I will write on the tablets the same words<n id="1" /> that were on the first tablets you broke, and you must put them into the ark.&#8221;

But you must not turn away from all the commandments I am giving<n id="1" /> you today, to either the right or left, nor pursue other gods and worship<n id="2" /> them.p>

Gather to me all your tribal elders and officials so I can speak to them directly about these things and call the heavens and the earth to witness against them.

Joshua wrote these words in the Law Scroll of God. He then took a large stone and set it up there under the oak tree near the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s shrine.

<t /><p class="bodytext">After all this<n id="1" /> Joshua son of Nun, the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s servant, died at the age of one hundred ten.

<p class="bodytext">When the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s messenger finished speaking these words to all the Israelites, the people wept loudly.<n id="1" />

<p class="bodytext">So Samuel told him everything. He did not hold back anything from him. Eli<n id="1" /> said, &#8220;The <sc>Lordsc> will do what he pleases.&#8221;<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">When the messengers went to Gibeah (where Saul lived)<n id="1" /> and informed the people of these matters, all the people wept loudly.<n id="2" />

So Saul&#8217;s servants spoke these words privately<n id="1" /> to David. David replied, &#8220;Is becoming the king&#8217;s son-in-law something insignificant to you? I&#8217;m just a poor and lightly-esteemed man!&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">So his servants told David these things and David agreed<n id="1" /> to become the king&#8217;s son-in-law. Now the specified time had not yet expired<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">David thought about what they said<n id="1" /> and was very afraid of King Achish of Gath.

In the morning, when Nabal was sober,<n id="1" /> his wife told him about these matters. He had a stroke and was paralyzed.<n id="2" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">After this the following episode took place.<n id="1" /> Naboth the Jezreelite owned a vineyard in Jezreel adjacent to the palace of King Ahab of Samaria.<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He slept in sackcloth and walked around dejected.

The king<n id="1" /> asked them, &#8220;Describe the appearance<n id="2" /> of this man who came up to meet you and told you these things.&#8221;

<t /><p class="bodytext">After these faithful deeds were accomplished, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. He besieged the fortified cities, intending to seize them.<n id="1" />

Say this to the king of Judah, who sent you to seek an oracle from the <sc>Lordsc>: &#8220;This is what the <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel says concerning the words you have heard:

<t /><p class="bodytext">Now after these things had happened, during the reign of King Artaxerxes<n id="1" /> of Persia, Ezra came up from Babylon.<n id="2" /> Ezra was the son of Seraiah, who was the son of Azariah, who was the son of Hilkiah,

<p class="bodytext">When I heard these things I sat down abruptly,<n id="1" /> crying and mourning for several days. I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

<t /><p class="bodytext">When these things had been accomplished<n id="1" /> and the rage of King Ahasuerus had diminished, he remembered<n id="2" /> Vashti and what she had done and what had been decided<n id="3" /> against her.