2 Kings 22-25 Judah Exiled To Babylon

Psalm 57:1-5 Refuge in the Exalted God

To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." A poem by David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.

Psalm 57:1 “Be merciful to me, God, be merciful to me, for my soul takes refuge in You. Yes, in the shadow of Your wings, I will take refuge, until disaster has passed. 2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who accomplishes my requests for me. 3 He will send from heaven, and save me, He rebukes the one who is pursuing me. Selah. God will send out His hesed/loyal love and His faithfulness. 4 My soul is among lions. I lie among those who are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. 5 Be exalted, God, above the heavens! Let Your glory be above all the earth!...”

Observations: David pens another poem exalting God for delivering him yet again when chased by Saul. The setting is probably 1 Samuel 22, although it could be 1 Samuel 24. In any event the tune is "Don't Destroy", which was David's frequent request.

57:2-3 God hears, and answers, and in His hesed/loyal love and covenant faithfulness, saves David and rebukes his enemies (Same song, umpteenth verse).

57:5 David wants God's glory to be seen by all, a refrain repeated at the end of the Psalm, and as you'll see at the end of Joshua 4, God's macro purpose in saving His people.

Application: While awaiting the fulfillment of God's promises, you might attract an undue share of opposition. Call out to God, take refuge in Him, and look for how He will be loyal to you.

Prayer: God above the heavens who intervenes on earth, protect me and prosper me in the midst of my adversaries so Your glory might be displayed throughout the earth. Amen.

Proverbs 15:13-15 Affairs of the Heart

Proverbs 15:13 “A glad heart makes a cheerful face; but a sorrowful/wounded heart breaks the spirit. 14 The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. 15 All the days of the afflicted are wretched, but one who has a good heart enjoys a continual feast.“

Observations: 15:13-15 Our heart is powerful; it affects our face, and mind, and belly. A rejoicing heart is grateful for what God has allowed, because it values what God values. In contrast a sorrowful heart didn't have things go its way, and can't be happy unless it gets its way. A wise/understanding heart, seeks God's ways to train it in the right direction, but a foolish heart stuffs folly into itself. As a result, a foolish heart hates life, but a good heart is happy all the day, feeding on the goodness of God.

Application: Train your heart to value God's values, and you'll be happy.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are good, and the giver of good, so I can daily rejoice in Your goodness. Thanks. Amen.

2 Kings 22-25 These final chapters of Kings record the events leading up to the Babylonian captivity of Judah, from which they will return 70 years later. The one bright spot is the revival under Josiah after he discovers a copy of the Law. Unfortunately, it was too little, too late, God's wrath had already been kindled.

2 Kings 22 Josiah Finds and Follows the Law

22:1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. 2 He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, and walked in all the ways of his father David and did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 3 It happened in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan, the scribe, to the house of Yahweh, saying, 4 "Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may add up the money which is brought into the house of Yahweh, which the door keepers have gathered from the people. 5 Let them give it to the workmen who have the oversight of the house of Yahweh; and let them give it to the workmen who are in the house of Yahweh, to repair the breaches of the house, 6 to the carpenters, and to the builders, and to the masons, and for buying timber and cut stone to repair the house. 7 However there was no accounting made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand; for they dealt faithfully."

8 Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in the house of Yahweh." Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 10 Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, "Hilkiah the priest has delivered a book to me." Shaphan read it before the king.

11 When the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he tore his clothes. 12 The king commanded Hilkiah the priest...13 "Go inquire of Yahweh for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found; for great is the wrath of Yahweh that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that which is written concerning us."

14 So Hilkiah the priest...went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the second quarter); and they talked with her. 15 She said to them, "Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, 16 "Thus says Yahweh, ‘Behold, I will bring evil on this place, and on its inhabitants, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read. 17 Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and it shall not be quenched.’" 18 But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of Yahweh, thus you shall tell him, "Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: ‘Concerning the words which you have heard, 19 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before Yahweh, when you heard what I spoke against this place, and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and have torn your clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard you,’ says Yahweh. 20 ‘Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, neither shall your eyes see all the evil which I will bring on this place.’"’" They brought back this message to the king."

Observations: 22:1-10 In the eighth year of his reign, at the age of 16 Josiah began to seek Yahweh (2Chron 34:3) and starts purging Judah and Jerusalem of the high places and idols. Ten years later he begins to repair the temple and finds the Book of the Law, which no one had been paying any attention to (that explains a lot).

22:11-13 When reading it, he sees the cause and effect relationship that between Israel's behavior and God's blessing and cursing (an observation that eludes many modern theologians).

22:14-20 Through a prophetess, Huldah, God confirms Josiah's observation as accurate both by word and deed. Because of Josiah's humble and tender heart, God will spare him the destruction He is planning for Judah because of their rebellion. They will eventually reap it.

Application: If you don't like your consequences, change your causes, and reap blessing.

Prayer: God, may I be attentive and tender to Your word, and may it never be lost or gather dust during my life. Amen.

2 Kings 23 Josiah Cleans House and Nation

23:1 The king sent, and they gathered to him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem. 2 The king went up to the house of Yahweh, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of Yahweh. 3 The king stood by the pillar, and made a covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and all his soul, to confirm the words of this covenant that were written in this book: and all the people stood to the covenant.

4 The king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the doorkeepers, to bring out of the temple of Yahweh all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the Asherah, and for all the host of the sky, and he burned them outside of Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron, and carried their ashes to Bethel. 5 He put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places around Jerusalem; those also who burned incense to Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of the sky. 6 He brought out the Asherah from the house of Yahweh, outside of Jerusalem, to the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and beat it to dust, and cast its dust on the graves of the common people. 7 He broke down the houses of the sodomites, that were in the house of Yahweh, where the women wove hangings for the Asherah. 8 He brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba; and he broke down the high places of the gates that were at the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on a man’s left hand at the gate of the city. 9 Nevertheless the priests of the high places didn’t come up to the altar of Yahweh in Jerusalem, but they ate unleavened bread among their brothers. 10 He defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech. 11 He took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entrance of the house of Yahweh, by the room of Nathan Melech the officer, who was in the court; and he burned the chariots of the sun with fire. 12 The king broke down the altars that were on the roof of the upper room of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of Yahweh, and beat them down from there, and cast their dust into the brook Kidron. 13 The the king defiled the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mountain of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon. 14 He broke in pieces the pillars, and cut down the Asherim, and filled their places with the bones of men.

15 Moreover the altar that was at Bethel, and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, even that altar and the high place he broke down; and he burned the high place and beat it to dust, and burned the Asherah. 16 As Josiah turned himself, he spied the tombs that were there in the mountain; and he sent, and took the bones out of the tombs, and burned them on the altar, and defiled it, according to the word of Yahweh which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things. 17 Then he said, "What monument is that which I see?" The men of the city told him, "It is the tomb of the man of God, who came from Judah, and proclaimed these things that you have done against the altar of Bethel." 18 He said, "Let him be! Let no man move his bones." So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria. 19 All the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke Yahweh to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel. 20 He killed all the priests of the high places that were there, on the altars, and burned men’s bones on them; and he returned to Jerusalem. 21 The king commanded all the people, saying, "Keep the Passover to Yahweh your God, as it is written in this book of the covenant." 22 Surely there was not kept such a Passover from the days of the judges who judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah; 23 but in the eighteenth year of king Josiah was this Passover kept to Yahweh in Jerusalem. 24 Moreover Josiah removed those who had familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the teraphim, and the idols, and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of Yahweh.

25 Like him was there no king before him, who turned to Yahweh with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him. 26 Notwithstanding, Yahweh didn’t turn from the fierceness of his great wrath, with which his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocation with which Manasseh had provoked him. 27 Yahweh said, "I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and I will cast off this city which I have chosen, even Jerusalem, and the house of which I said, ‘My name shall be there.’" 28 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

29 In his days Pharaoh Necoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and Pharaoh Necoh killed him at Megiddo, when he had seen him. 30 His servants carried him in a chariot dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. The people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father’s place.

31 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 32 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that his fathers had done. 33 Pharaoh Necoh put him in bonds at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land to a tribute of one hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold. 34 Pharaoh Necoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the place of Josiah his father, and changed his name to Jehoiakim: but he took Jehoahaz away; and he came to Egypt, and died there. 35 Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh: he exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, of everyone according to his taxation, to give it to Pharaoh Necoh. 36 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Zebidah the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah. 37 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that his fathers had done."

Observations: 23:1-3 Josiah reads the law to the people and they make a covenant to follow Yahweh as He specified, with all their heart and soul.

23:4-14 They clean house and city, purging the land of idol worship, even destroying the high places that Solomon had built (somehow Uzziah missed them).

23:15-24 During Josiah's reign Assyria was losing ascendancy to Babylon, and as a result Judah regained both freedom and territory from Assyrian rule. Josiah was able to go to Bethel in Israel's old territory and destroy the idolatrous worship there, burning bones on the altar, fulfilling the prophecy of the unnamed prophet who denounced Jeroboam, and then healed his withered hand (1Kg 13). Josiah reinstates the Passover, and seeks to cause Israel to live by the Book.

23:25-28 Despite winning the title of the king who most turned to Yahweh, Josiah doesn't cause God to turn away His kindled wrath upon Judah. It's just a matter of time before it bursts into flame and they are consumed. Like with Israel at Kadesh-Barnea (Numbers 13), God had concluded that the people were more inclined to follow the ways of Manasseh than Josiah, as the future chapters demonstrate.

23:29-30 Even the best of kings have their soft spots, and Josiah's got hit by an Egyptian arrow. He was sensitive to God's law, but failed to inquire about God's purposes when Pharaoh Neco went up to join with Assyria in resisting Babylon.

2 Chronicles 35:20 “After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him. 21 But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, "What have I to do with you, you king of Judah? I come not against you this day, but against the house with which I have war. God has commanded me to make haste. Beware that it is God who is with me, that he not destroy you." 22 Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and didn’t listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo. 23 The archers shot at king Josiah...and he died.”

23:31-37 After Josiah's death Judah falls under Egyptian and then Babylonian control, and his sons rule, but they and the people fail to follow Josiah's reforms. God is totally just in fanning the fire kindled during Manasseh's reign.

Application: Being sensitive to God's word and Spirit will prevent us from reaching the flashpoint of God's wrath.

Prayer: God, I want to seek You with all my heart and soul, according to Your word, and with a sensitivity to Your Spirit; show me what I need to do, and I will do it. Amen.

2 Kings 24 Deported and Despoiled

24:1 In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him. 2 Yahweh sent against him bands of the Chaldeans, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke by his servants the prophets. 3 Surely at the commandment of Yahweh came this on Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did, 4 and also for the innocent blood that he shed; for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood: and Yahweh would not pardon. 5 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 6 So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers; and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place. 7 The king of Egypt didn’t come again out of his land any more; for the king of Babylon had taken, from the brook of Egypt to the river Euphrates, all that pertained to the king of Egypt.

8 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign; and he reigned in Jerusalem three months 9 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that his father had done.

10 At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up to Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. 11 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the city, while his servants were besieging it; 12 and Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign. 13 He carried out there all the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king’s house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold, which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of Yahweh, as Yahweh had said. 14 He carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths; none remained, except the poorest sort of the people of the land. 15 He carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon; and the king’s mother, and the king’s wives, and his officers, and the chief men of the land, carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon. 16 All the men of might, even seven thousand, and the craftsmen and the smiths one thousand, all of them strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon. 17 The king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s father’s brother, king is his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah. 18 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 19 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. 20 For through the anger of Yahweh, it happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence. Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon."

Observations: 24:1-9 God sends multiple enemies against Judah to give them the promised and prophesied consequences of their sin. The people didn't embrace the reforms of Josiah, but followed the sins of Manasseh.

24:10-20 In the first of three deportations, Nebuchadnezzar stops by, besieges the city, and carries off the treasures and all the good people, including Daniel and friends. He deposes Jehoiachin, and leaves Zedekiah in charge, who does evil in God's sight, and eventually rebels, which will bring more problems.

2 Kings 25 Going, Going, Gone

25:1 It happened in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and encamped against it; and they built forts against it around it. 2 So the city was besieged to the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. 3 On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was severe in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land. 4 Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king’s garden (now the Chaldeans were against the city around it); and the king went by the way of the Arabah. 5 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him. 6 Then they took the king, and carried him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment on him. 7 They killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him in fetters, and carried him to Babylon.

8 Now in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, to Jerusalem. 9 He burnt the house of Yahweh, and the king’s house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, even every great house, burnt he with fire. 10 All the army of the Chaldeans, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down the walls around Jerusalem. 11 Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive the residue of the people who were left in the city, and those who fell away, who fell to the king of Babylon, and the residue of the multitude. 12 But the captain of the guard left some of the poorest of the land to work the vineyards and fields. 
13 The Chaldeans broke up the pillars of brass that were in the house of Yahweh and the bases and the bronze sea that were in the house of Yahweh, and carried the brass pieces to Babylon. 14 They took away the pots, the shovels, the snuffers, the spoons, and all the vessels of brass with which they ministered. 15 The captain of the guard took away the fire pans, the basins, that which was of gold, in gold, and that which was of silver, in silver. 16 The two pillars, the one sea, and the bases, which Solomon had made for the house of Yahweh, the brass of all these vessels was without weight. 17 The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and a capital of brass was on it; and the height of the capital was three cubits, with network and pomegranates on the capital around it, all of brass: and like to these had the second pillar with network. 18 The captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three door keepers: 19 and out of the city he took an officer who was set over the men of war; and five men of those who saw the king’s face, who were found in the city; and the scribe, the captain of the army, who mustered the people of the land; and sixty men of the people of the land, who were found in the city. 20 Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah. 21 The king of Babylon struck them, and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away captive out of his land.

22 As for the people who were left in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, governor. 23 Now when all the captains of the forces, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men. 24 Gedaliah swore to them and to their men, and said to them, "Don’t be afraid because of the servants of the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you." 25 But it happened in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal seed came, and ten men with him, and struck Gedaliah, so that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldeans that were with him at Mizpah. 26 All the people, both small and great, and the captains of the forces, arose, and came to Egypt; for they were afraid of the Chaldeans.

27 It happened in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison; 28 and he spoke kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings who were with him in Babylon, 29 and changed his prison garments. Jehoiachin ate bread before him continually all the days of his life: 30 and for his allowance, there was a continual allowance given him of the king, every day a portion, all the days of his life."

Observations: 25:1-7 Nebuchadnezzar returns nine years later and lays siege again for a couple of years. The famine causes everyone in the city to flee, but Zedekiah is captured, sees his sons executed, is blinded, bound and carried off to Babylon.

25:8-21 The Babylonians loot the city, take anyone who's except the poorest captive, kill any leadership, and burn the city. Jerusalem is gone.

Jeremiah 21:10 "For I have set my face on this city for evil, and not for good, says Yahweh: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire."

25:22-26 Gedaliah is appointed governor, not king, of the remaining riffraff and when he is assassinated, everyone clears out to Egypt. No one is left, just like God said.

25:27 After 37 years of captivity, Jehoiachin gets a reprieve from new Babylonian king Evilmerodach and is shown favor.

Lamentations 1:1 "How deserted lies the city, once so full of people! How like a widow is she, who once was great among the nations! She who was queen among the provinces has now become a slave.2 Bitterly she weeps at night, tears are on her cheeks. Among all her lovers there is no one to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies.3 After affliction and harsh labor, Judah has gone into exile. She dwells among the nations; she finds no resting place. All who pursue her have overtaken her in the midst of her distress.4 The roads to Zion mourn, for no one comes to her appointed festivals. All her gateways are desolate, her priests groan, her young women grieve, and she is in bitter anguish.5 Her foes have become her masters; her enemies are at ease. The LORD has brought her grief because of her many sins. Her children have gone into exile, captive before the foe.6 All the glory has departed."

Application: God will always keep His covenantal promises; we will be cursed or blessed depending on whether or not we keep our covenantal obligations.

Prayer: God, You are totally trustworthy and faithful, and always do what You promised; drawing on Your grace, I will strive to be faithful and worthy of being blessed rather than cursed. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: God will always keep His covenantal promises, if He can not bless, He will curse, as promised. Once His wrath is kindled, it is inevitable that destruction will follow, it's just a matter of time. He uses both good and evil individuals to accomplish His purposes. He will let even really good people reap negative consequences if they ignore His word and His will. After afflicting and punishing His people's sin, He may show them favor if they repent. He is to be feared.

Us in a nutshell: We can enjoy peace in the midst of difficulty if we seek God with all our heart and soul. Being God's blessed people, does not exempt us from obedience. Even those who serve God wholeheartedly can become insensitive to His voice, if not careful. If we don't serve God, we will serve evil overlords. There is no middle ground.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

2 Kings 22-25 complete text

2 Kings 22

22:1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. 2 He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, and walked in all the way of David his father, and didn’t turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 3 It happened in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan, the son of Azaliah the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of Yahweh, saying, 4 "Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the money which is brought into the house of Yahweh, which the keepers of the threshold have gathered of the people. 5 Let them deliver it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of Yahweh; and let them give it to the workmen who are in the house of Yahweh, to repair the breaches of the house, 6 to the carpenters, and to the builders, and to the masons, and for buying timber and cut stone to repair the house. 7 However there was no accounting made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand; for they dealt faithfully." 8 Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in the house of Yahweh." Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9 Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, "Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of Yahweh." 10 Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, "Hilkiah the priest has delivered a book to me." Shaphan read it before the king.

11 It happened, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he tore his clothes. 12 The king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, 13 "Go inquire of Yahweh for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found; for great is the wrath of Yahweh that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that which is written concerning us." 14 So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asaiah, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the second quarter); and they talked with her. 15 She said to them, "Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, 16 "Thus says Yahweh, ‘Behold, I will bring evil on this place, and on its inhabitants, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read. 17 Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and it shall not be quenched.’" 18 But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of Yahweh, thus you shall tell him, "Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: ‘Concerning the words which you have heard, 19 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before Yahweh, when you heard what I spoke against this place, and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and have torn your clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard you,’ says Yahweh. 20 ‘Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, neither shall your eyes see all the evil which I will bring on this place.’"’" They brought back this message to the king.

2 Kings 23

23:1 The king sent, and they gathered to him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem. 2 The king went up to the house of Yahweh, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of Yahweh. 3 The king stood by the pillar, and made a covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and all his soul, to confirm the words of this covenant that were written in this book: and all the people stood to the covenant.

4 The king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the threshold, to bring forth out of the temple of Yahweh all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the Asherah, and for all the army of the sky, and he burned them outside of Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron, and carried their ashes to Bethel. 5 He put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places around Jerusalem; those also who burned incense to Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the army of the sky. 6 He brought out the Asherah from the house of Yahweh, outside of Jerusalem, to the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and beat it to dust, and cast its dust on the graves of the common people. 7 He broke down the houses of the sodomites, that were in the house of Yahweh, where the women wove hangings for the Asherah. 8 He brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba; and he broke down the high places of the gates that were at the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on a man’s left hand at the gate of the city. 9 Nevertheless the priests of the high places didn’t come up to the altar of Yahweh in Jerusalem, but they ate unleavened bread among their brothers. 10 He defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech. 11 He took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entrance of the house of Yahweh, by the room of Nathan Melech the officer, who was in the court; and he burned the chariots of the sun with fire. 12 The king broke down the altars that were on the roof of the upper room of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of Yahweh, and beat them down from there, and cast their dust into the brook Kidron. 13 The the king defiled the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mountain of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon. 14 He broke in pieces the pillars, and cut down the Asherim, and filled their places with the bones of men. 15 Moreover the altar that was at Bethel, and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, even that altar and the high place he broke down; and he burned the high place and beat it to dust, and burned the Asherah. 16 As Josiah turned himself, he spied the tombs that were there in the mountain; and he sent, and took the bones out of the tombs, and burned them on the altar, and defiled it, according to the word of Yahweh which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things. 17 Then he said, "What monument is that which I see?" The men of the city told him, "It is the tomb of the man of God, who came from Judah, and proclaimed these things that you have done against the altar of Bethel." 18 He said, "Let him be! Let no man move his bones." So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria. 19 All the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke Yahweh to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel. 20 He killed all the priests of the high places that were there, on the altars, and burned men’s bones on them; and he returned to Jerusalem. 21 The king commanded all the people, saying, "Keep the Passover to Yahweh your God, as it is written in this book of the covenant." 22 Surely there was not kept such a Passover from the days of the judges who judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah; 23 but in the eighteenth year of king Josiah was this Passover kept to Yahweh in Jerusalem. 24 Moreover Josiah removed those who had familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the teraphim, and the idols, and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of Yahweh.

25 Like him was there no king before him, who turned to Yahweh with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him. 26 Notwithstanding, Yahweh didn’t turn from the fierceness of his great wrath, with which his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocation with which Manasseh had provoked him. 27 Yahweh said, "I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and I will cast off this city which I have chosen, even Jerusalem, and the house of which I said, ‘My name shall be there.’" 28 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 29 In his days Pharaoh Necoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and Pharaoh Necoh killed him at Megiddo, when he had seen him. 30 His servants carried him in a chariot dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. The people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father’s place.

31 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 32 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that his fathers had done. 33 Pharaoh Necoh put him in bonds at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land to a tribute of one hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold. 34 Pharaoh Necoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the place of Josiah his father, and changed his name to Jehoiakim: but he took Jehoahaz away; and he came to Egypt, and died there. 35 Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh: he exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, of everyone according to his taxation, to give it to Pharaoh Necoh. 36 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Zebidah the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah. 37 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that his fathers had done.

2 Kings 24

24:1 In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him. 2 Yahweh sent against him bands of the Chaldeans, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke by his servants the prophets. 3 Surely at the commandment of Yahweh came this on Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did, 4 and also for the innocent blood that he shed; for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood: and Yahweh would not pardon. 5 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 6 So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers; and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place. 7 The king of Egypt didn’t come again out of his land any more; for the king of Babylon had taken, from the brook of Egypt to the river Euphrates, all that pertained to the king of Egypt.

8 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign; and he reigned in Jerusalem three months: and his mother’s name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. 9 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that his father had done. 10 At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up to Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. 11 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the city, while his servants were besieging it; 12 and Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign. 13 He carried out there all the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king’s house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold, which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of Yahweh, as Yahweh had said. 14 He carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths; none remained, except the poorest sort of the people of the land. 15 He carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon; and the king’s mother, and the king’s wives, and his officers, and the chief men of the land, carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon. 16 All the men of might, even seven thousand, and the craftsmen and the smiths one thousand, all of them strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon. 17 The king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s father’s brother, king is his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah. 18 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 19 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. 20 For through the anger of Yahweh, it happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence. Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

2 Kings 25

25:1 It happened in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and encamped against it; and they built forts against it around it. 2 So the city was besieged to the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. 3 On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was severe in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land. 4 Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king’s garden (now the Chaldeans were against the city around it); and the king went by the way of the Arabah. 5 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him. 6 Then they took the king, and carried him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment on him. 7 They killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him in fetters, and carried him to Babylon.

8 Now in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, to Jerusalem. 9 He burnt the house of Yahweh, and the king’s house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, even every great house, burnt he with fire. 10 All the army of the Chaldeans, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down the walls around Jerusalem. 11 Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive the residue of the people who were left in the city, and those who fell away, who fell to the king of Babylon, and the residue of the multitude. 12 But the captain of the guard left some of the poorest of the land to work the vineyards and fields. 13 The Chaldeans broke up the pillars of brass that were in the house of Yahweh and the bases and the bronze sea that were in the house of Yahweh, and carried the brass pieces to Babylon. 14 They took away the pots, the shovels, the snuffers, the spoons, and all the vessels of brass with which they ministered. 15 The captain of the guard took away the fire pans, the basins, that which was of gold, in gold, and that which was of silver, in silver. 16 The two pillars, the one sea, and the bases, which Solomon had made for the house of Yahweh, the brass of all these vessels was without weight. 17 The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and a capital of brass was on it; and the height of the capital was three cubits, with network and pomegranates on the capital around it, all of brass: and like to these had the second pillar with network. 18 The captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold: 19 and out of the city he took an officer who was set over the men of war; and five men of those who saw the king’s face, who were found in the city; and the scribe, the captain of the army, who mustered the people of the land; and sixty men of the people of the land, who were found in the city. 20 Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah. 21 The king of Babylon struck them, and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away captive out of his land.

22 As for the people who were left in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, governor. 23 Now when all the captains of the forces, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men. 24 Gedaliah swore to them and to their men, and said to them, "Don’t be afraid because of the servants of the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you." 25 But it happened in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal seed came, and ten men with him, and struck Gedaliah, so that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldeans that were with him at Mizpah. 26 All the people, both small and great, and the captains of the forces, arose, and came to Egypt; for they were afraid of the Chaldeans. 27 It happened in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison; 28 and he spoke kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings who were with him in Babylon, 29 and changed his prison garments. Jehoiachin ate bread before him continually all the days of his life: 30 and for his allowance, there was a continual allowance given him of the king, every day a portion, all the days of his life.

1 Kings 12-14 Stupidity of Idolatry

Psalm 51:1-8 Forgiven and Free

A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. See 2 Samuel 12.

Psalm 51:1 “Have mercy on me, God, according to Your hesed/loyal love. According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse/purify me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me. 4 Against You, and You only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in Your sight; that You may be proved right when You speak, and justified when You judge. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity. In sin my mother conceived me. 6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place. 7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness, That the bones which You have broken may rejoice..."

Observations: 51:1 David is asking for two things: forgiveness and cleansing/purification.

51:2 Although translators vary: “iniquity” (which comes from a word that means “twisted”) stresses the guilt arising from “sin,” which is missing the mark or going astray from the standard of God. Transgression is rebelliously stepping over the line. All three are mentioned in Exodus 34:7.

51:3 David doesn't play hide 'n seek with God, but acknowledges his sin and seeks freedom from it.

51:6 David is not concerned with the external punishments that Nathan pronounced upon him, but with the inner purity God desires. He chose the wrong objectives and now seeks a heart of wisdom that will choose correctly next time, resulting in joy. See the rest of the Psalm.

Application: Go beyond forgiveness to freedom by seeking a change of heart that values loyalty to God over the lie that the passing pleasure of sin is worth it. It isn't.

Prayer: Gracious God, thanks for not only forgiving me, but offering freedom; may I learn to have Your truth guide my steps. Amen.
Bonus Verses: 1 John 1:8 "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Proverbs 14:5-9 Are You in the Dark or Walking in the Light?

Pr 14:5 “A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies. 6 A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn't find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person. 7 Stay away from a foolish man, for you won't find knowledge on his lips. 8 The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit. 9 Fools mock at making amends for sins, but among the upright there is good will.

Observations: Bad guys live a dark life of lies, so they can't find wisdom, nor knowledge; are foolish, and mock at the idea of justly setting errors right (v9). Good guys live lives in the light of truth, so easily find wisdom and knowledge; they think about and evaluate their lives to see that they are dealing justly toward others.

Application: Walking in the light is not just a good idea; it's a command.

Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.

Prayer: Light of My Life, may I follow You, not walk in darkness, and have the light of life (John 8:12). Amen.

1 Kings 12-14 These chapters are a sad contrast to the splendor of Solomon, as they record the inevitable consequences of willful sin. The hard-earned gains of the previous chapters are eroded, the kingdom splits, peace is lost, idolatry re-instituted and the temple looted. Leaders and nation no longer do what is right in God's sight, ignoring His promises of blessing for faithfulness, becoming just like the nations God had used them to judge (unholy). So in the infinite justice of God, He must judge them for practicing the same sins as the pagans, bringing curses upon them. Not pretty.

1 Kings 12 Servant vs Selfish Leadership

12:1 Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. 2 When Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Egypt, where he had fled from king Solomon, and Jeroboam lived in Egypt, 3 and they sent and called him), Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came, and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 4 "Your father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make you the grievous service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you." 5 He said to them, "Depart for three days, then come back to me." The people departed. 6 King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, "What counsel do you give me to return answer to this people?" 7 They spoke to him, saying, "If you will be a servant to this people this day, and will serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever." 8 But he forsook the counsel of the old men, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him. 9 He said to them, "What counsel do you give...?" 

10 The young men spoke to him, saying, "Thus you shall tell this people ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. 11 Now whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.’" 13 The king answered the people roughly, and forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him, 14 and spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men 15 So the king didn’t listen to the people; for it was a thing brought about of Yahweh, that he might establish his word, which Yahweh spoke by Ahijah to Jeroboam.

16 When all Israel saw that the king didn’t listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, "What portion have we in David? Neither do we have an inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, Israel! Now see to your own house, David." So Israel departed to their tents. 17 But as for the children of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 18 Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the men subject to forced labour; and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. King Rehoboam made speed to get up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel rebelled against the house of David to this day. 20 When all Israel heard that Jeroboam was returned, they called him to the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none who followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only. 21 When Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men, who were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. 22 But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 23 "Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying, 24 ‘Thus says Yahweh, "You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers, the children of Israel. Everyone return to his house; for this thing is of me."’" So they listened to the word of Yahweh, and returned and went their way, according to the word of Yahweh.

25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and lived in it; and he went out from there, and built Penuel. 26 Jeroboam said in his heart, "Now the kingdom will return to the house of David. 27 If this people goes up to offer sacrifices in the house of Yahweh at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, even to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me, and return to Rehoboam king of Judah." 28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold; and he said to them, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Look and see your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt!" 29 He set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. 30 This thing became a sin; for the people went to worship before the one, even to Dan. 31 He made houses of high places, and made priests from among all the people, who were not of the sons of Levi. 32 Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast that is in Judah, and he went up to the altar; he did so in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made. 33 He went up to the altar which he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart: and he ordained a feast for the children of Israel, and went up to the altar, to burn incense.

Observations: 12:1-15 Rehoboam becomes king after his father Solomon, and the people ask for tax and conscripted labor relief from Solomon's massive building projects. Rehoboam consults the older advisers who had counseled his father, who said “serve the people, listen to them, and they will serve you.” The younger friends of Rehoboam said “be meaner and harder than Solomon.” The older and wiser counsel correctly viewed leadership as meeting the needs of one's subjects. The younger foolish counsel viewed leadership as a means of boosting one's worth and value by being better than others. There was no rational basis for increasing taxes (usually isn't). Rehoboam didn't ask God's perspective, nor listen to the people, nor the voice of experience, and alienated the populace. The hallmark of a deceived fool is not listening to wise counsel, but finding people who tell them what they want to hear so they can pursue their sinful desires. This was brought about by God, using the unsanctioned desires and free-will stupidity of Rehoboam, to fulfill the promise He made to Jereboam, and carry out His discipline of Solomon by tearing the kingdom from his house.

12:16-24 The ten northern tribes rebel against the king who wouldn't listen, stoning his “enforcer”, causing Rehoboam to flee for his life. They send for Jereboam and make him their king. I remember who's who alphabetically, on a map: Jeroboam is in the north, Rehoboam in the south. Rehoboam assembles 180,000 warriors from Judah and Benjamin to fight the other ten tribes, hereafter referred to as “Israel.” God sends a prophet, Shemaiah, telling them not to fight and go home since this is part of God's plan. Amazingly, they listen.

12:25-33 To fully appreciate the idiocy of Jereboam, recall that God had offered to fulfill all his hearts desires, and have the same deal He gave David and Solomon: “walk before Me and I'll establish your house forever” (11:38). He had seen and experienced how God exalted David and Solomon. So what does he do? Rather than trust in God's plan to establish him (as David did), listens to bad counsel, and trusts in his own schemes, building alternative worship places to Jerusalem, so he won't lose the people's hearts there when they worship as God specified. He sets up golden calves for them to worship as their deliverers (Duh! Weren't there problems when Israel did this earlier in their history? Ex 32). He appeals to the people to engage in illegitimate worship on the basis of: “it is too much for you” to do what God said (a common way of leading people astray today). This lack of trust and obedience forfeits God's blessing promises, and brings the cursing parts into effect. His independence from God sets the new low standard in walking away from God; future kings will be compared to his benchmark.

Application: Those who don't wholeheartedly trust and serve God will regret it.

Prayer: God, You made me to serve You and Your people; may I never sink to serving myself and my desires. Amen.

1 Kings 13 Good and Bad Prophet; Good Donkey

13:1 Behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of Yahweh to Bethel: and Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn incense. 2 He cried against the altar by the word of Yahweh, and said, "Altar, altar, thus says Yahweh: ‘Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name. On you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and they will burn men’s bones on you.’" 3 He gave a sign the same day, saying, "This is the sign which Yahweh has spoken: Behold, the altar will be split apart, and the ashes that are on it will be poured out." 4 It happened, when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar in Bethel, that Jeroboam put out his hand from the altar, saying, "Seize him!" His hand, which he put out against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back again to himself. 5 The altar also was split apart, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of Yahweh. 6 The king answered the man of God, "Now entreat the favor of Yahweh your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again." The man of God entreated Yahweh, and the king’s hand was restored him again, and became as it was before. 7 The king said to the man of God, "Come home with me, and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward." 8 The man of God said to the king, "Even if you gave me half of your house, I would not go in with you, neither would I eat bread nor drink water in this place; 9 for so was it commanded me by the word of Yahweh, saying, ‘You shall eat no bread, nor drink water, neither return by the way that you came.’" 10 So he went another way, and didn’t return by the way that he came to Bethel.

11 Now there lived an old prophet in Bethel; and one of his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel. They also told their father the words which he had spoken to the king. 12 Their father said to them, "Which way did he go?" Now his sons had seen which way the man of God went, who came from Judah. 13 He said to his sons, "Saddle the donkey for me." So they saddled the donkey for him; and he rode on it. 14 He went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak. He said to him, "Are you the man of God who came from Judah?" He said, "I am." 15 Then he said to him, "Come home with me, and eat bread." 16 He said, "I may not return with you, nor go in with you; neither will I eat bread nor drink water with you in this place. 17 For it was said to me by the word of Yahweh, ‘You shall eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that you came.’" 18 He said to him, "I also am a prophet as you are; and an angel spoke to me by the word of Yahweh, saying, ‘Bring him back with you into your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.’" He lied to him. 19 So he went back with him, and ate bread in his house, and drank water. 20 It happened, as they sat at the table, that the word of Yahweh came to the prophet who brought him back; 21 and he cried to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, "Thus says Yahweh, ‘Because you have been disobedient to the mouth of Yahweh, and have not kept the commandment which Yahweh your God commanded you, 22 but came back, and have eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which he said to you, "Eat no bread, and drink no water"; your body shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.’"

23 It happened, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled the donkey for the prophet whom he had brought back. 24 When he had gone, a lion met him by the way, and killed him. His body was cast in the way, and the donkey stood by it. The lion also stood by the body. 25 Behold, men passed by, and saw the body cast in the way, and the lion standing by the body; and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet lived. 26 When the prophet who brought him back from the way heard of it, he said, "It is the man of God who was disobedient to the mouth of Yahweh. Therefore Yahweh has delivered him to the lion, which has mauled him and slain him, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke to him." 27 He spoke to his sons, saying, "Saddle the donkey for me." They saddled it. 28 He went and found his body cast in the way, and the donkey and the lion standing by the body. The lion had not eaten the body, nor mauled the donkey. 29 The prophet took up the body of the man of God, and laid it on the donkey, and brought it back. He came to the city of the old prophet to mourn, and to bury him. 30 He laid his body in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, "Alas, my brother!" 31 It happened, after he had buried him, that he spoke to his sons, saying, "When I am dead, then bury me in the tomb in which the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones. 32 For the saying which he cried by the word of Yahweh against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, will surely happen." 33 After this thing Jeroboam didn’t return from his evil way, but again made priests of the high places from among all the people. Whoever wanted to, he consecrated him, that there might be priests of the high places. 34 This thing became sin to the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the surface of the earth.

Observations: 13:1-10 The word of God came to an unnamed man of God (prophet) instructing him to go Bethel and denounce Jeroboam's altar. He names Josiah (about 290 years in advance) as the executor of God's judgment (2 Kings 23:16). Jeroboam witnesses two signs/miracles validating the spoken words (altar split and hand restored), and still doesn't pay attention to God's word, nor desist from his stupid apostasy. God had also instructed the prophet to not eat nor drink (fellowship) with the apostate. An apostate is not an unbeliever, but one who disobeys and departs from the truth, while maintaining a semblance of religiosity.

1 Corinthians 5:11 "But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner --- not even to eat with such a person."

13:11-32 God kills a miracle working prophet for being deceived into disobeying His word. God did not want any endorsement of fellowship between the true worship in Jerusalem and the false demonic worshipers in Jeroboam's religion. By eating, the true prophet not only disobeyed God's direct word to him, but he lent support to the apostasy. The old prophet was now doing the devil's work, rather than denouncing Jeroboam's idolatry. He lies to the good guy, who should have not wavered from what God had revealed to him. There were enough clues to see the old prophet was lying (are you the guy?; oh yeah, now that you mention it, God told me otherwise). The old prophet gets some real revelation that the good guy is being disobedient and will die for it. The fact that the lion doesn't eat the prophet (nor the brave donkey) underscores the supernatural judgment, which will also come upon Jeroboam and his followers. Like Rehoboam and Jeroboam, the good prophet listened to bad advice, and paid for it with his life.

13:33-34 Jeroboam is unfazed by the miraculous events, as are most of those who Satan takes captive by their desires to do his will. Jereboam appoints anybody who desires to be a priest, and sets up the kingdom for annihilation, just like the pagans before them who engaged in false worship.

Application: The only defense against the dark demonic arts is a strong grip on and unshakable adherence to God's word.

Prayer: God, may I always follow what I know is true and trust You to fulfill Your promises, based upon Your word, and not be deceived by outwardly religious folks who are really following Satan's will. Amen.

1 Kings 14 Promised Consequences

14:1 At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. 2 Jeroboam said to his wife, "Please get up and disguise yourself, that you won’t be recognized as the wife of Jeroboam. Go to Shiloh. Behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, who spoke concerning me that I should be king over this people. 3 Take with you ten loaves, and cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what will become of the child." 4 Jeroboam’s wife did so...Now Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age. 5 Yahweh said to Ahijah, "The wife of Jeroboam comes to inquire of you concerning her son; for he is sick...she will pretend to be another woman." 6 When Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, that he said, "Come in, you wife of Jeroboam! Why do you pretend to be another? For I am sent to you with heavy news.

7 Go, tell Jeroboam, ‘Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: "Because I exalted you from among the people, and made you prince over my people Israel, 8 and tore the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it you; and yet you have not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in my eyes, 9 but have done evil above all who were before you, and have gone and made you other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and have cast me behind your back: 10 therefore, behold, I will bring evil on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam everyone...and will utterly sweep away the house of Jeroboam, as a man sweeps away dung, until it is all gone. 11 He who dies of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and he who dies in the field shall the birds of the sky eat: for Yahweh has spoken it."’ 12 Arise therefore, and go to your house. When your feet enter into the city, the child shall die. 14 Moreover Yahweh will raise up a king over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam. 15 Yahweh will...root up Israel out of this good land which he gave to their fathers, and will scatter them beyond the River, because they have made their Asherim, provoking Yahweh to anger. 16 He will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he has sinned, and with which he has made Israel to sin." 17 Jeroboam’s wife arose, and departed, and came to Tirzah. As she came to the threshold of the house, the child died. 18 All Israel buried him, and mourned for him, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the prophet. 20 Jeroboam reigned two and twenty years: and he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his place.

21 Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem...22 Judah did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they committed, above all that their fathers had done. 23 For they also built themselves high places, and pillars, and Asherim, on every high hill, and under every green tree; 24 and there were also sodomites in the land: they did according to all the abominations of the nations which Yahweh drove out before the children of Israel. 25 In the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem; 26 and he took away the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king’s house; he took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made. 27 King Rehoboam made in their place shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who kept the door of the king’s house. 28 As often as the king went into the house of Yahweh, the guard bore them, and brought them back into the guard room. 30 There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually. 31 Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. Abijam his son reigned in his place.

Observations: 14:1-20 Jeroboam's son Abijah falls sick, so Jeroboam tells his wife to disguise herself and go ask the now blind Ahijah (the prophet who gave him the ten pieces of the robe and offered him his own Davidic Covenant) the prognosis. God sees through the disguise, and delivers a prognostication of judgment for his failure to follow Him with all his heart in doing what was right in God's eyes. Not only will the son die when his mother returns, but so will all of Jeroboam's line. The whole nation of Israel (10 northern tribes) will be uprooted and scattered, for their sin in following him (so much for blind allegiance to authority that doesn't follow God). During his reign Israel loses the peace they had under Solomon, and the territories gained under Joshua and David. We always lose when we don't wholeheartedly follow God.

14:21-24 Speaking of losers, Rehoboam leads Judah further into Solomon's sin, going beyond their fathers in doing evil in the sight of the Lord, “worshiping” according to their lusts, and doing all the abominations of the nations God had used the Israelites to judge.

14:25-31 So a just God is obligated to judge the sin, regardless of who is committing it. God brings Shishak, the king of Egypt to attack Jerusalem, and he takes all the gold shields that Solomon had made. Instead of repenting and seeking God, Rehoboam makes brass shields and brings them to the house of God whenever he plays at “worshiping” so he doesn't feel bad that they're gone. Of all that could be mentioned of his reign, we get one sentence that there was continual war (peace was a blessing from God), and the comments about the shields. Rather than reflecting on why the shields were gone and doing something about it (like repent), he comes up with a cheap substitute to keep up appearances. As is the case with most people who have no inner relationship with God based upon loyal obedience to Him, Rehoboam chooses one outward aspect of “religion” and focuses on that to balance out the lack of a real relationship with God. Pitiful.

Application: We will experience certain and painful judgment for our sin unless we repent and do what is right in God's sight, with all our heart.

Prayer: God, I will keep Your revelation in front of my eyes and serve You as David did “who kept Your commandments, and who followed You with all his heart, to do that only which was right in Your eyes” (14:8). Amen.

Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: God really wants to incredibly bless people and fulfill their desires, as He did with David and Solomon; however, He has sovereignly determined to only bless those who do what is right in His sight. He has also sovereignly determined to curse those who don't seek and obey Him, with destruction, deprivation, and death. He can raise up and exalt a servant to bless, or a king to curse. He will judge sin wherever it is found, sometimes letting it continue for years, other times smiting sinners in a day. He will curse those He has blessed, and reverse their blessings if they don't continue to trust and obey.

Us in a nutshell: We are given the choice to follow God's ways, or not. We are not given the choice to attach different consequence to our actions than what God has determined. If we faithfully do what is right in God's sight, He will exalt us, fulfill our desires and His promises in His time. We can be deceived by religious folks and ritual rather than the revealed will of God if we don't purpose to seek what God wants and stick to it.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

1 Kings 12-14 complete text

1 Kings 12

12:1 Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. 2 It happened, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was yet in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam lived in Egypt, 3 and they sent and called him), that Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came, and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 4 "Your father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make you the grievous service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you." 5 He said to them, "Depart for three days, then come back to me." The people departed. 6 King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, "What counsel do you give me to return answer to this people?" 7 They spoke to him, saying, "If you will be a servant to this people this day, and will serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever." 8 But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him. 9 He said to them, "What counsel do you give, that we may return answer to this people, who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Make the yoke that your father put on us lighter?’" 10 The young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, "Thus you shall tell this people who spoke to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it lighter to us’; you shall say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. 11 Now whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add 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 the third day, as the king asked, saying, "Come to me again the third day." 13 The king answered the people roughly, and forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him, 14 and spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions." 15 So the king didn’t listen to the people; for it was a thing brought about of Yahweh, that he might establish his word, which Yahweh spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

16 When all Israel saw that the king didn’t listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, "What portion have we in David? Neither do we have an inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, Israel! Now see to your own house, David." So Israel departed to their tents. 17 But as for the children of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 18 Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the men subject to forced labour; and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. King Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel rebelled against the house of David to this day. 20 It happened, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was returned, that they sent and called him to the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none who followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only. 21 When Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men, who were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. 22 But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 23 "Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying, 24 ‘Thus says Yahweh, "You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers, the children of Israel. Everyone return to his house; for this thing is of me."’" So they listened to the word of Yahweh, and returned and went their way, according to the word of Yahweh.

25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and lived in it; and he went out from there, and built Penuel. 26 Jeroboam said in his heart, "Now the kingdom will return to the house of David. 27 If this people goes up to offer sacrifices in the house of Yahweh at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, even to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me, and return to Rehoboam king of Judah." 28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold; and he said to them, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Look and see your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt!" 29 He set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. 30 This thing became a sin; for the people went to worship before the one, even to Dan. 31 He made houses of high places, and made priests from among all the people, who were not of the sons of Levi. 32 Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast that is in Judah, and he went up to the altar; he did so in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made. 33 He went up to the altar which he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart: and he ordained a feast for the children of Israel, and went up to the altar, to burn incense.

1 Kings 13

13:1 Behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of Yahweh to Beth El: and Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn incense. 2 He cried against the altar by the word of Yahweh, and said, "Altar, altar, thus says Yahweh: ‘Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name. On you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and they will burn men’s bones on you.’" 3 He gave a sign the same day, saying, "This is the sign which Yahweh has spoken: Behold, the altar will be split apart, and the ashes that are on it will be poured out." 4 It happened, when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar in Bethel, that Jeroboam put out his hand from the altar, saying, "Seize him!" His hand, which he put out against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back again to himself. 5 The altar also was split apart, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of Yahweh. 6 The king answered the man of God, "Now entreat the favour of Yahweh your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again." The man of God entreated Yahweh, and the king’s hand was restored him again, and became as it was before. 7 The king said to the man of God, "Come home with me, and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward." 8 The man of God said to the king, "Even if you gave me half of your house, I would not go in with you, neither would I eat bread nor drink water in this place; 9 for so was it commanded me by the word of Yahweh, saying, ‘You shall eat no bread, nor drink water, neither return by the way that you came.’" 10 So he went another way, and didn’t return by the way that he came to Bethel.

11 Now there lived an old prophet in Bethel; and one of his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel. They also told their father the words which he had spoken to the king. 12 Their father said to them, "Which way did he go?" Now his sons had seen which way the man of God went, who came from Judah. 13 He said to his sons, "Saddle the donkey for me." So they saddled the donkey for him; and he rode on it. 14 He went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak. He said to him, "Are you the man of God who came from Judah?" He said, "I am." 15 Then he said to him, "Come home with me, and eat bread." 16 He said, "I may not return with you, nor go in with you; neither will I eat bread nor drink water with you in this place. 17 For it was said to me by the word of Yahweh, ‘You shall eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that you came.’" 18 He said to him, "I also am a prophet as you are; and an angel spoke to me by the word of Yahweh, saying, ‘Bring him back with you into your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.’" He lied to him. 19 So he went back with him, and ate bread in his house, and drank water. 20 It happened, as they sat at the table, that the word of Yahweh came to the prophet who brought him back; 21 and he cried to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, "Thus says Yahweh, ‘Because you have been disobedient to the mouth of Yahweh, and have not kept the commandment which Yahweh your God commanded you, 22 but came back, and have eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which he said to you, "Eat no bread, and drink no water"; your body shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.’"

23 It happened, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled the donkey for the prophet whom he had brought back. 24 When he had gone, a lion met him by the way, and killed him. His body was cast in the way, and the donkey stood by it. The lion also stood by the body. 25 Behold, men passed by, and saw the body cast in the way, and the lion standing by the body; and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet lived. 26 When the prophet who brought him back from the way heard of it, he said, "It is the man of God who was disobedient to the mouth of Yahweh. Therefore Yahweh has delivered him to the lion, which has mauled him and slain him, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke to him." 27 He spoke to his sons, saying, "Saddle the donkey for me." They saddled it. 28 He went and found his body cast in the way, and the donkey and the lion standing by the body. The lion had not eaten the body, nor mauled the donkey. 29 The prophet took up the body of the man of God, and laid it on the donkey, and brought it back. He came to the city of the old prophet to mourn, and to bury him. 30 He laid his body in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, "Alas, my brother!" 31 It happened, after he had buried him, that he spoke to his sons, saying, "When I am dead, then bury me in the tomb in which the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones. 32 For the saying which he cried by the word of Yahweh against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, will surely happen." 33 After this thing Jeroboam didn’t return from his evil way, but again made priests of the high places from among all the people. Whoever wanted to, he consecrated him, that there might be priests of the high places. 34 This thing became sin to the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the surface of the earth.

1 Kings 14

14:1 At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. 2 Jeroboam said to his wife, "Please get up and disguise yourself, that you won’t be recognized as the wife of Jeroboam. Go to Shiloh. Behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, who spoke concerning me that I should be king over this people. 3 Take with you ten loaves, and cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what will become of the child." 4 Jeroboam’s wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. Now Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age. 5 Yahweh said to Ahijah, "Behold, the wife of Jeroboam comes to inquire of you concerning her son; for he is sick. Thus and thus you shall tell her; for it will be, when she comes in, that she will pretend to be another woman." 6 It was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, that he said, "Come in, you wife of Jeroboam! Why do you pretend to be another? For I am sent to you with heavy news.

7 Go, tell Jeroboam, ‘Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: "Because I exalted you from among the people, and made you prince over my people Israel, 8 and tore the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it you; and yet you have not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in my eyes, 9 but have done evil above all who were before you, and have gone and made you other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and have cast me behind your back: 10 therefore, behold, I will bring evil on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam everyone who urinates on a wall, he who is shut up and he who is left at large in Israel, and will utterly sweep away the house of Jeroboam, as a man sweeps away dung, until it is all gone. 11 He who dies of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and he who dies in the field shall the birds of the sky eat: for Yahweh has spoken it."’ 12 Arise therefore, and go to your house. When your feet enter into the city, the child shall die. 13 All Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him; for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward Yahweh, the God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam. 14 Moreover Yahweh will raise him up a king over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam. This is day! What? Even now. 15 For Yahweh will strike Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water; and he will root up Israel out of this good land which he gave to their fathers, and will scatter them beyond the River, because they have made their Asherim, provoking Yahweh to anger. 16 He will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he has sinned, and with which he has made Israel to sin." 17 Jeroboam’s wife arose, and departed, and came to Tirzah. As she came to the threshold of the house, the child died. 18 All Israel buried him, and mourned for him, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the prophet. 19 The rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred, and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. 20 The days which Jeroboam reigned were two and twenty years: and he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his place.

21 Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which Yahweh had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there: and his mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess. 22 Judah did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they committed, above all that their fathers had done. 23 For they also built them high places, and pillars, and Asherim, on every high hill, and under every green tree; 24 and there were also sodomites in the land: they did according to all the abominations of the nations which Yahweh drove out before the children of Israel. 25 It happened in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem; 26 and he took away the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king’s house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made. 27 King Rehoboam made in their place shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who kept the door of the king’s house. 28 It was so, that as often as the king went into the house of Yahweh, the guard bore them, and brought them back into the guard room. 29 Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 30 There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually. 31 Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and his mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess. Abijam his son reigned in his place.