Bible in 90 Days

¹¹ Thus Shlomo finished the house of Adonai and the royal palace. Everything that Shlomo had set his heart on making in the house of Adonai and in his own palace he accomplished successfully.

¹² Adonai appeared to Shlomo by night and said to him, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice. ¹³ If I shut up the sky, so that there is no rain; or if I order locusts to devour the land; or if I send an epidemic of sickness among my people; ¹⁴ then, if my people, who bear my name, will humble themselves, pray, seek my face and turn from their evil ways, I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land. ¹⁵ Now my eyes will be open and my ears will pay attention to the prayer made in this place. ¹⁶ For now I have chosen and consecrated this house, so that my name can be there forever; my eyes and heart will always be there. ¹⁷ As for you, if you will live in my presence, as did David your father, doing everything I have ordered you to do, and keeping my laws and rulings; ¹⁸ then I will establish the throne of your rulership, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, ‘You will never lack a man to be ruler in Isra’el.’ ¹⁹ But if you turn away and abandon my regulations and mitzvot which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods, worshipping them; ²⁰ then I will pull them up by the roots out of the land I have given them. This house, which I consecrated for my name, I will eject from my sight; and I will make it an example to avoid and an object of scorn among all peoples. ²¹ This house, now so exalted — everyone passing by will be shocked at the sight of it and will ask, ‘Why has Adonai done this to this land and to this house?’ ²² But the answer will be, ‘It’s because they abandoned Adonai the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and took hold of other gods, worshipping and serving them; this is why [Adonai] brought all these calamities on them.’”

8 At the end of twenty years, during which time Shlomo had built the house of Adonai and his own palace, ² Shlomo built up the cities which Huram had given to Shlomo and had the people of Isra’el live there.

³ Then Shlomo attacked Hamat-Tzovah and defeated it. ⁴ He built Tadmor in the desert and all the cities for storing supplies that he built in Hamat. ⁵ He also built Upper Beit-Horon and Lower Beit-Horon, fortified cities with walls, gates and bars; ⁶ Ba‘alat; and all the cities that Shlomo had for storing supplies, all the cities for his chariots, the cities for his horsemen, and all the other buildings Shlomo wanted to build in Yerushalayim, in the L’vanon and throughout the land he ruled.

⁷ As for all the people still left from the Hitti, Emori, P’rizi, Hivi, and Y’vusi, who were not part of Isra’el, ⁸ from their descendants remaining after them in the land, whom the people of Isra’el did not exterminate — from them Shlomo levied [his forced laborers], as it is to this day. ⁹ But Shlomo did not raise any of his slaves from the people of Isra’el; rather, these were the soldiers, his chief commanders, and the officials in charge of his chariots and horsemen. ¹⁰ King Shlomo had 250 chief officers in charge of the people.

¹¹ Shlomo brought up Pharaoh’s daughter from the City of David to the house he had built for her; because he said, “No wife of mine is going to live in the house of David king of Isra’el, since the [buildings] where the ark of Adonai has been are holy.”

¹² Then Shlomo offered burnt offerings to Adonai on the altar of Adonai that he had built in front of the vestibule, ¹³ as each day required, offering according to the mitzvah of Moshe on Shabbats, at Rosh-Hodesh and at the designated times three times a year — the festivals of Matzah, Shavu‘ot and Sukkot. ¹⁴ As David his father had ordered, he appointed the divisions of the cohanim for their service and the L’vi’im to their tasks — to praise and to perform their service in the presence of the cohanim according to each day’s requirements. He also appointed the gatekeepers by their divisions to be at every gate, for David the man of God had so ordered. ¹⁵ They did not deviate from the king’s order to the cohanim and L’vi’im in any matter or in regard to the supplies. ¹⁶ All the work of Shlomo was organized in this way from the day ground was broken for the house of Adonai until everything had been accomplished, and the house of Adonai had been completed.

¹⁷ Shlomo went to ‘Etzyon-Gever and Elot on the shore of the sea in the land of Edom. ¹⁸ Huram sent some of his servants with ships, and others that were experienced sailors who understood the sea; they went with Shlomo’s servants to Ofir and took from there fifteen tons of gold, which they brought back to King Shlomo.

9 When the queen of Sh’va heard what was being said about Shlomo, she came to test him with difficult questions in Yerushalayim, accompanied by a very great retinue, including camels bearing spices and gold in abundance, and precious stones. When she appeared before Shlomo, she spoke with him about everything on her heart; ² and Shlomo answered all her questions; nothing was hidden from the king that he could not explain to her. ³ After the queen of Sh’va had seen Shlomo’s wisdom, the palace he had built, ⁴ the food at his table, the manner of seating his officials, the manner in which his staff served him and how they were dressed, his personal servants and how they were dressed, and his manner of going up to the house of Adonai, it left her breathless. ⁵ She said to the king, “What I heard in my own country about your deeds and your wisdom is true, ⁶ but I couldn’t believe the report until I came and saw for myself. Actually, they didn’t tell me even half of how great your wisdom is. In reality, you surpass the reports I heard. ⁷ How happy your people must be, how happy these servants of yours who are always here attending you and get to hear your wisdom! ⁸ Blessed be Adonai your God, who took pleasure in you to put you on his throne, so that you could be king for Adonai your God. Because of your God’s love for Isra’el, to establish them forever, he has made you king over them, to administer law and judgment.” ⁹ Then she gave the king four tons of gold, spices in great abundance, and precious stones; there had never been spices like those the queen of Sh’va gave to King Shlomo.

¹⁰ Huram’s servants and Shlomo’s servants, who had brought the gold from Ofir, now brought sandalwood and precious stones. ¹¹ The king used the sandalwood to make walkways for the house of Adonai and for the royal palace, also lyres and lutes for the singers. None like these had been seen before in the land of Y’hudah.

¹² King Shlomo gave the queen of Sh’va everything she wanted, whatever she asked, more than what she had brought to the king. After this, she returned and went back to her own country, she and her servants.

¹³ The weight of the gold Shlomo received annually came to twenty-two tons, ¹⁴ besides that which came from customs duties and sales taxes; also all the Arab kings and regional governors brought gold and silver to Shlomo. ¹⁵ King Shlomo made 200 large shields of hammered gold; fifteen pounds of hammered gold went into one shield. ¹⁶ He made 300 more shields of hammered gold, with seven-and-a-half pounds going into one shield; the king put these in the House of the L’vanon Forest.

¹⁷ The king also made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold. ¹⁸ The throne had six steps and a gold footstool; these were fastened to the throne. There were arms on either side of the seat, two lions standing beside the arms, ¹⁹ and twelve more lions standing on each side of the six steps. Nothing like it had ever been made in any kingdom.

²⁰ All King Shlomo’s drinking vessels were of gold; and all the utensils in the House of the L’vanon Forest were of pure gold; for in Shlomo’s time, silver was regarded as having little value. ²¹ The king had ships that could go to Tarshish with Huram’s servants; once every three years the “Tarshish” ships came in, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes and peacocks.

²² So King Shlomo surpassed all the kings on earth in both wealth and wisdom. ²³ All the kings on earth sought to have an audience with Shlomo, in order to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. ²⁴ Each one brought his present — articles of silver, articles of gold, clothing, armor, spices, horses and mules; and this continued year after year.

²⁵ Shlomo also had 4,000 stalls of horses for his chariots and his 12,000 horsemen; he assigned them to the chariot cities and to the king in Yerushalayim. ²⁶ He ruled over all the kingdoms from the [Euphrates] River through the land of the P’lishtim to the border of Egypt. ²⁷ The king made silver in Yerushalayim as common as stones, and he made cedars as abundant as sycamore-fig trees are in the Sh’felah. ²⁸ They brought horses for Shlomo from Egypt and from all countries.

²⁹ Other activities of Shlomo, from beginning to end, are written in the records of Natan the prophet, in the prophecy of Achiyah of Shiloh and in the visions of Ye‘do the seer concerning Yarov‘am the son of N’vat. ³⁰ Shlomo reigned in Yerushalayim over all Isra’el for forty years. ³¹ Then Shlomo slept with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David his father, and Rechav‘am his son became king in his place.

10 Rechav‘am went to Sh’khem, where all Isra’el had come in order to proclaim him king. ² When Yarov‘am the son of N’vat heard of it, he returned from Egypt, where he had fled from Shlomo. ³ They sent and summoned him, so Yarov‘am and all Isra’el came and said to Rechav‘am, ⁴ “Your father laid a harsh yoke on us. But if you will lighten the harsh service we had to render your father and ease his heavy yoke that he put on us, we will serve you.” ⁵ He said to them, “Come back to me after three days.” So the people left.

⁶ King Rechav‘am consulted the older men who had been in attendance on Shlomo his father during his lifetime and asked, “What advice would you give me as to how to answer these people?” ⁷ They said to him, “If you will treat these people kindly, pleasing them and giving them favorable consideration, they will be your servants forever.” ⁸ But he didn’t take the advice the older men gave him; instead he consulted the young men he had grown up with, who were now his attendants. ⁹ He said to them, “What advice would you give me, so that we can give an answer to these people who said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke that your father laid on us’?” ¹⁰ The young men he had grown up with said to him, “The people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you, make it lighter for us’ — here’s the answer you should give them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! ¹¹ Yes, my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, but I will make it heavier! My father controlled you with whips, but I [will control you] with scorpions!’”

¹² So Yarov‘am and all the people came to Rechav‘am the third day, as the king had requested by saying, “Come to me again the third day”; ¹³ and the king answered them harshly. Abandoning the advice of the older men, King Rechav‘am ¹⁴ addressed them according to the advice of the young men and said, “I will make your yoke heavy, and I will add to it! My father controlled you with whips, but I will control you with scorpions!” ¹⁵ So the king didn’t listen to the people; and that was something God brought about, so that Adonai could fulfill his word, which he had spoken through Achiyah from Shiloh to Yarov‘am the son of N’vat.

¹⁶ When all Isra’el [saw] that the king wasn’t listening to them, the people answered the king,

So all Isra’el left for their tents.

¹⁷ But as for the people of Isra’el living in the cities of Y’hudah, Rechav‘am ruled over them. ¹⁸ King Rechav‘am then sent Hadoram, who was in charge of forced labor; but the people of Isra’el stoned him to death. King Rechav‘am managed to mount his chariot and flee to Yerushalayim. ¹⁹ Isra’el has been in rebellion against the dynasty of David to this day.

11 When Rechav‘am arrived in Yerushalayim, he assembled the house of Y’hudah and Binyamin, 180,000 select soldiers, to fight Isra’el and bring the rulership back to Rechav‘am. ² But this word of Adonai came to Sh’ma‘yah the man of God: ³ “Speak to Rechav‘am the son of Shlomo, king of Y’hudah, and to all Isra’el in Y’hudah and Binyamin; tell them ⁴ that this is what Adonai says: ‘You are not to go up and fight your brothers! Every man is to go back home, because this is my doing.’” They paid attention to the words of Adonai and turned back from attacking Yarov‘am.

⁵ Rechav‘am lived in Yerushalayim and built cities for defense in Y’hudah — ⁶ he built Beit-Lechem, ‘Eitam, T’koa, ⁷ Beit-Tzur, Sokho, ‘Adulam, ⁸ Gat, Mareshah, Zif, ⁹ Adorayim, Lakhish, ‘Azekah, ¹⁰ Tzor‘ah, Ayalon and Hevron; these are fortified cities in Y’hudah and Binyamin. ¹¹ He fortified the strongholds, appointed captains in charge of them and supplied them with food, olive oil and wine. ¹² In every city he put shields and spears, making them very strong. Y’hudah and Binyamin stuck with him.

¹³ The cohanim and L’vi’im from wherever they lived throughout all Isra’el made themselves available to Rechav‘am. ¹⁴ The L’vi’im left their pasture lands and property and came to Y’hudah and Yerushalayim; since Yarov‘am and his sons had thrown them out, not allowing them to function as cohanim for Adonai, ¹⁵ and had appointed for himself cohanim for the high places and for the images of goat-demons and calves that he had made. ¹⁶ Those from all the tribes of Isra’el who had set their hearts on seeking Adonai, the God of Isra’el, followed them to Yerushalayim to sacrifice to Adonai, the God of their fathers. ¹⁷ For three years they strengthened the kingdom of Y’hudah and made Rechav‘am the son of Shlomo strong, because for three years they followed the way of life of David and Shlomo.

¹⁸ Rechav‘am married Machalat the daughter of Yerimot the son of David and Avichayil the daughter of Eli’av the son of Yishai; ¹⁹ and she became the mother of his sons Ye‘ush, Sh’maryah and Zaham. ²⁰ After her, he married Ma‘akhah the daughter of Avshalom; she became the mother of Aviyah, ‘Atai, Ziza and Shlomit. ²¹ Rechav‘am loved Ma‘akhah more than all his other wives and concubines — for he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines and was the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters. ²² Rechav‘am appointed Aviyah the son of Ma‘akhah chief, the leader of his brothers, because he intended to make him king. ²³ He was wise in his treatment of his sons, sending all of them throughout the territory of Y’hudah and Binyamin, to every fortified city, providing them with plenty of supplies and seeking for them many wives.

12 But in time, after Rechav‘am had consolidated his rulership and had become strong, he, and with him all Isra’el, abandoned the Torah of Adonai. ² In the fifth year of King Rechav‘am, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Yerushalayim, because they had acted faithlessly toward Adonai. ³ He came out of Egypt with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horsemen and a numberless army including Luvim, Suki’im and Ethiopians. ⁴ He captured the fortified cities of Y’hudah, then went to Yerushalayim.

⁵ Now Sh’ma‘yah the prophet came to Rechav‘am and the leaders of Y’hudah who had gathered in Yerushalayim because of Shishak and said to them, “Here is what Adonai says: ‘Because you have abandoned me, I have abandoned you to the hands of Shishak.’” ⁶ In response, the leaders of Isra’el and the king humbled themselves; they said, “Adonai is right.” ⁷ When Adonai saw that they had humbled themselves, this word of Adonai came to Sh’ma‘yah: “Because they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will grant them a measure of deliverance. My wrath will not be poured out on Yerushalayim through Shishak. ⁸ However, they will become his slaves, so that they will come to appreciate the difference between serving me and serving earthly kingdoms.”

⁹ So Shishak king of Egypt attacked Yerushalayim. He took the treasures in the house of Adonai and the treasures in the royal palace — he took everything, including the gold shields Shlomo had made. ¹⁰ To replace them, King Rechav‘am made shields of bronze, which he entrusted to the commanders of the contingent guarding the gate to the royal palace. ¹¹ Whenever the king went to the house of Adonai, the guard would come and get the shields; later they would return them to the guardroom.

¹² After he humbled himself, the anger of Adonai turned away from him, so that he did not altogether destroy him; moreover, some good things were found in Y’hudah. ¹³ So King Rechav‘am consolidated his rule in Yerushalayim.

Rechav‘am was forty-one years old when he began his reign; and he ruled seventeen years in Yerushalayim, the city Adonai had chosen from all the tribes of Isra’el to bear his name; his mother’s name was Na‘amah the ‘Amonit. ¹⁴ He did what was evil, because he had not set his heart on seeking Adonai. ¹⁵ The activities of Rechav‘am from beginning to end are written in the genealogically organized histories of Sh’ma‘yah the prophet and ‘Iddo the seer. But there were continual wars between Rechav‘am and Yarov‘am. ¹⁶ Rechav‘am slept with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. Then Aviyah his son became king in his place.

13 It was in the eighteenth year of King Yarov‘am that Aviyah began his reign over Y’hudah. ² He ruled three years in Yerushalayim; his mother’s name was Mikhayahu the daughter of Uri’el from Giv‘ah.

There was war between Aviyah and Yarov‘am. ³ Aviyah joined the battle with an army of valiant soldiers, 400,000 select troops; while Yarov‘am took the field against him with 800,000 select troops who were valiant, strong men.

⁴ Aviyah, standing on Mount Z’marayim, in the hills of Efrayim, cried, “Yarov‘am and all Isra’el! Listen to me! ⁵ Don’t you know that Adonai, the God of Isra’el, gave rulership over Isra’el to David forever, to him and his descendants, by a covenant of salt [which is unbreakable]? ⁶ Yet Yarov‘am the son of N’vat, servant to Shlomo the son of David, rose in rebellion against his lord. ⁷ There rallied around him worthless brutes who were too strong for Rechav‘am the son of Shlomo to withstand when he was young and inexperienced. ⁸ Now you expect to withstand the kingdom of Adonai in the hands of the descendants of David. Yes, there are a great number of you, and you have with you the gold calves that Yarov‘am made as gods for you. ⁹ Yes, you drove out the cohanim of Adonai, the descendants of Aharon, and the L’vi’im; and you made yourselves priests as do the peoples in other countries, so that anyone who comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams can become a priest of those non-gods.

¹⁰ “But we are different. Adonai is our God, and we have not abandoned him. We have cohanim performing the service for Adonai, descendants of Aharon. With the L’vi’im doing their work, ¹¹ they burn to Adonai every morning and evening burnt offerings and sweet incense; they arrange the showbread on the pure table, and they prepare the gold menorah with its lamps to burn every evening. For we observe the order of Adonai our God. But you have abandoned him.

¹² “So look here! God is with us, leading us and his cohanim with the battle trumpets to sound an alarm against you. People of Isra’el! Don’t fight against Adonai, the God of your ancestors; because you will not succeed.”

¹³ But Yarov‘am prepared to ambush them from behind, so that the main body was ahead of Y’hudah, while the ambush was behind them. ¹⁴ Thus when Y’hudah looked back, the battle had to be fought in front of them and behind them.

They cried to Adonai, and the cohanim sounded the trumpets. ¹⁵ Then the men of Y’hudah gave forth a shout, and as the men of Y’hudah shouted, God struck Yarov‘am and all Isra’el before Aviyah and Y’hudah. ¹⁶ The people of Isra’el fled before Y’hudah, and God handed them over to them. ¹⁷ Aviyah and his army inflicted a great slaughter on them — 500,000 of Isra’el’s select soldiers fell dead. ¹⁸ Thus the people of Isra’el were subdued that time, and the people of Y’hudah won the victory, because they relied on Adonai the God of their ancestors. ¹⁹ Aviyah pursued Yarov‘am, taking from him the towns of Beit-El with its villages, Y’shanah with its villages and ‘Efrayin with its villages. ²⁰ Yarov‘am did not recover his strength during the time of Aviyahu. Finally Adonai struck him, and he died. ²¹ But Aviyahu grew strong; he married fourteen wives and became the father of twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

²² Other activities of Aviyah, together with his ways of doing things and his sayings, are recorded in the commentary of the prophet ‘Iddo. ^23 (14:1) Aviyah slept with his ancestors, and they buried him in the City of David. Then Asa his son became king in his place; during his time the land was quiet for ten years.

14 ⁽²⁾ Asa did what was good and right from the perspective of Adonai his God; ^2 (3) for he removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashing the standing-stones and chopping down the sacred poles. ^3 (4) He ordered Y’hudah to seek Adonai, the God of their ancestors, and to obey the Torah and the mitzvah. ^4 (5) He removed the high places and pillars for sun-worship from all the cities of Y’hudah, and under him the kingdom was quiet.

^5 (6) Because the land was quiet, and he had no war during those years, since Adonai had given him rest, he built fortified cities in Y’hudah. ^6 (7) “Let’s build these cities,” he said to Y’hudah; “we’ll surround them with walls, towers, gates and bars. The land is there for us to use, because we have sought Adonai our God; we have sought him, and he has given us peace on every side.” So they built and prospered.

^7 (8) Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Y’hudah, equipped with shields and spears, and another 280,000 from Binyamin, with shields and bows; all were brave, strong men. ^8 (9) Zerach the Ethiopian came out to attack them with an army of one million and three hundred chariots. When he arrived at Mareshah, ^9 (10) Asa went out to fight him, and the forces were arranged for battle in the Tz’fat Valley at Mareshah.

^10 (11) Asa cried out to Adonai his God, “Adonai, there is no one besides yourself, strong or weak, who can help. Help us, Adonai our God, because we are relying on you, and we are coming against this vast throng in your name. You are Adonai our God; don’t let human beings stop you!” ^11 (12) So Adonai struck the Ethiopians before Asa and Y’hudah, and the Ethiopians fled. ^12 (13) Asa and the army with him pursued them to G’rar, and the Ethiopians were defeated beyond recovery; they were shattered before Adonai and his army, who carried off much spoil. ^13 (14) Then they attacked all the cities in the vicinity of G’rar, for a panic from Adonai had overcome them. They plundered all the cities, for they were full of spoil. ^14 (15) They also attacked the tents of those tending the livestock and carried off sheep and camels in abundance. Then they returned to Yerushalayim.

15 The Spirit of God came on ‘Azaryah the son of ‘Oded; ² he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa, and all Y’hudah and Binyamin! Adonai is with you, as long as you are with him; if you seek him, you will find him; but if you abandon him, he will abandon you! ³ For a long time Isra’el was without the true God, without a cohen who could teach, and without Torah. ⁴ But when, in their distress, they turned to Adonai the God of Isra’el and sought him, they found him. ⁵ In those times people going about their business were insecure, and great disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands; ⁶ so that they were shattered to pieces, nation against nation and city against city, as God troubled them with every kind of distress. ⁷ But you, be strong, and don’t slack off; for your work will be rewarded.”

⁸ When Asa heard these words prophesied by ‘Oded the prophet, it gave him courage to throw the disgusting things out of the whole land of Y’hudah and Binyamin and out of the cities he had captured in the hills of Efrayim; he also renewed the altar of Adonai which was in front of the vestibule of Adonai. ⁹ Then he gathered all Y’hudah and Binyamin, along with those from Efrayim, M’nasheh and Shim‘on who were staying with him (for they had defected to him in large numbers upon seeing that Adonai his God was with him). ¹⁰ They assembled together at Yerushalayim in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign. ¹¹ That day they sacrificed to Adonai 700 oxen and 7,000 sheep from the spoil they had brought; ¹² and they entered into a covenant to seek Adonai, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and with all their being; ¹³ [they also agreed] that whoever refused to seek Adonai the God of Isra’el should be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman. ¹⁴ They swore this to Adonai in a loud voice, with shouting and blowing of trumpets and shofars. ¹⁵ All Y’hudah was full of joy at this oath; for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought him with all their will; and they found him, and Adonai gave them rest all around.

¹⁶ Asa the king also deposed Ma‘akhah his [grand]mother from her position as queen mother, because she had made a disgusting image for an asherah. Asa cut down this image of hers, chopped it into tiny pieces and burned it in Vadi Kidron. ¹⁷ But the high places were not removed from Isra’el. Nevertheless, Asa was wholehearted throughout his life. ¹⁸ He brought into the house of God all the articles his father had consecrated, also the things he himself had consecrated — silver, gold and utensils.

¹⁹ There was no more war through the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.

16 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, Ba‘asha king of Isra’el attacked Y’hudah, and he fortified Ramah to prevent anyone’s leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Y’hudah. ² Then Asa removed silver and gold from the treasures of the house of Adonai and the royal palace; and sent this message to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who lived in Dammesek: ³ “There is a covenant between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Here, I am sending you silver and gold; go, and break your covenant with Ba‘asha king of Isra’el, so that he will leave me alone.” ⁴ Ben-Hadad did as King Asa had asked — he sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Isra’el, attacking ‘Iyon, Dan, Avel-Mayim and all the storage-cities of Naftali. ⁵ As soon as Ba‘asha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah and abandoned his work. ⁶ Asa the king took all Y’hudah and carried off the stones and timber which Ba‘asha had used to fortify Ramah. With them he fortified Geva and Mitzpah.

⁷ It was around then that Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Y’hudah and said to him, “Because you relied on the king of Aram and didn’t rely on Adonai your God, the king of Aram’s army has escaped from your power. ⁸ The army of the Ethiopians and Luvim was huge, wasn’t it? How many chariots and horsemen did they have? Yet because you relied on Adonai, he handed them over to you. ⁹ For the eyes of Adonai move here and there throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong on behalf of those who are wholehearted toward him. You acted foolishly in this regard; for from now on, you will have war.” ¹⁰ But Asa became angry at the seer; in fact, because of his rage at him over this matter he threw him in prison. Moreover, at the same time, he mistreated some of the people.

¹¹ The activities of Asa from beginning to end are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Y’hudah and Isra’el.

¹² In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa suffered from a disease in his legs. It was a very serious disease, yet even with this disease he did not seek out Adonai but turned to the physicians. ¹³ Asa slept with his ancestors, dying in the forty-first year of his reign. ¹⁴ They buried him in his own burial cave, which he had ordered cut for himself in the City of David. They laid him in a bed filled with sweet spices of various kinds, expertly compounded; and a very great fire was kindled in his honor.

17 Then Y’hoshafat his son became king in his place. He strengthened his position against Isra’el ² by placing forces in all the fortified cities of Y’hudah, and by garrisoning troops in the territory of Y’hudah and in the cities of Efrayim that Asa his father had captured. ³ Adonai was with Y’hoshafat, because he lived according to the first ways of his ancestor David, not seeking the ba‘alim, ⁴ but seeking the God of his father and living by his mitzvot, not by what Isra’el did. ⁵ Therefore Adonai consolidated his rulership; all Y’hudah brought presents to Y’hoshafat, so that he had wealth and honor in abundance. ⁶ In his heart he highly regarded Adonai’s ways; moreover, he removed the high places and sacred poles from Y’hudah.

⁷ In the third year of his reign he sent his leading men Ben-Chayil, ‘Ovadyah, Z’kharyah, N’tan’el and Mikhayahu to teach in the cities of Y’hudah; ⁸ with them were the L’vi’im Sh’ma‘yahu, N’tanyahu, Z’vadyahu, ‘Asah’el, Sh’miramot, Y’honatan, Adoniyahu, Tuviyahu and Tov-Adoniyah, the L’vi’im; and with them Elishama and Y’horam the cohanim. ⁹ They taught in Y’hudah, having a scroll of the Torah of Adonai with them; they circulated through all the cities of Y’hudah, teaching among the people.

¹⁰ A panic from Adonai seized all the kingdoms in the lands surrounding Y’hudah, so that they did not make war against Y’hoshafat. ¹¹ Some of the P’lishtim brought Y’hoshafat gifts and silver as tribute; the Arabs too brought him flocks — 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.

¹² So Y’hoshafat grew increasingly powerful. In Y’hudah he built fortresses and storage cities. ¹³ He had many projects in the cities of Y’hudah; and in Yerushalayim he had warriors, strong brave men. ¹⁴ Here is a listing of them by clans: from Y’hudah, the captains of thousands: ‘Adnah the leader, and with him 300,000 strong, brave men; ¹⁵ next to him Y’hochanan the leader, and with him 280,000; ¹⁶ next to him ‘Amasyah the son of Zikhri, who volunteered to serve Adonai, and with him 200,000 strong, brave men. ¹⁷ From Binyamin: Elyada, a strong, brave man, and with him 200,000 equipped with bows and shields; ¹⁸ next to him Y’hozavad, and with him 180,000 prepared for war. ¹⁹ These served the king, in addition to those the king assigned to the fortified cities throughout all Y’hudah.

18 Y’hoshafat had wealth and honor in abundance, and by marriage he allied himself with Ach’av. ² After some years he went down to Ach’av in Shomron. Ach’av slaughtered sheep and oxen in abundance for him and the people with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramot-Gil‘ad. ³ Ach’av king of Isra’el said to Y’hoshafat king of Y’hudah, “Will you go with me to Ramot-Gil‘ad?” He answered him, “I’m with you all the way; think of my troops as yours; we will join you in this war.” ⁴ But Y’hoshafat said to the king of Isra’el, “First, we should seek the word of Adonai.”

⁵ So the king of Isra’el assembled the prophets, 400 men. “Should we attack Ramot-Gil‘ad?” he asked them, “Or should I hold off?” They said, “Attack. God will hand it over to the king.” ⁶ But Y’hoshafat said, “Besides these, isn’t there a prophet of Adonai here that we can consult?” ⁷ The king of Isra’el said to Y’hoshafat, “Yes, there is still one man through whom we can consult Adonai; but I hate him, because he never prophesies anything good for me, only bad! It’s Mikhay’hu the son of Yimlah.” Y’hoshafat replied, “The king shouldn’t say such a thing.”

⁸ Then the king called an officer and said, “Quickly! Bring Mikhay’hu the son of Yimlah.” ⁹ Now the king of Isra’el and Y’hoshafat the king of Y’hudah were each sitting on his throne, dressed in their royal robes; they were sitting in a threshing-floor at the entrance to the gate of Shomron; and all the prophets were there, prophesying in their presence. ¹⁰ Tzidkiyah the son of Kena‘anah had made himself some horns out of iron and said, “This is what Adonai says: ‘With these you will gore Aram until they are destroyed.’” ¹¹ All the prophets prophesied the same thing: “Go up and attack Ramot-Gil‘ad. You will succeed, because Adonai will hand it over to the king.”

¹² The messenger who had gone to call Mikhay’hu said to him, “Here, now, the prophets are unanimously predicting success for the king. Please let your word be like one of theirs — say something good.” ¹³ But Mikhay’hu answered, “As Adonai lives, whatever my God says is what I will say.”

¹⁴ When he reached the king, the king asked him, “Mikhay’hu, should we go up and attack Ramot-Gil‘ad, or should we hold off?” He answered, “Go up, you will succeed, they will be handed over to you.” ¹⁵ The king said to him, “How many times do I have to warn you to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of Adonai?” ¹⁶ Then he said, “I saw all Isra’el scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd; and Adonai said, ‘These men have no leader; let everyone go home in peace.’” ¹⁷ The king of Isra’el said to Y’hoshafat, “Didn’t I tell you that he wouldn’t prophesy good things about me, but bad?”

¹⁸ Mikhay’hu continued: “Therefore, hear the word of Adonai. I saw Adonai sitting on his throne with the whole army of heaven standing on his right and on his left. ¹⁹ Adonai asked, ‘Who will entice Ach’av king of Isra’el to go up to his death at Ramot-Gil‘ad?’ One of them said, ‘Do it this way,’ and another, ‘Do it that way.’ ²⁰ Then a spirit stepped up, stood in front of Adonai and said, ‘I will entice him.’ Adonai asked, ‘How?’ ²¹ He answered, ‘I will go and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ Adonai said, ‘You will succeed in enticing him. Go, and do it.’ ²² So now Adonai has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours; meanwhile, Adonai has ordained disaster for you.”

²³ Then Tzidkiyah the son of Kena‘anah came up, slapped Mikhay’hu in the face and said, “And how did the Spirit of Adonai leave me to speak to you?” ²⁴ Mikhay’hu said, “You’ll find out the day you go into an inside room, trying to hide.”

²⁵ The king of Isra’el said, “Seize Mikhay’hu, and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and Yo’ash the king’s son. ²⁶ Say, ‘The king says to put this man in prison; and feed him only bread and water, and not much of that, until I come back in peace.’” ²⁷ Mikhay’hu said, “If you return in peace at all, Adonai has not spoken through me!” Then he added, “Did you hear me, you peoples, all of you?”

²⁸ So the king of Isra’el and Y’hoshafat the king of Y’hudah went up to Ramot-Gil‘ad. ²⁹ The king of Isra’el said to Y’hoshafat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle; but you, put on your robes.” So the king of Isra’el disguised himself and went into battle. ³⁰ Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders, “Don’t attack anyone of either high or low rank, only the king of Isra’el.” ³¹ So when the chariot commanders saw Y’hoshafat they said, “This is the king of Isra’el,” and turned to attack him. But Y’hoshafat called out, and Adonai came to his aid — God moved them to leave him alone, ³² so that when the chariot commanders saw that he wasn’t the king of Isra’el, they stopped pursuing him. ³³ However, one soldier shot an arrow at random and struck the king of Isra’el between his lower armor and the breastplate. The king said to his chariot-driver, “Turn the reins and take me out of the fighting; I’m collapsing from my wounds.” ³⁴ But the fighting grew fiercer that day; and although the king of Isra’el propped himself upright in his chariot facing Aram until evening, around sunset he died.

19 Then Y’hoshafat the king of Y’hudah returned home to Yerushalayim in peace. ² Yehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Y’hoshafat, “Should you help the wicked and befriend those who hate Adonai? Because of this, Adonai’s anger is upon you. ³ Still, there is some good in you, in that you have removed the sacred poles from the land and have set your heart on seeking God.”

⁴ So Y’hoshafat lived in Yerushalayim and again circulated among the people from Be’er-Sheva to the hills of Efrayim, bringing them back to Adonai, the God of their ancestors.

⁵ He appointed judges throughout the land in all the fortified cities of Y’hudah, city by city, ⁶ and instructed the judges, “Think about what you are doing: you are not dispensing justice by merely human standards but on behalf of Adonai; he is with you when you deliver a verdict. ⁷ Therefore, let the fear of Adonai be upon you; be careful what you do; for Adonai our God does not allow dishonesty, partiality or bribe-taking.”

⁸ In Yerushalayim Y’hoshafat appointed some of the L’vi’im, cohanim and clan heads of Isra’el to judge in matters concerning Adonai and in civil cases. After they had returned to Yerushalayim, ⁹ he charged them, “Here is what you are to do faithfully and wholeheartedly, in fear of Adonai: ¹⁰ when an issue comes before you from your brothers who live in their cities, whether it’s a case involving bloodshed or a question as to which teaching, mitzvah, law or ruling applies, you must warn them; so that they won’t incur guilt toward Adonai and thereby bring anger on both you and your kinsmen. Do this, and you won’t incur guilt. ¹¹ Amaryahu the chief cohen is over you in all matters concerning Adonai, and Z’vadyahu the son of Yishma‘el, chief of the house of Y’hudah, in all the king’s matters. The officers of the L’vi’im are at your service. Be strong, and act, and may Adonai be with the good.”

20 Some time later, the people of Mo’av and the people of ‘Amon with other ‘Amonim came up to fight Y’hoshafat. ² Y’hoshafat was told, “A huge army from beyond the [Dead] Sea, from Aram, is on its way to fight you; right now they are in Hatzatzon-Tamar” (that is, ‘Ein-Gedi). ³ Y’hoshafat was frightened, so he determined to seek Adonai. He proclaimed a fast throughout all Y’hudah, ⁴ and Y’hudah assembled to seek help from Adonai; they came from all the cities of Y’hudah to seek Adonai.

⁵ Standing in front of the new courtyard in the house of Adonai, among those assembled from Y’hudah and Yerushalayim, ⁶ he said: “Adonai, God of our ancestors, you alone are God in heaven. You rule all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and strength, so that no one can withstand you. ⁷ You, our God, drove out those living in the land ahead of your people Isra’el and gave it forever to the descendants of Avraham your friend. ⁸ They lived in it, built you a sanctuary in it for your name, and said, ⁹ ‘If calamity strikes us, such as war, judgment, disease or famine, we will stand before this house — that is, before you, since your name is in this house — and cry to you in our distress; and you will hear us and rescue us.’

¹⁰ “So now, see: the people of ‘Amon, Mo’av and Mount Se‘ir, whom you would not let Isra’el invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, so that they turned away from them and did not destroy them, ¹¹ are now repaying us [evil]; they have come to throw us out of your possession, which you gave us as an inheritance. ¹² Our God! Won’t you execute judgment against them? For we haven’t strength enough to defeat this huge horde coming against us, and we don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

¹³ All Y’hudah stood before Adonai with their little ones, their wives and their children. ¹⁴ Then, in the middle of the assembly, the Spirit of Adonai came upon Yachzi’el the son of Z’kharyahu, the son of B’nayah, the son of Ye‘i’el, the son of Matanyah the Levi, from the descendants of Asaf. ¹⁵ He said, “Listen, all Y’hudah, you who live in Yerushalayim and King Y’hoshafat: here is what Adonai is saying to you: ‘Don’t be afraid or distressed by this great horde; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. ¹⁶ Tomorrow, go down against them. They will be coming up by the ascent of Tzitz, and you will find them at the end of the vadi, before the Yeru’el Desert. ¹⁷ You won’t even need to fight this battle! Just take your positions, Y’hudah and Yerushalayim, stand still, and watch how Adonai will deliver you! Don’t be afraid or distressed; tomorrow, go out against them; for Adonai is with you.’”

¹⁸ Y’hoshafat bowed his head with his face to the ground; while all Y’hudah and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim fell down before Adonai, worshipping Adonai; ¹⁹ and the L’vi’im from the descendants of the K’hati and the descendants of the Korchi, stood up and praised Adonai the God of Isra’el at the top of their voices.

²⁰ The next morning, they rose early and went out into the T’koa Desert. As they left, Y’hoshafat stood and said, “Listen to me, Y’hudah and you inhabitants of Yerushalayim!

²¹ After consulting with the people, he appointed those who would sing to Adonai and praise the splendor of his holiness as they went out ahead of the army, saying, “Give thanks to Adonai, for his grace continues forever.” ²² Then, during the time when they were singing and praising, Adonai brought a surprise attack against the people of ‘Amon, Mo’av and Mount Se‘ir who had come to fight Y’hudah; and they were defeated. ²³ What happened was that the people of ‘Amon and Mo’av began attacking those people who lived by Mount Se‘ir, to kill and destroy them completely; and when they had finished off the people from Se‘ir, they set to work slaughtering one another. ²⁴ So when Y’hudah reached the watchtower overlooking the desert, they looked toward the horde; and there in front of them were corpses fallen to the ground; none had escaped. ²⁵ Y’hoshafat and his army came to take the spoil from them and found among them personal property in abundance and corpses with precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves until they couldn’t carry any more. They took three days just to collect the spoil, there was so much. ²⁶ On the fourth day, they assembled in the Valley of B’rakhah [blessing], where they blessed Adonai; hence that place is called the Valley of B’rakhah to this day.

²⁷ Then they returned, everyone from Y’hudah and Yerushalayim, with Y’hoshafat leading them joyfully back to Yerushalayim; for Adonai had caused them to rejoice over their enemies. ²⁸ They came to Yerushalayim with lyres, lutes and trumpets and went to the house of Adonai. ²⁹ A panic from God was on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that Adonai had fought against the enemies of Isra’el. ³⁰ So Y’hoshafat’s rule was a quiet one, because his God gave him rest all around.

³¹ Y’hoshafat ruled over Y’hudah; he was thirty-five years old when he began his reign, and he ruled twenty-five years in Yerushalayim. His mother’s name was ‘Azuvah the daughter of Shilchi. ³² He lived in the manner of Asa his father and did not turn away from it, doing what was right from Adonai’s perspective; ³³ although the high places were not taken away, and the people had not yet set their hearts toward the God of their ancestors. ³⁴ Other activities of Y’hoshafat, from beginning to end, are written in the records of Yehu the son of Hanani, which have been inserted in the Annals of the Kings of Isra’el.

³⁵ It was after this that Y’hoshafat joined up with Achazyah king of Isra’el, who was acting very wickedly. ³⁶ He joined together with him to build large ships capable of going to Tarshish; they made the ships in ‘Etzyon-Gever. ³⁷ Then Eli‘ezer the son of Dodavahu from Mareshah prophesied against Y’hoshafat: “Because you joined yourself with Achazyah, Adonai is wrecking your project.” And the ships were wrecked, so that they couldn’t go to Tarshish.

21 Y’hoshafat slept with his ancestors and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David, and Y’horam his son became king in his place. ² He had brothers who were sons of Y’hoshafat — ‘Azaryah, Yechi’el, Z’kharyahu, ‘Azaryahu, Mikha’el and Sh’fatyahu; all these were sons of Y’hoshafat king of Isra’el. ³ Their father had given them lavish gifts of silver, gold and other items of value, as well as fortified cities in Y’hudah; but he had given the kingdom to Y’horam, because he was the firstborn. ⁴ But when Y’horam had taken control of his father’s kingdom and consolidated his rule, he put to the sword all his brothers and a number of the leading men in Isra’el.

⁵ He was thirty-two years old when he began his reign, and he ruled eight years in Yerushalayim. ⁶ He lived after the example of the kings of Isra’el, as did the house of Ach’av; because he had married Ach’av’s daughter; he did what was evil from Adonai’s perspective. ⁷ However, Adonai was unwilling to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant he had made with David; inasmuch as he had promised to give him and his children a lamp that would burn forever.

⁸ During his time Edom revolted against Y’hudah and set up its own king. ⁹ Then Y’horam crossed with his commanders and all his chariots. Under cover of night, he and his chariot commanders attacked and defeated Edom, who had surrounded him. ¹⁰ Nevertheless, since that day Edom has remained free of Y’hudah’s domination. Livnah revolted against him at the same time, because he had abandoned Adonai the God of his ancestors. ¹¹ Moreover, he built high places in the hills of Y’hudah, caused the people living in Yerushalayim to prostitute themselves and drew Y’hudah away.

¹² A letter came to him from Eliyahu the prophet which said, “Here is what Adonai, the God of David your ancestor, says: ‘You have not lived by the examples of Y’hoshafat your father or Asa king of Y’hudah. ¹³ Instead you have lived by the example of the kings of Isra’el and have caused Y’hudah and the people living in Yerushalayim to prostitute themselves, just as the house of Ach’av caused [Isra’el] to prostitute themselves. Moreover, you killed your brothers from your father’s house, men better than you. ¹⁴ Because of all this, Adonai is going to strike your people with a terrible disease, also your children, your wives and everything you have. ¹⁵ You will be very ill from a disease in your intestines, until your intestines protrude, because of the effects of this disease, day after day.’”

¹⁶ Then Adonai aroused against Y’horam the spirit of the P’lishtim and of the Arabs near the Ethiopians; ¹⁷ and they came up to attack Y’hudah. They broke in and carried off all the personal property they could find in the royal palace, as well as his children and his wives; so that no son was left to him except Y’ho’achaz his youngest son.

¹⁸ After all this, Adonai struck him in his intestines with an incurable disease. ¹⁹ In time, after two years, his intestines protruded because of his disease, and he suffered a most painful death. His people kindled no fire for him, as had been done for his ancestors. ²⁰ He was thirty-two years old when he began his reign, he ruled in Yerushalayim for eight years, and he left without joy. They buried him in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

22 The people living in Yerushalayim made Achazyah his youngest son king in place of him, since the raiding party that had invaded the camp with the Arabs had killed all the older ones. So Achazyah the son of Y’horam king of Y’hudah reigned. ² Achazyah was forty-two years old when he began his reign, and he ruled for one year in Yerushalayim. His mother’s name was ‘Atalyahu the daughter of ‘Omri. ³ He too lived after the example of the house of Ach’av, because his mother was his counselor in acting wickedly. ⁴ So he did what was evil from Adonai’s perspective, as had the house of Ach’av; because, to his destruction, they were his counselors after his father died; ⁵ and he lived his life by their advice.

With Y’horam the son of Ach’av, king of Isra’el, he went to war against Haza’el king of Aram at Ramot-Gil‘ad, where the Aramim wounded Yoram. ⁶ He returned to Yizre‘el to be healed of the wounds which they had inflicted on him at Ramah while fighting Haza’el king of Aram. Achazyah the son of Y’horam, king of Y’hudah, went down to visit Y’horam the son of Ach’av in Yizre‘el, because he was not feeling well.

⁷ Through Achazyah’s visit to Yoram, God brought about his downfall. After he arrived, he accompanied Yoram against Yehu the son of Nimshi, whom Adonai had anointed to cut off the house of Ach’av. ⁸ But it happened that when Yehu was executing judgment on the house of Ach’av, he found the leading men of Y’hudah and Achazyah’s nephews in attendance on Achazyah and killed them. ⁹ Then he went searching for Achazyah; they caught him where he had been hiding in Shomron, brought him to Yehu and killed him. But [his subjects] buried him, because they said, “He was the [grand]son of Y’hoshafat, who sought Adonai with all his heart.”

At this point there was no one in the house of Achazyah strong enough to rule the kingdom. ¹⁰ When ‘Atalyah the mother of Achazyah saw that her son was dead, she set about destroying the entire royal family of the house of Y’hudah. ¹¹ But Y’hoshav‘at the daughter of the king took Yo’ash the son of Achazyah, stole him away from among the princes who were being slaughtered, and sequestered him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus Y’hoshav‘at the daughter of King Y’horam, wife of Y’hoyada the cohen and sister of Achazyah, hid him from ‘Atalyah, so that he was not killed. ¹² He remained hidden with them in the house of God for six years; during this time ‘Atalyah ruled the land.

23 In the seventh year Y’hoyada took courage and formed a conspiracy with certain captains of hundred-man platoons — ‘Azaryah the son of Yerocham, Yishma‘el the son of Y’hochanan, ‘Azaryah the son of ‘Oved, Ma‘aseiyahu the son of ‘Adayahu and Elishafat the son of Zikhri. ² They canvassed Y’hudah and gathered the L’vi’im from all the cities of Y’hudah, together with the clan heads of Isra’el, and came to Yerushalayim. ³ The whole assembly made an agreement with the king in the house of God. [Y’hoyada] addressed them: “Here! The king’s son will reign, as Adonai said in regard to the descendants of David! ⁴ Here is what you are to do: of you cohanim and L’vi’im who come on duty on Shabbat, a third are to guard the gates, ⁵ a third the royal palace and a third the Gate of the Foundation; while all the people are to remain in the courtyards of the house of Adonai. ⁶ No one is to enter the house of Adonai except the cohanim and those L’vi’im who are actually performing the service. These may enter, because they are holy; but all the people are to observe Adonai’s order. ⁷ The L’vi’im are to surround the king, each man with his weapons in his hand. Anyone who enters the house is to be killed. Stay with the king whenever he enters or leaves.”

⁸ The L’vi’im and all Y’hudah did exactly as Y’hoyada the cohen ordered. Each took his men, those coming on duty on Shabbat and those going off duty on Shabbat (for Y’hoyada the cohen did not dismiss the divisions). ⁹ Y’hoyada the cohen issued to the captains of hundreds the spears and the large and small shields that had been King David’s and were kept in the house of God. ¹⁰ He then positioned all the people, each man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, alongside the altar, alongside [the exterior of] the house and around the king. ¹¹ Then they brought out the king’s son, crowned him, gave him [a copy of] the testimony and thus made him king. Y’hoyada and his sons anointed him, and they shouted, “Long live the king!”

¹² When ‘Atalyah heard the sound of the people running and praising the king, she entered the house of Adonai where the people were, ¹³ looked and saw the king standing there on his platform at the entrance, with the leaders and trumpeters next to the king. All the people of the land were celebrating and blowing the trumpets; while the singers with their musical instruments were leading songs of praise. At this, ‘Atalyah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!” ¹⁴ Y’hoyada the cohen brought out the captains of hundreds who were in charge of the army and said to them, “Escort her out past the ranks [of guards]; but anyone who follows her, let him be put to the sword.” For the cohen had said, “Do not put her to death in the house of Adonai.” ¹⁵ So they took her by force and led her by the horses’ entry to the king’s palace, and there they put her to death.