Kings of Israel and Judah bible study 2 Chronicles

 

            This is a bible study to examine the kings of Israel and Judah from Solomon’s death to the period of Elijah the prophet approximately. This will give you a really good idea of the type of kings that Isreal and Judah had to deal with, although Israel’s were mainly evil, forsaking God to worship Baal and other idols and doing other evil deeds, and oppressing the people. Although Judah’s were largely better they too had evil kings from time to time. Often one of the nations, mostly Judah but some foreign nations would be used by God to punish the other, mostly Israel, for wrongdoing at that time and even beyond the time period of this bible study. This study is a continuation of the David and Solomon bible study and here is a link to that one if you want to look at and study that:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/jay-dougherty/david-and-solomon-bible-study/10200719036311862

In 2 Chronicles chapter 10 it is decided to make the people’s yoke still heavier so that the kingdoms would split as prophesied to bring about the word of the Lord. Israel was in open rebellion.

(2 Chronicles 10:1)  Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.

 

(2 Chronicles 10:2)  And as soon as Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), then Jeroboam returned from Egypt.

 

(2 Chronicles 10:3)  And they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all Israel came and said to Rehoboam,

 

(2 Chronicles 10:4)  "Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you."

 

(2 Chronicles 10:5)  He said to them, "Come to me again in three days." So the people went away.

 

(2 Chronicles 10:6)  Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, "How do you advise me to answer this people?"

 

(2 Chronicles 10:7)  And they said to him, "If you will be good to this people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever."

 

(2 Chronicles 10:8)  But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him.

 

(2 Chronicles 10:9)  And he said to them, "What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, 'Lighten the yoke that your father put on us'?"

 

(2 Chronicles 10:10)  And the young men who had grown up with him said to him, "Thus shall you speak to the people who said to you, 'Your father made our yoke heavy, but you lighten it for us'; thus shall you say to them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's thighs.

 

(2 Chronicles 10:11)  And now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.'"

 

(2 Chronicles 10:12)  So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king said, "Come to me again the third day."

 

(2 Chronicles 10:13)  And the king answered them harshly; and forsaking the counsel of the old men,

 

(2 Chronicles 10:14)  King Rehoboam 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 disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions."

 

(2 Chronicles 10:15)  So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of affairs brought about by God that the LORD might fulfill his word, which he spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

 

(2 Chronicles 10:16)  And when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, "What portion have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Each of you to your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, David." So all Israel went to their tents.

 

(2 Chronicles 10:17)  But Rehoboam reigned over the people of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah.

 

(2 Chronicles 10:18)  Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was taskmaster over the forced labor, and the people of Israel stoned him to death with stones. And King Rehoboam quickly mounted his chariot to flee to Jerusalem.

 

(2 Chronicles 10:19)  So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

 

In 2 Chronicles chapter 11, there is an attempt to raise an army to go against the others, but that plan is stopped by God. Rehoboam then as a result fortified the cities of Judah and Benjamin

(2 Chronicles 11:1)  When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 chosen warriors, to fight against Israel, to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.

 

(2 Chronicles 11:2)  But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God:

 

(2 Chronicles 11:3)  "Say to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin,

 

(2 Chronicles 11:4)  'Thus says the LORD, You shall not go up or fight against your relatives. Return every man to his home, for this thing is from me.'" So they listened to the word of the LORD and returned and did not go against Jeroboam.

 

(2 Chronicles 11:5)  Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and he built cities for defense in Judah.

 

(2 Chronicles 11:6)  He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

 

(2 Chronicles 11:7)  Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,

 

(2 Chronicles 11:8)  Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,

 

(2 Chronicles 11:9)  Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,

 

(2 Chronicles 11:10)  Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, fortified cities that are in Judah and in Benjamin.

 

(2 Chronicles 11:11)  He made the fortresses strong, and put commanders in them, and stores of food, oil, and wine.

 

(2 Chronicles 11:12)  And he put shields and spears in all the cities and made them very strong. So he held Judah and Benjamin.

 

(2 Chronicles 11:13)  And the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel presented themselves to him from all places where they lived.

 

(2 Chronicles 11:14)  For the Levites left their common lands and their holdings and came to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons cast them out from serving as priests of the LORD,

 

(2 Chronicles 11:15)  and he appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat idols and for the calves that he had made.

 

(2 Chronicles 11:16)  And those who had set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came after them from all the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers.

 

(2 Chronicles 11:17)  They strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and for three years they made Rehoboam the son of Solomon secure, for they walked for three years in the way of David and Solomon.

 

(2 Chronicles 11:18)  Rehoboam took as wife Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse,

 

(2 Chronicles 11:19)  and she bore him sons, Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.

 

(2 Chronicles 11:20)  After her he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

 

(2 Chronicles 11:21)  Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and concubines (he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters).

 

(2 Chronicles 11:22)  And Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah as chief prince among his brothers, for he intended to make him king.

 

(2 Chronicles 11:23)  And he dealt wisely and distributed some of his sons through all the districts of Judah and Benjamin, in all the fortified cities, and he gave them abundant provisions and procured wives for them.

 

Rehoboam in Chapter 2 of 2 Chronicles turns away from God and is given over to an enemy who invades (Egypt). The Lord sees the act of repentance, even if the act is mainly a superficial act, and then out of His mercy then gives them some partial deliverance from the invasion.

(2 Chronicles 12:1)  When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.

 

(2 Chronicles 12:2)  In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem

 

(2 Chronicles 12:3)  with 1,200 chariots and 60,000 horsemen. And the people were without number who came with him from Egypt--Libyans, Sukkiim, and Ethiopians.

 

(2 Chronicles 12:4)  And he took the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.

 

(2 Chronicles 12:5)  Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and to the princes of Judah, who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, "Thus says the LORD, 'You abandoned me, so I have abandoned you to the hand of Shishak.'"

 

(2 Chronicles 12:6)  Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, "The LORD is righteous."

 

(2 Chronicles 12:7)  When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah: "They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.

 

(2 Chronicles 12:8)  Nevertheless, they shall be servants to him, that they may know my service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries."

 

(2 Chronicles 12:9)  So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem. He took away the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king's house. He took away everything. He also took away the shields of gold that Solomon had made,

 

(2 Chronicles 12:10)  and King Rehoboam made in their place shields of bronze and committed them to the hands of the officers of the guard, who kept the door of the king's house.

 

(2 Chronicles 12:11)  And as often as the king went into the house of the LORD, the guard came and carried them and brought them back to the guardroom.

 

(2 Chronicles 12:12)  And when he humbled himself the wrath of the LORD turned from him, so as not to make a complete destruction. Moreover, conditions were good in Judah.

 

(2 Chronicles 12:13)  So King Rehoboam grew strong in Jerusalem and reigned. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city that the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there. His mother's name was Naamah the Ammonite.

 

(2 Chronicles 12:14)  And he did evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the LORD.

 

(2 Chronicles 12:15)  Now the acts of Rehoboam, from first to last, are they not written in the chronicles of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer? There were continual wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam.

 

(2 Chronicles 12:16)  And Rehoboam slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David, and Abijah his son reigned in his place.

 

In 2 Chronicles chapter 13 Abijah takes over the kingship of Judah then gets into war against Jeroboam of Israel, but then they trust in God and also worship God and then soundly defeat Jeroboam and his army in the battle which follows

(2 Chronicles 13:1)  In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah began to reign over Judah.

 

(2 Chronicles 13:2)  He reigned for three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. Now there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.

 

(2 Chronicles 13:3)  Abijah went out to battle, having an army of valiant men of war, 400,000 chosen men. And Jeroboam drew up his line of battle against him with 800,000 chosen mighty warriors.

 

(2 Chronicles 13:4)  Then Abijah stood up on Mount Zemaraim that is in the hill country of Ephraim and said, "Hear me, O Jeroboam and all Israel!

 

(2 Chronicles 13:5)  Ought you not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingship over Israel forever to David and his sons by a covenant of salt?

 

(2 Chronicles 13:6)  Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up and rebelled against his lord,

 

(2 Chronicles 13:7)  and certain worthless scoundrels gathered about him and defied Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and irresolute and could not withstand them.

 

(2 Chronicles 13:8)  "And now you think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David, because you are a great multitude and have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made you for gods.

 

(2 Chronicles 13:9)  Have you not driven out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made priests for yourselves like the peoples of other lands? Whoever comes for ordination with a young bull or seven rams becomes a priest of what are no gods.

 

(2 Chronicles 13:10)  But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him. We have priests ministering to the LORD who are sons of Aaron, and Levites for their service.

 

(2 Chronicles 13:11)  They offer to the LORD every morning and every evening burnt offerings and incense of sweet spices, set out the showbread on the table of pure gold, and care for the golden lampstand that its lamps may burn every evening. For we keep the charge of the LORD our God, but you have forsaken him.

 

(2 Chronicles 13:12)  Behold, God is with us at our head, and his priests with their battle trumpets to sound the call to battle against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your fathers, for you cannot succeed."

 

(2 Chronicles 13:13)  Jeroboam had sent an ambush around to come upon them from behind. Thus his troops were in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them.

 

(2 Chronicles 13:14)  And when Judah looked, behold, the battle was in front of and behind them. And they cried to the LORD, and the priests blew the trumpets.

 

(2 Chronicles 13:15)  Then the men of Judah raised the battle shout. And when the men of Judah shouted, God defeated Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.

 

(2 Chronicles 13:16)  The men of Israel fled before Judah, and God gave them into their hand.

 

(2 Chronicles 13:17)  Abijah and his people struck them with great force, so there fell slain of Israel 500,000 chosen men.

 

(2 Chronicles 13:18)  Thus the men of Israel were subdued at that time, and the men of Judah prevailed, because they relied on the LORD, the God of their fathers.

 

(2 Chronicles 13:19)  And Abijah pursued Jeroboam and took cities from him, Bethel with its villages and Jeshanah with its villages and Ephron with its villages.

 

(2 Chronicles 13:20)  Jeroboam did not recover his power in the days of Abijah. And the LORD struck him down, and he died.

 

(2 Chronicles 13:21)  But Abijah grew mighty. And he took fourteen wives and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

 

(2 Chronicles 13:22)  The rest of the acts of Abijah, his ways and his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.

 

In 2 Chronicles chapter 14 then Asa takes the throne of Judah, and then further builds up the throne and then calls on the Lord and a huge invasion from Ethiopia of a million men  is routed by the Lord’s actions because of Judah’s reliance on the Lord, who delivered them from the invasion

(2 Chronicles 14:1)  Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David. And Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the land had rest for ten years.

 

(2 Chronicles 14:2)  And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God.

 

(2 Chronicles 14:3)  He took away the foreign altars and the high places and broke down the pillars and cut down the Asherim

 

(2 Chronicles 14:4)  and commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to keep the law and the commandment.

 

(2 Chronicles 14:5)  He also took out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the incense altars. And the kingdom had rest under him.

 

(2 Chronicles 14:6)  He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest. He had no war in those years, for the LORD gave him peace.

 

(2 Chronicles 14:7)  And he said to Judah, "Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the LORD our God. We have sought him, and he has given us peace on every side." So they built and prospered.

 

(2 Chronicles 14:8)  And Asa had an army of 300,000 from Judah, armed with large shields and spears, and 280,000 men from Benjamin that carried shields and drew bows. All these were mighty men of valor.

 

(2 Chronicles 14:9)  Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots, and came as far as Mareshah.

 

(2 Chronicles 14:10)  And Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up their lines of battle in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

 

(2 Chronicles 14:11)  And Asa cried to the LORD his God, "O LORD, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, you are our God; let not man prevail against you."

 

(2 Chronicles 14:12)  So the LORD defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.

 

(2 Chronicles 14:13)  Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar, and the Ethiopians fell until none remained alive, for they were broken before the LORD and his army. The men of Judah carried away very much spoil.

 

(2 Chronicles 14:14)  And they attacked all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the LORD was upon them. They plundered all the cities, for there was much plunder in them.

 

(2 Chronicles 14:15)  And they struck down the tents of those who had livestock and carried away sheep in abundance and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.

 

In chapter 15 of 2 Chronicles Asa the king of Judah hears and heeds the words of the prophet of the Lord and obeys, and then a revival happens with all idols put away, sacrifices and a covenant to and with God are made and people came there in numbers too and then there was some peace

(2 Chronicles 15:1)  The Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded,

 

(2 Chronicles 15:2)  and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The LORD is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.

 

(2 Chronicles 15:3)  For a long time Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching priest and without law,

 

(2 Chronicles 15:4)  but when in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them.

 

(2 Chronicles 15:5)  In those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in, for great disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands.

 

(2 Chronicles 15:6)  They were broken in pieces. Nation was crushed by nation and city by city, for God troubled them with every sort of distress.

 

(2 Chronicles 15:7)  But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded."

 

(2 Chronicles 15:8)  As soon as Asa heard these words, the prophecy of Azariah the son of Oded, he took courage and put away the detestable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities that he had taken in the hill country of Ephraim, and he repaired the altar of the LORD that was in front of the vestibule of the house of the LORD.

 

(2 Chronicles 15:9)  And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who were residing with them, for great numbers had deserted to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.

 

(2 Chronicles 15:10)  They were gathered at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.

 

(2 Chronicles 15:11)  They sacrificed to the LORD on that day from the spoil that they had brought 700 oxen and 7,000 sheep.

 

(2 Chronicles 15:12)  And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul,

 

(2 Chronicles 15:13)  but that whoever would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether young or old, man or woman.

 

(2 Chronicles 15:14)  They swore an oath to the LORD with a loud voice and with shouting and with trumpets and with horns.

 

(2 Chronicles 15:15)  And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by them, and the LORD gave them rest all around.

 

(2 Chronicles 15:16)  Even Maacah, his mother, King Asa removed from being queen mother because she had made a detestable image for Asherah. Asa cut down her image, crushed it, and burned it at the brook Kidron.

 

(2 Chronicles 15:17)  But the high places were not taken out of Israel. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true all his days.

 

(2 Chronicles 15:18)  And he brought into the house of God the sacred gifts of his father and his own sacred gifts, silver, and gold, and vessels.

 

(2 Chronicles 15:19)  And there was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of the reign of Asa.

 

In 2 Chronicles chapter 16, then king Asa acts foolishly and then trusts men (Syria’s king, bribing him for protection from Israel’s invasion ) over God, and when rebuked over that by a prophet puts him in stocks, and then dies of a foot disease for which he did not seek God on either.

(2 Chronicles 16:1)  In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and built Ramah, that he might permit no one to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

 

(2 Chronicles 16:2)  Then Asa took silver and gold from the treasures of the house of the LORD and the king's house and sent them to Ben-hadad king of Syria, who lived in Damascus, saying,

 

(2 Chronicles 16:3)  "There is a covenant between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I am sending to you silver and gold. Go, break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel, that he may withdraw from me."

 

(2 Chronicles 16:4)  And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, and they conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.

 

(2 Chronicles 16:5)  And when Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah and let his work cease.

 

(2 Chronicles 16:6)  Then King Asa took all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber, with which Baasha had been building, and with them he built Geba and Mizpah.

 

(2 Chronicles 16:7)  At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, "Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you.

 

(2 Chronicles 16:8)  Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, he gave them into your hand.

 

(2 Chronicles 16:9)  For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars."

 

(2 Chronicles 16:10)  Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in the stocks in prison, for he was in a rage with him because of this. And Asa inflicted cruelties upon some of the people at the same time.

 

(2 Chronicles 16:11)  The acts of Asa, from first to last, are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

 

(2 Chronicles 16:12)  In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet, and his disease became severe. Yet even in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but sought help from physicians.

 

(2 Chronicles 16:13)  And Asa slept with his fathers, dying in the forty-first year of his reign.

 

(2 Chronicles 16:14)  They buried him in the tomb that he had cut for himself in the city of David. They laid him on a bier that had been filled with various kinds of spices prepared by the perfumer's art, and they made a very great fire in his honor.

 

In 2 Chronicles 17 shows that by his obedience of the Lord, the Lord blesses him with peace and many things as people bring him many gifts

(2 Chronicles 17:1)  Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place and strengthened himself against Israel.

 

(2 Chronicles 17:2)  He placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim that Asa his father had captured.

 

(2 Chronicles 17:3)  The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals,

 

(2 Chronicles 17:4)  but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel.

 

(2 Chronicles 17:5)  Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor.

 

(2 Chronicles 17:6)  His heart was courageous in the ways of the LORD. And furthermore, he took the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.

 

(2 Chronicles 17:7)  In the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;

 

(2 Chronicles 17:8)  and with them the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah; and with these Levites, the priests Elishama and Jehoram.

 

(2 Chronicles 17:9)  And they taught in Judah, having the Book of the Law of the LORD with them. They went about through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.

 

(2 Chronicles 17:10)  And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, and they made no war against Jehoshaphat.

 

(2 Chronicles 17:11)  Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute, and the Arabians also brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats.

 

(2 Chronicles 17:12)  And Jehoshaphat grew steadily greater. He built in Judah fortresses and store cities,

 

(2 Chronicles 17:13)  and he had large supplies in the cities of Judah. He had soldiers, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem.

 

(2 Chronicles 17:14)  This was the muster of them by fathers' houses: Of Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah the commander, with 300,000 mighty men of valor;

 

(2 Chronicles 17:15)  and next to him Jehohanan the commander, with 280,000;

 

(2 Chronicles 17:16)  and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, a volunteer for the service of the LORD, with 200,000 mighty men of valor.

 

(2 Chronicles 17:17)  Of Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valor, with 200,000 men armed with bow and shield;

 

(2 Chronicles 17:18)  and next to him Jehozabad with 180,000 armed for war.

 

(2 Chronicles 17:19)  These were in the service of the king, besides those whom the king had placed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.

 

In 2 Chronicles chapter 18 there is an alliance between Jehosephat and Ahab and they go together against the Syrians. God protects Jehosephat from the Syrians but Ahab is slain in the battle

(2 Chronicles 18:1)  Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor, and he made a marriage alliance with Ahab.

 

(2 Chronicles 18:2)  After some years he went down to Ahab in Samaria. And Ahab killed an abundance of sheep and oxen for him and for the people who were with him, and induced him to go up against Ramoth-gilead.

 

(2 Chronicles 18:3)  Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, "Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?" He answered him, "I am as you are, my people as your people. We will be with you in the war."

 

(2 Chronicles 18:4)  And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Inquire first for the word of the LORD."

 

(2 Chronicles 18:5)  Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall we go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?" And they said, "Go up, for God will give it into the hand of the king."

 

(2 Chronicles 18:6)  But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not here another prophet of the LORD of whom we may inquire?"

 

(2 Chronicles 18:7)  And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, Micaiah the son of Imlah; but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say so."

 

(2 Chronicles 18:8)  Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, "Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah."

 

(2 Chronicles 18:9)  Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes. And they were sitting at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them.

 

(2 Chronicles 18:10)  And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made for himself horns of iron and said, "Thus says the LORD, 'With these you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed.'"

 

(2 Chronicles 18:11)  And all the prophets prophesied so and said, "Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph. The LORD will give it into the hand of the king."

 

(2 Chronicles 18:12)  And the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, "Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king. Let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably."

 

(2 Chronicles 18:13)  But Micaiah said, "As the LORD lives, what my God says, that I will speak."

 

(2 Chronicles 18:14)  And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?" And he answered, "Go up and triumph; they will be given into your hand."

 

(2 Chronicles 18:15)  But the king said to him, "How many times shall I make you swear that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?"

 

(2 Chronicles 18:16)  And he said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, 'These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.'"

 

(2 Chronicles 18:17)  And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?"

 

(2 Chronicles 18:18)  And Micaiah said, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.

 

(2 Chronicles 18:19)  And the LORD said, 'Who will entice Ahab the king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' And one said one thing, and another said another.

 

(2 Chronicles 18:20)  Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, saying, 'I will entice him.' And the LORD said to him, 'By what means?'

 

(2 Chronicles 18:21)  And he said, 'I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And he said, 'You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.'

 

(2 Chronicles 18:22)  Now therefore behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets. The LORD has declared disaster concerning you."

 

(2 Chronicles 18:23)  Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, "Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go from me to speak to you?"

 

(2 Chronicles 18:24)  And Micaiah said, "Behold, you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide yourself."

 

(2 Chronicles 18:25)  And the king of Israel said, "Seize Micaiah and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son,

 

(2 Chronicles 18:26)  and say, 'Thus says the king, Put this fellow in prison and feed him with meager rations of bread and water until I return in peace.'"

 

(2 Chronicles 18:27)  And Micaiah said, "If you return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me." And he said, "Hear, all you peoples!"

 

(2 Chronicles 18:28)  So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.

 

(2 Chronicles 18:29)  And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes." And the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.

 

(2 Chronicles 18:30)  Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, "Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel."

 

(2 Chronicles 18:31)  As soon as the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, "It is the king of Israel." So they turned to fight against him. And Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; God drew them away from him.

 

(2 Chronicles 18:32)  For as soon as the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

 

(2 Chronicles 18:33)  But a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate. Therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded."

 

(2 Chronicles 18:34)  And the battle continued that day, and the king of Israel was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians until evening. Then at sunset he died.

 

In 2 Chronicles chapter 19 Jehosephat is rebuked by the Prophet Jehu for foolishly allying himself with Ahab the evil king of Israel and then encourages the Levites to fear and be with the Lord

(2 Chronicles 19:1)  Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem.

 

(2 Chronicles 19:2)  But Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, "Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the LORD.

 

(2 Chronicles 19:3)  Nevertheless, some good is found in you, for you destroyed the Asherahs out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God."

 

(2 Chronicles 19:4)  Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem. And he went out again among the people, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers.

 

(2 Chronicles 19:5)  He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,

 

(2 Chronicles 19:6)  and said to the judges, "Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the LORD. He is with you in giving judgment.

 

(2 Chronicles 19:7)  Now then, let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the LORD our God, or partiality or taking bribes."

 

(2 Chronicles 19:8)  Moreover, in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed certain Levites and priests and heads of families of Israel, to give judgment for the LORD and to decide disputed cases. They had their seat at Jerusalem.

 

(2 Chronicles 19:9)  And he charged them: "Thus you shall do in the fear of the LORD, in faithfulness, and with your whole heart:

 

(2 Chronicles 19:10)  whenever a case comes to you from your brothers who live in their cities, concerning bloodshed, law or commandment, statutes or rules, then you shall warn them, that they may not incur guilt before the LORD and wrath may not come upon you and your brothers. Thus you shall do, and you will not incur guilt.

 

(2 Chronicles 19:11)  And behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the governor of the house of Judah, in all the king's matters, and the Levites will serve you as officers. Deal courageously, and may the LORD be with the upright!"

 

In 2 Chronicles chapter 20 then the Lord delivers Jehosephat and Judah from a triple alliance of Ammon, Moab ad Mount Seir, and they bring their troops there don’t have to fight in any battle, only just worship and praise God and then watch as the enemies armies turn against and destroy each other. Before Jehosephat dies he unwisely allies himself with king Ahaziah of Israel who is also evil, as his father Ahab was, and then that expedition fails and he loses his work there

(2 Chronicles 20:1)  After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle.

 

(2 Chronicles 20:2)  Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar" (that is, Engedi).

 

(2 Chronicles 20:3)  Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

 

(2 Chronicles 20:4)  And Judah assembled to seek help from the LORD; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

 

(2 Chronicles 20:5)  And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,

 

(2 Chronicles 20:6)  and said, "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.

 

(2 Chronicles 20:7)  Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?

 

(2 Chronicles 20:8)  And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying,

 

(2 Chronicles 20:9)  'If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you--for your name is in this house--and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.'

 

(2 Chronicles 20:10)  And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy--

 

(2 Chronicles 20:11)  behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit.

 

(2 Chronicles 20:12)  O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."

 

(2 Chronicles 20:13)  Meanwhile all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

 

(2 Chronicles 20:14)  And the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly.

 

(2 Chronicles 20:15)  And he said, "Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you, 'Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's.

 

(2 Chronicles 20:16)  Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel.

 

(2 Chronicles 20:17)  You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you."

 

(2 Chronicles 20:18)  Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD.

 

(2 Chronicles 20:19)  And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

 

(2 Chronicles 20:20)  And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed."

 

(2 Chronicles 20:21)  And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, "Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever."

 

(2 Chronicles 20:22)  And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.

 

(2 Chronicles 20:23)  For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.

 

(2 Chronicles 20:24)  When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the horde, and behold, there were dead bodies lying on the ground; none had escaped.

 

(2 Chronicles 20:25)  When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found among them, in great numbers, goods, clothing, and precious things, which they took for themselves until they could carry no more. They were three days in taking the spoil, it was so much.

 

(2 Chronicles 20:26)  On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, for there they blessed the LORD. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Beracah to this day.

 

(2 Chronicles 20:27)  Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies.

 

(2 Chronicles 20:28)  They came to Jerusalem with harps and lyres and trumpets, to the house of the LORD.

 

(2 Chronicles 20:29)  And the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel.

 

(2 Chronicles 20:30)  So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.

 

(2 Chronicles 20:31)  Thus Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.

 

(2 Chronicles 20:32)  He walked in the way of Asa his father and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the LORD.

 

(2 Chronicles 20:33)  The high places, however, were not taken away; the people had not yet set their hearts upon the God of their fathers.

 

(2 Chronicles 20:34)  Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, from first to last, are written in the chronicles of Jehu the son of Hanani, which are recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel.

 

(2 Chronicles 20:35)  After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted wickedly.

 

(2 Chronicles 20:36)  He joined him in building ships to go to Tarshish, and they built the ships in Ezion-geber.

 

(2 Chronicles 20:37)  Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because you have joined with Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy what you have made." And the ships were wrecked and were not able to go to Tarshish.

 

This all brings us to the time of Elijah’s ministry, indeed some of these stories overlap Elijah’s ministry. I am presenting a link to the bible study to present the story of Elijah’s full ministry here at this link

https://www.facebook.com/notes/jay-dougherty/elijah-the-prophet-bible-study/10200721609856199

God is good and fair, in these studies God will bless and reward obedience and is not slack to punish disobedience. Often one or the other was given into enemies when they did evil following other Gods and yet God often showed mercy upon repentance, as all of these tales above show his glory and power. God does not change. He did send His Son, Jesus to die for all mankind’s sins because He wants a relationship with both you and with me. There is nothing that can compare with such a relationship either at all I am including a prayer which can be said to start this love relationship by inviting Jesus in your hearts to do that, or it can be used to return to a love relationship with Jesus if you have drifted away for any reason. God is merciful and welcomes the repentant back. Please pray this following prayer with me:

Dear God in heaven, I cometo you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I amsorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. Ibelieve that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on thecross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from mysin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as ourLord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will besaved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, Ibelieve that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept JesusChrist as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I amsaved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from mysins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather italways leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that Imay bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus fordying for me and giving me eternal life.

Amen.

God bless you and yours