Solomon spoke to all Israel. He spoke to the commanders of regiments and battalions, judges, every prince, and to the heads of Israel's families.

However, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways, I will hear their prayer from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their country.

Solomon sent a message to King Hiram of Tyre: Do business with me as you did with my father, King David, when you sold him cedar logs for building his palace.

Then Solomon and all Israel celebrated the Festival of Booths. A very large crowd came from the territory between the border of Hamath and the River of Egypt.

My father David had his heart set on building a Temple for the name of Jehovah the God of Israel.

Then Solomon and the entire assembly went to the place of worship in Gibeon because God's Tent of Meeting was there. Jehovah's servant Moses pitched the tent in the desert.

David already brought God's Ark from Kiriath Jearim to a place he had prepared for it. He pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.

while King Solomon and the whole assembly from Israel were offering countless sheep and cattle sacrifices in front of the Ark.

The copper altar that Bezalel, son of Uri and grandson of Hur built was in front of Jehovah's Tent. There Solomon and the assembly worshiped Jehovah.

O Jehovah my God, fulfill the promise you made to my father David. You have made me king over a people, who are so many that they cannot be counted.

There was an assembly on the eighth day. They observed the dedication of the altar for seven days and celebrated the festival for another seven days.

King Asa also removed his grandmother Maacah from the position of queen mother. She made a statue of the repulsive goddess Asherah. Asa immediately cut the statue down, crushed it, and burned it in the Kidron Valley.

Solomon went to the copper altar in front of the Tent of Meeting and in Jehovah's presence sacrificed one thousand burnt offerings on it.

After consulting with the people, the king ordered some musicians to put on the robes they wore on sacred occasions and to march ahead of the army. They sang: 'Praise Jehovah! His love is eternal!'

Solomon answered: You always showed great love for my father David. Now you have allowed me to succeed him as king.

That night God appeared to Solomon. He said: What do you want me to I give you?

God replied to Solomon: You have made the right choice. Instead of asking for wealth, treasure, fame or the death of your enemies or even for long life for yourself, you have asked for wisdom and knowledge so that you can rule my people, over whom I have made you king.

The entrance hall in front of the main room was thirty feet wide (the same as the width of the temple) and thirty feet high. He covered its inside walls with pure gold.

Huram's servants and Solomon's servants who brought gold from Ophir also brought sandalwood and precious stones.

For this reason I will give you wisdom and knowledge. And in addition, I will give you more wealth, treasure, and fame than any king has ever had before or will ever have again.

King Rehoboam strengthened his position in Jerusalem and ruled. He was forty-one years old when he began to rule. He ruled for seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city that Jehovah chose from all the tribes of Israel, and the city where Jehovah put his name. Rehoboam's mother was an Ammonite woman named Naamah.

Please give me the wisdom and knowledge I need to rule over them. Otherwise, how would I ever be able to rule this great people of yours?

He stored shields and spears in each city. He made the cities very secure. Rehoboam held on to Judah and Benjamin.

They imported each chariot from Egypt for fifteen pounds of silver and each horse for six ounces of silver. For the same price they obtained horses to export to all the Hittite and Syrian kings.

Solomon did not make any of the Israelites slaves for his projects. Instead, they were the soldiers, officers, generals, and commanders of his chariot and cavalry units.

If my father put a heavy burden on you, I will add to it. If my father punished you with whips, I will punish you with scorpions.'

However, Jehovah said to my father David: Since you had your heart set on building a Temple for my name, your intentions were good.

Judah's soldiers looked around and found the battle was in front of them and behind them. They cried out to Jehovah! The priests blew the trumpets,

So Solomon left the place of worship at Gibeon, where the Tent of Jehovah's presence was, and returned to Jerusalem. There he ruled over Israel.

The sides of the tank were three inches thick. Its rim was like the rim of a cup, curving outward like the petals of a flower. The tank held about fifteen thousand gallons.

Next to him was Jehozabad with an army of one hundred and eighty thousand armed men.

During his reign silver and gold became as common in Jerusalem as stone, and cedar was as plentiful as ordinary sycamore in the foothills of Judah.

Solomon assembled a force of fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand cavalry horses. Some of them he kept in Jerusalem. The rest he stationed in various other cities.

Solomon's merchants bought his string of horses and chariots in the regions of Musri and Kue.

The king and the leaders of the nation told the Levites to sing to Jehovah the songs of praise that were written by David and by Asaph the prophet. So everyone sang with great joy as they knelt and worshiped God.

He paneled the larger building with cypress. Then he overlaid it with fine gold. It was decorated with designs in the form of palm trees and chains.

The priests brought Jehovah's Ark of the Covenant to its place in the inner room of the Temple, the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubim (angels).

You must not build the Temple. Instead, your own son will build the Temple for my name.

So Jeroboam and all the people came back to Rehoboam two days later, as the king had instructed them.

Solomon, son of David, strengthened his position over the kingdom. Jehovah (YHWH), his God, was with him and made him very powerful.

Solomon dismissed the people to their tents on the twenty-third day of the seventh month. They rejoiced with cheerful hearts for all the blessings Jehovah had given David, Solomon, and his people Israel.

Everything else about Amaziah, from beginning to end, is written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

He did evil because he did not seriously dedicate his life to Jehovah.

JEHOVAH APPEARED TO SOLOMON THAT NIGHT. He said to Solomon: I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a Temple for sacrifices.

I am building a Temple to honor Jehovah my God. It will be a holy place where my people and I will worship him by burning incense of fragrant spices. We will present offerings of sacred bread to him continuously, and we will offer burnt offerings every morning and evening, as well as on Sabbaths, New Moon Festivals, and other holy days honoring Jehovah our God. He has commanded Israel to do this from generation to generation.

The cherubim (angels) outstretched wings were over the place where the Ark rested so that the cherubim became a covering above the Ark and its poles.

Although the illegal worship sites in Israel were not taken down, Asa remained committed to Jehovah his entire life.

They also made ten basins, five to be placed on the south side of the Temple and five on the north side. They were to be used to rinse the parts of the animals that were burned as sacrifices. The water in the large tank was for the priests to use for washing.

As soon as they began singing, Jehovah confused the enemy camp,

The Arameans withdrew. They left him suffering from many wounds. His own officials plotted against him for murdering the son of the priest Jehoiada. They killed Joash in his bed and buried him in the City of David. But they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.

Hezekiah said to the people: Now that you are ritually clean, bring sacrifices as offerings of thanksgiving to Jehovah. They obeyed, and some of them also voluntarily brought animals to be sacrificed as burnt offerings.

These were the officers in charge of King Solomon's projects: two hundred and fifty foremen for the people who did the work.

I may shut the sky so that there is no rain, or command grasshoppers to devour the countryside, or send an epidemic among my people.

Jehovah asked: Who will deceive Ahab so that he will go and get killed at Ramoth? Some of the angels said one thing, and others said something else,

Rehoboam lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. His son Abijah succeeded him as king.

There was nothing in the Ark except the two tablets Moses placed there at Horeb, where Jehovah made a covenant with the Israelites after they left Egypt.

The men of Judah shouted! When they shouted God attacked Jeroboam and all Israel in front of Abijah and Judah.

Solomon had made a copper platform seven and one half feet long, seven and one half feet wide, and four and one half feet high. He put it in the middle of the courtyard. He stood on the platform, knelt in front of the entire assembly, and stretched out his hands toward heaven.

He spoke to them as the young men advised. He said: If my father made your burden heavy, I will add to it. If my father punished you with whips, I will use scorpions.

These were the men who served the king in addition to those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout Judah.

With the sandalwood the king made gateways to Jehovah's Temple and the royal palace. They also made lyres and harps for the singers. No one had ever seen anything like them in Judah.

Solomon finished Jehovah's Temple and the royal palace and completed everything he had in mind for Jehovah's Temple and his own palace.

The priests and Levites in every region of Israel aligned with Rehoboam.

I am determined to build a great Temple. This is because our God is greater than all other gods.

They also attacked those who were letting their cattle graze and captured many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.

People from every tribe of Israel who were determined to seek Jehovah the true God of Israel followed the Levitical priests to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Jehovah God of their ancestors.

So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah by supporting Rehoboam, son of Solomon, for three years. During those three years they lived the way David and Solomon had lived.

Jehovah has kept the promise he made. I have taken my father David's place. I sit on the throne of Israel as Jehovah promised. I have built the Temple for the name of Jehovah God of Israel.

Solomon offered burnt offerings to Jehovah on the altar of Jehovah he had built before the porch.

The Israelites fled from Judah's army. God handed them over to Judah.

He did so according to the daily rule, offering them up according to the commandment of Moses, for the Sabbaths, the new moons and the three annual feasts, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Booths.

Rehoboam ruled the Israelites who lived in the cities of Judah.

As Solomon's father David had directed, he set up the divisions of priests for their service and the divisions of Levites for their appointed places. The Levites were to lead in praising Jehovah and to serve beside the priests by doing whatever needed to be done each day. Solomon also set up divisions of doorkeepers at every gate because this was what David, the man of God, had commanded.

Everyone passing by this impressive Temple will be appalled. They will ask: Why did Jehovah do these things to this land and to this Temple?

When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, the people answered the king: What share do we have in David's kingdom? We will not receive an inheritance from Jesse's son. Everyone to his own tent, Israel! Now look after your own house, David! So all Israel went home to their tents.

Nevertheless, O Jehovah my God, please pay attention to my prayer for mercy. Listen to my cry for help as I pray to you.

No one can really build a Temple for God. This is because even all the vastness of heaven cannot contain him. How then can I build a Temple that would be anything more than a place to burn incense to God?

He covered the building with gems to beautify it and used gold from Parvaim.

Huram sent his own servants and his experienced sailors with ships to Solomon. They went with Solomon's servants to Ophir. There they procured thirty three thousand seven hundred and fifty pounds of gold, and brought it to King Solomon.

The poles were so long that their ends could be seen in the holy place by anyone standing in front of the inner room. However they could not be seen outside. They are still there today.

Rehoboam came to Jerusalem and gathered the people of Judah and Benjamin. There were one hundred and eighty thousand of the best soldiers, to fight against Israel and return the kingdom to Rehoboam.

All of Solomon's work was carried out from the day the foundation of Jehovah's Temple was laid until it was completed. Jehovah's Temple was now complete.

I put the Ark that contains Jehovah's promise to Israel there.

King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba anything she wanted. Whatever she asked for, more than what she had brought him. Then she and her servants went back to her country.

No one neglected the king's orders to the priests or the Levites in any matter, including the Temple's finances.

In the presence of the entire assembly of Israel, Solomon stood in front of Jehovah's altar. He stretched out his hands to pray.

King Rehoboam sent Hadoram to the Israelites. He was in charge of forced labor, but they stoned him to death. So King Rehoboam got on his chariot as fast as he could and fled to Jerusalem.

The events concerning Rehoboam from first to last are written in the records of the prophet Shemaiah and the records of the seer Iddo in the genealogies? There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam as long as they lived.

I know how skillful your lumbermen are, so send me cedar, cypress, and juniper logs from Lebanon. I am ready to send my men to assist yours.

They made ten gold lamp stands according to the usual pattern, and ten tables, and placed them in the main room of the Temple.

Solomon began to build Jehovah's Temple in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah. That is where Jehovah appeared to his father David. David had prepared the site on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

The priests abandoned their land and property and went to Judah and Jerusalem because Jeroboam and his descendants rejected them as Jehovah's priests.

The king answered them harshly. He ignored the elder's advice.

Solomon gave orders to begin building the Temple for Jehovah's name and a royal palace for himself.

These were the men who conspired against him: Zabad, son of an Ammonite woman named Shimeath, and Jehozabad, son of a Moabite woman named Shimrith.

As provisions for your lumbermen, I will send you one hundred thousand bushels of wheat, one hundred thousand bushels of barley, one hundred and ten thousand gallons of wine, and one hundred and ten thousand gallons of olive oil.

Then Solomon brought Pharaoh's daughter up from the city of David to the house he had built for her. He said: My wife must not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy where the Ark of Jehovah's Covenant has entered.

the trumpeters and singers praised and thanked Jehovah in unison. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other musical instruments, they sang in praise to Jehovah: He is good; his mercy (lovingkindness) endures forever. Then Jehovah's Temple was filled with a cloud.

Abijah and his men defeated them decisively. Five hundred thousand of the best men of Israel were killed.

He brought into God's Temple the silver, the gold, and the utensils he and his father had set apart as holy.

Send me a man with skill in engraving, in working gold, silver, copper, and iron, and in making blue, purple, and red cloth. He will work with the craftsmen of Judah and Jerusalem whom my father David selected.

The gold that came to Solomon in one year weighed forty nine thousand nine hundred and fifty pounds,

All the priests who were present had performed the ceremonies to make themselves holy to God without regard to staying in their divisions.

The wing of the other one of the cherub (angels) was seven and one half feet long and touched the other wall of the building. Its other wing was seven and one half feet long and touched the wing of the first cherub. So the cherubs' combined wingspan was thirty feet.

All the Levites who were musicians: Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, their sons, and their relatives were dressed in fine linen and stood east of the altar with cymbals, harps, and lyres. With the musicians were one hundred and twenty priests blowing trumpets. When the priests left the holy place,

He said: Jehovah God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven or on earth. You keep your promise of mercy to your servants, who obey you wholeheartedly.

When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offerings and the other sacrifices, and Jehovah's glory filled the Temple.

He also overlaid the building, the rafters, the threshold, the walls, and the doors with gold. He carved cherubim (angels) on the walls.

My eyes will be open! My ears will pay attention to the prayers offered at this place.

If you will be faithful to me as your father David was, do everything I command, and obey my laws and rules,

The gold nails weighed twenty ounces. He also overlaid the upper rooms with gold.

I will uproot Israel from the land I gave them. I will reject this Temple that I declared holy for my name. I will make it an example and an object of ridicule for all the people of the world.

Prepare large quantities of timber, because this Temple I intend to build will be large and magnificent.

You have kept your promise to my father David, your servant. With your mouth you promised it. With your hand you carried it out as it is today.

He made ten tables and put them in the temple. Five were on the south side and five on the north side. And he made one hundred gold bowls.

As an alternative, Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the illegal worship sites and the goat and calf statues he had made as idols.

until a spirit stepped forward, approached Jehovah, and said: I will deceive him. How? Jehovah asked.

I have chosen and declared this Temple holy so that my name may be placed there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.

not counting the gold that the merchants and traders brought. All the Arab kings and governors of the land also brought gold and silver to Solomon.

The Ammonite and Moabite troops attacked and completely destroyed those from Edom. Then they turned against each other and fought until the entire camp was wiped out!

The Israelites were humbled at that time. The people of Judah won because they trusted Jehovah God of their ancestors.

We will cut all the trees for lumber you need in Lebanon. Then we will make rafts out of it and send them to you in Joppa by sea. You can take it from there to Jerusalem.

Does God really live on earth with people? If heaven and the highest heaven cannot hold you, then how can this Temple that I have built?

He set the pool on the south side in the southeast corner.

He ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates River to the country of the Philistines and as far as the Egyptian border.

The priests could not serve because of the cloud. Jehovah's glory filled the Temple of God.

They gathered in the valley of Beracah on the fourth day. Because they thanked Jehovah there, that place is still called the Valley of Beracah (Thanks) today.

On the other hand, if you and your descendants turn away from me and abandon my commandments and laws that I gave you, and follow and serve other gods and worship them,

He made the most holy place. It was as long as the Temple was wide, thirty feet long. It was also thirty feet wide. He overlaid it with forty-five thousand pounds of fine gold.

After marrying Mahalath, he married Maacah, Absalom's granddaughter. She gave birth to Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

Praise Jehovah the God of Israel, Creator of heaven and earth! He has given King David a wise son, full of understanding and skill. He now plans to build a Temple for Jehovah and a palace for himself.

Rehoboam married Mahalath, daughter of Jerimoth. Jerimoth was the son of David and Abihail. Abihail was the daughter of Eliab, son of Jesse.

Rehoboam loved Maacah, Absalom's granddaughter, more than all his other wives and concubines. He had eighteen wives and sixty concubines. He fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

Since there were not enough priests to kill all these animals, the Levites helped them until the work was finished. By then more priests had made themselves ritually clean. The Levites were more faithful in keeping ritually clean than the priests were.

I am sending you a wise and skillful master metalworker named Huram (Hiram-abi).

Now then, O Jehovah, God of Israel, keep your promise to my father David, your servant. You said: You will never fail to have an heir sitting in front of me on the throne of Israel if your descendants are faithful to me as you have been faithful to me.

Huram also made the pots, shovels, and bowls. So Huram finished the work for King Solomon in God's Temple:

King Hiram sent Solomon a letter in reply. He wrote: Jehovah made you their king because he loves his people.

The king refused to listen to the people because Jehovah was directing these events to carry out the promise he had made to Jeroboam, Nebat's son through Ahijah from Shiloh.

Then King Ahab ordered one of his officers: Arrest Micaiah and take him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Prince Joash.

He also made the priests' courtyard and the large courtyard and its doors. He covered the doors with copper.

Jehoshaphat's kingdom was peaceful, since his God surrounded him with peace.

They brought seventy bulls, one hundred sheep, and two hundred lambs as burnt offerings for Jehovah.

He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold, using seven and one half pounds of gold on each shield. The king put them in the hall named the Forest of Lebanon.

King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold, using fifteen pounds of gold on each shield.

I will establish your royal dynasty just as I said in a promise to your father David, when I said: 'You will never fail to have an heir ruling over Israel.'

Hear the plea for mercy that your people Israel and I pray toward this place. Hear us in heaven, the place where you live. Hear and forgive.

Jeroboam never regained power during Abijah's time. Jehovah caused Jeroboam to become sick, and Jeroboam died.

This is how Solomon laid the foundation to build God's Temple. It was ninety feet long and thirty feet wide. (They used the old standard measurement.)

An enemy may defeat your people Israel because they have sinned against you. But when your people return, praise your name, pray, and plead with you in this Temple,

Solomon counted all the men who were foreigners in the land of Israel, as his father David had counted them. Solomon counted one hundred and fifty-three thousand and six hundred foreigners.

Mahalath gave birth to the following sons: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.

Therefore, Jehovah, God of Israel, may the promise you made to David, your servant, come true.

The QUEEN OF SHEBA heard about Solomon's reputation. So she came to Jerusalem to test him with difficult questions. She arrived with a large group of servants. They had camels carrying spices, a large quantity of gold, and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she talked with him about everything she had on her mind.

Solomon designated the courtyard in front of Jehovah's Temple as a holy place. He sacrificed the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat because the copper altar that he had made and that was in front of Jehovah was not able to hold all of them.

Day and night may your eyes be on this Temple, the place where you said your name will be. Listen to me as I pray toward this place.

He was the son of a woman from the tribe of Dan. His father is a native of Tyre. Huram knows how to work with gold, silver, copper, iron, stone, wood, purple, violet, and dark red cloth, and linen. He also knows how to make all kinds of engravings and follow any set of plans that will be given to him. He can work with your skilled workmen and the skilled workmen of His Majesty David, your father.

King Solomon had a copper altar built. It was thirty feet square and fifteen feet high.

In the most holy place he made two sculptured cherubim (angels) and covered them with gold.

The history of Abijah, including how he lived, is written by the prophet Iddo.

Rehoboam established his kingdom and made himself strong. He and all Israel abandoned Jehovah's teachings.

Six steps led to the throne. It had a gold footstool attached to it. There were armrests on both sides of the seat. Two lions stood beside the armrests.

King Hezekiah and the people were happy. For God helped them to do all this so quickly.

They will answer their own question: 'They abandoned Jehovah the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt. They adopted other gods, worshiped, and served them. That is why he brought this disaster on them.'

King Solomon also made a large ivory throne and covered it with pure gold.

He drafted seventy thousand men to carry heavy loads, eighty thousand to quarry stones in the mountains, and three thousand six hundred foremen.

He also made a round tank (molten sea) of copper. It was seven and one half feet deep, fifteen feet in diameter, and forty-five feet in circumference.

If anyone sins against another person and is required to take an oath and comes to take the oath in front of your altar in this temple,

Abijah became strong. He married fourteen wives and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

Rehoboam went to Shechem because all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king.

When all the Israelites saw the fire come down and Jehovah's glory on the Temple, they knelt down with their faces on the pavement. They worshiped and praised Jehovah. They said: He is good; his mercy (lovingkindness) endures forever.

Micaiah concluded: This is what has happened. Jehovah made these prophets of yours lie to you. But he has decreed that you will meet with disaster!

Rehoboam appointed Abijah, son of Maacah, as family head and prince among his brothers. By doing this, Rehoboam could make him king.

Then Solomon proclaimed: Jehovah said he would live in a dark cloud.

All King Solomon's cups were gold. All the utensils for the hall named the Forest of Lebanon were fine gold. Silver was not considered valuable in Solomon's time.

He made chains for the inner room and also put them on the crowns. He made one hundred pomegranates and put them on the chains.

Twelve lions stood on six steps, one on each side. Nothing like this had been made for any other kingdom.

Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand war horses. He stationed some in chariot cities and others with himself in Jerusalem.

He directed seventy thousand of them carry heavy loads, eighty thousand of them quarry stone in the mountains, and three thousand six hundred of them supervise the work as foremen.

The king had ships going to Tarshish with Huram's sailors. Once every three years the Tarshish ships would bring gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys.

King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. This took place in the fifth year of Rehoboam's reign. It happened because all Israel was not loyal to Jehovah.

He set up the pillars in front of the Temple, one on the right and the other on the left. He named the one on the right Jachin (He Establishes) and the one on the left Boaz (In Him Is Strength).

The priests could not go into Jehovah's Temple because Jehovah's glory had filled it.

then hear that person in heaven, take action, and make a decision. Repay the guilty person with the proper punishment, but declare the innocent person innocent.

The work Solomon did on Jehovah's Temple was finished. He brought the holy things that had belonged to his father David, the silver, gold, and all the utensils. He put them in the storerooms of God's Temple.

He made two pillars for the front of the Temple. They were fifty-three feet long, and the crown on each pillar was seven and one half feet high.

Your Majesty may now send the wheat, barley, olive oil, and wine he promised the workers.

After this, King Jehoshaphat of Judah allied himself with King Ahaziah of Israel, who led him to do evil.

Then Solomon went to the coast near Ezion Geber and Elath in Edom.

King Solomon offered twenty-two thousand cattle and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep as sacrifices to Jehovah. Thus the king and all the people dedicated God's Temple.

The rest of the acts of Solomon from first to last are written in the records of Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah from Shiloh, and in Iddo the seer's visions about Jeroboam son of Nebat.

The priests were standing at their posts. So were the Levites who had Jehovah's musical instruments that King David made for praising Jehovah. They were saying: his mercy endures forever. This he used to offer praise. The priests were opposite the Levites blowing trumpets while all Israel was standing there.

Eliezer was the son of Dodavahu from Mareshah. He prophesied against Jehoshaphat. He said: Jehovah will destroy your work because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah. The ships were wrecked and could not go to Tarshish.

Jehoshaphat joined him in making ships to go to Tarshish. They made the ships in Ezion Geber.

Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices to Jehovah.

The combined length of the cherubim wings was thirty feet. A wing of one of the cherub was seven and one half feet long and touched the wall of the building. Its other wing was seven and one half feet long and touched one wing of the other cherub.

Two pillars, bowl-shaped crowns on top of the two pillars, and two sets of filigree to cover the two bowl-shaped crowns on top of the pillars,

Solomon made the canopy of violet, purple, and dark red cloth and of linen and decorated it with cherubim.

They brought harps, lyres, and trumpets to Jehovah's Temple in Jerusalem.

Amaziah turned away from Jehovah. So conspirators in Jerusalem plotted against him. Amaziah fled to Lachish, but they sent men to Lachish after him and killed him there.

When the sky is shut and there is no rain because they are sinning against you and they pray toward this place, praise your name, and turn away from their sin because you made them suffer,

They stood on their feet facing the main hall.

four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of filigree (two rows of pomegranates for each filigree to cover the two bowl-shaped crowns on the pillars),

Then Solomon assembled the respected leaders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes, and the leaders of the Israelite families. They came to Jerusalem to take the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah from the City of David, which is Zion.

then hear them in heaven. Forgive the sins of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the proper way to live. Then send rain on the land, which you gave to your people as an inheritance.

The record about his sons, the many divine revelations against him, and the rebuilding of God's Temple is in the notes made in the Book of the Kings. His son Amaziah succeeded him as king.

It took Solomon twenty years to build Jehovah's house and his own house.

But I have built you a high Temple. It is a home for you to live in permanently.

ten stands and ten basins on the stands,

Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron. These were fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.

Hear them in heaven, where you live. Forgive them and give people the proper reply. You know what is in their hearts, because you alone can read hearts.

King Solomon was greater in wealth and wisdom than all the other kings of the world.

Jeroboam, Nebat's son, was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon. When he heard about Rehoboam, he returned from Egypt.

The king cast them in foundries in the Jordan Valley between Succoth and Zeredah.

There may be famine in the land. Plant diseases, heat waves, funguses, locusts, or grasshoppers may destroy crops. Enemies may blockade Israel's city gates. During every plague or sickness

He wisely placed his sons in every region of Judah and Benjamin, in every fortified city. He gave them allowances and obtained many wives for them.

Israel has rebelled against David's dynasty to this day.

Shishak had twelve hundred chariots, sixty thousand horses, and an army of countless Libyans, Sukkites, and Sudanese from Egypt.

Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem. He built fortified cities in Judah.

then hear them in heaven, forgive the sins of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land that you gave to them and their ancestors.

Then the king turned around and blessed the entire assembly from Israel while they were standing.

Thanks be to Jehovah God of Israel. With his mouth he made a promise to my father David. With his hand he carried it out. He said:

He began to build on the second day in the second month of the fourth year of his reign. It was in the place David had povided.

He rebuilt Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

God spoke his word to Shemaiah, the man of God. He said:

He rebuilt the cities Huram gave him. He had Israelites live in them.

Since I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I did not choose any city from the tribes of Israel as a place to build a Temple for my name. And I did not choose any man to be prince over my people Israel.

flowers, lamps, pure gold tongs,

They brought the Ark, the Tent of Meeting, and all the holy utensils in it to the Temple. The priests and the Levites carried them

Now I have chosen Jerusalem to be a place for my name. I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.

However, they will become his servants. They must learn the difference between serving me and serving foreign kings.

All the kings of the world wanted to listen to the wisdom that God gave Solomon.

lamp stands and lamps of pure gold (to burn as directed in front of the inner room),

He strengthened the cities and put army officers with reserves of food, olive oil, and wine in them.

He also rebuilt Upper Beth Horon and Lower Beth Horon into cities fortified with walls, double-door gates, and bars.

There was no war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa's reign.

They brought him back by horse and buried him in the city of Judah with his ancestors.

snuffers, basins, dishes, incense burners of pure gold, the gold entrance to the temple, the gold doors of the most holy place, and the gold doors of the Temple.

Horses were imported for Solomon from Egypt and from all other countries.

Solomon made so many of these products that no one tried to determine how much the copper weighed.

Everyone who came brought him gifts such as articles of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules. This happened year after year.

Shemaiah the prophet approached Rehoboam and the princes of Judah who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak. He said to them: Jehovah says: 'You have forsaken me, so I also have forsaken you to Shishak.'

Solomon made all the furnishings for God's Temple: the gold altar, the gold tables on which the bread of the presence was placed,

Solomon attacked Hamath Zobah and conquered it.

King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem and took away the treasures from Jehovah's temple and the royal palace. He took them all! He even took the gold shields Solomon had made.

Jehovah saw that they humbled themselves. The word of Jehovah came to Shemaiah. He said: They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them. I will grant them deliverance. I will not use Shishak to pour out my anger on Jerusalem.

Jehovah says: Do not wage war against your relatives. Everyone, go home. What has happened is my doing. So they obeyed the word of Jehovah. They turned back from their attack on Jeroboam.

The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones. He made cedars as plentiful as fig trees in the foothills.

the food on his table, his officers' seating arrangement, the organization of his officials and the uniforms they wore, his cupbearers and their uniforms, and the burnt offerings that he sacrificed at Jehovah's Temple, she was breathless.

Solomon answered all her questions. No question was too difficult for Solomon to answer.

The tank rested on the backs of twelve copper bulls that faced outward. Three faced in each direction, north, west, south and east.

The Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites had been left in the land because the Israelites had not been able to destroy them. They were not Israelites.

Beth Zur, Soco, Adullam,

I thank Jehovah your God, who is pleased with you. He has put you on his throne to be king on behalf of Jehovah your God. Because of your God's love for the people of Israel, he has established them permanently and made you king over them so that you would maintain justice and righteousness.

He also rebuilt Baalath and all the storage cities that he owned. He built all the cities for his chariots, all the cities for his warhorses, and whatever else he wanted to build in Jerusalem, Lebanon, or the entire territory that he governed.

hear every prayer for mercy made by one person or by all the people in Israel, all who know suffering or pain, who stretch out their hands toward this Temple.

pots, shovels, and three-pronged forks. Huram (Hiram-abiv) made all of them out of polished copper for Jehovah's Temple at King Solomon's request.

He rebuilt Tadmor in the desert and built all the storage cities in Hamath.

The men of Israel gathered around the king at the Festival of Booths in the seventh month.

The queen gave the king nine thousand pounds of gold, a very large quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never was there such a large quantity of spices in Israel as those that the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon.

When the queen of Sheba saw Solomon's wisdom, the palace he built,

Your men are indeed blessed! Your servants are truly blessed. It is because they are always stationed near you and listen to your wisdom!

All around the outer edge of the rim of the tank were two rows of decorations, one above the other. The decorations were in the shape of bulls. They had been cast all in one piece with the rest of the tank.

Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,

They had descendants who were still in the land. Solomon drafted them for slave labor. They are still Israel's slaves today.

Speak to Judah's King Rehoboam, son of Solomon, and all Israel in Judah and Benjamin.

Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said: Jehovah is righteous.

I did not believe the reports until I came and saw it with my own eyes. I was not even told about half of the extent of your wisdom. You have surpassed the stories I heard.

When Rehoboam humbled himself, the anger of Jehovah turned from him. He did not completely destroy him. So things went well in Judah.

As a result King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them. He put them by the entrance to the royal palace, where the captains of the guards were stationed.

Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,

When the king went into Jehovah's Temple, guards carried the shields and then returned them to the guardroom.

He captured the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.

She told the king: What I heard in my country about your words and your wisdom is true!

Solomon ruled in Jerusalem over all Israel for forty years.

The spirit replied: I will go and make all of Ahab's prophets tell lies. Jehovah said: Go and deceive him. You will succeed.

When all the leaders of Israel had arrived, the Levites picked up the ark.

King Rehoboam sought advice from the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive. He asked: What do you advise? How should I respond to these people?

Your father made us carry a heavy burden. Reduce the hard work and lighten the heavy burden he put on us. We will serve you.

He said to them: Come back the day after tomorrow. So the people left.

Israel sent for Jeroboam and invited him back. Jeroboam and all Israel went to speak to Rehoboam. They said:

They told him: If you are good to these people and try to please them by speaking gently to them, then they will always be your servants.

He asked: What is your advice? How should we respond to these people who are asking me to lighten the burden my father put on them?

The eyes of Jehovah keep close watch over the entire world. He gives strength (shows His strength) to (in behalf of) those whose hearts are loyal to him. You have acted foolishly! Therefore from now on you will always be at war.

He ignored the advice the elders gave him. He sought advice from the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him.

Judah's army reached the tower that overlooked the desert. They saw that every soldier in the enemy's army was lying dead on the ground.

Shortly after that the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat.

The young men who had grown up with him answered: This is what you should tell them: 'My little finger is heavier than my father's whole body.

Hezekiah slept in death with his ancestors. He was buried in the upper tombs of David's descendants. When Hezekiah died, all of Judah and the people in Jerusalem honored him. His son Manasseh succeeded him as king.

Abijah pursued Jeroboam and captured some of his cities: Bethel and its villages, Jeshanah and its villages, and Ephron and its villages.

Jehoshaphat and his troops came to take the loot. They found among them a lot of goods, clothes, and valuables. They found more than they could carry. They spent three days collecting the loot.

Then the prophet Zedekiah went up to Micaiah and slapped his face. He asked: Since when did Jehovah's spirit leave me and speak to you?

Early the next morning the people went out to the wild country near Tekoa. Before they began Jehoshaphat addressed them with these words: 'People of Judah and Jerusalem! Put your trust in Jehovah your God. You will stand your ground. Believe what his prophets tell you, and you will succeed.

It was the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign. King Baasha of Israel invaded Judah and built fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from going to or coming from King Asa of Judah.

All the people of Judah took Uzziah and made him king in place of his father Amaziah.

God's Spirit came to Azariah, son of Oded.

Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to rule. He ruled for one year in Jerusalem. His mother was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri.

All the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned to Jerusalem. They rejoiced while Jehoshaphat led them. Jehovah gave them a reason to rejoice about what had happened to their enemies.

A prophet, Jehu son of Hanani, went to meet the king. He said to him: Do you think it is right to help those who are wicked and to take the side of those who hate Jehovah? What you have done has brought Jehovah's anger upon you.

Hezekiah began to rule as king when he was twenty-five years old. He ruled for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother was Abijah, daughter of Zechariah.

Jehovah the God of their ancestors repeatedly sent messages through his prophets because he wanted to spare his people and his dwelling place.

They also brought six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep as sacrifices for the people to eat.

Jehoshaphat succeeded his father Asa as king and strengthened his position against Israel.

In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of Jehovah by the mouth of Jeremiah, Jehovah stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia. He sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom, and also put it in writing. He said:

Jehoshaphat was wealthy and honorable. He became Ahab's in-law.

However when he became powerful, his pride destroyed him. He was unfaithful to Jehovah his God. He went into Jehovah's Temple to burn incense on the incense altar.

Azariah went to Asa and said: Listen to me Asa and all you men from Judah and Benjamin. Jehovah is with you when you are with him. If you will dedicate your lives to serve him, he will accept you. But if you abandon him, he will abandon you.

After a six-year wait Jehoiada the priest decided that it was time to take action. He made a pact with five army officers: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zichri.

Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to rule. He ruled for sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what Jehovah considered right, as his ancestor David had done.

Joash began to rule when he was seven years old. He ruled for forty years in Jerusalem. His mother was Zibiah from Beersheba.

Amaziah began to rule at age twenty-five. He ruled for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jehoaddan from Jerusalem.

Jahaziel said: Pay attention to me, everyone from Judah, everyone living in Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what Jehovah says to you: 'Do not be frightened or terrified by this large crowd. The battle is not yours. It is God's.

Jehoshaphat died and was buried in the royal tombs in David's City and his son Jehoram succeeded him as king.

God's Spirit spoke to Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. Zechariah told everyone that God was saying: Why are you disobeying me and my Laws? This will only bring punishment! You have deserted me, so now I will desert you.

Jehoiakin was eight years old when he began to rule as king. He was king for three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what Jehovah considered evil.

Jehoram son of King Jehoshaphat of Judah had six brothers: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael, and Shephatiah.

Abijah became king of Judah in Jeroboam's eighteenth year as king of Israel.

He burned his son as a sacrifice in the valley of Ben Hinnom, he consulted fortunetellers, and he cast evil spells. He also practiced witchcraft, and appointed royal mediums and psychics. He did many things that made Jehovah furious.

His mother was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel from Gibeah. He ruled from Jerusalem for three years when war broke out between Abijah of Judah and Jeroboam of Israel.

Abijah slept in death with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. His son Asa succeeded him as king. In Asa's time the land had peace for ten years.

Hezekiah sent a message to all Israel and Judah. He wrote letters to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. He invited them to come to Jehovah's Temple in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of Jehovah the God of Israel.

In addition to offering the sacrifices that were burned whole, the priests were responsible for burning the fat that was offered from the sacrifices the people ate, and for pouring out the wine that was presented with the burnt offerings. Thus worship in the Temple began again.

Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to rule. He ruled for sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jerushah, daughter of Zadok.

The people of Jerusalem made Jehoram's youngest son Ahaziah king in his place, because the raiders who came to the camp with the Arabs had killed all the older sons. So Jehoram's son Ahaziah became king of Judah.

You will find out when you go into some back room to hide, Micaiah replied.

Say: This is what the king says: 'Put this man in prison, and feed him nothing but bread and water until I return home safely.'

Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king. He ruled for fifty-five years in Jerusalem.

When King Ahaziah's mother Athaliah learned of her son's murder, she gave orders for all the members of the royal family of Judah to be killed.

They made an agreement with one another to dedicate their lives to serve the true God Jehovah, the God of their ancestors with all their heart and all their being.

Jehoshaphat ruled as king of Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he began to rule. He ruled for twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah, daughter of Shilhi.

You are our God. When your people Israel moved into this land, you drove out the people who were living here and gave the land to the descendants of Abraham, your friend, to be theirs from generation to generation.

Then Asa brought out all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of Jehovah's Temple and the royal palace. He sent them to Damascus to King Benhadad.

Asa prayed: Jehovah, only you can help a powerless army defeat a stronger one. We depend on you to help us. We will fight against this powerful army to honor your name! We know that you will not be defeated. You are Jehovah our God. Do not let man prevail against you.

Later, when Josiah had repaired the Temple, King Necho of Egypt came to fight a battle at Carchemish at the Euphrates River. Josiah went to attack him.

King Jehoshaphat of Judah returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem.

Deep respect for Jehovah came over the kingdoms in that area when they heard how Jehovah waged war against Israel's enemies.

Josiah was eight years old when he became king. He was king for thirty-one years in Jerusalem.

He followed the example of the kings of Israel. He even made metal idols for worshiping other gods such as the Baals.

Then the prophet Hanani went to King Asa. He said: Because you relied on the king of Syria instead of relying on Jehovah your God, the army of the king of Israel has escaped from you.

Some men reported to Jehoshaphat: A large crowd is coming against you from the other side of the Dead Sea, from Edom. The crowd is already in Hazazon Tamar (En Gedi).

Do you not know that Jehovah, the God of Israel, made an unbreakable covenant with David, giving him and his descendants kingship over Israel from generation to generation?

He prayed aloud: O Jehovah, God of our ancestors, you rule in heaven over all the nations of the world. You are powerful and mighty. No one can oppose you.

After everything Hezekiah had done so faithfully, King Sennacherib of Assyria came to invade Judah. He set up camp to attack the fortified cities. He intended to conquer them himself.

He stationed troops in the fortified cities of Judah. He also put troops in the Judean countryside, and in the cities that Asa had captured in the territory of Ephraim.

He dedicated his life to serving God in the days of Zechariah. Zechariah taught him to respect God. As long as he dedicated his life to serve God, Jehovah gave him success.

Thus the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to Ramoth in Gilead.

After that he went to visit Ahab in Samaria. Ahab slaughtered many sheep and cattle for a banquet in honor of Jehoshaphat and the people who were with him. Ahab persuaded Jehoshaphat to attack Ramoth in Gilead with him.

Do your work in honor of him and know that he will not allow you to be unfair to anyone or to take bribes.

Asa did what Jehovah his God considered good and right.

Joash did what was right in the sight of Jehovah, as long as the priest Jehoiada lived.

Benhadad agreed to do what King Asa requested. He sent his generals and their armies to attack the cities of Israel. He conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storage cities in the territory of Naphtali.

In the third year of his reign he sent out the following officials to teach in the cities of Judah: Benhail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah.

Jehoshaphat was frightened and decided to ask for Jehovah's help. He announced a fast throughout Judah.

Zerah from Ethiopia led an army of a million soldiers and three hundred chariots to the town of Mareshah in Judah.

Asa had an army of three hundred thousand Judeans who were armed with large shields and spears and two hundred and eighty thousand Benjaminites who were armed with small shields and bows. All of these men were strong fighting men.

He did what Jehovah considered right, but he did not do it wholeheartedly.

He burned sacrifices in the valley of Ben Hinnom. He sacrificed his son by burning him alive. This was one of the disgusting things done by the nations that Jehovah had driven out from the land Israel possessed.

Everything else about Jehoshaphat from first to last is written in the records of Jehu, son of Hanani, which is included in the Book of the Kings of Israel.

Then Jehovah's Spirit came to Jahaziel. He was the son of Zechariah, grandson of Benaiah, great-grandson of Jeiel, whose father was Mattaniah, a Levite descended from Asaph.

However the illegal worship sites on the hills were not torn down. The people still did not have their hearts set on the God of their ancestors.

Uzziah rebuilt Elath and returned it to Judah after King Amaziah slept in death.

Asa heard the prophet Oded's words of prophecy. He was encouraged and put away the detestable idols from all of Judah, Benjamin, and the cities he had captured in the mountains of Ephraim. He also repaired Jehovah's altar in front of Jehovah's entrance hall.

Jehovah blessed Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father's early life and did not worship Baal.

The king followed the instructions Jehovah gave to King David through Gad, the king's prophet, and through the prophet Nathan. He stationed Levites in the Temple, with harps and cymbals,

Josiah celebrated the Passover to Jehovah in Jerusalem. The Passover lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month.

Hilkiah and the king's officials went to talk to the prophet Huldah about this matter. She was the wife of Shallum, son of Tokhath and grandson of Hasrah. Shallum was in charge of the royal wardrobe. Huldah was living in the Second Part of Jerusalem.

So the Levites started to work. From Kohath's descendants were Mahath, son of Amasai, and Joel, son of Azariah. From Merari's descendants were Kish, son of Abdi, and Azariah, son of Jehallelel. From Gershon's descendants were Joah, son of Zimmah, and Eden, son of Joah.

This fulfilled the word of Jehovah that was spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. All the days of its desolation it kept Sabbath until seventy years were complete.

A letter came to him from the prophet Elijah. It read: This is what Jehovah the God of your ancestor David says: You have not followed the ways of your father Jehoshaphat or the ways of King Asa of Judah.

He did not execute their children. He obeyed Jehovah's command written in the Book of Moses' Teachings: Parents must never be put to death for the crimes of their children, and children must never be put to death for the crimes of their parents. Each person must be put to death for his own crime.

Solomon lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. His son Rehoboam succeeded him as king.

All people, young and old, male and female, who refused to dedicate their lives to the true God Jehovah the God of Israel were to be killed.

In the thirty-ninth year that Asa was king a severe foot disease crippled him. Even then he did not turn to Jehovah for help, but to doctors.

As soon as the order was given, the people of Israel brought gifts of their finest grain, wine, olive oil, honey, and other farm produce, and they also brought the tithes of everything they had.

The people of the land crowned Josiah's son Jehoahaz as their new king in Jerusalem in place of his father.

The armies met in the hill country of Ephraim. King Abijah went up Mount Zemaraim and called out to Jeroboam and the Israelites: Listen to me! He shouted.

At the time they brought out the money that had been deposited in Jehovah's Temple, the priest Hilkiah found the book of Jehovah's Law written by Moses.

He told the judges: Be careful when you make your decisions in court. Remember these are Jehovah's people. He will know the judgements you decide.

He did right in the eyes of Jehovah, as his ancestor David had done.

But you must remain strong and not become discouraged. Your actions will be rewarded.

You are our God. Will you judge them? We do not have the strength to face this large crowd that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, so we are looking to you.

Jehovah humbled Judah because of King Ahaz of Israel. Ahaz had spread sin throughout Judah and was unfaithful to Jehovah.

When this ended, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, broke the pillars in pieces, cut down the Asherim and pulled down the high places and the altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh. They destroyed them all. Then all the sons of Israel returned to their cities, each to his possession.

Jehovah his God handed him over to the king of Aram, who defeated him, captured many prisoners, and brought them to Damascus. He also handed him over to the king of Israel, who decisively defeated him.

Asa told Judah: Let us build these cities and make walls around them with towers and doors that can be barred. The country is still ours because we have dedicated our lives to serve Jehovah our God. We have dedicated our lives to him. He has surrounded us with peace. So they built the cities, and everything went well.

Jehoshaphat carefully followed the example his father Asa had set and did what Jehovah considered right.

Then Manasseh rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David from west of Gihon Spring in the valley to the entrance of Fish Gate. He made the wall go around the Ophel. He built it very high. He put army commanders in every fortified city in Judah.

One man aimed his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between his scale armor and his breastplate. Ahab told the chariot driver: Turn around, and get me away from these troops for I am badly wounded.

They may sin against you. There is no man who is without sin. You may become angry with them and hand them over to an enemy who takes them to another country as captives, whether it is far or near.

A prophet of Jehovah named Oded was there. He went to meet the army coming home to Samaria. He said: Jehovah the God of your ancestors handed Judah over to you in his anger. You killed them in a rage that reaches up to heaven.

He did what Jehovah considered right, as his father Uzziah had done. Unlike his father, he did not illegally enter Jehovah's Temple. The people continued their corrupt ways.

After Amaziah came back from defeating the Edomites, he brought the gods of the people of Seir, set them up as his gods, bowed down to them, and burned sacrifices to them.

With them were the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, Tob Adonijah, and the priests Elishama and Jehoram.

You will not have to fight this battle. Just take up your positions and wait. You will see Jehovah give you victory. People of Judah and Jerusalem, do not hesitate or be afraid.' Go out to battle. Jehovah will be with you!

Now arise, and come to your resting place, Jehovah our God, you and the ark of your power. Clothe your priests, Jehovah God, with salvation. Let your godly ones rejoice in what is good.

So Jehovah made the army commanders of the king of Assyria invade Judah. They took Manasseh captive, put a hook in his nose, put him in bronze shackles, and brought him to Babylon.

The Ethiopians and the Libyans, did they have large armies with many chariots and cavalry troops? But because you relied on Jehovah he gave you victory over them.

All the officials, the priests, and the people became increasingly unfaithful and followed all the disgusting practices of the nations. Although Jehovah made the Temple in Jerusalem holy, they made the Temple unclean.

Uzziah went to wage war against the Philistines. He tore down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. He built cities near Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines.

Everything else about Uzziah is recorded by the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz.

Soon the chariot commanders realized that Jehoshaphat was not the king of Israel. Then they turned away from him.

When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said: He must be the king of Israel. So they surrounded him in order to fight him. When Jehoshaphat cried out Jehovah helped him. God drew them away from him.

Uzziah strengthened the fortifications of Jerusalem. He built towers at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and where the wall turned.

It was the eighth year of his reign. He was still a boy when he dedicated his life to service of the God of his ancestor David. In his twelfth year as king he purged Judah and Jerusalem by destroying the illegal places of worship, poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah, carved idols, and metal idols.

When the leaders of Babylon sent ambassadors to ask him about the miraculous sign that had happened in the land, God left him. God did this to test him, to find out everything that was in Hezekiah's heart.

When he experienced distress, he begged Jehovah his God to be kind and humbled himself in front of the God of his ancestors.

These men gathered their relatives and performed the ceremonies to make themselves holy. They obeyed the king's order from Jehovah's word and entered the Temple to make it clean.

Jehoram was in firm control of the kingdom. He had all his brothers killed, and also some Israelite officials.

The members of the Levite clans of Kohath and Korah stood up and with a loud shout praised Jehovah, the God of Israel.

King Uzziah had a skin disease until the day he died. Since he had a skin disease, he lived in a separate house and was barred from Jehovah's Temple. His son Jotham was in charge of the royal palace and governed the country.

He also built fortified towers in the open country and dug many cisterns, because he had large herds of livestock in the western foothills and plains. Because he loved farming, he encouraged the people to plant vineyards in the hill country and to farm the fertile land.

God is with us as our leader. His priests will sound their trumpets to call the army to fight you. Men of Israel do not wage war against Jehovah the God of your ancestors. You will not succeed.

Micaiah said: If you really do come back safely, then Jehovah was not speaking through me. Pay attention to this, everyone!

The survivors were taken to Babylonia as prisoners. They served as slaves of the king and his sons, until Persia became a powerful nation.

In the spring King Nebuchadnezzar sent for Jehoiakin and brought him to Babylon with the valuable utensils from Jehovah's Temple. Nebuchadnezzar made Jehoiakin's uncle Zedekiah king of Judah and Jerusalem.

Later Jehovah caused the Philistines and the Arabs who lived near the Ethiopians to become angry with Jehoram.

The chief priest Amariah will be in charge of you in every matter involving Jehovah. Zebadiah, who is the son of Ishmael and the leader of the tribe of Judah, will be in charge of every matter involving the king. The Levites will serve as officers of the court. Be strong and do your job. May Jehovah be with those who do right.

He got rid of the altars of foreign gods. He broke down the sacred stones. He cut down the poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah.

Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. It was a total defeat! The Ethiopians could not even fight back! The soldiers from Judah took everything that had belonged to the Ethiopians.

They mocked God's messengers. They despised his words, and made fun of his prophets until Jehovah became angry with his people. He could no longer heal them.

God used this visit to Joram to bring about Ahaziah's downfall. While Ahaziah was there, a man named Jehu confronted him and Joram. Jehu was the son of Nimshi, whom Jehovah chose to destroy the dynasty of Ahab.

Uzziah held an incense burner in his hand. He became angry. As his anger with the priests grew, a skin disease broke out on his forehead. This happened in front of the priests in Jehovah's Temple as Uzziah was at the incense altar.

The king of Israel told Jehoshaphat: I will disguise myself and go into battle. You, however, should wear your royal robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

The Philistines raided the foothills and the Negev in Judah. They captured and began living in Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco and its villages, Timnah and its villages, and Gimzo and its villages.

While Jehoshaphat was living in Jerusalem, he regularly went to the people between Beersheba and the mountains of Ephraim. He brought the people back to Jehovah the God of their ancestors.

In his eighteenth year as king as he was making the land and the temple clean, Josiah sent Shaphan, son of Azaliah, Maaseiah, the mayor of the city, and Joah, the royal historian and son of Joahaz, to repair the Temple of Jehovah his God.

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to rule. He ruled for eleven years in Jerusalem.

King Tillegath Pilneser of Assyria attacked Ahaz. Instead of strengthening Ahaz, Tillegath Pilneser made trouble for him.

They went around Judah, gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah and the leaders of the families of Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

Hezekiah assigned the priests and the Levites to divisions. Each priest or Levite was put in a division based on the service he performed. The services included: sacrificing burnt offerings, sacrificing fellowship offerings, serving, giving thanks, or praising within the gates of Jehovah's camp.

O Jehovah our God, do not reject your anointed one. Remember your mercy to your servant David!

Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king. He ruled for eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what Jehovah his God considered evil.

The sons of that wicked woman Athaliah had broken into God's Temple and used all the holy things of Jehovah's Temple to worship other gods, the Baals.

Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: Jehovah, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all his people, may Jehovah his God be with him, and let him go up!

Regardless of this, there is some good in you. You have removed all the symbols of the goddess Asherah that people worshiped. You have tried to follow God's will.

Then Jeremiah chanted a lament for Josiah. All the male and female singers speak about Josiah in their lamentations (dirges) to this day. They made them an ordinance in Israel. They are also written in the Lamentations.

as long as they live in the land that you gave to our ancestors, they will reverence you and follow you.

He asked: Will you go with me to attack Ramoth? Jehoshaphat replied: I am ready when you are. My army is ready. We will join you.

Amaziah called the people of Judah together and assigned them by families to regiment and battalion commanders for all of Judah and Benjamin. He organized those who were at least twenty years old. He had three hundred thousand of the best men for the army, those who could handle a spear and a shield.

It was Hezekiah who had the higher spring of the water of Gihon stopped, and the water taken down on the west side of the town of David. Hezekiah did well in everything he tried.

Jehoshaphat also appointed some Levites, some priests, and some of the family leaders to serve as judges in Jerusalem.

A search was made for Ahaziah. He was found hiding in Samaria. They took him to Jehu and put him to death. But they did bury his body out of respect for his grandfather King Jehoshaphat, who had done all he could to serve Jehovah. No member of Ahaziah's family was left who could rule the kingdom.

King Asa gathered men from throughout Judah and had them carry off the stones and timbers that Baasha had been using at Ramah. They used them to fortify the cities of Geba and Mizpah.

So he had the Babylonian king attack them and execute their best young men in their holy temple. He did not spare the best men or the unmarried women, the old people or the sick people. God handed all of them over to him.

Asa and his army attacked all the cities around Gerar because the cities were in dread of Jehovah. The army looted all the cities because there were many things to take.

Jeroboam set an ambush to attack them from behind. So Jeroboam's army was in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them.

After this happened; Jehovah struck Jehoram with an incurable stomach disease.

They invaded Judah and stole the royal property from the palace. They led Jehoram's wives and sons away as prisoners. The only one left behind was Ahaziah, his youngest son.

Ahaziah had a half sister, Jehosheba, who was married to a priest named Jehoiada. She secretly rescued one of Ahaziah's sons, Joash, took him away from the other princes who were about to be murdered. She hid him and a nurse in a bedroom at the Temple. By keeping him hidden, she saved him from death at the hands of Athaliah.

Jehoiada put the priests and Levites in charge of the work of the Temple. They were to carry out the duties assigned to them by King David. This included burning the sacrifices offered to Jehovah in accordance with the Law of Moses. They were also in charge of the music and the celebrations.

Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked Jehoiakim and put him in bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.

In the new courtyard at Jehovah's Temple, Jehoshaphat stood in front of the people.

The king called for the chief priest Jehoiada and asked him: Why have you not required the Levites to bring the contributions from Judah and Jerusalem? Jehovah's servant Moses and the assembly required Israel to give contributions for the use of the Tent of Testimony of God's promise.

The Aramean army came with a small number of men. Jehovah handed Joash's large army over to them because Joash's soldiers had abandoned Jehovah the God of their ancestors. So the Arameans carried out Jehovah's judgment on Joash.

The people of Judah gathered to seek Jehovah's help. They came from every city in Judah.

then hear them in heaven, the place where you live. Do everything they ask so that all the people of the world may know your name and respect you like your people Israel and learn that this Temple that I built bears your name.

Later he organized a group of worthless scoundrels. They forced their will on Rehoboam son of Solomon, who was too young and inexperienced to resist them.

Asa was buried in the rock tomb that he had carved out for himself in David's City. They used spices and perfumed oils to prepare his body for burial. They built a huge bonfire to mourn his death.

King Ahaz then sent for help from the kings of Assyria.

Now you intend to enslave the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem. But are you not also guilty of sinning against Jehovah your God?

Jehovah spoke to Manasseh and his people. But they would not pay attention.

Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to rule. He ruled for fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jecoliah from Jerusalem.

He returned to the city of Jezreel to recover from his wounds. Ahaziah went there to visit him.

In Jerusalem he manufactured machines designed by inventive people. The machines were placed on the towers and corners to shoot arrows and hurl large stones. Uzziah's fame spread far and wide because he had strong support until he became powerful.

Asa met him there. The two armies prepared for battle in Zephathah Valley near Mareshah.

Amaziah courageously led his troops. When he came to the Dead Sea region, he killed ten thousand men from Seir.

Some of the Philistines brought gifts and silver as taxes. The Arabs also brought him flocks: seven thousand and seven hundred rams and seven thousand and seven hundred male goats.

He followed their advice. He joined King Joram of Israel in a war against King Hazael of Syria. The armies clashed at Ramoth in Gilead, and Joram was wounded in battle.

Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king. He ruled eight years from Jerusalem. He died, and no one even felt sad. He was buried in Jerusalem, but not in the royal tombs.

When the chief priest Azariah and all the priests turned toward him, a skin disease was on his forehead. They rushed him away. Uzziah was in a hurry to get out because Jehovah had inflicted him with the disease.

The king, his officials, and the whole assembly in Jerusalem decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month.

Then Azariah, son of Jehohan, Berechiah, son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah, son of Shallum, and Amasa, son of Hadlai, some leaders of Ephraim, opposed those coming home from the army.

We still serve Jehovah our God! We have not abandoned him. Priests descended from Aaron perform their duties, and Levites assist them.

In one day Pekah, son of Remaliah, killed one hundred and twenty thousand soldiers in Judah because they had abandoned Jehovah the God of their ancestors.

Jehoiada procured two wives for Joash and he had sons and daughters.

You drove out Jehovah's priests! You evicted the descendants of Aaron and the Levites. In their place you appointed priests in the same way that other nations do. Anybody who comes along with a bull or seven sheep can get himself consecrated as a priest of those so-called gods of yours.

From Benjamin there was the fighting man Eliada with two hundred thousand armed men with bows and shields.

All the kingdoms around Judah were afraid of Jehovah. As a result, they did not wage war against Jehoshaphat.

The Aramean army attacked Joash at year's end. They came to Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the people's leaders. The Arameans sent all the loot they took from Judah and Jerusalem to the king of Damascus.

Ahab answered: There is one more. He is Micaiah son of Imlah. But I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me. It is always something bad. Jehoshaphat replied: You should not say that.

He added: But first let us consult Jehovah.

So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them.

Then they brought out the king's son and put the crown on him. They gave him the testimony and made him king. Jehoiada and his sons anointed him. They said: Long live the king!

Every morning and every evening they offer him incense and animal sacrifices burned whole. They present the offerings of bread on a table that is ritually clean, and every evening they light the lamps on the gold lamp stand. We do what Jehovah has commanded! But you have abandoned him!

The men did their work faithfully under the supervision of Jahath and Obadiah; Levites descended from Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam descendants of Kohath. The Levites, who were skilled musicians,

Many people from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not made themselves clean. So they ate the Passover, but not in the way the written instructions said they should. Hezekiah prayed for them: May Jehovah forgive everyone

Our ancestors were unfaithful and did what Jehovah our God considered evil. They deserted him. They turned away from Jehovah's tent and turned their backs on him.

He did what Jehovah considered right, as his father Amaziah had done.

Then Asa gathered all the people from Judah and Benjamin and the foreigners who had come from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon. Many of them had come to him from Israel when they saw that Asa's God, Jehovah, was with him.

Now you plan to fight against the royal authority Jehovah gave to David's descendants. You have a huge army! You have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made to be your gods.

If you return to Jehovah, your brothers and your sons will find compassion before those who led them captive and will return to this land. Jehovah your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face away from you if you return to him.

King Jehoash of Israel captured King Amaziah, son of Joash and grandson of Ahaziah of Judah, at Beth Shemesh and brought him to Jerusalem. He tore down a six hundred foot section of the wall around Jerusalem from Ephraim Gate to Corner Gate.

They opposed King Uzziah. They said to him: Uzziah, you have no right to burn incense as an offering to Jehovah. That right belongs to the priests, Aaron's descendants, who have been given the holy task of burning incense. Get out of the holy place because you have been unfaithful. Jehovah God will not honor you for this.

Jehovah helped Asa and his army defeat the Ethiopians. The enemy soldiers ran away,

The following musicians of the Levite clan of Asaph were in the places assigned to them by King David's instructions: Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, the king's prophet. The guards at the Temple gates did not need to leave their posts, because the other Levites prepared the Passover for them.

After receiving counsel from his advisers, King Amaziah of Judah sent messengers to King Jehoash, son of Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu of Israel, to declare war on Israel.

Jehoram became king at the age of thirty-two. He ruled in Jerusalem for eight years.

He built fortified cities in Judah and the land had peace. There was no war during those years because Jehovah gave him a time of peace.

Hezekiah became sick and was about to die. He prayed to Jehovah, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign.

He had a large army ready for battle. Its records were kept by his secretaries Jeiel and Maaseiah under the supervision of Hananiah, a member of the king's staff.

In the first month of his first year as king, he opened the doors of Jehovah's temple and repaired them.

People who are not Israelites will come from distant countries because of your great name, mighty hand, and powerful arm. When they come to pray facing this Temple,

After the death of Jehoiada the priest, the leaders of Judah went to Joash and talked him into doing what they wanted.

So they slaughtered the bulls. The priests sprinkled the blood on the altar. Then they slaughtered the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar. After that, they slaughtered the lambs and sprinkled the blood on the altar.

He gathered the priests and the Levites and said to them: Go to the cities of Judah, and collect money throughout Israel to repair the Temple of your God every year. Do it immediately! But the Levites did not do it immediately.

You will be affected by a painful stomach disease and suffer until you die.

God helped him when he attacked the Philistines, the Arabs who lived in Gur Baal, and the Meunites.

One nation crushed another nation. One city crushed another. God tormented them with every kind of trouble.

Jeroboam son of Nebat rebelled against Solomon, his king.

Jehovah gave Jehoshaphat firm control over the kingdom of Judah. The people brought him gifts, so that he became wealthy and highly honored.

All the people of Judah were overjoyed because of the oath. They took the oath wholeheartedly. They took great pleasure in looking for Jehovah. And he let them find him. So Jehovah surrounded them with rest and peace.

Micaiah answered: I can see the army of Israel scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd. Jehovah said: These men have no leader. Let them go home in peace.

The priests entered Jehovah's temple to make it clean. They carried into the courtyard every unclean thing that they found in Jehovah's Temple. Then the Levites took the unclean items outside the city to the Kidron Brook.

In the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa's reign, they gathered in Jerusalem.

The two kings, dressed in their royal robes, sat on their thrones at the threshing place just outside the gate of Samaria. All the prophets were prophesying in front of them.

Uzziah lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried with them in a field containing tombs that belonged to the kings. People said: He has a skin disease. His son Jotham succeeded him as king.

No one could come and go in peace at that time. This is because everyone living in the land had a lot of turmoil.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened or terrified by the king of Assyria or the crowd with him. Someone greater is on our side.

Jehoram took all his chariot commanders to attack. The Edomites and their chariot commanders surrounded him. He got up during the night and broke through their lines.

He followed the wicked example of King Ahab and the other kings of Israel. He married one of Ahab's daughters. He sinned against Jehovah.

Israel was without the true God for a long time. They were without a priest who taught correctly, and without law.

The king asked him: Did we make you an adviser to the king? Stop! Do you want me to have you killed? The prophet stopped. He said: I know that God has decided to destroy you because you did this. Yet you refuse to listen to my advice.

When King Baasha heard what happened he stopped fortifying Ramah and abandoned the work.

There was Amasiah, Zichri's son, who volunteered to serve Jehovah with two hundred thousand fighting men.

Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful. He built fortresses and cities where supplies were stored in Judah.

all the people of the land celebrated. The city was quiet because they had killed Athaliah with a sword.

During Jehoram's time Edom rebelled against Judah and chose its own king.

Amaziah asked the man of God: What should I do about the seven thousand and five hundred pounds of silver I gave the troops from Israel? The man of God answered: Jehovah can give you much more than that.

His heart was devoted to the ways of Jehovah. He destroyed all the pagan places of worship and the symbols of the goddess Asherah in Judah.

One of them, Zedekiah son of Chenaanah, made iron horns and said to Ahab: This is what Jehovah says: With these you will fight the Syrians and totally defeat them.

But Josiah would not stop his attack. He disguised himself as he went into battle. He refused to listen to Necho's words, which came from God. He went to fight in the valley of Megiddo.

The people of Judah stopped worshiping in the Temple of Jehovah God. They started worshiping idols and the symbols of the goddess Asherah. These sinful things made Jehovah God angry with the people of Judah and Jerusalem,

When your people go to war against their enemies, you send them and they pray to you toward this city you have chosen and the Temple I built for your name,

Then they went to King Hezekiah. They said: We have made Jehovah's entire temple clean. This includes the altar for burnt offerings, all its utensils, the table for the rows of bread and all its utensils,

Once he had firm control over the kingdom, he executed the officials who killed his father, the former king.

The Levites and all the Judeans did what the priest Jehoiada had ordered them. Each took his men who were coming on duty on the day of worship as well as those who were about to go off duty. Jehoiada did not dismiss the priestly divisions.

Thus the Israelites in Jerusalem celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy. Each day the Levites and priests praised Jehovah in song. They played Jehovah's instruments loudly.

Then the king gave an order to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, the scribe Shaphan, and the royal official Asaiah. He said:

Abijah raised an army of four hundred thousand soldiers. Jeroboam opposed him with an army of eight hundred thousand soldiers.