About this Bible Study........The King James Version of the Bible is written in a beautiful form of the English language. It can be hard for modern English readers to understand. In this study, you will find notes and summaries in brown just above the the verses from the Bible. We recommend that you read the notes and summaries first, and then read the verses in their KJV form.
The Books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings
The books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings were originally one book. They were probably
separated into 2 books so they would be easier to copy by hand.
1 Kings and 2 Kings were written 561 - 538 years before Jesus Christ was born. They cover
David's death,
David's son, Solomon, and his time as king, the kings after Solomon,
and the other groups of people who came and carried the Israelites away to other
countries.
The books were written for 2 reasons:
1. To review the history for the exiles (the Israelites who lived in other
countries).
2. To show the exiles why they were carried away.
Bible Timeline
Here is a good timeline to see the book of 1 Kings in the history of the Bible
http://www.sundayschoolresources.com/timeline.htm
|
In 1 Kings 18, Elijah proved that God was the only god. He asked God to send down fire, and all of the Israelites saw it happen. Then he killed the prophets of the false god, Baal. |
God's angel came back and touched Elijah again.
The angel told him to get up and eat. Elijah will have a long trip, and
he needs to eat to be strong.
[7] 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.
|
Elijah got up and ate and drank. He was strong
from the food. He traveled for 40 days and 40 nights to the mountain
named Horeb (also called Mt. Sinai). Horeb was God's mountain.
[8] 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.
He found a cave and stayed there. Then
God talked to him. God asked him what he was doing there.
[9] 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?
Elijah said he had done good work for God.
The Israelites are not obeying
God. They have broken God's altars and killed God's prophets with
swords. Elijah said he is the only one left. Now they want to kill
him.
[10] 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.
God told Elijah to go stand on Mt. Sinai.
God passed the mountain. A strong wind broke pieces of the
mountain into rocks. But God was not in the wind. After the wind, there
was an earthquake. But God was not in the earthquake.
[11] 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:
After the earthquake, there was a fire. But God
was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a very quiet voice.
Elijah heard the small voice. He wrapped his coat around his face and
stood in the door of the cave. Then the quiet voice asked Elijah what he
was doing there.
[12] And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire:
and after the fire a still small voice.
[13] 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?
Elijah said he had done good work for God.
The Israelites are not keeping their promise to God. They have broken
God's altars and killed God's prophets with swords. Elijah said he is
the only one left, and they are trying to kill him.
[14] 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.
God told Elijah to go through the desert to the
city of Damascus. He told him to make the man named Hazael the new
king of Syria.
[15] 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:
Elijah should also make the man named Jehu (his
father was Nimshi) the new king of Israel. He should make Elisha
(his father was Shaphat from the place named Abel-meholah) to be the
prophet. Elisha will take Elijah's place later.
[16] And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over
Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint
to be prophet in thy room.
Jehu should kill anyone who escapes from Hazael
in Syria. Elisha should kill anyone who escapes from Jehu.
[17] 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.
But God said there are 7,000 good Israelites
left. They have never bowed down to Baal or kissed Baal's statues.
[18] 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.
Elisha becomes Elijah's helper.
Elijah left Mt. Sinai. He found Elisha
(his father's name was Shaphat). Elisha was working in the field with
some other men. They were plowing the ground with oxen. There were
12 men plowing with oxen in front of him. Elijah went to Elisha and put
his coat on him.
[19] 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.
Elisha left his oxen in the field. He followed
Elijah. He said he would go with Elijah, but first, he wanted to kiss his
parents goodbye. Elijah told him to go.
[20] 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?
Elisha went to see his parents. He took 2 oxen
and killed them. He made a fire with the wood of the oxen's yoke. He
cooked the meat on the fire. He gave the meat to the people, and they
ate the oxen. Then he got up and went back to follow Elijah and
help him.
[21] 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.
This is Ben-hadad II. His father helped King Asa of Judah back in 1 Kings 15. |
The leaders and the other Israelites told him
he should not listen to Ben-hadad. He should not tell him he can have
his wives, children, silver, and gold.
[8] And all the elders and all the people said unto him, Hearken not
unto him, nor consent.
Ahab told Ben-hadad's messengers to give him a
message. He said he will do what he first agreed to do. But he
will not let Ben-hadad's workers look through his house and his
servants' houses. The messengers left and took the message to Ben-hadad.
[9] Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Ben-hadad, 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.
Ben-hadad said he would destroy Samaria. He
said his army will carry Samaria in their hands like dust. He said if he
did not do this, he wanted his gods to punish him.
[10] And Ben-hadad 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.
Ahab sent another message to Ben-hahad. He said
he shouldn't brag before the war even starts.
[11] 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.
When Ben-hadad got Ahab's message, he and his
leaders were drinking. He told them to get ready for a war.
[12] 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.
A prophet went to talk to Ahab. He told him what God said.
God said that Ahab has seen Ben-hadad's big army. But God would help
Ahab win the war against Ben-hadad. Then Ahab will know that God is the
Lord.
[13] 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 in to thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am
the LORD.
Ahab asked God who would fight in the war.
God said that the sons of the leaders of Israel will fight in the war.
Ahab asked who would give the orders in the war. God said Ahab would be
the leader and give the orders.
[14] 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.
Ahab counted the sons of the leaders of Israel.
There were 232. Then he counted all of the Israelites in the army. There
were 7,000.
[15] 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.
The Israelite army went to fight at noon.
Ben-hadad was drinking and getting drunk. The 32 kings who helped
him were with him. They were getting drunk, too.
[16] And they went out at noon. But Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk
in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped
him.
Map showing
Samaria and Syria. |
The sons of the leaders of Israel were in
front. Ben-hadad's soldiers saw them. They told Ben-hadad that
soldiers were coming out from Samaria.
[17] And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first;
and Ben-hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come
out of Samaria.
Ben-hadad told his soldiers not to kill them.
He wanted his soldiers to capture them and keep them alive. It didn't
matter if they were coming for peace or coming for war. Ben-hadad wanted
them to be alive.
[18] And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive;
or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
The sons of the Israelite leaders came out of Samaria. The Israelite
army followed them. Each soldier killed a Syrian soldier. The
Syrian army escaped, and the Israelite army chased them. Ben-hadad
escaped on a horse with his other soldiers who rode horses.
[19] So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the
city, and the army which followed them.
[20] And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel
pursued them: and Ben-hadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with
the horsemen.
King Ahab of Israel was in the war. He killed
horses and destroyed chariots. He killed many Syrians.
[21] And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots,
and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.
Kings Ahab and Ben-hadad get advice about the next
war.
The prophet talked to King Ahab. He told him
that Ben-hadad will attack Israel next year. Ahab should get ready and
make his army strong.
[22] And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go,
strengthen thy self, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the
return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.
Ben-hadad's helpers talked to him. They said
they lost the war because Israel was strong in the hill area. They said
the Israelite gods were hill gods (they thought the Israelites had many
false gods like they had). They said they could defeat Israel if
they fought the war on flat land. They told him to replace the 32 kings.
He should use army leaders instead of the kings.
[23] 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.
[24] And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place,
and put captains in their rooms:
He should find more soldiers to replace the
soldiers who died. He should also find more horses and chariots to
replace the ones from the first war. They said they will fight the
next war with Israel in the flat land. They said they will win the next
war. Ben-hadad listened to the advice and did what they said.
[25] 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.
The king of Syria attacks Israel a second time, and Ahab lets Ben-hadad
live.
At the beginning of the next year, Ben-hadad
took his army to Aphek. They would fight Israel at that place.
[26] And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Ben-hadad
numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.
The Israelite army went to fight again with the
Syrian army. There were many more Syrian soldiers than Israelite
soldiers. When they were in camps, the Syrian army was very large and
filled the area. But the small Israelite army looked like 2 flocks of
baby goats.
[27] 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.
A prophet came and talked to Ahab. He told him
what God said. God said that the Syrians said He is the God of the hills
only. They said He was not God of the flat land. So, God will help the
Israelites defeat the Syrians again. Then, the Israelites will know
that God is the Lord.
[28] 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.
The Syrian army and the Israelite army camped
near each other for 7 days. On the 7th day, the war started. The
Israelites killed 100,000 Syrian foot soldiers in one day.
[29] 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.
The rest of the Syrian soldiers escaped to the
city of Aphek. A wall in the city fell and killed 27,000 more
Syrian soldiers. Ben-hadad escaped and came to a room inside the city.
[30] 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 Ben-hadad
fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.
Ben-hadad's helpers talked to him. They
said they heard that Israel's kings showed mercy (treated people well
instead of hurting them). They wanted to put very rough cloth on
like clothes. They would also put rope on their heads. They would go to
King Ahab to see if he will save Ben-hadad.
[31] 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.
They put on sackcloth and ropes and went to see
Ahab. They said that Ben-hadad asked Ahab to let him live.
Ahab asked if he was still alive. He called Ben-hadad his brother.
[32] So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their
heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Ben-hadad
saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my
brother.
Ben-hadad's men were watching Ahab closely.
They were trying to see what he was thinking. When Ahab called Ben-hadad
his brother, Ben-hadad's helpers said Ahab and Ben-hahad were like
brothers. Ahab told them to go bring Ben-hadad to him. Then
Ahab had Ben-hadad get in his chariot.
[33] Now the men did diligently observe whether any thing would come
from him, and did hastily catch it: and they said, Thy brother
Ben-hadad. Then he said, Go ye, bring him. Then Ben-hadad came forth to
him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.
Ben-hadad promised to give Ahab some cities. They were cities that his
father took from Ahab's father in a war. He said that Ahab could make
streets in the Syrian city of Damascus. Ben-hadad said his father had
made streets in Samaria. Ahab said Ben-hadad could go free if he
promised to do these things. Ben-hadad promised, so Ahab let him go free.
[34] 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.
A prophet warns Ahab that he will die because
he did not kill Ben-haddad.
A prophet asked his neighbor to hit him. The neighbor refused.
Then the prophet said the neighbor did not obey God. When the neighbor
leaves, a lion will kill him. When the neighbor left, a lion caught the
man and killed him.
[35] 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.
[36] 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.
The prophet found another man. He asked the man
to hit him. The man hit him and hurt him. The prophet left
and waited for King Ahab. He put ashes on his face so that Ahab wouldn't
know who he was.
[37] Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the
man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him.
[38] So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and
disguised himself with ashes upon his face.
Ahab came by the prophet. The prophet called
to Ahab. He told Ahab he was fighting in the war. An army leader brought
a man to him. The leader told him to guard the man. If the man got away,
he would be killed in his place unless he paid 75 pounds of silver.
[39] 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.
He said he was busy, and the man escaped.
Ahab said he must die because the man escaped.
[40] 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.
The prophet quickly took off the ashes from his
face. Ahab recognized him and knew that he was one of the prophets.
[41] And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king
of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets.
The prophet told Ahab what God said. God said
that Ahab let a man go like the man in the story. Ahab let Ben-hadad
escape. God wanted Ahab to kill Ben-hadad but he let him go. Now Ahab
will die in Ben-hadad's place. Ahab's people will die in the place of
Ben-hadad's people.
[42] 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.
King Ahab went home to Samaria. He was very sad
and upset.
[43] And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and
came to Samaria.
Ahab wants Naboth's
vineyard (grape farm). |
Jezebel wrote letters and signed Ahab's
name. She used his seal (stamp) so everyone would think Ahab wrote the
letters. She sent the letters to the leaders in Naboth's city. She told
the leaders to tell their people to have a fast (no eating). They should
bring Naboth in front of everyone. Then they should get 2 bad men
to come and lie about Naboth. They should say that Naboth said bad
things against God and Ahab. After that, they should take Naboth outside
the city and throw rocks at him until he dies.
[8] 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.
[9] And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set
Naboth on high among the people:
[10] 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.
The leaders of Naboth's city did the things
that Jezebel told them to do. They had a fast, and they brought
Naboth in front of everyone. Two bad men came and told lies about
Naboth. They said that Naboth said bad things about God.
Then the leaders carried Naboth out of the city. They threw rocks at
him, and he died.
[11] 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.
[12] They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people.
[13] 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.
Then the leaders sent a message to Jezebel.
They told her that Naboth was dead. Then Jezebel told Ahab to get up and
go take Naboth's grape farm. She told him that Naboth was dead.
[14] Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.
[15] 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.
When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got
up and went to take Naboth's grape farm.
[16] 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.
God talked to Elijah. God told Elijah to go
meet King Ahab in Samaria. He told him that Ahab was at Naboth's grape
farm. God told Elijah to talk to Ahab and tell Ahab what God said. God
said that Ahab killed Naboth and now is taking his land. But Ahab
will die, and the dogs will lick his blood. They will lick his blood in
the same place where they licked Naboth's blood.
[17] And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
[18] 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.
[19] 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.
When Elijah met Ahab, Ahab said that Elijah
was his enemy, and now he has found him. Elijah said he found Ahab
because Ahab had done something very bad and God saw him.
[20] 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.
God said that He will make bad things happen to
Ahab. Ahab's descendants will die. All of the males in his family will
die.
[21] 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,
Ahab and his family will be destroyed like
Jeroboam and his family and Baasha and his family. Jeroboam and
Baasha made God angry, and they caused the people in Israel to sin.
[22] 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.
God also talked about Jezebel. He said
the dogs would eat her near the city wall.
[23] And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat
Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.
The dogs will eat any of Ahab's family who
die in the city. The birds will eat any who die in the fields.
[24] 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.
Ahab was the worst king. He did very bad things
in God's eyes. His wife Jezebel made trouble and caused him to
sin. He worshiped false gods and statues. He behaved like the group of
people named the Amorites. God put the Amorites out of Israel so that He
could give the land to the Israelites.
[25] 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.
[26] 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.
When Ahab heard this, he tore his clothes to
show he was upset. He also put on very rough clothes to show he was
sorry. He didn't eat and
wore the rough clothes to bed. He walked slowly.
[27] 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.
God told Elijah (he was from the place named
Tishbe) more words to say. God had seen how Ahab humbled himself
(showed he was sorry). God will not make bad things happen to
Ahab's family while he is alive. After he dies and his son becomes king,
God will do the things he said he will do to punish them.
[28] And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
[29] 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.
The kings of divided Israel (dates may not be exact) |
|||
King of
Israel (northern part) |
King of
Judah (southern part) |
||
Year started | King's name | Year started | King's name |
922 B.C. |
Jeroboam |
922 B.C. |
Rehoboam |
915 B.C. |
Abijam | ||
|
913 B.C. |
Asa | |
900 B.C. |
Nadab | ||
897 B.C. |
Baasha | ||
887 B.C. |
Elah | ||
886 B.C. |
Zimri | ||
882 B.C. |
Omri | ||
870 B.C. |
Ahab | ||
|
872 B. C. |
Jehoshaphat | |
855 B.C. |
Ahaziah |
In the third year, the king of Judah,
Jehoshaphat, came to see Ahab, the king of Israel.
[2] And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of
Judah came down to the king of Israel.
King Ahab talked to his helpers. He said
they know that the place named Ramoth in the area of Gilead belongs to
Israel. But they have not taken it back from the king of Syria.
[3] 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?
King Ahab asked King Jehoshaphat to go with him
to fight a war with Syria. Jehoshaphat said that he, his soldiers,
and his horses were ready to help Ahab.
[4] And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to
Ramoth-gilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou
art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.
Jehoshaphat said that Ahab should ask God if
they should fight the war with Syria.
[5] And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray thee,
at the word of the LORD to day.
Ahab brought 400 of his prophets for a meeting.
Ahab asked them if he should go fight a war. The prophets said
yes. They said God will help them defeat the king of Syria.
[6] Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four
hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to
battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall
deliver it into the hand of the king.
Ahab's 400 prophets were not God's prophets. They did not talk to God. They were prophets of Ahab's false gods. |
Jehoshphat wanted Ahab to ask of one
God's prophets if they should fight or not.
[7] And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD
besides, that we might inquire of him?
Ahab said there was a man named Micaiah
(his father's name was Imlah). Micaiah was one of God's prophets. But
Ahab said he hates Micaiah. He hates him because Micaiah always says
that bad things will happen to Ahab. But Jehoshaphat wanted Ahab to ask
Micaiah about the war.
[8] And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man,
Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire 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.
Ahab told one of his army leaders to go get
Micaiah.
[9] Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither
Micaiah the son of Imlah.
Israel's King Ahab and Judah's King Jehoshaphat
sat on their thrones. They had their king's clothes on. They were
in the gate of the city of Samaria. The prophets were all in front of
them. The prophets were telling the kings what to do.
[10] 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.
The prophet named Zedekiah (his father's
name was Chenaanah) made Ahab a helmet (hat). The helmet had horns on
it. He said Ahab would use the helmet to push the Syrians. He
would defeat them.
[11] 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.
Ahab's prophets told him to go to war.
They said God would help him win the war. They said God would give him
the land in Ramoth-gilead.
[12] And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead,
and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the king's hand.
Ahab's army leader talked to Micaiah before he met with Ahab. The
leader told him that he should say the same thing as Ahab's prophets. He
should tell Ahab that he would win the war.
[13] 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.
Micaiah made a promise with God's name.
He said that he would say only what God tells him to say.
[14] And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me,
that will I speak.
Micaiah met with the king. The king
asked him if they should fight a war with Syria or not. Micaiah
told him to go and that God would help him win.
[15] So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall
we go against Ramoth-gilead 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.
Ahab knew he was lying. He told Micaiah
to tell the truth.
[16] 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?
Micaiah said that he saw Israelite people
scattered on hills. They looked like sheep that did not have a
shepherd taking care of them. Then God said the Israelites should
go home and not fight a war.
[17] 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.
Ahab talked to Jehoshaphat. He said that
he already told Jehoshapat that Micaiah would say only bad things about
him.
[18] And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee
that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?
Micaiah continued. He said this was God's
word. Micaiah said he saw God sitting on His throne. All of the
angels were standing by him. There were angels on the right hand and
angels on the left hand.
[19] 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.
God asked if any of the angels would go
tell Ahab to fight a war. Some of the angels said no. Then a
spirit came up and stood in front of God. He said he would
encourage Ahab to fight a war.
[20] And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and
fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on
that manner.
[21] And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said,
I will persuade him.
God asked the spirit how he would do that. The
spirit said he will make Ahab's prophets lie. He will make Ahab's
prophets say that Ahab should go fight the war.
[22] 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.
Micaiah said that God made the prophets lie
when they said good things. But God is telling Ahab that something bad
will happen to him.
[23] 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.
One of Ahab's prophets, Zedekiah (the one who
made the hat with horns on it) hit Micaiah on the cheek. He asked him
which way God's spirit went. He wanted to know how it went from him to
Micaiah.
[24] 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?
Micaiah said Zedikiah would see the spirit
another day. It would be on the day when he goes into a little room to
hide.
[25] And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou
shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.
Ahab told his helpers to take Micaiah back to
the city and put him in jail. They should take him to the man
named Amon (the leader of Samaria) and Joash (one of Ahab's sons). They
should feed him only bread and water until Ahab wins the war and there
is peace.
[26] 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;
[27] 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.
Micaiah said if Ahab comes back in peace, that
means God did not really speak to him. Micaiah told all of the people
that they should listen to him.
[28] 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.
Ahab dies in the war with Syria.
Ahab and Jehoshaphat went to the area of Ramoth-gilead to fight the war.
[29] So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to
Ramoth-gilead.
Ahab told Jehoshaphat that he will put on a
disguise (different clothes to hide). Then he will fight in the
war. But he told Jehoshaphat to put on his normal clothes. So Ahab
put on the disguise and went to fight.
[30] 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.
The king of Syria had 32 army leaders in
chariots. He told them not to fight with anyone except Ahab.
[31] 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.
Ahab is killed in the
war. |
When the Syrian leaders saw Jehoshaphat,
they thought he was Ahab. They started fighting with him. Jehoshaphat
yelled, and then they knew it was not Ahab.
They stopped chasing him.
[32] 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.
[33] 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.
One of the Syrian soldiers shot his
arrow. He wasn't aiming at Ahab, but the arrow hit Ahab. It hit him in
the place where 2 parts of his armor connect. Ahab told the man driving
his chariot that he was hurt. He wanted him to take him out of the war.
[34] 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.
The war continued. Ahab stayed in his chariot.
He was propped up so that he could watch. He bled a lot, and the blood
ran into his chariot. In the evening, Ahab died.
[35] 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.
The army was ordered to leave. Every
soldier should go home.
[36] 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.
Ahab died, and they took him back to
Samaria. They buried him there.
[37] So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the
king in Samaria.
Back in 1 Kings 21, verse 19, God was mad at Ahab because he and Jezebel killed Naboth and stole his farm. God told him that he will die, and the dogs will lick his blood. They will lick his blood in the same place where they licked Naboth's blood. |
A soldier washed Ahab's chariot and armor
in the pool of Samaria. The dogs licked Ahab's blood. That is what
God said would happen.
[38] 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.
Ahab did other things while he was king. He built a house made of ivory
(white, from tusks of elephants). He built other cities.
The things are written in the book that tells about the kings of Israel.
[39] 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?
After Ahab died, his son named Ahaziah became
the new king.
[40] So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his
stead.
Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah.
Jehoshaphat was the son of Asa and Azubah. His
mother's father's name was Shilhi. He became the king of Judah when Ahab was
in his fourth year of being the king in Israel. Jehoshaphat was 35 years old
when he became king.
The kings of divided Israel (dates are not exact) |
|||
King of
Israel (northern part) |
King of
Judah (southern part) |
||
Year started | King's name | Year started | King's name |
922 B.C. |
Jeroboam |
922 B.C. |
Rehoboam |
915 B.C. |
Abijam | ||
|
913 B.C. |
Asa | |
900 B.C. |
Nadab | ||
897 B.C. |
Baasha | ||
887 B.C. |
Elah | ||
886 B.C. |
Zimri | ||
882 B.C. |
Omri | ||
870 B.C. |
Ahab | ||
|
872 B. C. |
Jehoshaphat | |
855 B.C. |
Ahaziah | ||
849 B.C. |
Jehoram |
[41] And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the
fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.
[42] 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.
Jehoshaphat obeyed God the same as his father,
Asa. But all of the places where people worshiped false gods were
not destroyed. People still made offerings and burnt incense in these
places.
[43] 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.
Jehoshaphat made peace with the king
of Israel.
[44] And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.
The book about the kings of Judah tells about
the other things that Jehoshaphat did. The book tells about his
bravery and the wars he fought.
[45] 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?
Some of the people who committed sodomy
had to leave Judah when Asa was the
king. Jehoshaphat made the rest of the
sodomites also leave.
[46] And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his
father Asa, he took out of the land.
At that time, there was no king in the
area named Edom. A different leader did the job of king.
[47] There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was king.
Jehoshaphat sent some ships from the place
named Tharshish. They were going to the place named Ophir to get some
gold. But they did not get to go because the ships broke at the place
named Ezion-geber.
[48] Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but
they went not; for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber.
Ahab's son, Ahaziah, asked Jehoshaphat if
some of his workers could go with Jehoshaphat's workers in the ships.
But Jehoshaphat said no.
[49] Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants
go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.
Jehoshaphat died and was buried with his fathers in Jerusalem. Then
Jehoshaphat's son named Jehoram became the new king of Judah.
[50] 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.
King Ahaziah of Israel
The kings of divided Israel (dates are not exact) |
|||
King of
Israel (northern part) |
King of
Judah (southern part) |
||
Year started | King's name | Year started | King's name |
922 B.C. |
Jeroboam |
922 B.C. |
Rehoboam |
915 B.C. |
Abijam | ||
|
913 B.C. |
Asa | |
900 B.C. |
Nadab | ||
897 B.C. |
Baasha | ||
887 B.C. |
Elah | ||
886 B.C. |
Zimri | ||
882 B.C. |
Omri | ||
870 B.C. |
Ahab | ||
|
872 B. C. |
Jehoshaphat | |
855 B.C. |
Ahaziah | ||
849 B.C. |
Jehoram |
Ahaziah became the king of Israel in year
17 of Jehoshaphat's time as king of Judah. Ahaziah was king for 2
years.
[51] 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.
Ahaziah was very bad. He did not obey God. He
behaved badly the same as his father, Ahab, and his mother, Jezebel. He
was bad the same as Jeroboam (from the place named Nebat). Jeroboam made
Israel sin.
[52] 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:
Ahaziah worked for the false god, Baal.
He worshiped Baal. That made God very angry the same as God was angry at
Ahaziah's father.
[53] For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the
LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.
Back to the previous chapters | To the next chapters |