2 Tawarikh 10:1--21:20
Konteks10:1 Rehoboam traveled to Shechem, for all Israel had gathered in 1 Shechem to make Rehoboam 2 king. 10:2 When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard the news, he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon. Jeroboam returned from Egypt. 10:3 They sent for him 3 and Jeroboam and all Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 10:4 “Your father made us work too hard! 4 Now if you lighten the demands he made and don’t make us work as hard, we will serve you.” 5 10:5 He said to them, “Go away for three days, then return to me.” So the people went away.
10:6 King Rehoboam consulted with the older advisers who had served 6 his father Solomon when he had been alive. He asked them, 7 “How do you advise me to answer these people?” 10:7 They said to him, “If you are fair to these people, grant their request, and are cordial to them, they will be your servants from this time forward.” 8 10:8 But Rehoboam rejected their advice and consulted the young advisers who served him, with whom he had grown up. 9 10:9 He asked them, “How do you advise me to respond to these people who said to me, ‘Lessen the demands your father placed on us’?” 10 10:10 The young advisers with whom Rehoboam 11 had grown up said to him, “Say this to these people who have said to you, ‘Your father made us work hard, but now lighten our burden’ 12 – say this to them: ‘I am a lot harsher than my father! 13 10:11 My father imposed heavy demands on you; I will make them even heavier. 14 My father punished you with ordinary whips; I will punish you with whips that really sting your flesh.’” 15
10:12 Jeroboam and all the people reported to Rehoboam on the third day, just as the king had ordered when he said, “Return to me on the third day.” 10:13 The king responded to the people harshly. He 16 rejected the advice of the older men 10:14 and followed the advice of the younger ones. He said, “My father imposed heavy demands on you; 17 I will make them even heavier. 18 My father punished you with ordinary whips; I will punish you with whips that really sting your flesh.” 19 10:15 The king refused to listen to the people, because God was instigating this turn of events 20 so that he might bring to pass the prophetic announcement he had made 21 through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.
10:16 When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, the people answered the king, “We have no portion in David – no share in the son of Jesse! 22 Return to your homes, O Israel! 23 Now, look after your own dynasty, O David!” 24 So all Israel returned to their homes. 25 10:17 (Rehoboam continued to rule over the Israelites who lived in the cities of Judah.) 10:18 King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, 26 the supervisor of the work crews, out after them, but the Israelites stoned him to death. King Rehoboam managed to jump into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. 27 10:19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the Davidic dynasty to this very day.
11:1 When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he summoned 180,000 skilled warriors from Judah and Benjamin 28 to attack Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam. 11:2 But the Lord told Shemaiah the prophet, 29 11:3 “Say this to King Rehoboam son of Solomon of Judah and to all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin, 11:4 ‘The Lord says this: “Do not attack and make war with your brothers. Each of you go home, for I have caused this to happen.”’” 30 They obeyed the Lord and called off the attack against Jeroboam. 31
11:5 Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem; 32 he built up these fortified cities throughout Judah: 11:6 Bethlehem, 33 Etam, Tekoa, 11:7 Beth Zur, Soco, Adullam, 11:8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, 11:9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, 11:10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron. These were the fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin. 11:11 He fortified these cities and placed officers in them, as well as storehouses of food, olive oil, and wine. 11:12 In each city there were shields and spears; he strongly fortified them. 34 Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.
11:13 The priests and Levites who lived throughout Israel supported him, no matter where they resided. 35 11:14 The Levites even left their pasturelands and their property behind and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons prohibited them from serving as the Lord’s priests. 11:15 Jeroboam 36 appointed his own priests to serve at the worship centers 37 and to lead in the worship of the goat idols and calf idols he had made. 38 11:16 Those among all the Israelite tribes who were determined to worship the Lord God of Israel followed them to Jerusalem 39 to sacrifice to the Lord God of their ancestors. 40 11:17 They supported 41 the kingdom of Judah and were loyal to 42 Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years; they followed the edicts of 43 David and Solomon for three years.
11:18 Rehoboam married 44 Mahalath the daughter of David’s son Jerimoth and of 45 Abihail, the daughter of Jesse’s son Eliab. 11:19 She bore him sons named Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham. 11:20 He later married Maacah the daughter of Absalom. She bore to him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. 11:21 Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than his other wives and concubines. 46 He had eighteen wives and sixty concubines; he fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.
11:22 Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as the leader over his brothers, for he intended to name him his successor. 47 11:23 He wisely placed some of his many sons throughout the regions of Judah and Benjamin in the various fortified cities. 48 He supplied them with abundant provisions and acquired many wives for them. 49
12:1 After Rehoboam’s rule was established and solidified, he and all Israel rejected the law of the Lord. 12:2 Because they were unfaithful to the Lord, in King Rehoboam’s fifth year, King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. 12:3 He had 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horsemen, and an innumerable number of soldiers who accompanied him from Egypt, including Libyans, Sukkites, and Cushites. 12:4 He captured the fortified cities of Judah and marched against Jerusalem.
12:5 Shemaiah the prophet visited Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who were assembled in Jerusalem because of Shishak. He said to them, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You have rejected me, so I have rejected you and will hand you over to Shishak.’” 50 12:6 The leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The Lord is just.” 51 12:7 When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, he gave this message to Shemaiah: 52 “They have humbled themselves, so I will not destroy them. I will deliver them soon. 53 My anger will not be unleashed against 54 Jerusalem through 55 Shishak. 12:8 Yet they will become his subjects, so they can experience how serving me differs from serving the surrounding nations.” 56
12:9 King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem and took away the treasures of the Lord’s temple and of the royal palace; he took everything, including the gold shields that Solomon had made. 12:10 King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and assigned them to the officers of the royal guard 57 who protected the entrance to the royal palace. 12:11 Whenever the king visited the Lord’s temple, the royal guards carried them and then brought them back to the guardroom. 58
12:12 So when Rehoboam 59 humbled himself, the Lord relented from his anger and did not annihilate him; 60 Judah experienced some good things. 61 12:13 King Rehoboam solidified his rule in Jerusalem; 62 he 63 was forty-one years old when he became king and he ruled for seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the Lord chose from all the tribes of Israel to be his home. 64 Rehoboam’s 65 mother was an Ammonite named Naamah. 12:14 He did evil because he was not determined to follow the Lord. 66
12:15 The events of Rehoboam’s reign, from start to finish, are recorded 67 in the Annals of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer that include genealogical records. 12:16 Then Rehoboam passed away 68 and was buried in the City of David. 69 His son Abijah replaced him as king.
13:1 In the eighteenth year of the reign of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah. 13:2 He ruled for three years in Jerusalem. 70 His mother was Michaiah, the daughter of Uriel from Gibeah. 71
There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. 13:3 Abijah launched the attack with 400,000 well-trained warriors, 72 while Jeroboam deployed against him 800,000 well-trained warriors. 73
13:4 Abijah ascended Mount Zemaraim, in the Ephraimite hill country, and said: “Listen to me, Jeroboam and all Israel! 13:5 Don’t you realize that the Lord God of Israel has given David and his dynasty lasting dominion over Israel by a formal agreement? 74 13:6 Jeroboam son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon son of David, rose up and rebelled against his master. 13:7 Lawless good-for-nothing men 75 gathered around him and conspired 76 against Rehoboam son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was an inexperienced young man 77 and could not resist them. 13:8 Now you are declaring that you will resist the Lord’s rule through the Davidic dynasty. 78 You have a huge army, 79 and bring with you the gold calves that Jeroboam made for you as gods. 13:9 But you banished 80 the Lord’s priests, Aaron’s descendants, and the Levites, and appointed your own priests just as the surrounding nations do! Anyone who comes to consecrate himself with a young bull or seven rams becomes a priest of these fake gods! 81 13:10 But as for us, the Lord is our God and we have not rejected him. Aaron’s descendants serve as the Lord’s priests and the Levites assist them with the work. 82 13:11 They offer burnt sacrifices to the Lord every morning and every evening, along with fragrant incense. They arrange the Bread of the Presence on a ritually clean table and light the lamps on the gold lampstand every evening. Certainly 83 we are observing the Lord our God’s regulations, but you have rejected him. 13:12 Now look, God is with us as our leader. His priests are ready to blow the trumpets to signal the attack against you. 84 You Israelites, don’t fight against the Lord God of your ancestors, 85 for you will not win!”
13:13 Now Jeroboam had sent some men to ambush the Judahite army from behind. 86 The main army was in front of the Judahite army; 87 the ambushers were behind it. 13:14 The men of Judah turned around and realized they were being attacked from the front and the rear. 88 So they cried out for help to the Lord. The priests blew their trumpets, 13:15 and the men of Judah gave 89 the battle cry. As the men of Judah gave the battle cry, the Lord struck down Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. 13:16 The Israelites fled from before the Judahite army, 90 and God handed them over to the men of Judah. 91 13:17 Abijah and his army thoroughly defeated them; 92 500,000 well-trained Israelite men fell dead. 93 13:18 That day 94 the Israelites were defeated; the men of Judah prevailed because they relied on the Lord God of their ancestors.
13:19 Abijah chased Jeroboam; he seized from him these cities: Bethel 95 and its surrounding towns, Jeshanah and its surrounding towns, and Ephron and its surrounding towns. 13:20 Jeroboam did not regain power during the reign of Abijah. 96 The Lord struck him down and he died. 13:21 Abijah’s power grew; he had 97 fourteen wives and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.
13:22 The rest of the events of Abijah’s reign, including his deeds and sayings, 98 are recorded in the writings of the prophet Iddo.
14:1 (13:23) 99 Abijah passed away 100 and was buried in the City of David. 101 His son Asa replaced him as king. During his reign 102 the land had rest for ten years.
14:2 (14:1) Asa did what the Lord his God desired and approved. 103 14:3 He removed the pagan altars 104 and the high places, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. 105 14:4 He ordered Judah to seek the Lord God of their ancestors 106 and to observe his law and commands. 107 14:5 He removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. The kingdom had rest under his rule. 108
14:6 He built fortified cities throughout Judah, for the land was at rest and there was no war during those years; the Lord gave him peace. 14:7 He said to the people of Judah: 109 “Let’s build these cities and fortify them with walls, towers, and barred gates. 110 The land remains ours because we have followed 111 the Lord our God and he has made us secure on all sides.” 112 So they built the cities 113 and prospered.
14:8 Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah, equipped with large shields and spears. He also had 280,000 men from Benjamin who carried small shields and were adept archers; they were all skilled warriors. 14:9 Zerah the Cushite marched against them with an army of 1,000,000 114 men and 300 chariots. He arrived at Mareshah, 14:10 and Asa went out to oppose him. They deployed for battle in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.
14:11 Asa prayed 115 to the Lord his God: “O Lord, there is no one but you who can help the weak when they are vastly outnumbered. 116 Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you and have marched on your behalf against this huge army. 117 O Lord our God, don’t let men prevail against you!” 118 14:12 The Lord struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled, 14:13 and Asa and his army chased them as far as Gerar. The Cushites were wiped out; 119 they were shattered before the Lord and his army. The men of Judah 120 carried off a huge amount of plunder. 14:14 They defeated all the cities surrounding Gerar, for the Lord caused them to panic. 121 The men of Judah 122 looted all the cities, for they contained a huge amount of goods. 123 14:15 They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen in charge of the livestock. 124 They carried off many sheep and camels and then returned to Jerusalem. 125
15:1 God’s Spirit came upon Azariah son of Oded. 15:2 He met 126 Asa and told him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin! The Lord is with you when you are loyal to him. 127 If you seek him, he will respond to you, 128 but if you reject him, he will reject you. 15:3 For a long time 129 Israel had no true God, or priest to instruct them, or law. 15:4 Because of their distress, they turned back to the Lord God of Israel. They sought him and he responded to them. 130 15:5 In those days 131 no one could travel safely, 132 for total chaos had overtaken all the people of the surrounding lands. 133 15:6 One nation was crushed by another, and one city by another, for God caused them to be in great turmoil. 134 15:7 But as for you, be strong and don’t get discouraged, 135 for your work will be rewarded.” 136
15:8 When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he was encouraged. 137 He removed the detestable idols from the entire land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities he had seized in the Ephraimite hill country. He repaired the altar of the Lord in front of the porch of the Lord’s temple. 138
15:9 He assembled all Judah and Benjamin, as well as the settlers 139 from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who had come to live with them. Many people from Israel had come there to live 140 when they saw that the Lord his God was with him. 15:10 They assembled in Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign. 15:11 At that time 141 they sacrificed to the Lord some of the plunder they had brought back, including 700 head of cattle and 7,000 sheep. 142 15:12 They solemnly agreed 143 to seek the Lord God of their ancestors 144 with their whole heart and being. 15:13 Anyone who would not seek the Lord God of Israel would be executed, whether they were young or old, 145 male or female. 15:14 They swore their allegiance to the Lord, shouting their approval loudly and sounding trumpets and horns. 146 15:15 All Judah was happy about the oath, because they made the vow with their whole heart. They willingly sought the Lord and he responded to them. 147 He made them secure on every side. 148
15:16 King Asa also removed Maacah his grandmother 149 from her position as queen mother 150 because she had made a loathsome Asherah pole. Asa cut down her Asherah pole and crushed and burned it in the Kidron Valley. 15:17 The high places were not eliminated from Israel, yet Asa was wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord throughout his lifetime. 151 15:18 He brought the holy items that his father and he had made into God’s temple, including the silver, gold, and other articles. 152
15:19 There was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign. 16:1 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, King Baasha of Israel attacked Judah, and he established Ramah as a military outpost to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the land of King Asa of Judah. 153 16:2 Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and of the royal palace and sent it to King Ben Hadad of Syria, ruler in Damascus, along with this message: 16:3 “I want to make a treaty with you, like the one our fathers made. 154 See, I have sent you silver and gold. Break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel, so he will retreat from my land.” 155 16:4 Ben Hadad accepted King Asa’s offer and ordered his army commanders to attack the cities of Israel. 156 They conquered 157 Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, 158 and all the storage cities of Naphtali. 16:5 When Baasha heard the news, he stopped fortifying 159 Ramah and abandoned the project. 160 16:6 King Asa ordered all the men of Judah to carry away the stones and wood that Baasha had used to build Ramah. 161 He used the materials to build up 162 Geba and Mizpah.
16:7 At that time Hanani the prophet 163 visited King Asa of Judah and said to him: “Because you relied on the king of Syria and did not rely on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. 16:8 Did not the Cushites and Libyans have a huge army with chariots and a very large number of horsemen? But when you relied on the Lord, he handed them over to you! 16:9 Certainly 164 the Lord watches the whole earth carefully 165 and is ready to strengthen those who are devoted to him. 166 You have acted foolishly in this matter; from now on you will have war. 16:10 Asa was so angry at the prophet, he put him in jail. 167 Asa also oppressed some of the people at that time.
16:11 The events of Asa’s reign, from start to finish, are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 168 16:12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a foot disease. 169 Though his disease was severe, he did not seek the Lord, but only the doctors. 170 16:13 Asa passed away 171 in the forty-first year of his reign. 16:14 He was buried in the tomb he had carved out in the City of David. 172 They laid him to rest on a bier covered with spices and assorted mixtures of ointments. They made a huge bonfire to honor him. 173
17:1 His son Jehoshaphat replaced him as king and solidified his rule over Israel. 174 17:2 He placed troops in all of Judah’s fortified cities and posted garrisons 175 throughout the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had seized.
17:3 The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed in his ancestor 176 David’s footsteps at the beginning of his reign. 177 He did not seek the Baals, 17:4 but instead sought the God of his ancestors 178 and obeyed 179 his commands, unlike the Israelites. 180 17:5 The Lord made his kingdom secure; 181 all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he became very wealthy and greatly respected. 182 17:6 He was committed to following the Lord; 183 he even removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.
17:7 In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah. 17:8 They were accompanied by the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-Adonijah, and by the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 17:9 They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the scroll of the law of the Lord. They traveled to all the cities of Judah and taught the people.
17:10 The Lord put fear into all the kingdoms surrounding Judah; 184 they did not make war with Jehoshaphat. 17:11 Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat tribute, including a load of silver. The Arabs brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats from their flocks.
17:12 Jehoshaphat’s power kept increasing. He built fortresses and storage cities throughout Judah. 17:13 He had many supplies stored in the cities of Judah and an army of skilled warriors stationed in Jerusalem. 185 17:14 These were their divisions by families:
There were a thousand officers from Judah. 186 Adnah the commander led 300,000 skilled warriors, 17:15 Jehochanan the commander led 280,000, 17:16 and Amasiah son of Zikri, who volunteered to serve the Lord, led 200,000 skilled warriors.
17:17 From Benjamin, Eliada, a skilled warrior, led 200,000 men who were equipped with bows and shields, 17:18 and Jehozabad led 180,000 trained warriors.
17:19 These were the ones who served the king, besides those whom the king placed in the fortified cities throughout Judah.
18:1 Jehoshaphat was very wealthy and greatly respected. He made an alliance by marriage with Ahab, 18:2 and after several years 187 went down to visit 188 Ahab in Samaria. 189 Ahab slaughtered many sheep and cattle to honor Jehoshaphat and those who came with him. 190 He persuaded him to join in an attack 191 against Ramoth Gilead. 18:3 King Ahab of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to attack Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I will support you; my army is at your disposal and will support you in battle.” 192 18:4 Then Jehoshaphat added, 193 “First seek an oracle from the Lord.” 194 18:5 So the king of Israel assembled 400 prophets and asked them, “Should we attack Ramoth Gilead or not?” 195 They said, “Attack! God 196 will hand it over to the king.” 18:6 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not a prophet of the Lord still here, that we may ask him?” 18:7 The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man through whom we can seek the Lord’s will. 197 But I despise 198 him because he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but always 199 disaster. His name is Micaiah son of Imlah. 200 Jehoshaphat said, “The king should not say such things!” 18:8 The king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Quickly bring Micaiah son of Imlah.”
18:9 Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah were sitting on their respective thrones, dressed in their royal robes, at the threshing floor at 201 the entrance of the gate of Samaria. All the prophets were prophesying before them. 18:10 Zedekiah son of Kenaanah made iron horns and said, “This is what the Lord says, ‘With these you will gore Syria until they are destroyed!’” 18:11 All the prophets were prophesying the same, saying, “Attack Ramoth Gilead! You will succeed; the Lord will hand it over to the king!” 18:12 Now the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look, the prophets are in complete agreement that the king will succeed. 202 Your words must agree with theirs; you must predict success!” 203 18:13 But Micaiah said, “As certainly as the Lord lives, I will say what my God tells me to say!”
18:14 Micaiah 204 came before the king and the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we attack Ramoth Gilead or not?” He answered him, “Attack! You will succeed; they will be handed over to you.” 205 18:15 The king said to him, “How many times must I make you solemnly promise in 206 the name of the Lord to tell me only the truth?” 18:16 Micaiah 207 replied, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep that have no shepherd. Then the Lord said, ‘They have no master. They should go home in peace.’” 18:17 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but disaster?” 18:18 Micaiah 208 said, “That being the case, hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, with all the heavenly assembly standing on his right and on his left. 18:19 The Lord said, ‘Who will deceive King Ahab of Israel, so he will attack Ramoth Gilead and die there?’ One said this and another that. 18:20 Then a spirit 209 stepped forward and stood before the Lord. He said, ‘I will deceive him.’ The Lord asked him, ‘How?’ 18:21 He replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ The Lord 210 said, ‘Deceive and overpower him. 211 Go out and do as you have proposed.’ 18:22 So now, look, the Lord has placed a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours; but the Lord has decreed disaster for you.” 18:23 Zedekiah son of Kenaanah approached, hit Micaiah on the jaw, and said, “Which way did the Lord’s spirit go when he went from me to speak to you?” 18:24 Micaiah replied, “Look, you will see in the day when you go into an inner room to hide.” 18:25 Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the city official and Joash the king’s son. 18:26 Say, ‘This is what the king says: “Put this man in prison. Give him only a little bread and water 212 until I return safely.”’” 18:27 Micaiah said, “If you really do return safely, then the Lord has not spoken through me!” Then he added, “Take note, 213 all you people.”
18:28 The king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah attacked Ramoth Gilead. 18:29 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and then enter 214 the battle; but you wear your royal attire.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and they entered the battle. 18:30 Now the king of Syria had ordered his chariot commanders, “Do not fight common soldiers or high ranking officers; 215 fight only the king of Israel!” 18:31 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “He must be the king of Israel!” So they turned and attacked him, but Jehoshaphat cried out. The Lord helped him; God lured them away from him. 18:32 When the chariot commanders realized he was not the king of Israel, they turned away from him. 18:33 Now an archer shot an arrow at random 216 and it struck the king of Israel between the plates of his armor. The king 217 ordered his charioteer, “Turn around and take me from the battle line, 218 for I am wounded.” 18:34 While the battle raged throughout the day, the king stood propped up in his chariot opposite the Syrians. He died in the evening as the sun was setting.
19:1 When King Jehoshaphat of Judah returned home safely to Jerusalem, 219 19:2 the prophet 220 Jehu son of Hanani confronted him; 221 he said to King Jehoshaphat, “Is it right to help the wicked and be an ally of those who oppose the Lord? 222 Because you have done this the Lord is angry with you! 223 19:3 Nevertheless you have done some good things; 224 you removed 225 the Asherah poles from the land and you were determined to follow the Lord.” 226
19:4 Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem. 227 He went out among the people from Beer Sheba to the hill country of Ephraim and encouraged them to follow 228 the Lord God of their ancestors. 229 19:5 He appointed judges throughout the land and in each of the fortified cities of Judah. 230 19:6 He told the judges, “Be careful what you do, 231 for you are not judging for men, but for the Lord, who will be with you when you make judicial decisions. 19:7 Respect the Lord and make careful decisions, for the Lord our God disapproves of injustice, partiality, and bribery.” 232
19:8 In Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed some Levites, priests, and Israelite family leaders to judge on behalf of the Lord 233 and to settle disputes among the residents of Jerusalem. 234 19:9 He commanded them: “Carry out your duties with respect for the Lord, with honesty, and with pure motives. 235 19:10 Whenever your countrymen who live in the cities bring a case before you 236 (whether it involves a violent crime 237 or other matters related to the law, commandments, rules, and regulations), warn them that they must not sin against the Lord. If you fail to do so, God will be angry with you and your colleagues; but if you obey, you will be free of guilt. 238 19:11 You will report to Amariah the chief priest in all matters pertaining to the Lord’s law, and to Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the family of Judah, in all matters pertaining to the king. 239 The Levites will serve as officials before you. Confidently carry out your duties! 240 May the Lord be with those who do well!”
20:1 Later the Moabites and Ammonites, along with some of the Meunites, 241 attacked Jehoshaphat. 20:2 Messengers 242 arrived and reported to Jehoshaphat, “A huge army is attacking you from the other side of the Dead Sea, 243 from the direction of Edom. 244 Look, they are in Hazezon Tamar (that is, En Gedi).” 20:3 Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he decided to seek the Lord’s advice. 245 He decreed that all Judah should observe a fast. 20:4 The people of Judah 246 assembled to ask for the Lord’s help; 247 they came from all the cities of Judah to ask for the Lord’s help. 248
20:5 Jehoshaphat stood before the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem 249 at the Lord’s temple, in front of the new courtyard. 20:6 He prayed: “O Lord God of our ancestors, 250 you are the God who lives in heaven 251 and rules over all the kingdoms of the nations. You possess strength and power; no one can stand against you. 20:7 Our God, you drove out 252 the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and gave it as a permanent possession 253 to the descendants of your friend 254 Abraham. 20:8 They settled down in it and built in it a temple 255 to honor you, 256 saying, 20:9 ‘If disaster comes on us in the form of military attack, 257 judgment, plague, or famine, we will stand in front of this temple before you, for you are present in this temple. 258 We will cry out to you for help in our distress, so that you will 259 hear and deliver us.’ 20:10 Now the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir are coming! 260 When Israel came from the land of Egypt, you did not allow them to invade these lands. 261 They bypassed them and did not destroy them. 20:11 Look how they are repaying us! They come to drive us out of our allotted land which you assigned to us! 20:12 Our God, will you not judge them? For we are powerless against this huge army that attacks us! We don’t know what we should do; we look to you for help.” 262
20:13 All the men of Judah 263 were standing before the Lord, along with their infants, wives, and children. 20:14 Then in the midst of the assembly, the Lord’s Spirit came upon Jachaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph. 20:15 He said: “Pay attention, all you people of Judah, 264 residents of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Don’t be afraid and don’t panic 265 because of this huge army! For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 20:16 Tomorrow march down against them as 266 they come up the Ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the ravine in front of the Desert of Jeruel. 20:17 You will not fight in this battle. Take your positions, stand, and watch the Lord deliver you, 267 O Judah and Jerusalem. Don’t be afraid and don’t panic! 268 Tomorrow march out toward them; the Lord is with you!’”
20:18 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face toward the ground, and all the people of Judah 269 and the residents of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord and worshiped him. 270 20:19 Then some Levites, from the Kohathites and Korahites, got up and loudly praised the Lord God of Israel. 271
20:20 Early the next morning they marched out to the Desert of Tekoa. When they were ready to march, Jehoshaphat stood up and said: “Listen to me, you people of Judah 272 and residents of Jerusalem! Trust in the Lord your God and you will be safe! 273 Trust in the message of his prophets and you will win.” 20:21 He met 274 with the people and appointed musicians to play before the Lord and praise his majestic splendor. As they marched ahead of the warriors they said: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his loyal love endures.” 275
20:22 When they began to shout and praise, the Lord suddenly attacked 276 the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir 277 who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 20:23 The Ammonites and Moabites attacked the men from Mount Seir 278 and annihilated them. 279 When they had finished off the men 280 of Seir, they attacked and destroyed one another. 281 20:24 When the men of Judah 282 arrived at the observation post overlooking the desert and looked at 283 the huge army, they saw dead bodies on the ground; there were no survivors! 20:25 Jehoshaphat and his men 284 went to gather the plunder; they found a huge amount of supplies, clothing 285 and valuable items. They carried away everything they could. 286 There was so much plunder, it took them three days to haul it off. 287
20:26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah, where 288 they praised the Lord. So that place is called the Valley of Berachah 289 to this very day. 20:27 Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem with Jehoshaphat leading them; the Lord had given them reason to rejoice over their enemies. 20:28 They entered Jerusalem to the sound of stringed instruments and trumpets and proceeded to the temple of the Lord. 20:29 All the kingdoms of the surrounding lands were afraid of God 290 when they heard how the Lord had fought against Israel’s enemies. 20:30 Jehoshaphat’s kingdom enjoyed peace; his God made him secure on every side. 291
20:31 Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king and he reigned for twenty-five years in Jerusalem. 292 His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi. 20:32 He followed in his father Asa’s footsteps and was careful to do what the Lord approved. 293 20:33 However, the high places were not eliminated; the people were still not devoted to the God of their ancestors. 294
20:34 The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, from start to finish, are recorded in the Annals of Jehu son of Hanani which are included in Scroll of the Kings of Israel. 295
20:35 Later King Jehoshaphat of Judah made an alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, who 296 did evil. 20:36 They agreed 297 to make large seagoing merchant ships; 298 they built the ships in Ezion Geber. 20:37 Eliezer son of Dodavahu from Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, “Because 299 you made an alliance with Ahaziah, the Lord will shatter what you have made.” The ships were wrecked and unable to go to sea. 300
21:1 Jehoshaphat passed away 301 and was buried with his ancestors 302 in the City of David. 303 His son Jehoram 304 replaced him as king.
21:2 His brothers, Jehoshaphat’s sons, were Azariah, Jechiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael, and Shephatiah. All of these were sons of King Jehoshaphat of Israel. 305 21:3 Their father gave them many presents, including silver, gold, and other precious items, along with fortified cities in Judah. But he gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the firstborn.
21:4 Jehoram took control of his father’s kingdom and became powerful. 306 Then he killed all his brothers, 307 as well as some of the officials of Israel. 21:5 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king and he reigned for eight years in Jerusalem. 308 21:6 He followed in the footsteps of the kings of Israel, just as Ahab’s dynasty had done, for he married Ahab’s daughter. 309 He did evil in the sight of 310 the Lord. 21:7 But the Lord was unwilling to destroy David’s dynasty 311 because of the promise 312 he had made to give David a perpetual dynasty. 313
21:8 During Jehoram’s 314 reign Edom freed themselves from Judah’s control and set up their own king. 315 21:9 Jehoram crossed over to Zair with his officers and all his chariots. The Edomites, who had surrounded him, attacked at night and defeated him and his chariot officers. 316 21:10 So Edom has remained free from Judah’s control to this very day. 317 At that same time Libnah also rebelled and freed themselves from Judah’s control 318 because Jehoram 319 rejected the Lord God of his ancestors. 21:11 He also built high places on the hills of Judah; he encouraged the residents of Jerusalem to be unfaithful to the Lord 320 and led Judah away from the Lord. 321
21:12 Jehoram 322 received this letter from Elijah the prophet: “This is what the Lord God of your ancestor David says: ‘You 323 have not followed in the footsteps 324 of your father Jehoshaphat and of 325 King Asa of Judah, 21:13 but have instead followed in the footsteps of the kings of Israel. You encouraged the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem to be unfaithful to the Lord, just as the family of Ahab does in Israel. 326 You also killed your brothers, members of your father’s family, 327 who were better than you. 21:14 So look, the Lord is about to severely afflict 328 your people, your sons, your wives, and all you own. 21:15 And you will get a serious, chronic intestinal disease which will cause your intestines to come out.” 329
21:16 The Lord stirred up against Jehoram the Philistines 330 and the Arabs who lived beside the Cushites. 21:17 They attacked Judah and swept through it. 331 They carried off everything they found in the royal palace, 332 including his sons and wives. None of his sons was left, except for his youngest, Ahaziah. 21:18 After all this happened, the Lord afflicted him with an incurable intestinal disease. 333 21:19 After about two years his intestines came out because of the disease, so that he died a very painful death. 334 His people did not make a bonfire to honor him, as they had done for his ancestors. 335
21:20 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. No one regretted his death; 336 he was buried in the City of David, 337 but not in the royal tombs.
[10:1] 2 tn Heb “him”; the referent (Rehoboam) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[10:3] 3 tn Heb “They sent and called for him.”
[10:4] 4 tn Heb “made our yoke burdensome.”
[10:4] 5 tn Heb “but you, now, lighten the burdensome work of your father and the heavy yoke which he placed on us, and we will serve you.” In the Hebrew text the prefixed verbal form with vav (וְנַעַבְדֶךָ, vÿna’avdekha, “and we will serve you”) following the imperative (הָקֵל, haqel, “lighten”) indicates purpose/result. The conditional sentence used in the present translation is an attempt to bring out the logical relationship between these forms.
[10:6] 6 tn Heb “stood before.”
[10:7] 8 tn Heb “If today you are for good to these people and you are favorable to them and speak to them good words, they will be your servants all the days.”
[10:8] 9 tn Heb “Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders which they advised and he consulted the young men with whom he had grown up, who stood before him.”
[10:9] 10 tn Heb “Lighten the yoke which your father placed on us.”
[10:10] 11 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Rehoboam) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[10:10] 12 tn Heb “Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it lighter upon us.”
[10:10] 13 tn Heb “My little one is thicker than my father’s hips.” The referent of “my little one” is not clear. The traditional view is that it refers to the little finger (so NEB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT). As the following statement makes clear, Rehoboam’s point is that he is more harsh and demanding than his father.
[10:11] 14 tn Heb “and now my father placed upon you a heavy yoke, but I will add to your yoke.”
[10:11] 15 tn Heb “My father punished you with whips, but I [will punish you] with scorpions.” “Scorpions” might allude to some type of torture, but more likely it refers to a type of whip that inflicts an especially biting, painful wound.
[10:13] 16 tn Heb “Rehoboam.” The pronoun “he” has been used in the translation in place of the proper name in keeping with contemporary English style.
[10:14] 17 tc The Hebrew text reads, “I will make heavy your yoke,” but many medieval Hebrew
[10:14] 18 tn Heb “but I will add to your yoke.”
[10:14] 19 tn Heb “My father punished you with whips, but I [will punish you] with scorpions.” “Scorpions” might allude to some type of torture, but more likely it refers to a type of whip that inflicts an especially biting, painful wound.
[10:15] 20 tn Heb “because this turn of events was from God.”
[10:15] 21 tn Heb “so that the
[10:16] 22 sn The people’s point seems to be that they have no familial relationship with David that brings them any benefits or places upon them any obligations. They are being treated like outsiders.
[10:16] 23 tn Heb “each one to your tents, Israel.” The word “return” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[10:16] 24 tn Heb “Now see your house, David.”
[10:16] 25 tn Heb “went to their tents.”
[10:18] 26 sn In the parallel account in 1 Kgs 12:18 this name appears as “Adoniram.”
[10:18] 27 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[11:1] 28 tn Heb “he summoned the house of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 chosen men, accomplished in war.”
[11:2] 29 tn Heb “and the word of the
[11:4] 30 tn Heb “for his thing is from me.”
[11:4] 31 tn Heb “and they heard the words of the
[11:5] 32 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[11:6] 33 map For location see Map5 B1; Map7 E2; Map8 E2; Map10 B4.
[11:12] 34 tn Heb “he strengthened them greatly, very much.”
[11:13] 35 tn Heb “and the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel supported him from all their territory.”
[11:15] 36 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jeroboam) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[11:15] 37 tn Heb “for the high places.”
[11:15] 38 tn Heb “and for the goats and for the calves he had made.”
[11:16] 39 tn Heb “and after them from all the tribes of Israel, the ones giving their heart[s] to seek the
[11:17] 41 tn Or “strengthened.”
[11:17] 42 tn Or “strengthened.”
[11:17] 43 tn Heb “they walked in the way of.”
[11:18] 44 tn Heb “took for himself a wife.”
[11:18] 45 tn The words “and of” are supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
[11:21] 46 sn Concubines were slave women in ancient Near Eastern societies who were the legal property of their master, but who could have legitimate sexual relations with their master. A concubine’s status was more elevated than a mere servant, but she was not free and did not have the legal rights of a free wife. The children of a concubine could, in some instances, become equal heirs with the children of the free wife. After the period of the Judges concubines may have become more of a royal prerogative (2 Sam 21:10-14; 1 Kgs 11:3).
[11:22] 47 tn Heb “and Rehoboam appointed for a head Abijah son of Maacah for ruler among his brothers, indeed to make him king.”
[11:23] 48 tn Heb “and he was discerning and broke up from all his sons to all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to all the fortified cities.”
[11:23] 49 tn “and he asked for a multitude of wives.”
[12:5] 50 tn Heb “also I have rejected you into the hand of Shishak.”
[12:6] 51 tn Or “fair,” meaning the
[12:7] 52 tn Heb “the word of the
[12:7] 53 tn Heb “and I will give to them soon deliverance.”
[12:7] 54 tn Or “gush forth upon.”
[12:7] 55 tn Heb “by the hand of.”
[12:8] 56 tn Heb “so they may know my service and the service of the kingdoms of the lands.”
[12:10] 57 tn Heb “runners” (also in v. 11).
[12:11] 58 tn Heb “to the chamber of the runners.”
[12:12] 59 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Rehoboam) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[12:12] 60 tn Heb “the anger of the
[12:12] 61 tn Heb “and also in Judah there were good things.”
[12:13] 62 tn Heb “and the king, Rehoboam, strengthened himself in Jerusalem and ruled.”
[12:13] 63 tn Heb “Rehoboam.” The recurrence of the proper name here is redundant in terms of contemporary English style, so the pronoun has been used in the translation instead.
[12:13] 64 tn Heb “the city where the
[12:13] 65 tn Heb “his”; the referent has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[12:14] 66 tn Heb “because he did not set his heart to seek the
[12:15] 67 tn Heb “As for the events of Rehoboam, the former and the latter, are they not written?”
[12:16] 68 tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
[12:16] 69 sn The phrase the City of David refers here to the fortress of Zion in Jerusalem, not to Bethlehem. See 2 Sam 5:7.
[13:2] 70 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[13:2] 71 tn The parallel text in 1 Kgs 15:1 identifies his mother as “Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom” [=Absalom, 2 Chr 11:20). Although most English versions identify the mother’s father as Uriel of Gibeah, a number of English versions substitute the name “Maacah” here for the mother (e.g., NIV, NCV, CEV, NLT).
[13:3] 72 tn Heb “and Abijah bound [i.e., began] the battle with a force of warriors, four hundred thousand chosen men.”
[13:3] 73 tn Heb “and Jeroboam arranged with him [for] battle with eight hundred thousand chosen men, strong warrior[s].”
[13:5] 74 tn Heb “Do you not know that the
[13:5] sn For other references to a “covenant of salt,” see Lev 2:13 and Num 18:19.
[13:7] 75 tn Heb “empty men, sons of wickedness.”
[13:7] 76 tn Heb “strengthened themselves.”
[13:7] 77 tn Heb “a young man and tender of heart.”
[13:8] 78 tn Heb “the kingdom of the
[13:8] 79 tn Or “horde”; or “multitude.”
[13:9] 80 tn In the Hebrew text this is phrased as a rhetorical question, “Did you not banish?” The rhetorical question expects the answer, “Of course you did,” the force of which is reflected in the translation “But you banished.”
[13:9] 81 tn Heb “whoever comes to fill his hand with a bull of a son of cattle, and seven rams, and he is a priest to no-gods.”
[13:10] 82 tn Heb “and priests serving the
[13:12] 84 tn Heb “and his priests and the trumpets of the war alarm [are ready] to sound out against you.”
[13:12] 85 tn Heb “fathers” (also in v. 18).
[13:13] 86 tn Heb “and Jeroboam had caused to circle around an ambush to come from behind them.”
[13:14] 88 tn Heb “and Judah turned, and, look, to them [was] the battle in front and behind.”
[13:15] 89 tn Heb “shouted out.”
[13:16] 91 tn Heb “them”; the referent (the men of Judah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[13:17] 92 tn Heb “struck them down with a great striking down.”
[13:17] 93 tn Heb “and [the] slain from Israel fell, five hundred thousand chosen men.”
[13:18] 94 tn Heb “at that time.”
[13:19] 95 map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.
[13:20] 96 tn Heb “and the strength of Jeroboam was not retained again in the days of Abijah.”
[13:21] 97 tn Heb “lifted up for himself.”
[13:22] 98 tn Heb “and his ways and his words.”
[14:1] 99 sn Beginning with 14:1, the verse numbers through 14:15 in the English Bible differ from the verse numbers in the Hebrew text (BHS), with 14:1 ET = 13:23 HT, 14:2 ET = 14:1 HT, 14:3 ET = 14:2 HT, etc., through 14:15 ET = 14:14 HT. Beginning with 15:1 the verse numbers in the ET and HT are again the same.
[14:1] 100 tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
[14:1] 101 sn The phrase the City of David refers here to the fortress of Zion in Jerusalem, not to Bethlehem. See 2 Sam 5:7.
[14:1] 102 tn Heb “in his days.”
[14:2] 103 tn Heb “and Asa did the good and the right in the eyes of the
[14:3] 104 tn Heb “the altars of the foreigner.”
[14:3] 105 sn Asherah poles. A leading deity of the Canaanite pantheon was Asherah, wife/sister of El and goddess of fertility. She was commonly worshiped at shrines in or near groves of evergreen trees, or, failing that, at places marked by wooden poles (Hebrew אֲשֵׁרִים [’asherim], as here). They were to be burned or cut down (Deut 7:5; 12:3; 16:21; Judg 6:25, 28, 30; 2 Kgs 18:4).
[14:4] 107 tn Heb “the law and the command.”
[14:5] 108 tn Heb “before him.”
[14:7] 109 tn The words “the people of” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The Hebrew text uses the name “Judah” by metonymy for the people of Judah.
[14:7] 110 tn Heb “and we will surround [them] with wall[s] and towers, doors, and bars.”
[14:7] 112 tn Heb “and he has given us rest all around.”
[14:7] 113 tn The words “the cities” are supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
[14:9] 114 tn Heb “a thousand thousands.”
[14:11] 115 tn Heb “called out.”
[14:11] 116 tn Heb “there is not with you to help between many with regard to [the one] without strength.”
[14:11] 117 tn Heb “and in your name we have come against this multitude.”
[14:11] 118 tn Heb “let not man retain [strength] with you.”
[14:13] 119 tn Heb “and there fell from the Cushites so that there was not to them preservation of life.”
[14:13] 120 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the men of Judah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[14:14] 121 tn Heb “for the terror of the
[14:14] 122 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the men of Judah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[14:14] 123 tn Heb “for great plunder was in them.”
[14:15] 124 tn Heb “and also they struck down the tents of the livestock.”
[14:15] 125 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[15:2] 126 tn Heb “went out before.”
[15:2] 127 tn Heb “when you are with him.”
[15:2] 128 tn Heb “he will allow himself to be found by you.”
[15:3] 129 tn Heb “Many days.”
[15:4] 130 tn Heb “and he allowed himself to be found by them.”
[15:5] 132 tn Heb “there was peace for the one going out or the one coming in.”
[15:5] 133 tn Heb “for great confusion was upon all the inhabitants of the lands.”
[15:6] 134 tn Heb “threw them into confusion with all distress.”
[15:7] 135 tn Heb “and let not your hands drop.”
[15:7] 136 tn Heb “for there is payment for your work.”
[15:8] 137 tn Heb “strengthened himself.”
[15:8] 138 tn Heb “the porch of the
[15:9] 139 tn Or “resident aliens.”
[15:9] 140 tn Heb “had fallen upon him.”
[15:11] 141 tn Or “In that day.”
[15:11] 142 tn The Hebrew term צֹאן (tso’n) denotes smaller livestock in general; depending on context it can refer to sheep only or goats only, but their is nothing in the immediate context here to specify one or the other.
[15:12] 143 tn Heb “entered into a covenant.”
[15:13] 145 tn Heb “whether small or great.”
[15:14] 146 tn Heb “with a loud voice and with a shout and with trumpets and with horns.”
[15:15] 147 tn Heb “and with all their desire they sought him and he allowed himself to be found by them.”
[15:15] 148 tn Heb “and the
[15:16] 149 tn Heb “mother,” but Hebrew often uses “father” and “mother” for grandparents and even more remote ancestors.
[15:16] 150 tn The Hebrew term גְּבִירָה (gÿvirah) can denote “queen” or “queen mother” depending on the context. Here the latter is indicated, since Maacah was the wife of Rehoboam and mother of Abijah.
[15:17] 151 tn Heb “yet the heart of Asa was complete all his days.”
[15:18] 152 tn Heb “and he brought the holy things of his father and his holy things [into] the house of God, silver, gold, and items.”
[16:1] 153 tn Heb “and he built up Ramah so as to not permit going out or coming in to Asa king of Judah.”
[16:3] 154 tn Heb “[May there be] a covenant between me and you [as there was] between my father and your father.”
[16:3] 155 tn Heb “so he will go up from upon me.”
[16:4] 156 tn Heb “and Ben Hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of the armies which belonged to him against the cities of Israel.”
[16:4] 157 tn Heb “They struck down.”
[16:4] 158 sn In the parallel passage in 1 Kgs 15:20, this city’s name appears as Abel Beth Maacah. These appear to be variant names for the same place.
[16:5] 160 tn Heb “and he caused his work to cease.”
[16:6] 161 tn Heb “and King Asa took all Judah and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its wood which Baasha had built.”
[16:6] 162 tn Heb “and he built with them.”
[16:9] 165 tn Heb “the eyes of the
[16:9] 166 tn Heb “to strengthen himself with their heart, [the one] complete toward him.”
[16:10] 167 tn Heb “and Asa was angry at the seer, and he put him [in] the house of stocks, because of his rage with him over this.”
[16:11] 168 tn Heb “Look, the events of Asa, the former and the latter, look, they are written on the scroll of the kings of Judah and Israel.”
[16:12] 169 tn Heb “became sick in his feet.”
[16:12] 170 tn Heb “unto upwards [i.e., very severe [was] his sickness, and even in his sickness he did not seek the
[16:13] 171 tn Heb “lay down with his fathers, and he died.”
[16:14] 172 sn The phrase the City of David refers here to the fortress of Zion in Jerusalem, not to Bethlehem. See 2 Sam 5:7.
[16:14] 173 tn Heb “and they burned for him a large fire, very great.”
[17:1] 174 tn Heb “and strengthened himself over Israel.”
[17:2] 175 tn Or perhaps, “governors.”
[17:3] 177 tn Heb “for he walked in the ways of David his father [in] the beginning [times].”
[17:4] 179 tn Heb “walked in.”
[17:4] 180 tn Heb “and not like the behavior of Israel.”
[17:5] 181 tn Heb “established the kingdom in his hand.”
[17:5] 182 tn Heb “and he had wealth and honor in abundance.”
[17:6] 183 tn Heb “and his heart was high in the ways of the
[17:10] 184 tn Heb “and the terror of the
[17:13] 185 tn Heb “and many supplies were his in the cities of Judah, and men of war, warriors of skill in Jerusalem.”
[17:13] map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[17:14] 186 tn Or perhaps “from Judah, commanders of the thousands.”
[18:2] 187 tn Heb “at the end of years.”
[18:2] 188 tn The word “visit” is supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
[18:2] 189 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
[18:2] 190 tn Heb “and Ahab slaughtered for him sheep and cattle in abundance, and for the people who were with him.”
[18:3] 192 tn Heb “Like me, like you; and like your people, my people; and with you in battle.”
[18:4] 193 tn Heb “and Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel.”
[18:4] 194 tn Heb “the word of the
[18:5] 195 tn Heb “Should we go against Ramoth Gilead for war or should I refrain?”
[18:5] 196 tn Though Jehoshaphat had requested an oracle from “the
[18:7] 197 tn Heb “to seek the
[18:7] 199 tn Heb “all his days.”
[18:7] 200 tn The words “his name is” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[18:9] 201 tn Heb “at,” which in this case probably means “near.”
[18:12] 202 tn Heb “the words of the prophets are [with] one mouth good for the king.”
[18:12] 203 tn Heb “let your words be like one of them and speak good.”
[18:14] 204 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Micaiah) has been specified in the translation both for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
[18:14] 205 sn One does not expect Micaiah, having just vowed to speak only what the
[18:15] 206 tn Or “swear an oath by.”
[18:16] 207 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Micaiah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[18:18] 208 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Micaiah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[18:20] 209 tn Heb “the spirit.” The significance of the article prefixed to רוּחַ (ruakh) is uncertain, but it could contain a clue as to this spirit’s identity, especially when interpreted in light of verse 23. It is certainly possible, and probably even likely, that the article is used in a generic or dramatic sense and should be translated, “a spirit.” In the latter case it would show that this spirit was vivid and definite in the mind of Micaiah the storyteller. However, if one insists that the article indicates a well-known or universally known spirit, the following context provides a likely referent. Verse 23 tells how Zedekiah slapped Micaiah in the face and then asked sarcastically, “Which way did the spirit from the
[18:21] 210 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the
[18:21] 211 tn The Hebrew text has two imperfects connected by וְגַם (vÿgam). These verbs could be translated as specific futures, “you will deceive and also you will prevail,” in which case the
[18:26] 212 tn Heb “the bread of affliction and the water of affliction.”
[18:29] 214 tn The Hebrew verbal forms could be imperatives (“Disguise yourself and enter”), but this would make no sense in light of the immediately following context. The forms are better interpreted as infinitives absolute functioning as cohortatives (see IBHS 594 §35.5.2a). Some prefer to emend the forms to imperfects.
[18:30] 215 tn Heb “small or great.”
[18:33] 216 tn Heb “now a man drew a bow in his innocence” (i.e., with no specific target in mind, or at least without realizing his target was the king of Israel).
[18:33] 217 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[19:1] 219 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[19:2] 221 tn Heb “went out to his face.”
[19:2] 222 tn Heb “and love those who hate the
[19:2] 223 tn Heb “and because of this upon you is anger from before the
[19:3] 224 tn Heb “nevertheless good things are found with you.”
[19:3] 225 tn Here בָּעַר (ba’ar) is not the well attested verb “burn,” but the less common homonym meaning “devastate, sweep away, remove.” See HALOT 146 s.v. II בער.
[19:3] 226 tn Heb “and you set your heart to seek the
[19:4] 227 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[19:4] 228 tn Heb “and turned them back to.”
[19:5] 230 tn Heb “in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city.”
[19:6] 231 tn Heb “see what you are doing.”
[19:7] 232 tn Heb “and now let the terror of the
[19:8] 233 tn Heb “for the judgment of the
[19:8] 234 tc Heb “and to conduct a case [or “for controversy”], and they returned [to] Jerusalem.” Some emend וַיָּשֻׁבוּ (vayyashuvu, “and they returned”) to וַיֵּשְׁבוּ (vayyeshÿvu, “and they lived [in]”). The present translation assumes an emendation to יֹשְׁבֵי (yoshÿvey, “residents of”).
[19:9] 235 tn Heb “This you must do with the fear of the
[19:10] 236 tn Heb “and every case which comes to you from your brothers who live in their cities.”
[19:10] 237 tn Heb “between blood pertaining to blood.”
[19:10] 238 tn Heb “and anger will be upon you and your brothers; do this and you will not be guilty.”
[19:11] 239 tn Heb “and look, Amariah the chief priest is over you with respect to every matter of the
[19:11] 240 tn Heb “Be strong and act!”
[20:1] 241 tc The Hebrew text has “Ammonites,” but they are mentioned just before this. Most translations, following some
[20:2] 242 tn Heb “they”; the implied referent (messengers) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[20:2] 243 tn Heb “the Sea”; in context (“from the direction of Edom”) this must refer to the Dead Sea, which has been specified in the translation for clarity (cf. NEB, NLT).
[20:2] 244 tc Most Hebrew
[20:3] 245 tn Heb “and he set his face to seek the
[20:4] 246 tn The words “the people of” are supplied in the translation for clarity. The Hebrew text uses the name “Judah” by metonymy for the people of Judah.
[20:4] 247 tn Heb “to seek from the
[20:4] 248 tn Heb “to seek the
[20:5] 249 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[20:6] 250 tn Heb “fathers” (also in v. 33).
[20:6] 251 tn Heb “are you not God in heaven?” The rhetorical question expects the answer “yes,” resulting in the positive statement “you are the God who lives in heaven” employed in the translation.
[20:7] 252 tn Heb “did you not drive out?” This is another rhetorical question which expects a positive response; see the note on the word “heaven” in the previous verse.
[20:7] 253 tn Heb “permanently.”
[20:7] 254 tn Or perhaps “your covenantal partner.” See Isa 41:8.
[20:8] 256 tn Heb “for your name.” The word “name” sometimes refers to one’s reputation or honor (thus the translation here, “to honor you
[20:9] 258 tn Heb “for your name is in this house.” The “name” of the
[20:9] 259 tn Or “so that you may.”
[20:10] 260 tn Heb “now, look, the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir.”
[20:10] 261 tn Heb “whom you did not allow Israel to enter when they came from the land of Egypt.”
[20:12] 262 tn Heb “for [or “indeed”] upon you are our eyes.”
[20:13] 263 tn Heb “Judah.” The words “the men of” are supplied in the translation for clarity. The Hebrew text uses the name “Judah” by metonymy for the men of Judah.
[20:15] 264 tn Heb “all Judah.” The words “you people of” are supplied in the translation for clarity. The Hebrew text uses the name “Judah” by metonymy for the people of Judah. Unlike the previous instance in v. 13 where infants, wives, and children are mentioned separately, this reference appears to include them all.
[20:15] 265 tn Or perhaps “don’t get discouraged.”
[20:17] 267 tn Heb “the deliverance of the
[20:17] 268 tn Or perhaps “don’t get discouraged.”
[20:18] 269 tn Heb “all Judah.” The words “you people of” are supplied in the translation for clarity. See the note on the word “Judah” in v. 15.
[20:18] 270 tn Heb “to worship the
[20:19] 271 tn Heb “arose to praise the
[20:20] 272 tn Heb “O Judah.” The words “you people of” are supplied in the translation for clarity. See the note on the word “Judah” in v. 15.
[20:20] 273 tn There is a wordplay in the Hebrew text. The Hiphil verb form הַאֲמִינוּ (ha’aminu, “trust”) and the Niphal form תֵאָמֵנוּ (te’amenu, “you will be safe”) come from the same verbal root (אָמַן, ’aman).
[20:21] 274 tn Or “consulted.”
[20:21] 275 tn Or “is eternal.”
[20:22] 276 tn Heb “set ambushers against.” This is probably idiomatic here for launching a surprise attack.
[20:22] 277 tn Heb “the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir.”
[20:23] 278 tn Heb “the sons of Ammon and Moab stood against the residents of Mount Seir.”
[20:23] 279 tn Heb “to annihilate and to destroy.”
[20:23] 280 tn Heb “residents.”
[20:23] 281 tn Heb “they helped, each one his fellow, for destruction.” The verb עָזַר (’azar), traditionally understood as the well-attested verb meaning “to help,” is an odd fit in this context. It is possible that it is from a homonymic root, perhaps meaning to “attack.” This root is attested in Ugaritic in a nominal form meaning “young man, warrior, hero.” For a discussion of the proposed root, see HALOT 811 s.v. II עזר.
[20:24] 282 tn Heb “Judah.” The words “the men of” are supplied in the translation for clarity. The Hebrew text uses the name “Judah” by metonymy for the men of Judah.
[20:24] 283 tn Heb “turned toward.”
[20:25] 285 tc The MT reads פְגָרִים (fÿgarim, “corpses”), but this seems odd among a list of plunder. A few medieval Hebrew
[20:25] 286 tn Heb “and they snatched away for themselves so that there was no carrying away.”
[20:25] 287 tn Heb “and they were three days looting the plunder for it was great.”
[20:26] 288 tn Heb “for there.”
[20:26] 289 sn The name Berachah, which means “blessing” in Hebrew, is derived from the verbal root “to praise [or “to bless”],” which appears earlier in the verse.
[20:29] 290 tn Heb “and the terror of God [or “a great terror”] was upon all the kingdoms of the lands.” It is uncertain if אֱלֹהִים (’elohim) should be understood as a proper name here (“God”), or taken in an idiomatic superlative sense.
[20:30] 291 tn Heb “and his God gave him rest all around.”
[20:31] 292 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[20:32] 293 tn Heb “he walked in the way of his father Asa and did not turn from it, doing what is right in the eyes of the
[20:33] 294 tn Heb “and still the people did not set their heart[s] on the God of their fathers.”
[20:34] 295 tn Heb “the rest of the events of Jehoshaphat, the former and the latter, look, they are written in the records of Jehu son of Hanani, which are taken up in the scroll of the kings of Israel.”
[20:35] 296 tn Heb “he.” The pronoun has been translated as a relative pronoun for stylistic reasons.
[20:36] 297 tn Heb “he made an alliance with him.”
[20:36] 298 tn Heb “make ships to go to Tarshish.” This probably refers to large ships either made in or capable of traveling to the distant western port of Tarshish; a “Tarshish-ship” was essentially a large seagoing merchant ship.
[20:37] 300 tn Heb “to go to Tarshish.”
[21:1] 301 tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
[21:1] 302 tn Heb “fathers” (also in vv. 10, 12, 19).
[21:1] 303 sn The phrase the City of David refers here to the fortress of Zion in Jerusalem, not to Bethlehem. See 2 Sam 5:7.
[21:1] 304 tn The parallel account in 2 Kgs 8:16-24 has the variant spelling “Jehoram.”
[21:2] 305 sn A number of times in 2 Chronicles “Israel” is used instead of the more specific “Judah”; see 2 Chr 12:6; 23:2). In the interest of consistency some translations (e.g., NAB, NRSV) substitute “Judah” for “Israel” here.
[21:4] 306 tn Heb “and Jehoram arose over the kingdom of his father and strengthened himself.”
[21:4] 307 tn Heb “and he killed all his brothers with the sword.”
[21:5] 308 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[21:6] 309 tn Heb “he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab did, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife.”
[21:6] 310 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
[21:7] 313 tn Heb “which he made to David, just as he had promised to give him and his sons a lamp all the days.” Here “lamp” is metaphorical, symbolizing the Davidic dynasty.
[21:8] 314 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Jehoram) has been specified in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
[21:8] 315 tn Heb “in his days Edom rebelled from under the hand of Judah and enthroned a king over them.”
[21:9] 316 tc Heb “and he arose at night and defeated Edom, who had surrounded him, and the chariot officers.” The Hebrew text as it stands gives the impression that Jehoram was surrounded and launched a victorious nighttime counterattack. Yet v. 10 goes on to state that the Edomite revolt was successful. The translation above assumes an emendation of the Hebrew text. Adding a third masculine singular pronominal suffix to the accusative sign before Edom (reading אֹתוֹ [’oto, “him”] instead of just אֶת [’et]) and taking Edom as the subject of verbs allows one to translate the verse in a way that is more consistent with the context, which depicts an Israelite defeat, not victory. See also 2 Kgs 8:21.
[21:10] 317 tn Heb “and Edom rebelled from under the hand of Judah until this day.”
[21:10] 318 tn Or “from Jehoram’s control”; Heb “from under his hand.” The pronominal suffix may refer to Judah in general or, more specifically, to Jehoram.
[21:10] 319 tn Heb “he.” This pronoun could refer to Judah, but the context focuses on Jehoram’s misdeeds. See especially v. 11.
[21:11] 320 tn Heb “and he caused the residents of Jerusalem to commit adultery.” In this context spiritual unfaithfulness to the
[21:11] 321 tn Heb “and drove Judah away.”
[21:12] 322 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jehoram) has been specified in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
[21:12] 323 tn Heb “Because you…” In the Hebrew text this lengthy sentence is completed in vv. 14-15. Because of its length and complexity (and the tendency of contemporary English to use shorter sentences), the translation has divided it up into several English sentences.
[21:12] 324 tn Heb “walked in the ways.”
[21:12] 325 tn Heb “in the ways of.”
[21:13] 326 tn Heb “and you walked in the way of the kings of Israel and caused Judah and the residents of Jerusalem to commit adultery, like the house of Ahab causes to commit adultery.”
[21:13] 327 tn Heb “the house of your father.”
[21:14] 328 tn Heb “to strike with a great striking.”
[21:15] 329 tn Heb “and you [will have] a serious illness, an illness of the intestines until your intestines come out because of the illness days upon days.”
[21:16] 330 tn Heb “the spirit of the Philistines.”
[21:17] 331 tn Heb “broke it up.”
[21:17] 332 tn Heb “all the property which was found in the house of the king.”
[21:18] 333 tn Heb “in his intestines with an illness [for which] there was no healer.”
[21:19] 334 tn Heb “and it was to days from days, and about the time of the going out of the end for the days, two, his intestines came out with his illness and he died in severe illness.”
[21:19] 335 tn Heb “and his people did not make for him a fire, like the fire of his fathers.”
[21:20] 336 tn Heb “and he went without desire.”
[21:20] 337 sn The phrase the City of David refers here to the fortress of Zion in Jerusalem, not to Bethlehem. See 2 Sam 5:7.
