Study Desk

But the places of worship to gods were not removed from Judah. Even so, Asa was faithful all his life.

Asa brought into the Temple of God the gifts he and his father had given: silver, gold, and utensils.

Asa took silver and gold from the treasuries of the Temple of the Lord and out of his own palace. Then he sent it with messengers to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who lived in Damascus. Asa said,

Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies to attack the towns of Israel. They defeated the towns of Ijon, Dan, and Abel Beth Maacah, and all the towns in Naphtali where treasures were stored.

When Baasha heard about this, he stopped building up Ramah and left his work.

In the thirty-ninth year of his rule, Asa got a disease in his feet. Though his disease was very bad, he did not ask for help from the Lord , but only from the doctors.

Then Asa died in the forty-first year of his rule.

Jehoshaphat, Asa's son, became king of Judah in his place. Jehoshaphat made Judah strong so they could fight against Israel.

He put troops in all the strong, walled cities of Judah, in the land of Judah, and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.

The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he lived as his ancestor David had lived when he first became king. Jehoshaphat did not ask for help from the Baal idols,

but from the God of his father. He obeyed God's commands and did not live as the people of Israel lived.

During the third year of his rule, Jehoshaphat sent his officers to teach in the towns of Judah. These officers were Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah.

So Ahab king of Israel told one of his officers to bring Micaiah to him at once.

But Micaiah said, "Hear the message from the Lord : I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with his heavenly army standing on his right and on his left.

The king of Aram ordered his chariot commanders, "Don't fight with anyone—important or unimportant—except the king of Israel."

By chance, a soldier shot an arrow which hit Ahab king of Israel between the pieces of his armor. King Ahab said to his chariot driver, "Turn around and get me out of the battle, because I am hurt!"

The battle continued all day. King Ahab held himself up in his chariot and faced the Arameans until evening. Then he died at sunset.

Jehoshaphat king of Judah came back safely to his palace in Jerusalem.

Jehoshaphat's army went out into the Desert of Tekoa early in the morning. As they were starting out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, people of Judah and Jerusalem. Have faith in the Lord your God, and you will stand strong. Have faith in his prophets, and you will succeed."

Jehoshaphat listened to the people's advice. Then he chose men to be singers to the Lord , to praise him because he is holy and wonderful. As they marched in front of the army, they said, "Thank the Lord , because his love continues forever."