You must observe this event as an ordinance for you and for your children forever.

Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What ¹  you are doing is not good!

When the people heard this troubling word ¹  they mourned; ²  no one put on his ornaments.

Then Moses said to the congregation: “This is what the Lord has commanded to be done.”

Then Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded you to do ¹  so that the glory of the Lord may appear ²  to you.”

I thought this was a good idea, ¹  so I sent ²  twelve men from among you, one from each tribe.

Now if you say to yourselves, ¹  ‘How can we tell that a message is not from the Lord?’ ²  –

But if the accusation is true and the young woman was not a virgin,

Do this: ¹  exterminate every male, as well as every woman who has had sexual relations with a male. ²  But spare the lives of any virgins.” So they did as instructed. ³ 

“So now, take your positions and watch this great thing that the Lord is about to do in your sight.

Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When they told Saul about this, it ¹  pleased him.

(Now the servant did not understand any of this. Only Jonathan and David knew what was going on.) ¹ 

This caused Israel to sin; ¹  the people went to Bethel and Dan to worship the calves. ² 

So do this: Dismiss the kings from their command, and replace them with military commanders.

They worshiped ¹  the disgusting idols ²  in blatant disregard of the Lord’s command. ³ 

The whole assembly agreed to do this, ¹  for the proposal seemed right to all the people. ² 

God was also offended by it, ¹  so he attacked Israel.

She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your wise sayings and insight ¹  was true!

This is what you must do. One third of you priests and Levites who are on duty during the Sabbath will guard the doors.

Hezekiah and all the people were happy about what God had done ¹  for them, ²  for it had been done quickly. ³