Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes ¹  as he stood there before the angel.

He instructed the messenger as follows: “When you finish giving the battle report to the king,

So the messenger departed. When he arrived, he informed David of all the news that Joab had sent with him.

While Ornan was threshing wheat, he turned and saw the messenger, and he and his four sons hid themselves.

The Lord then addressed good, comforting words to the angelic messenger who was speaking to me.

At this point the angelic messenger ¹  who spoke to me went out, and another messenger came to meet him

The angelic messenger ¹  who had been speaking with me then returned and woke me, as a person is wakened from sleep.

Then I asked the messenger who spoke with me, “What are these, ¹  sir?”

I asked the messenger who was speaking to me, “Where are they taking the basket?”

Then I asked the angelic messenger ¹  who was speaking with me, “What are these, sir?”

The messenger said to David, “The men overpowered us and attacked us ¹  in the field. But we forced them to retreat all the way ²  to the door of the city gate.

He was still talking to them when ¹  the messenger approached ²  and said, “Look, the Lord is responsible for this disaster! ³  Why should I continue to wait for the Lord to help?”

The messenger came and told Jehu, ¹  “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.” Jehu ²  said, “Stack them in two piles at the entrance of the city gate until morning.”

Then I asked one nearby, “What are these, sir?” The angelic messenger ¹  who replied to me said, “I will show you what these are.”

Turning to me, the messenger then said, “Cry out that the Lord who rules over all says, ‘I am very much moved ¹  for Jerusalem and for Zion.

He replied, “Don’t you know what these are?” So I responded, “No, sir.”

After this the angelic messenger ¹  who had been speaking to me went out and said, “Look, see what is leaving.”

The messenger replied, “These are the four spirits ¹  of heaven that have been presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth.

Now Elisha was sitting in his house with the community leaders. ¹  The king ²  sent a messenger on ahead, but before he arrived, ³  Elisha ⁴  said to the leaders, ⁵  “Do you realize this assassin intends to cut off my head?” ⁶  Look, when the messenger arrives, shut the door and lean against it. His master will certainly be right behind him.” ⁷ 

the Angel ¹  who has protected me ²  from all harm – bless these boys. May my name be named in them, ³  and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac. May they grow into a multitude on the earth.”