And Asa, and the people that was with him, followed after them as far as Gerar. And the black Moors were overthrown, that there bode none alive of them, but were destroyed of the LORD and of his Host. And they carried away a mighty great prey.

There will come many days in Israel, in which there shall be no true God - nor priest that teacheth, nor any law.

And in those days there shall be no peace to them that go out and in; But great vexation upon the inhabiters of all lands.

When Asa heard those words and the prophecy of Azariah the son of Obed the Prophet, he took courage and put away the abominations out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he won in mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD that was before the porch of the LORD.

And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon. For there fell many to him out of Israel, when they saw that God was with him.

And they offered unto the LORD that same time of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.

so that all that sought not the LORD God of Israel, should die for it, whether he were small or great, man or woman.

In the thirty sixth year of the reign of Asa, came Baasha king of Israel against Judah and built Ramah - to the intent that he would let none that pertained to Asa king of Judah have passage in and out.

Whereupon Asa fetched out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent it to Benhadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, and said,

"There is a confederation between me and thee, and so was between my father and thine, wherefore I have sent thee silver and gold, that thou go and break thine covenant with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me."

And when Baasha heard that, he left building of Ramah and let his work cease.

At that same time, Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, "Because thou trustedest in the king of Syria, and trustest not in the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.

For the eyes of the LORD behold all the earth, to strengthen the hearts of them that are whole with him. Herein thou hast done foolishly, and therefore from henceforth thou shalt have war."

Whereupon Asa was wroth with the seer and put him in the converting house, for he was displeased with him because of that. Moreover Asa oppressed certain of the people the same season.

And the thirty ninth year of his reign Asa fell sick of his feet, and that his disease exceeded. And thereto in his sickness he asked no counsel of the LORD, but of Physicians.

And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead and was mightier than Israel.

Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand and all Judah brought him presents, that he became exceeding rich and glorious.

And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, that they durst not war with Jehoshaphat.

And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab slew sheep and oxen plenteously for him and for the people that came with him, and entreated him to go up unto Ramoth in Gilead.

And Jehoshaphat said, "Is there yet here never a Prophet more of the LORD's, that we might ask of him?"

And the messenger that went to call Micaiah, spake to him saying, "Behold, the words of the Prophets are pleasant to the king with one assent, let thy words, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak that which is pleasant."

And Micaiah said, "As truly as the LORD liveth, even what my God sayeth, that will I speak."

But the king said to him, "How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but truth to me, in the name of the LORD?"

Then he said, "I see all Israel scattered in the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, 'These have no master, let them return every man to his house in peace.'"

Then said the king of Israel to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell thee, that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?"

And the LORD said, 'Who shall deceive Ahab king of Israel, that he may go and be overthrown at Ramoth in Gilead?' And while one said thus and another that,

But the king of Syria commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, "See that ye fight not against small or great, save against the king of Israel only."

For when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from him.

And the battle arose that day. Howbeit the king of Israel continued standing in his chariot against the Syrians until evening. And about the sun going down, he died.

And Jehu, the son of Hanani the seer, went out against him and said to king Jehoshaphat, "Oughtest thou to help the wicked, and to love them that hate the LORD? In this verily is the wrath of the LORD upon thee.

Neverthelater, there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast put away groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God."

And whatsoever come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, law, commandment, ordinances and customs: see that ye warn them, that they trespass not against the LORD; lest wrath come upon you and on your brethren. Thus do and ye shall not offend.

After that came the children of Moab and the children of Ammon, and with them the Amanim, against Jehoshaphat to battle.

And there came that told Jehoshaphat, saying, "There cometh a great multitude against thee from the other side the sea out of Syria. And see, they be in Hazazontamar," which is Engedi.

and said, "LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven, and reignest not thou on all the kingdoms of the heathen? And in thine hand is power and might, that no man can stand before thee.

O our God, wilt thou not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that cometh against us. Neither know we what to do: but our eyes be unto thee."

And he gave the people counsel, and set the singers of the LORD and them that praised in holy apparel, to go out before the army and to say, "Praise the LORD for his mercy lasteth ever."

And Jehoshaphat and his people went to rob away the spoil of them and found among them abundance of goods and raiment and of pleasant Jewels, and caught from them more than they could carry away: so that they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.

And the fear of God fell in the kingdoms of all lands, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel.

And he walked in the way of Asa his father and bowed not therefrom, to do that was pleasant in the sight of the LORD.

And Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works." And the ships were broken that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

Howbeit, the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons forever.

And so Edom departed from under the hand of Judah unto this day. That same time also did Libnah depart from under his power, because he left the LORD God of his fathers.

but walkedst in the ways of Asa king of Israel and hast made Judah and the dwellers of Jerusalem go a-whoring, like to the whoring of the house of Ahab, and hast thereto slain thy brethren that were thy father's house, which were better than thou:

And the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and the Arabians that border on the black Moors.

Which came against Judah and all to tare the land, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and thereto his sons and his wives: so that there was never a son left him save Jehoahaz his youngest son.

And after all that, the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.

And the inhabiters of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: For the men of war that came with the Arabians in the host had slain all his elder sons. And so Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah, was made king.

Wherefore he did that displeased the LORD like to the house of Ahab, for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction.

For it was thrust into Ahaziah of God to go to Joram, and that when he was come, he should go out with Joram against Jehu the son of Nimshi whom the LORD had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab.

And as Jehu was executing justice upon the house of Ahab. He found the lords of Judah and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah that waited on Ahaziah, and he slew them.

And he sought Ahaziah, and they caught him where he was hid in Samaria, and brought him to Jehu. And when they had slain him they buried him: "Because," said they, "he was the son of Jehoshaphat which sought the LORD with all his heart." And there was none of the house of Ahaziah that could obtain to be king.

But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a sleeping chamber. And so Jehoshabeath the daughter of king Jehoram and wife of Jehoiada the priest - because she was the sister of Ahaziah - hid him from Athaliah that she slew him not.

This it is therefore that ye shall do. The third part of you priests and Levites which come in the Sabbath day, shall keep the doors;

And there shall none come into the house of the LORD, save the priests and the Levites that minister. They shall go in, for they are holy: and all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD.

And the Levites and all Judah did in all things as Jehoiada the priest commanded, and took every man his men: both them that came in and them that went out the Sabbath day: for Jehoiada the priest did let none of the companies depart.

And Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds spears and shields and bucklers that pertained to king David and were in the house of God.

And Jehoiada the priest went out with the captains of hundreds that were appointed to govern the host and said to them, "Have her out without the arrays and whosoever followeth her, let him be slain with the sword." For the priest said, "Slay her not in the house of the LORD."

And he set porters unto the gates of the house of the LORD, that none that was unclean in any point should enter in.

And Joash did that pleased the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

It chanced after that, that Joash was minded to mend the house of the LORD.

And upon that he gathered together the priests and the Levites and said to them, "Go out through the cities of Judah and gather of all Israel silver, to strengthen the house of your God, year by year, and see that ye haste the thing." Howbeit, the Levites were slack.

Then the king called Jehoiada that was the chiefest, and said to him, "Why requirest thou not of the Levites to bring in, out of Judah and Jerusalem the sum appointed by Moses the servant of the LORD, and by the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?"

And when the time came that the chest should be brought in by the hands of the Levites at the appointment of the king, when they saw that there was much money: then came the king's scribe and one appointed by the high priest, and poured out that was in the coffer, and then took it and carried it to his place again, and thus they did day by day, and gathered much money.

And the king and Jehoiada gave it to workmen that wrought upon the house of the LORD, and hired Masons and carpenters to redress the house of the LORD, and so did they artificers in iron and brass, to repair the house of the LORD.

And these are they that conspired against him: Zabad the son of Shimeath an Ammonite and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith a Moabite.

And his sons, and the sum of the tax that came to him, and the foundation of the house of God, are written in the story of the book of kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.

And he did that pleased the LORD: but not with the whole heart.

And as soon as he was settled in the kingdom, he slew them that killed the king his father.

And Amaziah gathered Judah together and made captains over thousands and over hundreds in the houses of their fathers throughout all Judah and Benjamin. And he numbered them from twenty years and above, and found them three hundred thousand lusty men able to go to battle, and that could handle spear and shield.

Or else if thou needs wilt, then go and do it, and make thyself strong to battle: and thou shalt see, that God shall make thee fall before thine enemies. For God hath power to help or to cast down."

And Amaziah said again to the man of God, "What shall we do then, for the hundred talents which I have given unto the host of Israel?" And the man of God said, "The LORD is able to give thee much more than that."

And then Amaziah severed that army that was come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again. Wherefore they were exceeding wroth with Judah, and returned to their own home in great anger.

And other ten thousand the children of Judah took alive, and carried them unto the top of a rock and cast them down from the top of the rock that they all to burst:

And it chanced, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, and had brought the gods of the children of Seir, he set them up to be his gods, and bowed himself before them and burned cense unto them.

And as the prophet spake to him, he said to the prophet, "Have men made thee of the king's counsel? Cease, lest thou be beaten." And the prophet ceased, and said, "I am sure that God hath taken counsel to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and obeyest not my counsel."

Thou thinkest, 'See, I have beaten the Edomites,' therefore thine heart ariseth to glorify thyself. Now bide at home: what needeth thee to provoke to evil, that thou perish and Judah with thee?"

But Amaziah rested not: for it came of God, even to deliver them into the hands of their enemies - and that because they had sought the gods of the Edomites.

And he took all the gold and silver and all the Jewels that were found in the house of God, with Obededom and the treasure of the king's house and hostages, and returned to Samaria.

And after that time that Amaziah did turn away from the LORD, they conspired treason against him in Jerusalem: and he fled to Lachish, whither they sent after him and slew him there,

And he did that pleased the LORD, in all points as did his father Amaziah.

And God helped him against the Philistines and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gurbaal, and against the Meunites.

And Uzziah had a host of fighting men that went out to war in the army and were told and numbered by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah an officer, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's lords.

and under the hands of them was the army of the host, three hundred and seven thousand, and five hundred that made war with might and strength, to help the king against his enemies.

And in his greatness his heart arose, that he was marred: and transgressed against the LORD his God. For he went into the temple of the LORD to burn cense upon the altar of incense.

But Azariah the priest went in after him with four score priests of the LORD that were bold men.

And they stepped to Uzziah the king and said to him, "It pertaineth not to thee, Uzziah, to burn cense unto the LORD; but to the priests the children of Aaron that are consecrated for to burn incense. Come out of the sanctuary, for thou hast trespassed, and it shall be no worship to thee before the LORD God."

And he did that pleased the LORD in all points as did his father Uzziah: save, that he came not to the temple of the LORD, and that the people did yet corrupt themselves.

Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not that pleased the LORD, as did his father David:

For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah a hundred and twenty thousand in one day, and all fighting men: and that because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.

And Zichri a mighty man in mount Ephraim slew Maaseiah the king's son and Azrikam the lord steward of household, and Elkanah that was next to the king.

But there was a prophet of the LORD's named Obed which went out to the host which came to Samaria and said to them, "See, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he delivered them into your hands. And ye have slain them with cruelness that reacheth up to heaven.

And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem and to make them bondmen and bondwomen. What other thing do ye - ye unhappy - than offend the LORD your God?

And certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, as Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum and Amasa the son of Hadlai stood up against them that came from war,

And upon that, the men of arms left the captives and the spoil before the lords and all the congregation.

And there arose certain, appointed thereto by name, and took the prisoners and clothed all that were naked among them, of the spoil, and arrayed them and shoed them and gave them to eat and to drink and anointed them, and carried all that were feeble of them upon asses and brought them to Jericho the city of Palm trees fast by their brethren: and then returned to Samaria again.

And at that same time, king Ahaz sent unto the kings of Assyria to have help.

For he offered unto the gods of them of Damascus which beat him, and said, "Because the gods of the Syrians help them, therefore will I offer to them, that they may help me also." But they were his destruction and the destruction of all Israel.

And he did that was right in the sight of the LORD in all points as did David his father.

And beside that they have shut up the doors of the porch and quenched the lamps and have neither burned cense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel.