&#8220;Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn males among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock. And the Levites will be mine. I am the <sc>Lordsc>.

You must not make for yourself an image<n id="1" /> of anything in heaven above, on earth below, or in the waters beneath.<n id="2" />

The king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada to take his place at the head of<n id="1" /> the army, and the king appointed Zadok the priest to take Abiathar&#8217;s place.<n id="2" />p>

All the people of Judah and Israel had security; everyone from Dan to Beer Sheba enjoyed the produce of their vines and fig trees throughout Solomon&#8217;s lifetime.<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" />

<p class="poetry">I considered all the living who walk on earth,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">as well as the successor<n id="2" /> who would arise<n id="3" /> in his place.p>

<p class="poetry">You will have no place to go, except to kneel with the prisoners,p> <p class="poetry">or to fall among those who have been killed.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Despite all this, his anger does not subside,p> <p class="poetry">and his hand is ready to strike again.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Evergreens will grow in place of thorn bushes,p> <p class="poetry">firs will grow in place of nettles;p> <p class="poetry">they will be a monument to the <sc>Lordsc>,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">a permanent reminder that will remain.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Each will sit under his own grapevinep> <p class="poetry">or under his own fig tree without any fear.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc> who commands armies has decreed it.<n id="2" />p>

In that day,&#8217; says the <sc>Lordsc> who rules over all, &#8216;everyone will invite his friend to fellowship under his vine and under his fig tree.&#8217;&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

<p class="bodytext">When Bela died, Jobab the son of Zerah from Bozrah reigned in his place.p>

<p class="bodytext">When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites reigned in his place.p>

<p class="bodytext">When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth by the River<n id="1" /> reigned in his place.p>

<p class="bodytext">When Shaul died, Baal-Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place.p>

But if there is serious injury, then you will give a life for a life,

One who beats an animal to death<n id="1" /> must make restitution for it, life for life.<n id="2" />

So I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn sons among the Israelites.

<p class="poetry">I wipe them out and beat them to death;p> <p class="poetry">they cannot get up;p> <p class="poetry">they fall at my feet.p>

<p class="poetry">The one true God completely vindicates me;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">he makes nations submit to me.<n id="2" />p>

Ahab passed away.<n id="1" /> His son Ahaziah replaced him as king.p>