Historical
15 2 The exhortation of Azariah. 8 Asa purgeth his country of idolatry. 11 He sacrificeth with the people. 14 They swear together to serve the Lord. 16 He deposeth his mother for her idolatry.
1 Then the Spirit of God came upon [a]Azariah the son of Obed.
2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, O Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin, hear ye me, The Lord is with you, while ye be with him: and if ye seek him, he will be found of you, but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.
3 Now for a long season Israel hath been without the [b]true God, and without Priest to teach, and without Law.
4 But whosoever returned in his affliction to the Lord God of Israel, and sought him, he [c]was found of him.
5 And in that time there was no peace to him, that did go out and go in: but great troubles were to all the inhabitants of the earth.
6 For nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for God troubled them with all adversity.
7 Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your [d]work shall have a reward.
8 ¶ And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Obed the Prophet, he was encouraged, and took away the abominations out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken of mount Ephraim, and he renewed the altar of the Lord, that was before the porch of the Lord.
9 And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for there fell many to him out of Israel, when they saw that the Lord his God was with him.
10 So they assembled to Jerusalem in the [e]third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.
11 And they offered unto the Lord the same time of the [f]spoil which they had brought, even seven hundred bullocks, and seven thousand sheep.
12 And they made a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers, with all their heart, and with all their soul.
13 And [g]whosoever will not seek the Lord God of Israel, shall be slain, whether he were small or great, man or woman.
14 And they sware unto the Lord with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.
15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn unto the Lord with all their heart, and sought him with a whole desire, and he was [h]found of them. And the Lord gave them rest round about.
16 ¶ And King Asa deposed (A)Maachah his [i]mother from her regency, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa brake down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.
17 But the high places were not [j]taken away out of [k]Israel: yet the heart of Asa was [l]perfect all his days.
18 Also he brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated, and that he had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels.
19 And there was no war unto the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa.
16 2 Asa for fear of Baasha king of Israel, maketh a covenant with Ben-Hadad king of Aram. 7 He is reproved by the Prophet. 10 Whom he putteth in prison. 12 He putteth his trust in the Physicians. 13 His death.
1 In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa came [m](B)Baasha king of Israel up against Judah, and built [n]Ramah, to let none pass out or go in to Asa king of Judah.
2 Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the Lord, and of the king’s house, and sent to Ben-Hadad king of Aram that dwelt at [o]Damascus, saying,
3 There is a covenant between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold: come, [p]break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.
4 And Ben-Hadad hearkened unto King Asa, and sent the captains of the army which he had, against the cities of Israel. And they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel Maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.
5 And when Baasha heard it, he left building of Ramah, and let his work cease.
6 Then Asa the king took all Judah, and carried away the stones of Ramah and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha did build, and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.
7 ¶ And at that same time Hanani the [q]Seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast rested upon the king of Aram, and not rested in the Lord thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Aram escaped out of thine hand.
8 (C)The Ethiopians and the Lubim, were they not a great host with chariots and horsemen, exceedingly many? yet because thou didst rest upon the Lord, he delivered them into thine hand.
9 For the eyes of the Lord behold all the earth, to show himself strong with them that are of perfect heart toward him: thou hast then done foolishly in this: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
10 Then Asa was wroth with the Seer, and put him into a [r]prison: for he was [s]displeased with him, because of this thing. And Asa oppressed certain of the people at the same time.
11 And behold, the acts of Asa first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.
12 ¶ And Asa in the nine and thirtieth year of his reign was [t](D)diseased in his feet, and his disease was [u][v]extreme: yet he sought not the Lord in his disease, but to the [w]Physicians.
13 So Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.
14 And they buried him in one of his sepulchers, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed, which they had filled with sweet odors and divers kinds of spices made by the art of the Apothecary: and they burnt odors for him with an exceeding great fire.
17 5 Jehoshaphat trusting in the Lord, prospereth in riches and honor. 6 He abolisheth idolatry, 7 and causeth the people to be taught. 11 He receiveth tribute of strangers. 13 His munitions, and men of war.
1 And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and prevailed against Israel.
2 And he put garrisons in all the strong cities of Judah, and set bands in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.
3 And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the [x]first ways of his father David, and sought not [y]Baalim,
4 But sought the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandment, and not after the [z]trade of Israel.
5 Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought presents to Jehoshaphat, so that he had of riches and honor in abundance.
6 And he [aa]lifted up his heart unto the ways of the Lord, and he took away moreover the high places and the groves out of Judah.
7 ¶ And in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, Ben-Hail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethanel, and Michaiah, that they should [ab]teach in the cities of Judah,
8 And with them Levites, Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, Levites, and with them Elishama and Jehoram, Priests.
9 And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the Law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.
10 And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, and they [ac]fought not against Jehoshaphat.
11 Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and tribute silver, and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.
12 So Jehoshaphat prospered and grew up on high, and he built in Judah palaces and cities of store.
13 And he had great works in the cities of Judah, and men of war, and valiant men in Jerusalem.
14 And these are the numbers of them after the house of their fathers, In Judah were captains of thousands, Adnah the captain, and [ad]with him of valiant men three hundred thousand.
15 And [ae]at his hand Jehohanan a captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand.
16 And at his hand Amasiah the son of Zichri, [af]which willingly offered himself unto the Lord, and with him two hundred thousand valiant men.
17 And of Benjamin, Eliada a valiant man, and with him armed men with bow and shield, two hundred thousand.
18 And at his hand Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and fourscore thousand armed to the war.
19 These [ag]waited on the king, besides those which the king put in the strong cities throughout all Judah.
18 1 Jehoshaphat maketh affinity with Ahab. 10 Four hundred Prophets counsel Ahab to go to war. 16 Michaiah is against them. 23 Zedekiah smiteth him. 25 The king putteth him in prison. 29 The effect of his prophecy.
1 And (E)Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, but he was joined in [ah]affinity with Ahab.
2 And after certain [ai]years he went down to Ahab to Samaria: and Ahab slew sheep and oxen for him in great number, and for the people that he had with him, and enticed him to go up unto [aj]Ramoth Gilead.
3 And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth Gilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people, and we will join with thee in the war.
4 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Ask counsel, I pray thee, at the [ak]word of the Lord this day.
5 Therefore the King of Israel gathered of [al]Prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I cease? And they said, Go up: for God shall deliver it into the king’s hand.
6 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there here never a Prophet more of the Lord that we might inquire of him?
7 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man by whom we may ask counsel of the Lord: but I [am]hate him: for he doth not prophesy good unto me, but always evil: it is Michaiah the son of Imla. Then Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say [an]so.
8 And the king of Israel called an eunuch, and said, Call quickly Michaiah the son of Imla.
9 ¶ And the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat King of Judah sat either of them on his throne clothed in their [ao]apparel: they sat even in the threshing floor at the entering in of the gate of Samaria: and all the Prophets prophesied before them.
10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him [ap]horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the Lord, With these shalt thou push the Aramites until thou hast consumed them.
11 And all the Prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up in Ramoth Gilead, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it unto the hand of the king.
12 ¶ And the messenger that went to call Michaiah, spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the Prophets declare good to the king with one [aq]accord: let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.
13 And Michaiah said, As the Lord liveth, whatsoever my God saith, that will I speak.
14 ¶ So he came to the king, and the King said unto him, Michaiah, shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I leave off? And he said, [ar]Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.
15 And the King said to him, How oft shall I charge thee, that thou tell me nothing but the truth in the Name of the Lord?
16 Then he said, I saw all Israel scattered in the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the Lord said, [as]These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.
17 And the King of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee, that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?
18 Again he said, Therefore hear ye the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sit upon his throne, and all the [at]host of heaven standing at his right hand, and at his left.
19 And the Lord said, Who shall [au]persuade Ahab King of Israel, that he may go up, and fall at Ramoth Gilead? And one spake and said thus, and another said that.
20 Then there came forth a spirit and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherein?
21 And he said, I will go out, and be a false spirit in the mouth of all his Prophets. And [av]he said, Thou shalt persuade, and shalt also prevail: go forth and do so.
22 Now therefore behold, the Lord hath put a [aw]false spirit in the mouth of these thy Prophets, and the Lord hath determined evil against thee.
23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Michaiah upon the [ax]cheek, and said, By what way went the Spirit of the Lord from me, to speak with thee?
24 And Michaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see that day when thou shalt go from chamber to chamber to hide thee.
25 And the King of Israel said, Take ye Michaiah, and carry him to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son,
26 And say, Thus saith the king, Put this man in the prison house, and feed him with bread of [ay]affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.
27 And Michaiah said, If thou return in peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me. And [az]he said, Hear, all ye people.
28 So the King of Israel and Jehoshaphat the King of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.
29 And the King of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will [ba]change myself, and enter into the battle: but put thou on thine apparel. So the king of Israel changed himself, and they went into the battle.
30 And the king of Aram had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, saying, Fight you not with small nor great, but against the king of Israel only.
31 And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, It is the king of Israel: and they compassed about him to fight. But Jehoshaphat [bb]cried, and the Lord helped him and moved them to depart from him.
32 For when the captains of the chariots saw that he was not the King of Israel, they turned back from him.
33 Then a certain man drew a bow [bc]mightily, and smote the King of Israel between the joints [bd]of his brigandine: Therefore he said to his chariotman, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host: for I am hurt.
34 And the battle increased that day: and the king of Israel [be]stood still in his chariot against the Aramites until even, and died at the time of the sun going down.
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