His father had never at any time reprimanded him by asking, “Why have you done thus and so?” He was also a very handsome man, and he was born next after Absalom.

David’s Instruction to Solomon

When David’s time to die drew near, he charged his son Solomon, saying:

“Moreover, you know also what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether, whom he murdered, retaliating in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war and putting innocent blood on the belt around my waist and on the sandals on my feet.

The time that David reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.

The king said to the priest Abiathar, “Go to Anathoth, to your estate, for you deserve death. But I will not at this time put you to death because you carried the ark of the Lord God before my father David and because you shared in all the hardships my father endured.”

So Solomon held the festival at that time and all Israel with him—a great assembly, people from Lebo-hamath to the Wadi of Egypt—before the Lord our God, seven days.

the Lord appeared to Solomon a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon.

The Lord said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your plea that you made before me; I have consecrated this house that you have built and put my name there forever; my eyes and my heart will be there for all time.

Three times a year Solomon used to offer up burnt offerings and sacrifices of well-being on the altar that he built for the Lord, offering incense before the Lord. So he completed the house.

but Hadad fled to Egypt with some Edomites who were servants of his father. He was a young boy at that time.

About that time, when Jeroboam was leaving Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the road. Ahijah had clothed himself with a new garment. The two of them were alone in the open country

The time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.

Judgment on the House of Jeroboam

At that time Abijah son of Jeroboam fell sick.

The time that Jeroboam reigned was twenty-two years; then he slept with his ancestors, and his son Nadab succeeded him.

Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, let this child’s life come into him again.”

As midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice, no answer, and no response.

Then he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time. Again he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time,

At the time of the offering of the oblation, the prophet Elijah came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your bidding.

He said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” He went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” Then he said, “Go again seven times.”

At the seventh time he said, “Look, a little cloud no bigger than a person’s hand is rising out of the sea.” Then he said, “Go say to Ahab, ‘Harness your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”

Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.”

The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.”

now I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house and the houses of your servants and lay hands on whatever pleases them and take it away.”

But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?”