He placed troops in all of Judah’s fortified cities and posted garrisons throughout the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had seized.

(2:1) Solomon had 70,000 common laborers and 80,000 stonecutters in the hills, in addition to 3,600 supervisors.

All the men of Israel assembled before the king during the festival in the seventh month.

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

In the most holy place he made two images of cherubim and plated them with gold.

Now I will be attentive and responsive to the prayers offered in this place.

(Rehoboam continued to rule over the Israelites who lived in the cities of Judah.)

Asa passed away in the forty-first year of his reign.

Hezekiah ordered that storerooms be prepared in the Lord’s temple. When this was done,

So Israel has been in rebellion against the Davidic dynasty to this very day.

‘If disaster comes on us in the form of military attack, judgment, plague, or famine, we will stand in front of this temple before you, for you are present in this temple. We will cry out to you for help in our distress, so that you will hear and deliver us.’

Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he lives in thick darkness.

Azariah the priest and eighty other brave priests of the Lord followed him in.

Then Rehoboam passed away and was buried in the City of David. His son Abijah replaced him as king.

Jotham passed away and was buried in the City of David. His son Ahaz replaced him as king.

Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the Lord his God.

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

Jeremiah composed laments for Josiah which all the male and female singers use to mourn Josiah to this very day. It has become customary in Israel to sing these; they are recorded in the Book of Laments.

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

and Asa went out to oppose him. They deployed for battle in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.