु। यदि तिमी ठीक समयमा नआइपुगेका भए भोलि बिहान सम्ममा नाबालका एउटै मानिस पनि जीवित रहने थिएनन्।” 35 त्यसपछि दाऊदले उपहार स्वीकार गरे। दाऊदले भने, “शान्तिसित घर जाऊ। मैले तिम्रा सबै कुरा सुने र म तिमीले भने जस्तै गर्नेछु।” 36 अबीगेल घर फर्किने। नाबाल घरैमा भोज मनाइरहेका थियो। नाबाल राजाले जस्तै भोजन खाँदै थिए। उ मग्न थिए अनि खूबै पिएका थिए। यसर्थ भोलि बिहान नहुञ्जेल अबीगेलले केही भनिन्। 37 भोलि पल्ट बिहान नाबाल शान्त थियो। यसर्थ उसकी पत्नीले सबै बताइन्। त्यत्ति नै बेला नाबाल मुटुको वेदनाले पीडित भयो। 38 झण्डै दश दिनपछि परमप्रभुले नाबाललाई मृत्यु दण्ड दिनुभयो। 39 दाऊदले नाबालको मृत्युको खबर सुने। दाऊदले भने, “परमप्रभुको महिमा होस्। नाबालले मेरो विषयमा दुष्ट कुरा गरे, तर परमप्रभु परमेश्वरले मेरो पक्ष लिनुभयो। परमप्रभुले मलाई पाप गर्नबाट बचाउँनु भयो अनि परमप्रभुले नाबाललाई उसका अपराधको निम्ति मृत्यु दण्ड दिनुभयो।”त्यसपछि दाऊदले अबीगेललाई समाचार पठाउनु भयो अनि दाऊदले उनलाई आफ्नी पत्नी हुने प्रस्ताव राख्नुभयो। 40 दाऊदका नोकरहरू कर्मेलमा आएर अबीगेललाई भने, “दाऊदले हामीलाई पठाउनु भएको छ। तपाईं उहाँकी पत्नी हुनुहोस् भन्नु भनी उहाँले समाचार पठाउनु भएको छ।” 41 अबीगेलले शिर झुकाइन् र भनिन्, “म तपाईंको दासी हुँ। म तपाईंको सेवा गर्न राजी छु। म मेरो स्वामी दाऊदका सेवकहरूका खुट्टा धुन तयार छु।” 42 हतार-हतार तयार भएर गधामा चढी ती दूतहरूसँग अबीगेल बाटो लागिन्। अबीगेलले आफूसित पाँचजना सहेलीहरू लगिन् र आफू दाऊदकी पत्नी भइन्। 43 दाऊदले यिज्रेलकी अहीनोमलाई पनि विवाह गरेका थिए। दाऊदका अहीनोम र अबीगेल दुवै पत्नी भए। 44 दाऊदले शाऊलकी छोरी मीकललाई पनि विवाह गरेका थिए। तर शाऊलले तिनलाई दाऊदबाट खोसे। शाऊलले गल्लीमको लेशको छोरा पलिश्तीलाई मीकल दिएका थिए। अध्याय 26 1 जीपीका मानिसहरू शाऊललाई भेट्न गिबा गए। तिनीहरूले शाऊललाई भने, “हकीलाको पहाडमा दाऊद लुक्दैछ। यो पहाड यशीमोन देखि पारि पर्छ।” 2 शाऊल जीपको मरूभूमितिर गए। शाऊलले 3,000 सेनाहरू इस्राएलबाट छानेर लगे। शाऊल र उसका सेनाहरूले जीपको मरूभूमितिर दाऊदलाई खोजे। 3 शाऊलले उसको छाउनी हकीलाको पहाडमाथि बाटोको छेउमा यशीमोन तिर फर्काएर बनाए। दाऊद त्यही मरूभूमिमा थिए। शाऊलले पीछा गर्दैछन् भन्ने कुरा तिनलाई थाहा थियो। 4 यसर्थ दाऊदले चेवाहरू पठाए। दाऊदलाई थाहा लाग्यो शाऊल हकीलामा छ भनेर। 5 दाऊद शाऊलको छाउनीमा गए। शाऊल र अबनेर कहाँ सुतिरहेका थिए दाऊदले देखे। (नेरका छोरो अबनेर शाऊलका सेनाको सेनापति थिए।) शाऊल छाउनीको बीचमा सुते। सेनाहरू शाऊलको वरिपरि सुती रहेका थिए। 6 दाऊदले हित्ती अहीमेलेक र सरूयाहका छोरा अबीशैसित बात गरे। (अबीशै योआबका भाइ थिए।) तिनले भने, “मसँग शाऊलको छाउनीमा को जान्छ?”अबीशैले जवाफ दिए, “म तपाईंसँग जानेछु।” 7 जब रात पर्यो दाऊद र अबीशै शाऊलको छाउनीमा गए। शाऊल छाउनीको मध्य भागमा मस्त सुतिरहेका थिए। तिनको भाला तिनको शिर नेर भूँईमा गाडिएको थियो। अबनेर अरू सैनिकहरूसंगै शाऊलको वरिपरी मस्त सुतिरहेका थिए। 8 अबीशैले दाऊदलाई भने, “आज परमेश्वरले तपाईंको शत्रुलाई तपाईंको हातमा सुम्पिनु भएकोछ उसको भालाले उसैलाई रोप्न मलाई दिनुहोस्। म एकै खेपमा काम सिध्याउँछु।” 9 तर दाऊदले अबीशैलाई भने, “शाऊललाई नमार! परमेश्वरले छान्नु भएको राजालाई घात गर्दा दण्ड पाइन्छ। 10 साँच्चै नै परमेश्वर जीवित हुनुहुन्छ परमप्रभु आफैले शाऊललाई दण्ड दिनुहुनेछ। शाऊल युद्ध भूमिमा मरोस अथवा स्वभाविक मृत्यु होस्। 11 तर म परमप्रभुले उहाँका चुनिएका राजालाई केही नोक्सान नपुर्याउन भनी उहाँलाई विन्ति गर्छु। शाऊलको शिरमा भएको भाला र पानीको सुराही उठाउ अनि हामी जानेछौ।” 12 यसरी दाऊदले भाला र पानीको सुराही शाऊलको शिरकै छेउबाट लिए। त्यसपछि दाऊद र अबीशै छाउनीबाट निस्किए। तिनीहरूले के गरे कसैले पनि थाहा पाएन। न कसैले देख्यो न त कोही ब्यूँझ्यो। शाऊल र तिनका सैनिकहरू गहिरो निद्रामा परेको कारण परमप्रभुले नै तिनीहरूलाई गहिरो निद्रामा पारिदिनुभएको थियो। 13 दाऊद बेंसी पार गरेर पारिपट्टि पुगे। शाऊलको छाउनीबाट पारी पहाडको टाकुरामा पुगे। दाऊद र शाऊलका छाउनीहरू धेरै टाढा-टाढा थिए। 14 दाऊदले सेना र खास गरी नेरका छोरा अबनेरलाई ठूलो स्वरमा कराएर भने, “अबनेर, मलाई जवाफ देऊ!”अबनेरले जवाफ दिए, “तिमी को हौ? किन महाराजलाई डाकिरहेछौ?” 15 दाऊदले भने, “तिमी मानिस हौ, कि होइनौ? अनि इस्राएल भरी सबभन्दा महान तिमी नै छौ। के यो सत्य होइन? त्यसो हो भने आफ्नो प्रभु महाराजको रक्षा किन ठिकसित गरेनौ? एउटा साधारण मानिसले तिम्रो राजालाई मार्न छाउनी भित्र आयो। 16 तिमीले एकदमै नराम्रो काम गर्यौ। जस्तो कि परमप्रभु जीवित हुनुहुन्छ, तिमी र तिम्रा मानिसहरू मर्नु पर्छ। किनभने तिमीहरूले आफ्ना परमप्रभुका अभिषिक्त राजाको रक्षा गरेनौ। अब हेर राजाको सिरानी छेउको भाला र पानी पिउने सुराही। खोई कहाँ छन्?” 17 शाऊलले दाऊदको स्वर चिने। शाऊलले भने, “मेरो छोरा दाऊद के यो स्वर तिम्रो हो?”दाऊदले जवाफ दिए, “ज्यू, यो मेरै आवाज हो, मेरो प्रभु महाराजा।” 18 दाऊदले फेरि भने, “हे मेरा प्रभु, तपाईंले मेरो खेदो किन गर्नु हुदैछ? मैले के भूल गरें? मेरो के कसुर छ? 19 हे मेरो मालिक राजा म तपाईंको नोकरलाई सुन्नु होस् यदि परमप्रभुले नै तपाईंलाई म माथि रिस उठाउनुभएको हो भने एउटा भेट स्वीकार गरिदिनुहोस्। तर यदि मानिसले तपाईंलाई म माथि रिस उठाउनु भएको हो भने, परमप्रभुले तिमीहरूलाई केही नराम्रो गर्नुहुनेछ। परमप्रभुले दिनुभएको भूमि त्याग्न मलाई मानिसहरूले जबरजस्ती गरे। तिनीहरूले मलाई भने, ‘जाऊ र विदेशीसँग बस र विदेशी देवतालाई पूजागर।’ 20 मलाई परमप्रभुबाट टाढा मर्न नदेऊ। इस्राएलका राजा झींङ्गाको पछि लाग्दैछ। तपाईं पहाडमा भ्यागुत्ताहरूको पछि लागेको मानिस जस्तो हुनुभयो।” 21 तब शाऊलले भने, “मैले पाप गरें। मेरो छोरा दाऊद यता आऊ आज मलाई प्रमाण गरेर देखाइ देऊ। तिम्रो निम्ति मेरो ज्यान महत्वपूर्ण छ। अब म तिमीलाई चोट पुर्याउने छैन। मैले मूर्खले झैं ठूलो भूल गरें।” 22 दाऊदले जवाफमा भने, “राजाको भाला यहाँ छ। यो लिन कुनै एक जना जवानलाई पठाउनुहोस्। 23 परमप्रभुले हरेक मानिसहरूलाई उसको धार्मिकता र विश्वसनीयताको निम्ति इनाम दिनुहुन्छ। उहाँले राम्रो काम गर्ने मानिसलाई इनाम दिनुहुन्छ र नराम्रो कार्य गर्नेलाई दण्ड दिनुहुन्छ। परमप्रभुले तपाईंलाई हराउन आज मलाई मौका दिनुभयो। तर म परमप्रभुका अभिषिक्त राजालाई हानि गर्न चाहदिन। 24 आज मैले प्रमाण गरें कि मेरो निम्ति तपाईंको जीवन महत्वपूर्ण छ। यस्तै प्रकार परमप्रभुले पनि देख्नु हुनेछ मेरो प्राण उहाँलाई महत्वपूर्ण छ। परमप्रभुले मलाई प्रत्येक खतराबाट बचाउँनु हुनेछ।” 25 त्यसपछि शाऊलले दाऊदलाई भने, “परमेश्वरले तिमीलाई आशीर्वाद दिउन्, मेरो छोरा दाऊद। तिमीले ठूला-ठूला कार्यहरू गर्नेछौ र सफलता पनि पाउँनेछौ।”दाऊद आफ्नो बाटो लागे र शाऊल घरतिर फर्किए। अध्याय 27 1 तर दाऊदले आफैं सोचे, “शाऊलले मलाई एक दिन पक्रिएर मार्ने छ। सबभन्दा राम्रो मलाई यो हुन्छ पलिश्तीहरू भएकोमा भागेर जानु त्यसपछि शाऊलले मलाई इस्राएलमा खोज्न छोड्ने छ। त्यसरी म शाऊलबाट उम्कन सक्नेछु।” 2 यसरी दाऊद र तिनका 600 मानिसहरूले इस्राएल त्यागे। तिनीहरू माओकका छोरा आकीशकाँ गए। आकीश गातका राजा थिए, 3 दाऊद, तिनका मानिसहरू र तिनका परिवार गातमा आकीशसँग बसे। दाऊदकी दुवै पत्नी तिनीसितै थिए। तिनीहरू यिज्रेली अनहीनोअम अनि कर्मेली अबीगेल थिए। अबीगेल नबालकी विधवा थिईन्। 4 मानिसहरूले शाऊललाई भने कि दाऊद भागेर गात गए। यसर्थ शाऊलले दाऊदको पिछा गर्न छोडे। 5 दाऊदले आकीशसँग भने, “यदि तपाईं मसँग प्रसन्न हुनुहुन्छ भने मलाई शहरमा एउटा ठाउँ तोकिदिनुहोस्। म तपाईंको सेवक मात्र हुँ। म त्यहाँ बस्नेछु, यहाँ राजधानीमा होइन।” 6 त्यस दिन आकीशले दाऊदलाई सिकलग शहर दिए। सिकलग चाहि त्यही दिन देखि यहूदा राजाहरूको वंशमा रहेकोछ। 7 दाऊद पलिश्तीहरूसँग एक वर्ष चार महिना बसे। 8 दाऊद र तिनका मानिसहरूले मिश्रमा अवस्थित तलैम देखि शूरका अमालेकी गशूर र गिज्रीहरूसित युद्ध गरे। दाऊदले तिनीहरूलाई हराएर सम्पत्ति लुटे। 9 दाऊदले त्यस इलाकाका मानिसहरूलाई हराए अनि सबैलाई मारे दाऊदले त्यहाँ भेडा, गाई-गोरू, गधा ऊँठ र लुगाहरू लुटे। ऊ फर्किए पछि यी लुटेकाहरू आकीशलाई दिए। 10 दाऊदले धेरै पल्ट यसो गरे। प्रत्येक चोटि नै आकीशले कता कोसँग युद्ध गर्यौ भनेर सोध्थे। दाऊदले भन्थे, “मैले दक्षिणपट्टिको यहूदमाथि अथवा ‘मैले दक्षिणपट्टिको यरहमेलीमा,” अथवा “दक्षिणपट्टिको केनीहरूमाथि आक्रमण गरें।” 11 दाऊदले गातमा कहिले पनि कुनै लोग्ने मानिस अथवा स्त्रीहरू जिउँदो ल्याएनन्। दाऊदले ठान्थे, “यदि मैले जिउँदो मानिस ल्याएँ भने वास्तवमा म के गर्दैछु, आकीशले थाहा पाउनेछ।”जब सम्म दाऊद पलिश्तीको भूमिमा बसे तिनले त्यसो गरे। 12 आकीशले दाऊदलाई पत्याउन थाले। आकीशले आफैलाई भन्थे, “अब दाऊदलाई आफ्नै मानिसहरूले घृणा गर्ने छन्। इस्राएलीहरूले दाऊदलाई साह्रै घृणा गर्नेछन्। अब दाऊदले सधैं मेरो सेवा गर्नेछ।” अध्याय 28 1 त्यस बेला पलिश्तीहरूले इस्राएलमाथि आक्रमण गर्न सेनाहरू भेला गराए। आकीशले दाऊदलाई भने, “तपाईंले त्यो जान्नु पर्छ तपाईं र तपाईंका मानिसहरू इस्राएलको विरूद्ध युद्धमा मसँग जानुपर्छ।” 2 दाऊदले जवाफ दिए, “निश्चय! तपाईंले देख्नुहुन्छ म के गर्नु सक्छु।” आकीशले भने, “राम्रो, म तपाईंलाई मेरो अंगरक्षक बनाउँछु। सधैं मेरो रक्षा गर्नुहोस्।” 3 शमूएल मरे। शमूएलको मृत्युमा सम्पूर्ण इस्राएलीहरूले दुःख प्रकट गरे। तिनीहरूले शमूएललाई उनकै शहर रामामा गाडे। पहिला शाऊलले भुतप्रेत खेलाउनेहरू र ज्योतिषीहरूलाई इस्राएल छोड्न वाध्य गरेका थिए। 4 पलिश्तीहरू युद्धको निम्ति तयार थिए। तिनीहरू शूनेममा आएर त्यहीं छाउनी बनाए। शाऊलले पनि सबै इस्राएलीहरूलाई भेला गराएर गिल्बोमा छाउनी हाल्न लगाए। 5 शाऊल पलिश्ती सेनाहरू देखेर डराए। तिनको मुटु नै काम्यो। 6 शाऊलले परमप्रभुमा प्रार्थना गरे तर परमप्रभुले जवाफ दिनुभएन। परमप्रभु परमेश्वरले दर्शनमा पनि केही उत्तर दिनुभएन। परमेश्वरले न त उरीम न ता अगमवक्ताद्वारा नै शाऊललाई जवाफ दिनुभयो। 7 अन्त्यमा शाऊलले आफ्ना अधिकारीहरूलाई भने, “मलाई एउटी तंत्र-मंत्र गर्ने महिला ल्याइदेऊ, म त्यसलाई सोध्छु यो युद्धको फल के हुन्छ।”तिनका अधिकारीहरूले जवाफ दिए, “एन्दोरमा त्यस्ती एउटी स्त्री छे।” 8 शाऊलले भेष बद्लाउनको निम्ति भिन्नै लुगा लगाए यसकारण उसलाई नचिनोसू। त्यो रात शाऊल दुइजना मानिस लिएर त्यस स्त्रीलाई भेट्न गए। शाऊलले त्यस स्त्रीलाई भने, “म तिमीलाई भन्नेछु मेरो भविष्य बताउने आत्मा बोलाऊ। म जसको नाउँ दिन्छु त्यसैको आत्मा जगाउनु।” 9 तर त्यस स्त्रीले भनी, “तिमी जान्दछौ शाऊलले के गर्यो। सबै झाँक्री र ज्योतिषीहरूलाई उसले इस्राएलबाट धपायो। तिमीले मलाई अप्ठेरोमा पारेर ज्यान लिन चाहान्छौ।” 10 शाऊलले परमप्रभुको नाउँमा शपथ खाएर त्यसलाई भने, “तिमीले कुनै दण्ड सामना गर्नु पर्ने छैन।” 11 स्त्रीले सोधी, “तिमीले कसलाई बोलाउनु लाउँछौ?” शाऊलले भने, “शमूएलको आत्मालाई बोलाऊ।” 12 शमूएलको आत्मा तिनको अघि देखा पर्यो। शमूएललाई देखेर त्यो स्त्रीले जोडले चिच्याई। तिनले शाऊललाई भनिन्, “मलाई धोखा दिनुभयो! तपाईं नै शाऊल हुनुहुन्छ।” 13 राजाले स्त्रीलाई भने, “नडराऊ। तिमीले के देख्यौ?”स्त्रीले भनी, “मैले आत्मा भुइँबाट निस्किएको देखे।” 14 शाऊलले सोधे, “को जस्तो देखिन्छ?”स्त्रीले जवाफ दिइ, “खास किसिमको लबेदा ओढेको एउटा वृद्ध मानिस जस्तो देखिन्छ।”त्यसपछि शाऊलले थाहा पाए शमूएल नै हो भनेर। शाऊलले भूइँतिर शिर झुकाए उसलाई अभिवादन गरे। 15 शमूएलले शाऊललाई भने, “मलाई किन दुखः दिएको? मलाई किन बोलाएको?”शाऊलले भने, “म संकटमा छु। पलिश्तीहरू म सँग युद्ध गर्न आउँदैछन्, अब परमेश्वर मसित हुनु हुन्न। परमेश्वरले मलाई केही दिनुहुन्न। न त उहाँले कुनै अगमवक्ता न सपनामा केही भन्नु हुन्छ। यसकारण तपाईंलाई बोलाएको छु मलाई भन्नुहोस् म के गरौ?” 16 शमूएलले भने, “परमप्रभु तिमीसित हुनुहुन्न। उहाँ तिम्रो छिमेकी दाऊदसँग हुनुहुन्छ। यसकारण मलाई किन झन्झट दिएको? 17 परमप्रभुले के गर्नु हुनेछ त्यो भन्न उहाँले मलाई एकपटक आज्ञा गर्नुभयो। अहिले परमप्रभुले त्यही गर्दै हुनुहुन्छ। परमप्रभुले तिम्रो हातबाट राजधानी खोस्दै हुनुहुन्छ। अनि उहाँले तिम्रो छिमेकीको हातमा सुम्पिदिनुहुनेछ। त्यो छिमेकी चाहिं दाऊद हो। 18 तिमीले परमप्रभुको आज्ञा पालन गरेनौ। तिमीले अमालेकीहरूलाई पूर्ण नष्ट गरेनौ तिनीहरूलाई यो कुरा देखाउन कि तिनीहरूसंग परमेश्वर कति क्रोधित हुनुहुन्थ्यो। यसकारण आज परमप्रभुले तिमीलाई यसो गर्नु हुँदैछ। 19 परमप्रभुले पलिश्तीहरूद्वारा तिमीलाई र इस्राएलका सेनालाई आज हराउनु हुन्छ। अनि भोलि, तिमी र तिम्रा छोरा मसित हुनेछौ।” 20 शाऊल तत्कालै लडे र भूइँमा पसारिए। शमूएलको कुरा सुनेर शाऊल साह्रै डराए। शाऊल कमजोर भइसकेका थिए कारण हिजो देखि रात-दिन उनले केही खाएकै थिएनन्। 21 स्त्री शाऊलको छेउमा आईन। शाऊल साह्रै डराएको देखी। तिनले भनी, “हेर्नुहोस् म तपाईंकी सेविका। मैले तपाईंको आज्ञापालन गरें। मैले मेरो ज्यानलाई जोखिममा हाले र तपाईंले भने झैं गरें। 22 अब मेरो कुरा सुन्नुहोस्। म तपाईंलाई खाने कुरा दिन्छु। तपाईंले खानैपर्छ। त्यसपछि आफ्नो कार्य गर्न शक्ति पाउनु हुनेछ।” 23 तर शाऊलले मानेनन्। तिनले भने, “मलाई खान चाहींदैन।” शाऊलका अधिकारीहरूले पनि स्त्रीसँगै केही खानु भनी अनुरोध गरे। अन्त्यमा शाऊलले तिनीहरूका कुरा माने। भुइँबाट उठेर बिस्तरामा बसे। 24 त्यस स्त्रीले आफूसँग भएको बलियो बाच्छो मारी। त्यस स्त्रीले अलिकति पिठो मुछी र खमीर बिनाको रोटी पकाई। 25 र त्यस स्त्रीले भोजन शाऊल र तिनका अधिकारीहरूलाई पस्कि। तिनीहरूले भोजन खाए र त्यही रात तिनीहरू उठेर गए। अध्याय 29 1 पलिश्तीहरूले अपेकमा तिनीहरूका सबै सैनिक भेला गराए। इस्राएलीहरूले यिज्रेलको पानीको मुहान नेर छाउनी हाले। 2 पलिश्ती अगुवाहरूले सय र हजारको संख्यामा मानिसहरूलाई अघि बढाए। दाऊद र तिनका मानिसहरू आकीशको पछिल्तिर लागे। 3 पलिश्ती कप्तानहरूले सोधे, “यी हिब्रूहरूले यहाँ के गर्दैछन्?”आकीशले ती कप्तानहरूलाई भने, “यिनी दाऊद हुनू। दाऊद शाऊलका अधिकारीहरू मध्ये एकजना थिए। दाऊद मसँग धेरै अघिदेखि छन्। शाऊललाई त्यागेर आए र मसँग बस्न थाले यता मैले कुनै भूल-त्रुटी दाऊदमा पाइनँ।” 4 तर पलिश्ती कप्तानहरू आकीशसँग रिसाए। तिनीहरूले भने, “दाऊदलाई फर्काउनुहोस्। तपाईंले दिनुभएको शहरमा उ फर्कनु पर्छ। रणभूमिमा उ हामीसित जान सक्दैन। नत्रभने हाम्रो आफ्नै छाउनी भित्र शत्रु हुनेछ। उसले आफ्नो राजालाई खुशी पार्न हाम्रै मानिस मार्नेछ। 5 दाऊद त्यही मानिस हो जसको विषयमा इस्राएलीहरू यसो भनेर गीत गाउँदै नाच्थेः“शाऊलले हजार शत्रुहरू मारेतर दाऊदले दश हजार मारे।” 6 यसकारण आकीशले दाऊदलाई बोलाएर भने, “जीवित परमप्रभुको नाउँमा, तिमी मेरो भक्त छौ। म अति प्रसन्नहुने थिएँ यदि तिमीले मेरा सेनामा योगदान दिएको भए। शुरूदेखि नै तिमी भरपर्दो भएका छौ। तर पलिश्ती सेनाहरूले तिमीलाई सहमति गर्न चाँहदैनन्। 7 शान्तिसित फर्क, पलिश्ती कप्तानहरूका विरूद्धमा कुनै गलत काम नगर।” 8 दाऊदले सोधे, “मेरो गल्ती के हो?” जबदेखि म तपाईंकहाँ आएँ मेरो केही दोष पाउनु हुन्छ? मेरा मालिक मेरा परमप्रभु राजाको शत्रुहरूसित युद्धगर्न मलाई किन बाधा दिनुहुन्छ?” 9 आकीशले जवाफमा भने, “मलाई थाहा छ तिमी असल मानिस हौ। तिमी परमेश्वरका स्वर्गदूत हौ। तर पलिश्ती सेनापतिहरूले भन्दैछन्, ‘दाऊद हामीसित युद्ध भूमिमा जान सक्दैन।’ 10 भोलि बिहानै तिमी र तिम्रा मानिसहरूसित मैले दिएको शहरमा फर्केर जाऊ। यसकरण घाम झुल्कनु अघि नै फर्केर जाउ।” 11 यसकारण दाऊद र तिनका मानिसहरू बिहानै उठेर पलिश्ती देशतिर फर्के। बीचमा यता पलिश्तीहरू चाहिं यिज्रेल तिर बढ्ढे। अध्याय 30 1 तेस्रो दिन दाऊद र तिनका मानिसहरू सिकलग आए अनि यो भष्म भएको देखे। जब अमालेकीहरूले नेगेभ क्षेत्रमा आक्रमण गरे? तिनीहरूले सिकलगमा आक्रमण गरे अनि शहरमा आगो लगाइदिए। 2 तिनीहरूले सिकलगका स्त्रीहरूलाई बन्दी बनाए। बूढा अथवा जवान सबै मानिसहरूलाई समाते। तिनीहरूले कसैलाई पनि मारेनन्। बन्दी मात्र बनाए। 3 जब दाऊद र तिनका मानिसहरू सिकलग आए शहर जलिरहेको पाए। तिनीहरूका पत्नीहरू छोरा-छोरीहरू सबै अमालेकीहरूले लगेकाले कोही थिएनन्। 4 त्यसैले दाऊद र अरू मानिसहरू धेरै रोए। 5 अमालेकीहरूले दाऊदका दुवै पत्नीहरू यिज्रेली अहीनोअम र कर्मेली नाबालकी विधवा अबीगेललाई पनि हरेर लगेछन्। 6 सेनाका सबै मानिसहरू आफ्ना छोरा छोरी सबै बन्दी बनाइएकोमा दुःखी भई रिसाए। मानिसहरूले दाऊदलाई ढुङ्गाले हिर्काएर मार्ने कुरा गर्दैथे। यसले दाऊदलाई साह्रै नराम्रो लाग्यो। तर दाऊदले परमप्रभु उनका परमेश्वरबाट शक्ति पाए। 7 दाऊदले पूजाहारी एबीयातारलाई भने, “एपोद ल्याउनुहोस।” 8 दाऊदले परमप्रभुलाई बिन्ती गरे, “मेरो परिवारका सदस्यहरूलाई हरण गर्नेहरूलाई के म खेदौ? म तिनीहरूलाई पक्रन सक्छु?”परमप्रभुले भन्नु भयो, “पछ्याऊ तिनीहरूलाई। पक्रन सक्छौ र तिम्रो परिवारका सदस्यहरूलाई बचाउन सक्छौ।” 9 दाऊद आफ्ना साथमा 600 मानिसहरू लिएर बसोर खोल्सामा गए। त्यो ठाउँमा झण्डै 200 मानिस त्यहीं बसे। त्यहाँ बस्नुको कारण तिनीहरू धेरै कमजोर थिए र थाकेका पनि थिए, यसकारण दाऊद 400 मानिसहरू लिएर अमालेकीहरूलाई लगातार पछ्याउन थाले। 11 दाऊदका मानिसहरूले खेतमा एउटा मिश्रीलाई भेटे। त्यस मिश्रीलाई तिनीहरूले दाऊदका सामु हाजिर गराए। तिनीहरूले त्यस मिश्रीलाई पानी र भोजन दिए। 12 तिनीहरूले एउटा टुक्रा नेभाराको रोटी र दुइ झुप्पा किसमिस पनि दिए। खाना खाए पछि उनी फुर्तीला भए। तीन दिन तीन रातदेखि न त खाना खाए, न पानी पिए। 13 दाऊदले त्यस मिश्रीलाई सोधे, “तिम्रो मालिक को हो? तिमी कहाँबाट आयौ?”त्यस मिश्रीले जवाफ दिए, “म एकजना मिश्री हुँ। म एकजना अमालेकीको दास हुँ। तीन दिनअघि म बिरामी भएँ र मालिकले मलाई त्यागिदिए। 14 हामीले नेगेव इलाकामा आक्रमण गर्यौं जहाँ करेतीहरू बस्थे। हामीले यहूदा र नेगेवमा आक्रमण गर्यौ जहाँ कालेबी जाति बस्थे। हामीले सिकलगलाई जलायौ।” 15 दाऊदले भने, “के तिमी मलाई तिनीहरूकहाँ पुर्याइदिन सक्छौ जसले हाम्रा परिवारका सदस्यहरूलाई समातेका छन्?”त्यस मिश्रीले भने, “परमेश्वरको अघि यदि तपाईंले मलाई मार्दिन अथवा मेरो मालिकको घरमा मलाई फिर्ता दिने वचन दिनुभयो भने म तपाईंलाई सहयोग गर्छु।” 16 त्यस मिश्रीले दाऊदलाई अमालेकीहरू भएको ठाउँमा पुर्यायो। त्यसबेला अमालेकीहरू खाँदै र पिउँदै भुइँमा पल्टिरहेका थिए। तिनीहरूले पलिश्ती र यहूदाका क्षेत्रबाट जे-जे लूटेका थिए त्यहीसँग रमाइलो मनाइरहेका थिए। 17 दाऊदले तिनीहरू माथि आक्रमण गरे र मारे। तिनीहरू घाम झुल्के देखि अर्को दिनको साँझसम्म लडे। अमालेकीहरू कोही भाग्नसकेनन्। खालि 400 सेनाहरू तिनीहरूका ऊँठमा चढ्ढेर गए। 18 अमालेकीहरूले लुटेका जति सबै उनका दुइटी पत्नीहरू सहित दाऊदले उद्वार गरे। 19 कोही पनि हराएनन्। बूढा र जवान सबै पुनःप्राप्त गरे। सबैका छोरा छोरी पनि पाइए। अमालेकीहरूले लुटेका प्रत्येक चीज दाऊदले पुनःप्राप्त गरे। 20 सबै भेडा, बाख्रा, गाई-गोरू दाऊदले फिर्ता लिए। दाऊदका मानिसहरूले ती पशुहरूलाई अघि लगाए। तिनीहरूले भने, “यी सबै दाऊदका उपहार हुन्।” 21 दाऊद बसोर खोल्सामा ती 200 मानिसहरू बसेको ठाउँमा आए। यी मानिसहरू साह्रै कमजोर र थाकेका हुनाले दाऊदसँग जान सकेका थिएनन्। यी मानिसहरू दाऊद र सैनिकहरूलाई भेट्न बाहिर आए। तिनीहरूले दाऊद र सैनिकहरूलाई अभिवादन गरे जब तिनीहरू नजिक आए। 22 दाऊदसँग केही दुष्ट मानिसहरू पनि गएका थिए अनि जसले समस्या उब्जाइ रहन्थे। ती दुष्टहरूले भने, “यी 200 मानिसहरू हामीसित गएका होइनन्। यिनीहरूले आफ्ना पत्नी र छोरा-छोरीहरू सिवाय केही पनि पाउने छैनन्।” 23 दाऊदले जवाफ दिए, “होइन, मेरा भाइ हो। त्यसो गर्नु हुँदैन। बिचार गर त परमप्रभुले हामीलाई के दिनुभयो! परमप्रभुले हामीलाई शत्रु हराउन सहयोग गर्नुभयो जसले हामी माथि आक्रमण गर्यो। 24 तिमीले जे भन्छौ त्यसमा कसैले ध्यान दिनेछैन। जो लडाईंको मैदानमा जान्छन् र जो यहाँ बसेर माल-समानको रक्षा गर्नेले तिनीहरूको लागि बराबर भागबण्डा हुनेछ। सबैले बराबर भाग बण्डा पाउने छन्।” 25 दाऊदले यो आदेश दिए र इस्राएलमा शासन गरे अनि आज पनि इस्राएलमा यही नियम लागू छ। 26 दाऊद सिकलग आइपुगे। तिनले अमालेकीहरूबाट पाएका सामानहरू यहूदाका आफ्ना मित्रहरू र नेताहरूलाई पठाइदिए। दाऊदले भने, “परमप्रभुका शत्रुबाट खोसेका चीजहरू तपाईंलाई उपहार स्वरूप छ।” 27 दाऊदले त्यसरी नै ती सामानहरू बेतेलका नेताहरूलाई, नेगेबका रमोत, यतीरमा, 28 अरोएर, सिपमोत, एस्तमो, 29 राकालमा भएकाहरूलाई, यरहमैलीहरू र केनीहरूका शहरहरूमा, 30 होर्मामा, बोराशानमा, अत्ताकमा, 31 अनि हेब्रोनमा भएकाहरूलाई पठाइदिए। दाऊदले तिनका मानिसहरू जहाँ-जहाँ गएका थिए ती सबै ठाउँका नेताहरूलाई पठाइदिए। अध्याय 31 1 पलिश्तीहरू इस्राएलको विरूद्धमा लडे अनि इस्राएलीहरू हारेर भागे। गिल्बो पर्वतमा धेरै इस्राएलीहरू मारिए। 2 पलिश्तीहरू शाऊल र तिनका छोराहरू विरूद्ध तीव्रता पूर्वक लडे। पलिश्तीहरूले शाऊलका छोरा जोनाथन, अबीनादाब र मल्कीशूअलाई मारे। 3 त्यो युद्ध शाऊलको विरूद्ध चारैतिर मच्चियो। धनु-धारीको काँडले शाऊललाई हिर्कायो अनि तिनी नराम्रो घाइते भए। 4 शाऊलले तिनको हातहतियार बोक्ने नोकरलाई भने, “तिम्रो तरवार निकालेर मलाई मार। ती विदेशीहरूको हातबाट म घाइते हुनु अथवा तिनीहरूको हाँसोको पात्र बन्न म चाहँदिन।” तर शाऊलको नोकर डराएर त्यसो गर्न सकेन। यसर्थ शाऊलले आफ्नो तरवार निकालेर आत्माहत्या गरे। 5 नोकरले शाऊल मरेको देखेर तरवार निकालेर आफू पनि शाऊलसँगै मर्यो। 6 यसरी शाऊल, तिनका तीनजना छोरा र हतियार बोक्ने केटो त्यस दिन सँगै मरे। 7 बेंसीको अर्कोपट्टि भएका इस्राएलीहरूले इस्राएलका सैनिकहरू भाग्दै गरेको देखे। तिनीहरूले शाऊल र तिनका छोराहरू मरेको देखे। यो देखेर ती इस्राएलीहरू आफ्नो शहर छाडेर भागे। त्यसपछि पलिश्तीहरू ती शहरहरूमा आएर बस्न लागे। 8 अर्को दिन, पलिश्तीहरू मरेका लाशहरूबाट चीज बिज लुट्न गए। तिनीहरूले गिल्बो पर्वतमा शाऊल र तिनका छोराहरू मरेका पाए। 9 पलिश्तीहरूले शाऊलको टाउको काटे र तिनको हतियार लगे। तिनीहरूले पलिश्ती र तिनीहरूले पूजा गर्ने देवताको मन्दिर सम्म उक्त समाचार पुर्याए। 10 तिनीहरूले शाऊलको हात-हतियारहरू अश्तारोतको मन्दिरमा राखे। शाऊलको लासचाहिं बेतशानको भित्तामा झुण्डाए। 11 याबेश गिलादका मानिसहरूले पलिश्तीद्वारा शाऊल माथि घटेका घटनाहरू सुने। 12 यसैले याबेशका सबै सैनिकहरू बेत-शान गए। रातभरी तिनीहरू हिंडे। त्यसपछि तिनीहरूले बेतशानको भित्ताबाट शाऊलको लाश झिके। तिनीहरूले शाऊलका छोराहरूका लाश पनि झिके। त्यसपछि ती लाशहरू याबेश पुर्याए। याबेशका मानिसहरूले शाऊल र तिनका छोराहरूका लाशलाई जलाइ दिए। 13 त्यसपछि तिनीहरूले शाऊल र तिनका छोराहरूका हड्डीहरू निकाले अनि याबेशमा एउटा ठूलो रूखमुनि गाडे। यसरी याबेशका मानिसहरूले तिनीहरूको दुःख व्यक्त गरे। तिनीहरूले सात दिनसम्म केही पनि खाएनन्।