<t /><p class="bodytext">Rehoboam traveled to Shechem, for all Israel had gathered in<n id="1" /> Shechem to make Rehoboam<n id="2" /> king.

They sent for him<n id="1" /> and Jeroboam and all Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying,

In each city there were shields and spears; he strongly fortified them.<n id="1" /> Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.p>

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

He removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. The kingdom had rest under his rule.<n id="1" />p>

One nation was crushed by another, and one city by another, for God caused them to be in great turmoil.<n id="1" />

The high places were not eliminated from Israel, yet Asa was wholeheartedly devoted to the <sc>Lordsc> throughout his lifetime.<n id="1" />

They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the scroll of the law of the <sc>Lordsc>. They traveled to all the cities of Judah and taught the people.p>

<p class="bodytext">These were the ones who served the king, besides those whom the king placed in the fortified cities throughout Judah.p>

He appointed judges throughout the land and in each of the fortified cities of Judah.<n id="1" />

Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he decided to seek the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s advice.<n id="1" /> He decreed that all Judah should observe a fast.

The people of Judah<n id="1" /> assembled to ask for the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s help;<n id="2" /> they came from all the cities of Judah to ask for the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s help.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="bodytext">All the men of Judah<n id="1" /> were standing before the <sc>Lordsc>, along with their infants, wives, and children.

So look, the <sc>Lordsc> is about to severely afflict<n id="1" /> your people, your sons, your wives, and all you own.

After all this happened, the <sc>Lordsc> afflicted him with an incurable intestinal disease.<n id="1" />

Another third of you will be stationed at the royal palace and still another third at the Foundation Gate. All the others<n id="1" /> will stand in the courtyards of the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple.

<p class="bodytext">Jehoiada then drew up a covenant stipulating that he, all the people, and the king should be loyal to the <sc>Lordsc>.<n id="1" />

He posted guards at the gates of the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple, so no one who was ceremonially unclean in any way could enter.

All the people of the land celebrated, for the city had rest now that they had killed Athaliah.<n id="1" />p>

Joash did what the <sc>Lordsc> approved<n id="1" /> throughout the lifetime<n id="2" /> of Jehoiada the priest.