They told Moses,<n id="1" /> &#8220;We went to the land where you sent us.<n id="2" /> It is indeed flowing with milk and honey,<n id="3" /> and this is its fruit.

But<n id="1" /> the inhabitants<n id="2" /> are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. Moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there.

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;Bring with you your brothers, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, so that they may join<n id="1" /> with you and minister to you while<n id="2" /> you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony.

They told Joshua, &#8220;Surely the <sc>Lordsc> is handing over all the land to us!<n id="1" /> All who live in the land are cringing before us!&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

At that time I also warned you,<n id="1" /> &#8216;If you disobey,<n id="2" /> I will not drive out the Canaanites<n id="3" /> before you. They will ensnare you<n id="4" /> and their gods will lure you away.&#8217;&#8221;<n id="5" />p>

Now I dedicate him to the <sc>Lordsc>. From this time on he is dedicated to the <sc>Lordsc>.&#8221; Then they<n id="1" /> worshiped the <sc>Lordsc> there.p>

All Israel heard this message,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Saul has attacked the Philistine outpost, and now Israel is repulsive<n id="2" /> to the Philistines!&#8221; So the people were summoned to join<n id="3" /> Saul at Gilgal.p>

<p class="bodytext">But he refused, saying, &#8220;I won&#8217;t eat!&#8221; Both his servants and the woman urged<n id="1" /> him to eat, so he gave in.<n id="2" /> He got up from the ground and sat down on the bed.

Now may the <sc>Lordsc> show you true kindness!<n id="1" /> I also will reward you,<n id="2" /> because you have done this deed.

Now be courageous<n id="1" /> and prove to be valiant warriors, for your lord Saul is dead. The people of Judah have anointed me as king over them.&#8221;p>

Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall and some of the king&#8217;s soldiers<n id="1" /> died. Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">Just as he finished speaking, the king&#8217;s sons arrived, wailing and weeping.<n id="1" /> The king and all his servants wept loudly<n id="2" /> as well.

When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Kimham<n id="1" /> crossed over with him. Now all the soldiers<n id="2" /> of Judah along with half of the soldiers of Israel had helped the king cross over.<n id="3" />p>

(Now his father had never corrected<n id="1" /> him<n id="2" /> by saying, &#8220;Why do you do such things?&#8221; He was also very handsome and had been born right after Absalom.<n id="3" />)

and said<n id="1" /> this: &#8216;The <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel is worthy of praise because<n id="2" /> today he has placed a successor on my throne and allowed me to see it.&#8217;&#8221;<n id="3" />p>

Furthermore, I am giving<n id="1" /> you what you did not request &#8211; riches and honor so that you will be the greatest king of your generation.<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;Foreigners, who do not belong to your people Israel, will come from a distant land because of your reputation.<n id="1" />

(Hiram&#8217;s fleet, which carried gold from Ophir, also brought from Ophir a very large quantity of fine timber and precious gems.

There were also male cultic prostitutes<n id="1" /> in the land. They committed the same horrible sins as the nations<n id="2" /> that the <sc>Lordsc> had driven out from before the Israelites.p>

He also removed Maacah his grandmother<n id="1" /> from her position as queen because she had made a loathsome Asherah pole. Asa cut down her Asherah pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley.