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

They sent for him and Jeroboam and all Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying,

In each city there were shields and spears; he strongly fortified them. Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.

After Rehoboam’s rule was established and solidified, he and all Israel rejected the law of the Lord.

He removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. The kingdom had rest under his rule.

One nation was crushed by another, and one city by another, for God caused them to be in great turmoil.

The high places were not eliminated from Israel, yet Asa was wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord throughout his lifetime.

They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the scroll of the law of the Lord. They traveled to all the cities of Judah and taught the people.

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

He appointed judges throughout the land and in each of the fortified cities of Judah.

Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he decided to seek the Lord’s advice. He decreed that all Judah should observe a fast.

The people of Judah assembled to ask for the Lord’s help; they came from all the cities of Judah to ask for the Lord’s help.

All the men of Judah were standing before the Lord, along with their infants, wives, and children.

So look, the Lord is about to severely afflict your people, your sons, your wives, and all you own.

After all this happened, the Lord afflicted him with an incurable intestinal disease.

Another third of you will be stationed at the royal palace and still another third at the Foundation Gate. All the others will stand in the courtyards of the Lord’s temple.

Jehoiada then drew up a covenant stipulating that he, all the people, and the king should be loyal to the Lord.

He posted guards at the gates of the Lord’s temple, so no one who was ceremonially unclean in any way could enter.

All the people of the land celebrated, for the city had rest now that they had killed Athaliah.

Joash did what the Lord approved throughout the lifetime of Jehoiada the priest.