Psalm 53:1-6 Who's The Fool?
Ps 53:1 “The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity. There is no one who does good. 2 God looks down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there are any who understood, who seek after God. 3 Every one of them has turned/gone back. They have become filthy together. There is no one who does good, no, not one. 4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and don’t call on God? 5 There they were in great fear, where no fear was, for God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you. You have put them to shame, because God has rejected them. 6 Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God brings back His people from captivity, then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad."
Observations: 53:1 It's not the atheist who says there is no God involved in the affairs of men; it's the fool. Many nominal “believers” live as practical atheists, going through their days independently of God, consumed by thoughts of satisfying their desires, and not asking what God desires. In the heart, where they make their decisions, there is no consideration of God's will for their time, treasure, nor talents. Thus they are earn the appellation: Fool! (someone who chooses the wrong objectives for their life). “Abominable iniquity” is a code word for idolatry. The fool serves the idols of his temporal pleasure, unfit for doing the good that glorifies God.
53:2-3 Instead of seeking after God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength, they have gone astray, which means they were once on the right path.
53:4 Instead of calling on God for His provision, they meet their own needs for power (security/significance), pleasure, and possessions at the expense of others.
Application: The non-fool lives in daily dependence upon God, seeking Him and doing the good which pleases Him. Rejoicing follows.
Prayer: God Whom I seek, may I be consumed by Your desires for my life. Amen.
Proverbs 14:17-19 Patience and Understanding
Pr 14:17 “He who is quick to become angry will commit folly, and a crafty man is hated. 18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. 19 The evil bow down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.“
Observations: 14:17 The Hebrew word for “quick” means short, as in having a short fuse, lacking self-control or patience. The easily angered person also lacks understanding (14:29), thinking only of themselves rather than the causes of the provocation, and wind up emoting their feelings, committing folly. The person with the longer fuse, does a slow burn, and bitterly plots revenge and they will wind up being hated, by man and God.
14:18-19 Speaking of outcomes, the simple, who fails to develop Biblical prejudices will wind up with folly. While the prudent get crowned with knowledge. The evil will grovel before the good, and the wicked before the rule of the righteous; it just might take a while for it to happen.
Application: Patience and understanding are characteristics of the triumphant wise.
Prayer: Lord, You are patient and understanding with me; may I learn from Your example and extend the same to others. Amen.
1 Kings 21-2 Kings 1 The Second Book of Kings continues the accounts of the reign of Jehoshaphat, the ministries of Elijah and Elisha, and the fate of Jezebel. The book division was made by a scribe, and perpetuated. These chapters record the end of the worst king of Israel, and the beginning of one of the best kings of Judah.
1 Kings 21 God Relents When We Repent
5 But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said to him, "Why is your spirit so sad, that you eat no bread?" 7 Jezebel his wife said to him, "Do you now govern the kingdom of Israel? Arise, and eat bread, and let your heart be merry. I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite." 8 So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and to the nobles who were in his city, who lived with Naboth. 9 She wrote in the letters, saying, "Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. 10 Set two men, base fellows, before him, and let them testify against him, saying, ‘You cursed God and the king!’ Then carry him out, and stone him to death." 11 The men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent to them, according as it was written in the letters which she had sent to them...14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, "Naboth has been stoned, and is dead." 15 It happened, when Jezebel heard...said to Ahab, "Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead." 
17 The word of Yahweh came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 18 "Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who dwells in Samaria. Behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone down to take possession of it. 19 You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh, "Have you killed and also taken possession?"’ You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh, "In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs will lick your blood, even yours."’" 20 Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, my enemy?" He answered, "I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do that which is evil in the sight of Yahweh. 21 Behold, I will bring evil on you, and will utterly sweep you away and will cut off from Ahab everyone who urinates against a wall, and him who is shut up and him who is left at large in Israel. 22 I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah for the provocation with which you have provoked me to anger, and have made Israel to sin." 23 Yahweh also spoke of Jezebel, saying, "The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the rampart of Jezreel. 24 The dogs will eat he who dies of Ahab in the city; and the birds of the sky will eat he who dies in the field."
25 But there was none like Ahab, who sold himself to do that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. 26 He did very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites did, whom Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel.
27 It happened, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. 28 The word of Yahweh came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 "See how Ahab humbles himself before me? Because he humbles himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days; but in his son’s days will I bring the evil on his house."
27 It happened, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. 28 The word of Yahweh came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 "See how Ahab humbles himself before me? Because he humbles himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days; but in his son’s days will I bring the evil on his house."
Observations: 21:1-16 Ahab covets his neighbor's vineyard so he can plant some culinary herbs near his own house. Naboth won't trade or sell because it is his inheritance from Yahweh. God forbade the permanent selling of one's inheritance (Lev 25:23,27; Num 36:7; even to kings Ezek 46:18). [David did purchase the threshing floor to offer a sacrifice to stop the plague, it would have reverted back to its inheritor at the year of Jubilee.] With the grace and dignity of a toddler, Ahab does what most people with unsanctified desires do when they can't have what they want, he threw a tantrum and put on his pouty face. Jezebel plays the enabling scheming parent, and fixes things so he can be “happy Ahab”. Worse than David on his worst day, she writes a letter with the ink of deception and murder and gets hubby what he wants. The leadership of the city complies and criminally kills a righteous man. So much for the protection of life and property.
21:17-24 God sends Elijah to deliver a message to Ahab, who's planting basil and dreaming of pesto, “You're dog meat, and your house is bird food.” He elaborates similarly to Ahijah's prophesy against Jereboam (1Kg 14) and Jehu's against Baasha (1Kg 16). Angering God, by doing what is evil in His sight (disobeying) has unpleasant consequences. God attaches painful consequences to our sin so we'll avoid it, much like profs fail poor performance and employers fire bad performers.
21:25-29 Ahab was totally responsible for his sin, making the decision to sell himself in exchange for the benefit he thought he'd get. Recall the number of miracles and unmerited blessing Ahab had experienced in his life, from the drought/rain/Baal scenes to the victories over Syria. The fact that God sends Elijah on cue a number of times should have wised him up to the fact that the God who judges knows what's going on. In order to be this stupid you need help, in his case it's his dear wife, Jezebel, whom he let run the house and kingdom, as long as he got what he wanted. Like a lot of modern “men” Ahab abdicated his role at home. Surprisingly, Ahab listens and repents! Astonishingly, God relents!!!! One of the reasons we get so much written about this evil king, is to show that even the worst sinners can find mercy when they humble themselves and acknowledge God and His ways. God postpones the promised consequence, as He did with David.
Application: When we repent, God relents.
Prayer: Gracious God, You are so patient in warning us about our sin, and merciful in sending or postponing the consequences we've earned. May I sell myself to do Your will and not fulfill my evil desires. Amen.
1 Kings 22 Deceptions and Truth
13 The messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, "See now, the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth. Please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak good." 14 Micaiah said, "As Yahweh lives, what Yahweh says to me, that I will speak." 15 When he had come to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall we forbear?" He answered him, "Go up and prosper; and Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the king." 16 The king said to him, "How many times do I have to adjure you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of Yahweh?" 17 He said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. Yahweh said, ‘These have no master. Let them each return to his house in peace.’" 18 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Didn’t I tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?" 19 Micaiah said, "Therefore hear the word of Yahweh. I saw Yahweh sitting on his throne, and all the army of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. 20 Yahweh said, ‘Who shall entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ One said one thing; and another said another. 21 A spirit came out and stood before Yahweh, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ 22 Yahweh said to him, ‘How?’ He said, ‘I will go out and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ He said, ‘You will entice him, and will also prevail. Go out and do so.’ 23 Now therefore, behold, Yahweh has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and Yahweh has spoken evil concerning you." 24 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, "Which way did the Spirit of Yahweh go from me to speak to you?" 25 Micaiah said, "Behold, you will see on that day, when you go into an inner room to hide yourself." 
29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead. 30 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but you put on your robes." The king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle. 31 Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, except only with the king of Israel. 32 It happened, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, "Surely that is the king of Israel!" and they turned aside to fight against him. Jehoshaphat cried out. 33 It happened, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him. 34 A certain man drew his bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of the armor. Therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn your hand, and carry me out of the battle; for I am severely wounded." 35 The battle increased that day. The king was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians, and died at evening. The blood ran out of the wound into the bottom of the chariot. 36 A cry went throughout the army about the going down of the sun, saying, "Every man to his city, and every man to his country!"
37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria. 38 They washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood where the prostitutes washed themselves; according to the word of Yahweh which he spoke. 39 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he built, and all the cities that he built, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 40 So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.
41 Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. 42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. 43 He walked in all the way of Asa his father; he didn’t turn aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh: however the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places. 44 Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel. 45 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he showed, and how he warred, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 46 The remnant of the sodomites, that remained in the days of his father Asa, he put away out of the land. 47 There was no king in Edom: a deputy was king. 48 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they didn’t go; for the ships were broken at Ezion Geber. 49 Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "Let my servants go with your servants in the ships." But Jehoshaphat would not. 50 Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father; Jehoram his son reigned in his place. 51 Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned two years over Israel. 52 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, 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, in which he made Israel to sin. 53 He served Baal, and worshiped him, and provoked to anger Yahweh, the God of Israel, according to all that his father had done."
Observations: 22:1-5 Beaten Syrian king Ben Hadad failed to restore all the cities per his covenant with Ahab (1 Kings 20:34), so Ahab invites Jehoshaphat to join him in getting Ramoth Gilead back. Jehoshaphat was one of the good kings of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, whose major flaw was that he made alliances with people Yahweh was going to curse for their unfaithfulness, rather than bless. He get's reproved for this involvement (2 Kings 19), but at least says: “Let's see what Yahweh's will is."
22:6-12 Ahab gathers his yes-men of Baal to ask, and they say the lord (not Yahweh) says “Yes” and put on a show. Apparently Ahab had refreshed his supply of false prophesiers after Elijah slaughtered 450 on Mt. Carmel. Jehoshaphat wants a man of Yahweh to ask, but Ahab says there's only one, whom he hates because he doesn't prophesy good things. This is funny and tragic. Rather than recognizing that Micaiah only says what Yahweh says, Ahab engages in the time honored tradition, which continues to our day, of “shooting the messenger.” If Ahab wants good news, he needs to be good. Like many today he'd rather feel good than be good. The chief lying/demonic prophet Zedekiah puts on some horns and puts words of blessing in Yahweh's mouth. All the other false prophets agree.
22:13-16 True man of Yahweh, Micaiah, has a sarcastic repartee with Ahab, who says he wants the truth (as most hypocrites do, until you tell them it).
22:17-28 Micaiah then tells Ahab what he actually “sees,” which is what seers are supposed to do. Israel will lose their "shepherd" (that's Ahab) and be scattered, so everyone should go back home while they can. Ahab objects, and Micaiah tells him more of what he sees: Yahweh has planned to entice Ahab to his death at this battle, by putting a lying spirit in the mouths of his prophets. Zedekiah punches Micaiah in the face (usually bogus religious leaders stab truth speakers in the back), and Micaiah is tossed (back) in prison, knowing he did the job God gave him. Sometimes God let's His servants get beat up, but He more than compensates them when they retire.
Matthew 5:11 "Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.12 Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
22:29-40 Jehoshaphat must have been drinking to go into battle with Ahab and agree to be the only one wearing the “kill me, I'm king” robes. Fortunately God protected Jehoshaphat in his gullibility, and a “random” arrow pierces Ahab's disguise. He eventually got God's point; he should have listened. The dogs licked up his blood as prophesied by Elijah (1 Kings 21:19).
22:41-53 A flashback gives a brief bio of good King Jehoshaphat, who followed in the godly footsteps of his father, good King Asa, in cleansing the land of evil pagan practices. 2 Chronicles 20 will record one of the greatest victories in the Scriptures, under Jehoshaphat's leadership. Listening to Ahab was not wise, but he avoided at least one entanglement with Ahab's son bad King Ahaziah, who followed the evil footsteps of his father.
Application: People who decide to speak truth and follow God will have lots of opposition, but the alternative is far worse.
Prayer: God, thanks for the examples of those who followed You despite opposition; may I never compromise Your word by my words, nor actions, nor relationships. Amen.
2 Kings 1
Observations: The Second Book Kings is just a continuation of the first.
1:1-8 Ahab's son, learning nothing from God's interaction with his father, falls, and sends messengers to Baalzebub (Lord of Flies) in Ekron (the last place the Philistines carried the ark before they sent it back) for a prognosis. God sends Elijah to tell him he'll surely die.
1:9-14 Ahaziah sends a captain of 50 with his men to capture Elijah, who calls down fire from heaven upon them. Ditto the next captain. The third captain shoes a little more respect for the man of God and begs Elijah not to kill him and his men.
1:15-18 God tells Elijah to go, not be afraid, and he delivers the message in person. God protects Elijah and Ahaziah dies as God said.
Application: God can supernaturally protect His servants who speak His truth, and usually does, unless He has greater purposes.
Prayer: God, regardless of what happens to my life, I will remain faithful and loyal to Your word. Amen.
Digging Deeper:
God in a nutshell: God relents when we repent. He sends judgments to get our attention and turn us from our folly. When we respond, so does He. He uses people loyal to Him to speak His truth to others to warn them of impending judgment. He usually protects His servants, but sometimes let's them sacrifice themselves for His purposes. He will use our unsanctified desires for autonomy (power, pleasure, and possessions apart from His will) to bring about our destruction.
Us in a nutshell: Sometimes we are very slow to learn, if at all. We can see God do great things, answer our prayers, save us, and protect us, and then we go and rebel against Him. He'll send more judgments and discipline to shake us from our sin, but we can choose to cling to it, despite His discipline, and suffer more severe consequences. Even good folks can get into trouble by being influenced by evil people, so avoiding them is usually wise.
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1 Kings 21- 2 Kings 1 complete text
1 Kings 21
21:1 It happened after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, "Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near to my house; and I will give you for it a better vineyard than it. Or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its worth in money." 3 Naboth said to Ahab, "May Yahweh forbid me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!" 4 Ahab came into his house sullen and angry because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." He laid himself down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.
5 But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said to him, "Why is your spirit so sad, that you eat no bread?" 6 He said to her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite, and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it pleases you, I will give you another vineyard for it.’ He answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’" 7 Jezebel his wife said to him, "Do you now govern the kingdom of Israel? Arise, and eat bread, and let your heart be merry. I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite." 8 So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and to the nobles who were in his city, who lived with Naboth. 9 She wrote in the letters, saying, "Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. 10 Set two men, base fellows, before him, and let them testify against him, saying, ‘You cursed God and the king!’ Then carry him out, and stone him to death." 11 The men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent to them, according as it was written in the letters which she had sent to them. 12 They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. 13 The two men, the base fellows, came in and sat before him. The base fellows testified against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, "Naboth cursed God and the king!" Then they carried him out of the city, and stoned him to death with stones. 14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, "Naboth has been stoned, and is dead." 15 It happened, 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 you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead." 16 It happened, 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.
17 The word of Yahweh came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 18 "Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who dwells in Samaria. Behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone down to take possession of it. 19 You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh, "Have you killed and also taken possession?"’ You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh, "In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs will lick your blood, even yours."’" 20 Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, my enemy?" He answered, "I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do that which is evil in the sight of Yahweh. 21 Behold, I will bring evil on you, and will utterly sweep you away and will cut off from Ahab everyone who urinates against a wall, and him who is shut up and him who is left at large in Israel. 22 I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah for the provocation with which you have provoked me to anger, and have made Israel to sin." 23 Yahweh also spoke of Jezebel, saying, "The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the rampart of Jezreel. 24 The dogs will eat he who dies of Ahab in the city; and the birds of the sky will eat he who dies in the field." 25 But there was none like Ahab, who sold himself to do that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. 26 He did very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites did, whom Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel. 27 It happened, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. 28 The word of Yahweh came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 "See how Ahab humbles himself before me? Because he humbles himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days; but in his son’s days will I bring the evil on his house."
1 Kings 22
22:1 They continued three years without war between Syria and Israel. 2 It happened in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. 3 The king of Israel said to his servants, "You know that Ramoth Gilead is ours, and we are still, and don’t take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?" 4 He said to Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to battle to Ramoth Gilead?" Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses." 5 Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Please inquire first for the word of Yahweh." 6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?" They said, "Go up; for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king." 7 But Jehoshaphat said, "Isn’t there here a prophet of Yahweh, that we may inquire of him?" 8 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Yahweh, Micaiah the son of Imlah; but I hate him; for he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil." Jehoshaphat said, "Don’t let the king say so." 9 Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, "Quickly get Micaiah the son of Imlah." 10 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 11 Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron, and said, "Thus says Yahweh, ‘With these you shall push the Syrians, until they are consumed.’" 12 All the prophets prophesied so, saying, "Go up to Ramoth Gilead, and prosper; for Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the king." 13 The messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, "See now, the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth. Please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak good." 14 Micaiah said, "As Yahweh lives, what Yahweh says to me, that I will speak."
15 When he had come to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall we forbear?" He answered him, "Go up and prosper; and Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the king." 16 The king said to him, "How many times do I have to adjure you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of Yahweh?" 17 He said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. Yahweh said, ‘These have no master. Let them each return to his house in peace.’" 18 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Didn’t I tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?" 19 Micaiah said, "Therefore hear the word of Yahweh. I saw Yahweh sitting on his throne, and all the army of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. 20 Yahweh said, ‘Who shall entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ One said one thing; and another said another. 21 A spirit came out and stood before Yahweh, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ 22 Yahweh said to him, ‘How?’ He said, ‘I will go out and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ He said, ‘You will entice him, and will also prevail. Go out and do so.’ 23 Now therefore, behold, Yahweh has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and Yahweh has spoken evil concerning you." 24 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, "Which way did the Spirit of Yahweh go from me to speak to you?" 25 Micaiah said, "Behold, you will see on that day, when you go into an inner room to hide yourself." 26 The king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son. 27 Say, ‘Thus says 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."’" 28 Micaiah said, "If you return at all in peace, Yahweh has not spoken by me." He said, "Listen, all you people!"
29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead. 30 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but you put on your robes." The king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle. 31 Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, except only with the king of Israel. 32 It happened, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, "Surely that is the king of Israel!" and they turned aside to fight against him. Jehoshaphat cried out. 33 It happened, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him. 34 A certain man drew his bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of the armour. Therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn your hand, and carry me out of the battle; for I am severely wounded." 35 The battle increased that day. The king was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians, and died at evening. The blood ran out of the wound into the bottom of the chariot. 36 A cry went throughout the army about the going down of the sun, saying, "Every man to his city, and every man to his country!" 37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria. 38 They washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood where the prostitutes washed themselves; according to the word of Yahweh which he spoke. 39 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he built, and all the cities that he built, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 40 So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.
41 Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. 42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. 43 He walked in all the way of Asa his father; he didn’t turn aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh: however the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places. 44 Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel. 45 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he showed, and how he warred, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 46 The remnant of the sodomites, that remained in the days of his father Asa, he put away out of the land. 47 There was no king in Edom: a deputy was king. 48 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they didn’t go; for the ships were broken at Ezion Geber. 49 Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "Let my servants go with your servants in the ships." But Jehoshaphat would not. 50 Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father; Jehoram his son reigned in his place. 51 Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned two years over Israel. 52 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, 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, in which he made Israel to sin. 53 He served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger Yahweh, the God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.
2 Kings 1
1:1 Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab. 2 Ahaziah fell down through the lattice in his upper room that was in Samaria, and was sick. So he sent messengers, and said to them, "Go, inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I will recover of this sickness." 3 But the angel of Yahweh said to Elijah the Tishbite, "Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and tell them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel, that you go to inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron? 4 Now therefore thus says Yahweh, "You shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but shall surely die." Elijah departed. 5 The messengers returned to him, and he said to them, "Why is it that you have returned?" 6 They said to him, "A man came up to meet us, and said to us, ‘Go, return to the king who sent you, and tell him, Thus says Yahweh, Is it because there is no God in Israel, that you send to inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but shall surely die.’" 7 He said to them, "What kind of man was he who came up to meet you, and told you these words?" 8 They answered him, "He was a hairy man, and wearing a leather belt around his waist." He said, "It is Elijah the Tishbite."
9 Then the king sent a captain of fifty with his fifty to him. He went up to him; and behold, he was sitting on the top of the hill. He said to him, "Man of God, the king has said, ‘Come down!’" 10 Elijah answered to the captain of fifty, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from the sky, and consume you and your fifty!" Fire came down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty. 11 Again he sent to him another captain of fifty and his fifty. He answered him, "Man of God, the king has said, ‘Come down quickly!’" 12 Elijah answered them, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from the sky, and consume you and your fifty!" The fire of God came down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty. 13 Again he sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. The third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and begged him, and said to him, "Man of God, please let my life, and the life of these fifty your servants, be precious in your sight." 14 "Behold, fire came down from the sky, and consumed the two former captains of fifty with their fifties. But now let my life be precious in your sight." 15 The angel of Yahweh said to Elijah, "Go down with him. Don’t be afraid of him." He arose, and went down with him to the king. 16 He said to him, "Thus says Yahweh, ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron, is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but shall surely die.’" 17 So he died according to the word of Yahweh which Elijah had spoken. Jehoram began to reign in his place in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son. 18 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
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