GetPassageurn:cts:pbc:bible.parallel.eng.kingjames:11urn:cts:pbc:bible.parallel.eng.kingjames:11Now king David was old and stricken in years ; and they covered him with clothes , but he gat no heat . Wherefore his servants said unto him , Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin : and let her stand before the king , and let her cherish him , and let her lie in thy bosom , that my lord the king may get heat . So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel , and found Abishag a Shunammite , and brought her to the king . And the damsel was very fair , and cherished the king , and ministered to him : but the king knew her not . Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself , saying , I will be king : and he prepared him chariots and horsemen , and fifty men to run before him . And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying , Why hast thou done so ? and he also was a very goodly man ; and his mother bare him after Absalom . And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah , and with Abiathar the priest : and they following Adonijah helped him . But Zadok the priest , and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada , and Nathan the prophet , and Shimei , and Rei , and the mighty men which belonged to David , were not with Adonijah . And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth , which is by En-rogel , and called all his brethren the king's sons , and all the men of Judah the king's servants : But Nathan the prophet , and Benaiah , and the mighty men , and Solomon his brother , he called not . Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bath-sheba the mother of Solomon , saying , Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign , and David our lord knoweth it not ? Now therefore come , let me , I pray thee , give thee counsel , that thou mayest save thine own life , and the life of thy son Solomon . Go and get thee in unto king David , and say unto him , Didst not thou , my lord , O king , swear unto thine handmaid , saying , Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me , and he shall sit upon my throne ? why then doth Adonijah reign ? Behold , while thou yet talkest there with the king , I also will come in after thee , and confirm thy words . And Bath-sheba went in unto the king into the chamber : and the king was very old ; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king . And Bath-sheba bowed , and did obeisance unto the king . And the king said , What wouldest thou ? And she said unto him , My lord , thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid , saying , Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me , and he shall sit upon my throne . And now , behold , Adonijah reigneth ; and now , my lord the king , thou knowest it not : And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance , and hath called all the sons of the king , and Abiathar the priest , and Joab the captain of the host : but Solomon thy servant hath he not called . And thou , my lord , O king , the eyes of all Israel are upon thee , that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him . Otherwise it shall come to pass , when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers , that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders . And , lo , while she yet talked with the king , Nathan the prophet also came in . And they told the king , saying , Behold Nathan the prophet . And when he was come in before the king , he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground . And Nathan said , My lord , O king , hast thou said , Adonijah shall reign after me , and he shall sit upon my throne ? For he is gone down this day , and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance , and hath called all the king's sons , and the captains of the host , and Abiathar the priest ; and , behold , they eat and drink before him , and say , God save king Adonijah . But me , even me thy servant , and Zadok the priest , and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada , and thy servant Solomon , hath he not called . Is this thing done by my lord the king , and thou hast not shewed it unto thy servant , who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him ? Then king David answered and said , Call me Bath-sheba . And she came into the king's presence , and stood before the king . And the king sware , and said , As the LORD liveth , that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress , Even as I sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel , saying , Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me , and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead ; even so will I certainly do this day . Then Bath-sheba bowed with her face to the earth , and did reverence to the king , and said , Let my lord king David live for ever . And king David said , Call me Zadok the priest , and Nathan the prophet , and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada . And they came before the king . The king also said unto them , Take with you the servants of your lord , and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule , and bring him down to Gihon : And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel : and blow ye with the trumpet , and say , God save king Solomon . Then ye shall come up after him , that he may come and sit upon my throne ; for he shall be king in my stead : and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah . And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king , and said , Amen : the LORD God of my lord the king say so too . As the LORD hath been with my lord the king , even so be he with Solomon , and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David . So Zadok the priest , and Nathan the prophet , and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada , and the Cherethites , and the Pelethites , went down , and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule , and brought him to Gihon . And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle , and anointed Solomon . And they blew the trumpet ; and all the people said , God save king Solomon . And all the people came up after him , and the people piped with pipes , and rejoiced with great joy , so that the earth rent with the sound of them . And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating . And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet , he said , Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar ? And while he yet spake , behold , Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came : and Adonijah said unto him , Come in ; for thou art a valiant man , and bringest good tidings . And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah , Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king . And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest , and Nathan the prophet , and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada , and the Cherethites , and the Pelethites , and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule : And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon : and they are come up from thence rejoicing , so that the city rang again . This is the noise that ye have heard . And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom . And moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David , saying , God make the name of Solomon better than thy name , and make his throne greater than thy throne . And the king bowed himself upon the bed . And also thus said the king , Blessed be the LORD God of Israel , which hath given one to sit on my throne this day , mine eyes even seeing it . And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid , and rose up , and went every man his way . And Adonijah feared because of Solomon , and arose , and went , and caught hold on the horns of the altar . And it was told Solomon , saying , Behold , Adonijah feareth king Solomon : for , lo , he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar , saying , Let king Solomon swear unto me to day that he will not slay his servant with the sword . And Solomon said , If he will shew himself a worthy man , there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth : but if wickedness shall be found in him , he shall die . So king Solomon sent , and they brought him down from the altar . And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon : and Solomon said unto him , Go to thine house . Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die ; and he charged Solomon his son , saying , I go the way of all the earth : be thou strong therefore , and shew thyself a man ; And keep the charge of the LORD thy God , to walk in his ways , to keep his statutes , and his commandments , and his judgments , and his testimonies , as it is written in the law of Moses , that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest , and whithersoever thou turnest thyself : That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me , saying , If thy children take heed to their way , to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul , there shall not fail thee ( said he ) a man on the throne of Israel . Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me , and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel , unto Abner the son of Ner , and unto Amasa the son of Jether , whom he slew , and shed the blood of war in peace , and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins , and in his shoes that were on his feet . Do therefore according to thy wisdom , and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace . But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite , and let them be of those that eat at thy table : for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother . And , behold , thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera , a Benjamite of Bahurim , which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim : but he came down to meet me at Jordan , and I sware to him by the LORD , saying , I will not put thee to death with the sword . Now therefore hold him not guiltless : for thou art a wise man , and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him ; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood . So David slept with his fathers , and was buried in the city of David . And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years : seven years reigned he in Hebron , and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem . Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father ; and his kingdom was established greatly . And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bath-sheba the mother of Solomon . And she said , Comest thou peaceably ? And he said , Peaceably . He said moreover , I have somewhat to say unto thee . And she said , Say on . And he said , Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine , and that all Israel set their faces on me , that I should reign : howbeit the kingdom is turned about , and is become my brother's : for it was his from the LORD . And now I ask one petition of thee , deny me not . And she said unto him , Say on . And he said , Speak , I pray thee , unto Solomon the king , ( for he will not say thee nay , ) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife . And Bath-sheba said , Well ; I will speak for thee unto the king . Bath-sheba therefore went unto king Solomon , to speak unto him for Adonijah . And the king rose up to meet her , and bowed himself unto her , and sat down on his throne , and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother ; and she sat on his right hand . Then she said , I desire one small petition of thee ; I pray thee , say me not nay . And the king said unto her , Ask on , my mother : for I will not say thee nay . And she said , Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife . And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother , And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah ? ask for him the kingdom also ; for he is mine elder brother ; even for him , and for Abiathar the priest , and for Joab the son of Zeruiah . Then king Solomon sware by the LORD , saying , God do so to me , and more also , if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life . Now therefore , as the LORD liveth , which hath established me , and set me on the throne of David my father , and who hath made me an house , as he promised , Adonijah shall be put to death this day . And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada ; and he fell upon him that he died . And unto Abiathar the priest said the king , Get thee to Anathoth , unto thine own fields ; for thou art worthy of death : but I will not at this time put thee to death , because thou barest the ark of the Lord GOD before David my father , and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted . So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the LORD ; that he might fulfil the word of the LORD , which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh . Then tidings came to Joab : for Joab had turned after Adonijah , though he turned not after Absalom . And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD , and caught hold on the horns of the altar . And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD ; and , behold , he is by the altar . Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada , saying , Go , fall upon him . And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the LORD , and said unto him , Thus saith the king , Come forth . And he said , Nay ; but I will die here . And Benaiah brought the king word again , saying , Thus said Joab , and thus he answered me . And the king said unto him , Do as he hath said , and fall upon him , and bury him ; that thou mayest take away the innocent blood , which Joab shed , from me , and from the house of my father . And the LORD shall return his blood upon his own head , who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he , and slew them with the sword , my father David not knowing thereof , to wit , Abner the son of Ner , captain of the host of Israel , and Amasa the son of Jether , captain of the host of Judah . Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab , and upon the head of his seed for ever : but upon David , and upon his seed , and upon his house , and upon his throne , shall there be peace for ever from the LORD . So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up , and fell upon him , and slew him : and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness . And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the host : and Zadok the priest did the king put in the room of Abiathar . And the king sent and called for Shimei , and said unto him , Build thee an house in Jerusalem , and dwell there , and go not forth thence any whither . For it shall be , that on the day thou goest out , and passest over the brook Kidron , thou shalt know for certain that thou shalt surely die : thy blood shall be upon thine own head . And Shimei said unto the king , The saying is good : as my lord the king hath said , so will thy servant do . And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days . And it came to pass at the end of three years , that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king of Gath . And they told Shimei , saying , Behold , thy servants be in Gath . And Shimei arose , and saddled his ass , and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants : and Shimei went , and brought his servants from Gath . And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath , and was come again . And the king sent and called for Shimei , and said unto him , Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD , and protested unto thee , saying , Know for a certain , on the day thou goest out , and walkest abroad any wither , that thou shalt surely die ? and thou saidst unto me , The word that I have heard is good . Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the LORD , and the commandment that I have charged thee with ? The king said moreover to Shimei , Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to , that thou didst to David my father : therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head ; And king Solomon shall be blessed , and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever . So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada ; which went out , and fell upon him , that he died . And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon . And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt , and took Pharaoh's daughter , and brought her into the city of David , until he had made an end of building his own house , and the house of the LORD , and the wall of Jerusalem round about . Only the people sacrificed in high places , because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD , until those days . And Solomon loved the LORD , walking in the statutes of David his father : only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places . And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there ; for that was the great high place : a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar . In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night : and God said , Ask what I shall give thee . And Solomon said , Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy , according as he walked before thee in truth , and in righteousness , and in uprightness of heart with thee ; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness , that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne , as it is this day . And now , O LORD my God , thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father : and I am but a little child : I know not how to go out or come in . And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen , a great people , that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude . Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people , that I may discern between good and bad : for who is able to judge this thy so great a people ? And the speech pleased the Lord , that Solomon had asked this thing . And God said unto him , Because thou hast asked this thing , and hast not asked for thyself long life ; neither hast asked riches for thyself , nor hast asked the life of thine enemies ; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment ; Behold , I have done according to thy words : lo , I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart ; so that there was none like thee before thee , neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee . And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked , both riches , and honour : so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days . And if thou wilt walk in my ways , to keep my statutes and my commandments , as thy father David did walk , then I will lengthen thy days . And Solomon awoke ; and , behold , it was a dream . And he came to Jerusalem , and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD , and offered up burnt offerings , and offered peace offerings , and made a feast to all his servants . Then came there two women , that were harlots , unto the king , and stood before him . And the one woman said , O my lord , I and this woman dwell in one house ; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house . And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered , that this woman was delivered also : and we were together ; there was no stranger with us in the house , save we two in the house . And this woman's child died in the night ; because she overlaid it . And she arose at midnight , and took my son from beside me , while thine handmaid slept , and laid it in her bosom , and laid her dead child in my bosom . And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck , behold , it was dead : but when I had considered it in the morning , behold , it was not my son , which I did bear . And the other woman said , Nay ; but the living is my son , and the dead is thy son . And this said , No ; but the dead is thy son , and the living is my son . Thus they spake before the king . Then said the king , The one saith , This is my son that liveth , and thy son is the dead : and the other saith , Nay ; but thy son is the dead , and my son is the living . And the king said , Bring me a sword . And they brought a sword before the king . And the king said , Divide the living child in two , and give half to the one , and half to the other . Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king , for her bowels yearned upon her son , and she said , O my lord , give her the living child , and in no wise slay it . But the other said , Let it be neither mine nor thine , but divide it . Then the king answered and said , Give her the living child , and in no wise slay it : she is the mother thereof . And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged ; and they feared the king : for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him , to do judgment . So king Solomon was king over all Israel . And these were the princes which he had ; Azariah the son of Zadok the priest , Elihoreph and Ahiah , the sons of Shisha , scribes ; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud , the recorder . And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host : and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests : And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers : and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer , and the king's friend : And Ahishar was over the household : and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute . And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel , which provided victuals for the king and his household : each man his month in a year made provision . And these are their names : The son of Hur , in mount Ephraim : The son of Dekar , in Makaz , and in Shaalbim , and Beth-shemesh , and Elon-beth-hanan : The son of Hesed , in Aruboth ; to him pertained Sochoh , and all the land of Hepher : The son of Abinadab , in all the region of Dor ; which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife : Baana the son of Ahilud ; to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo , and all Beth-shean , which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel , from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah , even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam : The son of Geber , in Ramoth-gilead ; to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh , which are in Gilead ; to him also pertained the region of Argob , which is in Bashan , threescore great cities with walls and brasen bars : Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim : Ahimaaz was in Naphtali ; he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife : Baanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth : Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah , in Issachar : Shimei the son of Elah , in Benjamin : Geber the son of Uri was in the country of Gilead , in the country of Sihon king of the Amorites , and of Og king of Bashan ; and he was the only officer which was in the land . Judah and Israel were many , as the sand which is by the sea in multitude , eating and drinking , and making merry . And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines , and unto the border of Egypt : they brought presents , and served Solomon all the days of his life . And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour , and threescore measures of meal , Ten fat oxen , and twenty oxen out of the pastures , and an hundred sheep , beside harts , and roebucks , and fallowdeer , and fatted fowl . For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river , from Tiphsah even to Azzah , over all the kings on this side the river : and he had peace on all sides round about him . And Judah and Israel dwelt safely , every man under his vine and under his fig tree , from Dan even to Beer-sheba , all the days of Solomon . And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots , and twelve thousand horsemen . And those officers provided victual for king Solomon , and for all that came unto king Solomon's table , every man in his month : they lacked nothing . Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they unto the place where the officers were , every man according to his charge . And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much , and largeness of heart , even as the sand that is on the sea shore . And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country , and all the wisdom of Egypt . For he was wiser than all men ; than Ethan the Ezrahite , and Heman , and Chalcol , and Darda , the sons of Mahol : and his fame was in all nations round about . And he spake three thousand proverbs : and his songs were a thousand and five . And he spake of trees , from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall : he spake also of beasts , and of fowl , and of creeping things , and of fishes . And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon , from all kings of the earth , which had heard of his wisdom . And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon ; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father : for Hiram was ever a lover of David . And Solomon sent to Hiram , saying , Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side , until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet . But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side , so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent . And , behold , I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God , as the LORD spake unto David my father , saying , Thy son , whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room , he shall build an house unto my name . Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon ; and my servants shall be with thy servants : and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint : for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians . And it came to pass , when Hiram heard the words of Solomon , that he rejoiced greatly , and said , Blessed be the LORD this day , which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people . And Hiram sent to Solomon , saying , I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for : and I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar , and concerning timber of fir . My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea : and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me , and will cause them to be discharged there , and thou shalt receive them : and thou shalt accomplish my desire , in giving food for my household . So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire . And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household , and twenty measures of pure oil : thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year . And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom , as he promised him : and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon ; and they two made a league together . And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel ; and the levy was thirty thousand men . And he sent them to Lebanon ten thousand a month by courses : a month they were in Lebanon , and two months at home : and Adoniram was over the levy . And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens , and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains ; Beside the chief of Solomon's officers which were over the work , three thousand and three hundred , which ruled over the people that wrought in the work . And the king commanded , and they brought great stones , costly stones , and hewed stones , to lay the foundation of the house . And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them , and the stonesquarers : so they prepared timber and stones to build the house . And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt , in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel , in the month Zif , which is the second month , that he began to build the house of the LORD . And the house which king Solomon built for the LORD , the length thereof was threescore cubits , and the breadth thereof twenty cubits , and the height thereof thirty cubits . And the porch before the temple of the house , twenty cubits was the length thereof , according to the breadth of the house ; and ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the house . And for the house he made windows of narrow lights . And against the wall of the house he built chambers round about , against the walls of the house round about , both of the temple and of the oracle : and he made chambers round about : The nethermost chamber was five cubits broad , and the middle was six cubits broad , and the third was seven cubits broad : for without in the wall of the house he made narrowed rests round about , that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the house . And the house , when it was in building , was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither : so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house , while it was in building . The door for the middle chamber was in the right side of the house : and they went up with winding stairs into the middle chamber , and out of the middle into the third . So he built the house , and finished it ; and covered the house with beams and boards of cedar . And then he built chambers against all the house , five cubits high : and they rested on the house with timber of cedar . And the word of the LORD came to Solomon , saying , Concerning this house which thou art in building , if thou wilt walk in my statutes , and execute my judgments , and keep all my commandments to walk in them ; then will I perform my word with thee , which I spake unto David thy father : And I will dwell among the children of Israel , and will not forsake my people Israel . So Solomon built the house , and finished it . And he built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar , both the floor of the house , and the walls of the cieling : and he covered them on the inside with wood , and covered the floor of the house with planks of fir . And he built twenty cubits on the sides of the house , both the floor and the walls with boards of cedar : he even built them for it within , even for the oracle , even for the most holy place . And the house , that is , the temple before it , was forty cubits long . And the cedar of the house within was carved with knops and open flowers : all was cedar ; there was no stone seen . And the oracle he prepared in the house within , to set there the ark of the covenant of the LORD . And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length , and twenty cubits in breadth , and twenty cubits in the height thereof : and he overlaid it with pure gold ; and so covered the altar which was of cedar . So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold : and he made a partition by the chains of gold before the oracle ; and he overlaid it with gold . And the whole house he overlaid with gold , until he had finished all the house : also the whole altar that was by the oracle he overlaid with gold . And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree , each ten cubits high . And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub , and five cubits the other wing of the cherub : from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits . And the other cherub was ten cubits : both the cherubims were of one measure and one size . The height of the one cherub was ten cubits , and so was it of the other cherub . And he set the cherubims within the inner house : and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims , so that the wing of the one touched the one wall , and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall ; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house . And he overlaid the cherubims with gold . And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers , within and without . And the floor of the house he overlaid with gold , within and without . And for the entering of the oracle he made doors of olive tree : the lintel and side posts were a fifth part of the wall . The two doors also were of olive tree ; and he carved upon them carvings of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers , and overlaid them with gold , and spread gold upon the cherubims , and upon the palm trees . So also made he for the door of the temple posts of olive tree , a fourth part of the wall . And the two doors were of fir tree : the two leaves of the one door were folding , and the two leaves of the other door were folding . And he carved thereon cherubims and palm trees and open flowers : and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work . And he built the inner court with three rows of hewed stone , and a row of cedar beams . In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the LORD laid , in the month Zif : And in the eleventh year , in the month Bul , which is the eighth month , was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof , and according to all the fashion of it . So was he seven years in building it . But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years , and he finished all his house . He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon ; the length thereof was an hundred cubits , and the breadth thereof fifty cubits , and the height thereof thirty cubits , upon four rows of cedar pillars , with cedar beams upon the pillars . And it was covered with cedar above upon the beams , that lay on forty five pillars , fifteen in a row . And there were windows in three rows , and light was against light in three ranks . And all the doors and posts were square , with the windows : and light was against light in three ranks . And he made a porch of pillars ; the length thereof was fifty cubits , and the breadth thereof thirty cubits : and the porch was before them : and the other pillars and the thick beam were before them . Then he made a porch for the throne where he might judge , even the porch of judgment : and it was covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other . And his house where he dwelt had another court within the porch , which was of the like work . Solomon made also an house for Pharaoh's daughter , whom he had taken to wife , like unto this porch . All these were of costly stones , according to the measures of hewed stones , sawed with saws , within and without , even from the foundation unto the coping , and so on the outside toward the great court . And the foundation was of costly stones , even great stones , stones of ten cubits , and stones of eight cubits . And above were costly stones , after the measures of hewed stones , and cedars . And the great court round about was with three rows of hewed stones , and a row of cedar beams , both for the inner court of the house of the LORD , and for the porch of the house . And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre . He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali , and his father was a man of Tyre , a worker in brass : and he was filled with wisdom , and understanding , and cunning to work all works in brass . And he came to king Solomon , and wrought all his work . For he cast two pillars of brass , of eighteen cubits high apiece : and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about . And he made two chapiters of molten brass , to set upon the tops of the pillars : the height of the one chapiter was five cubits , and the height of the other chapiter was five cubits : And nets of checker work , and wreaths of chain work , for the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars ; seven for the one chapiter , and seven for the other chapiter . And he made the pillars , and two rows round about upon the one network , to cover the chapiters that were upon the top , with pomegranates : and so did he for the other chapiter . And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch , four cubits . And the chapiters upon the two pillars had pomegranates also above , over against the belly which was by the network : and the pomegranates were two hundred in rows round about upon the other chapiter . And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple : and he set up the right pillar , and called the name thereof Jachin : and he set up the left pillar , and he called the name thereof Boaz . And upon the top of the pillars was lily work : so was the work of the pillars finished . And he made a molten sea , ten cubits from the one brim to the other : it was round all about , and his height was five cubits : and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about . And under the brim of it round about there were knops compassing it , ten in a cubit , compassing the sea round about : the knops were cast in two rows , when it was cast . It stood upon twelve oxen , three looking toward the north , and three looking toward the west , and three looking toward the south , and three looking toward the east : and the sea was set above upon them , and all their hinder parts were inward . And it was an hand breadth thick , and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup , with flowers of lilies : it contained two thousand baths . And he made ten bases of brass ; four cubits was the length of one base , and four cubits the breadth thereof , and three cubits the height of it . And the work of the bases was on this manner : they had borders , and the borders were between the ledges : And on the borders that were between the ledges were lions , oxen , and cherubims : and upon the ledges there was a base above : and beneath the lions and oxen were certain additions made of thin work . And every base had four brasen wheels , and plates of brass : and the four corners thereof had undersetters : under the laver were undersetters molten , at the side of every addition . And the mouth of it within the chapiter and above was a cubit : but the mouth thereof was round after the work of the base , a cubit and an half : and also upon the mouth of it were gravings with their borders , foursquare , not round . And under the borders were four wheels ; and the axletrees of the wheels were joined to the base : and the height of a wheel was a cubit and a half a cubit . And the work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel : their axletrees , and their naves , and their felloes , and their spokes , were all molten . And there were four undersetters to the four corners of one base : and the undersetters were of the very base itself . And in the top of the base was there a round compass of half a cubit high : and on the top of the base the ledges thereof and the borders thereof were of the same . For on the plates of the ledges thereof , and on the borders thereof , he graved cherubims , lions , and palm trees , according to the proportion of every one , and additions round about . After this manner he made the ten bases : all of them had one casting , one measure , and one size . Then made he ten lavers of brass : one laver contained forty baths : and every laver was four cubits : and upon every one of the ten bases one laver . And he put five bases on the right side of the house , and five on the left side of the house : and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward over against the south . And Hiram made the lavers , and the shovels , and the basons . So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of the LORD : The two pillars , and the two bowls of the chapiters that were on the top of the two pillars ; and the two networks , to cover the two bowls of the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars ; And four hundred pomegranates for the two networks , even two rows of pomegranates for one network , to cover the two bowls of the chapiters that were upon the pillars ; And the ten bases , and ten lavers on the bases ; And one sea , and twelve oxen under the sea ; And the pots , and the shovels , and the basons : and all these vessels , which Hiram made to king Solomon for the house of the LORD , were of bright brass . In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them , in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan . And Solomon left all the vessels unweighed , because they were exceeding many : neither was the weight of the brass found out . And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained unto the house of the LORD : the altar of gold , and the table of gold , whereupon the shewbread was , And the candlesticks of pure gold , five on the right side , and five on the left , before the oracle , with the flowers , and the lamps , and the tongs of gold , And the bowls , and the snuffers , and the basons , and the spoons , and the censers of pure gold ; and the hinges of gold , both for the doors of the inner house , the most holy place , and for the doors of the house , to wit , of the temple . So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the LORD . And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated ; even the silver , and the gold , and the vessels , did he put among the treasures of the house of the LORD . Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel , and all the heads of the tribes , the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel , unto king Solomon in Jerusalem , that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David , which is Zion . And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim , which is the seventh month . And all the elders of Israel came , and the priests took up the ark . And they brought up the ark of the LORD , and the tabernacle of the congregation , and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle , even those did the priests and the Levites bring up . And king Solomon , and all the congregation of Israel , that were assembled unto him , were with him before the ark , sacrificing sheep and oxen , that could not be told nor numbered for multitude . And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place , into the oracle of the house , to the most holy place , even under the wings of the cherubims . For the cherubims spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark , and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above . And they drew out the staves , that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle , and they were not seen without : and there they are unto this day . There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone , which Moses put there at Horeb , when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel , when they came out of the land of Egypt . And it came to pass , when the priests were come out of the holy place , that the cloud filled the house of the LORD , So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud : for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD . Then spake Solomon , The LORD said that he would dwell in thick darkness . I have surely built thee an house to dwell in , a settled place for thee to abide in for ever . And the king turned his face about , and blessed all the congregation of Israel : ( and all the congregation of Israel stood ; ) And he said , Blessed be the LORD God of Israel , which spake with his mouth unto David my father , and hath with his hand fulfilled it , saying , Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt , I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build an house , that my name might be therein ; but I chose David to be over my people Israel . And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel . And the LORD said unto David my father , Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name , thou didst well that it was in thine heart . Nevertheless thou shalt not build the house ; but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins , he shall build the house unto my name . And the LORD hath performed his word that he spake , and I am risen up in the room of David my father , and sit on the throne of Israel , as the LORD promised , and have built an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel . And I have set there a place for the ark , wherein is the covenant of the LORD , which he made with our fathers , when he brought them out of the land of Egypt . And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel , and spread forth his hands toward heaven : And he said , LORD God of Israel , there is no God like thee , in heaven above , or on earth beneath , who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart : Who hast kept with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him : thou spakest also with thy mouth , and hast fulfilled it with thine hand , as it is this day . Therefore now , LORD God of Israel , keep with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him , saying , There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel ; so that thy children take heed to their way , that they walk before me as thou hast walked before me . And now , O God of Israel , let thy word , I pray thee , be verified , which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father . But will God indeed dwell on the earth ? behold , the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee ; how much less this house that I have builded ? Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant , and to his supplication , O LORD my God , to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer , which thy servant prayeth before thee to day : That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day , even toward the place of which thou hast said , My name shall be there : that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place . And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant , and of thy people Israel , when they shall pray toward this place : and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place : and when thou hearest , forgive . If any man trespass against his neighbour , and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear , and the oath come before thine altar in this house : Then hear thou in heaven , and do , and judge thy servants , condemning the wicked , to bring his way upon his head ; and justifying the righteous , to give him according to his righteousness . When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy , because they have sinned against thee , and shall turn again to thee , and confess thy name , and pray , and make supplication unto thee in this house : Then hear thou in heaven , and forgive the sin of thy people Israel , and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers . When heaven is shut up , and there is no rain , because they have sinned against thee ; if they pray toward this place , and confess thy name , and turn from their sin , when thou afflictest them : Then hear thou in heaven , and forgive the sin of thy servants , and of thy people Israel , that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk , and give rain upon thy land , which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance . If there be in the land famine , if there be pestilence , blasting , mildew , locust , or if there be caterpiller ; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities ; whatsoever plague , whatsoever sickness there be ; What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man , or by all thy people Israel , which shall know every man the plague of his own heart , and spread forth his hands toward this house : Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place , and forgive , and do , and give to every man according to his ways , whose heart thou knowest ; ( for thou , even thou only , knowest the hearts of all the children of men ; ) That they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers . Moreover concerning a stranger , that is not of thy people Israel , but cometh out of a far country for thy name's sake ; ( For they shall hear of thy great name , and of thy strong hand , and of thy stretched out arm ; ) when he shall come and pray toward this house ; Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place , and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for : that all people of the earth may know thy name , to fear thee , as do thy people Israel ; and that they may know that this house , which I have builded , is called by thy name . If thy people go out to battle against their enemy , whithersoever thou shalt send them , and shall pray unto the LORD toward the city which thou hast chosen , and toward the house that I have built for thy name : Then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication , and maintain their cause . If they sin against thee , ( for there is no man that sinneth not , ) and thou be angry with them , and deliver them to the enemy , so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy , far or near ; Yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives , and repent , and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captives , saying , We have sinned , and have done perversely , we have committed wickedness ; And so return unto thee with all their heart , and with all their soul , in the land of their enemies , which led them away captive , and pray unto thee toward their land , which thou gavest unto their fathers , the city which thou hast chosen , and the house which I have built for thy name : Then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven thy dwelling place , and maintain their cause , And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee , and give them compassion before them who carried them captive , that they may have compassion on them : For they be thy people , and thine inheritance , which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt , from the midst of the furnace of iron : That thine eyes may be open unto the supplication of thy servant , and unto the supplication of thy people Israel , to hearken unto them in all that they call for unto thee . For thou didst separate them from among all the people of the earth , to be thine inheritance , as thou spakest by the hand of Moses thy servant , when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt , O Lord GOD . And it was so , that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD , he arose from before the altar of the LORD , from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven . And he stood , and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice , saying , Blessed be the LORD , that hath given rest unto his people Israel , according to all that he promised : there hath not failed one word of all his good promise , which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant . The LORD our God be with us , as he was with our fathers : let him not leave us , nor forsake us : That he may incline our hearts unto him , to walk in all his ways , and to keep his commandments , and his statutes , and his judgments , which he commanded our fathers . And let these my words , wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD , be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night , that he maintain the cause of his servant , and the cause of his people Israel at all times , as the matter shall require : That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God , and that there is none else . Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God , to walk in his statutes , and to keep his commandments , as at this day . And the king , and all Israel with him , offered sacrifice before the LORD . And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings , which he offered unto the LORD , two and twenty thousand oxen , and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep . So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD . The same day did the king hallow the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD : for there he offered burnt offerings , and meat offerings , and the fat of the peace offerings : because the brasen altar that was before the LORD was too little to receive the burnt offerings , and meat offerings , and the fat of the peace offerings . And at that time Solomon held a feast , and all Israel with him , a great congregation , from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt , before the LORD our God , seven days and seven days , even fourteen days . On the eighth day he sent the people away : and they blessed the king , and went unto their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had done for David his servant , and for Israel his people . And it came to pass , when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the LORD , and the king's house , and all Solomon's desire which he was pleased to do , That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time , as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon . And the LORD said unto him , I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication , that thou hast made before me : I have hallowed this house , which thou hast built , to put my name there for ever ; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually . And if thou wilt walk before me , as David thy father walked , in integrity of heart , and in uprightness , to do according to all that I have commanded thee , and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments : Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever , as I promised to David thy father , saying , There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel . But if ye shall at all turn from following me , ye or your children , and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you , but go and serve other gods , and worship them : Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them ; and this house , which I have hallowed for my name , will I cast out of my sight ; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people : And at this house , which is high , every one that passeth by it shall be astonished , and shall hiss ; and they shall say , Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land , and to this house ? And they shall answer , Because they forsook the LORD their God , who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt , and have taken hold upon other gods , and have worshipped them , and served them : therefore hath the LORD brought upon them all this evil . And it came to pass at the end of twenty years , when Solomon had built the two houses , the house of the LORD , and the king's house , ( Now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees , and with gold , according to all his desire , ) that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee . And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him ; and they pleased him not . And he said , What cities are these which thou hast given me , my brother ? And he called them the land of Cabul unto this day . And Hiram sent to the king sixscore talents of gold . And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised ; for to build the house of the LORD , and his own house , and Millo , and the wall of Jerusalem , and Hazor , and Megiddo , and Gezer . For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up , and taken Gezer , and burnt it with fire , and slain the Canaanites that dwelt in the city , and given it for a present unto his daughter , Solomon's wife . And Solomon built Gezer , and Beth-horon the nether , and Baalath , and Tadmor in the wilderness , in the land , And all the cities of store that Solomon had , and cities for his chariots , and cities for his horsemen , and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem , and in Lebanon , and in all the land of his dominion . And all the people that were left of the Amorites , Hittites , Perizzites , Hivites , and Jebusites , which were not of the children of Israel , Their children that were left after them in the land , whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to destroy , upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bondservice unto this day . But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen : but they were men of war , and his servants , and his princes , and his captains , and rulers of his chariots , and his horsemen . These were the chief of the officers that were over Solomon's work , five hundred and fifty , which bare rule over the people that wrought in the work . But Pharaoh's daughter came up out of the city of David unto her house which Solomon had built for her : then did he build Millo . And three times in a year did Solomon offer burnt offerings and peace offerings upon the altar which he built unto the LORD , and he burnt incense upon the altar that was before the LORD . So he finished the house . And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Ezion-geber , which is beside Eloth , on the shore of the Red sea , in the land of Edom . And Hiram sent in the navy his servants , shipmen that had knowledge of the sea , with the servants of Solomon . And they came to Ophir , and fetched from thence gold , four hundred and twenty talents , and brought it to king Solomon . And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD , she came to prove him with hard questions . And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train , with camels that bare spices , and very much gold , and precious stones : and when she was come to Solomon , she communed with him of all that was in her heart . And Solomon told her all her questions : there was not any thing hid from the king , which he told her not . And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom , and the house that he had built , And the meat of his table , and the sitting of his servants , and the attendance of his ministers , and their apparel , and his cupbearers , and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD ; there was no more spirit in her . And she said to the king , It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom . Howbeit I believed not the words , until I came , and mine eyes had seen it : and , behold , the half was not told me : thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard . Happy are thy men , happy are these thy servants , which stand continually before thee , and that hear thy wisdom . Blessed be the LORD thy God , which delighted in thee , to set thee on the throne of Israel : because the LORD loved Israel for ever , therefore made he thee king , to do judgment and justice . And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold , and of spices very great store , and precious stones : there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon . And the navy also of Hiram , that brought gold from Ophir , brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees , and precious stones . And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD , and for the king's house , harps also and psalteries for singers : there came no such almug trees , nor were seen unto this day . And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire , whatsoever she asked , beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty . So she turned and went to her own country , she and her servants . Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold . Beside that he had of the merchantmen , and of the traffick of the spice merchants , and of all the kings of Arabia , and of the governors of the country . And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold : six hundred shekels of gold went to one target . And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold ; three pound of gold went to one shield : and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon . Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory , and overlaid it with the best gold . The throne had six steps , and the top of the throne was round behind : and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat , and two lions stood beside the stays . And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps : there was not the like made in any kingdom . And all king Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold , and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold ; none were of silver : it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon . For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram : once in three years came the navy of Tharshish , bringing gold , and silver , ivory , and apes , and peacocks . So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom . And all the earth sought to Solomon , to hear his wisdom , which God had put in his heart . And they brought every man his present , vessels of silver , and vessels of gold , and garments , and armour , and spices , horses , and mules , a rate year by year . And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen : and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots , and twelve thousand horsemen , whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots , and with the king at Jerusalem . And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones , and cedars made he to be as the sycomore trees that are in the vale , for abundance . And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt , and linen yarn : the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price . And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver , and an horse for an hundred and fifty : and so for all the kings of the Hittites , and for the kings of Syria , did they bring them out by their means . But king Solomon loved many strange women , together with the daughter of Pharaoh , women of the Moabites , Ammonites , Edomites , Zidonians , and Hittites ; Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel , Ye shall not go in to them , neither shall they come in unto you : for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods : Solomon clave unto these in love . And he had seven hundred wives , princesses , and three hundred concubines : and his wives turned away his heart . For it came to pass , when Solomon was old , that his wives turned away his heart after other gods : and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God , as was the heart of David his father . For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians , and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites . And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD , and went not fully after the LORD , as did David his father . Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh , the abomination of Moab , in the hill that is before Jerusalem , and for Molech , the abomination of the children of Ammon . And likewise did he for all his strange wives , which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods . And the LORD was angry with Solomon , because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel , which had appeared unto him twice , And had commanded him concerning this thing , that he should not go after other gods : but he kept not that which the LORD commanded . Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon , Forasmuch as this is done of thee , and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes , which I have commanded thee , I will surely rend the kingdom from thee , and will give it to thy servant . Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake : but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son . Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom ; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake , and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen . And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon , Hadad the Edomite : he was of the king's seed in Edom . For it came to pass , when David was in Edom , and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain , after he had smitten every male in Edom ; ( For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel , until he had cut off every male in Edom : ) That Hadad fled , he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him , to go into Egypt ; Hadad being yet a little child . And they arose out of Midian , and came to Paran : and they took men with them out of Paran , and they came to Egypt , unto Pharaoh king of Egypt ; which gave him an house , and appointed him victuals , and gave him land . And Hadad found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh , so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife , the sister of Tahpenes the queen . And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son , whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house : and Genubath was in Pharaoh's household among the sons of Pharaoh . And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers , and that Joab the captain of the host was dead , Hadad said to Pharaoh , Let me depart , that I may go to mine own country . Then Pharaoh said unto him , But what hast thou lacked with me , that , behold , thou seekest to go to thine own country ? And he answered , Nothing : howbeit let me go in any wise . And God stirred him up another adversary , Rezon the son of Eliadah , which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah : And he gathered men unto him , and became captain over a band , when David slew them of Zobah : and they went to Damascus , and dwelt therein , and reigned in Damascus . And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon , beside the mischief that Hadad did : and he abhorred Israel , and reigned over Syria . And Jeroboam the son of Nebat , an Ephrathite of Zereda , Solomon's servant , whose mother's name was Zeruah , a widow woman , even he lifted up his hand against the king . And this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king : Solomon built Millo , and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father . And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour : and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious , he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph . And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem , that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way ; and he had clad himself with a new garment ; and they two were alone in the field : And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him , and rent it in twelve pieces : And he said to Jeroboam , Take thee ten pieces : for thus saith the LORD , the God of Israel , Behold , I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon , and will give ten tribes to thee : ( But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake , and for Jerusalem's sake , the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel : ) Because that they have forsaken me , and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians , Chemosh the god of the Moabites , and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon , and have not walked in my ways , to do that which is right in mine eyes , and to keep my statutes and my judgments , as did David his father . Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand : but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake , whom I chose , because he kept my commandments and my statutes : But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand , and will give it unto thee , even ten tribes . And unto his son will I give one tribe , that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem , the city which I have chosen me to put my name there . And I will take thee , and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth , and shalt be king over Israel . And it shall be , if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee , and wilt walk in my ways , and do that is right in my sight , to keep my statutes and my commandments , as David my servant did ; that I will be with thee , and build thee a sure house , as I built for David , and will give Israel unto thee . And I will for this afflict the seed of David , but not for ever . Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam . And Jeroboam arose , and fled into Egypt , unto Shishak king of Egypt , and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon . And the rest of the acts of Solomon , and all that he did , and his wisdom , are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon ? And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years . And Solomon slept with his fathers , and was buried in the city of David his father : and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead . And Rehoboam went to Shechem : for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king . And it came to pass , when Jeroboam the son of Nebat , who was yet in Egypt , heard of it , ( for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon , and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt ; ) That they sent and called him . And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came , and spake unto Rehoboam , saying , Thy father made our yoke grievous : now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father , and his heavy yoke which he put upon us , lighter , and we will serve thee . And he said unto them , Depart yet for three days , then come again to me . And the people departed . And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men , that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived , and said , How do ye advise that I may answer this people ? And they spake unto him , saying , If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day , and wilt serve them , and answer them , and speak good words to them , then they will be thy servants for ever . But he forsook the counsel of the old men , which they had given him , and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him , and which stood before him : And he said unto them , What counsel give ye that we may answer this people , who have spoken to me , saying , Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter ? And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him , saying , Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee , saying , Thy father made our yoke heavy , but make thou it lighter unto us ; thus shalt thou say unto them , My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins . And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke , I will add to your yoke : my father hath chastised you with whips , but I will chastise you with scorpions . So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day , as the king had appointed , saying , Come to me again the third day . And the king answered the people roughly , and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him ; And spake to them after the counsel of the young men , saying , My father made your yoke heavy , and I will add to your yoke : my father also chastised you with whips , but I will chastise you with scorpions . Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people ; for the cause was from the LORD , that he might perform his saying , which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat . So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them , the people answered the king , saying , What portion have we in David ? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse : to your tents , O Israel : now see to thine own house , David . So Israel departed unto their tents . But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah , Rehoboam reigned over them . Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram , who was over the tribute ; and all Israel stoned him with stones , that he died . Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot , to flee to Jerusalem . So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day . And it came to pass , when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again , that they sent and called him unto the congregation , and made him king over all Israel : there was none that followed the house of David , but the tribe of Judah only . And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem , he assembled all the house of Judah , with the tribe of Benjamin , an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men , which were warriors , to fight against the house of Israel , to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon . But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God , saying , Speak unto Rehoboam , the son of Solomon , king of Judah , and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin , and to the remnant of the people , saying , Thus saith the LORD , Ye shall not go up , nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel : return every man to his house ; for this thing is from me . They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD , and returned to depart , according to the word of the LORD . Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim , and dwelt therein ; and went out from thence , and built Penuel . And Jeroboam said in his heart , Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David : If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem , then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord , even unto Rehoboam king of Judah , and they shall kill me , and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah . Whereupon the king took counsel , and made two calves of gold , and said unto them , It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem : behold thy gods , O Israel , which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt . And he set the one in Bethel , and the other put he in Dan . And this thing became a sin : for the people went to worship before the one , even unto Dan . And he made an house of high places , and made priests of the lowest of the people , which were not of the sons of Levi . And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month , on the fifteenth day of the month , like unto the feast that is in Judah , and he offered upon the altar . So did he in Bethel , sacrificing unto the calves that he had made : and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made . So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month , even in the month which he had devised of his own heart ; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel : and he offered upon the altar , and burnt incense . And , behold , there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel : and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense . And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD , and said , O altar , altar , thus saith the LORD ; Behold , a child shall be born unto the house of David , Josiah by name ; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee , and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee . And he gave a sign the same day , saying , This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken ; Behold , the altar shall be rent , and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out . And it came to pass , when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God , which had cried against the altar in Bethel , that he put forth his hand from the altar , saying , Lay hold on him . And his hand , which he put forth against him , dried up , so that he could not pull it in again to him . The altar also was rent , and the ashes poured out from the altar , according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD . And the king answered and said unto the man of God , Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God , and pray for me , that my hand may be restored me again . And the man of God besought the LORD , and the king's hand was restored him again , and became as it was before . And the king said unto the man of God , Come home with me , and refresh thyself , and I will give thee a reward . And the man of God said unto the king , If thou wilt give me half thine house , I will not go in with thee , neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place : For so was it charged me by the word of the LORD , saying , Eat no bread , nor drink water , nor turn again by the same way that thou camest . So he went another way , and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel . Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel ; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel : the words which he had spoken unto the king , them they told also to their father . And their father said unto them , What way went he ? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went , which came from Judah . And he said unto his sons , Saddle me the ass . So they saddled him the ass : and he rode thereon , And went after the man of God , and found him sitting under an oak : and he said unto him , Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah ? And he said , I am . Then he said unto him , Come home with me , and eat bread . And he said , I may not return with thee , nor go in with thee : neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place : For it was said to me by the word of the LORD , Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there , nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest . He said unto him , I am a prophet also as thou art ; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD , saying , Bring him back with thee into thine house , that he may eat bread and drink water . But he lied unto him . So he went back with him , and did eat bread in his house , and drank water . And it came to pass , as they sat at the table , that the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him back : And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah , saying , Thus saith the LORD , Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD , and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee , But camest back , and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place , of the which the LORD did say to thee , Eat no bread , and drink no water ; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers . And it came to pass , after he had eaten bread , and after he had drunk , that he saddled for him the ass , to wit , for the prophet whom he had brought back . And when he was gone , a lion met him by the way , and slew him : and his carcase was cast in the way , and the ass stood by it , the lion also stood by the carcase . And , behold , men passed by , and saw the carcase cast in the way , and the lion standing by the carcase : and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt . And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof , he said , It is the man of God , who was disobedient unto the word of the LORD : therefore the LORD hath delivered him unto the lion , which hath torn him , and slain him , according to the word of the LORD , which he spake unto him . And he spake to his sons , saying , Saddle me the ass . And they saddled him . And he went and found his carcase cast in the way , and the ass and the lion standing by the carcase : the lion had not eaten the carcase , nor torn the ass . And the prophet took up the carcase of the man of God , and laid it upon the ass , and brought it back : and the old prophet came to the city , to mourn and to bury him . And he laid his carcase in his own grave ; and they mourned over him , saying , Alas , my brother ! And it came to pass , after he had buried him , that he spake to his sons , saying , When I am dead , then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried ; lay my bones beside his bones : For the saying which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel , and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria , shall surely come to pass . After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way , but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places : whosoever would , he consecrated him , and he became one of the priests of the high places . And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam , even to cut it off , and to destroy it from off the face of the earth . At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick . And Jeroboam said to his wife , Arise , I pray thee , and disguise thyself , that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam ; and get thee to Shiloh : behold , there is Ahijah the prophet , which told me that I should be king over this people . And take with thee ten loaves , and cracknels , and a cruse of honey , and go to him : he shall tell thee what shall become of the child . And Jeroboam's wife did so , and arose , and went to Shiloh , and came to the house of Ahijah . But Ahijah could not see ; for his eyes were set by reason of his age . And the LORD said unto Ahijah , Behold , the wife of Jeroboam cometh to ask a thing of thee for her son ; for he is sick : thus and thus shalt thou say unto her : for it shall be , when she cometh in , that she shall feign herself to be another woman . And it was so , when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet as she came in at the door , that he said , Come in , thou wife of Jeroboam ; why feignest thou thyself to be another ? for I am sent to thee with heavy tidings . Go , tell Jeroboam , Thus saith the LORD God of Israel , Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people , and made thee prince over my people Israel , And rent the kingdom away from the house of David , and gave it thee : and yet thou hast not been as my servant David , who kept my commandments , and who followed me with all his heart , to do that only which was right in mine eyes ; But hast done evil above all that were before thee : for thou hast gone and made thee other gods , and molten images , to provoke me to anger , and hast cast me behind thy back : Therefore , behold , I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam , and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall , and him that is shut up and left in Israel , and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam , as a man taketh away dung , till it be all gone . Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat ; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat : for the LORD hath spoken it . Arise thou therefore , get thee to thine own house : and when thy feet enter into the city , the child shall die . And all Israel shall mourn for him , and bury him : for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave , because in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam . Moreover the LORD shall raise him up a king over Israel , who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam that day : but what ? even now . For the LORD shall smite Israel , as a reed is shaken in the water , and he shall root up Israel out of this good land , which he gave to their fathers , and shall scatter them beyond the river , because they have made their groves , provoking the LORD to anger . And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam , who did sin , and who made Israel to sin . And Jeroboam's wife arose , and departed , and came to Tirzah : and when she came to the threshold of the door , the child died ; And they buried him ; and all Israel mourned for him , according to the word of the LORD , which he spake by the hand of his servant Ahijah the prophet . And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam , how he warred , and how he reigned , behold , they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel . And the days which Jeroboam reigned were two and twenty years : and he slept with this fathers , and Nadab his son reigned in his stead . And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah . Rehoboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign , and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem , the city which the LORD did choose out of all the tribes of Israel , to put his name there . And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess . And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD , and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed , above all that their fathers had done . For they also built them high places , and images , and groves , on every high hill , and under every green tree . And there were also sodomites in the land : and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel . And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam , that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem : And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD , and the treasures of the king's house ; he even took away all : and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made . And king Rehoboam made in their stead brasen shields , and committed them unto the hands of the chief of the guard , which kept the door of the king's house . And it was so , when the king went into the house of the LORD , that the guard bare them , and brought them back into the guard chamber . Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam , and all that he did , are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah ? And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days . And Rehoboam slept with his fathers , and was buried with his fathers in the city of David . And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess . And Abijam his son reigned in his stead . Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah . Three years reigned he in Jerusalem . And his mother's name was Maachah , the daughter of Abishalom . And he walked in all the sins of his father , which he had done before him : and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God , as the heart of David his father . Nevertheless for David's sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem , to set up his son after him , and to establish Jerusalem : Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD , and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life , save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite . And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life . Now the rest of the acts of Abijam , and all that he did , are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah ? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam . And Abijam slept with his fathers ; and they buried him in the city of David : and Asa his son reigned in his stead . And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah . And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem . And his mother's name was Maachah , the daughter of Abishalom . And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD , as did David his father . And he took away the sodomites out of the land , and removed all the idols that his fathers had made . And also Maachah his mother , even her he removed from being queen , because she had made an idol in a grove ; and Asa destroyed her idol , and burnt it by the brook Kidron . But the high places were not removed : nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days . And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated , and the things which himself had dedicated , into the house of the LORD , silver , and gold , and vessels . And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days . And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah , and built Ramah , that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah . Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD , and the treasures of the king's house , and delivered them into the hand of his servants : and king Asa sent them to Ben-hadad , the son of Tabrimon , the son of Hezion , king of Syria , that dwelt at Damascus , saying , There is a league between me and thee , and between my father and thy father : behold , I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold ; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel , that he may depart from me . So Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa , and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel , and smote Ijon , and Dan , and Abel-beth-maachah , and all Cinneroth , with all the land of Naphtali . And it came to pass , when Baasha heard thereof , that he left off building of Ramah , and dwelt in Tirzah . Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah ; none was exempted : and they took away the stones of Ramah , and the timber thereof , wherewith Baasha had builded ; and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin , and Mizpah . The rest of all the acts of Asa , and all his might , and all that he did , and the cities which he built , are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah ? Nevertheless in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet . And Asa slept with his fathers , and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father : and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead . And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah , and reigned over Israel two years . And he did evil in the sight of the LORD , and walked in the way of his father , and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin . And Baasha the son of Ahijah , of the house of Issachar , conspired against him ; and Baasha smote him at Gibbethon , which belonged to the Philistines ; for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon . Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him , and reigned in his stead . And it came to pass , when he reigned , that he smote all the house of Jeroboam ; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed , until he had destroyed him , according unto the saying of the LORD , which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite : Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned , and which he made Israel sin , by his provocation wherewith he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger . Now the rest of the acts of Nadab , and all that he did , are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel ? And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days . In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah , twenty and four years . And he did evil in the sight of the LORD , and walked in the way of Jeroboam , and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin . Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha , saying , Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust , and made thee prince over my people Israel ; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam , and hast made my people Israel to sin , to provoke me to anger with their sins ; Behold , I will take away the posterity of Baasha , and the posterity of his house ; and will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat . Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat ; and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat . Now the rest of the acts of Baasha , and what he did , and his might , are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel ? So Baasha slept with his fathers , and was buried in Tirzah : and Elah his son reigned in his stead . And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of the LORD against Baasha , and against his house , even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD , in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands , in being like the house of Jeroboam ; and because he killed him . In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah , two years . And his servant Zimri , captain of half his chariots , conspired against him , as he was in Tirzah , drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah . And Zimri went in and smote him , and killed him , in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah , and reigned in his stead . And it came to pass , when he began to reign , as soon as he sat on his throne , that he slew all the house of Baasha : he left him not one that pisseth against a wall , neither of his kinsfolks , nor of his friends . Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha , according to the word of the LORD , which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet , For all the sins of Baasha , and the sins of Elah his son , by which they sinned , and by which they made Israel to sin , in provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities . Now the rest of the acts of Elah , and all that he did , are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel ? In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah . And the people were encamped against Gibbethon , which belonged to the Philistines . And the people that were encamped heard say , Zimri hath conspired , and hath also slain the king : wherefore all Israel made Omri , the captain of the host , king over Israel that day in the camp . And Omri went up from Gibbethon , and all Israel with him , and they besieged Tirzah . And it came to pass , when Zimri saw that the city was taken , that he went into the palace of the king's house , and burnt the king's house over him with fire , and died , For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD , in walking in the way of Jeroboam , and in his sin which he did , to make Israel to sin . Now the rest of the acts of Zimri , and his treason that he wrought , are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel ? Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts : half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath , to make him king ; and half followed Omri . But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath : so Tibni died , and Omri reigned . In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel , twelve years : six years reigned he in Tirzah . And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver , and built on the hill , and called the name of the city which he built , after the name of Shemer , owner of the hill , Samaria . But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD , and did worse than all that were before him . For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat , and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin , to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities . Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did , and his might that he shewed , are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel ? So Omri slept with his fathers , and was buried in Samaria : and Ahab his son reigned in his stead . And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel : and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years . And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him . And it came to pass , as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat , that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians , and went and served Baal , and worshipped him . And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal , which he had built in Samaria . And Ahab made a grove ; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him . In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho : he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn , and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub , according to the word of the LORD , which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun . And Elijah the Tishbite , who was of the inhabitants of Gilead , said unto Ahab , As the LORD God of Israel liveth , before whom I stand , there shall not be dew nor rain these years , but according to my word . And the word of the LORD came unto him , saying , Get thee hence , and turn thee eastward , and hide thyself by the brook Cherith , that is before Jordan . And it shall be , that thou shalt drink of the brook ; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there . So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD : for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith , that is before Jordan . And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning , and bread and flesh in the evening ; and he drank of the brook . And it came to pass after a while , that the brook dried up , because there had been no rain in the land . And the word of the LORD came unto him , saying , Arise , get thee to Zarephath , which belongeth to Zidon , and dwell there : behold , I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee . So he arose and went to Zarephath . And when he came to the gate of the city , behold , the widow woman was there gathering of sticks : and he called to her , and said , Fetch me , I pray thee , a little water in a vessel , that I may drink . And as she was going to fetch it , he called to her , and said , Bring me , I pray thee , a morsel of bread in thine hand . And she said , As the LORD thy God liveth , I have not a cake , but an handful of meal in a barrel , and a little oil in a cruse : and , behold , I am gathering two sticks , that I may go in and dress it for me and my son , that we may eat it , and die . And Elijah said unto her , Fear not ; go and do as thou hast said : but make me thereof a little cake first , and bring it unto me , and after make for thee and for thy son . For thus saith the LORD God of Israel , The barrel of meal shall not waste , neither shall the cruse of oil fail , until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth . And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah : and she , and he , and her house , did eat many days . And the barrel of meal wasted not , neither did the cruse of oil fail , according to the word of the LORD , which he spake by Elijah . And it came to pass after these things , that the son of the woman , the mistress of the house , fell sick ; and his sickness was so sore , that there was no breath left in him . And she said unto Elijah , What have I to do with thee , O thou man of God ? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance , and to slay my son ? And he said unto her , Give me thy son . And he took him out of her bosom , and carried him up into a loft , where he abode , and laid him upon his own bed . And he cried unto the LORD , and said , O LORD my God , hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn , by slaying her son ? And he stretched himself upon the child three times , and cried unto the LORD , and said , O LORD my God , I pray thee , let this child's soul come into him again . And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah ; and the soul of the child came into him again , and he revived . And Elijah took the child , and brought him down out of the chamber into the house , and delivered him unto his mother : and Elijah said , See , thy son liveth . And the woman said to Elijah , Now by this I know that thou art a man of God , and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth . And it came to pass after many days , that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year , saying , Go , shew thyself unto Ahab ; and I will send rain upon the earth . And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab . And there was a sore famine in Samaria . And Ahab called Obadiah , which was the governor of his house . ( Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly : For it was so , when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD , that Obadiah took an hundred prophets , and hid them by fifty in a cave , and fed them with bread and water . ) And Ahab said unto Obadiah , Go into the land , unto all fountains of water , and unto all brooks : peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive , that we lose not all the beasts . So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it : Ahab went one way by himself , and Obadiah went another way by himself . And as Obadiah was in the way , behold , Elijah met him : and he knew him , and fell on his face , and said , Art thou that my lord Elijah ? And he answered him , I am : go , tell thy lord , Behold , Elijah is here . And he said , What have I sinned , that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab , to slay me ? As the LORD thy God liveth , there is no nation or kingdom , whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee : and when they said , He is not there ; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation , that they found thee not . And now thou sayest , Go , tell thy lord , Behold , Elijah is here . And it shall come to pass , as soon as I am gone from thee , that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not ; and so when I come and tell Ahab , and he cannot find thee , he shall slay me : but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth . Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD , how I hid an hundred men of the LORD's prophets by fifty in a cave , and fed them with bread and water ? And now thou sayest , Go , tell thy lord , Behold , Elijah is here : and he shall slay me . And Elijah said , As the LORD of hosts liveth , before whom I stand , I will surely shew myself unto him to day . So Obadiah went to meet Ahab , and told him : and Ahab went to meet Elijah . And it came to pass , when Ahab saw Elijah , that Ahab said unto him , Art thou he that troubleth Israel ? And he answered , I have not troubled Israel ; but thou , and thy father's house , in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD , and thou hast followed Baalim . Now therefore send , and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel , and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty , and the prophets of the groves four hundred , which eat at Jezebel's table . So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel , and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel . And Elijah came unto all the people , and said , How long halt ye between two opinions ? if the LORD be God , follow him : but if Baal , then follow him . And the people answered him not a word . Then said Elijah unto the people , I , even I only , remain a prophet of the LORD ; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men . Let them therefore give us two bullocks ; and let them choose one bullock for themselves , and cut it in pieces , and lay it on wood , and put no fire under : and I will dress the other bullock , and lay it on wood , and put no fire under : And call ye on the name of your gods , and I will call on the name of the LORD : and the God that answereth by fire , let him be God . And all the people answered and said , It is well spoken . And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal , Choose you one bullock for yourselves , and dress it first ; for ye are many ; and call on the name of your gods , but put no fire under . And they took the bullock which was given them , and they dressed it , and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon , saying , O Baal , hear us . But there was no voice , nor any that answered . And they leaped upon the altar which was made . And it came to pass at noon , that Elijah mocked them , and said , Cry aloud : for he is a god ; either he is talking , or he is pursuing , or he is in a journey , or peradventure he sleepeth , and must be awaked . And they cried aloud , and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets , till the blood gushed out upon them . And it came to pass , when midday was past , and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice , that there was neither voice , nor any to answer , nor any that regarded . And Elijah said unto all the people , Come near unto me . And all the people came near unto him . And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down . And Elijah took twelve stones , according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob , unto whom the word of the LORD came , saying , Israel shall be thy name : And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD : and he made a trench about the altar , as great as would contain two measures of seed . And he put the wood in order , and cut the bullock in pieces , and laid him on the wood , and said , Fill four barrels with water , and pour it on the burnt sacrifice , and on the wood . And he said , Do it the second time . And they did it the second time . And he said , Do it the third time . And they did it the third time . And the water ran round about the altar ; and he filled the trench also with water . And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice , that Elijah the prophet came near , and said , LORD God of Abraham , Isaac , and of Israel , let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel , and that I am thy servant , and that I have done all these things at thy word . Hear me , O LORD , hear me , that this people may know that thou art the LORD God , and that thou hast turned their heart back again . Then the fire of the LORD fell , and consumed the burnt sacrifice , and the wood , and the stones , and the dust , and licked up the water that was in the trench . And when all the people saw it , they fell on their faces : and they said , The LORD , he is the God ; the LORD , he is the God . And Elijah said unto them , Take the prophets of Baal ; let not one of them escape . And they took them : and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon , and slew them there . And Elijah said unto Ahab , Get thee up , eat and drink ; for there is a sound of abundance of rain . So Ahab went up to eat and to drink . And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel ; and he cast himself down upon the earth , and put his face between his knees , And said to his servant , Go up now , look toward the sea . And he went up , and looked , and said , There is nothing . And he said , Go again seven times . And it came to pass at the seventh time , that he said , Behold , there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea , like a man's hand . And he said , Go up , say unto Ahab , Prepare thy chariot , and get thee down , that the rain stop thee not . And it came to pass in the mean while , that the heaven was black with clouds and wind , and there was a great rain . And Ahab rode , and went to Jezreel . And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah ; and he girded up his loins , and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel . And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done , and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword . Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah , saying , So let the gods do to me , and more also , if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time . And when he saw that , he arose , and went for his life , and came to Beer-sheba , which belongeth to Judah , and left his servant there . But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness , and came and sat down under a juniper tree : and he requested for himself that he might die ; and said , It is enough ; now , O LORD , take away my life ; for I am not better than my fathers . And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree , behold , then an angel touched him , and said unto him , Arise and eat . And he looked , and , behold , there was a cake baken on the coals , and a cruse of water at his head . And he did eat and drink , and laid him down again . And the angel of the LORD came again the second time , and touched him , and said , Arise and eat ; because the journey is too great for thee . And he arose , and did eat and drink , and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God . And he came thither unto a cave , and lodged there ; and , behold , the word of the LORD came to him , and he said unto him , What doest thou here , Elijah ? And he said , I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts : for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant , thrown down thine altars , and slain thy prophets with the sword ; and I , even I only , am left ; and they seek my life , to take it away . And he said , Go forth , and stand upon the mount before the LORD . And , behold , the LORD passed by , and a great and strong wind rent the mountains , and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD ; but the LORD was not in the wind : and after the wind an earthquake ; but the LORD was not in the earthquake : And after the earthquake a fire ; but the LORD was not in the fire : and after the fire a still small voice . And it was so , when Elijah heard it , that he wrapped his face in his mantle , and went out , and stood in the entering in of the cave . And , behold , there came a voice unto him , and said , What doest thou here , Elijah ? And he said , I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts : because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant , thrown down thine altars , and slain thy prophets with the sword ; and I , even I only , am left ; and they seek my life , to take it away . And the LORD said unto him , Go , return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus : and when thou comest , anoint Hazael to be king over Syria : And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel : and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room . And it shall come to pass , that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay : and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay . Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel , all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal , and every mouth which hath not kissed him . So he departed thence , and found Elisha the son of Shaphat , who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him , and he with the twelfth : and Elijah passed by him , and cast his mantle upon him . And he left the oxen , and ran after Elijah , and said , Let me , I pray thee , kiss my father and my mother , and then I will follow thee . And he said unto him , Go back again : for what have I done to thee ? And he returned back from him , and took a yoke of oxen , and slew them , and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen , and gave unto the people , and they did eat . Then he arose , and went after Elijah , and ministered unto him . And Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together : and there were thirty and two kings with him , and horses , and chariots : and he went up and besieged Samaria , and warred against it . And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city , and said unto him , Thus saith Ben-hadad , Thy silver and thy gold is mine ; thy wives also and thy children , even the goodliest , are mine . And the king of Israel answered and said , My lord , O king , according to thy saying , I am thine , and all that I have . And the messengers came again , and said , Thus speaketh Ben-hadad , saying , Although I have sent unto thee , saying , Thou shalt deliver me thy silver , and thy gold , and thy wives , and thy children ; Yet I will send my servants unto thee to morrow about this time , and they shall search thine house , and the houses of thy servants ; and it shall be , that whatsoever is pleasant in thine eyes , they shall put it in their hand , and take it away . Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land , and said , Mark , I pray you , and see how this man seeketh mischief : for he sent unto me for my wives , and for my children , and for my silver , and for my gold ; and I denied him not . And all the elders and all the people said unto him , Hearken not unto him , nor consent . Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Ben-hadad , Tell my lord the king , All that thou didst send for to thy servant at the first I will do : but this thing I may not do . And the messengers departed , and brought him word again . And Ben-hadad sent unto him , and said , The gods do so unto me , and more also , if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me . And the king of Israel answered and said , Tell him , Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off . And it came to pass , when Ben-hadad heard this message , as he was drinking , he and the kings in the pavilions , that he said unto his servants , Set yourselves in array . And they set themselves in array against the city . And , behold , there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel , saying , Thus saith the LORD , Hast thou seen all this great multitude ? behold , I will deliver it in to thine hand this day ; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD . And Ahab said , By whom ? And he said , Thus saith the LORD , Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces . Then he said , Who shall order the battle ? And he answered , Thou . Then he numbered the young men of the princes of the provinces , and they were two hundred and thirty two : and after them he numbered all the people , even all the children of Israel , being seven thousand . And they went out at noon . But Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions , he and the kings , the thirty and two kings that helped him . And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first ; and Ben-hadad sent out , and they told him , saying , There are men come out of Samaria . And he said , Whether they be come out for peace , take them alive ; or whether they be come out for war , take them alive . So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city , and the army which followed them . And they slew every one his man : and the Syrians fled ; and Israel pursued them : and Ben-hadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen . And the king of Israel went out , and smote the horses and chariots , and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter . And the prophet came to the king of Israel , and said unto him , Go , strengthen thy self , and mark , and see what thou doest : for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee . And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him , Their gods are gods of the hills ; therefore they were stronger than we ; but let us fight against them in the plain , and surely we shall be stronger than they . And do this thing , Take the kings away , every man out of his place , and put captains in their rooms : And number thee an army , like the army that thou hast lost , horse for horse , and chariot for chariot : and we will fight against them in the plain , and surely we shall be stronger than they . And he hearkened unto their voice , and did so . And it came to pass at the return of the year , that Ben-hadad numbered the Syrians , and went up to Aphek , to fight against Israel . And the children of Israel were numbered , and were all present , and went against them : and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids ; but the Syrians filled the country . And there came a man of God , and spake unto the king of Israel , and said , Thus saith the LORD , Because the Syrians have said , The LORD is God of the hills , but he is not God of the valleys , therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand , and ye shall know that I am the LORD . And they pitched one over against the other seven days . And so it was , that in the seventh day the battle was joined : and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians an hundred thousand footmen in one day . But the rest fled to Aphek , into the city ; and there a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men that were left . And Ben-hadad fled , and came into the city , into an inner chamber . And his servants said unto him , Behold now , we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings : let us , I pray thee , put sackcloth on our loins , and ropes upon our heads , and go out to the king of Israel : peradventure he will save thy life . So they girded sackcloth on their loins , and put ropes on their heads , and came to the king of Israel , and said , Thy servant Ben-hadad saith , I pray thee , let me live . And he said , Is he yet alive ? he is my brother . Now the men did diligently observe whether any thing would come from him , and did hastily catch it : and they said , Thy brother Ben-hadad . Then he said , Go ye , bring him . Then Ben-hadad came forth to him ; and he caused him to come up into the chariot . And Ben-hadad said unto him , The cities , which my father took from thy father , I will restore ; and thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus , as my father made in Samaria . Then said Ahab , I will send thee away with this covenant . So he made a covenant with him , and sent him away . And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour in the word of the LORD , Smite me , I pray thee . And the man refused to smite him . Then said he unto him , Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the LORD , behold , as soon as thou art departed from me , a lion shall slay thee . And as soon as he was departed from him , a lion found him , and slew him . Then he found another man , and said , Smite me , I pray thee . And the man smote him , so that in smiting he wounded him . So the prophet departed , and waited for the king by the way , and disguised himself with ashes upon his face . And as the king passed by , he cried unto the king : and he said , Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle ; and , behold , a man turned aside , and brought a man unto me , and said , Keep this man : if by any means he be missing , then shall thy life be for his life , or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver . And as thy servant was busy here and there , he was gone . And the king of Israel said unto him , So shall thy judgment be ; thyself hast decided it . And he hasted , and took the ashes away from his face ; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets . And he said unto him , Thus saith the LORD , Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction , therefore thy life shall go for his life , and thy people for his people . And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased , and came to Samaria . And it came to pass after these things , that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard , which was in Jezreel , hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria . And Ahab spake unto Naboth , saying , Give me thy vineyard , that I may have it for a garden of herbs , because it is near unto my house : and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it ; or , if it seem good to thee , I will give thee the worth of it in money . And Naboth said to Ahab , The LORD forbid it me , that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee . And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him : for he had said , I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers . And he laid him down upon his bed , and turned away his face , and would eat no bread . But Jezebel his wife came to him , and said unto him , Why is thy spirit so sad , that thou eatest no bread ? And he said unto her , Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite , and said unto him , Give me thy vineyard for money ; or else , if it please thee , I will give thee another vineyard for it : and he answered , I will not give thee my vineyard . And Jezebel his wife said unto him , Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel ? arise , and eat bread , and let thine heart be merry : I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite . So she wrote letters in Ahab's name , and sealed them with his seal , and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city , dwelling with Naboth . And she wrote in the letters , saying , Proclaim a fast , and set Naboth on high among the people : And set two men , sons of Belial , before him , to bear witness against him , saying , Thou didst blaspheme God and the king . And then carry him out , and stone him , that he may die . And the men of his city , even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city , did as Jezebel had sent unto them , and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them . They proclaimed a fast , and set Naboth on high among the people . And there came in two men , children of Belial , and sat before him : and the men of Belial witnessed against him , even against Naboth , in the presence of the people , saying , Naboth did blaspheme God and the king . Then they carried him forth out of the city , and stoned him with stones , that he died . Then they sent to Jezebel , saying , Naboth is stoned , and is dead . And it came to pass , when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned , and was dead , that Jezebel said to Ahab , Arise , take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite , which he refused to give thee for money : for Naboth is not alive , but dead . And it came to pass , when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead , that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite , to take possession of it . And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite , saying , Arise , go down to meet Ahab king of Israel , which is in Samaria : behold , he is in the vineyard of Naboth , whither he is gone down to possess it . And thou shalt speak unto him , saying , Thus saith the LORD , Hast thou killed , and also taken possession ? And thou shalt speak unto him , saying , Thus saith the LORD , In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood , even thine . And Ahab said to Elijah , Hast thou found me , O mine enemy ? And he answered , I have found thee : because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD . Behold , I will bring evil upon thee , and will take away thy posterity , and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall , and him that is shut up and left in Israel , And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat , and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah , for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger , and made Israel to sin . And of Jezebel also spake the LORD , saying , The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel . Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat ; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat . But there was none like unto Ahab , which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD , whom Jezebel his wife stirred up . And he did very abominably in following idols , according to all things as did the Amorites , whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel . And it came to pass , when Ahab heard those words , that he rent his clothes , and put sackcloth upon his flesh , and fasted , and lay in sackcloth , and went softly . And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite , saying , Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me ? because he humbleth himself before me , I will not bring the evil in his days : but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house . And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel . And it came to pass in the third year , that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel . And the king of Israel said unto his servants , Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours , and we be still , and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria ? And he said unto Jehoshaphat , Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramoth-gilead ? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel , I am as thou art , my people as thy people , my horses as thy horses . And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel , Inquire , I pray thee , at the word of the LORD to day . Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together , about four hundred men , and said unto them , Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle , or shall I forbear ? And they said , Go up ; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king . And Jehoshaphat said , Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides , that we might inquire of him ? And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat , There is yet one man , Micaiah the son of Imlah , by whom we may inquire of the LORD : but I hate him ; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me , but evil . And Jehoshaphat said , Let not the king say so . Then the king of Israel called an officer , and said , Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah . And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne , having put on their robes , in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria ; and all the prophets prophesied before them . And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron : and he said , Thus saith the LORD , With these shalt thou push the Syrians , until thou have consumed them . And all the prophets prophesied so , saying , Go up to Ramoth-gilead , and prosper : for the LORD shall deliver it into the king's hand . And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him , saying , Behold now , the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth : let thy word , I pray thee , be like the word of one of them , and speak that which is good . And Micaiah said , As the LORD liveth , what the LORD saith unto me , that will I speak . So he came to the king . And the king said unto him , Micaiah , shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle , or shall we forbear ? And he answered him , Go , and prosper : for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king . And the king said unto him , How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD ? And he said , I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills , as sheep that have not a shepherd : and the LORD said , These have no master : let them return every man to his house in peace . And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat , Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me , but evil ? And he said , Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD : I saw the LORD sitting on his throne , and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left . And the LORD said , Who shall persuade Ahab , that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead ? And one said on this manner , and another said on that manner . And there came forth a spirit , and stood before the LORD , and said , I will persuade him . And the LORD said unto him , Wherewith ? And he said , I will go forth , and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets . And he said , Thou shalt persuade him , and prevail also : go forth , and do so . Now therefore , behold , the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets , and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee . But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near , and smote Micaiah on the cheek , and said , Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee ? And Micaiah said , Behold , thou shalt see in that day , when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself . And the king of Israel said , Take Micaiah , and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city , and to Joash the king's son ; And say , Thus saith the king , Put this fellow in the prison , and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction , until I come in peace . And Micaiah said , If thou return at all in peace , the LORD hath not spoken by me . And he said , Hearken , O people , every one of you . So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead . And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat , I will disguise myself , and enter into the battle ; but put thou on thy robes . And the king of Israel disguised himself , and went into the battle . But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots , saying , Fight neither with small nor great , save only with the king of Israel . And it came to pass , when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat , that they said , Surely it is the king of Israel . And they turned aside to fight against him : and Jehoshaphat cried out . And it came to pass , when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel , that they turned back from pursuing him . And a certain man drew a bow at a venture , and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness : wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot , Turn thine hand , and carry me out of the host ; for I am wounded . And the battle increased that day : and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians , and died at even : and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot . And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun , saying , Every man to his city , and every man to his own country . So the king died , and was brought to Samaria ; and they buried the king in Samaria . And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria ; and the dogs licked up his blood ; and they washed his armour ; according unto the word of the LORD which he spake . Now the rest of the acts of Ahab , and all that he did , and the ivory house which he made , and all the cities that he built , are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel ? So Ahab slept with his fathers ; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead . And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel . Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign ; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem . And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi . And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father ; he turned not aside from it , doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD : nevertheless the high places were not taken away ; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places . And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel . Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat , and his might that he shewed , and how he warred , are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah ? And the remnant of the sodomites , which remained in the days of his father Asa , he took out of the land . There was then no king in Edom : a deputy was king . Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold : but they went not ; for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber . Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat , Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships . But Jehoshaphat would not . And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers , and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father : and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead . Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah , and reigned two years over Israel . And he did evil in the sight of the LORD , and walked in the way of his father , and in the way of his mother , and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat , who made Israel to sin : For he served Baal , and worshipped him , and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel , according to all that his father had done .