Study Desk

However, they will become his slaves, so that they will come to appreciate the difference between serving me and serving earthly kingdoms."

So Shishak king of Egypt attacked Yerushalayim. He took the treasures in the house of Adonai and the treasures in the royal palace — he took everything, including the gold shields Shlomo had made.

After he humbled himself, the anger of Adonai turned away from him, so that he did not altogether destroy him; moreover, some good things were found in Y'hudah.

So King Rechav‘am consolidated his rule in Yerushalayim. Rechav‘am was forty-one years old when he began his reign; and he ruled seventeen years in Yerushalayim, the city Adonai had chosen from all the tribes of Isra'el to bear his name; his mother's name was Na‘amah the ‘Amonit.

Yes, you drove out the cohanim of Adonai , the descendants of Aharon, and the L'vi'im; and you made yourselves priests as do the peoples in other countries, so that anyone who comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams can become a priest of those non-gods.

"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."

But Yarov‘am prepared to ambush them from behind, so that the main body was ahead of Y'hudah, while the ambush was behind them.

"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.

So Adonai struck the Ethiopians before Asa and Y'hudah, and the Ethiopians fled.

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.

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

"There is a covenant between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Here, I am sending you silver and gold; go, and break your covenant with Ba‘asha king of Isra'el, so that he will leave me alone."

Therefore Adonai consolidated his rulership; all Y'hudah brought presents to Y'hoshafat, so that he had wealth and honor in abundance.

A panic from Adonai seized all the kingdoms in the lands surrounding Y'hudah, so that they did not make war against Y'hoshafat.

So Y'hoshafat grew increasingly powerful. In Y'hudah he built fortresses and storage cities.

So the king of Isra'el assembled the prophets, 400 men. "Should we attack Ramot-Gil‘ad?" he asked them, "Or should I hold off?" They said, "Attack. God will hand it over to the king."

So now Adonai has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours; meanwhile, Adonai has ordained disaster for you."

So the king of Isra'el and Y'hoshafat the king of Y'hudah went up to Ramot-Gil‘ad.

The king of Isra'el said to Y'hoshafat, "I will disguise myself and go into battle; but you, put on your robes." So the king of Isra'el disguised himself and went into battle.

So when the chariot commanders saw Y'hoshafat they said, "This is the king of Isra'el," and turned to attack him. But Y'hoshafat called out, and Adonai came to his aid — God moved them to leave him alone,