1 Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he got no heat. 2 Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may get heat. 3 So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 4 And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not. When a person is old , he looks forward to death or everlasting life. To perish is foolishness. To die is foolishness. A fool perishes. To enjoy everlasting life is the wisdom of God. To enjoy everlasting life is the wisdom of Christ. Whosoever believes in Christ shall not perish but have everlasting life.
5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. 6 And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why have you done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom. hen Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. And his father had not displeased him at any time .
7 And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him. 8 But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah. 9 And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants: 10 But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not. David's chief general Joab and Abiathar the priest supported Adonijah. They did not consult the Lord or David in giving their support to the unworthy son of David.
11 Wherefore Nathan spoke unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knows it not? 12 Now therefore come, let me, I pray you, give you counsel, that you may save your own life, and the life of your son Solomon. 13 Go and get you in unto king David, and say unto him, Did not you, my lord, O king, swear unto your handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then does Adonijah reign? 14 Behold, while you yet talk there with the king, I also will come in after you, and confirm your words. Wherefore Nathan spoke unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knows it not? Now therefore come, let me, I pray you, give you counsel, that you may save your own life, and the life of your son Solomon. Go and get you in unto king David, and say unto him, Did not you, my lord, O king, swear unto your handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then does Adonijah reign?
15 And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king. 16 And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What would you? 17 And she said unto him, My lord, you swore by LORD your God unto your handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne. 18 And now, behold, Adonijah reigns; and now, my lord the king, you know it not: 19 And he has slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and has called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon your servant has he not called. 20 And you, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon you, that you should tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21 Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders. 22 And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in. 23 And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground. 24 And Nathan said, My lord, O king, have you said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? 25 For he is gone down this day, and has slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and has called all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah. 26 But me, even me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon, has he not called. 27 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and you have not showed it unto your servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him? Bathsheba and Nathan tell David of Adonijah's bid for throne. 28 Then king David answered and said, Call me Bathsheba. And she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king. 29 And the king swore, and said, As the LORD lives, that has redeemed my soul out of all distress, 30 Even as I swore unto you by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day. 31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever. 32 And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king. 33 The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon: 34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow you with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon. 35 Then you shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah. 36 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king say so too. 37 As the LORD has been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David. 38 So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon. 39 And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon. 40 And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.
41 And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar? 42 And while he yet spoke, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for you are a valiant man, and brings good tidings. 43 And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David has made Solomon king. 44 And the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule: 45 And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that you have heard. 46 And also Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom. 47 And moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed. 48 And also thus said the king, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which has given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it. 49 And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.
1 Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, 2 I go the way of all the earth: be you strong therefore, and show yourself a man; 3 And keep the charge of the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do, and wherever you turn yourself. 4 That the LORD may continue his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, If your children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you (said he) a man on the throne of Israel. 5 Moreover you know also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet. 6 Do therefore according to your wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace. 7 But show kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at your table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom your brother. 8 And, behold, you have with you Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I swore to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put you to death with the sword. 9 Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for you are a wise man, and know what you ought to do unto him; but his hoar head bring you down to the grave with blood. 10 So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David. 11 And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem. The children of Israel know about the tabernacle when Moses build the tabernacle. Every generation after Moses knows the importance of the tabernacle. The tabernacle was a perfect copy of something that already existed in heaven. The tabernacle on earth was patterned after something that was in heaven. The tabernacle was a picture , a type , and a shadow of the Lord Jesus Christ , where God meets man , and where God and humanity meet in one person. In Christ only can we find the answer to the spiritual significance of the tabernacle. David understands well of the tabernacle of Jesus Christ. The tabernacle is very important to David. The Lord Jesus is very important to David. Christ is the life of David. To enjoy everlasting life with Christ is the wisdom of God. To enjoy everlasting life with Christ is the wisdom of Christ. Whosoever believes in Christ shall not perish but have everlasting life. Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die here on earth. But David looks forward to everlasting life in heaven. David declares that as often as he shall be exposed to danger , he will have sufficient defense and protection in being under the care of the Lord, his Shepherd. The Lord leads us into the path of righteousness and the Lord leads us on in the path of righteousness. The Lord leads. The believers simply trust in the Lord and follows his Lord. The Lord has armed the believers to resist resist fears which attack the believers. The believers are not devoid of fears. We are to overcome fears wherever the Lord our Shepherd would lead us. I shall fear no evil. David's remedy against fear is to trust the Lord with all his mind, with all his heart,with all his soul, and with all his strength. The enemy waits for an opportunity to kill in the valley. It is but a shadow of death for David. David has well practiced the steps that the Lord has taught him. The Lord leads. And David follows the Lord in the path of righteousness for the name sake of the Lord. The shadow of a sword will not kill. The shadow of a serpent will not sting. Christ has defeated death, when he died for us on the cross. Christ has paid the price of redeeming us with his precious blood. And God has raised Christ from the dead. And death is defeated. To the sheep of Christ , death is only a shadow. Christ has already conquer the enemy, death. Death can not sting the believer. God will rebuke the enemy. The Lord will guide us with His rod , and sustain us with His staff,
12 Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly. 13 And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother off Solomon. And she said, Come you peaceably? And he said, Peaceably. 14 He said moreover, I have somewhat to say unto you. And she said, Say on. 15 And he said, You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's: for it was his from the LORD. 16 ALifend now I ask one petition of you, deny me not. And she said unto him, Say on. 17 And he said, Speak, I pray you, unto Solomon the king, (for he will not say you nay,) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife. 18 And Bathsheba said, Well; I will speak for you unto the king. 19 Bathsheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand. 20 Then she said, I desire one small petition of you; I pray you, say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say you nay. 21 And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother to wife.
22 And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah. 23 Then king Solomon swore by the LORD, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life. 24 Now therefore, as the LORD lives, which has established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day. 25 And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.
26 And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get you to Anathoth, unto your own fields; for you are worthy of death: but I will not at this time put you to death, because you bare the ark of the Lord GOD before David my father, and because you have been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted. 27 So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the LORD; that he might fulfil the word of the LORD, which he spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.
28 Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. 29 And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him. 29 And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him. 30 And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the LORD, and said unto him, Thus said the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay; but I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me. 31 And the king said unto him, Do as he has said, and fall upon him, and bury him; that you may take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from the house of my father. 32 And the LORD shall return his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing thereof, to wit, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah. 33 Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever: but upon David, and upon his seed, and upon his house, and upon his throne, shall there be peace for ever from the LORD. 34 So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and slew and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness. 35 And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the host: and Zadok the priest did the king put in the room of Abiathar.
36 And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Build you an house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not forth thence any whither. 37 For it shall be, that on the day you go out, and pass over the brook Kidron, you shall know for certain that you shall surely die: your blood shall be upon your own head. 38 And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king has said, so will your servantdo. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days. 39 And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, your servants be in Gath. 40 And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants: and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath. 42 And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not make you to swear by the LORD, and protested unto you, saying, Know for a certain, on the day you go out, and walk abroad any whither, that you shall surely die? and you said unto me, The word that I have heard is good. 41 And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again. 43 Why then have you not kept the oath of the LORD, and the commandment that I have charged you with? 44 The king said moreover to Shimei, You know all the wickedness which your heart is privy to, that you did to David my father: therefore the LORD shall return your wickedness upon your own head; 45 And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever. 46 So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.
1 And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about. 2 Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days. 3 And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places. 4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar. 5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give you. 6 And Solomon said, You have showed unto your servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before you in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with you; and you have kept for him this great kindness, that you have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 7 And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of your people which you have chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. 9 Give therefore your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this your so great a people? 10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 And God said unto him, Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life; neither have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies; but have asked for yourself understanding to discern judgment; 12 Behold, I have done according to your words: lo, I have given you a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like you before you, neither after you shall any arise like unto you. 13 And I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto you all your days. 14 And if you will walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as your father David did walk, then I will lengthen your days. In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give you. Give therefore your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this your so great a people? Solomon asked for the wisdom of God. And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life; neither have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies; but have asked for yourself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to your words: lo, I have given you a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like you before you, neither after you shall any arise like unto you. And I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto you all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as your father David did walk, then I will lengthen your days. To perish is foolishness. To enjoy everlasting lie To enjoy everlasting lie with Cnrist is the wisdom of God. To enjoy everlasting lieTo enjoy everlasting lie with Christ is the wisdom of Christ. Whosoever believes in Christ shall not perish but have everlasting life.
15 And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants. 16 Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him. 17 And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house. 18 And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house. 19 And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it. 20 And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while your handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. 21 And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear. 22 And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is your son. And this said, No; but the dead is your son, and the living is my son. Thus they spoke before the king. 23 Then said the king, The one said, This is my son that lives, and your son is the dead: and the other said, Nay; but your son is the dead, and my son is the living. 24 And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king. 25 And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other. 26 Then spoke the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor your, but divide it. 27 Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof. 28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.
1 So king Solomon was king over all Israel. 2 And these were the princes which he had; Azariah the son of Zadok the priest, 3 Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder. 4 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests: 5 And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers: and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, and the king's friend: 6 And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.
7 And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his month in a year made provision. 8 And these are their names: The son of Hur, in mount Ephraim: 9 The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Beth-she'mesh, and Elon-beth-hanan: 10 The son of Hesed, in Aruboth; to him pertained Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher: 11 The son of Abinadab, in all the region of Dor; which had Taphas the daughter of Solomon to wife: 12 Baana the son of Ahilud; to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Bethshean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Bethshean to Abelmeholah, even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam: 13 The son of Geber, in Ramoth-gilead; to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; to him also pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, threescore great cities with walls and brasen bars: 14 Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim: 15 Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife: 17 Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar: 16 Baanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth: 18 Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin: 19 Geber the son of Uri was in the country of Gilead, in the country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og king of Bashan; and he was the only officer which was in the land.
20 Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry. 21 And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.
22 And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal, 23 Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallow deer, and fatted fowl.
24 For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him. 25 And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. 26 And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. 27 And those officers provided victual for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon's table, every man in his month: they lacked nothing. 28 Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they unto the place where the officers were, every man according to his charge.
29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. 30 And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.
32 And he spoke three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. 33 And he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springs out of the wall: he spoke also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. 34 And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.
1 And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David. 2 And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, 3 You know how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet. 4 But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrence. 5 And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spoke unto David my father, saying, Your son, whom I will set upon your throne in your room, he shall build an house unto my name.
6 Now therefore command you that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with your servants: and unto you will I give hire for your servants according to all that you shall appoint: for you know that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians. 7 And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be the LORD this day, which has given unto David a wise son over this great people. 8 And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which you sent to me for: and I will do all your desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir. 9 My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that you shall appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and you shall receive them: and you shall accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household. 10 So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire. 11 And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year. 12 And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together. 13 And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men. 14 And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and Adoniram was over the levy. 15 And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains; 16 Beside the chief of Solomon's officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work. 17 And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house. 18 And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.
6 And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD. 2 And the house which king Solomon built for the LORD, the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits. 3 And the porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house; and ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the house. 4 And for the house he made windows of narrow lights. 5 And against the wall of the house he built chambers round about, against the walls of the house round about, both of the temple and of the oracle: and he made chambers round about: 6 The nethermost chamber was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad: for without in the wall of the house he made narrowed rests round about, that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the house. 7 And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building. 8 The door for the middle chamber was in the right side of the house: and they went up with winding stairs into the middle chamber, and out of the middle into the third. 9 So he built the house, and finished it; and covered the house with beams and boards of cedar. 10 And then he built chambers against all the house, five cubits high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.
11 And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying, 12 Concerning this house which thou are in building, if you will walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with you, which I spoke unto David your father: 13 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.
14 So Solomon built the house, and finished it. 15 And he built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar, both the floor of the house, and the walls of the ceiling: and he covered them on the inside with wood, and covered the floor of the house with planks of fir. 16 And he built twenty cubits on the sides of the house, both the floor and the walls with boards of cedar: he even built them for it within, even for the oracle, even for the most holy place. 17 And the house, that is, the temple before it, was forty cubits long. 18 And the cedar of the house within was carved with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen. 19 And the oracle he prepared in the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of the LORD. 20 And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof: and he overlaid it with pure gold; and so covered the altar which was of cedar. 21 So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he made a partition by the chains of gold before the oracle; and he overlaid it with gold. 22 And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the house: also the whole altar that was by the oracle he overlaid with gold. 23 And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree, each ten cubits high. 24 And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits. 25 And the other cherub was ten cubits: both the cherubims were of one measure and one size. 26 The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was it of the other cherub. 27 And he set the cherubims within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house. 28 And he overlaid the cherubims with gold. 29 And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, within and without. 30 And the floor of the house he overlaid with gold, within and without. 31 And for the entering of the oracle he made doors of olive tree: the lintel and side posts were a fifth part of the wall. 32 The two doors also were of olive tree; and he carved upon them carvings of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubims, and upon the palm trees. 33 So also made he for the door of the temple posts of olive tree, a fourth part of the wall. 34 And the two doors were of fir tree: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding. 35 And he carved thereon cherubims and palm trees and open flowers: and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work. 36 And he built the inner court with three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams. 37 In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the LORD laid, in the month Zif: 38 And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.
1 But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house. 2 He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length thereof was an hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars. 3 And it was covered with cedar above upon the beams, that lay on forty five pillars, fifteen in a row. 4 And there were windows in three rows, and light was against light in three ranks. 5 And all the doors and posts were square, with the windows: and light was against light in three ranks. 6 And he made a porch of pillars; the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth thereof thirty cubits: and the porch was before them: and the other pillars and the thick beam were before them. 7 Then he made a porch for the throne where he might judge, even the porch of judgment: and it was covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other. 8 And his house where he dwelt had another court within the porch, which was of the like work Solomon made also an house for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had taken to wife, like unto this porch. 9 All these were of costly stones, according to the measures of hewed stones, sawed with saws, within and without, even from the foundation unto the coping, and so on the outside toward the great court. 10 And the foundation was of costly stones, even great stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits. 11 And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones, and cedars. 12 And the great court round about was with three rows of hewed stones, and a row of cedar beams, both for the inner court of the house of the LORD, and for the porch of the house.
13 And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre. 14 He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work. 15 For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about. 16 And he made two chapiters of molten brass, to set upon the tops of the pillars: the height of the one chapiter was five cubits, and the height of the other chapiter was five cubits: 17 And nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work, for the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars; seven for the one chapiter, and seven for the other chapiter. 18 And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the chapiters that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter. 19 And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits. 20 And the chapiters upon the two pillars had pomegranates also above, over against the belly which was by the network: and the pomegranates were two hundred in rows round about upon the other chapiter. 21 And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz. 22 And upon the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished. 23 And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about. 24 And under the brim of it round about there were knops compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about: the knops were cast in two rows, when it was cast. 25 It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward. 26 And it was an hand breadth thick, and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it contained two thousand baths. 27 And he made ten bases of brass; four cubits was the length of one base, and four cubits the breadth thereof, and three cubits the height of it. 28 And the work of the bases was on this manner: they had borders, and the borders were between the ledges: 29 And on the borders that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, and cherubims: and upon the ledges there was a base above: and beneath the lions and oxen were certain additions made of thin work. 30 And every base had four brasen wheels, and plates of brass: and the four corners thereof had undersetters: under the laver were undersetters molten, at the side of every addition. 31 And the mouth of it within the chapiter and above was a cubit: but the mouth thereof was round after the work of the base, a cubit and an half: and also upon the mouth of it were gravings with their borders, foursquare, not round. 32 And under the borders were four wheels; and the axletrees of the wheels were joined to the base: and the height of a wheel was a cubit and half a cubit. 33 And the work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel: their axletrees, and their naves, and their felloes, and their spokes, were all molten. 34 And there were four undersetters to the four corners of one base: and the undersetters were of the very base itself. 35 And in the top of the base was there a round compass of half a cubit high: and on the top of the base the ledges thereof and the borders thereof were of the same. 36 For on the plates of the ledges thereof, and on the borders thereof, he graved cherubims, lions, and palm trees, according to the proportion of every one, and additions round about. 37 After this manner he made the ten bases: all of them had one casting, one measure, and one size. 38 Then made he ten lavers of brass: one laver contained forty baths: and every laver was four cubits: and upon every one of the ten bases one laver. 39 And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward over against the south. 40 And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, and the basons. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of the LORD: 41 The two pillars, and the two bowls of the chapiters that were on the top of the two pillars; and the two networks, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars; 42 And four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, even two rows of pomegranates for one network, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters that were upon the pillars; 43 And the ten bases, and ten lavers on the bases; 44 And one sea, and twelve oxen under the sea; 45 And the pots, and the shovels, and the basons: and all these vessels, which Hiram made to king Solomon for the house of the LORD, were of bright brass. 46 In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan. 47 And Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because they were exceeding many: neither was the weight of the brass found out. 48 And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained unto the house of the LORD: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon the showbread was, 49 And the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold, 50 And the bowls, and the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and the censers of pure gold; and the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, to wit, of the temple. 51 So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the LORD. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated; even the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, did he put among the treasures of the house of the LORD.
1 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, t hat they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.
2 And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. 3 And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark. 4 And they brought up the ark of the LORD, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, even those did the priests and the Levites bring up. 5 And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude. 6 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims. 7 For the cherubims spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above. 8 And they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day. 9 There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.
10 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, 11 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD. 12 Then spoke Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. 13 I have surely built you an house to dwell in, a settled place for you to abide in for ever.
14 And the king turned his face about, and blessed all the congregation of Israel: (and all the congregation of Israel stood;) 15 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which spoke with his mouth unto David my father, and has with his hand fulfilled it, saying, 16 Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build an house, that my name might be therein; but I chose David to be over my people Israel. 17 And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. 18 And the LORD said unto David my father, Whereas it was in your heart to build an house unto my name, you did well that it was in your heart. 19 Nevertheless you shall not build the house; but your son that shall come forth out of your loins, he shall build the house unto my name. 20 And the LORD has performed his word that he spoke, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. 21 And I have set there a place for the ark, wherein is the covenant of the LORD, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt. 22 And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven: 23 And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keep covenant and mercy with your servants that walk before you with all their heart: 24 Who have kept with your servant David my father that you promised him: you spoke also with your mouth, and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is this day. 25 Therefore now, LORD God of Israel, keep with your servant David my father that you promised him, saying, There shall not fail you a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel; so that your children take heed to their way, that they walk before me as you have walked before me. 26 And now, O God of Israel, let your word, I pray you, be verified, which you spoke unto your servant David my father. 27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built? 28 Yet have you respect unto the prayer of your servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which your servant prays before you to day: 29 That your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which you have said, My name shall be there: that you may hearken unto the prayer which your servant shall make toward this place. 30 And hearken you to the supplication of your servant, and of your people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear you in heaven your dwelling place: and when you hear, forgive. 31 If any man trespass against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before your altar in this house: 32 Then hear you in heaven, and do, and judge your servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness. 33 When your people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against you, and shall turn again to you, and confess your name, and pray, and make supplication unto you in this house: 34 Then hear you in heaven, and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which you gave unto their fathers. 35 When heaven is 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: 36 Then hear you in heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants, and of your people Israel, that you teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon your land, which you have given to your people for an inheritance. 37 If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpiller; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be; 38 What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all your people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house: 39 Then hear you in heaven your dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart you know; (for you, even you only, know the hearts of all the children of men;) 40 That they may fear you all the days that they live in the land which you gave unto our fathers. 41 Moreover concerning a stranger, that is not of your people Israel, but comes out of a far country for your name's sake; 42 (For they shall hear of your great name, and of your strong hand, and of your stretched out arm;) when he shall come and pray toward this house; 43 Hear you in heaven your dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calls to you for: that all people of the earth may know your name, to fear you, as do your people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have built, is called by your name. 44 If your people go out to battle against their enemy, wherever you shall send them, and shall pray unto the LORD toward the city which you have chosen, and toward the house that I have built for your name: 45 Then hear you in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause. 46 If they sin against you, (for there is no man that sins not,) and you be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near; 47 Yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto you in the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness; 48 And so return unto you with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive, and pray unto you toward their land, which you gave unto their fathers, the city which you have chosen, and the house which I have built for your name: 49 Then hear you their prayer and their supplication in heaven your dwelling place, and maintain their cause, 50 And forgive your people that have sinned against you, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against you, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them: 51 For they be your people, and your inheritance, which you brought forth out of Egypt, rom the midst of the furnace of iron: 52 That your eyes may be open unto the supplication of your servant, and unto the supplication of your people Israel, to hearken unto them in all that they call for unto you. 53 For you did separate them from among all the people of the earth, to be your inheritance, as you spoke by the hand of Moses your servant, when you brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord GOD. 54 And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven. 55 And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying, 56 Blessed be the LORD, that has given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there has not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. 57 The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us: 58 That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers. 59 And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require: 60 That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else. 61 Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day. 62 And the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the LORD. 63 And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered unto the LORD, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD. 65 And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days. 66 On the eighth day he sent the people away: and they blessed the king, and went unto their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people.
1 And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all Solomon's desire which he was pleased to do, 2 That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon. 3 And the LORD said unto him, I have heard your prayer and your supplication, that you have made before me: I have hallowed this house, which you have built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. 4 And if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and will keep my statutes and my judgments: 5 Then I will establish the throne of your kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David your father, saying, There shall not fail you a man upon the throne of Israel. 6 But if you shall at all turn from following me, you or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them: 7 Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people: 8 And at this house, which is high, every one that passes by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why has the LORD done thus unto this land, and to this house? 9 And they shall answer, Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore has the LORD brought upon them all this evil.
10 And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the LORD, and the king's house, 11 (Now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his desire,) that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee. 12 And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not. 13 And he said, What cities are these which you have given me, my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul unto this day. 14 And Hiram sent to the king sixscore talents of gold.
15 And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised; for to build the house of the LORD, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer. 16 For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, and taken Gezer, and burnt it with fire, and slain the Canaanites that dwelt in the city, and given it for a present unto his daughter, Solomon's wife. 17 And Solomon built Gezer, and Beth-horon the nether, 19 And all the cities of store that Solomon had, and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion. 18 And Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness, in the land, 20 And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel, 21 Their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to destroy, upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bond-service unto this day. 22 But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen: but they were men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen. 23 These were the chief of the officers that were over Solomon's work, five hundred and fifty, which bare rule over the people that wrought in the work. 24 But Pharaoh's daughter came up out of the city of David unto her house which Solomon had built for her: then did he build Millo.
25 And three times in a year did Solomon offer burnt offerings and peace offerings upon the altar which he built unto the LORD, and he burnt incense upon the altar that was before the LORD. So he finished the house. 26 And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Eziongeber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom. 27 And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon. 28 And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.
10 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with hard questions. 2 And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, a nd precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. 3 And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not. 4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built, 5 And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her. 6 And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of your acts and of your wisdom. 7 Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: your wisdom and prosperity exceeds the fame which I heard. 8 Happy are your men, happy are these your servants, which stand continually before you, and that hear your wisdom. 9 Blessed be the LORD your God, which delighted in you, to set you on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he you king, to do judgment and justice.
10 And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon. 11 And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones. 12 And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king's house harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day. 13 And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.
14 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold, 15 Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffic of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country. 16 And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target. 17 And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pound of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. 18 Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold. 19 The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind:and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays. 20 And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom. 21 And all king Solomon's drinking vessels 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 nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon. 22 For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. 23 So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom. 24 And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. 25 And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year. 26 And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem. 27 And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore trees that are in the vale, for abundance. 28 And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price. 29 And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means.
1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; 2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, You shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. 7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. 8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods. 9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, 10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded. 11 Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of you, and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely rend the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant. 12 Notwithstanding in your days I will not do it for David your father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of your son. 13 Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to your son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen. 14 And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king's seed in Edom. 15 For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom; 16 (For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom:) 17 That Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him, to go into Egypt; Hadad being yet a little child. 18 And they arose out of Midian, and came to Paran: and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt; which gave him an house, and appointed him victuals, and gave him land. 19 And Hadad found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen. 20 And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house: and Genubath was in Pharaoh's household among the sons of Pharaoh. 21 And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country. 22 Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what have you lacked with me, that, behold, you seek to go to your own country? And he answered, Nothing: howbeit let me go in any wise. 23 And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah: 24 And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a band, when David slew them of Zobah: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus. 25 And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria. 26 And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king. 27 And this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father. 28 And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph. 29 And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field: 30 And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces: 31 And he said to Jeroboam, Take you ten pieces: for thus said the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to you: 32 (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:) 33 Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father. 34 Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes: 35 But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto you, even ten tribes. 36 And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light always before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there. 37 And I will take you, and you shall reign according to all that your soul desires, and shall be king over Israel. 38 And it shall be, if you will hearken unto all that I command you, and will walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with you, and build you a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto you. 39 And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever. 40 Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon. 41 And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon?
(Ecclesiastes 1)
Solomon was the son of David , a king of Israel.
The words of the Preacher , the son of David, king of
Jerusalem.
Solomon returned from the broken and empty cisterns of the world , to God's fountain of living water. And Solomon recorded his own folly and shame, the bitterness of his frustrations and disappointments , and the lessons he had learned. What profit has a man of all his labor which he takes under
the sun? Without Christ , there is no meaning and purpose
for all the natural man's labor under the sun. It is all
done in vain . It is useless. For the natural man it is
vanity of vanities.
For life under the son of God , there is a meaning and a
purpose for living.
He who has the Son has life . He who has not the son of
God has not life (1 John 5:12)
What profit has a man of all his labour which he takes under the sun ? One generation passes away, another generation comess; but the earth abides for ever. The sun also arises , and the sun goes down, and hastes to his place where he arose. The wind goes toward the south, and turns about unto the north. It whirls about continually, and the wind returns again according to his circuits. All the rivers run into the sea , yet the sea is not full .The water returns to where rivers began , and starts all over again. All things are full of labour. Man cannot utter it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. Everything leads to weariness. And this weariness is too great for words. The thing that has been , it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done. And there is no new thing under the sun. Is the any thing whereof it may be said, see it is new ? It has been already of old time, which was before us. What has happened before will happen again. What has been done before will be done again. There is nothing new in the whole world. Vanity of vanities, said the preacher. Vanity of vanities. All is vanity. All is useless. Without Christ all is vanity. Without Christ all the labor is useless. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved is the power of God.(1 Corinthians 1:18) For the message about Christ's death on the cross is foolishness to those who are being lost ; but unto us who are being saved it is the power of God. The Holy spirit searches all things . The Holy Spirit shows us the deepest secrets of God. The Holy Spirit searches all things, even the deepest things of God's purpose for each man. No one can really know what anyone else is thinking or what he is really like, except that person himself. For what man knows the things of man except the spirit of man which is in him ? It is only a person's spirit within him that knows all about him. In the same way only God's Holy Spirit knows all about God. Now we received , not the spirit of the world, but the Holy Spirit to tell us about the wonderful free gifts of love and blessings that God has given us. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. The natural man receives not the spiritual things of God because they are foolishness to the natural man Whosoever does not have the Holy Spirit can not receive the gifts that come from the Holy spirit. The natural man really does not understand these spiritual gifts. They are foolishness to him because their values can only be judged on spiritual basis.(1 Cor 2:6-16) No person should deceive himself. If any person who thinks he is wise by this world's standard, he should get rid of his pride in order to be really wise in God's eyes. For what this world considers to be wisdom is nonsense in the sight of God. God takes the so-called clever people in their own cleverness and craftiness. God traps the worldly clever people in their craftiness and cleverness. Our Lord knows that the thoughts of the worldly clever people are vain and useless. Vanity of vanities. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the wisdom and power of God. If you want to be wise, you must know the Lord. The Lord is the source of all wisdom.
Jesus said,
I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes unto the Father but by me. (John 14:6)
What is the meaning and purpose of life under the sun ? What profit has a man of all his labour which he takes under the sun ? Without Christ , there is no meaning and purpose for all the natural man's labour under the sun. It is all done in vain. It is useless. Vanity of vanities. Life is in the Son the God. Life in the Christ , there is a meaning and a purpose for living. He who has the Son has life. He who has not the Son of God has not life.(1 John 5:12)
This is what Solomon has to say. I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under the heaven. This sore travail has God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun. And all is vanity and vexation of spirit. That which is crooked can not be made straight. You can not count things that are not there. For the unbeliever everything done in this world is useless, The natural man is no better than wild beasts. For the natural man , it is like chasing after the wind. It is done in vain. Solomon told himself that he had become a great man. He had gotten more wisdom than all they that had been before him in Jerusalem. His heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. And he gave his heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly ; and he perceived that this also was vexation of spirit. He was determined to learn the difference between wisdom and foolishness, wisdom and madness. Solomon found out that he might as well be chasing the wind, The worldly cleverness of the natural man is foolishness to God. For in much human cleverness is much grief. he that increases worldly knowledge increases sorrow, The wiser you are in the worldly ways, the more worries you have. If you don't know Christ , the more you know of the world, the more it hurts. I may be able to speak the languages of men and angels, but if I have no love , my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy , and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge ; though I have faith so that I could move mountains, and have not love, I am nothing . And though I give all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love; it profits me nothing.(1 Corinthians 13) Christ is the wisdom of God. And God is love. Let us learn to love and value our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us love in the way of our Lord , who is the way, the truth, and the life. Let us rest in the knowledge and wisdom of our Lord. Let us rest in the love and service of our Lord. All the natural man gets by his labour will not supply the wants of his soul, nor satisfy his desires. All the natural man's work and labour will not atone for his own sins . What profit will the riches of the world be to the soul who has perished ? Man , after his labour , will never find rest. Man can find rest only in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said,
Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart ; and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)
The more Solomon saw of the works and the labour under the sun by the unbelievers, the more he saw their vanity and uselessness. And the sight of this useless labour vexed the natural man's spirit. For by grace are you saved through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ ; and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10) Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved.(Acts 16:31) Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.(Acts 4:12) He who believes in the Son has everlasting life. And he who believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.(John 3:36)
(ECCLESIASTES 2) Solomon decided to enjoyed himself and to find out what happiness is. He decided in his heart to enjoy pleasure. But he has found that it is useless, too. Behold , this is vanity. It is useless. Solomon has known the pleasures of the world, for he has almost unlimited wealth, enornous power, hundreds and hundreds , and great amount of worldly cleverness. Solomon had all that a man could dream of, yet he saw that trying to hold on to the things of the world is useless. This is vanity. Human reason can not find the truth concerning man. The natural man finds only emptiness of that which is under the sun. But the spiritual man finds the truth concerning man and his relationship in the world and his relationship with God. The spiritual man finds that Christ is the truth. Without Christ in a person, laughter is mad. For an unbeliever , laughter is foolishness. Solomon sought in his heart to give himself unto wine, yet acquainting his heart with human wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till he might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. Driven on by his desire for wisdom, Solomon decided to cheer himself up with wine and have a good time. He thought this might be the best way people spend their short lives in the world. Seeing it was folly and foolish to give himself to wine, he next tried to work great works. Solomon made himself great works. He built houses for himself. Solomon planted vineyards. He made himself gardens and orchards, and he planted trees in them of all kinds of fruits. Solomon made himself pools of water, to water therein the woods that brought forth trees. Solomon got himself servants and maidens, and had servants born in his house. Also he had great possessions of great and small cattle above all people that were in Jerusalem before him. Solomon gathered himself also silver and gold, and peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces. He got himself men singers and women singers, and delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. So Solomon was great , and increased more than all that were befor him in Jerusalem. Also his wisdom remained with him. And whatsoever his eyes desired he kept not from them. He withheld not his heart from any joy ; for his heart rejoiced in all his labor. And this was his portion of his labor. Then Solomon looked on all the works that his hands had wrought, and on the labor that he labored to do. And behold , all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun. The natural man finds only emptiness under the sun. The natural man yearns for something beyond himself. Man cries for a Savior. with the coming of Christ, man's cry was answered. The believers no longer find vanity. The spiritual man finds joy, peace, gladness, and love in the Lord Jesus Christ. In a world where everything passes away, it is useless to try to hang on to the things of the world. The things of the world can not satisfy you. If you look to the world to satisfy you, you will always be thirsty and hungry. The world can offer you only emptiness, disappointments, vanity and uselessness. For a natural man , the world is unending monotony. Even human wisdom is disappointing because it is really foolishness to God. Pursuits and pleasures are like striving after the wind. Jesus said,
whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give shall
never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be
in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Jesus said,
I am the bread of life. He that comes to me shall never hunger ; and he that believes in me shall never thirst.(John 6:35)
Wisdom excels folly as far as light excels farks. The wise man's eyes are in his head ; the fool walks in darkness. And Solomon perceived also that one event happens to them all. Every one has to die. Man's days in the world is very short. Truly every man at his best is merely a breath. Surely every man walks in a vain show. Surely they are disquieted in vain. He heaped up riches , and knows not who shall gather them.(Psalm 39:6) The wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person, and leave their wealth to others. Their inward thought is that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places shall continue to all generations. They call their lands after their own names> Nevertheless man being in honor abides not. The natural man is like wild beasts that perish. This their way is their folly ; yet after them men approve of their sayings.(Psalm 49:10-13) Man's heart hungry for something more that what is to be found in this temporary existence under the sun. Man hungers for the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Those folks who have the Son shall be fulfilled . They shall never be thirsty. They shall never be hungry. The most learned of men , who know not Christ Jesus , will perish with the most foolish. An unbeliever's day under the sun is nothing but vanity, emptiness, futility, and meaningless. It is useless labor for the unbeliever. As it happens to the fool so it happens even to the most learned person. For there is no remembrance of the clever person more than of the fool for ever ; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall be forgotten. And how dies the clever man ? He dies just as the fool. Therefore the unbeliever hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto the natural man; for the unbelievers all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Yea, the natural man hates his labor and toil which he has taken under the sun; because he shall leave it unto the man that shall be after him. And who knows whether the son shall be a clever man or a fool ? Yet the son shall have rule over all his father's labor wherein he labored, and wherein the father has showed himself wise under the sun. This is also vanity. Therefore the natural man goes about to cause his heart to despair of all the labor which he took under the sun. For there is a natural man whose labor is in human wisdom and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that has not labored therein shall be leave it for his portion. This is vanity and a great evil. For what has man of all his labor, wherein he has labored in the sun ? For the natural man's days are sorrows. His travail is grief. Yea, the unbeliever's heart takes not rest in the night. This is also vanity, useless, and meaningless. This is what Paul points out in 1 Corinthians 13. I may have the gift of inspired preaching; but if I have not love, I am nothing. I may have all knowledge, but if I have no love, I am nothing. I may have faith needed to move mountains; but if I have no love, it profits me nothing. I may give away everything I have, and even give my body to be burnt; but if I have no love , this does me no good. Jesus said,
A new command I give you. Love one another. As I have loved you so you must love one another. All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another. (John 13:34-35)
Jesus is the pattern for us to love. Jesus is the way for to love. Jesus is the truth for us to love. Jesus fills our lives with love as we love one another. Jesus has shown us how much he has loved us. The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them.(John 15:13) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul to enjoy good in his labor. This also Solomon saw that it was from the hand of God. Enjoy what is given to you by God. God gives wisdom, knowledge , and happiness to those who pleases Him. But God makes the sinners work, earning and saving, so that what they get can be given to those folks who please Him> The unbeliever's labor and toil are useless to himself. The unbeliever's hard labor and toil is vanity. For God gives to the man that is good in His sight wisdom, knowledge, and joy ; but to the sinner He gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also to the unbeliever is vanity and vexation of spirit. It is like chasing the wind. The unbeliever can not hold on to what he has tried so hard to catch. happiness and joy does not come from situation in which we are placed. Material things can not give happiness and joy. Pleasures leave man unsatisfied as before. True blessedness can be attained only through the Lord Jesus Christ. True peace and joy comes from the Lord. To seek the love and blessings of Christ is the true satisfying enjoyment even in this present world.
(ECCLESIASTES 3)
Everything that happens in this world happens at a time God chooses. Everything that happens in this world happens at God's appointed time. To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. A time to be born, and time to die.
A time to plant , and a time to pluck up that which is planted.
A time to kill , and a time to heal. A time to break down, and a time to build up. A time to weap, and a time to laugh. A time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to cast away stone, and a time to pick up stones. A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing. A time to get, and a time to lose. A time to keep, and a time to cast away. A time to rend, and a time to sew. A time to keep silence, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate. A time of war, and a time of peace. Everything in heavens and in earths , including human activity, is part of a determined cycle appointed by God. To everything there is an appointed time to happen. Put not your trust in the things of this world, because it is a changing world. It is impossible to hang on to the world. It is impossible to hang on to the world. It is like grasping for the wind. You can not grab hold of the wind. as believers of Christ, we are in the world, but we not of the world. Trust the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart, with all your soull, with all your mind, and with all your strength. In Christ you shall find peace and happiness. The world changes according to its appointed seasons. It is impossible to hold to any thing in the world. There is no rest for the natural man in the world where everything is constantly changing in its appointed seasons . For the believers, you will find rest and peace in Christ. What profit has he that works in that wherein he labors? What profits remains for the worker from his toil ? What do we gain from all our work ? Solomon has seen the travail, which God has given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. God has made everything beautiful in his time. And also he has set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God makes from beginning to end. Solomon knows there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and do good in his life. And slso that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor. It is the gift of God. Whatever God does, it shall be for ever. Nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it. And God does it , that men should fear Him. For I have learned , in whatever state I am, therewith to be content.(Phillipians 4:11) Life is a gift of the Lord. Everything that the Lord gives must be used for His glory. All the riches and wealth are given to us so that we can give them to others according to God's will. Only then all labors and works have any meaning and purpose, because it is God's purpose. We must be content with what the Lord has given to us. Labor not for the meat that perishes, but for the meat that endures unto everlasting life. Christ Jesus is the Bread of life. Christ is the only food for for our soul . we shall never hunger when we eat the Bread of life, Christ Jesus. We have to be content with what the Lord has given to us. Whatever god does , it endures forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor any thing taken from it. God does it so that man will know that He is God. That which has been is now ; and that which is to be has already been. And God requires that which is past. And moreover Solomon saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. God shall judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work. When the natural man , unbelievers , choose the world as their portion, they bring themselves to the level of the wild beasts. God manifests their estate so that they might see that the unbelievers are beasts. This that which befalls the unbelievers befalls the wild beasts. As one dies , so dies the other. Yes they have one breath; so that a natural man has no preeminence above a beast; for all is vanity. The natural man is an unbeliever. They perish like the wild beasts. God has no use for unbelievers. The unbeliever and the wild beasts go unto one place. all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.. with the Lord in their lives, the unbelievers are but vanity. They are useless. the spirit of men shall be judged, and then is fixed in a state of everlasting happiness or misery. The beasts goes downward and perish at death. Man has a choice. For those folks who have the Lord Jesus Christ, there is everlasting rejoicing. But the unbelievers shall perish , for that is their portion.
(ECCLESIASTES 4)
There are injustice in the world. There are oppression that are done under the sun. There are tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter . And on the side of their oppressors there was power; but the oppressed folks had no comforter. No one wants to help them, because their oppressors had power on their side. They can not even ask God to help them because they are unbelievers. The suffering unbeliever praises the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. The unbelievers envy those who are dead and gone. The unbeliever thinks that the dead are better than those suffering people who are still alive. The unbeliever thinks that it is better not to be born, because there is too much injustice in the world. Unbelievers hate and despise life because they can not understand themselves and the reasons for their existance. They don't understand that there is justice . God will judge all things. We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.(Romans 8:28) Many people work so hard because they envy their neighbors. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit. It is useless. It is like chasing the wind. The fool folds his hands together , and eats his flesh. Better is a handful with quietness, than both hands full with travail, toil, and vexation of spirit. It is better to have little, with a peace of mind, than to be busy all the time with both hands, striving for the wind. More vanity under the sun. Here is a natural man who lives alone . He has neither child nor brother ; yet there is no end of all his labor . Neither is his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom is the working so hard and denying himself any pleasure ? For whom does he labor, and bereave his soul of good ? This is also vanity , yea, it is a miserable way to live. It is emptiness and meaningless. It is painful effort and unhappy business. Selfishness is the cause of this misery. What profits man if he gains the world but lost his soul ? Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. for if they fall one will lift up his fellow ; but woe to him that is alone when he falls, because he has not another to help him up. Surely he has a better reward , who works hard to maintain those he loves, than the selfish miser who is alone in his toil. Union brings safety and success to God's people. we are united together in God's love. We warm each other's heart, while we praise the Lord. Let us love each other, as Christ has loved us. Better is poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. For out of prison he comes to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becomes poor. There are many people in the world. Somewhere among them there is a young man who will take the king's place> When the king is gone, no one will be grateful for what he has done. even a king can not hold to the things of the world. It useless. It is vanity. It is like chasing after the wind. There are many people who walk under the sun. There is no end of all the people that the king has ruled over. Yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this is vanity for the ungodly and vexation of his spirit. We will rejoice in the Lord. We will praise only the Lord Jesus Christ. Only Christ is worthy of our praise.
(ECCLESIASTES 5)
Keep your foot when you go to the house of the Lord. Be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of the fools; for they consider not that they do evil. Behold , to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fats of rams. (1 Samuel15:22) Be careful about going to the house of the Lord. It is better to go there to learn than to offer sacrifices as foolish people do, because the fools don't know right from wrong. Be not rash with your mouth, and let not your heart be hasty to utter any thing before God; for God is in heaven, and you are upon the earth. Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes through the multitudes of business; but a fool's voice is known by multitude of words. When you vow a vow unto God, defer not to pay it ; for God has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you have vowed. Better is it that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay. Suffer not your mouth to cause your flesh to sin; neither say you before the angel, that it was an error. Why make God angry with you because you can't keep your promises . Why should God be angry at your voice; and destroy the work of your hand. For multitude of dreams and many words there are also many vanities; but fear God. Be careful what you say; you must stand in awe of the Lord. If you see the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter; because he is higher than the highest regards. And there be higher than they. Moreover the profit of the world as for all. He that lusts for silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that lusts for abundance with increase. This also is vanity. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them. And what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes ? The sleep of the laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much. But the abundance of the rich will not suffer him tl sleep. The rich people can not sleep becasue they worry about the abundance of their rich. There is a sore evil which Solomon has seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. But those riches perish by evil work. When a child is born, he is born naked. He didn't bring anything with him into this world. As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came. He shall take nothing of his labor . he can not carry away anything with his hand. And this is sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. Naked he was born, naked shall he die. And what profit has he that has labored for the wind ? All his days also the natural man eats in darkness, and he has much sorrow and wrath with his sickness. The sleep of the diligent godly person is sweet, having spent his time wisely in the service of the Lord. But the foolish unbeliever who have much material possessions, can not find rest. He is too worried about the abundance of his riches. It is good for a person to eat and drink , and to enjoy the good of all his labor that he takes under the sun all the days of his life, which God has given to him; for it is his portion. every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth , and has given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor. This is the gift of God.
(ECCLESIASTES 6)
There is an evil that Solomon has seen under the sun, and it is common among the unbelievers. A natural man to whom God has given wealth, riches, and honor, so that he wants nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God gives him not the power to eat it. The unbelievers may have everything he wants but God will not let him enjoy it. It is useless for the unbelievers. This is vanity for the unbelievers, and it is an evil disease. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and lose his own soul ? If a man begat a hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many. He has wasted his life if he doe not have the Lord Jesus Christ. For he comes in with vanity, and departs in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness, because he is an unbeliever. even though he lives a thousand years twice over, yet has seen no good and experienced no enjoyment. Eternal life is not just a long life. A long life can be a curse, if the person does not know the joy and the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Here is a man who has live over two thousand years; and yet he has found no peace and joy. There is no purpose in the natural man's life, if he knows not the Lord. Everlasting life is an eternal life, full of joy and peace in the Lord Jesus Christ. All the labor of a natural man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. All the work of the unbeliever is selfishness, and yet his desire is not satisfied. For what advantage has the worldly clever over the fool ? Being worldly clever is no secret for ppeace and happiness. What advantage has the poor man who has learned to walk before the public? being poor does not bring you happiness and peace. Better is enjoyment of what is available to a person, than the cravings of wandering desire. The wandering desire of the natural man is a vexation of his spirit. He will never find satisfaction in the things of the world . Looking for the things of the world to quiet the soul's desires is vanity and useless.It is like trying to hold to the wind. Only Christ can satisfy the thirsty heart and the hungry soul. Christ Jesus is the bread of life. It is useless and vanity to chase after fame and honor. These things are what the unbelievers chase after. It is like chasing after the wind. Our days in the world is short . Let us not waste our time chasing after the wind. Let us put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to lead us to walk righteously.
(Ecclesiastes 7)
A good man is better than precious ointment. It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of feasting. In the house of feasting, a person is tempted to indulge the flesh. Sorrow is better than laughter; for sadness of the face the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of sensual pleasures. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. For the crackling of thorns under a pot, so the is the laughter of fools. This is also vanity. The laughter of a fool is soon gone. The songs of fools are meaningless and useless. When a clever man cheats someone , he is acting like a fool. If you take a bribe, you will ruin your character. The end of our trials and difficulties is better than its beginning. And patient in the spirit is better than the proud in spirit. When we walk in the Spirit , we will be patient. Patience is better than pride. Be not hasty in your spirit to be angry; for angry rests in the bosom of fools. The fruit of the Spirit is self-control. Keep your temper under control. It is foolish to harbour a grudge. It is foolish to cry out upon wickedness of our time, when we should first cry out against the wickedness that is in our own hearts. Don't complain against God. Don't quarrel with God. The former days are not any better than these days. Wisdom is good with an inheritance. And by it there is profit to them that see the sun. For wisdom is a defence even as money is a defence. But the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to them that have it. Human cleverness is foolish that lead to death. But the wisdom of God leads to life. Consider the work of God. For who can make the straight, which He has made crooked ? In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider that God has made the one side with the the other, so that man may not find out anything that shall be after him. Don't be self-righteous. Do not be conceited in your abilities. Why should you destroy yourself ? Don't puff yourself up pretending to be over wise.Although all have sinned , you must not be wilfully and overmuch wicked. why should you die before your time ? He who fears the Lord will come forth from them all. Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. If we say we have not sinned we deceive ourselves. For all have sinned. and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). For there is not a just man upon earth, that does good, and sins not. Every believer needs the mercy and forgiveness of the Lord. Take no heed unto all words that are spoken. If people say well of you, it will feed your pride. If they speak bad of you, it will stir up your passion. See that you get God's approval. Then you will not take heed of what others say about you. The wisdom of man is foolishness unto God. The wisdom of man leads to foolishness, wickedness and madness. The wisdom of man is vanity. But the wisdom of God leads to life, joy, love. Christ is the wisdom of God. Solomon found more bitter than death in the woman , whose heart is snares and nets. her hands are bands also ready to trap the next victim. Whatever pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her. Solomon was guilty of lusting after multitudes of women. (1 Kings 11:1) He had not found a upright and godly women , even though he had over a thousand women in his harem. Blessed is the man who has found a virtuous wife.
(ECCLESIASTES 8)
Who is as the wise man ? And who knows the interpretation of a thing ? Only the spiritual man knows what things really mean. A spiritual man's wisdom makes his face to shine. And the boldness of his face shall be changed. God's wisdom makes a man smile and makes his frowns disappear. Keep the commandment of the Lord. Be not hasty to go out of His sight. Stand not in an evil thing. Whoever keeps the commandment of the Lord shall feel no evil thing. And a wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment. Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, the misery of man is great upon the unbeliever. For the natural man knows not that which shall be; for who can tell him when it shall be ? There is no man that has power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither has the power in the day of death. And there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it. No one can keep himself from dying. No one can put off the day of his death. But the Lord Jesus Christ has defeated death. Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. The Lord Jesus has by His suffering and death made atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved. Of all the revelations of God , the resurrection of Christ is the most important. The Good News of Jesus Christ was promised long ago by God through His prophets, as written in the Scriptures. It is about His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who came as a human baby, born into king David's royal family line. And being raised from death, Christ Jesus proved to be the mighty Son of God. If our hope in Christ is good for this life only, then we are of all people most miserable But our hope is Christ who defeated death . Christ has been raised from death; and became the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. Christ has been raised from death as the guarantee that those who aleep in death will also be raised. All believers will be raised to life because their union with Christ. The resurrection of Christ from death is a promise that everything done in the behalf of the Lord Jesus Christ has important values towards eternity. What is mortal can not possess immortality. What is made of flesh and blood cannot share in God's kingdom. Jesus said,
I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me , though he dies, shall he live. And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die.(John 11:25-26)
Death is swallowed up in victory. O death ,where is your sting ? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law . But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory over death through our Lord Jesus Christ. The unbeliever(the natural man) does not understand the spiritual things . The wisdom of this world cannot explain the spiritual things . The natural man can stay awake night and day and never be able to understand what God is doing. However hard as an unbeliever tries, he will never find out . World clever people may claim to know, but they don't know the truth. Whoever does not have the Holy Spirit can not receive the gifts that come form God. The natural man really does not understand these gifts. They are foolishness to him because their values can only be judged and understood on spiritual basis. The natural man can not know the gifts of God because they have to be spiritually discerned.
(ECCLESIASTES 9)
The righteous, the wise, and their works , are in the hand of the Lord. God makes his sun to rise on the evil people and on the righteous people, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.(Matt 5:45)
All things come alike to all. There is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked ; to the righteous and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrifices, and to him that sacrifices not ; as is the righteous, so is the sinner; he that swears , as he that fears an oath. God established the physical laws of nature . Therefore the rain falls on the just and on the unjust. God also has established the spiritual laws. the righteous folks will receive His blessings. The wicked people will be punished. The Lord is alive. The Lord knows what He is doing . he cares about us. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
As long as the sons of man are left to themselves, their hearts are full of evil and madness. The wicked seems to prosper in sin now, but there will come a judgment day when the wicked will receive their punishment. For him that is joined to all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion. for those folks who are joined with Christ there is hope. For the believers know that they shall be raised from the dead, and live for ever with their Lord Jesus Christ. But the dead unbelievers know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their lust, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun. Believers. Go your way. Eat your bread with joy, and drink your juice with a merry heart; for God now accepts your works. Let your garments be always white; and let your head lack no ointment. Let the righteousness of God be your white garment. Let your head be anointed with the Holy Spirit so that you will think straight according to the will of the Lord. Live joyfully with your wife who you love all the days of your life, which the Lord has given to you under the sun. Be content with what the Lord has given you, for that is your portion in this life. Whatever your hand find to do, do it with all your might. Our Lord has given talents to us according to our individual ability. Our Lord has left us to trade for Him and carry out His business. Our Lord will one day ask us to give an account of the talents which He has entrusted to us. Have we used His talents wisely to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.(Matt 25:14-30) Our Lord shows us that it is our responsibility to be prepared for His return. The parable of the wise and foolish virgins shows us that those who are not read y will be left out of the kingdom. The door into the kingdom of God will soon be closed. Therefore whatsoever the Lord calls you to do, you must do it with all your might. The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the clever, nor yet riches to men of understanding. nor yet favor to men of skill. God has given us talents and abilities bur we must not trust in them.We must trust in them. Trust in God,the Giver of the gifts. Man knows not his time; as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the bird that are caught in a snare; so are the sons of men snared in evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them. Wisdom is better than strength. The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that rules among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner can undo and destroy a lot of good.
(ECCLESIASTES 10)
Dead flies can make a whole bottle of perfume stink; so does a little foolish and stupidity can cancel out the greatest wisdom and honor. A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart is at his left. A wise man obeys the commandment of the Lord. The fool disobeys the Lord. Tea also, when he that is a fool walks by the way, his wisdom fails him, and he tells every one that he is a fool. If the spirit of the ruler rise up against you, leave not your place; for yielding pacifies great offences. If your boss is angry with you, do not hand in your resignation. serious wrongs may be forgiven if you keep calm. Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low places. There are injustice caused by the foolish rulers. Stupid people are given positions of authority while wise men are ignored. He who digs a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall a erpent shall bite him. Whoever removes stones shall be hurt therewith. And he who cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby. if your axe is blunt , and you don't sharpen it , you have to work harder to use it. But wisdom is profitable to direct. Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment. And the babbler is no better. The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious ; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness. And the end of his talk is mischievous madness. A fool is full of words . A man can not tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him ? The labor of the foolish wearies every one , because he knows not how to go . The fool is always lost. A country is in trouble when its king is a child, and its leaders feast all night long. Blessed is the country when its king is a man of God, and its leaders eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness. By much slothfulness the building decays; and through idleness of the hands the house drops through. Money has no moral values. How we use maoney reveals the desires of our hearts . Do we use money for the glory of God ? Do we give money to help the poor ? Do we give money to the church ? Do we use our money for missions ? Do we use our money wisely to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ ? Some foolish people use their money for selfish reasons. They use their money to satisfy their lust and greed.
(ECCLESIASTES 11)
Cast your bread upon waters; for you find it after many days. Give a portion of seven, and also to eight; for you know not what evil shall be upon the earth. The rich people should cast their bread freely upon the multitudes of suffering hungry people. Give freely , though it may seem thrown away and los t in the waters of the rivers. If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth. And if trees fall toward the south ,or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it shall be. The natural man needs to be born again spiritually to enable him to discern and understand spiritual meaning of life and death. He that observes the wind shall not sow;and he that regards the clouds shall not reap. The natural man can never understand the meaning of life with worldly knowledge and human cleverness. If you wait until the wind and weather are right, you will never sow anything and never harvest anything. God made everything. Therefore it is best to put your trust in the Lord. Truly light is sweet. It is a pleasant thing for the eyes to behold the sun. It is great to be able to enjoy the pleasant light of the day. be grateful foor every day you live. No matter how long you live, you will physically die one day. For the natural man (the unbeliever) , all that comes is vanity. There is nothing for the unbeliever to look forward to. For the believer , he shall be resurrected from the dead, and live for ever with his Lord Jesus Christ. Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know, that for all these things God will bring you in judgment. Remember that the Lord is going to judge you for whatever you do. Therefore remove sorrow from your heart , and put away evil from your flesh; for childhold and youth are vanity. Sin is the casue of sorrow in your hearts. Put away the sin and the sorrow will disappear from your heart. It is good to give your heart to the Lord when you are young. The Lord will be able to use you in a mighty way when you are young. The young believer will live a joyful life of true happiness.
(ECCLESIASTES 12)
Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, while evil days come not, nor years draw near, when you shall say, I have no pleasure in them.
Remember the Lord in your youth, before your sight is impaired, and before the sun and the light of the stars and the moon are darkened. Remember the Lord before the cloud of depressions and sadness return after the rain of tears. If a person does not know Christ, his old age will be full of hardships and sufferings. The natural man will find no peace in his old age. The natural man will have no pleasure in the things of his youth. Their desires shall fail. If sin has not enter the world, these infirmities of old age would not have appeared. Vanity of Vanities, said the preacher Solomon. All is vanity.
And because the preacher was wise , he still taught the people knowledge. Yea, he gave good heed , and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. The preacher sought to find out acceptable words; and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. These words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd. And further , by these , my son, be admonished; of making many books there is no end; and much study of worldly knowledge is a weariness of the flesh. But the knowledge of Christ is good before the eyes of God. We must grow in the knowledge of Christ because it will help us spiritually. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. fear God, and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good , or whether it be evil. The natural man (the unbeliever) sees only vanity. To the natural man , all is vanities of vanity, uselessness of uselessness , meaningless of meaningless. Man is crying for a Saviour. When Christ came and saved the world, the vanity disappeared for the believer. Christ brings a meaning and a purpose to every believer. Christ brings us joy , peace, love, gladness,and hope. To perish is foolishness. To die is foolishness. To enjoy everlasting life with Christ is the wisdom of Christ . To enjoy everlasting life with Christ is the wisdom of God. Christ is the power and wisdom of God. Whosoever believes in Christ shall not perish but have everlasting life. THE FIRST BOOK OF THE KINGS 12
1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. 2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;) 3 That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spoke unto Rehoboam, saying, 4 Your father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make you the grievous service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve you. 5 And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed. 6 And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do you advise that I may answer this people? 7 And they spoke unto him, saying, If you will be a servant unto this people this day, and will serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants for ever. 8 But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him: 9 And he said unto them, What counsel give you that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which your father did put upon us lighter? 10 And the young men that were grown up with him spoke unto him, saying, Thus shall you speak unto this people that spoke unto you, saying, Your father made our yoke heavy, but make you it lighter unto us; thus shall you say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins . 11 And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father has chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. 12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day. 13 And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; 14 And spoke to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. 15 Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
20 And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only. 21 And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. 22 But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 23 Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying, 24 Thus said the LORD, You shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.
25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel. 26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: 27 If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah. 28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold your gods, O Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt. 29 And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. 30 And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan. 31 And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi. 32 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made. 33 So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.
1 And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. 2 And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus said the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon you shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon you, and men's bones shall be burnt upon you. 3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD has spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out. 4 And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him. 5 The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD. 6 And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before. 7 And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward. 8 And the man of God said unto the king, If you will give me half your house, I will not go in with you, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place: 9 For so was it charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that you came. 10 So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel. 11 Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father. 12 And their father said unto them, What way went he? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah. 13 And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the ass: and he rode thereon, 14 And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, Are you the man of God that came from Judah? And he said, I am. 15 Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread. 16 And he said, I may not return with you, nor go in with you: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with you in this place: 17 For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, You shall eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that you came. 18 He said unto him, I am a prophet also as you are; and an angel spoke unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with you into your house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him. 19 So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water. 20 And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him back: 21 And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus said the LORD, Forasmuch as you have disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and have not kept the commandment which the LORD your God commanded you, 22 But came back, and have eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the Lord did say to you, Eat no bread, and drink no water; your carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of your fathers. 23 And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back. 24 And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase. 25 And, behold, men passed by, and saw the carcase cast in the way, and the lion standing by the carcase: and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt. 26 And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the LORD: therefore the LORD has delivered him unto the lion, which has torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke unto him. 27 And he spoke to his sons, saying, Saddle me the ass. And they saddled him. 28 And he went and found his carcase cast in the way, and the ass and the lion standing by the carcase: the lion had not eaten the carcase, nor torn the ass. 29 And the prophet took up the carcase of the man of God, and laid it upon the ass, and brought it back: and the old prophet came to the city, to mourn and to bury him. 30 And he laid his carcass in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, Alas, my brother! 31 And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spoke to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones: 32 For the saying which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass.
33 After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places. 34 And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth.
1 At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. 2 And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, please, and disguise yourself, that you be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam; and get you to Shiloh: behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, which told me that I should be king over this people. 3 And take with you ten loaves, and cracknels, and a cruse of honey, and go to him: he shall tell you what shall become of the child. 4 And Jeroboam's wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age. 5 And the LORD said unto Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam comes to ask a thing of you for her son; for he is sick: thus and thus shall you say unto her: for it shall be, when she comes in, that she shall feign herself to be another woman. 6 And it was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, that he said, Come in, you wife of Jeroboam; why feign you yourself to be another? for I am sent to you with heavy tidings. 7 Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus said the LORD God of Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted you from among the people, and made you prince over my people Israel, 8 And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it you: and yet you have not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes; 9 But have done evil above all that were before you: for you have gone and made you other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and have cast me behind your back: 10 Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisses against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man takes away dung, till it be all gone. 11 Him that dies of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dies in the field shall the fowls of the air eat: for the LORD has spoken it. 12 Arise you therefore, get you to your own house: and when your feet enter into the city, the child shall die. 13 And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam. 14 Moreover the LORD shall raise him up a king over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam that day: but what? even now. 15 For the LORD shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the LORD to anger. 16 And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin. 17 And Jeroboam's wife arose, and departed, and came to Tirzah: and when she came to the threshold of the door, the child died; 18 And they buried him; and all Israel mourned for him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by the hand of his servant Ahijah the prophet. Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus said the LORD God of Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted you from among the people, and made you prince over my people Israel, And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it you: and yet you have not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes; But have done evil above all that were before you: for you have gone and made you other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and have cast me behind your back: Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisses against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man takes away dung, till it be all gone. Him that dies of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dies in the field shall the fowls of the air eat: for the LORD has spoken it. 19 And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred, and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. 20 And the days which Jeroboam reigned were two and twenty years: and he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his stead.
1 Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah. 2 Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. 3 And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father. 4 Nevertheless for David's sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem: 5 Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. 6 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life. 7 Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam. 8 And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. 9 And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah. 10 And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. 11 And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father. 12 And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. 13 And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron. 14 But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days. 15 And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated, and the things which himself had dedicated, into the house of the LORD, silver, and gold, and vessels. 16 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 17 And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 18 Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Ben-ha'dad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, 19 There is a league between me and you, and between my father and your father: behold, I have sent unto you a present of silver and gold; come and break your league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me. 20 So Ben-ha'dad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-beth-ma'achah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. 21 And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah. 22 Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah. 23 The rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Nevertheless in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet. 24 And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead. 25 And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years. 26 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin. 27 And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha smote him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon. 28 Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead. 29 And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the LORD, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite: 30 Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger. 31 Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 32 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 33 In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty and four years. 34 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.
1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying, 2 For as much as I exalted you out of the dust, and made you prince over my people Israel; and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam, and have made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins; 3 Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 4 Him that dies of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dies of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat. 5 Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 6 So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead. 7 And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of the LORD against Baasha, and against his house, even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD, in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam; and because he killed him. 8 In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years. 9 And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah. 10 And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead. 11 And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not one that pisses against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends. 12 Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet, 13 For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities. 14 Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 15 In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines. 16 And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri has conspired, and has also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp. 17 And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah. 18 And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died, 19 For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin. 20 Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he wrought, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 21 Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri. 22 But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned. 23 In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah. 24 And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria. 25 But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all that were before him. 26 For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities. 27 Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might that he showed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 28 So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead. 29 And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years. 30 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. 31 And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. 32 And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. 33 And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. 34 In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.
1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. 2 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 3 Get you hence, and turn you eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 4 And it shall be, that you shall drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there. 5 So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. 7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. 8 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 9 Arise, get you to Zarephath, which belongs to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain you. 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray you, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. 11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray you, a morsel of bread in your hand. 12 And she said, As the LORD your God lives, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. 13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as you have said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for you and for your son. 14 For thus said the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth. 15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. 16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by Elijah. 17 And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. 18 And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with you, O you man of God? are you come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son? 19 And he said unto her, Give me your son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed. 20 And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, have you also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? 21 And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray you, let this child's soul come into him again. 22 And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23 And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, your son lives. 24 And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.
1 And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, show yourself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth. 2 And Elijah went to show himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria. 3 And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly: 3 And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly: 4 For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.) 5 And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts. 6 So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself. 7 And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Are you that my lord Elijah? 8 And he answered him, I am: go, tell your lord, Behold, Elijah is here. 9 And he said, What have I sinned, that you would deliver your servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me? 10 As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord has not sent to seek you: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found you not. 11 And now you say, Go, tell your lord, Behold, Elijah is here. 12 And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from you, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry you whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find you, he shall slay me: but I your servant fear the LORD from my youth. 13 Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD's prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water? 14 And now you say, Go, tell your lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me. 15 And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself unto him to day. 16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Are you he that troubles Israel? 18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but you, and your father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and you have followed Baalim. 19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table. 20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt you between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. 22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: 24 And call you on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answers by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken. 25 And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for you are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. 26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. 27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleeps, and must be awaked. 28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. 29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. 30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. 31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be your name: 32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. 34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. 35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. 36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that you are the LORD God, and that you have turned their heart back again. 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God. 40 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there. 41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get you up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, 43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. 44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there arises a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare your chariot, and get you down, that the rain stop you not. 45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. 46 And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not your life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. 3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. 5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. 6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baked on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. 7 And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for you. 8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. 9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What do you here, Elijah? 10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain your prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What do you here, Elijah? 14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain your prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 15 And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when you come, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shall you anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shall you anoint to be prophet in your room. 17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapes the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. 18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which has not kissed him. 19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. 20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me,please, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to you? 21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
1 And Ben-ha'dad the king of Syria gathered all his host together: and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it. 2 And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus said Ben-ha'dad, 3 Your silver and your gold is mine; your wives also and your children, even the goodliest, are mine. 4 And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to your saying, I am your, and all that I have. 5 And the messengers came again, and said, Thus speaks Ben-ha'dad, saying, Although I have sent unto you, saying, You shall deliver me your silver, and your gold, and your wives, and your children; 6 Yet I will send my servants unto you to morrow about this time, and they shall search your house, and the houses of your servants; and it shall be, that whatsoever is pleasant in your eyes, they shall put it in their hand, and take it away. 7 Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeks mischief: for he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I denied him not. 8 And all the elders and all the people said unto him, Hearken not unto him, nor consent. 9 Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Ben-ha'dad, Tell my lord the king, All that you did send for to your servant at the first I will do: but this thing I may not do. And the messengers departed, and brought him word again. 10 And Ben-ha'dad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me. 11 And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girds on his harness boast himself as he that puts it off. 12 And it came to pass, when Ben-ha'dad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against the city. 13 And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus said the LORD, Have you seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into your hand this day; and you shall know that I am the LORD. 14 And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus said the LORD, Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, You. 15 Then he numbered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two: and after them he numbered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand. 16 And they went out at noon. But Ben-ha'dad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him. 17 And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben-ha'dad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria. 18 And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive. 19 So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them. 20 And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Ben-ha'dad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen. 21 And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter. 22 And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go,strengthen yourself, and mark, and see what you do: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against you. 23 And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. 25 And number you an army, like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot: and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And he hearkened unto their voice, and did so. 26 And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Ben-ha'dad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel. 27 And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country. 28 And there came a man of God, and spoke unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus said the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD. 29 And they pitched one over against the other seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined: and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians an hundred thousand footmen in one day. 30 But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and there a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men that were left. And Ben-ha'dad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber. 31 And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, please , put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save your life. 32 So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Your servant Ben-ha'dad said, I pray you, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother. 33 Now the men did diligently observe whether any thing would come from him, and did hastily catch it: and they said, Your brother Ben-ha'dad. Then he said, Go you, bring him. Then Ben-ha'dad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot. 34 And Ben-ha'dad said unto him, The cities, which my father took from your father, I will restore; and you shall make streets for you in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. Then said Ahab, I will send you away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away. 35 And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour in the word of the LORD, Smite me, I pray you. And the man refused to smite him. 36 Then said he unto him, Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as you are departed from me, a lion shall slay you. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him. 37 Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, please. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him. 38 So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face. 39 And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king: and he said, Your servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall your life be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver. 40 And as your servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall your judgment be; yourself have decided it. 41 And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets. 42 And he said unto him, Thus said the LORD, Because you have let go out of your hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people. 43 And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.
21 And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 And Ahab spoke unto Naboth, saying, Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give you for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to you, I will give you the worth of it in money. 3 And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto you. 4 And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread. 5 But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is your spirit so sad, that you eat no bread? 6 And he said unto her, Because I spoke unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it please you, I will give you another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give you my vineyard. 7 And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Do you now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let your heart be merry: I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite. 8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth. 9 And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: 11 And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them. 12 They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. 13 And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died. 14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead. 15 And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead. 16 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. 17 And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 18 Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it. 19 And you shall speak unto him, saying, Thus said the LORD, Have you killed, and also taken possession? And you shall speak unto him, saying, Thus said the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your blood, even your. 20 And Ahab said to Elijah, Have you found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found you: because you have sold yourself to work evil in the sight of the LORD. 21 Behold, I will bring evil upon you, and will take away your posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisses against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, 22 And will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith you have provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin. 23 And of Jezebel also spoke the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. 24 Him that dies of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dies in the field shall the fowls of the air eat. 25 But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. 26 And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. 27 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. 28 And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 See you how Ahab humbles himself before me? because he humbles himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house.
1 And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel. 2 And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. 3 And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know you that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria? 4 And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Will you go with me to battle to Ramoth-gilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses. 5 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray you, at the word of the LORD to day. 6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king. 7 And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might inquire of him? 8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. 9 Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah. 10 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them. 11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus said the LORD, With these shall you push the Syrians, until you have consumed them. 12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the king's hand. 13 And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spoke unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let your word, I pray you, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good. 14 And Micaiah said, As the LORD lives, what the LORD said unto me, that will I speak. 15 So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king. 16 And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure you that you tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD? 17 And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace. 18 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell you that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil? 19 And he said, Hear you therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. 20 And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. 21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. 22 And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, You shall persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. 23 Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets, and the LORD has spoken evil concerning you. 24 But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto you? 25 And Micaiah said, Behold, you shall see in that day, when you shall go into an inner chamber to hide yourself. 26 And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son; 27 And say, Thus said the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace. 28 And Micaiah said, If you return at all in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you. 29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. 30 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put you on your robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle. 31 But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel. 32 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out. 33 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him. 34 And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn your hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded. 35 And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot. 36 And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own country. 37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria. 38 And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the LORD which he spoke. 39 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 40 So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead. 41 And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. 42 Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. 43 And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places. 44 And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel. -45 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he showed, and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 46 And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land. 47 There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was king. 48 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber. 49 Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with your servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not. 50 And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead. 51 Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel. 52 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin: 53 For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.
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The Tabernacle of Jesus Christ
And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying
9 According to all that I show you,
after the pattern of the tabernacle,
and the pattern of all the instruments
thereof, even so shall you make it.
(Exodus 25:9)
The tabernacle was designed by God
Himself in heaven . God repeatedly told
Moses to follow the pattern that was
shown to Moses in the mount.
40 And look that you make them after
their pattern, which was showed you
in the mount.
(Exodus 25:40)
It is Jesus Christ
5 Who serve unto the example and
shadow of heavenly things, as Moses
was admonished of God when he
was about to make the tabernacle: for,
See, said he, that you make all things
according to the pattern showed to
you in the mount.
(Hebrews 8:5)
The tabernacle was a perfect copy of
something that already existed in heaven.
The tabernacle on earth was patterned after
something that was in heaven.
The tabernacle was a picture , a type ,
and a shadow of the Lord Jesus Christ ,
where God meets man , and where God
and humanity meet in one person.
In Christ only can we find the answer
to the spiritual significance of the
tabernacle.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent
in the wilderness, even so
must the Son of man be lifted up;
15 That whosoever believes in him
should not perish, but have
eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believes in him
should not perish, but have
everlasting life.
(John 1:14-16)
Jesus was the tabernacle in whom the
fullness of God dwelt.
Every detail of the tabernacle points to
some aspect of the person and work
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The tabernacle was the most complete
revelation of Jesus Christ the Son of God ,
and the plan of salvation in the entire
Old Testament.
The tabernacle speaks of the Son of God.
The tabernacle speaks of God.
The tabernacle tells of the glory of the
Lord Jesus Christ.
The description of the tabernacle in the
wilderness has more significance than
mere measurements of a sanctuary.
The tabernacle reflects in its plans the
thought of God.
God's words tell us that the things of
the tabernacle are patterns of the things
in heaven.(Hebrews 9: 34-34)
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the centre of
God's thought , from eternity to eternity.
Christ is the wisdom of God.
we can see our Lord Jesus Christ
revealed in the tabernacle.
The tabernacle is the picture of grace.
God gave Israel through Moses , two things:
(1) the law
(2) the tabernacle
Before Moses brought the two tablets
of law down from Mt. Sinai , Israel had
already broken them , and were under
the sentence of death , and the judgment
of God.
Had Moses brought only the tablets of
law , the story of Israel would have
ended right there in the destruction of
the nation of Israel. But Moses brought
back something in addition to the tablets
of law.
Moses brought back the pattern for
the tabernacle, God's answer to a broken
law , God' provision for a sinful people,
God's plan of salvation for sinners.
God foreknew their need for His mercy and
forgiveness. So God gave them in addition\
to the law , the tabernacle which spoke of
love , mercy , pardon , forgiveness , atonement,
redemption , and salvation , for all the people
who admit that they could not save themselves
by their own efforts and works.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the perfect tabernacle.
In Christ , man can approach God. In Christ
and only in Christ alone will God meet man
on the basis of the blood sacrifice of Christ.
Jesus said, I am the way , the truth ,
and the life. No man comes unto the Father
but by me.
The tabernacle was a movable structure that
was about forty-five feet long and fifteen feet
wide. All of is framework and furniture was
covered with pure gold.
The gold points to the preciousness and the
eternal value of the Lord Jesus Christ our
Savior , of whom the tabernacle was a shadow
and a figure.
The tabernacle stood within an enclosure
that was one hundred cubits long and fifty
cubits wide.
In our measurements , this would be one
hundred eighty feet by ninety feet. This
enclosure was called the court of the
tabernacle . It was bounded by a white
linen fence suspended on sixty pillars or
posts of brass , resting upon sockets of
brass/ Because of its height , five cubits
or nine feet , no person can see over it.
And no one can go under it.
The high white linen fence seems to say,
No trespassing. No admittance.
God will meet man only by God's way.
Man can not find and know God by
man's own efforts and works.
Christ Jesus is the way, the truth ,
and the life. No man comes unto the
Father but by the Lord Jesus Christ.
God provides a door. The sinner can
not come over the high white linen
fence. But the sinner can come in by
the door.
Jesus said ,
I am the door; by me if any man
enter in he shall be saved
(John 10:9)
16 For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believes in him
should not perish, but have
everlasting life.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other:
for there is none other name under
heaven given among men, whereby
we must be saved.
It is a beautiful door of four colors ;
blue , purple , and scarlet embroidered
on white. The four colors points to
the Lord Jesus Christ.
Each colour points to some particular
aspect of our Lord Jesus Chris.
Our Lord Jesus Christ has many
glories and the subject of the tabernacle
in His many faceted beauty and glory.
God the Father knows Christ fully
(Matthew 11:27)
It is the Father's pleasure to show us
the treasures that are hidden in His
beloved Son.
White speaks of purity and righteousness.
The white in the linen fence stands for
the purity of Christ. In the white linen
we see Christ's pure and perfect life ,
always serving God and men.
Christ was the perfect man and faithful
servant.
Blue speaks of Christ , the Lord Jesus
from heaven (1 Corinthians 15:47)
During His walk on earth , Christ was
He who comes from heaven
(John 3:34)
Christ Jesus is the Son of God.
Christ is God the Son.
Jesus Christ is the true God and
eternal life (1 John).
Christ became man , but He remained
the Son of God.
Purple speaks of Christ as the King
of kings and Lord of lords. The colour
purple points to the glory of the
Lord Jesus Christ. Everything is put
under His feet. Jesus is Lord.
The scarlet colour points to Christ
as the king of Israel (Matthew 27:28)
The four colours speak of Christ in
a fourfold way , as King , as the
faithful Servant , as the perfect Man ,
and as perfect God.
The sinner on the outside must first
enter through the door.
And then he must stop at the altar of
burnt offering.
The altar of burnt offering speaks of
Christ and His work of atonement on
the cross. It is a place of sacrifice.
The altar stood between the gate of the
court and the approach to the tabernacle.
The altar was both a way to God ,
and a barrier to God.
The Israelite might have the most
beautiful lamb , but unless it was
killed and offered as sacrifice in place
of the sinner , it would be useless and
in vain. If the sinner had brought his
offering to the brazen altar of burnt
offering , then he could freely come
unto God's presence.
There is only one way to God. Jesus is
the way , the truth , and the life. No
man comes unto the Father but by
Jesus
Throughout the Old Testament , each altar,
each animal that was sacrifice ,pointed
to Christ , and how , one day, Christ
would come to world to suffer and die
on the cross in place of the sinner.
At the brazen altar the sacrifices
were brought for atonement of sin.
All these offerings pointed to Christ ,
the lamb of God.
Through the blood of Christ , sinful
people found mercy and forgiveness
For God so loved the world that He
gave His only begotten Son that
whosoever believes in Him should
not perish but have everlasting life.
The brazen altar was portable. Two
staves were used by priests to carry
the altar whenever the order of the
Lord caused them to move on.
There were two staves or handles.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ consists
pf two parts. One part is the death
of Christ. The other part is the
resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And together they are the good news
that :
Christ died for our sins according to
the scriptures ; and that he was
buried , and that he rose again the
third day according to the scriptures
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
With one stave it would not have been
balanced. Two staves were needed.
The two parts of the Gospel , the
death and the resurrection of Christ
complement and balance each other.
Without the death of Christ , there could
be no resurrection and no salvation.
Without the resurrection of Christ , his
death would have been in vain and
useless. A dead Christ van saved no
one. The resurrection of Christ is very
important. A living Christ who was
dead and conquered death is a
Saviour of the world. The resurrection
of Christ proves that Christ is who he
said is , that Christ is indeed the Son
of God.
A living Christ is our hope and peace ,
because he has defeated death and
all our enemies in his resurrection,
Now we come to the laver . The laver
was a washbasin in the court of the
tabernacle. It is a strict commandment
that the priests cleanse themselves in
the laver. Otherwise they would not
be able to render undefiled services to
God , Who is holy.
The message of the laver to the believer
is this. You are in the world but not of
the world . We are saved by Christ.
But we are still in the world of defilement
and of sin
While we are serving the Lord in the
world , we have to come in contact
of the world .
Our Lord Jesus Christ knows that even
cleansed people will get defiled.
A person who walked through the dessert
will get his feet dirty. So every believer will
be defiled by sin, even when he is not
aware that he has sinned
In our daily living , we are constantly
exposed to defilement of the world.
There are ungodly people in this world.
The world is full of smut and filth and
cursing all day and night long. our Lord
knew about this and has made provision
for our continual cleansing.
If we say that we have no sin , we
deceive ourselves , and the truth is
not in us (1 John 1:8)
We can turn to our Lord Jesus to
cleanse us.
If we confess our sins , He is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins , and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness
(1 John 1:9)
The laver speaks of separation from
flesh and from the world and from
the old sinful nature with its pride ,
lusts , evil habits and sins.
The Word is the Lord Jesus Christ
( John 1:1 ; John 1:14 )
The Word is the cleansing power in our
lives.
Jesus said ,
Now you are clean through the word which
I have spoken unto you (John 15:3)
The Lord Jesus Christ will cleanse you
through the washing of the water of the word.
The foundation of the tabernacle was made
of pure silver. the entire structure rested
on blocks of pure silver. Where did all that
silver came from ?
God told Moses that he had to count
the people, all the people from twenty to
fifty . Each person had to pay the Lord
a ransom for his life at the time he was
counted. Then no plague would come on him.
The price of atonement was the same for
everyone , whether rich or poor.
Every one person had to pay this
atonement money of silver. Failure to
give this silver meant death. Bible speaks
of atonement .The atonement is always by
blood. The tabernacle rested on the price
of atonement that had been paid. The
Bible uses silver as a type of the price
Christ paid for atonement. That price
was the precious blood of the Lord
Jesus Christ , which was shed on
the cross.
Our whole redemption rests on
the foundation of our Lord's blood.
after a person is saved , he must
next be separated before he can go
on to serve the Lord. He must be
separated from his old sinful nature
before he can be of service in the
tabernacle , at the table of show bread ,
the candlestick , and the incense
altar.
The candlestick , the table of show
bread and the altar of incense are in
the holy place of the tabernacle.
God is light. Christ is the light of
the world.
Jesus said,
I am the light of the world
(John 9:5)
The candlestick points to the Lord
Jesus Christ who is the light of the
world .
The light of the candlestick was
very important in the service of
the priests. This is the only light in
the tabernacle' The oil of the light ,
representing the Holy Spirit was the
only source of light in the tabernacle.
The light of the candlestick points
to the Lord Jesus Christ who is the
word.
David praised the Lord ,
Your word is a lamp unto my feet ,
and a light unto my path
(Psalm 119:105)
The show bread in the holy place
points to Christ.
Jesus said,
I am the bread of life ; he who
comes to me shall never hunger ;
and he who believes in me shall
never thirst (John6:35)
Jesus said,
I am the living bread which came
down from heaven ;
if any man eat of this bread ,
he shall live for ever ;
and the bread that I will give is
my flesh , which I will give for the
life of the world ( John 6:51)
The bread on the table points to
His body. The bread is the living
Word ,as revealed in the written
Word
Jesus said,
The word that I speak unto you,
they are spirit , and they are life
(John 6:63
What gives life is God's Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the Giver of life.
Only sweet-smelling incense could
be burnt upon the golden altar of
incense. The altar of incense speaks
of Christ our Saviour now in heaven as
our interceding High Priest.
For Christ is not entered into the
holy places made of hands ,which
are the figures of the true ; but into
heaven itself , now to appear in the
presence of God for us ( Hebrews 9:24)
The tabernacle is in every detail
a shadow and a type of Christ .
The priest is a figure and a type of
the Lord Jesus Christ.
At the brazen altar Christ died for us.
His shed blood reconciled us to God.
At the altar of incense Christ lives
in heaven to intercede for those who
are already saved by Him. The golden
altar of incense speak of the living
resurrection , ascended Lord
Jesus Christ.
The two altars speaks of the death
and resurrection of Christ and the
Good News of Jesus Christ
that Christ died for our sins
according to the scriptures ; and that
he was buried and that he rose again the
third day according to the scriptures
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
The holy of holies was the most innermost
compartment of the tabernacle.
The way to the holy of holies was barred
by a veil m or curtain, which forbids anyone
to enter except the high priest once a year
on the day of atonement with the precious
blood taken from the altar of burnt offering.
the high priest to enter without the shed
blood meat death. For the high priest to enter
at any other time meant death. All other
people are barred . It was death for anyone
who was not the high priest to try to enter.
Before we can enter into the holy of holies ,
the veil must be taken care of . The veil which
barred the way is God is the body of Christ.
The veil representing the body of Christ is
his perfect humanity , hung between us and
God, saying and warning,
No admittance . Keep out
Christ veiled Himself in human flesh.
Christ became man
In that human body Christ took our sin
to the cross. Christ paid the penalty
for us.. And his sinless perfect body
was broken and rent. It was a work
of God. God was satisfied with the
offering that Christ made on the cross.
God rent the veil from top to bottom
and opened up the way to the holy
of holies for all who by faith accept
the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord
and Saviour.
Christ opens the way for us into
the very presence of God.
The ark of the covenant and the
mercy seat were in the holy of holies.
In the ark of the covenant and the
mercy seat were in the holy of holies.
In the ark was the law , the ten
commandments. There was also
the golden pot with manna in the ark .
Christ , the eternal Bread of life , will
keep all those who put their trust in
Him , not only for this wilderness
journey in the world but for eternity.
Christ is the true Manna ( John 6)
In the ark was also the rod of Aaron
that budded.
The budded rod speaks of new life
after death. Aaron's rod speaks of
the resurrection of Christ as the
risen Saviour and High Priest.
After Christ was slain by the broken
law , Christ rose and defeated
death and lives as the High Priest
forever.
The broken law demanded the death
penalty of the sinner .
Once a year the high priest sprinkled
blood on the mercy seat , and the
blood covered the broken law within.
God has promised ,
When I see the blood , I will pass
over you
The blood speaks of the perfect
sacrifice of Christ . Christ has done
everything for us when he died on
the cross. Now we need only to rest
confidently in Christ.
For God so loved the world that He
gave His only begotten Son that
whosoever believes in Him should
not perish but have everlasting life.
The tabernacle was designed by
God Himself in heaven.
In Christ only can we find the answer
to spiritual significance of the tabernacle.
Every detail of the tabernacle points
to some aspect of the Person and
the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
God told Moses repeatedly to follow
the exact pattern that was shown
to him.
See that you make them according
to the pattern shown to you.
Jesus is the way , the truth , and
the life . No person comes unto
the Father but by Jesus.
the foundation of blood
The tabernacle was a perfect copy of something that already existed in heaven. The tabernacle on earth was patterned after something that was in heaven.
The tabernacle was a picture , a type , and a shadow of the Lord Jesus Christ, where God meets man , and where God and humanity meet in one person.
In Christ only can we find the answer to the spiritual significance of the tabernacle.
The foundation of the tabernacle in the wilderness was made of pure silver. The entire structure rested on blocks of pure silver. Where did all that silver come from ?
God told Moses that he had to count the people.Each person had to pay the Lord's ransom for his life at the time.he was counted.Then no plague would come on him.
This price is called atonement silver.
The price of atonementwas the same for everone, whether rich or poor.It was half of a shekel of silver. Every person had to pay this atonement money of silver. None was to be excepted.
Failure to give the silver meant death. Silver in the Bible speaks of atonement. This atonement alwaysby blood.The tabernacle rested on the price od atonement that had been paid.
The Bible uses silver as a type of the price Christ paid for atonement. That price was His precious blood. A person is only counted among the true people of God, as belonging the
Lord Jesus Christ, when the price of atonement has been paid for him or her.
We are not redeemed or brought ,by silver or gold, but by the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish or spot ({1 Peter1:18-19)
The silver in the tabernacle speaks of blood and the tabernacle rested on this foundation of blood. This silver foundation becomes a symbol of the precious blood of the
Lord Jesus Christ. which was shed on the cross. Our whole redemption rests on the foundation of our Lord's blood
without shedding of blood is remission (Hebrews 9:22)
We have been brought with the price of the blood of the Son of God.
You are brought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20)
Take heed therefore unto yourselves ,and to all the flock... to feed the church of God ,which He has purposed with His own blood (Acts 20:28)
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid , which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11)
Jesus Christ is the only foundation we can build upon that is pleasing to God.
The atonement of silver received from the children of Israel is a shadow of the atonement price of redemption , the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
This atonement of a half a shekel of silver had to be individually given. It was a personal responsibility.
Salvation is also a personal responsibility , and can never be obtain by proxy.
For you are saved not by the religion of your parents. You are saved not by any thing that other human has done .
You are saved not because you join a church or a religious organization.
You can not be saved by your own efforts or works. You are saved not because you are religious in your activities.
You are saved because of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It must be a personal act of faith in the death , the resurrection, and the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
You can be saved only by a personal faith in the works of the Lord Jesus Christ.
For whosoever call upon the name of the Lord t shall be saved (Romans 10:13)
Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.And Christ was buried,and rose again the third day according to scriptures(1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus Christ , and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall
be saved |(Romans 10:9)
the boards
Boards were covered with pure gold. Wheb they are set side by side they filled inside each other to make solid walls.
The board was acacia or shittim wood.This was the same kind of wood that was used for the altar.
The wood , having come out of the earth , speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ as Man.
The gold that covered the boards speaks of Christ's Divine glory.
God is revealed in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16)
The walls of the tabernacle was made of boards that was covered with gold.
The believer also resembles the wood of the board.He is a man on earth, but the board is covered with gold.
Every believer , every child of God is clothed with righteousness of God.(2 Corinthians5:21)
The believer in Christ is clothed with heavenly glory (2 Corinthians 12)
Just as the prodigal son received the best robe from his father , every believer is clothed with the righteousness of God (Luke 15)
I shall greatly rejoice in the Lord . My soul shall be joyful in my God ; foe He has clothed me with garments of salvation.
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness (Isaiah 63:10)
The board standing together formed the dwelling of God upon the earth. in the same way ,there is a dwelling of God now.
It is God's will that all believers, joined together ,form the house in which God dwells today
Now God no longer lives in a material house of gold , in a house of stones as in the days of Solomon.
The house of God is the body of Lord Jesus Christ.
We believers are built for the habitation of God in the Spirit (1 Timothy 3:15)
The believers together form the body of Christ, the church .
They the living stones are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:5)
There were bars of shittim wood, that were overlaid withgold. Theywere put through golden rings
to hold the boards together and keep them standing (Exodus 26 :26-29)
It is the Lord Jesus Christwho holdsthe believers together.
Therefore ,as God's chosen people, holy and deeply loved, clothe youeselves with compassion , kindness,
humility , gentleness, and patience.
Bear with each other and forgive as the Lord forgave you. Andover these virtuesput on love,
which binds them altogetherin perfect unity.Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts , since as members
of one body you were call peace (Colossians 3:12-15)
the Holy Place
There were three articles of furnitures in the hoky place. They are the candlestick,
the table of showbread and the altar.
The candlestick (Exodus 25:31-40)
God is light.Christ is the light of the world. Jesus said,I am the light of the world (John 4:5)
The candle stick was of pure gold that was beated and beaten. Christ who is the true light suffered and was beaten by the
judgment of God.
God told Moses,
31 And you shall make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same. 32 And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:
37 And you shall make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it. (Exodus 25 :37)
The candlestick was the symbol of a person. The personnal pronoun shows this very clearly.The light of the candlestick points to the person the Lord Jesus Christ., the word.
Theman reason light of the candleeeeeeestick was very important in the tabernacle. The oil of light , representing the Holy Spirit was the only source of light the tabernacle.
David praised the Lord,
Your word is a lamp unto my foot , and a light unto my path (Psalm 119:105)'
If the believer is to see where God is leading him, the believer must only walk by the light of the Word of God.
Outside in the wilderness all the light of the sun of nature revealed an unattractive building in which there was no hint of the glory that shone within.
Away from the light of the golden candlestick, and in the light of the sun of nature, a person on the outside could not see the glorious visions of Christ,
as represented in the table of showbread, the golden candlestick , the golden plated boards of the walls, the beautiful ceiling and all the glories of
the interior..
The light of the sun of nature on the outside blinds the worshiper onitur the things which is spiritual. The light of nature is human reasonn, philosphy,
and specsulation.
Man following reason instead of faith rejects thesth Word of God completely. Man invests all sorts of human philosphies and theories of man foolishness.
He invents the theory of evolution and myths and fantasy.
The light of human reasoning blinds the man on the outside to the truth. Jesus Christ is the truth concerning all things.
Instead of following Christ , man follows after myths and lies.
Instead of following Christ , man followsafter lies. Instead of faith , man substitutes reason anf philosphy.
Instead of the blood of Christ as the only remedy for sin, man substitutes traditionn, religion, morality, ethics, ordinances, education and psychology.sThese things don't work.
Man has been trying to save himself by his own effortssince Adam's fall.Man can not save himself no matter how hard he trirs.
The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him. Neither can he know them because
they are spiritually discerned(1 Corinthians 2:14)
The believers who are joined with Christ can spread the light only by the Holy Spirit. The light we give should never fall on us, but on
the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ must be placed in the light. Christ must always be glorified. The Holy Spirit glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ.
The golden candlestick is also a picture of the church , Christ as the head , and we are members of the body if Christ, one i Christ, and with Christ.
The function of the Church is the poer of the Holy Spirit is to hold up Christ as the light of the world.
The final answer to the sin problem and the problem of the world is regeneration (new birth ) by the Holy Spirit and the coming of Christ.
Jesus said, As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world (John 9:5)
Now the only wcay the unsaved world can see Christ , is in us , and through us. If men are to see Christ , they must see Him in the believers
who are still in the world. We are the light of the world today.
Jesus said to His disciples,
You are the light of the world
(Matthew 5:14)
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
(Matthew 5:16)
As believers , we are to let our light shine before the world, by holding up the lamp of the world and lifting up the Lord Jesus Christ
and letting Him shine through us.
Jesus said,
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto
me. (John 12:32)
Our focus must only br in the Lord Jesus Christ. If we lift up Christ, He will draw all human beings unto him.
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. 22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
(Revelation 21:21-23)
The table of showbread (Exodus 25:23-30)
There were seven articles of furnitures in the tabernacle. Two in the court of the Gentiles. Three in the holy place. Two in the holy holies.
The brazen altar and laver were in the court of the Gentiles.
The golden candlestick, the altar of incense and the table of showbread were in the holy place.
The ark of thr covenant and mercy seat were in the holy of holies.
The table of showbread was made of shittem wood., and was overlaid with pure gold. It had a golden crown all around the outer
edge to keep the twelve loaves of bread safely upon the table. .
Lord Jesus is the gold border , and the golden border was one hand breadth .The hand of the Lord Jesus keeps a firm grip of His people.
Just was thrthe table carried the twelve loaves of bread ,so Christ carries the people of God , the body of Christ. They are acceptable to
God., because Christ is acceptable to God.
Both the table and the bread speak of Christ. The bread speaks of Christ.,the living bread who came down from heaven.
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that comes
to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall
never thirst.
(John 6:35)
48 I am that bread of life.
(John 6:48)
50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may
eat thereof, and not die.
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat
of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will
give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
(John 6:51)
The table in the tabernacle points to Lord Jesus Christ, our sustainer.
And the bread in the table points to His body. The bread is the living Word , as revealed in the written Word.
63 It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the
words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
(John 6:63)
What gives life is God's Spirit.
the altar of incense (Exodus 30:1-10 )
Only sweet-smelling incense could be burnt upon the golden altar of incense. It was an altar
made of wood, overlaid with pure gold. The altar of incense is a picture of our Lord Jesus.
This woodpoints to His humanity .The gold speaks of Christ as God.
9 You shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering;
neither shall you pour drink offering thereon(Exodus 30:9)
Only sweet-snelling incense could be burnt upon the altar of incense.
The altar of incense stood before the wall that was by the aek of testimony, before the mercy seat.
The altar speaks of Christ our Saviour now in heaven as our interceding High Priest.
24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true;
but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:(Hebrews 9:24)
The tabernacle is in every detail a shadow , a type of Christ. The priest is a figure of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The priest's ministry at the altar of incense is a figure of Christ in heaven offering the incense of His prayers in our behalf.
The smoke of His incense rises constantly before the ark and the mercy seat, representing the throne of God.
At the brazen altar Christ died for us. His shed blood reconciled us to God.
At the altar of incense Christ lives in heaven to intercedes for those who are already saved by Him.
The brazen altar speaks of the death of Christ.
The golden altar of incense speaks of the living , resurrected , ascrnded Lord Jesus Christ .
The two altars speak of the death and resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ and is the Good News ,
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthiana 15:3-4)
Christ is the HLigh Priest who is in heaven interceding for us.
By offering of the sacrifice on the brazen altar we are saved.
Christ died on the cross by offering Himself to save us.
By the incense on the golden altar of incense we are kept.
Christ is in heaven making intercession for us. This intercession
in heaven is only for believers.
The High Priest Christ is powerless to do anything for the sinner ,
until the sinner comes first to the Saviour at the cross ,represented
by the brazen altar of burnt offering
(John 17:9)
Until the sinner receives Christas his Lord and Saviour by faith, the sinner can not be saved and he can not
have Christ as his interceding High Priest.
Until the sinnercomesby the wayy of the blood and the altar and the cross, there isnothing Jesus can do
for the sinner.
The Lord Jesus Christ did everything that Godwas able todo tosave the sinners , when He died on the cross.
Jesus said, It is finished.