Study Desk

So the king didn't listen to the people; and that was something God brought about, so that Adonai could fulfill his word, which he had spoken through Achiyah from Shiloh to Yarov‘am the son of N'vat.

But this word of Adonai came to Sh'ma‘yah the man of God:

Those from all the tribes of Isra'el who had set their hearts on seeking Adonai , the God of Isra'el, followed them to Yerushalayim to sacrifice to Adonai , the God of their fathers.

Don't you know that Adonai , the God of Isra'el, gave rulership over Isra'el to David forever, to him and his descendants, by a covenant of salt [which is unbreakable]?

"But we are different. Adonai is our God, and we have not abandoned him. We have cohanim performing the service for Adonai , descendants of Aharon. With the L'vi'im doing their work,

they burn to Adonai every morning and evening burnt offerings and sweet incense; they arrange the showbread on the pure table, and they prepare the gold menorah with its lamps to burn every evening. For we observe the order of Adonai our God. But you have abandoned him.

"So look here! God is with us, leading us and his cohanim with the battle trumpets to sound an alarm against you. People of Isra'el! Don't fight against Adonai , the God of your ancestors; because you will not succeed."

Then the men of Y'hudah gave forth a shout, and as the men of Y'hudah shouted, God struck Yarov‘am and all Isra'el before Aviyah and Y'hudah.

The people of Isra'el fled before Y'hudah, and God handed them over to them.

Thus the people of Isra'el were subdued that time, and the people of Y'hudah won the victory, because they relied on Adonai the God of their ancestors.

Asa did what was good and right from the perspective of Adonai his God;

He ordered Y'hudah to seek Adonai , the God of their ancestors, and to obey the Torah and the mitzvah.

"Let's build these cities," he said to Y'hudah; "we'll surround them with walls, towers, gates and bars. The land is there for us to use, because we have sought Adonai our God; we have sought him, and he has given us peace on every side." So they built and prospered.

Asa cried out to Adonai his God, " Adonai , there is no one besides yourself, strong or weak, who can help. Help us, Adonai our God, because we are relying on you, and we are coming against this vast throng in your name. You are Adonai our God; don't let human beings stop you!"

Asa did what was good and right from the perspective of Adonai his God; for he removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashing the standing-stones and chopping down the sacred poles. He ordered Y'hudah to seek Adonai , the God of their ancestors, and to obey the Torah and the mitzvah. He removed the high places and pillars for sun-worship from all the cities of Y'hudah, and under him the kingdom was quiet. Because the land was quiet, and he had no war during those years, since Adonai had given him rest, he built fortified cities in Y'hudah. "Let's build these cities," he said to Y'hudah; "we'll surround them with walls, towers, gates and bars. The land is there for us to use, because we have sought Adonai our God; we have sought him, and he has given us peace on every side." So they built and prospered. Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Y'hudah, equipped with shields and spears, and another 280,000 from Binyamin, with shields and bows; all were brave, strong men. Zerach the Ethiopian came out to attack them with an army of one million and three hundred chariots. When he arrived at Mareshah, Asa went out to fight him, and the forces were arranged for battle in the Tz'fat Valley at Mareshah. Asa cried out to Adonai his God, " Adonai , there is no one besides yourself, strong or weak, who can help. Help us, Adonai our God, because we are relying on you, and we are coming against this vast throng in your name. You are Adonai our God; don't let human beings stop you!" So Adonai struck the Ethiopians before Asa and Y'hudah, and the Ethiopians fled. Asa and the army with him pursued them to G'rar, and the Ethiopians were defeated beyond recovery; they were shattered before Adonai and his army, who carried off much spoil. Then they attacked all the cities in the vicinity of G'rar, for a panic from Adonai had overcome them. They plundered all the cities, for they were full of spoil. They also attacked the tents of those tending the livestock and carried off sheep and camels in abundance. Then they returned to Yerushalayim.

The Spirit of God came on ‘Azaryah the son of ‘Oded;

For a long time Isra'el was without the true God, without a cohen who could teach, and without Torah.

But when, in their distress, they turned to Adonai the God of Isra'el and sought him, they found him.

so that they were shattered to pieces, nation against nation and city against city, as God troubled them with every kind of distress.

Then he gathered all Y'hudah and Binyamin, along with those from Efrayim, M'nasheh and Shim‘on who were staying with him (for they had defected to him in large numbers upon seeing that Adonai his God was with him).