These were their names: Ben-Hur was in charge of the hill country of Ephraim.

Now my father David had a strong desire ¹  to build a temple to honor the Lord God of Israel. ² 

When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon, ¹  she came to challenge ²  him with difficult questions. ³ 

He ruled for three years in Jerusalem. ¹  His mother was Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom. ² 

He ruled for forty-one years in Jerusalem. ¹  His grandmother ²  was Maacah daughter of Abishalom.

The king’s servants have even come to congratulate ¹  our master ²  King David, saying, ‘May your God ³  make Solomon more famous than you and make him an even greater king than you!’ ⁴  Then the king leaned ⁵  on the bed

So I have decided ¹  to build a temple to honor the Lord ²  my God, as the Lord instructed my father David, ‘Your son, whom I will put on your throne in your place, is the one who will build a temple to honor me.’ ³ 

He set up the pillars on the porch in front of the main hall. He erected one pillar on the right ¹  side and called it Jakin; ²  he erected the other pillar on the left ³  side and called it Boaz. ⁴ 

He purchased the hill of Samaria ¹  from Shemer for two talents ²  of silver. He launched a construction project there ³  and named the city he built after Shemer, the former owner of the hill of Samaria.

Then you ¹  will invoke the name of your god, and I will invoke the name of the Lord. The god who responds with fire will demonstrate that he is the true God.” ²  All the people responded, “This will be a fair test.” ³ 

Now the people were offering sacrifices at the high places, ¹  because in those days a temple had not yet been built to honor the Lord. ² 

He was wiser than any man, including Ethan the Ezrahite or Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. He was famous in all the neighboring nations. ¹ 

The Lord told my father David, ‘It is right for you to have a strong desire to build a temple to honor me. ¹ 

But you will not build the temple; your very own son will build the temple for my honor.’ ¹ 

“The time will come when ¹  your people Israel are defeated by an enemy ²  because they sinned against you. If they come back to you, renew their allegiance to you, ³  and pray for your help ⁴  in this temple,

“Foreigners, who do not belong to your people Israel, will come from a distant land because of your reputation. ¹ 

When they hear about your great reputation ¹  and your ability to accomplish mighty deeds, ²  they will come and direct their prayers toward this temple.

Jeroboam son of Nebat, one of Solomon’s servants, rebelled against ¹  the king. He was an Ephraimite ²  from Zeredah whose mother was a widow named Zeruah.

Rehoboam passed away ¹  and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David. His mother was an Ammonite named Naamah. His son Abijah ²  replaced him as king.

Then Elijah took twelve stones, corresponding to the number of tribes that descended from Jacob, to whom the Lord had said, “Israel will be your new ¹  name.” ²