Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber and to Elat on the coast in the land of Edom.

She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your wise sayings and insight was true!

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

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

The king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Quickly bring Micaiah son of Imlah.”

Then a spirit stepped forward and stood before the Lord. He said, ‘I will deceive him.’ The Lord asked him, ‘How?’

The king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah attacked Ramoth Gilead.

They seized her and took her into the precincts of the royal palace through the horses’ entrance. There they executed her.

After Jehoiada died, the officials of Judah visited the king and declared their loyalty to him. The king listened to their advice.

The Lord sent prophets among them to lead them back to him. They warned the people, but they would not pay attention.

They talked about the God of Jerusalem as if he were one of the man-made gods of the nations of the earth.

The king responded, “What is it you are seeking?” Then I quickly prayed to the God of heaven

So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard to protect against them both day and night.

They contacted me four times in this way, and I responded the same way each time.

The fifth time that Sanballat sent his assistant to me in this way, he had an open letter in his hand.

“But they – our ancestors – behaved presumptuously; they rebelled and did not obey your commandments.

You multiplied their descendants like the stars of the sky. You brought them to the land you had told their ancestors to enter in order to possess.

But Haman restrained himself and went on to his home. He then sent for his friends to join him, along with his wife Zeresh.

The king’s attendants said to him, “It is Haman who is standing in the courtyard.” The king said, “Let him enter.”

So Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king wishes to honor,