[10] And the servants of Solomon and the servants of Chiram brought gold to Solomon out of Suphir, and pine timber, and precious stones. [11] And the king made of the pine timber steps to the house of the Lord, and to the king’s house, and harps and lutes for the singers: and such were not seen before in the land of Juda. [12] And king Solomon gave to the queen of Saba all that she requested, besides all that she brought to king Solomon: and she returned to her own land.
[13] And the weight of the gold that was brought to Solomon in one year was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold, [14] besides what the men who were regularly appointed and the merchants brought, and all the kings of Arabia and princes of the land: all brought gold and silver to king Solomon. [15] And king Solomon made two hundred shields of beaten gold: there were six hundred shekels of pure gold to one shield. [16] And three hundred buckles of beaten gold: the weight of three hundred gold shekels went to one buckler: and the king placed them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.
[17] And the king made a great throne of ivory, and he gilded it with pure gold. [18] And there were six steps to the throne, riveted with gold, and elbows on either side of the seat of the throne, and two lions standing by the elbows: [19] and twelve lions standing there on the six steps on each side. There was not the like in any other kingdom.
[20] And all king Solomon’s vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were covered with gold: silver was not thought anything of in the days of Solomon. [21] For a ship went for the king to Tharsis with the servants of Chiram: once every three years came vessels from Tharsis to the king, laden with gold, and silver, and ivory, and apes.
[22] And Solomon exceeded all other kings both in riches and wisdom. [23] And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. [24] And they brought every one his gifts, silver vessels and golden vessels, and raiment, myrrh and spices, horses and mules, a rate every year.
[25] And Solomon had four thousand mares for chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen; and he put them in the chariot cities, and with the king in Jerusalem. [26] And he rules over all the kings from the river even to the land of the Philistines, and to the borders of Egypt. [27] And the king made gold and silver in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars as the sycamore trees in the plain for abundance. [28] And Solomon imported horses from Egypt, and from every other country.
[29] And the rest of the acts of Solomon, the first and the last, behold, these are written in the words of Nathan the prophet, and in the words of Achia the Selonite, and in the visions of Joel the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nabat. [30] And Solomon reigned over all Israel forty years. [31] And Solomon fell asleep, and they buried him in the city of David his father: and Roboam his son reigned in his stead.
Chapter 10
[1] And Roboam came to Sychem: for all Israel came to Sychem to make him king.
[2] And it came to pass when Jeroboam the son of Nabat heard it, (now he was in Egypt, forasmuch as he had fled thither from the face of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt,)that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt. [3] And they sent and called him: and Jeroboam and all the congregation came to Roboam, saying, [4] Thy father made our yoke grievous: now then abate somewhat of thy father’s grievous rule, and of his heavy yoke which he put upon us, and we will serve thee. [5] And he said to them, Go away for three days, and then come to me. So the people departed.
[6] And king Roboam assembled the elders that stood before his father Solomon in his life-time, saying, How do ye counsel me to return an answer to this people? [7] And they spoke to him, saying, If thou wouldest this day befriend this people, and be kind to them, and speak to them good words, then will they be thy servants for ever. [8] But he forsook the advice of the old men, who took counsel with him, and he took counsel with the young men who had been brought up with him, who stood before him. [9] And he said to them, What do ye advise that I should answer this people, who spoke to me, saying, Ease somewhat of the yoke which thy father laid upon us? [10] And the young men that had been brought up with him spoke to him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak to the people that spoke to thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, and do thou lighten somewhat of it from us; thus shalt thou say, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins. [11] And whereas my father chastised you with a heavy yoke, I will also add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, and I will chastise you with scorpions.
[12] And Jeroboam and all the people came to Roboam on the third day, as the king had spoken, saying, Return to me on the third day. [13] And the king answered harshly; and king Roboam forsook the counsel of the old men, [14] and spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
[15] And the king hearkened not to the people, for there was a change of their minds from God, saying, The Lord has confirmed his word, which he spoke by the hand of Achia the Selonite concerning Jeroboam the son of Nabat, and concerning all Israel; [16] for the king did not hearken to them. And the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David, or inheritance in the son of Jessae? to thy tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So all Israel went to their tents. [17] But the men of Israel, even those who dwelt in the cities of Juda, remained and made Roboam king over them.
[18] And king Roboam sent to them Adoniram that was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, and he died. And king Roboam hasted to mount his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. [19] So Israel rebelled against the house of David until this day.
Chapter 11
[1] And Roboam came to Jerusalem; and he assembled Juda and Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand young men fit for war, and he waged war with Israel to recover the kingdom to Roboam. [2] And the Word of the Lord came to Samaias the man of God, saying, [3] Speak to Roboam the son of Solomon, and to all Juda and Benjamin, saying, [4] Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go up, and ye shall not war against your brethren: return every one to his home; for this thing is of me. And they hearkened to the word of the Lord, and returned from going against Jeroboam.
[5] And Roboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and he built walled cities in Judea. [6] And he built Bethleem, and Ætan and Thecoe, [7] and Baethsura, and Sochoth, and Odollam, [8] and Geth, and Marisa, and Ziph, [9] and Adorai, and Lachis, and Azeca, [10] and Saraa, and Ælom, and Chebron, which belong to Juda and Benjamin, walled cities. [11] And he fortified them with walls, and placed in them captains, and stores of provisions, oil and wine, [12] shields and spears in every several city, and he fortified them very strongly, and he had on his side Juda and Benjamin.
[13] And the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel were gathered to him out of all the coasts. [14] For the Levites left the tents of their possession, and went to Juda to Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had ejected them so that they should not minister to the Lord. [15] And he made for himself priests of the high places, and for the idols, and for the vanities, and for the calves which Jeroboam made. [16] And he cast out from the tribes of Israel those who set their heart to seek the Lord God of Israel: and they came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice to the Lord God of their fathers. [17] And they strengthened the kingdom of Juda; and Juda strengthened Roboam the son of Solomon for three years, for he walked three years in the ways of David and Solomon.
[18] And Roboam took to himself for a wife, Moolath daughter of Jerimuth the son of David, and Abigaia daughter of Heliab the son of Jessae. [19] And she bore him sons; Jeus, and Samoria, and Zaam. [20] And afterwards he took to himself Maacha the daughter of Abessalom; and she bore him Abia, and Jetthi, and Zeza, and Salemoth. [21] And Roboam loved Maacha the daughter of Abessalom more than all his wives and all his concubines: for he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines; and he begot twenty-eight sons, and sixty daughters. [22] And he made Abia the son of Maacha chief, even a leader among h
is brethren, for he intended to make him king. [23] And he was exalted beyond all his other sons in all the coasts of Juda and Benjamin, and in the strong cities; and he gave them provisions in great abundance: and he desired many wives.
Chapter 12
[1] And it came to pass when the kingdom of Roboam was established, and when he had grown strong, that he forsook the commandments of the Lord, and all Israel with him.
[2] And it came to pass in the fifth year of the reign of Roboam, Susakim king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had sinned against the Lord, [3] with twelve hundred chariots, and sixty thousand horses: and there was no number of the multitude that came with him from Egypt; Libyans, Trogodytes, and Ethiopians. [4] And they obtained possession of the strong cities, which were in Juda, and came to Jerusalem.
[5] And Samaias the prophet came to Roboam, and to the princes of Juda that were gathered to Jerusalem for fear of Susakim, and said to them, Thus said the Lord, Ye have left me, and I will leave you in the hand of Susakim. [6] And the elders of Israel and the king were ashamed, and said, The Lord is righteous. [7] And when the Lord saw that they repented, then came the word of the Lord to Samaias, saying, They have repented; I will not destroy them, but I will set them in safety for a little while, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem. [8] Nevertheless they shall be servants, and know my service, and the service of the kings of the earth.
[9] So Susakim king of Egypt went up against Jerusalem, and took the treasures that were in the house of the Lord, and the treasures that were in the king’s house: he took all; and he took the golden shields which Solomon had made. [10] And king Roboam made brazen shields instead of them. And Susakim set over him captains of footmen, as keepers of the gate of the king. [11] And it came to pass, when the king went into the house of the Lord, the guards and the footmen went in, and they that returned to meet the footmen. [12] And when he repented, the anger of the Lord turned from him, and did not destroy him utterly; for there were good things in Juda.
[13] So king Roboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: and Roboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, in the city which the Lord chose out of all the tribes of the children of Israel to call his name there: and his mother’s name was Noomma the Ammanitess. [14] And he did evil, for he directed not his heart to seek the Lord.
[15] And the acts of Roboam, the first and the last, behold, are they not written in the book of Samaia the prophet, and Addo the seer, with his achievements. [16] And Roboam made war with Jeroboam all his days. And Roboam died with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abia his son reigned in his stead.
Chapter 13
[1] In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam Abia began to reign over Juda. [2] He reigned three years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Maacha, daughter of Uriel of Gabaon.
And there was war between Abia and Jeroboam. [3] And Abia set the battle in array with an army, with mighty men of war, even four hundred thousand mighty men: and Jeroboam set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand, they were mighty warriors of the host.
[4] And Abia rose up from the mount Somoron, which is in mount Ephraim, and said, Hear ye, Jeroboam, and all Israel: [5] Is it not for you to know that the Lord God of Israel has given a king over Israel for ever to David, and to his sons, by a covenant of salt? [6] But Jeroboam the son of Nabat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and has revolted from his master: [7] and there are gathered to him pestilent men, transgressors, and he has risen up against Roboam the son of Solomon, while Roboam was young and fearful in heart, and he withstood him not. [8] And now ye profess to resist the kingdom of the Lord in the hand of the sons of David; and ye are a great multitude, and with you are golden calves, which Jeroboam made you for gods. [9] Did ye not cast out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and make to yourselves priests of the people of any other land? whoever came to consecrate himself with a calf of the heard and seven rams, he forthwith became a priest to that which is no god. [10] But we have not forsaken the Lord our God, and his priests, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, minister to the Lord; and in their daily courses [11] they sacrifice to the Lord whole-burnt-offering, morning and evening, and compound incense, and set the shewbread on the pure table; and there is the golden candlestick, and the lamps for burning, to light in the evening: for we keep the charge of the Lord God of our fathers; but ye have forsaken him. [12] And, behold, the Lord and his priests are with us at our head, and the signal trumpets to sound an alarm over us. Children of Israel, fight not against the Lord God of our fathers; for ye shall not prosper.
[13] Now Jeroboam had caused an ambush to come round upon him from behind: and he himself was before Juda, and the ambush behind. [14] And Juda looked back, and, behold, the battle was against them before and behind: and they cried to the Lord, and the priests sounded with the trumpets. [15] And the men of Juda shouted: and it came to pass, when the men of Juda shouted, that the Lord smote Jeroboam and Israel before Abia and Juda. [16] And the children of Israel fled from before Juda; and the Lord delivered them into their hands. [17] And Abia and his people smote them with a great slaughter: and there fell slain of Israel five hundred thousand mighty men. [18] So the children of Israel were brought low in that day, and the children of Juda prevailed, because they trusted on the Lord God of their fathers. [19] And Abia pursued after Jeroboam, and he took from him the cities, Baethel and her towns, and Jesyna and her towns, and Ephron and her towns. [20] And Jeroboam did not recover strength again all the days of Abia: and the Lord smote him, and he died.
[21] But Abia strengthened himself, and took to himself fourteen wives, and he begot twenty-two sons, and sixteen daughters.
[22] And the rest of the acts of Abia, and his deeds, and his sayings, are written in the book of the prophet Addo.
Chapter 14
[1] And Abia died with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In the days of Asa the land of Juda had rest ten years.
[2] And he did that which was good and right in the sight of the Lord his God. [3] And he removed the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and broke the pillars in pieces, and cut down the groves: [4] and he told Juda to seek earnestly the Lord God of their fathers, and to perform the law and commandments. [5] And he removed from all the cities of Juda the altars and the idols, and established in quietness [6] fortified cities in the land of Juda; for the land was quiet, and he had no war in these years; for the Lord gave him rest. [7] And he said to Juda, Let us fortify these cities, and make walls, and towers, and gates, and bars: we shall prevail over the land, for as we have sought out the Lord our God, he has sought out us, and has given us rest round about, and prospered us. [8] And Asa had a force of armed men bearing shields and spears in the land of Juda, even three hundred thousand, and in the land of Benjamin two hundred and eighty thousand targeteers and archers: all these were mighty warriors.
[9] And Zare the Ethiopian went out against them, with a force of a million, and three hundred chariots; and came to Maresa. [10] And Asa went out to meet him, and set the battle in array in the valley north of Maresa. [11] And Asa cried to the Lord his God, and said, O Lord, it is not impossible with thee to save by many or by few: strengthen us, O Lord our God; for we trust in thee, and in thy name have we come against this great multitude. O Lord our God, let not man prevail against thee. [12] And the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Juda; and the Ethiopians fled. [13] And Asa and his people pursued them to Gedor; and the Ethiopians fell, so that they could not recover themselves; for they were crushed before the Lord, and before his host; and they took many spoils. [14] And they destroyed their towns roundabout Gedor; for a terror of the Lord was upon them: and they spoiled all their cities, for they had much spoil. [15] Also they destroyed the tents of cattle, and the Alimazons, and took many sheep and camels, and returned to Jeru
salem.
Chapter 15
[1] And Azarias the son of Oded — upon him came the Spirit of the Lord, [2] and he went out to meet Asa, and all Juda and Benjamin, and said, Hear me, Asa, and all Juda and Benjamin. The Lord is with you, while ye are with him; and if ye seek him out, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you. [3] And Israel has been a long time without the true God, and without a priest to expound the truth, and without the law. [4] But he shall turn them to the Lord God of Israel, and he will be found of them. [5] And in that time there is no peace to one going out, or to one coming in, for the terror of the Lord is upon all that inhabit the lands. [6] And nation shall fight against nation, and city against city; for God has confounded them with every kind of affliction. [7] But be ye strong, and let not your hands be weakened: for there is a reward for your work.
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