Israel revolteth II. CHRONICLES. kings, from the river even unto the and of the Philistines, and to the bor der of Egypt. 27 And the king made silver in Jerusalem as stoncs, and cedar-trees made he as the sycamore-trees that are in the low plains in abundance. against Rehoboam. swer to this people, which bavespoken to me,saying,Lase somewhat the yoke. that thy father did put upon us? 10 And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, 28 And they brought unto Solomon Thy father made our yoke heavy, bút horses out of Egypt, and out of all make thou it somewhat lighter for us; lands. thus shalt thou say unto them, My lit29 T Now the rest of the acts of Sol-tle finger shall be thicker than my faomon, first and last, are they not writ- ther's loins. ten in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat? 30 And Solomon reigned inJerusalem over all Israel forty years. 31 And Solomon slept with his fathers,and he was buried in the city of David his father; and Rehoboam his sou reigned in his stead. CHAP. X. 11 For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. 12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day. 13 And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men, ND Rehoboam went to Shechem: 14 And answered them after the ad AND. went to all Israel vice of the young men, saying, My fa come to make him king. ther made your yoke heavy, but I will 2 And it came to pass, when Jerobo-jada thereto: my father chastised you un the son of Nebat, who was in with whips, but I will chastise you Egypt, whither he had fled from the with scorpions. presence of Solomon the king,heard it, that Jeroboain returned out of Egypt. 3 And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying, 15 So the king bearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the Lono might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Abijali the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of 4 Thy father made our yoke griev-Nebat. ous: now therefore ease thou some- 16 T And when all Israel saw that what the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee. 5 And he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed. 6¶ And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people? the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jeese: every man to your tents, O 1srael: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents. 17 But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 18 Then king Rehoboam sent Hado ram, that was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. 7 And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them,and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever. 8 But lie forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took couneel with the young men that were 19 And Israel rebelled against the brought up with him, that stood before house of David unto this day. him. CHAP. XI. 9. And he said unto them, What ad AND when Rehoboam was come to vice give ye that we may return an hoboam's strength, CHAP. XII. wwes, and children. of Judah and Benjamim a hun-[of David, to wife, and Abihail, the and fourscore thousand chosen daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse: which were warriors, to fight 19 Which bare him children; Jeush, again Israel, that he might bring the and Shamariah, and Zaham. kingdom again to Rehoboam. 20 And after her he took Maachah, the daughter of Absalom ; which bare him Abijab, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. Butthe word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 3 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Is- 21 And Rehoboam loved Maachal rael in Judah and Benjamin, saying, the daughter of Absalom above all his 4 Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not wives and his concubines; (for be took go up, no fight against your brethren: eighteen wives, and threescore concureturn every man to his house for bines; and begat twenty and eight this thing is done of me. And they sons, and threescore daughters.) obeyed the words of the LORD, and 22 And Rehoboam made Abijah the returned from going against Jeroboam. son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler 5 T And Rehoboam dwelt in Jeru-among his brethren: for he thought to salem, and built cities for defence in inake him king. 23 And he dealt wisely,and dispersed Judali, 6 He built even Beth-lchem, and of all his children throughout all the Etam, and Tekoa, countries of Judah and Benjamin,unto 7And Beth-zur,andShocho,and Adul-Jevery fenced city; and be gave them lam, victual in abundance; and he desired S And Gath,and Mareshah, and Ziph, many wives. 9 And Adoram, and Lachish, and CHAP. XII. ND it came to pass, when Relio zekani Zorab,and Ayalon, and Heb-Abam had established the King ron, which are in Judah and in Benja-dom,and had strengthened himself, he min, fenced cities. forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with hùn 11 And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and stores of victual, and of oil and wine. | 2 And it came to pass,that in the fifth yearof king Rehoboam, Shishak, king of Egypt, came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against 22 And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong,having Judah and Ben-the LORD, jamin on his side. 3 With twelve hundred chariots and 13 And the priests and the Levites threescore thousand borsemen; and that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts. the people were without number that bims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopicame with him out of Egypt; the Lu 14 For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Ju-ans. dah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and 4 And he took the fenced cities which his sons had cast them off from exe-pertained to Judah, and came to Jerucuting thepriest's office unto the LORD: salem. 15 And he ordained him priests, for 5 ¶ Then came Shemaiah the prophthe high places, and for the devils, and jet to Rehoboam, and to the princes of for the calves which he had made. 16 Aud after them, out of all the tribes of Israel,such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel, came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the Lond God of their fathers. 17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah,and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon. Judah that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Ye bave forsaken me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak. and the king humbled themselves; and 6 Whereupon the princes of Israel they said, The LORD is righteous. 7 And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah,saying,They 18T And Rehoboam took him Maha-have humbled themselves ; therefore 1 lath, the daughter of Jerimoth the son will not destroy them, but I will grant Abijah makes war 11. CHRONICLES. against Jerobo them some deliverance ; and iny wrath, with an army of valiant men of shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem even four hundred thousand c by the hand of Sbisbak. men : Jeroboam also set the ba 8 Nevertheless they shall be his ser array against him with eight h vants; that they may know myservice,|thousand chosen men, being and the service of the kingdoms of men of valour. the countries. 4 ¶ And Abijah stood up upon mount 9 So Shishak king of Egypt came up Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephra against Jerusalem, and took away the im,and said,Hear me, thou Jeroboam treasures of the house of the LORD,and and all Israel; the treasures of the king's house; he took all he carried away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made. 10 Instead of which king Rehoboam made shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard, that kept the entrance of the king's house. 5 Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt ? 6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and hath rebelled against his LORD. 7 And there are gathered unto him 11 And when the king entered into vain men, the children of Belial, and the house of the LORD,the guard came have strengthened themselves against and fetched them, and brought them|Rehoboam the son of Solomon, wheo again into the guard-chamber. Rehoboam was young and tender bearted, and could not withstand them 12 And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from 8 And now ye think to withstand the him, that he would not destroy him kingdom of the LonD in the hand of altogether: and also in Judah things the sons of David ; and ye be a great went well. multitude,and there are with you gold13 So king Rehoboam strengthened en calves, which Jeroboam made you himself in Jerusalem, and reigned; for for gode. Rehoboam was one and forty years old 9Have ye not cast out the priests of when he began to reign, and he reign the LoRt, the sons of Aaron, and the ed seventeen years in Jerusalim, the Levites, and have made you priests af city which the Lond had chose out of ter the manuer of the nations of other all the tribes of Israel, to put in • name}lands ? so that whosoever cometh to there and his mother's naine uc Na-consecrate himself with a young : amah an Ammonitess. Jock and seven rams, the same may be bul 14 And he did evil, because he pre-a priest of them that are no gods. pared not his heart to seek the loud. 10 But as for us, the LORD is our God, and 15 Now the acts of Rehoboa n, first and we have not forsaken him; and last, are they not written in the the priests, which minister unto the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and (Loxo, are the sona of Aaron, and the Iddo the seer concerning genealogie..?|Levites wait upon their business : And there were wars between Reho- 11 And they burn unto the LORD, boam and Jeroboam continually. every morning and every evening, 16 And Rehoboam slept with his fa-burnt-sacrifices and sweet incense:the thers,and was buried in the city of Da-show-bread also set they in order upon vid; and Abijah his son reigned in his the pure table; and the candlestick of slead. gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the charge OW in the eighteenth year of king of the Lord our God; but ye have Jeroboam began Abijah to reign forsaken him. over Judah. CHAP. XIII. 12 And, behold, God himself is with 2 He reigned three years in Jerusa- us for our captain, and his priests with lem; his mother's name was Mi-sounding trumpets to cryalarm against chaiah, the daughter of Uriel of Gib-you. O children of Israel, fight ye not eali. And there was war between against the Lord God of your fathers; Abijah and Jeroboam. for ye shall not prosper. 3 And Abijab set the battle in arravi 13 T But Jeroboam caused an am Ba destroyeth CHAP. XIV, XV idolatry bushment to come about behind them:1 6 T And he built fenced cities in Juso they were before Judali, and the dab: for the land had rest, and he had Ambushment was behind them. no wars in those years; because the 14 And when Judah looked back, be LORD had given him rest. hold, the battle was before and behind:] 7 Therefore he said unto Judab, Let and they cried unto the LORD, and the us build these cities, and make about priests sounded with the trumpets. them walls and towers, gates and bars, 15 Then the men of Judah gave a while the land is yet before us; beshout and as the men of Judah shout-| cause we have sought the LORD our ed, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judalı. 16 And the children of Israel fed before Judah and God delivered them into their hand. 17 And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men. 18 Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the LORD God of their fathers. 19 And Abijah pursued after Jerobo am, and took cities from him, Beth-el with the towns thereof,and Jeshanah with the towns thereof, and Ephraim with the towns thereof. 20 Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and the LORD struck him, and he died. 21 T But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sous, and sixteen daughters. 22 And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings,are writ ten in the story of the prophet Iddo. CHAP. XIV. O Abijah slept with his fathers,and vid; and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years. 2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God: 3 For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves; 4 And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to God; we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side: so they built and prospered. 8 T And Aså had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand, and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valour. 9 And there came out against them Zeral the Ethiopian, with a host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah. 10 Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshab, 11 And Asa cried unto the LonD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Load our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lond, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee. 12 So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopeans fled. 13 And Åsa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar; and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that theycould not recover themselves; LORD, and before his host: and they carried away very much spoil. 14 And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them; and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding mach spoil in them. 15 They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance,and returned to Jerusalem. CHAP. XV. keep the law and the commandment. AND the spirit of God came upon 5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the Images: and the kingdom was quiet before him. Azariah the son of Oded: 2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The Lond is with you, while ye be with him; Ramah's building II CHRONICLES. prevented. and if ye seek lum he will be found the LORD gave them rest round about. of you; but if ye forsake him, he will 16 T And also concerring Maachah forgake you. the mother of Asa the king, he remov3. Now for a long season Israel hathfed her from being queen, because she been without the true God, and with- bad made an idol in a grove: and out a teaching priest, and without law. Asa cut down her idol, and stamped 4 But when they in their trouble did it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron. turn unto the LORD God oflsrael, and 17 But the high places were not taken ɛought him, he was found of them. away out of Israel; nevertheless the 5 And in those times there was no heart of Asa was perfect all his days. peace to him that went out, nor to bin 18 ¶ And he brought into the house of that came in, but great vexations were God the things that his father had ded upon all the inhabitants of the coun-icated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels. 19 And there was no more war unto the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa trics. 6And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city; for God did vex them with all adversity. 7 Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak : for your work shall be rewarded. STAnd when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the Lond, that was before the porch of the LORD. CHAP. XVI. the six and thirtieth year of the N reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah & built Ramali, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judali. 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 Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, 9 And he gathered all Judah and Ben- 3 There is a league between me and jamin, and the strangers with them thee, as there was between my father out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and and thy father: behold, I have sent out of Simeon for they fell to him thee silver and gold; go, break thy out of Israel in abundance, when they league with Baasha king of Israel, saw that the LORD his God was with that he may depart from me. 4 And Ben-hadad hearkened unto bim. 10 So they gathered themselves to-king Asa, and sent the captains of his gether at Jerusalem in the third month, armies against the cities of Israel ; and the fifteenth year of the reign of they smote Ijon, and Dan, and AbelAsa. maim, and all the store-cities of Naphtali. 11 And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep. 12 And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul; 5 And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramath, and let his work cease. 6 Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramalı,and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and be built therewith Geba and Mizpah. 7 T And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on 14 And they sware unto the LORD the king of Syria, and not relied on the with a loud voice, and with shouting, LORD thy God, therefore is the host of and with trumpets, and with cornets. the king of Syria escaped out of thy 15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: hand. 13 That whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. for they had sworn with all their heart, 8 Were not the Ethiopians and the and sought him with their whole de-Lubims a huge host, with very many sire; and he was found of thein: and chariots and horsemen? yet, because |