Then a spirit<n id="1" /> stepped forward and stood before the <sc>Lordsc>. He said, &#8216;I will deceive him.&#8217; The <sc>Lordsc> asked him, &#8216;How?&#8217;

They said to him, &#8220;If you are fair to these people, grant their request, and are cordial to them, they will be your servants from this time forward.&#8221;<n id="1" />

The king said to him, &#8220;How many times must I make you solemnly promise in<n id="1" /> the name of the <sc>Lordsc> to tell me only the truth?&#8221;

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" />

So Amaziah dismissed the troops that had come to him from Ephraim and sent them home.<n id="1" /> They were very angry at Judah and returned home incensed.

<t /><p class="bodytext">After these faithful deeds were accomplished, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. He besieged the fortified cities, intending to seize them.<n id="1" />

<p class="bodytext">He appointed military officers over the army<n id="1" /> and assembled them in the square at the city gate. He encouraged them,<n id="2" /> saying,

When he prayed to the <sc>Lordsc>,<n id="1" /> the <sc>Lordsc><n id="2" /> responded to him<n id="3" /> and answered favorably<n id="4" /> his cry for mercy. The <sc>Lordsc><n id="5" /> brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh realized that the <sc>Lordsc> is the true God.p>

Say this to the king of Judah, who sent you to seek an oracle from the <sc>Lordsc>: &#8220;This is what the <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel says concerning the words you have heard:

<p class="bodytext">At that time Hanani the prophet<n id="1" /> visited King Asa of Judah and said to him: &#8220;Because you relied on the king of Syria and did not rely on the <sc>Lordsc> your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand.

Certainly<n id="1" /> the <sc>Lordsc> watches the whole earth carefully<n id="2" /> and is ready to strengthen those who are devoted to him.<n id="3" /> You have acted foolishly in this matter; from now on you will have war.

Now the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, &#8220;Look, the prophets are in complete agreement that the king will succeed.<n id="1" /> Your words must agree with theirs; you must predict success!&#8221;<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">Micaiah<n id="1" /> came before the king and the king asked him, &#8220;Micaiah, should we attack Ramoth Gilead or not?&#8221; He answered him, &#8220;Attack! You will succeed; they will be handed over to you.&#8221;<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">Jehoram<n id="1" /> received this letter from Elijah the prophet: &#8220;This is what the <sc>Lordsc> God of your ancestor David says: &#8216;You<n id="2" /> have not followed in the footsteps<n id="3" /> of your father Jehoshaphat and of<n id="4" /> King Asa of Judah,

<p class="bodytext">But a prophet<n id="1" /> visited him and said: &#8220;O king, the Israelite troops must not go with you, for the <sc>Lordsc> is not with Israel or any of the Ephraimites.<n id="2" />

The <sc>Lordsc> was angry at Amaziah and sent a prophet to him, who said, &#8220;Why are you following<n id="1" /> these gods<n id="2" /> that could not deliver their own people from your power?&#8221;<n id="3" />

While he was speaking, Amaziah<n id="1" /> said to him, &#8220;Did we appoint you to be a royal counselor? Stop prophesying or else you will be killed!&#8221;<n id="2" /> So the prophet stopped, but added, &#8220;I know that the <sc>Lordsc> has decided<n id="3" /> to destroy you, because you have done this thing and refused to listen to my advice.&#8221;p>

When Azariah the high priest and the other priests looked at<n id="1" /> him, there was a skin disease on his forehead. They hurried him out of there; even the king<n id="2" /> himself wanted to leave quickly because the <sc>Lordsc> had afflicted him.

For if you return to the <sc>Lordsc>, your brothers and sons will be shown mercy by their captors and return to this land. The <sc>Lordsc> your God is merciful and compassionate; he will not reject you<n id="1" /> if you return to him.&#8221;p>

Azariah, the head priest from the family of Zadok, said to him, &#8220;Since the contributions began arriving in the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple, we have had plenty to eat and have a large quantity left over. For the <sc>Lordsc> has blessed his people, and this large amount remains.&#8221;