Study Desk

So now you plan to stand against the power of the Lord through the sons of David. You think you can because you have many people and the gold calves Jeroboam made you for gods.

But Jeroboam had sent soldiers to come from behind. So Israel was in front of Judah, and soldiers were behind them also.

When Judah looked, they saw that the battle was both in front of them and behind them. So they cried to the Lord, and the religious leaders blew the horns.

So the sons of Israel were set back at that time. The sons of Judah were strong because they trusted in the Lord, the God of their fathers.

So he said to the people of Judah, "Let us build these cities. And let us build walls and towers around them, with iron gates. The land is still ours, because we have followed the Lord our God. We have followed Him, and He has given us rest on every side." So they built and did well.

So Asa went out to meet him. They made themselves ready for battle in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, "Lord, there is no one but You to help in the battle between the powerful and the weak. So help us, O Lord God. For we trust in You. In Your name we have come against these many people. O Lord, You are our God. Do not let any man win the fight against You."

So the Lord began to destroy the Ethiopians in front of Asa and the people of Judah, and the Ethiopians ran away.

So they gathered together at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa's rule.

All Judah was filled with joy because of the promise. For they had promised with their whole heart. They had looked for the Lord with a pure heart. And He let them find Him. So the Lord gave them rest on every side.

"Let there be an agreement between you and me, as between my father and your father. See, I have sent you silver and gold. Go and break your agreement with King Baasha of Israel so that he will leave me."

At that time Hanani the man of God came to King Asa of Judah and said to him, "You have put your trust in the king of Syria and not in the Lord your God. So the army of the king of Syria got away from you.

For the eyes of the Lord move over all the earth so that He may give strength to those whose whole heart is given to Him. You have done a foolish thing. So from now on you will have wars."

So Asa slept with his fathers. He died in the forty-first year of his rule.

So the Lord made the nation strong under his rule. And all Judah paid taxes to Jehoshaphat. He had great riches and honor.

The fear of the Lord was on all the nations of the lands around Judah. So they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.

So Jehoshaphat became greater and greater. And he built strong places and store-cities in Judah.

So the king of Israel gathered together the 400 men who told what would happen in the future. He said to them, "Should we go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or should I wait?" And they said, "Go up, for God will give it into the hand of the king."

Then the man who was sent to call Micaiah said to him, "See, all the men who tell what will happen in the future are speaking in the king's favor. So I ask that you let your word be like one of them, and speak in the king's favor."

So he said, "I saw all Israel spread out on the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no owner. Let each of them return to his house in peace.'"