he said to Moses, "Please, sir, do not make us suffer this punishment for our foolish sin.

As Obadiah was on his way, he suddenly met Elijah. He recognized him, bowed low before him, and asked, "Is it really you, sir?"

Haven't you heard that when Jezebel was killing the prophets of the LORD I hid a hundred of them in caves, in two groups of fifty, and supplied them with food and water?

The elders who do good work as leaders should be considered worthy of receiving double pay, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

The LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron to take his stick and hold it out over all the rivers, canals, and pools in Egypt. The water will become blood, and all over the land there will be blood, even in the wooden tubs and stone jars."

Then they came to a place called Marah, but the water there was so bitter that they could not drink it. That is why it was named Marah.

The city and everything in it must be totally destroyed as an offering to the LORD. Only the prostitute Rahab and her household will be spared, because she hid our spies.

At this time Joshua issued a solemn warning: "Anyone who tries to rebuild the city of Jericho will be under the LORD's curse. Whoever lays the foundation will lose his oldest son; Whoever builds the gates will lose his youngest."

During his reign Hiel from Bethel rebuilt Jericho. As the LORD had foretold through Joshua son of Nun, Hiel lost his oldest son Abiram when he laid the foundation of Jericho, and his youngest son Segub when he built the gates.

In your land no woman will have a miscarriage or be without children. I will give you long lives.

Obey the LORD your God and all these blessings will be yours:

"The LORD will bless you with many children, with abundant crops, and with many cattle and sheep.

"But if you disobey the LORD your God and do not faithfully keep all his commands and laws that I am giving you today, all these evil things will happen to you:

"The LORD will curse your grain crops and the food you prepare from them.

What shall I ask you to do to these people? Make their women barren! Make them unable to nurse their babies!