At that time Solomon and all Israel with him celebrated a festival before the <sc>Lordsc> our God for two entire weeks. This great assembly included people from all over the land, from Lebo Hamath in the north to the Brook of Egypt<n id="1" /> in the south.<n id="2" />

She arrived in Jerusalem<n id="1" /> with a great display of pomp,<n id="2" /> bringing with her camels carrying spices,<n id="3" /> a very large quantity of gold, and precious gems. She visited Solomon and discussed with him everything that was on her mind.

Along with Hiram&#8217;s fleet, the king had a fleet of large merchant ships<n id="1" /> that sailed the sea. Once every three years the fleet<n id="2" /> came into port with cargoes of<n id="3" /> gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="bodytext">Solomon accumulated<n id="1" /> chariots and horses. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He kept them in assigned cities and in Jerusalem.<n id="2" />

When Solomon became old, his wives shifted his allegiance to<n id="1" /> other gods; he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the <sc>Lordsc> his God, as his father David had been.<n id="2" />

So the <sc>Lordsc> said to Solomon, &#8220;Because you insist on doing these things and have not kept the covenantal rules I gave you,<n id="1" /> I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.

They went from Midian to Paran; they took some men from Paran and went to Egypt. Pharaoh, king of Egypt, supplied him with a house and food and even assigned him some land.<n id="1" />

While in Egypt Hadad heard that David had passed away<n id="1" /> and that Joab, the commander of the army, was dead. So Hadad asked Pharaoh, &#8220;Give me permission to leave<n id="2" /> so I can return to my homeland.&#8221;

The king refused to listen to the people, because the <sc>Lordsc> was instigating this turn of events<n id="1" /> so that he might bring to pass the prophetic announcement he had made<n id="2" /> through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.p>

<p class="bodytext">When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he summoned 180,000 skilled warriors from all of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin<n id="1" /> to attack Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam son of Solomon.

&#8216;The <sc>Lordsc> says this: &#8220;Do not attack and make war with your brothers, the Israelites. Each of you go home, for I have caused this to happen.&#8221;&#8217;&#8221;<n id="1" /> They obeyed the <sc>Lordsc> and went home as the <sc>Lordsc> had ordered them to do.<n id="2" />p>

But the prophet said to the king, &#8220;Even if you were to give me half your possessions,<n id="1" /> I could not go with you and eat and drink<n id="2" /> in this place.

But the <sc>Lordsc> had told Ahijah, &#8220;Look, Jeroboam&#8217;s wife is coming to find out from you what will happen to her son, for he is sick. Tell her so-and-so.<n id="1" /> When she comes, she will be in a disguise.&#8221;

You must obey<n id="1" /> all I command you to do, follow my instructions,<n id="2" /> do what I approve,<n id="3" /> and keep my rules and commandments, like my servant David did. Then I will be with you and establish for you a lasting dynasty, as I did for David;<n id="4" /> I will give you Israel.