Solomon went to Hamath Zobah and seized it.

You must serve me as your father David did. Do everything I commanded and obey my rules and regulations.

He followed in the footsteps of the kings of Israel; he also made images of the Baals.

Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber and to Elat on the coast in the land of Edom.

Rehoboam traveled to Shechem, for all Israel had gathered in Shechem to make Rehoboam king.

He said to them, “Go away for three days, then return to me.” So the people went away.

but instead sought the God of his ancestors and obeyed his commands, unlike the Israelites.

Jehoshaphat’s power kept increasing. He built fortresses and storage cities throughout Judah.

He followed in his father Asa’s footsteps and was careful to do what the Lord approved.

They agreed to make large seagoing merchant ships; they built the ships in Ezion Geber.

He followed in the footsteps of Ahab’s dynasty, for his mother gave him evil advice.

He did what the Lord approved and followed in his ancestor David’s footsteps; he did not deviate to the right or the left.

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked him, bound him with bronze chains, and carried him away to Babylon.

He followed their advice and joined Ahab’s son King Joram of Israel in a battle against King Hazael of Syria at Ramoth Gilead in which the Syrians defeated Joram.

and prayed: “O Lord God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven or on earth! You maintain covenantal loyalty to your servants who obey you with sincerity.

Then they will honor you by obeying you throughout their lifetimes as they live on the land you gave to our ancestors.

“But if you people ever turn away from me, fail to obey the regulations and rules I instructed you to keep, and decide to serve and worship other gods,

The Levites even left their pasturelands and their property behind and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons prohibited them from serving as the Lord’s priests.

They supported the kingdom of Judah and were loyal to Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years; they followed the edicts of David and Solomon for three years.

The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed in his ancestor David’s footsteps at the beginning of his reign. He did not seek the Baals,