1 Kings - At A Glance

Theme: Solomon's wisdom, power and achievements brought honor to Israel and to God. The temple he built was a beautiful place of worship. Somewhere in the middle of his reign he lost sight of God and set the stage for a divided Israel. Each of the kings who followed Solomon had God's word, priest or prophet and lessons from the past.

1 Kings 1
At a Glance (53 V)
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1-4_King David was old, and though they covered him well, he could not keep warm. His servants looked for a beautiful young woman to be close to him and help keep him warm. They found such a woman named Abishag, a Shunammite. She became his nurse but she did not become his wife.

__5-7_Adonijah the son of Haggith decided he would be king in place of his father. So he prepared chariots and horsemen with fifty men to run before him. David had never had cause to reprimand him for anything and he was a very handsome man. He was the younger brother of Absalom. He had conferred with Joab and Abiathar the priest.

__8-10_But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimer, Rei and the mighty men who belong to David were not with Adonijah. Adonijah made a great sacrifice of sheep and oxen. He invited all his brothers and the king's servants. He did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men or Solomon.

__11-14_Nathan spoke to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, and told her that Adonijah had made himself king in David's place and David does not know it. If you will save your life, go to David and say, did you not say Solomon would sit on your throne? Why has Adonijah become king? Then I will come in after you and confirm your words.

__15-18_So Bathsheba went in to the king's bedroom where Abishag was ministering to him. Bathsheba bowed before the king and he asked her what she wanted? She said, my Lord, did you not tell me that your son Solomon would sit on your throne after you? Adonijah has made himself king and you were not told of it.

__19-21_He has sacrificed oxen and sheep and invited all the sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, Joab the commander of the army, but not Solomon. Israel is watching you to see who will sit on your throne. If you do nothing Solomon and I will be considered offenders.

__22-25_While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in. He bowed to the ground and asked David, did you say that Adonijah should be king after you? For today he has made many sacrifices and invited many important people to the feast. They are eating and drinking and saying, long live King Adonijah!

__26-31_But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoida, Solomon and me were not invited. Has this thing been done at your word? King David answered, saying, call Bathsheba. She came and stood before him. He then said, I vowed to you that Solomon should be king after me. So it will be today. And Bathsheba bowed herself to the ground.

__32-34_David called for Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. He said, take my servants and have Solomon ride on my own mule and bring him to Gihon. Then let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him as king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and say, long live King Solomon.

__35-38_Then he shall sit on my throne and be king in my place for I have appointed him king in my place. And Benaiah answered the king and said, Amen. As the LORD has been with you, so may He also be with Solomon. So Zadok and Nathan, Benaiah, the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down and made Solomon ride on David's mule to Gihon.

__39-40_Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet and all the people said, long live King Solomon! Many people followed after him playing on flutes and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth shook with the sound.

__41-43_As Adonijah and his guests were finishing eating they heard the noise in the city. When the trumpet sounded, Joab said, why is the city making such an uproar? Then Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came in with news. He told them, King David has made Solomon king.

__44-46_The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites and the Pelethites. They have made him ride on the king's mule. Zadok and Nathan have anointed him king in Gihon. The city is in an uproar with rejoicing. And Solomon has taken his seat on the throne.

__47-49_And in addition, the kings servants said to David, may God make the name of Solomon and his throne greater than your throne. And King David said that he was happy that one sat on his throne while he was alive to see it.

Then all of Adonijah's guests were very afraid. Everyone got up and went his own way.

__50-53_Adonijah was afraid of Solomon and went and took hold of the horns of the alter. He said, let King Solomon swear to me that he will not put me to death. When Solomon was told of this, he said, if he is a worthy man, nothing will happen to him. Solomon sent for him and they brought him and he prostrated himself before Solomon.

1 Kings 2
At a Glance (46 V)
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1-4_As David's time to die drew near, he gave his son Solomon admonition and encouragement. He told him to keep the LORD God's commandments, statutes, ordinances and testimonies: everything written in the law of Moses. Then the LORD will keep you on the throne of Israel.

__5-9_You know how Joab killed Abner and Amasa during peace time. Use your wisdom to deal with him and do not let him die in peace. Show kindness to Barzillai who came to my aide when I fled from Absalom. Deal with Shimei the Benjamite who cursed me violently at that time. Do not let him go unpunished or go to his grave in peace.

__10-12_Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. He reigned forty years: seven years in Hebron over Judah and then he reigned from Jerusalem thirty three more years over all of Israel. Solomon sat on David's throne being firmly established as king in his place.

__13-18_Then it was that Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba with a request and she was willing to hear him. He asked her to ask Solomon for David's maid, Abishag, to become his wife. So Bathsheba agreed to make this request to Solomon.

__19-25_Bathsheba went to Solomon and asked that he allow Abishag to be given to Adonijah as his wife. When Solomon heard this he said Abijah has asked this at the cost of his own life. He shall be put to death today. Then he sent Benaiah to fall on him and take his life.

__26-27_Then to Abiathar the priest Solomon said, go to Anathoth to your own field. You deserve to die for following Adonijah but I will not put you to death because you carried the ark and you went through many afflictions with my father. So Solomon dismissed Abiathar from being priest, thus fulfilling the word spoken of Eli's family.

__28-34_When the news concerning Abiathar came to Joab, who had also followed Adonijah, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the alter. Solomon heard of this and sent Benaiah to fall upon him. He would not come out of the tent and eventually Benaiah went into the tent to slay him.

__35-38_The king appointed Benaiah over the army and Zadok as priest in place of Abiathar. Solomon sent for Shimei and instructed him to build a house for himself in Jerusalem. He was to live there and not go out of the city. It he ever did leave the city, he would die. Shimei agreed to this and lived in Jerusalem many days.

__39-46_Three years later two of his servants ran away to Gath. Shimei saddled his donkey and went to Gath and brought them back to Jerusalem. When Solomon learned of this, he sent for Shimei. He said, you agreed to never leave Jerusalem. You have not kept your word. And he commanded Benaiah to fall on him.

1 Kings 3
At a Glance (28 V)
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1-2_Solomon formed a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt. He brought Pharaoh's daughter to Jerusalem while he finished building his own home, the house of the LORD and the wall around Jerusalem. Because the temple of God had not yet been built the people sacrificed in the high places.

__3-5_Solomon loved the LORD and walked in His statutes as his father David had. However he did sacrifice and burn incense in the high places. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on the alter at Gibeon. In Gibeon God appeared to Solomon in a dream. He asked Solomon to ask of Him whatever he wished.

__6-9_Solomon said, you showed great kindness to my father David because he walked before you in righteousness and truth. And you have placed me on his throne. I am as a child. I do not know how to go out or come in. I am in the midst of a great number of people. Give me an understanding heart to be able to judge this great people.

__10-13_Solomon's request pleased the LORD and He said, because you did not ask for long life or riches, nor the life of your enemies, I will give you discernment of judgment and these other things as well. There will be no one like you for wisdom and understanding. Riches and honor will be yours all of your days.

__14-15_And if you walk in My ways keeping My statutes and commandments, as David did, I will prolong your days. Then Solomon awoke and it was a dream. He came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. And he made a feast for all his servants.

__16-20_Then two women who were harlots came to the king with a dispute. The one woman said, we both live in the same house. I gave birth first and three days later she gave birth. There were only the two of us in the house. This woman's child died in the night because she laid on it. During the night she exchanged our babies.

__21-22_When I got up in the morning to nurse my son I saw that he was dead. Then I looked carefully and saw that it was not my son. Then the other woman said, no! The living boy is my son. The dead one is yours. Thus they each made their case to king Solomon.

__23-28_After restating the case, Solomon called for a sword. He said, divide the child and give half to each woman. The mother of the living child said, oh no! Let her have the child, but the other woman said, yes, divide the child. Then the king gave the baby to the first woman and all Israel saw the wisdom of God in this judgment.

1 Kings 4
At a Glance (34 V)
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1-21_A list is given of Solomon's officials and his deputies who provided for his household. Israel and Judah were as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They lived very well and rejoiced. Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to Egypt, including the land of the Philistines. They brought tribute all of his life.

__22-28_Yearly provisions required for Solomon's household are listed.

Judah and Israel lived in safety from Dan to Beersheba all of Solomon's life. He had a great number of chariots, horses and horseman. Straw and feed had to be provided month by month. Nothing was lacking.

__29-34_God gave Solomon wisdom and discernment difficult to imagine. He was wiser than all the great men of his day. He spoke 3,000 proverbs and wrote 1,005 songs. He had a great knowledge of trees, animals, birds, creeping things and fish. Men came from all over the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon.

1 Kings 5
At a Glance (18 V)
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1-5_Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon when he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father. Hiram had always been David's friend. So Solomon sent word to Hiram saying, because the LORD would not let my father build a house for the name of the LORD his God, the responsibility has fallen to me.

__6-10_Please cut cedars from Lebanon for me. And my servants will work for you in this project. None of us know how to cut timber like the Sidonians. Hiram was glad to do this. He said they would cut the timber and float it down the coast to one of Israel's seaports. He gave Solomon as much cedar and cypress timber as he wanted.

__11-15_Solomon sent a very large amount of wheat and oil for Hiram's household year by year. They made a covenant and enjoyed peace between them.

King Solomon levied 30,000 forced laborers from Israel. 10,000 would work for a month and go home for two months. He had 70,000 transporters and 80,000 hewers of stone in the mountains.

__16-18_He also had 3,300 chief deputies to manage all of the work. Solomon had them quarry very large cut stones for the foundation of the temple. So Solomon's builders, Hiram's builders and the Gebalites prepared the timber and the stones to build the house.

1 Kings 6
At a Glance (38 V)
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1-3_In the fourth year of Solomon's reign, four hundred eighty years after Israel came out of Egypt, they began to build the house of the LORD. The length of the house was 90 feet. Its width was 30 feet and its height was 45 feet. It had a porch on its front 30 feet wide, the same width as the house and 15 feet deep.

__4-5_He made windows with artistic frames. He made side chambers for the house to enclose the inner sanctuary. The temple walls were thicker at the bottom than at the top. The inside of the wall was perpendicular and the outside had one and one half foot steps so that beams for each level of the side structure rested on a step.

__6_The lowest level was almost seven and one half feet from the inner wall to the outer wall. The next level was nine feet from inner to outer walls. The third level was ten and one half feet from inner to outer walls. These chambers ran along the sides and back of the temple. The beams rested on the steps in the wall.

__7-10_As the stones were put in place there was no sound of a tool. Every stone was prepared to dimension at the quarry. There was a doorway to the right for the lowest chamber and a winding stairway to the upper levels. Each level was seven and one half feet high. When the house was finished it was covered with cedar planks.

__11-13_The word of the LORD came to Solomon saying, if you walk in My statutes, execute my ordinances and keep My commandments, I will dwell among the children of Israel and not forsake My people Israel.

So Solomon finished building the house.

__14-17_He finished the inside with cedar. The floor, walls and ceiling were overlaid with wood. The floor was then overlaid with cypress boards. The most holy at the rear of the sanctuary was thirty feet deep from the back wall to its front. The holy place at the front of the sanctuary was sixty feet long from front to back.

__18-20_No stone was visible inside the house. The cedar had carvings of gourds and flowers. The inner sanctuary was where the Ark of the Covenant with the LORD was to be placed. It was thirty feet long, thirty feet wide and thirty feet high. Its inside walls were overlaid with pure gold.

__21-28_Chains of gold hung across the inner sanctuary. An alter of incense was constructed of cedar and overlaid it with gold.

In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olive wood, each fifteen feet high. Each wing was seven and one half feet. Their wing tips touched each other's and touched each wall.

__29-31_All the walls inside of the inner and outer sanctuaries had carved engravings of palm trees and open flowers. The floor of the inner and outer sanctuary was overlaid with gold. At the entrance to the inner sanctuary he made doors. Their combined width was one fifth of the wall.

__32-33_The two doors had carvings of cherubim, palm trees and open flowers. The doors with its carvings were overlaid with gold. The door posts for the door from the porch into the most holy place were made of olive wood. They were eight and one half feet high and one fourth of the wall in width.

__34-38_The doors were made of cypress. Each doors had a hinge in its middle so that it would fold. And he carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers on the doors and overlaid with gold. He built an inner court about the sanctuary with stone and cedar beams.

It took seven years to build the sanctuary to the LORD.

1 Kings 7
At a Glance (51 V)
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1-3_It took Solomon thirteen years to finish his own house. He built it from the forest of Lebanon. It was 150 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. It had four rows of pillars and beams. It was paneled with cedar above the side chambers which rested on 45 pillars with 15 pillars in each row.

__4-12_There were artistic door posts, doors and window frames. He had a hall of judgment where he judged. He also made a house like his for Pharaoh's daughter whom he had married. There were costly stones cut to size with saws. Foundation stones were 12 feet and 15 feet long.

__13-15_King Solomon invited Hiram from Tyre. He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali. His father was a man of Tyre. He had been very skilled in working with bronze. So his son, Hiram, came to work for Solomon. He fashioned two pillars of bronze, each twenty nine feet tall and eighteen feet in circumference.

__16-23_Each pillar had a capital of bronze nearly eight feet high. The artistry was beautiful with lilies. These pillars were set on the porch of the temple and were called Jachin and Boaz. He cast a sea from metal. It was 15 feet across and nearly eight feet tall. Its circumference was forty five feet.

__24-26_Under its brim there were two rows of gourds, ten every eighteen inches. The sea stood on twelve oxen, with three facing out in each of four directions. The metal was cast a handbreadth thick. It could hold 11,000 thousand gallons.

__27-39_Then he made tens stands that were each six feet square and four and one half feet high. They were patterned after the large sea having lions and oxen beneath and a basin on top. Each was mounted on four wheels with axles. Everything was cast. He set five stands on the right side of the house and five on the left side.

__40-47_After Hiram had made the basins, shovels and bowls, he had finished his work for Solomon on the house of the LORD. The polished brass was cast in the clay on the plain of the Jordan between Succoth and Zarethan. There was so much bronze that the total weight was never determined.

__48-50_Solomon made all the furniture in the house of the LORD. This included the golden alter, the golden table which was for the bread of Presence, five lampstands on the left and five on the right in the inner sanctuary and toward the front. All were of pure gold. There were also tongs, cups, snuffers, spoons and firepans of pure gold.

__51_Everything was now completed on the house of the LORD. Solomon brought the silver and gold things dedicated by David into the treasuries of the house of the LORD.

1 Kings 8
At a Glance (66 V)
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1-4_Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes to come together when the Ark of the Covenant should be brought from the city of David to the temple of the LORD. They came together in the seventh month. The priests and Levites brought everything from the tent of meeting up to the temple of the LORD.

__5-9_King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel with him came before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen without number. Then the priests brought the Ark of the Covenant into the inner sanctuary into the most holy place and put it under the wings of the golden cherubim. There was nothing in the ark except the two tables of stone.

__10-14_When the priests came from the holy place the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD and the priest could not go in. Solomon said, the LORD has said that He will dwell in the thick cloud. I have surely built You a lofty house and a place for You to dwell forever. Then he faced about and blessed the assembly of Israel.

__15-21_Then he said, blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who led Israel out of Egypt. David, my father, wanted to build a house for the name of the LORD, but God said it should be his son who would build it. The LORD has fulfilled His word and I have built Him a house. And the Ark of the Covenant is in its place.

__22-23_Then Solomon stood before the alter of the LORD in the presence of all the people and spread his hands toward heaven. He said, O Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven or earth. You keep Your covenant and show loving kindness to your servants who follow you with all their heart.

__24-28_You promised my father David that if his sons walk before You, there will always be one of his sons on the throne. Please let this be confirmed.

Heaven and earth cannot contain You. How much less this house which I have built for You! Yet You have regard for the prayer of your servant.

__29-36_Please listen to the prayer of Your servant when he prays toward this place. Hear and forgive. Help us when we sin. Help us when we are defeated by our enemies. When we have no rain and pray for it, hear us and forgive our sin. Send rain on the land that You have given the people.

__37-43_If there is famine in the land, or pestilence, or plague, hear the prayer of supplication prayed toward this house. Render according to each man's heart for You know the heart of all the sons of men. When a foreigner comes from a far country for Your name's sake, and prays toward this house, hear his prayer and answer it.

__44-53_When Your people go to battle according to Your will, and they pray toward this house, hear their prayer and maintain their cause. When they sin against You And You send them to a far land, when they confess their sin and return to You with all their heart, praying toward this house, hear their prayer and maintain their cause.

__54-57_When Solomon had finished praying he arose from kneeling before the alter of the LORD and blessed all Israel with a loud voice, saying, blessed be the LORD Who has given rest to his people Israel. Not one word of all His promises have failed. May the LORD our God be with us as He was with our fathers. May He not forsake us.

__58-61_May He incline our hearts to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments and statutes and ordinances so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; There is none other. Devote your heart wholly to the LORD our God to walk in His statutes and keep His commandments.

__62-66_Solomon and the people offered many sheep and oxen as peace offerings to the LORD. They observed the feast seven days. People had come from the far edges of the kingdom. On the eighth day he sent them away to their tents rejoicing in all the goodness the LORD had shown David His servant and Israel His people.

1 Kings 9
At a Glance (28 V)
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1-3_When Solomon had finished building the house of God, and his own house, the LORD appeared to him a second time, as He had in Gibeon. He said, I have heard the prayer you made to Me when you consecrated the house which you built for Me. My heart and eyes will be there perpetually.

__4-7_As for you, if you always walk before Me in uprightness, doing all I have commanded, keeping My statutes and ordinances, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom forever, as I promised David. But if you or your sons turn away from following Me, serving other gods, I will cut off Israel from the land.

__8-9_This house that you have built for Me will become a pile of ruins if you or your sons adopt other gods, and worship and serve them.

__10-14_It took twenty years for Solomon to build the house of the LORD and his house. Hiram, king of Tyre had supplied him with as much cedar and cypress as he needed. So Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in Galilee. But Hiram was not happy when he came out to see the cities. Hiram did send 120 talents of gold to the king.

__15-25_All of Solomon's projects required builders and he used forced labor to accomplish this. Much of the forced labor came from the nations Israel had been unable to completely destroy.

Three times a year Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the alter at the LORD's house.

__26-28_King Solomon built a fleet of ships on the shore of the Red Sea in the land of Edom. Hiram sent servants. These were sailors, who knew the sea. They worked with Solomon's servants. They went to Orphir and brought back to King Solomon four hundred and twenty talents of gold.

1 Kings 10
At a Glance (29 V)
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1-2_When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon's wisdom concerning the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions. She arrived in Jerusalem with a large retinue. She came with camels carrying spices, much gold and precious stones. Solomon listened as she spoke of all that was on her heart.

__3-6_He answered all of her questions. There was nothing he did not explain. When she saw his house, and perceived the wisdom needed to build it, the food on his table and everything about those who served him, it took her breath away. She said to him, the report of your wisdom that I heard in my own land is true.

__7-10_I did not believe until I saw it myself and the half was not told. How blessed are your servants who continually hear your wisdom. Blessed be the LORD your God Who loved Israel and made you king to do justice and righteousness. She gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, much spice and many precious stones.

__11-13_Hiram's ships brought gold from Ophir as well as many almug trees and precious stones. The king used the almug trees in construction of the house of the LORD, in his house and in musical instruments.

Solomon gave the queen of Sheba whatever she asked for and she returned to her own land.

__14-17_Twenty five tons of gold came to Solomon each year, besides the gold from the traders. Solomon made 200 large shields of beaten gold using six pounds of gold in each. He made 300 shields of beaten gold using nearly four pounds of gold in each of those. He put all these in the house of the forest of Lebanon.

__18-20_He also made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with refined gold. There were six steps to the round throne. The seat had arms and there were two lions standing by the arms. Twelve lions were standing on the six steps, one on either side of each step.

__21-22_All of King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold. None were made of silver. Silver was not considered valuable in the days of Solomon. Once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes and peacocks.

__23-26_So King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. All the earth wanted to hear the wisdom that God had put into his heart. Men brought all kinds of gifts year by year.

__27-29_Solomon had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen to guard everything. He made silver as common as stone in Jerusalem. He imported horses and chariots from one country and exported them to the Hittites and the Arameans.

1 Kings 11
At a Glance (43 V)
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1-3_Solomon loved many foreign women. They came from the nations that God had said the children of Israel were to have nothing to do with lest they turn their heart after their gods. Solomon had seven hundred wives and 300 concubines. And his wives did turn his heart away from God.

__4-6_When he was old his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of his father David had been. Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians and after Milcom the detestable idol of the Ammonites. Solomon did what was evil in God's sight and did not fully follow the LORD as David had done.

__7-10_He built high places for Chemosh and Molech, detestable idols of Moab and Ammon. He did this for his foreign wives who burned incense to their gods. The LORD was angry with Solomon. He had appeared to him twice and still Solomon's heart had turned away from Him. God had repeatedly warned him not to do this.

__11-22_So the LORD said to Solomon, because you have not kept my covenant, I will tear the kingdom from you and give it to one who is your servant. For David's sake I will give one tribe to your son.

Then the LORD raised up an adversary to Solomon, Hadad the Edomite. Joab had killed every male in Edom, but Hadad had fled to Egypt.

__23-28_God also raised up another adversary, Rezon, who reigned over Aram. These two caused Solomon trouble all of his days.

Jeroboam, an Ephramite of Zeredah, rebelled against the king. When Solomon was building the Millo, he had put Jeroboam in charge of forced labor in the house of Joseph.

__29-31_One day as Jeroboam was leaving Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah met him on the road. They were alone in the field. Ahijah took off his new cloak and tore it into twelve pieces. He told Jeroboam to choose ten pieces, for thus says the LORD, the God Israel, I will tear the kingdom out of Solomon's hand give you ten tribes.

__32-35_Because of my servant David I will not take it all from him. Israel has forsaken me and worshiped Ashtoreth, Chemosh and Milcom. They have not walked in My ways doing what is right and observing my ordinances and statutes. I will not take the kingdom from his hand but I will take it from his son's hand give you ten tribes.

__36-40_To his son I will give one tribe and you shall be king over Israel. If you listen to Me and walk in all My ways, then I will be with you and build you an enduring house.

Solomon sought to put Jeroboam to death so he fled to Egypt and stayed there until Solomon's death.

__41-43_Solomon reigned in Jerusalem forty years and slept with his fathers. He was buried in the city of David. His son Rehoboam reigned in his place.

1 Kings 12
At a Glance (33 V)
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1-4_Then Rehoboam went to Shechem because all Israel had come there to make him king. Jeroboam had remained in Egypt until Solomon had died. Then Israel invited him up to Israel. He and all the assembly came to Rehoboam and said, your father made our yoke very difficult. Lighten our yoke and we will serve you.

__5-11_Rehoboam asked for three days to consider their request. His father's old advisors told him that he should granted the people's petition. Then they would serve him. Instead of listening to them, he asked his friends who he had grown up with and they told him to tell the people he would make their yoke even heavier.

__12-15_Then all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day and Rehoboam spoke harshly, saying, your yoke will be even heavier. My father discipline you with whips. I will discipline you with scorpions. The king did not listen to the people. But this was a turn of events from the LORD, just as He had spoken to Ahijah the prophet.

__16-18_When Israel saw that the king would not listen to them they answered the king, we have no portion with you. And they departed to their tents. Rehoboam did reign over those from the cities of Judah. When Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over forced labor, up to Israel, they stoned him. So Rehoboam fled to Jerusalem.

__19-21_So Israel was always in rebellion against the house of David. When Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned they sent for him and the assembly made him king. So all of Israel, except for Judah, followed Jeroboam. Rehoboam assembled the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin to fight against Israel expecting to restore the kingdom.

__22-24_But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, tell Rehoboam, and the people of Judah and Benjamin, that they must not fight against Israel. What has happened is from God. So they left off planning to fight against Israel because of the word from the LORD.

__25-29_After this Jeroboam built a house in Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim. He also built a place in Penuel. He worried that Israel would go to Jerusalem to worship. If they did this they might return to Rehoboam. So he made two golden calves and told Israel to worship these. He put one in Dan and the other in Bethel.

__30-33_The people worshiped these calves instead of God and it became their sin. Jeroboam made houses on high places and appointed priests who were not sons of Levi. He instituted a feast at the same time it took place in Judah. He sacrificed before the alter in Bethel during this time and burned incense before the golden calf.

1 Kings 13
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1-2_A man of God came from Judah to Bethel to confront Jeroboam, who was standing by the alter burning incense. The man of God cried out, saying, the LORD says that a son shall be born in the house of David by the name of Josiah. He shall burn the priests of the high places who burn incense on the alters.

__3-5_As a sign from the LORD, this alter will be split and its ashes poured out. When the king heard this being said against the alter, he stretched out his hand toward the man and said, seize him. Immediately his hand withered and he could not draw it back to himself. Then the alter split and the ashes were poured out.

__6-10_The king begged the man to ask the LORD to restore his hand. The man of God prayed for the king and his hand was restored. Then the king invited the man home to refresh himself and receive a reward. But the man said he had been told, neither eat or drink, but to go home by a different way. So he left for home by a different way.

__11-17_There was an old man living with his sons in Bethel. They related to him what the man of God had said to the king. The man followed the man of God on a donkey and found him sitting under a tree. He invited the man home with him to eat bread. But the man of God said, God told me not to stop to eat or drink.

__18-19_The old man said, I also am a prophet. The word of the LORD came to me by an angel telling me to bring you back to my house to eat bread and drink water. He was lying, but the man went back with him and ate bread in his house and drank water.

__20-24_As they sat down to eat at the table, the old man told the man of God that because he had disobeyed God he would not be buried with your fathers. After refreshing himself, the man of God saddled his donkey and left. A lion met him on the way and killed him. It did not eat him, or hurt the donkey, but just stood nearby.

__25-30_Men passed that way and brought the news to the old prophet. He knew it was the man of God who had disobeyed God. He went and found the man of God lying on the road with the donkey and the lion standing nearby. The lion had not torn the man or the donkey. The old prophet brought the body back and buried him in his own grave.

__31-34_After burying him, he told his sons that when he died he wanted to be buried beside this man. For the predictions he made to the king shall surely come true concerning the high places. But Jeroboam did not turn from his evil ways. He continued ordaining priests for the high places. This was Jeroboam's great sin.

1 Kings 14
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1-4_When Ahijah the prophet was old, Jeroboam's son became sick. Jeroboam told his wife to wear a disguise and visit Ahijah. Take ten loaves of bread, some cakes and a jar of honey. He will tell you what will happen to the boy. She left and went to Shiloh where Ahijah's house was. By now he was blind.

__5-6_The LORD told Ahijah that Jeroboam's wife was coming to ask about her sick son. He told Ahijah what to say to her, and that she would pretend to be another woman. When Ahijah heard the sound of her feet coming in the door, he said, come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why do you pretend to be someone else? I have a harsh message for you.

__7-9_Go tell Jeroboam, thus says the LORD God of Israel. I tore the kingdom away from the house of David and exalted you, making you the leader of My people Israel. But you have not been like My servant David who kept My commandments and followed me with his whole heart. You have done more evil than everyone before you.

__10-12_Therefore I am bringing calamity on your house. I will cut off every male person, both bond and free. Anyone of your people who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs. And the birds will eat those who die in the field. The LORD has spoken. Now return to your house and when you enter the city your child will die.

__13-15_All Israel shall mourn for him and bury him. He alone of all Jeroboam's family shall come to the grave. Moreover, the LORD will raise up a king over Israel who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam from this day forward. The LORD will eventually uproot Israel from this good land scatter them beyond the Euphrates River.

__16-18_God will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam and the sins he made Israel commit.

When Jeroboam's wife came to the threshold of her house, the child died. And all Israel buried him and mourned him, just as spoken of by Ahijah the prophet, which was according to the word of the LORD.

__19-21_The rest of Jeroboam's acts are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. Jeroboam reigned twenty-two years. Then his son Nadab reigned in his place. Now Rehoboam, Solomon's son, reigned in Judah. He began reigning when he was forty-one years old and he reigned seventeen years. His mother was an Ammonitess.

__22-24_Judah also provoked the LORD to jealousy and committed more sins than their fathers. They built high places, sacred pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every luxuriant tree. There were male cult prostitutes like those in the nations the LORD had dispossessed before the children of Israel.

__25-28_In the fifth year of Rehoboam Shishak the king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem and took away the treasures of the king's house, even the gold shields Solomon had made. Rehoboam replaced them with bronze ones. These were used only when Rehoboam went to the LORD's house.

__29-31_The rest of the acts of Rehoboam are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. There was continual war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam. Rehoboam slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. And his son Abijam became king in his place.

1 Kings 15
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1-6_In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijam, the son of Nebat, became king over Judah. He reigned three years in Jerusalem. He walked in the sins of his fathers. His heart was not wholly devoted to God. God placed him on the throne for the sake of his servant David who had followed the LORD so closely.

__7-10_The acts of Abijam are written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam. And Abijam slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David.

In the twentieth year of Jeroboam the king of Israel, Asa began to reign as king in Judah. And he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem.

__11-14_Asa did what was right in the LORD's sight. He put away the male cult prostitutes and removed the idols his fathers had made. He removed Maacah his mother from being queen. He got rid of the images she had made and burned them in the Kidron brook. The high places were not taken away, but Asa did devote himself the LORD.

__15-18_He brought into the house of the LORD the dedicated things of his father and his own dedicated things such as gold and silver utensils.

There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all of their days. Asa took all the silver and gold from the house of the LORD and made a deal with Benhadad, king of Aram of Damascus.

__19-22_They made a treaty that caused Benhadad to break his treaty with Baasha. Then Benhadad began taking some of the northern cities of Israel. After that Baasha stopped bothering Judah. Then King Asa made a proclamation that everyone in Judah was to carry away the stones and timber that Baasha had begun building with in Ramah.

__23-25_All Asa's acts are recorded in the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. In his old age his feet were diseased. He slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. His son Jehoshaphat reigned in his place. Nadab, Jeroboam's son, had became king during the second year of Asa king of Judah. Nadab reigned two years.

__26-28_Nadab did evil in the sight of the LORD and he made Israel sin. Then Baasha the son of Ahijah conspired against him and struck him down at Gibbethon which belonged to the Philistines while Nadab and all Israel lay siege on Gibbethon. So Baasha killed him in the third year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in Nadab's place.

__29-30_And it came about that as soon as he was king, he struck down everyone of the household of Jeroboam. He destroyed them according to the word of the LORD spoken of by Ahijah the Shilonite, because of the sins of Jeroboam who had made Israel to sin.

__31-34_All of Nadab's acts are written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. There was always war between Asa and Baasha. It was in the third year of Asa that Baasha became king. He did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father Jeroboam by making Israel to sin.

1 Kings 16
At a Glance (34 V)
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1-4_The word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani, saying, I exalted you from the dust to be the leader of My people Israel. You have walked as Jeroboam walked, causing Israel to sin. I will consume the house of Baasha just I did with Jeroboam. Any of his household will be eaten by either the birds or the dogs.

__5-8_All the acts of Baasha are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. Baasha slept with his fathers and was buried in Tirzah and Elah his son became king in his place in the twenty-sixth year of Asa. He reigned for two years.

__9-11_Then his servant Zimri, who commanded half of the chariots, conspired against him. While Elah was getting drunk, Zimri went in where he was and struck him down. Then he became king in his place. It was the twenty-seventh year of Asa. As soon as he became king he killed every male in the house of Baasha, even his friends.

__12-14_He destroyed Baasha's entire household just as the prophet Jehu as prophesied from the LORD. The LORD was angry with Baasha and Elah for causing Israel to sin and worship idols. The rest of Elah's acts are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

__15-16_In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned seven days in Tirzah. The people had camped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines. When the people there heard that Zimri had made himself king, them made Omri, who was the commander of the army, king over Israel in the camp that day.

__17-20_Then Omri and all of Israel went up from Gibbethon to besiege Tirzah. When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the king's house and burned it down around him and died. The rest of the act of Zimri are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

__21-23_The people of Israel were divided. Half wanted Tibni to be king. The Other half were for Omri. But the people who followed Omri prevailed and Tibni died while Omri became king. This happened in the thirty-first year of Asa and Omri was king for twelve years. Six of those years he reigned at Tirzah.

__24-27_Omri bought the hill called Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver. He built a city on the hill and named it Samaria. He was more wicked than all who were before him. He made Israel sin and provoked the LORD with idols. The rest of his acts are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

__29-31_Omri slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab became king in his place in the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah. Ahab reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. Ahab's sin was worse than all those before him. He married Jezebel of Sidon, and went to serve Baal and worship him.

__32-34_Then he erected an alter and house of worship for Baal in Samaria. He also made the Asherah. In his days Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho, laying the foundation with the loss of Abiram his firstborn. He set up its gates with the loss of his youngest son Segub. This fulfilled the word of the LORD spoken by Joshua.

1 Kings 17
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1-4_Elijah the Tishbite from Gilead told king Ahab that the LORD God of Israel had said there would be neither dew nor rain in the coming years, except by His word.

The LORD came to Elijah and told him to hide by the brook Cherith on the east side of the Jordan. You shall drink of the brook and I will send ravens with food.

__5-9_So he went and did as the LORD had instructed. The ravens brought him food morning and evening. And he drank from the brook. Because there was no rain, the brook eventually dried up. The LORD said, go to Zarephath which belongs to Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to provide for you.

__10-12_So he went to Zarephath and when he came to the gate, he saw a widow gathering sticks. He called to her and asked for a little water in a jar. As she was going to get it, he also asked for a piece of bread. She replied, I only have a little flour and a little oil. I was gathering wood to bake it and then my son and I will die.

__13-16_Then Elijah said, do not be afraid. Do as you have said. But make me a little bread first. Afterwards you may make one for yourself and your son. The LORD God of Israel promises that your flour and oil will last until the LORD sends rain. So she did as Elijah had said and her flour and oil never ran out.

__17-20_A time came when the woman's son became sick and died. She told Elijah that his presence in her house had made her former iniquity to cause her son's death. Taking her son from her arms he carried him to the upper room where he was living and laid him on his own bed. He prayed, O Lord, have you done this to her son because of me?

__21-24_He stretched himself upon the child three times, calling on the LORD to give the child back his life. The LORD heard his prayer and boy's life returned to him. Then Elijah returned the child to his mother, saying, see, your son is alive. She then said, now I know you are a man of God and His word is surely in your mouth.

1 Kings 18
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1-3_After many days in, the third year, the word of the LORD came to Elijah, saying, tell Ahab that I will send rain on the earth. So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab.

The famine was severe in Samaria. Ahab had called for Obadiah who was over the house hold. Obadiah feared the LORD greatly.

__4-5_When Jezebel was destroying the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah hid one hundred prophets in a cave and provided them with bread and water.

Ahab told Obadiah to go throughout the land looking for springs of water in every valley. Maybe they could find grass for the livestock.

__6-10_So they divided the land between them, each going his own way. As Obadiah searched, Elijah met him and Obadiah recognized him. Falling on his face he said, is this you, Elijah my master? Elijah said, yes it is me. Tell Ahab that I am here. Obadiah said, if I tell him this he will kill me. He has been looking everywhere for you.

__11-15_While I am gone, the spirit of the LORD will carry you away. I won't be able to find you and Ahab will kill me. I have feared the LORD from my youth. Haven't you heard how I hid the prophets of the LORD when Jezebel was trying to kill them? Or of how I provided them with bread and water? Elijah said, I will see Ahab today.

__16-18_Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him that Elijah wanted to see him. So Ahab went to meet Elijah. When he saw him, he said, is this you, you troubler of Israel? Elijah said, I have not troubled Israel. But you and your father's house have, because you have forsaken the LORD and followed the Baals.

__19-21_Gather all Israel at Mount Carmel. Bring the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah, all fed at Jezebel's table.

Ahab arranged everything and when the people had assembled, Elijah said to them, how long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, then follow Him. If Baal, then follow him. But the people said nothing.

__22-23_Elijah then said to the people, I alone am left a prophet of the LORD. Baal's prophets are 450 men. Let them provide two oxen. They can choose one for themselves and cut it up and place it on the wood but put no fire under it. I will prepare the other ox and lay it on wood and I will put no fire under it.

__24-26_They can call on the name of their god and I will call on the name of the LORD. The God that answers by fire is God. And the people said that was a good idea. So the prophets of Baal prepared their ox and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon. They said, O Baal, answer us. They even leaped around the alter. But there was no answer.

__27-29_About noon Elijah began to mock them, saying, call louder. Maybe he is occupied, or has gone somewhere. He might be on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep. So they cried with loud voices and cut themselves as was their custom, making the blood run freely from their wounds. They raved until the time of the evening offering with no answer.

__30-32_Then Elijah said to all the people, come near to me. And as they watched, he repaired the alter of the LORD which had been torn down. He took twelve stones, one for each tribe of Israel, and built the alter in the name of the LORD. He made a trench about it, large enough to hold two measures of seed, or about 5 gallons.

__33-35_He arranged the wood, cut the ox in pieces and laid it on the wood. He directed them to fill four pitchers with water and pour it over the burnt offering and the wood. He had them do it a second time and then a third time. The water flowed around the alter and filled the trench.

__36-37_It was the time of the evening sacrifice. Elijah then prayed, O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that You are God in Israel, that I am Your servant, and that I have done these things at Your word. Answer me, O Lord, that this people may know that You are God and have turned their hearts back again.

__38-39_Then the fire of the LORD fell on the alter and consumed the burn offering, the wood, the stones and dust and licked up the water in the trench around where the alter had been. When the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, the LORD, He is God. The LORD, He is God.

__40-42_Then Elijah told the people to seize the prophets of Baal and not to let even one of them escape. He brought them down to the brook Kishon and slew them there. Then he told Ahab to eat and drink for the sound of a heavy rain was approaching. So Ahab refreshed himself while Elijah went to the top of Carmel to pray.

__43-44_He sent his servant to look toward the sea for any sign of rain. Six times his servant came back reporting nothing. But the seventh time he said he had seen a small cloud the size of a man's hand. Elijah said, go tell Ahab to prepare to head for home. Heavy rain is on the way.

__45-46_The sky grew dark with clouds and wind and Ahab headed for Jezreel. The hand of the Lord was on Elijah and he gathered his garments about him and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.

1 Kings 19
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1-3_Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done, and that he had killed the prophets. She then sent a messenger to him saying that by this time tomorrow she would end his life the way he had killed the prophets of Baal. Elijah was afraid and ran for his life to Beersheba where he left his servant.

__4-6_He went a day's journey into the wilderness and finding a juniper tree rested under it. He asked God that he might die. Then he lay down and slept. After a while an angel touched him and said, get up and eat. There was a bread cake on hot stones near him and a jar of water. He ate, drank and lay down again.

__7-8_Then the angel of the LORD came a second time and touched him, saying, get up and eat, for the journey is too great for you. So Elijah ate and drank and went in the strength of that food forty days and nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.

__9-10_Then he came to a cave and lodged there. The word of the LORD came to Elijah and asked him, what are you doing here? And he replied, I have been very zealous for the LORD God of Hosts. The children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your alters and killed Your prophets. I alone am left and they seek my life.

__11-12_God said, go out and stand on the mountain before Me. The LORD passed by and there was a great wind that broke rocks from the mountain. But the LORD was not in the wind. Then there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in it either. After the earthquake there was fire. The LORD was not in the fire. Then came of gentle blowing.

__13-14_When Elijah heard this he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out to stand at the entrance to the cave. And God's voice asked him once more, what are you doing here? Elijah answered, I have been zealous for the LORD God of Hosts. Israel has forsaken You, torn down Your alters and killed your prophets. And now they seek my life.

__15-18_The LORD said to him, go back through the wilderness to Damascus and anoint Hazael king over Aram. Then anoint Jehu king over Israel. Then you shall anoint Elisha as prophet in your place. All three of them shall wield the sword for Me. I still have 7,000 in Israel who have not bowed down to Baal or kissed him.

__19-21_So Elijah departed from there and found Elisha plowing in a field. He threw his mantle over him. Elisha then ran after him and said, let me tell my parents I am leaving and I will follow you. Elijah said, do as you wish. So Elisha sacrificed a pair of oxen and gave it to the people to eat. Then he followed Elijah and ministered to him.

1 Kings 20
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1-6_Benhadad, king of Aram, gathered his army and thirty-two kings with horses and chariots. He besieged Samaria. Then he sent a message to Ahab, saying, your silver and gold are mine, and your beautiful wives and children. Ahab answered, all that I have is yours. So Benhadad said he would send servants to search their houses.

__7-10_Then Ahab called together the elders of the land told them how Benhadad wanted his silver and gold and his wives and children. They advised him against consenting to Benhadad's demands. So Ahab sent a message to Benhadad saying that he could not agree to what the king demanded. Benhadad made more threats.

__11-13_Ahab said to him let him who puts on his armor not boast like the one who is taking it off. When Benhadad heard this he stationed his armies around the city.

A prophet approached Ahab and said, the LORD says, I will deliver their army into your hands today. Then you shall know that I am Lord.

__14-21_Ahab asked him, who will fight? The prophet answered, your young men. And Ahab asked, who shall begin to fight? The prophet answered, you. So Ahab mustered 7,232 men out of Israel. They went out at noon while Benhadad was drinking himself drunk with the thirty two kings. When they met, the Arameans fled and Benhadad escaped.

__22-23_Then the prophet of the LORD told Ahab to strengthen himself for the king of Aram will come against you next year.

Benhadad and his men said to themselves, the gods of Israel are gods of the mountain. That is why they prevailed against us. We will fight them on the plain and we will win.

__24-27_So Benhadad removed the kings from leadership and appointed captains in their place. Replacing all that was lost in the last battle he prepared to win. At the turn of the year, they went to fight against Israel and Israel was ready. Their army seemed small when compared to the Arameans who filled the country.

__28-29_Then a man of God came and spoke to Ahab, saying, the LORD is a God of the mountains and of the valleys. Therefore, I will give this great multitude into your hand you will know that I am the LORD. So they camped against each other for seven days. On the seventh day the battle began and Israel killed 100,000 Arameans.

__30-33_The rest of he Arameans fled to Aphek and the wall fell on 27,000 of their men. And Benhadad escaped into the city to an inner chamber. His servants told him that Israel's kings were merciful. If he put on sackcloth, perhaps he will let you live. So they did this and went out and begged for their lives.

__34-36_Benhadad promised to return the cities his father had taken. So Ahab made a covenant with him and let him go.

Now a certain one of the prophets said to another prophet, please strike me. But the man would not. So he said, because you would not listen to the word of the LORD, a lion will kill you. And a lion did kill him.

__37-39_Then he found another man and said, please strike me. And the man struck him and wounded him. So the prophet went and waited for the king disguising himself with a bandage over his eyes. When the king passed that way he called out, your servant was in the middle of the battle. I was given a man to guard lest I lose my life.

__40-43_Somehow he got away. The king said, then you shall lose your life. Then the man removed his bandage and the king recognized him as a prophet. And he said, thus says the LORD, because you let Benhadad go free, your life shall be required for his, and your people for his people. So Ahab went home to Samaria sullen and vexed.

1 Kings 21
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1-3_After these things had happened Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel next to Ahab's palace. Ahab wanted it and offered to buy the vineyard, or trade it for another vineyard. He wanted a vegetable garden near the palace. But Naboth did not want to give up the inheritance of his fathers.

__4-7_Ahab was not happy to have been denied his proposal to Naboth. He went home and lay down with his face to the wall and would not eat. Jezebel asked him, why are you so unhappy? When he explained why he was unhappy, Jezebel said, aren't you the king? Get up. Eat and be happy. I will get Naboth's vineyard for you.

__8-10_She then wrote letters in Ahab's name, sealed them with his seal and then sent them to the elders and nobles of Naboth's city. The letters said to proclaim a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people. Find two worthless men who will falsely testify that he has cursed God and king. Then stone him to death.

__11-13_So the men of the city did as the letters directed. They proclaimed a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people. Then the two worthless came and sat before him. They testified against him saying he had cursed God and the king. So the people took him outside the city and stoned him to death.

__14-18_They then sent word to Jezebel saying that Naboth was dead. She then told Ahab to take possession of Naboth's vineyard. He is now dead. When he heard this, he did just that.

Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah, saying, go meet Ahab. He has gone to take possession of Naboth's vineyard.

__19-20_Tell Ahab that because he has had Naboth killed and then taken possession of his vineyard, in the place the dogs licked up Naboth's blood, they shall also lick up your blood. Ahab said, you are my enemy and you have found me. Elijah said, I have found you because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.

__21-24_The LORD says that He will bring evil upon you, killing you and every male that belongs to you. He will make your house like the houses of Jeroboam and Baasha because you have provokes Him and made Israel sin. Jezebel will also die and dogs will eat her.

__25-29_Ahab has sold himself to evil because of Jezebel his wife, and followed Amorite idols.

When Ahab heard Elijah's words, he tore his clothes. Then he put on sackcloth and fasted. Then the LORD told Elijah that because Ahab had humbled himself before the LORD, He would not bring evil on his house until the days of his son.

1 Kings 22
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1-4_Three years passed without war between Aram and Israel. Then in the third year, Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, came to the king of Israel. Ahab had been saying to his servants that Ramoth-Gilead was taken by the king of Aram and we have done nothing about it. So he asked Jehoshaphat to pool resources and help him.

__5-8_Jehoshaphat asked to inquire of the LORD first. The king of Israel gathered about four hundred prophets and asked them, shall we go against Aram? Jehoshaphat said, isn't there a prophet of the LORD that we may ask? Ahab said, there is one man but I hate him. He is Micaiah and he always prophesies against me.

__9-12_Ahab called for Micaiah. The two kings were at the entrance to Samaria and the prophets were prophesying before them. Zedekiah made horns of iron and said, thus says the LORD. With these you shall gore the Arameans until they are consumed. All the prophets were prophesying this way telling Ahab to go up against Ramoth-Gilead.

__13-16_The messenger who had been sent to summon Micaiah asked him to speak favorably like the other prophets were doing. But Micaiah said he only spoke what the LORD told him to say. When he got to the king he said, go up. The LORD will be with you. Ahab, said, tell me what the LORD has said.

__17-18_Micaiah said, I saw Israel scattered in the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, these have no master. Let each one return to his house in peace. Then Ahab said, didn't I tell you he would prophesy evil rather than good concerning me?

__19-23_Then Micaiah said, I saw the LORD sitting on His throne with all the host of heaven around Him. He said, who will entice Ahab to go and be defeated at Ramoth-Gilead? The Spirit of the LORD said, I will entice him. I will be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of his prophets. They will tell him to go and that he will prevail.

__24-28_Then Zedekiah struck Micaiah on the face and said, how did the Spirit of the LORD pass from me to speak through you? Micaiah said, you will soon be hiding. Then King Ahab had him put in prison with a little bread and water. Micaiah said, if you safely return the LORD has not spoken through me.

__29-33_So Ahab and Jehoshaphat went up against Ramoth-Gilead. Ahab got Jehoshaphat to wear his kingly robes while he disguised himself. The king of Aram had told his thirty-two officers that all he wanted was Ahab. And when they saw Jehoshaphat, they thought that he was the one the king wanted. Then they got a good look at him.

__34-35_Now a certain man shot a random shot with his bow and struck Ahab in a joint of his armor. He told his chariot driver to get away from the battle because he was severely wounded. The battle raged all day. Ahab watched while propped up in his chariot, and he died that evening. The bottom of the chariot was covered with his blood.

__37-40_The king was brought to Samaria where he was buried. They washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria and the dogs licked up his blood, as the LORD had said. The rest of Ahab's acts, his ivory house and the cities he built are written about in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. And his son became king in his place.

__41-43_Now Jehoshaphat, the son of Asa became king over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab. Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. He did right like his father, Asa. However, the high places where the people sacrificed and burned incense were not taken away.

__44-48_Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel. He expelled the remnant of the sodomites from the land. The rest of his acts are written in the Book Of the Chronicles of the Kings Of Judah. He made ships of Tarshish to go to Orphir for gold but the ships were broken at Ezion-Geber.

__49-51_Ahaziah, Ahab's son asked Jehoshaphat to let him partner with him concerning the ships. But Jehoshaphat was not willing. Jehoshaphat died and his son Jehoram became king in his place. Ahaziah, Ahab's son became king over Israel in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. And he reigned two years over Israel.

__52-53_Ahaziah did evil in the sight of the LORD and followed the ways of Jeroboam making Israel sin. He served Baal and provoked the LORD just as his father had done.

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