Moreover, nextto him the Tekoitesmaderepairs,but their noblesdid not supportthe workof their masters.
So Joabsentto Tekoaand broughta wisewomanfrom thereand saidto her, "Pleasepretendto be a mourner,and puton mourninggarmentsnow,and do not anointyourself with oil,but be like a womanwho has been mourningfor the deadmanydays;
Thus he builtBethlehem,Etam,Tekoa,
Afterthem the Tekoitesrepairedanothersectionin frontof the greatprojectingtowerand as faras the wallof Ophel.
Nextto them Meremoththe sonof Uriahthe sonof Hakkozmaderepairs.And nextto him Meshullamthe sonof Berechiahthe sonof Meshezabelmaderepairs.And nextto him Zadokthe sonof Baana[also] maderepairs.
Joiadathe sonof Paseahand Meshullamthe sonof Besodeiahrepairedthe OldGate;they laidits beamsand hungits doorswith its boltsand its bars.
I spokewordslike alltheseto Zedekiahkingof Judah,saying,"Bringyour necksunder the yokeof the kingof Babylonand servehim and his people,and live!
thussaysthe LORDto me-- "Makefor yourself bondsand yokesand putthem on your neck,
"It will be, [that] the nationor the kingdomwhichwill not servehim, Nebuchadnezzarkingof Babylon,and whichwill not putits neckunder the yokeof the kingof Babylon,I will punishthat nationwith the sword,with famineand with pestilence,"declaresthe LORD,"untilI have destroyedit by his hand.
"Fleefor safety,O sonsof Benjamin,From the midstof Jerusalem!Now blowa trumpetin TekoaAnd raisea signaloverBeth-haccerem;For evillooksdownfrom the north,And a greatdestruction.
The wordsof Amos,whowas among the sheepherdersfrom Tekoa,whichhe envisionedin visionsconcerningIsraelin the daysof Uzziahkingof Judah,and in the daysof Jeroboamsonof Joash,kingof Israel,two yearsbeforethe earthquake.
"TakeMy yokeupon you and learnfrom Me, for I amgentleand humblein heart,and YOU WILL FINDRESTFOR YOUR SOULS.
"Nowthereforewhydo you putGodto the testby placingupon the neckof the disciplesa yokewhichneitherour fathersnorwe have been ableto bear?
For consideryour calling,brethren,that there were not manywiseaccordingto the flesh,not manymighty,not manynoble;
CurseMeroz,'saidthe angelof the LORD,'Utterlycurseits inhabitants;Becausethey did not cometo the helpof the LORD,To the helpof the LORDagainst the warriors.'
