"For your servantknowsthat I have sinned;therefore behold,I have cometoday,the firstof allthe houseof Josephto godownto meetmy lordthe king."
But Israelstretchedout his righthandand laidit on the headof Ephraim,whowas the younger,and his lefthandon Manasseh'shead,crossinghis hands,althoughManassehwas the firstborn.
He blessedthem that day,saying,"By you Israelwill pronounceblessing,saying,'May Godmakeyou like Ephraimand Manasseh!'"Thus he putEphraimbeforeManasseh.
When KingDavidcameto Bahurim,behold,there cameout from therea manof the familyof the houseof Saulwhose namewas Shimei,the sonof Gera;he cameout cursingcontinually as he came.
But Abishaithe sonof Zeruiahsaid,"Should not Shimeibe putto deathfor this,becausehe cursedthe LORD'Sanointed?"
Allthe peoplewere quarrelingthroughout allthe tribesof Israel,saying,"The kingdeliveredus from the handof our enemiesand savedus from the handof the Philistines,but nowhe has fledout of the landfrom Absalom.
It cameabout when allIsraelheardthat Jeroboamhad returned,that they sentand calledhim to the assemblyand madehim kingoverallIsrael.Nonebut the tribeof Judahfollowedthe houseof David.
Then JeroboambuiltShechemin the hillcountryof Ephraim,and livedthere. And he wentout from thereand builtPenuel.
"You who dwellin Lebanon,Nestedin the cedars,Howyou will groanwhen pangscomeupon you, Painlike a woman in childbirth!
I will goaway [and] returnto My placeUntilthey acknowledgetheir guiltand seekMy face;In their afflictionthey will earnestlyseekMe.
I knowEphraim,and Israelis not hiddenfrom Me; For now,O Ephraim,you have playedthe harlot,Israelhas defileditself.
