Solomon's solemn sacrifice. II. CHRONICLES.

God appears to him.

tentunto the prayer that is made in this place. the house of the LORD, and in his own 41 Now therefore arise, O LORD God, house, he prosperously effected. into thy resting-place, thou, and the ark of 12 ¶ And the LORD appeared to Solothy strength: let thy priests, O LORD God, mon by night, and said unto him, I have be clothed with salvation, and let thy heard thy prayer, and have chosen this saints rejoice in goodness. place to myself for an house of sacrifice.

42 O LORD God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant.

Now

CHAP. VII.

when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt-offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.

2 And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD's house.

13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is 3 And when all the children of Israel made in this place. saw how the fire came down, and the glory 16 For now have I chosen and sanctified of the LORD upon the house, they bowed this house, that my name may be there for themselves with their faces to the ground ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall upon the pavement, and worshipped, and be there perpetually.

praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; 17 And as for thee, if thou wilt walk befor his mercy endureth for ever. fore me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and

4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.

5 And king Solomon offered a sacrifice my judgments: of twenty and two thousand oxen, and a 18 Then will I establish the throne of hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So thy kingdom according as I have covethe king and all the people dedicated the nanted with David thy father, saying, house of God. There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler

6 And the priests waited on their offices: in Israel. the Levites also with instruments of music 19 But if ye turn away, and forsake my of the LORD, which David the king had statutes and my commandments, which I made to praise the LORD, because his mercy have set before you, and shall go and serve endureth for ever, when David praised by other gods, and worship them; their ministry; and the priests sounded 20 Then will I pluck them up by the trumpets before them, and all Israel stood. roots out of my land which I have given 7 Moreover Solomon hallowed the mid- them; and this house, which I have sancdle of the court that was before the house tified for my name, will I cast out of my of the LORD: for there he offered burnt-sight, and will make it to be a proverb and offerings, and the fat of the peace-offerings, a by-word among all nations. because the brazen altar which Solomon 21 And this house, which is high, shall had made was not able to receive the be an astonishment to every one that passburnt-offerings, and the meat-offerings, eth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath and the fat. the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto

8 ¶ Also at the same time Solomon kept this house? the feast seven days, and all Israel with 22 And it shall be answered, Because him, a very great congregation, from the they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, entering in of Hamath unto the river of which brought them forth out of the land Egypt. of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and 9 And in the eighth day they made a worshipped them, and served them: theresolemn assembly: for they kept the dedi- fore hath he brought all this evil upon them cation of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.

CHAP. VIII,

10 And on the three and twentieth day AND it came to pass at the end of twenty

years, wherein Solomon had built of the seventh month he sent the people the house of the LORD, and his own house, away into their tents, glad and merry in 2 That the cities which Huram had reheart for the goodness that the LORD had stored to Solomon, Solomon built them, shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and and caused the children of Israel to dwell to Israel his people. there.

11 Thus Solomon finished the house of 3 And Solomon went to Hamath-zobab, the LORD, and the king's house: and all and prevailed against it. that came into Solomon's heart to make in

4 And he built Tadmor in the wilder

Solomon's festival sacrifices.

CHAP. IX. The queen of Sheba visits him. ness, and all the store-cities, which he of his servants, ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they went built in Hamath. 5 Also he built Beth-horon the upper, with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and and Beth-horon the nether, fenced-cities, took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon. with walls, gates, and bars; CHAP. IX.

6 And Baalath, and all the store-cities that Solomon had, and all the chariotof the fame of Solomon, she came cities, and the cities of the horsemen, and AND when the queen of Sheba heard all that Solomon desired to build in Jeru- to prove Solomon with hard questions at salem, and in Lebanon, and throughout all Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that bare spices, and gold in the land of his dominion.

7 As for all the people that were left abundance, and precious stones: and when of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the she was come to Solomon, she communed Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebus- with him of all that was in her heart. 2 And Solomon told her all her quesites, which were not of Israel, 8 But of their children, who were left tions: and there was nothing hid from Soafter them in the land, whom the children lomon which he told her not.

of Israel consumed not, them did Solomon make to pay tribute until this day.

3 And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the house

9 But of the children of Israel did So-that he had built, 4 And the meat of his table, and the sitlomon make no servants for his work; but they were men of war, and chief of his ting of his servants, and the attendance of captains, and captains of his chariots and his ministers, and their apparel; his cupbearers also, and their apparel; and his horsemen. 10 And these were the chief of king So-ascent by which he went up into the house lomon's officers, even two hundred and of the LORD; there was no more spirit in fifty, that bare rule over the people.

i¶ And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house that he had built for her: for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy, whereunto the ark of the LORD hath come.

12 T Then Solomon offered burnt-offerings unto the LORD on the altar of the LORD, which he had built before the porch,

her.

5 And she said to the king, It was a true report which I heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom:

6 Howbeit, I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame that I heard.

7 Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, which stand continu13 Even after a certain rate every day, ally before thee, and hear thy wisdom. 8 Blessed be the LORD thy God, which offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new delighted in thee to set thee on his throne, moons, and on the solemn feasts, three to be king for the LORD thy God: because times in the year, even in the feast of un- thy God loved Israel, to establish them for leavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, ever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do judgment and justice. and in the feast of tabernacles. 9 And she gave the king a hundred and 14 And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses twenty talents of gold, and of spices great of the priests to their service, and the Le-abundance, and precious stones: neither vites to their charges, to praise and minis- was there any such spice as the queen of ter before the priests, as the duty of every Sheba gave king Solomon. 10 And the servants also of Huram, and day required: the porters also by their courses at every gate: for so had David the servants of Solomon, which brought gold from Ophir, brought algum-trees and the man of God commanded.

15 And they departed not from the com- precious stones. 11 And the king made of the algum-trees mandment of the king unto the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or con- terraces to the house of the LORD, and to the king's palace, and harps and psaltecerning the treasures. 16 Now all the work of Solomon was ries for singers: and there were none such prepared unto the day of the foundation seen before in the land of Judah. 12 And king Solomon gave to the queen of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, besides that which she had brought perfected. 17 T Then went Solomon to Ezion-ge- unto the king. So she turned, and went away ber, and to Eloth, at the sea-side in the to her own land, she and her servants. 13 Now the weight of gold that came land of Edom. 18 And Huram sent him by the hands to Solomon in one year was six hundred

363

The riches of Solomon.

II. CHRONICLES.

Rehoboam succeeds him. and threescore and six talents of gold; 30 And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem 14 Besides that which chapmen and over all Israel forty years. merchants brought. And all the kings of 31 And Solomon slept with his fathers, Arabia and governors of the country and he was buried in the city of David his brought gold and silver to Solomon. father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in

15 ¶ And king Solomon made two hun- his stead. dred targets of beaten gold: six hundred

CHAP. X.

shekels of beaten gold went to one target. A ND Rehoboam went to Shechem : for

16 And three hundred shields made he

to Shechem were all Israel come to

of beaten gold: three hundred shekels of make him king. gold went to one shield. And the king put 2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam them in the house of the forest of Leba- the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of

non.

17 ¶ Moreover, the king made a great Solomon the king, heard it, that Jeroboam throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure returned out of Egypt. gold.

3 And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying,

4 Thy father made our yoke grievous:

18 And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and stays on each side of the sitting place, and two lions stand-now therefore ease thou somewhat the ing by the stays: grievous servitude of thy father, and his 19 And twelve lions stood there on the heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we one side and on the other upon the six will serve thee. steps. There was not the like made in any kingdom.

201 And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold: none were of silver; it was not any thing accounted of in the days of Solomon.

21 For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

5 And he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed.

6 T And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people?

7 And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.

8 But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him.

22 And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. 23 T And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear 9 And he said unto them, What advice his wisdom, that God had put in his heart. give ye, that we may return answer to this 24 And they brought every man his people, which have spoken to me, saying, present, vessels of silver, and vessels of Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father gold, and raiment, harness, and spices, did put upon us?

horses, and mules, a rate year by year. 10 And the young men that were 25 And Solomon had four thousand brought up with him, spake unto him, stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people thousand horsemen; whom he bestowed that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father in the chariot-cities, and with the king at made our yoke heavy, but make thou it Jerusalem. somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou 26 T And he reigned over all the kings say unto them, My little finger shall be from the river even unto the land of the thicker than my father's loins. Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. 11 For whereas my father put a heavy 27 And the king made silver in Jerusa-yoke upon you, I will put more to your lem as stones, and cedar-trees made he as yoke: my father chastised you with whips, the sycamore-trees that are in the low but I will chastise you with scorpions. plains in abundance. 12 So Jeroboam and all the people 28 And they brought unto Solomon came to Rehoboam on the third day, as horses out of Egypt, and out of all lands. the king bade, saying, Come again to me 29 Now the rest of the acts of Solo- on the third day.

mon, first and last, are they not written in 13 And the king answered them roughthe book of Nathan the prophet, and in ly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counthe prophecy of Ahijab the Shilonite, and sel of the old men,

in the visions of Iddo the seer against Je- 14 And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made

roboam the son of Nebat?

Rehoboam raises an armý.

your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto : 13 And the priests and the Levites my father chastised you with whips, but I that were in all Israel resorted to him out will chastise you with scorpions. of all their coasts.

15 So the king hearkened not unto the 14(For the Levites left their suburbs and people for the cause was of God, that the their possession, and came to Judah and LORD might perform his word, which he Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite cast them off from executing the priest's to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. office unto the LORD:

16 And when all Israel saw that the 15 And he ordained him priests for the king would not hearken unto them, the high places, and for the devils, and for the people answered the king, saying, What calves which he had made.) portion have we in David? and we have 16 And after them out of all the tribes none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek man to your tents, O Israel: and now, the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, David, see to thine own house. So all Is- to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their rael went to their tents. fathers.

17 But as for the children of Israel that 17 So they strengthened the kingdom of dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of reigned over them. Solomon strong, three years: for three 18 Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram years they walked in the way of David that was over the tribute; and the children and Solomon.

of Israel stoned him with stones, that he 18 T And Rehoboam took him Mahalath died. But king Rehoboam made speed the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Je- to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab rusalem. the son of Jesse ;

19 And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.

CHAP. XI.

19 Which bare him children, Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.

20 And after her he took Maachah the.

daughter of Absalom; which bare him hirusalem, he gathered of the house of jah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. Judah and Benjamin a hundred and four- 21 And Rehoboam loved Maachah the score thousand chosen men which were daughter of Absalom above all his wives warriors, to fight against Israel, that he and his concubines: (for he took eighteen might bring the kingdom again to Reho-wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and three

boam.

2 But the word of the LORD came to score daughters.) Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

22 And Rehoboam made Abijah the son 3 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel brethren: for he thought to make him king. in Judah and Benjamin, saying, 23 And he dealt wisely, and dispersed 4 Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go of all his children throughout all the counup, nor fight against your brethren: return tries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every every man to his house for this thing is fenced city: and he gave them victual in done of me. And they obeyed the words abundance. And he desired many wives. of the LORD, and returned from going CHAP. XII. against Jeroboam.

5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, AND it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and and built cities for defence in Judah. had strengthened himself, he forsook the 6 He built even Beth-lehem, and Etam, law of the LORD, and all Israel with him. and Tekoa, 2 And it came to pass, that in the fifth 7 And Beth-zur, and Shoco, and Adul-year of king Rehoboam Shishak king of lam, Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because 8 And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph, they had transgressed against the LORD, 9 And Adoraim, and Lachish, and 3 With twelve hundred chariots, and Azekah, threescore thousand horsemen: and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt; the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians.

10 And Zorah, and Ajalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin, fenced cities.

11 And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and stores of victuals and of oil and wine.

4 And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem. 5 Then came Shemaiah the prophet 12 And in every several city he put to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, shields and spears, and made them ex- that were gathered together to Jerusalem ceeding strong, having Judah and Benja- because of Shishak, and said unto them, min on his side. Thus saith the LORD, Ye have forsaken

Rehoboam's death.

II. CHRONICLES.

Abijah's victory. me, and therefore have I also left you in four hundred thousand chosen men: Jerothe hand of Shishak.. boam also set the battle in array against 6 Whereupon the princes of Israel, and him with eight hundred thousand chosen the king humbled themselves; and they men, being mighty men of valour. said, The LORD is righteous. 4 ¶ And Abijah stood up upon mount

7 And when the LORD saw that they Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephraim, humbled themselves, the word of the LORD and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and came to Shemaiah, saying, They have all Israel;

bumbled themselves; therefore I will not 5 Ought ye not to know that the LORD destroy them, but I will grant them some God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel deliverance; and my wrath "shall not be to David for ever, even to him and to his poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of sons by a covenant of salt? Shishak.

8 Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.

9 So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he took all: he carried away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made.

10 Instead of which, king Rehoboam made shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard, that kept the entrance of the king's house.

11 And when the king entered into the house of the LORD, the guard came and fetched them, and brought them again into the guard-chamber.

6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and hath rebelled against his lord.

7 And there are gathered unto him vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehobo-* am the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tender-hearted, and could not withstand them.

8 And now ye think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David; and ye be a great multitude, and there are with you golden calves, which Jeroboam made you for gods.

9 Have ye not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after the manner of the nations of other lands? so that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself 12 And when he humbled himself, the with a young bullock and seven rams, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, that same may be a priest of them that are no he would not destroy him altogether: and gods. also in Judah things went well.

10 But as for us, the LORD is our God,

13 So king Rehoboam strengthened and we have not forsaken him; and the himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for priests, which minister unto the LORD, are Rehoboam was one and forty years old the sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait when he began to reign, and he reigned upon their business:

seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city 11 And they burn unto the LORD every which the LORD had chosen out of all the morning and every evening burnt-sacritribes of Israel, to put his name there. And fices and sweet incense: the shew-bread his mother's name was Naamah an Am- also set they in order upon the pure table; monitess. and the candlestick of gold with the lamps

14 And he did evil, because he prepared thereof to burn every evening: for we keep not his heart to seek the LORD. the charge of the LORD our God; but ye 15 Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and have forsaken bim. last, are they not written in the book of 12 And behold, God himself is with us Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the for our captain, and his priests with soundseer concerning genealogies? And there ing trumpets to cry alarm against you. O were wars between Rehoboam and Jero-children of Israel, fight ye not against the boam continually. LORD God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper.

16 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead. CHAP. XIII.

NOW

Judah.

13 But Jeroboam caused an ambush. ment to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment

TOW in the eighteenth year of king was behind them. Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over 14 And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind: 2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem. and they cried unto the LORD, and the His mother's name also was Michaiah the priests sounded with the trumpets. daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there 15 Then the men of Judah gave a shout: was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. and as the men of Judah shouted, it came 3 And Abijah set the battle in array to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all with an army of valiant men of war, even Israel before Abijah and Judah.