While allthe countrywas weepingwith a loudvoice,allthe peoplepassedover.The kingalso passedoverthe brookKidron,and allthe peoplepassedovertowardthe wayof the wilderness.
Therefore Davidsaidto Ittai,"Goand passover."So Ittaithe Gittitepassedoverwith allhis menand allthe littleoneswho[were] with him.
"See,I am going to waitat the fordsof the wildernessuntilwordcomesfrom you to informme."
The kingsaidto Ziba,"Whydo you have these?"And Zibasaid,"The donkeysare for the king'shouseholdto ride,and the breadand summerfruitfor the youngmento eat,and the wine,for whoeveris faintin the wildernessto drink."
He alsoremovedMaacahhis motherfrom [being] queenmother,becauseshe had madea horridimageas an Asherah;and Asacutdownher horridimageand burned[it] at the brookKidron.
"For on the dayyou goout and crossoverthe brookKidron,you will knowfor certainthat you shall surelydie;your bloodshall be on your own head."
So the priestswentin to the innerpartof the houseof the LORDto cleanse[it], and everyuncleanthingwhichthey foundin the templeof the LORDthey broughtout to the courtof the houseof the LORD.Then the Levitesreceived[it] to carryout to the Kidronvalley.
"And the wholevalleyof the deadbodiesand of the ashes,and allthe fieldsas faras the brookKidron,to the cornerof the HorseGatetoward the east,shall be holyto the LORD;it will not be pluckedup or overthrownanymoreforever."
Nowin thosedaysJohnthe Baptistcame,preachingin the wildernessof Judea,saying,
For thisis the one referredto by Isaiahthe prophetwhen he said,"THE VOICEOF ONE CRYINGIN THE WILDERNESS,MAKE READYTHE WAYOF THE LORD,MAKEHIS PATHSSTRAIGHT!'"
And the childcontinued to growand to become strongin spirit,and he livedin the desertsuntilthe dayof his public appearanceto Israel.
When Jesushad spokenthesewords, He went forthwith His disciplesoverthe ravineof the Kidron,wherethere was a garden,in whichHe enteredwith His disciples.
Rejoicewith those who rejoice,and weepwith those who weep.
