<p class="bodytext">He went into a cave there and spent the night. All of a sudden the <sc>Lordsc> spoke to him, &#8220;Why are you here, Elijah?&#8221;

When Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his robe and went out and stood at the entrance to the cave. All of a sudden<n id="1" /> a voice asked him, &#8220;Why are you here, Elijah?&#8221;

The <sc>Lordsc> said to him, &#8220;Go back the way you came and then head for the Desert of Damascus. Go and anoint Hazael king over Syria.

Well, it just so happened that while your servant was doing this and that, he disappeared.&#8221; The king of Israel said to him, &#8220;Your punishment is already determined by your own testimony.&#8221;<n id="1" />

The prophet<n id="1" /> then said to him, &#8220;This is what the <sc>Lordsc> says, &#8216;Because you released a man I had determined should die, you will pay with your life and your people will suffer instead of his people.&#8217;&#8221;<n id="2" />

The king said to him, &#8220;How many times must I make you solemnly promise in<n id="1" /> the name of the <sc>Lordsc> to tell me only the truth?&#8221;

Visit<n id="1" /> King David and say to him, &#8216;My master, O king, did you not solemnly promise<n id="2" /> your servant, &#8220;Surely your son Solomon will be king after me; he will sit on my throne&#8221;? So why has Adonijah become king?&#8217;

When Benaiah arrived at the tent of the <sc>Lordsc>, he said to him, &#8220;The king says, &#8216;Come out!&#8217;&#8221; But he replied, &#8220;No, I will die here!&#8221; So Benaiah sent word to the king and reported Joab&#8217;s reply.<n id="1" />

the king summoned<n id="1" /> Shimei and said to him, &#8220;You will recall<n id="2" /> that I made you take an oath by the <sc>Lord,sc> and I solemnly warned you, &#8216;If you ever leave and go anywhere,<n id="3" /> know for sure that you will certainly die.&#8217; You said to me, &#8216;The proposal is acceptable; I agree to it.&#8217;<n id="4" />

God said to him, &#8220;Because you asked for the ability to make wise judicial decisions, and not for long life, or riches, or vengeance on your enemies,<n id="1" />

The <sc>Lordsc> said to him, &#8220;I have answered<n id="1" /> your prayer and your request for help that you made to me. I have consecrated this temple you built by making it my permanent home;<n id="2" /> I will be constantly present there.<n id="3" />

She arrived in Jerusalem<n id="1" /> with a great display of pomp,<n id="2" /> bringing with her camels carrying spices,<n id="3" /> a very large quantity of gold, and precious gems. She visited Solomon and discussed with him everything that was on her mind.

They said to him, &#8220;Today if you show a willingness to help these people and grant their request, they will be your servants from this time forward.&#8221;<n id="1" />

The young advisers with whom Rehoboam<n id="1" /> had grown up said to him, &#8220;Say this to these people who have said to you, &#8216;Your father made us work hard, but now lighten our burden.&#8217;<n id="2" /> Say this to them: &#8216;I am a lot harsher than my father!<n id="3" />

When the king heard what the prophet<n id="1" /> cried out against the altar in Bethel, Jeroboam, standing at the altar, extended his hand<n id="2" /> and ordered,<n id="3" /> &#8220;Seize him!&#8221; The hand he had extended shriveled up<n id="4" /> and he could not pull it back.

The king pled with<n id="1" /> the prophet,<n id="2" /> &#8220;Seek the favor of<n id="3" /> the <sc>Lordsc> your God and pray for me, so that my hand may be restored.&#8221; So the prophet sought the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s favor<n id="4" /> and the king&#8217;s hand was restored to its former condition.<n id="5" />

<p class="bodytext">Ben Hadad sent another message to him, &#8220;May the gods judge me severely<n id="1" /> if there is enough dirt left in Samaria for my soldiers to scoop up in their hands.&#8221;<n id="2" />

Now the advisers<n id="1" /> of the king of Syria said to him: &#8220;Their God is a god of the mountains. That&#8217;s why they overpowered us. But if we fight them in the plains, we will certainly overpower them.

His advisers<n id="1" /> said to him, &#8220;Look, we have heard that the kings of the Israelite dynasty are kind.<n id="2" /> Allow us to put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads<n id="3" /> and surrender<n id="4" /> to the king of Israel. Maybe he will spare our lives.&#8221;

The men took this as a good omen and quickly accepted his offer, saying, &#8220;Ben Hadad is your brother.&#8221; Ahab<n id="1" /> then said, &#8220;Go, get him.&#8221; So Ben Hadad came out to him, and Ahab pulled him up into his chariot.