And these are the heads of the province who dwelt in Yerushalayim, but in the cities of Yehuḏah everyone dwelt in his own possession in their cities – Yisra’ĕl, the priests, and the Lĕwites, and the Nethinim, and the sons of Shelomoh’s servants.
“With weeping they shall come, and with their prayers I bring them. I shall make them walk by rivers of waters, in a straight way in which they do not stumble. For I shall be a Father to Yisra’ĕl, and Ephrayim – he is My first-born.
Thus said יהוה, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and find rest for yourselves. But they said, ‘We do not walk in it.’
Whether two days, or a new moon or a year that the cloud lingered above the Dwelling Place to dwell upon it, the children of Yisra’ĕl camped, and did not depart. But when it was taken up, they departed.
But now they long for a better place, that is, a heavenly. Therefore Elohim is not ashamed to be called their Elohim, for He has prepared a city for them.
For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the set-apart command delivered unto them.