Study Desk

King Rehoboam made more shields to put in their places, but they were made from bronze. He gave them to the guards on duty at the palace gates.

But Jeroboam turned against his master. Jeroboam son of Nebat was one of the servants of David's son Solomon.

"But as for us, the Lord is our God. We people of Judah have not refused to obey God. We have not left him. The priests who serve the Lord are Aaron's sons, and the Levites help the priests in their work.

They offer burnt offerings and burn incense of spices to the Lord every morning and every evening. They put the bread in rows on the special table in the Temple. And they take care of the lamps on the golden lampstand so that it shines bright each and every evening. We very carefully serve the Lord our God, but you people have abandoned him.

But Jeroboam sent a group of soldiers to sneak behind Abijah's army. Jeroboam's army was in front of Abijah's army. The hidden soldiers from Jeroboam's army were behind Abijah's army.

but Abijah became strong. He married 14 women and was the father of 22 sons and 16 daughters.

Azariah went to meet Asa and said, "Listen to me, Asa and all you people of Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you look for him, you will find him. But if you leave him, he will leave you.

But when the Israelites had trouble, they turned again to the Lord , the God of Israel. They looked for him and found him.

But Asa, you and the people of Judah and Benjamin, be strong. Don't be weak and don't give up, because you will get a reward for your good work!"

But first let's ask the Lord for advice."

But Jehoshaphat said, "Doesn't the Lord have another prophet here? Let's ask him what God says."

King Ahab answered, "Yes, there is another prophet. His name is Micaiah son of Imlah. But I hate him. He never says anything good about me when he speaks for the Lord . He always says things that I don't like." Jehoshaphat said, "The king shouldn't say things like that!"

But Micaiah answered, "As surely as the Lord lives, I can say only what my God says."

But Ahab answered, "How many times do I have to tell you? Tell me the truth. What does the Lord say?"

Tell them to put Micaiah in prison. Give him nothing but bread and water to eat. Keep him there until I come home from the battle."

Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "Disguise yourself when you go into battle, but wear your own clothes. And I will disguise myself." The king of Israel went into battle dressed like an ordinary soldier.

Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, but he would go out among the people throughout Judah, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim. He helped the people turn back to the Lord , the God their ancestors worshiped.

He told the judges, "Be careful in what you are doing, because you are not judging for people, but for the Lord . He will be with you when you make decisions.

"But now, here are men from Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir. You would not let the Israelites enter their lands when they came out of Egypt. So the Israelites turned away and didn't destroy them.

But see the kind of reward those people give us for not destroying them. They have come to force us out of your land that you gave to us.