The king longed ¹  to go to Absalom, for he had since been consoled over the death of Amnon. ² 

He sent messengers to King Ahab of Israel, who was in the city. ¹ 

They cast lots to determine their responsibilities – oldest as well as youngest, teacher as well as student. ¹ 

He frustrates ¹  the plans ²  of the crafty ³  so that ⁴  their hands cannot accomplish what they had planned! ⁵ 

For you will have a pact with the stones ¹  of the field, and the wild animals ²  will be at peace ³  with you.

“Reconcile yourself ¹  with God, ²  and be at peace ³  with him; in this way your prosperity will be good.

Listen to my appeal for mercy! ¹  Deliver me, as you promised. ² 

For the Lord vindicates ¹  his people, and has compassion on his servants. ² 

Answer a fool according to his folly, ¹  lest he be wise in his own estimation. ² 

I will make you pass under ¹  the shepherd’s staff, ²  and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.

This all happened so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled:

The ¹  disciples said to him, “If this is the case of a husband with a wife, it is better not to marry!”

When his time of service was over, ¹  he went to his home.

Now the time came ¹  for Elizabeth to have her baby, ²  and she gave birth to a son.

This was according to ¹  the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or the things they insist on so confidently. ¹ 

Yet the one these things are spoken about belongs to ¹  a different tribe, and no one from that tribe ²  has ever officiated at the altar.

The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Leave us alone for seven days so that we can send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. If there is no one who can deliver us, we will come out voluntarily to you.”

But if our unrighteousness demonstrates ¹  the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is he? ²  (I am speaking in human terms.) ³ 

So then from now on we acknowledge ¹  no one from an outward human point of view. ²  Even though we have known Christ from such a human point of view, ³  now we do not know him in that way any longer.