2Chronicles 13
13Abijah began to rule over Judah in the eighteenth year of Jeroboam's reign in Israel.H8083H6240H8141H4428H3379H29H4427H30632He reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother was Maacah, the daughter of Uriel from Gibeah. Then war broke out between Abijah and Jeroboam.H4427H7969H8141H3389H517H8034H4322H1323H222H1390H4421H29H33793Judah, led by King Abijah, fielded 400,000 select warriors, while Jeroboam mustered 800,000 select troops from Israel.H29H631H4421H631H2428H1368H4421H702H3967H505H977H376H3379H4421H6186H8083H3967H505H977H376H1368H24284When the army of Judah arrived in the hill country of Ephraim, Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim and shouted to Jeroboam and all Israel: "Listen to me!H29H6965H2022H6787H2022H669H559H8085H3379H34785Don't you realize that the LORD, the God of Israel, made a lasting covenant with David, giving him and his descendants the throne of Israel forever?H3045H3068H430H3478H5414H4467H3478H1732H5769H1121H1285H44176Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, a mere servant of David's son Solomon, rebelled against his master.H3379H1121H5028H5650H8010H1121H1732H6965H4775H1137Then a whole gang of scoundrels joined him, defying Solomon's son Rehoboam when he was young and inexperienced and could not stand up to them.H6908H7386H582H1121H1100H553H7346H1121H8010H7346H5288H7390H3824H2388H64408"Do you really think you can stand against the kingdom of the LORD that is led by the descendants of David? You may have a vast army, and you have those gold calves that Jeroboam made as your gods.H559H2388H6440H4467H3068H3027H1121H1732H7227H1995H2091H5695H3379H6213H4309But you have chased away the priests of the LORD (the descendants of Aaron) and the Levites, and you have appointed your own priests, just like the pagan nations. You let anyone become a priest these days! Whoever comes to be dedicated with a young bull and seven rams can become a priest of these so-called gods of yours!H5080H3548H3068H1121H175H3881H6213H3548H5971H776H935H4390H3027H1121H1241H6499H7651H352H3548H3808H43010"But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not abandoned him. Only the descendants of Aaron serve the LORD as priests, and the Levites alone may help them in their work.H3068H430H5800H3548H8334H3068H1121H175H3881H439911They present burnt offerings and fragrant incense to the LORD every morning and evening. They place the Bread of the Presence on the holy table, and they light the gold lampstand every evening. We are following the instructions of the LORD our God, but you have abandoned him.H6999H3068H1242H6153H5930H5561H7004H3899H4635H2889H7979H4501H2091H5216H1197H6153H8104H4931H3068H430H580012So you see, God is with us. He is our leader. His priests blow their trumpets and lead us into battle against you. O people of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed!"H430H7218H3548H8643H2689H7321H1121H3478H3898H3068H430H1H674313Meanwhile, Jeroboam had secretly sent part of his army around behind the men of Judah to ambush them.H3379H3993H935H5437H310H6440H3063H3993H31014When Judah realized that they were being attacked from the front and the rear, they cried out to the LORD for help. Then the priests blew the trumpets,H3063H6437H4421H6440H268H6817H3068H3548H2690H2690H268915and the men of Judah began to shout. At the sound of their battle cry, God defeated Jeroboam and all Israel and routed them before Abijah and the army of Judah.H376H3063H7321H376H3063H7321H430H5062H3379H3478H6440H29H306316The Israelite army fled from Judah, and God handed them over to Judah in defeat.H1121H3478H5127H6440H3063H430H5414H302717Abijah and his army inflicted heavy losses on them; 500,000 of Israel's select troops were killed that day.H29H5971H5221H7227H4347H5307H2491H3478H2568H3967H505H977H37618So Judah defeated Israel on that occasion because they trusted in the LORD, the God of their ancestors.H1121H3478H3665H6256H1121H3063H553H8172H3068H430H119Abijah and his army pursued Jeroboam's troops and captured some of his towns, including Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephron, along with their surrounding villages.H29H7291H310H3379H3920H5892H1008H1323H3466H1323H6085H132320So Jeroboam of Israel never regained his power during Abijah's lifetime, and finally the LORD struck him down and he died.H3379H6113H3581H3117H29H3068H5062H419121Meanwhile, Abijah of Judah grew more and more powerful. He married fourteen wives and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.H29H2388H5375H702H6240H802H3205H6242H8147H1121H8337H6240H132322The rest of the events of Abijah's reign, including his words and deeds, are recorded in The Commentary of Iddo the Prophet.H3499H1697H29H1870H1697H3789H4097H5030H5714
2Chronicles 14
14When Abijah died, he was buried in the City of David. Then his son Asa became the next king. There was peace in the land for ten years.H29H7901H1H6912H5892H1732H609H1121H4427H3117H776H8252H6235H81412Asa did what was pleasing and good in the sight of the LORD his God.H609H6213H2896H3477H5869H3068H4303He removed the foreign altars and the pagan shrines. He smashed the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah poles.H5493H4196H5236H1116H7665H4676H1438H8424He commanded the people of Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his law and his commands.H559H3063H1875H3068H430H1H6213H8451H46875Asa also removed the pagan shrines, as well as the incense altars from every one of Judah's towns. So Asa's kingdom enjoyed a period of peace.H5493H5892H3063H1116H2553H4467H8252H64406During those peaceful years, he was able to build up the fortified towns throughout Judah. No one tried to make war against him at this time, for the LORD was giving him rest from his enemies.H1129H4694H5892H3063H776H8252H4421H8141H3068H51177Asa told the people of Judah, "Let us build towns and fortify them with walls, towers, gates, and bars. The land is still ours because we sought the LORD our God, and he has given us peace on every side." So they went ahead with these projects and brought them to completion.H559H3063H1129H5892H5437H2346H4026H1817H1280H776H6440H1875H3068H430H1875H5117H5439H1129H67438King Asa had an army of 300,000 warriors from the tribe of Judah, armed with large shields and spears. He also had an army of 280,000 warriors from the tribe of Benjamin, armed with small shields and bows. Both armies were composed of well-trained fighting men.H609H2428H5375H6793H7420H3063H7969H3967H505H1144H5375H4043H1869H7198H3967H8084H505H1368H24289Once an Ethiopian named Zerah attacked Judah with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots. They advanced to the town of Mareshah,H3318H2226H3569H2428H505H505H7969H3967H4818H935H476210so Asa deployed his armies for battle in the valley north of Mareshah.H609H3318H6440H4421H6186H1516H6859H476211Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God, "O LORD, no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in you alone. It is in your name that we have come against this vast horde. O LORD, you are our God; do not let mere men prevail against you!"H609H7121H3068H430H559H3068H5826H996H7227H3581H5826H3068H430H8172H8034H935H1995H3068H430H582H611312So the LORD defeated the Ethiopians in the presence of Asa and the army of Judah, and the enemy fled.H3068H5062H3569H6440H609H6440H3063H3569H512713Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar, and so many Ethiopians fell that they were unable to rally. They were destroyed by the LORD and his army, and the army of Judah carried off a vast amount of plunder.H609H5971H7291H1642H3569H5307H4241H7665H6440H3068H6440H4264H5375H3966H7235H799814While they were at Gerar, they attacked all the towns in that area, and terror from the LORD came upon the people there. As a result, a vast amount of plunder was taken from these towns, too.H5221H5892H5439H1642H6343H3068H962H5892H7227H96115They also attacked the camps of herdsmen and captured many sheep, goats, and camels before finally returning to Jerusalem.H5221H168H4735H7617H6629H1581H7230H7725H3389
2Chronicles 15
15Then the Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded,H7307H430H5838H1121H57522and he went out to meet King Asa as he was returning from the battle. "Listen to me, Asa!" he shouted. "Listen, all you people of Judah and Benjamin! The LORD will stay with you as long as you stay with him! Whenever you seek him, you will find him. But if you abandon him, he will abandon you.H3318H6440H609H559H8085H609H3063H1144H3068H1875H4672H5800H58003For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach them, and without the Law to instruct them.H7227H3117H3478H3808H571H430H3384H3548H84514But whenever they were in trouble and turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him out, they found him.H6862H7725H3068H430H3478H1245H46725"During those dark times, it was not safe to travel. Problems troubled the people of every land.H6256H7965H3318H935H7227H4103H3427H7766Nation fought against nation, and city against city, for God was troubling them with every kind of problem.H1471H3807H1471H5892H5892H430H2000H68697But as for you, be strong and courageous, for your work will be rewarded."H2388H3027H7503H6468H3426H79398When Asa heard this message from Azariah the prophet, he took courage and removed all the detestable idols from the land of Judah and Benjamin and in the towns he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. And he repaired the altar of the LORD, which stood in front of the entry room of the LORD's Temple.H609H8085H1697H5016H5752H5030H2388H5674H8251H776H3063H1144H5892H3920H2022H669H2318H4196H3068H6440H197H30689Then Asa called together all the people of Judah and Benjamin, along with the people of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who had settled among them. For many from Israel had moved to Judah during Asa's reign when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.H6908H3063H1144H1481H669H4519H8095H5307H3478H7230H7200H3068H43010The people gathered at Jerusalem in late spring, during the fifteenth year of Asa's reign.H6908H3389H7992H2320H2568H6240H8141H4438H60911On that day they sacrificed to the LORD 700 cattle and 7,000 sheep and goats from the plunder they had taken in the battle.H2076H3068H3117H7998H935H7651H3967H1241H7651H505H662912Then they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul.H935H1285H1875H3068H430H1H3824H531513They agreed that anyone who refused to seek the LORD, the God of Israel, would be put to death—whether young or old, man or woman.H1875H3068H430H3478H4191H4480H6996H1419H376H80214They shouted out their oath of loyalty to the LORD with trumpets blaring and rams' horns sounding.H7650H3068H1419H6963H8643H2689H778215All in Judah were happy about this covenant, for they had entered into it with all their heart. They earnestly sought after God, and they found him. And the LORD gave them rest from their enemies on every side.H3063H8055H7621H7650H3824H1245H7522H4672H3068H5117H543916King Asa even deposed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made an obscene Asherah pole. He cut down her obscene pole, broke it up, and burned it in the Kidron Valley.H4601H517H609H4428H5493H1377H6213H4656H842H609H3772H4656H1854H8313H5158H693917Although the pagan shrines were not removed from Israel, Asa's heart remained completely faithful throughout his life.H1116H5493H3478H3824H609H8003H311718He brought into the Temple of God the silver and gold and the various items that he and his father had dedicated.H935H1004H430H1H6944H6944H3701H2091H362719So there was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa's reign.H4421H2568H7970H8141H4438H609
2Chronicles 16
16In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign, King Baasha of Israel invaded Judah and fortified Ramah in order to prevent anyone from entering or leaving King Asa's territory in Judah.H8337H7970H8141H4438H609H1201H4428H3478H5927H3063H1129H7414H1115H5414H3318H935H609H4428H30632Asa responded by removing the silver and gold from the treasuries of the Temple of the LORD and the royal palace. He sent it to King Ben-hadad of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus, along with this message.H609H3318H3701H2091H214H1004H3068H4428H1004H7971H1130H4428H758H3427H1834H5593"Let there be a treaty between you and me like the one between your father and my father. See, I am sending you silver and gold. Break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel so that he will leave me alone."H1285H1H1H7971H3701H2091H3212H6565H1285H1201H4428H3478H59274Ben-hadad agreed to King Asa's request and sent the commanders of his army to attack the towns of Israel. They conquered the towns of Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and all the store cities in Naphtali.H1130H8085H4428H609H7971H8269H2428H5892H3478H5221H5859H1835H66H4543H5892H53215As soon as Baasha of Israel heard what was happening, he abandoned his project of fortifying Ramah and stopped all work on it.H1201H8085H2308H1129H7414H4399H76736Then King Asa called out all the men of Judah to carry away the building stones and timbers that Baasha had been using to fortify Ramah. Asa used these materials to fortify the towns of Geba and Mizpah.H609H4428H3947H3063H5375H68H7414H6086H1201H1129H1129H1387H47097At that time Hanani the seer came to King Asa and told him, "Because you have put your trust in the king of Aram instead of in the LORD your God, you missed your chance to destroy the army of the king of Aram.H6256H2607H7200H935H609H4428H3063H559H8172H4428H758H8172H3068H430H2428H4428H758H4422H30278Don't you remember what happened to the Ethiopians and Libyans and their vast army, with all of their chariots and charioteers? At that time you relied on the LORD, and he handed them over to you.H3569H3864H7230H2428H3966H7235H7393H6571H8172H3068H5414H30279The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war."H5869H3068H7751H776H2388H3824H8003H5528H6258H3426H442110Asa became so angry with Hanani for saying this that he threw him into prison and put him in stocks. At that time Asa also began to oppress some of his people.H609H3707H7200H5414H4115H1004H2197H609H7533H5971H625611The rest of the events of Asa's reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.H1697H609H7223H314H3789H5612H4428H3063H347812In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a serious foot disease. Yet even with the severity of his disease, he did not seek the LORD's help but turned only to his physicians.H609H7970H8672H8141H4438H2456H7272H2483H4605H2483H1875H3068H749513So he died in the forty-first year of his reign.H609H7901H1H4191H259H705H8141H442714He was buried in the tomb he had carved out for himself in the City of David. He was laid on a bed perfumed with sweet spices and fragrant ointments, and the people built a huge funeral fire in his honor.H6912H6913H3738H5892H1732H7901H4904H4390H1314H2177H7543H4842H4639H8313H3966H1419H8316
2Chronicles 17
17Then Jehoshaphat, Asa's son, became the next king. He strengthened Judah to stand against any attack from Israel.H3092H1121H4427H2388H34782He stationed troops in all the fortified towns of Judah, and he assigned additional garrisons to the land of Judah and to the towns of Ephraim that his father, Asa, had captured.H5414H2428H1219H5892H3063H5414H5333H776H3063H5892H669H609H1H39203The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father's early years and did not worship the images of Baal.H3068H3092H1980H7223H1870H1H1732H1875H11684He sought his father's God and obeyed his commands instead of following the evil practices of the kingdom of Israel.H1875H430H1H1980H4687H4639H34785So the LORD established Jehoshaphat's control over the kingdom of Judah. All the people of Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so he became very wealthy and highly esteemed.H3068H3559H4467H3027H3063H5414H3092H4503H6239H3519H72306He was deeply committed to the ways of the LORD. He removed the pagan shrines and Asherah poles from Judah.H3820H1361H1870H3068H5493H1116H842H30637In the third year of his reign Jehoshaphat sent his officials to teach in all the towns of Judah. These officials included Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah.H7969H8141H4427H7971H8269H1134H5662H2148H5417H4322H3925H5892H30638He sent Levites along with them, including Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah. He also sent out the priests Elishama and Jehoram.H3881H8098H5418H2069H6214H8070H3083H138H2900H2899H3881H476H3088H35489They took copies of the Book of the Law of the LORD and traveled around through all the towns of Judah, teaching the people.H3925H3063H5612H8451H3068H5437H5892H3063H3925H597110Then the fear of the LORD fell over all the surrounding kingdoms so that none of them wanted to declare war on Jehoshaphat.H6343H3068H4467H776H5439H3063H3898H309211Some of the Philistines brought him gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.H6430H935H3092H4503H4853H3701H6163H935H6629H7651H505H7651H3967H352H7651H505H7651H3967H849512So Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful and built fortresses and storage cities throughout Judah.H3092H1980H1432H4605H1129H3063H1003H5892H454313He stored numerous supplies in Judah's towns and stationed an army of seasoned troops at Jerusalem.H7227H4399H5892H3063H582H4421H1368H2428H338914His army was enrolled according to ancestral clans. From Judah there were 300,000 troops organized in units of 1,000, under the command of Adnah.H6486H1004H1H3063H8269H505H5734H8269H1368H2428H7969H3967H50515Next in command was Jehohanan, who commanded 280,000 troops.H3027H3076H8269H3967H8084H50516Next was Amasiah son of Zicri, who volunteered for the LORD's service, with 200,000 troops under his command.H3027H6007H1121H2147H5068H3068H3967H505H1368H242817From Benjamin there were 200,000 troops equipped with bows and shields. They were under the command of Eliada, a veteran soldier.H1144H450H1368H2428H5401H7198H4043H3967H50518Next in command was Jehozabad, who commanded 180,000 armed men.H3027H3075H3967H8084H505H2502H663519These were the troops stationed in Jerusalem to serve the king, besides those Jehoshaphat stationed in the fortified towns throughout Judah.H8334H4428H4428H5414H4013H5892H3063
Psalm 74
74[A psalm of Asaph.] O God, why have you rejected us so long? Why is your anger so intense against the sheep of your own pasture?H4905H623H430H2186H5331H639H6225H6629H48302Remember that we are the people you chose long ago, the tribe you redeemed as your own special possession! And remember Jerusalem, your home here on earth.H2142H5712H7069H6924H7626H5159H1350H2022H6726H79313Walk through the awful ruins of the city; see how the enemy has destroyed your sanctuary.H7311H6471H5331H4876H341H7489H69444There your enemies shouted their victorious battle cries; there they set up their battle standards.H6887H7580H7130H4150H7760H226H2265They swung their axes like woodcutters in a forest.H3045H935H4605H7134H5442H60866With axes and picks, they smashed the carved paneling.H1986H6603H3162H3781H35977They burned your sanctuary to the ground. They defiled the place that bears your name.H7971H784H4720H2490H4908H8034H7768Then they thought, “Let’s destroy everything!” So they burned down all the places where God was worshiped.H559H3820H3238H3162H8313H4150H410H7769We no longer see your miraculous signs. All the prophets are gone, and no one can tell us when it will end.H7200H226H5030H3045H570410How long, O God, will you allow our enemies to insult you? Will you let them dishonor your name forever?H430H6862H2778H341H5006H8034H533111Why do you hold back your strong right hand? Unleash your powerful fist and destroy them.H7725H3027H3225H3615H7130H2436H243612You, O God, are my king from ages past, bringing salvation to the earth.H430H4428H6924H6466H3444H7130H77613You split the sea by your strength and smashed the heads of the sea monsters.H6565H3220H5797H7665H7218H8577H432514You crushed the heads of Leviathan① and let the desert animals eat him./ ①The identification of Leviathan is disputed, ranging from an earthly creature to a mythical sea monster in ancient literatureH7533H7218H3882H5414H3978H5971H672815You caused the springs and streams to gush forth, and you dried up rivers that never run dry.H1234H4599H5158H3001H386H510416Both day and night belong to you; you made the starlight and the sun.H3117H3915H3559H3974H812117You set the boundaries of the earth, and you made both summer and winter.H5324H1367H776H3335H7019H277918See how these enemies insult you, Lord. A foolish nation has dishonored your name.H2142H341H2778H3068H5036H5971H5006H803419Don’t let these wild beasts destroy your turtledoves. Don’t forget your suffering people forever.H5414H5315H8449H2416H7911H2416H6041H533120Remember your covenant promises, for the land is full of darkness and violence!H5027H1285H4285H776H4390H4999H255521Don’t let the downtrodden be humiliated again. Instead, let the poor and needy praise your name.H1790H7725H3637H6041H34H1984H803422Arise, O God, and defend your cause. Remember how these fools insult you all day long.H6965H430H7378H7379H2142H5036H2781H311723Don’t overlook what your enemies have said or their growing uproar.H7911H6963H6887H7588H6965H5927H8548
Unknown
, the daughter of Uriel from Gibeah. Then war broke out between Abijah and Jeroboam.H4427
