Proverbs 24:21 Cross References - NSB

²¹ My son, respect Jehovah and the king. Do not associate with those who want to change things.

³¹ The Israelites saw the great power with which Jehovah had defeated the Egyptians. So they stood in awe of Jehovah. They had faith in Jehovah and in his servant Moses.

¹ Korah son of Izhar, Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth dared to challenge Moses. Korah was a descendant of Kohath and Levi. Dathan, Abiram, and On were descendants of Reuben. ² These four men were joined by two hundred and fifty Israelite men, well known leaders of the congregation. The assembly chose them. ³ They came together to confront Moses and Aaron. They said: »You have gone far enough! Everyone in the whole congregation is holy. Jehovah is among them. Why do you set yourselves above Jehovah’s assembly?«

⁵ They said: »You are an old man. You set a good example for your sons. But they have not followed it. Now we want a king to be our leader like all the other nations. Choose one for us!« ⁶ Samuel was upset to hear the leaders say they wanted a king. So he prayed about it. ⁷ Jehovah answered: »Samuel, do everything they want you to do. I am really the one they have rejected as their king.

¹² »But when you saw that King Nahash of Ammon was about to attack you, you rejected Jehovah as your king. You said to me: ‘We want a (human) king to rule us.’« ¹³ »Now here is the king you have chosen. You asked for him. Now Jehovah gives him to you. ¹⁴ »All will go well with you if you honor Jehovah your God, serve him, listen to him, and obey his commands. If you and your king follow Jehovah all will be well. ¹⁵ »But if you do not listen to Jehovah but disobey his commands, he will be against you and your king. He was against your fathers because they disobeyed. ¹⁶ »So then, stand where you are, and you will see the great thing that Jehovah will do. ¹⁷ »It is the dry season and the wheat harvest. I will pray and Jehovah will send thunder and rain. When this happens, you will realize that you committed a great sin against Jehovah when you asked him for a king.« ¹⁸ Samuel prayed. That same day Jehovah sent thunder and rain. Then all the people became afraid of Jehovah and of Samuel. ¹⁹ They said to Samuel: »Please pray to Jehovah your God for us, that we will not die. We now realize that we have added to all our sins the evil of asking for a (human) king.«

⁶ He told his men: »Stop talking foolishly. We are not going to attack Saul. He is my king. I pray that Jehovah will keep me from doing anything to harm his chosen king.«

¹³ A messenger told David: »Absalom has the hearts of the people of Israel.« ¹⁴ David told all his men who were with him in Jerusalem: »We must run away quickly, or none of us will escape from Absalom. Leave right away or he will catch up to us and bring ruin upon us when he massacres the city.« ¹⁵ The king’s servants told him: »No matter what happens, we are Your Majesty’s servants.« ¹⁶ The king left on foot. His whole household followed him. The king left ten concubines behind to take care of the palace. ¹⁷ The king and his troops left the city on foot. They stopped at the city limits. ¹⁸ All his mercenaries passed by him. The Cherethites, all the Pelethites, Ittai, and all six hundred men who had followed him from Gath marched past the king. ¹⁹ The king asked Ittai from Gath: »Why should you go with us? Go back, and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner, an exile from your homeland. ²⁰ »In fact you came to us just yesterday. Should I make you wander around with me when I do not even know where I am going? Go back and take your countrymen with you. May Jehovah always show you kindness.« ²¹ Ittai answered: »Your Majesty, I swear to you in the name of Jehovah that I will always go with you wherever you go, even if it means death.« ²² David answered: »That is fine. March on!« So Ittai went on with all his men and their dependents. ²³ The people cried loudly as David’s followers left. The king crossed Kidron Brook. His men followed him. They went to the wilderness. ²⁴ Zadok the priest was there. He had Levites there carrying the sacred Ark of God. They set it down and did not pick it up again until all the people left the city. The priest Abiathar was there too. ²⁵ The king said to Zadok: »Take the Ark of the Covenant back to the city. If Jehovah is pleased with me he will let me come back to see it and the place where it stays. ²⁶ »Let him do to me what he wishes if he is not pleased with me.« ²⁷ He also said to Zadok: »You are a seer, are you? Take your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan and go back to the city in peace. ²⁸ »I will wait at the river crossings in the wilderness until you send news.« ²⁹ Zadok and Abiathar took the Ark of the Covenant back into Jerusalem and stayed there. ³⁰ David went up the slope of the Mount of Olives. He was barefoot and crying. He covered his head to show his sorrow. Everyone with him was crying. They covered their heads too. ³¹ Someone told David: »Ahithophel is helping Absalom conspire against you!« David said: »Please Jehovah keep Ahithophel’s plans from working!« ³² David reached the top of the Mount of Olives. He met Hushai the Archite at a place of worship. Hushai’s robe was torn, and dust was on his head. ³³ David told him: »You might slow me down if you come with me.« ³⁴ Go back into the city and tell Absalom: »Your Majesty, I am your servant. I will serve you just as I served your father in the past. Hushai, if you do that you can help me ruin Ahithophel’s plans. ³⁵ »Zadok and Abiathar the priests will be there with you. You can tell them everything you hear in the palace. ³⁶ »Have them send their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan to tell me what you hear.« ³⁷ David’s advisor Hushai slipped back into Jerusalem. Absalom came into the city at the same time.

¹⁶ When all Israel realized that the king would not respond to their request, the people in answer said to the king: »What share do we have in David? What is our heritage in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel; now see to your people, David.« So Israel went away to their tents.

² I counsel you: »Keep the king's command because of the oath before God.« ³ »Do not be in a hurry to leave him. Do not persist in an evil activity, for he does whatever he pleases.« ⁴ There is power (authority) in the word of a king. Who may ask him: »What are you doing?« ⁵ He who obeys the king’s command will feel no harm. A wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment.

²¹ »Caesar’s,« they said. Then he said: »Pay Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. Pay God the things that are God’s.«

¹ Let every person be subject to superior authorities. For there is no authority except by God. God allows the authorities to serve in their positions. ² Whoever opposes the authority resists the ordinance of God. Those who resist will receive judgment. ³ For rulers are objects of fear, not to good works, but to the evil. Will you not have respect for the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from it. ⁴ He is the minister of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid for he does not bear the sword in vain. He is the minister of God, an avenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil. ⁵ You must be in subjection, not only because of that wrath, but also for the sake of your conscience. ⁶ That is why you pay taxes. They are God’s ministers continually serving this very purpose. ⁷ Render therefore to all their due. Provide tribute to whom tribute is due. Give custom to whom custom is owed. Render fear to whom fear is owed and offer honor to whom honor is deserved.

¹ Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, and to be ready to do every good work,

¹³ Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it is to the king, ¹⁴ or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and for praise to those who do good. ¹⁵ It is God’s will that you do the right things and that this will silence the ignorance of foolish men. ¹⁶ Be free, and yet do not use your freedom for a covering for evil, but as servants of God. ¹⁷ Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Reverence and respect God. Honor the king.