Hadad, who was only a small boy at the time, escaped with some of his father’s Edomite servants and headed for Egypt.

Jeroboam was a talented man; when Solomon saw that the young man was an accomplished worker, he made him the leader of the work crew from the tribe of Joseph.

But Rehoboam rejected their advice and consulted the young advisers who served him, with whom he had grown up.

All Israel buried him and mourned for him, just as the Lord had predicted through his servant the prophet Ahijah.

Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord. They made him more jealous by their sins than their ancestors had done.

They marched out at noon, while Ben Hadad and the thirty-two kings allied with him were drinking heavily in their quarters.

The prophet quickly removed the bandage from his eyes and the king of Israel recognized he was one of the prophets.

(There had never been anyone like Ahab, who was firmly committed to doing evil in the sight of the Lord, urged on by his wife Jezebel.

She told her mistress, “If only my master were in the presence of the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his skin disease.”

When you arrive there, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi and take him aside into an inner room.

Jehoiada led out the king’s son and placed on him the crown and the royal insignia. They proclaimed him king and poured olive oil on his head. They clapped their hands and cried out, “Long live the king!”

All the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in his father Amaziah’s place.

Azariah passed away and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David. His son Jotham replaced him as king.

Pul king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem paid him a thousand talents of silver to gain his support and to solidify his control of the kingdom.

The people were silent and did not respond, for the king had ordered, “Don’t respond to him.”

But the Babylonian army chased after the king. They caught up with him in the plains of Jericho, and his entire army deserted him.

They brought the ark of God and put it in the middle of the tent David had pitched for it. Then they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God.

But Rehoboam rejected their advice and consulted the young advisers who served him, with whom he had grown up.

Jehoiada and his sons led out the king’s son and placed on him the crown and the royal insignia. They proclaimed him king and poured olive oil on his head. They declared, “Long live the king!”

All the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in his father Amaziah’s place.