Gad went to David and told him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Pick one of these:


three years of famine, or three months being chased by your enemies and struck down by their swords, or three days being struck down by the Lord, during which a plague will invade the land and the Lord’s messenger will destroy throughout Israel’s territory.’ Now, decide what I should tell the one who sent me.”


David said to Gad, “I am very upset! I prefer to be attacked by the Lord, for his mercy is very great; I do not want to be attacked by men!”


So the Lord sent a plague through Israel, and 70,000 Israelite men died.


God sent an angel to ravage Jerusalem. As he was doing so, the Lord watched and relented from his judgment. He told the angel who was destroying, “That’s enough! Stop now!” Now the Lord’s angel was standing near the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.


David looked up and saw the Lord’s messenger standing between the earth and sky with his sword drawn and in his hand, stretched out over Jerusalem. David and the leaders, covered with sackcloth, threw themselves down with their faces to the ground.


David said to God, “Was I not the one who decided to number the army? I am the one who sinned and committed this awful deed! As for these sheep – what have they done? O Lord my God, attack me and my family, but remove the plague from your people!”


So the Lord’s messenger told Gad to instruct David to go up and build an altar for the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.


So David went up as Gad instructed him to do in the name of the Lord.


While Ornan was threshing wheat, he turned and saw the messenger, and he and his four sons hid themselves.


When David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David; he came out from the threshing floor and bowed to David with his face to the ground.


David said to Ornan, “Sell me the threshing floor so I can build on it an altar for the Lord – I’ll pay top price – so that the plague may be removed from the people.”


Ornan told David, “You can have it! My master, the king, may do what he wants. Look, I am giving you the oxen for burnt sacrifices, the threshing sledges for wood, and the wheat for an offering. I give it all to you.”


King David replied to Ornan, “No, I insist on buying it for top price. I will not offer to the Lord what belongs to you or offer a burnt sacrifice that cost me nothing.


So David bought the place from Ornan for 600 pieces of gold.


David built there an altar to the Lord and offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings. He called out to the Lord, and the Lord responded by sending fire from the sky and consuming the burnt sacrifice on the altar.


The Lord ordered the messenger to put his sword back into its sheath.


At that time, when David saw that the Lord responded to him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he sacrificed there.


Now the Lord’s tabernacle (which Moses had made in the wilderness) and the altar for burnt sacrifices were at that time at the worship center in Gibeon.


But David could not go before it to seek God’s will, for he was afraid of the sword of the Lord’s messenger.


David then said, “This is the place where the temple of the Lord God will be, along with the altar for burnt sacrifices for Israel.”


David ordered the resident foreigners in the land of Israel to be called together. He appointed some of them to be stonecutters to chisel stones for the building of God’s temple.


David supplied a large amount of iron for the nails of the doors of the gates and for braces, more bronze than could be weighed,


and more cedar logs than could be counted. (The Sidonians and Tyrians had brought a large amount of cedar logs to David.)


David said, “My son Solomon is just an inexperienced young man, and the temple to be built for the Lord must be especially magnificent so it will become famous and be considered splendid by all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for its construction.” So David made extensive preparations before he died.


He summoned his son Solomon and charged him to build a temple for the Lord God of Israel.


David said to Solomon: “My son, I really wanted to build a temple to honor the Lord my God.


But the Lord said to me: ‘You have spilled a great deal of blood and fought many battles. You must not build a temple to honor me, for you have spilled a great deal of blood on the ground before me.


Look, you will have a son, who will be a peaceful man. I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. Indeed, Solomon will be his name; I will give Israel peace and quiet during his reign.


He will build a temple to honor me; he will become my son, and I will become his father. I will grant to his dynasty permanent rule over Israel.’


“Now, my son, may the Lord be with you! May you succeed and build a temple for the Lord your God, just as he announced you would.


Only may the Lord give you insight and understanding when he places you in charge of Israel, so you may obey the law of the Lord your God.


Then you will succeed, if you carefully obey the rules and regulations which the Lord ordered Moses to give to Israel. Be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic!


Now, look, I have made every effort to supply what is needed to build the Lord’s temple. I have stored up 100,000 talents of gold, 1,000,000 talents of silver, and so much bronze and iron it cannot be weighed, as well as wood and stones. Feel free to add more!


You also have available many workers, including stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and an innumerable array of workers who are skilled


in using gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Get up and begin the work! May the Lord be with you!”


David ordered all the officials of Israel to support his son Solomon.


He told them, “The Lord your God is with you! He has made you secure on every side, for he handed over to me the inhabitants of the region and the region is subdued before the Lord and his people.


Now seek the Lord your God wholeheartedly and with your entire being! Get up and build the sanctuary of the Lord God! Then you can bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant and the holy items dedicated to God’s service into the temple that is built to honor the Lord.”


When David was old and approaching the end of his life, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.


David assembled all the leaders of Israel, along with the priests and the Levites.


The Levites who were thirty years old and up were counted; there were 38,000 men.


David said, “Of these, 24,000 are to direct the work of the Lord’s temple; 6,000 are to be officials and judges;


4,000 are to be gatekeepers; and 4,000 are to praise the Lord with the instruments I supplied for worship.”


David divided them into groups corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.


The Gershonites included Ladan and Shimei.


The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the oldest, Zetham, and Joel – three in all.


The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran – three in all. These were the leaders of the family of Ladan.


The sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah. These were Shimei’s sons – four in all.


Jahath was the oldest and Zizah the second oldest. Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they were considered one family with one responsibility.


The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel – four in all.


The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his descendants were chosen on a permanent basis to consecrate the most holy items, to offer sacrifices before the Lord, to serve him, and to praise his name.


The descendants of Moses the man of God were considered Levites.


The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.


The son of Gershom: Shebuel the oldest.


The son of Eliezer was Rehabiah, the oldest. Eliezer had no other sons, but Rehabiah had many descendants.


The son of Izhar: Shelomith the oldest.


The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the oldest, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.


The sons of Uzziel: Micah the oldest, and Isshiah the second.


The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.


Eleazar died without having sons; he had only daughters. The sons of Kish, their cousins, married them.


The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth – three in all.


These were the descendants of Levi according to their families, that is, the leaders of families as counted and individually listed who carried out assigned tasks in the Lord’s temple and were twenty years old and up.


For David said, “The Lord God of Israel has given his people rest and has permanently settled in Jerusalem.


So the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the items used in its service.”


According to David’s final instructions, the Levites twenty years old and up were counted.


Their job was to help Aaron’s descendants in the service of the Lord’s temple. They were to take care of the courtyards, the rooms, ceremonial purification of all holy items, and other jobs related to the service of God’s temple.


They also took care of the bread that is displayed, the flour for offerings, the unleavened wafers, the round cakes, the mixing, and all the measuring.


They also stood in a designated place every morning and offered thanks and praise to the Lord. They also did this in the evening


and whenever burnt sacrifices were offered to the Lord on the Sabbath and at new moon festivals and assemblies. A designated number were to serve before the Lord regularly in accordance with regulations.


They were in charge of the meeting tent and the holy place, and helped their relatives, the descendants of Aaron, in the service of the Lord’s temple.


The divisions of Aaron’s descendants were as follows: The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.


Nadab and Abihu died before their father did; they had no sons. Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.


David, Zadok (a descendant of Eleazar), and Ahimelech (a descendant of Ithamar) divided them into groups to carry out their assigned responsibilities.


The descendants of Eleazar had more leaders than the descendants of Ithamar, so they divided them up accordingly; the descendants of Eleazar had sixteen leaders, while the descendants of Ithamar had eight.


They divided them by lots, for there were officials of the holy place and officials designated by God among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar.


The scribe Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, wrote down their names before the king, the officials, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the leaders of the priestly and Levite families. One family was drawn by lot from Eleazar, and then the next from Ithamar.


The first lot went to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,


the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,


the fifth to Malkijah, the sixth to Mijamin,


the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,


the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,


the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,


the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,


the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,


the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez,


the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel,


the twenty-first to Jakin, the twenty-second to Gamul,


the twenty-third to Delaiah, the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.


This was the order in which they carried out their assigned responsibilities when they entered the Lord’s temple, according to the regulations given them by their ancestor Aaron, just as the Lord God of Israel had instructed him.


The rest of the Levites included: Shubael from the sons of Amram, Jehdeiah from the sons of Shubael,


the firstborn Isshiah from Rehabiah and the sons of Rehabiah,


Shelomoth from the Izharites, Jahath from the sons of Shelomoth.


The sons of Hebron: Jeriah, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.


The son of Uzziel: Micah; Shamir from the sons of Micah.


The brother of Micah: Isshiah. Zechariah from the sons of Isshiah.


The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The son of Jaaziah: Beno.


The sons of Merari, from Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.


From Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.


From Kish: Jerahmeel.


The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the Levites, listed by their families.


Just like their relatives, the descendants of Aaron, they also cast lots before King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, the leaders of families, the priests, and the Levites. The families of the oldest son cast lots along with the those of the youngest.


David and the army officers selected some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy as they played stringed instruments and cymbals. The following men were assigned this responsibility:


From the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. The sons of Asaph were supervised by Asaph, who prophesied under the king’s supervision.


From the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah – six in all, under supervision of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied as he played a harp, giving thanks and praise to the Lord.


From the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth.


All these were the sons of Heman, the king’s prophet. God had promised him these sons in order to make him prestigious. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.


All of these were under the supervision of their fathers; they were musicians in the Lord’s temple, playing cymbals and stringed instruments as they served in God’s temple. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the supervision of the king.


They and their relatives, all of them skilled and trained to make music to the Lord, numbered two hundred eighty-eight.


They cast lots to determine their responsibilities – oldest as well as youngest, teacher as well as student.


The first lot went to Asaph’s son Joseph and his relatives and sons – twelve in all, the second to Gedaliah and his relatives and sons – twelve in all,


the third to Zaccur and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,


the fourth to Izri and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,


the fifth to Nethaniah and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,


the sixth to Bukkiah and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,


the seventh to Jesharelah and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,


the eighth to Jeshaiah and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,


the ninth to Mattaniah and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,


the tenth to Shimei and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,


the eleventh to Azarel and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,


the twelfth to Hashabiah and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,


the thirteenth to Shubael and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,


the fourteenth to Mattithiah and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,


the fifteenth to Jerimoth and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,


the sixteenth to Hananiah and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,


the seventeenth to Joshbekashah and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,


the eighteenth to Hanani and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,


the nineteenth to Mallothi and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,


the twentieth to Eliathah and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,


the twenty-first to Hothir and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,


the twenty-second to Giddalti and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,


the twenty-third to Mahazioth and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,


the twenty-fourth to Romamti-Ezer and his sons and relatives – twelve in all.


The divisions of the gatekeepers: From the Korahites: Meshelemiah, son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph.


Meshelemiah’s sons: The firstborn Zechariah, the second Jediael, the third Zebadiah, the fourth Jathniel,


the fifth Elam, the sixth Jehohanan, and the seventh Elihoenai.


Obed-Edom’s sons: The firstborn Shemaiah, the second Jehozabad, the third Joah, the fourth Sakar, the fifth Nethanel,


the sixth Ammiel, the seventh Issachar, and the eighth Peullethai. (Indeed, God blessed Obed-Edom.)


His son Shemaiah also had sons, who were leaders of their families, for they were highly respected.


The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad. His relatives Elihu and Semakiah were also respected.


All these were the descendants of Obed-Edom. They and their sons and relatives were respected men, capable of doing their responsibilities. There were sixty-two of them related to Obed-Edom.


Meshelemiah had sons and relatives who were respected – eighteen in all.


Hosah, one of the descendants of Merari, had sons: The firstborn Shimri (he was not actually the firstborn, but his father gave him that status),


the second Hilkiah, the third Tebaliah, and the fourth Zechariah. All of Hosah’s sons and relatives numbered thirteen.


These divisions of the gatekeepers, corresponding to their leaders, had assigned responsibilities, like their relatives, as they served in the Lord’s temple.


They cast lots, both young and old, according to their families, to determine which gate they would be responsible for.


The lot for the east gate went to Shelemiah. They then cast lots for his son Zechariah, a wise adviser, and the lot for the north gate went to him.


Obed-Edom was assigned the south gate, and his sons were assigned the storehouses.


Shuppim and Hosah were assigned the west gate, along with the Shalleketh gate on the upper road. One guard was adjacent to another.


Each day there were six Levites posted on the east, four on the north, and four on the south. At the storehouses they were posted in pairs.


At the court on the west there were four posted on the road and two at the court.


These were the divisions of the gatekeepers who were descendants of Korah and Merari.


Their fellow Levites were in charge of the storehouses in God’s temple and the storehouses containing consecrated items.


The descendants of Ladan, who were descended from Gershon through Ladan and were leaders of the families of Ladan the Gershonite, included Jehieli


and the sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel. They were in charge of the storehouses in the Lord’s temple.


As for the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites, and Uzzielites:


Shebuel son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was the supervisor of the storehouses.


His relatives through Eliezer included: Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zikri his son, and Shelomith his son.


Shelomith and his relatives were in charge of all the storehouses containing the consecrated items dedicated by King David, the family leaders who led units of a thousand and a hundred, and the army officers.


They had dedicated some of the plunder taken in battles to be used for repairs on the Lord’s temple.


They were also in charge of everything dedicated by Samuel the prophet, Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah; Shelomith and his relatives were in charge of everything that had been dedicated.


As for the Izharites: Kenaniah and his sons were given responsibilities outside the temple as officers and judges over Israel.


As for the Hebronites: Hashabiah and his relatives, 1,700 respected men, were assigned responsibilities in Israel west of the Jordan; they did the Lord’s work and the king’s service.


As for the Hebronites: Jeriah was the leader of the Hebronites according to the genealogical records. In the fortieth year of David’s reign, they examined the records and discovered there were highly respected men in Jazer in Gilead.


Jeriah had 2,700 relatives who were respected family leaders. King David placed them in charge of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh; they took care of all matters pertaining to God and the king.


What follows is a list of Israelite family leaders and commanders of units of a thousand and a hundred, as well as their officers who served the king in various matters. Each division was assigned to serve for one month during the year; each consisted of 24,000 men.


Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division, which was assigned the first month. His division consisted of 24,000 men.


He was a descendant of Perez; he was in charge of all the army officers for the first month.


Dodai the Ahohite was in charge of the division assigned the second month; Mikloth was the next in rank. His division consisted of 24,000 men.


The third army commander, assigned the third month, was Benaiah son of Jehoiada the priest. He was the leader of his division, which consisted of 24,000 men.


Benaiah was the leader of the thirty warriors and his division; his son was Ammizabad.


The fourth, assigned the fourth month, was Asahel, brother of Joab; his son Zebadiah succeeded him. His division consisted of 24,000 men.


The fifth, assigned the fifth month, was the commander Shamhuth the Izrahite. His division consisted of 24,000 men.


The sixth, assigned the sixth month, was Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. His division consisted of 24,000 men.


The seventh, assigned the seventh month, was Helez the Pelonite, an Ephraimite. His division consisted of 24,000 men.


The eighth, assigned the eighth month, was Sibbekai the Hushathite, a Zerahite. His division consisted of 24,000 men.


The ninth, assigned the ninth month, was Abiezer the Anathothite, a Benjaminite. His division consisted of 24,000 men.


The tenth, assigned the tenth month, was Maharai the Netophathite, a Zerahite. His division consisted of 24,000 men.


The eleventh, assigned the eleventh month, was Benaiah the Pirathonite, an Ephraimite. His division consisted of 24,000 men.


The twelfth, assigned the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite, a descendant of Othniel. His division consisted of 24,000 men.


The officers of the Israelite tribes: Eliezer son of Zikri was the leader of the Reubenites, Shephatiah son of Maacah led the Simeonites,


Hashabiah son of Kemuel led the Levites, Zadok led the descendants of Aaron,


Elihu, a brother of David, led Judah, Omri son of Michael led Issachar,


Ishmaiah son of Obadiah led Zebulun, Jerimoth son of Azriel led Naphtali,


Hoshea son of Azaziah led the Ephraimites, Joel son of Pedaiah led the half-tribe of Manasseh,


Iddo son of Zechariah led the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Jaasiel son of Abner led Benjamin,


Azarel son of Jeroham led Dan. These were the commanders of the Israelite tribes.


David did not count the males twenty years old and under, for the Lord had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars in the sky.


Joab son of Zeruiah started to count the men but did not finish. God was angry with Israel because of this, so the number was not recorded in the scroll called The Annals of King David.


Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the king’s storehouses; Jonathan son of Uzziah was in charge of the storehouses in the field, in the cities, in the towns, and in the towers.


Ezri son of Kelub was in charge of the field workers who farmed the land.


Shimei the Ramathite was in charge of the vineyards; Zabdi the Shiphmite was in charge of the wine stored in the vineyards.


Baal-Hanan the Gederite was in charge of the olive and sycamore trees in the lowlands; Joash was in charge of the storehouses of olive oil.


Shitrai the Sharonite was in charge of the cattle grazing in Sharon; Shaphat son of Adlai was in charge of the cattle in the valleys.


Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels; Jehdeiah the Meronothite was in charge of the donkeys.


Jaziz the Hagrite was in charge of the sheep. All these were the officials in charge of King David’s property.


Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a wise adviser and scribe; Jehiel son of Hacmoni cared for the king’s sons.


Ahithophel was the king’s adviser; Hushai the Arkite was the king’s confidant.


Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah and by Abiathar. Joab was the commanding general of the king’s army.


David assembled in Jerusalem all the officials of Israel, including the commanders of the tribes, the commanders of the army divisions that served the king, the commanders of units of a thousand and a hundred, the officials who were in charge of all the property and livestock of the king and his sons, the eunuchs, and the warriors, including the most skilled of them.


King David rose to his feet and said: “Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I wanted to build a temple where the ark of the Lord’s covenant could be placed as a footstool for our God. I have made the preparations for building it.


But God said to me, ‘You must not build a temple to honor me, for you are a warrior and have spilled blood.’


The Lord God of Israel chose me out of my father’s entire family to become king over Israel and have a permanent dynasty. Indeed, he chose Judah as leader, and my father’s family within Judah, and then he picked me out from among my father’s sons and made me king over all Israel.


From all the many sons the Lord has given me, he chose Solomon my son to rule on his behalf over Israel.


He said to me, ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build my temple and my courts, for I have chosen him to become my son and I will become his father.


I will establish his kingdom permanently, if he remains committed to obeying my commands and regulations, as you are doing this day.’


So now, in the sight of all Israel, the Lord’s assembly, and in the hearing of our God, I say this: Carefully observe all the commands of the Lord your God, so that you may possess this good land and may leave it as a permanent inheritance for your children after you.


“And you, Solomon my son, obey the God of your father and serve him with a submissive attitude and a willing spirit, for the Lord examines all minds and understands every motive of one’s thoughts. If you seek him, he will let you find him, but if you abandon him, he will reject you permanently.


Realize now that the Lord has chosen you to build a temple as his sanctuary. Be strong and do it!”


David gave to his son Solomon the blueprints for the temple porch, its buildings, its treasuries, its upper areas, its inner rooms, and the room for atonement.


He gave him the blueprints of all he envisioned for the courts of the Lord’s temple, all the surrounding rooms, the storehouses of God’s temple, and the storehouses for the holy items.


He gave him the regulations for the divisions of priests and Levites, for all the assigned responsibilities within the Lord’s temple, and for all the items used in the service of the Lord’s temple.


He gave him the prescribed weight for all the gold items to be used in various types of service in the Lord’s temple, for all the silver items to be used in various types of service,


for the gold lampstands and their gold lamps, including the weight of each lampstand and its lamps, for the silver lampstands, including the weight of each lampstand and its lamps, according to the prescribed use of each lampstand,


for the gold used in the display tables, including the amount to be used in each table, for the silver to be used in the silver tables,


for the pure gold used for the meat forks, bowls, and jars, for the small gold bowls, including the weight for each bowl, for the small silver bowls, including the weight for each bowl,


and for the refined gold of the incense altar. He gave him the blueprint for the seat of the gold cherubim that spread their wings and provide shelter for the ark of the Lord’s covenant.


David said, “All of this I put in writing as the Lord directed me and gave me insight regarding the details of the blueprints.”


David said to his son Solomon: “Be strong and brave! Do it! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic! For the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not leave you or abandon you before all the work for the service of the Lord’s temple is finished.


Here are the divisions of the priests and Levites who will perform all the service of God’s temple. All the willing and skilled men are ready to assist you in all the work and perform their service. The officials and all the people are ready to follow your instructions.”


King David said to the entire assembly: “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is just an inexperienced young man, and the task is great, for this palace is not for man, but for the Lord God.


So I have made every effort to provide what is needed for the temple of my God, including the gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, as well as a large amount of onyx, settings of antimony and other stones, all kinds of precious stones, and alabaster.


Now, to show my commitment to the temple of my God, I donate my personal treasure of gold and silver to the temple of my God, in addition to all that I have already supplied for this holy temple.


This includes 3,000 talents of gold from Ophir and 7,000 talents of refined silver for overlaying the walls of the buildings,


for gold and silver items, and for all the work of the craftsmen. Who else wants to contribute to the Lord today?”


The leaders of the families, the leaders of the Israelite tribes, the commanders of units of a thousand and a hundred, and the supervisors of the king’s work contributed willingly.


They donated for the service of God’s temple 5,000 talents and ten thousand darics of gold, 10,000 talents of silver, 18,000 talents of bronze, and 100,000 talents of iron.


All who possessed precious stones donated them to the treasury of the Lord’s temple, which was under the supervision of Jehiel the Gershonite.


The people were delighted with their donations, for they contributed to the Lord with a willing attitude; King David was also very happy.


David praised the Lord before the entire assembly: “O Lord God of our father Israel, you deserve praise forevermore!


O Lord, you are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You have dominion and exalt yourself as the ruler of all.


You are the source of wealth and honor; you rule over all. You possess strength and might to magnify and give strength to all.


Now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your majestic name!


“But who am I and who are my people, that we should be in a position to contribute this much? Indeed, everything comes from you, and we have simply given back to you what is yours.


For we are resident foreigners and nomads in your presence, like all our ancestors; our days are like a shadow on the earth, without security.


O Lord our God, all this wealth, which we have collected to build a temple for you to honor your holy name, comes from you; it all belongs to you.


I know, my God, that you examine thoughts and are pleased with integrity. With pure motives I contribute all this; and now I look with joy as your people who have gathered here contribute to you.


O Lord God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, maintain the motives of your people and keep them devoted to you.


Make my son Solomon willing to obey your commands, rules, and regulations, and to complete building the palace for which I have made preparations.”


David told the entire assembly: “Praise the Lord your God!” So the entire assembly praised the Lord God of their ancestors; they bowed down and stretched out flat on the ground before the Lord and the king.


The next day they made sacrifices and offered burnt sacrifices to the Lord (1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, 1,000 lambs), along with their accompanying drink offerings and many other sacrifices for all Israel.


They held a feast before the Lord that day and celebrated. Then they designated Solomon, David’s son, as king a second time; before the Lord they anointed him as ruler and Zadok as priest.


Solomon sat on the Lord’s throne as king in place of his father David; he was successful and all Israel was loyal to him.


All the officers and warriors, as well as all of King David’s sons, pledged their allegiance to King Solomon.


The Lord greatly magnified Solomon before all Israel and bestowed on him greater majesty than any king of Israel before him.


David son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.


He reigned over Israel forty years; he reigned in Hebron seven years and in Jerusalem thirty-three years.


He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth, and honor. His son Solomon succeeded him.


King David’s accomplishments, from start to finish, are recorded in the Annals of Samuel the prophet, the Annals of Nathan the prophet, and the Annals of Gad the prophet.


Recorded there are all the facts about his reign and accomplishments, and an account of the events that involved him, Israel, and all the neighboring kingdoms.


Solomon son of David solidified his royal authority, for the Lord his God was with him and magnified him greatly.


Solomon addressed all Israel, including those who commanded units of a thousand and a hundred, the judges, and all the leaders of all Israel who were heads of families.


Solomon and the entire assembly went to the worship center in Gibeon, for the tent where they met God was located there, which Moses the Lord’s servant had made in the wilderness.


(Now David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim to the place he had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.


But the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, was in front of the Lord’s tabernacle. Solomon and the entire assembly prayed to him there.)


Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the Lord which was at the meeting tent, and he offered up a thousand burnt sacrifices.


That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Tell me what I should give you.”


Solomon replied to God, “You demonstrated great loyalty to my father David and have made me king in his place.


Now, Lord God, may your promise to my father David be realized, for you have made me king over a great nation as numerous as the dust of the earth.


Now give me wisdom and discernment so I can effectively lead this nation. Otherwise no one is able to make judicial decisions for this great nation of yours.”


God said to Solomon, “Because you desire this, and did not ask for riches, wealth, and honor, or for vengeance on your enemies, and because you did not ask for long life, but requested wisdom and discernment so you can make judicial decisions for my people over whom I have made you king,


you are granted wisdom and discernment. Furthermore I am giving you riches, wealth, and honor surpassing that of any king before or after you.”


Solomon left the meeting tent at the worship center in Gibeon and went to Jerusalem, where he reigned over Israel.


Solomon accumulated chariots and horses. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He kept them in assigned cities and in Jerusalem.


The king made silver and gold as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones; cedar was as plentiful as sycamore fig trees are in the lowlands.


Solomon acquired his horses from Egypt and from Que; the king’s traders purchased them from Que.


They paid 600 silver pieces for each chariot from Egypt, and 150 silver pieces for each horse. They also sold chariots and horses to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Syria.


Solomon ordered a temple to be built to honor the Lord, as well as a royal palace for himself.


Solomon had 70,000 common laborers and 80,000 stonecutters in the hills, in addition to 3,600 supervisors.


Solomon sent a message to King Huram of Tyre: “Help me as you did my father David, when you sent him cedar logs for the construction of his palace.


Look, I am ready to build a temple to honor the Lord my God and to dedicate it to him in order to burn fragrant incense before him, to set out the bread that is regularly displayed, and to offer burnt sacrifices each morning and evening, and on Sabbaths, new moon festivals, and at other times appointed by the Lord our God. This is something Israel must do on a permanent basis.


I will build a great temple, for our God is greater than all gods.


Of course, who can really build a temple for him, since the sky and the highest heavens cannot contain him? Who am I that I should build him a temple! It will really be only a place to offer sacrifices before him.


“Now send me a man who is skilled in working with gold, silver, bronze, and iron, as well as purple, crimson, and violet colored fabrics, and who knows how to engrave. He will work with my skilled craftsmen here in Jerusalem and Judah, whom my father David provided.


Send me cedars, evergreens, and algum trees from Lebanon, for I know your servants are adept at cutting down trees in Lebanon. My servants will work with your servants


to supply me with large quantities of timber, for I am building a great, magnificent temple.


Look, I will pay your servants who cut the timber 20,000 kors of ground wheat, 20,000 kors of barley, 120,000 gallons of wine, and 120,000 gallons of olive oil.”


King Huram of Tyre sent this letter to Solomon: “Because the Lord loves his people, he has made you their king.”


Huram also said, “Worthy of praise is the Lord God of Israel, who made the sky and the earth! He has given David a wise son who has discernment and insight and will build a temple for the Lord, as well as a royal palace for himself.


Now I am sending you Huram Abi, a skilled and capable man,


whose mother is a Danite and whose father is a Tyrian. He knows how to work with gold, silver, bronze, iron, stones, and wood, as well as purple, violet, white, and crimson fabrics. He knows how to do all kinds of engraving and understands any design given to him. He will work with your skilled craftsmen and the skilled craftsmen of my lord David your father.


Now let my lord send to his servants the wheat, barley, olive oil, and wine he has promised;


we will get all the timber you need from Lebanon and bring it in raft-like bundles by sea to Joppa. You can then haul it on up to Jerusalem.”


Solomon took a census of all the male resident foreigners in the land of Israel, after the census his father David had taken. There were 153,600 in all.


He designated 70,000 as common laborers, 80,000 as stonecutters in the hills, and 3,600 as supervisors to make sure the people completed the work.


Solomon began building the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David. This was the place that David prepared at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.


He began building on the second day of the second month of the fourth year of his reign.


Solomon laid the foundation for God’s temple; its length (determined according to the old standard of measure) was 90 feet, and its width 30 feet.


The porch in front of the main hall was 30 feet long, corresponding to the width of the temple, and its height was 30 feet. He plated the inside with pure gold.


He paneled the main hall with boards made from evergreen trees and plated it with fine gold, decorated with palm trees and chains.


He decorated the temple with precious stones; the gold he used came from Parvaim.


He overlaid the temple’s rafters, thresholds, walls and doors with gold; he carved decorative cherubim on the walls.


He made the most holy place; its length was 30 feet, corresponding to the width of the temple, and its width 30 feet. He plated it with 600 talents of fine gold.


The gold nails weighed 50 shekels; he also plated the upper areas with gold.


In the most holy place he made two images of cherubim and plated them with gold.


The combined wing span of the cherubs was 30 feet. One of the first cherub’s wings was seven and one-half feet long and touched one wall of the temple; its other wing was also seven and one-half feet long and touched one of the second cherub’s wings.


Likewise one of the second cherub’s wings was seven and one-half feet long and touched the other wall of the temple; its other wing was also seven and one-half feet long and touched one of the first cherub’s wings.


The combined wingspan of these cherubim was 30 feet. They stood upright, facing inward.


He made the curtain out of violet, purple, crimson, and white fabrics, and embroidered on it decorative cherubim.


In front of the temple he made two pillars which had a combined length of 52½ feet, with each having a plated capital seven and one-half feet high.


He made ornamental chains and put them on top of the pillars. He also made one hundred pomegranate-shaped ornaments and arranged them within the chains.


He set up the pillars in front of the temple, one on the right side and the other on the left. He named the one on the right Jachin, and the one on the left Boaz.


He made a bronze altar, 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 15 feet high.


He also made the big bronze basin called “The Sea.” It measured 15 feet from rim to rim, was circular in shape, and stood seven and one-half feet high. Its circumference was 45 feet.


Images of bulls were under it all the way around, ten every eighteen inches all the way around. The bulls were in two rows and had been cast with “The Sea.”


“The Sea” stood on top of twelve bulls. Three faced northward, three westward, three southward, and three eastward. “The Sea” was placed on top of them, and they all faced outward.


It was four fingers thick and its rim was like that of a cup shaped like a lily blossom. It could hold 18,000 gallons.


He made ten washing basins; he put five on the south side and five on the north side. In them they rinsed the items used for burnt sacrifices; the priests washed in “The Sea.”


He made ten gold lampstands according to specifications and put them in the temple, five on the right and five on the left.


He made ten tables and set them in the temple, five on the right and five on the left. He also made one hundred gold bowls.


He made the courtyard of the priests and the large enclosure and its doors; he plated their doors with bronze.


He put “The Sea” on the south side, in the southeast corner.


Huram Abi made the pots, shovels, and bowls. He finished all the work on God’s temple he had been assigned by King Solomon.


He made the two pillars, the two bowl-shaped tops of the pillars, the latticework for the bowl-shaped tops of the two pillars,


the four hundred pomegranate-shaped ornaments for the latticework of the two pillars (each latticework had two rows of these ornaments at the bowl-shaped top of the pillar),


the ten movable stands with their ten basins,


the big bronze basin called “The Sea” with its twelve bulls underneath,


and the pots, shovels, and meat forks. All the items King Solomon assigned Huram Abi to make for the Lord’s temple were made from polished bronze.


The king had them cast in earthen foundries in the region of the Jordan between Succoth and Zarethan.


Solomon made so many of these items they did not weigh the bronze.


Solomon also made these items for God’s temple: the gold altar, the tables on which the Bread of the Presence was kept,


the pure gold lampstands and their lamps which burned as specified at the entrance to the inner sanctuary,


the pure gold flower-shaped ornaments, lamps, and tongs,


the pure gold trimming shears, basins, pans, and censers, and the gold door sockets for the inner sanctuary (the most holy place) and for the doors of the main hall of the temple.


When Solomon had finished constructing the Lord’s temple, he put the holy items that belonged to his father David (the silver, gold, and all the other articles) in the treasuries of God’s temple.


Then Solomon convened Israel’s elders – all the leaders of the Israelite tribes and families – in Jerusalem, so they could witness the transferal of the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the City of David (that is, Zion).


All the men of Israel assembled before the king during the festival in the seventh month.


When all Israel’s elders had arrived, the Levites lifted the ark.


The priests and Levites carried the ark, the tent where God appeared to his people, and all the holy items in the tent.


Now King Solomon and all the Israelites who had assembled with him went on ahead of the ark and sacrificed more sheep and cattle than could be counted or numbered.


The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its assigned place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, in the most holy place under the wings of the cherubs.


The cherubs’ wings extended over the place where the ark sat; the cherubs overshadowed the ark and its poles.


The poles were so long their ends extending out from the ark were visible from in front of the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen from beyond that point. They have remained there to this very day.


There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets Moses had placed there in Horeb. (It was there that the Lord made an agreement with the Israelites after he brought them out of the land of Egypt.)


The priests left the holy place. All the priests who participated had consecrated themselves, no matter which division they represented.


All the Levites who were musicians, including Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and relatives, wore linen. They played cymbals and stringed instruments as they stood east of the altar. They were accompanied by 120 priests who blew trumpets.


The trumpeters and musicians played together, praising and giving thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they loudly praised the Lord, singing: “Certainly he is good; certainly his loyal love endures!” Then a cloud filled the Lord’s temple.


The priests could not carry out their duties because of the cloud; the Lord’s splendor filled God’s temple.


Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he lives in thick darkness.


O Lord, I have built a lofty temple for you, a place where you can live permanently.”


Then the king turned around and pronounced a blessing over the whole Israelite assembly as they stood there.


He said, “The Lord God of Israel is worthy of praise because he has fulfilled what he promised my father David.


He told David, ‘Since the day I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from all the tribes of Israel to build a temple in which to live. Nor did I choose a man as leader of my people Israel.


But now I have chosen Jerusalem as a place to live, and I have chosen David to lead my people Israel.’


Now my father David had a strong desire to build a temple to honor the Lord God of Israel.


The Lord told my father David, ‘It is right for you to have a strong desire to build a temple to honor me.


But you will not build the temple; your very own son will build the temple for my honor.’


The Lord has kept the promise he made. I have taken my father David’s place and have occupied the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised. I have built this temple for the honor of the Lord God of Israel


and set up in it a place for the ark containing the covenant the Lord made with the Israelites.”


He stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire assembly of Israel and spread out his hands.


Solomon had made a bronze platform and had placed it in the middle of the enclosure. It was seven and one-half feet long, seven and one-half feet wide, and four and one-half feet high. He stood on it and then got down on his knees in front of the entire assembly of Israel. He spread out his hands toward the sky,


and prayed: “O Lord God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven or on earth! You maintain covenantal loyalty to your servants who obey you with sincerity.


You have kept your word to your servant, my father David; this very day you have fulfilled what you promised.


Now, O Lord God of Israel, keep the promise you made to your servant, my father David, when you said, ‘You will never fail to have a successor ruling before me on the throne of Israel, provided that your descendants watch their step and obey my law as you have done.’


Now, O Lord God of Israel, may the promise you made to your servant David be realized.


“God does not really live with humankind on the earth! Look, if the sky and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this temple I have built!


But respond favorably to your servant’s prayer and his request for help, O Lord my God. Answer the desperate prayer your servant is presenting to you.


Night and day may you watch over this temple, the place where you promised you would live. May you answer your servant’s prayer for this place.


Respond to the requests of your servant and your people Israel for this place. Hear from your heavenly dwelling place and respond favorably and forgive.


“When someone is accused of sinning against his neighbor and the latter pronounces a curse on the alleged offender before your altar in this temple,


listen from heaven and make a just decision about your servants’ claims. Condemn the guilty party, declare the other innocent, and give both of them what they deserve.


“If your people Israel are defeated by an enemy because they sinned against you, then if they come back to you, renew their allegiance to you, and pray for your help before you in this temple,


then listen from heaven, forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land you gave to them and their ancestors.


“The time will come when the skies are shut up tightly and no rain falls because your people sinned against you. When they direct their prayers toward this place, renew their allegiance to you, and turn away from their sin because you punish them,


then listen from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Certainly you will then teach them the right way to live and send rain on your land that you have given your people to possess.


“The time will come when the land suffers from a famine, a plague, blight, and disease, or a locust invasion, or when their enemy lays siege to the cities of the land, or when some other type of plague or epidemic occurs.


When all your people Israel pray and ask for help, as they acknowledge their intense pain and spread out their hands toward this temple,


then listen from your heavenly dwelling place, forgive their sin, and act favorably toward each one based on your evaluation of their motives. (Indeed you are the only one who can correctly evaluate the motives of all people.)


Then they will honor you by obeying you throughout their lifetimes as they live on the land you gave to our ancestors.


“Foreigners, who do not belong to your people Israel, will come from a distant land because of your great reputation and your ability to accomplish mighty deeds; they will come and direct their prayers toward this temple.


Then listen from your heavenly dwelling place and answer all the prayers of the foreigners. Then all the nations of the earth will acknowledge your reputation, obey you like your people Israel do, and recognize that this temple I built belongs to you.


“When you direct your people to march out and fight their enemies, and they direct their prayers to you toward this chosen city and this temple I built for your honor,


then listen from heaven to their prayers for help and vindicate them.


“The time will come when your people will sin against you (for there is no one who is sinless!) and you will be angry at them and deliver them over to their enemies, who will take them as prisoners to their land, whether far away or close by.


When your people come to their senses in the land where they are held prisoner, they will repent and beg for your mercy in the land of their imprisonment, admitting, ‘We have sinned and gone astray, we have done evil!’


When they return to you with all their heart and being in the land where they are held prisoner and direct their prayers toward the land you gave to their ancestors, your chosen city, and the temple I built for your honor,


then listen from your heavenly dwelling place to their prayers for help, vindicate them, and forgive your sinful people.


“Now, my God, may you be attentive and responsive to the prayers offered in this place.


Now ascend, O Lord God, to your resting place, you and the ark of your strength! May your priests, O Lord God, experience your deliverance! May your loyal followers rejoice in the prosperity you give!


O Lord God, do not reject your chosen ones! Remember the faithful promises you made to your servant David!”


When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the Lord’s splendor filled the temple.


The priests were unable to enter the Lord’s temple because the Lord’s splendor filled the Lord’s temple.


When all the Israelites saw the fire come down and the Lord’s splendor over the temple, they got on their knees with their faces downward toward the pavement. They worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “Certainly he is good; certainly his loyal love endures!”


The king and all the people were presenting sacrifices to the Lord.


King Solomon sacrificed 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep. Then the king and all the people dedicated God’s temple.


The priests stood in their assigned spots, along with the Levites who had the musical instruments used for praising the Lord. (These were the ones King David made for giving thanks to the Lord and which were used by David when he offered praise, saying, “Certainly his loyal love endures.”) Opposite the Levites, the priests were blowing the trumpets, while all Israel stood there.


Solomon consecrated the middle of the courtyard that is in front of the Lord’s temple. He offered burnt sacrifices, grain offerings, and the fat from the peace offerings there, because the bronze altar that Solomon had made was too small to hold all these offerings.


At that time Solomon and all Israel with him celebrated a festival for seven days. This great assembly included people from Lebo Hamath in the north to the Brook of Egypt in the south.


On the eighth day they held an assembly, for they had dedicated the altar for seven days and celebrated the festival for seven more days.


On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, Solomon sent the people home. They left happy and contented because of the good the Lord had done for David, Solomon, and his people Israel.


After Solomon finished building the Lord’s temple and the royal palace, and accomplished all his plans for the Lord’s temple and his royal palace,


the Lord appeared to Solomon at night and said to him: “I have answered your prayer and chosen this place to be my temple where sacrifices are to be made.


When I close up the sky so that it doesn’t rain, or command locusts to devour the land’s vegetation, or send a plague among my people,


if my people, who belong to me, humble themselves, pray, seek to please me, and repudiate their sinful practices, then I will respond from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.


Now I will be attentive and responsive to the prayers offered in this place.


Now I have chosen and consecrated this temple by making it my permanent home; I will be constantly present there.


You must serve me as your father David did. Do everything I commanded and obey my rules and regulations.


Then I will establish your dynasty, just as I promised your father David, ‘You will not fail to have a successor ruling over Israel.’


“But if you people ever turn away from me, fail to obey the regulations and rules I instructed you to keep, and decide to serve and worship other gods,


then I will remove you from my land I have given you, I will abandon this temple I have consecrated with my presence, and I will make you an object of mockery and ridicule among all the nations.


As for this temple, which was once majestic, everyone who passes by it will be shocked and say, ‘Why did the Lord do this to this land and this temple?’


Others will then answer, ‘Because they abandoned the Lord God of their ancestors, who led them out of Egypt. They embraced other gods whom they worshiped and served. That is why he brought all this disaster down on them.’”


After twenty years, during which Solomon built the Lord’s temple and his royal palace,


Solomon rebuilt the cities that Huram had given him and settled Israelites there.


Solomon went to Hamath Zobah and seized it.


He built up Tadmor in the wilderness and all the storage cities he had built in Hamath.


He made upper Beth Horon and lower Beth Horon fortified cities with walls and barred gates,


and built up Baalath, all the storage cities that belonged to him, and all the cities where chariots and horses were kept. He built whatever he wanted in Jerusalem, Lebanon, and throughout his entire kingdom.


Now several non-Israelite peoples were left in the land after the conquest of Joshua, including the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.


Their descendants remained in the land (the Israelites were unable to wipe them out). Solomon conscripted them for his work crews and they continue in that role to this very day.


Solomon did not assign Israelites to these work crews; the Israelites served as his soldiers, officers, charioteers, and commanders of his chariot forces.


These men worked for Solomon as supervisors; there were a total of 250 of them who were in charge of the people.


Solomon moved 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 King David of Israel, for the places where the ark of the Lord has entered are holy.”


Then Solomon offered burnt sacrifices to the Lord on the altar of the Lord which he had built in front of the temple’s porch.


He observed the daily requirements for sacrifices that Moses had specified for Sabbaths, new moon festivals, and the three annual celebrations – the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Temporary Shelters.


As his father David had decreed, Solomon appointed the divisions of the priests to do their assigned tasks, the Levitical orders to lead worship and help the priests with their daily tasks, and the divisions of the gatekeepers to serve at their assigned gates. This was what David the man of God had ordered.


They did not neglect any detail of the king’s orders pertaining to the priests, Levites, and treasuries.


All the work ordered by Solomon was completed, from the day the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid until it was finished; the Lord’s temple was completed.


Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber and to Elat on the coast in the land of Edom.


Huram sent him ships and some of his sailors, men who were well acquainted with the sea. They sailed with Solomon’s men to Ophir, and took from there 450 talents of gold, which they brought back to King Solomon.


When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon, she came to challenge him with difficult questions. She arrived in Jerusalem with a great display of pomp, bringing with her camels carrying spices, a very large quantity of gold, and precious gems. She visited Solomon and discussed with him everything that was on her mind.


Solomon answered all her questions; there was no question too complex for the king.


When the queen of Sheba saw for herself Solomon’s extensive wisdom, the palace he had built,


the food in his banquet hall, his servants and attendants in their robes, his cupbearers in their robes, and his burnt sacrifices which he presented in the Lord’s temple, she was amazed.


She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your wise sayings and insight was true!


I did not believe these things until I came and saw them with my own eyes. Indeed, I didn’t hear even half the story! Your wisdom surpasses what was reported to me.


Your attendants, who stand before you at all times and hear your wise sayings, are truly happy!


May the Lord your God be praised because he favored you by placing you on his throne as the one ruling on his behalf! Because of your God’s love for Israel and his lasting commitment to them, he made you king over them so you could make just and right decisions.”


She gave the king 120 talents of gold and a very large quantity of spices and precious gems. The quantity of spices the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon has never been matched.


(Huram’s servants, aided by Solomon’s servants, brought gold from Ophir, as well as fine timber and precious gems.


With the timber the king made steps for the Lord’s temple and royal palace as well as stringed instruments for the musicians. No one had seen anything like them in the land of Judah prior to that. )


King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she requested, more than what she had brought him. Then she left and returned to her homeland with her attendants.


Solomon received 666 talents of gold per year,


besides what he collected from the merchants and traders. All the Arabian kings and the governors of the land also brought gold and silver to Solomon.


King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; 600 measures of hammered gold were used for each shield.


He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold; 300 measures of gold were used for each of those shields. The king placed them in the Palace of the Lebanon Forest.


The king made a large throne decorated with ivory and overlaid it with pure gold.


There were six steps leading up to the throne, and a gold footstool was attached to the throne. The throne had two armrests with a statue of a lion standing on each side.


There were twelve statues of lions on the six steps, one lion at each end of each step. There was nothing like it in any other kingdom.


All of King Solomon’s cups were made of gold, and all the household items in the Palace of the Lebanon Forest were made of pure gold. There were no silver items, for silver was not considered very valuable in Solomon’s time.


The king had a fleet of large merchant ships manned by Huram’s men that sailed the sea. Once every three years the fleet came into port with cargoes of gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.


King Solomon was wealthier and wiser than any of the kings of the earth.


All the kings of the earth wanted to visit Solomon to see him display his God-given wisdom.


Year after year visitors brought their gifts, which included items of silver, items of gold, clothes, perfume, spices, horses, and mules.


Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his chariot horses and 12,000 horses. He kept them in assigned cities and in Jerusalem.


He ruled all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines as far as the border of Egypt.


The king made silver as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones; cedar was as plentiful as sycamore fig trees are in the lowlands.


Solomon acquired horses from Egypt and from all the lands.


The rest of the events of Solomon’s reign, from start to finish, are recorded in the Annals of Nathan the Prophet, the Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and the Vision of Iddo the Seer pertaining to Jeroboam son of Nebat.


Solomon ruled over all Israel from Jerusalem for forty years.


Then Solomon passed away and was buried in the city of his father David. His son Rehoboam replaced him as king.


Rehoboam traveled to Shechem, for all Israel had gathered in Shechem to make Rehoboam king.


When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard the news, he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon. Jeroboam returned from Egypt.


They sent for him and Jeroboam and all Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying,


“Your father made us work too hard! Now if you lighten the demands he made and don’t make us work as hard, we will serve you.”


He said to them, “Go away for three days, then return to me.” So the people went away.


King Rehoboam consulted with the older advisers who had served his father Solomon when he had been alive. He asked them, “How do you advise me to answer these people?”


They said to him, “If you are fair to these people, grant their request, and are cordial to them, they will be your servants from this time forward.”


But Rehoboam rejected their advice and consulted the young advisers who served him, with whom he had grown up.


He asked them, “How do you advise me to respond to these people who said to me, ‘Lessen the demands your father placed on us’?”


The young advisers with whom Rehoboam had grown up said to him, “Say this to these people who have said to you, ‘Your father made us work hard, but now lighten our burden’ – say this to them: ‘I am a lot harsher than my father!


My father imposed heavy demands on you; I will make them even heavier. My father punished you with ordinary whips; I will punish you with whips that really sting your flesh.’”


Jeroboam and all the people reported to Rehoboam on the third day, just as the king had ordered when he said, “Return to me on the third day.”


The king responded to the people harshly. He rejected the advice of the older men


and followed the advice of the younger ones. He said, “My father imposed heavy demands on you; I will make them even heavier. My father punished you with ordinary whips; I will punish you with whips that really sting your flesh.”


The king refused to listen to the people, because God was instigating this turn of events so that he might bring to pass the prophetic announcement he had made through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.


When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, the people answered the king, “We have no portion in David – no share in the son of Jesse! Return to your homes, O Israel! Now, look after your own dynasty, O David!” So all Israel returned to their homes.


(Rehoboam continued to rule over the Israelites who lived in the cities of Judah.)


King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, the supervisor of the work crews, out after them, but the Israelites stoned him to death. King Rehoboam managed to jump into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem.


So Israel has been in rebellion against the Davidic dynasty to this very day.


When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he summoned 180,000 skilled warriors from Judah and Benjamin to attack Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.


But the Lord told Shemaiah the prophet,


“Say this to King Rehoboam son of Solomon of Judah and to all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin,


‘The Lord says this: “Do not attack and make war with your brothers. Each of you go home, for I have caused this to happen.”’” They obeyed the Lord and called off the attack against Jeroboam.


Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem; he built up these fortified cities throughout Judah:


Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,


Beth Zur, Soco, Adullam,


Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,


Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,


Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron. These were the fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.


He fortified these cities and placed officers in them, as well as storehouses of food, olive oil, and wine.


In each city there were shields and spears; he strongly fortified them. Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.


The priests and Levites who lived throughout Israel supported him, no matter where they resided.


The Levites even left their pasturelands and their property behind and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons prohibited them from serving as the Lord’s priests.


Jeroboam appointed his own priests to serve at the worship centers and to lead in the worship of the goat idols and calf idols he had made.


Those among all the Israelite tribes who were determined to worship the Lord God of Israel followed them to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the Lord God of their ancestors.


They supported the kingdom of Judah and were loyal to Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years; they followed the edicts of David and Solomon for three years.


Rehoboam married Mahalath the daughter of David’s son Jerimoth and of Abihail, the daughter of Jesse’s son Eliab.


She bore him sons named Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.


He later married Maacah the daughter of Absalom. She bore to him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.


Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than his other wives and concubines. He had eighteen wives and sixty concubines; he fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.


Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as the leader over his brothers, for he intended to name him his successor.


He wisely placed some of his many sons throughout the regions of Judah and Benjamin in the various fortified cities. He supplied them with abundant provisions and acquired many wives for them.


After Rehoboam’s rule was established and solidified, he and all Israel rejected the law of the Lord.


Because they were unfaithful to the Lord, in King Rehoboam’s fifth year, King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem.


He had 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horsemen, and an innumerable number of soldiers who accompanied him from Egypt, including Libyans, Sukkites, and Cushites.


He captured the fortified cities of Judah and marched against Jerusalem.


Shemaiah the prophet visited Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who were assembled in Jerusalem because of Shishak. He said to them, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You have rejected me, so I have rejected you and will hand you over to Shishak.’”


The leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The Lord is just.”


When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, he gave this message to Shemaiah: “They have humbled themselves, so I will not destroy them. I will deliver them soon. My anger will not be unleashed against Jerusalem through Shishak.


Yet they will become his subjects, so they can experience how serving me differs from serving the surrounding nations.”


King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem and took away the treasures of the Lord’s temple and of the royal palace; he took everything, including the gold shields that Solomon had made.


King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and assigned them to the officers of the royal guard who protected the entrance to the royal palace.


Whenever the king visited the Lord’s temple, the royal guards carried them and then brought them back to the guardroom.


So when Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord relented from his anger and did not annihilate him; Judah experienced some good things.


King Rehoboam solidified his rule in Jerusalem; he was forty-one years old when he became king and he ruled for seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the Lord chose from all the tribes of Israel to be his home. Rehoboam’s mother was an Ammonite named Naamah.


He did evil because he was not determined to follow the Lord.


The events of Rehoboam’s reign, from start to finish, are recorded in the Annals of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer that include genealogical records.


Then Rehoboam passed away and was buried in the City of David. His son Abijah replaced him as king.


In the eighteenth year of the reign of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah.


He ruled for three years in Jerusalem. His mother was Michaiah, the daughter of Uriel from Gibeah. There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.


Abijah launched the attack with 400,000 well-trained warriors, while Jeroboam deployed against him 800,000 well-trained warriors.


Abijah ascended Mount Zemaraim, in the Ephraimite hill country, and said: “Listen to me, Jeroboam and all Israel!


Don’t you realize that the Lord God of Israel has given David and his dynasty lasting dominion over Israel by a formal agreement?


Jeroboam son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon son of David, rose up and rebelled against his master.


Lawless good-for-nothing men gathered around him and conspired against Rehoboam son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was an inexperienced young man and could not resist them.


Now you are declaring that you will resist the Lord’s rule through the Davidic dynasty. You have a huge army, and bring with you the gold calves that Jeroboam made for you as gods.


But you banished the Lord’s priests, Aaron’s descendants, and the Levites, and appointed your own priests just as the surrounding nations do! Anyone who comes to consecrate himself with a young bull or seven rams becomes a priest of these fake gods!


But as for us, the Lord is our God and we have not rejected him. Aaron’s descendants serve as the Lord’s priests and the Levites assist them with the work.


They offer burnt sacrifices to the Lord every morning and every evening, along with fragrant incense. They arrange the Bread of the Presence on a ritually clean table and light the lamps on the gold lampstand every evening. Certainly we are observing the Lord our God’s regulations, but you have rejected him.


Now look, God is with us as our leader. His priests are ready to blow the trumpets to signal the attack against you. You Israelites, don’t fight against the Lord God of your ancestors, for you will not win!”


Now Jeroboam had sent some men to ambush the Judahite army from behind. The main army was in front of the Judahite army; the ambushers were behind it.


The men of Judah turned around and realized they were being attacked from the front and the rear. So they cried out for help to the Lord. The priests blew their trumpets,


and the men of Judah gave the battle cry. As the men of Judah gave the battle cry, the Lord struck down Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.


The Israelites fled from before the Judahite army, and God handed them over to the men of Judah.


Abijah and his army thoroughly defeated them; 500,000 well-trained Israelite men fell dead.


That day the Israelites were defeated; the men of Judah prevailed because they relied on the Lord God of their ancestors.


Abijah chased Jeroboam; he seized from him these cities: Bethel and its surrounding towns, Jeshanah and its surrounding towns, and Ephron and its surrounding towns.


Jeroboam did not regain power during the reign of Abijah. The Lord struck him down and he died.


Abijah’s power grew; he had fourteen wives and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.


The rest of the events of Abijah’s reign, including his deeds and sayings, are recorded in the writings of the prophet Iddo.


Abijah passed away and was buried in the City of David. His son Asa replaced him as king. During his reign the land had rest for ten years.


Asa did what the Lord his God desired and approved.


He removed the pagan altars and the high places, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles.


He ordered Judah to seek the Lord God of their ancestors and to observe his law and commands.


He removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. The kingdom had rest under his rule.


He built fortified cities throughout Judah, for the land was at rest and there was no war during those years; the Lord gave him peace.


He said to the people of Judah: “Let’s build these cities and fortify them with walls, towers, and barred gates. The land remains ours because we have followed the Lord our God and he has made us secure on all sides.” So they built the cities and prospered.


Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah, equipped with large shields and spears. He also had 280,000 men from Benjamin who carried small shields and were adept archers; they were all skilled warriors.


Zerah the Cushite marched against them with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots. He arrived at Mareshah,


and Asa went out to oppose him. They deployed for battle in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.


Asa prayed to the Lord his God: “O Lord, there is no one but you who can help the weak when they are vastly outnumbered. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you and have marched on your behalf against this huge army. O Lord our God, don’t let men prevail against you!”


The Lord struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled,


and Asa and his army chased them as far as Gerar. The Cushites were wiped out; they were shattered before the Lord and his army. The men of Judah carried off a huge amount of plunder.


They defeated all the cities surrounding Gerar, for the Lord caused them to panic. The men of Judah looted all the cities, for they contained a huge amount of goods.


They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen in charge of the livestock. They carried off many sheep and camels and then returned to Jerusalem.


God’s Spirit came upon Azariah son of Oded.


He met Asa and told him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin! The Lord is with you when you are loyal to him. If you seek him, he will respond to you, but if you reject him, he will reject you.


For a long time Israel had no true God, or priest to instruct them, or law.


Because of their distress, they turned back to the Lord God of Israel. They sought him and he responded to them.


In those days no one could travel safely, for total chaos had overtaken all the people of the surrounding lands.


One nation was crushed by another, and one city by another, for God caused them to be in great turmoil.


But as for you, be strong and don’t get discouraged, for your work will be rewarded.”


When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he was encouraged. He removed the detestable idols from the entire land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities he had seized in the Ephraimite hill country. He repaired the altar of the Lord in front of the porch of the Lord’s temple.


He assembled all Judah and Benjamin, as well as the settlers from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who had come to live with them. Many people from Israel had come there to live when they saw that the Lord his God was with him.


They assembled in Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign.


At that time they sacrificed to the Lord some of the plunder they had brought back, including 700 head of cattle and 7,000 sheep.


They solemnly agreed to seek the Lord God of their ancestors with their whole heart and being.


Anyone who would not seek the Lord God of Israel would be executed, whether they were young or old, male or female.


They swore their allegiance to the Lord, shouting their approval loudly and sounding trumpets and horns.


All Judah was happy about the oath, because they made the vow with their whole heart. They willingly sought the Lord and he responded to them. He made them secure on every side.


King Asa also removed Maacah his grandmother from her position as queen mother because she had made a loathsome Asherah pole. Asa cut down her Asherah pole and crushed and burned it in the Kidron Valley.


The high places were not eliminated from Israel, yet Asa was wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord throughout his lifetime.


He brought the holy items that his father and he had made into God’s temple, including the silver, gold, and other articles.


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


In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, King Baasha of Israel attacked Judah, and he established Ramah as a military outpost to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the land of King Asa of Judah.


Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and of the royal palace and sent it to King Ben Hadad of Syria, ruler in Damascus, along with this message:


“I want to make a treaty with you, like the one our fathers made. See, I have sent you silver and gold. Break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel, so he will retreat from my land.”


Ben Hadad accepted King Asa’s offer and ordered his army commanders to attack the cities of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali.


When Baasha heard the news, he stopped fortifying Ramah and abandoned the project.


King Asa ordered all the men of Judah to carry away the stones and wood that Baasha had used to build Ramah. He used the materials to build up Geba and Mizpah.


At that time Hanani the prophet visited King Asa of Judah and said to him: “Because you relied on the king of Syria and did not rely on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand.


Did not the Cushites and Libyans have a huge army with chariots and a very large number of horsemen? But when you relied on the Lord, he handed them over to you!


Certainly the Lord watches the whole earth carefully and is ready to strengthen those who are devoted to him. You have acted foolishly in this matter; from now on you will have war.


Asa was so angry at the prophet, he put him in jail. Asa also oppressed some of the people at that time.


The events of Asa’s reign, from start to finish, are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Judah and Israel.


In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a foot disease. Though his disease was severe, he did not seek the Lord, but only the doctors.


Asa passed away in the forty-first year of his reign.


He was buried in the tomb he had carved out in the City of David. They laid him to rest on a bier covered with spices and assorted mixtures of ointments. They made a huge bonfire to honor him.


His son Jehoshaphat replaced him as king and solidified his rule over Israel.


He placed troops in all of Judah’s fortified cities and posted garrisons throughout the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had seized.


The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed in his ancestor David’s footsteps at the beginning of his reign. He did not seek the Baals,


but instead sought the God of his ancestors and obeyed his commands, unlike the Israelites.


The Lord made his kingdom secure; all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he became very wealthy and greatly respected.


He was committed to following the Lord; he even removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.


In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah.


They were accompanied by the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-Adonijah, and by the priests Elishama and Jehoram.


They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the scroll of the law of the Lord. They traveled to all the cities of Judah and taught the people.


The Lord put fear into all the kingdoms surrounding Judah; they did not make war with Jehoshaphat.


Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat tribute, including a load of silver. The Arabs brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats from their flocks.


Jehoshaphat’s power kept increasing. He built fortresses and storage cities throughout Judah.


He had many supplies stored in the cities of Judah and an army of skilled warriors stationed in Jerusalem.


These were their divisions by families: There were a thousand officers from Judah. Adnah the commander led 300,000 skilled warriors,


Jehochanan the commander led 280,000,


and Amasiah son of Zikri, who volunteered to serve the Lord, led 200,000 skilled warriors.


From Benjamin, Eliada, a skilled warrior, led 200,000 men who were equipped with bows and shields,


and Jehozabad led 180,000 trained warriors.


These were the ones who served the king, besides those whom the king placed in the fortified cities throughout Judah.


Jehoshaphat was very wealthy and greatly respected. He made an alliance by marriage with Ahab,


and after several years went down to visit Ahab in Samaria. Ahab slaughtered many sheep and cattle to honor Jehoshaphat and those who came with him. He persuaded him to join in an attack against Ramoth Gilead.


King Ahab of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to attack Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I will support you; my army is at your disposal and will support you in battle.”


Then Jehoshaphat added, “First seek an oracle from the Lord.”


So the king of Israel assembled 400 prophets and asked them, “Should we attack Ramoth Gilead or not?” They said, “Attack! God will hand it over to the king.”


But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not a prophet of the Lord still here, that we may ask him?”


The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man through whom we can seek the Lord’s will. But I despise him because he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but always disaster. His name is Micaiah son of Imlah. Jehoshaphat said, “The king should not say such things!”


The king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Quickly bring Micaiah son of Imlah.”


Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah were sitting on their respective thrones, dressed in their royal robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria. All the prophets were prophesying before them.


Zedekiah son of Kenaanah made iron horns and said, “This is what the Lord says, ‘With these you will gore Syria until they are destroyed!’”


All the prophets were prophesying the same, saying, “Attack Ramoth Gilead! You will succeed; the Lord will hand it over to the king!”


Now the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look, the prophets are in complete agreement that the king will succeed. Your words must agree with theirs; you must predict success!”


But Micaiah said, “As certainly as the Lord lives, I will say what my God tells me to say!”


Micaiah came before the king and the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we attack Ramoth Gilead or not?” He answered him, “Attack! You will succeed; they will be handed over to you.”


The king said to him, “How many times must I make you solemnly promise in the name of the Lord to tell me only the truth?”


Micaiah replied, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep that have no shepherd. Then the Lord said, ‘They have no master. They should go home in peace.’”


The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but disaster?”


Micaiah said, “That being the case, hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, with all the heavenly assembly standing on his right and on his left.


The Lord said, ‘Who will deceive King Ahab of Israel, so he will attack Ramoth Gilead and die there?’ One said this and another that.


Then a spirit stepped forward and stood before the Lord. He said, ‘I will deceive him.’ The Lord asked him, ‘How?’


He replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ The Lord said, ‘Deceive and overpower him. Go out and do as you have proposed.’


So now, look, the Lord has placed a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours; but the Lord has decreed disaster for you.”


Zedekiah son of Kenaanah approached, hit Micaiah on the jaw, and said, “Which way did the Lord’s spirit go when he went from me to speak to you?”


Micaiah replied, “Look, you will see in the day when you go into an inner room to hide.”


Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the city official and Joash the king’s son.


Say, ‘This is what the king says: “Put this man in prison. Give him only a little bread and water until I return safely.”’”


Micaiah said, “If you really do return safely, then the Lord has not spoken through me!” Then he added, “Take note, all you people.”


The king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah attacked Ramoth Gilead.


The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and then enter the battle; but you wear your royal attire.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and they entered the battle.


Now the king of Syria had ordered his chariot commanders, “Do not fight common soldiers or high ranking officers; fight only the king of Israel!”


When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “He must be the king of Israel!” So they turned and attacked him, but Jehoshaphat cried out. The Lord helped him; God lured them away from him.


When the chariot commanders realized he was not the king of Israel, they turned away from him.


Now an archer shot an arrow at random and it struck the king of Israel between the plates of his armor. The king ordered his charioteer, “Turn around and take me from the battle line, for I am wounded.”


While the battle raged throughout the day, the king stood propped up in his chariot opposite the Syrians. He died in the evening as the sun was setting.


When King Jehoshaphat of Judah returned home safely to Jerusalem,


the prophet Jehu son of Hanani confronted him; he said to King Jehoshaphat, “Is it right to help the wicked and be an ally of those who oppose the Lord? Because you have done this the Lord is angry with you!


Nevertheless you have done some good things; you removed the Asherah poles from the land and you were determined to follow the Lord.”


Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem. He went out among the people from Beer Sheba to the hill country of Ephraim and encouraged them to follow the Lord God of their ancestors.


He appointed judges throughout the land and in each of the fortified cities of Judah.


He told the judges, “Be careful what you do, for you are not judging for men, but for the Lord, who will be with you when you make judicial decisions.


Respect the Lord and make careful decisions, for the Lord our God disapproves of injustice, partiality, and bribery.”


In Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed some Levites, priests, and Israelite family leaders to judge on behalf of the Lord and to settle disputes among the residents of Jerusalem.


He commanded them: “Carry out your duties with respect for the Lord, with honesty, and with pure motives.


Whenever your countrymen who live in the cities bring a case before you (whether it involves a violent crime or other matters related to the law, commandments, rules, and regulations), warn them that they must not sin against the Lord. If you fail to do so, God will be angry with you and your colleagues; but if you obey, you will be free of guilt.


You will report to Amariah the chief priest in all matters pertaining to the Lord’s law, and to Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the family of Judah, in all matters pertaining to the king. The Levites will serve as officials before you. Confidently carry out your duties! May the Lord be with those who do well!”


Later the Moabites and Ammonites, along with some of the Meunites, attacked Jehoshaphat.


Messengers arrived and reported to Jehoshaphat, “A huge army is attacking you from the other side of the Dead Sea, from the direction of Edom. Look, they are in Hazezon Tamar (that is, En Gedi).”


Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he decided to seek the Lord’s advice. He decreed that all Judah should observe a fast.


The people of Judah assembled to ask for the Lord’s help; they came from all the cities of Judah to ask for the Lord’s help.


Jehoshaphat stood before the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the Lord’s temple, in front of the new courtyard.


He prayed: “O Lord God of our ancestors, you are the God who lives in heaven and rules over all the kingdoms of the nations. You possess strength and power; no one can stand against you.


Our God, you drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and gave it as a permanent possession to the descendants of your friend Abraham.


They settled down in it and built in it a temple to honor you, saying,


‘If disaster comes on us in the form of military attack, judgment, plague, or famine, we will stand in front of this temple before you, for you are present in this temple. We will cry out to you for help in our distress, so that you will hear and deliver us.’


Now the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir are coming! When Israel came from the land of Egypt, you did not allow them to invade these lands. They bypassed them and did not destroy them.


Look how they are repaying us! They come to drive us out of our allotted land which you assigned to us!


Our God, will you not judge them? For we are powerless against this huge army that attacks us! We don’t know what we should do; we look to you for help.”


All the men of Judah were standing before the Lord, along with their infants, wives, and children.


Then in the midst of the assembly, the Lord’s Spirit came upon Jachaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph.


He said: “Pay attention, all you people of Judah, residents of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Don’t be afraid and don’t panic because of this huge army! For the battle is not yours, but God’s.


Tomorrow march down against them as they come up the Ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the ravine in front of the Desert of Jeruel.


You will not fight in this battle. Take your positions, stand, and watch the Lord deliver you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Don’t be afraid and don’t panic! Tomorrow march out toward them; the Lord is with you!’”


Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face toward the ground, and all the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord and worshiped him.


Then some Levites, from the Kohathites and Korahites, got up and loudly praised the Lord God of Israel.


Early the next morning they marched out to the Desert of Tekoa. When they were ready to march, Jehoshaphat stood up and said: “Listen to me, you people of Judah and residents of Jerusalem! Trust in the Lord your God and you will be safe! Trust in the message of his prophets and you will win.”


He met with the people and appointed musicians to play before the Lord and praise his majestic splendor. As they marched ahead of the warriors they said: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his loyal love endures.”


When they began to shout and praise, the Lord suddenly attacked the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.


The Ammonites and Moabites attacked the men from Mount Seir and annihilated them. When they had finished off the men of Seir, they attacked and destroyed one another.


When the men of Judah arrived at the observation post overlooking the desert and looked at the huge army, they saw dead bodies on the ground; there were no survivors!


Jehoshaphat and his men went to gather the plunder; they found a huge amount of supplies, clothing and valuable items. They carried away everything they could. There was so much plunder, it took them three days to haul it off.


On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah, where they praised the Lord. So that place is called the Valley of Berachah to this very day.


Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem with Jehoshaphat leading them; the Lord had given them reason to rejoice over their enemies.


They entered Jerusalem to the sound of stringed instruments and trumpets and proceeded to the temple of the Lord.


All the kingdoms of the surrounding lands were afraid of God when they heard how the Lord had fought against Israel’s enemies.


Jehoshaphat’s kingdom enjoyed peace; his God made him secure on every side.


Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king and he reigned for twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.


He followed in his father Asa’s footsteps and was careful to do what the Lord approved.


However, the high places were not eliminated; the people were still not devoted to the God of their ancestors.


The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, from start to finish, are recorded in the Annals of Jehu son of Hanani which are included in Scroll of the Kings of Israel.


Later King Jehoshaphat of Judah made an alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, who did evil.


They agreed to make large seagoing merchant ships; they built the ships in Ezion Geber.


Eliezer son of Dodavahu from Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, “Because you made an alliance with Ahaziah, the Lord will shatter what you have made.” The ships were wrecked and unable to go to sea.


Jehoshaphat passed away and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. His son Jehoram replaced him as king.


His brothers, Jehoshaphat’s sons, were Azariah, Jechiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael, and Shephatiah. All of these were sons of King Jehoshaphat of Israel.


Their father gave them many presents, including silver, gold, and other precious items, along with fortified cities in Judah. But he gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the firstborn.


Jehoram took control of his father’s kingdom and became powerful. Then he killed all his brothers, as well as some of the officials of Israel.


Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king and he reigned for eight years in Jerusalem.


He followed in the footsteps of the kings of Israel, just as Ahab’s dynasty had done, for he married Ahab’s daughter. He did evil in the sight of the Lord.


But the Lord was unwilling to destroy David’s dynasty because of the promise he had made to give David a perpetual dynasty.


During Jehoram’s reign Edom freed themselves from Judah’s control and set up their own king.


Jehoram crossed over to Zair with his officers and all his chariots. The Edomites, who had surrounded him, attacked at night and defeated him and his chariot officers.


So Edom has remained free from Judah’s control to this very day. At that same time Libnah also rebelled and freed themselves from Judah’s control because Jehoram rejected the Lord God of his ancestors.


He also built high places on the hills of Judah; he encouraged the residents of Jerusalem to be unfaithful to the Lord and led Judah away from the Lord.


Jehoram received this letter from Elijah the prophet: “This is what the Lord God of your ancestor David says: ‘You have not followed in the footsteps of your father Jehoshaphat and of King Asa of Judah,


but have instead followed in the footsteps of the kings of Israel. You encouraged the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem to be unfaithful to the Lord, just as the family of Ahab does in Israel. You also killed your brothers, members of your father’s family, who were better than you.


So look, the Lord is about to severely afflict your people, your sons, your wives, and all you own.


And you will get a serious, chronic intestinal disease which will cause your intestines to come out.”


The Lord stirred up against Jehoram the Philistines and the Arabs who lived beside the Cushites.


They attacked Judah and swept through it. They carried off everything they found in the royal palace, including his sons and wives. None of his sons was left, except for his youngest, Ahaziah.


After all this happened, the Lord afflicted him with an incurable intestinal disease.


After about two years his intestines came out because of the disease, so that he died a very painful death. His people did not make a bonfire to honor him, as they had done for his ancestors.


Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. No one regretted his death; he was buried in the City of David, but not in the royal tombs.


The residents of Jerusalem made his youngest son Ahaziah king in his place, for the raiding party that invaded the city with the Arabs had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram became king of Judah.


Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king and he reigned for one year in Jerusalem. His mother was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri.


He followed in the footsteps of Ahab’s dynasty, for his mother gave him evil advice.


He did evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab’s dynasty because, after his father’s death, they gave him advice that led to his destruction.


He followed their advice and joined Ahab’s son King Joram of Israel in a battle against King Hazael of Syria at Ramoth Gilead in which the Syrians defeated Joram.