Abijam Reigns in Judah

¹In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijambecame king of Judah,

²and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother’s name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom.

³And Abijam walked in all the sins that his father before him had committed, and his heart was not as fully devoted to the LORD his God as the heart of David his forefather had been.

⁴Nevertheless, for the sake of David, the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and to make Jerusalem strong.

⁵For David had done what was right in the eyes of the LORD and had not turned aside from anything the LORD commanded all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.

⁶And there was war between the houses of Rehoboamand Jeroboam all the days of Abijam’s life.

⁷As for the rest of the acts of Abijam, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.

⁸And Abijam rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David, and his son Asa reigned in his place.

Asa Reigns in Judah

⁹In the twentieth year of Jeroboam’s reign over Israel, Asa became king of Judah,

¹⁰and he reigned in Jerusalem forty-one years. His grandmother’sname was Maacah daughter of Abishalom.

¹¹And Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as his father David had done.

¹²He banished the male shrine prostitutes from the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.

¹³He also removed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made a detestable Asherah pole. Asa chopped down the pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley.

¹⁴The high places were not removed, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted to the LORD all his days.

¹⁵And he brought into the house of the LORD the silver and gold and the articles that he and his father had dedicated.

War between Asa and Baasha

¹⁶Now there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their days.

¹⁷Baasha king of Israel went to war against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.

¹⁸So Asa withdrew all the silver and gold that remained in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the royal palace. He entrusted it to his servants and sent them with this message to Ben-hadad son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, the king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus:

¹⁹“Let there be a treatybetween me and you as there was between my father and your father. See, I have sent you a gift of silver and gold. Now go and break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.”

²⁰And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, conquering Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and the whole land of Naphtali, including the region of Chinnereth.

²¹When Baasha learned of this, he stopped fortifying Ramah and withdrew to Tirzah.

²²Then King Asa summoned all the men of Judah,with no exceptions, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timbers Baasha had used for building. And with these materials King Asa built up Geba of Benjamin, as well as Mizpah.

Jehoshaphat Succeeds Asa

²³Now the rest of the acts of Asa, along with all his might, all his accomplishments, and the cities he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? In his old age, however, he became diseased in his feet.

²⁴And Asa rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the city of his father David, and his son Jehoshaphat reigned in his place.

Nadab Reigns in Israel

²⁵In the second year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Nadab son of Jeroboam became king of Israel, and he reigned two years.

²⁶And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father and in his sin, which he had caused Israel to commit.

²⁷Then Baasha son of Ahijah of the house of Issachar conspired against Nadab, and Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon of the Philistines while Nadab and all Israel were besieging the city.

²⁸In the third year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Baasha killed Nadab and reigned in his place.

²⁹As soon as Baasha became king, he struck down the entire household of Jeroboam. He did not leave to Jeroboam anyone who breathed, but destroyed them all according to the word that the LORD had spoken through His servant Ahijah the Shilonite,

³⁰because of the sins Jeroboam had committed and had caused Israel to commit, and because he had provoked the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger.

³¹As for the rest of the acts of Nadab, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

³²And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their days.

Baasha Reigns in Israel

³³In the third year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah became king of all Israel, and he reigned in Tirzah twenty-four years.

³⁴And Baasha did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin, which he had caused Israel to commit.

War between Asa and Baasha

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.

²So Asa withdrew the silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the royal palace, and he sent it with this message to Ben-hadad king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus:

³“Let there be a treatybetween me and you as there was between my father and your father. See, I have sent you silver and gold. Now go and break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.”

⁴And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, conquering Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim,and all the store cities of Naphtali.

⁵When Baasha learned of this, he stopped fortifying Ramah and abandoned his work.

⁶Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timbers Baasha had used for building. And with these materials he built up Geba and Mizpah.

Hanani’s Message to Asa

⁷At that time Hanani the seer came to King Asa of Judah and told him, “Because you have 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 Cushitesand Libyans a vast army with many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand.

⁹For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, therefore, you will be at war.”

¹⁰Asa was angry with the seer and became so enraged over this matter that he put the man in prison. And at the same time Asa oppressed some of the people.

The Death and Burial of Asa

¹¹Now the acts of Asa, from beginning to end, are indeed written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

¹²In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his disease became increasingly severe. Yet even in his illness he did not seek the LORD, but only the physicians.

¹³So in the forty-first year of his reign, Asa died and rested with his fathers.

¹⁴And he was buried in the tomb that he had cut out for himself in the City of David. They laid him on a bier that was full of spices and various blended perfumes; then they made a great fire in his honor.

Ahab and the False Prophets

¹Then three years passed without war between Aram and Israel.

²However, in the third year, Jehoshaphat king of Judah went down to visit the king of Israel,

³who said to his servants, “Do you not know that Ramoth-gilead is ours, but we have failed to take it from the hand of the king of Aram?”

⁴So he asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight against Ramoth-gilead?”Jehoshaphat answered the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people are your people, and my horses are your horses.”

⁵But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the word of the LORD.”

⁶So the king of Israel assembled the prophets, about four hundred men, and asked them, “Should I go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I refrain?”“Go up,” they replied, “and the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.”

⁷But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here of whom we can inquire?”

⁸The king of Israel answered, “There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, but only bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”“The king should not say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.

⁹So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once.”

¹⁰Dressed in royal attire, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them.

¹¹Now Zedekiah son of Chenaanah had made for himself iron horns and declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘With these you shall gore the Arameans until they are finished off.’”

¹²And all the prophets were prophesying the same, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph, for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king.”

Micaiah Prophesies against Ahab

¹³Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah instructed him, “Behold now, with one accord the words of the prophets are favorable to the king. So please let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.”

¹⁴But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever the LORD tells me.”

¹⁵When Micaiah arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we refrain?”“Go up and triumph,” Micaiah replied, “for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king.”

¹⁶But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of the LORD?”

¹⁷So Micaiah declared:“I saw all Israel scattered on the hillslike sheep without a shepherd.And the LORD said, ‘These people have no master;let each one return home in peace.’”

¹⁸Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he never prophesies good for me, but only bad?”

¹⁹Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.

²⁰And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’And one suggested this, and another that.

²¹Then a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’‘By what means?’ asked the LORD.

²²And he replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’‘You will surely entice him and prevail,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’

²³So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours, and the LORD has pronounced disaster against you.”

²⁴Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah went up, struck Micaiah in the face, and demanded, “Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go when He departed from me to speak with you?”

²⁵Micaiah replied, “You will soon see, on that day when you go and hide in an inner room.”

²⁶And the king of Israel declared, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son,

²⁷and tell them that this is what the king says: ‘Put this man in prison and feed him only bread and water until I return safely.’”

²⁸But Micaiah replied, “If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Take heed, all you people!”

Ahab’s Defeat and Death

²⁹So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.

³⁰And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

³¹Now the king of Aram had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.”

³²When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “Surely this is the king of Israel!” So they turned to fight against him, but Jehoshaphat cried out.

³³And when the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

³⁴However, a certain man drew his bow without taking special aim, and he struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So the king said to his charioteer, “Turn aroundand take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded!”

³⁵The battle raged throughout that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. And the blood from his wound ran out onto the floor of the chariot, and that evening he died.

³⁶As the sun was setting, the cry rang out in the army:“Every man to his own city,and every man to his own land!”

³⁷So the king died and was brought to Samaria, where they buried him.

³⁸And the chariot was washed at the pool of Samaria where the prostitutes bathed,and the dogs licked up Ahab’s blood, according to the word that the LORD had spoken.

³⁹As for the rest of the acts of Ahab, along with all his accomplishments and the ivory palace and all the cities he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

⁴⁰And Ahab rested with his fathers, and his son Ahaziah reigned in his place.

Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah

⁴¹In the fourth year of Ahab’s reign over Israel, Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah.

⁴²Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.

⁴³And Jehoshaphat walked in all the ways of his father Asa; he did not turn away from them, but did what was right in the eyes of the LORD.The high places, however, were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

⁴⁴Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel.

⁴⁵As for the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, along with the might he exercised and how he waged war, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

⁴⁶He banished from the land the male shrine prostitutes who remained from the days of his father Asa.

⁴⁷And there was no king in Edom; a deputy served as king.

⁴⁸Jehoshaphat built ships of Tarshishto go to Ophir for gold, but they never set sail, because they were wrecked at Ezion-geber.

⁴⁹At that time Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants sail with your servants,” but Jehoshaphat refused.

⁵⁰And Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the city of his father David. And his son Jehoram reigned in his place.

Ahaziah Reigns in Israel

⁵¹In the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat’s reign over Judah, Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria two years.

⁵²And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father and mother and of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin.

⁵³Ahaziah served and worshiped Baal, provoking the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger, just as his father had done.

A Gentle Answer Turns Away Wrath

¹A gentle answer turns away wrath,but a harsh word stirs up anger.

²The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.

³The eyes of the LORD are in every place,observing the evil and the good.

⁴A soothing tongue is a tree of life,but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

⁵A fool rejects his father’s discipline,but whoever heeds correction is prudent.

⁶The house of the righteous has great treasure,but the income of the wicked is trouble.

⁷The lips of the wise spread knowledge,but not so the hearts of fools.

⁸The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD,but the prayer of the upright is His delight.

⁹The LORD detests the way of the wicked,but He loves those who pursue righteousness.

¹⁰Discipline is harsh for him who leaves the path;he who hates correction will die.

¹¹Sheol and Abaddonlie open before the LORD—how much more the hearts of men!

¹²A mocker does not love to be reproved,nor will he consult the wise.

¹³A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance,but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit.

¹⁴A discerning heart seeks knowledge,but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

¹⁵All the days of the oppressed are bad,but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

¹⁶Better a little with the fear of the LORDthan great treasure with turmoil.

¹⁷Better a dish of vegetables where there is lovethan a fattened ox with hatred.

¹⁸A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.

¹⁹The way of the slacker is like a hedge of thorns,but the path of the upright is a highway.

²⁰A wise son brings joy to his father,but a foolish man despises his mother.

²¹Folly is joy to one who lacks judgment,but a man of understanding walks a straight path.

²²Plans fail for lack of counsel,but with many advisers they succeed.

²³A man takes joy in a fitting reply—and how good is a timely word!

²⁴The path of life leads upward for the wise,that he may avoid going down to Sheol.

²⁵The LORD tears down the house of the proud,but He protects the boundaries of the widow.

²⁶The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked,but the words of the pure are pleasant to Him.

²⁷He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household,but he who hates bribes will live.

²⁸The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil.

²⁹The LORD is far from the wicked,but He hears the prayer of the righteous.

³⁰The light of the eyes cheers the heart,and good news nourishes the bones.

³¹He who listens to life-giving reproofwill dwell among the wise.

³²He who ignores discipline despises himself,but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.

³³The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom,and humility comes before honor.