Take a branch of hyssop, ¹  dip it in the blood that is in the basin, ²  and apply to the top of the doorframe and the two side posts some of the blood that is in the basin. Not one of you is to go out ³  the door of his house until morning.

When David had gone a short way beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a couple of donkeys that were saddled, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred raisin cakes, a hundred baskets of summer fruit, ¹  and a container of wine.

Abimelech heard ¹  that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem were in one place. ² 

The Edomites had again invaded and defeated Judah and carried off captives.

These people make promises in the name of the Lord. ¹  But the fact is, ²  what they swear to is really a lie.” ³ 

Also their neighbors, from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, were bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. There were large supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisins, wine, olive oil, beef, and lamb, ¹  for Israel was celebrating. ² 

But you, however, are inventors of lies; ¹  all of you are worthless physicians! ² 

“I have heard many things like these before. What miserable comforters ¹  are you all!

For all of them, ¹  the morning is to them like deep darkness; they are friends with the terrors of darkness.

All the people were aware ¹  of it, the people of Ephraim and those living in Samaria. ²  Yet with pride and an arrogant attitude, they said, ³ 

Listen to me, you stubborn people, ¹  you who distance yourself from doing what is right. ² 

I did this ¹  because I know how stubborn you are. Your neck muscles are like iron and your forehead like bronze. ² 

They are prophesying lies to you and claiming my authority to do so. ¹  But I did not send them. I, the Lord, affirm it!’ ² 

“Son of man, has not the house of Israel, that rebellious house, said to you, ‘What are you doing?’

Therefore they will now be the first to go into exile, ¹  and the religious banquets ²  where they sprawl on couches ³  will end.

You too will act like drunkards; ¹  you will go into hiding; ²  you too will seek refuge from the enemy.

Bunch yourselves together like straw, ¹  you undesirable ²  nation,

The Pharisees ¹  (who loved money) heard all this and ridiculed ²  him.

For such people are false apostles, deceitful ¹  workers, disguising themselves ²  as apostles of Christ.

They said, “An Egyptian man rescued us ¹  from the shepherds, ²  and he actually ³  drew water for us and watered the flock!”