2 Chronicles 13:1-22 War Between Abijah & Jeroboam

War Between Abijah & Jeroboam

2 Chronicles 13:1-22                       2 Chronicles in [Smaller Chunks]

Now, in the 18th year king Jeroboam [ruled,] Abijah began to [rule] over Judah. [Abijah ruled] 3 years in Jerusalem. Also, his mother’s name was Michaiah, [Uriel’s] daughter, [from] Gibeah.

And there was war between Abijah & Jeroboam. And Abijah [put] the battle [in order] with an army of 400,000 chosen, valiant men of war. Also, Jeroboam [put] [his army in] battle [order] against him with 800,000 chosen, mighty men of valor.

And Abijah stood up on Mount Zemaraim, which is in Mount Ephraim, & said, You, Jeroboam, & all Israel, hear me: [Shouldn’t] you know that the Lord God of Israel gave the kingdom of Israel over to [king] David, & his sons forever by a covenant, [a.k.a. contract,] of salt?

[2 Samuel 7:12-13 *And when your days are [are] fulfilled, & you shall sleep with your [forefathers, I will set up your seed after you, which shall proceed [from your body,] & I will [establish] his kingdom. *He shall build a house for My Name, & I will [establish] the throne of his kingdom forever.]

[Still] Jeroboam, [Nebat’s] son, the servant of Solomon, [David's] son, [has] risen up, & [has] rebelled against his lord. And vain, [a.k.a. worthless] men, the children of Belial, [a.k.a. scoundrels,] are gathered to him, & have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam, [Solomon’s] son. When Rehoboam was young, & tender hearted, [a.k.a. inexperienced,] & couldn’t withstand them.

And now, you think [you can] withstand the Kingdom of the Lord, [that’s] in the [hands] of [David’s descendants;] & you [are] a [large] multitude. And there with [you are] your golden calves, which Jeroboam made for you [as] gods.

Haven’t you cast out the [Lord’s] priests, [Aaron’s] sons, & the Levites, & have made [yourselves] priests after the [customs] of the nations of other lands? So [whoever comes] to consecrate himself with a young [bull,] & 7 rams,  the same [person,] may be a priest of [what] are [not] gods.

But as for us, the Lord is our God, & we haven’t [abandoned] Him. And the priests, [who] minister to the Lord, are [Aaron’s descendants,] & the Levites [assist them in] their [work.]

And every morning & every evening, they [offer] burnt sacrifices, & sweet incense, to the Lord [God.] They also [put] the [showbread] in order, upon the [purified] table, with the candlestick of gold, & [its] lamps, to burn every evening.

For we keep the [commandments] of the Lord our God, but you have [abandoned] Him. And see,] God, Himself is with us for our [leader] & His priests with [blaring] trumpets [to sound] [the battle] cry against you.

O children, [a.k.a. people,] of Israel, [don’t] you fight against the Lord God of your [forefathers:] for you [won’t] prosper. But Jeroboam caused an [ambush to happen] behind them. So [those] [with Jeroboam,] were [in front of] Judah, & the [ambush] was behind them. And when Judah looked back, & [saw,] the battle was [in front,] & behind them. And they cried [out] to the Lord, & the priests sounded the trumpets.

Then, the men of Judah gave a shout, & as [they] shouted, it [happened,] that God [struck down] Jeroboam, & all Israel [in front of] Abijah, & Judah. And the children, [a.k.a. people,] of Israel fled [in front of] Judah, & [the Lord] God delivered them into their hand.

And Abijah, & his people [struck] them [down,] with a [large] slaughter, so 500,000 chosen men of Israel fell down slain. The children, [a.k.a. people,] of Judah prevailed, [over] the children, [a.k.a. people,] of Israel, because they, [a.k.a. valiant men of Judah,] relied on the Lord God, of their [forefathers.]

And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, & [captured] [these] cities & [their] towns from him: BethEl, Jeshanah, & Ephraim, [a.k.a. Ephron,] & [their] towns. Neither did Jeroboam [regain] strength again [during] the days of Abijah.

And the Lord struck [down] [Jeroboam,] & he died. But Abijah [grew] mighty, & married 14 wives, & [fathered] 22 sons, & 16 daughters. The rest of [Abijah’s actions] & his ways, & [what] [he said,] are written in the [account] of the prophet, Iddo.

2 Chronicles 12:1-16 The King of Egypt Fights Against King Rehoboam

The King of Egypt Fights Against King Rehoboam

2 Chronicles 12:1-16                       2 Chronicles in [Smaller Chunks]

And it [happened,] when [king] Rehoboam had strengthened himself, & established the kingdom, he, & all Israel with him [abandoned] the Law of the Lord. And it [happened,] in the 5th year king Rehoboam [ruled,] that Shishak, [Egypt’s] king, came up & [fought] against Jerusalem, because they had [sinned] against the Lord.

[1 Kings 12:28-30 [Therefore] king [Jeroboam] took counsel, & made 2 calves of gold, & said to [the people,] It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem [to sacrifice.] [See] your gods, O Israel, [that] brought you up out of the land of Egypt. And [Jeroboam put] 1 [gold calf] in BethEl, & he put the other [gold calf] in Dan. And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one [gold calf,] even to Dan.]

[Shishak] came out of Egypt with: 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horsemen, & people without number, [from:] the Lubims, Sukkiims, & the Ethiopians. And [Shishak] [captured] the fenced, [a.k.a. fortified,] cities [of] Judah, & came to Jerusalem.

Then, Shemaiah, the prophet, came to [king] Rehoboam, & to the princes of Judah, [who] were gathered together [in] Jerusalem, because of Shishak. And [Shemaiah, the prophet] said to them,The Lord [says this,] You have [abandoned] Me, & therefore, I have also left you in the hand of Shishak, [Egypt’s] king.]

[For this reason,] the king, & the princes of Israel humbled themselves, & said, The Lord is righteous. And when the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the Word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves.

Therefore, I won’t destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; & My [anger] shall not be poured out on Jerusalem [at] the hand of Shishak, [Egypt’s king.] [Still,] they shall be his servants, [so] that they may know [the difference between] [serving Me,] & [serving] the kingdoms of the [other] countries.

So, Shishak, [Egypt’s] king, came up & [fought] against Jerusalem, & took away the treasures [from] the [Lord’s] house, & the treasures [from] the king’s house. He took [it] all, & he carried [them] away, [including] the gold shields [that] Solomon had made.

Instead, king Rehoboam made brass shields, & [put] them [into] the hands of the [leaders] of the guard, [in charge of] the entrance of the king’s house. And when king [Rehoboam] entered into the [Lord’s] house, the guard came, & [got] them, & brought them into the [guard’s room] again.

And when king [Rehoboam] humbled himself, the [Lord’s anger] turned [away] from [king Rehoboam.] [So] that [the Lord God] wouldn’t [totally] destroy [Rehoboam.]

[1 Chronicles 22:9-10 [Look] a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of [peace,] & I will give him rest from his enemies [around him:] For his name shall be Solomon, & I will give peace, & quietness to Israel in his days. He shall build a house for My Name, & he shall be My son, & I will be his Father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.]

Also, things went well in Judah. So, king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, & [ruled.] For Rehoboam was 41 years old when he began to [rule,] & [he ruled] 17 years in Jerusalem, the city which the Lord had chosen to put His Name there, out of all the tribes of Israel.

And [Rehoboam’s] mother’s name was Naamah, an Ammonitess. And [Rehoboam] did evil, because he [hadn’t] prepared his heart to seek the Lord. Now aren’t [Rehoboam’s actions,] 1st & last, written in the book of Shemaiah, the prophet, & Iddo, the seer, [related to] genealogies?

And [before Rehoboam died,] there were wars between [king] Rehoboam, & Jeroboam continually. And Rehoboam [died,] & slept with his [forefathers,] & was buried in the city of David. And Abijah, his son, [ruled] in his [place.]

2 Chronicles 11:1-23 The Fenced Cities King Rehoboam Built

The Fenced Cities King Rehoboam Built

2 Chronicles 11:1-23                       2 Chronicles in [Smaller Chunks]

When [king] Rehoboam [came] to Jerusalem, he gathered 180,000 chosen men [from] the house, [family,] of Judah, & Benjamin, [who] were warriors, to fight against Israel, [so] that he might [return] the kingdom [back to king] Rehoboam again.

But the Word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, the man of God, saying, Speak to Rehoboam, [Solomon’s] son, [Judah’s] king, & to all [of] Israel in: Judah & Benjamin, saying, The Lord [says this,] You shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren, [a.k.a. relatives.] Every man return to his house: for this thing is done, [through] Me.

And they obeyed the Words of the Lord, & returned [instead of] going against Jeroboam. And [king] Rehoboam [lived] in Jerusalem, & built cities [of] defense in Judah.

[Rehoboam] even built: Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, BethZur, Shoco, [a.k.a. Sochoh,] Abdullam, Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, Zorah, Aijalon, Hebron, which are fenced cities in Judah & Benjamin.

And [king Rehoboam] fortified the strong holds, & put captains in them, & [stored: food,] oil, & wine [in them.] And in several [cities, king Rehoboam] put shields & spears, & made them [exceedingly] strong, having Judah & Benjamin on his side.

And the priests & the Levites, [who] were in all [of] Israel, & out [of] all their coasts, [took a stand with] [king Jeroboam.] For the Levites left their [possessions,] & suburbs, & came to Judah & Jerusalem.

[Since] Jeroboam & his sons had [kept] [the Levites] from [carrying out] the priest’s office [for] the Lord. And [Jeroboam appointed himself,] [his own] priests for the high places, & for the [demons,] & calves, [that Jeroboam] had made.

[1 Kings 12:28-31 [Upon which,] king [Jeroboam] took counsel, & made 2 gold calves, & said to [the Israelites,] It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem [to sacrifice.] [See,] your gods, O Israel, which brought you up, out of the land of Egypt. And he set [up] one [gold calf,] in BethEl, & he put the other in Dan. And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even to Dan. And he made a house of high places, & made the [lowest] of the people, priests, [who weren't from the sons of Levi.]

[Any of those left] of all the tribes of Israel, [whose] hearts [were] set to seek the Lord God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the Lord God of their [forefathers.]

So, they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, & made Rehoboam, [Solomon’s] son, strong [for] 3 years. For 3 years they walked, [a.k.a. followed,] in the [paths] of David & Solomon. And [king] Rehoboam took [for] him, [as his] wife, Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth, [David’s] son.

And [Rehoboam also married] Abihail, the daughter of Eliab, [Jesse’s] son; [who bore] him children: Jeush, Shamariah, & Zaham. And after her, [king Rehoboam] took [in marriage,] Maachah, [Absalom’s] daughter, [who bore] him: Abijah, Attai, Ziza, & Shelomith.

And Rehoboam loved Maachah, [Absalom’s] daughter, [more than] all his wives & [mistresses.] (For [Rehoboam] took [in marriage,] 18 wives; & [had] 60 [mistresses;] & [fathered] 28 sons & 60 daughters.)

And Rehoboam made Abijah, [Maachah’s] son, the [1st born,] to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.

And [Rehoboam] dealt wisely, & [distributed] all of his children throughout all the countries of Judah & Benjamin, [into] every fenced city. And [king Rehoboam] gave them [an] abundance of [food.] And [Rehoboam] desired many wives.

2 Chronicles 10:1-19 The Israelites Make a Request to King Rehoboam

The Israelites Make a Request to King Rehoboam

2 Chronicles 10:1-19                     2 Chronicles in [Smaller Chunks]

Rehoboam, [Solomon’s son,] went to Shechem, [because] all Israel [had] come to Shechem, to make him king. And it [happened,] when Jeroboam, [Nebat’s] son, who was in Egypt, [where] he fled from the presence of king Solomon.

[1 Kings 11:40 Therefore, Solomon sought to kill Jeroboam. And: Jeroboam arose, & fled to Egypt, to Shishak, [Egypt’s] king, & was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.]

[When Jeroboam] heard [about king Solomon’s death,] Jeroboam returned [from] Egypt. And [the Israelites] sent, & called [for] him. So, Jeroboam, & all Israel came, & [spoke] to Rehoboam, saying, Your father, [Solomon,] made our yoke, [a.k.a. work load,] grievous.

Therefore, now somewhat ease the [harsh labor] of your father, & his heavy [burden] that he put upon us, & we will serve you. And [king Rehoboam] said to them, Come [back] again to me after 3 days, & the people [left.]

And king Rehoboam [got advice from] the old men [who] had stood [in front of] his father, Solomon, while he [still] lived. Saying [to the old men,] What [advice] [do] you give me, to answer [these] people? And they [spoke] to [king Rehoboam,] saying, If [you’re] kind to [these] people, please them, & speak [nice] words to them, they will be your servants forever.

But [Rehoboam abandoned] the [advice that] the old men gave him, & [got advice from] the young men, [who] were brought up with him, & [who] stood before him.

And [king Rehoboam asked] them, What advice [do] you give, [so] that we may return [an] answer to [these] people, [who] have spoken to me, saying, Somewhat ease the [grievous work] that your father [had] put upon us?

And the young men [who] were brought up with [king Rehoboam said] to him, You shall answer the people [this, who spoke] to you, saying, Your father made our [workload] heavy, but [will] you make it somewhat lighter for us? You shall say [this] to them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s [waist.]

[Since,] my father put a heavy [burden] on you, I will [add] more to your [workload.] My father [punished] you with whips, but I will [punish] you with scorpions. So, Jeroboam, & all the people came to king Rehoboam on the 3rd day, [like] the king [requested,] saying, Come to me again on the 3rd day.

And king Rehoboam answered them roughly, & [abandoned] the [advice] of the old men, & answered them [like] the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your [workload] heavy, but I will add [to it.] My father [punished] you with whips, but I will [punish] you with scorpions, [a.k.a. whips with barbs on them.]

So, king [Rehoboam] [didn’t pay attention] to the people; for [this] was [from] God, [so] that the Lord [could accomplish] His Word, [that] He spoke by Ahijah, the Shilonite, to Jeroboam, [Nebat’s] son.

And when all Israel saw that the king [wouldn’t listen] to them, [they] answered the king, saying, What portion [of an inheritance] do we have left in David? We have [no] inheritance in [Jesse’s] son. Every man to your tents, O Israel. And David [take care] of your own house now.

So, all Israel went to their tents. But Rehoboam [still] [ruled] over the children, [a.k.a. people,] of Israel [who lived] in the cities of Judah. Then, king Rehoboam sent Hadoram, [who] was over the tribute, [a.k.a. forced labor,] & the [people] of Israel stoned him [to death.] But king Rehoboam [speedily got himself] up, [into] his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.

And Israel [has] rebelled against the house of David, [until] this day.

2 Chronicles 9:1-31 The Queen of Sheba Visits King Solomon

The Queen of Sheba Visits King Solomon

2 Chronicles 9:1-31                     2 Chronicles in [Smaller Chunks]

When the Queen of Sheba heard of [Solomon’s] fame, she came [to] Jerusalem [to test] Solomon with hard questions. [She came] with a very [large] company, & camels that [carried:] spices, & gold in abundance, & precious stones.

And when she [came] to Solomon, she [discussed] with him all that was [within] her heart. And Solomon [answered] all her questions, & there [wasn’t anything hidden, that Solomon didn't tell] her.

And when the Queen of Sheba had seen [Solomon’s] wisdom; the house, [a.k.a. palace,] he had built; the meat, [a.k.a. food, on] his table; the [seating] of his servants; the attendance of his ministers; & their [clothing;] his cup bearers; & also their [clothing;] & his [path used] [when] he went up, into the [Lord’s] house; there was no more spirit [left] in her.

And she said to king [Solomon, The] report [that] I heard in [my] own land was true [about] your [actions,] & your wisdom. [But] I [didn’t believe] their words, until I came, & [saw] it [with] my [own] eyes. And [saw] [that] ½ of the greatness of your wisdom wasn’t told [to] me. For you [exceeded] [your] fame that I heard.

Your men, & these, your servants are happy, [who] continually stand before you, & hear your wisdom. Blessed [Is] the Lord your God, [Who delights] in you, to [put] you on His throne, to be king for the Lord your God: because your God loved Israel, to establish them forever.

Therefore, He made you [the] king over them, to [provide:] judgment & justice. And she gave king [Solomon:] 120 talents of gold, & an abundance of [rare] spices, & precious stones. Neither [had] there [been] such [spices, like] [those] the Queen of Sheba gave [to] king Solomon.

And the servants of Huram, [a.k.a. Hiram,] & also [Solomon’s] servants brought [him] gold from Ophir, & algum, [a.k.a. almug,] trees, & precious stones. And king [Solomon] made terraces [for] the house of the Lord [from] the algum trees, & [for] the king’s palace. And [the trees were used to make:] harps, & [lyres] for [the] singers.

And there [was nothing like] [this] seen before in the land of Judah. [Besides what] she had brought to the king, & king Solomon gave to the Queen of Sheba all [she desired,] & [whatever] she asked [about.] So she & her servants went, & [returned] to her own land.

Now, the weight of the gold that came to Solomon in 1 year was 666 talents of gold. [Besides what the: traders] & merchants brought. And all [Arabia’s] kings, & governors of the country, brought gold & silver to Solomon.

And king Solomon made 200 [large shields] of beaten gold, & 600 shekels of [hammered] gold went [into] [making] [each shield.] And [king Solomon] made 300 shields of [hammered] gold, & 300 shekels of gold went [into] making] [each shield.] And king [Solomon] put them in the house [at] the Forest of Lebanon. [Also,] the king made a [large] throne of ivory, & overlaid it with pure gold.

And there were 6 steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne. And [armrests] [were] on each side of the place [where he] [sat,] & 2 lions standing by the [armrests.] And 12 lions stood there [on each] side, upon the 6 steps [to the throne.] There wasn’t [anything] like [this] made in any kingdom.

And all of king [Solomon’s] drinking vessels, [a.k.a. goblets,] were gold. All the vessels of the house [in] the Forest of Lebanon, were of pure gold, & none were of silver. [There] wasn't anything [like this] [recorded during] the days of Solomon.

For [Solomon’s] ships went to Tarshish with [Huram’s] servants, & once every 3 years the ships of Tarsish [returned,] bringing: gold, silver, ivory, apes, & peacocks. And king Solomon [surpassed] all the kings of the earth in riches & wisdom. And all the kings of the earth sought [to come into] the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart.

And every man brought [Solomon a] present: vessels of silver, & vessels of gold, [clothing, harnesses,] spices, horses, mules, a [certain] rate: year by year. And Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses & chariots. And 12,000 horsemen; whom [king Solomon presented,] [for them to stay] in the chariot cities, & with the king [in] Jerusalem.

And [king Solomon ruled] over all the kings from the river, even [all the way] to the land of the Philistines, & to the border of Egypt. And king [Solomon] made silver in Jerusalem [as plentiful] as stones, & he made cedar trees [abundant like] the sycamore trees in the low plains, [a.k.a. foothills.]

And they brought horses out of Egypt, & out of all [the] lands, to Solomon. Now, aren’t the rest of [Solomon’s actions,] 1st & last, written in the book of Nathan, the prophet, & in the prophecy of Ahijah, the Shilonite, & in the visions of Iddo, the seer, against Jeroboam, [Nebat’s] son? [1 Samuel 9:9 ([Previously] in Israel, when a man went to [inquire from] God, he [said this,] Come, & let's go to the Seer. For he, [who] is now called a Prophet, was [previously] called a Seer.)]

And Solomon [ruled] over all [of] Israel for 40 years in Jerusalem. And Solomon [died,] & slept with his [forefathers,] & he was buried in the city of David, his father. And Rehoboam, his son, [ruled] in his [place.]