Now, therefore, send me a wise man, to work in gold and in silver and in bronze and in iron, and in purple and crimson and blue, and skilful to execute gravings, - with the wise men who are with me, in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom my father David did provide.

And the king made of the sandal-wood, stairs unto the house of Yahweh, and unto the house of the king, also lyres and harps, for the singers, - and there were none seen like them before, in the land of Judah.

And when Rehoboam had entered Jerusalem, he called together the house of Judah and Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men, warriors, - to fight against Israel, to bring back the kingdom to Rehoboam.

Speak unto Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, - and unto all Israel in Judah and in Benjamin, saying:

And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, - and built cities for defence, in Judah;

and Zorah, and Aijalon and Hebron, which are in Judah and Benjamin, - as fortified cities.

and, in every several city, shields and spears, and made them exceedingly strong, - thus Judah and Benjamin remained his.

For the Levites left their pasture lands, and their possessions, and came to Judah, and to Jerusalem, - for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, from ministering as priests unto Yahweh;

So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and emboldened Rehoboam son of Solomon, for three years, - for they walked in the way of David and Solomon, for three years.

So he took heed, and dispersed all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, unto all the fortified cities, and gave them food in abundance, - and asked a multitude of wives.

And he captured the cities of defence which belonged to Judah, - and came, as far as Jerusalem.

And, Shemaiah the prophet, came unto Rehoboam, and the rulers of Judah, who had gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem because of Shishak, - and said unto them, Thus, saith Yahweh, Ye, have left, me, Therefore, I also, have left, you, in the hands of Shishak.

But, when he humbled himself, then turned from him the anger of Yahweh, that he would not destroy, to make an end, - moreover also, in Judah, there were some good things.

In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, began Abijah to reign over Judah:

But, Jeroboam, sent round an ambush, to come up from behind them, - so they were before Judah and, the ambush, did come up from behind them.

And, when Judah turned and lo! as for them, the battle was before and behind, then made they outcry unto Yahweh, - and, the priests, kept on blowing with the trumpets.

Then the men of Judah gave a shout, - and it came to pass, when the men of Judah shouted, then, God himself, smote Jeroboam and all Israel, before Abijah and Judah.

And the sons of Israel fled from before Judah, - and God delivered them into their hand.

Thus were the sons of Israel subdued at that time, - and the sons of Judah prevailed, because they leaned upon Yahweh the God of their fathers.

and bade Judah seek Yahweh, God of their fathers,-and execute the law, and the commandment;

and removed from all the cities of Judah, the high places, and the sun-images, - and the kingdom became quiet before him.

And he built cities of defence, in Judah, - for the land had quiet, nor was there near him any war, in these years, because Yahweh had given him rest.

Therefore said he to Judah, Let us build these cities, and let us surround them with walls and towers, doors and bars, while the land is yet before us, for we have sought Yahweh our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built, and prospered.

And it came to pass that, Asa, had a force bearing shield and spear, out of Judah, three hundred thousand, and, out of Benjamin, such as bare a buckler and trode a bow, two hundred and eighty thousand, - all these, were heroes of valour.

So Yahweh smote the Ethiopians, before Asa, and before Judah, - and the Ethiopians fled.

So he went forth to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear me, O Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin, - Yahweh, is with you, so long as ye are with him, and, if ye seek him, he will be found of you, but, if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.

And, when Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he strengthened himself, and put away the abominations out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had captured out of the hill country of Ephraim, - and renewed the altar of Yahweh, that was before the porch of Yahweh.

And he gathered together all Judah and Benjamin, and the sojourners with them, out of Ephraim and out of Manasseh, and out of Simeon, - for they fell unto him out of Israel, in great numbers, because they saw that, Yahweh his God, was with him.

And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for, with all their heart, had they sworn, and, with all their good will, had they sought him, and he was found of them, - and Yahweh gave them rest round about.

In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, - that he might let none come out or go in, unto Asa king of Judah.

And, Asa the king, took all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timbers thereof, which Baasha had used in building, - and he built therewith, Geba and Mizpah.

And, at that time, came Hanani the seer, unto Asa the king of Judah, - and said unto him, Because thou hast leaned upon the king of Syria, and hast not leaned upon Yahweh thy God, for this cause, hath the force of the king of Syria escaped out of thy hand.

But lo! the story of Asa, first and last, there it is, written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

and put forces in all the fortified cities of Judah, - and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had captured.

Therefore did Yahweh establish the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah gave a present unto Jehoshaphat, - and he came to have riches and honour, in abundance.

And his heart was encouraged, in the ways of Yahweh, - and he, yet further, took away the high places and the Sacred Stems, out of Judah.

And, in the third year of his reign, he sent to his rulers, even to Ben-hail and to Obadiah and to Zechariah, and to Nethanel, and to Micaiah, - that they were to teach throughout the cities of Judah;

and they taught throughout Judah, and, with them, was the book of the law of Yahweh, - so they went round throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.

And it came to pass, that, the dread of Yahweh, was upon all the kingdoms of the countries, that were round about Judah, - and they warred not against Jehoshaphat.

And so it came to pass that, Jehoshaphat, went on waxing surpassingly great, - and he built, throughout Judah, fortresses and cities for store;

and, much business, had he, throughout the cities of Judah, - but, the men of war, the heroes of valour, were in Jerusalem.

And, these, are the numbers of them, by their ancestral house, - To Judah, pertained rulers of thousands, Adnah the chief, and, with him, mighty men of valour, three hundred thousand;

These, were they who were waiting upon the king, - besides those whom the king placed in the fortified cities, throughout all Judah.

For Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go up with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he said unto him - So am I, even as thou, and, like thy people, are my people, and, with thee, in the war.

Now, the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat king of Judah, were sitting, each upon his throne, clothed in robes, and they were sitting in an open space, at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, - and, all the prophets, were prophesying before them.

Then went up the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat king of Judah, against Ramothgilead.

And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned unto his own house in peace, to Jerusalem.

And he stationed judges in the land, throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city;

And lo! Amariah the chief priest, is over you as to every matter of Yahweh, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael the chief ruler for the house of Judah, as to every matter of the king, and, as officers, the Levites are before you, - Be strong and act, and Yahweh be with the good!

And Jehoshaphat was afraid, and set his face to seek unto Yahweh, - and proclaimed a fast for all Judah.

And Judah gathered themselves together, to enquire of Yahweh, - even, out of all the cities of Judah, came they in, to seek Yahweh.

And Jehoshaphat stood, in the convocation of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of Yahweh, - before the new court;

And, all Judah, were standing before Yahweh, - also their little ones, their wives and their children.

and he said, Give ye heed, all Judah and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat! Thus, saith Yahweh unto you. As for you, do not fear nor be dismayed, by reason of this great multitude, for, not yours, is the battle, but, God's.

It is not, for you, to fight in this matter, - take your station, stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh with you, O Judah and Jerusalem, do not fear, nor be dismayed, to-morrow, go ye out to meet them, and, Yahweh, will be with you.

And Jehoshaphat bowed his head, with his face to the ground, - and, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, fell down before Yahweh, prostrating themselves unto Yahweh.

So they rose early in the morning, and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa, - and, as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, Trust ye in Yahweh your God, and ye shall be trusted, Trust ye in his prophets, and ye shall prosper.

And, when they began to sing and to praise, Yahweh had set liers-in-wait against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who were coming against Judah, and they were smitten.

So when, Judah, came near the watch-tower of the wilderness, - they turned towards the multitude, and lo! there they were, dead bodies fallen to the earth, with none to escape.

Then turned every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with, Jehoshaphat, at their head, to go again to Jerusalem with joy, - for Yahweh had caused them to rejoice over their enemies.

Thus Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah, - thirty-five years old, was he when he began to reign, and, twenty-five years, reigned he in Jerusalem, and the, name of his mother, was Azubah, daughter of Shilhi.

Yet, after this, did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, - he, was lawless in his doings;

and their father gave them large presents - of silver and of gold and of precious things, with cities of defence, in Judah, - but, the kingdom, gave he unto Jehoram, for, he, was the firstborn.

In his days, revolted the Edomites, from under the hand of Judah, - and set over themselves a king.

So Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah - unto this day. Then, must Libnah needs revolt at the same time, from under his hand, - because he had forsaken Yahweh, the God of his fathers.

He too, made high places among the mountains of Judah, - and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to be unchaste, and seduced Judah.

Then came there unto him, a writing, from Elijah the prophet, saying, - Thus, saith Yahweh, God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa, king of Judah;

but hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast caused Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to be unchaste, after the unchastities of the house of Ahab, - moreover also, thine own brethren of the house of thy father who were better than thou, hast thou slain,

and they came up against Judah, and forced their way into it, and carried off all the possessions that were found belonging to the house of the king, moreover also his sons and his wives, - so that there was left him never a son, save only Jehoahaz the youngest of his sons.

And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king, in his stead, for, all the elder sons, had the band of men slain who came in with the Arabians into the camp, - so Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.

And he returned to be healed in Jezreel, because of the wounds wherewith they smote him in Ramah, when he fought with Hazael, king of Syria, - and, Azariah son of Jehoram king of Judah, went down to see Jehoram son of Ahab in Jezreel, because, sick, was he!

And so it came to pass, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, - and found the rulers of Judah and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah ministering to Ahaziah, that he slew them.

But, when, Athaliah mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she rose up and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.

And they went round throughout Judah, and gathered together the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the ancestral chiefs of Israel, - and they came into Jerusalem.

So the Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded, and they took every man his men, who were coming in on the sabbath, with them who were going out on the sabbath, - for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.

So he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said unto them - Go ye out unto the cities of Judah, and gather out of all Israel silver to repair the house of your God, year by year, and, ye, shall hasten the matter, - but the Levites hastened it not.

Then the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Wherefore hast thou not required of the Levites, to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the tribute of Moses the servant of Yahweh, and of the convocation of Israel, - for the tent of testimony?

And they made a proclamation, throughout Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in unto Yahweh the tribute of Moses the servant of God, laid upon Israel in the desert.

Now, after the death of Jehoiada, came the rulers of Judah, and bowed themselves down unto the king, - then, hearkened the king unto them.

And they forsook the house of Yahweh, God of their fathers, and served the Sacred Stems, and the images, - so there was wrath against Judah and Jerusalem, for this their guilt.

And it came to pass, when the year had gone round, that the force of Syria came up against him, and they entered Judah, and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the rulers of the people, from among the people, - and, all the spoil of them, sent they unto the king of Damascus.

And Amaziah gathered Judah together, and appointed them by their ancestral houses, as rulers of thousands and as rulers of hundreds, for all Judah and Benjamin, - and he numbered them, from twenty years old and upwards, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, who could grasp spear and shield.

So Amaziah separated them, appointing unto the company which had come unto him out of Ephraim, to depart unto their own place, - wherefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, so they returned to their own place, in a heat of anger.

and the sons of Judah took captive, ten thousand alive, and brought to the top of the crag, - and cast them down from the top of the crag, and, all of them, were torn asunder.

But, as for the sons of the company which Amaziah sent back from going with him to the war, they spread themselves out against the cities of Judah, from Samaria, even unto Beth-horon, - and smote of them three thousand, and took great plunder.

Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel, and sent unto Joash, son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu king of Israel, saying, - Come, let us look one another in the face!

And Joash king of Israel sent unto Amaziah king of Judah, saying, A thistle that was in Lebanon, sent unto a cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Come! give thy daughter unto my son to wife, - but there passed by a beast of the field that was in Lebanon, and trampled down the thistle.

Thou hast said-Lo! thou hast smitten the Edomites, and thy heart hath lifted thee up to display honour,-Now, abide in thine own house, wherefore shouldst thou engage in strife with Misfortune, and fall, thou and Judah with thee?

So Joash king of Israel came up, and they looked one another in the face, he, and Amaziah king of Judah, - in Beth-shemesh, which belongeth unto Judah.

Then was Judah defeated, before Israel, - and they fled every man to his own home;

and, Amaziah king of Judah, son of Joash son of Jehoahaz, was taken by Joash king of Israel, in Beth-shemesh, - and he brought him to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, from the gate of Ephraim as far as the corner-gate, four hundred cubits;

And Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived, after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, - fifteen years.

Now, the rest of the story of Amaziah, first and last, lo! it is written in the book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

And they brought him on horses,-and buried him with his fathers, in the city of Judah.

Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, when, he, was sixteen years old, - and made him king, instead of his father Amaziah.

He, built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, - after that the king slept with his fathers.

Cities also, built he, in the hill country of Judah, - and, in the thick woods, built he fortresses and towers.

But, the rest of the story of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways, lo! there they are written in the book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.

And Pekah son of Remaliah slew, in Judah, a hundred and twenty thousand in one day, all, sons of valour,-because they had forsaken Yahweh, God of their fathers.

But, in that place, was a prophet unto Yahweh, Oded his name, so he went out to meet the host that was coming unto Samaria, and said unto them, Lo! in the wrath of Yahweh, God of your fathers, against Judah, hath he delivered them into your hand, - and ye have slain them in a rage, until, to the heavens, it hath reached.