Ten tribes revolt. 5 And he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed. Solomon's reign and death. 2 CHRONICLES, X. Tarshish with the servants of Hu-1 B. C. 992. ram every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. 22 And o King Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. 23 T And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom that God had put in his heart. 24 And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, harness, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year. 9 or, ele- o 1Ki.3. 12, 13. p Ge. 15.18. 10 i. e. Eu- q ch.1.15-17. 25 T And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the chariot-11 cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. 26 And he reigned p over all the kings from the 10 river even unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. gave. &c. r1Ki.11.41 12 words. 43. s 1Ki.11.29. 27 And 9 the king 11 made silver in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar t ch. 12. 15. trees made he as the sycamore trees that are in the low plains in abundance. 13.22. 28 And they brought unto Solomon (CHAP. 10.) horses out of Egypt, and out of all a 1Ki. 12.1, lands. Ju.9.1. &c. 13. 29 Nowr the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not b Ge.37.12, written in the 12 book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah s the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddot the seer against c 1Ki.11.26, Jeroboam the son of Nebat? 30 And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. 40. 31 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the d Pr. 12. 15. city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead. CHAPTER X. The Israelites assemble at Shechem to crown Rehoboam. 19.20. e Job 12.12, 13. f Pr.27.10. Rehoboam whe- & Pr.15.1. chem: b for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king. h Is.30.1. 2 And it came to pass, when c Je1 laded. roboam the son of Nebat, (who was in Egypt, whither he had fled i Pr. 19.27. from the presence of Solomon the king,) heard it, that Jeroboam re-j Is.30.12,13. turned out of Egypt. 3 And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying, 6 And king Rehoboam took d counsel with the old e men that had stood before Solomon his fatherf while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me, to return answer to this people? 7 And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak g good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever. 8 But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and h took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him. 9 And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us? 10 And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. 11 For whereas my father 1 put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. 12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day. 13 And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam i forsook the counsel of the old men, 14 And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. 15 Soj the king hearkened not unto the people: fork the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 16 And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, m What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents. 17 But as for the children of Israel Rehoboam raiseth an army. 2 CHRONICLES, XI, XII. that dwelt in the cities of Judah, B. C. 992. Rehoboam reigned over them. 18 Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram n that was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones that he died. king Rehoboam 2made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. But 19 And o Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. CHAPTER XI. n 1 Ki.4.6. 2 strength- self. o Ps.89.30,&c. (CHAP. 11.) a 1Ki.12.21, & Pr.21.30. the house of Judah and Benjamin e ch. 10. 15. 2 But b the word of the LORD f Is.22.10,11. came to Shemaiah c the man of God, saying, g ch.17.19. 3 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, 1 Rehoboam's wives. devils, & and for the calves / which he had made. 16 And after them, out of all m the tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers. 17 So they strengthened n the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon. 18 T And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse; 19 Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham. 20 And after her he took Maachaho the daughter of Absalom, which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. presented 21 And Rehoboam loved Maachah themselves. the daughter of Absalom above all Nu.35.2,&c he took eighteen wives, and threehis wives and his concubines: (for score concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.) 13.33. 4 Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall i ch.13.9. not go up, nor fight against your d brethren return every man to his j 1Ki.12.31. house fore this thing is done of me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from, going against Jeroboam. 5 T And Rehoboam dwelt in Je-| rusalem, and built cities for defence. in Judah. 6 He built even Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa, 7 And Beth-zur, and Shoco, and Adullam, 8 And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph, k Le.17.7. De.32.17. 7 1 Ki. 12.28. m ch. 15.9. 30.11,18. Ps. 84.5-7. 9 And Adoraim, and Lachish, and n ch.12, 1. Azekah, 10 And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities. 11 And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains g in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine. 12 And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side, 22 And Rehoboam made p Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king. 23 And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desired 2 many Wives. CHAPTER XII. Rehoboam, forsaking the Lord, is punished by Shishak. o 1 Ki. 15.2. AND it came to pass, when Re p ch. 12. 16. 17. 2 a multitude 13 And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel 1 re-(CHAP. 12.) sorted to him out of all their coasts. 14 For the Levites left their h sub-a ch.11.17. urbs and their possession, and b 1Ki.14.22. came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had c De.32.15,18. cast them off from executing the d ch.16.8. priest's office unto the LORD: 15 Andj he ordained him priests e ch.11.2. for the high places, and for the 3 With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt; the Lubims, d the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians. 4 And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem. 5 Then came Shemaiah e the prophet to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, that were gathered together to Jerusalem Reign of Abijah. CHAPTER XIII. Abijah succeeding,maketh war against Rehoboam's death. 2 CHRONICLES, XIII. because of Shishak, and said unto B. C. 975. them, Thus saith the LORD, Ye f have forsaken me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak. 6 Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled g themselves; and they said, The h LORD 28 righteous. f ch. 15.2. Je. 13.15,18. Ja.4.6, 10. h Ex.9.27. IKI.21.28, 29. j Le.26.41,42. 1 or, a little while. k Ne.9.36,37. Is.26.13. 7 And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves, therefore j I will not destroy them, but I will grant them 1 some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. 8 Nevertheless they shall be his kn 28a.8.18. servants; that they may know my o ch.33. 12, 13. service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries. 9 So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he took all: he carried away also the shields of gold which m Solomon had made. De.28.47,48. m ch.9.15,16. 2 Is.57.15. 1Pet.5.6. or, and yet in Judah there were good things, ch. 19.3. Ge. 18.24. 1Ki.14.13. 3 fixed. 10 Instead of which king Reho-p De.5.29. boam made shields of brass, and Eze.33.31. committed them to the hands of words. the chief n of the guard, that kept the entrance of the king's house. q ver.5. 11 And when the king entered r ch.9.29. into the house of the LORD, thes 1Ki. 14.31, guard came and fetched them, and brought them again into the guardchamber. Abijam. &c. 12 And when o he humbled him- (CHAP. 13.) self, the wrath of the LORD turned a 1Ki. 15.1, from him, that he would not destroy him altogether: 2 and also b ch.11.20. in Judah things went well. 1 bound together. c Jos. 18.22. 13 So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned for Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began d25a.7.12-16. to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the f 1Ki.11.26. tnbes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name g Ju.9.4. was Naamah an Ammonitess. e Nu. 18. 19. 12.20. h ch.10.16. 14 And he did evil, because he 3 prepared not his heart p to seek i Ki.12.28. the LORD. Ho.8.5,6. 15 Now the acts of Rehoboam, k ch.11.14,15. first and last, are they not written 2 fill his in the 4 book of Shemaiah g the prophet, and of Iddor the seer concerning genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually. 16 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijahs his son reigned in his stead. hand, Ex.29.1. Le.8.2. ch.2.4. m Le.24.5-9. n Ex.27.20, 21. Le.24.2,3. Jeroboam. NOW a in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah. 2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem. (His mother's name also was b Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah.) And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. 3 And Abijah 1 set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, being mighty men of valour. 4 And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim, c which is in mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel; 5 Ought you not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons d by a covenant e of salt? 6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and hath rebelled fagainst his lord. 7 And there are gathered unto him g vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young h and tender-hearted, and could not withstand them. 8 And now ye think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David; and ye be a great multitude and there are with you golden calves, which i Jeroboam made you for gods. 9 Have ye not cast k out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after the manner of the nations of other lands? so that whosoever cometh to 2 consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods. 10 But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him; and the priests, which minister unto the LORD, are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait upon their business : 11 And they burn unto the LORD every morning and every evening burnt-sacrifices and sweet incense: the show-bread m also set they in order upon the pure table; and the candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn n every evening: for we keep the charge of the LORD our God; but ye have forsaken him. 12 And, behold, God o himself is Abyah's wives. with us for our captain, p and his B. C. 957. priests with sounding trumpets q 2 CHRONICLES, XIV, XV. Asa destroyeth idolatry. | 5 Also he took away, out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the 2 images: and the kingdom was quiet before him. to cry alarm against you. O child-o Is.8.10. ren of Israel, r fight ye not against the LORD God of your fathers; for P Jos.5.14, 15. ye shall not prosper. 9 Nu. 10.8. Jos.6.13-20. 13 But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them so they were beforer Job.9.4. Judah, and the ambushment was Je.50.24. Ac.5.39. behind them. 14 And when Judah looked back,s behold, the battle was before and behind: and they cried unto the LORD, and the priests sounded with the trumpets. 15 Then the men of Judah gave a shout and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God s smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. 16 And the children of Israel filed before Judah and God delivered them into their hand. 17 And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men. 18 Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the LORD God of their fathers. 19 And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him. ch.14.12. t 1Ch.5.20. u Ps. 18.37,38. v 1Sa.25.38. 3 or, commentary. w ch.12.15. (CHAP. 14.) a 1Ki. 15.8, &c. b ch. 15. 17. IKI. 11.7. statues. c Ex.34.13. Beth-el with the towns thereof, 2sun images. and Jeshanah with the towns there of, and Ephraim with the townsd Jos.23.1. thereof. Je,29. 13. 20 Neither did Jeroboam u recover e Ps. 105.3.4. strength again in the days of Abijah and the LORD struck v him, fch.16.8. and he died. g Jos. 15.44. 21 T But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters. 22 And the rest of the acts of Abi-i jah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the 3 story of the prophet Iddo.w CHAPTER XIV. Asa destroyeth idolatry. O a Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years. 2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God: h ch. 13. 14. Ex.14.10. Ps. 18.6. 120.1. 1Sa. 14.6. k 1Sa. 17.45. Pr. 18.10. 3 or, mortal man. ch. 13.15. m Ge.20.1. 4 broken. n ch. 17.10. Ge.35.5. Jos.2.9,24. Is.31.9. 24.20. Nu.21.2. 3 For he took away the altars of (CHAP. 15.) the strange gods, and b the high places, and brake down the a ch.20.14. 1 images, and cut c down the groves: 4 And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. Ju.3.10. 1 before. 6 And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; becaused the LORD had given him rest. 7 Therefore he said unto Judah. Let us build these cities, and make about them walls and towers, gates and bars, while the land is yet before us; because we have sought e the LORD our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered. 8 And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valour. 9 And f there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian, with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mereshah.g 10 Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. 11 And Asa cried h unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nowith many, or with them that have thing with thee, to help, whether i no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name k we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not 3 man prevail against thee. 12 So the LORD Smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled. 13 And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: m and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were 4 destroyed before the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil. 14 And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear a of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them. 15 They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem. CHAPTER XV. Asa and Judah make a covenant with God. AND the Spirit a of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded: 2 And he went out 1 to meet Asa, A covenant with God. 2 CHRONICLES, XVI. c ver.4, 15. ch.33.12. and said unto him, Hear ye me, B. C. 941. Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The b LORD is with you, while yeb Ja.4.8. be with him; and if c'ye seek him," he will be found of you; but if ye forsake dhum, he will forsake you. 3 Now for e a long season israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching ƒ priest, and without law. 4 But when a they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them. 5 And in those times h there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries. 6.And nation was 2 destroyed of nation, i and city of city for God didk vex them with all adversity. 7 Be ye strong I therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded. 13. 1Ch.28.9. Je.29.12,13. Mat.7.7,8. d ch.24.20. He. 10.38. e Ho.3.4. f Le. 10.11. Mal.2.7. g De.4.29. Ps. 106.44. h Ju.5.6. 1Sa. 13.6. 2 beaten in pieces. i Mat.24.7. k Am.3.6. 7 Jos.1.7.9. 1Ch.28.20. 3 abomina tions. 8 And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and Put away the 3 abominable idols out m ch.13.19. of all the land of Judah and Benja-n ch.11.16. had taken m from mount Ephraim, och.14.13,15. man, and out of the cities which he in that day, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the p ch.34.31. LORD. 2Ki.23.3. Ne. 10.29. 9 And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers n with 9 Ac.21.14. De.13.5-15. 17.2-5. them out of Ephraim and Manas-r Ex.22.20. seh, and out of Simeon: (for they feil to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the s ver. 12. LORD his God was with him.) 10 So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third t 1Ki. 15. 13, month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. 11 And they offered unto the LORD 4the same time, of the spoil o which they had brought, seven hun-6 dred oxen, and seven thousand sheep. 12 And they entered into a covenant p to seek the LORD God of their q fathers with all their heart and with all their soul; 13 That r whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. 1 And they sware unto the LORD with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets. &c. 5 i. e. grand mother, IKI. 15.2,10. horror. u ch.14.3,5. (CHAP. 16.) a 1Ki. 15.17. b ch.15.5. Darmesek, 2 armies which d were his. ch. 19.2. 1 Ki. 16.1. Ps. 146.3,6. Is.31.1. 14.9. 15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all e ch. 12.3. their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; s and he was 3 in abunfound of them: and the LORD gave dance. them rest round about. Hanami reproveth Asa. 16 Andt also concerning Maachah the 5 mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an 6 idol in a grove and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron. 17 But the high places u were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days. 18 And he brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels. 19 And there was no more war unto the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa. CHAPTER XVI. 3 There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me. 4 And Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of 2 hus armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote ljon, and Dan, and Abel-maim, and all the store-cities of Naphtali. 5 And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease. 6 Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah. 7 And at that time Hanani c the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because d thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand. 8 Were not the Ethiopians e and the Lubims 3 a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen ? yet, because thou didst rely on the |