He did what the Lord approved, just as his father Uzziah had done. ¹  (He did not, however, have the audacity to enter the temple.) ²  Yet the people were still sinning.

He fortified these cities and placed officers in them, as well as storehouses of food, olive oil, and wine.

He removed the pagan altars ¹  and the high places, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. ² 

Joram ¹  returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds he received from the Syrians ²  in Ramah when he fought against King Hazael of Syria. Ahaziah ³  son of King Jehoram of Judah went down to visit Joram son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he had been wounded. ⁴ 

In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his ancestor ¹  David. In his twelfth year he began ridding ²  Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, Asherah poles, idols, and images.

He set up the pillars in front of the temple, one on the right side and the other on the left. ¹  He named the one on the right Jachin, ²  and the one on the left Boaz. ³ 

Their father gave them many presents, including silver, gold, and other precious items, along with fortified cities in Judah. But he gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the firstborn.

He made the curtain out of violet, purple, crimson, and white fabrics, and embroidered on it decorative cherubim.

When the queen of Sheba saw for herself Solomon’s extensive wisdom, ¹  the palace ²  he had built,

The Lord made his kingdom secure; ¹  all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he became very wealthy and greatly respected. ² 

The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah and his fame reached ¹  the border of Egypt, for he grew in power.

He offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

He brought in the priests and Levites and assembled them in the square on the east side.

In the two courtyards of the Lord’s temple he built altars for all the stars in the sky.

He made the most holy place; ¹  its length was 30 feet, ²  corresponding to the width of the temple, and its width 30 feet. ³  He plated it with 600 talents ⁴  of fine gold.

He passed his sons through the fire ¹  in the Valley of Ben-Hinnom and practiced divination, omen reading, and sorcery. He set up a ritual pit to conjure up underworld spirits and appointed magicians to supervise it. ²  He did a great amount of evil in the sight of the Lord and angered him. ³ 

He later married Maacah the daughter of Absalom. She bore to him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

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

He followed in the footsteps of Ahab’s dynasty, ¹  for his mother gave him evil advice. ² 

He did not humble himself before the Lord as his father Manasseh had done. ¹  Amon was guilty of great sin. ²