The king then told Abiathar the priest, “Go back to your property ¹  in Anathoth. You deserve to die, ²  but today I will not kill you because you did carry the ark of the sovereign Lord before my father David and you suffered with my father through all his difficult times.” ³ 

You must obey ¹  all I command you to do, follow my instructions, ²  do what I approve, ³  and keep my rules and commandments, like my servant David did. Then I will be with you and establish for you a lasting dynasty, as I did for David; ⁴  I will give you Israel.

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 ¹  a voice asked him, “Why are you here, Elijah?”

He told David, ¹  ‘Since the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from all the tribes of Israel to build a temple in which to live. ²  But I have chosen David to lead my people Israel.’

while he went a day’s journey into the desert. He went and sat down under a shrub ¹  and asked the Lord to take his life: ²  “I’ve had enough! Now, O Lord, take my life. After all, I’m no better than my ancestors.” ³ 

That day the king consecrated the middle of the courtyard that is in front of the Lord’s temple. He offered there burnt sacrifices, grain offerings, and the fat from the peace offerings, because the bronze altar that stood before the Lord was too small to hold all these offerings. ¹ 

At noon Elijah mocked them, “Yell louder! After all, he is a god; he may be deep in thought, or perhaps he stepped out for a moment or has taken a trip. Perhaps he is sleeping and needs to be awakened.” ¹ 

King Solomon was wealthier and wiser than any of the kings of the earth. ¹ 

Then the king turned around ¹  and pronounced a blessing over the whole Israelite assembly as they stood there. ² 

Now Asa and King Baasha of Israel were continually at war with each other. ¹ 

Asa and King Nadab of Israel were continually at war with each other.

So Hiram supplied the cedars and evergreens Solomon needed, ¹ 

Rehoboam ¹  and Jeroboam were continually at war with each other throughout Abijah’s ²  lifetime.

For six months Joab and the entire Israelite army ¹  stayed there until they had exterminated every male in Edom. ² 

The rest of the events of Ahab’s reign, including a record of his accomplishments and how he built a luxurious palace and various cities, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. ¹ 

“I am about to die. ¹  Be strong and become a man!

Then they will obey ¹  you throughout their lifetimes as ²  they live on the land you gave to our ancestors.

When the queen of Sheba saw for herself Solomon’s extensive wisdom, ¹  the palace ²  he had built,

The high places were not eliminated, yet Asa was wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord throughout his lifetime. ¹ 

When he stood up, he pronounced a blessing over the entire assembly of Israel, saying in a loud voice: