As for Nob, the city of the priests, he struck down with the sword men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep – all with the sword.

He also made ten bronze basins, each of which could hold about 240 gallons. Each basin was six feet in diameter; there was one basin for each stand.

The king of Assyria responded favorably to his request; he attacked Damascus and captured it. He deported the people to Kir and executed Rezin.

The people of the land executed all those who had conspired against King Amon, and they made his son Josiah king in his place.

Recorded there are all the facts about his reign and accomplishments, and an account of the events that involved him, Israel, and all the neighboring kingdoms.

Solomon also made these items for God’s temple: the gold altar, the tables on which the Bread of the Presence was kept,

Respond to the requests of your servant and your people Israel for this place. Hear from your heavenly dwelling place and respond favorably and forgive.

This is what you must do. One third of you priests and Levites who are on duty during the Sabbath will guard the doors.

He posted guards at the gates of the Lord’s temple, so no one who was ceremonially unclean in any way could enter.

Many were bringing presents to the Lord in Jerusalem and precious gifts to King Hezekiah of Judah. From that time on he was respected by all the nations.

They melted down the silver in the Lord’s temple and handed it over to the supervisors of the construction foremen.”

(This is a copy of the letter they sent to him:) “To King Artaxerxes, from your servants in Trans-Euphrates:

They read from the book of God’s law, explaining it and imparting insight. Thus the people gained understanding from what was read.

They discovered written in the law that the LORD had commanded through Moses that the Israelites should live in temporary shelters during the festival of the seventh month,

Drinks were served in golden containers, all of which differed from one another. Royal wine was available in abundance at the king’s expense.

You rescue me from a hostile army; you make me a leader of nations; people over whom I had no authority are now my subjects.

But I am like a flourishing olive tree in the house of God; I continually trust in God’s loyal love.

Men are nothing but a mere breath; human beings are unreliable. When they are weighed in the scales, all of them together are lighter than air.

They come from a distant land, from the horizon. It is the Lord with his instruments of judgment, coming to destroy the whole earth.

For this is what the sovereign master has told me: “Within exactly one year all the splendor of Kedar will come to an end.