and the land is subdued before the Lord, then afterward you may return and be free of your obligation to the Lord and to Israel. This land will then be your possession in the Lord’s sight.

You must surround the king. Each of you must hold his weapon in his hand. Whoever approaches your ranks must be killed. You must accompany the king wherever he goes.” ¹ 

Let the king also be aware that if this city is built and its walls are completed, no more tax, custom, or toll will be paid, and the royal treasury ¹  will suffer loss.

Furthermore, be aware of the fact ¹  that you have no authority to impose tax, tribute, or toll on any of the priests, the Levites, the musicians, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or the attendants at the temple of this God.

If he takes another wife, ¹  he must not diminish the first one’s food, ²  her clothing, or her marital rights. ³ 

Each one also brought to the assigned location his quota of barley and straw for the various horses. ¹ 

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

They cast lots, both young and old, according to their families, to determine which gate they would be responsible for. ¹ 

All the assembly replied in a loud voice: “We will do just as you have said! ¹ 

Those who anticipate my defeat ¹  attack me all day long. Indeed, ²  many are fighting against me, O Exalted One. ³ 

who serve ¹  in the Lord’s temple, in the courts of the temple of our God.

Be wise, my son, ¹  and make my heart glad, so that I may answer ²  anyone who taunts me. ³ 

If ¹  this matter is heard before the governor, ²  we will satisfy him ³  and keep you out of trouble.” ⁴ 

I am a debtor ¹  both to the Greeks and to the barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

For you know yourselves how you must imitate us, because we did not behave without discipline ¹  among you,

For we hear that some among you are living an undisciplined life, ¹  not doing their own work but meddling in the work of others. ² 

Remain here tonight. Then in the morning, if he agrees to marry you, ¹  fine, ²  let him do so. ³  But if he does not want to do so, I promise, as surely as the Lord lives, to marry you. ⁴  Sleep here until morning.” ⁵ 

What follows is a list of Israelite family leaders and commanders of units of a thousand and a hundred, as well as their officers who served the king in various matters. Each division was assigned to serve for one month during the year; each consisted of 24,000 men. ¹ 

I ¹  said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem must not be opened in the early morning, ²  until those who are standing guard close the doors and lock them. ³  Position residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their guard stations and some near their homes.”

It will be the duty of the prince to provide the burnt offerings, the grain offering, and the drink offering at festivals, on the new moons and Sabbaths, at all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel; he will provide the sin offering, the grain offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offerings to make atonement for the house of Israel.