Reference: Kings, The Books of
Easton
The two books of Kings formed originally but one book in the Hebrew Scriptures. The present division into two books was first made by the LXX., which now, with the Vulgate, numbers them as the third and fourth books of Kings, the two books of Samuel being the first and second books of Kings.
They contain the annals of the Jewish commonwealth from the accession of Solomon till the subjugation of the kingdom by Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians (apparently a period of about four hundred and fifty-three years). The books of Chronicles (q.v.) are more comprehensive in their contents than those of Kings. The latter synchronize with 1Ch 2:55-28:1. While in the Chronicles greater prominence is given to the priestly or Levitical office, in the Kings greater prominence is given to the kingly.
The authorship of these books is uncertain. There are some portions of them and of Jeremiah that are almost identical, e.g., 2Ki 24:18-20 and Jer 52; 39:1-10; 40:7-41:10. There are also many undesigned coincidences between Jeremiah and Kings (2KI 21-23 and Jer 7:15; 15:4; 19:3, etc.), and events recorded in Kings of which Jeremiah had personal knowledge. These facts countenance in some degree the tradition that Jeremiah was the author of the books of Kings. But the more probable supposition is that Ezra, after the Captivity, compiled them from documents written perhaps by David, Solomon, Nathan, Gad, and Iddo, and that he arranged them in the order in which they now exist.
In the threefold division of the Scriptures by the Jews, these books are ranked among the "Prophets." They are frequently quoted or alluded to by our Lord and his apostles (Mt 6:29; 12:42; Lu 4:25-26; 10:4; comp. 2Ki 4:29; Mr 1:6; comp. 2Ki 1:8; Mt 3:4, etc.).
The sources of the narrative are referred to (1) "the book of the acts of Solomon" (1Ki 11:41); (2) the "book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah" (1Ki 14:29; 15:7,23, etc.); (3) the "book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel" (1Ki 14:19; 15:31; 16:14,20,27, etc.).
The date of its composition was some time between B.C. 561, the date of the last chapter (2Ki 25), when Jehoiachin was released from captivity by Evil-merodach, and B.C. 538, the date of the decree of deliverance by Cyrus.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Everything else that Solomon did, his career, and his wisdom, are all recorded in The History of Solomon.
Everything else that King Jeroboam did, the wars he fought and how he ruled, are all recorded in The History of the Kings of Israel.
The rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and everything he did are recorded in the book of the History of the Kings of Judah.
Everything else that Abijah did is recorded in The History of the Kings of Judah.
The rest of the events of Asa's reign, the extent of his power and the names of the cities he built are all recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Judah. His feet became diseased, as he grew old.
Everything else that Nadab did is recorded in The History of the Kings of Israel.
The rest of the acts of Elah are recorded in the book of the History of the Kings of Israel.
Everything else that Zimri did, including the account of his conspiracy, is recorded in The History of the Kings of Israel.
Everything else about Omri is written in the official records of the kings of Israel.
He was a hairy man wearing a cloak made of animal skins, tied with a leather belt, they answered. It is Elijah! The king exclaimed.
Elisha told Gehazi: Hurry! Take my walking stick. Do not stop to talk to anyone. If anyone speaks to you do not respond. Go straight to the house and hold my stick over the boy.
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king. He was king in Jerusalem for eleven years. His mother's name was Hamutal, daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah, as Jehoiakim had done. read more. This happened in Jerusalem and Judah because of Jehovah's anger. It continued until he had sent them all away from before him. Then Zedekiah took up arms and rebelled against the king of Babylon.
I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brothers, all the offspring of Ephraim.
I will make these people a horrifying (shocking) sight to all the kingdoms on the earth. This will happen because of what Judah's King Manasseh, son of Hezekiah, did in Jerusalem.
Say: Hear the word of Jehovah, O kings of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: thus says Jehovah of Hosts, the God of Israel, 'Behold I am about to bring adversity upon this place. The ears of everyone who hears of it will quiver with fear.
John wore clothes made from camel's hair. He had a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.
I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like these.
The queen of the south will rise up in the judgment with this generation, and condemn it. She came from the ends of the earth to hear the Wisdom of Solomon. Someone greater than Solomon is here!
John was clothed in camel's hair with a leather belt about his loins. He ate locusts and wild honey.
I tell you truth. There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah. There was no rain from heaven three years and six months. There came a great famine over all the land. Elijah was not sent to any of them. He was only sent to Zarephath in the land of Sidon. She was a widow.
Carry no purse, no wallet, and no shoes; and greet no man on the way.
Fausets
Title. In the Septuagint the books are called "the third and fourth of the Kingdoms," in Vulgate "the third and fourth book of Kings." Originally the two were one: Bomberg in his printed editions, 1518, 1549, divided them into two. Three periods are included. The first (1 Kings 1-11), 1015-975 B.C., Solomon's ascent of the throne, wisdom, consolidation of his power, erection of the temple, 40 years' reigning over the undivided twelve tribes; the time of Israel's glory, except that toward the close of his reign his polygamy and idolatry caused a decline, and God threatened the disruption of the kingdom (1 Kings 11). The second period, from the division into two kingdoms to the Assyrian captivity of the ten northern tribes, 975-722 B.C. The third period, from thence, in Hezekiah's reign, until Judah's captivity in Babylon, 722-560 B.C., down to the 37th year of Jehoiachin's exile and imprisonment. The second period (1Ki 12:1-2 Kings 10) comprises three stages:
(1) the enmity at first between Judah and Israel from Jeroboam to Omri, 1Ki 12:1-16:28;
(2) the intermarriage between the royal houses of Israel and of Judah, under Ahab, down to the destruction of both kings, Joram of Israel and Ahaziah of Judah, by Jehu, 1Ki 16:2-29 Kings 10;
(3) the renewal of hostilities, from Jehu's accession in Israel and Athaliah's usurpation in Judah to Israel's captivity in Hezekiah's sixth year, 1 Kings 11-17.
The book is not a mere chronicle of kings' deeds and fortunes, but of their reigns in their spiritual relation to Jehovah the true, though invisible, King of the theocracy; hence it is ranked in the canon among "the prophets." The prophets therefore as His ministers, guardians of His rights, and interpreters of His counsel and will, come prominently forward in the book to maintain His prerogative before the kings His viceroys, and to counsel, warn, and punish as He who spoke in them deemed necessary, confirming their word by miraculous signs. Thus, Samuel by His direction anointed Saul and David to reign over His people; Nathan announced God's promise that David's throne and seed should be forever (2 Samuel 7); then when he sinned Nathan remounted his punishment, and upon his repentance immediate forgiveness (2 Samuel 12); similarly, Gad (2 Samuel 24). Nathan announced Solomon's appointment as successor (2Sa 12:25; 1Ch 22:9); anointed and installed him instead of Adonijah, the older brother (1 Kings 1).
Thenceforth, David's seed having been established in Judah in conformity with God's promise (2 Samuel 7), the prophets' agency in Judah was restricted to critical times and special cases requiring the expression of Jehovah's will in the way of either reproof of declension or encouragement of faithfulness. But in Israel their agency was more continuous and prominent, because of the absence of Jehovah's ordinary ministers the priests and Levites, and because of the state idolatry of the calves, to which Ahab added Baal worship. Jehovah appeared to Solomon at Gibeon shortly after his accession, again after his dedication of the temple, finally by a prophet, probably Ahijah, after his declension (1Ki 3:5, etc.; 1Ki 9:1, etc.; 1Ki 11:11, etc., 1 Kings 29). Elijah "the prophet as fire, whose words burned as a torch" (Sir 48:1), as champion of Jehovah, defeated Baal's and Asherah's prophets at Carmel; and averted utter apostasy front northern Israel by banding God's prophets in schools where Jehovah's worship was maintained, and a substitute supplied for the legal temple worship enjoyed by the godly in Judah.
The choice and treatment of materials was determined by the grand theme of the book, namely, the progressive development of the kingdom of God historically, in conformity with the divine promise through Nathan to David which is its germ: "I will set up thy seed after thee, and I will establish his kingdom ... forever. I will be his Father and lie shall be My son; if he commit iniquity I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men; but My mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul" (2Sa 7:12-17). This is the guiding clue through the whole history. This book records its fulfillment, Jehovah prospering the pious kings of David's seed, chastising the backsliders, then casting away yet not for ever.
Notwithstanding Adonijah's attempt, Solomon is at the outset recorded as receiving David's kingdom as Jehovah had promised; he receives at Gibeon the renewal of the promise, on condition of faithfulness, and in answer to his prayer receives wisdom, and also riches and honour which he had not asked for; then after rearing the temple receives God's confirmation of the promise conditionally, "if there wilt walk before Me as David I will establish thy kingdom forever; but if ye (thou and thy people) shall at all turn from following Me ... then will I cut off Israel out of the land"; then in old age was sentenced for forsaking the covenant to have the kingdom rent from him and given to his servant; yet the grace unchangeably promised in 2 Samuel 7 mitigates the stroke, for David's sake the rending should take place not in Solomon's but in his son's days. Moreover one portion (Judah, also Benjamin, Simeon, and Dan in part Israel and Judah was reserved with Jerusalem for David's seed, and should not go with the other ten tribes to Jeroboam. (See ISRAEL; JUDAH.) )
The reigns of Israel's kings are more elaborately detailed, and previously to those of Judah, because Israel, with its crying evils requiring extraordinary prophetic interposition so frequently, furnished more materials for the theme of the book than Judah of which the development was more equable. All matters of important bearing on the kingdom of God in Judah are described fully. In both alike Jehovah appears as the gracious, long suffering God, yet the just punisher of the reprobate at last, but still for His covenant sake sparing and preserving a remnant, notwithstanding the idolatry of several even of Judah's kings (1Ki 15:4; 2Ki 8:19; 11:1-2). Jehovah promised, on condition of faithfulness, to Jeroboam too a sure house and the throne of Israel, but not for ever, only so long as the separate kingdom should last; for He added, "I will for this afflict the seed of David but not for ever" (1Ki 11:38-39).
Judah survived Israel's destruction because of its firm political basis in the continuous succession, of David's line, and its religious basis in the divinely appointed temple and Levitical priesthood. But Ahaz' impiety (though counteracted in part by godly Hezekiah) and especially Manasseh's awful blood. shedding and idolatry (the effects of which on the people the faithful Josiah could only undo externally) at last provoked God to give up Judah too to captivity; so Jehoiachin first and Zedekiah last were led away to Babylon, and Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed. The book, in happy consonance with its design, closes with Jehoiachin's elevation from the prison to the highest throne of the vassal kings at Babylon, an earnest of brighter days to the covenant people, the first ray of the dawn of God's returning favor, and of His restoring the Jews, and of His fulfilling His promise that the kingdom and seed of David shall be forever. Relationship to 1 and 2 Samuel. Characteristics. The opening "now" marks that the books of Kings continue the books of Samuel, carrying on the history of the development of the kingdom, as foretold in the fundamental promise (2 Samuel 7).
Nevertheless, the uniformity of the treatment of the history, and the unity of the language, mark that the work is independent of 1 and 2 Samuel. The author quotes from his original sources with standing formulas. He gives chronological notes: 1Ki 6:1 (the number 480 is a copyist's error, (See CHRONOLOGY; JUDGES.) ) 1Ki 6:37-38; 7:1; 9:10; 11:42; 14:20-21,25; 15:1-2,9-10. Moses' law is his standard for judging the kings (1Ki 2:3; 3:14; 2Ki 10:31; 11:12; 14:6; 17:37; 18:6; 21:8; 22:8; 23:3,21). He describes in the same phrase the beginning, character, and close of each reign (1Ki 11:43; 8/type/nsb'>14:8,20,31; 15:3,8,11-24,26/type/nsb'>26,34; 22:43,51,53; 16:19,26/type/nsb'>26,30; 2Ki 3:2-3; 8:24; 9/type/nsb'>10:29,31; 12:3; 13:2,9,11; 14:3,29; 15:3, etc.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Tell the sons of Israel: 'I am Jehovah. I will bring you out from under the oppression of the Egyptians. I will free you from slavery! I will rescue you with my powerful arm and with mighty acts of judgment.'
I show mercy (loving kindness) to thousands of generations of those who love me and obey my commandments.
If you buy Israelites (your own brothers) as slaves, you must set them free after six years.
Cursed is he who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law by obeying them.' And all the people will say: 'Amen.'
I will choose one of your sons to be king when you reach the end of your life and are buried in the tomb of your ancestors. I will make him a strong ruler. I will allow no one to take his long lasting kingdom away from him. He will be the one to build a temple for me. read more. I will be his father. He will be my son. When he does wrong I will correct him just as parents correct children. I will never put an end to my agreement with him. I put an end to my agreement with Saul when he was king before you. I will make sure that one of your descendants will be king for a very long time. Your throne will be established from generation to generation.' Nathan told David exactly what he heard in the vision.
He sent a message through the prophet Nathan to name the baby Jedidiah (Jehovah's Beloved).
Do what Jehovah your God orders you to do. Obey all his laws and commands, as written in the Law of Moses. That way wherever you go you may prosper in everything you do.
That night Jehovah appeared to him in a dream and asked him: What do you want me to give you?
If you obey me and keep my laws and commands, as your father David did, I will give you a long life.
Also needed were ten stall-fed cattle, twenty pasture-fed cattle, and one hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fowl (cuckoo).
Solomon had forty thousand stalls for his chariot horses and twelve thousand cavalry horses.
My men will bring the logs from Lebanon to the sea and will tie them together in rafts to float them down the coast to the place you choose. My men will untie them. There your men will take charge of them. On your part, I would like you to supply the food for my men.
Solomon began work on the Temple. It was four hundred and eighty years after the people of Israel left Egypt, during the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the second month, the month of Ziv.
Solomon began work on the Temple. It was four hundred and eighty years after the people of Israel left Egypt, during the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the second month, the month of Ziv.
A third-story annex, seven and one half feet high, was built against the outside walls. It was on the sides and the back of the Temple. Each room in the lowest story was seven and one half feet wide. The middle story was nine feet wide. The top story was ten and one half feet wide. The Temple wall on each floor was thinner than on the floor below, so that the rooms could rest on the wall without having their beams built into it.
The three-story annex, each story seven and one half feet high, was built against the outside walls of the Temple. Cedar beams were used to join it to them.
The foundation of the Temple was laid in the second month, the month of Ziv, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign.
The foundation of the Temple was laid in the second month, the month of Ziv, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign. In the eighth month, the month of Bul, in the eleventh year of Solomon's reign, the Temple was completely finished exactly as it had been planned. It took Solomon seven years to build it.
Solomon took thirteen years to build a palace for himself.
He made them of liquid metal in the lowland district of the Jordan River. This was at the river crossing at Adama, between Succoth and Zarethan.
The ends of the poles could be seen by anyone standing directly in front of the Most Holy Place, but from nowhere else.
The ends of the poles could be seen by anyone standing directly in front of the Most Holy Place, but from nowhere else.
Solomon finished building Jehovah's Temple, the royal palace, and everything else he wanted to build.
It took twenty years for Solomon to build two houses, the Temple of Jehovah and the king's house.
Hiram's fleet that brought gold from Ophir also brought a large quantity of sandalwood and precious stones from Ophir. With the sandalwood (possibly the algum tree) the king made supports for Jehovah's Temple and the royal palace, and lyres and harps for the singers. Never again was sandalwood like this imported into Israel, nor has any been seen there to this day.
So Jehovah said to Solomon: Because you have done this, and have not kept the agreement and laws I gave you, I will take the kingdom away from you by force and will give it to your servant.
Pharaoh approved of Hadad. So he gave Hadad his sister-in-law, the sister of Queen Tahpenes, to be Hadad's wife. Tahpenes' sister had a son named Genubath. Tahpenes presented the boy to Pharaoh in the palace, and Genubath lived in the palace among Pharaoh's children.
If you obey me completely I will always be with you. You must live by my laws, and win my approval by doing what I command, as my servant David did. I will make you king of Israel and will make sure that your descendants rule after you, just as I have done for David. Because of Solomon's sin I will punish the descendants of David, but not forever.' read more. For this reason Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam. Jeroboam escaped to King Shishak of Egypt and stayed there until Solomon's death. Everything else that Solomon did, his career, and his wisdom, are all recorded in The History of Solomon.
Everything else that Solomon did, his career, and his wisdom, are all recorded in The History of Solomon. He was king in Jerusalem over all Israel for forty years. read more. He died and was buried in David's City. His son Rehoboam succeeded him as king.
Rehoboam went to Shechem. All the people of northern Israel gathered to make him king.
Rehoboam went to Shechem. All the people of northern Israel gathered to make him king. Jeroboam son of Nebat went to Egypt to escape from King Solomon. When he heard this news he returned from Egypt.
Jeroboam son of Nebat went to Egypt to escape from King Solomon. When he heard this news he returned from Egypt. The people of the northern tribes sent for him. Then they all went together to Rehoboam and said to him: read more. Your father Solomon treated us harshly and placed heavy burdens on us. If you make these burdens lighter and make life easier for us, we will be your loyal subjects. Come back in three days and I will give you my answer, he replied. So they left. Then King Rehoboam consulted elders who had been with Solomon his father when he was living. He said: In your opinion, what answer am I to give to these people? They said to him: If you will be a servant to this people today, caring for them and giving them a favorable answer, then they will be your servants for ever. But he paid no attention to the opinion of the elders. He went to the young men who were his advisors: What is your opinion? He asked: What answer are we to give to this people? They want me to lighten the burdens placed on them by my father. His young advisors said: This is the answer to give to the people who came to you saying: 'Your father put a hard yoke on us; will you make it less?' Say to them: 'My little finger is thicker than my father's body.' If my father put a hard yoke on you, I will make it harder! My father gave you punishment with whips, but I will give you blows with snakes.' So all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day just as the king ordered. The king gave them a harsh answer. He paid no attention to the suggestion of the elders. He gave them the answer suggested by the young advisors. He said: My father made your yoke hard, but I will make it harder! My father gave you punishment with whips, but I will give it with snakes. The king did not listen to the people. This came about by Jehovah's purpose, so that what he had said by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam, son of Nebat, might be fulfilled. When all Israel realized that the king would not respond to their request, the people in answer said to the king: What share do we have in David? What is our heritage in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel; now see to your people, David. So Israel went away to their tents.
Take him ten loaves of bread, some cakes, and a jar of honey. Ask him what is going to happen to our son. He will tell you.
I took the kingdom away from David's descendants and gave it to you. You have not been like my servant David. He was completely loyal to me. He obeyed my commands, and did only what I approve of.
Everything else that King Jeroboam did, the wars he fought and how he ruled, are all recorded in The History of the Kings of Israel. Jeroboam ruled as king for twenty-two years. He died and was buried. His son Nadab succeeded him as king.
Jeroboam ruled as king for twenty-two years. He died and was buried. His son Nadab succeeded him as king. Solomon's son Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king of Judah. He ruled seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city Jehovah chose from all the territory of Israel as the place where he was to be worshiped. Rehoboam's mother was Naamah from Ammon.
Solomon's son Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king of Judah. He ruled seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city Jehovah chose from all the territory of Israel as the place where he was to be worshiped. Rehoboam's mother was Naamah from Ammon.
King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem in the fifth year of Rehoboam's reign.
The rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and everything he did are recorded in the book of the History of the Kings of Judah. There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days. read more. Rehoboam went to rest with his fathers, and was buried with them in the city of David. His mother's name was Naamah, an Ammonite woman. And Abijam his son became king in his place.
Rehoboam went to rest with his fathers, and was buried with them in the city of David. His mother's name was Naamah, an Ammonite woman. And Abijam his son became king in his place.
In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, Abijam became king over Judah. He ruled three years as king in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom. read more. He was not completely loyal to Jehovah his God as his great-grandfather David had been. He committed the same sins as his father did. For David's sake Jehovah his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising Abijam a son to rule after him to keep Jerusalem secure.
Abijam continued the war that Rehoboam and Jeroboam started. There was war throughout Abijam's lifetime. Everything else that Abijah did is recorded in The History of the Kings of Judah. read more. Then Abijam went to rest with his fathers, and they buried him in the earth in the town of David. Asa his son became king in his place. Jeroboam had been king of Israel twenty years. Asa became king of Judah. He was king for forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom. Asa did what was right in the eyes of Jehovah, as David his father did. He banished perverted persons from the land. He removed those used for sex purposes in the worship of the gods. He removed all the idols his fathers had made. He would not let Maacah his mother be queen, because she had made a disgusting image for Asherah. Asa had the obscene image cut down and burned by the Kidron Stream. The high places were not taken away. Nevertheless Asa's heart was true to Jehovah all his life. He brought into the Temple of Jehovah all the things he and his father made holy, silver and gold and vessels. There was war between Asa and Baasha, king of Israel, through out their reigns. And Baasha, king of Israel, went up against Judah. He fortified Ramah in order to prevent anyone from going out or in to Asa the king of Judah. Then Asa took all the silver and gold still stored in Jehovah's Temple, and in the king's house, and delivered them, in the care of his servants, to Ben-hadad, son of Tabrimmon, son of Rezon, king of Aram, at Damascus. He said: Let there be an agreement between us just as there was between my father and your father. I have sent you an offering of silver and gold. End your agreement with Baasha, king of Israel that he may give up attacking me. Ben-hadad agreed to King Asa's request and sent his armies to attack Israel. He conquered Ijon and Dan and Abel-beth-maacah, and all Chinneroth as far as the land of Naphtali. When Baasha heard this he stopped fortifying Ramah and withdrew to Tirzah. Then King Asa issued an order to all Judah. Every man came to carry away the stone and the timber Baasha used to fortify Ramah. King Asa used them for building Geba in the land of Benjamin, and Mizpah. The rest of the events of Asa's reign, the extent of his power and the names of the cities he built are all recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Judah. His feet became diseased, as he grew old. So Asa went to rest with his fathers and was buried in the town of David his father. Jehoshaphat his son became king in his place.
He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah. He copied the evil ways of his father. He made Israel sin so much that they provoked Jehovah to anger with their idols.
In the third year of the rule of Asa, king of Judah, Baasha put him to death, and became king in his place.
Everything else that Nadab did is recorded in The History of the Kings of Israel.
Like King Jeroboam before him, he sinned against Jehovah and led Israel into sin.
I lifted you out of the dust and made you ruler over my people Israel. You have gone the way of Jeroboam. You made my people Israel do evil, moving me to wrath by their sins. Truly, I will take away the family of Baasha. I will make your family like the family of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. read more. Dogs will eat anyone of the family of Baasha who dies in town. The birds of the air will eat anyone who dies in the open country. The rest of the acts of Baasha, what he did, and his power, are recorded in the book of the History of the Kings of Israel.
The rest of the acts of Baasha, what he did, and his power, are recorded in the book of the History of the Kings of Israel. Baasha rested with his fathers. He was buried at Tirzah; and Elah his son became king in his place. read more. The word of Jehovah came to the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani. This was a warning against Baasha and his family because of all the evil he did in the eyes of Jehovah. He made Jehovah angry by the work of his hands, because he was like the family of Jeroboam, and because he killed him. In the twenty-sixth year that Asa was king of Judah, Elah, the son of Baasha, became king of Israel in Tirzah. He was king for two years. His servant Zimri, commander of half his war-carriages made plans to kill him. He was in Tirzah, drinking hard at the house of Arza, controller of the king's house in Tirzah. Zimri attacked and killed him. It was the twenty-seventh year that Asa was king of Judah. Immediately after he became king and took his place on the throne of the kingdom, he put to death all the family of Baasha. Not one male child survived. So Zimri destroyed the entire family of Baasha as Jehovah promised through the prophet Jehu. This happened because of the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, and because of all the sins they led Israel to commit. It aroused the anger of Jehovah the God of Israel. The rest of the acts of Elah are recorded in the book of the History of the Kings of Israel.
The rest of the acts of Elah are recorded in the book of the History of the Kings of Israel. In the twenty-seventh year of Asa, king of Judah, Zimri was king for seven days in Tirzah. The people were attacking Gibbethon in the land of the Philistines. read more. The Israelites in the camp heard it said: Zimri plotted against the king and killed him. So all Israel made Omri, the captain of the army, king that day there in the camp. Then Omri went up from Gibbethon, with all the army of Israel, and they attacked Tirzah, Israel's capital. Zimri saw that the city had fallen. So he went into the palace's inner fortress and set the palace on fire. He died in the flames. This happened because of his sins against Jehovah. Like his predecessor Jeroboam, he displeased Jehovah by his own sins and by leading Israel into sin.
This happened because of his sins against Jehovah. Like his predecessor Jeroboam, he displeased Jehovah by his own sins and by leading Israel into sin. Everything else that Zimri did, including the account of his conspiracy, is recorded in The History of the Kings of Israel.
Everything else that Zimri did, including the account of his conspiracy, is recorded in The History of the Kings of Israel. Then the army of Israel was divided into two factions. Half of the army followed Tibni, son of Ginath, and wanted to make him king. The other half followed Omri. read more. But the half that followed Omri was stronger than the half that followed Tibni, Ginath's son. Tibni died and Omri became king. Omri began to rule Israel in Asa's thirty-first year as king of Judah. He ruled for twelve years, six of them in Tirzah. Omri bought a hill from Shemer for one hundred and fifty pounds of silver. He fortified the hill and built the city of Samaria on it. He named the city after its former owner, Shemer. Omri did what Jehovah considered evil. He did more evil things than all the kings before him. He lived exactly like Jeroboam, Nebat's son. He sinned and led Israel to sin with worthless idols. The Israelites made Jehovah the God of Israel furious.
He lived exactly like Jeroboam, Nebat's son. He sinned and led Israel to sin with worthless idols. The Israelites made Jehovah the God of Israel furious. Everything else about Omri is written in the official records of the kings of Israel.
Everything else about Omri is written in the official records of the kings of Israel. Omri rested with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria. Ahab his son became king in his place. read more. In the thirty-eighth year that Asa was king of Judah, Ahab, the son of Omri, became king over Israel. Ahab was king in Samaria for twenty-two years. Ahab, the son of Omri, did evil in the eyes of Jehovah, even worse than all who went before him!
So Ahab went up to have food and drink. Elijah went up to the top of Carmel. He bowed down to the earth and put his face between his knees.
So he got up and took food and drink. He was strengthened to go for forty days and forty nights, to Horeb, the mountain of God.
So the prophet went away, and pulling his headband over his eyes to keep his face covered. He took his place by the road waiting for the king.
He quickly took the headband from his eyes. The king of Israel saw that he was one of the prophets.
Then the king of Israel went back to his house, bitter and angry, he went to Samaria.
Ahab returned to his house bitter and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite said to him: I will not give you the heritage of my fathers. Stretching himself on the bed with his face turned away, he would not eat. Jezebel his wife came to him and asked: Why is your spirit so bitter that you have no desire for food?
You will see when you go into an inner chamber to hide. Micaiah replied.
Everything else that King Ahab did, including an account of his palace decorated with ivory and of all the cities he built, is recorded in The History of the Kings of Israel.
Like his father Asa before him, he did what was right in the sight of Jehovah. However the places of worship were not destroyed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.
He banished all the male and female prostitutes serving at the pagan altars who were still left from the days of his father Asa.
Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel. It was the seventeenth year of the reign of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Ahaziah ruled in Samaria for two years.
He worshiped and served Baal. Like his father before him, he aroused the anger of Jehovah, the God of Israel.
Then Elijah took off his cloak. He rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided, and he and Elisha crossed to the other side on dry ground.
She returned to Elisha, the prophet. He said: Sell the olive oil and pay all your debts. There will be enough money left over for you and your sons to pay your living expenses.
Elisha told Gehazi: Hurry! Take my walking stick. Do not stop to talk to anyone. If anyone speaks to you do not respond. Go straight to the house and hold my stick over the boy.
The king of Syria was at war with Israel. He consulted his officers and chose a place to set up camp.
The siege caused a great food shortage in the city. It was so severe that a donkey's head cost eighty pieces of silver, and half a pound of dove's dung cost five pieces of silver.
Jehoash son of Jehoahaz captured again from Benhadad, the son of Hazael, the towns he had taken from Jehoahaz, his father, in war. Three times Jehoash defeated him and recovered the towns of Israel.
Shallum, the son of Jabesh conspired against him. He attacked him in Ibleam and killed him. Shallum became king in his place.
The rest of the acts of Pekah are recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.
The wrath (intense anger) of Jehovah came on Israel because they had done evil against Jehovah their God, who took them out of the land of Egypt from under the yoke of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. They worshipped other gods. They lived by the rules of the nations whom Jehovah sent out from before the children of Israel. read more. The children of Israel secretly did things that were not right according to Jehovah their God. They built high places for themselves in all their towns, from the watchtower to the walled towns.
The children of Israel secretly did things that were not right according to Jehovah their God. They built high places for themselves in all their towns, from the watchtower to the walled towns. They erected pillars of stone and wood on every high hill and under every green tree. read more. They burned their offerings in all the high places, as those nations did whom Jehovah sent away from them. They did evil things, moving Jehovah to anger. They made themselves servants of disgusting things. Even though Jehovah said: You should not do this. Jehovah sent his messengers and prophets to warn Israel and Judah: Abandon your evil ways and obey my commands. The commandments contained in the Law I gave to your ancestors. I handed them on to you through my servants the prophets. They would not obey. They were stubborn like their ancestors. They did not trust in Jehovah their God. They refused to obey his instructions. They did not keep the covenant he made with their ancestors. They disregarded his warnings. They worshiped worthless idols and became worthless themselves. They followed the customs of the surrounding nations, disobeying Jehovah's command not to imitate them. They broke all the laws of Jehovah their God. They made two metal bull-calves to worship. They also made an image of the goddess Asherah. Also they worshiped the stars and served the god Baal. They caused their sons and their daughters to go through the fire to be sacrificed. They made use of secret arts and unnatural powers, and gave themselves up to doing evil in the eyes of Jehovah, till they provoked him to anger. Jehovah was very angry with Israel. He removed them from his sight. Only the tribe of Judah kept its place. But even Judah did not obey the commands of Jehovah their God. They were guided by the rules Israel made. So Jehovah would have nothing to do with all the offspring of Israel. He caused trouble for them. He gave them up into the hands of their attackers, till he had sent them away from before his face. He tore Israel from the house of David and made Jeroboam son of Nebat king. Jeroboam drove them away from the laws of Jehovah and made them do a great sin.
He tore Israel from the house of David and made Jeroboam son of Nebat king. Jeroboam drove them away from the laws of Jehovah and made them do a great sin. The children of Israel walked in all the sins Jeroboam committed. They did not depart from these sins. read more. Jehovah removed Israel from his sight as he said he would through all his servants the prophets. Israel was taken away from their land to Assyria, to this day.
So they worshipped Jehovah. They appointed priests from the people for the high places. The priests were to make offerings for them in the houses of the high places. They worshipped Jehovah, but they gave honor to their gods like the nations did from whom they had been taken as prisoners. read more. So to this day they go on in their old ways. They do not worship Jehovah. They do not keep his orders, his ways, or the law Jehovah gave to the children of Jacob. They are the ones he gave the name Israel. Jehovah made an agreement with them and gave them orders, saying: You are to have no other gods. You are not to worship them or be their servants or make them offerings. Jehovah took you out of the land of Egypt with his great power and his outstretched arm. He is your God, to whom you are to give worship and make offerings: You are to obey and do forever the law he put in writing for you. You are to have no other gods. You are to keep in memory the agreement I made with you. You are to have no other gods. You are to worship Jehovah your God. It is he who will give you salvation from the hands of all who are against you. But they paid no attention and they continued in their old way. So these nations worshiped Jehovah and they still served the images (idols) they had made. Their children and their children's children did the same. They do just as their fathers did to this very day.
Hezekiah had the gold from the doors of Jehovah's Temple and from the doorposts plated by him. He stripped it off and gave it to the king of Assyria.
Jehovah said through his servants the prophets: Manasseh king of Judah committed detestable sins. He did more evil than all the Amorites before him. He enticed Judah to do evil with his false gods. read more. Because of this,' says Jehovah the God of Israel: 'I will send such evil on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of all who hear of it will burn. The line of Samaria and the weight of Ahab will be stretched over Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be washed clean as a plate is washed, and turned over on its face. I will discard the rest of my heritage. I will give them into the hands of their enemies. They will take their property and their goods for themselves. Because they have done evil in my eyes. They moved me to anger from the day their fathers came out of Egypt till this day.' Even more, Manasseh killed many innocent men. He filled Jerusalem from one end to the other with blood. He also caused Judah to sin and do evil in the eyes of Jehovah.
He also removed the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the worship of the sun. He burned the chariots used in this worship.
Jehovah sent raiding parties of Babylonians, Arameans, Moabites, and Ammonites against Jehoiakim to destroy Judah as Jehovah predicted through his servants the prophets.
The rest of the acts of Jehoiakim are written in the Book of the History of the Days of the Kings of Judah.
The king of Egypt did not leave his own country again because the king of Babylon captured all the territory from the River of Egypt to the Euphrates River. This territory belonged to the king of Egypt.
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king. He was king in Jerusalem for eleven years. His mother's name was Hamutal, daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
Now in the ninth year of his rule, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked Jerusalem with all his army. He took his position and laid siege to it. They built earthworks all round the town. They surrounded the town and laid siege till the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. read more. On the ninth day of the fourth month, the store of food in the town was almost gone. There was no food for the people of the land.
They put the sons of Zedekiah to death before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, chained him with iron bands and took him to Babylon.
He let the poorest of the land go on living there, to take care of the vines and the fields.
He let the poorest of the land go on living there, to take care of the vines and the fields.
The captain of the guard took the high priest Seraiah, the second priest Zephaniah, and the three doorkeepers.
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.
They had descendants who were still in the land. Solomon drafted them for slave labor. They are still Israel's slaves today.
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.
Israel has rebelled against David's dynasty to this day.
Jehoshaphat was frightened and decided to ask for Jehovah's help. He announced a fast throughout Judah.
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.
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.
So Edom rebelled against Judah's rule and is still independent today. At the same time Edom rebelled, Libnah rebelled because Jehoram had abandoned Jehovah the God of his ancestors.
Everything else about Hezekiah, including his devotion to God, is written in the vision of the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, and in the records of the kings of Judah and Israel.
I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brothers, all the offspring of Ephraim.
Jehovah the God of Israel says, 'Cursed is everyone who does not obey the terms of this covenant.' It is the covenant I made with their ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt. Egypt was like an iron smelter (furnace) to them. I told them to obey me and to do everything that I commanded. I told them that if they obeyed, they would be my people and I would be their God. read more. Then I would keep the promise I made to their ancestors that I would give them the rich and fertile land which they now have.'' I answered: Amen (Yes) Jehovah.
I will make these people a horrifying (shocking) sight to all the kingdoms on the earth. This will happen because of what Judah's King Manasseh, son of Hezekiah, did in Jerusalem.
Jehovah says: Go and buy a potter's earthenware jar, and take some of the elders of the people and some of the senior priests.
Say: Hear the word of Jehovah, O kings of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: thus says Jehovah of Hosts, the God of Israel, 'Behold I am about to bring adversity upon this place. The ears of everyone who hears of it will quiver with fear.
Then you are to break the jar in the sight of the men who accompany you.
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from Jehovah. King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur the son of Malchijah, and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah. The king said to Jeremiah:
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon carried away captive Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and the officials of Judah. He also captured the craftsmen and smiths from Jerusalem and brought them to Babylon. Then Jehovah showed me two baskets of figs set before the Temple of Jehovah! One basket had very good figs, like first-ripe figs, and the other basket had very bad figs that could not be eaten because they were rotten.
so I am going to send for all the families from the north. I will also send for my servant King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, says Jehovah. I will bring the families from the north to attack this land, its people, and all these surrounding nations. I am going to destroy them and turn them into something terrible, something ridiculed, and something permanently ruined.
and all the foreign people living among them; all the kings of the land of Uz; all the kings of Philistia, those from the cities of Ashkelon, Gaza, and Ekron, and the people left in Ashdod; Edom, Moab, and the people of Ammon;
If they are prophets and Jehovah is speaking to them, they should beg Jehovah of Hosts not to allow the utensils that are left in Jehovah's Temple, in the royal palace of Judah, and in Jerusalem to be taken away to Babylon. Jehovah of Host reports concerning the pillars, concerning the sea, concerning the stands and concerning the rest of the vessels that are left in this city, read more. which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take when he carried into exile Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem.
Within two years I will bring back to this place all the temple treasures that King Nebuchadnezzar took to Babylon.' I will also bring back the king of Judah, Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim, along with all of the people of Judah who went into exile in Babylon. I will break the power of the king of Babylon.' I Jehovah have spoken!' read more. In the presence of the priests and of all the people who were standing in the Temple, I said to Hananiah: Amen! I hope Jehovah will do this! I certainly hope he will make the prophecy come true and will bring back from Babylon all the Temple treasures and all the people who were taken away as prisoners.
This is what Jehovah of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: You sent letters in your own name to all the people who are in Jerusalem, to the priest Zephaniah, son of Maaseiah, and to all the priests. These letters said: Jehovah made you priest instead of Jehoiada so that there would be officials for Jehovah's temple. You should put every madman who acts like a prophet in prison and in shackles. read more. Why have you not arrested Jeremiah from Anathoth? After all, he acts like a prophet among you. That is why Jeremiah sent this message to us in Babylon: You will be captives a long time. Build houses, and live in them. Plant gardens, and eat what they produce,--'' The priest Zephaniah read this letter to the prophet Jeremiah.
You show loving kindness to thousands, but repay the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children after them. O great and mighty God. Jehovah of Hosts is his name. You are great in counsel and mighty in deed. Your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men. You give to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds. read more. You set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. Even to this day both in Israel and among mankind you have made a name for yourself. You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt using signs and wonders. You did this with a strong hand, with an outstretched arm and with great terror.
Every seven years each of you must free any Hebrews who sold themselves to you. When they have served you for six years, you must set them free. But your ancestors refused to obey me or listen to me.
This is what Jehovah the God of Israel says: 'Say this to the king of Judah, who sent you to get advice from me: Pharaoh's army has come out to help you. But it will go back to Egypt, its own land. Then the Babylonians will return. They will attack the city, capture it, and burn it down.
Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malchiah heard what I was telling the people. Jehovah says: 'Whoever stays on in the city will die in war or of starvation or disease. But those who go out and surrender to the Babylonians will not be killed. They will at least escape with their life.' read more. I also told them that Jehovah said: 'I am going to give the city to the Babylonian army, and they will capture it.' The officials went to the king and said: This man must be put to death. By talking like this he is making the soldiers in the city lose their courage. He is doing the same thing to everyone else left in the city. He is not trying to help the people. He only wants to hurt them. King Zedekiah answered: Very well, then, do what you want to with him. I cannot stop you. So they took me and let me down by ropes into Prince Malchiah's well, which was in the palace courtyard. There was no water in the well, only mud, and I sank down in it. Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, a eunuch (officer) who worked in the royal palace, heard that they had put me in the well. At that time the king was holding court at the Benjamin Gate. So Ebedmelech went there and said to the king: Your Majesty, what these men have done is wrong. They have put Jeremiah in the well, where he is sure to die of starvation, since there is no more food in the city.
In the tenth month of the ninth year that Zedekiah was king of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia came with his whole army and attacked Jerusalem. On the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah's eleventh year as king, the city walls were broken through. read more. When Jerusalem was captured, all the high officials of the king of Babylon came and took their places at the Middle Gate, including Nergal Sharezer, Samgar Nebo, Sarsechim, and another Nergal Sharezer. When King Zedekiah and all his soldiers saw what was happening, they tried to escape from the city during the night. They left by way of the royal garden, went through the gateway connecting the two walls, and escaped in the direction of the Jordan Valley. But the Babylonian army pursued them and captured Zedekiah in the plains near Jericho. Then they took him to King Nebuchadnezzar, who was in the city of Riblah in the territory of Hamath, and there Nebuchadnezzar passed sentence on him. At Riblah he put Zedekiah's sons to death while Zedekiah was looking on, and he also had the officials of Judah executed. After that, he had Zedekiah's eyes put out and had him placed in chains to be taken to Babylon.
After that, he had Zedekiah's eyes put out and had him placed in chains to be taken to Babylon.
He left in the land of Judah some of the poorest people, who owned no property, and he gave them vineyards and fields. But King Nebuchadnezzar commanded Nebuzaradan, the commanding officer, to give the following order: read more. Go and find Jeremiah and take good care of him. Do not harm him, but do for him whatever he wants. So Nebuzaradan, together with the high officials Nebushazban and Nergal Sharezer and all the other officers of the king of Babylon, had me brought from the palace courtyard. They put me under the care of Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, who was to see that I got home safely. Thus I stayed there among the people.
I will keep you safe, and you will not be put to death. You will escape with your life because you have put your trust in me. I Jehovah have spoken!'
Jehovah spoke his word to Jeremiah after Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, let him go at Ramah. Nebuzaradan found Jeremiah in chains along with the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being taken to Babylon. The captain of the guard took Jeremiah aside and said to him: Jehovah your God threatened to bring this disaster on this place. read more. He has carried out his threat. Jehovah did as he promised because you Israelites have sinned against him and refused to obey him. That is why this has happened to you. Today, I am removing the chains from your hands. If you would like to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you. But if you do not want to come with me to Babylon, do not come. The whole land is yours. Go wherever you want. If you wish to remain, then go back to Gedaliah, son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon appointed to govern the cities of Judah. Live among the people with him, or go anywhere you want. The captain of the guard gave Jeremiah some food and a present and let him go.
Jehovah spoke this message to the prophet Jeremiah about the nations. This is the message about [EGYPT], about the army of Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeated his army at Carchemish along the Euphrates River during the fourth year that Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, was king of Judah. read more. Get your large and small shields ready and advance into battle. Harness your horses. Mount up, you horsemen. Take your positions, and put on your helmets. Polish your spears. Put on your armor. What do I see in them? They are terrified. They are retreating. Their warriors are defeated. They flee without looking back. Terror is all around them! declares Jehovah. The infantry cannot flee. The warriors cannot escape. They stumble and fall in the north by the Euphrates River. Who is this, rising like the Nile River, like streams that flow swiftly? Egypt is like the rising Nile River, like a river quickly overflowing its banks. Egypt says: I will rise. I will cover the earth. I will destroy cities and the people in them. Go into battle, you horsemen. Drive wildly, you chariot drivers. March into battle, you warriors, you warriors from Sudan and Put who carry shields, you warriors from Lydia who use bows and arrows. That day belongs to Jehovah of Hosts. It is a day of vengeance when he will take revenge on his enemies. His sword will devour until it has had enough, and it will drink their blood until it is full. The Almighty Jehovah of Hosts will offer them as sacrifices in the north by the Euphrates River. Go to Gilead, and get medicine, dear people of Egypt. You have used many medicines without results and cannot be cured. The nations have heard of your shame. Your cry fills the earth. One warrior will stumble over another, and both will fall together.
Yet, I will strip the descendants of Esau. I will find their hiding places. They will not be able to hide. Their children and relatives will be destroyed. None of their neighbors will say:
Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, left some of the poorest people in the land to work in the vineyards and on the farms.
I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like these.
The queen of the south will rise up in the judgment with this generation, and condemn it. She came from the ends of the earth to hear the Wisdom of Solomon. Someone greater than Solomon is here!
I tell you truth. There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah. There was no rain from heaven three years and six months. There came a great famine over all the land. Elijah was not sent to any of them. He was only sent to Zarephath in the land of Sidon. She was a widow. read more. There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet. Only one of them was cleansed, Naaman the Syrian.
Carry no purse, no wallet, and no shoes; and greet no man on the way.
God has not rejected his people whom he first knew. Do you remember what the Scripture says about Elijah? How he made intercession to God against Israel? Jehovah, they have killed your prophets, and torn down your altars. I am left alone, and they seek my life. (1 Kings 19:14, 18) read more. What does God say in answer to him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
Women received their dead by a resurrection, and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection:
Elijah was a man of like passions with us. He prayed fervently that it might not rain; and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. He prayed again; and the sky gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads my servants astray so that they commit immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
These (two witnesses) have power to shut the sky so that it will not rain in the days of their prophecy. They have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.