For it was of the LORDto hardentheir hearts,to meetIsraelin battlein orderthat he might utterlydestroythem, that they might receivenomercy,but that he might destroythem, justas the LORDhad commandedMoses.
Then Absalomand allthe menof Israelsaid,"The counselof Hushaithe Architeis betterthanthe counselof Ahithophel."For the LORDhad ordainedto thwartthe goodcounselof Ahithophel,sothat the LORDmight bringcalamityon Absalom.
So the kingdid not listento the people;for it was a turn[of events] from the LORD,that He might establishHis word,whichthe LORDspokethroughAhijahthe Shiloniteto Jeroboamthe sonof Nebat.
Now the destructionof Ahaziahwas from God,in that he wentto Joram.For when he came,he wentout with JehoramagainstJehuthe sonof Nimshi,whomthe LORDhad anointedto cutoffthe houseof Ahab.
As he was talkingwith him, the king saidto him, "Have we appointedyou a royalcounselor?Stop!Whyshould you be struckdown?"Then the prophetstoppedand said,"I knowthat Godhas plannedto destroyyou, becauseyou have donethisand have not listenedto my counsel."
Then the LORDsaidto Moses,"Goto Pharaoh,for I have hardenedhis heartand the heartof his servants,that I may performthesesignsof Mine amongthem,
Mosesand AaronperformedallthesewondersbeforePharaoh;yet the LORDhardenedPharaoh'sheart,and he did not letthe sonsof Israelgoout of his land.
"As for Me, behold,I will hardenthe heartsof the Egyptiansso that they will goin afterthem; and I will be honoredthrough Pharaohand allhis army,through his chariotsand his horsemen.
"Thus I will hardenPharaoh'sheart,and he will chaseafterthem; and I will be honoredthrough Pharaohand allhis army,and the Egyptianswill knowthat I am the LORD."And they didso.
The LORDhardenedthe heartof Pharaoh,kingof Egypt,and he chasedafterthe sonsof Israelas the sonsof Israelwere goingout boldly.
The LORDsaidto Moses,"When you gobackto Egyptseethat you performbeforePharaohallthe wonderswhichI have putin your power;but I will hardenhis heartso that he will not letthe peoplego.
And the LORDhardenedPharaoh'sheart,and he did not listento them, justas the LORDhad spokento Moses.
"But, indeed,for thisreasonI have allowed you to remain,in orderto showyou My powerand in orderto proclaimMy namethrough allthe earth.
The LORDof hostshas swornsaying,"Surely,justas I have intendedsoit has happened,and justas I have plannedso it will stand,
For the LORD'Sindignationis againstallthe nations,And [His] wrathagainstalltheir armies;He has utterlydestroyedthem, He has giventhem over to slaughter.
So thenHe has mercyon whomHe desires,and He hardenswhomHe desires.
"But Sihonkingof Heshbonwas not willingfor us to passthrough his land; for the LORDyour Godhardenedhis spiritand madehis heartobstinate,in orderto deliverhim into your hand,as [he is] today.
"You shall consumeallthe peopleswhomthe LORDyour Godwill deliverto you; your eyeshall not pitythem, norshall you servetheir gods,for that [would be] a snareto you.
However, his fatherand motherdid not knowthat it was of the LORD,for He was seekingan occasionagainstthe Philistines.Now at that timethe Philistineswere rulingover Israel.
"Ifone mansinsagainst another,Godwill mediatefor him; but ifa mansinsagainst the LORD,whocan intercedefor him?" But they would not listento the voiceof their father,for the LORDdesiredto putthem to death.
