The <sc>Lordsc> has kept the promise he made. I have taken my father David&#8217;s place and have occupied the throne of Israel, as the <sc>Lordsc> promised. I have built this temple for the honor of the <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel

Jehoiada then assigned the duties of the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple to the priests, the Levites whom David had assigned to the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple. They were responsible for offering burnt sacrifices to the <sc>Lordsc> with joy and music, according to<n id="1" /> the law of Moses and the edict of David.

<p class="bodytext">The king and Jehoiada gave it to the construction foremen<n id="1" /> assigned to the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple. They hired carpenters and craftsmen to repair the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple, as well as those skilled in working with iron and bronze to restore the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple.

The priests then entered the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple to purify it; they brought out to the courtyard of the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple every ceremonially unclean thing they discovered inside.<n id="1" /> The Levites took them out to the Kidron Valley.

&#8220;Go, seek an oracle from<n id="1" /> the <sc>Lordsc> for me and those who remain in Israel and Judah. Find out about<n id="2" /> the words of this scroll that has been discovered. For the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s fury has been ignited against us,<n id="3" /> because our ancestors<n id="4" /> have not obeyed the word of the <sc>Lordsc> by doing all that this scroll instructs!&#8221;<n id="5" />p>

<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>

<t /><p class="bodytext"><v id="(1:18)" /><n id="1" /> Solomon ordered a temple to be built to honor the <sc>Lordsc>, as well as a royal palace for himself.<n id="2" />

Now my father David had a strong desire to build a temple to honor the <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel.<n id="1" />

<p class="bodytext">He stood before the altar of the <sc>Lordsc> in front of the entire assembly of Israel and spread out his hands.

Now, O <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel, may the promise you made to your servant David be realized.<n id="1" />p>

O <sc>Lordsc> God, do not reject your chosen ones!<n id="1" /> Remember the faithful promises you made to your servant David!&#8221;p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">After twenty years, during which Solomon built the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple and his royal palace,

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

He did evil because he was not determined to follow the <sc>Lordsc>.<n id="1" />p>

The men of Judah turned around and realized they were being attacked from the front and the rear.<n id="1" /> So they cried out for help to the <sc>Lordsc>. The priests blew their trumpets,

Jeroboam did not regain power during the reign of Abijah.<n id="1" /> The <sc>Lordsc> struck him down and he died.

He ordered Judah to seek the <sc>Lordsc> God of their ancestors<n id="1" /> and to observe his law and commands.<n id="2" />

Because of their distress, they turned back to the <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel. They sought him and he responded to them.<n id="1" />

They solemnly agreed<n id="1" /> to seek the <sc>Lordsc> God of their ancestors<n id="2" /> with their whole heart and being.

He was committed to following the <sc>Lordsc>;<n id="1" /> he even removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.p>