Study Desk

So Hiram sent ships to him by his servants along with crews of experienced seamen. They went with Solomon's servants to Ophir, took from there 17 tons of gold, and delivered it to King Solomon.

The queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame, so she came to test Solomon with difficult questions at Jerusalem with a very large entourage, with camels bearing spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones. She came to Solomon and spoke with him about everything that was on her mind.

So Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for Solomon to explain to her.

So they summoned him. Then Jeroboam and all Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam:

Rehoboam replied, "Return to me in three days." So the people left.

So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, just as the king had ordered, saying, "Return to me on the third day."

When all Israel saw that the king had not listened to them, the people answered the king: What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Israel, each man to your tent; David, look after your own house now! So all Israel went to their tents.

‘This is what the Lord says: You are not to march up and fight against your brothers. Each of you must return home, for this incident has come from Me.'" So they listened to what the Lord said and turned back from going against Jeroboam.

He also put large shields and spears in each and every city to make them very strong. So Judah and Benjamin were his.

So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years, because they walked in the way of David and Solomon for three years.

So the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, "Yahweh is righteous."

However, they will become his servants so that they may recognize the difference between serving Me and serving the kingdoms of other lands."

So King Shishak of Egypt went to war against Jerusalem. He seized the treasuries of the Lord 's temple and the treasuries of the royal palace. He took everything. He took the gold shields that Solomon had made.

Now Jeroboam had sent an ambush around to advance from behind them. So they were in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them.

Judah turned and discovered that the battle was in front of them and behind them, so they cried out to the Lord . Then the priests blew the trumpets,

So the Israelites fled before Judah, and God handed them over to them.

So he said to the people of Judah, "Let's build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars. The land is still ours because we sought the Lord our God. We sought Him and He gave us rest on every side." So they built and succeeded.

So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

So the Lord routed the Cushites before Asa and before Judah, and the Cushites fled.

Then Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar. The Cushites fell until they had no survivors, for they were crushed before Yahweh and His army. So the people of Judah carried off a great supply of loot.