me, that, behold, thou seekest to go to thine own country? And he
answered, Nothing: howbeit let me go in any wise.
11:011:023 And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of
Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:
11:011:024 And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a band,
when David slew them of Zobah: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt
therein, and reigned in Damascus.
11:011:025 And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon,
beside the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned
over Syria.
11:011:026 And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda,
Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even
he lifted up his hand against the king.
11:011:027 And this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the
king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of
David his father.
11:011:028 And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon
seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all
the charge of the house of Joseph.
11:011:029 And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of
Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way;
and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in
the field:
11:011:030 And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent
it in twelve pieces:
11:011:031 And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith
the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the
hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:
11:011:032 (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and
for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes
of Israel:)
11:011:033 Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped
Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites,
and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my
ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes
and my judgments, as did David his father.
11:011:034 Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand:
but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my
servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my
statutes:
11:011:035 But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will
give it unto thee, even ten tribes.
11:011:036 And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant
may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have
chosen me to put my name there.
11:011:037 And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all
that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.
11:011:038 And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command
thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to
keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I
will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David,
and will give Israel unto thee.
11:011:039 And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for
ever.
11:011:040 Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam
arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt
until the death of Solomon.
11:011:041 And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and
his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon?
11:011:042 And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all
Israel was forty years.
11:011:043 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the
city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.
11:012:001 And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to
Shechem to make him king.
11:012:002 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was
yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king
Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;)
11:012:003 That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the
congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,
11:012:004 Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou
the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon
us, lighter, and we will serve thee.
11:012:005 And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come
again to me. And the people departed.
11:012:006 And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood
before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise
that I may answer this people?
11:012:007 And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant
unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and
speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.
11:012:008 But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had
given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him,
and which stood before him:
11:012:009 And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may
answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which
thy father did put upon us lighter?
11:012:010 And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him,
saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee,
saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto
us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker
than my father's loins.
11:012:011 And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I
will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I
will chastise you with scorpions.
11:012:012 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third
day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.
11:012:013 And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old
men's counsel that they gave him;
11:012:014 And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying,
My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father
also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
11:012:015 Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the
cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the
LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
11:012:016 So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them,
the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David?
neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O
Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their
tents.
11:012:017 But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities
of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
11:012:018 Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and
all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam
made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
11:012:019 So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.
11:012:020 And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was
come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and
made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of
David, but the tribe of Judah only.
11:012:021 And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the
house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore
thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of
Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
11:012:022 But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God,
saying,
11:012:023 Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and
unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the
people, saying,
11:012:024 Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against
your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for
this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD,
and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.
11:012:025 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt
therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.
11:012:026 And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return
to the house of David:
11:012:027 If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD
at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their
lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go
again to Rehoboam king of Judah.
11:012:028 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold,
and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold
thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
11:012:029 And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.
11:012:030 And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship
before the one, even unto Dan.
11:012:031 And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the
lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.
11:012:032 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the
fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he
offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves
that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places
which he had made.
11:012:033 So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the
fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had
devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of
Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.
11:013:001 And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word
of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn
incense.
11:013:002 And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and
said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born
unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer
the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's
bones shall be burnt upon thee.
11:013:003 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign
which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the
ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.
11:013:004 And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of
the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put
forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand,
which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it
in again to him.
11:013:005 The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the
altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word
of the LORD.
11:013:006 And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat
now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be
restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king's
hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.
11:013:007 And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and
refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward.
11:013:008 And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me
half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread
nor drink water in this place:
11:013:009 For so was it charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat
no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou
camest.
11:013:010 So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he
came to Bethel.
11:013:011 Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came
and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in
Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also
to their father.
11:013:012 And their father said unto them, What way went he? For his
sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah.
11:013:013 And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled
him the ass: and he rode thereon,
11:013:014 And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an
oak: and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that camest from
Judah? And he said, I am.
11:013:015 Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread.
11:013:016 And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee:
neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place:
11:013:017 For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat
no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that
thou camest.
11:013:018 He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an
angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with
thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he
lied unto him.
11:013:019 So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and
drank water.
11:013:020 And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word
of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him back:
11:013:021 And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah,
saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth
of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God
commanded thee,
11:013:022 But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the
place, of the which the Lord did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no
water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.
11:013:023 And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he
had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom
he had brought back.
11:013:024 And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew
him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the
lion also stood by the carcase.
11:013:025 And, behold, men passed by, and saw the carcase cast in the
way, and the lion standing by the carcase: and they came and told it in
the city where the old prophet dwelt.
11:013:026 And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard
thereof, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the
word of the LORD: therefore the LORD hath delivered him unto the lion,
which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the LORD,
which he spake unto him.
11:013:027 And he spake to his sons, saying, Saddle me the ass. And they
saddled him.
11:013:028 And he went and found his carcase cast in the way, and the
ass and the lion standing by the carcase: the lion had not eaten the
carcase, nor torn the ass.
11:013:029 And the prophet took up the carcase of the man of God, and
laid it upon the ass, and brought it back: and the old prophet came to
the city, to mourn and to bury him.
11:013:030 And he laid his carcase in his own grave; and they mourned
over him, saying, Alas, my brother!
11:013:031 And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spake
to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulchre
wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones:
11:013:032 For the saying which he cried by the word of the LORD against
the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which
are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass.
11:013:033 After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but
made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places:
whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of
the high places.
11:013:034 And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to
cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth.
11:014:001 At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick.
11:014:002 And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, I pray thee, and
disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam; and
get thee to Shiloh: behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, which told me
that I should be king over this people.
11:014:003 And take with thee ten loaves, and cracknels, and a cruse of
honey, and go to him: he shall tell thee what shall become of the child.
11:014:004 And Jeroboam's wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh,
and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see; for his eyes
were set by reason of his age.
11:014:005 And the LORD said unto Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam
cometh to ask a thing of thee for her son; for he is sick: thus and thus
shalt thou say unto her: for it shall be, when she cometh in, that she
shall feign herself to be another woman.
11:014:006 And it was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as
she came in at the door, that he said, Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam;
why feignest thou thyself to be another? for I am sent to thee with
heavy tidings.
11:014:007 Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel,
Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince
over my people Israel,
11:014:008 And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave
it thee: and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my
commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only
which was right in mine eyes;
11:014:009 But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou
hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to
anger, and hast cast me behind thy back:
11:014:010 Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of
Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the
wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the
remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be
all gone.
11:014:011 Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat;
and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat: for the
LORD hath spoken it.
11:014:012 Arise thou therefore, get thee to thine own house: and when
thy feet enter into the city, the child shall die.
11:014:013 And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only
of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some
good thing toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam.
11:014:014 Moreover the LORD shall raise him up a king over Israel, who
shall cut off the house of Jeroboam that day: but what? even now.
11:014:015 For the LORD shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the
water, and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave
to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they
have made their groves, provoking the LORD to anger.
11:014:016 And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam,
who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.
11:014:017 And Jeroboam's wife arose, and departed, and came to Tirzah:
and when she came to the threshold of the door, the child died;
11:014:018 And they buried him; and all Israel mourned for him,
according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by the hand of his
servant Ahijah the prophet.
11:014:019 And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred, and how
he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of
the kings of Israel.
11:014:020 And the days which Jeroboam reigned were two and twenty
years: and he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his
stead.
11:014:021 And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam
was forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned
seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD did choose out of
all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name
was Naamah an Ammonitess.
11:014:022 And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they
provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above
all that their fathers had done.
11:014:023 For they also built them high places, and images, and groves,
on every high hill, and under every green tree.
11:014:024 And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did
according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out
before the children of Israel.
11:014:025 And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that
Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem:
11:014:026 And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and
the treasures of the king's house; he even took away all: and he took
away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.
11:014:027 And king Rehoboam made in their stead brasen shields, and
committed them unto the hands of the chief of the guard, which kept the
door of the king's house.
11:014:028 And it was so, when the king went into the house of the LORD,
that the guard bare them, and brought them back into the guard chamber.
11:014:029 Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did,
are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of
Judah?
11:014:030 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their
days.
11:014:031 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his
fathers in the city of David. And his mother's name was Naamah an
Ammonitess. And Abijam his son reigned in his stead.
11:015:001 Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat
reigned Abijam over Judah.
11:015:002 Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. and his mother's name
was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.
11:015:003 And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had
done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as
the heart of David his father.
11:015:004 Nevertheless for David's sake did the LORD his God give him a
lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish
Jerusalem:
11:015:005 Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the
LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the
days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
11:015:006 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days
of his life.
11:015:007 Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are
they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.
11:015:008 And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the
city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.
11:015:009 And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned
Asa over Judah.
11:015:010 And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his
mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.
11:015:011 And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as
did David his father.
11:015:012 And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed
all the idols that his fathers had made.
11:015:013 And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being
queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her
idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.
11:015:014 But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's
heart was perfect with the LORD all his days.
11:015:015 And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated,
and the things which himself had dedicated, into the house of the LORD,
silver, and gold, and vessels.
11:015:016 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all
their days.
11:015:017 And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built
Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of
Judah.
11:015:018 Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in
the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's
house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa
sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of
Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,
11:015:019 There is a league between me and thee, and between my father
and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and
gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may
depart from me.
11:015:020 So Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of
the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and
Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of
Naphtali.
11:015:021 And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left
off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah.
11:015:022 Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none
was exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber
thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built with them Geba
of Benjamin, and Mizpah.
11:015:023 The rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all
that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the
book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Nevertheless in the time
of his old age he was diseased in his feet.
11:015:024 And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his
fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoshaphat his son reigned
in his stead.
11:015:025 And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in
the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years.
11:015:026 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the
way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.
11:015:027 And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar,
conspired against him; and Baasha smote him at Gibbethon, which belonged
to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon.
11:015:028 Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay
him, and reigned in his stead.
11:015:029 And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the
house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he
had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the LORD, which he spake
by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite:
11:015:030 Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he
made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked the LORD God
of Israel to anger.
11:015:031 Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, are
they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
11:015:032 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all
their days.
11:015:033 In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son
of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty and four years.
11:015:034 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the
way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.
11:016:001 Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani
against Baasha, saying,
11:016:002 Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee
prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of
Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger
with their sins;
11:016:003 Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the
posterity of his house; and will make thy house like the house of
Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
11:016:004 Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and
him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat.
11:016:005 Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his
might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings
of Israel?
11:016:006 So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah:
and Elah his son reigned in his stead.
11:016:007 And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani
came the word of the LORD against Baasha, and against his house, even
for all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD, in provoking him
to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of
Jeroboam; and because he killed him.
11:016:008 In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah
the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years.
11:016:009 And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots,
conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in
the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah.
11:016:010 And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the
twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead.
11:016:011 And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he
sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not
one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his
friends.
11:016:012 Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to
the word of the LORD, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet.
11:016:013 For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by
which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking
the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities.
11:016:014 Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are
they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
11:016:015 In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri
reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against
Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.
11:016:016 And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath
conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri,
the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp.
11:016:017 And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and
they besieged Tirzah.
11:016:018 And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken,
that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's
house over him with fire, and died.
11:016:019 For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of
the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he
did, to make Israel to sin.
11:016:020 Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he
wrought, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings
of Israel?
11:016:021 Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half
of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and
half followed Omri.
11:016:022 But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the
people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri
reigned.
11:016:023 In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri
to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah.
11:016:024 And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of
silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he
built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria.
11:016:025 But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse
than all that were before him.
11:016:026 For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat,
and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke the LORD God
of Israel to anger with their vanities.
11:016:027 Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might
that he shewed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of
the kings of Israel?
11:016:028 So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria:
and Ahab his son reigned in his stead.
11:016:029 And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began
Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri
reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years.
11:016:030 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD
above all that were before him.
11:016:031 And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him
to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife
Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and
served Baal, and worshipped him.
11:016:032 And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal,
which he had built in Samaria.
11:016:033 And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD
God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before
him.
11:016:034 In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the
foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof
in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he
spake by Joshua the son of Nun.
11:017:001 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of
Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I
stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my
word.
11:017:002 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
11:017:003 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by
the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
11:017:004 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I
have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
11:017:005 So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for
he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
11:017:006 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning,
and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.
11:017:007 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up,
because there had been no rain in the land.
11:017:008 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
11:017:009 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and
dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain
thee.
11:017:010 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the
gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks:
and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in
a vessel, that I may drink.
11:017:011 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said,
Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.
11:017:012 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake,
but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and,
behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me
and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
11:017:013 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast
said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and
after make for thee and for thy son.
11:017:014 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal
shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that
the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.
11:017:015 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and
she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
11:017:016 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of
oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.
11:017:017 And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the
woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so
sore, that there was no breath left in him.
11:017:018 And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou
man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to
slay my son?
11:017:019 And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of
her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him
upon his own bed.
11:017:020 And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast
thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying
her son?
11:017:021 And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and
cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this
child's soul come into him again.
11:017:022 And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the
child came into him again, and he revived.
11:017:023 And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the
chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah
said, See, thy son liveth.
11:017:024 And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou
art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.
11:018:001 And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the
LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto
Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.
11:018:002 And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a
sore famine in Samaria.
11:018:003 And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house.
(Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly:
11:018:004 For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD,
that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave,
and fed them with bread and water.)
11:018:005 And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all
fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass
to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.
11:018:006 So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it:
Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
11:018:007 And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he
knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?
11:018:008 And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah
is here.
11:018:009 And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver
thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?
11:018:010 As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom,
whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is
not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found
thee not.
11:018:011 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is
here.
11:018:012 And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee,
that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so
when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me:
but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.
11:018:013 Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the
prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD's prophets by
fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?
11:018:014 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is
here: and he shall slay me.
11:018:015 And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I
stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.
11:018:016 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to
meet Elijah.
11:018:017 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said
unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?
11:018:018 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and
thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the
LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.
11:018:019 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount
Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the
prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.
11:018:020 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered
the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
11:018:021 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt
ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal,
then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
11:018:022 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a
prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
11:018:023 Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose
one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood,
and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on
wood, and put no fire under:
11:018:024 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the
name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God.
And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
11:018:025 And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one
bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on
the name of your gods, but put no fire under.
11:018:026 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they
dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon,
saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered.
And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
11:018:027 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and
said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is
pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must
be awaked.
11:018:028 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner
with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
11:018:029 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they
prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that
there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
11:018:030 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And
all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD
that was broken down.
11:018:031 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the
tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came,
saying, Israel shall be thy name:
11:018:032 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the
LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain
two measures of seed.
11:018:033 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces,
and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and
pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.
11:018:034 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the
second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the
third time.
11:018:035 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the
trench also with water.
11:018:036 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the
evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God
of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art
God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these
things at thy word.
11:018:037 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou
art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
11:018:038 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt
sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the
water that was in the trench.
11:018:039 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and
they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
11:018:040 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not
one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to
the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
11:018:041 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for
there is a sound of abundance of rain.
11:018:042 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to
the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his
face between his knees,
11:018:043 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And
he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go
again seven times.
11:018:044 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said,
Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand.
And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee
down that the rain stop thee not.
11:018:045 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was
black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode,
and went to Jezreel.
11:018:046 And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his
loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
11:019:001 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal
how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.
11:019:002 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the
gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one
of them by to morrow about this time.
11:019:003 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and
came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
11:019:004 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and
came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself
that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my
life; for I am not better than my fathers.
11:019:005 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an
angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
11:019:006 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the
coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and
laid him down again.
11:019:007 And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and
touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great
for thee.
11:019:008 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength
of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
11:019:009 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and,
behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What
doest thou here, Elijah?
11:019:010 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of
hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown
down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I
only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
11:019:011 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the
LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent
the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the
LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD
was not in the earthquake:
11:019:012 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the
fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
11:019:013 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face
in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave.
And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou
here, Elijah?
11:019:014 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of
hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown
down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I
only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
11:019:015 And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the
wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king
over Syria:
11:019:016 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over
Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint
to be prophet in thy room.
11:019:017 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword
of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu
shall Elisha slay.
11:019:018 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees
which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed
him.
11:019:019 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat,
who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the
twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
11:019:020 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me,
I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee.
And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
11:019:021 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and
slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and
gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after
Elijah, and ministered unto him.
11:020:001 And Benhadad the king of Syria gathered all his host
together: and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and
chariots; and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it.
11:020:002 And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city,
and said unto him, Thus saith Benhadad,
11:020:003 Thy silver and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy
children, even the goodliest, are mine.
11:020:004 And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king,
according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have.
11:020:005 And the messengers came again, and said, Thus speaketh
Benhadad, saying, Although I have sent unto thee, saying, Thou shalt
deliver me thy silver, and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children;
11:020:006 Yet I will send my servants unto thee to morrow about this
time, and they shall search thine house, and the houses of thy servants;
and it shall be, that whatsoever is pleasant in thine eyes, they shall
put it in their hand, and take it away.
11:020:007 Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land,
and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeketh mischief: for
he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver,
and for my gold; and I denied him not.
11:020:008 And all the elders and all the people said unto him, Hearken
not unto him, nor consent.
11:020:009 Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Benhadad, Tell my
lord the king, All that thou didst send for to thy servant at the first
I will do: but this thing I may not do. And the messengers departed, and
brought him word again.
11:020:010 And Benhadad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me,
and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all
the people that follow me.
11:020:011 And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not
him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.
11:020:012 And it came to pass, when Ben-hadad heard this message, as he
was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said unto his
servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array
against the city.
11:020:013 And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel,
saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude?
behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know
that I am the LORD.
11:020:014 And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the LORD,
Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who
shall order the battle? And he answered, Thou.
11:020:015 Then he numbered the young men of the princes of the
provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two: and after them he
numbered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven
thousand.
11:020:016 And they went out at noon. But Benhadad was drinking himself
drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that
helped him.
11:020:017 And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out
first; and Benhadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men
come out of Samaria.
11:020:018 And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them
alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
11:020:019 So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out
of the city, and the army which followed them.
11:020:020 And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and
Israel pursued them: and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse
with the horsemen.
11:020:021 And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and
chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.
11:020:022 And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto
him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at
the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.
11:020:023 And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their
gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but
let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger
than they.
11:020:024 And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his
place, and put captains in their rooms:
11:020:025 And number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost,
horse for horse, and chariot for chariot: and we will fight against them
in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And he
hearkened unto their voice, and did so.
11:020:026 And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Benhadad
numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.
11:020:027 And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all
present, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched
before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the
country.
11:020:028 And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of
Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said,
The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys,
therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and
ye shall know that I am the LORD.
11:020:029 And they pitched one over against the other seven days. And
so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined: and the
children of Israel slew of the Syrians an hundred thousand footmen in
one day.
11:020:030 But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and there a wall
fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men that were left. And
Benhadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.
11:020:031 And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard
that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray
thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out
to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life.
11:020:032 So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on
their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant
Benhadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive?
he is my brother.
11:020:033 Now the men did diligently observe whether any thing would
come from him, and did hastily catch it: and they said, Thy brother
Benhadad. Then he said, Go ye, bring him. Then Benhadad came forth to
him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.
11:020:034 And Ben-hadad said unto him, The cities, which my father took
from thy father, I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thee in
Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. Then said Ahab, I will send thee
away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and sent him
away.
11:020:035 And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his
neighbour in the word of the LORD, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man
refused to smite him.
11:020:036 Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice
of the LORD, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall
slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him,
and slew him.
11:020:037 Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee.
And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him.
11:020:038 So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way,
and disguised himself with ashes upon his face.
11:020:039 And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king: and he
said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a
man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if
by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else
thou shalt pay a talent of silver.
11:020:040 And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And
the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast
decided it.
11:020:041 And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the
king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets.
11:020:042 And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Because thou hast
let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction,
therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.
11:020:043 And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and
displeased, and came to Samaria.
11:021:001 And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the
Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of
Ahab king of Samaria.
11:021:002 And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard,
that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my
house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it
seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money.
11:021:003 And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should
give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.
11:021:004 And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of
the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said,
I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down
upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.
11:021:005 But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is
thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread?
11:021:006 And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the
Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else,
if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he
answered, I will not give thee my vineyard.
11:021:007 And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the
kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I
will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
11:021:008 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his
seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were
in his city, dwelling with Naboth.
11:021:009 And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and
set Naboth on high among the people:
11:021:010 And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness
against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then
carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.
11:021:011 And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who
were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and
as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them.
11:021:012 They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the
people.
11:021:013 And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before
him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth,
in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the
king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with
stones, that he died.
11:021:014 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is
dead.
11:021:015 And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was
stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession
of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee
for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead.
11:021:016 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead,
that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite,
to take possession of it.
11:021:017 And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
11:021:018 Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in
Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone
down to possess it.
11:021:019 And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD,
Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto
him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the
blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.
11:021:020 And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?
And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to
work evil in the sight of the LORD.
11:021:021 Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy
posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall,
and him that is shut up and left in Israel,
11:021:022 And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son
of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the
provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to
sin.
11:021:023 And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall
eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.
11:021:024 Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and
him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat.
11:021:025 But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to
work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred
up.
11:021:026 And he did very abominably in following idols, according to
all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the
children of Israel.
11:021:027 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he
rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay
in sackcloth, and went softly.
11:021:028 And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
11:021:029 Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he
humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but
in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house.
11:022:001 And they continued three years without war between Syria and
Israel.
11:022:002 And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the
king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.
11:022:003 And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that
Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it not out of the
hand of the king of Syria?
11:022:004 And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle
to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as
thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.
11:022:005 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray
thee, at the word of the LORD to day.
11:022:006 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about
four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to
battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the LORD shall
deliver it into the hand of the king.
11:022:007 And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD
besides, that we might enquire of him?
11:022:008 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet
one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD:
but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.
And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
11:022:009 Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten
hither Micaiah the son of Imlah.
11:022:010 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat
each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the
entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before
them.
11:022:011 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and
he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians,
until thou have consumed them.
11:022:012 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to
Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the king's
hand.
11:022:013 And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto
him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the
king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one
of them, and speak that which is good.
11:022:014 And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith
unto me, that will I speak.
11:022:015 So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah,
shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he
answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the
hand of the king.
11:022:016 And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure
thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the
LORD?
11:022:017 And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as
sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master:
let them return every man to his house in peace.
11:022:018 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell
thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?
11:022:019 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw
the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by
him on his right hand and on his left.
11:022:020 And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up
and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said
on that manner.
11:022:021 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and
said, I will persuade him.
11:022:022 And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go
forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.
And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do
so.
11:022:023 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in
the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil
concerning thee.
11:022:024 But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote
Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD
from me to speak unto thee?
11:022:025 And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when
thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.
11:022:026 And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back
unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;
11:022:027 And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison,
and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction,
until I come in peace.
11:022:028 And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the LORD
hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you.
11:022:029 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went
up to Ramothgilead.
11:022:030 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise
myself, and enter into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. And the
king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle.
11:022:031 But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains
that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor
great, save only with the king of Israel.
11:022:032 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw
Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. And they
turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out.
11:022:033 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots
perceived that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from
pursuing him.
11:022:034 And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king
of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the
driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host;
for I am wounded.
11:022:035 And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up
in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran
out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.
11:022:036 And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the
going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to
his own country.
11:022:037 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried
the king in Samaria.
11:022:038 And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the
dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the
word of the LORD which he spake.
11:022:039 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and
the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are
they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
11:022:040 So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned
in his stead.
11:022:041 And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in
the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.
11:022:042 Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to
reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his
mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
11:022:043 And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned
not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD:
nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered
and burnt incense yet in the high places.
11:022:044 And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.
11:022:045 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that
he shewed, and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the
chronicles of the kings of Judah?
11:022:046 And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days
of his father Asa, he took out of the land.
11:022:047 There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was king.
11:022:048 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold:
but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber.
11:022:049 Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my
servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.
11:022:050 And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with
his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoram his son reigned
in his stead.
11:022:051 Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria
the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years
over Israel.
11:022:052 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the
way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of
Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin:
11:022:053 For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger
the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.