Category: 1 Kings

Solomon’s Unfaithfulness to God

1 King Solomon loved many foreign women in addition to Pharaoh’s daughter:Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women

2 from the nations that theLordhad told the Israelites about, “Do not intermarry with them, and they must not intermarry with you, because they will turn you away from Me to their gods.”Solomon was deeply attached to these women and loved them.

3 He had 700 wives who were princesses and 300 concubines,and they turned his heart away from theLord.

4 When Solomon was old, his wives seduced him to follow other gods. He was not completely devoted to Yahweh his God, as his father David had been.

5 Solomon followed Ashtoreth,the goddess of the Sidonians, and Milcom,the detestable idol of the Ammonites.

6 Solomon did what was evil in theLord’s sight, and unlike his father David, he did not completely follow Yahweh.

7 At that time, Solomon built a high placefor Chemosh,the detestable idol of Moab, and for Milcom,the detestable idol of the Ammonites, on the hill across from Jerusalem.

8 He did the same for all his foreign wives, who were burning incense and offering sacrifices to their gods.

9 TheLordwas angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from Yahweh, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.

10 He had commanded him about this, so that he would not follow other gods, but Solomon did not do what theLordhad commanded.

11 Then theLordsaid to Solomon, “Since you have done thisand did not keep My covenant and My statutes, which I commanded you, I will tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.

12 However, I will not do it during your lifetime because of your father David;I will tear it out of your son’s hand.

13 Yet I will not tear the entire kingdom away from him. I will give one tribe to your sonbecause of my servant David and because of Jerusalem that I chose.”

Solomon’s Enemies

14 So theLordraised upHadad the Edomite as an enemy against Solomon. He was of the royal family in Edom.

15 Earlier, when David was in Edom, Joab, the commander of the army, had gone to bury the dead and had struck down every male in Edom.

16 For Joab and all Israel had remained there six months, until he had killed every male in Edom.

17 Hadad fled to Egypt, along with some Edomites from his father’s servants. At the time Hadad was a small boy.

18 Hadad and his men set out from Midian and went to Paran.They took men with them from Paran and went to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt,who gave Hadad a house, ordered that he be given food, and gave him land.

19 Pharaoh liked Hadad so much that he gave him a wife, the sister of his own wife, Queen Tahpenes.

20 Tahpenes’ sister gave birth to Hadad’s son Genubath. Tahpenes herself weaned him in Pharaoh’s palace, and Genubath lived there along with Pharaoh’s sons.

21 When Hadad heard in Egypt that David rested with his fathers and that Joab, the commander of the army, was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, “Let me leave, so I can go to my own country.”

22 But Pharaoh asked him, “What do you lack here with me for you to want to go back to your own country? ”

“Nothing,” he replied, “but please let me leave.”

23 God raised up Rezon son of Eliada as an enemyagainst Solomon. Rezon had fled from his master Hadadezer king of Zobah

24 and gathered men to himself. He became captain of a raiding party when David killed the Zobaites. Hewent to Damascus,lived there, and became king in Damascus.

25 Rezon was Israel’s enemy throughout Solomon’s reign, adding to the trouble Hadad had caused. He ruled over Aram,but he loathed Israel.

26 Now Solomon’s servant,Jeroboam son of Nebat, was an Ephraimite from Zeredah. His widowed mother’s name was Zeruah. Jeroboam rebelledagainst Solomon,

27 and this is the reason he rebelled against the king: Solomon had built the supporting terracesand repaired the opening in the wall of the city of his father David.

28 Now the man Jeroboam was capable, and Solomon noticed the young man because he was getting things done. So he appointed him over the entire labor force of the house of Joseph.

29 During that time, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonitemet Jeroboam on the road as Jeroboam came out of Jerusalem. Now Ahijah had wrapped himself with a new cloak, and the two of them were alone in the open field.

30 Then Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he had on, tore it into 12 pieces,

31 and said to Jeroboam, “Take 10 pieces for yourself, for this is what theLordGod of Israel says: ‘I am about to tear the kingdom out of Solomon’s hand. I will give you 10 tribes,

32 but one tribe will remain his because of my servant Davidand because of Jerusalem, the city I chose out of all the tribes of Israel.

33 For they have abandoned Me; they have bowed the knee to Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, to Chemosh, the god of Moab, and to Milcom, the god of the Ammonites.They have not walked in My ways to do what is right in My eyes and to carry out My statutes and My judgments as his father David did.

34 “ ‘However, I will not take the whole kingdom from his hand but will let him be ruler all the days of his life because of My servant David, whom I chose and who kept My commands and My statutes.

35 I will take 10 tribes of the kingdom from his son’s hand and give them to you.

36 I will give one tribeto his son,so that My servant David will always have a lamp before Mein Jerusalem, the city I chose for Myself to put My name there.

37 I will appoint you,and you will reign as kingover all you want,and you will be king over Israel.

38 “ ‘After that, if you obey all I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight in order to keep My statutes and My commands as My servant David did, I will be with you.I will build you a lasting dynasty just as I built for David,and I will give you Israel.

39 I will humble David’s descendants, because of their unfaithfulness, but not forever.’ ”

40 Therefore, Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam,but he fled to Egypt,to Shishak king of Egypt,where he remained until Solomon’s death.

Solomon’s Death

41 The rest of the events of Solomon’s reign, along with all his accomplishments and his wisdom, are written in the Book of Solomon’s Events.

42 The length of Solomon’s reign in Jerusalem over all Israel totaled 40 years.

43 Solomon rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of his father David. His son Rehoboambecame king in his place.

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The Kingdom Divided

1 Then Rehoboamwent to Shechem,for all Israelhad gone to Shechem to make him king.

2 When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about it, for he was still in Egypt where he had fled from King Solomon’s presence,Jeroboam stayed in Egypt.

3 They summoned him, and Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam:

4 “Your father made our yoke difficult.You, therefore, lighten your father’s harsh service and the heavy yoke he put on us,and we will serve you.”

5 Rehoboam replied, “Go home for three days and then return to me.” So the people left.

6 Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elderswho had served his father Solomon when he was alive, asking, “How do you advise me to respond to these people? ”

7 They replied, “Today if you will be a servant to these people and serve them, and if you respond to them by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.”

8 But he rejected the advice of the elders who had advised himand consulted with the young men who had grown up with him and served him.

9 He asked them, “What message do you advise that we send back to these people who said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’? ”

10 Then the young men who had grown up with him told him, “This is what you should say to these people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you, make it lighter on us! ’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins!

11 Although my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with barbed whips.’ ”

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king had ordered: “Return to me on the third day.”

13 Then the king answered the people harshly. He rejected the advice the elders had given him

14 and spoke to them according to the young men’s advice: “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with barbed whips.”

15 The king did not listen to the people, because this turn of events came from theLordto carry out His word, which theLordhad spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.

16 When all Israel saw that the king had not listened to them, the people answered him:

What portion do we have in David?

We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse.

Israel, return to your tents;

David, now look after your own house!

So Israel went to their tents,

17 but Rehoboam reigned over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah.

18 Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram,who was in charge of forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam managed to get into the chariot and flee to Jerusalem.

19 Israel is in rebellion against the house of David until today.

Rehoboam in Jerusalem

20 When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had come back,they summoned him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel.No one followed the house of David except the tribe of Judah alone.

21 When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem,he mobilized 180,000 choice warriors from the entire house of Judah and the tribe of Benjaminto fight against the house of Israel to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam son of Solomon.

22 But a revelation from God came to Shemaiah,the man of God:

23 “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, to the whole house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people,

24 ‘This is what theLordsays: You are not to march up and fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Each of you must return home, for I have done this.’ ”

So they listened to what theLordsaid and went back as He had told them.

Jeroboam’s Idolatry

25 Jeroboam built Shechemin the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. From there he went out and built Penuel.

26 Jeroboam said to himself, “The way things are going now, the kingdom might return to the house of David.

27 If these people regularly go to offer sacrifices in theLord’s temple in Jerusalem,the heart of these people will return to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will murder me and go back to the king of Judah.”

28 So the king sought advice.

Then he made two golden calves, and he said to the people, “Going to Jerusalem is too difficult for you. Israel, here is your Godwho brought you out of the land of Egypt.”

29 He set up one in Bethel,and put the other in Dan.

30 This led to sin;the people walked in procession before one of the calves all the way to Dan.

31 Jeroboam also built shrines on the high placesand set up priests from every class of people who were not Levites.

32 Jeroboam made a festival in the eighth month on the fifteenth day of the month, like the festival in Judah.He offered sacrifices on the altar; he made this offering in Bethel to sacrifice to the calves he had set up. He also stationed the priests in Bethel for the high places he had set up.

33 He offered sacrifices onthe altar he had set up in Bethel on the fifteenth day of the eighth month. He chose this month on his own.He made a festival for the Israelites, offered sacrifices on the altar, and burned incense.

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Judgment on Jeroboam

1 A man of Godcame from Judah to Bethel by a revelation from theLordwhile Jeroboam was standing beside the altar to burn incense.

2 The man of God cried out against the altar by a revelation from theLord: “Altar, altar, this is what theLordsays, ‘A son will be born to the house of David, named Josiah, and he will sacrifice on you the priests of the high places who are burning incense on you. Human bones will be burned on you.’ ”

3 He gave a signthat day. He said, “This is the sign that theLordhas spoken: ‘The altar will now be ripped apart, and the ashes that are on it will be poured out.’ ”

4 When the king heard the word that the man of God had cried out against the altar at Bethel, Jeroboam stretched out his hand from the altar and said, “Arrest him! ” But the hand he stretched out against him withered, and he could not pull it back to himself.

5 The altar was ripped apart, and the ashes poured from the altar, according to the sign that the man of God had given by the word of theLord.

6 Then the king responded to the man of God, “Plead for the favor of theLordyour God and pray for meso that my hand may be restored to me.” So the man of God pleaded for the favor of theLord, and the king’s hand was restored to him and became as it had been at first.

7 Then the king declared to the man of God, “Come home with me, refresh yourself, and I’ll give you a reward.”

8 But the man of God replied, “If you were to give me half your house,I still wouldn’t go with you, and I wouldn’t eat bread or drink water in this place,

9 for this is what I was commanded by the word of theLord:‘You must not eat bread or drink water or go back the way you came.’ ”

10 So he went another way; he did not go back by the way he had come to Bethel.

The Old Prophet and the Man of God

11 Now a certain old prophet was living in Bethel.His soncame and told him all the deeds that the man of God had done that day in Bethel. His sons also told their father the words that he had spoken to the king.

12 Then their father said to them, “Which way did he go? ” His sons had seenthe way taken by the man of God who had come from Judah.

13 Then he said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” So they saddled the donkey for him, and he got on it.

14 He followed the man of God and found him sitting under an oak tree. He asked him, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah? ”

“I am,” he said.

15 Then he said to him, “Come home with me and eat bread.”

16 But he answered, “I cannot go back with you, eat bread, or drink water with you in this place,

17 for a message came to me by the word of theLord: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water thereor go back by the way you came.’ ”

18 He said to him, “I am also a prophetlike you. An angel spoke to me by the word of theLord: ‘Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water.’ ” The old prophet deceived him,

19 and the man of God went back with him, ate bread in his house, and drank water.

20 While they were sitting at the table, the word of theLordcame to the prophet who had brought him back,

21 and the prophet cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah, “This is what theLordsays: ‘Because you rebelled against the command of theLordand did not keep the command that theLordyour God commanded you —

22 but you went back and ate bread and drank water in the place that He said to you, “Do not eat bread and do not drink water” —your corpse will never reach the grave of your fathers.’ ”

23 So after he had eaten bread and after he had drunk, the old prophet saddled the donkey for the prophet he had brought back.

24 When he left,a lion attackedhim along the way and killed him.His corpse was thrown on the road, and the donkey was standing beside it; the lion was standing beside the corpse too.

25 There were men passing by who saw the corpse thrown on the road and the lion standing beside it, and they went and spoke about it in the city where the old prophet lived.

26 When the prophet who had brought him back from his way heard about it, he said, “He is the man of God who disobeyed the command of theLord. TheLordhas given him to the lion, and it has mauled and killed him, according to the word of theLordthat He spoke to him.”

27 Then the old prophet instructed his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” They saddled it,

28 and he went and found the corpse of the man of God thrown on the road with the donkey and the lion standing beside the corpse. The lion had not eaten the corpse or mauled the donkey.

29 So the prophet lifted the corpse of the man of God and laid it on the donkey and brought it back. The old prophet came into the city to mourn and bury him.

30 Then he laid the corpse in his own grave,and they mourned over him: “Oh, my brother! ”

31 After he had buried him, he said to his sons, “When I die, you must bury me in the grave where the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones,

32 for the word that he cried out by a revelation from theLordagainst the altar in Betheland against all the shrines of the high placesin the cities of Samariais certain to happen.”

33 After all thisJeroboam did not repentof his evil way but again set up priests for the high places from every class of people.He ordained whoever so desired it, and they became priests of the high places.

34 This was the sin that caused the house of Jeroboam to be wiped out and annihilated from the face of the earth.

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Disaster on the House of Jeroboam

1 At that time Abijah son of Jeroboam became sick.

2 Jeroboam said to his wife, “Go disguise yourself,so they won’t know that you’re Jeroboam’s wife, and go to Shiloh.Ahijah the prophet is there; it was he who told about me becoming king over this people.

3 Take with you 10 loaves of bread, some cakes, and a jar of honey,and go to him. He will tell you what will happen to the boy.”

4 Jeroboam’s wife did that: she went to Shiloh and arrived at Ahijah’s house. Ahijah could not see; his gaze was fixeddue to his age.

5 But theLordhad said to Ahijah, “Jeroboam’s wife is coming soon to ask you about her son, for he is sick. You are to say such and such to her. When she arrives, she will be disguised.”

6 When Ahijah heard the sound of her feet entering the door, he said, “Come in, wife of Jeroboam! Why are you disguised?I have bad news for you.

7 Go tell Jeroboam, ‘This is what theLordGod of Israel says: I raised you up from among the people, appointed you ruler over My people Israel,

8 tore the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it to you.But you were not like My servant David, who kept My commands and followed Me with all of his heart, doing only what is right in My eyes.

9 You behaved more wickedly than all who were before you.In order to provoke Me, you have proceeded to make for yourself other gods and cast images,but you have flung Me behind your back.

10 Because of all this, I am about to bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam:

I will eliminate all of Jeroboam’s males,

both slave and free,in Israel;

I will sweep away the house of Jeroboam

as one sweeps away dung until it is all gone!

11 Anyone who belongs to Jeroboam and dies in the city,

the dogs will eat,

and anyone who dies in the field,

the birds of the sky will eat,

for theLordhas said it! ’

12 “As for you, get up and go to your house. When your feet enter the city, the boy will die.

13 All Israel will mourn for him and bury him. He alone out of Jeroboam’s house will be put in the family tomb, because out of the house of Jeroboam theLordGod of Israel found something good only in him.

14 TheLordwill raise up for Himself a king over Israel, who will eliminate the house of Jeroboam.This is the day, yes,even today!

15 For theLordwill strike Israel and the people will shake as a reed shakes in water. He will uproot Israel from this good soil that He gave to their ancestors.He will scatter them beyond the Euphratesbecause they made their Asherah poles, provoking theLord.

16 He will give up Israel because of Jeroboam’s sins that he committed and caused Israel to commit.”

17 Then Jeroboam’s wife got up and left and went to Tirzah.As she was crossing the threshold of the house, the boy died.

18 He was buried, and all Israel mourned for him, according to the word of theLordHe had spoken through His servant Ahijah the prophet.

19 As for the rest of the events of Jeroboam’s reign, how he waged warand how he reigned, note that they are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

20 The length of Jeroboam’s reign was 22 years. He rested with his fathers, and his son Nadab became king in his place.

Judah’s King Rehoboam

21 Now Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, reigned in Judah.Rehoboam was 41 years old when he became king; he reigned 17 years in Jerusalem, the city where Yahweh had chosen from all the tribes of Israel to put His name.Rehoboam’s mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite.

22 Judah did what was evil in theLord’s eyes.They provoked Him to jealous angermore than all that their ancestors had done with the sins they committed.

23 They also built for themselves high places,sacred pillars,and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree;

24 there were even male cult prostitutes in the land.They imitated all the detestable practices of the nations theLordhad dispossessed before the Israelites.

25 In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egyptwent to war against Jerusalem.

26 He seized the treasuries of theLord’s temple and the treasuries of the royal palace. He took everything. He took all the gold shields that Solomon had made.

27 King Rehoboam made bronze shields in their place and committed them into the care of the captains of the royal escortswho guarded the entrance to the king’s palace.

28 Whenever the king entered theLord’s temple, the royal escorts would carry the shields, then they would take them back to the royal escorts’ armory.

29 The rest of the events of Rehoboam’s reign,along with all his accomplishments, are written about in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.

30 There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam throughout their reigns.

31 Rehoboam rested with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite.His son Abijambecame king in his place.

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Judah’s King Abijam

1 In the eighteenth year of Israel’s King Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijam became king over Judah

2 and reigned three years in Jerusalem.His mother’s name was Maacahdaughterof Abishalom.

3 Abijam walked in all the sins his father before him had committed,and he was not completely devoted to theLordhis God as his ancestor David had been.

4 But because of David, theLordhis God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem to raise up his son after him and to establish Jerusalem.

5 For David did what was right in theLord’s eyes, and he did not turn aside from anything He had commanded him all the days of his life,except in the matter of Uriahthe Hittite.

6 There had been war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of Rehoboam’s life.

7 The rest of the events of Abijam’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.There was also war between Abijam and Jeroboam.

8 Abijam rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David.His son Asa became king in his place.

Judah’s King Asa

9 In the twentieth year of Israel’s King Jeroboam,Asa became king of Judah

10 and reigned 41 years in Jerusalem. His grandmother’sname was Maacahdaughterof Abishalom.

11 Asa did what was right in theLord’s eyes, as his ancestor David had done.

12 He banished the male cult prostitutesfrom the land and removed all of the idols that his fathers had made.

13 He alsoremoved his grandmotherMaacah from being queen mother because she had made an obscene image of Asherah. Asa chopped down her obscene image and burned itin the Kidron Valley.

14 The high places were not taken away;but Asa’s heart was completely devoted to theLordhis entire life.

15 He brought his father’s consecrated gifts and his own consecrated gifts into theLord’s temple: silver, gold, and utensils.

16 There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their reigns.

17 Israel’s King Baasha went to war against Judah.He built Ramahin order to deny anyone access to Judah’s King Asa.

18 So Asa withdrew all the silver and gold that remained in the treasuries of theLord’s templeand the treasuries of the royal palace and put it into the hands of his servants. Then King Asa sent them to Ben-hadadson of Tabrimmon son of Hezion king of Aram who lived in Damascus,saying,

19 “There is a treaty between me and you, between my father and your father.Look, I have sent you a gift of silver and gold. Go and break your treaty with Baasha king of Israelso that he will withdraw from me.”

20 Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel. He attacked Ijon,Dan,Abel-beth-maacah,all Chinnereth,and the whole land of Naphtali.

21 When Baasha heard about it, he quit building Ramah and stayed in Tirzah.

22 Then King Asa gave a command to everyone without exception in Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timbers Baasha had built it with. Then King Asa built Gebaof Benjamin and Mizpahwith them.

23 The rest of all the events of Asa’s reign,along with all his might, all his accomplishments, and the cities he built, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.But in his old age he developed a disease in his feet.

24 Then Asa rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of his ancestor David.His son Jehoshaphatbecame king in his place.

Israel’s King Nadab

25 Nadab son of Jeroboambecame king over Israel in the second year of Judah’s King Asa; he reigned over Israel two years.

26 Nadab did what was evil in theLord’s sight and followed the example of his father and the sin he had caused Israel to commit.

27 Then Baashason of Ahijah of the house of Issachar conspired against Nadab, and Baasha struck him down at Gibbethonof the Philistines while Nadab and all Israel were besieging Gibbethon.

28 In the third year of Judah’s King Asa,Baasha killed Nadaband reigned in his place.

29 When Baasha became king, he struck down the entire house of Jeroboam.He did not leave Jeroboam any survivors butdestroyed his family according to the word of theLordHe had spoken through His servant Ahijah the Shilonite.

30 This was because Jeroboam had provokedtheLordGod of Israel by the sins he had committed and had caused Israel to commit.

31 The rest of the events of Nadab’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

32 There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their reigns.

Israel’s King Baasha

33 In the third year of Judah’s King Asa, Baasha son of Ahijah became king over all Israel and reigned in Tirzah24 years.

34 He did what was evil in theLord’s sight and followed the example of Jeroboam and the sin he had caused Israel to commit.

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1 Now the word of theLordcame to Jehuson of Hananiagainst Baasha:

2 “Because I raised you up from the dustand made you ruler over My people Israel,but you have walked in the way of Jeroboam and have caused My people Israel to sin,provoking Me with their sins,

3 take note: I will sweep away Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat:

4 Anyone who belongs to Baasha and dies in the city,

the dogs will eat,

and anyone who is his and dies in the field,

the birds of the sky will eat.”

5 The rest of the events of Baasha’s reign, along with all his accomplishments and might, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

6 Baasha rested with his fathers and was buried in Tirzah. His son Elah became king in his place.

7 Through the prophet Jehuson of Hanani the word of theLordalso came against Baasha and against his house because of all the evil he had done in theLord’s sight, provoking Him with the work of his hands and being like the house of Jeroboam, and because Baasha had struck down the house of Jeroboam.

Israel’s King Elah

8 In the twenty-sixth year of Judah’s King Asa, Elah son of Baasha became king over Israel and reigned in Tirzahtwo years.

9 His servant Zimri,commander of half his chariots, conspired against him while Elah was in Tirzah getting drunkin the house of Arza, who was in charge of the householdat Tirzah.

10 In the twenty-seventh year of Judah’s King Asa, Zimri went in, struck Elah down, killing him. Then Zimri became king in his place.

11 When he became king, as soon as he was seated on his throne, Zimri struck down the entire house of Baasha. He did not leave a single male,including his kinsmen and his friends.

12 So Zimri destroyed the entire house of Baasha, according to the word of theLordHe had spoken against Baasha through Jehu the prophet.

13 This happened because of all the sins of Baasha and those of his son Elah, which they committed and caused Israel to commit, provoking theLordGod of Israelwith their worthless idols.

14 The rest of the events of Elah’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

Israel’s King Zimri

15 In the twenty-seventh year of Judah’s King Asa, Zimri became king for seven days in Tirzah.Now the troops were encamped against Gibbethon of the Philistines.

16 When these troops heard that Zimri had not only conspired but had also struck down the king, then all Israel made Omri, the army commander, king over Israel that very day in the camp.

17 Omri along with all Israel marched up from Gibbethon and besieged Tirzah.

18 When Zimri saw that the city was captured, he entered the citadel of the royal palace and burned it down over himself. He died

19 because of the sin he committed by doing what was evil in theLord’s sight and by following the example of Jeroboam and the sin he caused Israel to commit.

20 The rest of the events of Zimri’s reign, along with the conspiracy that he instigated, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

21 At that time the people of Israel were divided: half the people followed Tibni son of Ginath, to make him king, and half followed Omri.

22 However, the people who followed Omri proved stronger than those who followed Tibni son of Ginath. So Tibni died and Omri became king.

Israel’s King Omri

23 In the thirty-first year of Judah’s King Asa, Omri became king over Israel and reigned 12 years. He reigned six years in Tirzah,

24 then he bought the hill of Samariafrom Shemer for 150 poundsof silver, and he built up the hill. He named the city he built Samariabased on the name Shemer, the owner of the hill.

25 Omri did what was evil in theLord’s sight; he did more evil than all who were before him.

26 He followed the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat and in his sins that he caused Israel to commit, provoking theLordGod of Israel with their worthless idols.

27 The rest of the events of Omri’s reign, along with his accomplishments and the might he exercised, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

28 Omri rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab became king in his place.

Israel’s King Ahab

29 Ahab son of Omri became king over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of Judah’s King Asa; Ahab son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria 22 years.

30 But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in theLord’s sight more than all who were before him.

31 Then, as if following the sin of Jeroboam son of Nebat were a trivial matter, he married Jezebel,the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians,and then proceeded to serve Baal and worship him.

32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baalthat he had built in Samaria.

33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole.Ahab did more to provoke theLordGod of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.

34 During his reign, Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho. At the cost of Abiram his firstborn, he laid its foundation, and at the cost of Segub his youngest, he set up its gates, according to the word of theLordHe had spoken through Joshua son of Nun.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/1KI/16-95d3dd307cf8e400cc05fcedd6ea0aba.mp3?version_id=72—

Elijah Announces Famine

1 Now Elijahthe Tishbite, from the Gilead settlers,said to Ahab, “As theLordGod of Israel lives,I stand before Him, and there will be no dew or rain during these years except by my command! ”

2 Then a revelation from theLordcame to him:

3 “Leave here, turn eastward, and hideyourself at the Wadi Cherith where it enters the Jordan.

4 You are to drink from the wadi. I have commanded the ravensto provide for you there.”

5 So he did what theLordcommanded. Elijah left and lived by the Wadi Cherith where it enters the Jordan.

6 The ravens kept bringing him bread and meat in the morning and in the evening,and he drank from the wadi.

7 After a while, the wadi dried up because there had been no rain in the land.

Elijah and the Widow

8 Then the word of theLordcame to him:

9 “Get up, go to Zarephaththat belongs to Sidon and stay there. Look, I have commanded a woman who is a widow to provide for you there.”

10 So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath. When he arrived at the city gate, there was a widow woman gathering wood. Elijah called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup and let me drink.”

11 As she went to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.”

12 But she said, “As theLordyour God lives,I don’t have anything baked — only a handful of flour in the jar and a bit of oilin the jug. Just now, I am gathering a couple of sticks in order to go prepare it for myself and my son so we can eat it and die.”

13 Then Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid; go and do as you have said. But first make me a small loaf from it and bring it out to me. Afterward, you may make some for yourself and your son,

14 for this is what theLordGod of Israel says, ‘The flour jar will not become empty and the oil jug will not run dry until the day theLordsends rain on the surface of the land.”

15 So she proceeded to do according to the word of Elijah. Then the woman, Elijah, and her household ate for many days.

16 The flour jar did not become empty, and the oil jug did not run dry, according to the word of theLordHe had spoken throughElijah.

The Widow’s Son Raised

17 After this, the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. His illness became very severe until no breath remained in him.

18 She said to Elijah, “Man of God,what do we have in common?Have you come to remind me of my guiltand to kill my son? ”

19 But Elijah said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him from her arms, brought him up to the upper roomwhere he was staying, and laid him on his own bed.

20 Then he cried out to theLordand said, “MyLordGod, have You also brought tragedy on the widow I am staying with by killing her son? ”

21 Then he stretched himself out over the boy three times.He cried out to theLordand said, “MyLordGod, please let this boy’s life return to him! ”

22 So theLordlistened to Elijah’s voice, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived.

23 Then Elijah took the boy, brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother.Elijah said, “Look, your son is alive.”

24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know you are a man of Godand theLord’s word from your mouth is true.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/1KI/17-b988597a0900aa2e0d4d1cd84b9ae994.mp3?version_id=72—

Elijah’s Message to Ahab

1 After a long time, the word of theLordcame to Elijah in the third year:“Go and present yourself to Ahab.I will send rain on the surface of the land.”

2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.

The famine was severe in Samaria.

3 Ahab called for Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace.Obadiah was a man who greatly feared theLord

4 and took 100 prophets and hid them, 50 men to a cave, and provided them with food and water when Jezebelslaughtered theLord’s prophets.

5 Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go throughout the land to every spring of water and to every wadi. Perhaps we’ll find grass so we can keep the horses and mules alive and not have to destroy any cattle.”

6 They divided the land between them in order to cover it. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went the other way by himself.

7 While Obadiah was walking along the road, Elijah suddenly met him.When Obadiah recognized him, he fell with his face to the ground and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah? ”

8 “It is I,” he replied. “Go tell your lord, ‘Elijah is here! ’ ”

9 But Obadiah said, “What sin have I committed,that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to put me to death?

10 As theLordyour God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent someone to search for you. When they said, ‘He is not here,’ he made that kingdom or nation swear they had not found you.

11 “Now you say, ‘Go tell your lord, “Elijah is here! ” ’

12 But when I leave you, the Spirit of theLordmay carry you offto some place I don’t know. Then when I go report to Ahab and he doesn’t find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared theLordfrom my youth.

13 Wasn’t it reported to my lord what I did when Jezebel slaughtered theLord’s prophets? I hid 100 of the prophets of theLord, 50 men to a cave, and I provided them with food and water.

14 Now you say, ‘Go tell your lord, “Elijah is here! ” ’ He will kill me! ”

15 Then Elijah said, “As theLordof Hosts lives,before whom I stand, today I will present myself to Ahab.”

16 Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him. Then Ahab went to meet Elijah.

17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is that you, you destroyer of Israel? ”

18 He replied, “I have not destroyed Israel, but you and your father’s house have, because you have abandoned theLord’s commandsand followed the Baals.

19 Now summon all Israel to meet me at Mount Carmel,along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherahwho eat at Jezebel’s table.”

Elijah at Mount Carmel

20 So Ahab summoned all the Israelites and gathered the prophets at Mount Carmel.

21 Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions?If Yahweh is God, follow Him. But if Baal, follow him.”But the people didn’t answer him a word.

22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I am the only remaining prophet of theLord,but Baal’s prophets are 450 men.

23 Let two bulls be given to us. They are to choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and place it on the wood but not light the fire. I will prepare the other bull and place it on the wood but not light the fire.

24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of Yahweh.The God who answers with fire, He is God.”

All the people answered, “That sounds good.”

25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Since you are so numerous, choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first. Then call on the name of your god but don’t light the fire.”

26 So they took the bull that he gave them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “Baal, answer us! ” But there was no sound;no one answered. Then they danced, hobbling around the altar they had made.

27 At noon Elijah mocked them. He said, “Shout loudly, for he’s a god! Maybe he’s thinking it over; maybe he has wandered away;or maybe he’s on the road. Perhaps he’s sleeping and will wake up! ”

28 They shouted loudly, and cut themselveswith knives and spears, according to their custom, until blood gushed over them.

29 All afternoon they kept on raving until the offering of the evening sacrifice,but there was no sound; no one answered, no one paid attention.

30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near me.” So all the people approached him. Then he repaired theLord’s altar that had been torn down:

31 Elijah took 12 stones — according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of theLordhad come, saying, “Israel will be your name”—

32 and he built an altarwith the stones in the name of Yahweh. Then he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold about four gallons.

33 Next, he arranged the wood, cut up the bull, and placed it on the wood. He said, “Fill four water pots with water and pour it on the offering to be burned and on the wood.”

34 Then he said, “A second time! ” and they did it a second time. And then he said, “A third time! ” and they did it a third time.

35 So the water ran all around the altar; he even filled the trench with water.

36 At the time for offering the evening sacrifice,Elijah the prophet approached the altar and said, “Yahweh, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,today let it be knownthat You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that at Your word I have done all these things.

37 Answer me,Lord! Answer me so that this people will know that You, Yahweh, are Godand that You have turned their hearts back.”

38 Then Yahweh’s fire fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.

39 When all the people saw it, they fell facedownand said, “Yahweh, He is God! Yahweh, He is God! ”

40 Then Elijah ordered them, “Seize the prophets of Baal!Do not let even one of them escape.” So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Wadi Kishonand slaughtered them there.

41 Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a rainstorm.”

42 So Ahab went to eat and drink, but Elijah went up to the summit of Carmel.He bowed down on the ground and put his face between his knees.

43 Then he said to his servant, “Go up and look toward the sea.”

So he went up, looked, and said, “There’s nothing.”

Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”

44 On the seventhtime, he reported, “There’s a cloud as small as a man’s hand coming from the sea.”

Then Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Get your chariot ready and go down so the rain doesn’t stop you.’ ”

45 In a little while, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and there was a downpour. So Ahab got in his chariot and went to Jezreel.

46 The power of theLordwas on Elijah, and he tucked his mantle under his beltand ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/1KI/18-7da30453d89b901941d38aff4f1b4111.mp3?version_id=72—

Elijah’s Journey to Horeb

1 Ahab told Jezebeleverything that Elijah had doneand how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.

2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods punish me and do so severelyif I don’t make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow! ”

3 Then Elijah became afraidand immediately ran for his life.When he came to Beer-shebathat belonged to Judah, he left his servant there,

4 but he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom treeand prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough!Lord, take my life,for I’m no better than my fathers.”

5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree.

Suddenly, an angel touched him.The angel told him, “Get up and eat.”

6 Then he looked, and there at his head was a loaf of bread baked over hot stones, and a jug of water.So he ate and drank and lay down again.

7 Then the angel of theLordreturned for a second time and touched him. He said, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.”

8 So he got up, ate, and drank. Then on the strength from that food, he walked 40 days and 40 nightsto Horeb, the mountain of God.

9 He entered a cavethere and spent the night.

Elijah’s Encounter with the Lord

Then the word of theLordcame to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah? ”

10 He replied, “I have been very zealousfor theLordGod of Hosts, but the Israelites have abandoned Your covenant,torn down Your altars,and killed Your prophetswith the sword. I alone am left,and they are looking for me to take my life.”

11 Then He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in theLord’s presence.”

At that moment, theLordpassed by.A great and mighty windwas tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before theLord, but theLordwas not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake,but theLordwas not in the earthquake.

12 After the earthquake there was a fire,but theLordwas not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper.

13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantleand went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah? ”

14 “I have been very zealous for theLordGod of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have abandoned Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they’re looking for me to take my life.”

15 Then theLordsaid to him, “Go and return by the way you came to the Wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazaelas king over Aram.

16 You are to anoint Jehuson of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elishason of Shaphat from Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.

17 Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael,and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu.

18 But I will leave 7,000 in Israel— every knee that has not bowed to Baaland every mouth that has not kissed him.”

Elisha’s Appointment as Elijah’s Successor

19 Elijah left there and found Elishason of Shaphat as he was plowing. Twelve teams of oxen were in front of him, and he was with the twelfth team. Elijah walked by him and threw his mantle over him.

20 Elisha left the oxen, ran to follow Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow you.”

“Go on back,” he replied, “for what have I done to you? ”

21 So he turned back from following him, took the team of oxen, and slaughtered them. With the oxen’s wooden yoke and plow,he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he left, followed Elijah, and served him.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/1KI/19-702acf8543bdeda8ff81957d941a9e7c.mp3?version_id=72—

Victory over Ben-hadad

1 Now Ben-hadadking of Aram assembled his entire army. Thirty-two kings,along with horses and chariots, were with him. He marched up, besieged Samaria,and fought against it.

2 He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “This is what Ben-hadad says:

3 ‘Your silver and your gold are mine! And your best wives and children are mine as well! ’ ”

4 Then the king of Israel answered, “Just as you say, my lord the king: I am yours, along with all that I have.”

5 The messengers then returned and said, “This is what Ben-hadad says: ‘I have sent messengers to you, saying: You are to give me your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children.

6 But at this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you, and they will search your palace and your servants’ houses. They will lay their hands on and take away whatever is precious to you.’ ”

7 Then the king of Israel called for all the elders of the land and said, “Think it over and you will see that this one is only looking for trouble,for he demanded my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold, and I didn’t turn him down.”

8 All the elders and all the people said to him, “Don’t listen or agree.”

9 So he said to Ben-hadad’s messengers, “Say to my lord the king, ‘Everything you demanded of your servant the first time, I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’ ” So the messengers left and took word back to him.

10 Then Ben-hadad sent messengers to him and said, “May the gods punish me and do so severelyif Samaria’s dustamounts to a handful for each of the people who follow me.”

11 The king of Israel answered, “Say this: ‘Don’t let the one who puts on his armor boastlike the one who takes it off.’ ”

12 When Ben-hadad heard this response, while he and the kings were drinkingin the tents, he said to his servants, “Take your positions.” So they took their positions against the city.

13 A prophet came to Ahab king of Israel and said, “This is what theLordsays: ‘Do you see this entire great army? Watch, I am handing it over to you today so that you may know that I am Yahweh.’ ”

14 Ahab asked, “By whom? ”

And the prophet said, “This is what theLordsays: ‘By the young men of the provincial leaders.’ ”

Then he asked, “Who is to start the battle? ”

He said, “You.”

15 So Ahab counted the young men of the provincial leaders, and there were 232. After them he counted all the Israelite troops: 7,000.

16 They marched out at noon while Ben-hadad and the 32 kingswho were helping him were getting drunk in the tents.

17 The young men of the provincial leaders marched out first. Then Ben-hadad sent out scouts, and they reported to him, saying, “Men are marching out of Samaria.”

18 So he said, “If they have marched out in peace,take them alive, and if they have marched out for battle, take them alive.”

19 The young men of the provincial leaders and the army behind them marched out from the city,

20 and each one struck down his opponent.So the Arameans fled and Israel pursued them,but Ben-hadad king of Aram escaped on a horse with the cavalry.

21 Then the king of Israel marched out and attacked the cavalry and the chariots. He inflicted a great slaughter on Aram.

22 The prophet approached the king of Israel and said to him, “Go and strengthen yourself, then consider what you should do, for in the springthe king of Aram will march against you.”

23 Now the king of Aram’s servants said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hill country.That’s why they were stronger than we were. Instead, we should fight with them on the plain; then we will certainly be stronger than they will be.

24 Also do this: remove each king from his position and appoint captains in their place.

25 Raise another army for yourself like the army you lost — horse for horse, chariot for chariot — and let’s fight with them on the plain; and we will certainly be stronger than they will be.” The king listened to them and did so.

26 In the spring, Ben-hadad mobilized the Arameans and went up to Aphekto battle Israel.

27 The Israelites mobilized, gathered supplies, and went to fight them. The Israelites camped in front of them like two little flocks of goats, while the Arameans filled the landscape.

28 Then the man of Godapproached and said to the king of Israel, “This is what theLordsays: ‘Because the Arameans have said: Yahweh is a god of the mountains and not a god of the valleys,I will hand over all this great army to you. Then you will know that I am theLord.’ ”

29 They camped opposite each other for seven days. On the seventh day,the battle took place, and the Israelites struck down the Arameans — 100,000 foot soldiers in one day.

30 The ones who remained fled into the city of Aphek, and the wall fell on those 27,000 remaining men.

Ben-hadad also fled and went into an inner roomin the city.

31 His servants said to him, “Consider this: we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. So let’s put sackcloth around our waistsand ropes around our heads, and let’s go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life.”

32 So they dressed with sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads, went to the king of Israel, and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please spare my life.’ ”

So he said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”

33 Now the men were looking for a sign of hope, so they quickly picked up on thisand responded, “Yes, it is your brother Ben-hadad.”

Then he said, “Go and bring him.”

So Ben-hadad came out to him, and Ahab had him come up into the chariot.

34 Then Ben-hadad said to him, “I restore to you the cities that my father took from your father,and you may set up marketplaces for yourself in Damascus, like my father set up in Samaria.”

Ahab responded, “On the basis of this treaty, I release you.” So he made a treaty with him and released him.

Ahab Rebuked by the Lord

35 One of the sons of the prophetssaid to his fellow prophet by the word of theLord, “Strike me! ” But the man refused to strike him.

36 He told him, “Because you did not listen to the voice of theLord, mark my words: When you leave me, a lion will kill you.”When he left him, a lion attacked and killed him.

37 The prophet found another man and said to him, “Strike me! ” So the man struck him, inflicting a wound.

38 Then the prophet went and waited for the king on the road. He disguisedhimself with a bandage over his eyes.

39 As the king was passing by, he cried out to the king and said, “Your servant marched out into the middle of the battle. Suddenly, a man turned aside and brought someone to me and said, ‘Guard this man! If he is ever missing, it will be your life in place of his life,or you will weigh out 75 poundsof silver.’

40 But while your servant was busy here and there, he disappeared.”

The king of Israel said to him, “That will be your sentence; you yourself have decided it.”

41 He quickly removed the bandage from his eyes. The king of Israel recognized that he was one of the prophets.

42 The prophet said to him, “This is what theLordsays: ‘Because you released from your hand the man I had set apart for destruction,it will be your life in place of his life and your people in place of his people.’ ”

43 The king of Israel left for home resentful and angry,and he entered Samaria.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/1KI/20-5ea145ba1dda3254cb13278c63d660c5.mp3?version_id=72—