Study Desk

As soon as Asa heard what Azariah the prophet said, he gave orders for all the idols in Judah and Benjamin to be destroyed, including those in the towns he had captured in the territory of Ephraim. He also repaired the Lord 's altar that was in front of the temple porch.

When Asa heard about this, he took the silver and gold from his palace and from the Lord 's temple. Then he sent it to Damascus with this message for King Benhadad of Syria:

"I think we should sign a peace treaty, just as our fathers did. This silver and gold is a present for you. Would you please break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel and force him to leave my country?"

In the thirty-ninth year of his rule, he got a very bad foot disease, but he relied on doctors and refused to ask the Lord for help.

Ahab sent for four hundred prophets and asked, "Should I attack the city of Ramoth?" "Yes!" the prophets answered. "God will help you capture the city."

"We could ask Micaiah son of Imlah," Ahab said. "But I hate Micaiah. He always has bad news for me." "Don't say that!" Jehoshaphat replied.

Meanwhile, the messenger who went to get Micaiah whispered, "Micaiah, all the prophets have good news for Ahab. Now go and say the same thing."

The Lord asked, "Who can trick Ahab and make him go to Ramoth where he will be killed?" They talked about it for a while,

The people of Judah will bring you legal cases that involve every type of crime, including murder. You must settle these cases and warn the people to stop sinning against the Lord , so that he won't get angry and punish Judah. Remember, if you follow these instructions, you won't be held responsible for anything that happens.

They immediately left for Jerusalem to ask for the Lord 's help.

Aren't you going to punish them? We won't stand a chance when this army attacks. We don't know what to do—we are begging for your help.

Early the next morning, as everyone got ready to leave for the desert near Tekoa, Jehoshaphat stood up and said, "Listen my friends, if we trust the Lord God and believe what these prophets have told us, the Lord will help us, and we will be successful."

Then he explained his plan and appointed men to march in front of the army and praise the Lord for his holy power by singing: "Praise the Lord ! His love never ends."

Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled from Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.

One day, Jehoram received a letter from Elijah the prophet that said: I have a message for you from the Lord God your ancestor David worshiped. He knows that you have not followed the example of Jehoshaphat your father or Asa your grandfather.

About two years later, Jehoram died in terrible pain. No bonfire was built to honor him, even though the people had done this for his ancestors.

Joash hid in the temple with them for six years while Athaliah ruled as queen of Judah.

After Ahaziah's son Joash had hidden in the temple for six years, Jehoiada the priest knew that something had to be done. So he made sure he had the support of several army officers. They were Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zichri.

Jehoiada and his sons brought Joash outside, where they placed the crown on his head and gave him a copy of the instructions for ruling the nation. Olive oil was poured on his head to show that he was now king, and the crowd cheered and shouted, "Long live the king!"

As soon as Queen Athaliah heard the crowd cheering for Joash, she went to the temple.