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He dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his sons throughout all the lands of Yehudah and Binyamin, to every fortified city: and he gave them victuals in abundance. He sought [for them] many wives.

Nevertheless they shall be his servants, that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.

So king Rechav`am strengthened himself in Yerushalayim, and reigned: for Rechav`am was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Yerushalayim, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Yisra'el, to put his name there: and his mother's name was Na`amah the `Ammonite.

He did that which was evil, because he didn't set his heart to seek the LORD.

Rechav`am slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Aviyah his son reigned in his place.

Three years reigned he in Yerushalayim: and his mother's name was Mikhayahu the daughter of Uri'el of Gevah. There was war between Aviyah and Yarov`am.

Ought you not to know that the LORD, the God of Yisra'el, gave the kingdom over Yisra'el to David forever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?

Yet Yarov`am the son of Nevat, the servant of Shlomo the son of David, rose up, and rebelled against his lord.

Behold, God is with us at our head, and his Kohanim with the trumpets of alarm to sound an alarm against you. Children of Yisra'el, don't you fight against the LORD, the God of your fathers; for you shall not prosper.

Aviyah and his people killed them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Yisra'el five hundred thousand chosen men.

The rest of the acts of Aviyah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the commentary of the prophet `Iddo.

So Aviyah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the land was quiet ten years.

Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:

Asa cried to the LORD his God, and said, LORD, there is none besides you to help, between the mighty and him who has no strength: help us, LORD our God; for we rely on you, and in your name are we come against this multitude. LORD, you are our God; don't let man prevail against you.

Asa and the people who were with him pursued them to Gerar: and there fell of the Kushim so many that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away very much booty.

He gathered all Yehudah and Binyamin, and those who sojourned with them out of Efrayim and Menashsheh, and out of Shim`on: for they fell to him out of Yisra'el in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.

But the high places were not taken away out of Yisra'el: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.

He brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels.

Ben-Hadad listened to king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Yisra'el; and they struck `Iyon, and Dan, and Avel-Mayim, and all the store-cities of Naftali.

It happened, when Ba`sha heard of it, that he left off building Ramah, and let his work cease.