1. Why might some people deserve honor, and what will we learn in this article?

HOW do we show honor to people? We do this by giving them special attention and by showing them respect. Usually, we honor those who have done something to deserve honor or those who have an important assignment or position. In this article, we will learn whom we should honor and why.

2, 3. (a) Why does Jehovah especially deserve honor? (See opening picture.) (b) Who is the Lamb mentioned at Revelation 5:13, and why should we honor him?

² Revelation 5:13 says that “the One sitting on the throne” and “the Lamb” deserve honor. “The One sitting on the throne” refers to Jehovah. In Revelation chapter 4, the creatures in heaven give us one reason why Jehovah, “the One who lives forever and ever,” deserves to be honored. They say: “You are worthy, Jehovah our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because you created all things, and because of your will they came into existence and were created.”​—Revelation 4:9-11.

³ “The Lamb” mentioned at Revelation 5:13 is Jesus Christ. How do we know? When he was on earth, Jesus was called “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) What other king has ever willingly died as a ransom for his subjects? That is certainly a good reason to honor him. Jesus deserves honor because “he is the King of those who rule as kings and Lord of those who rule as lords.” (1 Timothy 6:14-16) Maybe you feel as do the creatures in heaven who sing: “The Lamb who was slaughtered is worthy to receive the power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.”​—Revelation 5:12.

4. Why would it be wise for us to honor Jehovah and Christ?

⁴ John 5:22, 23 says that Jehovah has made Christ the judge of all humans. That is a main reason why we should honor Jesus. And when we do this, we also honor Jehovah. When we choose to honor Jesus and his Father, we can have everlasting life.​—Read Psalm 2:11, 12.

5. Why do all people deserve a measure of honor and respect?

⁵ Humans were created “in God’s image.” (Genesis 1:27) This means that most people have the ability to show qualities similar to God’s. For example, humans can show love, kindness, and compassion. Humans were also created with a conscience, a sense of what is right or wrong, honest or dishonest, appropriate or not appropriate. (Romans 2:14, 15) Most people like things that are clean and beautiful and want to live in peace with others. This is not surprising, because Jehovah is a God of order and peace. Clearly, all humans were created with the ability to imitate Jehovah in one way or another. For this reason, they deserve our honor and respect.​—Psalm 8:5.

SHOW HONOR IN THE RIGHT WAY

6, 7. How are Jehovah’s Witnesses different from many people when showing honor to others?

⁶ We know that other humans should be honored, but it may be difficult to know what kind of honor to give them and how much. That is because most imperfect humans are strongly influenced by the attitudes in Satan’s world. Many people make men or women their idols. Instead of giving them honor and respect as Jehovah intended, people give other humans too much honor, treating them like gods. They may imitate the clothing, conduct, and behavior of political and religious leaders, athletes, movie stars, and other celebrities.

⁷ True Christians know that it would be wrong to honor humans to that degree. Of all the people who have ever lived, only Jesus set a perfect example for us to imitate. (1 Peter 2:21) We need to remember that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) No human deserves to be worshipped. When we give humans more honor than we should, this makes Jehovah unhappy.

8, 9. (a) How do Jehovah’s Witnesses view government officials? (b) When would we not obey officials?

⁸ There are some people who deserve our honor or respect because of their position. For example, think about government officials and what they do for you. They help to keep neighborhoods safe and to care for the needs of their citizens. There are many benefits to their work. The apostle Paul said that we should view these government authorities as “superior authorities.” He also said that we should follow their laws: “Render to all their dues: to the one who calls for the tax, the tax,” and “to the one who calls for honor, such honor.”​—Romans 13:1, 7.

⁹ As Jehovah’s Witnesses, we do all we can to show government officials that we respect them. Of course, every country has unique customs, so what officials may expect from us in one place may be different from what they expect in another. Still, we cooperate with government officials as they do their work. However, if they ask us to do something that will cause us to disobey Jehovah, we cannot do that. In those cases, we obey and honor Jehovah rather than men.​—Read 1 Peter 2:13-17.

10. How did Jehovah’s servants in the past set a good example for us today?

¹⁰ We can learn from Jehovah’s servants in the past, who showed honor to governments and their officials. Joseph and Mary are a good example. When the Romans wanted to know how many people were living in the land, Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem to register there even though Mary was very close to giving birth. (Luke 2:1-5) The apostle Paul is another example of someone who respected human rulers. When he was accused of doing something wrong, he respectfully defended himself before King Herod Agrippa and before Festus, the governor of the Roman province of Judea.​—Acts 25:1-12; 26:1-3.

11, 12. (a) Why do we not give religious leaders special honor? (b) What happened when an Austrian Witness showed a politician respect?

¹¹ What about religious leaders? Should we give them special honor? We give them the same honor we would give to any other person. But it would be wrong for us to give them special honor, even if they expect it. Why? Because false religion does not teach the truth about God and his Word, the Bible. Jesus criticized false religious teachers and called them hypocrites and bad leaders. (Matthew 23:23, 24) On the other hand, it would not be wrong to show special respect and honor to government officials. As a result of our doing so, they have sometimes helped us.

¹² One such official was Dr. Heinrich Gleissner, an Austrian politician. During World War II, he was arrested by the Nazis. When he was put on a train to a concentration camp, he met Leopold Engleitner, a zealous Witness from Austria. Brother Engleitner respectfully explained his beliefs to Dr. Gleissner, who listened carefully. When the war ended, Gleissner repeatedly used his position to help the Witnesses in Austria. You may know of other examples of good things that have happened because Christians showed respect to government officials.

SHOW HONOR TO OTHERS

13. Who especially deserve our honor and respect, and why?

¹³ Our brothers and sisters deserve our honor and respect. This is especially true of brothers taking the lead, such as elders, circuit overseers, Branch Committee members, and members of the Governing Body. (Read 1 Timothy 5:17.) All of them care for the needs of God’s people, and the Bible refers to such servants as “gifts in men.” (Ephesians 4:8) So it makes sense that we would honor and respect them no matter their nationality, education, social standing, or financial status. The early Christians set a good example for us. They honored the men taking the lead, and we do the same today. When we are with these men, we do not treat them as if they were angels, that is, superhuman. But we do respect and honor them for their hard work and humility.​—Read 2 Corinthians 1:24; Revelation 19:10.

14, 15. How are Christian elders different from many religious leaders?

¹⁴ Such elders are like humble shepherds. They do not want to be treated as celebrities. So they are very different from many religious leaders today as well as the religious leaders in Jesus’ time. He said about them: “They like the most prominent place at evening meals and the front seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces.”​—Matthew 23:6, 7.

¹⁵ Christian elders obey Jesus’ words: “Do not you be called Rabbi, for one is your Teacher, and all of you are brothers. Moreover, do not call anyone your father on earth, for one is your Father, the heavenly One. Neither be called leaders, for your Leader is one, the Christ. But the greatest one among you must be your minister. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:8-12) When elders in congregations all over the world are humble and obey Jesus’ words, their brothers and sisters will love, respect, and honor them.

16. Why should we continue to work hard in showing honor?

¹⁶ It may take time for us to learn how to honor others. This was also true for the early Christians. (Acts 10:22-26; 3 John 9, 10) But it is worth the effort. When we honor others in the way Jehovah wants us to, we will receive many benefits.

THE BENEFITS OF SHOWING HONOR

17. What are some benefits of showing honor to people who have authority?

¹⁷ When we honor and respect people who have authority in our communities, they are more likely to defend our right to preach. They may even have a positive view of our preaching work. This is what happened several years ago in Germany when a pioneer named Birgit went to her daughter’s school graduation. The teachers told Birgit that it had been a pleasure to have Witness children in class over the years. They felt that the Witness children made the school a better place. Birgit told them, “Our children are taught to follow God’s standards of conduct, and this includes showing respect for teachers and honoring them.” One teacher said that if all children were like the Witnesses, teaching would be easy. They had such a positive view of the Witness children that several weeks later, one of the teachers attended a convention.

18, 19. What should we remember when giving honor to elders?

¹⁸ The principles found in God’s Word can help us understand how to honor congregation elders. (Read Hebrews 13:7, 17.) We can and should commend them for their hard work. When we cooperate with the direction they give, that will help the elders to serve with joy. The Bible says that we should also imitate their faith. But this does not mean that we should try to copy exactly the way a “prominent” elder dresses, speaks, and teaches. If we were to do that, it might seem as if we were following men rather than the Christ. We should not forget that elders are imperfect just as we are.

¹⁹ When we honor and respect elders and do not treat them like celebrities, this will help them. How so? It will be easier for them to stay humble and avoid thinking that they are better than others or that what they do is always right.

20. How do we benefit when we honor others?

²⁰ Honoring others helps us to avoid becoming selfish and helps us to remain humble when we are given special attention. It is also a protection for us because it helps us to avoid being stumbled if someone we respect does something that disappoints us. Another benefit is that it keeps us united with Jehovah’s organization. The organization does not give any human, whether a believer or an unbeliever, excessive honor.

21. What is the most important benefit of showing honor to others?

²¹ The most important benefit of showing honor to others is that by doing so we please God. We will be doing what he wants us to do and will remain faithful to him. Jehovah can then reply to Satan, who said that no one can be faithful. (Proverbs 27:11) Most people in the world do not understand how to give honor to others in the right way. We are so grateful that we know how to give honor Jehovah’s way!

1. What caused Cain to make a wrong decision, and what was the result?

CAIN had an important decision to make. He could choose to control his sinful feelings, which would bring good results. Or he could let his feelings control his actions, which would bring bad results. The Bible tells us that Cain made the wrong decision. His decision resulted in the death of his brother Abel and ruined Cain’s friendship with his Creator.​—Genesis 4:3-16.

2. Why is it important to make good decisions?

² In a similar way, we all have to make choices and decisions in life. Some decisions are very serious, and others are not. Still, many of our decisions can have a big effect on our life. When we make good decisions, we may have fewer problems and a more peaceful life. But when we make bad decisions, our life may be full of problems and disappointments.​—Proverbs 14:8.

3. (a) To make wise decisions, we should have faith in what? (b) What questions will we consider?

³ What will help us to make wise decisions? We need to have faith in God, trusting that he wants to help us and will give us the wisdom we need to make good decisions. We also need to have faith in his Word, trusting his advice. (Read James 1:5-8.) As we draw close to Jehovah and love his Word more and more, this helps us to trust that he knows what is best for us. Then we will consult his Word before we make decisions. But how can we improve our ability to make good decisions? And should we ever change the decisions we make?

WE ALL NEED TO MAKE DECISIONS

4. What decision did Adam have to make, and what were the results?

⁴ People have had to make important decisions from the start of human history. The first man, Adam, had to decide whether he would listen to his Creator, Jehovah, or whether he would listen to his wife, Eve. Adam chose to listen to Eve, who moved him to make a very bad decision. As a result, Jehovah removed Adam from the garden of Eden, and he later died. Today, we too are suffering as a result of Adam’s bad decision.

5. How should we view the responsibility to make decisions?

⁵ Some may think that life would be easier if they did not have to make decisions at all. Perhaps you feel the same way. But it is good for us to remember that Jehovah did not create humans to be like robots that cannot think or make choices. He has given us his Word, which teaches us how to make wise decisions. Jehovah wants us to make decisions, and this responsibility can help us. Think of the following examples.

6, 7. What decision did the Israelites have to make, and why was it difficult for them to make it? (See opening picture.)

⁶ When they were living in the Promised Land, the Israelites had to choose whether to worship Jehovah or to serve other gods. (Read Joshua 24:15.) That may have seemed like a simple decision. However, their choice would result in either life or death. During the time of the Judges, the Israelites kept making bad choices. They stopped worshipping Jehovah and began to worship false gods. (Judges 2:3, 11-23) Later, during the time of the prophet Elijah, God’s people had to decide whether they would serve Jehovah or the false god Baal. (1 Kings 18:21) This may seem as if it would have been an easy choice to make because serving Jehovah is always best. A wise person would not want to serve a lifeless god. But the people could not make a decision. The Bible says that the Israelites were “limping between two different opinions.” Wisely, Elijah encouraged the people to choose to worship the true God, Jehovah.

⁷ Why was it difficult for those Israelites to make a wise decision? First, they did not have faith in Jehovah, and they refused to listen to him. They did not trust in Jehovah, and they did not spend time learning about him or his wisdom. If they had, what they learned would have helped them to make wise decisions. (Psalm 25:12) Second, the Israelites were influenced by people from other nations. Those foreigners influenced the Israelites’ thinking and even made decisions for them. As a result, the Israelites began to follow those foreigners and worship their false gods. This was something that Jehovah had warned the Israelites about many years earlier.​—Exodus 23:2.

SHOULD OTHERS MAKE DECISIONS FOR US?

8. What important lesson do we learn from the Israelites?

⁸ The Israelites’ example teaches us that if we want to make wise decisions, we ought to use God’s Word. Galatians 6:5 reminds us that each person is responsible for his or her own choices. Clearly, we should not give someone else the responsibility to make decisions for us. Instead, each one of us should learn what God says is right and choose to do it.

9. Why is it dangerous to let others make decisions for us?

⁹ How might we let others make our decisions for us? By letting them pressure us to make a bad choice. (Proverbs 1:10, 15) This is dangerous. It is our responsibility to follow our Bible-trained conscience. If we let others make decisions for us, then we have decided to follow them. That choice can lead to disaster.

10. What warning did Paul give to the Galatians?

¹⁰ The apostle Paul warned the Galatians not to let others make personal decisions for them. (Read Galatians 4:17.) Some of the brothers in Galatia were trying to make decisions for others in the congregation. What was their motive? Those selfish men wanted their brothers to follow them rather than the apostles. They were not humble, and they did not respect their brothers’ right to make their own decisions.

11. How can we help others when they need to make decisions?

¹¹ All of us can learn from the good example of the apostle Paul. He knew that his brothers had the right to make their own decisions, and he respected that right. (Read 2 Corinthians 1:24.) Today, the elders can follow this example when they give counsel about a matter that involves a personal choice. They are happy to share information based on God’s Word with their brothers and sisters. Still, the elders are careful to allow each Christian to make his own decisions because he will have to live with the results. Here is an important lesson: We can help others understand the Bible’s counsel that applies to their situation. Still, our brothers and sisters have the right and the responsibility to make their own decisions. When they make wise decisions for themselves, they benefit. Clearly, we should never think that we have the authority to decide what other brothers and sisters should do.

DO NOT LET YOUR FEELINGS CONTROL YOUR DECISIONS

12, 13. Why is it dangerous to make decisions when we are angry or discouraged?

¹² Today, many people follow their heart when they make decisions. But that can be dangerous. The Bible warns us not to base our decisions on our imperfect heart, or feelings. (Proverbs 28:26) We cannot trust our heart because “the heart is more treacherous than anything else and is desperate.” (Jeremiah 17:9) There are many examples in the Bible that show the sad results of relying on the imperfect heart. (1 Kings 11:9; Jeremiah 3:17; 13:10) So, what could happen if we follow our heart when we make decisions?

¹³ Jehovah has commanded us to love him with our whole heart and to love our neighbor as ourselves. (Matthew 22:37-39) But we need to be careful. The scriptures in the previous paragraph show that it is dangerous to let our feelings control our thinking and actions. For example, it is difficult for an angry person to make a good decision. (Proverbs 14:17; 29:22) It is also hard for someone who is discouraged to make a wise choice. (Numbers 32:6-12; Proverbs 24:10) We should let God’s law guide our thinking. (Romans 7:25) When we make important decisions, we should not let our feelings control what we do.

WHEN TO CHANGE YOUR DECISIONS

14. How do we know that it is right to change some decisions?

¹⁴ We need to make wise decisions. Still, a wise person knows that at times he or she may have to reconsider a past decision and perhaps change it. Jehovah God set the perfect example for us. Notice what he did for the Ninevites in Jonah’s day: “When the true God saw what they did, how they had turned back from their evil ways, he reconsidered the calamity that he said he would bring on them, and he did not bring it.” (Jonah 3:10) When Jehovah saw that the Ninevites had changed and had stopped doing what was bad, he adjusted his decision. This showed that he is reasonable, humble, and compassionate. Unlike many humans, Jehovah does not make thoughtless decisions, even when he is angry.

15. Why might we need to change a decision?

¹⁵ There may be times when it would be good for us to reconsider a decision, such as when circumstances change. Recall that Jehovah sometimes changed his decisions. (1 Kings 21:20, 21, 27-29; 2 Kings 20:1-5) Another time to adjust a decision may be when we receive new information. Think about King David’s example. He made a decision about Saul’s grandson Mephibosheth based on wrong information given to him. Later, when David received accurate information, he changed his decision. (2 Samuel 19:24-29) At times, it may be wise for us to do the same thing.

16. (a) What suggestions are helpful when making decisions? (b) Why should we review previous decisions, and how can we do that?

¹⁶ The Bible says that we should not be hasty when making important decisions. (Proverbs 21:5) We should take time to think carefully about all the facts so that we can make a wise decision. (1 Thessalonians 5:21) Before deciding what to do, a family head should take time to research the Scriptures and Christian publications. It would also be good to listen to the opinions or views of other family members. Remember that God urged Abraham to listen to his wife. (Genesis 21:9-12) Elders too should take time to do research. When new information shows that they need to change one of their previous decisions, they are not afraid that they will lose respect from others. Reasonable and modest elders should be ready to adjust their thinking and decisions when necessary. And it would be good for all of us to follow their example. This can help the congregation to be peaceful and remain united.​—Acts 6:1-4.

DO WHAT YOU HAVE DECIDED TO DO

17. What can help us to succeed in making decisions?

¹⁷ Some decisions will be more serious than others. For example, deciding whether to marry or whom to marry is a very serious decision. Another serious decision is when to begin the full-time ministry. Before making such important decisions, we need to think carefully about the situation and pray for Jehovah’s help. This may take time, but if we want to make a wise decision, we must trust in Jehovah, listen to his instruction, and follow his direction. (Proverbs 1:5) Jehovah has given us the best advice in his Word. So it is important for us to do research and pray for Jehovah’s guidance. He can give us the qualities we need to make decisions that are in harmony with his will. Before we make important decisions, we should always ask ourselves: ‘Will this decision show that I love Jehovah? Will it bring joy and peace to my family? And will it show that I am patient and kind?’

18. Why does Jehovah expect us to make our own decisions?

¹⁸ Jehovah does not force us to love him and to serve him. Instead, he has given us the freedom to make that choice. He respects our responsibility and right to choose whether we will serve him. (Joshua 24:15; Ecclesiastes 5:4) But he does expect us to do what we have decided to do based on his Word. When we have faith in Jehovah’s directions and apply the principles he has given us, we can make wise decisions. And we will show that we are steady in all our ways.​—James 1:5-8; 4:8.

1-3. What does it mean to serve Jehovah with “a complete heart”? Give an example.

ALL of us are imperfect and make mistakes. Thankfully, Jehovah has provided the ransom and is ready to forgive us. So if we are humble and repentant, we can ask him for forgiveness. We can be sure that Jehovah will not deal with us “according to our sins.” (Psalm 103:10) Still, we must “serve him with a complete heart.” (1 Chronicles 28:9) How can we do so even though we are imperfect?

² To help us, we can compare the life of King Asa with that of King Amaziah. Both kings did good things, but they also made mistakes because they were imperfect. Yet the Bible says that “Asa’s heart was complete all his life.” (2 Chronicles 15:16, 17; 25:1, 2; Proverbs 17:3) He always tried to please Jehovah and was “completely devoted” to him. (1 Chronicles 28:9, footnote) Amaziah, though, did not serve Jehovah with “a complete heart.” After he defeated God’s enemies, he brought their idols back and began worshipping them.​—2 Chronicles 25:11-16.

³ A person who serves God with “a complete heart” deeply loves Jehovah and wants to worship him forever. In the Bible, the word “heart” usually refers to who we are on the inside. It includes the way we think, what we love, what we would like to do with our life, and why we do the things we do. Even though we are imperfect, we can worship Jehovah with a complete heart. We serve him because we truly want to, not because we have to or because it is just a habit.​—2 Chronicles 19:9.

4. What will we now consider?

⁴ We can understand more clearly what it means to serve God with a complete heart by considering the life of Asa as well as the lives of three other faithful kings of Judah. These were Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah. Although these four kings made mistakes, they still pleased Jehovah. He saw that they served him with a complete heart. Why did God view them that way, and how can we imitate them?

ASA’S HEART “WAS COMPLETE WITH JEHOVAH”

5. What did Asa do when he became king?

⁵ Asa was the third king of Judah after the nation of Israel was divided into the kingdom of Israel and the kingdom of Judah. When Asa became king of Judah, he was determined to remove false worship and disgusting sexual immorality from his kingdom. He destroyed the idols that the people were worshipping and expelled the temple prostitutes. Asa even removed his grandmother from the position of “queen mother, because she had made an obscene idol.” (1 Kings 15:11-13) Asa also encouraged the people “to search for Jehovah” and to obey “the Law and the commandment.” Asa did all he could to help others worship Jehovah.​—2 Chronicles 14:4.

6. How did Asa react when the Ethiopians invaded Judah?

⁶ During the first ten years of Asa’s reign, the kingdom of Judah had no wars. Then the Ethiopians came to fight against Judah with one million soldiers and three hundred chariots. (2 Chronicles 14:1, 6, 9, 10) What did Asa do? He had no doubt that Jehovah could help his people. So he prayed to Jehovah to help them win the battle. (Read 2 Chronicles 14:11.) At times, Jehovah chose to give his people victory over their enemies even when the kings were not faithful to him. He did this to show that he was the true God. (1 Kings 20:13, 26-30) But this time, Jehovah helped his people because Asa relied on him. Jehovah answered Asa’s prayer, and they won the battle. (2 Chronicles 14:12, 13) Asa later made a serious mistake when he asked the king of Syria for help rather than Jehovah. (1 Kings 15:16-22) Even so, Jehovah could see that Asa loved him. His heart “was complete with Jehovah all his life.” How can we imitate Asa’s good example?​—1 Kings 15:14.

7, 8. How can you imitate Asa?

⁷ How do we know if we are completely devoted to Jehovah? We can ask ourselves: ‘Will I obey Jehovah even when it is difficult? Am I absolutely determined to keep his congregation pure?’ Think how much courage Asa needed in order to remove his grandmother from her royal position! At times, you may need to be courageous like Asa. For example, what if a member of your family or a close friend sinned, did not repent, and had to be disfellowshipped from the congregation? Would you be determined not to associate with that person? What would your heart move you to do?

⁸ Like Asa, at times we may feel that everyone is against us. Perhaps your schoolmates or teachers make fun of you because you are one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Or maybe people at work think you are foolish because you take time off to go to an assembly or because you do not often work overtime. In such situations, rely on God, just as Asa did. Pray to Jehovah, be courageous, and keep doing what is right. Remember that God strengthened Asa, and he will strengthen you too.

9. How can we please Jehovah when we preach?

⁹ Asa did not just think about himself; he encouraged others “to search for Jehovah.” We too help people to worship Jehovah. He notices when we speak to others about him. How pleased he must be when he sees that we are doing so because we love him and because we care about people and their future!

JEHOSHAPHAT SEARCHED FOR JEHOVAH

10, 11. How can we imitate Jehoshaphat?

¹⁰ Asa’s son Jehoshaphat “kept walking in the way of his father Asa.” (2 Chronicles 20:31, 32) How so? Like his father, Jehoshaphat encouraged the people to continue worshipping Jehovah. He sent men to the cities of Judah to teach the people from “the book of Jehovah’s Law.” (2 Chronicles 17:7-10) He even went to the territory of the northern kingdom of Israel, to the people in the mountains of Ephraim, “to bring them back to Jehovah.” (2 Chronicles 19:4) Jehoshaphat was a king “who searched for Jehovah with all his heart.”​—2 Chronicles 22:9.

¹¹ Today, Jehovah wants people worldwide to be taught about him, and all of us can help with this work. Is it your goal to have a share in this work every month? Would you like to teach the Bible to others so that they too can begin to worship Jehovah? Is that something you pray about? If you make the effort, Jehovah can help you start a Bible study. Would you be willing to study with someone even though you may have to give up some of your free time? And just as Jehoshaphat tried to help others to begin serving Jehovah again, we can try to help those who have become inactive. Also, the congregation elders arrange to visit and offer help to disfellowshipped ones in the congregation territory who may have left their past practice of sin.

12, 13. (a) When Jehoshaphat felt afraid, what did he do? (b) Why should we follow Jehoshaphat’s example?

¹² Like his father, Asa, Jehoshaphat relied on Jehovah when a large army came to fight against Judah. (Read 2 Chronicles 20:2-4.) He was afraid and asked Jehovah for help. In prayer, he admitted that they could not defeat the enemy. He also said that he and his people did not know what to do. Jehoshaphat had no doubt that Jehovah would help them. He said: “Our eyes are toward you.”​—2 Chronicles 20:12.

¹³ Like Jehoshaphat, sometimes we may not know what to do about a problem, and we may even be afraid. (2 Corinthians 4:8, 9) But remember what Jehoshaphat did. In front of all the people, he prayed to Jehovah and told him how weak they felt. (2 Chronicles 20:5) Family heads can imitate Jehoshaphat’s example. Ask Jehovah to help you and your family to cope with the problem and to know what to do. Do not feel ashamed to let your family hear these prayers. They will realize how much you trust in Jehovah. He helped Jehoshaphat, and he will help you too.

HEZEKIAH KEPT DOING WHAT WAS RIGHT

14, 15. How did Hezekiah rely on God completely?

¹⁴ Hezekiah was another king who “held fast to Jehovah.” He did so even though his father set a bad example and worshipped idols. Hezekiah “removed the high places, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the sacred pole. He also crushed the copper serpent that Moses had made,” doing so because the Israelites were worshipping it. Hezekiah was completely devoted to Jehovah. “He continued to keep the commandments that Jehovah had given to Moses.”​—2 Kings 18:1-6.

¹⁵ While Hezekiah was king, the powerful Assyrian army invaded Judah and threatened to destroy Jerusalem. The king of Assyria, Sennacherib, made fun of Jehovah and tried to get Hezekiah to surrender. During that dangerous time, Hezekiah fully trusted in Jehovah and prayed for his help. He knew that God was much more powerful than the Assyrians and could save his people. (Read Isaiah 37:15-20.) God answered his prayer by sending an angel to kill 185,000 Assyrian soldiers.​—Isaiah 37:36, 37.

16, 17. How can you imitate Hezekiah?

¹⁶ Later, Hezekiah became sick and was dying. During that difficult time, he begged Jehovah to remember his faithfulness and to help him. (Read 2 Kings 20:1-3.) Jehovah heard Hezekiah’s prayer and healed him. We know from the Bible that today we cannot expect a miracle from God to heal our sicknesses or to make us live longer. But like Hezekiah, we can rely on Jehovah for help. We can tell him: “I beg you, O Jehovah, remember, please, how I have walked before you faithfully and with a complete heart.” Do you believe that Jehovah will always take care of you, even when you are sick?​—Psalm 41:3.

¹⁷ How else can we imitate Hezekiah? Perhaps something is getting in the way of our relationship with Jehovah or taking time away from serving him. For example, many today treat humans as if they were idols. They admire celebrities and other people they do not know. Many spend a lot of time reading about such people and looking at their photos. Or they often use social media or other tools to communicate with people on the Internet. Of course, we may enjoy communicating with family or close friends by means of such tools. But we could waste a lot of time on social media. We might even become proud if many people indicate that they like the photos or comments that we have put on the Internet. Or, if we realize that some have stopped looking at them, we may become offended. We could learn from the examples of the apostle Paul, Aquila, and Priscilla. Do you think they spent time each day finding out every little thing people did, especially people who were not serving Jehovah? The Bible says that Paul was “intensely occupied with the word.” And Priscilla and Aquila spent their time preaching and explaining “the way of God more accurately” to others. (Acts 18:4, 5, 26) We can ask ourselves: ‘Am I careful not to treat humans as idols? Do I avoid spending a lot of time doing things that are not really important?’​—Read Ephesians 5:15, 16.

JOSIAH OBEYED JEHOVAH’S COMMANDMENTS

18, 19. How can we be like Josiah?

¹⁸ King Josiah also obeyed Jehovah’s commandments “with all his heart.” (2 Chronicles 34:31) Josiah was Hezekiah’s great-grandson. When he was a teenager, “he started to search for the God of David.” And when he was 20, he began to remove idolatry from Judah. (Read 2 Chronicles 34:1-3.) Josiah tried harder to please Jehovah than many other kings of Judah. Then one day, the high priest found the book of God’s Law in the temple. This was probably the book that Moses himself had written! When the secretary read it to Josiah, he realized that he needed to do more to serve Jehovah completely. He also encouraged others to do the same. As a result, the people “did not deviate from following Jehovah” while Josiah was alive.​—2 Chronicles 34:27, 33.

¹⁹ If you are young, you can imitate Josiah and get to know Jehovah better. Josiah may have learned from King Manasseh, his repentant grandfather, that Jehovah is willing to forgive. You too can learn from older ones in your family and congregation. They can tell you about the many good things that Jehovah has done for them. Also, remember how Josiah felt after he learned what the Scriptures said. He was eager to please Jehovah and immediately made changes. By reading the Scriptures, you too may feel more determined to obey Jehovah. As a result, your friendship with him will be stronger and you will feel happier. Then you will want to tell others about Jehovah. (Read 2 Chronicles 34:18, 19.) When you study the Bible, you may also realize that there are ways you can improve in your service to God. If so, try your best to make these changes, just as Josiah did.

SERVE JEHOVAH WITH A COMPLETE HEART!

20, 21. (a) What did the four kings we discussed have in common? (b) What will we discuss in the next article?

²⁰ What can we learn from these four kings of Judah who served Jehovah with a complete heart? These men were determined to please Jehovah and worship him all their lives. They relied on him when powerful enemies came against them. Most important, they served Jehovah because they loved him.

²¹ Although these four kings were imperfect and made mistakes, Jehovah was pleased with them. He saw what was in their heart and knew that they truly loved him. We too are imperfect and make mistakes. But Jehovah will be pleased with us when he sees that we are serving him with a complete heart. In the next article, we will discuss what we can learn from the mistakes of these kings.

1, 2. Why will we consider the examples of four kings of Judah?

IF YOU saw someone slip and fall on a path, you would likely be careful when walking on that same path. In the same way, by examining the mistakes that others have made in their lives, we can avoid making similar errors. For example, we can learn from the mistakes of people mentioned in the Bible.

² The four Judean kings we read about in the previous article served Jehovah with a complete heart. Yet they still made serious mistakes. Their experiences were written in the Bible so that we can meditate on them and learn valuable lessons. What can we learn from what happened to them, and how can we avoid making the same mistakes they did?​—Read Romans 15:4.

RELYING ON HUMAN WISDOM LEADS TO DISASTER

3-5. (a) Although Asa’s heart was complete toward Jehovah, what mistake did he make? (b) Why might Asa have relied on humans when fighting against Baasha?

³ Let us first consider Asa. He relied on Jehovah when one million Ethiopians attacked Judah. However, he did not rely on Jehovah when he fought against Baasha, the king of Israel. Asa wanted to stop Baasha from fortifying Ramah, which was an important city in Israel near the border of the kingdom of Judah. (2 Chronicles 16:1-3) Asa decided that it would be good to bribe the king of Syria to help him. When the Syrians attacked the cities of Israel, Baasha “immediately quit building Ramah and abandoned his work on it.” (2 Chronicles 16:5) At first, Asa may have thought that he made the right decision.

⁴ But how did Jehovah feel? Jehovah was not pleased that Asa did not rely on him, and he sent the prophet Hanani to correct Asa. (Read 2 Chronicles 16:7-9.) Hanani told Asa: “From now on there will be wars against you.” Asa took control of the city of Ramah, but for the rest of his life, he and his people had to fight many wars.

⁵ In the previous article, we learned that Jehovah was pleased with Asa. Although Asa was imperfect, God saw that Asa’s heart was devoted to him. (1 Kings 15:14) Even so, when Asa made a bad decision, he could not avoid the consequences. Why did he rely on himself and other humans and not on Jehovah? Perhaps Asa thought that he could use clever military methods to win the war. Or he may have listened to bad advice from others.

6. What can we learn from Asa’s mistake? Give an example.

⁶ What can we learn from Asa’s mistake? In all situations, we must rely on Jehovah, not on our own thinking. We need to ask him for help, whether our problems are big or small. It is good to think about this: Do we sometimes rely on ourselves by trying to solve a problem in the way we think is best? Or do we always consider first what the Bible says and then try to use that information to solve our problems? For example, suppose your family makes it difficult for you to attend a meeting or an assembly. Will you ask Jehovah to help you know what to do in that situation? Or maybe after being without a job for a long time, you finally find someone who wants to employ you. Will you tell him that you have meetings you must attend every week and risk not getting the job? Whatever the problem may be, we must remember the psalmist’s advice: “Commit your way to Jehovah; rely on him, and he will act in your behalf.”​—Psalm 37:5.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF WE CHOOSE THE WRONG KIND OF FRIENDS?

7, 8. What mistakes did Jehoshaphat make, and with what results? (See opening picture.)

⁷ Let us now consider the example of Asa’s son Jehoshaphat. He had many good qualities that Jehovah was pleased with. And when he relied on Jehovah, he did many good things. But he also made some bad decisions. For example, he arranged for his son to marry the daughter of wicked King Ahab. Later, Jehoshaphat joined Ahab in fighting the Syrians, even though the prophet Micaiah warned him not to. In the battle, the Syrians attacked Jehoshaphat and tried to kill him. (2 Chronicles 18:1-32) When he returned to Jerusalem, the prophet Jehu asked him: “Is it the wicked you should be helping, and is it those who hate Jehovah you should love?”​—Read 2 Chronicles 19:1-3.

⁸ Did Jehoshaphat learn from what happened to him and from the prophet’s warning? Sadly, he did not. Although he still loved Jehovah and wanted to please him, Jehoshaphat again made friends with a man who did not want to worship Jehovah. This man was King Ahaziah, the son of Ahab. Jehoshaphat and Ahaziah built ships together. But the ships were wrecked before they could even use them.​—2 Chronicles 20:35-37.

9. What can happen if we choose the wrong kind of friends?

⁹ What can we learn from what happened to Jehoshaphat? Jehoshaphat did what was right and “searched for Jehovah with all his heart.” (2 Chronicles 22:9) Yet he chose to spend time with people who did not love Jehovah, and this caused serious problems in his life. In fact, he almost got killed. Remember the Bible proverb: “The one walking with the wise will become wise, but the one who has dealings with the stupid will fare badly.” (Proverbs 13:20) We want to tell others about Jehovah. Still, it would be dangerous to become close friends with people who do not serve him.

10. (a) If we want to get married, what can we learn from Jehoshaphat? (b) What should we remember?

¹⁰ If we would like to get married, for example, what can we learn from Jehoshaphat? Perhaps we may begin to have romantic feelings for someone who does not love Jehovah. We may think that we will not find someone among God’s people to marry. Or some of our relatives might keep telling us that we need to marry before we get too old. It is true that Jehovah created us with the need to love and be loved. However, if we cannot find the right person to marry, what should we do? One thing that can help us is to meditate on what happened to Jehoshaphat. He usually asked Jehovah for guidance. (2 Chronicles 18:4-6) But when he became a friend of Ahab, who did not love Jehovah, Jehoshaphat ignored Jehovah’s warning. Jehoshaphat should have remembered that “the eyes of Jehovah are roving about through all the earth to show his strength in behalf of those whose heart is complete toward him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9) We too should remember that Jehovah wants to help us. He understands our situation and loves us. Do you believe that God will take care of your need for love and companionship? Be sure that at some point he will!

DO NOT LET YOUR HEART BECOME PROUD

11, 12. (a) What did Hezekiah do that revealed what was in his heart? (b) Why did Jehovah forgive Hezekiah?

¹¹ What lesson can we learn from Hezekiah? Jehovah helped Hezekiah to see what was truly in his heart. (Read 2 Chronicles 32:31.) When Hezekiah got very sick, God told him that he would get better and gave him a sign to reassure him. Jehovah made the shadow on a stairway move back ten steps. Later, it seems that the princes of Babylon wanted to find out more about that sign, and they sent men to Hezekiah to ask him about it. (2 Kings 20:8-13; 2 Chronicles 32:24) Jehovah did not tell Hezekiah how to treat them. The Bible says that Jehovah “left him alone” to see what he would do. Hezekiah showed the men from Babylon all the treasures he had. This revealed what was in Hezekiah’s heart. In what way?

¹² Sadly, Hezekiah had become proud. As a result, he “did not respond appreciatively to the good done to him.” The Bible does not say why his attitude changed. Perhaps it was because of his victory over the Assyrians or because Jehovah had healed him. Or maybe it was because he had become rich and famous. Although Hezekiah had served Jehovah with a complete heart, for a time he became proud and Jehovah was not pleased. But later, “Hezekiah humbled himself,” and God forgave him.​—2 Chronicles 32:25-27; Psalm 138:6.

13, 14. (a) What situation could reveal what is in our heart? (b) How should we react when others praise us?

¹³ What can we learn from Hezekiah and the mistake he made? Remember that Hezekiah acted proudly soon after Jehovah helped him to defeat the Assyrians and healed him of his sickness. So when good things happen to us or when others praise us, what will we do? The way we react could reveal what is in our heart. For example, a brother may have worked hard to prepare a talk and give it to a large audience. Many praise him for what he has done. How will he react to the praise?

¹⁴ We should always remember what Jesus said: “When you have done all the things assigned to you, say: ‘We are good-for-nothing slaves. What we have done is what we ought to have done.’” (Luke 17:10) Remember that when Hezekiah became proud, he did not appreciate how Jehovah had helped him. So when others praise us for a talk we gave, what will help us to remain humble? We can meditate on what Jehovah has done for us. And we can speak about him and how he has helped us. After all, he is the one who has given us the Bible and his holy spirit to be able to give the talk.

LET JEHOVAH GUIDE YOU WHEN MAKING DECISIONS

15, 16. What did Josiah do that resulted in his death?

¹⁵ Finally, what can we learn from Josiah? Although Josiah was a good king, he made a mistake that resulted in his death. (Read 2 Chronicles 35:20-22.) What happened? Josiah started a war with Necho, the king of Egypt, although there was no reason to do so. In fact, Necho himself told Josiah that he did not want to fight against him. The Bible says that Necho’s words were “from the mouth of God.” But Josiah went to war and was killed. So why did he fight Necho? The Bible does not say.

¹⁶ Josiah should have found out if what Necho had said was truly from Jehovah. How? He could have asked Jeremiah, one of Jehovah’s prophets. (2 Chronicles 35:23, 25) Also, Josiah should have considered the facts. Necho was going to Carchemish to fight against another nation, not against Jerusalem. And Necho did not try to insult Jehovah or his people. Josiah did not think carefully about these things before he made his decision. What is the lesson for us? When we have a problem and need to make a decision, we should first consider what Jehovah might want us to do.

17. When we have problems, how can we avoid making a mistake like the one Josiah made?

¹⁷ When we have to make a decision, we first need to think about what Bible principles can help us and how we can apply them. In some cases, we may want to do more research in our publications or even ask an elder for advice. He could help us to think about other Bible principles. Imagine this situation: A sister is married to someone who is not a Witness. She plans to go out in the ministry on a particular day. (Acts 4:20) But on that day, her husband does not want her to go preaching. He tells her that they have not spent much time together lately and that he would like to take her out somewhere. So the sister considers Bible verses that can help her make a wise decision. She knows that she must obey God and that Jesus commanded us to make disciples. (Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 5:29) But she also remembers that a wife should be in subjection to her husband and that God’s servants must be reasonable. (Ephesians 5:22-24; Philippians 4:5) Is her husband trying to stop her from preaching, or does he just want to spend time with her that day? As Jehovah’s servants, we want to make decisions that are reasonable and that please him.

MAINTAIN A COMPLETE HEART AND REJOICE

18. What can you learn from meditating on the examples of these four kings of Judah?

¹⁸ At times, we too may make any one of the mistakes that these four kings of Judah made. We might (1) rely on our own thinking, (2) choose the wrong kind of friends, (3) have a proud attitude, or (4) make decisions without first considering what God’s will is. Even so, there is no reason to feel that we can never please Jehovah. He sees the good in us, just as he saw the good in those four kings. Jehovah also sees how much we love him and how much we want to serve him fully. So he has provided us with examples that can help us avoid making serious mistakes. Let us meditate on these Bible accounts and be thankful that Jehovah has provided them for us!

I REMEMBER one cold morning many years ago in Brookings, South Dakota, U.S.A. I could feel that freezing weather would soon come. I was in an unheated barn with a small group of people, and we were all shivering. We were standing near a large container filled with water, and the water was cold! Let me tell you a little about my life so that you will understand why we were there.

MY FAMILY

I was born on March 7, 1936. My parents had four children, and I was the youngest. We lived on a small farm in eastern South Dakota. Farming was an important part of our family’s life, but it was not the most important part. My parents got baptized as Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1934. They had dedicated their lives to Jehovah, so doing his will was most important to them. My dad, Clarence, and later my uncle Alfred, served as company servant (now called coordinator of the body of elders) in our small congregation in Conde, South Dakota.

Our family regularly went to our meetings and from house to house to tell others about the Bible’s wonderful hope for the future. My parents’ example and the training they gave us helped us to love Jehovah. My sister, Dorothy, and I became Kingdom publishers when we were six. In 1943, I joined the Theocratic Ministry School, which had just started.

Conventions and assemblies were an important part of our lives. I remember a convention in 1949 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Brother Grant Suiter gave the talk “It Is Later Than You Think!” He emphasized that all dedicated Christians need to use their lives to preach the good news of God’s Kingdom. After that, I dedicated my life to Jehovah. I got baptized at the next circuit assembly, in Brookings, on November 12, 1949. That is why I was in that very cold barn, as I mentioned earlier. Four of us were waiting to be baptized in a large container made of steel.

I then decided that I wanted to pioneer. I started on January 1, 1952, when I was 15. The Bible says: “The one walking with the wise will become wise,” and there were many wise ones in my family who supported my decision to pioneer. (Proverbs 13:20) I often went preaching with my uncle Julius, who was 60 years old. Although he was much older than me, we enjoyed being together in the ministry. I learned so much from him and his experience in life. Dorothy soon became a pioneer too.

CIRCUIT OVERSEERS HELPED ME

When I was young, my parents invited many circuit overseers and their wives to stay with us. One couple, Jesse and Lynn Cantwell, helped me very much. They cared about me and encouraged me. When they were serving congregations nearby, they sometimes invited me to go with them in the ministry. I really enjoyed my time with them! I wanted to be busy in Jehovah’s work as they were and pioneer.

Our next circuit overseer was Bud Miller. When he and his wife, Joan, visited our congregation, I was 18 years old. At that time I had to appear before the draft board, a committee that decides who must join the military. They wanted me to do some work that I felt was against Jesus’ command to be neutral in politics. But I wanted to preach the good news of the Kingdom. (John 15:19) So I requested that they consider me a minister.

I was so pleased when Brother Miller told me that he would come with me to the meeting with the committee. He was not a shy person, and people did not scare him. He also knew the Scriptures well. Having him with me gave me so much courage! In the late summer of 1954, as a result of that meeting, the committee accepted my request to be considered a minister. I was now free to do more for Jehovah.

Soon after that, I was invited to serve at Bethel, at what was then called Watchtower Farm, on Staten Island, New York. I served there for about three years. I had many wonderful experiences because I met many wise brothers and sisters and worked with them.

BETHEL SERVICE

The farm on Staten Island included the radio station WBBR. It was operated by Jehovah’s Witnesses from 1924 to 1957. Only 15 to 20 members of the Bethel family were assigned to the farm. Most of us were young and quite inexperienced. But an older anointed brother, Eldon Woodworth, worked with us. He was like a father to us and taught us many things. Sometimes when we had difficulties with one another, Brother Woodworth would say, “It sure is marvelous what the Lord has done with what he has to work with.”

Brother Frederick W. Franz was also with us and helped us all. He was wise and knew the Bible very well. And he was interested in each one of us. Our cook was Harry Peterson. It was easier for us to use that last name than his real one, Papargyropoulos. He too was one of the anointed, and he loved the ministry. Brother Peterson did his work at Bethel well but never neglected the field ministry. He would place hundreds of magazines each month. He also knew the Bible well and answered many of our questions.

I LEARNED FROM WISE SISTERS

At the farm, we prepared fruits and vegetables and put them in cans. About 42,600 liters (45,000 quarts) of fruits and vegetables a year were canned for the Bethel family. I worked with Etta Huth, a very wise sister. She made the recipes that we used to prepare the fruit and vegetables. Local sisters came to work with us, and Etta would help organize their work. Although Etta knew much about the canning process, she always respected the brothers who were overseers on the farm. She set a fine example for all of us.

Angela Romano was one of the young sisters who came to help on the farm. Etta had helped her when she came in the truth. Angie and I got married in April 1958, and we have enjoyed serving Jehovah together for 58 years. Through the years, Angie’s loyalty to Jehovah has made our marriage strong. She is wise, and I can absolutely rely on her, no matter what difficulties we have.

A MISSIONARY ASSIGNMENT AND THE TRAVELING WORK

When the brothers sold the WBBR facilities on Staten Island in 1957, I served at Brooklyn Bethel for a short time. Then Angie and I married, so I left Bethel. For three years, we pioneered on Staten Island. For a time, I even worked for the new owners of the radio station, which was called WPOW.

Angie and I kept our life simple so that we would be free to go and serve wherever we were needed. As a result, in 1961 we accepted an invitation to serve as special pioneers in Falls City, Nebraska. But soon after we got there, we were invited to go to South Lansing, New York, for one month to attend Kingdom Ministry School. We enjoyed the training we received, and we thought that after the school we would go back to Nebraska. So we were very surprised when we got a new assignment. We were going to serve as missionaries in Cambodia! In that beautiful country in Southeast Asia, we saw, heard, and tasted things that were new to us. We really wanted to tell people there the good news about the Kingdom.

But then the political situation changed in Cambodia, and we had to go to South Vietnam. After two years I became very sick, and sadly, we had to return to the United States. I needed some time to get better. When I did, we started pioneering again.

In March 1965 we started serving congregations in the traveling work. For 33 years, Angie and I enjoyed circuit and district work and helping at conventions. I enjoyed this work, since conventions have always been an exciting time for me. For some years we visited congregations in and around New York City, and many of the conventions were at Yankee Stadium.

WE RETURNED TO BETHEL AND THEOCRATIC SCHOOLS

Angie and I received many new and difficult assignments over the years. In 1995, I was asked to teach the Ministerial Training School. Three years later, we were invited to Bethel. After 40 years, I was happy to be back in Bethel, where I had started my special full-time service. For a time, I worked in the Service Department and as an instructor in many of the schools. In 2007, the Governing Body formed the Theocratic Schools Department to care for all the schools taught at Bethel, and for some years I was the overseer.

In recent years, many changes have been made to the schools at Bethel. The School for Congregation Elders began in 2008. And over the next two years, more than 12,000 elders were taught at Patterson and at Brooklyn Bethel. That school is now continuing in many other places. In 2010 the name of the Ministerial Training School was changed to the Bible School for Single Brothers, and a new school was formed, called the Bible School for Christian Couples.

In September 2014, those two schools were combined and became the School for Kingdom Evangelizers. The students could be married couples, single brothers, or single sisters. Many around the world were thrilled to hear that they would have this school in their country too. It is exciting to see that more will have the opportunity to attend these schools. And I am so grateful to have met many who made changes in their lives to be able to receive this training.

When I think about my life from before I got baptized in that cold barn until now, I thank Jehovah for the wise people I have met. They have helped me to get to know and serve him better. Some were younger than me, and others were older. And many were from cultures that were different from mine. But I have seen from their actions and attitudes that they loved Jehovah deeply. I am so grateful to have many wise friends among Jehovah’s people whom I can learn from.

In 2012, archaeologists found small pieces of a ceramic jar that are 3,000 years old. Researchers were very excited. Why? Not because of the pieces of the jar but because of the writing that was on them.

When the archaeologists finally put all the pieces together, they were able to read the Canaanite writing on the jar. It said: “Eshba’al Ben Beda,” which means “Eshba’al, son of Beda.” This is the first time archaeologists have found this name written on an ancient item.

Another person named Eshbaal is mentioned in the Bible. He was one of the sons of King Saul. (1 Chronicles 8:33; 9:39) Professor Yosef Garfinkel, one of those who found the jar, said: “It is interesting to note that the name Eshba’al appears in the Bible, and now also in the archaeological record, only during the reign of King David.” This is another example of how archaeology supports the Bible!

In the Bible, Saul’s son Eshbaal is also called Ish-bosheth. (2 Samuel 2:10) Why was “baal” replaced with “bosheth”? Researchers explain that the writer of Second Samuel might have avoided using the name Eshbaal because it reminded the Israelites of Baal, the god of storms whom the Canaanites worshipped. However, in the Bible book of First Chronicles, we can still find the name Eshbaal.