that mightykingshave ruledoverJerusalem,governingall[the provinces] beyondthe River,and that tribute,customand tollwere paidto them.
On that daythe LORDmadea covenantwith Abram,saying,"To your descendantsI have giventhisland,From the riverof Egyptas faras the greatriver,the riverEuphrates:
Now Solomonruledover allthe kingdomsfrom the River[to] the landof the Philistinesand to the borderof Egypt;[they] broughttributeand servedSolomonallthe daysof his life.
For he haddominionover everythingwestof the River,from Tiphsaheven to Gaza,over allthe kingswestof the River;and he hadpeaceon allsidesaroundabouthim.
Now Hiramkingof Tyresenthis servantsto Solomon,whenhe heardthat they had anointedhim kingin placeof his father,for Hiramhadalwaysbeena friendof David.
"But nowthe LORDmy Godhas givenme reston everyside;thereis neitheradversarynormisfortune.
Then he putgarrisonsin Edom,and allthe Edomitesbecameservantsto David.And the LORDhelpedDavidwhereverhe went.
Davidalso defeatedHadadezerkingof Zobah[as far as] Hamath,as he wentto establishhis ruleto the EuphratesRiver.
Then Davidput[garrisons] among the Arameansof Damascus;and the Arameansbecameservantsto David,bringingtribute.And the LORDhelpedDavidwhereverhe went.
So when the servantsof Hadadezersawthat they were defeatedby Israel,they madepeacewith Davidand servedhim. Thus the Arameanswere not willingto helpthe sonsof Ammonanymore.
Someof the Philistinesbroughtgiftsand silveras tributeto Jehoshaphat;the Arabiansalsobroughthim flocks,7700ramsand 7,700malegoats.
besidesthat which the tradersand merchantsbrought;and allthe kingsof Arabiaand the governorsof the countrybroughtgoldand silverto Solomon.
"Nowlet it be knownto the king,that ifthat cityis rebuiltand the wallsare finished,they will not paytribute,customor toll,and it will damagethe revenueof the kings.
"We informthe kingthat ifthat cityis rebuiltand the wallsfinished,as a resultyou will havenopossessionin [the province] beyondthe River."
"A decreehas been issuedby me, and a searchhas been madeand it has been discoveredthat that cityhas risenup againstthe kingsin pastdays,that rebellionand revolthave been perpetratedin it,
"So, nowissuea decreeto make thesemenstop[work], that thiscitymay not be rebuiltuntila decreeis issuedby me.
"We also informyou that it is not allowedto imposetax,tributeor toll[on] anyof the priests,Levites,singers,doorkeepers,Nethinimor servantsof thishouseof God.
May he also rulefrom seato seaAnd from the Riverto the endsof the earth.
Howlonelysitsthe cityThat was fullof people!She has becomelike a widowWhowas [once] greatamong the nations!She who was a princessamong the provincesHas becomea forcedlaborer!
And it hadstrongbranches[fit] for sceptersof rulers,And its heightwas raisedabovethe cloudsSo that it was seenin its heightwith the massof its branches.
As Jesuswenton from there,He sawa mancalledMatthew,sittingin the tax collector's booth;and He saidto him, "FollowMe!" And he gotup and followedHim.
