Study Desk

In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet; his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he didn't seek the LORD, but to the physicians.

Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.

They buried him in his own tombs, which he had hewn out for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odors and various kinds [of spices] prepared by the perfumers' are: and they made a very great burning for him.

Yehoshafat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against Yisra'el.

He placed forces in all the fortified cities of Yehudah, and set garrisons in the land of Yehudah, and in the cities of Efrayim, which Asa his father had taken.

The LORD was with Yehoshafat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and didn't seek the Ba`alim,

but sought to the God of his father, and walked in his mitzvot, and not after the doings of Yisra'el.

Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand; and all Yehudah brought to Yehoshafat tribute; and he had riches and honor in abundance.

His heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD: and furthermore he took away the high places and the Asherim out of Yehudah.

Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, even Ben-Hayil, and `Ovadyah, and Zekharyah, and Netan'el, and Mikhayahu, to teach in the cities of Yehudah;

Now the king of Yisra'el and Yehoshafat the king of Yehudah sat each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, and they were sitting in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Shomron; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.

He said, I saw all Yisra'el scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return every man to his house in shalom.

[Mikhayahu] said, Therefore hear you the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.

He said, 'I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' He said, 'You shall entice him, and shall prevail also: go forth, and do so.'

Now the king of Aram had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Yisra'el.

A certain man drew his bow at a venture, and struck the king of Yisra'el between the joints of the armor. Therefore he said to the driver of the chariot, Turn your hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am sore wounded.

The battle increased that day: however the king of Yisra'el stayed himself up in his chariot against the Aram until the even; and about the time of the going down of the sun he died.

Yehoshafat the king of Yehudah returned to his house in shalom to Yerushalayim.

Yehoshafat bowed his head with his face to the ground; and all Yehudah and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim fell down before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.

They rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Yehoshafat stood and said, Hear me, Yehudah, and you inhabitants of Yerushalayim: believe in the LORD your God, so shall you be established; believe his prophets, so shall you prosper.