But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not a prophet of the Lord still here, that we may ask him?”

But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not a prophet of the Lord still here, that we may ask him?”

He is dragged from the security of his tent, ¹  and marched off ²  to the king ³  of terrors.

know ¹  then that God has wronged me ²  and encircled ³  me with his net. ⁴ 

The ropes of the wicked tighten around ¹  me, but I do not forget your law.

The nations heard about him; he was trapped in their pit. They brought him with hooks to the land of Egypt. ¹ 

So ¹  they threw him out of the vineyard and killed ²  him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?

For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers ¹  nor blasphemers of our goddess. ² 

Therefore, strengthen ¹  your listless hands and your weak knees, ² 

But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires.

When Lot ¹  hesitated, the men grabbed his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters because the Lord had compassion on them. ²  They led them away and placed them ³  outside the city.

But before all this, ¹  they will seize ²  you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues ³  and prisons. You ⁴  will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.

Now ¹  the dragon’s ²  tail swept away a third of the stars in heaven and hurled them to the earth. Then ³  the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born.

The two villains arrived and sat opposite him. Then the villains testified against Naboth right before the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they dragged him ¹  outside the city and stoned him to death. ² 

Why ¹  have you brought us up from Egypt only to bring us to ²  this dreadful place? It is no place for grain, or figs, or vines, or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink!”

Then Samuel said, “Bring me King Agag of the Amalekites.” So Agag came to him trembling, ¹  thinking to himself, ²  “Surely death is bitter!” ³ 

O mountains of Gilboa, may there be no dew or rain on you, nor fields of grain offerings! ¹  For it was there that the shield of warriors was defiled; ²  the shield of Saul lies neglected without oil. ³ 

However, the war was prolonged between the house of Saul and the house of David. David was becoming steadily stronger, while the house of Saul was becoming increasingly weaker.

This happened because of all the sins which Baasha and his son Elah committed and which they made Israel commit. They angered the Lord God of Israel with their worthless idols. ¹ 

This happened because of the sins he committed. He did evil in the sight of ¹  the Lord and followed in Jeroboam’s footsteps and encouraged Israel to continue sinning. ²