Now my father David had a strong desire to build a temple to honor the Lord God of Israel.

He stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire assembly of Israel and spread out his hands.

Now, O Lord God of Israel, may the promise you made to your servant David be realized.

O Lord God, do not reject your chosen ones! Remember the faithful promises you made to your servant David!”

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

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

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

The men of Judah turned around and realized they were being attacked from the front and the rear. So they cried out for help to the Lord. The priests blew their trumpets,

Jeroboam did not regain power during the reign of Abijah. The Lord struck him down and he died.

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

Because of their distress, they turned back to the Lord God of Israel. They sought him and he responded to them.

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

He was committed to following the Lord; he even removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.

They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the scroll of the law of the Lord. They traveled to all the cities of Judah and taught the people.

and Amasiah son of Zikri, who volunteered to serve the Lord, led 200,000 skilled warriors.

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?”

But Micaiah said, “As certainly as the Lord lives, I will say what my God tells me to say!”

He commanded them: “Carry out your duties with respect for the Lord, with honesty, and with pure motives.

Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he decided to seek the Lord’s advice. He decreed that all Judah should observe a fast.