He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal he had built in Samaria.

Obadiah said, “What sin have I committed that you are ready to hand your servant over to Ahab for execution?

When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is it really you, the one who brings disaster on Israel?”

He said to him, “This is what Ben Hadad says, ‘Your silver and your gold are mine, as well as the best of your wives and sons.’”

He ordered, “Whether they come in peace or to do battle, take them alive.”

He worshiped and bowed down to Baal, angering the Lord God of Israel just as his father had done.

When the messengers returned to the king, he asked them, “Why have you returned?”

He said to his father, “My head! My head!” His father told a servant, “Carry him to his mother.”

She said, “Did I ask my master for a son? Didn’t I say, ‘Don’t mislead me?’”

She came in, fell at his feet, and bowed down. Then she picked up her son and left.

But when they went to bury her, they found nothing left but the skull, feet, and palms of the hands.

In those days the Lord began to reduce the size of Israel’s territory. Hazael attacked their eastern border.

But the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places.

Jeroboam passed away and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. His son Zechariah replaced him as king.

King Shalmaneser of Assyria threatened him; Hoshea became his subject and paid him tribute.

When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and went to the Lord’s temple.

Certainly you have heard how the kings of Assyria have annihilated all lands. Do you really think you will be rescued?

He followed in the footsteps of his father and worshiped and bowed down to the disgusting idols which his father had worshiped.

He abandoned the Lord God of his ancestors and did not follow the Lord’s instructions.

Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll.” Shaphan read it out loud before the king.