Bible in 90 Days
11 Thus Sh’lomo finished the Beis Hashem, and the Beis HaMelech; and all that came into the lev Sh’lomo to do in the Beis Hashem, and in his own palace, he prosperously effected.
12 And Hashem appeared to Sh’lomo balailah, and said unto him, I have heard thy tefillah, and have chosen this makom for Myself for a Beis Zevach.
13 When I shut up Shomayim that there be no matar, or when I command the locusts to devour HaAretz, or when I send dever among Ami (My People)
14 If Ami, which are called by Shmi, shall humble themselves, and daven, and seek my face, and turn from their derakhim hara’im (wicked ways), then will I hear from Shomayim, and will forgive their chattat, and will heal their land.
15 Now Mine eyes shall be open, and Mine ears attentive unto the tefillah that is made in Makom HaZeh.
16 For now have I chosen and set apart as kodesh HaBeis HaZeh, that Shmi may be there ad olam, and Mine eyes and Mine lev shall be there kol hayamim.
17 And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before Me, as Dovid Avicha walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe My chukkot and My mishpatim;
18 Then will I establish the kisse of thy Malchut, just as I have covenanted with Dovid Avicha, saying, Lo yikaret lecha ish moshel b’Yisroel.
19 But if ye turn away, and forsake My chukkot and My mitzvot, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve elohim acherim, and worship them,
20 Then will I uproot them out of My Adamah which I have given them; and HaBeis HaZeh, which I have set apart as kodesh for Shmi, will I cast out of My sight, and will make it to be a Mashal (byword) and an object of ridicule among Kol haAmim.
21 And HaBeis HaZeh, which is elyon, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath Hashem done thus unto HaAretz HaZot, and unto HaBeis Hazeh?
22 And it shall be answered, Because they forsook Hashem Elohei Avoteihem, Who brought them forth out of Eretz Mitzrayim, and they laid hold on elohim acherim, and worshiped them, and served them; therefore hath He brought all this ra’ah upon them.
8 And it came to pass at the end of esrim shanah, wherein Sh’lomo had built the Beis Hashem, and his own bais (palace),
2 That the cities which Churam had restored to Sh’lomo, Sh’lomo rebuilt them, and caused the Bnei Yisroel to dwell there.
3 And Sh’lomo went to Chamat Tzovah, and captured it.
4 And he built Tadmor in the midbar, and all the storage towns, which he built in Chamat.
5 Also he rebuilt Upper Beit Choron, and Lower Beit Choron, fortified cities, with walls, gates, and bars,
6 And Ba’alat, and all the storage towns that Sh’lomo had, and all the towns for the chariots, and the towns for the parashim (horsemen, cavalry) all the cheshek Sh’lomo (desire of Solomon) that he desired to build in Yerushalayim, and in the Levanon, and throughout all the eretz of his Memshalet.
7 As for kol haAm that were left of the Chitti, and HaEmori, and the Perizzi, and the Chivi, and the Yevusi, who were not of Yisroel,
8 From their banim, who were left after them in HaAretz, whom the Bnei Yisroel consumed not, them did Sh’lomo conscript for forced labor until yom hazeh.
9 But of the Bnei Yisroel did Sh’lomo make no avadim for his melachah; for they were anshei milchamah, and commanders of his officers, and commanders of his chariots and parash.
10 And these were the chief of the officials of Sh’lomo HaMelech, even two hundred and fifty, that exercised authority over HaAm.
11 And Sh’lomo brought up the Bat Pharaoh out of Ir Dovid unto the palace that he had built for her, for he said, Isha li (wife for me) shall not dwell in the Bais Dovid Melech Yisroel, because the places whereunto the Aron Hashem hath come are Kodesh.
12 Then Sh’lomo offered up Olot unto Hashem on the Mizbe’ach Hashem, which he had built before the Ulam,
13 Even according to the requirement of each day on its day, offering according to the mitzvat Moshe, on the Shabbatot, and on Rosh Chodesh, and on the Mo’adot, three times in the year, even in the Chag HaMatzot, and in the Chag HaShavuot, and in the Chag HaSukkot.
14 And he appointed, according to the mishpat Dovid Aviv, the machlekot (divisions) of the Kohanim to their avodah service, and the Levi’im to their mishmerot (watches), to praise and minister before the Kohanim, as the requirement of every yom required; the Sho’arim (Gatekeepers) also by their machlekot (divisions) at every sha’ar; for thus was the mitzvot Dovid Ish HaElohim.
15 And they deviated not from the mitzvat HaMelech unto the Kohanim and Levi’im concerning any matter, or concerning the otzarot.
16 Now all the work of Sh’lomo was carried out from the yom musad (day of the foundation) of the Beis Hashem until its completion. So the Beis Hashem was perfected.
17 Then went Sh’lomo to Etzyon-Gever, and to Eilat, on the seacoast of Eretz Edom. [T.N. See Ep 2:20 in connection with the musad (foundation in 2Chr 8:16) where the OJBC speaks about Shluchim and Nevi’im and Moshiach as the Rosh Pinah]
18 And Churam sent him by the hands of his avadim oniyot, and avadim that were experienced seamen; and they went with the avadim of Sh’lomo to Ophir, and took from there four hundred and fifty talents of zahav, and brought them to Sh’lomo HaMelech.
9 And when the Malkat Sheva (Queen of Sheba) heard of the fame of Sh’lomo, she came to test Sh’lomo with chidot (hard questions, riddles) at Yerushalayim, with a very great caravan, and camels that carried spices, and zahav in abundance, and precious stones; and when she was come to Sh’lomo, she communed with him of all that was in her levav.
2 And Sh’lomo gave answer to all her questions; and there was nothing hid from Sh’lomo which he explained not to her.
3 And when the Malkat Sheva had seen the Chochmat Sh’lomo, and HaBais (the Palace) that he had built,
4 And the ma’akhal (food) of his shulchan, and the moshav of his avadim, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel; his cupbearers also, and their apparel; and his aliyah (ascent) by which he went up to the Beis Hashem; there was no more ruach in her.
5 And she said to HaMelech, Emes was the davar (report) which I heard in mine own country about thine acts, and of thy chochmah;
6 Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it; and, hinei, the one half of the greatness of thy chochmah was not told me, for thou exceedest the report that I heard.
7 Ashrei are thy anashim, and ashrei are these thy avadim, which stand continually before thee, and hear thy chochmah.
8 Baruch Hashem Eloheicha Who delighted in thee to set thee on His kisse, to be Melech for Hashem Eloheicha, because Eloheicha loved Yisroel, to establish them l’olam, therefore He made thee Melech over them, to maintain Mishpat and Tzedakah.
9 And she gave HaMelech a hundred and twenty talents of zahav, and spices in great abundance, and precious stones; neither was there ever any such spice as the Malkat Sheva gave Sh’lomo HaMelech.
10 And the avadim also of Churam, and the avadim of Sh’lomo, which brought zahav from Ophir, brought atzei algummim (algum trees) and precious stones.
11 And HaMelech made of the atzei algummim steps for the Beis Hashem, and for the Beis HaMelech, and kinnorot and nevalim for the musicians; and there were none such seen before in the Eretz Yehudah.
12 And Sh’lomo HaMelech gave to Malkat Sheva all her chefetz, whatsoever she asked, beside such that she had brought unto HaMelech. So she turned, and went away to her own land, she and her avadim.
13 Now the weight of zahav that came to Sh’lomo in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of zahav;
14 Besides that which traders and merchants brought. And all the melachim of Arabia and governors of the country brought zahav and kesef to Sh’lomo.
15 And Melech Sh’lomo made 200 shields of hammered zahav; 600 measures of hammered zahav went to one shield.
16 And 300 moginnim he made of hammered zahav; 300 measures of zahav went to one mogen. And HaMelech put them in Beis Ya’ar HaLevanon (House of the Forest of Levanon).
17 Moreover HaMelech made a kisse shen gadol (great ivory throne) and overlaid it with zahav tahor.
18 And there were six steps to the kisse, with a kevesh (ramp) of zahav, which was attached to the kisse, and arms on each side of the seat, and two aroyot (lions) standing by the armrests;
19 And 12 aroyot stood there on the one side and on the other upon 6 steps. There was nothing like it made for any other mamlechah.
20 And all the kelei mashkeh (drinking vessels) of Sh’lomo HaMelech were of zahav, and all the kelei Beis Ya’ar HaLevanon were of pure zahav; none were of kesef; it [silver] was not accounted as anything in the days of Sh’lomo.
21 HaMelech had a fleet of oniyyot that went to Tarshish with the avadim of Churam. Once every three years came the oniyyot Tarshish bringing zahav, and kesef, ivory, and monkeys, and peacocks.
22 And Sh’lomo HaMelech surpassed all the Malkhei HaAretz in riches and chochmah.
23 And all the Malkhei Ha’Aretz sought the presence of Sh’lomo, to hear his chochmah, that HaElohim had put in his lev.
24 And they brought every ish his minchah (present), kelei kesef, kelei zahav, and clothing, weapons, and spices, susim, and peradim (mules), at a set rate.
25 And Sh’lomo had four thousand stalls for susim and markovot (chariots), and twelve thousand parashim whom he kept in the chariot cities, and with HaMelech at Yerushalayim.
26 And he reigned over all the melachim from the River [i.e., the Euphrates] even unto the Eretz Pelishtim, and to the border of Mitzrayim.
27 And HaMelech made kesef in Yerushalayim as common as stones, and cedar trees he made like sycamore trees that are in the Shefelah in abundance.
28 And they imported unto Sh’lomo susim out of Mitzrayim, and from all the lands.
29 Now the rest of the Divrei Sh’lomo, harishonim and ha’acharonim, are they not written in the Divrei Natan HaNavi, and in the Nevu’at Achiyah the Shiloni, and in the chazot Yadai HaChozer against Yarov’am ben Nevat?
30 And Sh’lomo reigned in Yerushalayim over kol Yisroel arba’im shaneh.
31 And Sh’lomo slept with Avotav, and he was buried in Ir Dovid Aviv. And Rechav’am Bno reigned in his place.
10 And Rechav’am went to Shechem, for to Shechem were kol Yisroel come to make him melech.
2 And it came to pass, when Yarov’am ben Nevat, who was in Mitzrayim, where he fled from the presence of Sh’lomo HaMelech heard it, that Yarov’am returned out of Mitzrayim.
3 And they sent and called him. So Yarov’am and kol Yisroel came and spoke to Rechav’am, saying,
4 Avicha made our ol (yoke) kasheh (difficult, harsh); now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous avodas Avicha, and his heavy ol (yoke i.e., taxes, see verse 18) that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.
5 And he said unto them, Shuvu (come back, return) unto me after shloshet yamin. And HaAm departed.
6 And HaMelech Rechav’am took counsel with the Zekenim that had stood before Sh’lomo Avi while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to HaAm HaZeh?
7 And they spoke unto him, saying, If thou be kind to HaAm HaZeh, and please them, and speak devarim tovim to them, they will be thy avadim kol hayamim (all the days).
8 But he forsook the Atzat HaZekenim they gave him, and took counsel with the yeladim that were brought up with him, that stood before him.
9 And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to HaAm HaZeh, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat haOl that Avicha did put upon us?
10 And the yeladim that grew up with him spoke unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer HaAm that spoke unto thee, saying, Avicha made our ol (yoke) heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger is thicker than the loins of Avi.
11 For whereas Avi put an ol kaved (a heavy yoke) upon you, I will add more to your ol (yoke). Avi chastised you with shotim (whips), but I will chastise you with akrabim (scorpions).
12 So Yarov’am and kol HaAm came to Rechav’am on the Yom HaShelishi, as HaMelech said, Shuva (return) to me on the Yom HaShelishi.
13 And HaMelech answered them kashah (harshly); and HaMelech Rechav’am forsook the Atzat HaZekenim,
14 And answered them after the Atzat HaYeladim, saying, Avi made your ol (yoke) heavy, but I will add thereto; Avi chastised you with shotim (whips), but I will chastise you with akrabim (scorpions).
15 So HaMelech paid heed not unto HaAm, for the nesibah (turn of events, circumstance) was of HaElohim, that Hashem might perform His Devar, which He spoke by the yad Achiyah HaShiloni to Yarov’am ben Nevat. [1Kgs 11:29-39]
16 And when kol Yisroel saw that HaMelech would not pay heed unto them, HaAm answered HaMelech, saying, What chelek have we in Dovid? We have none nachalah in Ben Yishai. Every ish to your ohalim, O Yisroel; and now, Dovid, see to thine own Bais. So kol Yisroel went to their ohalim.
17 But as for the Bnei Yisroel that dwelt in the towns of Yehudah, Rechav’am reigned over them.
18 Then HaMelech Rechav’am sent Hadoram [I Kgs 12:18 "Adoram"] who was over the mas (tax, tribute); and the Bnei Yisroel stoned him with stones, that he died. But HaMelech Rechav’am made speed to get up into his merkavah, to escape to Yerushalayim.
19 And Yisroel rebelled against the Bais Dovid unto Hayom Hazeh.
11 And when Rechav’am was come to Yerushalayim, he gathered of the Bais Yehudah and Binyamin a hundred and fourscore thousand bachur oseh milchamah (chosen men, which were warriors), to make war against Yisroel, that he might restore the mamlachah to Rechav’am.
2 But the Devar Hashem came to Shemayah the Ish HaElohim, saying,
3 Speak unto Rechav’am ben Sh’lomo Melech Yehudah, and to kol Yisroel in Yehudah and Binyamin, saying,
4 Thus saith Hashem, Ye shall not go up, nor make war against your achim. Shuvu (return) every ish to his bais, for this thing is done from Me. And they obeyed the divrei Hashem, and returned back from going against Yarov’am.
5 And Rechav’am dwelt in Yerushalayim, and built arim lematzor (cities for defense) in Yehudah.
6 He built even Beit-Lechem, and Eitam, and Tekoa,
7 Bei-Tzur, Socho, Adulam,
8 Gat, Mareshah, Ziph,
9 And Adorayim, and Lachish, and Azekah,
10 And Tzorah, and Ayalon, and Chevron, which are in Yehudah and in Binyamin arei metzurot (fortified cities).
11 And he fortified the metzurot (fortifications), and put negidim (rulers) in them, and otzerot ma’achal (storage places of food), and of shemen and yayin.
12 And in all the cities he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Yehudah and Binyamin on his side.
13 And the Kohanim and the Levi’im that were in kol Yisroel availed themselves to him from all their territories.
14 For the Levi’im abandoned their commonlands and their achuzzah (possession, estate) and came to Yehudah and Yerushalayim; for Yarov’am and his banim had cast them off from executing the office of Kohen unto Hashem.
15 And he ordained him kohanim for the high places, and for the se’irim (goat idols, demons) and for the agalim (calf idols) which he had made.
16 And after them from all the Shivtei Yisroel such as set their hearts to seek Hashem Elohei Yisroel came to Yerushalayim, to sacrifice unto Hashem Elohei Avoteihem.
17 So they strengthened the Malchut Yehudah, and made Rechav’am ben Sh’lomo strong, shanim shalosh. For shanim shalosh they walked in the Derech Dovid u’Sh’lomo.
18 And Rechav’am took him Machalat bat Yerimot Ben Dovid as isha, and Avichayil bat Eliav ben Yishai,
19 Which bore him banim: Yeush, and Shemaryah, and Zaham.
20 And after her he took Ma’achah bat Avshalom, who bore him Aviyah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shlomit.
21 And Rechav’am loved Ma’achah bat Avshalom more than any of his nashim and his pilagshim; (for he took eighteen nashim, and threescore pilagshim, and fathered twenty and eight banim, and threescore banot.)
22 And Rechav’am made Aviyah ben Ma’achah the rosh, to be nagid among his achim, for he intended to make him melech.
23 And he acted wisely, and dispersed kol banim of him throughout all the lands of Yehudah and Binyamin, unto all of the arei hametzurot (fortified cities); and he gave them mazon (provision, food) in abundance. And he took for them many wives.
12 And it came to pass, when Rechav’am had established the malchut, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the Torat Hashem, and kol Yisroel with him.
2 And it came to pass, that in the shanah hachamishit of Melech Rechav’am Shishak Melech Mitzrayim came up against Yerushalayim, because they were unfaithful to Hashem,
3 With 1200 chariots, and 60,000 parashim, and troops without number that came with him out of Mitzrayim, the Luvim, the Sukkiim, and the Cushim.
4 And he captured the arei hametzurot (fortified cities) which are of Yehudah, and came as far as Yerushalayim.
5 Then came Shemayah HaNavi to Rechav’am, and to the Sarim of Yehudah, that were assembled in Yerushalayim because of Shishak, and said unto them, Thus saith Hashem, Ye have forsaken me, and therefore have I also abandoned you in the yad Shishak.
6 Whereupon the Sarim (princes) of Yisroel and HaMelech humbled themselves; and they said, Tzaddik Hashem.
7 And when Hashem saw that they humbled themselves, the Devar Hashem came to Shemayah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some peleitah (deliverance, rescue); and My chamah (anger, wrath) shall not be poured out upon Yerushalayim by the yad Shishak.
8 Nevertheless they shall be his avadim; that they may differentiate My avodah, and the avodat mamlechut of the lands.
9 So Shishak Melech Mitzrayim came up against Yerushalayim, and carried away the otzerot of the Beis Hashem, and the otzerot Bais HaMelech. He took all; he carried away also the moginei hazahav (shields of gold) which Sh’lomo had made.
10 Instead of which HaMelech Rechav’am made moginei nechoshet, and committed them to the hands of the commanders of the guard, the Shomrim who kept the Petach Bais Hamelech.
11 And as often as HaMelech entered into the Beis Hashem, the guard came and got the shields, and afterward brought them again into the guardroom.
12 And when he humbled himself, the Af Hashem turned from him, that He would not destroy him altogether; and also in Yehudah things went well.
13 So HaMelech Rechav’am strengthened himself in Yerushalayim, and reigned; for Rechav’am was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Yerushalayim, HaIr that Hashem had chosen out of all the Shivtei Yisroel, to put Shmo there. And the shem immo was Na’amah HaAmmonit.
14 And he did rah, because he set not his lev to seek Hashem.
15 Now the acts of Rechav’am, harishonim and ha’acharonim, are they not written in the Divrei Shemayah HaNavi, and of Iddo HaChozer with genealogies? And there were milchamot between Rechav’am and Yarov’am continually.
16 And Rechav’am slept with Avotav, and was buried in Ir Dovid; and Aviyah bno reigned in his place.
13 Now in the eighteenth year of Melech Yarov’am began Aviyah to reign over Yehudah.
2 He reigned 3 shanim in Yerushalayim. And the shem immo was Michayah bat Uriel of Giveah. And there was milchamah between Aviyah and Yarov’am.
3 And Aviyah led the milchamah with an army of gibborei milchamah, even 400 elef ish bachur. Yarov’am also drew up for milchamah against him with 800 elef ish bachur, gibbor chayil.
4 And Aviyah stood up upon Mt Tzemarayim, which is in the hill country of Ephrayim, and said, Hear me, thou Yarov’am, and kol Yisroel.
5 Ought ye not to know that Hashem Elohei Yisroel gave the Mamlachah over Yisroel to Dovid l’olam (forever), even to him and to his banim by a Brit Melach [see Num 18:19]?
6 Yet Yarov’am ben Nevat eved Sh’lomo ben Dovid is risen up, and hath rebelled against Adonav.
7 And there are gathered unto him anashim rekim, the Bnei Beliyaal, and have strengthened themselves against Rechav’am ben Sh’lomo, when Rechav’am was na’ar and rakh levav (fainthearted), and could not withstand them.
8 And now ye think to withstand the Mamlechet Hashem in the yad Bnei Dovid; and ye be a great multitude, and there are with you eglei zahav, which Yarov’am made you for elohim.
9 Have ye not cast out the Kohanim of Hashem, the Bnei Aharon, and the Levi’im, and have made you kohanim after the manner of the peoples of other lands? So whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bull and 7 rams, the same may be a kohen of them that are no elohim.
10 But as for us, Hashem is Eloheinu, and we have not forsaken Him, and the Kohanim, mesharetim unto Hashem, are the Bnei Aharon, and the Levi’im do their work;
11 And they burn unto Hashem baboker baboker and baerev baerev olot and ketoret sammim; the array of lechem is also set in order upon the shulchan hatahor; and the menorah hazahav with the nerot thereof is lit erev ba’erev, for we are the Shomrim of the Mishmeret Hashem Eloheinu; but ye have forsaken Him.
12 And, hinei, HaElohim Himself is with us as Rosh, and His Kohanim have their chatzotzerot to sound the alarm against you. O Bnei Yisroel, fight ye not against Hashem Elohei Avoteichem; for ye shall not prosper.
13 But Yarov’am caused a ma’arav to come about behind them so that they were before Yehudah, and the ma’arav was behind them.
14 And when Yehudah turned, hinei, the milchamah was before and behind, and they cried unto Hashem, and the Kohanim sounded the battle trumpets.
15 Then the Ish Yehudah gave a shout, and as the Ish Yehudah shouted, it came to pass, that HaElohim routed Yarov’am and kol Yisroel before Aviyah and Yehudah.
16 And the Bnei Yisroel fled before Yehudah, and Elohim delivered them into their yad.
17 And Aviyah and his army slaughtered them with a makkah rabbah (great slaughter); so there fell down slain of Yisroel five hundred thousand ish bachur.
18 Thus the Bnei Yisroel were subdued at that time, and the Bnei Yehudah prevailed, because they relied upon Hashem Elohei Avoteihem.
19 And Aviyah pursued after Yarov’am, and took cities from him: Beit-El with the towns thereof, and Yeshanah with the villages thereof, and Ephrayim with the villages thereof.
20 Neither did Yarov’am recover ko’ach again in the days of Aviyah; and Hashem struck him, and he died.
21 But Aviyah grew strong, and married fourteen nashim, and fathered twenty and two banim, and sixteen banot.
22 And the rest of the acts of Aviyah, and his deeds, and his words, are written in the Midrash HaNavi Iddo.
14 (13:23) So Aviyah slept with Avotav, and they buried him in Ir Dovid, and Asa bno reigned in his place. In his days HaAretz was at peace eser shanim.
2 (14:1) And Asa did that which was hatov and yashar in the eyes of Hashem Elohav;
3 (14:2) For he took away the mizbechot hanekhar (foreign altars), and the high places, and smashed the matzevot, and cut down the Asherim;
4 (14:3) And commanded Yehudah to seek Hashem Elohei Avoteihem, and to observe the Torah and the Mitzvah.
5 (14:4) Also he took away out of all the towns of Yehudah the high places and the chammanim (sun-pillar idols); and the mamlachah was at peace under him.
6 (14:5) And he built arei metzurah in Yehudah; for HaAretz was at peace, and he had no milchanah in those years, because Hashem had given him rest.
7 (14:6) Therefore he said unto Yehudah, Let us build up these cities, and make about them chomah, and migdalim, gates, and bars. HaAretz is yet before us, because we have sought Hashem Eloheinu, we have sought Him, and He hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.
8 (14:7) And Asa had an army of men that bore shields and spears, out of Yehudah three hundred thousand; and out of Binyamin, that bore mogen and drew keshet (bow), two hundred and fourscore elef; all these were gibborei chayil.
9 (14:8) And there came out against them Zerach HaCushi with a host of elef alafim, and three hundred merkavot; and came as far as Mareshah.
10 (14:9) Then Asa went out against him, and they took up position for the milchamah in the valley of Zephatah at Mareshah.
11 (14:10) And Asa cried unto Hashem Elohav, and said, Hashem, there is none besides Thee to help, whether with rav, or with them that have no ko’ach. Help us, Hashem Eloheinu, for we rely on Thee; in Shimecha we go against this multitude. Hashem Thou art Eloheinu; let no enosh prevail against Thee.
12 (14:11) So Hashem struck down HaCushim before Asa, and before Yehudah, and HaCushim fled.
13 (14:12) And Asa and HaAm that were with him pursued them as far as Gerar, and HaCushim fell, until they could not survive, for they were crushed before Hashem, and before His Machaneh. They carried off very much plunder.
14 (14:13) And they destroyed all the towns around Gerar; for the Pachad Hashem fell upon them, and they plundered all the towns, for there was exceeding much booty in them.
15 (14:14) They attacked also the ohalim of herdsmen, and carried off tzon and gemalim in abundance, and returned to Yerushalayim.
15 And the Ruach Elohim came upon Azaryahu ben Oded;
2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and kol Yehudah and Binyamin. Hashem is with you, while ye be with Him; if ye seek Him, He will be found of you; if ye forsake Him, He will forsake you.
3 Now for yamim rabbim Yisroel hath been without the Elohei Emes, and without a Kohen Moreh, and without Torah.
4 But when they in their tzoros did turn unto Hashem Elohei Yisroel, and sought Him, He was found by them.
5 And in those times there was no shalom to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but mehumot rabbot (great turmoil) was upon all the inhabitants of the lands.
6 And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city, for Elohim did trouble them with every tzuris.
7 Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak, for there is sachar (reward) for your pe’ulah (work).
8 And when Asa heard these words, and the nevu’ah of Oded HaNavi, he took courage, and put away the shikkutzim (abominable idols) from kol Eretz Yehudah and Binyamin, and from the cities which he had captured from Mt Ephrayim, and renewed the Mizbe’ach Hashem, that was in front of the Ulam Hashem.
9 And he gathered all Yehudah and Binyamin, and the gerim with them from Ephrayim and Menasheh, and from Shim’on, for they fell to him from Yisroel in abundance, when they saw that Hashem Elohav was with him.
10 So they gathered themselves together at Yerushalayim in the chodesh hashelishi, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.
11 And they offered unto Hashem on that day, of the plunder which they had brought back, 700 bakar and 7000 tzon.
12 And they entered into the Brit to seek Hashem Elohei Avoteihem with all their lev and with all their nefesh;
13 That whosoever would not seek Hashem Elohei Yisroel should be put to death, whether katan or gadol, whether ish or isha.
14 And they swore unto Hashem with a kol gadol, and with teruah, and with trumpets, and with shoferot.
15 And all Yehudah rejoiced at the shevu’ah, for they had sworn with all their lev, and sought Him with their whole ratzon; and He was found by them; and Hashem gave them rest all around.
16 And also concerning Ma’achah em Asa HaMelech, he deposed her from being gevirah, because she had made to Asherah a mifletzet, and Asa cut down her mifletzet, and ground it up, and burned it at the Wadi Kidron.
17 But the high places were not removed from Yisroel; nevertheless the levav Asa was shalem all his days.
18 And he brought into the Beis HaElohim the things that Aviv had dedicated as kodesh, and that he himself had dedicated as kodesh, kesef, and zahav, and kelim.
19 And there was no more milchamah unto the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa.
16 In the six and thirtieth year Malchut Asa (of the reign of Asa) Ba’asha Melech Yisroel went up against Yehudah, and fortified Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to the territory of Asa Melech Yehudah.
2 Then Asa brought out kesef and zahav out of the otzarot of the Beis Hashem and of the Bais HaMelech, and sent to Ben-Hadad Melech Aram (Syria), the one ruling in Damascus, saying,
3 There is a brit between me and thee, as there was between Avi and Avicha. Hinei, I have sent thee kesef and zahav; come, break thy brit with Ba’asha Melech Yisroel, that he may withdraw from me.
4 And Ben-Hadad paid heed unto HaMelech Asa, and sent the officers of his forces against the cities of Yisroel, and they struck down Iyon, and Dan, and Abel Mayim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali.
5 And it came to pass, when Ba’asha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease.
6 Then Asa HaMelech took all Yehudah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Ba’asha was building; and he built therewith Geva and Mitzpah.
7 And at that time Chanani HaRo’eh came to Asa Melech Yehudah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on Melech Aram, and not relied on Hashem Eloheicha, therefore is the army of Melech Aram escaped out of thine yad.
8 Were not the Cushim and the Luvim a huge army, with very many chariots and parashim? Yet, because thou didst rely on Hashem, He delivered them into thine yad.
9 For the eyes of Hashem run to and fro kol HaAretz, to strengthen them whose lev is shalem (wholehearted) toward Him. Herein thou hast done foolishly; therefore from henceforth thou shalt have milchamot.
10 Then Asa was wroth with the ro’eh, put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of HaAm at the same time.
11 And, hinei, the acts of Asa, harishonim and ha’acharonim, see, they are written in the Sefer HaMelachim Yehudah and Yisroel.
12 And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his malchut (reign) became diseased in his raglayim, until his disease was exceedingly great. Yet even in his disease he sought not Hashem, but only the rofe’im.
13 And Asa slept with his Avotav, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.
14 And they buried him in his own kever (sepulchre, burial cave), which he had cut for himself in Ir Dovid, and laid him on a mishkav (bed) which was filled with sweet spices and perfumes prepared by the apothecaries art; and they burned for him a very large serefah gedolah (great fire, pyre).
17 And Yehoshaphat bno reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against Yisroel.
2 And he placed troops in all the fortified cities of Yehudah, and set netzivim (garrisons) in Eretz Yehudah, and in the towns of Ephrayim, which Asa Aviv had captured.
3 And Hashem was with Yehoshaphat, because he walked in the darkhei Dovid Aviv harishonim, and sought not unto Ba’alim;
4 But sought Hashem Elohei Aviv, and walked in His mitzvot, and not after the ma’asei Yisroel.
5 Therefore Hashem established the Mamlachah in his yad; and all Yehudah brought to Yehoshaphat minchah; and he had osher and kavod in abundance.
6 And his lev was elevated in the darkhei Hashem; moreover he removed the high places and Asherim from Yehudah.
7 Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his sarim (officials), even to Ben-Chayil, and to Ovadyah, and to Zecharyah, and to Netanel, and to Michayahu, to teach in the cities of Yehudah.
8 And with them he sent Levi’im, even Shemayahu, and Netanyahu, and Zevadyahu, and Asahel, and Shemiramot, and Yehonatan, and Adoniyahu, and Tuviyahu, and Tov Adoniyah, Levi’im; and with them Elishama and Yehoram, Kohanim.
9 And they taught in Yehudah, and had with them the Sefer Torat Hashem, and went about throughout all the cities of Yehudah, and taught HaAm.
10 And the Pachad Hashem fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were surrounding Yehudah, so that they made no war against Yehoshaphat.
11 Also some of the Pelishtim (Philistines) brought Yehoshaphat minchah, and kesef massa (tribute); and the Arabs brought him tzon, seven thousand seven hundred rams, and seven thousand seven hundred goats.
12 And Yehoshaphat grew great exceedingly; and he built in Yehudah fortresses and storage cities.
13 And he had melachah rabbah in the cities of Yehudah; and the anshei milchamah, gibborei chayil were in Yerushalayim.
14 And these are the pekuddat (enrollment numbers) of them according to the Bais Avoteihem: of Yehudah, the sarei alafim; Adnah HaSar, and with him gibborei chayil three hundred elef.
15 And next to him was Yehochanan HaSar, and with him two hundred and fourscore elef.
16 And next to him was Amasyah ben Zichri, who volunteered unto Hashem, and with him two hundred elef gibbor chayil.
17 And from Binyamin, Elyada a gibbor chayil, and with him armed men with keshet and mogen two hundred elef.
18 And next to him was Yehozavad, and with him a hundred and fourscore elef battle-ready.
19 These waited on HaMelech, beside those whom HaMelech put in the fortified cities throughout all Yehudah.
18 Now Yehoshaphat had osher and kavod in abundance, and allied himself with Ach’av.
2 And l’ketz shanim he went down to Ach’av in Shomron. And Ach’av killed tzon and bakar for him in abundance, and for HaAm that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramot Gil’ad.
3 And Ach’av Melech Yisroel said unto Yehoshaphat Melech Yehudah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramot Gil’ad? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the milchamah.
4 And Yehoshaphat said unto the Melech Yisroel, Inquire, now at the Devar Hashem today.
5 Therefore the Melech Yisroel gathered together of nevi’im four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to war against Ramot Gil’ad, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for HaElohim will deliver it into the yad HaMelech.
6 But Yehoshaphat said, Is there not here a navi of Hashem, that we might inquire of him?
7 And the Melech Yisroel said unto Yehoshaphat, There is yet ish echad (one man), by whom we may inquire of Hashem, but I hate him because he never prophesied for tov about me, but always ra’ah; the same is Mikhay’hu ben Imla. And Yehoshaphat said, HaMelech should not say that.
8 And the Melech Yisroel called for one of his officials, and said, Bring at once Mikhay’hu ben Imla.
9 And the Melech Yisroel and Yehoshaphat Melech Yehudah sat either of them on his kisse, clothed in their begadim, and they sat in the goren (threshing floor) at the petach (entrance) Sha’ar Shomron; and all the nevi’im prophesied before them.
10 And Tzidkiyahu ben Kena’anah had made him karnayim of barzel, and said, Thus saith Hashem, With these thou shalt gore Aram (Syria) until they be consumed.
11 And all the nevi’im prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramot Gil’ad, and be victorious, for Hashem shall deliver it into the yad HaMelech.
12 And the malach that went to call Mikhay’hu spoke to him, saying, Hinei, the divrei hanevi’im declare tov to HaMelech with peh echad (one mouth); let thy word therefore, now, be like one of theirs, and speak thou tov.
13 And Mikhay’hu said, As Hashem liveth, only what Elohai saith, that will I speak.
14 And when he was come to HaMelech, HaMelech said unto him, Mikhay’hu, shall we go to war against Ramot Gil’ad, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and be victorious, and they shall be delivered into your yad.
15 And HaMelech said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the emes to me in the Shem of Hashem?
16 Then he said, I saw kol Yisroel scattered upon the mountains, like tzon that have no ro’eh, and Hashem said, These have no adonim; let them return therefore every ish to his bais in shalom.
17 And the Melech Yisroel said to Yehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy tov unto me, but rah?
18 Again he said, Therefore hear the Devar Hashem: I saw Hashem sitting upon His Kisse, and all Tzva HaShomayim standing on his right and on his left.
19 And Hashem said, Who shall entice Ach’av Melech Yisroel, that he may go up and fall at Ramot Gil’ad? And one spoke saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.
20 Then there came out a ruach, and stood before Hashem, and said, I will entice him. And Hashem said unto him, How?
21 And he said, I will go out, and be a ruach sheker (lying spirit) in the mouth of all his nevi’im. And Hashem said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also succeed; go out, and do even so.
22 Now therefore, hinei, Hashem hath put a ruach sheker in the mouth of these thy nevi’im, and Hashem hath decreed ra’ah against thee.
23 Then Tzidkiyahu ben Kena’anah came near, and struck Mikhay’hu upon the lechi (cheek), and said, Which way went the Ruach Hashem from me to speak unto thee?
24 And Mikhay’hu said, Thou shalt find out on that yom when thou shalt go into cheder b’cheder (inner chamber) to hide thyself.
25 Then the Melech Yisroel said, Take ye Mikhay’hu, and carry him back to Amon Sar HaIr, and to Yoash ben HaMelech,
26 And say, Thus saith HaMelech, Put this in the bais hakeleh, and feed him with only a scanty prison diet of lechem and only mayim, until I return b’shalom.
27 And Mikhay’hu said, If thou certainly return in shalom, then hath not Hashem spoken by me. And he said, Mark words, all ye people.
28 So the Melech Yisroel and Yehoshaphat Melech Yehudah went up to Ramot Gil’ad.
29 And the Melech Yisroel said unto Yehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and I will go to the milchamah; but put thou on thy robes. So the Melech Yisroel disguised himself; and they went to the milchamah.
30 Now Melech Aram had commanded the commanders of the chariots that were with him, saying, Fight ye not with katon or gadol, only with the Melech Yisroel.
31 And it came to pass, when the commanders of the chariots saw Yehoshaphat, that they said, It is the Melech Yisroel. Therefore they surrounded him to fight, but Yehoshaphat cried out, and Hashem helped him; and Elohim moved them away from him.
32 For it came to pass, that, when the commanders of the chariots perceived that it was not Melech Yisroel, they turned back from pursuing him.
33 And an ish drew a keshet at random, and struck Melech Yisroel between the devakim (joints) of the shiryon (armor); therefore he said to his chariot driver, Turn thine yad, that thou mayest take me out of the machaneh, for I am wounded.
34 And the milchamah increased that day. Howbeit the Melech Yisroel propped himself up in his merkavah facing Aram (the Syrians) until the erev; and about the time of the shemesh going down he died. [T.N. This story illustrates the great difficulty in being a preacher that people will listen to: they want to hear what they want to hear, and, being set in their ways, have decided to mold the House of G-d to their stubbornness, rather than change or grow in the L-rd]
19 And Yehoshaphat Melech Yehudah returned to his Bais (Palace) in shalom in Yerushalayim.
2 And Yehu ben Chanani HaChozer (the Seer) went out to meet him, and said to HaMelech Yehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the rasha, and love them that hate Hashem? Therefore ketzef (wrath) is upon thee from before Hashem.
3 Nevertheless there are devarim tovim (good things) found in thee, in that thou hast removed HaAsherot from HaAretz, and hast prepared thine lev to seek HaElohim.
4 And Yehoshaphat dwelt in Yerushalayim; and he went out again among HaAm from Beer Sheva to Mt Ephrayim, and he turned them back unto Hashem Elohei Avoteihem.
5 And he appointed Shofetim in HaAretz throughout all the fortified cities of Yehudah, city by city,
6 And said to the Shofetim, Take heed what ye do, for ye judge not for adam, but for Hashem, Who is with you in the devar mishpat (verdict).
7 Wherefore now let the Pachad Hashem be upon you; be shomer and do it, for there is no avlah (injustice) with Hashem Eloheinu, nor massa panim (respect of persons), nor mikkach shochad (taking of bribes).
8 Moreover in Yerushalayim did Yehoshaphat station Levi’im, and Kohanim, and Rashei HaAvot Yisroel, for the Mishpat Hashem, and for riv (disputes), and they returned to Yerushalayim.
9 And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the yirat Hashem, be’emunah and with a levav shalem.
10 And what riv soever shall come before you of your achim that dwell in your cities, between dahm and dahm, between torah and mitzvah, chukkot and mishpatim, ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against Hashem, and so ketzef (wrath) come upon you, and upon your achim; this do, and ye shall not trespass.
11 And, hinei, Amaryahu Kohen HaRosh is over you in all matters of Hashem; and Zevadyahu ben Yishmael, the Nagid of the Bais Yehudah, for all the matters of HaMelech; also the Levi’im shall be shoterim (officers) before you. Deal courageously, and Hashem be with hatov.
20 It came to pass after this also, that the Bnei Moav, and the Bnei Ammon, and with them some Ammonim, came against Yehoshaphat to make milchamah.
2 Then there came some that told Yehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the Yam (Dead Sea), from Aram; and, hinei, they are in Chatzatzon-Tamar, which is Ein-Gedi.
3 And Yehoshaphat feared, and set his face to inquire of Hashem, and proclaimed a tzom throughout all Yehudah.
4 And Yehudah gathered themselves together, to ask help of Hashem, even from all the towns of Yehudah they came to seek help of Hashem.
5 And Yehoshaphat stood in the Kehal Yehudah and Yerushalayim, in the Beis Hashem, before the khatzer hachadashah,
6 And he said, Hashem Elohei Avoteinu, art not Thou Elohim in Shomayim? And moshel (rulest) not Thou over kol mamlechot haGoyim? And in Thine yad is there not ko’ach and gevurah, so that none is able to withstand thee?
7 Art not Thou Eloheinu, Who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before Thy people Yisroel, and gavest it to the Zera Avraham ohav’cha l’olam (Thy friend forever)?
8 And they dwelt therein, and have built Thee a Mikdash therein for Thy Shem, saying,
9 If, when ra’ah cometh upon us, as the cherev, shefot, or dever, or ra’av (famine), we stand before HaBeis HaZeh, and in Thy presence, (for Thy Shem is in HaBeis HaZeh,) and cry unto Thee in tzarateinu (our affliction), then Thou wilt hear and save.
10 And now, hinei, the Bnei Ammon and Moav and Mt Seir, whom Thou wouldest not let Yisroel invade, when they came out of Eretz Mitzrayim, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not,
11 Hinei, what gomelim (ones repaying) they are to us, to come to drive us out of Thy yerushah (inheritance), which Thou hast given us.
12 O Eloheinu, wilt Thou not judge them? For we have no ko’ach against this great multitude that cometh against us; neither know we what to do, but our eyes are upon Thee.
13 And all Yehudah stood before Hashem, with their little ones, their nashim, and their banim.
14 Then upon Yachziel ben Zecharyahu ben Benayah ben Ye’i’el ben Matanyah, a Levi of the Bnei Asaph, came the Ruach Hashem in the midst of the Kahal,
15 And he said, Pay heed ye, all Yehudah, and ye inhabitants of Yerushalayim, and thou Melech Yehoshaphat. Thus saith Hashem unto you: Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the milchamah is not yours, but that of Elohim.
16 Makhar (tomorrow) go ye down against them; hinei, they come up by the Ascent of Tzitz; and ye shall find them at the end of the wadi, before the midbar of Yeruel.
17 Ye shall not need to fight in this; take up your battle positions, stand ye firm, and see the Yeshuat Hashem with you, O Yehudah and Yerushalayim. Fear not, nor be dismayed; makhar (tomorrow) go out against them, for Hashem will be with you.
18 And Yehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground; and all Yehudah and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim fell down before Hashem, worshiping Hashem.
19 And the Levi’im, of the Bnei HaKehatim, and of the Bnei HaKorchim, stood up to praise Hashem Elohei Yisroel with an exceeding kol gadol.
20 And they rose early in the boker, and went forth into the Midbar Tekoa; and as they went forth, Yehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Yehudah, and ye inhabitants of Yerushalayim. Ha’aminu BaHashem Eloheichem (Believe in Hashem Eloheichem), so shall ye be established; have faith in His Nevi’im, so shall ye be victorious.
21 And when he had consulted with HaAm, he appointed meshorarim (singers) unto Hashem, and that should praise the hadrat kodesh, as they went out before the army, and to say, Hodu L’Adonoi ki l’olam chasdo (Give thanks to Hashem, for His mercy endureth forever).
22 And when they began with rinnah and tehillah, Hashem set me’arevim (ambushers) against the Bnei Ammon, Moav, and Mt Seir, which were come against Yehudah, and they were struck down.
23 For the Bnei Ammon and Moav stood up against the inhabitants of Mt Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.
24 And when Yehudah came toward the mitzpeh (guard tower) in the midbar, they looked toward the multitude, and, hinei, they were pegarim (corpses) fallen on the ground, and there was no escapee.
25 And when Yehoshaphat and his people came to carry off the plunder of them, they found among them in abundance both property with the pegarim, and articles of value, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away, and they were yamim shelosha in gathering of the plunder, it was so much.
26 And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the Berachah Valley, for there they blessed Hashem; therefore the shem of that place was called, The Berachah Valley unto this day.
27 Then they returned, kol ish Yehudah and Yerushalayim, and Yehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Yerushalayim with simcha; for Hashem had made them to rejoice over their enemies.
28 And they came to Yerushalayim with nevalim and kinnorot and chatzotzerot unto the Beis Hashem.
29 And the Pachad Elohim was on all the kingdoms of those lands, when they had heard that Hashem fought against the oyevei Yisroel.
30 So the Malchut Yehoshaphat was at peace, for Elohav gave him rest on every side.
31 And Yehoshaphat reigned over Yehudah. He was thirty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and five years in Yerushalayim. And shem immo was Azuvah bat Shilchi.
32 And he walked in the derech Aviv Asa, and departed not from it, doing that which was yashar in the sight of Hashem.
33 Howbeit the high places were not removed; for HaAm as yet had not set their hearts unto Elohei Avoteihem.
34 Now the rest of the acts of Yehoshaphat, harishonim and ha’acharonim, hinei, they are written in the Annals of Yehu ben Chanani, who is recorded in the Sefer of the Melachim of Yisroel.
35 And after this did Yehoshaphat Melech Yehudah join himself in alliance with Achazyah Melech Yisroel, who did very wickedly;
36 And he joined himself with him to make oniyot (ships) to go to Tarshish, and they made the oniyot in Etzyon-Gever.
37 Then Eliezer ben Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Yehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself in alliance with Achazyahu, Hashem hath wrecked thy ma’asim. And the oniyot were wrecked, that they were not able to sail to Tarshish. [T.N. Yehoshaphat had a weakness for entangling himself with non-believers and suffering the consequences.]
21 Now Yehoshaphat slept with his avot, and was buried with his avot in Ir Dovid. And Yehoram bno reigned in his place.
2 And he had achim, the Bnei Yehoshaphat, Azaryah, and Yechiel, and Zecharyahu, and Azaryahu, and Michael, and Shephatyahu. All these were the Bnei Yehoshaphat Melech Yisroel.
3 And their av have given them mattanot rabbot of kesef, and of zahav, and of precious things, with fortified cities in Yehudah, but the Mamlachah (Kingdom) he gave to Yehoram; because he was the bechor.
4 Now when Yehoram was risen up to the Mamlachah of his av, he strengthened himself, and slaughtered all his achim with the cherev, and also a number of the sarim (leading political figures) of Yisroel.
5 Yehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned shemoneh shanim in Yerushalayim.
6 And he walked in the derech of the melachim of Yisroel, as did the Bais Ach’av, for he had the Bat Ach’av to wife, and he wrought that which was rah in the eyes of Hashem.
7 However, Hashem was not willing to destroy the Bais Dovid, for the sake of HaBrit that He had cut with Dovid, and since He promised to give a ner (lamp) to him and to his banim kol hayamim.
8 In the days of Yehoram, Edom rebelled from under the yad Yehudah, and made themselves a melech.
9 Then Yehoram went forth with his sarim (princes), and all his chariots with him, and he rose up by lailah, and struck down Edom which had surrounded him, and the commanders of the chariots.
10 So the Edomites rebelled from under the yad Yehudah unto this day. At the same time also did Livnah rebel from under his yad, because he had forsaken Hashem Elohei Avotav.
11 Moreover he built high places [unlawful altars] in the mountains of Yehudah and caused the inhabitants of Yerushalayim to commit fornication, and led Yehudah astray.
12 And there came a miktav (letter) to him from Eliyahu HaNavi, saying, Thus saith Hashem Elohei Dovid Avicha, Because thou hast not walked in the darkhei Yehoshaphat Avicha, nor in the darkhei Asa Melech Yehudah,
13 But hast walked in the derech of the melachim of Yisroel, and hast made Yehudah and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim to go awhoring, like the whoredoms of the Bais Ach’av, and also hast murdered thy achim of Bais Avicha, which were better than thee;
14 Hinei, with a maggefah gedolah (great plague) will Hashem strike thy people, and thy banim, and thy nashim, and all thy possessions;
15 And thou shalt have cholayim rabbim with machla (disease) of thy bowels, until thy bowels come out by reason of the choli yamim al yamim.
16 Moreover Hashem stirred up against Yehoram the ruach HaPelishtim, and of the Arabs, who lived near the Kushim;
17 And they came up against Yehudah, and invaded, and carried away all the possessions that were found in the Bais HaMelech, and also his banim, and his nashim; so that there was left him not a ben except Yehoachaz (Achazyahu, Ahaziah), the youngest of his banim.
18 And after all this Hashem struck him in his bowels with a choli for which there was no marpeh.
19 And it came to pass that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels protruded out by reason of his choli; so he died in great pain. And his people kindled no pyre in his honor, as they had done for his avot.
20 Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Yerushalayim shemoneh shanim, and departed without chemdah (desire [for him]). Howbeit they buried him in the Ir Dovid, but not in the kevarot hamelachim.
22 And the inhabitants of Yerushalayim made Achazyahu (Ahaziah of Judah) his (i.e., Yehoram’s) youngest son melech in his place; for the troops that came with the Arabs into the machaneh had slain all the eldest. So Achazyahu (Ahaziah) ben Yehoram Melech Yehudah reigned.
2 Twenty and two years old was Achazyahu (Ahaziah) when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Yerushalayim And shem immo was Atalyah bat Omri (i.e., granddaughter of Omri the father of Ahab).
3 He also walked in the darkhei Bais Ach’av (Ahab); for immo (his mother) was his counselor to do rah.
4 Therefore he did rah in the eyes of Hashem like the Bais Ach’av (House of Ahab); for they were his yo’atzim (counselors) after the mot (death) of his av to his (i.e., Achazyahu’s, Ahaziah’s) ruin.
5 He walked also after their etza (advice, counsel), and went with Yehoram ben Ach’av Melech Yisroel to war against Chatzael Melech Aram (Syria) at Ramot Gil’ad; and the Syrians wounded Yoram.
6 And he (Yoram) returned to Yizre’el (Jezreel) to recover from his wounds which were inflicted upon him at Ramah, when he fought with Chatzael Melech Aram. And Achazyahu (Ahaziah) ben Yehoram Melech Yehudah went down to see Yehoram ben Ach’av at Yizre’el (Jezreel), because he was wounded.
7 And the tevusat Achazyahu (downfall of Ahaziah) was of Elohim in coming to Yoram, for when he arrived, he went out with Yehoram against Yehu ben Nimshi, whom Hashem had anointed to cut off the Bais Ach’av (the House of Ahab).
8 And it came to pass, that, when Yehu was executing mishpat upon the Bais Ach’av, and found the sarei Yehudah, and the bnei achei Achazyahu that were in attendance with Achazyahu, he slaughtered them.
9 And he searched for Achazyahu, and they captured him while he was hiding in Shomron (Samaria), and brought him to Yehu; and when they had slain him, they buried him. Because, they said, he is a ben Yehoshaphat, who sought Hashem with all his levav. So the Bais Achazyahu had no koach to retain the mamlachah (kingdom).
10 But when Atalyah em Achazyahu saw that her son was dead, she arose and began destroying kol zera hamamlachah (all the royal seed) of the Bais Yehudah.
11 But Yehoshavat Bat HaMelech, took Yoash ben Achazyahu, and stole him away from among the Bnei HaMelech that were being murdered, and put him and his nurse in a cheder hamittot (bedroom). So Yehoshavat Bat HaMelech Yehoram, the isha of Yehoyada HaKohen, (for she was the achot of Achazyahu), hid him from Atalyah, so that she slaughtered him not.
12 And he was with them hid in the Bais Elohim shesh shanim. And Atalyah reigned over HaAretz.
23 And in the seventh year Yehoyada strengthened himself, and took the commanders of hundreds, Azaryah ben Yerocham, and Yishmael ben Yehochanan, and Azaryahu ben Oved, and Ma’aseiyahu ben Adayahu, and Elishaphat ben Zichri, into brit with him.
2 And they went about in Yehudah, and gathered the Levi’im out of all the towns of Yehudah, and the Rashei HaAvot of Yisroel, and they came to Yerushalayim.
3 And Kol HaKahal made a brit with HaMelech in the Beis Elohim. And he (i.e., Kohen Gadol Yehoyada) said unto them, Hinei, the Ben HaMelech shall reign, just as Hashem hath said of the Bnei Dovid.
4 This is the thing that ye shall do: A third part of you coming on duty on Shabbos, of the Kohanim and of the Levi’im, shall keep watch at the doors;
5 And a third part shall be at the Bais HaMelech; and a third part at the Sha’ar HaYesod; and Kol HaAm shall be in the Khatzerot of the Beis Hashem.
6 But let none enter into the Beis Hashem, except the Kohanim, and the ministering Levi’im; they shall go in, for they are kodesh; but Kol HaAm shall be shomer over the mishmeret Hashem (the instructions of Hashem).
7 And the Levi’im shall surround HaMelech, every ish with his weapon in his yad; and whosoever else cometh into the Beis, he shall be put to death, but be ye with HaMelech when he cometh in, and when he goeth out.
8 So the Levi’im and all Yehudah did according to all things that Yehoyada HaKohen had commanded, and took every ish his men that were to go on duty on Shabbos, with them that were to go off duty on Shabbos; for Yehoyada HaKohen dismissed not the machlekot.
9 Moreover Yehoyada HaKohen delivered to the commanders of hundreds spears, and large shields, and small shields, that had belonged to Dovid HaMelech, which were in the Beis Elohim.
10 And he stationed kol haAm, every ish having his weapon in his yad, from the right side of the Beis to the left side of the Beis, near the Mizbe’ach and Beis , and around HaMelech.
11 Then they brought out the Ben HaMelech, and put upon him the nezer, and gave him the Edut, and proclaimed him Melech. And Yehoyada and his banim anointed him, and shouted, Yechi HaMelech!
12 Now when Atalyah heard the noise of HaAm running and cheering HaMelech, she came to HaAm into the Beis Hashem,
13 And she looked, and, hinei, HaMelech stood at his ammud at the entrance, and the sarim and the chatzotzerot (trumpeters) beside HaMelech; and Kol HaAm HaAretz same’ach (rejoiced), and sounded the chatzotzerot, also the meshorarim with instruments of music, and the praise leaders. Then Atalyah tore her robe, shouted, Kesher, Kesher!
14 Then Yehoyada HaKohen brought out the commanders of hundreds that were set over the army, and said unto them, Bring her out between the sederot (ranks); and whosoever followeth her, let him be put to death with the cherev. For the Kohen said, Do not put her to death in the Beis Hashem.
15 So they laid hands on her; and when she was come to the entrance of the Sha’ar HaSusim by the Beis HaMelech, they put her to death there.
Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International