Amplified Bible (AMP)

Abijam Reigns over Judah

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

2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother was Maacah [grand]daughter of Abishalom (Absalom).

3 He walked in all the sins [of idol worship] that his father [Rehoboam] committed before him; and his heart was not entirely devoted to the Lordhis God, like the heart of his father (forefather) David.

4 Nevertheless, for David’s sake the Lordhis God gave him a lamp (descendant on the throne) in Jerusalem, setting up his son after him and establishing Jerusalem,

5 because David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of [the betrayal of] Uriah the Hittite.

6 There was war between Rehoboam [Abijam’s father] and Jeroboam all the days of Rehoboam’s life.

7 Now as for the rest of the acts of Abijam and everything that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.

Asa Succeeds Abijam

8 Abijam slept with his fathers [in death] and they buried him in the City of David. Asa his son became king in his place.

9 So in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa began to reign as king over Judah.

10 He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His [great-grand]mother was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom (Absalom).

11 Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as did his father (forefather) David.

12 He expelled the male cult prostitutes (sodomites) from the land and removed all the idols that his fathers [Solomon, Rehoboam, and Abijam] had made.

13 He also deposed his [great-grand]mother Maacah frombeingqueen mother, because she had made a horrid (obscene, vulgar) image for [the goddess] Asherah. Asa cut down her horrid image, and burned it by the Brook Kidron.

14 But the high places [of idol worship] were not removed. Nevertheless, Asa’s heart was entirely devoted to the Lordall his days.

15 He brought the things which his father had dedicated and the things which he had dedicated into the house of the Lord–silver, gold, and utensilsandaccessories.

16 Now there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

17 Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah [north of Jerusalem], in order to preventanyonefrom going out or coming in to Asa king of Judah.

18 Then Asa took all the silver and gold left in the treasuries of the house of the Lordand the treasuries of the palace of the king and handed them over to his servants. And King Asa sent them to Ben-hadad the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Aram (Syria), who lived in Damascus, saying,

19 “Let there bea treaty between me and you,as there wasbetween my father and your father. Behold, I have sent you a gift of silver and gold; go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he willwithdraw from me.”

20 So Ben-hadad listened to king Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, and conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and all Chinneroth [the region of the Sea of Galilee], along with all the land of Naphtali.

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

22 Then King Asa made a proclamation to all Judah–none was exempt–and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber with which Baasha had built [the fortifications]. And King Asa built with them [border fortresses at] Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah.

Jehoshaphat Succeeds Asa

23 Now as for the rest of all the acts of Asa, all his might, everything that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? But during the time of his old age he had a foot disease.

24 Asa slept with his fathers [in death] and was buried with his fathers in the city of his father David. Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place.

Nadab, then Baasha, Rules over Israel

25 Now Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel for two years.

26 He did evil in the sight of the Lordand walked in the way of his father [Jeroboam] and in his sin [of idolatry], with which he made Israel sin.

27 Baasha the son of Ahijah of the house (tribe) of Issachar conspired against Nadab, and Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, while Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon.

28 So Baasha killed Nadab in the third year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place.

29 As soon as he was king, Baasha struck down all the household of Jeroboam. He did not leave for Jeroboam anyone alive, but he destroyed them in accordance with the word of the Lordwhich He had spoken through His servant Ahijah the Shilonite–

30 because of the sins committed by Jeroboam and which he made Israel commit, and because he provoked the LordGod of Israel to anger.

31 Now as for the rest of Nadab’s acts and everything that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

War with Judah

32 There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

33 In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah became king over all Israel in Tirzah [the capital city],and reignedtwenty-four years.

34 He did evil in the sight of the Lordand walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin [of idolatry] with which he made Israel sin.

Prophecy against Baasha

1 Now the word of the Lordcame to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,

2 “Because I exalted you [Baasha] from the dust and made you leader over My people Israel, and you walked in the way of Jeroboam and made My people Israel sin, provoking Me to anger with their sins [of idol worship],

3 behold, I am going to sweep away Baasha and his household (family), and I will make your house (royal line) like that of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

4 The dogs will eat anyone belonging to Baasha who dies in the city, and the birds of the sky will eat anyone belonging to him who dies in the field.”

5 Now as for the rest of the acts of Baasha, what he did and his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

The Israelite Kings

6 Baasha slept with his fathers [in death] and was buried in Tirzah. Elah his son became king in his place.

7 Moreover, the word of the Lordcame against Baasha and his household through the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani, both for all the evil that Baasha did in the sight of the Lordin provoking Him to anger with the work of his hands (idolatry), in being like the house of Jeroboam, and because he [willingly] destroyed it (the family of Jeroboam).

8 In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha became king over Israel in Tirzah,and reignedtwo years.

9 His servant Zimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired against Elah. Now Elah was in Tirzah, getting drunk in the house of Arza, who was in charge of the [king’s] household in Tirzah.

10 Then Zimri came in and struck and killed Elah in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and became king in his place.

11 When he became king, as soon as he sat on his throne, he killed the entire household of Baasha; he did not leave a single male [alive], either of hisrelatives or his friends.

12 Thus Zimri destroyed the entire household of Baasha, in accordance with the word of the Lordwhich He spoke against Baasha through Jehu the prophet,

13 for all the sins of Baasha and the sins of Elah his son, which they committed, and made Israel commit, provoking the LordGod of Israel to anger with their idols.

14 Now as for the rest of the acts of Elah and everything that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

15 In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned [over Israel] for seven days at Tirzah. Now the troops were camped against Gibbethon, [a city] which belonged to the Philistines,

16 and the people who were camped heard it said, “Zimri has conspired and has also struck down the king.” So all Israel made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp.

17 Then Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.

18 When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the fortress of the king’s palace; andwhile inside,he set fire to the king’s palace and died,

19 because of the sins he had committed, doing evil in the sight of the Lord, by walking in the way of Jeroboam, and because of his sin he caused Israel to sin.

20 Now as for the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his [treasonous] conspiracy which he committed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

21 Then the people of Israel were divided in half. Half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king, and theotherhalf followed Omri.

22 But the people who followed Omri prevailed over the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath. So Tibni died and Omri became king.

23 In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri became king over Israeland reignedfor twelve years. He reigned six years at Tirzah.

24 Omri bought the hill Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver, and he builta cityon the hill [and fortified it], and named the city which he builtSamaria, after the owner of the hill, Shemer.

25 But Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, and acted more wickedly than all whocamebefore him.

26 He walked in all the ways of Jeroboam the son of Nebat and in his sin, which he made Israel commit, provoking the LordGod of Israel, [to anger] with their idols.

27 Now as for the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might which he showed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

28 So Omri slept with his fathers [in death] and was buried in Samaria. Ahab his son became king in his place.

29 Ahab the son of Omri became king over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria for twenty-two years.

30 Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lordmore than all [the kings] who were before him.

31 It came about, as if it had been a trivial thing for Ahab to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he marriedJezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him.

32 So he erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal which he built in Samaria.

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

34 In his days, Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundations with theloss ofAbiram his firstborn, and set up its gates with theloss ofhis youngest son Segub, in accordance with the word of the Lord, which He spoke through Joshua the son of Nun.

Elijah Predicts Drought

1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by My word.”

2 And the word of the Lordcame to him, saying,

3 “Go from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan [River].

4 You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to sustain you there [with food].”

5 So he went and did in accordance with the word of the Lord; he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.

6 And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he would drink from the brook.

7 It happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.

8 Then the word of the Lordcame to him, saying,

9 “Arise, go toZarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”

10 So he set out and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks [for firewood]. He called out to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a jar, so that I may drink.”

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

12 But she said, “As the Lordyour God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar. See, I am gathering a few sticks so that I may go in and bake it for me and my son, that we may eat it [as our last meal] and die.”

13 Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. Just make me a little bread from it first and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son.

14 For this is what the LordGod of Israel says: ‘The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted nor shall the jar of oil be empty until the day that the Lordsends rain [again] on the face of the earth.’”

15 She went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate formanydays.

16 The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, in accordance the word of the Lordwhich He spoke through Elijah.

Elijah Raises the Widow’s Son

17 It happened after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became sick; and his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him.

18 So she said to Elijah, “What [problem] is there between you and me, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to mind and to put my son to death?”

19 He said to her, “Give me your son.” Then he took him from her arms and carried him up to the upper room where he was living, and laid him on his own bed.

20 He called to the Lordand said, “O Lordmy God, have You brought further tragedy to the widow with whom I am staying, by causing her son to die?”

21 Then he stretched himself out upon the child three times, and called to the Lordand said, “O Lordmy God, please let this child’s life return to him.”

22 The Lordheard the voice of Elijah, and the life of the child returned to him and he revived.

23 Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the [lower part of the] house and gave him to his mother; and Elijah said, “See, your son is alive.”

24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lordin your mouth is truth.”

Obadiah Meets Elijah

1 Now it happened after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the face of the earth.”

2 So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria.

3 Ahab called Obadiah who was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the Lordgreatly;

4 for when Jezebel destroyed the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water.)

5 Then Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go into the land to all the sources of water and to all the streams; perhaps we may find grass and keep the horses and mules alive, and not have to kill some of the cattle.”

6 So they divided the land between them tosurvey it. Ahab went one way by himself and Obadiah went another way by himself.

7 As Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. He recognized him and fell face downward [out of respect] and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”

8 He answered him, “It is I. Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’”

9 But he said, “What sin have I committed, that you would hand over your servant to Ahab to put me to death?

10 As the Lordyour God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sentmessengersto seek you; and when they said, ‘He is not here,’ Ahab made the kingdom or nation swear that they had not found you.

11 And now you are saying, ‘Go, tell your master, “Behold, Elijah [is here].”’

12 And as soon as I leave you, the Spirit of the Lordwill carry youto a place I do not know; so when I come to tell Ahab and he does not find you, he will kill me. Yet your servant has [reverently] feared the Lordfrom my youth.

13 Has it not been told to my lord [Elijah] what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, how I hid a hundred of the Lord’sprophets by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water?

14 And now you are saying, ‘Go, tell your master, “Elijah is here”’; and he will kill me.”

15 Elijah said, “As the Lordof hosts (armies) lives, before whom I stand, I will certainly show myself to Ahab today.”

16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.

17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Are you the one who is bringing disaster on Israel?”

18 Elijah said, “I have not brought disaster on Israel, but you and your father’s householdhave,by abandoning (rejecting) the commandments of the Lordand by following the Baals.

19 Now then, sendwordand gather to me all Israel at Mount Carmel, together with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of [the goddess] Asherah, who eat at [Queen] Jezebel’s table.”

God or Baal on Mount Carmel

20 So Ahab sentwordto all the Israelites and assembled the [pagan] prophets together at Mount Carmel.

21 Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will youhesitate between two opinions? If the Lordis God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people [of Israel] did not answer him [so much as] a word.

22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone remain a prophet of the Lord, while Baal’s prophets are 450 men.

23 Now let them give us two oxen, and let them choose one ox for themselves and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fireunder it. I will prepare the other ox and lay it on the wood, and I will not put a fireunder it.

24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the god who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.”

25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, since there are many of you; and call on the name of your god, but put no fireunder it.”

26 So they took the bull that was given to them and prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, hearandanswer us.” But there was no voice and no one answered. And they leaped about the altar which they had made.

27 At noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied, or he is out [at the moment], or he is on a journey. Perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened!”

28 So they cried out with a loud voice [to get Baal’s attention] and cut themselves with swords and lances in accordance with their custom, until the blood flowed out on them.

29 As midday passed, they played the part of prophetsandraved dramatically until the time for offering theeveningsacrifice; but there was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention.

30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people approached him. And he repairedandrebuilt the [old] altar of the Lordthat had been torn down [by Jezebel].

31 Then Elijah took twelve stones in accordance with the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lordhad come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.”

32 So with the stones Elijah built an altar in the name of the Lord. He made a trench around the altar large enough to holdtwo measures of seed.

33 Then he laid out the wood and cut the ox in pieces and laid it on the wood.

34 And he said, “Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the burnt offering and the wood.” And he said, “Do it the second time.” And they did it the second time. And he said, “Do it the third time.” And they did it a third time.

35 The water flowed around the altar, and he also filled the trench with water.

Elijah’s Prayer

36 At the time of the offering of theeveningsacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached [the altar] and said, “O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel (Jacob), let it be known today that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and that I have done all these things at Your word.

37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so that this people may know that You, O Lord, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back [to You].”

38 Then the fire of the Lordfell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood, andeventhe stones and the dust; it also licked up the water in the trench.

39 When all the people saw it, they fell face downward; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!”

40 Then Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape.” They seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and [as God’s law required] killed them there.

41 Now Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of the roarof an abundanceof rain.”

42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he crouched down to the earth and put his face between his knees,

43 and he said to his servant, “Go up, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” Elijah said, “Go back” seven times.

44 And at the seventhtimethe servant said, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is coming up from the sea.” And Elijah said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepareyour chariotand go down, so that the rain shower does not stop you.’”

45 In a little while the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and there were heavy showers. And Ahab mountedandrode [his chariot] and went [inland] toJezreel.

46 Then the hand of the Lordcame upon Elijah [giving him supernatural strength]. Hegirded up his loins and outran Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel [nearly twenty miles].

Elijah Flees from Jezebel

1 Now Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets [of Baal] with the sword.

2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me, and even more, if by this time tomorrow I do not make yourlife like the life of one of them.”

3 And Elijah was afraid and arose and ran for his life, and he came toBeersheba which belongs to Judah, and he left his servant there.

4 But he himself traveled a day’s journey into the wilderness, and he came and sat down under a juniper tree and asked [God] that he might die. He said, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”

5 He lay down and slept under the juniper tree, and behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.”

6 He looked, and by his head there was a bread cake baked on hot coal, and a pitcher of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again.

7 Then the angel of the Lordcame again a second time and touched him and said, “Get up, and eat, for the journey is too long for you [without adequate sustenance].”

8 So he got up and ate and drank, and with the strength of that food he traveled forty days and nights to Horeb (Sinai), the mountain of God.

Elijah at Horeb

9 There he came to a cave and spent the night in it; and behold, the word of the Lordcameto him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

10 He said, “I have been veryzealous (impassioned) for the LordGod of hosts (armies) [proclaiming what is rightfully and uniquely His]; for the sons of Israel have abandoned (broken) Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I, only I, am left; and they seek to take away my life.”

11 So He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lordwas passing by, and a great and powerful wind was tearing out the mountains and breaking the rocks in pieces before the Lord; but the Lordwas not in the wind. And after the wind, [there was] an earthquake, but the Lordwas not in the earthquake.

12 After the earthquake, [there was] a fire, but the Lordwas not in the fire; and after the fire, [there was] the sound of a gentle blowing.

13 When Elijah heardthe sound, he wrapped his face in his mantle (cloak) and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14 He said, “I have been very zealous for the LordGod of hosts (armies), because the sons of Israel have abandoned (broken) Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I, only I, am left; and they seek to take away my life.”

15 The Lordsaid to him, “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram (Syria);

16 and you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and anoint Elisha the son of Shaphat ofAbel-meholah as prophet in your place.

17 It shall come about that Jehu shall put to death whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, and Elisha shall put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu.

18 Yet I will leave 7,000 [survivors] in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed down to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

19 So Elijah departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairsof oxenbefore him, and he with the twelfth. Elijah went over to him and threw his mantle (coat) on him.

20 He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother [goodbye], then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go on back; for what have I done to [stop] you?”

21 So Elisha left him and went back. Then he took a pair of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their meat with the implements of the oxen [as fuel], and gavethe meatto the people, and they ate. Then he stood and followed Elijah, and served him.

War with Aram

1 Ben-hadad king of Aram (Syria) gathered all his army together; thirty-two kings were [allied] with him, with horses and chariots. And he went up and besieged Samaria [Israel’s capital], and fought against it.

2 Then he sent messengers to the city to Ahab king of Israel; and he said to him, “Thus says Ben-hadad:

3 ‘Your silver and your gold are mine; your wives and your children, even the fairest, also are mine [as conditions of peace].’”

4 The king of Israel [conceded his defeat and] answered, “By your word, my lord, O king, I am yours, and all that I have.”

5 The messengers returned and said, “Thus says Ben-hadad: ‘I indeed sentwordto you, saying, “You shall give me your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children,”

6 but about this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you, and they will search your house and the houses of your servants; and they will take with their hands (confiscate) whatever is desirable in your eyes and carry it away.’”

7 Then the king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and said, “Please observe and see how this man is seeking our destruction. For he sentmessengersto me for my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold, and I did not refuse him.”

8 All the elders and all the people said to him, “Do not listen or consent [to this additional demand].”

9 So he said to Ben-hadad’s messengers, “Tell my lord the king, ‘Everydemandyou first sent to your servant I will do, but I cannot do this [additional] thing [as a condition of peace].’” And the messengers left; then they brought him word again.

10 Ben-hadad sentwordto him and said, “May the gods do so to me, and more also, if there is enough dust left of Samaria for handfuls for all the [armed] people who follow me.”

11 The king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘A man who puts on [his armor to go to battle] should not boast like the man who takes it off [after the battle has been won].’”

12 When Ben-hadad heard this message, as he and the kings were drinking in the temporary shelters, he said to his servants, “Stationyourselves.” So they stationedthemselvesagainst the city [of Samaria].

Ahab Victorious

13 Then a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Have you seen all this great army? Behold, I will hand them over to you, and you shall know [without any doubt] that I am the Lord.’”

14 Ahab said, “By whom?” And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘By the young men [the attendants or bodyguards] of the governors of the districts.’” Then Ahab said, “Who shall begin the battle?” And he answered, “You.”

15 Then Ahab assembledandcounted the young men of the governors of the districts, and there were 232. After them he assembledandcounted all the people, all the sons of Israel, 7,000.

16 They went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was getting drunk in the temporary shelters, he and the thirty-two kings who were helping him.

17 The young men of the governors of the districts went out first; and Ben-hadad sentmenout and they told him, saying, “Men have come out of Samaria.”

18 And he said, “Whether they have come out for peace or for war, take them alive.”

19 So these young men of the governors of the districts went out of the city, and the army followed them.

20 And each one killed his man; and the Arameans (Syrians) fled and Israel pursued them. Ben-hadad king of Aram escaped on a horse with horsemen.

21 The king of Israel went out and struck [the riders of] the horses and chariots, and killed the Arameans in a great slaughter.

22 Then the prophet approached the king of Israel and said to him, “Go, strengthen yourself and observe and see what you have to do; for at the first of next year the king of Aram (Syria) will come up against you.”

23 Now the servants of the king of Aram said to him, “Israel’sgod is agod of the hills; that is why they were stronger than we. But let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they.

24 Do this: remove the [thirty-two allied] kings, each from his place, and put captains in their place,

25 and assemble an army like the army that you have lostin battle, horse for horse and chariot for chariot. Then we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.” And he listened to their words and did so.

Another Aramean War

26 At the first of the year [in spring], Ben-hadad assembledandcounted the Arameans (Syrians) and went up to Aphek [east of the Sea of Galilee] to fight against Israel.

27 The sons of Israel were counted and given provisions, and they went to meet them. The Israelites camped before the enemy like twolittle flocks of goats [with everything against them, except God], and the Arameans filled the country.

28 A man of God approached and said to the king of Israel, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because the Arameans have said, “The Lordis a god of the hills, but He is not a god of the valleys,” I will give this great army into your hand, and you shall know [by experience] that I am the Lord.’”

29 So they camped opposite each other for seven days. Then on the seventh day the battle began, and the sons of Israel killed 100,000 of the Aramean foot soldiers in a single day.

30 But the rest ran to the city of Aphek, and the [city] wall fell on 27,000 of the men who were left. Ben-hadad escaped and came into the city, going into an inner chamber [to hide].

31 But his servants said to him, “We have heard that the kings of the house (royal line) of Israel are merciful kings. Please let us put sackcloth around ourloins and ropes on our necks [as symbols of submission], and go out to the king of Israel; perhaps he will spare your life.”

32 So they put sackcloth around their loins and ropes on their necks, and came to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please let me live.’” And Ahab asked, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”

33 Now the men took it as agoodomen, and quickly understanding his meaning said, “Yes, your brother Ben-hadadlives.” Then the king said, “Go, bring him.” Then Ben-hadad came out to him, and Ahab had him come up into the chariot.

34 Ben-hadad [tempting him] said to him, “I will restore the cities which my father took from your father; and you may set up bazaars (shops) of your own in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” Then,Ahab replied,“I will let you go with this covenant (treaty).” So he made a covenant with him and let him go.

35 Now a certain man ofthe sons of the prophets said to another by the word of the Lord, “Please strike me.” But the man refused to strike him.

36 Then the prophet said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, behold, as soon as you leave me, a lion will kill you.” And as soon as he left him, a lion found him and killed him.

37 Then the prophet found another man and said, “Please strike me.” So the man struck him hard, wounding him.

38 So the prophet left and waited for King Ahab by the road, and disguised himself [as a wounded soldier] with a bandage over his eyes.

39 As the king passed by, the prophet called out to the king and said, “Your servant went out into the middle of the battle, and behold, a man turned aside and brought a man to me and said, ‘Guard this man; if for any reason he is missing, then your life shall berequiredfor his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.’

40 But while your servant was busy here and there, he [escaped and] was gone.” And the king of Israel said to him, “Such is your own judgment (verdict); you have determined it.”

41 Then the prophet quickly removed the bandage from his eyes, and [Ahab] the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets.

42 He said to the king, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Because you have released from your hand the man [Ben-hadad] whom I had devoted to destruction, your life shall berequiredfor his life, and your people for his people.’”

43 So the king of Israel went to his house resentful and sullen, and came to Samaria.

Ahab Covets Naboth’s Vineyard

1 Now it came about after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, close beside the [winter] palace of Ahab king of Samaria;

2 Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyard, so that I may have it for a garden of vegetablesandherbs, because it is near my house. I will give you a better vineyard for it, or, if you prefer, I will give you what it is worth in money.”

3 But Naboth said to Ahab, “The Lordforbid me that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you.”

4 So Ahab [already upset by the Lord’s message] came into his house [feeling more] resentful and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him; for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face, and would not eat any food.

5 Then Jezebel his wife came to him and asked him, “Why is your spirit so troubled that you have not eaten?”

6 And he said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money; or if you prefer, I will give youanothervineyard for it.’ But he answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’”

7 Jezebel his wife said to him, “Do you now reign over Israel? Get up, eat food, and let your heart rejoice; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

8 So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.

9 Now in the letters she wrote, “Proclaim afast and seat Naboth at the head of the people;

10 and seat two worthlessandunprincipled men opposite him, and have them testify against him, saying, ‘Youcursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”

Jezebel’s Plot

11 So the men of his city, the elders and the nobles who lived there, did as Jezebel had sentwordto them, just as it was written in the letters which she had sent to them.

12 They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the people.

13 Two worthlessandunprincipled men came in and sat down opposite him; and they testified against Naboth before the people, saying, “Naboth cursedandrenounced God and the king.” Then they brought him outside the city and stoned him to death.

14 Then they sentwordto Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned to death.”

15 When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, she said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite which he refused to sell you, because Naboth is no longer alive, but dead.”

16 When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he arose to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

17 Then the word of the Lordcame to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,

18 “Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria. Behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession of it.

19 You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Have you murdered and also taken possession [of the victim’s property]?”’ And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, dogs will lick up your blood as well.”’”

20 Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” And he answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the Lord.

21 Behold [says the Lord], I am bringing evil (catastrophe) on you, and will utterly sweep you away, and will cut off from Ahab every male, both bond and free in Israel;

22 and I will make your house (descendants) like that of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for provoking Me to anger and making Israel sin.

23 The Lordalso spoke in regard to Jezebel, saying, ‘The dogs will eat [the body of] Jezebel in the district of Jezreel.’

24 The dogs will eat anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city, and the birds of the air will eat anyone who dies in the field.”

25 There certainly was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the Lord, because Jezebel his wife incited him.

26 He acted very repulsively in following idols, in accordance with everything the Amorites had done, whom the Lordexpelled [from the land] before the sons of Israel.

27 Now when Ahab heard these words [of Elijah], he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted, and he lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly (mourning).

28 Then the word of the Lordcame to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,

29 “Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the evil (catastrophe) in his lifetime, but in his son’s days I will bring evil upon his house.”

Ahab’s Third Campaign against Aram

1 Aram (Syria) and Israel continued without war for three years.

2 In the third year Jehoshaphat king of Judah came down to theking of Israel.

3 Now the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, yet we are still doing nothing to take it from the hand of the king of Aram?”

4 And Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?” Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”

5 But Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the word of the Lord.”

6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or should I not?” And they said, “Go up, for the Lordhas handed it over to the king.”

7 But Jehoshaphat [doubted and] said, “Is there not another prophet of the Lordhere whom we may ask?”

8 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is one more man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, because he never prophesies goodnewsfor me, butonlyevil.” But Jehoshaphat said, “May the king not say that [Micaiah only tells bad news].”

9 Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah.”

10 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were each sitting on his throne, dressed intheir[royal] robes, [in an open place] at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.

11 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made for himself horns of iron and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘With these you will gore the Arameans (Syrians) until they are destroyed.’”

12 All the prophets were prophesying in the same way [to please Ahab], saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and be successful, for the Lordwill hand it over to the king.”

Micaiah Predicts Defeat

13 Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Listen carefully, the words of the prophets are unanimously favorable to the king. Please let your words be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.”

14 But Micaiah said, “As the Lordlives, I will speak what the Lordsays to me.”

15 So when he came to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go against Ramoth-gilead in battle, or shall we not?” And he answered him, “Go up and be successful, for the Lordwill hand it over to the king.”

16 But the king [doubted him and] said to him, “How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?”

17 And he said,

“I saw all Israel

Scattered upon the mountains,

Like sheep that have no shepherd.

And the Lordsaid,

‘These have no master.

Let each of them return to his house in peace.’”

18 Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”

19 Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lordsitting on His throne, and all the host (army) of heaven standing by Him on His right hand and on His left.

20 The Lordsaid, ‘Who will entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said this, while another said that.

21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lordand said, ‘I will entice him.’

22 The Lordsaid to him, ‘How?’ And he said, ‘I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then the Lordsaid, ‘You are to entice him and also succeed. Go and do so.’

23 Now then, behold, the Lordhas put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all these prophets; and the Lordhas proclaimed disaster against you.”

24 But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah approached and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “How did the Spirit of the Lordpass from me to speak to you?”

25 Micaiah said, “Behold, you shall see on that day [of the king’s defeat] when you enter an inner room [looking for a place] to hide yourself.”

26 Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the king’s son,

27 and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this man in prison, and feed him sparingly with the bread and water until I return safely.”’”

28 Micaiah said, “If you indeed return safely, the Lordhas not spoken by me.” Then he said, “Listen, all you people.”

Defeat and Death of Ahab

29 So [Ahab] the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.

30 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and enter the battle, but you put on your [royal] clothing.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into the battle.

31 Now the king of Aram (Syria) had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, “Do not fight with [anyone, either] small or great, but with [Ahab] the king of Israel alone.”

32 When the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “Surely it is the king of Israel.” They turned to fight against him, and Jehoshaphat shouted out [in fear].

33 When the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

34 But one man drew a bow atrandom and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and take me out of the fight, because I have been seriously wounded.”

35 The battle raged that day, and [Ahab] the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans (Syrians). And in the evening he died, and the blood from his wound ran down into the bottom of the chariot.

36 Then about sundown a resounding cry passed throughout the army, saying, “Every man to his city and every man to his own country!”

37 So the king died and was brought to Samaria, and they buried the king in Samaria.

38 They washed the chariot by the pool [on the outskirts] of Samaria, where the prostitutes bathed, and the dogs licked up his blood, in accordance with the word of the Lordwhich He had spoken.

39 Now the rest of Ahab’s acts, and everything that he did, the ivory palace which he built and all the cities which he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

40 So Ahab slept with his fathers [in death], and Ahaziah his son became king in his place.

The New Rulers

41 Now Jehoshaphat the son of Asa became king over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.

42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.

43 He walked in all the ways of Asa his father, without turning from them, doing right in the sight of the Lord. However, the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

44 Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel.

45 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, his might which he displayed and how he made war, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

46 And the remnant of the sodomites (male cult prostitutes) who remained in the days of his father Asa, Jehoshaphat expelled from the land.

47 Now there was no king in Edom; a deputy (governor) was [serving as] king.

48 Jehoshaphat had [large cargo] ships of Tarshish constructed to go to Ophir for gold, but they did not go, because the ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber.

49 Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships,” But Jehoshaphat was unwillingandrefused.

50 Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers [in death] and was buried with his fathers in the city of his father David, and Jehoram his son became king in his place.

51 Ahaziah the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel for two years.

52 He did evil in the sight of the Lordand walked in the [idolatrous] way of his father [Ahab] and of his mother [Jezebel], and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin.

53 He served Baal and worshiped him, and he provoked the LordGod of Israel to anger, in accordance with everything that his father [Ahab] had done.