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>

When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they summoned him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. No one except the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the Davidic dynasty.<n id="1" />p>

&#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>

When the king heard what the prophet<n id="1" /> cried out against the altar in Bethel, Jeroboam, standing at the altar, extended his hand<n id="2" /> and ordered,<n id="3" /> &#8220;Seize him!&#8221; The hand he had extended shriveled up<n id="4" /> and he could not pull it back.

When the old prophet who had invited him to his house heard the news,<n id="1" /> he said, &#8220;It is the prophet<n id="2" /> who rebelled against the <sc>Lordsc>.<n id="3" /> The <sc>Lordsc> delivered him over to the lion and it ripped him up<n id="4" /> and killed him, just as the <sc>Lordsc> warned him.&#8221;<n id="5" />

When Ahijah heard the sound of her footsteps as she came through the door, he said, &#8220;Come on in, wife of Jeroboam! Why are you pretending to be someone else? I have been commissioned to give you bad news.<n id="1" />

King Asa ordered all the men of Judah (no exemptions were granted) to carry away the stones and wood that Baasha had used to build Ramah.<n id="1" /> King Asa used the materials to build up<n id="2" /> Geba (in Benjamin) and Mizpah.p>

While deployed there, the army received this report:<n id="1" /> &#8220;Zimri has conspired against the king and assassinated him.&#8221;<n id="2" /> So all Israel made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that very day in the camp.

Muster an army like the one you lost, with the same number of horses and chariots.<n id="1" /> Then we will fight them in the plains; we will certainly overpower them.&#8221; He approved their plan and did as they advised.<n id="2" />p>

His advisers<n id="1" /> said to him, &#8220;Look, we have heard that the kings of the Israelite dynasty are kind.<n id="2" /> Allow us to put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads<n id="3" /> and surrender<n id="4" /> to the king of Israel. Maybe he will spare our lives.&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she<n id="1" /> said to Ahab, &#8220;Get up, take possession of the vineyard Naboth the Jezreelite refused to sell you for silver, for Naboth is no longer alive; he&#8217;s dead.&#8221;

Then listen from your heavenly dwelling place and answer all the prayers of the foreigners.<n id="1" /> Then all the nations of the earth will acknowledge your reputation,<n id="2" /> obey<n id="3" /> you like your people Israel do, and recognize that this temple I built belongs to you.<n id="4" />p>

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.

<p class="bodytext">When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, the people answered the king, &#8220;We have no portion in David, no share in the son of Jesse!<n id="1" /> Return to your homes, O Israel!<n id="2" /> Now, look after your own dynasty, O David!&#8221;<n id="3" /> So Israel returned to their homes.<n id="4" />

Ben Hadad accepted King Asa&#8217;s offer and ordered his army commanders to attack the cities of Israel.<n id="1" /> They conquered<n id="2" /> Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maacah, and all the territory of Naphtali, including the region of Kinnereth.<n id="3" />