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

After twenty years, during which Solomon built the Lord’s temple and his royal palace,

He ruled all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines as far as the border of Egypt.

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.

Yet they will become his subjects, so they can experience how serving me differs from serving the surrounding nations.”

Now Jeroboam had sent some men to ambush the Judahite army from behind. The main army was in front of the Judahite army; the ambushers were behind it.

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

There was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.

When Baasha heard the news, he stopped fortifying Ramah and abandoned the project.

Jehoshaphat’s power kept increasing. He built fortresses and storage cities throughout Judah.

He had many supplies stored in the cities of Judah and an army of skilled warriors stationed in Jerusalem.

Later the Moabites and Ammonites, along with some of the Meunites, attacked Jehoshaphat.

He followed in the footsteps of Ahab’s dynasty, for his mother gave him evil advice.

He remained in hiding in God’s temple for six years, while Athaliah was ruling over the land.

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

When he had secured control of the kingdom, he executed the servants who had assassinated his father.

He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem.

Hezekiah and all the people were happy about what God had done for them, for it had been done quickly.

He built altars in the Lord’s temple, about which the Lord had said, “Jerusalem will be my permanent home.”