He fortified these cities and placed officers in them, as well as storehouses of food, olive oil, and wine.

Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as the leader over his brothers, for he intended to name him his successor.

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

He captured the fortified cities of Judah and marched against Jerusalem.

He did evil because he was not determined to follow the Lord.

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.

He ordered Judah to seek the Lord God of their ancestors and to observe his law and commands.

The Lord struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled,

They solemnly agreed to seek the Lord God of their ancestors with their whole heart and being.

He brought the holy items that his father and he had made into God’s temple, including the silver, gold, and other articles.

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

Then Jehoshaphat added, “First seek an oracle from the Lord.”

But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not a prophet of the Lord still here, that we may ask him?”

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.

The Lord stirred up against Jehoram the Philistines and the Arabs who lived beside the Cushites.

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

Joash was determined to repair the Lord’s temple.

His body was carried back by horses, and he was buried in Jerusalem with his ancestors in the City of David.

Uzziah built up Elat and restored it to Judah after King Amaziah had passed away.