Study Desk

Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you to set you on His throne to be king for the LORD your God. Because your God loved Israel enough to establish them forever, He has made you king over them to carry out justice and righteousness."

The king made the algum wood into steps for the house of the LORD and for the king's palace, and into lyres and harps for the singers. Never before had anything like them been seen in the land of Judah.)

Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like this had ever been made for any kingdom.

For the king had the ships of Tarshish that went with Hiram' s servants, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots, and 12,000 horses, which he stationed in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem.

As for the rest of the acts of Solomon, from beginning to end, are they not written in the Records of Nathan the Prophet, in the Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the Visions of Iddo the Seer concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat?

Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king.

So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and all Israel came to Rehoboam and said,

that this is what the LORD says: 'You are not to go up and fight against your brothers. Each of you must return home, for this word is from Me.'" So they listened to the words of the LORD and turned back from going against Jeroboam.

Rehoboam continued to live in Jerusalem, and he built up cities for defense in Judah.

For the Levites left their pasturelands and their possessions and went to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them as priests of the LORD.

And Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat-demons and calf idols he had made.

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

Rehoboam also acted wisely by dispersing some of his sons throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin, and to all the fortified cities. He gave them abundant provisions and sought many wives for them.

And now you think you can resist the kingdom of the LORD, which is in the hands of David's descendants. You are indeed a vast army, and you have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made for you as gods.

But did you not drive out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites? And did you not make priests for yourselves as do the peoples of other lands? Now whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams can become a priest of things that are not gods.

But as for us, the LORD is our God. We have not forsaken Him; the priests who minister to the LORD are sons of Aaron, and the Levites attend to their duties.

Now behold, God Himself is with us as our head, and His priests with their trumpets sound the battle call against you. O children of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your fathers, for you will not succeed."

Then Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And his son Asa became king in his place. During his reign the land was at peace for ten years.

Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God: "O LORD, there is no one besides You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal prevail against You."