day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in Before 992. 8 Blessed be the LORD thy God, who delighted in thee to set thee on his throne, to be king for the LORD thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them the feast of unleavened bread, and in the Ex. 29. 38. for ever, therefore he made thee king feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles. dEx. 23. 14. e Deut. 16. 16. 1 Chr. 24.1. 1 Chr.9.17. over them, to do judgment and justice. 14 ¶ And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required: the .porters also by their courses at every gate: for 3 so had David the man of God commanded. 15 And they departed not from the commandment of the king to the priests David the trees 45 terraces to the house of the LORD, and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures. 3 10 And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, who brought Heb. so gold from Ophir, brought algum trees was the and precious stones. command ment of man of Deut. 2. 8. 11 And the king made of the algum and to the king's palace, and harps and psalteries for singers: and there were none such seen before in the land of Ju 16 Now all the work of Solomon was prepared to the day of the foundation of 4 or, Elath, dah. the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was perfected. 17 Then went Solomon to Eziongeber, and to 4 Eloth, at the sea side in the land of Edom. a1 Kings Mat. 12. 42. 31. 3 And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the hands. house that he had built, 4 And the provisions of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the at-8 Heb. tendance of his ministers, and their ap- shut up. parel; his 1 cup-bearers also, and their apparel; and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her. 5 And she said to the king, It was a true 2 report which I heard in my own land of thy 3 acts, and of thy wisdom: 12 And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, besides that which she had brought to the king. So she turned, and went away to her own land, she and her servants. 13 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and sixty and six talents of gold; 14 Besides that which chapmen and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and 6 governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon. 15 And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one target. 16 And three hundred shields made he of beaten gold: three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield. And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. 17¶ Moreover, the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold. 18 And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and 7 stays on each side of the sitting-place, and two lions standing by the stays: 19 And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps. There was not the like made in any kingdom. 20 ¶ And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of 8 pure gold: none were of silver; it was not any thing accounted of in the days of Solomon. 21 For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: once every three years came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. 22 And king Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. 23 ¶ And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart. 24 And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, harness, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year. 25 ¶ And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen; whom he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. 26 And he reigned over all the kings from 11 the river even to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. 27 And the king 12 made silver in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar trees he made as the sycamore trees that are in the low plains in abundance. 28 And they brought to Solomon horses from Egypt, and from all lands. 29 Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the 13 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 in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. Before CHRIST, 975. ing, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father put upon us? 10 And the young men that were brought up with him, spoke to him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people 1 Kings 4. that spoke to thee, saying, Thy father 26. made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou Gen. 15. 18. say to them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. 11 That is, Euphrates. 12 Heb. gave d1 Kings 10. 28. c. 1. 16. • 1 Kings 11. 41. 13 Heb. words. 31 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son f c. 12. 15. reigned in his stead. CHAP. X. 1 The Israelites, assembled at Shechem to crown Rehoboam, by Jeroboam petition for an alleviation of their burdens. 6 Rehoboam refusing the old men's counsel, by the advice of young men, answereth them roughly. 16 Ten tribes revolting, kill Hadoram, aud make Rehoboam to flee. ND a Rehoboam went to Shechem: A or to hechem had all Israel come to make him king. a 1 Kings 12. 1, &c. laded. 2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam 1 Heb. the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard it, that Jeroboam returned from Egypt. 3 And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 4 Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the greivous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee. 5 And he said to them, Come again to me after three days. And the people departed. 61 Kings 11. 29. 6 And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before 2 Heb. strength 11 For whereas my father 1 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 directed, 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, 14 And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. 15 So the king hearkened not to the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spoke by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 16 And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken to them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have no inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thy 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 Hadoram that was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. But king Rehoboam 2 made speed to get into his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. 19 And Israel rebelled against the house of David to this day. CHAP. XI. 1 Rehoboam raising an army to subdue Israel, is forbidden by Shemaiah: 5 He strength eneth his kingdom with forts and provision. 13 The priests and Levites, and such as feared God, forsaken by Jeroboam, strengthen the kingdom of Judah. 18 The wives and children of Rehoboam. Solomon his father while he yet lived, ened him- AND 4 when Rehoboam had come to saying, What counsel give ye me to re-self. turn answer to this people? 7 And they spoke to him, saying, If thou wilt be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants forever. 8 But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel 1 Kings 12. with the young men that were brought 21, &c. up with him, that stood before him. 9 And he said to them, What advice give ye, that we may return answer to this people, who have spoken to me, say Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam. 2 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 3 Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, 4 Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: 10 And Zorah, and Ajalon, and He- c. 13. 9. bron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin, fortified cities. 11 And he fortified the strong holds, 2 or, deand put captains in them, and store of provisions, and of oil and wine. mons. 12 And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them ex- 1 Kings ceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side. 13 ¶ And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him from all their borders. 14 For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office to the LORD: 15 And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the 2 devils, and for the calves which he had made. 16 And 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 to the LORD 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. 15. 2. 3 Heb. multitude of wives. a 1 Kings 14. 24. 25. 1 or, a little while. 18 ¶ And Rehoboam took to himself Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David for a wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse; 19 Who bore him children, Jeush, and c. 9. 15. Shamariah, and Zaham. Maachah 20 And after her he took the daughter of Absalom; who bore him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. 21 And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and sixty concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and sixty daughters.) 22 And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king. 23 And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the 2 or, and yet in Judah there were good things. 1 Kings 14. 21. at the preaching of Shemaiah, are delivered from destruction, but not from spoil. 15 The reign and death of Rehoboam. AND it came to pass. when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him. 2 And it came to pass, that in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the LORD, 3 With twelve hundred chariots, and sixty thousand horsemen: and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt; the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Cushites. 4 And he took the fortified cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem. 5 Then came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, that were assembled at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, Thus saith the LORD, Ye have forsaken me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak. 6 Upon which the princes of Israel, and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD is righteous. And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them 1 some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. 8 Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries. 9 So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and 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. 11 And when the king entered into the house of the LORD, the guard came and conveyed them, and brought them again into the guard-chamber. 12 And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, that he would not destroy him altogether: 2 and also in Judah things went well. 13 ¶ So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city countries of Judah and Benjamin, to 3 or, fixed. which the LORD had chosen out of all every fortified city: and he gave them provisions in abundance. And he desired 3 many wives. CHAP. XII. 1 Rehoboam, forsaking the Lord, is punished by Shishak. 5 He and the princes repenting the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess. 14 And he did evil, because he 3 prepared not his heart to seek the LORD. 15 Now the acts of Rehoboam, first chaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. 1 Kings And there was war between Abijah and 12. 28. Jeroboam. to fill his 3 And Abijah 'set the battle in array & c. 11. 14. with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: Jeroboam also set the battle in array 2 Heb. against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, being mighty men of valor. 4 And Abijah stood upon mount Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel; 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, hath risen up, and hath & rebelled against his lord. 7 And there are gathered to him vain men, the children of Belial, and they have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tender-hearted, and could not withstand them. hand. c. 2. 4. 3 or, com- 8 And now ye think to withstand the c. 12. 15. kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David; and ye are a great multitude, and there are with you golden calves, which Jeroboam made you for gods. a1 Kings 15. 8, &c. 9 Have ye not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levite, and have made for you priests after the manner of the nations of other lands? so that whoever cometh 2 to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest 1 or, of them that are no gods. foreign. 10 But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him; and the priests, who minister to the LORD, are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait 2 Heb. upon their business: statues. 11 And they burn to the LORD every morning and every evening burnt-sacrifices and sweet incense: the show-bread also they set in order upon the pure table; and the candlestick of gold with its lamps to burn every evening: for we 3 Heb. sun keep the charge of the LORD our God; images. but ye have forsaken him.. 12 And behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against the LORD God of your fathers; for ye will not prosper. 13 But Jeroboam caused an ambush to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambush was behind them. 14 And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind: and they cried to the LORD, and the priests sounded with the trumpets. 15 Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. 16 And the children of Israel fled 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 Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Beth-el with its towns, and Jeshanah with its towns, and Ephron with its towns. 20 Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and the LORD struck him, and he died. 21 ¶ But Abijah became mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters. 22 And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the 3 story of the prophet Iddo. CHAP. XIV. 1 Asa succeding, destroyeth idolatry: 6 Hav. ing peace, he strengtheneth his kingdom with forts and armies. 9 Calling on God, he overthroweth Zerah, and spoileth the Cush ites. So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years. 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 broke down the 2 images, and cut down the groves: 4 And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. 5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the 3 images: and the kingdom was quiet before him. 6 T And he built fortified cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the LORD had given him rest. 7 Therefore he said to Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; because wel have sought the LORD our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built, and prospered. Before 951. 8 And Asa had an army of men that bore targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bore shields and drew c. 16. 8. bows, two hundred and eighty thousand: all these were mighty men of valor.. 14. 6. 9 And there came out against 1 Sam. them Zerah the Cushite, with a host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came to Mareshah. 8 And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD. 9 And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they resorted to him out of Israel in multitudes, when they saw that 10 Then Asa went out against him, 4 or, mortal the LORD his God was with him. and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathath at Mareshah. mun. broken. 11 And Asa cried to the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee 5 Heb. to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. 1 Heb. beO LORD, thou art our God; let not 4 man fore Asa. prevail against thee. 12 So the LORD Smote the Cushites before Asa, and before Judah; and the Cushites fled. 13 And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them to Gerar: and the Cushites were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were 5 destroyed before the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil. 2 Heb. beaten in 14 And they smote all the cities about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they plundered all the 3 Heb. cities; for there was exceeding much 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. abomina- 4 Heb. in 10 So they assembled at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. 11 And they offered to the LORD 4 at 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; 13 That whoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. 14 And they swore to 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 with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found by them: and the LORD gave them rest on all sides. 16 And also concerning & Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an 5 idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron. 17 But the high places were not taken 1 Asa with Judah and many of Israel, mored by the prophecy of Azariah the son of Oded, a Deut. 13. 9. away out of Israel: nevertheless the make a solemn covenant with God: 16 He putteth down Maachah his mother for her idolatry: 18 He bringeth dedicated things into the house of God, and enjoyeth a long peace. 1 Kings of came upon Azariah the son of Oded: 2 And he went out to 1 meet Asa, and said to him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye are 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 true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law. 4 But when they in their trouble returned to the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them." 5 And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries. 6 And nation was 2 destroyed by nation, and city by city: for God troubled them with all adversity. 7 Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak; for your work shall be rewarded. 15. 13. 5 Heb. • From the rending of tribes from king. c 1 Kings 1 Heb. N the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 2 Then Asa brought 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 1 Damascus, saying, 3 There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver |