聖經365恩典之旅

本日經文提要(列王紀上 13:1~16:34)


.耶羅波安的兒子亞比雅病了，耶羅波安派他的妻子去找先知亞希雅詢問，結果亞希雅說了甚麼?
.耶和華為何責備巴沙，說他行耶羅波安所行的道?結果因此他得到神甚麼處罰?
王上13:1那時有一個神人奉耶和華的命從猶大來到伯特利，耶羅波安正站在壇旁，要燒香。
王上13:2神人奉耶和華的命向壇呼叫，說：壇哪，壇哪，耶和華如此說：大衛家裡必生一個兒子，名叫約西亞，他必將邱壇的祭司，就是在你上面燒香的，殺在你上面，人的骨頭也必燒在你上面。
王上13:3當日神人設個豫兆，說：這壇必破裂，壇上的灰必傾撒，這是耶和華說的豫兆。
王上13:4耶羅波安王聽見神人向伯特利的壇所呼叫的話，就從壇上伸手，說：拿住他罷。王向神人所伸的手就枯乾了，不能彎回。
王上13:5壇也破裂了，壇上的灰傾撒了，正如神人奉耶和華的命所設的豫兆。
王上13:6王對神人說：請你為我禱告，求耶和華你神的恩典，使我的手復原。於是神人祈禱耶和華，王的手就復了原，仍如尋常一樣。
王上13:7王對神人說：請你同我回去吃飯，加添心力，我也必給你賞賜。
王上13:8神人對王說：你就是把你的宮一半給我，我也不同你進去，也不在這地方吃飯喝水，
王上13:9因為有耶和華的話囑咐我，說：不可在伯特利吃飯喝水，也不可從你去的原路回來。
王上13:10於是神人從別的路回去，不從伯特利來的原路回去。
王上13:11有一個老先知住在伯特利，他兒子們來將神人當日在伯特利所行的一切事，和向王所說的話，都告訴了父親。
王上13:12父親問他們說：神人從那條路去了呢，兒子們就告訴他。原來他們看見那從猶大來的神人所去的路。
王上13:13老先知就吩咐他兒子們說：你們為我備驢，他們備好了驢，他就騎上，
王上13:14去追趕神人，遇見他坐在橡樹底下，就問他說：你是從猶大來的神人不是，他說：是。
王上13:15老先知對他說：請你同我回家吃飯。
王上13:16神人說：我不可同你回去，進你的家，也不可在這裡同你吃飯喝水。
王上13:17因為有耶和華的話囑咐我說：你在那裡不可吃飯喝水，也不可從你去的原路回來。
王上13:18老先知對他說：我也是先知，和你一樣，有天使奉耶和華的命，對我說：你去把他帶回你的家，叫他吃飯喝水，這都是老先知誆哄他。
王上13:19於是神人同老先知回去，在他家裡吃飯喝水。
王上13:20二人坐席的時候，耶和華的話臨到那帶神人回來的先知。
王上13:21他就對那從猶大來的神人說：耶和華如此說：你既違背耶和華的話，不遵守耶和華你神的命令。
王上13:22反倒回來，在耶和華禁止你吃飯喝水的地方，吃了喝了，因此你的屍身不得入你列祖的墳墓。
王上13:23吃喝完了，老先知為所帶回來的先知備驢。
王上13:24他就去了，在路上有個獅子遇見他，將他咬死，屍身倒在路上，驢站在屍身旁邊，獅子也站在屍身旁邊。
王上13:25有人從那裡經過，看見屍身倒在路上，獅子站在屍身旁邊，就來到老先知所住的城裡述說這事。
王上13:26那帶神人回來的先知聽見這事，就說：這是那違背了耶和華命令的神人，所以耶和華把他交給獅子，獅子抓傷他，咬死他，是應驗耶和華對他說的話。
王上13:27老先知就吩咐他兒子們說：你們為我備驢，他們就備了驢。
王上13:28他去了，看見神人的屍身倒在路上，驢和獅子站在屍身旁邊，獅子卻沒有吃屍身，也沒有抓傷驢。
王上13:29老先知就把神人的屍身馱在驢上，帶回自己的城裡，要哀哭他，葬埋他。
王上13:30就把他的屍身葬在自己的墳墓裡，哀哭他，說：哀哉，我兄阿。
王上13:31安葬之後，老先知對他兒子們說：我死了你們要葬我在神人的墳墓裡，使我的屍骨靠近他的屍骨。
王上13:32因為他奉耶和華的命指著伯特利的壇，和撒瑪利亞各城有邱壇之殿，所說的話，必定應驗。
王上13:33這事以後，耶羅波安仍不離開他的惡道，將凡民立為邱壇的祭司，凡願意的，他都分別為聖，立為邱壇的祭司。
王上13:34這事叫耶羅波安的家陷在罪裡，甚至他的家從地上除滅了。

王上14:1那時耶羅波安的兒子亞比雅病了。
王上14:2耶羅波安對他的妻說：你可以起來改裝，使人不知道你是耶羅波安的妻，往示羅去，在那裡有先知亞希雅，他曾告訴我說：你必作這民的王。
王上14:3現在你要帶十個餅，與幾個薄餅，和一瓶蜜，去見他，他必告訴你兒子將要怎樣。
王上14:4耶羅波安的妻就這樣行，起身往示羅去，到了亞希雅的家。亞希雅因年紀老邁，眼目發直，不能看見。
王上14:5耶和華先曉諭亞希雅說：耶羅波安的妻要來問你，因他兒子病了，你當如此如此告訴他，他進來的時候，必裝作別的婦人。
王上14:6他剛進門，亞希雅聽見他腳步的響聲，就說：耶羅波安的妻，進來罷，你為何裝作別的婦人呢，我奉差遣將兇事告訴你。
王上14:7你回去告訴耶羅波安，說：耶和華以色列的神如此說：我從民中將你高舉，立你作我民以色列的君。
王上14:8將國從大衛家奪回，賜給你，你卻不效法我僕人大衛，遵守我的誡命，一心順從我，行我眼中看為正的事。
王上14:9你竟行惡，比那在你以先的更甚，為自己立了別神，鑄了偶像，惹我發怒，將我丟在背後。
王上14:10因此我必使災禍臨到耶羅波安的家，將屬耶羅波安的男丁，無論困住的，自由的，都從以色列中剪除，必除盡耶羅波安的家，如人除盡糞土一般。
王上14:11凡屬耶羅波安的人，死在城中的，必被狗吃，死在田野的，必被空中的鳥吃，這是耶和華說的。
王上14:12所以你起身回家去罷，你的腳一進城，你兒子就必死了。
王上14:13以色列眾人必為他哀哭，將他葬埋，凡屬耶羅波安的人，惟有他得入墳墓，因為在耶羅波安的家中，只有他向耶和華以色列的神，顯出善行。
王上14:14耶和華必另立一王治理以色列，到了日期，他必剪除耶羅波安的家，那日期已經到了。
王上14:15耶和華必擊打以色列人，使他們搖動，像水中的蘆葦一般，又將他們從耶和華賜給他們列祖的美地上拔出來，分散在大河那邊，因為他們作木偶，惹耶和華發怒。
王上14:16因耶羅波安所犯的罪，又使以色列人陷在罪裡，耶和華必將以色列人交給仇敵。
王上14:17耶羅波安的妻起身回去，到了得撒，剛到門檻，兒子就死了。
王上14:18以色列眾人將他葬埋，為他哀哭，正如耶和華藉他僕人先知亞希雅所說的話。
王上14:19耶羅波安其餘的事，他怎樣爭戰，怎樣作王，都寫在以色列諸王記上。
王上14:20耶羅波安作王二十二年，就與他列祖同睡，他兒子拿答接續他作王。
王上14:21所羅門的兒子羅波安作猶大王。他登基的時候，年四十一歲，在耶路撒冷，就是耶和華從以色列眾支派中所選擇立他名的城，作王十七年，羅波安的母親名叫拿瑪，是亞捫人。
王上14:22猶大人行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，犯罪觸動他的憤恨，比他們列祖更甚。
王上14:23因為他們在各高岡上，各青翠樹下築壇，立柱像，和木偶。
王上14:24國中也有孌童，猶大人效法耶和華在以色列人面前所趕出的外邦人，行一切可憎惡的事。
王上14:25羅波安王第五年，埃及王示撒上來攻取耶路撒冷。
王上14:26奪了耶和華殿和王宮裡的寶物，盡都帶走，又奪去所羅門製造的金盾牌。
王上14:27羅波安王製造銅盾牌代替那金盾牌，交給守王宮門的護衛長看守。
王上14:28王每逢進耶和華的殿，護衛兵就拿這盾牌，隨後仍將盾牌送回，放在護衛房。
王上14:29羅波安其餘的事，凡他所行的，都寫在猶大列王記上。
王上14:30羅波安與耶羅波安時常爭戰。
王上14:31羅波安與他列祖同睡，葬在大衛城，他列祖的墳地裡，他母親名叫拿瑪，是亞捫人，他兒子亞比央〔又名亞比雅〕接續他作王。

王上15:1尼八的兒子耶羅波安王十八年，亞比央登基作猶大王。
王上15:2在耶路撒冷作王三年，他母親名叫瑪迦，是押沙龍的女兒。
王上15:3亞比央行他父親在他以前所行的一切惡，他的心不像他祖大衛的心，誠誠實實的順服耶和華他的神。
王上15:4然而耶和華他的神，因大衛的緣故，仍使他在耶路撒冷有燈光，叫他兒子接續他作王，堅立耶路撒冷。
王上15:5因為大衛，除了赫人烏利亞那件事，都是行耶和華眼中看為正的事，一生沒有違背耶和華一切所吩咐的。
王上15:6羅波安在世的日子常與耶羅波安爭戰。
王上15:7亞比央其餘的事，凡他所行的，都寫在猶大列王記上，亞比央常與耶羅波安爭戰。
王上15:8亞比央與他列祖同睡，葬在大衛的城裡，他兒子亞撒接續他作王。
王上15:9以色列王耶羅波安二十年，亞撒登基作猶大王。
王上15:10在耶路撒冷作王四十一年，他祖母名叫瑪迦，是押沙龍的女兒。
王上15:11亞撒效法他祖大衛行耶和華眼中看為正的事。
王上15:12從國中除去孌童，又除掉他列祖所造的一切偶像。
王上15:13並且貶了他祖母瑪迦太后的位，因他造了可憎的偶像亞舍拉，亞撒砍下他的偶像，燒在汲淪溪邊。
王上15:14只是邱壇還沒有廢去，亞撒一生卻向耶和華存誠實的心。
王上15:15亞撒將他父親所分別為聖，與自己所分別為聖的金銀和器皿，都奉到耶和華的殿裡。
王上15:16亞撒和以色列王巴沙在世的日子，常常爭戰。
王上15:17以色列王巴沙上來，要攻擊猶大，修築拉瑪，不許人從猶大王亞撒那裡出入。
王上15:18於是亞撒將耶和華殿，和王宮府庫裡，所剩下的金銀，都交在他臣僕手中，打發他們往住大馬色的亞蘭王，希旬的孫子，他伯利們的兒子便哈達那裡去，
王上15:19說：你父曾與我父立約，我與你也要立約，現在我將金銀送你為禮物，求你廢掉你與以色列王巴沙所立的約，使他離開我。
王上15:20便哈達聽從亞撒王的話，派軍長去攻擊以色列的城邑，他們就攻破以雲，但，亞伯伯瑪迦，基尼烈全境，拿弗他利全境。
王上15:21巴沙聽見，就停工，不修築拉瑪了，仍住在得撒。
王上15:22於是亞撒王宣告猶大眾人，不准一個推辭，吩咐他們將巴沙修築拉瑪所用的石頭，木頭，都運去，用以修築便雅憫的迦巴，和米斯巴。
王上15:23亞撒其餘的事，凡他所行的，並他的勇力，與他所建築的城邑，都寫在猶大列王記上。亞撒年老的時候，腳上有病。
王上15:24亞撒與他列祖同睡，葬在他祖大衛城，他列祖的墳地裡，他兒子約沙法接續他作王。
王上15:25猶大王亞撒第二年，耶羅波安的兒子拿答登基作以色列王共二年。
王上15:26拿答行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，行他父親所行的，犯他父親使以色列人陷在罪裡的那罪。
王上15:27以薩迦人亞希雅的兒子巴沙背叛拿答，在非利士的基比頓殺了他，那時拿答和以色列眾人正圍困基比頓。
王上15:28在猶大王亞撒第三年巴沙殺了他，篡了他的位。
王上15:29巴沙一作王，就殺了耶羅波安的全家，凡有氣息的，沒有留下一個，都滅盡了，正應驗耶和華藉他僕人示羅人亞希雅所說的話。
王上15:30這是因為耶羅波安所犯的罪，使以色列人陷在罪裡，惹動耶和華以色列神的怒氣。
王上15:31拿答其餘的事，凡他所行的，都寫在以色列諸王記上。
王上15:32亞撒和以色列王巴沙在世的日子，常常爭戰。
王上15:33猶大王亞撒第三年，亞希雅的兒子巴沙在得撒登基作以色列眾人的王，共二十四年。
王上15:34他行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，行耶羅波安所行的道，犯他使以色列人陷在罪裡的那罪。

王上16:1耶和華的話臨到哈拿尼的兒子耶戶，責備巴沙，說：
王上16:2我既從塵埃中提拔你，立你作我民以色列的君，你竟行耶羅波安所行的道，使我民以色列陷在罪裡，惹我發怒。
王上16:3我必除盡你和你的家，使你的家像尼八的兒子耶羅波安的家一樣。
王上16:4凡屬巴沙的人，死在城中的，必被狗吃，死在田野的，必被空中的鳥吃。
王上16:5巴沙其餘的事，凡他所行的，和他的勇力，都寫在以色列諸王記上。
王上16:6巴沙與他列祖同睡，葬在得撒，他兒子以拉接續他作王。
王上16:7耶和華的話臨到哈拿尼的兒子，先知耶戶，責備巴沙，和他的家，因他行耶和華眼中看為惡的一切事，以他手所作的惹耶和華發怒，像耶羅波安的家一樣，又因他殺了耶羅波安的全家。
王上16:8猶大王亞撒二十六年，巴沙的兒子以拉在得撒登基作以色列王，共二年。
王上16:9有管理他一半戰車的臣子心利背叛他，當他在得撒家宰亞雜家裡喝醉的時候，
王上16:10心利就進去殺了他，篡了他的位，這是猶大王亞撒二十七年的事。
王上16:11心利一坐王位，就殺了巴沙的全家，連他的親屬，朋友，也沒有留下一個男丁。
王上16:12心利這樣滅絕巴沙的全家，正如耶和華藉先知耶戶責備巴沙的話。
王上16:13這是因巴沙和他兒子以拉的一切罪，就是他們使以色列人陷在罪裡的那罪，以虛無的神惹耶和華以色列神的怒氣。
王上16:14以拉其餘的事，凡他所行的，都寫在以色列諸王記上。
王上16:15猶大王亞撒二十七年，心利在得撒作王七日。那時民正安營圍攻非利士的基比頓。
王上16:16民在營中聽說心利背叛，又殺了王，故此以色列眾人當日在營中立元帥暗利作以色列王。
王上16:17暗利率領以色列眾人，從基比頓上去，圍困得撒。
王上16:18心利見城破失，就進了王宮的衛所，放火焚燒宮殿，自焚而死。
王上16:19這是因他犯罪，行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，行耶羅波安所行的，犯他使以色列人陷在罪裡的那罪。
王上16:20心利其餘的事和他背叛的情形，都寫在以色列諸王記上。
王上16:21那時以色列民分為兩半，一半隨從基納的兒子提比尼，要立他作王，一半隨從暗利。
王上16:22但隨從暗利的民，勝過隨從基納的兒子提比尼的民，提比尼死了，暗利就作了王。
王上16:23猶大王亞撒三十一年，暗利登基作以色列王共十二年，在得撒作王六年。
王上16:24暗利用二他連得銀子，向撒瑪買了撒瑪利亞山，在山上造城，就按著山的原主撒瑪的名，給所造的城起名叫撒瑪利亞。
王上16:25暗利行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，比他以前的列王作惡更甚。
王上16:26因他行了尼八的兒子耶羅波安所行的，犯他使以色列人陷在罪裡的那罪，以虛無的神惹耶和華以色列神的怒氣。
王上16:27暗利其餘的事，和他所顯出的勇力，都寫在以色列諸王記上。
王上16:28暗利與他列祖同睡，葬在撒瑪利亞，他兒子亞哈接續他作王。
王上16:29猶大王亞撒三十八年，暗利的兒子亞哈登基，作了以色列王，暗利的兒子亞哈，在撒瑪利亞作以色列王二十二年。
王上16:30暗利的兒子亞哈，行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，比他以前的列王更甚，
王上16:31犯了尼八的兒子耶羅波安所犯的罪，他還以為輕，又娶了西頓王謁巴力的女兒耶洗別為妻，去事奉敬拜巴力。
王上16:32在撒瑪利亞建造巴力的廟，在廟裡為巴力築壇。
王上16:33亞哈又作亞舍拉，他所行的，惹耶和華以色列神的怒氣，比他以前的以色列諸王更甚。
王上16:34亞哈在位的時候，有伯特利人希伊勒重修耶利哥城，立根基的時候，喪了長子亞比蘭，安門的時候，喪了幼子西割，正如耶和華藉嫩的兒子約書亞所說的話。

 

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 Apr 6,2019-The Journey of Grace (96/365) 1Kings  13:1~16:34

  

 

1 Kings 13 

The Man of God From Judah

13 By the word of the Lord a man of God came from Judah to Bethel, as Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make an offering. 2 By the word of the Lord he cried out against the altar: “Altar, altar! This is what the Lord says: ‘A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who make offerings here, and human bones will be burned on you.’” 3 That same day the man of God gave a sign: “This is the sign the Lord has declared: The altar will be split apart and the ashes on it will be poured out.”

4 When King Jeroboam heard what the man of God cried out against the altar at Bethel, he stretched out his hand from the altar and said, “Seize him!” But the hand he stretched out toward the man shriveled up, so that he could not pull it back. 5 Also, the altar was split apart and its ashes poured out according to the sign given by the man of God by the word of the Lord.

6 Then the king said to the man of God, “Intercede with the Lord your God and pray for me that my hand may be restored.” So the man of God interceded with the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored and became as it was before.

7 The king said to the man of God, “Come home with me for a meal, and I will give you a gift.”

8 But the man of God answered the king, “Even if you were to give me half your possessions, I would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water here. 9 For I was commanded by the word of the Lord: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water or return by the way you came.’” 10 So he took another road and did not return by the way he had come to Bethel.

11 Now there was a certain old prophet living in Bethel, whose sons came and told him all that the man of God had done there that day. They also told their father what he had said to the king. 12 Their father asked them, “Which way did he go?” And his sons showed him which road the man of God from Judah had taken. 13 So he said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” And when they had saddled the donkey for him, he mounted it 14 and rode after the man of God. He found him sitting under an oak tree and asked, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?”

“I am,” he replied.

15 So the prophet said to him, “Come home with me and eat.”

16 The man of God said, “I cannot turn back and go with you, nor can I eat bread or drink water with you in this place. 17 I have been told by the word of the Lord: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way you came.’”

18 The old prophet answered, “I too am a prophet, as you are. And an angel said to me by the word of the Lord: ‘Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water.’” (But he was lying to him.) 19 So the man of God returned with him and ate and drank in his house.

20 While they were sitting at the table, the word of the Lord came to the old prophet who had brought him back. 21 He cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You have defied the word of the Lord and have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. 22 You came back and ate bread and drank water in the place where he told you not to eat or drink. Therefore your body will not be buried in the tomb of your ancestors.’”

23 When the man of God had finished eating and drinking, the prophet who had brought him back saddled his donkey for him. 24 As he went on his way, a lion met him on the road and killed him, and his body was left lying on the road, with both the donkey and the lion standing beside it. 25 Some people who passed by saw the body lying there, with the lion standing beside the body, and they went and reported it in the city where the old prophet lived.

26 When the prophet who had brought him back from his journey heard of it, he said, “It is the man of God who defied the word of the Lord. The Lord has given him over to the lion, which has mauled him and killed him, as the word of the Lord had warned him.”

27 The prophet said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me,” and they did so. 28 Then he went out and found the body lying on the road, with the donkey and the lion standing beside it. The lion had neither eaten the body nor mauled the donkey. 29 So the prophet picked up the body of the man of God, laid it on the donkey, and brought it back to his own city to mourn for him and bury him. 30 Then he laid the body in his own tomb, and they mourned over him and said, “Alas, my brother!”

31 After burying him, he said to his sons, “When I die, bury me in the grave where the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones. 32 For the message he declared by the word of the Lord against the altar in Bethel and against all the shrines on the high places in the towns of Samaria will certainly come true.”

33 Even after this, Jeroboam did not change his evil ways, but once more appointed priests for the high places from all sorts of people. Anyone who wanted to become a priest he consecrated for the high places. 34 This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to its downfall and to its destruction from the face of the earth.

1 Kings 14

Ahijah’s Prophecy Against Jeroboam

14 At that time Abijah son of Jeroboam became ill, 2 and Jeroboam said to his wife, “Go, disguise yourself, so you won’t be recognized as the wife of Jeroboam. Then go to Shiloh. Ahijah the prophet is there—the one who told me I would be king over this people. 3 Take ten loaves of bread with you, some cakes and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what will happen to the boy.” 4 So Jeroboam’s wife did what he said and went to Ahijah’s house in Shiloh.

Now Ahijah could not see; his sight was gone because of his age. 5 But the Lord had told Ahijah, “Jeroboam’s wife is coming to ask you about her son, for he is ill, and you are to give her such and such an answer. When she arrives, she will pretend to be someone else.”

6 So when Ahijah heard the sound of her footsteps at the door, he said, “Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why this pretense? I have been sent to you with bad news. 7 Go, tell Jeroboam that this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I raised you up from among the people and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. 8 I tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, but you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commands and followed me with all his heart, doing only what was right in my eyes. 9 You have done more evil than all who lived before you. You have made for yourself other gods, idols made of metal; you have aroused my anger and turned your back on me.

10 “‘Because of this, I am going to bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam. I will cut off from Jeroboam every last male in Israel—slave or free.[a] I will burn up the house of Jeroboam as one burns dung, until it is all gone. 11 Dogs will eat those belonging to Jeroboam who die in the city, and the birds will feed on those who die in the country. The Lord has spoken!’

12 “As for you, go back home. When you set foot in your city, the boy will die. 13 All Israel will mourn for him and bury him. He is the only one belonging to Jeroboam who will be buried, because he is the only one in the house of Jeroboam in whom the Lord, the God of Israel, has found anything good.

14 “The Lord will raise up for himself a king over Israel who will cut off the family of Jeroboam. Even now this is beginning to happen.[b] 15 And the Lord will strike Israel, so that it will be like a reed swaying in the water. He will uproot Israel from this good land that he gave to their ancestors and scatter them beyond the Euphrates River, because they aroused the Lord’s anger by making Asherah poles.[c] 16 And he will give Israel up because of the sins Jeroboam has committed and has caused Israel to commit.”

17 Then Jeroboam’s wife got up and left and went to Tirzah. As soon as she stepped over the threshold of the house, the boy died. 18 They buried him, and all Israel mourned for him, as the Lord had said through his servant the prophet Ahijah.

19 The other events of Jeroboam’s reign, his wars and how he ruled, are written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel. 20 He reigned for twenty-two years and then rested with his ancestors. And Nadab his son succeeded him as king.

Rehoboam King of Judah
21 Rehoboam son of Solomon was king in Judah. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel in which to put his Name. His mother’s name was Naamah; she was an Ammonite.

22 Judah did evil in the eyes of the Lord. By the sins they committed they stirred up his jealous anger more than those who were before them had done. 23 They also set up for themselves high places, sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. 24 There were even male shrine prostitutes in the land; the people engaged in all the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites.

25 In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. 26 He carried off the treasures of the temple of the Lord and the treasures of the royal palace. He took everything, including all the gold shields Solomon had made. 27 So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and assigned these to the commanders of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace. 28 Whenever the king went to the Lord’s temple, the guards bore the shields, and afterward they returned them to the guardroom.

29 As for the other events of Rehoboam’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 30 There was continual warfare between Rehoboam and Jeroboam. 31 And Rehoboam rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David. His mother’s name was Naamah; she was an Ammonite. And Abijah[d] his son succeeded him as king.

 

1 Kings 15 

Abijah King of Judah

15 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijah[a] became king of Judah, 2 and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother’s name was Maakah daughter of Abishalom.[b]

3 He committed all the sins his father had done before him; his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his forefather had been. 4 Nevertheless, for David’s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong. 5 For David had done what was right in the eyes of the Lord and had not failed to keep any of the Lord’s commands all the days of his life—except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.

6 There was war between Abijah[c] and Jeroboam throughout Abijah’s lifetime. 7 As for the other events of Abijah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. 8 And Abijah rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. And Asa his son succeeded him as king.

Asa King of Judah

9 In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa became king of Judah, 10 and he reigned in Jerusalem forty-one years. His grandmother’s name was Maakah daughter of Abishalom.

11 Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David had done. 12 He expelled the male shrine prostitutes from the land and got rid of all the idols his ancestors had made. 13 He even deposed his grandmother Maakah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a repulsive image for the worship of Asherah. Asa cut it down and burned it in the Kidron Valley. 14 Although he did not remove the high places, Asa’s heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life. 15 He brought into the temple of the Lord the silver and gold and the articles that he and his father had dedicated.

16 There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their reigns. 17 Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.

18 Asa then took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and of his own palace. He entrusted it to his officials and sent them to Ben-Hadad son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, the king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus. 19 “Let there be a treaty between me and you,” he said, “as there was between my father and your father. See, I am sending you a gift of silver and gold. Now break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so he will withdraw from me.”

20 Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa and sent the commanders of his forces against the towns of Israel. He conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maakah and all Kinnereth in addition to Naphtali. 21 When Baasha heard this, he stopped building Ramah and withdrew to Tirzah. 22 Then King Asa issued an order to all Judah—no one was exempt—and they carried away from Ramah the stones and timber Baasha had been using there. With them King Asa built up Geba in Benjamin, and also Mizpah.

23 As for all the other events of Asa’s reign, all his achievements, all he did and the cities he built, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? In his old age, however, his feet became diseased. 24 Then Asa rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of his father David. And Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king.

Nadab King of Israel
25 Nadab son of Jeroboam became king of Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. 26 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the ways of his father and committing the same sin his father had caused Israel to commit.

27 Baasha son of Ahijah from the tribe of Issachar plotted against him, and he struck him down at Gibbethon, a Philistine town, while Nadab and all Israel were besieging it. 28 Baasha killed Nadab in the third year of Asa king of Judah and succeeded him as king.

29 As soon as he began to reign, he killed Jeroboam’s whole family. He did not leave Jeroboam anyone that breathed, but destroyed them all, according to the word of the Lord given through his servant Ahijah the Shilonite. 30 This happened because of the sins Jeroboam had committed and had caused Israel to commit, and because he aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel.

31 As for the other events of Nadab’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 32 There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their reigns.

Baasha King of Israel
33 In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah became king of all Israel in Tirzah, and he reigned twenty-four years. 34 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the ways of Jeroboam and committing the same sin Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.

 

1 Kings 16 

16 Then the word of the Lord came to Jehu son of Hanani concerning Baasha: 2 “I lifted you up from the dust and appointed you ruler over my people Israel, but you followed the ways of Jeroboam and caused my people Israel to sin and to arouse my anger by their sins. 3 So I am about to wipe out Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat. 4 Dogs will eat those belonging to Baasha who die in the city, and birds will feed on those who die in the country.”

5 As for the other events of Baasha’s reign, what he did and his achievements, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 6 Baasha rested with his ancestors and was buried in Tirzah. And Elah his son succeeded him as king.

7 Moreover, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Jehu son of Hanani to Baasha and his house, because of all the evil he had done in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger by the things he did, becoming like the house of Jeroboam—and also because he destroyed it.

Elah King of Israel

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

9 Zimri, one of his officials, who had command of half his chariots, plotted against him. Elah was in Tirzah at the time, getting drunk in the home of Arza, the palace administrator at Tirzah. 10 Zimri came in, struck him down and killed him in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah. Then he succeeded him as king.

11 As soon as he began to reign and was seated on the throne, he killed off Baasha’s whole family. He did not spare a single male, whether relative or friend. 12 So Zimri destroyed the whole family of Baasha, in accordance with the word of the Lord spoken against Baasha through the prophet Jehu— 13 because of all the sins Baasha and his son Elah had committed and had caused Israel to commit, so that they aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, by their worthless idols.

14 As for the other events of Elah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?

Zimri King of Israel

15 In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned in Tirzah seven days. The army was encamped near Gibbethon, a Philistine town. 16 When the Israelites in the camp heard that Zimri had plotted against the king and murdered him, they proclaimed Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that very day there in the camp. 17 Then Omri and all the Israelites with him withdrew from Gibbethon and laid siege to Tirzah. 18 When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the royal palace and set the palace on fire around him. So he died, 19 because of the sins he had committed, doing evil in the eyes of the Lord and following the ways of Jeroboam and committing the same sin Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.

20 As for the other events of Zimri’s reign, and the rebellion he carried out, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?

Omri King of Israel

21 Then the people of Israel were split into two factions; half supported Tibni son of Ginath for king, and the other half supported Omri. 22 But Omri’s followers proved stronger than those of Tibni son of Ginath. So Tibni died and Omri became king.

23 In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned twelve years, six of them in Tirzah. 24 He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents[a] of silver and built a city on the hill, calling it Samaria, after Shemer, the name of the former owner of the hill.

25 But Omri did evil in the eyes of the Lord and sinned more than all those before him. 26 He followed completely the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat, committing the same sin Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit, so that they aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, by their worthless idols.

27 As for the other events of Omri’s reign, what he did and the things he achieved, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 28 Omri rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. And Ahab his son succeeded him as king.

Ahab Becomes King of Israel

29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. 30 Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. 31 He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. 32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him.