People of the World where are you going? Turn back to God! Back to your faithful principles!
SOLOMON’S OFFICIALS AND A PROSPEROUS NATION
Solomon’s Officials and a Prosperous Nation. Judah and Israel lived in security, every man under his vine and fig tree [in peace and prosperity], from Dan [in the north] to Beersheba [in the south], during all the days of Solomon
THE REBELLION OF SHEBA
The Rebellion of Sheba. There happened to be there a worthless and wicked man named Sheba the son of Bichri, a Benjamite. He blew a trumpet [to call Israel to revolt] and said, “We have no portion in David And no inheritance in the son of Jesse, Every man to his tents, O Israel!”
RETURNING OVER THE JORDAN
Returning Over Jordan. So all the people crossed over the Jordan. When the king had crossed over, he kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his place.
BRINGING THE KING BACK, DAVID RETURNS TO JERUSALEM
Bringing The King Back, David Returns To Jerusalem. Then King David sent word to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house [in Jerusalem], since the word of all Israel has come to the king, and to his house?
DAVID ANOINTED KING OF ISRAEL
David Anointed King of Israel. Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out [to war] and brought Israel in [from battle]. And the LORD told you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel and be ruler over them.
THE BATTLE OF GIBEON
The Battle of Gibeon. There was a very fierce battle that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.
MICAH AND THE LEVITE
Micah and the Levite. And Micah said to him, “Live here with me and be a father and a [personal] priest to me, and I will give you ten pieces of silver each year, a supply of clothing, and your sustenance (room and board).” So the Levite went in. The Levite agreed to live with the man, and the young man became to Micah like one of his sons.
SAMSON DEFEATS THE PHILISTINES
Samson Defeats the Philistines. He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, so he reached out his hand and took it and killed a thousand men with it. Then Samson said, “With the jawbone of a donkey, Heaps upon heaps, With the jawbone of a donkey I have struck down a thousand men.”
THE FIRST DEFEAT AND ITS CAUSE
AND ITS CAUSE
The first defeat and its cause. But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully and violated their obligation in regard to the things [off limits] under the ban [those things belonging to the LORD], for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, took some of the things under the ban [for personal gain]. Therefore the anger of the LORD burned against the Israelites.
CENSUS OF THE NEW GENERATION
Then it happened after the plague that the LORD said to Moses and Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest,
“Take a census of all the [males in the] congregation of the sons of Israel from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers’ households, all in Israel who are able to go to war.”