but you must not make an agreement with the people who live in this land. You should tear down the altars where they worship.&#8217;<n id="1" /> But you have disobeyed me.<n id="2" /> Why would you do such a thing?<n id="3" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">After Gideon died, the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They made Baal-Berith<n id="1" /> their god.

They paid him seventy silver shekels out of the temple of Baal-Berith. Abimelech then used the silver to hire some lawless, dangerous<n id="1" /> men as his followers.<n id="2" />

When the ark of the covenant of the <sc>Lordsc> arrived at the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly<n id="1" /> that the ground shook.p>

<t /><n id="1" /><p class="bodytext">Nahash<n id="2" /> the Ammonite marched<n id="3" /> against Jabesh Gilead. All the men of Jabesh Gilead said to Nahash, &#8220;Make a treaty with us and we will serve you.&#8221;p>

So the <sc>Lordsc> gave Solomon wisdom, as he had promised him. And Hiram and Solomon were at peace and made a treaty.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="bodytext">The priests brought the ark of the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s covenant to its assigned<n id="1" /> place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, in the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubs.

and set up in it a place for the ark containing the covenant the <sc>Lordsc> made with our ancestors<n id="1" /> when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.&#8221;p>

The <sc>Lordsc> made an agreement<n id="1" /> with them<n id="2" /> and instructed them, &#8220;You must not worship other gods. Do not bow down to them, serve them, or offer sacrifices to them.

<p class="bodytext">So David, the leaders of Israel, and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark of the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s covenant from the house of Obed-Edom with celebration.

When God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.

All Israel brought up the ark of the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s covenant; they were shouting, blowing trumpets, sounding cymbals, and playing stringed instruments.

<t /><p class="bodytext">David<n id="1" /> left Asaph and his colleagues there before the ark of the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s covenant to serve before the ark regularly and fulfill each day&#8217;s requirements,<n id="2" />

and for the refined gold of the incense altar.p> <p class="bodytext">He gave him<n id="1" /> the blueprint for the seat<n id="2" /> of the gold cherubim that spread their wings<n id="3" /> and provide shelter for the ark of the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s covenant.p>

<p class="bodytext">The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the <sc>Lordsc> to its assigned<n id="1" /> place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, in the most holy place under the wings of the cherubs.

and set up in it a place for the ark containing the covenant the <sc>Lordsc> made with the Israelites.&#8221;p>

Don&#8217;t you realize that the <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel has given David and his dynasty lasting dominion over Israel by a formal agreement?<n id="1" />

Therefore let us enact<n id="1" /> a covenant with our God to send away all these women and their offspring, in keeping with your counsel, my lord,<n id="2" /> and that of those who respect<n id="3" /> the commandments of our God. And let it be done according to the law.

<p class="poetry">Pay attention and come to me!p> <p class="poetry">Listen, so you can live!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Then I will make an unconditional covenantal promise to<n id="2" /> you,p> <p class="poetry">just like the reliable covenantal promises I made to David.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">You can try to wash away your guilt with a strong detergent.p> <p class="poetry">You can use as much soap as you want.p> <p class="poetry">But the stain of your guilt is still there for me to see,&#8221;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">says the Lord <sc>Godsc>.<n id="2" />p>