Now behold,there camea manof Godfrom Judahto Bethelby the wordof the LORD,while Jeroboamwas standingby the altarto burnincense.
But the wordof Godcameto Shemaiahthe manof God,saying,
Now when the prophetwhobroughthim backfrom the wayheard[it], he said,"It is the manof God,whodisobeyedthe commandof the LORD;therefore the LORDhas givenhim to the lion,which has tornhim and killedhim, according to the wordof the LORDwhichHe spoketo him."
"For the thingshall surelycometo passwhichhe criedby the wordof the LORDagainstthe altarin Betheland againstallthe housesof the highplaceswhichare in the citiesof Samaria."
The altaralso was splitapartand the asheswere pouredout from the altar,according to the signwhichthe manof Godhad givenby the wordof the LORD.
"For soit was commandedme by the wordof the LORD,saying,'You shall eatnobread,nordrinkwater,norreturnby the waywhichyou came.'"
Now a certainmanof the sonsof the prophetssaidto anotherby the wordof the LORD,"Pleasestrikeme." But the manrefusedto strikehim.
Furthermore,the altarthat [was] at Bethel[and] the highplacewhichJeroboamthe sonof Nebat,whomade Israelsin,had made,eventhat altarand the highplacehe brokedown.Then he demolishedits stones, groundthem to dust,and burnedthe Asherah.
Then he said,"Whatis thismonumentthat I see?"And the menof the citytoldhim, "It is the graveof the manof Godwhocamefrom Judahand proclaimedthesethingswhichyou have doneagainstthe altarof Bethel."
But when he becamestrong,his heartwas so proudthat he actedcorruptly,and he was unfaithfulto the LORDhis God,for he enteredthe templeof the LORDto burnincenseon the altarof incense.
They opposedUzziahthe kingand saidto him, "It is not for you, Uzziah,to burnincenseto the LORD,but for the priests,the sonsof Aaronwho are consecratedto burnincense.Getout of the sanctuary,for you have beenunfaithfuland will have nohonorfrom the LORDGod."
Now the restof the actsof Solomon,from firstto last,are they not writtenin the recordsof Nathanthe prophet,and in the prophecyof Ahijahthe Shilonite,and in the visionsof Iddothe seerconcerningJeroboamthe sonof Nebat?
"Then the citiesof Judahand the inhabitantsof Jerusalemwill goand cryto the godsto whomthey burnincense,but they surelywill not savethem in the timeof their disaster.
"From the thirteenthyearof Josiahthe sonof Amon,kingof Judah,even to thisday,thesetwenty-threeyearsthe wordof the LORDhas cometo me, and I have spokento you againand again,but you have not listened.
"The Chaldeanswho are fightingagainstthiscitywill enterand setthiscityon fireand burnit, with the houseswhere[people] have offeredincenseto Baalon their roofsand pouredout drinkofferingsto othergodsto provokeMe to anger.
"But nolongerprophesyat Bethel,for it is a sanctuaryof the kingand a royalresidence."
"Nowhearthe wordof the LORD:you are saying,You shall not prophesyagainstIsraelnorshall you speakagainstthe houseof Isaac.'
"For from the risingof the sunevento its setting,My name[will be] greatamong the nations,and in everyplaceincenseis going to be offeredto My name,and a grain offering[that is] pure;for My name[will be] greatamong the nations,"saysthe LORDof hosts.
as a reminderto the sonsof Israelthat nolaymanwhois not of the descendantsof Aaronshould comenearto burnincensebeforethe LORD;so that he will not becomelike Korahand his company--justas the LORDhad spokento him throughMoses.
For thiswe sayto you by the wordof the Lord,that we who are aliveand remainuntilthe comingof the Lord,will not precedethosewho have fallen asleep.
Anotherangelcameand stoodat the altar,holdinga goldencenser;and muchincensewas givento him, sothat he might addit to the prayersof allthe saintson the goldenaltarwhich was beforethe throne.
Then a manof Godcameto Eliand saidto him, "Thussaysthe LORD,Did I [not] indeedrevealMyself to the houseof your fatherwhen they were in Egypt[in bondage] to Pharaoh'shouse?
He saidto him, "Beholdnow,there is a manof Godin thiscity,and the manis heldin honor;allthat he sayssurelycomestrue. Nowlet us gothere,perhapshe can tellus about our journeyon whichwe have setout."
