The First Book of Jeroboam

== Chapter 1 ==
# My name is Jeroboam. I was born to a good mother dog who saw that I was educated as she was educated. I've had many trials in my life, but I've always been highly favored of the Lord. I've received great knowledge of His goodness and mysteries. Because of these things, I now make this record of my life. I'm writing as my mother did, in Phoenician, but writing according to Jewish learning. I know this record is true, which I engrave upon metal plates I've made. My record begins with my mother, Ruth, who lived in the city of Samaria. When Hoshea was king the people of Samaria were full of wickedness and their hearts are full of evil. Even their dogs were wicked.
# But me, my mother, and a few dogs we know are the only dogs in Samaria who live righteously. When my mother was getting food with our owner she saw a prophet trying to warn the people that if they don't repent, Samaria would be destroyed.
# When my mother heard the words of the prophet, she was concerned for the people. So, she went out of the city and came to a large stone, where my mother prayed to the Lord for her concern on the people of Samaria. Then an angel appeared and showed her a book. The angel told her to read the book and my mother began to read, 'Samaria has been corrupt and the people had turned away from God. You, Ruth, shall teach the word of the Lord to anyone who is righteous.
#After that, with the gift and power of God, you'll warn the people about Samaria's destruction.' My mother then went back to Samaria and taught the word of God to all the righteous dogs. They listen to her and turned back to the Lord.
#Now, I was one of those who'd listened to my mother and I went to our owners' house and told my father, Abram, what my mother had taught.
#But my father and his brother, Absalom, did not believe my mother because of their rebellious nature. However, my sister, Naomi, was of true delight and believed the words of my mother.
#Then, my mother, Ruth, went to the temple of Baal, an idol from the land of the Phoenicians, and said to God, "Lord, put a voice into my mouth, so that the people would understand me." When there were many people gathered at the temple my mother cried out, "People of Samaria, hear my words!" The people were surprised to see my mother, a dog, speaking to them.
#My mother then said, "The Lord your God is angry because you'd disobeyed Him and didn't follow His commandments. Which read, 'You shall not worship other gods before me. You shall not kill. You shall not have engraved images. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not bear a false witness against your neighbor. Honor your mother and father. Honor the sabbath.'
#He is the same God who parted the Red Sea for Moses and helped your forefathers get to the land of the Canaanites. The Lord was with Joshua when your forefathers fought the Canaanites and their enemies.
#The idols you worship are just false gods and they can't save you because they can't speak or see. Only the Lord God can hear your prayers and can save you if you repent.
#But many years from this year, the Lord will raise a man from the tribe of Judah. He's to be the messiah that'll save all who will follow Him after he'll be born in the land of Jerusalem. And twelve men will go through all the earth turning people from the power of the devil to God.
#The words of Baal's priests are not true, but the words of Moses and the prophets are the true words of the Lord.
#How can you call Baal god if good things happen? God can do nice things for you.
#Some of the people in Jerusalem believe that the Lord is God and they believe the words of the prophets. Why couldn't you stop selling your children into slavery?
#When the messiah come, he'll set you all free. They'll praise him and call him the light and the life of the world.
#Some of you in this kingdom will escape captivity and go to the kingdom of Judah. But the Lord will let the Assyrians bring new people to inherit the lands you live in.
#Under the order of the king of the Assyrians, you'll go to live in the lands eastward and the mountains of Media.
#Please understand that the Lord is your God and repent if knew what your doing is evil.
#If your priests are truly priests, then let them teach you that redemption does not come from idols, but comes from the Lord."
== Chapter 2 ==
# After my mother had said these words, the people of Samaria were angry with the message that God gave her and they reject it. Then the people try to stone her, but she's been protected by the grace of the Lord.
# My mother made her escape and went back to our owner's house. My father tried to change her mind, but she said to him, "How could you turn away from God when your pride has made you fall away from Him?"
# That night, my family was sleeping when I had a dream.
# In the dream, I was in a great desert, where the sands didn't end. I turned to see a city being destroyed by an army and the people being carried away as captives. Then I saw an angel telling me to take my family, my friends, and all those who will listen to my mother into the wilderness.
# When I woke up I've got my family together and I told them about my dream. My mother already knew this because the Lord came to her in a dream, telling her to gather all those who'd listen her and flee into the wilderness.
#So, my mother has gathered up her sister, Judith, and her family. While I gathered up the families of Jared, Hillel, Aaron, Samuel, Alma, Josh, and Lemuel. Naomi had gathered up the families of Laban, Eli, Ben, Jezebel, Jesse, Simon, Abigail, Maya, Caleb, Levi, Noah, and Ethan. My father had gathered the families of Daniel, Jacob, and David. Also, Absalom had gathered the families of Asher, Ezra, Josiah, Jordan, Amir, Micah, and Amari.
#After getting all the righteous dogs, we all went out of Samaria and into the desert. My father and Absalom were sad because they left their inheritance and they want to return to the city. But my mother didn't want them to return to the land of Samaria.
#We walked through the desert for a while, until we came to the region of Gath. There we set up tents, which we took with us into the wilderness.
#While I was getting wood, I heard my father talking with Absalom. Their angry with my mother and they wanted to go back to Samaria.
#After hearing my father told his brother, I went to a nearby river and I prayed to the Lord for the concern of my father.
#Then God said to me, "How blessed are you, Jeroboam. For you have sought me diligently. If you shall keep my commandments, you shall prosper and shall be lead to a land of promise, a land which I have prepared for you and it's choice above all other lands. Since you have a good heart, you will be a ruler and a teacher over your family. If your father and his brother continue to rebel against me, they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord. Even on that day if they shall rebel against me, I'll curse them with a sore curse and they'll have no power over your seed. Go now, Jeroboam. Go tell your mother that I've spoken to you."
#So, I went to the tent of my mother and I told her about the things that God had told me. My mother's pleased that the Lord had shared these things with me.
#But when I told my mother what the Lord warned me about my father and Absalom she too was concerned about them. Then she told me that I'm going to help out on the journey to the promised land.
#After many days by the river Abram, my mother called her family and the other dogs together and said, "The Lord has made it known to me that some of us must go into Gath to retrieve a book of metal plates, which I can write the scriptures on them. With these plates, our seed will know the commandments of the Lord in the promised land."
#When my father heard this he said to my mother, "Those plates are in the hands of Achar, the advisor of the king of the Philistines. There's no way that Achar will give us the plates."
#Then Absalom said, "We cannot go to the house of Achar, even if the Lord God tells us to."
#But I, Jeroboam, said to my mother, "Mother, I will go and do what the Lord has commanded. For I know that He favors those who listen to His word and for He is the true God of the world. I know that what the Lord says to His prophets are true and are never wrong."
#After I said these words, my mother was pleased that I was faithful and I would be a great ruler and teacher over my family and friends.
#So, my father, Absalom, Naomi, and I, Jeroboam, then went from the tent of my mother and walked down the road to a hill called Jeremiah, which was near Gath.
#While we think of a way to persuade Achar to give us the plates, Absalom said to us, "Lets cast lots and we shall see who would go to the house of Achar." So, we did cast lots and they fell onto my father.
#When my father was chosen he murmur and went his way into the city. Absalom, Naomi, and I wait on the hill Jeremiah for my father to return.
#Then, Absalom had began to murmur, saying that Achar won't give the plates to my father. "Why do you doubt the will of God?" I said to Absalom, "Didn't He had protected my mother when the people of Samaria tried to stone her?"
#After I had these words, Absalom didn't murmur again for he is afraid that the Lord will struck him down.
#Now, after my father had returned he said that Achar had refused to give away the empty plates to him.
#Then, I, Jeroboam, had thought of a way we can get the plates. I said to them, "Lets go find some gold, so that we can trade it for the plates." So, we went to a cave and found a sack of gold, which some thieves had left.
#We then took the sack of gold and went to the city of Gath to go speak to Achar.
#But as we approached the gate, the Lord had caused the guards to fall down to the earth asleep. Then we went to the house of Achar, which is on a street called Astrian.
== Chapter 3 ==
# Now, as we came to the house of Achar, Achar was surprised to see me, Naomi, my father, and Absalom at his door.
# So, he let us in and said, "What in the name of the king do you, dogs, seek?"
# I said to Achar, "We came to trade this sack of gold for the empty plates of brass." And I put the sack of gold on the table.
# When Achar saw the gold he was in awe and felt proud to be receiving more gold. For that Achar is a wealthy and powerful man. Also, the captain of the Philistine army.
# But after Achar gave us an angry face, turned to his guards and said, "Take these dogs to the king, for I cannot give them the plates of brass."
# With that, the guards ran after us after we ran out of the house and toward the gate. We ran to a hill, where we hid in a cavity of a rock.
# My father had murmured because we didn't get the plates and decided to go back to my mother. But I, Jeroboam, said to him, "Why do you doubt, father? We can't go back, until we have the plates. Did God ever left Moses when he saved His people from bondage in Egypt? Have Samson doubted when he lost his strength? Gideon haven't doubted when the Lord called him to serve Him. When David was chosen by God to be king he didn't doubt His will. If you have the right spirit, the Lord will come to you. Like He did to me."
# After I said these things my father had said some harsh words to me, picked up a rod, and started hitting me with it.
# Naomi tried to stop my father, but Absalom was holding her back because Naomi realized that my father was going to kill me.
# When my father is about to hit me harder, an angel appeared and my father and Absalom fell back in fear.
# The angel said to my father, "Why do you hurt your son with a rod? Do you not know that the Lord had chosen him to be a ruler and a teacher over you because of your rebellious sins?" Then the angel healed me and said, "Now go back to Gath and the Lord will deliver Achar into your paws."
# After the angel had disappeared, my father and Absalom murmured knowing that getting the plates is going to be hard.
# When we came to the gates of Gath I went into the city, while my father, Absalom, and Naomi stayed at the gates.
# I walked the entire way to the street where Achar's house is and I've found that Achar had fell to the earth after drinking some wine.
# Now, I, Jeroboam, came up to Achar and I slowly draw out his own sword from him. The sword was of fine craftsmanship by how it looked.
# The handle was made of gold and it has the head of a serpent. I saw that it's decorated with precious jewels. Also, the blade was made from the most precious iron the Philistines had.
# Then the Holy Spirit told me that the Lord had delivered Achar into my paws because I've been faithful. When the Spirit commanded me to slay Achar I said that I won't kill him for that I haven't shed the blood of a man before.
# The Spirit said, "Behold, the Lord slays the wicked to bring forth His righteous purposes. Achar would've killed you and your family for he refused to give up his plates of brass."
# Then I asked, "If I don't slay him, how can I teach the law of God to my pups without the plates of brass?"
# The Spirit answered, "It is better that one man should perish than a whole nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief."
# So, I lifted Achar's sword up and I used it to take off Achar's head. After that I hid the body of Achar behind some jars, so that no one would see that Achar had been slained.
# Then I went to the house of Achar, where I met three male dogs who served Achar and they asked where I was from.
# I told them that I'm from the land of Samaria and I told them that I want the empty plates of brass. So, the three dogs went to the treasure room and got me the plates.
# After that, I led the three dogs toward the gate and my father and Absalom had began to run away when they saw three dogs of Achar with me. Fearing that Achar is nearby.
# I, Jeroboam, called out to them saying that Achar is dead. When the three dogs heard what I said they tried to flee, but Naomi pushed them down to the earth.
# "Come with us," Naomi said, "You three will be taken to live in a promised land, which was prepared by the Lord God. But not as guard dogs. You'll live as free dogs." They agreed and they got up.
# One of the dogs said, "As the Lord lives, we'll serve Him and do whatever He says. Even to the end of our days." With that, they shook our paws and said that their names are Mormon, Josiah, and Boaz.
# We returned to my mother's tent in the wilderness, where she give thanks to God and she took Mormon, Josiah, and Boaz in as her sons for their mother had died after they were born.
# My mother then took the plates of brass and started writing on them. She wrote the Five Books of Moses, which give an account of the creation of the world, the record of the Jews, and the prophecies of the holy prophets down to the reign of king Hoshea.
# After that, my mother read from the plates of brass and taught us the word of the Lord. Even I, Jeroboam, was pleased that my mother had remembered what she'd learned from the Scriptures when she was young.
# After forty days, we gathered our things and traveled westward toward the land of Egypt, where we'd pitched our tents at Heliopolis.
# Then my mother called us together and my father and Absalom hoped that the Lord is allowing them to return to the land of Samaria.
# She said, "I am pleased that the Lord has blessed us with many great things, but there would be a lot of trials as we continue the journey. Jeroboam, the Lord wants you, your father, your sister, Mormon, Josiah, Boaz, and Absalom to go to the city of Noph."
# I was confused when I wondered why would God commanded us to go to Noph. My mother then said, "When we take possession of the promised land, we are to multiply into a great and mighty nation. But that couldn't be accomplished if my brother and sons have wives and my daughter to have a husband. My friend, Sirach, has five daughters and one son, so that they'll be abled to marry my sons, my daughter, and my husband's brother."
# When we heard these words we were pleased that God is allowing me and some of my family to have mates of our own, so that we could have pups.
== Chapter 4 ==
# The next day, we went to Sirach's house in Noph and the Lord had softened Sirach's heart as we told him about our journey.
# So, Sirach, his daughters, his son, and his whole household took provisions with them as we went back to my mother at Heliopolis.
# After we'd arrived, my father and Absalom were angry with me and they still want to return to the land of Samaria. So, they've partnered with two of Sirach's servants to kill my mother.
# When I saw how angry my father and Absalom had become, I said to them, "Father, Absalom, why do you still angry at my mother? Are you forgetting that she was called by God to be a prophetess? Hosea became a prophet to bring the people back to the Lord, but they had reject his words for they've turned their backs on God. The prophet Elijah did what the Lord commanded him to do because he's faithful. How can you turn your back on Him when He did great things for us?"
# After I'd said these words, my father was so angry with me that he, Absalom, and two servants of Sirach took me and bind me.
# They even took me out into the desert and left me for the wild beasts to devour on.
# I tried to get the ropes that I'm bound to off of my paws, but I couldn't because they're on my paws so tight.
# Then I cried, "Lord, if you could give me strength, I could break these bands and stand up to my father, his brother, and Sirach's two servants. So, help me, please!"
# After I had cried to God, the bands broke and I went back to our tents.
# When my father and Absalom saw me they've noticed that the bands on my paws were broken and they wanted to bind me again.
# But then, two of Sirach's daughters came up to my father and Absalom and pleaded with them to not take my life.
# So, they thought what my mother will say to them if they had killed me. Then they told me how sorry they are and I, Jeroboam, forgave them.
# After three days, my mother allowed me, Naomi, Mormon, Josiah, and Boaz marry Sirach's four daughters and one son, who are named Achava, Adara, Batya, Avital, and Benzion.
# So, I'd married Achava, Naomi had married Benzion, Mormon married Adara, Josiah had married Avital, and Boaz took Batya to be his mate. Also, Absalom had married Sirach's sister Gomer,
# We then gave thanks to the Lord for all our joy and for all the wonderful things He has done for us.
# Even I'm pleased with God for protecting me from all kinds of danger we'd faced.
# The next morning, my mother rose up and had called all of us together in her tent.
# She said to us, "Behold, I had dreamed a dream. It foretells of great things to come for the Jews and for all of the world."
== Chapter 5 ==
# My mother then told us the dream she had. "In the dream," she said, "I was standing in a field of darkness and a man in a cloak appeared to me.
# He urged me to follow him and I followed the man. Then I saw a tree with fruit I've never seen before and the man told me to eat the fruit.
# So, I took one of the fruits of the tree and ate it. The taste was so great and wonderful.
# Then, I saw a rod of iron and a path leading up to the tree. I looked and saw you looking for me. I urged you to come and take a bite from the fruit of the tree.
# Abram and Absalom refused to take a bite of the fruit and they walked away from the path.
# Then, other dogs, men, women, and children had followed the rod of iron to the tree and took a bite of the fruit.
# After that, I looked across a sea of blood and I saw a great and spacious building. In it were men and women mocking us and pointed their fingers at us for taking a bite of the fruit. But we paid no heed to them.
# When some of the men saw how wonderful the building is they let go of the rod and tried to swim across the sea of blood, but they all had drowned in the sea.
# I've felt sorry for those who haven't received the fruit and have fallen into sin.
# Just then, the ground beneath the building shook and the building had crumbled. All the men and women inside the building had fell and had called upon the Lord to save them, but the Lord couldn't save them because they've turned their backs on Him.
# Soon, all of us had gathered around the tree and we were happy by the grace of God."
== Chapter 6 ==
# After my mother had told us about her dream, we went back to our tents and my father and Absalom were confused about my mother's dream.
# But I, Jeroboam, had want to know what my mother's dream means, so I'd prayed for the meaning of my mother's dream and to know the purpose of our journey.
# I was caught away in the spirit of the Lord and I was placed on an exceedingly high mountain, which I've never seen before and haven't set a paw on.
# An angel came to me and said, "Jeroboam, what do you desire to know?" I answered, "I wish to know the meaning of the things my mother had saw."
# The angel told me to look and I turned my head and I saw a beautiful virgin, who is bearing a child in her arms in a stable of animals. I'd then noticed that the virgin is with her husband, who is also in the stable with her.
# When the angel had asked me what I'm seeing, I said, "I see a very beautiful virgin, who is with her husband, and she's holding a child."
# "Jeroboam," the angel said, "This child that you see is the son of God. Do you now know the meaning of the tree, which your mother had saw?"
# I told the angel that I do know. The tree had represent the love of God.
# Then I saw the son of God as a grown man and many other people following Him. I now know that the rod of iron represent the word of God.
# After that, I'd saw that the son of God had been crucified for the sins of the world. The son of God then rose from the dead three days later and showed the people that He's really the messiah, whom the prophets had foretold of His coming.
# Then I saw the son of God appearing to different peoples that I don't know about. I asked the angel who these people were.
# The angel then said, "These people, Jeroboam, are from ten of the tribes of Israel, which are to be scattered throughout the world."
# I turned my head again and I saw the promised land many generations after me.
# Above, I saw the heavens opened and the son of God appearing to the descendants of my dogs. He'd dwelled with them for many days and nights and He taught them His gospel.
# Many generations passed away after that and I saw the utter destruction of my dogs before my eyes.
# Then I saw people sailing across the great waters in ships from other nations and they settled in the promised land, where they've prospered and obtained the land for there inheritance.
# I've also noticed that they've possessed a book and I didn't know what it is. The angel spoke to me again, "Jeroboam, the book that you see is a record of the Jews. It contains many prophecies of the holy prophets and it is a witness of Jesus Christ. It's like the record on the plates of brass, except there aren't so many. Jeroboam, you and the seed of your dogs will make a record of gold plates and write many things, which the Lord will tell you.
# The record of your dogs, Jeroboam, will establish the truth of the first record. It'll one day fill the entire Earth with it's message and it'll become a another witness of Jesus Christ. This record will make everyone know that the son of God is the savior of the world and that all men must come to Him or they cannot be saved."
# After I was taken back to our tents, my father and Absalom came to me and they desire to know the meaning of my mother's dream.
# So, I said, "My dear father, Abram, and Absalom, let me see if I can tell you about the meaning of the dream."
# I told them that the tree symbolizes the love of God, the rod of iron symbolizes the word of God, and the great and spacious building represented the pride of men.
# Then I said to them, "Since you two now know the meaning of my mother's dream, I wish tell you that I was also told that if you would prayed like I did you would know the meaning of the dream. Repent from your evil ways and live the commandments of God."
# My father and Absalom were moved to tears and they hugged me, knowing that they'll try to live righteous lives.
== Chapter 7 ==
# My mother rose early from her tent the next morning and found an angel standing near the tent door.
# In his hands, the angel held a compass and he gave it to my mother saying, "This compass, Ruth, is a gift from God. It'll lead you to the promised land."
# After the angel left, my mother looked at the compass and was curious about its craftsmanship.
# The compass has two spindles and one points the way to go.
# Then my mother called all of us together and she showed us the compass. She even told us that the compass will guide us to the promised land.
# We pack up everything, including our tents, and continued traveling westward through the wilderness.
# During the journey, we stopped at a spring to gather water and we called the spring Bennaren, which has flowing waters for other travelers.
#We'd gathered up some of our strength for a few days and we continued on our journey.
#After two days, we were running out of food and that's when we came to a city by the sea.
#We had set up our tents by a grove of trees that grow fruit and the bees in the trees made all the honey. Then we gathered all what we need and we rested for about twelve days.
#When the Lord came to me He said, "Arise, Jeroboam, and go to the top of the hill." So, I went to the top of a nearby hill and said, "Lord, here I am. What do you want me to do?"
#"Jeroboam," the Lord said, "I want you to build a ship to cross these waters. I will show you how to it is to be built and it'll carry you and your dogs to the promised land."
#But I said, "Lord, a ship can't be built with bare paws. Where can I go to find the tools to build it?"
#The Lord answered, "Through your faith, Jeroboam. I will show you all things."
#Then I, Jeroboam, went into the city and bought the tools from a blacksmith. After that I went back to the grove and started chopping down trees with some help from Naomi and a few dogs.
#But when my father and Absalom saw what we were doing they became angry with me and they began rebelling with the servants of Sirach, thinking that I can't build a ship.
#They came up to me and said, "Why are you building a ship? A dog can't build a ship. We know that your mother lead us out of the land of Samaria for days. Here, we've found the land of promise. We can't go farther and across those waters."
#I said to them, "Why do you question God? He has done much good for us and you had turned your back on Him.
#My mother has done good things and she was favored by the Lord for living a righteous life. Her mother, Ahuvah, had taught her how to live righteously and taught her about God.
#This is the same God who parted the Red Sea for Moses, who gave Abraham a son, and who gave Samson the strength to fight the Philistines.
#When Cain killed Abel the Lord had cut him off from His presence and cursed him because Cain had became sinful and he didn't repent for the rest of his days.
#If a person is faithful, he'll be awarded. But if a person is wicked, he'll be punished and his soul will never enter the kingdom of God.
#I've feared that both of you will be punished and condemned for all time.
#The prophets had foretold the destruction of our home and you should know that because they've told the truth and the people didn't believe them. Including you, father, and Absalom. Just know that my mother speaks the truth."
#After I'd said these words, my father and Absalom were so angry with me and they tried to put there paws on me, so they would kill me.
#But I said to them, "In the name of the Almighty God, I command you not to touch me! I am filled with the power of God. If the Lord commanded it, I could say to those waters, 'Be dry land!' And it would be so. If the Lord has power to do that, then He can teach me how to build a ship."
#When I've finished saying these words my father and Absalom were frightened and they backed away from me. But they still rebel against me.
#I'd prayed to the Lord to know what to do with my father and Absalom. He said to me, "Jeroboam, stretch out your paw toward Abram and Absalom, so that I may shock them and they'll know that I am the Lord there God."
#So, I came up to them, stretched out my paw, and my father and Absalom started to feel the power of God upon there bodies.
#They fell to the earth when I'd stopped stretching out my paw and they've kneeled before me saying, "Jeroboam, forgive us! We now know that the Lord is with you."
#"Don't kneel before me," I said to them, "For I am not a god. But the Lord God is worthy to anyone who'll worship Him.
#If you two repent from your wicked ways, you'll love one another and do good things for your family."
#After I'd said these words, my father and Absalom got up and helped me and the other dogs to build the ship, which was to be built after the matter of man.
== Chapter 8 ==
# Then, some of the dogs helped us with the wood and other dogs had used some fabric to make the sail.
#The building took three days and the ship was completed. We stood back and admired the shape of the ship we'd built.
#Soon enough, we'd hauled the ship into the water and loaded it with food, provisions, and jars full of water.
#After that, we sailed in the direction the compass points as we continued our journey to the promised land.
#We sailed westward for two days without committing sin. But that wasn't meant to be.
#On the second night, I was praying when I'd heard music and I went to see what it was. That's when I, Jeroboam, had found my father having a party and Absalom, his mate Gomer, and some of the servants of Sirach were dancing and sinning against the Lord. I feared that God will be angry with them.
#I went up to them and said, "Father, Absalom, what are you doing? You can't be doing this against the Lord! He'll be angry for what you did."
== Chapter 9 ==
== Chapter 10 ==
== Chapter 11 ==
== Chapter 12 ==
== Chapter 13 ==
== Chapter 14 ==
== Chapter 15 ==
== Chapter 16 ==
== Chapter 17 ==
== Chapter 18 ==
== Chapter 19 ==
== Chapter 20 ==
== Chapter 21 ==
== Chapter 22 ==
== Chapter 23 ==
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Category:Story