And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.

And he ruled over all the kings from the River even to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.

And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars to be as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland, for abundance.

And Rehoboam went to Shechem. For all Israel came to Shechem to make him king.

And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it, (for he was in Egypt, from where he had fled from the presence of king Solomon), that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.

And they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all Israel came, and they spoke to Rehoboam, saying,

And he said to them, Come again to me after three days. And the people departed.

And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel do ye give me to return an answer to this people?

And they spoke to him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants forever.

And he said to them, What counsel do ye give, that we may return an answer to this people who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke that thy father put upon us lighter?

And the young men that grew up with him spoke to him, saying, Thus shall thou say to the people who spoke to thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter to us. Thus shall thou say to them, My little finge

And now whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I with scorpions.

So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come to me again the third day.

and spoke to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto. My father chastised you with whips, but I with scorpions.

So the king did not hearkened to the people. For it was brought about by God, that LORD might establish his word, which he spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

And when all Israel saw that the king did not hearkened to them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? Neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to your tents, O Israel. Now see to th

Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over the men subject to task work. And the sons of Israel stoned him to death with stones. And king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.

So Israel rebelled against the house of David to this day.

And when Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men, who were warriors, to fight against Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.

But the word of LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,

Thus says LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers. Return every man to his house. For this thing is of me. So they hearkened to the words of LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

And in every city [he put] shields and spears, and made them exceedingly strong. And Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.

And the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their border.

For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem. For Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest's office to LORD.

And after them, such as set their hearts to seek LORD, the God of Israel, came to Jerusalem out of all the tribes of Israel to sacrifice to LORD, the God of their fathers.

And Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah to be chief, the ruler among his brothers. For [he intended] to make him king.

And he dealt wisely, and dispersed all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city. And he gave them provisions in abundance. And he sought [for them] many wives.

And it came to pass, when the kingdom of Rehoboam was established, and he was strong, that he forsook the law of LORD, and all Israel with him.

And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had trespassed against LORD,

And he took the fortified cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.

Now Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam, and to the rulers of Judah, who were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, Thus says LORD, Ye have forsaken me, therefore I have also left you in the hand of

And when LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jer

And king Rehoboam made in their stead shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard that kept the door of the king's house.

And when he humbled himself, the wrath of LORD turned from him, so as not to destroy him altogether. And moreover in Judah there were good things.

So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned. For Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Isra

And he did that which was evil, because he did not set his heart to seek LORD.

In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam, Abijah began to reign over Judah.

Should ye not know that LORD, the God of Israel, gave the kingdom over Israel to David forever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?

And there were gathered to him worthless men, base fellows, who strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon when Rehoboam was young and tender-hearted, and could not withstand them.

And now ye think to withstand the kingdom of LORD in the hand of the sons of David, and ye are a great multitude, and there are with you the golden calves which Jeroboam made you for gods.

Have ye not driven out the priests of LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made priests for you after the manner of the peoples of [other] lands? So that whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven r

But as for us, LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him. And [we have] priests ministering to LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites in their work.

And they burn to LORD every morning and every evening burnt-offerings and sweet incense. Also [they set] the showbread in order upon the pure table, and the candlestick of gold with the lamps of it to burn every evening. For we kee

And, behold, God is with us at our head, and his priests with the trumpets of alarm to sound an alarm against you. O sons of Israel, fight ye not against LORD, the God of your fathers. For ye shall not prosper.

But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come around behind them, so they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them.

And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind them. And they cried to LORD, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.

Then the men of Judah gave a shout. And as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.

But Abijah grew mighty, and took to himself fourteen wives, and begot twenty-two sons, and sixteen daughters.

and commanded Judah to seek LORD, the God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.

For he said to Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars. The land is yet before us, because we have sought LORD our God. We have sought him, and he has given us rest on every side. So

And Asa had an army that bore bucklers and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand, and out of Benjamin, that bore shields and drew bows, two hundred and eighty thousand. All these were mighty men of valor.

And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a million, and three hundred chariots. And he came to Mareshah.

Then Asa went out to meet him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

And Asa cried to LORD his God, and said, LORD, there is none besides thee to help, between the mighty and him who has no strength. Help us, O LORD our God. For we rely on thee, and in thy name we come against this multitude. O LORD

And Asa and the people who were with him pursued them to Gerar. And there fell of the Ethiopians so many that they could not recover themselves. For they were destroyed before LORD, and before his army. And they carried away very m

They also smote the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep in abundance, and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.

And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. LORD is with you while ye are with him. And if ye seek him, he will be found of you, but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.

But when in their distress they turned to LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them.

And in those times there was no peace to him who went out, nor to him who came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the lands.

And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those who sojourned with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon, for they came to him out of Israel in abundance when they saw that LORD his God was with him.

And they sacrificed to LORD in that day of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.

And they entered into the covenant to seek LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul.

And that whoever would not seek LORD, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.

And they swore to LORD with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.

And there was no more war to the thirty-fifth year of the reign of Asa.

In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not allow anyone to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of LORD and of the king's house, and sent to Ben-hadad king of Syria, who dwelt at Damascus, saying,

And Ben-hadad hearkened to king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel. And they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-maim, and all the store-cities of Naphtali.

And it came to pass, when Baasha heard of it, that he left off building Ramah, and let his work cease.

And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him, Because thou have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on LORD thy God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped out of thy hand.

For the eyes of LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward him. In this thou have done foolishly, for from henceforth thou shall have wars.

And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet. His disease was exceedingly great, yet in his disease he did not seek for LORD, but to the physicians.

Therefore LORD established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat tribute, and he had riches and honor in abundance.

Also in the third year of his reign he sent his rulers, even Ben-hail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.

And this was the numbering of them according to their fathers' houses. Of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him three hundred thousand mighty men of valor;

and next to him Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and eighty thousand;

and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to LORD, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor.

And of Benjamin: Eliada a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield;

and next to him Jehozabad, and with him a hundred and eighty thousand ready prepared for war.

And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people who were with him, and moved him to go up [with him] to Ramoth-gilead.

And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Will thou go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he answered him, I am as thou are, and my people as thy people, and [will be] with thee in the war.

And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Inquire first, I pray thee, for the word of LORD.

Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up. For God will deliver it into the hand of the king.

And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of LORD, but I hate him. For he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil; the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said

And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper. For LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king.

And the messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets [are] good to the king with one mouth. Let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.

And when he came to the king, the king said to him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.

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

And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And LORD said, These have no master. Let them return every man to his house in peace.

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

And there came forth a spirit, and stood before LORD, and said, I will entice him. And LORD said to him, With what?

And he said, I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shall entice him, and shall also prevail. Go forth, and do so.

Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way did the Spirit of LORD go from me to speak to thee?

And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shall see on that day when thou shall go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.

And the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son,

So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.

And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and go into the battle, but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into the battle.

And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they turned around to fight against him. But Jehoshaphat cried out. And LORD helped him, and God moved them

And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.