If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem, their loyalty could shift to their former master, King Rehoboam of Judah. They might kill me and return to King Rehoboam of Judah.”

“I raised you up from the dust and made you ruler over my people Israel. Yet you followed in Jeroboam’s footsteps and encouraged my people Israel to sin; their sins have made me angry.

Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long are you going to be paralyzed by indecision? If the Lord is the true God, then follow him, but if Baal is, follow him!” But the people did not say a word.

Then he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to attack Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I will support you; my army and horses are at your disposal.”

Now the people were offering sacrifices at the high places, because in those days a temple had not yet been built to honor the Lord.

People from all nations came to hear Solomon’s display of wisdom; they came from all the kings of the earth who heard about his wisdom.

besides 3,300 officials who supervised the workers.

“The time will come when your people Israel are defeated by an enemy because they sinned against you. If they come back to you, renew their allegiance to you, and pray for your help in this temple,

then listen from heaven, forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land you gave to their ancestors.

“Foreigners, who do not belong to your people Israel, will come from a distant land because of your reputation.

Forgive all the rebellious acts of your sinful people and cause their captors to have mercy on them.

“May you be attentive to your servant’s and your people Israel’s requests for help and may you respond to all their prayers to you.

Now several non-Israelite peoples were left in the land after the conquest of Joshua, including the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

These men were also in charge of Solomon’s work projects; there were a total of 550 men who supervised the workers.

Jeroboam and all the people reported to Rehoboam on the third day, just as the king had ordered when he said, “Return to me on the third day.”

“Say this to King Rehoboam son of Solomon of Judah, and to all Judah and Benjamin, as well as the rest of the people,

He built temples on the high places and appointed as priests people who were not Levites.

In the twenty-seventh year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Zimri became king over Israel; he ruled for seven days in Tirzah. Zimri’s revolt took place while the army was deployed in Gibbethon, which was in Philistine territory.

Elijah said to them: “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but there are 450 prophets of Baal.

Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are the true God and that you are winning back their allegiance.”