He will build me a house, and I will make his dynasty permanent.

He placed garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. The Lord protected David wherever he campaigned.

Obed-Edom was assigned the south gate, and his sons were assigned the storehouses.

At the court on the west there were four posted on the road and two at the court.

Realize now that the Lord has chosen you to build a temple as his sanctuary. Be strong and do it!”

O Lord, I have built a lofty temple for you, a place where you can live permanently.”

“Now, my God, may you be attentive and responsive to the prayers offered in this place.

He made upper Beth Horon and lower Beth Horon fortified cities with walls and barred gates,

The Lord made his kingdom secure; all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he became very wealthy and greatly respected.

These were the ones who served the king, besides those whom the king placed in the fortified cities throughout Judah.

Jehoshaphat was very wealthy and greatly respected. He made an alliance by marriage with Ahab,

The king, his officials, and the entire assembly in Jerusalem decided to observe the Passover in the second month.

Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter concerning Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows:

So we fasted and prayed to our God about this, and he answered us.

Get up, for this matter concerns you. We are with you, so be strong and act decisively!”

A proclamation was circulated throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles were to be assembled in Jerusalem.

Should we then in your case hear that you do all this great evil, thereby being unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign wives?”

Now when the young women were being gathered again, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate.

When Haman saw that Mordecai was not bowing or paying homage to him, he was filled with rage.

So they hanged Haman on the very gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. The king’s rage then abated.