The Lord has kept the promise he made. I have taken my father David’s place and have occupied the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised. I have built this temple for the honor of the Lord God of Israel

Jehoiada then assigned the duties of the Lord’s temple to the priests, the Levites whom David had assigned to the Lord’s temple. They were responsible for offering burnt sacrifices to the Lord with joy and music, according to ¹  the law of Moses and the edict of David.

The king and Jehoiada gave it to the construction foremen ¹  assigned to the Lord’s temple. They hired carpenters and craftsmen to repair the Lord’s temple, as well as those skilled in working with iron and bronze to restore the Lord’s temple.

The priests then entered the Lord’s temple to purify it; they brought out to the courtyard of the Lord’s temple every ceremonially unclean thing they discovered inside. ¹  The Levites took them out to the Kidron Valley.

“Go, seek an oracle from ¹  the Lord for me and those who remain in Israel and Judah. Find out about ²  the words of this scroll that has been discovered. For the Lord’s fury has been ignited against us, ³  because our ancestors ⁴  have not obeyed the word of the Lord by doing all that this scroll instructs!” ⁵ 

Solomon son of David solidified his royal authority, ¹  for ²  the Lord his God was with him and magnified him greatly.

(1:18) ¹  Solomon ordered a temple to be built to honor the Lord, as well as a royal palace for himself. ² 

Now my father David had a strong desire to build a temple to honor the Lord God of Israel. ¹ 

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. ¹ 

O Lord God, do not reject your chosen ones! ¹  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. ¹ 

The men of Judah turned around and realized they were being attacked from the front and the rear. ¹  So they cried out for help to the Lord. The priests blew their trumpets,

Jeroboam did not regain power during the reign of Abijah. ¹  The Lord struck him down and he died.

He ordered Judah to seek the Lord God of their ancestors ¹  and to observe his law and commands. ² 

Because of their distress, they turned back to the Lord God of Israel. They sought him and he responded to them. ¹ 

They solemnly agreed ¹  to seek the Lord God of their ancestors ²  with their whole heart and being.

He was committed to following the Lord; ¹  he even removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.