<p class="bodytext">Moses summoned<n id="1" /> Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person in whom<n id="2" /> the <sc>Lordsc> had put skill &#8211; everyone whose heart stirred him<n id="3" /> to volunteer<n id="4" /> to do the work,

<t /><p class="bodytext">All the skilled among those who were doing the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twisted linen and blue and purple and scarlet; they were made with cherubim that were the work of an artistic designer.

When<n id="1" /> they went up to the Eshcol Valley and saw the land, they frustrated the intent of the Israelites so that they did not enter<n id="2" /> the land that the <sc>Lordsc> had given<n id="3" /> them.

Among those nations you will have no rest nor will there be a place of peaceful rest for the soles of your feet, for there the <sc>Lordsc> will give you an anxious heart, failing eyesight, and a spirit of despair.

Your conscience will not be overwhelmed with guilt<n id="1" /> for having poured out innocent blood and for having taken matters into your own hands. When the <sc>Lordsc> has granted my lord success,<n id="2" /> please remember your servant.&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">Absalom instructed his servants, &#8220;Look! When Amnon is drunk<n id="1" /> and I say to you, &#8216;Strike Amnon down,&#8217; kill him then and there. Don&#8217;t fear! Is it not I who have given you these instructions? Be strong and courageous!&#8221;<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">David felt guilty<n id="1" /> after he had numbered the army. David said to the <sc>Lordsc>, &#8220;I have sinned greatly by doing this! Now, O <sc>Lordsc>, please remove the guilt of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.&#8221;p>

So give your servant a discerning mind<n id="1" /> so he can make judicial decisions for<n id="2" /> your people and distinguish right from wrong.<n id="3" /> Otherwise<n id="4" /> no one is able<n id="5" /> to make judicial decisions for<n id="6" /> this great nation of yours.&#8221;<n id="7" />

On the fifteenth day after the festival started,<n id="1" /> he dismissed the people. They asked God to empower the king<n id="2" /> and then went to their homes, happy and content<n id="3" /> because of all the good the <sc>Lordsc> had done for his servant David and his people Israel.p>

If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple in Jerusalem,<n id="1" /> their loyalty could shift to their former master,<n id="2" /> King Rehoboam of Judah. They might kill me and return to King Rehoboam of Judah.&#8221;

This made the king of Syria upset.<n id="1" /> So he summoned his advisers<n id="2" /> and said to them, &#8220;One of us must be helping the king of Israel.&#8221;<n id="3" />

<p class="bodytext">Jehoash said to the priests, &#8220;I place at your disposal<n id="1" /> all the consecrated silver that has been brought to the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple, including the silver collected from the census tax,<n id="2" /> the silver received from those who have made vows,<n id="3" /> and all the silver that people have voluntarily contributed to the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple.<n id="4" />

<p class="bodytext">All these men were warriors who were ready to march.<n id="1" /> They came to Hebron to make David king over all Israel by acclamation;<n id="2" /> all the rest of the Israelites also were in agreement that David should become king.<n id="3" />

On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, Solomon<n id="1" /> sent the people home. They left<n id="2" /> happy and contented<n id="3" /> because of the good the <sc>Lordsc> had done for David, Solomon, and his people Israel.p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">After Solomon finished building the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple and the royal palace, and accomplished all his plans for the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple and his royal palace,<n id="1" />

Hezekiah said, &#8220;Now you have consecrated yourselves<n id="1" /> to the <sc>Lordsc>. Come and bring sacrifices and thank offerings<n id="2" /> to the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple.&#8221; So the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and whoever desired to do so<n id="3" /> brought burnt sacrifices.p>

Hezekiah expressed his appreciation to all the Levites,<n id="1" /> who demonstrated great skill in serving the <sc>Lordsc>.<n id="2" /> They feasted for the seven days of the festival,<n id="3" /> and were making peace offerings and giving thanks to the <sc>Lordsc> God of their ancestors.p>

They observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy, for the <sc>Lordsc> had given them joy and had changed the opinion<n id="1" /> of the king of Assyria<n id="2" /> toward them, so that he assisted<n id="3" /> them in the work on the temple of God, the God of Israel.p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">On the seventh day, as King Ahasuerus was feeling the effects of the wine,<n id="1" /> he ordered Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs who attended him,<n id="2" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">Now Haman went forth that day pleased and very much encouraged.<n id="1" /> But when Haman saw Mordecai at the king&#8217;s gate, and he did not rise nor tremble in his presence,<n id="2" /> Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai.