New King James Version (NKJV)

Abijam Reigns in Judah

1 In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam became king over Judah.

2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem.His mother’s namewasMaachah the granddaughter ofAbishalom.

3 And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him;his heart was not loyal to theLordhis God, as was the heart of his father David.

4 Neverthelessfor David’s sake theLordhis God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, by setting up his son after him and by establishing Jerusalem;

5 because Daviddidwhatwasright in the eyes of theLord, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life,except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.

6 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.

7 Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did,arethey not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.

8 So Abijam rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David. Then Asa his son reigned in his place.

Asa Reigns in Judah

9 In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa became king over Judah.

10 And he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His grandmother’s namewasMaachah the granddaughter of Abishalom.

11 Asa didwhatwasright in the eyes of theLord, asdidhis father David.

12 And he banished the perverted persons from the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.

13 Also he removedMaachah his grandmother frombeingqueen mother, because she had made an obscene image of Asherah. And Asa cut down her obscene image andburneditby the Brook Kidron.

14 But the high places were not removed. Nevertheless Asa’sheart was loyal to theLordall his days.

15 He also brought into the house of theLordthe things which his fatherhad dedicated, and the things which he himself had dedicated: silver and gold and utensils.

16 Now there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

17 AndBaasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and builtRamah,that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

18 Then Asa took all the silver and goldthatwasleft in the treasuries of the house of theLordand the treasuries of the king’s house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants. And King Asa sent them toBen-Hadad the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who dwelt inDamascus, saying,

19 “Lettherebea treaty between you and me, as there was between my father and your father. See, I have sent you a present of silver and gold. Come and break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.”

20 So Ben-Hadad heeded King Asa, andsent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel. He attackedIjon,Dan,Abel Beth Maachah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.

21 Now it happened, when Baasha heardit,that he stopped building Ramah, and remained inTirzah.

22 Then King Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; nonewasexempted. And they took away the stones and timber of Ramah, which Baasha had used for building; and with them King Asa builtGeba of Benjamin, andMizpah.

23 The rest of all the acts of Asa, all his might, all that he did, and the cities which he built,arethey not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Butin the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.

24 So Asa rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David his father.ThenJehoshaphat his son reigned in his place.

Nadab Reigns in Israel

25 NowNadab the son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years.

26 And he did evil in the sight of theLord, and walked in the way of his father, and inhis sin by which he had made Israel sin.

27 Then Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him. And Baasha killed him atGibbethon, whichbelongedto the Philistines, while Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon.

28 Baasha killed him in the third year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place.

29 And it was so, when he became king,thathe killed all the house of Jeroboam. He did not leave to Jeroboam anyone that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according tothe word of theLordwhich He had spoken by His servant Ahijah the Shilonite,

30 because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he had sinned and by which he had made Israel sin, because of his provocation with which he had provoked theLordGod of Israel to anger.

31 Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did,arethey not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

32 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

Baasha Reigns in Israel

33 In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah became king over all Israel in Tirzah, andreignedtwenty-four years.

34 He did evil in the sight of theLord, and walked inthe way of Jeroboam, and in his sin by which he had made Israel sin.

1 Then the word of theLordcame toJehu the son ofHanani, againstBaasha, saying:

2 “Inasmuch as I lifted you out of the dust and made you ruler over My people Israel, andyou have walked in the way of Jeroboam, and have made My people Israel sin, to provoke Me to anger with their sins,

3 surely I willtake away the posterity of Baasha and the posterity of his house, and I will make your house likethe house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

4 The dogs shall eatwhoever belongs to Baasha and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the fields.”

5 Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, what he did, and his might,arethey not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

6 So Baasha rested with his fathers and was buried inTirzah. Then Elah his son reigned in his place.

7 And also the word of theLordcame by the prophetJehu the son of Hanani against Baasha and his house, because of all the evil that he did in the sight of theLordin provoking Him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and becausehe killed them.

Elah Reigns in Israel

8 In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha became king over Israel,andreignedtwo years in Tirzah.

9 Now his servant Zimri, commander of halfhischariots, conspired against him as he was in Tirzah drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza,steward ofhishouse in Tirzah.

10 And Zimri went in and struck him and killed him in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place.

11 Then it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he was seated on his throne,thathe killed all the household of Baasha; hedid not leave him one male, neither of his relatives nor of his friends.

12 Thus Zimri destroyed all the household of Baasha,according to the word of theLord, which He spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,

13 for all the sins of Baasha and the sins of Elah his son, by which they had sinned and by which they had made Israel sin, in provoking theLordGod of Israel to angerwith their idols.

14 Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did,arethey not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Zimri Reigns in Israel

15 In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri had reigned in Tirzah seven days. And the peoplewereencampedagainst Gibbethon, whichbelongedto the Philistines.

16 Now the peoplewhowereencamped heard it said, “Zimri has conspired and also has killed the king.” So all Israel made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp.

17 Then Omri and all Israel with him went up from Gibbethon, and they besieged Tirzah.

18 And it happened, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the citadel of the king’s house and burned the king’s house down upon himself with fire, and died,

19 because of the sins which he had committed in doing evil in the sight of theLord,in walking in theway of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he had committed to make Israel sin.

20 Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and the treason he committed,arethey not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Omri Reigns in Israel

21 Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king, and half followed Omri.

22 But the people who followed Omri prevailed over the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath. So Tibni died and Omri reigned.

23 In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri became king over Israel,andreignedtwelve years. Six years he reigned inTirzah.

24 And he bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver; then he built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built,Samaria, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill.

25 Omri did evil in the eyes of theLord, and did worse than all whowerebefore him.

26 For hewalked in all the ways of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin by which he had made Israel sin, provoking theLordGod of Israel to anger with theiridols.

27 Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and the might that he showed,arethey not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

28 So Omri rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. Then Ahab his son reigned in his place.

Ahab Reigns in Israel

29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri became king over Israel; and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years.

30 Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of theLord, more than all whowerebefore him.

31 And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat,that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of theSidonians;and he went and served Baal and worshiped him.

32 Then he set up an altar for Baal inthe temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.

33 And Ahab made a wooden image. Ahabdid more to provoke theLordGod of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.

34 In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation with Abiram his firstborn, and with his youngestsonSegub he set up its gates,according to the word of theLord, which He had spoken through Joshua the son of Nun.

Elijah Proclaims a Drought

1 And Elijah the Tishbite, of theinhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab,“AstheLordGod of Israel lives,before whom I stand,there shall not be dew nor rainthese years, except at my word.”

2 Then the word of theLordcame to him, saying,

3 “Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan.

4 And it will bethatyou shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded theravens to feed you there.”

5 So he went and did according to the word of theLord, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan.

6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook.

7 And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

Elijah and the Widow

8 Then the word of theLordcame to him, saying,

9 “Arise, go toZarephath, whichbelongstoSidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”

10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widowwasthere gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.”

11 And as she was going to getit,he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”

12 So she said, “As theLordyour God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, Iamgathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, anddie.”

13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; goanddo as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bringitto me; and afterward makesomefor yourself and your son.

14 For thus says theLordGod of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day theLordsends rain on the earth.’ ”

15 So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate formanydays.

16 The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of theLordwhich He spoke by Elijah.

Elijah Revives the Widow’s Son

17 Now it happened after these thingsthatthe son of the woman who owned the house became sick. And his sickness was so serious that there was no breath left in him.

18 So she said to Elijah,“What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?”

19 And he said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him out of her arms and carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed.

20 Then he cried out to theLordand said, “OLordmy God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?”

21 And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to theLordand said, “OLordmy God, I pray, let this child’s soul come back to him.”

22 Then theLordheard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and herevived.

23 And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives!”

24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now by thisI know that youarea man of God,andthat the word of theLordin your mouthisthe truth.”

Elijah’s Message to Ahab

1 And it came to passaftermany days that the word of theLordcame to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab, andI will send rain on the earth.”

2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab; andtherewasa severe famine in Samaria.

3 And Ahab had called Obadiah, whowasin charge ofhishouse. (Now Obadiah feared theLordgreatly.

4 For so it was, while Jezebel massacred the prophets of theLord, that Obadiah had taken one hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty to a cave, and had fed them with bread and water.)

5 And Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go into the land to all the springs of water and to all the brooks; perhaps we may find grass to keep the horses and mules alive, so that we will not have to kill any livestock.”

6 So they divided the land between them to explore it; Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.

7 Now as Obadiah was on his way, suddenly Elijah met him; and herecognized him, and fell on his face, and said, “Isthat you, my lord Elijah?”

8 And he answered him, “ItisI. Go, tell your master, ‘Elijahishere.’ ”

9 So he said, “How have I sinned, that you are delivering your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me?

10 AstheLordyour God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to hunt for you; and when they said, ‘Heisnothere,’ he took an oath from the kingdom or nation that they could not find you.

11 And now you say, ‘Go, tell your master, “Elijahishere” ’!

12 And it shall come to pass,assoonasI am gone from you, thatthe Spirit of theLordwill carry you to a place I do not know; so when I go and tell Ahab, and he cannot find you, he will kill me. But I your servant have feared theLordfrom my youth.

13 Was it not reported to my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of theLord, how I hid one hundred men of theLord’s prophets, fifty to a cave, and fed them with bread and water?

14 And now you say, ‘Go, tell your master, “Elijahishere.” ’ He will kill me!”

15 Then Elijah said, “AstheLordof hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely present myself to him today.”

16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.

17 Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him,“Isthatyou, Otroubler of Israel?”

18 And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s househave,in that you have forsaken the commandments of theLordand have followed the Baals.

19 Now therefore, sendandgather all Israel to me onMount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal,and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

Elijah’s Mount Carmel Victory

20 So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, andgathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel.

21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said,“How long will you falter between two opinions? If theLordisGod, follow Him; but if Baal,follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.

22 Then Elijah said to the people,“I alone am left a prophet of theLord;but Baal’s prophetsarefour hundred and fifty men.

23 Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and layiton the wood, but put no fireunderit;and I will prepare the other bull, and layiton the wood, but put no fireunderit.

24 Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of theLord; and the God whoanswers by fire, He is God.”

So all the people answered and said, “It is well spoken.”

25 Now Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves and prepareitfirst, for youaremany; and call on the name of your god, but put no fireunderit.”

26 So they took the bull which was given them, and they preparedit,and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, “O Baal, hear us!” Buttherewasno voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made.

27 And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Cry aloud, for heisa god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey,orperhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.”

28 So they cried aloud, andcut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them.

29 And when midday was past,they prophesied until thetimeof the offering of theeveningsacrifice. Buttherewasno voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.

30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him.And he repaired the altar of theLordthatwasbroken down.

31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of theLordhad come, saying,“Israel shall be your name.”

32 Then with the stones he built an altarin the name of theLord; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed.

33 And heput the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laiditon the wood, and said, “Fill four waterpots with water, andpouriton the burnt sacrifice and on the wood.”

34 Then he said, “Doita second time,” and they didita second time; and he said, “Doita third time,” and they didita third time.

35 So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filledthe trench with water.

36 And it came to pass, atthetimeofthe offering of theeveningsacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “LordGod of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,let it be known this day that YouareGod in Israel and IamYour servant, andthatI have done all these things at Your word.

37 Hear me, OLord, hear me, that this people may know that YouaretheLordGod, andthatYou have turned their hearts backtoYouagain.”

38 Thenthe fire of theLordfell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water thatwasin the trench.

39 Now when all the people sawit,they fell on their faces; and they said,“TheLord, HeisGod! TheLord, HeisGod!”

40 And Elijah said to them,“Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of them escape!” So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the BrookKishon andexecuted them there.

The Drought Ends

41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; forthereisthe sound of abundance of rain.”

42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel;then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees,

43 and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.”

So he went up and looked, and said, “Thereisnothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.”

44 Then it came to pass the seventhtime,that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepareyourchariot,and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”

45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.

46 Then thehand of theLordcame upon Elijah; and hegirded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

Elijah Escapes from Jezebel

1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he hadexecuted all the prophets with the sword.

2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying,“So let the gods dotome,and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.”

3 And when he sawthat,he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, whichbelongsto Judah, and left his servant there.

4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And heprayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now,Lord, take my life, for Iamno better than my fathers!”

5 Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Ariseandeat.”

6 Then he looked, and there by his headwasa cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again.

7 And the angel of theLordcame back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Ariseandeat, because the journeyistoo great for you.”

8 So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days andforty nights as far asHoreb, the mountain of God.

9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of theLordcameto him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

10 So he said,“I have been veryzealous for theLordGod of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, andkilled Your prophets with the sword.I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

God’s Revelation to Elijah

11 Then He said, “Go out, and standon the mountain before theLord.” And behold, theLordpassed by, anda great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before theLord,buttheLordwasnot in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake,buttheLordwasnot in the earthquake;

12 and after the earthquake a fire,buttheLordwasnot in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

13 So it was, when Elijah heardit,that hewrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave.Suddenly a voicecameto him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14 And he said, “I have been very zealous for theLordGod of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

15 Then theLordsaid to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus;and when you arrive, anoint Hazaelasking over Syria.

16 Also you shall anointJehu the son of Nimshiasking over Israel. AndElisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anointasprophet in your place.

17 It shall bethatwhoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu willkill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu,Elisha will kill.

18 Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal,and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

Elisha Follows Elijah

19 So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, whowasplowingwithtwelve yokeofoxenbefore him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw hismantle on him.

20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said,“Please let me kiss my father and my mother, andthenI will follow you.”

And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?”

21 SoElishaturned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them andboiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.

Ahab Defeats the Syrians

1 NowBen-Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his forces together; thirty-two kingswerewith him, with horses and chariots. And he went up and besiegedSamaria, and made war against it.

2 Then he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, and said to him, “Thus says Ben-Hadad:

3 ‘Your silver and your goldaremine; your loveliest wives and children are mine.’ ”

4 And the king of Israel answered and said, “My lord, O king, just as you say, I and all that I haveareyours.”

5 Then the messengers came back and said, “Thus speaks Ben-Hadad, saying, ‘Indeed I have sent to you, saying, “You shall deliver to me your silver and your gold, your wives and your children”;

6 but I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house and the houses of your servants. And it shall be,thatwhatever is pleasant in your eyes, they will putitin their hands and takeit.’ ”

7 So the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, “Notice, please, and see how thismanseeks trouble, for he sent to me for my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold; and I did not deny him.”

8 And all the elders and all the people said to him, “Do not listen or consent.”

9 Therefore he said to the messengers of Ben-Hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you sent for to your servant the first time I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’ ”

And the messengers departed and brought back word to him.

10 Then Ben-Hadad sent to him and said,“The gods do so to me, and more also, if enough dust is left of Samaria for a handful for each of the people who follow me.”

11 So the king of Israel answered and said, “Tellhim,‘Let not the one who puts onhisarmorboast like the one who takesitoff.’ ”

12 And it happened whenBen-Hadadheard this message, as he and the kingsweredrinking at the command post, that he said to his servants, “Get ready.” And they got ready to attack the city.

13 Suddenly a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel, saying, “Thus says theLord: ‘Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold,I will deliver it into your hand today, and you shall know that IamtheLord.’ ”

14 So Ahab said, “By whom?”

And he said, “Thus says theLord: ‘By the young leaders of the provinces.’ ”

Then he said, “Who will set the battle in order?”

And he answered, “You.”

15 Then he mustered the young leaders of the provinces, and there were two hundred and thirty-two; and after them he mustered all the people, all the children of Israel—seven thousand.

16 So they went out at noon. Meanwhile Ben-Hadad and the thirty-two kings helping him weregetting drunk at the command post.

17 The young leaders of the provinces went out first. And Ben-Hadad sent outapatrol,and they told him, saying, “Men are coming out of Samaria!”

18 So he said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; and if they have come out for war, take them alive.”

19 Then these young leaders of the provinces went out of the city with the army which followed them.

20 And each one killed his man; so the Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them; and Ben-Hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with the cavalry.

21 Then the king of Israel went out and attacked the horses and chariots, and killed the Syrians with a great slaughter.

22 And the prophet came to the king of Israel and said to him, “Go, strengthen yourself; take note, and see what you should do,for in the spring of the year the king of Syria will come up against you.”

The Syrians Again Defeated

23 Then the servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Their godsaregods of the hills. Therefore they were stronger than we; but if we fight against them in the plain, surely we will be stronger than they.

24 So do this thing: Dismiss the kings, each from his position, and put captains in their places;

25 and you shall muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse and chariot for chariot. Then we will fight against them in the plain; surely we will be stronger than they.”

And he listened to their voice and did so.

26 So it was, in the spring of the year, that Ben-Hadad mustered the Syrians and went up toAphek to fight against Israel.

27 And the children of Israel were mustered and given provisions, and they went against them. Now the children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of goats, while the Syrians filled thecountryside.

28 Then aman of God came and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, “Thus says theLord: ‘Because the Syrians have said, “TheLordisGod of the hills, but Heisnot God of the valleys,” thereforeI will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that IamtheLord.’ ”

29 And they encamped opposite each other for seven days. So it was that on the seventh day the battle was joined; and the children of Israel killed one hundred thousand foot soldiersofthe Syrians in one day.

30 But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; then a wall fell on twenty-seven thousand of the menwhowereleft.

And Ben-Hadad fled and went into the city, into an inner chamber.

Ahab’s Treaty with Ben-Hadad

31 Then his servants said to him, “Look now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israelaremerciful kings. Please, let usput sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads, and go out to the king of Israel; perhaps he will spare your life.”

32 So they wore sackcloth around their waists andputropes around their heads, and came to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-Hadad says, ‘Please let me live.’ ”

And he said, “Ishe still alive? Heismy brother.”

33 Now the men were watching closely to see whetheranysignofmercywouldcomefrom him; and they quickly graspedatthiswordand said, “Your brother Ben-Hadad.”

So he said, “Go, bring him.” Then Ben-Hadad came out to him; and he had him come up into the chariot.

34 SoBen-Hadadsaid to him,“The cities which my father took from your father I will restore; and you may set up marketplaces for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.”

ThenAhabsaid,“I will send you away with this treaty.” So he made a treaty with him and sent him away.

Ahab Condemned

35 Now a certain man ofthe sons of the prophets said to his neighborby the word of theLord, “Strike me, please.” And the man refused to strike him.

36 Then he said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of theLord, surely, as soon as you depart from me, a lion shall kill you.” And as soon as he left him,a lion found him and killed him.

37 And he found another man, and said, “Strike me, please.” So the man struck him, inflicting a wound.

38 Then the prophet departed and waited for the king by the road, and disguised himself with a bandage over his eyes.

39 Nowas the king passed by, he cried out to the king and said, “Your servant went out into the midst of the battle; and there, a man came over and brought a man to me, and said, ‘Guard this man; if by any means he is missing,your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.’

40 While your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.”

Then the king of Israel said to him, “Soshallyour judgmentbe;you yourself have decidedit.”

41 And he hastened to take the bandage away from his eyes; and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets.

42 Then he said to him, “Thus says theLord:‘Because you have let slip out ofyourhand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.’ ”

43 So the king of Israelwent to his house sullen and displeased, and came to Samaria.

Naboth Is Murdered for His Vineyard

1 And it came to pass after these thingsthatNaboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard whichwasinJezreel, next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.

2 So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me yourvineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because itisnear, next to my house; and for it I will give you a vineyard better than it.Or,if it seems good to you, I will give you its worth in money.”

3 But Naboth said to Ahab, “TheLordforbidthat I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!”

4 So Ahab went into his house sullen and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no food.

5 ButJezebel his wife came to him, and said to him, “Why is your spirit so sullen that you eat no food?”

6 He said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite, and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it pleases you, I will give youanothervineyard for it.’ And he answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’ ”

7 Then Jezebel his wife said to him, “You now exercise authority over Israel! Arise, eat food, and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

8 And she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealedthemwith his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and the nobles whoweredwelling in the city with Naboth.

9 She wrote in the letters, saying,

Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth with high honor among the people;

10 and seat two men, scoundrels, before him to bear witness against him, saying, “You haveblasphemed God and the king.”Thentake him out, andstone him, that he may die.

11 So the men of his city, the elders and nobles who were inhabitants of his city, did as Jezebel had sent to them, as itwaswritten in the letters which she had sent to them.

12 They proclaimed a fast, and seated Naboth with high honor among the people.

13 And two men, scoundrels, came in and sat before him; and the scoundrelswitnessed against him, against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth has blasphemed God and the king!”Then they took him outside the city and stoned him with stones, so that he died.

14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned and is dead.”

15 And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead.”

16 So it was, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab got up and went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.

The Lord Condemns Ahab

17 Then the word of theLordcame toElijah the Tishbite, saying,

18 “Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel,wholivesin Samaria. Thereheis,in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone down to take possession of it.

19 You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says theLord: “Have you murdered and also taken possession?” ’ And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says theLord:“In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours.” ’ ”

20 So Ahab said to Elijah,“Have you found me, O my enemy?”

# And he answered, “I have foundyou,becauseyou have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of theLord:

21 ‘Behold,I will bring calamity on you. I will take away yourposterity, and will cut off from Ahabevery male in Israel, bothbond and free.

22 I will make your house like the house ofJeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house ofBaasha the son of Ahijah, because of the provocation with which you have provokedMeto anger, and made Israel sin.’

23 Andconcerning Jezebel theLordalso spoke, saying, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’

24 The dogs shall eatwhoever belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field.”

25 Butthere was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of theLord,because Jezebel his wife stirred him up.

26 And he behaved very abominably in following idols, according to allthatthe Amorites had done, whom theLordhad cast out before the children of Israel.

27 So it was, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes andput sackcloth on his body, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about mourning.

28 And the word of theLordcame to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,

29 “See how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because hehas humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days.In the days of his son I will bring the calamity on his house.”

Micaiah Warns Ahab

1 Now three years passed without war between Syria and Israel.

2 Then it came to pass, in the third year, thatJehoshaphat the king of Judah went down tovisitthe king of Israel.

3 And the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know thatRamoth in Gileadisours, but we hesitate to take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?”

4 So he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight at Ramoth Gilead?”

# Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel,“Iamas youare,my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”

5 Also Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel,“Please inquire for the word of theLordtoday.”

6 Then the king of Israelgathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to fight, or shall I refrain?”

So they said, “Go up, for the Lord will deliveritinto the hand of the king.”

7 AndJehoshaphat said, “Istherenot still a prophet of theLordhere, that we may inquire of Him?”

8 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Thereisstill one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of theLord; but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.”

And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say such things!”

9 Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Bring Micaiah the son of Imlah quickly!”

10 The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, having put ontheirrobes, sat each on his throne, at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

11 Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had madehorns of iron for himself; and he said, “Thus says theLord: ‘With these you shallgore the Syrians until they are destroyed.’ ”

12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, “Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper, for theLordwill deliveritinto the king’s hand.”

13 Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, “Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Please, let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement.”

14 And Micaiah said, “AstheLordlives,whatever theLordsays to me, that I will speak.”

15 Then he came to the king; and the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall we refrain?”

And he answered him, “Go and prosper, for theLordwill deliveritinto the hand of the king!”

16 So the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of theLord?”

17 Then he said, “I saw all Israelscattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And theLordsaid, ‘These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.’ ”

18 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”

19 ThenMicaiahsaid, “Therefore hear the word of theLord:I saw theLordsitting on His throne,and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left.

20 And theLordsaid, ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner.

21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before theLord, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’

22 TheLordsaid to him, ‘In what way?’ So he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And theLordsaid,‘You shall persuadehim,and also prevail. Go out and do so.’

23 Therefore look! TheLordhas put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and theLordhas declared disaster against you.”

24 Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near andstruck Micaiah on the cheek, and said,“Which way did the spirit from theLordgo from me to speak to you?”

25 And Micaiah said, “Indeed, you shall see on that day when you go into aninner chamber to hide!”

26 So the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah, and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son;

27 and say, ‘Thus says the king: “Put thisfellowinprison, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction, until I come in peace.” ’ ”

28 But Micaiah said, “If you ever return in peace,theLordhas not spoken by me.” And he said, “Take heed, all you people!”

Ahab Dies in Battle

29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.

30 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle; but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israeldisguised himself and went into battle.

31 Now theking of Syria had commanded the thirty-twocaptains of his chariots, saying, “Fight with no one small or great, but only with the king of Israel.”

32 So it was, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, “Surely itisthe king of Israel!” Therefore they turned aside to fight against him, and Jehoshaphatcried out.

33 And it happened, when the captains of the chariots saw that itwasnot the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.

34 Now acertainman drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am wounded.”

35 The battle increased that day; and the king was propped up in his chariot, facing the Syrians, and died at evening. The blood ran out from the wound onto the floor of the chariot.

36 Then, as the sun was going down, a shout went throughout the army, saying, “Every man to his city, and every man to his own country!”

37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria. And they buried the king in Samaria.

38 Thensomeonewashed the chariot at a pool in Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood while the harlots bathed, accordingto the word of theLordwhich He had spoken.

39 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did,the ivory house which he built and all the cities that he built,arethey not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

40 So Ahab rested with his fathers. ThenAhaziah his son reigned in his place.

Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah

41 Jehoshaphat the son of Asa had become king over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.

42 Jehoshaphatwasthirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s namewasAzubah the daughter of Shilhi.

43 Andhe walked in all the ways of his father Asa. He did not turn aside from them, doingwhatwasright in the eyes of theLord. Neverthelessthe high places were not taken away,forthe people offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.

44 AlsoJehoshaphat madepeace with the king of Israel.

45 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, the might that he showed, and how he made war,arethey not writtenin the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

46 And the rest of the perverted persons, who remained in the days of his father Asa, he banished from the land.

47 Therewasthen no king in Edom, only a deputy of the king.

48 Jehoshaphatmade merchant ships to go toOphir for gold;but they never sailed, for the ships were wrecked atEzion Geber.

49 Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships.” But Jehoshaphat would not.

50 AndJehoshaphat rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David his father. Then Jehoram his son reigned in his place.

Ahaziah Reigns in Israel

51 Ahaziah the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel.

52 He did evil in the sight of theLord, andwalked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin;

53 forhe served Baal and worshiped him, and provoked theLordGod of Israel to anger,according to all that his father had done.