2 Samuel 18:24

So Hannah rose up after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of Yahweh’s temple.

I will hear what God, Yahweh, will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, his saints; but let them not turn again to folly.

He cried like a lion: “Lord, I stand continually on the watchtower in the daytime, and every night I stay at my post.

Abraham went up early in the morning to the place where he had stood before Yahweh.

When he made mention of God’s ark, Eli fell from off his seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck broke, and he died, for he was an old man and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.

Samuel did that which Yahweh spoke, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?”

But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai the son of Ammihur, king of Geshur. David mourned for his son every day.

Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. They told to all the people, saying, “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” All the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled every man to his tent.

When Jehu came out to the servants of his lord, and one said to him, “Is all well? Why did this mad fellow come to you?” He said to them, “You know the man and how he talks.”

I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen!’

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman to the house of Israel. Therefore hear the word from my mouth, and warn them from me.

Oh, Lord, what shall I say, after Israel has turned their backs before their enemies?

For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and will surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. What will you do for your great name?”

The Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter; for thirty thousand footmen of Israel fell.

When he came, behold, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching, for his heart trembled for God’s ark. When the man came into the city and told about it, all the city cried out.

David left his baggage in the hand of the keeper of the baggage, and ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers.

The lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds and by thousands; and David and his men passed on in the rear with Achish.

Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voice and wept until they had no more power to weep.

But Absalom fled. The young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, many people were coming by way of the hillside behind him.

Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate. When any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him, and said, “What city are you from?” He said, “Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.”

David counted the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

The king said to them, “I will do what seems best to you.” The king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.

They took Absalom and cast him into a great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones. Then all Israel fled, each to his own tent.

The people sneaked into the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

He said, “You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign. However the kingdom is turned around, and has become my brother’s; for it was his from Yahweh.

A cry went throughout the army about the going down of the sun, saying, “Every man to his city, and every man to his country!”

Therefore they took two chariots with horses; and the king sent them out to the Syrian army, saying, “Go and see.”

Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, “I see a company.” Joram said, “Take a horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, ‘Is it peace?’ ”

Then he sent out a second on horseback, who came to them, and said, “The king says, ‘Is it peace?’ ” Jehu answered, “What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me!”

Judah was defeated by Israel; and each man fled to his tent.

The children of Israel secretly did things that were not right against Yahweh their God; and they built high places for themselves in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city;

The children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the gate of the city; and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.

oh that I had one to hear me! Behold, here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me! Let the accuser write my indictment!

I would declare to him the number of my steps. as a prince would I go near to him.

Yahweh, in the morning you will hear my voice. In the morning I will lay my requests before you, and will watch expectantly.

Yahweh, I love the habitation of your house, the place where your glory dwells.

A man who is tormented by life blood will be a fugitive until death; no one will support him.

They prepare the table. They set the watch. They eat. They drink. Rise up, you princes, oil the shield!

and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.

His watchmen are blind. They are all without knowledge. They are all mute dogs. They can’t bark— dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.

I have set watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. They will never be silent day nor night. You who call on Yahweh, take no rest,

You are righteous, Yahweh, when I contend with you; yet I would like to reason the cause with you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are they all at ease who deal very treacherously?

Then I looked, and see, in the expanse that was over the head of the cherubim there appeared above them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.

As if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him; Or he went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, and a snake bit him.

For the inhabitant of Maroth waits anxiously for good, because evil has come down from Yahweh to the gate of Jerusalem.

I will stand at my watch, and set myself on the ramparts, and will look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.

I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

seeing that you seek a proof of Christ who speaks in me; who toward you is not weak, but is powerful in you.

to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I didn’t immediately confer with flesh and blood,