<p class="bodytext">The <sc>Lordsc> confronted<n id="1" /> Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention.

<t /><p class="bodytext">Solomon son of David solidified his royal authority,<n id="1" /> for<n id="2" /> the <sc>Lordsc> his God was with him and magnified him greatly.p>

<p class="bodytext">After Rehoboam&#8217;s rule was established and solidified, he and all Israel rejected the law of the <sc>Lordsc>.

They agreed<n id="1" /> to make large seagoing merchant ships;<n id="2" /> they built the ships in Ezion Geber.

When Hezekiah and the officials came and saw the heaps, they praised the <sc>Lordsc> and pronounced blessings on his people Israel.<n id="1" />p>

It read: &#8220;This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: &#8216;The <sc>Lordsc> God of the heavens has given to me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build for him a temple in Jerusalem<n id="1" /> in Judah. May the <sc>Lordsc> your God energize you who belong to his people, so you may be able to go back there!&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

<p class="bodytext">King Huram<n id="1" /> of Tyre sent this letter to Solomon: &#8220;Because the <sc>Lordsc> loves his people, he has made you their king.&#8221;

He had 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horsemen, and an innumerable number of soldiers who accompanied him from Egypt, including Libyans, Sukkites, and Cushites.

<p class="bodytext">He built fortified cities throughout Judah, for the land was at rest and there was no war during those years; the <sc>Lordsc> gave him peace.

Asa was so angry at the prophet, he put him in jail.<n id="1" /> Asa also oppressed some of the people at that time.p>

Jehoram crossed over to Zair with his officers and all his chariots. The Edomites, who had surrounded him, attacked at night and defeated him and his chariot officers.<n id="1" />

King Joash disregarded<n id="1" /> the loyalty his father Jehoiada had shown him and killed Jehoiada&#8217;s<n id="2" /> son. As Zechariah<n id="3" /> was dying, he said, &#8220;May the <sc>Lordsc> take notice and seek vengeance!&#8221;<n id="4" />p>

Amaziah boldly led his army to the Valley of Salt,<n id="1" /> where he defeated<n id="2" /> 10,000 Edomites.<n id="3" />

&#8220;Be strong and brave! Don&#8217;t be afraid and don&#8217;t panic<n id="1" /> because of the king of Assyria and this huge army that is with him! We have with us one who is stronger than those who are with him.<n id="2" />

He has with him mere human strength,<n id="1" /> but the <sc>Lordsc> our God is with us to help us and fight our battles!&#8221; The army<n id="2" /> was encouraged by the words of King Hezekiah of Judah.p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">The <sc>Lordsc> God of their ancestors<n id="1" /> continually warned them through his messengers,<n id="2" /> for he felt compassion for his people and his dwelling place.

Solomon and the entire assembly went to the worship center<n id="1" /> in Gibeon, for the tent where they met God<n id="2" /> was located there, which Moses the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s servant had made in the wilderness.

At that time Solomon and all Israel with him celebrated a festival for seven days. This great assembly included people from Lebo Hamath in the north to the Brook of Egypt in the south.<n id="1" />

On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, Solomon<n id="1" /> sent the people home. They left<n id="2" /> happy and contented<n id="3" /> because of the good the <sc>Lordsc> had done for David, Solomon, and his people Israel.p>

Abijah launched the attack with 400,000 well-trained warriors,<n id="1" /> while Jeroboam deployed against him 800,000 well-trained warriors.<n id="2" />p>