For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The Lord said to you, ‘It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel.’ ”
Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the River Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our possessions.
Then we left the River Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month to go to Jerusalem; the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes along the way.