Elijahsaidto Elisha,"Stayhereplease,for the LORDhas sentme as faras Bethel."But Elishasaid,"As the LORDlivesand as you yourselflive,I will not leaveyou." So they wentdownto Bethel.
He calledthe nameof that placeBethel;however,previouslythe nameof the cityhad been Luz.
So the kingconsulted,and madetwogoldencalves,and he saidto them, "It is toomuchfor you to goup to Jerusalem;beholdyour gods,O Israel,that broughtyou up from the landof Egypt."
He setonein Bethel,and the otherhe putin Dan.
Then he wentup to the altarwhichhe had madein Bethelon the fifteenthdayin the eighthmonth,even in the monthwhichhe had devisedin his own heart;and he instituteda feastfor the sonsof Israeland wentup to the altarto burnincense.
Then he wentup from thereto Bethel;and as he was goingup by the way,youngladscameout from the cityand mockedhim and saidto him, "Goup, you baldhead;goup, you baldhead!"
Elijahsaidto him, "Elisha,pleasestayhere,for the LORDhas sentme to Jericho."But he said,"As the LORDlives,and as you yourselflive,I will not leaveyou." So they cameto Jericho.
Then Elijahsaidto him, "Pleasestayhere,for the LORDhas sentme to the Jordan."And he said,"As the LORDlives,and as you yourselflive,I will not leaveyou." So the twoof them wenton.
The motherof the ladsaid,"As the LORDlivesand as you yourselflive,I will not leaveyou." And he aroseand followedher.
And you will swear,'As the LORDlives,'In truth,in justiceand in righteousness;Then the nationswill blessthemselves in Him, And in Him they will glory."
They wentout from us, but they were not [really] of us; for ifthey had beenof us, they would have remainedwith us; but [they went out], sothat it would be shownthat they allare not of us.
She said,"Oh,my lord!As your soullives,my lord,I am the womanwho stoodherebesideyou, prayingto the LORD.
Now when SaulsawDavidgoingout againstthe Philistine,he saidto Abnerthe commanderof the army,"Abner,whosesonis thisyoungman?"And Abnersaid,"By your life,O king,I do not know."
"Nowtherefore, my lord,as the LORDlives,and as your soullives,sincethe LORDhas restrainedyou from sheddingblood,and from avengingyourself by your own hand,nowthen let your enemiesand those who seekevilagainstmy lord,be as Nabal.
