Study Desk

Asa's feet became infected in his 39th year as king. Even though the infection was very serious, Asa did not go to the Lord for help. He went to the doctors instead.

The people buried Asa in his own tomb that he made for himself in the City of David. They laid him in a bed that was filled with spices and different kinds of mixed perfumes, and they burned a large fire for him.

He looked for the God his ancestors followed. He followed God's commands and did not live the same way the Israelites lived.

Jehozabad had 180,000 men ready for war.

A few years later, Jehoshaphat visited Ahab in the town of Samaria. Ahab sacrificed many sheep and cattle for Jehoshaphat and the people with him. Ahab encouraged Jehoshaphat to join in an attack on the city of Ramoth Gilead.

But first let's ask the Lord for advice."

King Ahab answered, "Yes, there is another prophet. His name is Micaiah son of Imlah. But I hate him. He never says anything good about me when he speaks for the Lord . He always says things that I don't like." Jehoshaphat said, "The king shouldn't say things like that!"

Fortunately, you did some good things in your life. You did remove the Asherah poles from this country, and you did decide to ask God for his advice."

He told the judges, "Be careful in what you are doing, because you are not judging for people, but for the Lord . He will be with you when you make decisions.

"Amariah is the high priest, so he will make the final decision about the people's responsibilities to the Lord . Zebadiah son of Ishmael is the leader of the tribe of Judah, so he will make the final decision about the people's responsibilities to the king. The Levites will serve as scribes for you. Be brave and do what is right! May the Lord be with those of you who are good judges."

Jehoshaphat became afraid, and he decided to ask the Lord what to do. He announced a time of fasting for everyone in Judah.

The people of Judah came together to ask the Lord for help. They came from out of all the towns of Judah to ask for the Lord 's help.

His descendants lived in this land, and built a Temple for your name.

But see the kind of reward those people give us for not destroying them. They have come to force us out of your land that you gave to us.

Our God, punish those people. We don't have the strength to stop this large army that is coming against us. We don't know what to do! We are looking to you for help."

As they began to sing and to praise God, the Lord set an ambush for the army from Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come to attack Judah. The enemy was defeated!

The men from Judah arrived at the lookout point in the desert. They looked for the enemy's large army, but all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground. There were no survivors.

That is why there was peace for Jehoshaphat's kingdom—his God brought him rest from the enemies that were all around him.

But the Lord would not destroy David's family because of the agreement he made with David. He had promised to keep a lamp burning for David and his children forever.

His intestines fell out two years later because of his sickness. He died in very bad pain. The people did not make a large fire to honor Jehoram as they did for his father.