28the twenty-first to Hothir,
his sons and relatives, 12
29the twenty-second to Giddalti,
his sons and relatives, 12
30the twenty-third to Mahazioth,
his sons and relatives, 12
31the twenty-fourth to Romamti-Ezer,
his sons and relatives, 12†
1 Chronicles 26
The Gatekeepers
1The divisions of the gatekeepers:†
From the Korahites: Meshelemiah son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph.
2Meshelemiah had sons:
Zechariah† the firstborn,
Jediael the second,
Zebadiah the third,
Jathniel the fourth,
3Elam the fifth,
Jehohanan the sixth
and Eliehoenai the seventh.
4Obed-Edom also had sons:
Shemaiah the firstborn,
Jehozabad the second,
Joah the third,
Sacar the fourth,
Nethanel the fifth,
5Ammiel the sixth,
Issachar the seventh
and Peullethai the eighth.
(For God had blessed Obed-Edom.†)
6His son Shemaiah also had sons, who were leaders in their father’s family because they were very capable men. 7The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad; his relatives Elihu and Semakiah were also able men. 8All these were descendants of Obed-Edom; they and their sons and their relatives were capable men with the strength to do the work—descendants of Obed-Edom, 62 in all.
9Meshelemiah had sons and relatives, who were able men—18 in all.
10Hosah the Merarite had sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father had appointed him the first),† 11Hilkiah the second, Tabaliah the third and Zechariah the fourth. The sons and relatives of Hosah were 13 in all.
12These divisions of the gatekeepers, through their chief men, had duties for ministering† in the temple of the LORD, just as their relatives had. 13Lots† were cast for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.
14The lot for the East Gate† fell to Shelemiah.[116] Then lots were cast for his son Zechariah,† a wise counselor, and the lot for the North Gate fell to him. 15The lot for the South Gate fell to Obed-Edom,† and the lot for the storehouse fell to his sons. 16The lots for the West Gate and the Shalleketh Gate on the upper road fell to Shuppim and Hosah.
Guard was alongside of guard: 17There were six Levites a day on the east, four a day on the north, four a day on the south and two at a time at the storehouse. 18As for the court to the west, there were four at the road and two at the court itself.
19These were the divisions of the gatekeepers who were descendants of Korah and Merari.†
The Treasurers and Other Officials
20Their fellow Levites† were[117] in charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries for the dedicated things.†
21The descendants of Ladan, who were Gershonites through Ladan and who were heads of families belonging to Ladan the Gershonite,† were Jehieli, 22the sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel. They were in charge of the treasuries† of the temple of the LORD.
23From the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites and the Uzzielites:†
24Shubael,† a descendant of Gershom son of Moses, was the officer in charge of the treasuries. 25His relatives through Eliezer: Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zicri his son and Shelomith† his son. 26Shelomith and his relatives were in charge of all the treasuries for the things dedicated† by King David, by the heads of families who were the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and by the other army commanders. 27Some of the plunder taken in battle they dedicated for the repair of the temple of the LORD. 28And everything dedicated by Samuel the seer† and by Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner and Joab son of Zeruiah, and all the other dedicated things were in the care of Shelomith and his relatives.
29From the Izharites: Kenaniah and his sons were assigned duties away from the temple, as officials and judges† over Israel.
30From the Hebronites: Hashabiah† and his relatives—seventeen hundred able men—were responsible in Israel west of the Jordan for all the work of the LORD and for the king’s service. 31As for the Hebronites,† Jeriah was their chief according to the genealogical records of their families. In the fortieth† year of David’s reign a search was made in the records, and capable men among the Hebronites were found at Jazer in Gilead. 32Jeriah had twenty-seven hundred relatives, who were able men and heads of families, and King David put them in charge of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh for every matter pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king.
1 Chronicles 27
Army Divisions
1This is the list of the Israelites—heads of families, commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and their officers, who served the king in all that concerned the army divisions that were on duty month by month throughout the year. Each division consisted of 24,000 men.
2In charge of the first division, for the first month, was Jashobeam† son of Zabdiel. There were 24,000 men in his division. 3He was a descendant of Perez and chief of all the army officers for the first month.
4In charge of the division for the second month was Dodai† the Ahohite; Mikloth was the leader of his division. There were 24,000 men in his division.
5The third army commander, for the third month, was Benaiah† son of Jehoiada the priest. He was chief and there were 24,000 men in his division. 6This was the Benaiah who was a mighty man among the Thirty and was over the Thirty. His son Ammizabad was in charge of his division.
7The fourth, for the fourth month, was Asahel† the brother of Joab; his son Zebadiah was his successor. There were 24,000 men in his division.
8The fifth, for the fifth month, was the commander Shamhuth† the Izrahite. There were 24,000 men in his division.
9The sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira† the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. There were 24,000 men in his division.
10The seventh, for the seventh month, was Helez† the Pelonite, an Ephraimite. There were 24,000 men in his division.
11The eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbecai† the Hushathite, a Zerahite. There were 24,000 men in his division.
12The ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer† the Anathothite, a Benjamite. There were 24,000 men in his division.
13The tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai† the Netophathite, a Zerahite. There were 24,000 men in his division.
14The eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah† the Pirathonite, an Ephraimite. There were 24,000 men in his division.
15The twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai† the Netophathite, from the family of Othniel.† There were 24,000 men in his division.
Officers of the Tribes
16The officers over the tribes of Israel:
over the Reubenites: Eliezer son of Zicri;
over the Simeonites: Shephatiah son of Maacah;
17over Levi: Hashabiah† son of Kemuel;
over Aaron: Zadok;†
18over Judah: Elihu, a brother of David;
over Issachar: Omri son of Michael;
19over Zebulun: Ishmaiah son of Obadiah;
over Naphtali: Jerimoth son of Azriel;
20over the Ephraimites: Hoshea son of Azaziah;
over half the tribe of Manasseh: Joel son of Pedaiah;
21over the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead: Iddo son of Zechariah;
over Benjamin: Jaasiel son of Abner;
22over Dan: Azarel son of Jeroham.
These were the officers over the tribes of Israel.
23David did not take the number of the men twenty years old or less,† because the LORD had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars† in the sky. 24Joab son of Zeruiah began to count the men but did not finish. Wrath came on Israel on account of this numbering,† and the number was not entered in the book[118] of the annals of King David.
The King’s Overseers
25Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the royal storehouses.
Jonathan son of Uzziah was in charge of the storehouses in the outlying districts, in the towns, the villages and the watchtowers.
26Ezri son of Kelub was in charge of the field workers who farmed the land.
27Shimei the Ramathite was in charge of the vineyards.
Zabdi the Shiphmite was in charge of the produce of the vineyards for the wine vats.
28Baal-Hanan the Gederite was in charge of the olive and sycamore-fig† trees in the western foothills.
Joash was in charge of the supplies of olive oil.
29Shitrai the Sharonite was in charge of the herds grazing in Sharon.
Shaphat son of Adlai was in charge of the herds in the valleys.
30Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels.
Jehdeiah the Meronothite was in charge of the donkeys.
31Jaziz the Hagrite† was in charge of the flocks.
All these were the officials in charge of King David’s property.
32Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, a man of insight and a scribe. Jehiel son of Hacmoni took care of the king’s sons.
33Ahithophel† was the king’s counselor.
Hushai† the Arkite was the king’s friend. 34Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah and by Abiathar.†
Joab† was the commander of the royal army.
1 Chronicles 28
David’s Plans for the Temple
1David summoned all the officials† of Israel to assemble at Jerusalem: the officers over the tribes, the commanders of the divisions in the service of the king, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the mighty men and all the brave warriors.
2King David rose to his feet and said: “Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart† to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, for the footstool† of our God, and I made plans to build it. 3But God said to me,† ‘You are not to build a house for my Name,† because you are a warrior and have shed blood.’†
4“Yet the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me† from my whole family† to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah† as leader, and from the house of Judah he chose my family, and from my father’s sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel. 5Of all my sons—and the LORD has given me many†—he has chosen my son Solomon† to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. 6He said to me: ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son,† and I will be his father. 7I will establish his kingdom forever if he is unswerving in carrying out my commands and laws,† as is being done at this time.’
8“So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel and of the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands† of the LORD your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever.†
9“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion† and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart† and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him,† he will be found by you; but if you forsake† him, he will reject† you forever. 10Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.”
11Then David gave his son Solomon the plans† for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement. 12He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit† had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the LORD and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of God and for the treasuries for the dedicated things.† 13He gave him instructions for the divisions† of the priests and Levites, and for all the work of serving in the temple of the LORD, as well as for all the articles to be used in its service. 14He designated the weight of gold for all the gold articles to be used in various kinds of service, and the weight of silver for all the silver articles to be used in various kinds of service: 15the weight of gold for the gold lampstands† and their lamps, with the weight for each lampstand and its lamps; and the weight of silver for each silver lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand; 16the weight of gold for each table† for consecrated bread; the weight of silver for the silver tables; 17the weight of pure gold for the forks, sprinkling bowls† and pitchers; the weight of gold for each gold dish; the weight of silver for each silver dish; 18and the weight of the refined gold for the altar of incense.† He also gave him the plan for the chariot,† that is, the cherubim of gold that spread their wings and shelter† the ark of the covenant of the LORD.
19“All this,” David said, “I have in writing from the hand of the LORD upon me, and he gave me understanding in all the details† of the plan.†”
20David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous,† and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake† you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.† 21The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing man skilled† in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command.”
1 Chronicles 29
Gifts for Building the Temple
1Then King David said to the whole assembly: “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced.† The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the LORD God. 2With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God—gold† for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise,[119] † stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble—all of these in large quantities.† 3Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided† for this holy temple: 4three thousand talents[120] of gold (gold of Ophir)† and seven thousand talents[121] of refined silver,† for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings, 5for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now, who is willing to consecrate himself today to the LORD?”
6Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials† in charge of the king’s work gave willingly.† 7They† gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents[122] and ten thousand darics[123] of gold, ten thousand talents[124] of silver, eighteen thousand talents[125] of bronze and a hundred thousand talents[126] of iron. 8Any who had precious stones† gave them to the treasury of the temple of the LORD in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite.† 9The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly† to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly.
David’s Prayer
10David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,
“Praise be to you, O LORD,
God of our father Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
11Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power†
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.†
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.†
12Wealth and honor† come from you;
you are the ruler† of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.
13Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name.
14“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. 15We are aliens and strangers† in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow,† without hope. 16O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. 17I know, my God, that you test the heart† and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.† 18O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. 19And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion† to keep your commands, requirements and decrees† and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided.”†
20Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise the LORD your God.” So they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers; they bowed low and fell prostrate before the LORD and the king.
Solomon Acknowledged as King
21The next day they made sacrifices to the LORD and presented burnt offerings to him:† a thousand bulls, a thousand rams and a thousand male lambs, together with their drink offerings, and other sacrifices in abundance for all Israel. 22They ate and drank with great joy† in the presence of the LORD that day.
Then they acknowledged Solomon son of David as king a second time, anointing him before the LORD to be ruler and Zadok† to be priest. 23So Solomon sat on the throne† of the LORD as king in place of his father David. He prospered and all Israel obeyed him. 24All the officers and mighty men, as well as all of King David’s sons, pledged their submission to King Solomon.
25The LORD highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him royal splendor† such as no king over Israel ever had before.†
The Death of David
26David son of Jesse was king† over all Israel. 27He ruled over Israel forty years—seven in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem.† 28He died† at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honor. His son Solomon succeeded him as king.†
29As for the events of King David’s reign, from beginning to end, they are written in the records of Samuel the seer,† the records of Nathan† the prophet and the records of Gad† the seer, 30together with the details of his reign and power, and the circumstances that surrounded him and Israel and the kingdoms of all the other lands.
2 Chronicles 1
Solomon Asks for Wisdom
1Solomon son of David established† himself firmly over his kingdom, for the LORD his God was with† him and made him exceedingly great.†
2Then Solomon spoke to all Israel†—to the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, to the judges and to all the leaders in Israel, the heads of families— 3and Solomon and the whole assembly went to the high place at Gibeon, for God’s Tent of Meeting† was there, which Moses† the LORD’s servant had made in the desert. 4Now David had brought up the ark† of God from Kiriath Jearim to the place he had prepared for it, because he had pitched a tent† for it in Jerusalem. 5But the bronze altar† that Bezalel† son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was in Gibeon in front of the tabernacle of the LORD; so Solomon and the assembly inquired† of him there. 6Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the LORD in the Tent of Meeting and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.
7That night God appeared† to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
8Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me† king in his place. 9Now, LORD God, let your promise† to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth.† 10Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead† this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
11God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth,† riches or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor,† such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.†”
13Then Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place at Gibeon, from before the Tent of Meeting. And he reigned over Israel.
14Solomon accumulated chariots† and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses,[1] which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. 15The king made silver and gold† as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. 16Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt[2] and from Kue[3]—the royal merchants purchased them from Kue. 17They imported a chariot† from Egypt for six hundred shekels[4] of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty.[5] They also exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and of the Arameans.
2 Chronicles 2
Preparations for Building the Temple
1Solomon gave orders to build a temple† for the Name of the LORD and a royal palace for himself.† 2He conscripted seventy thousand men as carriers and eighty thousand as stonecutters in the hills and thirty-six hundred as foremen over them.†
3Solomon sent this message to Hiram[6] † king of Tyre:
“Send me cedar logs† as you did for my father David when you sent him cedar to build a palace to live in. 4Now I am about to build a temple† for the Name of the LORD my God and to dedicate it to him for burning fragrant incense† before him, for setting out the consecrated bread† regularly, and for making burnt offerings† every morning and evening and on Sabbaths† and New Moons and at the appointed feasts of the LORD our God. This is a lasting ordinance for Israel.
5“The temple I am going to build will be great,† because our God is greater than all other gods.† 6But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him?† Who then am I† to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him?
7“Send me, therefore, a man skilled to work in gold and silver, bronze and iron, and in purple, crimson and blue yarn, and experienced in the art of engraving, to work in Judah and Jerusalem with my skilled craftsmen,† whom my father David provided.
8“Send me also cedar, pine and algum[7] logs from Lebanon, for I know that your men are skilled in cutting timber there. My men will work with yours 9to provide me with plenty of lumber, because the temple I build must be large and magnificent. 10I will give your servants, the woodsmen who cut the timber, twenty thousand cors[8] of ground wheat, twenty thousand cors of barley, twenty thousand baths[9] of wine and twenty thousand baths of olive oil.†”
11Hiram king of Tyre replied by letter to Solomon:
“Because the LORD loves† his people, he has made you their king.”
12And Hiram added:
“Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who made heaven and earth!† He has given King David a wise son, endowed with intelligence and discernment, who will build a temple for the LORD and a palace for himself.
13“I am sending you Huram-Abi,† a man of great skill, 14whose mother was from Dan† and whose father was from Tyre. He is trained† to work in gold and silver, bronze and iron, stone and wood, and with purple and blue† and crimson yarn and fine linen. He is experienced in all kinds of engraving and can execute any design given to him. He will work with your craftsmen and with those of my lord, David your father.
15“Now let my lord send his servants the wheat and barley and the olive oil† and wine he promised, 16and we will cut all the logs from Lebanon that you need and will float them in rafts by sea down to Joppa.† You can then take them up to Jerusalem.”
17Solomon took a census of all the aliens† who were in Israel, after the census† his father David had taken; and they were found to be 153,600. 18He assigned† 70,000 of them to be carriers and 80,000 to be stonecutters in the hills, with 3,600 foremen over them to keep the people working.
2 Chronicles 3
Solomon Builds the Temple
1Then Solomon began to build† the temple of the LORD† in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David. It was on the threshing floor of Araunah[10] † the Jebusite, the place provided by David. 2He began building on the second day of the second month in the fourth year of his reign.†
3The foundation Solomon laid for building the temple of God was sixty cubits long and twenty cubits wide[11] † (using the cubit of the old standard). 4The portico at the front of the temple was twenty cubits[12] long across the width of the building and twenty cubits[13] high.
He overlaid the inside with pure gold. 5He paneled the main hall with pine and covered it with fine gold and decorated it with palm tree† and chain designs. 6He adorned the temple with precious stones. And the gold he used was gold of Parvaim. 7He overlaid the ceiling beams, doorframes, walls and doors of the temple with gold, and he carved cherubim† on the walls.
8He built the Most Holy Place,† its length corresponding to the width of the temple—twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide. He overlaid the inside with six hundred talents[14] of fine gold. 9The gold nails† weighed fifty shekels.[15] He also overlaid the upper parts with gold.
10In the Most Holy Place he made a pair† of sculptured cherubim and overlaid them with gold. 11The total wingspan of the cherubim was twenty cubits. One wing of the first cherub was five cubits[16] long and touched the temple wall, while its other wing, also five cubits long, touched the wing of the other cherub. 12Similarly one wing of the second cherub was five cubits long and touched the other temple wall, and its other wing, also five cubits long, touched the wing of the first cherub. 13The wings of these cherubim† extended twenty cubits. They stood on their feet, facing the main hall.[17]
14He made the curtain† of blue, purple and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim† worked into it.
15In the front of the temple he made two pillars,† which [together] were thirty-five cubits[18] long, each with a capital† on top measuring five cubits. 16He made interwoven chains[19] † and put them on top of the pillars. He also made a hundred pomegranates† and attached them to the chains. 17He erected the pillars in the front of the temple, one to the south and one to the north. The one to the south he named Jakin[20] and the one to the north Boaz.[21]
2 Chronicles 4
The Temple’s Furnishings
1He made a bronze altar† twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide and ten cubits high.[22] 2He made the Sea† of cast metal, circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim and five cubits[23] high. It took a line of thirty cubits[24] to measure around it. 3Below the rim, figures of bulls encircled it—ten to a cubit.[25]The bulls were cast in two rows in one piece with the Sea.
4The Sea stood on twelve bulls, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south and three facing east.† The Sea rested on top of them, and their hindquarters were toward the center. 5It was a handbreadth[26] in thickness, and its rim was like the rim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It held three thousand baths.[27]
6He then made ten basins† for washing and placed five on the south side and five on the north. In them the things to be used for the burnt offerings† were rinsed, but the Sea was to be used by the priests for washing.
7He made ten gold lampstands† according to the specifications† for them and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north.
8He made ten tables† and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north. He also made a hundred gold sprinkling bowls.†
9He made the courtyard† of the priests, and the large court and the doors for the court, and overlaid the doors with bronze. 10He placed the Sea on the south side, at the southeast corner.
11He also made the pots and shovels and sprinkling bowls.
So Huram finished† the work he had undertaken for King Solomon in the temple of God:
12the two pillars;
the two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars;
the two sets of network decorating the two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars;
13the four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of network (two rows of pomegranates for each network, decorating the bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars);
14the stands† with their basins;
15the Sea and the twelve bulls under it;
16the pots, shovels, meat forks and all related articles.
All the objects that Huram-Abi† made for King Solomon for the temple of the LORD were of polished bronze. 17The king had them cast in clay molds in the plain of the Jordan between Succoth† and Zarethan.[28] 18All these things that Solomon made amounted to so much that the weight of the bronze† was not determined.
19Solomon also made all the furnishings that were in God’s temple:
the golden altar;
the tables† on which was the bread of the Presence;
20the lampstands† of pure gold with their lamps, to burn in front of the inner sanctuary as prescribed;
21the gold floral work and lamps and tongs (they were solid gold);
22the pure gold wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes† and censers;† and the gold doors of the temple: the inner doors to the Most Holy Place and the doors of the main hall.
2 Chronicles 5
1When all the work Solomon had done for the temple of the LORD was finished,† he brought in the things his father David had dedicated†—the silver and gold and all the furnishings—and he placed them in the treasuries of God’s temple.
The Ark Brought to the Temple
2Then Solomon summoned to Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark† of the LORD’s covenant from Zion, the City of David. 3And all the men of Israel† came together to the king at the time of the festival in the seventh month.
4When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the Levites took up the ark, 5and they brought up the ark and the Tent of Meeting and all the sacred furnishings in it. The priests, who were Levites,† carried them up; 6and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.
7The priests then brought the ark† of the LORD’s covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. 8The cherubim† spread their wings over the place of the ark and covered the ark and its carrying poles. 9These poles were so long that their ends, extending from the ark, could be seen from in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are still there today. 10There was nothing in the ark except† the two tablets† that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.
11The priests then withdrew from the Holy Place. All the priests who were there had consecrated themselves, regardless of their divisions.† 12All the Levites who were musicians†—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets.† 13The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang:
“He is good;
his love endures forever.Ӡ
Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud, 14and the priests could not perform† their service because of the cloud,† for the glory† of the LORD filled the temple of God.
2 Chronicles 6
1Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud;† 2I have built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever.†”
3While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them. 4Then he said:
“Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his hands has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to my father David. For he said, 5‘Since the day I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built for my Name to be there, nor have I chosen anyone to be the leader over my people Israel. 6But now I have chosen Jerusalem† for my Name† to be there, and I have chosen David† to rule my people Israel.’
7“My father David had it in his heart† to build a temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 8But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Because it was in your heart to build a temple for my Name, you did well to have this in your heart. 9Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, who is your own flesh and blood—he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’
10“The LORD has kept the promise he made. I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 11There I have placed the ark, in which is the covenant† of the LORD that he made with the people of Israel.”
Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication
12Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. 13Now he had made a bronze platform,† five cubits[29] long, five cubits wide and three cubits[30] high, and had placed it in the center of the outer court. He stood on the platform and then knelt down† before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. 14He said:
“O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you† in heaven or on earth—you who keep your covenant of love† with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. 15You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised† and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today.
16“Now LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail† to have a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons are careful in all they do to walk before me according to my law,† as you have done.’ 17And now, O LORD, God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David come true.
18“But will God really dwell† on earth with men? The heavens,† even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 19Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. 20May your eyes† be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name† there. May you hear† the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 21Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.†
22“When a man wrongs his neighbor and is required to take an oath† and he comes and swears the oath before your altar in this temple, 23then hear from heaven and act. Judge between your servants, repaying† the guilty by bringing down on his own head what he has done. Declare the innocent not guilty and so establish his innocence.
24“When your people Israel have been defeated† by an enemy because they have sinned against you and when they turn back and confess your name, praying and making supplication before you in this temple, 25then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to them and their fathers.
26“When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain† because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and confess your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, 27then hear from heaven and forgive† the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.
28“When famine† or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when enemies besiege them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, 29and when a prayer or plea is made by any of your people Israel—each one aware of his afflictions and pains, and spreading out his hands toward this temple— 30then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive,† and deal with each man according to all he does, since you know his heart (for you alone know the hearts of men),† 31so that they will fear you† and walk in your ways all the time they live in the land you gave our fathers.
32“As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come† from a distant land because of your great name and your mighty hand† and your outstretched arm—when he comes and prays toward this temple, 33then hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigner† asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.
34“When your people go to war against their enemies,† wherever you send them, and when they pray† to you toward this city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name, 35then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.
36“When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin†—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive† to a land far away or near; 37and if they have a change of heart† in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong and acted wickedly’; 38and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity where they were taken, and pray toward the land you gave their fathers, toward the city you have chosen and toward the temple I have built for your Name; 39then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their pleas, and uphold their cause. And forgive your people, who have sinned against you.
40“Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive† to the prayers offered in this place.
41“Now arise,† O LORD God, and come to your resting place,†
you and the ark of your might.
May your priests,† O LORD God, be clothed with salvation,
may your saints rejoice in your goodness.†
42O LORD God, do not reject your anointed one.
Remember the great love† promised to David your servant.”
2 Chronicles 7
The Dedication of the Temple
1When Solomon finished praying, fire† came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled† the temple.† 2The priests could not enter† the temple of the LORD because the glory† of the LORD filled it. 3When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying,
“He is good;
his love endures forever.Ӡ
4Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD. 5And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the people dedicated the temple of God. 6The priests took their positions, as did the Levites† with the LORD’s musical instruments,† which King David had made for praising the LORD and which were used when he gave thanks, saying, “His love endures forever.” Opposite the Levites, the priests blew their trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing.
7Solomon consecrated the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple of the LORD, and there he offered burnt offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings,[31] because the bronze altar he had made could not hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat portions.
8So Solomon observed the festival† at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him—a vast assembly, people from Lebo[32] Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt.† 9On the eighth day they held an assembly, for they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the festival† for seven days more. 10On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people to their homes, joyful and glad in heart for the good things the LORD had done for David and Solomon and for his people Israel.
The LORD Appears to Solomon
11When Solomon had finished the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace, 12the LORD appeared to him at night and said:
“I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself† as a temple for sacrifices.
13“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain,† or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14if my people, who are called by my name, will humble† themselves and pray and seek my face† and turn† from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive† their sin and will heal† their land. 15Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.† 16I have chosen† and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.
17“As for you, if you walk before me† as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws, 18I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a man† to rule over Israel.’†
19“But if you[33] turn away† and forsake† the decrees and commands I have given you[34] and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 20then I will uproot† Israel from my land,† which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule† among all peoples. 21And though this temple is now so imposing, all who pass by will be appalled and say,† ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ 22People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why he brought all this disaster on them.’ ”
2 Chronicles 8
Solomon’s Other Activities
1At the end of twenty years, during which Solomon built the temple of the LORD and his own palace, 2Solomon rebuilt the villages that Hiram[35] had given him, and settled Israelites in them. 3Solomon then went to Hamath Zobah and captured it. 4He also built up Tadmor in the desert and all the store cities he had built in Hamath. 5He rebuilt Upper Beth Horon† and Lower Beth Horon as fortified cities, with walls and with gates and bars, 6as well as Baalath and all his store cities, and all the cities for his chariots and for his horses[36]—whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon and throughout all the territory he ruled.
7All the people left from the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites† (these peoples were not Israelites), 8that is, their descendants remaining in the land, whom the Israelites had not destroyed—these Solomon conscripted† for his slave labor force, as it is to this day. 9But Solomon did not make slaves of the Israelites for his work; they were his fighting men, commanders of his captains, and commanders of his chariots and charioteers. 10They were also King Solomon’s chief officials—two hundred and fifty officials supervising the men.
11Solomon brought Pharaoh’s daughter† up from the City of David to the palace he had built for her, for he said, “My wife must not live in the palace of David king of Israel, because the places the ark of the LORD has entered are holy.”
12On the altar† of the LORD that he had built in front of the portico, Solomon sacrificed burnt offerings to the LORD, 13according to the daily requirement† for offerings commanded by Moses for Sabbaths,† New Moons and the three† annual feasts—the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks† and the Feast of Tabernacles. 14In keeping with the ordinance of his father David, he appointed the divisions† of the priests for their duties, and the Levites† to lead the praise and to assist the priests according to each day’s requirement. He also appointed the gatekeepers† by divisions for the various gates, because this was what David the man of God† had ordered.† 15They did not deviate from the king’s commands to the priests or to the Levites in any matter, including that of the treasuries.
16All Solomon’s work was carried out, from the day the foundation of the temple of the LORD was laid until its completion. So the temple of the LORD was finished.
17Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber and Elath on the coast of Edom. 18And Hiram sent him ships commanded by his own officers, men who knew the sea. These, with Solomon’s men, sailed to Ophir and brought back four hundred and fifty talents[37] of gold,† which they delivered to King Solomon.
2 Chronicles 9
The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon
1When the queen of Sheba† heard of Solomon’s fame, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions. Arriving with a very great caravan—with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones—she came to Solomon and talked with him about all she had on her mind. 2Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for him to explain to her. 3When the queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon,† as well as the palace he had built, 4the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, the cupbearers in their robes and the burnt offerings he made at[38] the temple of the LORD, she was overwhelmed.
5She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. 6But I did not believe what they said until I came† and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half the greatness of your wisdom was told me; you have far exceeded the report I heard. 7How happy your men must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! 8Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on his throne† as king to rule for the LORD your God. Because of the love of your God for Israel and his desire to uphold them forever, he has made you king† over them, to maintain justice and righteousness.”
9Then she gave the king 120 talents[39] of gold,† large quantities of spices, and precious stones. There had never been such spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
10(The men of Hiram and the men of Solomon brought gold from Ophir;† they also brought algumwood[40] and precious stones. 11The king used the algumwood to make steps for the temple of the LORD and for the royal palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. Nothing like them had ever been seen in Judah.)
12King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for; he gave her more than she had brought to him. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country.
Solomon’s Splendor
13The weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents,[41] 14not including the revenues brought in by merchants and traders. Also all the kings of Arabia† and the governors of the land brought gold and silver to Solomon.
15King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred bekas[42] of hammered gold went into each shield. 16He also made three hundred small shields† of hammered gold, with three hundred bekas[43] of gold in each shield. The king put them in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.†
17Then the king made a great throne inlaid with ivory† and overlaid with pure gold. 18The throne had six steps, and a footstool of gold was attached to it. On both sides of the seat were armrests, with a lion standing beside each of them. 19Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like it had ever been made for any other kingdom. 20All King Solomon’s goblets were gold, and all the household articles in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Nothing was made of silver, because silver was considered of little value in Solomon’s day. 21The king had a fleet of trading ships[44] manned by Hiram’s[45] men. Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons.
22King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth.† 23All the kings† of the earth sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. 24Year after year, everyone who came brought a gift†—articles of silver and gold, and robes, weapons and spices, and horses and mules.
25Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots,† and twelve thousand horses,[46] which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. 26He ruled† over all the kings from the River[47] † to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt.† 27The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. 28Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt[48] and from all other countries.
Solomon’s Death
29As for the other events of Solomon’s reign, from beginning to end, are they not written in the records of Nathan† the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah† the Shilonite and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam† son of Nebat? 30Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. 31Then he rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David† his father. And Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king.
2 Chronicles 10
Israel Rebels Against Rehoboam
1Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all the Israelites had gone there to make him king. 2When Jeroboam† son of Nebat heard this (he was in Egypt, where he had fled† from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt. 3So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and all Israel† went to Rehoboam and said to him: 4“Your father put a heavy yoke on us,† but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”
5Rehoboam answered, “Come back to me in three days.” So the people went away.
6Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders† who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked.
7They replied, “If you will be kind to these people and please them and give them a favorable answer,† they will always be your servants.”
8But Rehoboam rejected† the advice the elders† gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. 9He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”
10The young men who had grown up with him replied, “Tell the people who have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter’—tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. 11My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’ ”
12Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, “Come back to me in three days.” 13The king answered them harshly. Rejecting the advice of the elders, 14he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” 15So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from God,† to fulfill the word the LORD had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.†
16When all Israel† saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king:
“What share do we have in David,†
what part in Jesse’s son?
To your tents, O Israel!
Look after your own house, O David!”
So all the Israelites went home. 17But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them.
18King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram,[49] † who was in charge of forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. 19So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.
2 Chronicles 11
1When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem,† he mustered the house of Judah and Benjamin—a hundred and eighty thousand fighting men—to make war against Israel and to regain the kingdom for Rehoboam.
2But this word of the LORD came to Shemaiah† the man of God: 3“Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and to all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin, 4‘This is what the LORD says: Do not go up to fight against your brothers.† Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.’ ” So they obeyed the words of the LORD and turned back from marching against Jeroboam.
Rehoboam Fortifies Judah
5Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built up towns for defense in Judah: 6Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, 7Beth Zur, Soco, Adullam, 8Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, 9Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, 10Zorah, Aijalon and Hebron. These were fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin. 11He strengthened their defenses and put commanders in them, with supplies of food, olive oil and wine. 12He put shields and spears in all the cities, and made them very strong. So Judah and Benjamin were his.
13The priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel sided with him. 14The Levites† even abandoned their pasturelands and property,† and came to Judah and Jerusalem because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them as priests of the LORD. 15And he appointed† his own priests† for the high places and for the goat† and calf† idols he had made. 16Those from every tribe of Israel† who set their hearts on seeking the LORD, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the LORD, the God of their fathers. 17They strengthened† the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon three years, walking in the ways of David and Solomon during this time.
Rehoboam’s Family
18Rehoboam married Mahalath, who was the daughter of David’s son Jerimoth and of Abihail, the daughter of Jesse’s son Eliab. 19She bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah and Zaham. 20Then he married Maacah† daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah,† Attai, Ziza and Shelomith. 21Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than any of his other wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives† and sixty concubines, twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.
22Rehoboam appointed Abijah† son of Maacah to be the chief prince among his brothers, in order to make him king. 23He acted wisely, dispersing some of his sons throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin, and to all the fortified cities. He gave them abundant provisions and took many wives for them.
2 Chronicles 12
Shishak Attacks Jerusalem
1After Rehoboam’s position as king was established† and he had become strong,† he and all Israel[50] with him abandoned the law of the LORD. 2Because they had been unfaithful† to the LORD, Shishak† king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem in the fifth year of King Rehoboam. 3With twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen and the innumerable troops of Libyans, Sukkites and Cushites[51] † that came with him from Egypt, 4he captured the fortified cities† of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.
5Then the prophet Shemaiah† came to Rehoboam and to the leaders of Judah who had assembled in Jerusalem for fear of Shishak, and he said to them, “This is what the LORD says, ‘You have abandoned me; therefore, I now abandon† you to Shishak.’ ”
6The leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The LORD is just.”†
7When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, this word of the LORD came to Shemaiah: “Since they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will soon give them deliverance.† My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak. 8They will, however, become subject† to him, so that they may learn the difference between serving me and serving the kings of other lands.”
9When Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem, he carried off the treasures of the temple of the LORD and the treasures of the royal palace. He took everything, including the gold shields† Solomon had made. 10So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and assigned these to the commanders of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace. 11Whenever the king went to the LORD’s temple, the guards went with him, bearing the shields, and afterward they returned them to the guardroom.
12Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the LORD’s anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed. Indeed, there was some good† in Judah.
13King Rehoboam established himself firmly in Jerusalem and continued as king. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel in which to put his Name.† His mother’s name was Naamah; she was an Ammonite. 14He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the LORD.
15As for the events of Rehoboam’s reign, from beginning to end, are they not written in the records of Shemaiah† the prophet and of Iddo the seer that deal with genealogies? There was continual warfare between Rehoboam and Jeroboam. 16Rehoboam rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And Abijah† his son succeeded him as king.
2 Chronicles 13
Abijah King of Judah
1In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam, Abijah became king of Judah, 2and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother’s name was Maacah,[52] a daughter[53] of Uriel of Gibeah.
There was war between Abijah† and Jeroboam.† 3Abijah went into battle with a force of four hundred thousand able fighting men, and Jeroboam drew up a battle line against him with eight hundred thousand able troops.
4Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim,† in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, “Jeroboam and all Israel,† listen to me! 5Don’t you know that the LORD, the God of Israel, has given the kingship of Israel to David and his descendants forever† by a covenant of salt?† 6Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, an official of Solomon son of David, rebelled† against his master. 7Some worthless scoundrels† gathered around him and opposed Rehoboam son of Solomon when he was young and indecisive and not strong enough to resist them.
8“And now you plan to resist the kingdom of the LORD, which is in the hands of David’s descendants. You are indeed a vast army and have with you the golden calves† that Jeroboam made to be your gods. 9But didn’t you drive out the priests of the LORD,† the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and make priests of your own as the peoples of other lands do? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull† and seven rams may become a priest of what are not gods.†
10“As for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him. The priests who serve the LORD are sons of Aaron, and the Levites assist them. 11Every morning and evening† they present burnt offerings and fragrant incense to the LORD. They set out the bread on the ceremonially clean table† and light the lamps on the gold lampstand every evening. We are observing the requirements of the LORD our God. But you have forsaken him. 12God is with us; he is our leader. His priests with their trumpets will sound the battle cry against you.† Men of Israel, do not fight against the LORD,† the God of your fathers, for you will not succeed.”
13Now Jeroboam had sent troops around to the rear, so that while he was in front of Judah the ambush† was behind them. 14Judah turned and saw that they were being attacked at both front and rear. Then they cried out† to the LORD. The priests blew their trumpets 15and the men of Judah raised the battle cry. At the sound of their battle cry, God routed Jeroboam and all Israel† before Abijah and Judah. 16The Israelites fled before Judah, and God delivered† them into their hands. 17Abijah and his men inflicted heavy losses on them, so that there were five hundred thousand casualties among Israel’s able men. 18The men of Israel were subdued on that occasion, and the men of Judah were victorious because they relied† on the LORD, the God of their fathers.
19Abijah pursued Jeroboam and took from him the towns of Bethel, Jeshanah and Ephron, with their surrounding villages. 20Jeroboam did not regain power during the time of Abijah. And the LORD struck him down and he died.
21But Abijah grew in strength. He married fourteen wives and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.
22The other events of Abijah’s reign, what he did and what he said, are written in the annotations of the prophet Iddo.
2 Chronicles 14
1And Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. Asa his son succeeded him as king, and in his days the country was at peace for ten years.
Asa King of Judah
2Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. 3He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles.[54] † 4He commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to obey his laws and commands. 5He removed the high places and incense altars† in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him. 6He built up the fortified cities of Judah, since the land was at peace. No one was at war with him during those years, for the LORD gave him rest.†
7“Let us build up these towns,” he said to Judah, “and put walls around them, with towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the LORD our God; we sought him and he has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered.
8Asa had an army of three hundred thousand men from Judah, equipped with large shields and with spears, and two hundred and eighty thousand from Benjamin, armed with small shields and with bows. All these were brave fighting men.
9Zerah the Cushite† marched out against them with a vast army[55] and three hundred chariots, and came as far as Mareshah.† 10Asa went out to meet him, and they took up battle positions in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.
11Then Asa called† to the LORD his God and said, “LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely† on you, and in your name† we have come against this vast army. O LORD, you are our God; do not let man prevail† against you.”
12The LORD struck down† the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled, 13and Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar.† Such a great number of Cushites fell that they could not recover; they were crushed before the LORD and his forces. The men of Judah carried off a large amount of plunder. 14They destroyed all the villages around Gerar, for the terror† of the LORD had fallen upon them. They plundered all these villages, since there was much booty there. 15They also attacked the camps of the herdsmen and carried off droves of sheep and goats and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 15
Asa’s Reform
1The Spirit of God came upon† Azariah son of Oded. 2He went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you† when you are with him.† If you seek† him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.† 3For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach† and without the law.† 4But in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him,† and he was found by them. 5In those days it was not safe to travel about,† for all the inhabitants of the lands were in great turmoil. 6One nation was being crushed by another and one city by another,† because God was troubling them with every kind of distress. 7But as for you, be strong† and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”†
8When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of[56] Oded the prophet, he took courage. He removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the towns he had captured† in the hills of Ephraim. He repaired the altar† of the LORD that was in front of the portico of the LORD’s temple.
9Then he assembled all Judah and Benjamin and the people from Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon who had settled among them, for large numbers† had come over to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.
10They assembled at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign. 11At that time they sacrificed to the LORD seven hundred head of cattle and seven thousand sheep and goats from the plunder† they had brought back. 12They entered into a covenant† to seek the LORD,† the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul. 13All who would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, were to be put to death,† whether small or great, man or woman. 14They took an oath to the LORD with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns. 15All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God† eagerly, and he was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest† on every side.
16King Asa also deposed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a repulsive Asherah pole.† Asa cut the pole down, broke it up and burned it in the Kidron Valley. 17Although he did not remove the high places from Israel, Asa’s heart was fully committed [to the LORD] all his life. 18He brought into the temple of God the silver and gold and the articles that he and his father had dedicated.
19There was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.
2 Chronicles 16
Asa’s Last Years
1In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign Baasha† king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.
2Asa then took the silver and gold out of the treasuries of the LORD’s temple and of his own palace and sent it to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus. 3“Let there be a treaty† between me and you,” he said, “as there was between my father and your father. See, I am sending you silver and gold. Now break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so he will withdraw from me.”
4Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa and sent the commanders of his forces against the towns of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim[57] and all the store cities of Naphtali. 5When Baasha heard this, he stopped building Ramah and abandoned his work. 6Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah, and they carried away from Ramah the stones and timber Baasha had been using. With them he built up Geba and Mizpah.
7At that time Hanani† the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: “Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. 8Were not the Cushites[58] † and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen[59]? Yet when you relied on the LORD, he delivered† them into your hand. 9For the eyes† of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish† thing, and from now on you will be at war.”
10Asa was angry with the seer because of this; he was so enraged that he put him in prison. At the same time Asa brutally oppressed some of the people.
11The events of Asa’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 12In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the LORD,† but only from the physicians. 13Then in the forty-first year of his reign Asa died and rested with his fathers. 14They buried him in the tomb that he had cut out for himself in the City of David. They laid him on a bier covered with spices and various blended perfumes,† and they made a huge fire† in his honor.
2 Chronicles 17
Jehoshaphat King of Judah
1Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king and strengthened himself against Israel. 2He stationed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah and put garrisons in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.†
3The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because in his early years he walked in the ways his father David† had followed. He did not consult the Baals 4but sought† the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. 5The LORD established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts† to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor.† 6His heart was devoted† to the ways of the LORD; furthermore, he removed the high places† and the Asherah poles† from Judah.†
