14:013:014 And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before andbehind: and they cried unto the LORD, and the priests soundedwith the trumpets.
14:013:015 Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judahshouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and allIsrael before Abijah and Judah.
14:013:016 And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand.
14:013:017 And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: sothere fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosenmen.
14:013:018 Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time,and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied uponthe LORD God of their fathers.
14:013:019 And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him,Bethel with the towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the townsthereof, and Ephraim with the towns thereof.
14:013:020 Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days ofAbijah: and the LORD struck him, and he died.
14:013:021 But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begattwenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.
14:013:022 And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and hissayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.
14:014:001 So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years.
14:014:002 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of theLORD his God:
14:014:003 For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the highplaces, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:
14:014:004 And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, andto do the law and the commandment.
14:014:005 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the highplaces and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.
14:014:006 And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the LORD had given him rest.
14:014:007 Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; because we have sought the LORD our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.
14:014:008 And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valour.
14:014:009 And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.
14:014:010 Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
14:014:011 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let no man prevail against thee.
14:014:012 So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.
14:014:013 And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil.
14:014:014 And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.
14:014:015 They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.
14:015:001 And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded:
14:015:002 And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.
14:015:003 Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God,and without a teaching priest, and without law.
14:015:004 But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God ofIsrael, and sought him, he was found of them.
14:015:005 And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries.
14:015:006 And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for Goddid vex them with all adversity.
14:015:007 Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: foryour work shall be rewarded.
14:015:008 And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD.
14:015:009 And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.
14:015:010 So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.
14:015:011 And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.
14:015:012 And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of theirfathers with all their heart and with all their soul;
14:015:013 That whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should beput to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.
14:015:014 And they sware unto the LORD with a loud voice, and withshouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.
14:015:015 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about.
14:015:016 And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.
14:015:017 But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
14:015:018 And he brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels.
14:015:019 And there was no more war unto the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa.
14:016:001 In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
14:016:002 Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent to Benhadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,
14:016:003 There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.
14:016:004 And Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.
14:016:005 And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease.
14:016:006 Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.
14:016:007 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.
14:016:008 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand.
14:016:009 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
14:016:010 Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.
14:016:011 And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
14:016:012 And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.
14:016:013 And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.
14:016:014 And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries' art: and they made a very great burning for him.
14:017:001 And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel.
14:017:002 And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.
14:017:003 And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in thefirst ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;
14:017:004 But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in hiscommandments, and not after the doings of Israel.
14:017:005 Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.
14:017:006 And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.
14:017:007 Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.
14:017:008 And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests.
14:017:009 And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of theLORD with them, and went about throughout all the cities ofJudah, and taught the people.
14:017:010 And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of thelands that were round about Judah, so that they made no waragainst Jehoshaphat.
14:017:011 Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.
14:017:012 And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judahcastles, and cities of store.
14:017:013 And he had much business in the cities of Judah: and the menof war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem.
14:017:014 And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand.
14:017:015 And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand.
14:017:016 And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the LORD; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour.
14:017:017 And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with himarmed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.
14:017:018 And next him was Jehozabad, and with him an hundred andfourscore thousand ready prepared for the war.
14:017:019 These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put inthe fenced cities throughout all Judah.
14:018:001 Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joinedaffinity with Ahab.
14:018:002 And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. AndAhab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for thepeople that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up withhim to Ramothgilead.
14:018:003 And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah,Wilt thou go with me to Ramothgilead? And he answered him, Iam as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will bewith thee in the war.
14:018:004 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.
14:018:005 Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king's hand.
14:018:006 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?
14:018:007 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
14:018:008 And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.
14:018:009 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.
14:018:010 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron,and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt pushSyria until they be consumed.
14:018:011 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up toRamothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it intothe hand of the king.
14:018:012 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of their's, and speak thou good.
14:018:013 And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.
14:018:014 And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.
14:018:015 And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD?
14:018:016 Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace.
14:018:017 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?
14:018:018 Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw theLORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heavenstanding on his right hand and on his left.
14:018:019 And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, thathe may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake sayingafter this manner, and another saying after that manner.
14:018:020 Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, andsaid, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him,Wherewith?
14:018:021 And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouthof all his prophets. And the Lord said, Thou shalt entice him,and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.
14:018:022 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in themouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evilagainst thee.
14:018:023 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smoteMicaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit ofthe LORD from me to speak unto thee?
14:018:024 And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.
14:018:025 Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry himback to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king'sson;
14:018:026 And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison,and feed him with bread of affliction and with water ofaffliction, until I return in peace.
14:018:027 And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hathnot the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all yepeople.
14:018:028 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.
14:018:029 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and I will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.
14:018:030 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, saying, Fight ye not with small or great, save only with the king of Israel.
14:018:031 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.
14:018:032 For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him.
14:018:033 And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: therefore he said to his chariot man, Turn thine hand, that thou mayest carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.
14:018:034 And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even: and about the time of the sun going down he died.
14:019:001 And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.
14:019:002 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.
14:019:003 Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thouhast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast preparedthine heart to seek God.
14:019:004 And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out againthrough the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, andbrought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers.
14:019:005 And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced citiesof Judah, city by city,
14:019:006 And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge notfor man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.
14:019:007 Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.
14:019:008 Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem.
14:019:009 And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.
14:019:010 And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in your cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the LORD, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass.
14:019:011 And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and the LORD shall be with the good.
14:020:001 It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
14:020:002 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi.
14:020:003 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
14:020:004 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
14:020:005 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,
14:020:006 And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?
14:020:007 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?
14:020:008 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,
14:020:009 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, orpestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thypresence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto theein our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.
14:020:010 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mountSeir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they cameout of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, anddestroyed them not;
14:020:011 Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.
14:020:012 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.
14:020:013 And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.
14:020:014 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah,the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sonsof Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of thecongregation;
14:020:015 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants ofJerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD untoyou, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this greatmultitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.
14:020:016 To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
14:020:017 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.
14:020:018 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground:and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before theLORD, worshipping the LORD.
14:020:019 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of thechildren of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God ofIsrael with a loud voice on high.
14:020:020 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
14:020:021 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.
14:020:022 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
14:020:023 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount 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.
14:020:024 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.
14:020:025 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.
14:020:026 And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valleyof Berachah; for there they blessed the LORD: therefore thename of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah,unto this day.
14:020:027 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, andJehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalemwith joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over theirenemies.
14:020:028 And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD.
14:020:029 And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel.
14:020:030 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.
14:020:031 And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
14:020:032 And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the LORD.
14:020:033 Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet thepeople had not prepared their hearts unto the God of theirfathers.
14:020:034 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last,behold, they are written in the book of Jehu the son ofHanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel.
14:020:035 And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself withAhaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly:
14:020:036 And he joined himself with him to make ships to go toTarshish: and they made the ships in Eziongaber.
14:020:037 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.
14:021:001 Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.
14:021:002 And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, andJehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, andShephatiah: all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king ofIsrael.
14:021:003 And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold,and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah: but thekingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he was the firstborn.
14:021:004 Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, hestrengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with thesword, and divers also of the princes of Israel.
14:021:005 Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
14:021:006 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as didthe house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife:and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD.
14:021:007 Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, becauseof the covenant that he had made with David, and as hepromised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever.
14:021:008 In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion ofJudah, and made themselves a king.
14:021:009 Then Jehoram went forth with his princes, and all his chariotswith him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomiteswhich compassed him in, and the captains of the chariots.
14:021:010 So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah untothis day. The same time also did Libnah revolt from under hishand; because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers.
14:021:011 Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah andcaused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, andcompelled Judah thereto.
14:021:012 And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
14:021:013 But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father's house, which were better than thyself:
14:021:014 Behold, with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods:
14:021:015 And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels,until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day byday.
14:021:016 Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of thePhilistines, and of the Arabians, that were near theEthiopians:
14:021:017 And they came up into Judah, and brake into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.
14:021:018 And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.
14:021:019 And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end oftwo years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: sohe died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning forhim, like the burning of his fathers.
14:021:020 Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and hereigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without beingdesired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but notin the sepulchres of the kings.
14:022:001 And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest sonking in his stead: for the band of men that came with theArabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah theson of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.
14:022:002 Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.
14:022:003 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly.
14:022:004 Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the houseof Ahab: for they were his counsellors after the death of hisfather to his destruction.
14:022:005 He walked also after their counsel, and went with Jehoram theson of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syriaat Ramothgilead: and the Syrians smote Joram.
14:022:006 And he returned to be healed in Jezreel because of the wounds which were given him at Ramah, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was sick.
14:022:007 And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to Joram:for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehuthe son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off thehouse of Ahab.
14:022:008 And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgmentupon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, andthe sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered toAhaziah, he slew them.
14:022:009 And he sought Ahaziah: and they caught him, (for he was hid in Samaria,) and brought him to Jehu: and when they had slain him, they buried him: Because, said they, he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom.
14:022:010 But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.
14:022:011 But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.
14:022:012 And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.
14:023:001 And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him.
14:023:002 And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out ofall the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers ofIsrael, and they came to Jerusalem.
14:023:003 And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in thehouse of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the king's sonshall reign, as the LORD hath said of the sons of David.
14:023:004 This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of youentering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites,shall be porters of the doors;
14:023:005 And a third part shall be at the king's house; and a thirdpart at the gate of the foundation: and all the people shallbe in the courts of the house of the LORD.
14:023:006 But let none come into the house of the LORD, save thepriests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall goin, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the watchof the LORD.
14:023:007 And the Levites shall compass the king round about, every manwith his weapons in his hand; and whosoever else cometh intothe house, he shall be put to death: but be ye with the kingwhen he cometh in, and when he goeth out.
14:023:008 So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go out on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.
14:023:009 Moreover Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David's, which were in the house of God.
14:023:010 And he set all the people, every man having his weapon in hishand, from the right side of the temple to the left side ofthe temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the kinground about.
14:023:011 Then they brought out the king's son, and put upon him thecrown, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. AndJehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, God save theking.
14:023:012 Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the LORD:
14:023:013 And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of musick, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason.
14:023:014 Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth of the ranges: and whoso followeth her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest said, Slay her not in the house of the LORD.
14:023:015 So they laid hands on her; and when she was come to theentering of the horse gate by the king's house, they slew herthere.
14:023:016 And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all thepeople, and between the king, that they should be the LORD'speople.
14:023:017 Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and brake itdown, and brake his altars and his images in pieces, and slewMattan the priest of Baal before the altars.
14:023:018 Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the LORD by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David.
14:023:019 And he set the porters at the gates of the house of the LORD, that none which was unclean in any thing should enter in.
14:023:020 And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of the LORD: and they came through the high gate into the king's house, and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom.
14:023:021 And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword.
14:024:001 Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Zibiah of Beersheba.
14:024:002 And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORDall the days of Jehoiada the priest.
14:024:003 And Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he begat sons anddaughters.
14:024:004 And it came to pass after this, that Joash was minded torepair the house of the LORD.
14:024:005 And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and saidto them, Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of allIsrael money to repair the house of your God from year toyear, and see that ye hasten the matter. Howbeit the Leviteshastened it not.
14:024:006 And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him,Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out ofJudah and out of Jerusalem the collection, according to thecommandment of Moses the servant of the LORD, and of thecongregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?
14:024:007 For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD did they bestow upon Baalim.
14:024:008 And at the king's commandment they made a chest, and set it without at the gate of the house of the LORD.
14:024:009 And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to the LORD the collection that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness.
14:024:010 And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end.
14:024:011 Now it came to pass, that at what time the chest was brought unto the king's office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king's scribe and the high priest's officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to his place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.
14:024:012 And the king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the LORD, and also such as wrought iron and brass to mend the house of the LORD.
14:024:013 So the workmen wrought, and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it.
14:024:014 And when they had finished it, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the house of the LORD, even vessels to minister, and to offer withal, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.
14:024:015 But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an hundred and thirty years old was he when he died.
14:024:016 And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house.
14:024:017 Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them.
14:024:018 And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, andserved groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah andJerusalem for this their trespass.
14:024:019 Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto theLORD; and they testified against them: but they would not giveear.
14:024:020 And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.
14:024:021 And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones atthe commandment of the king in the court of the house of theLORD.
14:024:022 Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiadahis father had done to him, but slew his son. And when hedied, he said, The LORD look upon it, and require it.
14:024:023 And it came to pass at the end of the year, that the host of Syria came up against him: and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all the spoil of them unto the king of Damascus.
14:024:024 For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash.
14:024:025 And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings.
14:024:026 And these are they that conspired against him; Zabad the son of Shimeath an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith a Moabitess.
14:024:027 Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the burdens laid upon him, and the repairing of the house of God, behold, they are written in the story of the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.
14:025:001 Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
14:025:002 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, butnot with a perfect heart.
14:025:003 Now it came to pass, when the kingdom was established to him,that he slew his servants that had killed the king his father.
14:025:004 But he slew not their children, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin.
14:025:005 Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield.
14:025:006 He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valour out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver.
14:025:007 But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let notthe army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD is not withIsrael, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim.
14:025:008 But if thou wilt go, do it; be strong for the battle: Godshall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power tohelp, and to cast down.
14:025:009 And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do forthe hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel?And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give theemuch more than this.
14:025:010 Then Amaziah separated them, to wit, the army that was come tohim out of Ephraim, to go home again: wherefore their angerwas greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home ingreat anger.
14:025:011 And Amaziah strengthened himself, and led forth his people, and went to the valley of salt, and smote of the children of Seir ten thousand.
14:025:012 And other ten thousand left alive did the children of Judahcarry away captive, and brought them unto the top of the rock,and cast them down from the top of the rock, that they allwere broken in pieces.
14:025:013 But the soldiers of the army which Amaziah sent back, thatthey should not go with him to battle, fell upon the cities ofJudah, from Samaria even unto Bethhoron, and smote threethousand of them, and took much spoil.
14:025:014 Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from theslaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of thechildren of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and boweddown himself before them, and burned incense unto them.
14:025:015 Wherefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah,and he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hastthou sought after the gods of the people, which could notdeliver their own people out of thine hand?
14:025:016 And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king's counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.
14:025:017 Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us see one another in the face.
14:025:018 And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.
14:025:019 Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites; and thine heart lifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; why shouldest thou meddle to thine hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?
14:025:020 But Amaziah would not hear; for it came of God, that he mightdeliver them into the hand of their enemies, because theysought after the gods of Edom.
14:025:021 So Joash the king of Israel went up; and they saw one anotherin the face, both he and Amaziah king of Judah, atBethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah.
14:025:022 And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to his tent.
14:025:023 And Joash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, theson of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Bethshemesh, and broughthim to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem fromthe gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.
14:025:024 And he took all the gold and the silver, and all the vesselsthat were found in the house of God with Obededom, and thetreasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returnedto Samaria.
14:025:025 And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.
14:025:026 Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?
14:025:027 Now after the time that Amaziah did turn away from following the LORD they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there.
14:025:028 And they brought him upon horses, and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.
14:026:001 Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.
14:026:002 He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.
14:026:003 Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.
14:026:004 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did.
14:026:005 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.
14:026:006 And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines.
14:026:007 And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims.
14:026:008 And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spreadabroad even to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthenedhimself exceedingly.