When the LORD's angel was about to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD changed his mind about punishing the people and said to the angel who was killing them, "Stop! That's enough!" The angel was by the threshing place of Araunah, a Jebusite.

Go to Shiloh, the first place where I chose to be worshiped, and see what I did to it because of the sins of my people Israel.

Why have you said in the LORD's name that this Temple will become like Shiloh and that this city will be destroyed and no one will live in it?" Then the people crowded around me.

"When Hezekiah was king of Judah, the prophet Micah of Moresheth told all the people that the LORD Almighty had said, 'Zion will be plowed like a field; Jerusalem will become a pile of ruins, and the Temple hill will become a forest.'

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets and stone the messengers God has sent you! How many times I wanted to put my arms around all your people, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not let me!

And so your Temple will be abandoned and empty.

he was sorry that he had ever made them and put them on the earth. He was so filled with regret

So the LORD changed his mind and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

Whenever the LORD gave Israel a leader, the LORD would help that leader and would save the people from their enemies as long as that leader lived. The LORD would have mercy on them because they groaned under their suffering and oppression.

So they got rid of their foreign gods and worshiped the LORD; and he became troubled over Israel's distress.

But God was merciful to his people. He forgave their sin and did not destroy them. Many times he held back his anger and restrained his fury.

If at any time I say that I am going to uproot, break down, or destroy any nation or kingdom,

On the other hand, if I say that I am going to plant or build up any nation or kingdom,

So he prayed, " LORD, didn't I say before I left home that this is just what you would do? That's why I did my best to run away to Spain! I knew that you are a loving and merciful God, always patient, always kind, and always ready to change your mind and not punish.

Pray to the LORD! We have had enough of this thunder and hail! I promise to let you go; you don't have to stay here any longer."

Elijah walked a whole day into the wilderness. He stopped and sat down in the shade of a tree and wished he would die. "It's too much, LORD," he prayed. "Take away my life; I might as well be dead!"

How much longer will your anger last? Have pity, O LORD, on your servants!

When he came back the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come! Look, the Son of Man is now being handed over to the power of sinners.

That same day Gad went to David and said to him, "Go up to Araunah's threshing place and build an altar to the LORD."

King David, Solomon's father, had already prepared a place for the Temple. It was in Jerusalem, on Mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared to David, at the place which Araunah the Jebusite had used as a threshing place. King Solomon began the construction