# verses

book: 1Kgs
contenido:
You have kept your promise to your servant David, my father. You made that promise with your own mouth, and with your own hands you have fulfilled it today.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“And now, O Lord, God of Israel, carry out the additional promise you made to your servant David, my father. For you said to him, ‘If your descendants guard their behavior and faithfully follow me as you have done, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“But will God really live on earth? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built!


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Nevertheless, listen to my prayer and my plea, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you today.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
May you watch over this Temple night and day, this place where you have said, ‘My name will be there.’ May you always hear the prayers I make toward this place.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
May you hear the humble and earnest requests from me and your people Israel when we pray toward this place. Yes, hear us from heaven where you live, and when you hear, forgive.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“If someone wrongs another person and is required to take an oath of innocence in front of your altar in this Temple,


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
then hear from heaven and judge between your servants—the accuser and the accused. Punish the guilty as they deserve. Acquit the innocent because of their innocence.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“If your people Israel are defeated by their enemies because they have sinned against you, and if they turn to you and acknowledge your name and pray to you here in this Temple,


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and return them to this land you gave their ancestors.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“If the skies are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and if they pray toward this Temple and acknowledge your name and turn from their sins because you have punished them,


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
then hear from heaven and forgive the sins of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them to follow the right path, and send rain on your land that you have given to your people as their special possession.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“If there is a famine in the land or a plague or crop disease or attacks of locusts or caterpillars, or if your people’s enemies are in the land besieging their towns—whatever disaster or disease there is—


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
then hear from heaven where you live, and forgive. Give your people what their actions deserve, for you alone know each human heart.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“In the future, foreigners who do not belong to your people Israel will hear of you. They will come from distant lands because of your name,


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
for they will hear of your great name and your strong hand and your powerful arm. And when they pray toward this Temple,


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
then hear from heaven where you live, and grant what they ask of you. In this way, all the people of the earth will come to know and fear you, just as your own people Israel do. They, too, will know that this Temple I have built honors your name.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“If your people go out where you send them to fight their enemies, and if they pray to the Lord by turning toward this city you have chosen and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name,


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“If they sin against you—and who has never sinned?—you might become angry with them and let their enemies conquer them and take them captive to their land far away or near.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But in that land of exile, they might turn to you in repentance and pray, ‘We have sinned, done evil, and acted wickedly.’


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
If they turn to you with their whole heart and soul in the land of their enemies and pray toward the land you gave to their ancestors—toward this city you have chosen, and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name—


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Forgive your people who have sinned against you. Forgive all the offenses they have committed against you. Make their captors merciful to them,


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
for they are your people—your special possession—whom you brought out of the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“May your eyes be open to my requests and to the requests of your people Israel. May you hear and answer them whenever they cry out to you.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
For when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt, O Sovereign Lord, you told your servant Moses that you had set Israel apart from all the nations of the earth to be your own special possession.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The Dedication of the Temple When Solomon finished making these prayers and petitions to the Lord, he stood up in front of the altar of the Lord, where he had been kneeling with his hands raised toward heaven.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“Praise the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the wonderful promises he gave through his servant Moses.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
May he give us the desire to do his will in everything and to obey all the commands, decrees, and regulations that he gave our ancestors.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
And may these words that I have prayed in the presence of the Lord be before him constantly, day and night, so that the Lord our God may give justice to me and to his people Israel, according to each day’s needs.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
And may you be completely faithful to the Lord our God. May you always obey his decrees and commands, just as you are doing today.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Solomon offered to the Lord a peace offering of 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats. And so the king and all the people of Israel dedicated the Temple of the Lord.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
That same day the king consecrated the central area of the courtyard in front of the Lord’s Temple. He offered burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat of peace offerings there, because the bronze altar in the Lord’s presence was too small to hold all the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then Solomon and all Israel celebrated the Festival of Shelters in the presence of the Lord our God. A large congregation had gathered from as far away as Lebo-hamath in the north and the Brook of Egypt in the south. The celebration went on for fourteen days in all—seven days for the dedication of the altar and seven days for the Festival of Shelters.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
After the festival was over, Solomon sent the people home. They blessed the king and went to their homes joyful and glad because the Lord had been good to his servant David and to his people Israel.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The Lord’s Response to Solomon So Solomon finished building the Temple of the Lord, as well as the royal palace. He completed everything he had planned to do.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The Lord said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your petition. I have set this Temple apart to be holy—this place you have built where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“As for you, if you will follow me with integrity and godliness, as David your father did, obeying all my commands, decrees, and regulations,


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
then I will establish the throne of your dynasty over Israel forever. For I made this promise to your father, David: ‘One of your descendants will always sit on the throne of Israel.’


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“But if you or your descendants abandon me and disobey the commands and decrees I have given you, and if you serve and worship other gods,


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
then I will uproot Israel from this land that I have given them. I will reject this Temple that I have made holy to honor my name. I will make Israel an object of mockery and ridicule among the nations.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
And though this Temple is impressive now, all who pass by will be appalled and will shake their heads in amazement. They will ask, ‘Why did the Lord do such terrible things to this land and to this Temple?’


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“And the answer will be, ‘Because his people abandoned the Lord their God, who brought their ancestors out of Egypt, and they worshiped other gods instead and bowed down to them. That is why the Lord has brought all these disasters on them.’”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Solomon’s Agreement with Hiram It took Solomon twenty years to build the Lord’s Temple and his own royal palace. At the end of that time,


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
he gave twenty towns in the land of Galilee to King Hiram of Tyre. (Hiram had previously provided all the cedar and cypress timber and gold that Solomon had requested.)


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But when Hiram came from Tyre to see the towns Solomon had given him, he was not at all pleased with them.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“What kind of towns are these, my brother?” he asked. So Hiram called that area Cabul (which means “worthless”), as it is still known today.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Solomon’s Many Achievements This is the account of the forced labor that King Solomon conscripted to build the Lord’s Temple, the royal palace, the supporting terraces, the wall of Jerusalem, and the cities of Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
(Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, had attacked and captured Gezer, killing the Canaanite population and burning it down. He gave the city to his daughter as a wedding gift when she married Solomon.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
He built towns as supply centers and constructed towns where his chariots and horses could be stationed. He built everything he desired in Jerusalem and Lebanon and throughout his entire realm.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
There were still some people living in the land who were not Israelites, including Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
These were descendants of the nations whom the people of Israel had not completely destroyed. So Solomon conscripted them for his labor force, and they serve in the labor force to this day.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But Solomon did not conscript any of the Israelites for forced labor. Instead, he assigned them to serve as fighting men, government officials, officers and captains in his army, commanders of his chariots, and charioteers.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Solomon moved his wife, Pharaoh’s daughter, from the City of David to the new palace he had built for her. Then he constructed the supporting terraces.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Three times each year Solomon presented burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar he had built for the Lord. He also burned incense to the Lord. And so he finished the work of building the Temple.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
King Solomon also built a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber, a port near Elath in the land of Edom, along the shore of the Red Sea.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Visit of the Queen of Sheba When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame, which brought honor to the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
She arrived in Jerusalem with a large group of attendants and a great caravan of camels loaded with spices, large quantities of gold, and precious jewels. When she met with Solomon, she talked with him about everything she had on her mind.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
When the queen of Sheba realized how very wise Solomon was, and when she saw the palace he had built,


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
she was overwhelmed. She was also amazed at the food on his tables, the organization of his officials and their splendid clothing, the cup-bearers, and the burnt offerings Solomon made at the Temple of the Lord.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
She exclaimed to the king, “Everything I heard in my country about your achievements and wisdom is true!


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
I didn’t believe what was said until I arrived here and saw it with my own eyes. In fact, I had not heard the half of it! Your wisdom and prosperity are far beyond what I was told.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
How happy your people must be! What a privilege for your officials to stand here day after day, listening to your wisdom!


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Praise the Lord your God, who delights in you and has placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king so you can rule with justice and righteousness.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then she gave the king a gift of 9,000 pounds of gold, great quantities of spices, and precious jewels. Never again were so many spices brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
(In addition, Hiram’s ships brought gold from Ophir, and they also brought rich cargoes of red sandalwood and precious jewels.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The king used the sandalwood to make railings for the Temple of the Lord and the royal palace, and to construct lyres and harps for the musicians. Never before or since has there been such a supply of sandalwood.)


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba whatever she asked for, besides all the customary gifts he had so generously given. Then she and all her attendants returned to their own land.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
This did not include the additional revenue he received from merchants and traders, all the kings of Arabia, and the governors of the land.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
He also made 300 smaller shields of hammered gold, each weighing nearly four pounds. The king placed these shields in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The throne had six steps and a rounded back. There were armrests on both sides of the seat, and the figure of a lion stood on each side of the throne.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
There were also twelve other lions, one standing on each end of the six steps. No other throne in all the world could be compared with it!


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
All of King Solomon’s drinking cups were solid gold, as were all the utensils in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon. They were not made of silver, for silver was considered worthless in Solomon’s day!


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The king had a fleet of trading ships that sailed with Hiram’s fleet. Once every three years the ships returned, loaded with gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Year after year everyone who visited brought him gifts of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Solomon built up a huge force of chariots and horses. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He stationed some of them in the chariot cities and some near him in Jerusalem.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The king made silver as plentiful in Jerusalem as stone. And valuable cedar timber was as common as the sycamore-fig trees that grow in the foothills of Judah.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Cilicia; the king’s traders acquired them from Cilicia at the standard price.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
At that time chariots from Egypt could be purchased for 600 pieces of silver, and horses for 150 pieces of silver. They were then exported to the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Solomon’s Many Wives Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, ‘You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.’ Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
In Solomon’s old age, they turned his heart to worship other gods instead of being completely faithful to the Lord his God, as his father, David, had been.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Solomon worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech, the detestable god of the Ammonites.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
In this way, Solomon did what was evil in the Lord’s sight; he refused to follow the Lord completely, as his father, David, had done.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
On the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, he even built a pagan shrine for Chemosh, the detestable god of Moab, and another for Molech, the detestable god of the Ammonites.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Solomon built such shrines for all his foreign wives to use for burning incense and sacrificing to their gods.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The Lord was very angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
He had warned Solomon specifically about worshiping other gods, but Solomon did not listen to the Lord’s command.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So now the Lord said to him, “Since you have not kept my covenant and have disobeyed my decrees, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your servants.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But for the sake of your father, David, I will not do this while you are still alive. I will take the kingdom away from your son.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
And even so, I will not take away the entire kingdom; I will let him be king of one tribe, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, my chosen city.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Solomon’s Adversaries Then the Lord raised up Hadad the Edomite, a member of Edom’s royal family, to be Solomon’s adversary.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Years before, David had defeated Edom. Joab, his army commander, had stayed to bury some of the Israelite soldiers who had died in battle. While there, they killed every male in Edom.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But Hadad and a few of his father’s royal officials escaped and headed for Egypt. (Hadad was just a boy at the time.)


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
They set out from Midian and went to Paran, where others joined them. Then they traveled to Egypt and went to Pharaoh, who gave them a home, food, and some land.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Pharaoh grew very fond of Hadad, and he gave him his wife’s sister in marriage—the sister of Queen Tahpenes.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
She bore him a son named Genubath. Tahpenes raised him in Pharaoh’s palace among Pharaoh’s own sons.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
When the news reached Hadad in Egypt that David and his commander Joab were both dead, he said to Pharaoh, “Let me return to my own country.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“Why?” Pharaoh asked him. “What do you lack here that makes you want to go home?” “Nothing,” he replied. “But even so, please let me return home.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
God also raised up Rezon son of Eliada as Solomon’s adversary. Rezon had fled from his master, King Hadadezer of Zobah,


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
and had become the leader of a gang of rebels. After David conquered Hadadezer, Rezon and his men fled to Damascus, where he became king.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Rezon was Israel’s bitter adversary for the rest of Solomon’s reign, and he made trouble, just as Hadad did. Rezon hated Israel intensely and continued to reign in Aram.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Jeroboam Rebels against Solomon Another rebel leader was Jeroboam son of Nebat, one of Solomon’s own officials. He came from the town of Zeredah in Ephraim, and his mother was Zeruah, a widow.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
This is the story behind his rebellion. Solomon was rebuilding the supporting terraces and repairing the walls of the city of his father, David.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Jeroboam was a very capable young man, and when Solomon saw how industrious he was, he put him in charge of the labor force from the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the descendants of Joseph.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
One day as Jeroboam was leaving Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh met him along the way. Ahijah was wearing a new cloak. The two of them were alone in a field,


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then he said to Jeroboam, “Take ten of these pieces, for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon, and I will give ten of the tribes to you!


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But I will leave him one tribe for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
For Solomon has abandoned me and worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians; Chemosh, the god of Moab; and Molech, the god of the Ammonites. He has not followed my ways and done what is pleasing in my sight. He has not obeyed my decrees and regulations as David his father did.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“‘But I will not take the entire kingdom from Solomon at this time. For the sake of my servant David, the one whom I chose and who obeyed my commands and decrees, I will keep Solomon as leader for the rest of his life.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
His son will have one tribe so that the descendants of David my servant will continue to reign, shining like a lamp in Jerusalem, the city I have chosen to be the place for my name.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
If you listen to what I tell you and follow my ways and do whatever I consider to be right, and if you obey my decrees and commands, as my servant David did, then I will always be with you. I will establish an enduring dynasty for you as I did for David, and I will give Israel to you.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam, but he fled to King Shishak of Egypt and stayed there until Solomon died.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Summary of Solomon’s Reign The rest of the events in Solomon’s reign, including all his deeds and his wisdom, are recorded in The Book of the Acts of Solomon.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
When he died, he was buried in the City of David, named for his father. Then his son Rehoboam became the next king.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The Northern Tribes Revolt Rehoboam went to Shechem, where all Israel had gathered to make him king.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of this, he returned from Egypt, for he had fled to Egypt to escape from King Solomon.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The leaders of Israel summoned him, and Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel went to speak with Rehoboam.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“Your father was a hard master,” they said. “Lighten the harsh labor demands and heavy taxes that your father imposed on us. Then we will be your loyal subjects.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Rehoboam replied, “Give me three days to think this over. Then come back for my answer.” So the people went away.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then King Rehoboam discussed the matter with the older men who had counseled his father, Solomon. “What is your advice?” he asked. “How should I answer these people?”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The older counselors replied, “If you are willing to be a servant to these people today and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your loyal subjects.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“What is your advice?” he asked them. “How should I answer these people who want me to lighten the burdens imposed by my father?”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The young men replied, “This is what you should tell those complainers who want a lighter burden: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist!


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Yes, my father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!’”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to hear Rehoboam’s decision, just as the king had ordered.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
and followed the counsel of his younger advisers. He told the people, “My father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So the king paid no attention to the people. This turn of events was the will of the Lord, for it fulfilled the Lord’s message to Jeroboam son of Nebat through the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
When all Israel realized that the king had refused to listen to them, they responded, “Down with the dynasty of David! We have no interest in the son of Jesse. Back to your homes, O Israel! Look out for your own house, O David!” So the people of Israel returned home.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
King Rehoboam sent Adoniram, who was in charge of the labor force, to restore order, but the people of Israel stoned him to death. When this news reached King Rehoboam, he quickly jumped into his chariot and fled to Jerusalem.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
When the people of Israel learned of Jeroboam’s return from Egypt, they called an assembly and made him king over all Israel. So only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the family of David.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Shemaiah’s Prophecy When Rehoboam arrived at Jerusalem, he mobilized the men of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin—180,000 select troops—to fight against the men of Israel and to restore the kingdom to himself.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the people of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people,


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
‘This is what the Lord says: Do not fight against your relatives, the Israelites. Go back home, for what has happened is my doing!’” So they obeyed the message of the Lord and went home, as the Lord had commanded.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Jeroboam Makes Gold Calves Jeroboam then built up the city of Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and it became his capital. Later he went and built up the town of Peniel.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
When these people go to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices at the Temple of the Lord, they will again give their allegiance to King Rehoboam of Judah. They will kill me and make him their king instead.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So on the advice of his counselors, the king made two gold calves. He said to the people, “It is too much trouble for you to worship in Jerusalem. Look, Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of Egypt!”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But this became a great sin, for the people worshiped the idols, traveling as far north as Dan to worship the one there.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Jeroboam also erected buildings at the pagan shrines and ordained priests from the common people—those who were not from the priestly tribe of Levi.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
And Jeroboam instituted a religious festival in Bethel, held on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in imitation of the annual Festival of Shelters in Judah. There at Bethel he himself offered sacrifices to the calves he had made, and he appointed priests for the pagan shrines he had made.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a day that he himself had designated, Jeroboam offered sacrifices on the altar at Bethel. He instituted a religious festival for Israel, and he went up to the altar to burn incense.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
A Prophet Denounces Jeroboam At the Lord’s command, a man of God from Judah went to Bethel, arriving there just as Jeroboam was approaching the altar to burn incense.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then at the Lord’s command, he shouted, “O altar, altar! This is what the Lord says: A child named Josiah will be born into the dynasty of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests from the pagan shrines who come here to burn incense, and human bones will be burned on you.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
That same day the man of God gave a sign to prove his message. He said, “The Lord has promised to give this sign: This altar will split apart, and its ashes will be poured out on the ground.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
When King Jeroboam heard the man of God speaking against the altar at Bethel, he pointed at him and shouted, “Seize that man!” But instantly the king’s hand became paralyzed in that position, and he couldn’t pull it back.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
At the same time a wide crack appeared in the altar, and the ashes poured out, just as the man of God had predicted in his message from the Lord.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The king cried out to the man of God, “Please ask the Lord your God to restore my hand again!” So the man of God prayed to the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored and he could move it again.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then the king said to the man of God, “Come to the palace with me and have something to eat, and I will give you a gift.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But the man of God said to the king, “Even if you gave me half of everything you own, I would not go with you. I would not eat or drink anything in this place.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
For the Lord gave me this command: ‘You must not eat or drink anything while you are there, and do not return to Judah by the same way you came.’”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
As it happened, there was an old prophet living in Bethel, and his sons came home and told him what the man of God had done in Bethel that day. They also told their father what the man had said to the king.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The old prophet asked them, “Which way did he go?” So they showed their father which road the man of God had taken.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“Quick, saddle the donkey,” the old man said. So they saddled the donkey for him, and he mounted it.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then he rode after the man of God and found him sitting under a great tree. The old prophet asked him, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?” “Yes, I am,” he replied.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But the old prophet answered, “I am a prophet, too, just as you are. And an angel gave me this command from the Lord: ‘Bring him home with you so he can have something to eat and drink.’” But the old man was lying to him.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
He cried out to the man of God from Judah, “This is what the Lord says: You have defied the word of the Lord and have disobeyed the command the Lord your God gave you.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
You came back to this place and ate and drank where he told you not to eat or drink. Because of this, your body will not be buried in the grave of your ancestors.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
After the man of God had finished eating and drinking, the old prophet saddled his own donkey for him,


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
and the man of God started off again. But as he was traveling along, a lion came out and killed him. His body lay there on the road, with the donkey and the lion standing beside it.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
People who passed by saw the body lying in the road and the lion standing beside it, and they went and reported it in Bethel, where the old prophet lived.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
When the prophet heard the report, he said, “It is the man of God who disobeyed the Lord’s command. The Lord has fulfilled his word by causing the lion to attack and kill him.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
and he went out and found the body lying in the road. The donkey and lion were still standing there beside it, for the lion had not eaten the body nor attacked the donkey.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So the prophet laid the body of the man of God on the donkey and took it back to the town to mourn over him and bury him.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Afterward the prophet said to his sons, “When I die, bury me in the grave where the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
For the message the Lord told him to proclaim against the altar in Bethel and against the pagan shrines in the towns of Samaria will certainly come true.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But even after this, Jeroboam did not turn from his evil ways. He continued to choose priests from the common people. He appointed anyone who wanted to become a priest for the pagan shrines.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
This became a great sin and resulted in the utter destruction of Jeroboam’s dynasty from the face of the earth.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So Jeroboam told his wife, “Disguise yourself so that no one will recognize you as my wife. Then go to the prophet Ahijah at Shiloh—the man who told me I would become king.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Take him a gift of ten loaves of bread, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and ask him what will happen to the boy.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But the Lord had told Ahijah, “Jeroboam’s wife will come here, pretending to be someone else. She will ask you about her son, for he is very sick. Give her the answer I give you.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So when Ahijah heard her footsteps at the door, he called out, “Come in, wife of Jeroboam! Why are you pretending to be someone else?” Then he told her, “I have bad news for you.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Give your husband, Jeroboam, this message from the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘I promoted you from the ranks of the common people and made you ruler over my people Israel.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
I ripped the kingdom away from the family of David and gave it to you. But you have not been like my servant David, who obeyed my commands and followed me with all his heart and always did whatever I wanted.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
You have done more evil than all who lived before you. You have made other gods for yourself and have made me furious with your gold calves. And since you have turned your back on me,


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
I will bring disaster on your dynasty and will destroy every one of your male descendants, slave and free alike, anywhere in Israel. I will burn up your royal dynasty as one burns up trash until it is all gone.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The members of Jeroboam’s family who die in the city will be eaten by dogs, and those who die in the field will be eaten by vultures. I, the Lord, have spoken.’”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
All Israel will mourn for him and bury him. He is the only member of your family who will have a proper burial, for this child is the only good thing that the Lord, the God of Israel, sees in the entire family of Jeroboam.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“In addition, the Lord will raise up a king over Israel who will destroy the family of Jeroboam. This will happen today, even now!


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then the Lord will shake Israel like a reed whipped about in a stream. He will uproot the people of Israel from this good land that he gave their ancestors and will scatter them beyond the Euphrates River, for they have angered the Lord with the Asherah poles they have set up for worship.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So Jeroboam’s wife returned to Tirzah, and the child died just as she walked through the door of her home.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Jeroboam’s reign, including all his wars and how he ruled, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Jeroboam reigned in Israel twenty-two years. When Jeroboam died, his son Nadab became the next king.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Rehoboam Rules in Judah Meanwhile, Rehoboam son of Solomon was king in Judah. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the Lord had chosen from among all the tribes of Israel as the place to honor his name. Rehoboam’s mother was Naamah, an Ammonite woman.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
During Rehoboam’s reign, the people of Judah did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, provoking his anger with their sin, for it was even worse than that of their ancestors.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
For they also built for themselves pagan shrines and set up sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
There were even male and female shrine prostitutes throughout the land. The people imitated the detestable practices of the pagan nations the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
He ransacked the treasuries of the Lord’s Temple and the royal palace; he stole everything, including all the gold shields Solomon had made.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
King Rehoboam later replaced them with bronze shields as substitutes, and he entrusted them to the care of the commanders of the guard who protected the entrance to the royal palace.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Whenever the king went to the Temple of the Lord, the guards would also take the shields and then return them to the guardroom.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Rehoboam’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
When Rehoboam died, he was buried among his ancestors in the City of David. His mother was Naamah, an Ammonite woman. Then his son Abijam became the next king.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Abijam Rules in Judah Abijam began to rule over Judah in the eighteenth year of Jeroboam’s reign in Israel.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
He committed the same sins as his father before him, and he was not faithful to the Lord his God, as his ancestor David had been.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But for David’s sake, the Lord his God allowed his descendants to continue ruling, shining like a lamp, and he gave Abijam a son to rule after him in Jerusalem.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
For David had done what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and had obeyed the Lord’s commands throughout his life, except in the affair concerning Uriah the Hittite.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Abijam’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah. There was constant war between Abijam and Jeroboam.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Asa Rules in Judah Asa began to rule over Judah in the twentieth year of Jeroboam’s reign in Israel.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
He banished the male and female shrine prostitutes from the land and got rid of all the idols his ancestors had made.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
He even deposed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made an obscene Asherah pole. He cut down her obscene pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Although the pagan shrines were not removed, Asa’s heart remained completely faithful to the Lord throughout his life.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
He brought into the Temple of the Lord the silver and gold and the various items that he and his father had dedicated.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
King Baasha of Israel invaded Judah and fortified Ramah in order to prevent anyone from entering or leaving King Asa’s territory in Judah.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Asa responded by removing all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the Temple of the Lord and the royal palace. He sent it with some of his officials to Ben-hadad son of Tabrimmon, son of Hezion, the king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus, along with this message:


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“Let there be a treaty between you and me like the one between your father and my father. See, I am sending you a gift of silver and gold. Break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel so that he will leave me alone.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Ben-hadad agreed to King Asa’s request and sent the commanders of his army to attack the towns of Israel. They conquered the towns of Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and all Kinnereth, and all the land of Naphtali.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
As soon as Baasha of Israel heard what was happening, he abandoned his project of fortifying Ramah and withdrew to Tirzah.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then King Asa sent an order throughout Judah, requiring that everyone, without exception, help to carry away the building stones and timbers that Baasha had been using to fortify Ramah. Asa used these materials to fortify the town of Geba in Benjamin and the town of Mizpah.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Asa’s reign—the extent of his power, everything he did, and the names of the cities he built—are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah. In his old age his feet became diseased.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
When Asa died, he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. Then Jehoshaphat, Asa’s son, became the next king.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Nadab Rules in Israel Nadab son of Jeroboam began to rule over Israel in the second year of King Asa’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Israel two years.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his father, continuing the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then Baasha son of Ahijah, from the tribe of Issachar, plotted against Nadab and assassinated him while he and the Israelite army were laying siege to the Philistine town of Gibbethon.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Baasha killed Nadab in the third year of King Asa’s reign in Judah, and he became the next king of Israel.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
He immediately slaughtered all the descendants of King Jeroboam, so that not one of the royal family was left, just as the Lord had promised concerning Jeroboam by the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
This was done because Jeroboam had provoked the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, by the sins he had committed and the sins he had led Israel to commit.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Nadab’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Baasha son of Ahijah began to rule over all Israel in the third year of King Asa’s reign in Judah. Baasha reigned in Tirzah twenty-four years.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of Jeroboam, continuing the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“I lifted you out of the dust to make you ruler of my people Israel, but you have followed the evil example of Jeroboam. You have provoked my anger by causing my people Israel to sin.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So now I will destroy you and your family, just as I destroyed the descendants of Jeroboam son of Nebat.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The members of Baasha’s family who die in the city will be eaten by dogs, and those who die in the field will be eaten by vultures.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Baasha’s reign and the extent of his power are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The message from the Lord against Baasha and his family came through the prophet Jehu son of Hanani. It was delivered because Baasha had done what was evil in the Lord’s sight (just as the family of Jeroboam had done), and also because Baasha had destroyed the family of Jeroboam. The Lord’s anger was provoked by Baasha’s sins.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Elah Rules in Israel Elah son of Baasha began to rule over Israel in the twenty-sixth year of King Asa’s reign in Judah. He reigned in the city of Tirzah for two years.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then Zimri, who commanded half of the royal chariots, made plans to kill him. One day in Tirzah, Elah was getting drunk at the home of Arza, the supervisor of the palace.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Zimri walked in and struck him down and killed him. This happened in the twenty-seventh year of King Asa’s reign in Judah. Then Zimri became the next king.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Zimri immediately killed the entire royal family of Baasha, leaving him not even a single male child. He even destroyed distant relatives and friends.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
This happened because of all the sins Baasha and his son Elah had committed, and because of the sins they led Israel to commit. They provoked the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, with their worthless idols.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Elah’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Zimri Rules in Israel Zimri began to rule over Israel in the twenty-seventh year of King Asa’s reign in Judah, but his reign in Tirzah lasted only seven days. The army of Israel was then attacking the Philistine town of Gibbethon.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
When they heard that Zimri had committed treason and had assassinated the king, that very day they chose Omri, commander of the army, as the new king of Israel.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
When Zimri saw that the city had been taken, he went into the citadel of the palace and burned it down over himself and died in the flames.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
For he, too, had done what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He followed the example of Jeroboam in all the sins he had committed and led Israel to commit.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Zimri’s reign and his conspiracy are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Omri Rules in Israel But now the people of Israel were split into two factions. Half the people tried to make Tibni son of Ginath their king, while the other half supported Omri.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But Omri’s supporters defeated the supporters of Tibni. So Tibni was killed, and Omri became the next king.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Omri began to rule over Israel in the thirty-first year of King Asa’s reign in Judah. He reigned twelve years in all, six of them in Tirzah.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then Omri bought the hill now known as Samaria from its owner, Shemer, for 150 pounds of silver. He built a city on it and called the city Samaria in honor of Shemer.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
He followed the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat in all the sins he had committed and led Israel to commit. The people provoked the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, with their worthless idols.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Omri’s reign, the extent of his power, and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Ahab Rules in Israel Ahab son of Omri began to rule over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of King Asa’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria twenty-two years.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, even more than any of the kings before him.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
And as though it were not enough to follow the example of Jeroboam, he married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians, and he began to bow down in worship of Baal.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then he set up an Asherah pole. He did more to provoke the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than any of the other kings of Israel before him.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
It was during his reign that Hiel, a man from Bethel, rebuilt Jericho. When he laid its foundations, it cost him the life of his oldest son, Abiram. And when he completed it and set up its gates, it cost him the life of his youngest son, Segub. This all happened according to the message from the Lord concerning Jericho spoken by Joshua son of Nun.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Elijah Fed by Ravens Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then she said to Elijah, “O man of God, what have you done to me? Have you come here to point out my sins and kill my son?”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But Elijah replied, “Give me your son.” And he took the child’s body from her arms, carried him up the stairs to the room where he was staying, and laid the body on his bed.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then Elijah cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, why have you brought tragedy to this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
And he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, please let this child’s life return to him.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then Elijah brought him down from the upper room and gave him to his mother. “Look!” he said. “Your son is alive!”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then the woman told Elijah, “Now I know for sure that you are a man of God, and that the Lord truly speaks through you.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The Contest on Mount Carmel Later on, in the third year of the drought, the Lord said to Elijah, “Go and present yourself to King Ahab. Tell him that I will soon send rain!”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Obadiah was a devoted follower of the Lord.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Once when Jezebel had tried to kill all the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah had hidden 100 of them in two caves. He put fifty prophets in each cave and supplied them with food and water.)


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Ahab said to Obadiah, “We must check every spring and valley in the land to see if we can find enough grass to save at least some of my horses and mules.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So they divided the land between them. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
As Obadiah was walking along, he suddenly saw Elijah coming toward him. Obadiah recognized him at once and bowed low to the ground before him. “Is it really you, my lord Elijah?” he asked.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“Oh, sir,” Obadiah protested, “what harm have I done to you that you are sending me to my death at the hands of Ahab?


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
For I swear by the Lord your God that the king has searched every nation and kingdom on earth from end to end to find you. And each time he was told, ‘Elijah isn’t here,’ King Ahab forced the king of that nation to swear to the truth of his claim.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But as soon as I leave you, the Spirit of the Lord will carry you away to who knows where. When Ahab comes and cannot find you, he will kill me. Yet I have been a true servant of the Lord all my life.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Has no one told you, my lord, about the time when Jezebel was trying to kill the Lord’s prophets? I hid 100 of them in two caves and supplied them with food and water.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
And now you say, ‘Go and tell your master, “Elijah is here.”’ Sir, if I do that, Ahab will certainly kill me.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But Elijah said, “I swear by the Lord Almighty, in whose presence I stand, that I will present myself to Ahab this very day.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“I have made no trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “You and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the Lord and have worshiped the images of Baal instead.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Now summon all Israel to join me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who are supported by Jezebel.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but Baal has 450 prophets.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Now bring two bulls. The prophets of Baal may choose whichever one they wish and cut it into pieces and lay it on the wood of their altar, but without setting fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood on the altar, but not set fire to it.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by setting fire to the wood is the true God!” And all the people agreed.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “You go first, for there are many of you. Choose one of the bulls, and prepare it and call on the name of your god. But do not set fire to the wood.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So they prepared one of the bulls and placed it on the altar. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning until noontime, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no reply of any kind. Then they danced, hobbling around the altar they had made.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
About noontime Elijah began mocking them. “You’ll have to shout louder,” he scoffed, “for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming, or is relieving himself. Or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be wakened!”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So they shouted louder, and following their normal custom, they cut themselves with knives and swords until the blood gushed out.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
They raved all afternoon until the time of the evening sacrifice, but still there was no sound, no reply, no response.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then Elijah called to the people, “Come over here!” They all crowded around him as he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
and he used the stones to rebuild the altar in the name of the Lord. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold about three gallons.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
He piled wood on the altar, cut the bull into pieces, and laid the pieces on the wood. Then he said, “Fill four large jars with water, and pour the water over the offering and the wood.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
After they had done this, he said, “Do the same thing again!” And when they were finished, he said, “Now do it a third time!” So they did as he said,


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench!


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord—he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then Elijah commanded, “Seize all the prophets of Baal. Don’t let a single one escape!” So the people seized them all, and Elijah took them down to the Kishon Valley and killed them there.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Elijah Prays for Rain Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea.” The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, “I didn’t see anything.” Seven times Elijah told him to go and look.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then the Lord gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Elijah Flees to Sinai When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. The Lord Speaks to Elijah But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
He replied again, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then the Lord told him, “Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha!


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The Call of Elisha So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, “First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!” Elijah replied, “Go on back, but think about what I have done to you.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Ben-Hadad Attacks Samaria About that time King Ben-hadad of Aram mobilized his army, supported by the chariots and horses of thirty-two allied kings. They went to besiege Samaria, the capital of Israel, and launched attacks against it.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Ben-hadad sent messengers into the city to relay this message to King Ahab of Israel: “This is what Ben-hadad says:


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Soon Ben-hadad’s messengers returned again and said, “This is what Ben-hadad says: ‘I have already demanded that you give me your silver, gold, wives, and children.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But about this time tomorrow I will send my officials to search your palace and the homes of your people. They will take away everything you consider valuable!’”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then Ahab summoned all the elders of the land and said to them, “Look how this man is stirring up trouble! I already agreed with his demand that I give him my wives and children and silver and gold.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So Ahab told the messengers from Ben-hadad, “Say this to my lord the king: ‘I will give you everything you asked for the first time, but I cannot accept this last demand of yours.’” So the messengers returned to Ben-hadad with that response.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then Ben-hadad sent this message to Ahab: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if there remains enough dust from Samaria to provide even a handful for each of my soldiers.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The king of Israel sent back this answer: “A warrior putting on his sword for battle should not boast like a warrior who has already won.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Ahab’s reply reached Ben-hadad and the other kings as they were drinking in their tents. “Prepare to attack!” Ben-hadad commanded his officers. So they prepared to attack the city.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Ahab’s Victory over Ben-Hadad Then a certain prophet came to see King Ahab of Israel and told him, “This is what the Lord says: Do you see all these enemy forces? Today I will hand them all over to you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Ahab asked, “How will he do it?” And the prophet replied, “This is what the Lord says: The troops of the provincial commanders will do it.” “Should we attack first?” Ahab asked. “Yes,” the prophet answered.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So Ahab mustered the troops of the 232 provincial commanders. Then he called out the rest of the army of Israel, some 7,000 men.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
About noontime, as Ben-hadad and the thirty-two allied kings were still in their tents drinking themselves into a stupor,


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
the troops of the provincial commanders marched out of the city as the first contingent. As they approached, Ben-hadad’s scouts reported to him, “Some troops are coming from Samaria.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Each Israelite soldier killed his Aramean opponent, and suddenly the entire Aramean army panicked and fled. The Israelites chased them, but King Ben-hadad and a few of his charioteers escaped on horses.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Afterward the prophet said to King Ahab, “Get ready for another attack. Begin making plans now, for the king of Aram will come back next spring.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Ben-Hadad’s Second Attack After their defeat, Ben-hadad’s officers said to him, “The Israelite gods are gods of the hills; that is why they won. But we can beat them easily on the plains.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Recruit another army like the one you lost. Give us the same number of horses, chariots, and men, and we will fight against them on the plains. There’s no doubt that we will beat them.” So King Ben-hadad did as they suggested.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The following spring he called up the Aramean army and marched out against Israel, this time at Aphek.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Israel then mustered its army, set up supply lines, and marched out for battle. But the Israelite army looked like two little flocks of goats in comparison to the vast Aramean forces that filled the countryside!


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then the man of God went to the king of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says: The Arameans have said, ‘The Lord is a god of the hills and not of the plains.’ So I will defeat this vast army for you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The two armies camped opposite each other for seven days, and on the seventh day the battle began. The Israelites killed 100,000 Aramean foot soldiers in one day.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The rest fled into the town of Aphek, but the wall fell on them and killed another 27,000. Ben-hadad fled into the town and hid in a secret room.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Ben-hadad’s officers said to him, “Sir, we have heard that the kings of Israel are merciful. So let’s humble ourselves by wearing burlap around our waists and putting ropes on our heads, and surrender to the king of Israel. Then perhaps he will let you live.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So they put on burlap and ropes, and they went to the king of Israel and begged, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please let me live!’” The king of Israel responded, “Is he still alive? He is my brother!”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The men took this as a good sign and quickly picked up on his words. “Yes,” they said, “your brother Ben-hadad!” “Go and get him,” the king of Israel told them. And when Ben-hadad arrived, Ahab invited him up into his chariot.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Ben-hadad told him, “I will give back the towns my father took from your father, and you may establish places of trade in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” Then Ahab said, “I will release you under these conditions.” So they made a new treaty, and Ben-hadad was set free.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
A Prophet Condemns Ahab Meanwhile, the Lord instructed one of the group of prophets to say to another man, “Hit me!” But the man refused to hit the prophet.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then the prophet told him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, a lion will kill you as soon as you leave me.” And when he had gone, a lion did attack and kill him.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then the prophet turned to another man and said, “Hit me!” So he struck the prophet and wounded him.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The prophet placed a bandage over his eyes to disguise himself and then waited beside the road for the king.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
As the king passed by, the prophet called out to him, “Sir, I was in the thick of battle, and suddenly a man brought me a prisoner. He said, ‘Guard this man; if for any reason he gets away, you will either die or pay a fine of seventy-five pounds of silver!’


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But while I was busy doing something else, the prisoner disappeared!” “Well, it’s your own fault,” the king replied. “You have brought the judgment on yourself.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then the prophet quickly pulled the bandage from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The prophet said to him, “This is what the Lord says: Because you have spared the man I said must be destroyed, now you must die in his place, and your people will die instead of his people.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Naboth’s Vineyard Now there was a man named Naboth, from Jezreel, who owned a vineyard in Jezreel beside the palace of King Ahab of Samaria.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
One day Ahab said to Naboth, “Since your vineyard is so convenient to my palace, I would like to buy it to use as a vegetable garden. I will give you a better vineyard in exchange, or if you prefer, I will pay you for it.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But Naboth replied, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance that was passed down by my ancestors.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So Ahab went home angry and sullen because of Naboth’s answer. The king went to bed with his face to the wall and refused to eat!


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“Are you the king of Israel or not?” Jezebel demanded. “Get up and eat something, and don’t worry about it. I’ll get you Naboth’s vineyard!”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and other leaders of the town where Naboth lived.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
In her letters she commanded: “Call the citizens together for fasting and prayer, and give Naboth a place of honor.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
And then seat two scoundrels across from him who will accuse him of cursing God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then the two scoundrels came and sat down across from him. And they accused Naboth before all the people, saying, “He cursed God and the king.” So he was dragged outside the town and stoned to death.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
When Jezebel heard the news, she said to Ahab, “You know the vineyard Naboth wouldn’t sell you? Well, you can have it now! He’s dead!”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“Go down to meet King Ahab of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He will be at Naboth’s vineyard in Jezreel, claiming it for himself.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Give him this message: ‘This is what the Lord says: Wasn’t it enough that you killed Naboth? Must you rob him, too? Because you have done this, dogs will lick your blood at the very place where they licked the blood of Naboth!’”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“So, my enemy, you have found me!” Ahab exclaimed to Elijah. “Yes,” Elijah answered, “I have come because you have sold yourself to what is evil in the Lord’s sight.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So now the Lord says, ‘I will bring disaster on you and consume you. I will destroy every one of your male descendants, slave and free alike, anywhere in Israel!


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
I am going to destroy your family as I did the family of Jeroboam son of Nebat and the family of Baasha son of Ahijah, for you have made me very angry and have led Israel into sin.’


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“And regarding Jezebel, the Lord says, ‘Dogs will eat Jezebel’s body at the plot of land in Jezreel.’


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“The members of Ahab’s family who die in the city will be eaten by dogs, and those who die in the field will be eaten by vultures.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
(No one else so completely sold himself to what was evil in the Lord’s sight as Ahab did under the influence of his wife Jezebel.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
His worst outrage was worshiping idols just as the Amorites had done—the people whom the Lord had driven out from the land ahead of the Israelites.)


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But when Ahab heard this message, he tore his clothing, dressed in burlap, and fasted. He even slept in burlap and went about in deep mourning.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has done this, I will not do what I promised during his lifetime. It will happen to his sons; I will destroy his dynasty.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
During the visit, the king of Israel said to his officials, “Do you realize that the town of Ramoth-gilead belongs to us? And yet we’ve done nothing to recapture it from the king of Aram!”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then he turned to Jehoshaphat and asked, “Will you join me in battle to recover Ramoth-gilead?” Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “Why, of course! You and I are as one. My troops are your troops, and my horses are your horses.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So the king of Israel summoned the prophets, about 400 of them, and asked them, “Should I go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I hold back?” They all replied, “Yes, go right ahead! The Lord will give the king victory.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not also a prophet of the Lord here? We should ask him the same question.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The king of Israel replied to Jehoshaphat, “There is one more man who could consult the Lord for us, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me! His name is Micaiah son of Imlah.” Jehoshaphat replied, “That’s not the way a king should talk! Let’s hear what he has to say.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Micaiah Prophesies against Ahab King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah, dressed in their royal robes, were sitting on thrones at the threshing floor near the gate of Samaria. All of Ahab’s prophets were prophesying there in front of them.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
One of them, Zedekiah son of Kenaanah, made some iron horns and proclaimed, “This is what the Lord says: With these horns you will gore the Arameans to death!”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
All the other prophets agreed. “Yes,” they said, “go up to Ramoth-gilead and be victorious, for the Lord will give the king victory!”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Meanwhile, the messenger who went to get Micaiah said to him, “Look, all the prophets are promising victory for the king. Be sure that you agree with them and promise success.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
When Micaiah arrived before the king, Ahab asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we hold back?” Micaiah replied sarcastically, “Yes, go up and be victorious, for the Lord will give the king victory!”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But the king replied sharply, “How many times must I demand that you speak only the truth to me when you speak for the Lord?”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then Micaiah told him, “In a vision I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘Their master has been killed. Send them home in peace.’”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“Didn’t I tell you?” the king of Israel exclaimed to Jehoshaphat. “He never prophesies anything but trouble for me.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then Micaiah continued, “Listen to what the Lord says! I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with all the armies of heaven around him, on his right and on his left.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
And the Lord said, ‘Who can entice Ahab to go into battle against Ramoth-gilead so he can be killed?’ “There were many suggestions,


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“‘How will you do this?’ the Lord asked. “And the spirit replied, ‘I will go out and inspire all of Ahab’s prophets to speak lies.’ “‘You will succeed,’ said the Lord. ‘Go ahead and do it.’


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“So you see, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all your prophets. For the Lord has pronounced your doom.”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah walked up to Micaiah and slapped him across the face. “Since when did the Spirit of the Lord leave me to speak to you?” he demanded.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
And Micaiah replied, “You will find out soon enough when you are trying to hide in some secret room!”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
“Arrest him!” the king of Israel ordered. “Take him back to Amon, the governor of the city, and to my son Joash.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Give them this order from the king: ‘Put this man in prison, and feed him nothing but bread and water until I return safely from the battle!’”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But Micaiah replied, “If you return safely, it will mean that the Lord has not spoken through me!” Then he added to those standing around, “Everyone mark my words!”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The Death of Ahab So King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah led their armies against Ramoth-gilead.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “As we go into battle, I will disguise myself so no one will recognize me, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Meanwhile, the king of Aram had issued these orders to his thirty-two chariot commanders: “Attack only the king of Israel. Don’t bother with anyone else!”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
So when the Aramean chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat in his royal robes, they went after him. “There is the king of Israel!” they shouted. But when Jehoshaphat called out,


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
An Aramean soldier, however, randomly shot an arrow at the Israelite troops and hit the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. “Turn the horses and get me out of here!” Ahab groaned to the driver of his chariot. “I’m badly wounded!”


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The battle raged all that day, and the king remained propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. The blood from his wound ran down to the floor of his chariot, and as evening arrived he died.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Then his chariot was washed beside the pool of Samaria, and dogs came and licked his blood at the place where the prostitutes bathed, just as the Lord had promised.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Ahab’s reign and everything he did, including the story of the ivory palace and the towns he built, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Jehoshaphat Rules in Judah Jehoshaphat son of Asa began to rule over Judah in the fourth year of King Ahab’s reign in Israel.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Jehoshaphat was a good king, following the example of his father, Asa. He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. During his reign, however, he failed to remove all the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Jehoshaphat’s reign, the extent of his power, and the wars he waged are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
He banished from the land the rest of the male and female shrine prostitutes, who still continued their practices from the days of his father, Asa.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Jehoshaphat also built a fleet of trading ships to sail to Ophir for gold. But the ships never set sail, for they met with disaster in their home port of Ezion-geber.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
At one time Ahaziah son of Ahab had proposed to Jehoshaphat, “Let my men sail with your men in the ships.” But Jehoshaphat refused the request.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
When Jehoshaphat died, he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. Then his son Jehoram became the next king.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
Ahaziah Rules in Israel Ahaziah son of Ahab began to rule over Israel in the seventeenth year of King Jehoshaphat’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria two years.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
But he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, following the example of his father and mother and the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had led Israel to sin.


book: 1Kgs
contenido:
He served Baal and worshiped him, provoking the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, just as his father had done.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
One day Israel’s new king, Ahaziah, fell through the latticework of an upper room at his palace in Samaria and was seriously injured. So he sent messengers to the temple of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether he would recover.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But the angel of the Lord told Elijah, who was from Tishbe, “Go and confront the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is there no God in Israel? Why are you going to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether the king will recover?


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Now, therefore, this is what the Lord says: You will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die.’” So Elijah went to deliver the message.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
They replied, “A man came up to us and told us to go back to the king and give him this message. ‘This is what the Lord says: Is there no God in Israel? Why are you sending men to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether you will recover? Therefore, because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die.’”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
They replied, “He was a hairy man, and he wore a leather belt around his waist.” “Elijah from Tishbe!” the king exclaimed.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then he sent an army captain with fifty soldiers to arrest him. They found him sitting on top of a hill. The captain said to him, “Man of God, the king has commanded you to come down with us.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But Elijah replied to the captain, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men!” Then fire fell from heaven and killed them all.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So the king sent another captain with fifty men. The captain said to him, “Man of God, the king demands that you come down at once.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Elijah replied, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men!” And again the fire of God fell from heaven and killed them all.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Once more the king sent a third captain with fifty men. But this time the captain went up the hill and fell to his knees before Elijah. He pleaded with him, “O man of God, please spare my life and the lives of these, your fifty servants.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
See how the fire from heaven came down and destroyed the first two groups. But now please spare my life!”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then the angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him, and don’t be afraid of him.” So Elijah got up and went with him to the king.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
And Elijah said to the king, “This is what the Lord says: Why did you send messengers to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether you will recover? Is there no God in Israel to answer your question? Therefore, because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So Ahaziah died, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah. Since Ahaziah did not have a son to succeed him, his brother Joram became the next king. This took place in the second year of the reign of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Ahaziah’s reign are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Elijah Taken into Heaven When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
And Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has told me to go to Bethel.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you!” So they went down together to Bethel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The group of prophets from Bethel came to Elisha and asked him, “Did you know that the Lord is going to take your master away from you today?” “Of course I know,” Elisha answered. “But be quiet about it.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has told me to go to Jericho.” But Elisha replied again, “As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.” So they went on together to Jericho.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then the group of prophets from Jericho came to Elisha and asked him, “Did you know that the Lord is going to take your master away from you today?” “Of course I know,” Elisha answered. “But be quiet about it.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has told me to go to the Jordan River.” But again Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.” So they went on together.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Fifty men from the group of prophets also went and watched from a distance as Elijah and Elisha stopped beside the Jordan River.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Elijah folded his cloak together and struck the water with it. The river divided, and the two of them went across on dry ground!


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.” And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in distress.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and cried out, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” Then the river divided, and Elisha went across.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When the group of prophets from Jericho saw from a distance what happened, they exclaimed, “Elijah’s spirit rests upon Elisha!” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“Sir,” they said, “just say the word and fifty of our strongest men will search the wilderness for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has left him on some mountain or in some valley.” “No,” Elisha said, “don’t send them.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But they kept urging him until they shamed him into agreeing, and he finally said, “All right, send them.” So fifty men searched for three days but did not find Elijah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Elisha’s First Miracles One day the leaders of the town of Jericho visited Elisha. “We have a problem, my lord,” they told him. “This town is located in pleasant surroundings, as you can see. But the water is bad, and the land is unproductive.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then he went out to the spring that supplied the town with water and threw the salt into it. And he said, “This is what the Lord says: I have purified this water. It will no longer cause death or infertility.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Elisha left Jericho and went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, a group of boys from the town began mocking and making fun of him. “Go away, baldy!” they chanted. “Go away, baldy!”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Elisha turned around and looked at them, and he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of them.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
War between Israel and Moab Ahab’s son Joram began to rule over Israel in the eighteenth year of King Jehoshaphat’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria twelve years.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, but not to the same extent as his father and mother. He at least tore down the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had set up.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Nevertheless, he continued in the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had committed and led the people of Israel to commit.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
King Mesha of Moab was a sheep breeder. He used to pay the king of Israel an annual tribute of 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
On the way, he sent this message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you join me in battle against him?” And Jehoshaphat replied, “Why, of course! You and I are as one. My troops are your troops, and my horses are your horses.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Jehoshaphat asked, “What route will we take?” “We will attack from the wilderness of Edom,” Joram replied.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The king of Edom and his troops joined them, and all three armies traveled along a roundabout route through the wilderness for seven days. But there was no water for the men or their animals.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“What should we do?” the king of Israel cried out. “The Lord has brought the three of us here to let the king of Moab defeat us.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But King Jehoshaphat of Judah asked, “Is there no prophet of the Lord with us? If there is, we can ask the Lord what to do through him.” One of King Joram’s officers replied, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to be Elijah’s personal assistant.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Jehoshaphat said, “Yes, the Lord speaks through him.” So the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom went to consult with Elisha.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“Why are you coming to me?” Elisha asked the king of Israel. “Go to the pagan prophets of your father and mother!” But King Joram of Israel said, “No! For it was the Lord who called us three kings here—only to be defeated by the king of Moab!”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I wouldn’t even bother with you except for my respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Now bring me someone who can play the harp.” While the harp was being played, the power of the Lord came upon Elisha,


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
You will see neither wind nor rain, says the Lord, but this valley will be filled with water. You will have plenty for yourselves and your cattle and other animals.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But this is only a simple thing for the Lord, for he will make you victorious over the army of Moab!


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
You will conquer the best of their towns, even the fortified ones. You will cut down all their good trees, stop up all their springs, and ruin all their good land with stones.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The next day at about the time when the morning sacrifice was offered, water suddenly appeared! It was flowing from the direction of Edom, and soon there was water everywhere.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Meanwhile, when the people of Moab heard about the three armies marching against them, they mobilized every man who was old enough to strap on a sword, and they stationed themselves along their border.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But when they got up the next morning, the sun was shining across the water, making it appear red to the Moabites—like blood.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“It’s blood!” the Moabites exclaimed. “The three armies must have attacked and killed each other! Let’s go, men of Moab, and collect the plunder!”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But when the Moabites arrived at the Israelite camp, the army of Israel rushed out and attacked them until they turned and ran. The army of Israel chased them into the land of Moab, destroying everything as they went.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
They destroyed the towns, covered their good land with stones, stopped up all the springs, and cut down all the good trees. Finally, only Kir-hareseth and its stone walls were left, but men with slings surrounded and attacked it.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When the king of Moab saw that he was losing the battle, he led 700 of his swordsmen in a desperate attempt to break through the enemy lines near the king of Edom, but they failed.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then the king of Moab took his oldest son, who would have been the next king, and sacrificed him as a burnt offering on the wall. So there was great anger against Israel, and the Israelites withdrew and returned to their own land.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Elisha Helps a Poor Widow One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the Lord. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“What can I do to help you?” Elisha asked. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?” “Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil,” she replied.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Soon every container was full to the brim! “Bring me another jar,” she said to one of her sons. “There aren’t any more!” he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, “Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Elisha and the Woman from Shunem One day Elisha went to the town of Shunem. A wealthy woman lived there, and she urged him to come to her home for a meal. After that, whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for something to eat.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Let’s build a small room for him on the roof and furnish it with a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp. Then he will have a place to stay whenever he comes by.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He said to his servant Gehazi, “Tell the woman from Shunem I want to speak to her.” When she appeared,


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tell her, ‘We appreciate the kind concern you have shown us. What can we do for you? Can we put in a good word for you to the king or to the commander of the army?’” “No,” she replied, “my family takes good care of me.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Later Elisha asked Gehazi, “What can we do for her?” Gehazi replied, “She doesn’t have a son, and her husband is an old man.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“Call her back again,” Elisha told him. When the woman returned, Elisha said to her as she stood in the doorway,


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“Next year at this time you will be holding a son in your arms!” “No, my lord!” she cried. “O man of God, don’t deceive me and get my hopes up like that.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But sure enough, the woman soon became pregnant. And at that time the following year she had a son, just as Elisha had said.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
One day when her child was older, he went out to help his father, who was working with the harvesters.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Suddenly he cried out, “My head hurts! My head hurts!” His father said to one of the servants, “Carry him home to his mother.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
She carried him up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, then shut the door and left him there.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
She sent a message to her husband: “Send one of the servants and a donkey so that I can hurry to the man of God and come right back.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“Why go today?” he asked. “It is neither a new moon festival nor a Sabbath.” But she said, “It will be all right.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
As she approached the man of God at Mount Carmel, Elisha saw her in the distance. He said to Gehazi, “Look, the woman from Shunem is coming.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Run out to meet her and ask her, ‘Is everything all right with you, your husband, and your child?’” “Yes,” the woman told Gehazi, “everything is fine.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But when she came to the man of God at the mountain, she fell to the ground before him and caught hold of his feet. Gehazi began to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone. She is deeply troubled, but the Lord has not told me what it is.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then she said, “Did I ask you for a son, my lord? And didn’t I say, ‘Don’t deceive me and get my hopes up’?”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Elisha said to Gehazi, “Get ready to travel; take my staff and go! Don’t talk to anyone along the way. Go quickly and lay the staff on the child’s face.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But the boy’s mother said, “As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I won’t go home unless you go with me.” So Elisha returned with her.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Gehazi hurried on ahead and laid the staff on the child’s face, but nothing happened. There was no sign of life. He returned to meet Elisha and told him, “The child is still dead.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then he lay down on the child’s body, placing his mouth on the child’s mouth, his eyes on the child’s eyes, and his hands on the child’s hands. And as he stretched out on him, the child’s body began to grow warm again!


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Elisha got up, walked back and forth across the room once, and then stretched himself out again on the child. This time the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes!


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Elisha summoned Gehazi. “Call the child’s mother!” he said. And when she came in, Elisha said, “Here, take your son!”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
She fell at his feet and bowed before him, overwhelmed with gratitude. Then she took her son in her arms and carried him downstairs.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Miracles during a Famine Elisha now returned to Gilgal, and there was a famine in the land. One day as the group of prophets was seated before him, he said to his servant, “Put a large pot on the fire, and make some stew for the rest of the group.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
One of the young men went out into the field to gather herbs and came back with a pocketful of wild gourds. He shredded them and put them into the pot without realizing they were poisonous.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Some of the stew was served to the men. But after they had eaten a bite or two they cried out, “Man of God, there’s poison in this stew!” So they would not eat it.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Elisha said, “Bring me some flour.” Then he threw it into the pot and said, “Now it’s all right; go ahead and eat.” And then it did not harm them.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
One day a man from Baal-shalishah brought the man of God a sack of fresh grain and twenty loaves of barley bread made from the first grain of his harvest. Elisha said, “Give it to the people so they can eat.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“What?” his servant exclaimed. “Feed a hundred people with only this?” But Elisha repeated, “Give it to the people so they can eat, for this is what the Lord says: Everyone will eat, and there will even be some left over!”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
And when they gave it to the people, there was plenty for all and some left over, just as the Lord had promised.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The Healing of Naaman The king of Aram had great admiration for Naaman, the commander of his army, because through him the Lord had given Aram great victories. But though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
At this time Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman’s wife as a maid.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
One day the girl said to her mistress, “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“Go and visit the prophet,” the king of Aram told him. “I will send a letter of introduction for you to take to the king of Israel.” So Naaman started out, carrying as gifts 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The letter to the king of Israel said: “With this letter I present my servant Naaman. I want you to heal him of his leprosy.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes in dismay and said, “This man sends me a leper to heal! Am I God, that I can give life and take it away? I can see that he’s just trying to pick a fight with me.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But when Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes in dismay, he sent this message to him: “Why are you so upset? Send Naaman to me, and he will learn that there is a true prophet here in Israel.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But Naaman became angry and stalked away. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me!


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?” So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But his officers tried to reason with him and said, “Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!’”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child’s, and he was healed!


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Naaman and his entire party went back to find the man of God. They stood before him, and Naaman said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept any gifts.” And though Naaman urged him to take the gift, Elisha refused.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Naaman said, “All right, but please allow me to load two of my mules with earth from this place, and I will take it back home with me. From now on I will never again offer burnt offerings or sacrifices to any other god except the Lord.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
However, may the Lord pardon me in this one thing: When my master the king goes into the temple of the god Rimmon to worship there and leans on my arm, may the Lord pardon me when I bow, too.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The Greed of Gehazi But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, the man of God, said to himself, “My master should not have let this Aramean get away without accepting any of his gifts. As surely as the Lord lives, I will chase after him and get something from him.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So Gehazi set off after Naaman. When Naaman saw Gehazi running after him, he climbed down from his chariot and went to meet him. “Is everything all right?” Naaman asked.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“Yes,” Gehazi said, “but my master has sent me to tell you that two young prophets from the hill country of Ephraim have just arrived. He would like 75 pounds of silver and two sets of clothing to give to them.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“By all means, take twice as much silver,” Naaman insisted. He gave him two sets of clothing, tied up the money in two bags, and sent two of his servants to carry the gifts for Gehazi.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But when they arrived at the citadel, Gehazi took the gifts from the servants and sent the men back. Then he went and hid the gifts inside the house.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When he went in to his master, Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” “I haven’t been anywhere,” he replied.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But Elisha asked him, “Don’t you realize that I was there in spirit when Naaman stepped down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants?


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Because you have done this, you and your descendants will suffer from Naaman’s leprosy forever.” When Gehazi left the room, he was covered with leprosy; his skin was white as snow.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The Floating Ax Head One day the group of prophets came to Elisha and told him, “As you can see, this place where we meet with you is too small.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Let’s go down to the Jordan River, where there are plenty of logs. There we can build a new place for us to meet.” “All right,” he told them, “go ahead.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But as one of them was cutting a tree, his ax head fell into the river. “Oh, sir!” he cried. “It was a borrowed ax!”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“Where did it fall?” the man of God asked. When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water at that spot. Then the ax head floated to the surface.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Elisha Traps the Arameans When the king of Aram was at war with Israel, he would confer with his officers and say, “We will mobilize our forces at such and such a place.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But immediately Elisha, the man of God, would warn the king of Israel, “Do not go near that place, for the Arameans are planning to mobilize their troops there.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So the king of Israel would send word to the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he would be on the alert there.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The king of Aram became very upset over this. He called his officers together and demanded, “Which of you is the traitor? Who has been informing the king of Israel of my plans?”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“It’s not us, my lord the king,” one of the officers replied. “Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom!”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“Go and find out where he is,” the king commanded, “so I can send troops to seize him.” And the report came back: “Elisha is at Dothan.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
As the Aramean army advanced toward him, Elisha prayed, “O Lord, please make them blind.” So the Lord struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Elisha went out and told them, “You have come the wrong way! This isn’t the right city! Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to the city of Samaria.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
As soon as they had entered Samaria, Elisha prayed, “O Lord, now open their eyes and let them see.” So the Lord opened their eyes, and they discovered that they were in the middle of Samaria.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When the king of Israel saw them, he shouted to Elisha, “My father, should I kill them? Should I kill them?”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“Of course not!” Elisha replied. “Do we kill prisoners of war? Give them food and drink and send them home again to their master.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So the king made a great feast for them and then sent them home to their master. After that, the Aramean raiders stayed away from the land of Israel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Ben-Hadad Besieges Samaria Some time later, however, King Ben-hadad of Aram mustered his entire army and besieged Samaria.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
As a result, there was a great famine in the city. The siege lasted so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty pieces of silver, and a cup of dove’s dung sold for five pieces of silver.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
One day as the king of Israel was walking along the wall of the city, a woman called to him, “Please help me, my lord the king!”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He answered, “If the Lord doesn’t help you, what can I do? I have neither food from the threshing floor nor wine from the press to give you.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But then the king asked, “What is the matter?” She replied, “This woman said to me: ‘Come on, let’s eat your son today, then we will eat my son tomorrow.’


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So we cooked my son and ate him. Then the next day I said to her, ‘Kill your son so we can eat him,’ but she has hidden her son.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When the king heard this, he tore his clothes in despair. And as the king walked along the wall, the people could see that he was wearing burlap under his robe next to his skin.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“May God strike me and even kill me if I don’t separate Elisha’s head from his shoulders this very day,” the king vowed.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Elisha was sitting in his house with the elders of Israel when the king sent a messenger to summon him. But before the messenger arrived, Elisha said to the elders, “A murderer has sent a man to cut off my head. When he arrives, shut the door and keep him out. We will soon hear his master’s steps following him.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
While Elisha was still saying this, the messenger arrived. And the king said, “All this misery is from the Lord! Why should I wait for the Lord any longer?”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Elisha replied, “Listen to this message from the Lord! This is what the Lord says: By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, five quarts of choice flour will cost only one piece of silver, and ten quarts of barley grain will cost only one piece of silver.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The officer assisting the king said to the man of God, “That couldn’t happen even if the Lord opened the windows of heaven!” But Elisha replied, “You will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won’t be able to eat any of it!”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Lepers Visit the Enemy Camp Now there were four men with leprosy sitting at the entrance of the city gates. “Why should we sit here waiting to die?” they asked each other.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“We will starve if we stay here, but with the famine in the city, we will starve if we go back there. So we might as well go out and surrender to the Aramean army. If they let us live, so much the better. But if they kill us, we would have died anyway.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So at twilight they set out for the camp of the Arameans. But when they came to the edge of the camp, no one was there!


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
For the Lord had caused the Aramean army to hear the clatter of speeding chariots and the galloping of horses and the sounds of a great army approaching. “The king of Israel has hired the Hittites and Egyptians to attack us!” they cried to one another.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So they panicked and ran into the night, abandoning their tents, horses, donkeys, and everything else, as they fled for their lives.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When the lepers arrived at the edge of the camp, they went into one tent after another, eating and drinking wine; and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and hid it.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Finally, they said to each other, “This is not right. This is a day of good news, and we aren’t sharing it with anyone! If we wait until morning, some calamity will certainly fall upon us. Come on, let’s go back and tell the people at the palace.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So they went back to the city and told the gatekeepers what had happened. “We went out to the Aramean camp,” they said, “and no one was there! The horses and donkeys were tethered and the tents were all in order, but there wasn’t a single person around!”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Israel Plunders the Camp The king got out of bed in the middle of the night and told his officers, “I know what has happened. The Arameans know we are starving, so they have left their camp and have hidden in the fields. They are expecting us to leave the city, and then they will take us alive and capture the city.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
One of his officers replied, “We had better send out scouts to check into this. Let them take five of the remaining horses. If something happens to them, it will be no worse than if they stay here and die with the rest of us.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So two chariots with horses were prepared, and the king sent scouts to see what had happened to the Aramean army.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
They went all the way to the Jordan River, following a trail of clothing and equipment that the Arameans had thrown away in their mad rush to escape. The scouts returned and told the king about it.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then the people of Samaria rushed out and plundered the Aramean camp. So it was true that five quarts of choice flour were sold that day for one piece of silver, and ten quarts of barley grain were sold for one piece of silver, just as the Lord had promised.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The king appointed his officer to control the traffic at the gate, but he was knocked down and trampled to death as the people rushed out. So everything happened exactly as the man of God had predicted when the king came to his house.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The man of God had said to the king, “By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, five quarts of choice flour will cost one piece of silver, and ten quarts of barley grain will cost one piece of silver.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The king’s officer had replied, “That couldn’t happen even if the Lord opened the windows of heaven!” And the man of God had said, “You will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won’t be able to eat any of it!”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The Woman from Shunem Returns Home Elisha had told the woman whose son he had brought back to life, “Take your family and move to some other place, for the Lord has called for a famine on Israel that will last for seven years.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So the woman did as the man of God instructed. She took her family and settled in the land of the Philistines for seven years.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
After the famine ended she returned from the land of the Philistines, and she went to see the king about getting back her house and land.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
As she came in, the king was talking with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God. The king had just said, “Tell me some stories about the great things Elisha has done.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
And Gehazi was telling the king about the time Elisha had brought a boy back to life. At that very moment, the mother of the boy walked in to make her appeal to the king about her house and land. “Look, my lord the king!” Gehazi exclaimed. “Here is the woman now, and this is her son—the very one Elisha brought back to life!”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“Is this true?” the king asked her. And she told him the story. So he directed one of his officials to see that everything she had lost was restored to her, including the value of any crops that had been harvested during her absence.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Hazael Murders Ben-Hadad Elisha went to Damascus, the capital of Aram, where King Ben-hadad lay sick. When someone told the king that the man of God had come,


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
the king said to Hazael, “Take a gift to the man of God. Then tell him to ask the Lord, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So Hazael loaded down forty camels with the finest products of Damascus as a gift for Elisha. He went to him and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad, the king of Aram, has sent me to ask, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
And Elisha replied, “Go and tell him, ‘You will surely recover.’ But actually the Lord has shown me that he will surely die!”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Elisha stared at Hazael with a fixed gaze until Hazael became uneasy. Then the man of God started weeping.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“What’s the matter, my lord?” Hazael asked him. Elisha replied, “I know the terrible things you will do to the people of Israel. You will burn their fortified cities, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little children to the ground, and rip open their pregnant women!”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Hazael responded, “How could a nobody like me ever accomplish such great things?” Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that you are going to be the king of Aram.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When Hazael left Elisha and went back, the king asked him, “What did Elisha tell you?” And Hazael replied, “He told me that you will surely recover.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But the next day Hazael took a blanket, soaked it in water, and held it over the king’s face until he died. Then Hazael became the next king of Aram.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Jehoram Rules in Judah Jehoram son of King Jehoshaphat of Judah began to rule over Judah in the fifth year of the reign of Joram son of Ahab, king of Israel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But Jehoram followed the example of the kings of Israel and was as wicked as King Ahab, for he had married one of Ahab’s daughters. So Jehoram did what was evil in the Lord’s sight.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But the Lord did not want to destroy Judah, for he had made a covenant with David and promised that his descendants would continue to rule, shining like a lamp forever.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So Jehoram went with all his chariots to attack the town of Zair. The Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, but he went out at night and attacked them under cover of darkness. But Jehoram’s army deserted him and fled to their homes.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So Edom has been independent from Judah to this day. The town of Libnah also revolted about that same time.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Jehoram’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When Jehoram died, he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. Then his son Ahaziah became the next king.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Ahaziah Rules in Judah Ahaziah son of Jehoram began to rule over Judah in the twelfth year of the reign of Joram son of Ahab, king of Israel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother was Athaliah, a granddaughter of King Omri of Israel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Ahaziah followed the evil example of King Ahab’s family. He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, just as Ahab’s family had done, for he was related by marriage to the family of Ahab.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Ahaziah joined Joram son of Ahab, the king of Israel, in his war against King Hazael of Aram at Ramoth-gilead. When the Arameans wounded King Joram in the battle,


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
he returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds he had received at Ramoth. Because Joram was wounded, King Ahaziah of Judah went to Jezreel to visit him.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Jehu Anointed King of Israel Meanwhile, Elisha the prophet had summoned a member of the group of prophets. “Get ready to travel,” he told him, “and take this flask of olive oil with you. Go to Ramoth-gilead,


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
and find Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi. Call him into a private room away from his friends,


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
and pour the oil over his head. Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: I anoint you to be the king over Israel.’ Then open the door and run for your life!”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When he arrived there, he found Jehu sitting around with the other army officers. “I have a message for you, Commander,” he said. “For which one of us?” Jehu asked. “For you, Commander,” he replied.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So Jehu left the others and went into the house. Then the young prophet poured the oil over Jehu’s head and said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I anoint you king over the Lord’s people, Israel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
You are to destroy the family of Ahab, your master. In this way, I will avenge the murder of my prophets and all the Lord’s servants who were killed by Jezebel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The entire family of Ahab must be wiped out. I will destroy every one of his male descendants, slave and free alike, anywhere in Israel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
I will destroy the family of Ahab as I destroyed the families of Jeroboam son of Nebat and of Baasha son of Ahijah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Dogs will eat Ahab’s wife Jezebel at the plot of land in Jezreel, and no one will bury her.” Then the young prophet opened the door and ran.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Jehu went back to his fellow officers, and one of them asked him, “What did that madman want? Is everything all right?” “You know how a man like that babbles on,” Jehu replied.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“You’re hiding something,” they said. “Tell us.” So Jehu told them, “He said to me, ‘This is what the Lord says: I have anointed you to be king over Israel.’”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then they quickly spread out their cloaks on the bare steps and blew the ram’s horn, shouting, “Jehu is king!”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Jehu Kills Joram and Ahaziah So Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi, led a conspiracy against King Joram. (Now Joram had been with the army at Ramoth-gilead, defending Israel against the forces of King Hazael of Aram.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But King Joram was wounded in the fighting and returned to Jezreel to recover from his wounds.) So Jehu told the men with him, “If you want me to be king, don’t let anyone leave town and go to Jezreel to report what we have done.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Jehu got into a chariot and rode to Jezreel to find King Joram, who was lying there wounded. King Ahaziah of Judah was there, too, for he had gone to visit him.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The watchman on the tower of Jezreel saw Jehu and his company approaching, so he shouted to Joram, “I see a company of troops coming!” “Send out a rider to ask if they are coming in peace,” King Joram ordered.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So a horseman went out to meet Jehu and said, “The king wants to know if you are coming in peace.” Jehu replied, “What do you know about peace? Fall in behind me!” The watchman called out to the king, “The messenger has met them, but he’s not returning.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So the king sent out a second horseman. He rode up to them and said, “The king wants to know if you come in peace.” Again Jehu answered, “What do you know about peace? Fall in behind me!”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The watchman exclaimed, “The messenger has met them, but he isn’t returning either! It must be Jehu son of Nimshi, for he’s driving like a madman.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“Quick! Get my chariot ready!” King Joram commanded. Then King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah rode out in their chariots to meet Jehu. They met him at the plot of land that had belonged to Naboth of Jezreel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
King Joram demanded, “Do you come in peace, Jehu?” Jehu replied, “How can there be peace as long as the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother, Jezebel, are all around us?”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow pierced his heart, and he sank down dead in his chariot.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Jehu said to Bidkar, his officer, “Throw him into the plot of land that belonged to Naboth of Jezreel. Do you remember when you and I were riding along behind his father, Ahab? The Lord pronounced this message against him:


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
‘I solemnly swear that I will repay him here on this plot of land, says the Lord, for the murder of Naboth and his sons that I saw yesterday.’ So throw him out on Naboth’s property, just as the Lord said.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When King Ahaziah of Judah saw what was happening, he fled along the road to Beth-haggan. Jehu rode after him, shouting, “Shoot him, too!” So they shot Ahaziah in his chariot at the Ascent of Gur, near Ibleam. He was able to go on as far as Megiddo, but he died there.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
His servants took him by chariot to Jerusalem, where they buried him with his ancestors in the City of David.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The Death of Jezebel When Jezebel, the queen mother, heard that Jehu had come to Jezreel, she painted her eyelids and fixed her hair and sat at a window.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When Jehu entered the gate of the palace, she shouted at him, “Have you come in peace, you murderer? You’re just like Zimri, who murdered his master!”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Jehu looked up and saw her at the window and shouted, “Who is on my side?” And two or three eunuchs looked out at him.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“Throw her down!” Jehu yelled. So they threw her out the window, and her blood spattered against the wall and on the horses. And Jehu trampled her body under his horses’ hooves.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Jehu went into the palace and ate and drank. Afterward he said, “Someone go and bury this cursed woman, for she is the daughter of a king.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When they returned and told Jehu, he stated, “This fulfills the message from the Lord, which he spoke through his servant Elijah from Tishbe: ‘At the plot of land in Jezreel, dogs will eat Jezebel’s body.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Her remains will be scattered like dung on the plot of land in Jezreel, so that no one will be able to recognize her.’”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Jehu Kills Ahab’s Family Ahab had seventy sons living in the city of Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the elders and officials of the city, and to the guardians of King Ahab’s sons. He said,


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“The king’s sons are with you, and you have at your disposal chariots, horses, a fortified city, and weapons. As soon as you receive this letter,


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
select the best qualified of your master’s sons to be your king, and prepare to fight for Ahab’s dynasty.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But they were paralyzed with fear and said, “We’ve seen that two kings couldn’t stand against this man! What can we do?”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So the palace and city administrators, together with the elders and the guardians of the king’s sons, sent this message to Jehu: “We are your servants and will do anything you tell us. We will not make anyone king; do whatever you think is best.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Jehu responded with a second letter: “If you are on my side and are going to obey me, bring the heads of your master’s sons to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow.” Now the seventy sons of the king were being cared for by the leaders of Samaria, where they had been raised since childhood.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When the letter arrived, the leaders killed all seventy of the king’s sons. They placed their heads in baskets and presented them to Jehu at Jezreel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
A messenger went to Jehu and said, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.” So Jehu ordered, “Pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the city gate, and leave them there until morning.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
In the morning he went out and spoke to the crowd that had gathered around them. “You are not to blame,” he told them. “I am the one who conspired against my master and killed him. But who killed all these?


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
You can be sure that the message of the Lord that was spoken concerning Ahab’s family will not fail. The Lord declared through his servant Elijah that this would happen.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Jehu killed all who were left of Ahab’s relatives living in Jezreel and all his important officials, his personal friends, and his priests. So Ahab was left without a single survivor.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
he met some relatives of King Ahaziah of Judah. “Who are you?” he asked them. And they replied, “We are relatives of King Ahaziah. We are going to visit the sons of King Ahab and the sons of the queen mother.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“Take them alive!” Jehu shouted to his men. And they captured all forty-two of them and killed them at the well of Beth-eked. None of them escaped.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When Jehu left there, he met Jehonadab son of Recab, who was coming to meet him. After they had greeted each other, Jehu said to him, “Are you as loyal to me as I am to you?” “Yes, I am,” Jehonadab replied. “If you are,” Jehu said, “then give me your hand.” So Jehonadab put out his hand, and Jehu helped him into the chariot.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Jehu said, “Now come with me, and see how devoted I am to the Lord.” So Jehonadab rode along with him.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When Jehu arrived in Samaria, he killed everyone who was left there from Ahab’s family, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Jehu Kills the Priests of Baal Then Jehu called a meeting of all the people of the city and said to them, “Ahab’s worship of Baal was nothing compared to the way I will worship him!


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Therefore, summon all the prophets and worshipers of Baal, and call together all his priests. See to it that every one of them comes, for I am going to offer a great sacrifice to Baal. Anyone who fails to come will be put to death.” But Jehu’s cunning plan was to destroy all the worshipers of Baal.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He sent messengers throughout all Israel summoning those who worshiped Baal. They all came—not a single one remained behind—and they filled the temple of Baal from one end to the other.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
And Jehu instructed the keeper of the wardrobe, “Be sure that every worshiper of Baal wears one of these robes.” So robes were given to them.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Jehu went into the temple of Baal with Jehonadab son of Recab. Jehu said to the worshipers of Baal, “Make sure no one who worships the Lord is here—only those who worship Baal.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So they were all inside the temple to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed eighty of his men outside the building and had warned them, “If you let anyone escape, you will pay for it with your own life.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
As soon as Jehu had finished sacrificing the burnt offering, he commanded his guards and officers, “Go in and kill all of them. Don’t let a single one escape!” So they killed them all with their swords, and the guards and officers dragged their bodies outside. Then Jehu’s men went into the innermost fortress of the temple of Baal.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
They smashed the sacred pillar and wrecked the temple of Baal, converting it into a public toilet, as it remains to this day.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He did not, however, destroy the gold calves at Bethel and Dan, with which Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to sin.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Nonetheless the Lord said to Jehu, “You have done well in following my instructions to destroy the family of Ahab. Therefore, your descendants will be kings of Israel down to the fourth generation.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But Jehu did not obey the Law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The Death of Jehu At about that time the Lord began to cut down the size of Israel’s territory. King Hazael conquered several sections of the country


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
east of the Jordan River, including all of Gilead, Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh. He conquered the area from the town of Aroer by the Arnon Gorge to as far north as Gilead and Bashan.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Jehu’s reign—everything he did and all his achievements—are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Queen Athaliah Rules in Judah When Athaliah, the mother of King Ahaziah of Judah, learned that her son was dead, she began to destroy the rest of the royal family.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But Ahaziah’s sister Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Ahaziah’s infant son, Joash, and stole him away from among the rest of the king’s children, who were about to be killed. She put Joash and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah, so the child was not murdered.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Revolt against Athaliah In the seventh year of Athaliah’s reign, Jehoiada the priest summoned the commanders, the Carite mercenaries, and the palace guards to come to the Temple of the Lord. He made a solemn pact with them and made them swear an oath of loyalty there in the Lord’s Temple; then he showed them the king’s son.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Jehoiada told them, “This is what you must do. A third of you who are on duty on the Sabbath are to guard the royal palace itself.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Another third of you are to stand guard at the Sur Gate. And the final third must stand guard behind the palace guard. These three groups will all guard the palace.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The other two units who are off duty on the Sabbath must stand guard for the king at the Lord’s Temple.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Form a bodyguard around the king and keep your weapons in hand. Kill anyone who tries to break through. Stay with the king wherever he goes.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So the commanders did everything as Jehoiada the priest ordered. The commanders took charge of the men reporting for duty that Sabbath, as well as those who were going off duty. They brought them all to Jehoiada the priest,


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
and he supplied them with the spears and small shields that had once belonged to King David and were stored in the Temple of the Lord.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The palace guards stationed themselves around the king, with their weapons ready. They formed a line from the south side of the Temple around to the north side and all around the altar.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Jehoiada brought out Joash, the king’s son, placed the crown on his head, and presented him with a copy of God’s laws. They anointed him and proclaimed him king, and everyone clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live the king!”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The Death of Athaliah When Athaliah heard all the noise made by the palace guards and the people, she hurried to the Lord’s Temple to see what was happening.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When she arrived, she saw the newly crowned king standing in his place of authority by the pillar, as was the custom at times of coronation. The commanders and trumpeters were surrounding him, and people from all over the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. When Athaliah saw all this, she tore her clothes in despair and shouted, “Treason! Treason!”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders who were in charge of the troops, “Take her to the soldiers in front of the Temple, and kill anyone who tries to rescue her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be killed in the Temple of the Lord.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So they seized her and led her out to the gate where horses enter the palace grounds, and she was killed there.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Jehoiada’s Religious Reforms Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people that they would be the Lord’s people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
And all the people of the land went over to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They demolished the altars and smashed the idols to pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. Jehoiada the priest stationed guards at the Temple of the Lord.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then the commanders, the Carite mercenaries, the palace guards, and all the people of the land escorted the king from the Temple of the Lord. They went through the gate of the guards and into the palace, and the king took his seat on the royal throne.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was peaceful because Athaliah had been killed at the king’s palace.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Joash Repairs the Temple Joash began to rule over Judah in the seventh year of King Jehu’s reign in Israel. He reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother was Zibiah from Beersheba.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
All his life Joash did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight because Jehoiada the priest instructed him.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Yet even so, he did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
One day King Joash said to the priests, “Collect all the money brought as a sacred offering to the Lord’s Temple, whether it is a regular assessment, a payment of vows, or a voluntary gift.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So King Joash called for Jehoiada and the other priests and asked them, “Why haven’t you repaired the Temple? Don’t use any more money for your own needs. From now on, it must all be spent on Temple repairs.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So the priests agreed not to accept any more money from the people, and they also agreed to let others take responsibility for repairing the Temple.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Jehoiada the priest bored a hole in the lid of a large chest and set it on the right-hand side of the altar at the entrance of the Temple of the Lord. The priests guarding the entrance put all of the people’s contributions into the chest.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Whenever the chest became full, the court secretary and the high priest counted the money that had been brought to the Lord’s Temple and put it into bags.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then they gave the money to the construction supervisors, who used it to pay the people working on the Lord’s Temple—the carpenters, the builders,


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
the masons, and the stonecutters. They also used the money to buy the timber and the finished stone needed for repairing the Lord’s Temple, and they paid any other expenses related to the Temple’s restoration.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The money brought to the Temple was not used for making silver bowls, lamp snuffers, basins, trumpets, or other articles of gold or silver for the Temple of the Lord.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
No accounting of this money was required from the construction supervisors, because they were honest and trustworthy men.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
However, the money that was contributed for guilt offerings and sin offerings was not brought into the Lord’s Temple. It was given to the priests for their own use.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The End of Joash’s Reign About this time King Hazael of Aram went to war against Gath and captured it. Then he turned to attack Jerusalem.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
King Joash collected all the sacred objects that Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, the previous kings of Judah, had dedicated, along with what he himself had dedicated. He sent them all to Hazael, along with all the gold in the treasuries of the Lord’s Temple and the royal palace. So Hazael called off his attack on Jerusalem.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Joash’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The assassins were Jozacar son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer—both trusted advisers. Joash was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. Then his son Amaziah became the next king.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Jehoahaz Rules in Israel Jehoahaz son of Jehu began to rule over Israel in the twenty-third year of King Joash’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria seventeen years.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He followed the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat, continuing the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So the Lord was very angry with Israel, and he allowed King Hazael of Aram and his son Ben-hadad to defeat them repeatedly.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Jehoahaz prayed for the Lord’s help, and the Lord heard his prayer, for he could see how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So the Lord provided someone to rescue the Israelites from the tyranny of the Arameans. Then Israel lived in safety again as they had in former days.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But they continued to sin, following the evil example of Jeroboam. They also allowed the Asherah pole in Samaria to remain standing.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Finally, Jehoahaz’s army was reduced to 50 charioteers, 10 chariots, and 10,000 foot soldiers. The king of Aram had killed the others, trampling them like dust under his feet.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Jehoahaz’s reign—everything he did and the extent of his power—are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Jehoash Rules in Israel Jehoash son of Jehoahaz began to rule over Israel in the thirty-seventh year of King Joash’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria sixteen years.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Jehoash’s reign and everything he did, including the extent of his power and his war with King Amaziah of Judah, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When Jehoash died, he was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. Then his son Jeroboam II became the next king.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Elisha’s Final Prophecy When Elisha was in his last illness, King Jehoash of Israel visited him and wept over him. “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” he cried.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then he commanded, “Open that eastern window,” and he opened it. Then he said, “Shoot!” So he shot an arrow. Elisha proclaimed, “This is the Lord’s arrow, an arrow of victory over Aram, for you will completely conquer the Arameans at Aphek.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then he said, “Now pick up the other arrows and strike them against the ground.” So the king picked them up and struck the ground three times.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But the man of God was angry with him. “You should have struck the ground five or six times!” he exclaimed. “Then you would have beaten Aram until it was entirely destroyed. Now you will be victorious only three times.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Once when some Israelites were burying a man, they spied a band of these raiders. So they hastily threw the corpse into the tomb of Elisha and fled. But as soon as the body touched Elisha’s bones, the dead man revived and jumped to his feet!


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But the Lord was gracious and merciful to the people of Israel, and they were not totally destroyed. He pitied them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And to this day he still has not completely destroyed them or banished them from his presence.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz recaptured from Ben-hadad son of Hazael the towns that had been taken from Jehoash’s father, Jehoahaz. Jehoash defeated Ben-hadad on three occasions, and he recovered the Israelite towns.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Amaziah Rules in Judah Amaziah son of Joash began to rule over Judah in the second year of the reign of King Jehoash of Israel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Jehoaddin from Jerusalem.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Amaziah did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, but not like his ancestor David. Instead, he followed the example of his father, Joash.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Amaziah did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When Amaziah was well established as king, he executed the officials who had assassinated his father.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
However, he did not kill the children of the assassins, for he obeyed the command of the Lord as written by Moses in the Book of the Law: “Parents must not be put to death for the sins of their children, nor children for the sins of their parents. Those deserving to die must be put to death for their own crimes.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Amaziah also killed 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He also conquered Sela and changed its name to Joktheel, as it is called to this day.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
One day Amaziah sent messengers with this challenge to Israel’s king Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu: “Come and meet me in battle!”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But King Jehoash of Israel replied to King Amaziah of Judah with this story: “Out in the Lebanon mountains, a thistle sent a message to a mighty cedar tree: ‘Give your daughter in marriage to my son.’ But just then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and stepped on the thistle, crushing it!


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“You have indeed defeated Edom, and you are very proud of it. But be content with your victory and stay at home! Why stir up trouble that will only bring disaster on you and the people of Judah?”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But Amaziah refused to listen, so King Jehoash of Israel mobilized his army against King Amaziah of Judah. The two armies drew up their battle lines at Beth-shemesh in Judah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah’s king, Amaziah son of Joash and grandson of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then he marched to Jerusalem, where he demolished 600 feet of Jerusalem’s wall, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He carried off all the gold and silver and all the articles from the Temple of the Lord. He also seized the treasures from the royal palace, along with hostages, and then returned to Samaria.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When Jehoash died, he was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. And his son Jeroboam II became the next king.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Amaziah’s reign are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
There was a conspiracy against Amaziah’s life in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But his enemies sent assassins after him, and they killed him there.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
They brought his body back to Jerusalem on a horse, and he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
All the people of Judah had crowned Amaziah’s sixteen-year-old son, Uzziah, as king in place of his father, Amaziah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Jeroboam II Rules in Israel Jeroboam II, the son of Jehoash, began to rule over Israel in the fifteenth year of King Amaziah’s reign in Judah. Jeroboam reigned in Samaria forty-one years.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Jeroboam II recovered the territories of Israel between Lebo-hamath and the Dead Sea, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had promised through Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath-hepher.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
For the Lord saw the bitter suffering of everyone in Israel, and that there was no one in Israel, slave or free, to help them.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
And because the Lord had not said he would blot out the name of Israel completely, he used Jeroboam II, the son of Jehoash, to save them.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in the reign of Jeroboam II and everything he did—including the extent of his power, his wars, and how he recovered for Israel both Damascus and Hamath, which had belonged to Judah—are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When Jeroboam II died, he was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. Then his son Zechariah became the next king.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Uzziah Rules in Judah Uzziah son of Amaziah began to rule over Judah in the twenty-seventh year of the reign of King Jeroboam II of Israel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother was Jecoliah from Jerusalem.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But he did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The Lord struck the king with leprosy, which lasted until the day he died. He lived in isolation in a separate house. The king’s son Jotham was put in charge of the royal palace, and he governed the people of the land.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Uzziah’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When Uzziah died, he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. And his son Jotham became the next king.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Zechariah Rules in Israel Zechariah son of Jeroboam II began to rule over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of King Uzziah’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria six months.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Zechariah did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, as his ancestors had done. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah, assassinated him in public, and became the next king.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Zechariah’s reign are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So the Lord’s message to Jehu came true: “Your descendants will be kings of Israel down to the fourth generation.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Shallum Rules in Israel Shallum son of Jabesh began to rule over Israel in the thirty-ninth year of King Uzziah’s reign in Judah. Shallum reigned in Samaria only one month.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Menahem son of Gadi went to Samaria from Tirzah and assassinated him, and he became the next king.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Shallum’s reign, including his conspiracy, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Menahem Rules in Israel At that time Menahem destroyed the town of Tappuah and all the surrounding countryside as far as Tirzah, because its citizens refused to surrender the town. He killed the entire population and ripped open the pregnant women.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Menahem son of Gadi began to rule over Israel in the thirty-ninth year of King Uzziah’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria ten years.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But Menahem did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. During his entire reign, he refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria invaded the land. But Menahem paid him thirty-seven tons of silver to gain his support in tightening his grip on royal power.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Menahem extorted the money from the rich of Israel, demanding that each of them pay fifty pieces of silver to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned from attacking Israel and did not stay in the land.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Menahem’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Pekahiah Rules in Israel Pekahiah son of Menahem began to rule over Israel in the fiftieth year of King Uzziah’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria two years.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But Pekahiah did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Pekah son of Remaliah, the commander of Pekahiah’s army, conspired against him. With fifty men from Gilead, Pekah assassinated the king, along with Argob and Arieh, in the citadel of the palace at Samaria. And Pekah reigned in his place.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Pekahiah’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Pekah Rules in Israel Pekah son of Remaliah began to rule over Israel in the fifty-second year of King Uzziah’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria twenty years.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But Pekah did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
During Pekah’s reign, King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria attacked Israel again, and he captured the towns of Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, and Hazor. He also conquered the regions of Gilead, Galilee, and all of Naphtali, and he took the people to Assyria as captives.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Hoshea son of Elah conspired against Pekah and assassinated him. He began to rule over Israel in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Pekah’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Jotham Rules in Judah Jotham son of Uzziah began to rule over Judah in the second year of King Pekah’s reign in Israel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But he did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there. He rebuilt the upper gate of the Temple of the Lord.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Jotham’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When Jotham died, he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. And his son Ahaz became the next king.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Ahaz Rules in Judah Ahaz son of Jotham began to rule over Judah in the seventeenth year of King Pekah’s reign in Israel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. He did not do what was pleasing in the sight of the Lord his God, as his ancestor David had done.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Instead, he followed the example of the kings of Israel, even sacrificing his own son in the fire. In this way, he followed the detestable practices of the pagan nations the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the pagan shrines and on the hills and under every green tree.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah of Israel came up to attack Jerusalem. They besieged Ahaz but could not conquer him.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
At that time the king of Edom recovered the town of Elath for Edom. He drove out the people of Judah and sent Edomites to live there, as they do to this day.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
King Ahaz sent messengers to King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria with this message: “I am your servant and your vassal. Come up and rescue me from the attacking armies of Aram and Israel.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Ahaz took the silver and gold from the Temple of the Lord and the palace treasury and sent it as a payment to the Assyrian king.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So the king of Assyria attacked the Aramean capital of Damascus and led its population away as captives, resettling them in Kir. He also killed King Rezin.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
King Ahaz then went to Damascus to meet with King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria. While he was there, he took special note of the altar. Then he sent a model of the altar to Uriah the priest, along with its design in full detail.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Uriah followed the king’s instructions and built an altar just like it, and it was ready before the king returned from Damascus.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He presented a burnt offering and a grain offering, he poured out a liquid offering, and he sprinkled the blood of peace offerings on the altar.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then King Ahaz removed the old bronze altar from its place in front of the Lord’s Temple, between the entrance and the new altar, and placed it on the north side of the new altar.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He told Uriah the priest, “Use the new altar for the morning sacrifices of burnt offering, the evening grain offering, the king’s burnt offering and grain offering, and the burnt offerings of all the people, as well as their grain offerings and liquid offerings. Sprinkle the blood from all the burnt offerings and sacrifices on the new altar. The bronze altar will be for my personal use only.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then the king removed the side panels and basins from the portable water carts. He also removed the great bronze basin called the Sea from the backs of the bronze oxen and placed it on the stone pavement.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
In deference to the king of Assyria, he also removed the canopy that had been constructed inside the palace for use on the Sabbath day, as well as the king’s outer entrance to the Temple of the Lord.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Ahaz’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When Ahaz died, he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. Then his son Hezekiah became the next king.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Hoshea Rules in Israel Hoshea son of Elah began to rule over Israel in the twelfth year of King Ahaz’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria nine years.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, but not to the same extent as the kings of Israel who ruled before him.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
King Shalmaneser of Assyria attacked King Hoshea, so Hoshea was forced to pay heavy tribute to Assyria.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But Hoshea stopped paying the annual tribute and conspired against the king of Assyria by asking King So of Egypt to help him shake free of Assyria’s power. When the king of Assyria discovered this treachery, he seized Hoshea and put him in prison.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Samaria Falls to Assyria Then the king of Assyria invaded the entire land, and for three years he besieged the city of Samaria.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Finally, in the ninth year of King Hoshea’s reign, Samaria fell, and the people of Israel were exiled to Assyria. They were settled in colonies in Halah, along the banks of the Habor River in Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
This disaster came upon the people of Israel because they worshiped other gods. They sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them safely out of Egypt and had rescued them from the power of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
They had followed the practices of the pagan nations the Lord had driven from the land ahead of them, as well as the practices the kings of Israel had introduced.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The people of Israel had also secretly done many things that were not pleasing to the Lord their God. They built pagan shrines for themselves in all their towns, from the smallest outpost to the largest walled city.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
They offered sacrifices on all the hilltops, just like the nations the Lord had driven from the land ahead of them. So the people of Israel had done many evil things, arousing the Lord’s anger.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Again and again the Lord had sent his prophets and seers to warn both Israel and Judah: “Turn from all your evil ways. Obey my commands and decrees—the entire law that I commanded your ancestors to obey, and that I gave you through my servants the prophets.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But the Israelites would not listen. They were as stubborn as their ancestors who had refused to believe in the Lord their God.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors, and they despised all his warnings. They worshiped worthless idols, so they became worthless themselves. They followed the example of the nations around them, disobeying the Lord’s command not to imitate them.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
They rejected all the commands of the Lord their God and made two calves from metal. They set up an Asherah pole and worshiped Baal and all the forces of heaven.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
They even sacrificed their own sons and daughters in the fire. They consulted fortune-tellers and practiced sorcery and sold themselves to evil, arousing the Lord’s anger.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Because the Lord was very angry with Israel, he swept them away from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained in the land.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But even the people of Judah refused to obey the commands of the Lord their God, for they followed the evil practices that Israel had introduced.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel. He punished them by handing them over to their attackers until he had banished Israel from his presence.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
For when the Lord tore Israel away from the kingdom of David, they chose Jeroboam son of Nebat as their king. But Jeroboam drew Israel away from following the Lord and made them commit a great sin.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
And the people of Israel persisted in all the evil ways of Jeroboam. They did not turn from these sins


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
until the Lord finally swept them away from his presence, just as all his prophets had warned. So Israel was exiled from their land to Assyria, where they remain to this day.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Foreigners Settle in Israel The king of Assyria transported groups of people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and resettled them in the towns of Samaria, replacing the people of Israel. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its towns.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But since these foreign settlers did not worship the Lord when they first arrived, the Lord sent lions among them, which killed some of them.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So a message was sent to the king of Assyria: “The people you have sent to live in the towns of Samaria do not know the religious customs of the God of the land. He has sent lions among them to destroy them because they have not worshiped him correctly.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The king of Assyria then commanded, “Send one of the exiled priests back to Samaria. Let him live there and teach the new residents the religious customs of the God of the land.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So one of the priests who had been exiled from Samaria returned to Bethel and taught the new residents how to worship the Lord.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But these various groups of foreigners also continued to worship their own gods. In town after town where they lived, they placed their idols at the pagan shrines that the people of Samaria had built.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Those from Babylon worshiped idols of their god Succoth-benoth. Those from Cuthah worshiped their god Nergal. And those from Hamath worshiped Ashima.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The Avvites worshiped their gods Nibhaz and Tartak. And the people from Sepharvaim even burned their own children as sacrifices to their gods Adrammelech and Anammelech.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
These new residents worshiped the Lord, but they also appointed from among themselves all sorts of people as priests to offer sacrifices at their places of worship.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
And though they worshiped the Lord, they continued to follow their own gods according to the religious customs of the nations from which they came.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
And this is still going on today. They continue to follow their former practices instead of truly worshiping the Lord and obeying the decrees, regulations, instructions, and commands he gave the descendants of Jacob, whose name he changed to Israel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
For the Lord had made a covenant with the descendants of Jacob and commanded them: “Do not worship any other gods or bow before them or serve them or offer sacrifices to them.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But worship only the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt with great strength and a powerful arm. Bow down to him alone, and offer sacrifices only to him.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Be careful at all times to obey the decrees, regulations, instructions, and commands that he wrote for you. You must not worship other gods.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So while these new residents worshiped the Lord, they also worshiped their idols. And to this day their descendants do the same.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Hezekiah Rules in Judah Hezekiah son of Ahaz began to rule over Judah in the third year of King Hoshea’s reign in Israel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He removed the pagan shrines, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke up the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because the people of Israel had been offering sacrifices to it. The bronze serpent was called Nehushtan.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before or after his time.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He remained faithful to the Lord in everything, and he carefully obeyed all the commands the Lord had given Moses.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So the Lord was with him, and Hezekiah was successful in everything he did. He revolted against the king of Assyria and refused to pay him tribute.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He also conquered the Philistines as far distant as Gaza and its territory, from their smallest outpost to their largest walled city.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
During the fourth year of Hezekiah’s reign, which was the seventh year of King Hoshea’s reign in Israel, King Shalmaneser of Assyria attacked the city of Samaria and began a siege against it.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Three years later, during the sixth year of King Hezekiah’s reign and the ninth year of King Hoshea’s reign in Israel, Samaria fell.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
At that time the king of Assyria exiled the Israelites to Assyria and placed them in colonies in Halah, along the banks of the Habor River in Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
For they refused to listen to the Lord their God and obey him. Instead, they violated his covenant—all the laws that Moses the Lord’s servant had commanded them to obey.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Assyria Invades Judah In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah’s reign, King Sennacherib of Assyria came to attack the fortified towns of Judah and conquered them.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
King Hezekiah sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lachish: “I have done wrong. I will pay whatever tribute money you demand if you will only withdraw.” The king of Assyria then demanded a settlement of more than eleven tons of silver and one ton of gold.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
To gather this amount, King Hezekiah used all the silver stored in the Temple of the Lord and in the palace treasury.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Hezekiah even stripped the gold from the doors of the Lord’s Temple and from the doorposts he had overlaid with gold, and he gave it all to the Assyrian king.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Nevertheless, the king of Assyria sent his commander in chief, his field commander, and his chief of staff from Lachish with a huge army to confront King Hezekiah in Jerusalem. The Assyrians took up a position beside the aqueduct that feeds water into the upper pool, near the road leading to the field where cloth is washed.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
They summoned King Hezekiah, but the king sent these officials to meet with them: Eliakim son of Hilkiah, the palace administrator; Shebna the court secretary; and Joah son of Asaph, the royal historian.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem Then the Assyrian king’s chief of staff told them to give this message to Hezekiah: “This is what the great king of Assyria says: What are you trusting in that makes you so confident?


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Do you think that mere words can substitute for military skill and strength? Who are you counting on, that you have rebelled against me?


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
On Egypt? If you lean on Egypt, it will be like a reed that splinters beneath your weight and pierces your hand. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, is completely unreliable!


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“But perhaps you will say to me, ‘We are trusting in the Lord our God!’ But isn’t he the one who was insulted by Hezekiah? Didn’t Hezekiah tear down his shrines and altars and make everyone in Judah and Jerusalem worship only at the altar here in Jerusalem?


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“I’ll tell you what! Strike a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria. I will give you 2,000 horses if you can find that many men to ride on them!


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
With your tiny army, how can you think of challenging even the weakest contingent of my master’s troops, even with the help of Egypt’s chariots and charioteers?


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
What’s more, do you think we have invaded your land without the Lord’s direction? The Lord himself told us, ‘Attack this land and destroy it!’”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, Shebna, and Joah said to the Assyrian chief of staff, “Please speak to us in Aramaic, for we understand it well. Don’t speak in Hebrew, for the people on the wall will hear.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But Sennacherib’s chief of staff replied, “Do you think my master sent this message only to you and your master? He wants all the people to hear it, for when we put this city under siege, they will suffer along with you. They will be so hungry and thirsty that they will eat their own dung and drink their own urine.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then the chief of staff stood and shouted in Hebrew to the people on the wall, “Listen to this message from the great king of Assyria!


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
This is what the king says: Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you. He will never be able to rescue you from my power.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Don’t let him fool you into trusting in the Lord by saying, ‘The Lord will surely rescue us. This city will never fall into the hands of the Assyrian king!’


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“Don’t listen to Hezekiah! These are the terms the king of Assyria is offering: Make peace with me—open the gates and come out. Then each of you can continue eating from your own grapevine and fig tree and drinking from your own well.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then I will arrange to take you to another land like this one—a land of grain and new wine, bread and vineyards, olive groves and honey. Choose life instead of death! “Don’t listen to Hezekiah when he tries to mislead you by saying, ‘The Lord will rescue us!’


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
What happened to the gods of Hamath and Arpad? And what about the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Did any god rescue Samaria from my power?


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
What god of any nation has ever been able to save its people from my power? So what makes you think that the Lord can rescue Jerusalem from me?”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But the people were silent and did not utter a word because Hezekiah had commanded them, “Do not answer him.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, the palace administrator; Shebna the court secretary; and Joah son of Asaph, the royal historian, went back to Hezekiah. They tore their clothes in despair, and they went in to see the king and told him what the Assyrian chief of staff had said.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Hezekiah Seeks the Lord’s Help When King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his clothes and put on burlap and went into the Temple of the Lord.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
And he sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the court secretary, and the leading priests, all dressed in burlap, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
They told him, “This is what King Hezekiah says: Today is a day of trouble, insults, and disgrace. It is like when a child is ready to be born, but the mother has no strength to deliver the baby.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But perhaps the Lord your God has heard the Assyrian chief of staff, sent by the king to defy the living God, and will punish him for his words. Oh, pray for those of us who are left!”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
the prophet replied, “Say to your master, ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not be disturbed by this blasphemous speech against me from the Assyrian king’s messengers.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Listen! I myself will move against him, and the king will receive a message that he is needed at home. So he will return to his land, where I will have him killed with a sword.’”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Meanwhile, the Assyrian chief of staff left Jerusalem and went to consult the king of Assyria, who had left Lachish and was attacking Libnah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Soon afterward King Sennacherib received word that King Tirhakah of Ethiopia was leading an army to fight against him. Before leaving to meet the attack, he sent messengers back to Hezekiah in Jerusalem with this message:


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“This message is for King Hezekiah of Judah. Don’t let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you with promises that Jerusalem will not be captured by the king of Assyria.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
You know perfectly well what the kings of Assyria have done wherever they have gone. They have completely destroyed everyone who stood in their way! Why should you be any different?


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Have the gods of other nations rescued them—such nations as Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Tel-assar? My predecessors destroyed them all!


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
What happened to the king of Hamath and the king of Arpad? What happened to the kings of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
After Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it, he went up to the Lord’s Temple and spread it out before the Lord.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
And Hezekiah prayed this prayer before the Lord: “O Lord, God of Israel, you are enthroned between the mighty cherubim! You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You alone created the heavens and the earth.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Bend down, O Lord, and listen! Open your eyes, O Lord, and see! Listen to Sennacherib’s words of defiance against the living God.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
And they have thrown the gods of these nations into the fire and burned them. But of course the Assyrians could destroy them! They were not gods at all—only idols of wood and stone shaped by human hands.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power; then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you alone, O Lord, are God.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Isaiah Predicts Judah’s Deliverance Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent this message to Hezekiah: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I have heard your prayer about King Sennacherib of Assyria.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
And the Lord has spoken this word against him: “The virgin daughter of Zion despises you and laughs at you. The daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head in derision as you flee.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“Whom have you been defying and ridiculing? Against whom did you raise your voice? At whom did you look with such haughty eyes? It was the Holy One of Israel!


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
By your messengers you have defied the Lord. You have said, ‘With my many chariots I have conquered the highest mountains— yes, the remotest peaks of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars and its finest cypress trees. I have reached its farthest corners and explored its deepest forests.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
I have dug wells in many foreign lands and refreshed myself with their water. With the sole of my foot I stopped up all the rivers of Egypt!’


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“But have you not heard? I decided this long ago. Long ago I planned it, and now I am making it happen. I planned for you to crush fortified cities into heaps of rubble.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
That is why their people have so little power and are so frightened and confused. They are as weak as grass, as easily trampled as tender green shoots. They are like grass sprouting on a housetop, scorched before it can grow lush and tall.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“But I know you well— where you stay and when you come and go. I know the way you have raged against me.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
And because of your raging against me and your arrogance, which I have heard for myself, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth. I will make you return by the same road on which you came.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Here is the proof that what I say is true: “This year you will eat only what grows up by itself, and next year you will eat what springs up from that. But in the third year you will plant crops and harvest them; you will tend vineyards and eat their fruit.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
And you who are left in Judah, who have escaped the ravages of the siege, will put roots down in your own soil and will grow up and flourish.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
For a remnant of my people will spread out from Jerusalem, a group of survivors from Mount Zion. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“And this is what the Lord says about the king of Assyria: “His armies will not enter Jerusalem. They will not even shoot an arrow at it. They will not march outside its gates with their shields nor build banks of earth against its walls.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The king will return to his own country by the same road on which he came. He will not enter this city, says the Lord.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
That night the angel of the Lord went out to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. When the surviving Assyrians woke up the next morning, they found corpses everywhere.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then King Sennacherib of Assyria broke camp and returned to his own land. He went home to his capital of Nineveh and stayed there.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
One day while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with their swords. They then escaped to the land of Ararat, and another son, Esarhaddon, became the next king of Assyria.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Hezekiah’s Sickness and Recovery About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: “This is what the Lord says: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“Remember, O Lord, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“Go back to Hezekiah, the leader of my people. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and three days from now you will get out of bed and go to the Temple of the Lord.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my own honor and for the sake of my servant David.’”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Isaiah said, “Make an ointment from figs.” So Hezekiah’s servants spread the ointment over the boil, and Hezekiah recovered!


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Meanwhile, Hezekiah had said to Isaiah, “What sign will the Lord give to prove that he will heal me and that I will go to the Temple of the Lord three days from now?”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Isaiah replied, “This is the sign from the Lord to prove that he will do as he promised. Would you like the shadow on the sundial to go forward ten steps or backward ten steps?”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“The shadow always moves forward,” Hezekiah replied, “so that would be easy. Make it go ten steps backward instead.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So Isaiah the prophet asked the Lord to do this, and he caused the shadow to move ten steps backward on the sundial of Ahaz!


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Envoys from Babylon Soon after this, Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent Hezekiah his best wishes and a gift, for he had heard that Hezekiah had been very sick.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Hezekiah received the Babylonian envoys and showed them everything in his treasure-houses—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the aromatic oils. He also took them to see his armory and showed them everything in his royal treasuries! There was nothing in his palace or kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked him, “What did those men want? Where were they from?” Hezekiah replied, “They came from the distant land of Babylon.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“What did they see in your palace?” Isaiah asked. “They saw everything,” Hezekiah replied. “I showed them everything I own—all my royal treasuries.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The time is coming when everything in your palace—all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now—will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Some of your very own sons will be taken away into exile. They will become eunuchs who will serve in the palace of Babylon’s king.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “This message you have given me from the Lord is good.” For the king was thinking, “At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Hezekiah’s reign, including the extent of his power and how he built a pool and dug a tunnel to bring water into the city, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Manasseh Rules in Judah Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother was Hephzibah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, following the detestable practices of the pagan nations that the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He rebuilt the pagan shrines his father, Hezekiah, had destroyed. He constructed altars for Baal and set up an Asherah pole, just as King Ahab of Israel had done. He also bowed before all the powers of the heavens and worshiped them.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He built pagan altars in the Temple of the Lord, the place where the Lord had said, “My name will remain in Jerusalem forever.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Manasseh also sacrificed his own son in the fire. He practiced sorcery and divination, and he consulted with mediums and psychics. He did much that was evil in the Lord’s sight, arousing his anger.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Manasseh even made a carved image of Asherah and set it up in the Temple, the very place where the Lord had told David and his son Solomon: “My name will be honored forever in this Temple and in Jerusalem—the city I have chosen from among all the tribes of Israel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
If the Israelites will be careful to obey my commands—all the laws my servant Moses gave them—I will not send them into exile from this land that I gave their ancestors.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But the people refused to listen, and Manasseh led them to do even more evil than the pagan nations that the Lord had destroyed when the people of Israel entered the land.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“King Manasseh of Judah has done many detestable things. He is even more wicked than the Amorites, who lived in this land before Israel. He has caused the people of Judah to sin with his idols.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I will bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of those who hear about it will tingle with horror.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
I will judge Jerusalem by the same standard I used for Samaria and the same measure I used for the family of Ahab. I will wipe away the people of Jerusalem as one wipes a dish and turns it upside down.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then I will reject even the remnant of my own people who are left, and I will hand them over as plunder for their enemies.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
For they have done great evil in my sight and have angered me ever since their ancestors came out of Egypt.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Manasseh also murdered many innocent people until Jerusalem was filled from one end to the other with innocent blood. This was in addition to the sin that he caused the people of Judah to commit, leading them to do evil in the Lord’s sight.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Manasseh’s reign and everything he did, including the sins he committed, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When Manasseh died, he was buried in the palace garden, the garden of Uzza. Then his son Amon became the next king.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Amon Rules in Judah Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years. His mother was Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz from Jotbah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Amon, and they made his son Josiah the next king.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Amon’s reign and what he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Josiah Rules in Judah Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah from Bozkath.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent Shaphan son of Azaliah and grandson of Meshullam, the court secretary, to the Temple of the Lord. He told him,


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“Go to Hilkiah the high priest and have him count the money the gatekeepers have collected from the people at the Lord’s Temple.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Entrust this money to the men assigned to supervise the Temple’s restoration. Then they can use it to pay workers to repair the Temple of the Lord.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
They will need to hire carpenters, builders, and masons. Also have them buy the timber and the finished stone needed to repair the Temple.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But don’t require the construction supervisors to keep account of the money they receive, for they are honest and trustworthy men.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Hilkiah Discovers God’s Law Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the court secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the Lord’s Temple!” Then Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan, and he read it.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Shaphan went to the king and reported, “Your officials have turned over the money collected at the Temple of the Lord to the workers and supervisors at the Temple.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Shaphan also told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll.” So Shaphan read it to the king.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then he gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the court secretary, and Asaiah the king’s personal adviser:


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“Go to the Temple and speak to the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah. Inquire about the words written in this scroll that has been found. For the Lord’s great anger is burning against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words in this scroll. We have not been doing everything it says we must do.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Acbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to the New Quarter of Jerusalem to consult with the prophet Huldah. She was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, the keeper of the Temple wardrobe.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this city and its people. All the words written in the scroll that the king of Judah has read will come true.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
For my people have abandoned me and offered sacrifices to pagan gods, and I am very angry with them for everything they have done. My anger will burn against this place, and it will not be quenched.’


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“But go to the king of Judah who sent you to seek the Lord and tell him: ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the message you have just heard:


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
You were sorry and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I said against this city and its people—that this land would be cursed and become desolate. You tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the Lord.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So I will not send the promised disaster until after you have died and been buried in peace. You will not see the disaster I am going to bring on this city.’” So they took her message back to the king.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
And the king went up to the Temple of the Lord with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, along with the priests and the prophets—all the people from the least to the greatest. There the king read to them the entire Book of the Covenant that had been found in the Lord’s Temple.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The king took his place of authority beside the pillar and renewed the covenant in the Lord’s presence. He pledged to obey the Lord by keeping all his commands, laws, and decrees with all his heart and soul. In this way, he confirmed all the terms of the covenant that were written in the scroll, and all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then the king instructed Hilkiah the high priest and the priests of the second rank and the Temple gatekeepers to remove from the Lord’s Temple all the articles that were used to worship Baal, Asherah, and all the powers of the heavens. The king had all these things burned outside Jerusalem on the terraces of the Kidron Valley, and he carried the ashes away to Bethel.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He did away with the idolatrous priests, who had been appointed by the previous kings of Judah, for they had offered sacrifices at the pagan shrines throughout Judah and even in the vicinity of Jerusalem. They had also offered sacrifices to Baal, and to the sun, the moon, the constellations, and to all the powers of the heavens.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The king removed the Asherah pole from the Lord’s Temple and took it outside Jerusalem to the Kidron Valley, where he burned it. Then he ground the ashes of the pole to dust and threw the dust over the graves of the people.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He also tore down the living quarters of the male and female shrine prostitutes that were inside the Temple of the Lord, where the women wove coverings for the Asherah pole.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Josiah brought to Jerusalem all the priests who were living in other towns of Judah. He also defiled the pagan shrines, where they had offered sacrifices—all the way from Geba to Beersheba. He destroyed the shrines at the entrance to the gate of Joshua, the governor of Jerusalem. This gate was located to the left of the city gate as one enters the city.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The priests who had served at the pagan shrines were not allowed to serve at the Lord’s altar in Jerusalem, but they were allowed to eat unleavened bread with the other priests.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then the king defiled the altar of Topheth in the valley of Ben-Hinnom, so no one could ever again use it to sacrifice a son or daughter in the fire as an offering to Molech.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He removed from the entrance of the Lord’s Temple the horse statues that the former kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun. They were near the quarters of Nathan-melech the eunuch, an officer of the court. The king also burned the chariots dedicated to the sun.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Josiah tore down the altars that the kings of Judah had built on the palace roof above the upper room of Ahaz. The king destroyed the altars that Manasseh had built in the two courtyards of the Lord’s Temple. He smashed them to bits and scattered the pieces in the Kidron Valley.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The king also desecrated the pagan shrines east of Jerusalem, to the south of the Mount of Corruption, where King Solomon of Israel had built shrines for Ashtoreth, the detestable goddess of the Sidonians; and for Chemosh, the detestable god of the Moabites; and for Molech, the vile god of the Ammonites.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He smashed the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah poles. Then he desecrated these places by scattering human bones over them.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The king also tore down the altar at Bethel—the pagan shrine that Jeroboam son of Nebat had made when he caused Israel to sin. He burned down the shrine and ground it to dust, and he burned the Asherah pole.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Josiah turned around and noticed several tombs in the side of the hill. He ordered that the bones be brought out, and he burned them on the altar at Bethel to desecrate it. (This happened just as the Lord had promised through the man of God when Jeroboam stood beside the altar at the festival.) Then Josiah turned and looked up at the tomb of the man of God who had predicted these things.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
“What is that monument over there?” Josiah asked. And the people of the town told him, “It is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and predicted the very things that you have just done to the altar at Bethel!”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Josiah replied, “Leave it alone. Don’t disturb his bones.” So they did not burn his bones or those of the old prophet from Samaria.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then Josiah demolished all the buildings at the pagan shrines in the towns of Samaria, just as he had done at Bethel. They had been built by the various kings of Israel and had made the Lord very angry.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He executed the priests of the pagan shrines on their own altars, and he burned human bones on the altars to desecrate them. Finally, he returned to Jerusalem.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Josiah Celebrates Passover King Josiah then issued this order to all the people: “You must celebrate the Passover to the Lord your God, as required in this Book of the Covenant.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
There had not been a Passover celebration like that since the time when the judges ruled in Israel, nor throughout all the years of the kings of Israel and Judah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
This Passover was celebrated to the Lord in Jerusalem in the eighteenth year of King Josiah’s reign.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Josiah also got rid of the mediums and psychics, the household gods, the idols, and every other kind of detestable practice, both in Jerusalem and throughout the land of Judah. He did this in obedience to the laws written in the scroll that Hilkiah the priest had found in the Lord’s Temple.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Even so, the Lord was very angry with Judah because of all the wicked things Manasseh had done to provoke him.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
For the Lord said, “I will also banish Judah from my presence just as I have banished Israel. And I will reject my chosen city of Jerusalem and the Temple where my name was to be honored.”


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Josiah’s reign and all his deeds are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
While Josiah was king, Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, went to the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah and his army marched out to fight him, but King Neco killed him when they met at Megiddo.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Josiah’s officers took his body back in a chariot from Megiddo to Jerusalem and buried him in his own tomb. Then the people of the land anointed Josiah’s son Jehoahaz and made him the next king.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Jehoahaz Rules in Judah Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Pharaoh Neco put Jehoahaz in prison at Riblah in the land of Hamath to prevent him from ruling in Jerusalem. He also demanded that Judah pay 7,500 pounds of silver and 75 pounds of gold as tribute.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Jehoiakim Rules in Judah Pharaoh Neco then installed Eliakim, another of Josiah’s sons, to reign in place of his father, and he changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. Jehoahaz was taken to Egypt as a prisoner, where he died.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
In order to get the silver and gold demanded as tribute by Pharaoh Neco, Jehoiakim collected a tax from the people of Judah, requiring them to pay in proportion to their wealth.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother was Zebidah, the daughter of Pedaiah from Rumah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
During Jehoiakim’s reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invaded the land of Judah. Jehoiakim surrendered and paid him tribute for three years but then rebelled.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then the Lord sent bands of Babylonian, Aramean, Moabite, and Ammonite raiders against Judah to destroy it, just as the Lord had promised through his prophets.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
These disasters happened to Judah because of the Lord’s command. He had decided to banish Judah from his presence because of the many sins of Manasseh,


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The rest of the events in Jehoiakim’s reign and all his deeds are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The king of Egypt did not venture out of his country after that, for the king of Babylon captured the entire area formerly claimed by Egypt—from the Brook of Egypt to the Euphrates River.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Jehoiachin Rules in Judah Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan from Jerusalem.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
During Jehoiachin’s reign, the officers of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came up against Jerusalem and besieged it.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then King Jehoiachin, along with the queen mother, his advisers, his commanders, and his officials, surrendered to the Babylonians. In the eighth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, he took Jehoiachin prisoner.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
As the Lord had said beforehand, Nebuchadnezzar carried away all the treasures from the Lord’s Temple and the royal palace. He stripped away all the gold objects that King Solomon of Israel had placed in the Temple.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
King Nebuchadnezzar took all of Jerusalem captive, including all the commanders and the best of the soldiers, craftsmen, and artisans—10,000 in all. Only the poorest people were left in the land.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Nebuchadnezzar led King Jehoiachin away as a captive to Babylon, along with the queen mother, his wives and officials, and all Jerusalem’s elite.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He also exiled 7,000 of the best troops and 1,000 craftsmen and artisans, all of whom were strong and fit for war.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then the king of Babylon installed Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, as the next king, and he changed Mattaniah’s name to Zedekiah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Zedekiah Rules in Judah Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
These things happened because of the Lord’s anger against the people of Jerusalem and Judah, until he finally banished them from his presence and sent them into exile. The Fall of Jerusalem Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
So on January 15, during the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon led his entire army against Jerusalem. They surrounded the city and built siege ramps against its walls.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
By July 18 in the eleventh year of Zedekiah’s reign, the famine in the city had become very severe, and the last of the food was entirely gone.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then a section of the city wall was broken down, and all the soldiers fled. Since the city was surrounded by the Babylonians, they waited for nightfall. Then they slipped through the gate between the two walls behind the king’s garden and headed toward the Jordan Valley.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But the Babylonian troops chased the king and caught him on the plains of Jericho, for his men had all deserted him and scattered.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
They made Zedekiah watch as they slaughtered his sons. Then they gouged out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The Temple Destroyed On August 14 of that year, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard and an official of the Babylonian king, arrived in Jerusalem.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He burned down the Temple of the Lord, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem. He destroyed all the important buildings in the city.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then he supervised the entire Babylonian army as they tore down the walls of Jerusalem on every side.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, then took as exiles the rest of the people who remained in the city, the defectors who had declared their allegiance to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the population.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But the captain of the guard allowed some of the poorest people to stay behind in Judah to care for the vineyards and fields.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The Babylonians broke up the bronze pillars in front of the Lord’s Temple, the bronze water carts, and the great bronze basin called the Sea, and they carried all the bronze away to Babylon.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
They also took all the ash buckets, shovels, lamp snuffers, dishes, and all the other bronze articles used for making sacrifices at the Temple.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, also took the incense burners and basins, and all the other articles made of pure gold or silver.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
The weight of the bronze from the two pillars, the Sea, and the water carts was too great to be measured. These things had been made for the Lord’s Temple in the days of King Solomon.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Each of the pillars was 27 feet tall. The bronze capital on top of each pillar was 7 1⁄2 feet high and was decorated with a network of bronze pomegranates all the way around.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took with him as prisoners Seraiah the high priest, Zephaniah the priest of the second rank, and the three chief gatekeepers.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
And from among the people still hiding in the city, he took an officer who had been in charge of the Judean army; five of the king’s personal advisers; the army commander’s chief secretary, who was in charge of recruitment; and sixty other citizens.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
And there at Riblah, in the land of Hamath, the king of Babylon had them all put to death. So the people of Judah were sent into exile from their land.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Gedaliah Governs in Judah Then King Nebuchadnezzar appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan as governor over the people he had left in Judah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
When all the army commanders and their men learned that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah as governor, they went to see him at Mizpah. These included Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite, and all their men.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Gedaliah vowed to them that the Babylonian officials meant them no harm. “Don’t be afraid of them. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and all will go well for you,” he promised.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
But in midautumn of that year, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and grandson of Elishama, who was of the royal family, went to Mizpah with ten men and killed Gedaliah. He also killed all the Judeans and Babylonians who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Then all the people of Judah, from the least to the greatest, as well as the army commanders, fled in panic to Egypt, for they were afraid of what the Babylonians would do to them.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
Hope for Israel’s Royal Line In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of King Jehoiachin of Judah, Evil-merodach ascended to the Babylonian throne. He was kind to Jehoiachin and released him from prison on April 2 of that year.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He spoke kindly to Jehoiachin and gave him a higher place than all the other exiled kings in Babylon.


book: 2Kgs
contenido:
He supplied Jehoiachin with new clothes to replace his prison garb and allowed him to dine in the king’s presence for the rest of his life.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Descendants of Shem The descendants of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. The descendants of Aram were Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
These are their genealogical records: The sons of Ishmael were Nebaioth (the oldest), Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine, were Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan were Sheba and Dedan.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Abraham through his concubine Keturah.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The descendants of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, Kenaz, and Amalek, who was born to Timna.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Original Peoples of Edom The descendants of Seir were Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The descendants of Shobal were Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. The descendants of Zibeon were Aiah and Anah.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Rulers of Edom These are the kings who ruled in the land of Edom before any king ruled over the Israelites: Bela son of Beor, who ruled from his city of Dinhabah.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad became king in his place and ruled from the city of Avith. He was the one who destroyed the Midianite army in the land of Moab.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
When Baal-hanan died, Hadad became king in his place and ruled from the city of Pau. His wife was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred and granddaughter of Me-zahab.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Descendants of Judah Judah had three sons from Bathshua, a Canaanite woman. Their names were Er, Onan, and Shelah. But the Lord saw that the oldest son, Er, was a wicked man, so he killed him.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Later Judah had twin sons from Tamar, his widowed daughter-in-law. Their names were Perez and Zerah. So Judah had five sons in all.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The son of Carmi (a descendant of Zimri) was Achan, who brought disaster on Israel by taking plunder that had been set apart for the Lord.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Their sisters were named Zeruiah and Abigail. Zeruiah had three sons named Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Other Descendants of Hezron Hezron’s son Caleb had sons from his wife Azubah and from Jerioth. Her sons were named Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
When Hezron was sixty years old, he married Gilead’s sister, the daughter of Makir. They had a son named Segub.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
(But Geshur and Aram captured the Towns of Jair and also took Kenath and its sixty surrounding villages.) All these were descendants of Makir, the father of Gilead.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Soon after Hezron died in the town of Caleb-ephrathah, his wife Abijah gave birth to a son named Ashhur (the father of Tekoa).


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Descendants of Hezron’s Son Jerahmeel The sons of Jerahmeel, the oldest son of Hezron, were Ram (the firstborn), Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Descendants of Hezron’s Son Caleb The descendants of Caleb, the brother of Jerahmeel, included Mesha (the firstborn), who became the father of Ziph. Caleb’s descendants also included the sons of Mareshah, the father of Hebron.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
She also gave birth to Shaaph (the father of Madmannah) and Sheva (the father of Macbenah and Gibea). Caleb also had a daughter named Acsah.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
These were all descendants of Caleb. Descendants of Caleb’s Son Hur The sons of Hur, the oldest son of Caleb’s wife Ephrathah, were Shobal (the founder of Kiriath-jearim),


book: 1Chr
contenido:
and the families of Kiriath-jearim—the Ithrites, Puthites, Shumathites, and Mishraites, from whom came the people of Zorah and Eshtaol.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The descendants of Salma were the people of Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth-beth-joab, the other half of the Manahathites, the Zorites,


book: 1Chr
contenido:
and the families of scribes living at Jabez—the Tirathites, Shimeathites, and Sucathites. All these were Kenites who descended from Hammath, the father of the family of Recab.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Descendants of David These are the sons of David who were born in Hebron: The oldest was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel. The second was Daniel, whose mother was Abigail from Carmel.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The third was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur. The fourth was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital. The sixth was Ithream, whose mother was Eglah, David’s wife.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
These six sons were born to David in Hebron, where he reigned seven and a half years. Then David reigned another thirty-three years in Jerusalem.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The sons born to David in Jerusalem included Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon. Their mother was Bathsheba, the daughter of Ammiel.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
These were the sons of David, not including his sons born to his concubines. Their sister was named Tamar.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The sons of Josiah were Johanan (the oldest), Jehoiakim (the second), Zedekiah (the third), and Jehoahaz (the fourth).


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Descendants of Jehoiachin The sons of Jehoiachin, who was taken prisoner by the Babylonians, were Shealtiel,


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The sons of Pedaiah were Zerubbabel and Shimei. The sons of Zerubbabel were Meshullam and Hananiah. (Their sister was Shelomith.)


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The sons of Hananiah were Pelatiah and Jeshaiah. Jeshaiah’s son was Rephaiah. Rephaiah’s son was Arnan. Arnan’s son was Obadiah. Obadiah’s son was Shecaniah.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The descendants of Shecaniah were Shemaiah and his sons, Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat—six in all.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The sons of Elioenai were Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani—seven in all.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Shobal’s son Reaiah was the father of Jahath. Jahath was the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These were the families of the Zorathites.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Penuel (the father of Gedor), and Ezer (the father of Hushah). These were the descendants of Hur (the firstborn of Ephrathah), the ancestor of Bethlehem.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Eshton was the father of Beth-rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah. Tehinnah was the father of Ir-nahash. These were the descendants of Recah.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Meonothai was the father of Ophrah. Seraiah was the father of Joab, the founder of the Valley of Craftsmen, so called because they were craftsmen.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The sons of Ezrah were Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. One of Mered’s wives became the mother of Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah (the father of Eshtemoa).


book: 1Chr
contenido:
He married a woman from Judah, who became the mother of Jered (the father of Gedor), Heber (the father of Soco), and Jekuthiel (the father of Zanoah). Mered also married Bithia, a daughter of Pharaoh, and she bore him children.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Hodiah’s wife was the sister of Naham. One of her sons was the father of Keilah the Garmite, and another was the father of Eshtemoa the Maacathite.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The sons of Shimon were Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon. The descendants of Ishi were Zoheth and Ben-zoheth.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Descendants of Judah’s Son Shelah Shelah was one of Judah’s sons. The descendants of Shelah were Er (the father of Lecah); Laadah (the father of Mareshah); the families of linen workers at Beth-ashbea;


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Jokim; the men of Cozeba; and Joash and Saraph, who ruled over Moab and Jashubi-lehem. These names all come from ancient records.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
They were the pottery makers who lived in Netaim and Gederah. They lived there and worked for the king.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters, but none of his brothers had large families. So Simeon’s tribe never grew as large as the tribe of Judah.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These towns were under their control until the time of King David.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
and their surrounding villages as far away as Baalath. This was their territory, and these names are listed in their genealogical records.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
and they traveled to the region of Gerar, in the east part of the valley, seeking pastureland for their flocks.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
They found lush pastures there, and the land was quiet and peaceful. Some of Ham’s descendants had been living in that region.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
But during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah, these leaders of Simeon invaded the region and completely destroyed the homes of the descendants of Ham and of the Meunites. No trace of them remains today. They killed everyone who lived there and took the land for themselves, because they wanted its good pastureland for their flocks.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Five hundred of these invaders from the tribe of Simeon went to Mount Seir, led by Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel—all sons of Ishi.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Descendants of Reuben The oldest son of Israel was Reuben. But since he dishonored his father by sleeping with one of his father’s concubines, his birthright was given to the sons of his brother Joseph. For this reason, Reuben is not listed in the genealogical records as the firstborn son.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The descendants of Judah became the most powerful tribe and provided a ruler for the nation, but the birthright belonged to Joseph.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
and Beerah. Beerah was the leader of the Reubenites when they were taken into captivity by King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Beerah’s relatives are listed in their genealogical records by their clans: Jeiel (the leader), Zechariah,


book: 1Chr
contenido:
and Bela son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel. The Reubenites lived in the area that stretches from Aroer to Nebo and Baal-meon.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
And since they had so many livestock in the land of Gilead, they spread east toward the edge of the desert that stretches to the Euphrates River.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
During the reign of Saul, the Reubenites defeated the Hagrites in battle. Then they moved into the Hagrite settlements all along the eastern edge of Gilead.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Descendants of Gad Next to the Reubenites, the descendants of Gad lived in the land of Bashan as far east as Salecah.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Joel was the leader in the land of Bashan, and Shapham was second-in-command, followed by Janai and Shaphat.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Their relatives, the leaders of seven other clans, were Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
These were all descendants of Abihail son of Huri, son of Jaroah, son of Gilead, son of Michael, son of Jeshishai, son of Jahdo, son of Buz.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The Gadites lived in the land of Gilead, in Bashan and its villages, and throughout all the pasturelands of Sharon.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
All of these were listed in the genealogical records during the days of King Jotham of Judah and King Jeroboam of Israel.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The Tribes East of the Jordan There were 44,760 capable warriors in the armies of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. They were all skilled in combat and armed with shields, swords, and bows.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
They cried out to God during the battle, and he answered their prayer because they trusted in him. So the Hagrites and all their allies were defeated.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The plunder taken from the Hagrites included 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep and goats, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 captives.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Many of the Hagrites were killed in the battle because God was fighting against them. The people of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh lived in their land until they were taken into exile.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The half-tribe of Manasseh was very large and spread through the land from Bashan to Baal-hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
These were the leaders of their clans: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. These men had a great reputation as mighty warriors and leaders of their clans.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
But these tribes were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors. They worshiped the gods of the nations that God had destroyed.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
So the God of Israel caused King Pul of Assyria (also known as Tiglath-pileser) to invade the land and take away the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh as captives. The Assyrians exiled them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the Gozan River, where they remain to this day.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The children of Amram were Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
who went into exile when the Lord sent the people of Judah and Jerusalem into captivity under Nebuchadnezzar.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The descendants of Merari included Mahli and Mushi. The following were the Levite clans, listed according to their ancestral descent:


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The Temple Musicians David assigned the following men to lead the music at the house of the Lord after the Ark was placed there.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
They ministered with music at the Tabernacle until Solomon built the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. They carried out their work, following all the regulations handed down to them.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
These are the men who served, along with their sons: Heman the musician was from the clan of Kohath. His genealogy was traced back through Joel, Samuel,


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Heman’s first assistant was Asaph from the clan of Gershon. Asaph’s genealogy was traced back through Berekiah, Shimea,


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Heman’s second assistant was Ethan from the clan of Merari. Ethan’s genealogy was traced back through Kishi, Abdi, Malluch,


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Aaron’s Descendants Only Aaron and his descendants served as priests. They presented the offerings on the altar of burnt offering and the altar of incense, and they performed all the other duties related to the Most Holy Place. They made atonement for Israel by doing everything that Moses, the servant of God, had commanded them.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Territory for the Levites This is a record of the towns and territory assigned by means of sacred lots to the descendants of Aaron, who were from the clan of Kohath.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
So the descendants of Aaron were given the following towns, each with its pasturelands: Hebron (a city of refuge), Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa,


book: 1Chr
contenido:
And from the territory of Benjamin they were given Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth, and Anathoth, each with its pasturelands. So thirteen towns were given to the descendants of Aaron.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The remaining descendants of Kohath received ten towns from the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh by means of sacred lots.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The descendants of Gershon received by sacred lots thirteen towns from the territories of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and from the Bashan area of Manasseh, east of the Jordan.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The descendants of Merari received by sacred lots twelve towns from the territories of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The towns in the territories of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, mentioned above, were assigned to them by means of sacred lots.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The descendants of Kohath were given the following towns from the territory of Ephraim, each with its pasturelands:


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The remaining descendants of Kohath were assigned the towns of Aner and Bileam from the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh, each with its pasturelands.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The descendants of Gershon received the towns of Golan (in Bashan) and Ashtaroth from the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh, each with its pasturelands.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
From the territory of Naphtali, they were given Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon, and Kiriathaim, each with its pasturelands.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The remaining descendants of Merari received the towns of Jokneam, Kartah, Rimmon, and Tabor from the territory of Zebulun, each with its pasturelands.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
From the territory of Reuben, east of the Jordan River opposite Jericho, they received Bezer (a desert town), Jahaz,


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The sons of Tola were Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam, and Shemuel. Each of them was the leader of an ancestral clan. At the time of King David, the total number of mighty warriors listed in the records of these clans was 22,600.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The son of Uzzi was Izrahiah. The sons of Izrahiah were Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Isshiah. These five became the leaders of clans.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
All of them had many wives and many sons, so the total number of men available for military service among their descendants was 36,000.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The total number of mighty warriors from all the clans of the tribe of Issachar was 87,000. All of them were listed in their genealogical records.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The five sons of Bela were Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri. Each of them was the leader of an ancestral clan. The total number of mighty warriors from these clans was 22,034, as listed in their genealogical records.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The sons of Beker were Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and Alemeth.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Each of them was the leader of an ancestral clan. The total number of mighty warriors and leaders from these clans was 20,200, as listed in their genealogical records.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The son of Jediael was Bilhan. The sons of Bilhan were Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Kenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Each of them was the leader of an ancestral clan. From these clans the total number of mighty warriors ready for war was 17,200.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Descendants of Naphtali The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. They were all descendants of Jacob’s concubine Bilhah.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Descendants of Manasseh The descendants of Manasseh through his Aramean concubine included Asriel. She also bore Makir, the father of Gilead.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Makir found wives for Huppim and Shuppim. Makir had a sister named Maacah. One of his descendants was Zelophehad, who had only daughters.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Makir’s wife, Maacah, gave birth to a son whom she named Peresh. His brother’s name was Sheresh. The sons of Peresh were Ulam and Rakem.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The son of Ulam was Bedan. All these were considered Gileadites, descendants of Makir son of Manasseh.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Zabad, Shuthelah, Ezer, and Elead. These two were killed trying to steal livestock from the local farmers near Gath.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Afterward Ephraim slept with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. Ephraim named him Beriah because of the tragedy his family had suffered.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
He had a daughter named Sheerah. She built the towns of Lower and Upper Beth-horon and Uzzen-sheerah.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The descendants of Ephraim lived in the territory that included Bethel and its surrounding towns to the south, Naaran to the east, Gezer and its villages to the west, and Shechem and its surrounding villages to the north as far as Ayyah and its towns.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Along the border of Manasseh were the towns of Beth-shan, Taanach, Megiddo, Dor, and their surrounding villages. The descendants of Joseph son of Israel lived in these towns.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Descendants of Asher The sons of Asher were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah. They had a sister named Serah.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Each of these descendants of Asher was the head of an ancestral clan. They were all select men—mighty warriors and outstanding leaders. The total number of men available for military service was 26,000, as listed in their genealogical records.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Ehud’s sons were Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera. Gera, who led them into exile, was the father of Uzza and Ahihud.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The sons of Elpaal were Eber, Misham, Shemed (who built the towns of Ono and Lod and their nearby villages),


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Beriah, and Shema. They were the leaders of the clans living in Aijalon, and they drove out the inhabitants of Gath.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
These were the leaders of the ancestral clans; they were listed in their genealogical records, and they all lived in Jerusalem.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The Family of Saul Jeiel (the father of Gibeon) lived in the town of Gibeon. His wife’s name was Maacah,


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Ner was the father of Kish. Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malkishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Ahaz was the father of Jadah. Jadah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Moza was the father of Binea. Binea was the father of Rephaiah. Rephaiah was the father of Eleasah. Eleasah was the father of Azel.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Azel had six sons: Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Azel’s brother Eshek had three sons: the first was Ulam, the second was Jeush, and the third was Eliphelet.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Ulam’s sons were all mighty warriors and expert archers. They had many sons and grandsons—150 in all. All these were descendants of Benjamin.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
So all Israel was listed in the genealogical records in The Book of the Kings of Israel. The Returning Exiles The people of Judah were exiled to Babylon because they were unfaithful to the Lord.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The first of the exiles to return to their property in their former towns were priests, Levites, Temple servants, and other Israelites.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Some of the people from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh came and settled in Jerusalem.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
One family that returned was that of Uthai son of Ammihud, son of Omri, son of Imri, son of Bani, a descendant of Perez son of Judah.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
From the Zerahite clan, Jeuel returned with his relatives. In all, 690 families from the tribe of Judah returned.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi, son of Micri; and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, son of Reuel, son of Ibnijah.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
These men were all leaders of clans, and they were listed in their genealogical records. In all, 956 families from the tribe of Benjamin returned.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Azariah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub. Azariah was the chief officer of the house of God.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Other returning priests were Adaiah son of Jeroham, son of Pashhur, son of Malkijah, and Maasai son of Adiel, son of Jahzerah, son of Meshullam, son of Meshillemith, son of Immer.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
In all, 1,760 priests returned. They were heads of clans and very able men. They were responsible for ministering at the house of God.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The Returning Levites The Levites who returned were Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, a descendant of Merari;


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Obadiah son of Shemaiah, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun; and Berekiah son of Asa, son of Elkanah, who lived in the area of Netophah.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The gatekeepers who returned were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their relatives. Shallum was the chief gatekeeper.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Prior to this time, they were responsible for the King’s Gate on the east side. These men served as gatekeepers for the camps of the Levites.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Shallum was the son of Kore, a descendant of Abiasaph, from the clan of Korah. He and his relatives, the Korahites, were responsible for guarding the entrance to the sanctuary, just as their ancestors had guarded the Tabernacle in the camp of the Lord.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Phinehas son of Eleazar had been in charge of the gatekeepers in earlier times, and the Lord had been with him.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
In all, there were 212 gatekeepers in those days, and they were listed according to the genealogies in their villages. David and Samuel the seer had appointed their ancestors because they were reliable men.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
These gatekeepers and their descendants, by their divisions, were responsible for guarding the entrance to the house of the Lord when that house was a tent.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The four chief gatekeepers, all Levites, were trusted officials, for they were responsible for the rooms and treasuries at the house of God.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
They would spend the night around the house of God, since it was their duty to guard it and to open the gates every morning.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Some of the gatekeepers were assigned to care for the various articles used in worship. They checked them in and out to avoid any loss.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Others were responsible for the furnishings, the items in the sanctuary, and the supplies, such as choice flour, wine, olive oil, frankincense, and spices.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Mattithiah, a Levite and the oldest son of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with baking the bread used in the offerings.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
And some members of the clan of Kohath were in charge of preparing the bread to be set on the table each Sabbath day.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The musicians, all prominent Levites, lived at the Temple. They were exempt from other responsibilities since they were on duty at all hours.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
All these men lived in Jerusalem. They were the heads of Levite families and were listed as prominent leaders in their genealogical records.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
King Saul’s Family Tree Jeiel (the father of Gibeon) lived in the town of Gibeon. His wife’s name was Maacah,


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Moza was the father of Binea. Binea’s son was Rephaiah. Rephaiah’s son was Eleasah. Eleasah’s son was Azel.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Azel had six sons, whose names were Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The Death of King Saul Now the Philistines attacked Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them. Many were slaughtered on the slopes of Mount Gilboa.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The fighting grew very fierce around Saul, and the Philistine archers caught up with him and wounded him.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Saul groaned to his armor bearer, “Take your sword and kill me before these pagan Philistines come to taunt and torture me.” But his armor bearer was afraid and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
When all the Israelites in the Jezreel Valley saw that their army had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their towns and fled. So the Philistines moved in and occupied their towns.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The next day, when the Philistines went out to strip the dead, they found the bodies of Saul and his sons on Mount Gilboa.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
So they stripped off Saul’s armor and cut off his head. Then they proclaimed the good news of Saul’s death before their idols and to the people throughout the land of Philistia.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
They placed his armor in the temple of their gods, and they fastened his head to the temple of Dagon.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
all their mighty warriors brought the bodies of Saul and his sons back to Jabesh. Then they buried their bones beneath the great tree at Jabesh, and they fasted for seven days.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord. He failed to obey the Lord’s command, and he even consulted a medium


book: 1Chr
contenido:
instead of asking the Lord for guidance. So the Lord killed him and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David Becomes King of All Israel Then all Israel gathered before David at Hebron and told him, “We are your own flesh and blood.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
In the past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who really led the forces of Israel. And the Lord your God told you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people Israel. You will be the leader of my people Israel.’”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
So there at Hebron, David made a covenant before the Lord with all the elders of Israel. And they anointed him king of Israel, just as the Lord had promised through Samuel.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David Captures Jerusalem Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (or Jebus, as it used to be called), where the Jebusites, the original inhabitants of the land, were living.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The people of Jebus taunted David, saying, “You’ll never get in here!” But David captured the fortress of Zion, which is now called the City of David.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David had said to his troops, “Whoever is first to attack the Jebusites will become the commander of my armies!” And Joab, the son of David’s sister Zeruiah, was first to attack, so he became the commander of David’s armies.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
He extended the city from the supporting terraces to the surrounding area, while Joab rebuilt the rest of Jerusalem.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David’s Mightiest Warriors These are the leaders of David’s mighty warriors. Together with all Israel, they decided to make David their king, just as the Lord had promised concerning Israel.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Here is the record of David’s mightiest warriors: The first was Jashobeam the Hacmonite, who was leader of the Three—the mightiest warriors among David’s men. He once used his spear to kill 300 enemy warriors in a single battle.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
He was with David in the battle against the Philistines at Pas-dammim. The battle took place in a field full of barley, and the Israelite army fled.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
But Eleazar and David held their ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the Lord saved them by giving them a great victory.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Once when David was at the rock near the cave of Adullam, the Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim. The Three (who were among the Thirty—an elite group among David’s fighting men) went down to meet him there.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But David refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
“God forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David’s Thirty Mighty Men Abishai, the brother of Joab, was the leader of the Thirty. He once used his spear to kill 300 enemy warriors in a single battle. It was by such feats that he became as famous as the Three.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Once, armed only with a club, he killed an Egyptian warrior who was 7 1⁄2 feet tall and whose spear was as thick as a weaver’s beam. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with it.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Warriors Join David’s Army The following men joined David at Ziklag while he was hiding from Saul son of Kish. They were among the warriors who fought beside David in battle.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
All of them were expert archers, and they could shoot arrows or sling stones with their left hand as well as their right. They were all relatives of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Their leader was Ahiezer son of Shemaah from Gibeah; his brother Joash was second-in-command. These were the other warriors: Jeziel and Pelet, sons of Azmaveth; Beracah; Jehu from Anathoth;


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Ishmaiah from Gibeon, a famous warrior and leader among the Thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Jozabad from Gederah;


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Some brave and experienced warriors from the tribe of Gad also defected to David while he was at the stronghold in the wilderness. They were expert with both shield and spear, as fierce as lions and as swift as deer on the mountains.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
These warriors from Gad were army commanders. The weakest among them could take on a hundred regular troops, and the strongest could take on a thousand!


book: 1Chr
contenido:
These were the men who crossed the Jordan River during its seasonal flooding at the beginning of the year and drove out all the people living in the lowlands on both the east and west banks.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David went out to meet them and said, “If you have come in peace to help me, we are friends. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies when I am innocent, then may the God of our ancestors see it and punish you.”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, the leader of the Thirty, and he said, “We are yours, David! We are on your side, son of Jesse. Peace and prosperity be with you, and success to all who help you, for your God is the one who helps you.” So David let them join him, and he made them officers over his troops.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Some men from Manasseh defected from the Israelite army and joined David when he set out with the Philistines to fight against Saul. But as it turned out, the Philistine rulers refused to let David and his men go with them. After much discussion, they sent them back, for they said, “It will cost us our heads if David switches loyalties to Saul and turns against us.”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Here is a list of the men from Manasseh who defected to David as he was returning to Ziklag: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai. Each commanded 1,000 troops from the tribe of Manasseh.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
They helped David chase down bands of raiders, for they were all brave and able warriors who became commanders in his army.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
These are the numbers of armed warriors who joined David at Hebron. They were all eager to see David become king instead of Saul, just as the Lord had promised.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
This also included Zadok, a brave young warrior, with 22 members of his family who were all officers.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
From the tribe of Benjamin, Saul’s relatives, there were 3,000 warriors. Most of the men from Benjamin had remained loyal to Saul until this time.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
From the half-tribe of Manasseh west of the Jordan, 18,000 men were designated by name to help David become king.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
From the tribe of Zebulun, there were 50,000 skilled warriors. They were fully armed and prepared for battle and completely loyal to David.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
From the tribe of Naphtali, there were 1,000 officers and 37,000 warriors armed with shields and spears.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
From the east side of the Jordan River—where the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh lived—there were 120,000 troops armed with every kind of weapon.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
All these men came in battle array to Hebron with the single purpose of making David the king over all Israel. In fact, everyone in Israel agreed that David should be their king.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
They feasted and drank with David for three days, for preparations had been made by their relatives for their arrival.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
And people from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali brought food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. Vast supplies of flour, fig cakes, clusters of raisins, wine, olive oil, cattle, sheep, and goats were brought to the celebration. There was great joy throughout the land of Israel.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David Attempts to Move the Ark David consulted with all his officials, including the generals and captains of his army.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Then he addressed the entire assembly of Israel as follows: “If you approve and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send messages to all the Israelites throughout the land, including the priests and Levites in their towns and pasturelands. Let us invite them to come and join us.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
So David summoned all Israel, from the Shihor Brook of Egypt in the south all the way to the town of Lebo-hamath in the north, to join in bringing the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Then David and all Israel went to Baalah of Judah (also called Kiriath-jearim) to bring back the Ark of God, which bears the name of the Lord who is enthroned between the cherubim.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab’s house. Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments—lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Then the Lord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and he struck him dead because he had laid his hand on the Ark. So Uzzah died there in the presence of God.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
So David did not move the Ark into the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom of Gath.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The Ark of God remained there in Obed-edom’s house for three months, and the Lord blessed the household of Obed-edom and everything he owned.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David’s Palace and Family Then King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar timber, and stonemasons and carpenters to build him a palace.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
And David realized that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel and had greatly blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David Conquers the Philistines When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he marched out to meet them.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
So David asked God, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord replied, “Yes, go ahead. I will hand them over to you.”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
So David and his troops went up to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. “God did it!” David exclaimed. “He used me to burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” So they named that place Baal-perazim (which means “the Lord who bursts through”).


book: 1Chr
contenido:
And once again David asked God what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” God replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, go out and attack! That will be the signal that God is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
So David did what God commanded, and they struck down the Philistine army all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Preparing to Move the Ark David now built several buildings for himself in the City of David. He also prepared a place for the Ark of God and set up a special tent for it.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Then he commanded, “No one except the Levites may carry the Ark of God. The Lord has chosen them to carry the Ark of the Lord and to serve him forever.”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Then David summoned all Israel to Jerusalem to bring the Ark of the Lord to the place he had prepared for it.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
This is the number of the descendants of Aaron (the priests) and the Levites who were called together:


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Then David summoned the priests, Zadok and Abiathar, and these Levite leaders: Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
He said to them, “You are the leaders of the Levite families. You must purify yourselves and all your fellow Levites, so you can bring the Ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Because you Levites did not carry the Ark the first time, the anger of the Lord our God burst out against us. We failed to ask God how to move it properly.”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
So the priests and the Levites purified themselves in order to bring the Ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to Jerusalem.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Then the Levites carried the Ark of God on their shoulders with its carrying poles, just as the Lord had instructed Moses.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David also ordered the Levite leaders to appoint a choir of Levites who were singers and musicians to sing joyful songs to the accompaniment of harps, lyres, and cymbals.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel along with his fellow Levites: Asaph son of Berekiah, and Ethan son of Kushaiah from the clan of Merari.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The following men were chosen as their assistants: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers—Obed-edom and Jeiel.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were chosen to play the harps.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer—all of whom were priests—were chosen to blow the trumpets as they marched in front of the Ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were chosen to guard the Ark.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Moving the Ark to Jerusalem Then David and the elders of Israel and the generals of the army went to the house of Obed-edom to bring the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant up to Jerusalem with a great celebration.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
And because God was clearly helping the Levites as they carried the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who carried the Ark, and also the singers, and Kenaniah the choir leader. David was also wearing a priestly garment.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
So all Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant with shouts of joy, the blowing of rams’ horns and trumpets, the crashing of cymbals, and loud playing on harps and lyres.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
But as the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David skipping about and laughing with joy, she was filled with contempt for him.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
They brought the Ark of God and placed it inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to God.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Then he gave to every man and woman in all Israel a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David appointed the following Levites to lead the people in worship before the Ark of the Lord—to invoke his blessings, to give thanks, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Asaph, the leader of this group, sounded the cymbals. Second to him was Zechariah, followed by Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. They played the harps and lyres.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David’s Song of Praise On that day David gave to Asaph and his fellow Levites this song of thanksgiving to the Lord:


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his presence. Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Let all the earth tremble before him. The world stands firm and cannot be shaken.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Cry out, “Save us, O God of our salvation! Gather and rescue us from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you.”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting! And all the people shouted “Amen!” and praised the Lord.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Worship at Jerusalem and Gibeon David arranged for Asaph and his fellow Levites to serve regularly before the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, doing whatever needed to be done each day.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
This group included Obed-edom (son of Jeduthun), Hosah, and sixty-eight other Levites as gatekeepers.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Meanwhile, David stationed Zadok the priest and his fellow priests at the Tabernacle of the Lord at the place of worship in Gibeon, where they continued to minister before the Lord.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
They sacrificed the regular burnt offerings to the Lord each morning and evening on the altar set aside for that purpose, obeying everything written in the Law of the Lord, as he had commanded Israel.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David also appointed Heman, Jeduthun, and the others chosen by name to give thanks to the Lord, for “his faithful love endures forever.”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
They used their trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments to accompany their songs of praise to God. And the sons of Jeduthun were appointed as gatekeepers.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Then all the people returned to their homes, and David turned and went home to bless his own family.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The Lord’s Covenant Promise to David When David was settled in his palace, he summoned Nathan the prophet. “Look,” David said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant is out there under a tent!”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
“Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord has declared: You are not the one to build a house for me to live in.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
I have never lived in a house, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until this very day. My home has always been a tent, moving from one place to another in a Tabernacle.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Yet no matter where I have gone with the Israelites, I have never once complained to Israel’s leaders, the shepherds of my people. I have never asked them, “Why haven’t you built me a beautiful cedar house?”’


book: 1Chr
contenido:
starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will defeat all your enemies. “‘Furthermore, I declare that the Lord will build a house for you—a dynasty of kings!


book: 1Chr
contenido:
For when you die and join your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, one of your sons, and I will make his kingdom strong.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my favor from him as I took it from the one who ruled before you.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
I will confirm him as king over my house and my kingdom for all time, and his throne will be secure forever.’”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David’s Prayer of Thanks Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?


book: 1Chr
contenido:
And now, O God, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! You speak as though I were someone very great, O Lord God!


book: 1Chr
contenido:
“What more can I say to you about the way you have honored me? You know what your servant is really like.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
For the sake of your servant, O Lord, and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have made them known.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
What other nation on earth is like your people Israel? What other nation, O God, have you redeemed from slavery to be your own people? You made a great name for yourself when you redeemed your people from Egypt. You performed awesome miracles and drove out the nations that stood in their way.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
“And now, O Lord, I am your servant; do as you have promised concerning me and my family. May it be a promise that will last forever.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
And may your name be established and honored forever so that everyone will say, ‘The Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, is Israel’s God!’ And may the house of your servant David continue before you forever.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
“O my God, I have been bold enough to pray to you because you have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him—a dynasty of kings!


book: 1Chr
contenido:
And now, it has pleased you to bless the house of your servant, so that it will continue forever before you. For when you grant a blessing, O Lord, it is an eternal blessing!”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David’s Military Victories After this, David defeated and subdued the Philistines by conquering Gath and its surrounding towns.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David also conquered the land of Moab, and the Moabites who were spared became David’s subjects and paid him tribute money.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David also destroyed the forces of Hadadezer, king of Zobah, as far as Hamath, when Hadadezer marched out to strengthen his control along the Euphrates River.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
along with a large amount of bronze from Hadadezer’s towns of Tebah and Cun. Later Solomon melted the bronze and molded it into the great bronze basin called the Sea, the pillars, and the various bronze articles used at the Temple.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
he sent his son Joram to congratulate King David for his successful campaign. Hadadezer and Toi had been enemies and were often at war. Joram presented David with many gifts of gold, silver, and bronze.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
King David dedicated all these gifts to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had taken from the other nations—from Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
He placed army garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. In fact, the Lord made David victorious wherever he went.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was captain of the king’s bodyguard. And David’s sons served as the king’s chief assistants.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David said, “I am going to show loyalty to Hanun because his father, Nahash, was always loyal to me.” So David sent messengers to express sympathy to Hanun about his father’s death. But when David’s ambassadors arrived in the land of Ammon,


book: 1Chr
contenido:
the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, “Do you really think these men are coming here to honor your father? No! David has sent them to spy out the land so they can come in and conquer it!”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
So Hanun seized David’s ambassadors and shaved them, cut off their robes at the buttocks, and sent them back to David in shame.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
When David heard what had happened to the men, he sent messengers to tell them, “Stay at Jericho until your beards grow out, and then come back.” For they felt deep shame because of their appearance.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
When the people of Ammon realized how seriously they had angered David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent 75,000 pounds of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram-naharaim, Aram-maacah, and Zobah.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
They also hired 32,000 chariots and secured the support of the king of Maacah and his army. These forces camped at Medeba, where they were joined by the Ammonite troops that Hanun had recruited from his own towns.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The Ammonite troops came out and drew up their battle lines at the entrance of the city, while the other kings positioned themselves to fight in the open fields.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
“If the Arameans are too strong for me, then come over and help me,” Joab told his brother. “And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will help you.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
And when the Ammonites saw the Arameans running, they also ran from Abishai and retreated into the city. Then Joab returned to Jerusalem.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The Arameans now realized that they were no match for Israel, so they sent messengers and summoned additional Aramean troops from the other side of the Euphrates River. These troops were under the command of Shobach, the commander of Hadadezer’s forces.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
When David heard what was happening, he mobilized all Israel, crossed the Jordan River, and positioned his troops in battle formation. Then David engaged the Arameans in battle, and they fought against him.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
But again the Arameans fled from the Israelites. This time David’s forces killed 7,000 charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers, including Shobach, the commander of their army.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
When Hadadezer’s allies saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they surrendered to David and became his subjects. After that, the Arameans were no longer willing to help the Ammonites.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David Captures Rabbah In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, Joab led the Israelite army in successful attacks against the land of the Ammonites. In the process he laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
When David arrived at Rabbah, he removed the crown from the king’s head, and it was placed on his own head. The crown was made of gold and set with gems, and he found that it weighed seventy-five pounds. David took a vast amount of plunder from the city.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
He also made slaves of the people of Rabbah and forced them to labor with saws, iron picks, and iron axes. That is how David dealt with the people of all the Ammonite towns. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Battles against Philistine Giants After this, war broke out with the Philistines at Gezer. As they fought, Sibbecai from Hushah killed Saph, a descendant of the giants, and so the Philistines were subdued.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
During another battle with the Philistines, Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath of Gath. The handle of Lahmi’s spear was as thick as a weaver’s beam!


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David Takes a Census Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Take a census of all the people of Israel—from Beersheba in the south to Dan in the north—and bring me a report so I may know how many there are.”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
But Joab replied, “May the Lord increase the number of his people a hundred times over! But why, my lord the king, do you want to do this? Are they not all your servants? Why must you cause Israel to sin?”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
But the king insisted that they take the census, so Joab traveled throughout all Israel to count the people. Then he returned to Jerusalem


book: 1Chr
contenido:
and reported the number of people to David. There were 1,100,000 warriors in all Israel who could handle a sword, and 470,000 in Judah.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
But Joab did not include the tribes of Levi and Benjamin in the census because he was so distressed at what the king had made him do.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt for doing this foolish thing.”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
You may choose three years of famine, three months of destruction by the sword of your enemies, or three days of severe plague as the angel of the Lord brings devastation throughout the land of Israel. Decide what answer I should give the Lord who sent me.”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
“I’m in a desperate situation!” David replied to Gad. “But let me fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is very great. Do not let me fall into human hands.”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
And God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem. But just as the angel was preparing to destroy it, the Lord relented and said to the death angel, “Stop! That is enough!” At that moment the angel of the Lord was standing by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David looked up and saw the angel of the Lord standing between heaven and earth with his sword drawn, reaching out over Jerusalem. So David and the leaders of Israel put on burlap to show their deep distress and fell face down on the ground.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
And David said to God, “I am the one who called for the census! I am the one who has sinned and done wrong! But these people are as innocent as sheep—what have they done? O Lord my God, let your anger fall against me and my family, but do not destroy your people.”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David Builds an Altar Then the angel of the Lord told Gad to instruct David to go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Araunah, who was busy threshing wheat at the time, turned and saw the angel there. His four sons, who were with him, ran away and hid.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
When Araunah saw David approaching, he left his threshing floor and bowed before David with his face to the ground.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David said to Araunah, “Let me buy this threshing floor from you at its full price. Then I will build an altar to the Lord there, so that he will stop the plague.”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
“Take it, my lord the king, and use it as you wish,” Araunah said to David. “I will give the oxen for the burnt offerings, and the threshing boards for wood to build a fire on the altar, and the wheat for the grain offering. I will give it all to you.”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
But King David replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it for the full price. I will not take what is yours and give it to the Lord. I will not present burnt offerings that have cost me nothing!”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David built an altar there to the Lord and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. And when David prayed, the Lord answered him by sending fire from heaven to burn up the offering on the altar.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
When David saw that the Lord had answered his prayer, he offered sacrifices there at Araunah’s threshing floor.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
At that time the Tabernacle of the Lord and the altar of burnt offering that Moses had made in the wilderness were located at the place of worship in Gibeon.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
But David was not able to go there to inquire of God, because he was terrified by the drawn sword of the angel of the Lord.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Then David said, “This will be the location for the Temple of the Lord God and the place of the altar for Israel’s burnt offerings!”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Preparations for the Temple So David gave orders to call together the foreigners living in Israel, and he assigned them the task of preparing finished stone for building the Temple of God.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David provided large amounts of iron for the nails that would be needed for the doors in the gates and for the clamps, and he gave more bronze than could be weighed.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
He also provided innumerable cedar logs, for the men of Tyre and Sidon had brought vast amounts of cedar to David.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David said, “My son Solomon is still young and inexperienced. And since the Temple to be built for the Lord must be a magnificent structure, famous and glorious throughout the world, I will begin making preparations for it now.” So David collected vast amounts of building materials before his death.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Then David sent for his son Solomon and instructed him to build a Temple for the Lord, the God of Israel.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
“But the Lord said to me, ‘You have killed many men in the battles you have fought. And since you have shed so much blood in my sight, you will not be the one to build a Temple to honor my name.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
But you will have a son who will be a man of peace. I will give him peace with his enemies in all the surrounding lands. His name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel during his reign.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
He is the one who will build a Temple to honor my name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will secure the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’


book: 1Chr
contenido:
“Now, my son, may the Lord be with you and give you success as you follow his directions in building the Temple of the Lord your God.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
And may the Lord give you wisdom and understanding, that you may obey the Law of the Lord your God as you rule over Israel.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
For you will be successful if you carefully obey the decrees and regulations that the Lord gave to Israel through Moses. Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or lose heart!


book: 1Chr
contenido:
“I have worked hard to provide materials for building the Temple of the Lord—nearly 4,000 tons of gold, 40,000 tons of silver, and so much iron and bronze that it cannot be weighed. I have also gathered timber and stone for the walls, though you may need to add more.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
You have expert goldsmiths and silversmiths and workers of bronze and iron. Now begin the work, and may the Lord be with you!”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
“The Lord your God is with you,” he declared. “He has given you peace with the surrounding nations. He has handed them over to me, and they are now subject to the Lord and his people.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Now seek the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. Build the sanctuary of the Lord God so that you can bring the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant and the holy vessels of God into the Temple built to honor the Lord’s name.”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Duties of the Levites When David was an old man, he appointed his son Solomon to be king over Israel.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Then David said, “From all the Levites, 24,000 will supervise the work at the Temple of the Lord. Another 6,000 will serve as officials and judges.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Another 4,000 will work as gatekeepers, and 4,000 will praise the Lord with the musical instruments I have made.”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Then David divided the Levites into divisions named after the clans descended from the three sons of Levi—Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The Gershonites The Gershonite family units were defined by their lines of descent from Libni and Shimei, the sons of Gershon.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
These were the leaders of the family of Libni. Three of the descendants of Shimei were Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Jahath was the family leader, and Ziza was next. Jeush and Beriah were counted as a single family because neither had many sons.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The sons of Amram were Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his descendants were set apart to dedicate the most holy things, to offer sacrifices in the Lord’s presence, to serve the Lord, and to pronounce blessings in his name forever.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The descendants of Hebron included Jeriah (the family leader), Amariah (the second), Jahaziel (the third), and Jekameam (the fourth).


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The Merarites The descendants of Merari included Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli were Eleazar and Kish.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
These were the descendants of Levi by clans, the leaders of their family groups, registered carefully by name. Each had to be twenty years old or older to qualify for service in the house of the Lord.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
For David said, “The Lord, the God of Israel, has given us peace, and he will always live in Jerusalem.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Now the Levites will no longer need to carry the Tabernacle and its furnishings from place to place.”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
In accordance with David’s final instructions, all the Levites twenty years old or older were registered for service.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The work of the Levites was to assist the priests, the descendants of Aaron, as they served at the house of the Lord. They also took care of the courtyards and side rooms, helped perform the ceremonies of purification, and served in many other ways in the house of God.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
They were in charge of the sacred bread that was set out on the table, the choice flour for the grain offerings, the wafers made without yeast, the cakes cooked in olive oil, and the other mixed breads. They were also responsible to check all the weights and measures.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
They assisted with the burnt offerings that were presented to the Lord on Sabbath days, at new moon celebrations, and at all the appointed festivals. The required number of Levites served in the Lord’s presence at all times, following all the procedures they had been given.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
And so, under the supervision of the priests, the Levites watched over the Tabernacle and the Temple and faithfully carried out their duties of service at the house of the Lord.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Duties of the Priests This is how Aaron’s descendants, the priests, were divided into groups for service. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and they had no sons. So only Eleazar and Ithamar were left to carry on as priests.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
With the help of Zadok, who was a descendant of Eleazar, and of Ahimelech, who was a descendant of Ithamar, David divided Aaron’s descendants into groups according to their various duties.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Eleazar’s descendants were divided into sixteen groups and Ithamar’s into eight, for there were more family leaders among the descendants of Eleazar.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
All tasks were assigned to the various groups by means of sacred lots so that no preference would be shown, for there were many qualified officials serving God in the sanctuary from among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, acted as secretary and wrote down the names and assignments in the presence of the king, the officials, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the family leaders of the priests and Levites. The descendants of Eleazar and Ithamar took turns casting lots.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Each group carried out its appointed duties in the house of the Lord according to the procedures established by their ancestor Aaron in obedience to the commands of the Lord, the God of Israel.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Family Leaders among the Levites These were the other family leaders descended from Levi: From the descendants of Amram, the leader was Shebuel. From the descendants of Shebuel, the leader was Jehdeiah.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
From the descendants of Izhar, the leader was Shelomith. From the descendants of Shelomith, the leader was Jahath.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
From the descendants of Hebron, Jeriah was the leader, Amariah was second, Jahaziel was third, and Jekameam was fourth.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
From the descendants of Uzziel, the leader was Micah. From the descendants of Micah, the leader was Shamir,


book: 1Chr
contenido:
along with Isshiah, the brother of Micah. From the descendants of Isshiah, the leader was Zechariah.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
From the descendants of Merari, the leaders were Mahli and Mushi. From the descendants of Jaaziah, the leader was Beno.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
From the descendants of Mushi, the leaders were Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the descendants of Levi in their various families.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Like the descendants of Aaron, they were assigned to their duties by means of sacred lots, without regard to age or rank. Lots were drawn in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the family leaders of the priests and the Levites.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Duties of the Musicians David and the army commanders then appointed men from the families of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to proclaim God’s messages to the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. Here is a list of their names and their work:


book: 1Chr
contenido:
From the sons of Asaph, there were Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. They worked under the direction of their father, Asaph, who proclaimed God’s messages by the king’s orders.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
From the sons of Jeduthun, there were Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six in all. They worked under the direction of their father, Jeduthun, who proclaimed God’s messages to the accompaniment of the lyre, offering thanks and praise to the Lord.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
From the sons of Heman, there were Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
All these were the sons of Heman, the king’s seer, for God had honored him with fourteen sons and three daughters.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
All these men were under the direction of their fathers as they made music at the house of the Lord. Their responsibilities included the playing of cymbals, harps, and lyres at the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman reported directly to the king.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
They and their families were all trained in making music before the Lord, and each of them—288 in all—was an accomplished musician.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The musicians were appointed to their term of service by means of sacred lots, without regard to whether they were young or old, teacher or student.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The first lot fell to Joseph of the Asaph clan and twelve of his sons and relatives. The second lot fell to Gedaliah and twelve of his sons and relatives.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Duties of the Gatekeepers These are the divisions of the gatekeepers: From the Korahites, there was Meshelemiah son of Kore, of the family of Abiasaph.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The sons of Meshelemiah were Zechariah (the oldest), Jediael (the second), Zebadiah (the third), Jathniel (the fourth),


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The sons of Obed-edom, also gatekeepers, were Shemaiah (the oldest), Jehozabad (the second), Joah (the third), Sacar (the fourth), Nethanel (the fifth),


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Ammiel (the sixth), Issachar (the seventh), and Peullethai (the eighth). God had richly blessed Obed-edom.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Obed-edom’s son Shemaiah had sons with great ability who earned positions of great authority in the clan.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Their names were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad. Their relatives, Elihu and Semakiah, were also very capable men.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
All of these descendants of Obed-edom, including their sons and grandsons—sixty-two of them in all—were very capable men, well qualified for their work.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Hosah, of the Merari clan, appointed Shimri as the leader among his sons, though he was not the oldest.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
His other sons included Hilkiah (the second), Tebaliah (the third), and Zechariah (the fourth). Hosah’s sons and relatives, who served as gatekeepers, numbered thirteen in all.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
These divisions of the gatekeepers were named for their family leaders, and like the other Levites, they served at the house of the Lord.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
They were assigned by families for guard duty at the various gates, without regard to age or training, for it was all decided by means of sacred lots.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The responsibility for the east gate went to Meshelemiah and his group. The north gate was assigned to his son Zechariah, a man of unusual wisdom.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Shuppim and Hosah were assigned the west gate and the gateway leading up to the Temple. Guard duties were divided evenly.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Six Levites were assigned each day to the east gate, four to the north gate, four to the south gate, and two pairs at the storehouse.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Six were assigned each day to the west gate, four to the gateway leading up to the Temple, and two to the courtyard.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Treasurers and Other Officials Other Levites, led by Ahijah, were in charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries of the gifts dedicated to the Lord.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The sons of Jehiel, Zetham and his brother Joel, were in charge of the treasuries of the house of the Lord.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
From the clan of Amram, Shebuel was a descendant of Gershom son of Moses. He was the chief officer of the treasuries.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Shelomoth and his relatives were in charge of the treasuries containing the gifts that King David, the family leaders, and the generals and captains and other officers of the army had dedicated to the Lord.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
These men dedicated some of the plunder they had gained in battle to maintain the house of the Lord.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Shelomoth and his relatives also cared for the gifts dedicated to the Lord by Samuel the seer, Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah. All the other dedicated gifts were in their care, too.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
From the clan of Izhar came Kenaniah. He and his sons were given administrative responsibilities over Israel as officials and judges.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
From the clan of Hebron came Hashabiah. He and his relatives—1,700 capable men—were put in charge of the Israelite lands west of the Jordan River. They were responsible for all matters related to the things of the Lord and the service of the king in that area.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Also from the clan of Hebron came Jeriah, who was the leader of the Hebronites according to the genealogical records. (In the fortieth year of David’s reign, a search was made in the records, and capable men from the clan of Hebron were found at Jazer in the land of Gilead.)


book: 1Chr
contenido:
There were 2,700 capable men among the relatives of Jeriah. King David sent them to the east side of the Jordan River and put them in charge of the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh. They were responsible for all matters related to God and to the king.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Military Commanders and Divisions This is the list of Israelite generals and captains, and their officers, who served the king by supervising the army divisions that were on duty each month of the year. Each division served for one month and had 24,000 troops.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was commander of the first division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the first month.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Dodai, a descendant of Ahoah, was commander of the second division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the second month. Mikloth was his chief officer.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Benaiah son of Jehoiada the priest was commander of the third division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the third month.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
This was the Benaiah who commanded David’s elite military group known as the Thirty. His son Ammizabad was his chief officer.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Asahel, the brother of Joab, was commander of the fourth division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the fourth month. Asahel was succeeded by his son Zebadiah.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Shammah the Izrahite was commander of the fifth division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the fifth month.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa was commander of the sixth division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the sixth month.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Helez, a descendant of Ephraim from Pelon, was commander of the seventh division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the seventh month.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Sibbecai, a descendant of Zerah from Hushah, was commander of the eighth division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the eighth month.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Abiezer from Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin was commander of the ninth division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the ninth month.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Maharai, a descendant of Zerah from Netophah, was commander of the tenth division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the tenth month.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Benaiah from Pirathon in Ephraim was commander of the eleventh division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the eleventh month.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Heled, a descendant of Othniel from Netophah, was commander of the twelfth division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the twelfth month.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Leaders of the Tribes The following were the tribes of Israel and their leaders: Tribe Leader Reuben Eliezer son of Zicri Simeon Shephatiah son of Maacah


book: 1Chr
contenido:
When David took his census, he did not count those who were younger than twenty years of age, because the Lord had promised to make the Israelites as numerous as the stars in heaven.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Joab son of Zeruiah began the census but never finished it because the anger of God fell on Israel. The total number was never recorded in King David’s official records.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Officials of David’s Kingdom Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the palace treasuries. Jonathan son of Uzziah was in charge of the regional treasuries throughout the towns, villages, and fortresses of Israel.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Shimei from Ramah was in charge of the king’s vineyards. Zabdi from Shepham was responsible for the grapes and the supplies of wine.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Baal-hanan from Geder was in charge of the king’s olive groves and sycamore-fig trees in the foothills of Judah. Joash was responsible for the supplies of olive oil.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Shitrai from Sharon was in charge of the cattle on the Sharon Plain. Shaphat son of Adlai was responsible for the cattle in the valleys.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels. Jehdeiah from Meronoth was in charge of the donkeys.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Jaziz the Hagrite was in charge of the king’s flocks of sheep and goats. All these officials were overseers of King David’s property.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a wise counselor to the king, a man of great insight, and a scribe. Jehiel the Hacmonite was responsible for teaching the king’s sons.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah and by Abiathar. Joab was commander of the king’s army.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David’s Instructions to Solomon David summoned all the officials of Israel to Jerusalem—the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of the army divisions, the other generals and captains, the overseers of the royal property and livestock, the palace officials, the mighty men, and all the other brave warriors in the kingdom.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David rose to his feet and said: “My brothers and my people! It was my desire to build a temple where the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, God’s footstool, could rest permanently. I made the necessary preparations for building it,


book: 1Chr
contenido:
but God said to me, ‘You must not build a temple to honor my name, for you are a warrior and have shed much blood.’


book: 1Chr
contenido:
“Yet the Lord, the God of Israel, has chosen me from among all my father’s family to be king over Israel forever. For he has chosen the tribe of Judah to rule, and from among the families of Judah he chose my father’s family. And from among my father’s sons the Lord was pleased to make me king over all Israel.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
And from among my sons—for the Lord has given me many—he chose Solomon to succeed me on the throne of Israel and to rule over the Lord’s kingdom.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
He said to me, ‘Your son Solomon will build my Temple and its courtyards, for I have chosen him as my son, and I will be his father.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
And if he continues to obey my commands and regulations as he does now, I will make his kingdom last forever.’


book: 1Chr
contenido:
“So now, with God as our witness, and in the sight of all Israel—the Lord’s assembly—I give you this charge. Be careful to obey all the commands of the Lord your God, so that you may continue to possess this good land and leave it to your children as a permanent inheritance.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
“And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
So take this seriously. The Lord has chosen you to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong, and do the work.”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Then David gave Solomon the plans for the Temple and its surroundings, including the entry room, the storerooms, the upstairs rooms, the inner rooms, and the inner sanctuary—which was the place of atonement.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David also gave Solomon all the plans he had in mind for the courtyards of the Lord’s Temple, the outside rooms, the treasuries, and the rooms for the gifts dedicated to the Lord.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The king also gave Solomon the instructions concerning the work of the various divisions of priests and Levites in the Temple of the Lord. And he gave specifications for the items in the Temple that were to be used for worship.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David gave instructions regarding how much gold and silver should be used to make the items needed for service.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
He told Solomon the amount of gold needed for the gold lampstands and lamps, and the amount of silver for the silver lampstands and lamps, depending on how each would be used.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
He designated the amount of gold for the table on which the Bread of the Presence would be placed and the amount of silver for other tables.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David also designated the amount of gold for the solid gold meat hooks used to handle the sacrificial meat and for the basins, pitchers, and dishes, as well as the amount of silver for every dish.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
He designated the amount of refined gold for the altar of incense. Finally, he gave him a plan for the Lord’s “chariot”—the gold cherubim whose wings were stretched out over the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
“Every part of this plan,” David told Solomon, “was given to me in writing from the hand of the Lord.”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The various divisions of priests and Levites will serve in the Temple of God. Others with skills of every kind will volunteer, and the officials and the entire nation are at your command.”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Gifts for Building the Temple Then King David turned to the entire assembly and said, “My son Solomon, whom God has clearly chosen as the next king of Israel, is still young and inexperienced. The work ahead of him is enormous, for the Temple he will build is not for mere mortals—it is for the Lord God himself!


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Using every resource at my command, I have gathered as much as I could for building the Temple of my God. Now there is enough gold, silver, bronze, iron, and wood, as well as great quantities of onyx, other precious stones, costly jewels, and all kinds of fine stone and marble.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
“And now, because of my devotion to the Temple of my God, I am giving all of my own private treasures of gold and silver to help in the construction. This is in addition to the building materials I have already collected for his holy Temple.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
I am donating more than 112 tons of gold from Ophir and 262 tons of refined silver to be used for overlaying the walls of the buildings


book: 1Chr
contenido:
and for the other gold and silver work to be done by the craftsmen. Now then, who will follow my example and give offerings to the Lord today?”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Then the family leaders, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the generals and captains of the army, and the king’s administrative officers all gave willingly.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
For the construction of the Temple of God, they gave about 188 tons of gold, 10,000 gold coins, 375 tons of silver, 675 tons of bronze, and 3,750 tons of iron.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
They also contributed numerous precious stones, which were deposited in the treasury of the house of the Lord under the care of Jehiel, a descendant of Gershon.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
The people rejoiced over the offerings, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord, and King David was filled with joy.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
David’s Prayer of Praise Then David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly: “O Lord, the God of our ancestor Israel, may you be praised forever and ever!


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!


book: 1Chr
contenido:
We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
“O Lord our God, even this material we have gathered to build a Temple to honor your holy name comes from you! It all belongs to you!


book: 1Chr
contenido:
I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. You know I have done all this with good motives, and I have watched your people offer their gifts willingly and joyously.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
“O Lord, the God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, make your people always want to obey you. See to it that their love for you never changes.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Give my son Solomon the wholehearted desire to obey all your commands, laws, and decrees, and to do everything necessary to build this Temple, for which I have made these preparations.”


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Then David said to the whole assembly, “Give praise to the Lord your God!” And the entire assembly praised the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and they bowed low and knelt before the Lord and the king.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
Solomon Named as King The next day they brought 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, and 1,000 male lambs as burnt offerings to the Lord. They also brought liquid offerings and many other sacrifices on behalf of all Israel.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
They feasted and drank in the Lord’s presence with great joy that day. And again they crowned David’s son Solomon as their new king. They anointed him before the Lord as their leader, and they anointed Zadok as priest.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
So Solomon took the throne of the Lord in place of his father, David, and he succeeded in everything, and all Israel obeyed him.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
And the Lord exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel, and he gave Solomon greater royal splendor than any king in Israel before him.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
He died at a ripe old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth, and honor. Then his son Solomon ruled in his place.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
All the events of King David’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in The Record of Samuel Seer, The Record of Nathan the Prophet, and The Record of Gad the Seer.


book: 1Chr
contenido:
These accounts include the mighty deeds of his reign and everything that happened to him and to Israel and to all the surrounding kingdoms.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Solomon Asks for Wisdom Solomon son of David took firm control of his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him very powerful.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Solomon called together all the leaders of Israel—the generals and captains of the army, the judges, and all the political and clan leaders.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then he led the entire assembly to the place of worship in Gibeon, for God’s Tabernacle was located there. (This was the Tabernacle that Moses, the Lord’s servant, had made in the wilderness.)


book: 2Chr
contenido:
David had already moved the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the tent he had prepared for it in Jerusalem.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
But the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri and grandson of Hur was there at Gibeon in front of the Tabernacle of the Lord. So Solomon and the people gathered in front of it to consult the Lord.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
There in front of the Tabernacle, Solomon went up to the bronze altar in the Lord’s presence and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings on it.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Solomon replied to God, “You showed faithful love to David, my father, and now you have made me king in his place.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
O Lord God, please continue to keep your promise to David my father, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth!


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead them properly, for who could possibly govern this great people of yours?”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
God said to Solomon, “Because your greatest desire is to help your people, and you did not ask for wealth, riches, fame, or even the death of your enemies or a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to properly govern my people—


book: 2Chr
contenido:
I will certainly give you the wisdom and knowledge you requested. But I will also give you wealth, riches, and fame such as no other king has had before you or will ever have in the future!”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then Solomon returned to Jerusalem from the Tabernacle at the place of worship in Gibeon, and he reigned over Israel.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The king made silver and gold as plentiful in Jerusalem as stone. And valuable cedar timber was as common as the sycamore-fig trees that grow in the foothills of Judah.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Preparations for Building the Temple Solomon decided to build a Temple to honor the name of the Lord, and also a royal palace for himself.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He enlisted a force of 70,000 laborers, 80,000 men to quarry stone in the hill country, and 3,600 foremen.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Solomon also sent this message to King Hiram at Tyre: “Send me cedar logs as you did for my father, David, when he was building his palace.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
I am about to build a Temple to honor the name of the Lord my God. It will be a place set apart to burn fragrant incense before him, to display the special sacrificial bread, and to sacrifice burnt offerings each morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, at new moon celebrations, and at the other appointed festivals of the Lord our God. He has commanded Israel to do these things forever.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
But who can really build him a worthy home? Not even the highest heavens can contain him! So who am I to consider building a Temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices to him?


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“So send me a master craftsman who can work with gold, silver, bronze, and iron, as well as with purple, scarlet, and blue cloth. He must be a skilled engraver who can work with the craftsmen of Judah and Jerusalem who were selected by my father, David.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“Also send me cedar, cypress, and red sandalwood logs from Lebanon, for I know that your men are without equal at cutting timber in Lebanon. I will send my men to help them.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
An immense amount of timber will be needed, for the Temple I am going to build will be very large and magnificent.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
In payment for your woodcutters, I will send 100,000 bushels of crushed wheat, 100,000 bushels of barley, 110,000 gallons of wine, and 110,000 gallons of olive oil.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
King Hiram sent this letter of reply to Solomon: “It is because the Lord loves his people that he has made you their king!


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who made the heavens and the earth! He has given King David a wise son, gifted with skill and understanding, who will build a Temple for the Lord and a royal palace for himself.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
His mother is from the tribe of Dan in Israel, and his father is from Tyre. He is skillful at making things from gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and he also works with stone and wood. He can work with purple, blue, and scarlet cloth and fine linen. He is also an engraver and can follow any design given to him. He will work with your craftsmen and those appointed by my lord David, your father.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
We will cut whatever timber you need from the Lebanon mountains and will float the logs in rafts down the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to Joppa. From there you can transport the logs up to Jerusalem.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Solomon took a census of all foreigners in the land of Israel, like the census his father had taken, and he counted 153,600.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He assigned 70,000 of them as common laborers, 80,000 as quarry workers in the hill country, and 3,600 as foremen.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Solomon Builds the Temple So Solomon began to build the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to David, his father. The Temple was built on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the site that David had selected.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
These are the dimensions Solomon used for the foundation of the Temple of God (using the old standard of measurement). It was 90 feet long and 30 feet wide.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The entry room at the front of the Temple was 30 feet wide, running across the entire width of the Temple, and 30 feet high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He paneled the main room of the Temple with cypress wood, overlaid it with fine gold, and decorated it with carvings of palm trees and chains.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He overlaid the beams, thresholds, walls, and doors throughout the Temple with gold, and he carved figures of cherubim on the walls.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He made the Most Holy Place 30 feet wide, corresponding to the width of the Temple, and 30 feet deep. He overlaid its interior with 23 tons of fine gold.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The gold nails that were used weighed 20 ounces each. He also overlaid the walls of the upper rooms with gold.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He made two figures shaped like cherubim, overlaid them with gold, and placed them in the Most Holy Place.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The total wingspan of the two cherubim standing side by side was 30 feet. One wing of the first figure was 7 1⁄2 feet long, and it touched the Temple wall. The other wing, also 7 1⁄2 feet long, touched one of the wings of the second figure.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
In the same way, the second figure had one wing 7 1⁄2 feet long that touched the opposite wall. The other wing, also 7 1⁄2 feet long, touched the wing of the first figure.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So the wingspan of the two cherubim side by side was 30 feet. They stood on their feet and faced out toward the main room of the Temple.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Across the entrance of the Most Holy Place he hung a curtain made of fine linen, decorated with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and embroidered with figures of cherubim.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
For the front of the Temple, he made two pillars that were 27 feet tall, each topped by a capital extending upward another 7 1⁄2 feet.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He made a network of interwoven chains and used them to decorate the tops of the pillars. He also made 100 decorative pomegranates and attached them to the chains.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then he set up the two pillars at the entrance of the Temple, one to the south of the entrance and the other to the north. He named the one on the south Jakin, and the one on the north Boaz.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Furnishings for the Temple Solomon also made a bronze altar 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 15 feet high.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then he cast a great round basin, 15 feet across from rim to rim, called the Sea. It was 7 1⁄2 feet deep and about 45 feet in circumference.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
It was encircled just below its rim by two rows of figures that resembled oxen. There were about six oxen per foot all the way around, and they were cast as part of the basin.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The walls of the Sea were about three inches thick, and its rim flared out like a cup and resembled a water lily blossom. It could hold about 16,500 gallons of water.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He also made ten smaller basins for washing the utensils for the burnt offerings. He set five on the south side and five on the north. But the priests washed themselves in the Sea.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He then cast ten gold lampstands according to the specifications that had been given, and he put them in the Temple. Five were placed against the south wall, and five were placed against the north wall.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He also built ten tables and placed them in the Temple, five along the south wall and five along the north wall. Then he molded 100 gold basins.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He then built a courtyard for the priests, and also the large outer courtyard. He made doors for the courtyard entrances and overlaid them with bronze.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Huram-abi also made the necessary washbasins, shovels, and bowls. So at last Huram-abi completed everything King Solomon had assigned him to make for the Temple of God:


book: 2Chr
contenido:
the ash buckets, the shovels, the meat hooks, and all the related articles. Huram-abi made all these things of burnished bronze for the Temple of the Lord, just as King Solomon had directed.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Solomon also made all the furnishings for the Temple of God: the gold altar; the tables for the Bread of the Presence;


book: 2Chr
contenido:
the lampstands and their lamps of solid gold, to burn in front of the Most Holy Place as prescribed;


book: 2Chr
contenido:
the lamp snuffers, bowls, dishes, and incense burners—all of solid gold; the doors for the entrances to the Most Holy Place and the main room of the Temple, overlaid with gold.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So Solomon finished all his work on the Temple of the Lord. Then he brought all the gifts his father, David, had dedicated—the silver, the gold, and the various articles—and he stored them in the treasuries of the Temple of God.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The Ark Brought to the Temple Solomon then summoned to Jerusalem the elders of Israel and all the heads of tribes—the leaders of the ancestral families of Israel. They were to bring the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant to the Temple from its location in the City of David, also known as Zion.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So all the men of Israel assembled before the king at the annual Festival of Shelters, which is held in early autumn.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The priests and Levites brought up the Ark along with the special tent and all the sacred items that had been in it.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Nothing was in the Ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Mount Sinai, where the Lord made a covenant with the people of Israel when they left Egypt.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then the priests left the Holy Place. All the priests who were present had purified themselves, whether or not they were on duty that day.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
And the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and all their sons and brothers—were dressed in fine linen robes and stood at the east side of the altar playing cymbals, lyres, and harps. They were joined by 120 priests who were playing trumpets.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the Lord with these words: “He is good! His faithful love endures forever!” At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple of God.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
‘From the day I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I have never chosen a city among any of the tribes of Israel as the place where a Temple should be built to honor my name. Nor have I chosen a king to lead my people Israel.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
But now I have chosen Jerusalem as the place for my name to be honored, and I have chosen David to be king over my people Israel.’”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“And now the Lord has fulfilled the promise he made, for I have become king in my father’s place, and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised. I have built this Temple to honor the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
There I have placed the Ark, which contains the covenant that the Lord made with the people of Israel.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire community of Israel, and he lifted his hands in prayer.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Now Solomon had made a bronze platform 7 1⁄2 feet long, 7 1⁄2 feet wide, and 4 1⁄2 feet high and had placed it at the center of the Temple’s outer courtyard. He stood on the platform, and then he knelt in front of the entire community of Israel and lifted his hands toward heaven.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He prayed, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven and earth. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“And now, O Lord, God of Israel, carry out the additional promise you made to your servant David, my father. For you said to him, ‘If your descendants guard their behavior and faithfully follow my Law as you have done, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“But will God really live on earth among people? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built!


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Nevertheless, listen to my prayer and my plea, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
May you watch over this Temple day and night, this place where you have said you would put your name. May you always hear the prayers I make toward this place.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“If someone wrongs another person and is required to take an oath of innocence in front of your altar at this Temple,


book: 2Chr
contenido:
then hear from heaven and judge between your servants—the accuser and the accused. Pay back the guilty as they deserve. Acquit the innocent because of their innocence.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“If your people Israel are defeated by their enemies because they have sinned against you, and if they turn back and acknowledge your name and pray to you here in this Temple,


book: 2Chr
contenido:
then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and return them to this land you gave to them and to their ancestors.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
and if your people Israel pray about their troubles or sorrow, raising their hands toward this Temple,


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then they will fear you and walk in your ways as long as they live in the land you gave to our ancestors.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“In the future, foreigners who do not belong to your people Israel will hear of you. They will come from distant lands when they hear of your great name and your strong hand and your powerful arm. And when they pray toward this Temple,


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“If your people go out where you send them to fight their enemies, and if they pray to you by turning toward this city you have chosen and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name,


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“If they sin against you—and who has never sinned?—you might become angry with them and let their enemies conquer them and take them captive to a foreign land far away or near.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
If they turn to you with their whole heart and soul in the land of their captivity and pray toward the land you gave to their ancestors—toward this city you have chosen, and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name—


book: 2Chr
contenido:
then hear their prayers and their petitions from heaven where you live, and uphold their cause. Forgive your people who have sinned against you.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“O my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to all the prayers made to you in this place.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“And now arise, O Lord God, and enter your resting place, along with the Ark, the symbol of your power. May your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation; may your loyal servants rejoice in your goodness.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
O Lord God, do not reject the king you have anointed. Remember your unfailing love for your servant David.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The Dedication of the Temple When Solomon finished praying, fire flashed down from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The priests could not enter the Temple of the Lord because the glorious presence of the Lord filled it.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
When all the people of Israel saw the fire coming down and the glorious presence of the Lord filling the Temple, they fell face down on the ground and worshiped and praised the Lord, saying, “He is good! His faithful love endures forever!”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats. And so the king and all the people dedicated the Temple of God.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The priests took their assigned positions, and so did the Levites who were singing, “His faithful love endures forever!” They accompanied the singing with music from the instruments King David had made for praising the Lord. Across from the Levites, the priests blew the trumpets, while all Israel stood.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Solomon then consecrated the central area of the courtyard in front of the Lord’s Temple. He offered burnt offerings and the fat of peace offerings there, because the bronze altar he had built could not hold all the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and sacrificial fat.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
For the next seven days Solomon and all Israel celebrated the Festival of Shelters. A large congregation had gathered from as far away as Lebo-hamath in the north and the Brook of Egypt in the south.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
On the eighth day they had a closing ceremony, for they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the Festival of Shelters for seven days.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then at the end of the celebration, Solomon sent the people home. They were all joyful and glad because the Lord had been so good to David and to Solomon and to his people Israel.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The Lord’s Response to Solomon So Solomon finished the Temple of the Lord, as well as the royal palace. He completed everything he had planned to do in the construction of the Temple and the palace.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then one night the Lord appeared to Solomon and said, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy—a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“As for you, if you faithfully follow me as David your father did, obeying all my commands, decrees, and regulations,


book: 2Chr
contenido:
then I will establish the throne of your dynasty. For I made this covenant with your father, David, when I said, ‘One of your descendants will always rule over Israel.’


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“But if you or your descendants abandon me and disobey the decrees and commands I have given you, and if you serve and worship other gods,


book: 2Chr
contenido:
then I will uproot the people from this land that I have given them. I will reject this Temple that I have made holy to honor my name. I will make it an object of mockery and ridicule among the nations.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
And though this Temple is impressive now, all who pass by will be appalled. They will ask, ‘Why did the Lord do such terrible things to this land and to this Temple?’


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“And the answer will be, ‘Because his people abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and they worshiped other gods instead and bowed down to them. That is why he has brought all these disasters on them.’”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Solomon’s Many Achievements It took Solomon twenty years to build the Lord’s Temple and his own royal palace. At the end of that time,


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Solomon turned his attention to rebuilding the towns that King Hiram had given him, and he settled Israelites in them.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He fortified the towns of Upper Beth-horon and Lower Beth-horon, rebuilding their walls and installing barred gates.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He also rebuilt Baalath and other supply centers and constructed towns where his chariots and horses could be stationed. He built everything he desired in Jerusalem and Lebanon and throughout his entire realm.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
There were still some people living in the land who were not Israelites, including the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
These were descendants of the nations whom the people of Israel had not destroyed. So Solomon conscripted them for his labor force, and they serve in the labor force to this day.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
But Solomon did not conscript any of the Israelites for his labor force. Instead, he assigned them to serve as fighting men, officers in his army, commanders of his chariots, and charioteers.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Solomon moved his wife, Pharaoh’s daughter, from the City of David to the new palace he had built for her. He said, “My wife must not live in King David’s palace, for the Ark of the Lord has been there, and it is holy ground.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then Solomon presented burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar he had built for him in front of the entry room of the Temple.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He offered the sacrifices for the Sabbaths, the new moon festivals, and the three annual festivals—the Passover celebration, the Festival of Harvest, and the Festival of Shelters—as Moses had commanded.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
In assigning the priests to their duties, Solomon followed the regulations of his father, David. He also assigned the Levites to lead the people in praise and to assist the priests in their daily duties. And he assigned the gatekeepers to their gates by their divisions, following the commands of David, the man of God.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Solomon did not deviate in any way from David’s commands concerning the priests and Levites and the treasuries.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So Solomon made sure that all the work related to building the Temple of the Lord was carried out, from the day its foundation was laid to the day of its completion.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Later Solomon went to Ezion-geber and Elath, ports along the shore of the Red Sea in the land of Edom.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Hiram sent him ships commanded by his own officers and manned by experienced crews of sailors. These ships sailed to Ophir with Solomon’s men and brought back to Solomon almost seventeen tons of gold.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Visit of the Queen of Sheba When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions. She arrived with a large group of attendants and a great caravan of camels loaded with spices, large quantities of gold, and precious jewels. When she met with Solomon, she talked with him about everything she had on her mind.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
she was overwhelmed. She was also amazed at the food on his tables, the organization of his officials and their splendid clothing, the cup-bearers and their robes, and the burnt offerings Solomon made at the Temple of the Lord.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
I didn’t believe what was said until I arrived here and saw it with my own eyes. In fact, I had not heard the half of your great wisdom! It is far beyond what I was told.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Praise the Lord your God, who delights in you and has placed you on the throne as king to rule for him. Because God loves Israel and desires this kingdom to last forever, he has made you king over them so you can rule with justice and righteousness.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then she gave the king a gift of 9,000 pounds of gold, great quantities of spices, and precious jewels. Never before had there been spices as fine as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
(In addition, the crews of Hiram and Solomon brought gold from Ophir, and they also brought red sandalwood and precious jewels.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The king used the sandalwood to make steps for the Temple of the Lord and the royal palace, and to construct lyres and harps for the musicians. Never before had such beautiful things been seen in Judah.)


book: 2Chr
contenido:
King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba whatever she asked for—gifts of greater value than the gifts she had given him. Then she and all her attendants returned to their own land.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
This did not include the additional revenue he received from merchants and traders. All the kings of Arabia and the governors of the provinces also brought gold and silver to Solomon.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He also made 300 smaller shields of hammered gold, each weighing more than 7 1⁄2 pounds. The king placed these shields in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The throne had six steps, with a footstool of gold. There were armrests on both sides of the seat, and the figure of a lion stood on each side of the throne.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The king had a fleet of trading ships manned by the sailors sent by Hiram. Once every three years the ships returned, loaded with gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his horses and chariots, and he had 12,000 horses. He stationed some of them in the chariot cities, and some near him in Jerusalem.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates River in the north to the land of the Philistines and the border of Egypt in the south.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Summary of Solomon’s Reign The rest of the events of Solomon’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Record of Nathan the Prophet, and The Prophecy of Ahijah from Shiloh, and also in The Visions of Iddo the Seer, concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The older counselors replied, “If you are good to these people and do your best to please them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your loyal subjects.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So the king paid no attention to the people. This turn of events was the will of God, for it fulfilled the Lord’s message to Jeroboam son of Nebat through the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
When all Israel realized that the king had refused to listen to them, they responded, “Down with the dynasty of David! We have no interest in the son of Jesse. Back to your homes, O Israel! Look out for your own house, O David!” So all the people of Israel returned home.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Shemaiah’s Prophecy When Rehoboam arrived at Jerusalem, he mobilized the men of Judah and Benjamin—180,000 select troops—to fight against Israel and to restore the kingdom to himself.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
‘This is what the Lord says: Do not fight against your relatives. Go back home, for what has happened is my doing!’” So they obeyed the message of the Lord and did not fight against Jeroboam.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Rehoboam Fortifies Judah Rehoboam remained in Jerusalem and fortified various towns for the defense of Judah.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Rehoboam strengthened their defenses and stationed commanders in them, and he stored supplies of food, olive oil, and wine.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He also put shields and spears in these towns as a further safety measure. So only Judah and Benjamin remained under his control.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The Levites even abandoned their pasturelands and property and moved to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons would not allow them to serve the Lord as priests.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Jeroboam appointed his own priests to serve at the pagan shrines, where they worshiped the goat and calf idols he had made.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
From all the tribes of Israel, those who sincerely wanted to worship the Lord, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem, where they could offer sacrifices to the Lord, the God of their ancestors.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
This strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and for three years they supported Rehoboam son of Solomon, for during those years they faithfully followed in the footsteps of David and Solomon.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Rehoboam’s Family Rehoboam married his cousin Mahalath, the daughter of David’s son Jerimoth and of Abihail, the daughter of Eliab son of Jesse.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Later Rehoboam married another cousin, Maacah, the daughter of Absalom. Maacah gave birth to Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Rehoboam loved Maacah more than any of his other wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and they gave birth to twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Rehoboam appointed Maacah’s son Abijah as leader among the princes, making it clear that he would be the next king.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Rehoboam also wisely gave responsibilities to his other sons and stationed some of them in the fortified towns throughout the land of Judah and Benjamin. He provided them with generous provisions, and he found many wives for them.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Egypt Invades Judah But when Rehoboam was firmly established and strong, he abandoned the Law of the Lord, and all Israel followed him in this sin.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Because they were unfaithful to the Lord, King Shishak of Egypt came up and attacked Jerusalem in the fifth year of King Rehoboam’s reign.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He came with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horses, and a countless army of foot soldiers, including Libyans, Sukkites, and Ethiopians.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The prophet Shemaiah then met with Rehoboam and Judah’s leaders, who had all fled to Jerusalem because of Shishak. Shemaiah told them, “This is what the Lord says: You have abandoned me, so I am abandoning you to Shishak.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The Lord is right in doing this to us!”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
When the Lord saw their change of heart, he gave this message to Shemaiah: “Since the people have humbled themselves, I will not completely destroy them and will soon give them some relief. I will not use Shishak to pour out my anger on Jerusalem.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
But they will become his subjects, so they will know the difference between serving me and serving earthly rulers.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So King Shishak of Egypt came up and attacked Jerusalem. He ransacked the treasuries of the Lord’s Temple and the royal palace; he stole everything, including all the gold shields Solomon had made.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord’s anger was turned away, and he did not destroy him completely. There were still some good things in the land of Judah.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Summary of Rehoboam’s Reign King Rehoboam firmly established himself in Jerusalem and continued to rule. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the Lord had chosen from among all the tribes of Israel as the place to honor his name. Rehoboam’s mother was Naamah, a woman from Ammon.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The rest of the events of Rehoboam’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Record of Shemaiah the Prophet and The Record of Iddo the Seer, which are part of the genealogical record. Rehoboam and Jeroboam were continually at war with each other.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Abijah’s War with Jeroboam Abijah began to rule over Judah in the eighteenth year of Jeroboam’s reign in Israel.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother was Maacah, the daughter of Uriel from Gibeah. Then war broke out between Abijah and Jeroboam.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Judah, led by King Abijah, fielded 400,000 select warriors, while Jeroboam mustered 800,000 select troops from Israel.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
When the army of Judah arrived in the hill country of Ephraim, Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim and shouted to Jeroboam and all Israel: “Listen to me!


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Don’t you realize that the Lord, the God of Israel, made a lasting covenant with David, giving him and his descendants the throne of Israel forever?


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then a whole gang of scoundrels joined him, defying Solomon’s son Rehoboam when he was young and inexperienced and could not stand up to them.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“Do you really think you can stand against the kingdom of the Lord that is led by the descendants of David? You may have a vast army, and you have those gold calves that Jeroboam made as your gods.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
But you have chased away the priests of the Lord (the descendants of Aaron) and the Levites, and you have appointed your own priests, just like the pagan nations. You let anyone become a priest these days! Whoever comes to be dedicated with a young bull and seven rams can become a priest of these so-called gods of yours!


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not abandoned him. Only the descendants of Aaron serve the Lord as priests, and the Levites alone may help them in their work.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
They present burnt offerings and fragrant incense to the Lord every morning and evening. They place the Bread of the Presence on the holy table, and they light the gold lampstand every evening. We are following the instructions of the Lord our God, but you have abandoned him.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So you see, God is with us. He is our leader. His priests blow their trumpets and lead us into battle against you. O people of Israel, do not fight against the Lord, the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed!”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Meanwhile, Jeroboam had secretly sent part of his army around behind the men of Judah to ambush them.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
When Judah realized that they were being attacked from the front and the rear, they cried out to the Lord for help. Then the priests blew the trumpets,


book: 2Chr
contenido:
and the men of Judah began to shout. At the sound of their battle cry, God defeated Jeroboam and all Israel and routed them before Abijah and the army of Judah.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Abijah and his army inflicted heavy losses on them; 500,000 of Israel’s select troops were killed that day.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So Judah defeated Israel on that occasion because they trusted in the Lord, the God of their ancestors.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Abijah and his army pursued Jeroboam’s troops and captured some of his towns, including Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephron, along with their surrounding villages.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So Jeroboam of Israel never regained his power during Abijah’s lifetime, and finally the Lord struck him down and he died.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Meanwhile, Abijah of Judah grew more and more powerful. He married fourteen wives and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The rest of the events of Abijah’s reign, including his words and deeds, are recorded in The Commentary of Iddo the Prophet.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Early Years of Asa’s Reign When Abijah died, he was buried in the City of David. Then his son Asa became the next king. There was peace in the land for ten years.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He removed the foreign altars and the pagan shrines. He smashed the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah poles.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He commanded the people of Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his law and his commands.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Asa also removed the pagan shrines, as well as the incense altars from every one of Judah’s towns. So Asa’s kingdom enjoyed a period of peace.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
During those peaceful years, he was able to build up the fortified towns throughout Judah. No one tried to make war against him at this time, for the Lord was giving him rest from his enemies.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Asa told the people of Judah, “Let us build towns and fortify them with walls, towers, gates, and bars. The land is still ours because we sought the Lord our God, and he has given us peace on every side.” So they went ahead with these projects and brought them to completion.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
King Asa had an army of 300,000 warriors from the tribe of Judah, armed with large shields and spears. He also had an army of 280,000 warriors from the tribe of Benjamin, armed with small shields and bows. Both armies were composed of well-trained fighting men.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Once an Ethiopian named Zerah attacked Judah with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots. They advanced to the town of Mareshah,


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then Asa cried out to the Lord his God, “O Lord, no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in you alone. It is in your name that we have come against this vast horde. O Lord, you are our God; do not let mere men prevail against you!”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So the Lord defeated the Ethiopians in the presence of Asa and the army of Judah, and the enemy fled.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar, and so many Ethiopians fell that they were unable to rally. They were destroyed by the Lord and his army, and the army of Judah carried off a vast amount of plunder.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
While they were at Gerar, they attacked all the towns in that area, and terror from the Lord came upon the people there. As a result, a vast amount of plunder was taken from these towns, too.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
They also attacked the camps of herdsmen and captured many sheep, goats, and camels before finally returning to Jerusalem.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
and he went out to meet King Asa as he was returning from the battle. “Listen to me, Asa!” he shouted. “Listen, all you people of Judah and Benjamin! The Lord will stay with you as long as you stay with him! Whenever you seek him, you will find him. But if you abandon him, he will abandon you.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach them, and without the Law to instruct them.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
But whenever they were in trouble and turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him out, they found him.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Nation fought against nation, and city against city, for God was troubling them with every kind of problem.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
When Asa heard this message from Azariah the prophet, he took courage and removed all the detestable idols from the land of Judah and Benjamin and in the towns he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. And he repaired the altar of the Lord, which stood in front of the entry room of the Lord’s Temple.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then Asa called together all the people of Judah and Benjamin, along with the people of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who had settled among them. For many from Israel had moved to Judah during Asa’s reign when they saw that the Lord his God was with him.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
On that day they sacrificed to the Lord 700 cattle and 7,000 sheep and goats from the plunder they had taken in the battle.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
They agreed that anyone who refused to seek the Lord, the God of Israel, would be put to death—whether young or old, man or woman.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
All in Judah were happy about this covenant, for they had entered into it with all their heart. They earnestly sought after God, and they found him. And the Lord gave them rest from their enemies on every side.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
King Asa even deposed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made an obscene Asherah pole. He cut down her obscene pole, broke it up, and burned it in the Kidron Valley.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Although the pagan shrines were not removed from Israel, Asa’s heart remained completely faithful throughout his life.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He brought into the Temple of God the silver and gold and the various items that he and his father had dedicated.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Final Years of Asa’s Reign In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, King Baasha of Israel invaded Judah and fortified Ramah in order to prevent anyone from entering or leaving King Asa’s territory in Judah.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Asa responded by removing the silver and gold from the treasuries of the Temple of the Lord and the royal palace. He sent it to King Ben-hadad of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus, along with this message:


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“Let there be a treaty between you and me like the one between your father and my father. See, I am sending you silver and gold. Break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel so that he will leave me alone.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Ben-hadad agreed to King Asa’s request and sent the commanders of his army to attack the towns of Israel. They conquered the towns of Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and all the store cities in Naphtali.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
As soon as Baasha of Israel heard what was happening, he abandoned his project of fortifying Ramah and stopped all work on it.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then King Asa called out all the men of Judah to carry away the building stones and timbers that Baasha had been using to fortify Ramah. Asa used these materials to fortify the towns of Geba and Mizpah.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
At that time Hanani the seer came to King Asa and told him, “Because you have put your trust in the king of Aram instead of in the Lord your God, you missed your chance to destroy the army of the king of Aram.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Don’t you remember what happened to the Ethiopians and Libyans and their vast army, with all of their chariots and charioteers? At that time you relied on the Lord, and he handed them over to you.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Asa became so angry with Hanani for saying this that he threw him into prison and put him in stocks. At that time Asa also began to oppress some of his people.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Summary of Asa’s Reign The rest of the events of Asa’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a serious foot disease. Yet even with the severity of his disease, he did not seek the Lord’s help but turned only to his physicians.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He was buried in the tomb he had carved out for himself in the City of David. He was laid on a bed perfumed with sweet spices and fragrant ointments, and the people built a huge funeral fire in his honor.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Jehoshaphat Rules in Judah Then Jehoshaphat, Asa’s son, became the next king. He strengthened Judah to stand against any attack from Israel.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He stationed troops in all the fortified towns of Judah, and he assigned additional garrisons to the land of Judah and to the towns of Ephraim that his father, Asa, had captured.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father’s early years and did not worship the images of Baal.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He sought his father’s God and obeyed his commands instead of following the evil practices of the kingdom of Israel.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So the Lord established Jehoshaphat’s control over the kingdom of Judah. All the people of Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so he became very wealthy and highly esteemed.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He was deeply committed to the ways of the Lord. He removed the pagan shrines and Asherah poles from Judah.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
In the third year of his reign Jehoshaphat sent his officials to teach in all the towns of Judah. These officials included Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He sent Levites along with them, including Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah. He also sent out the priests Elishama and Jehoram.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
They took copies of the Book of the Law of the Lord and traveled around through all the towns of Judah, teaching the people.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then the fear of the Lord fell over all the surrounding kingdoms so that none of them wanted to declare war on Jehoshaphat.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Some of the Philistines brought him gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful and built fortresses and storage cities throughout Judah.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
His army was enrolled according to ancestral clans. From Judah there were 300,000 troops organized in units of 1,000, under the command of Adnah.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Next was Amasiah son of Zicri, who volunteered for the Lord’s service, with 200,000 troops under his command.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
From Benjamin there were 200,000 troops equipped with bows and shields. They were under the command of Eliada, a veteran soldier.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
These were the troops stationed in Jerusalem to serve the king, besides those Jehoshaphat stationed in the fortified towns throughout Judah.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Jehoshaphat and Ahab Jehoshaphat enjoyed great riches and high esteem, and he made an alliance with Ahab of Israel by having his son marry Ahab’s daughter.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
A few years later he went to Samaria to visit Ahab, who prepared a great banquet for him and his officials. They butchered great numbers of sheep, goats, and cattle for the feast. Then Ahab enticed Jehoshaphat to join forces with him to recover Ramoth-gilead.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?” King Ahab of Israel asked King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Jehoshaphat replied, “Why, of course! You and I are as one, and my troops are your troops. We will certainly join you in battle.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So the king of Israel summoned the prophets, 400 of them, and asked them, “Should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I hold back?” They all replied, “Yes, go right ahead! God will give the king victory.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
When Micaiah arrived before the king, Ahab asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I hold back?” Micaiah replied sarcastically, “Yes, go up and be victorious, for you will have victory over them!”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
And the Lord said, ‘Who can entice King Ahab of Israel to go into battle against Ramoth-gilead so he can be killed?’ “There were many suggestions,


book: 2Chr
contenido:
and finally a spirit approached the Lord and said, ‘I can do it!’ “‘How will you do this?’ the Lord asked.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“And the spirit replied, ‘I will go out and inspire all of Ahab’s prophets to speak lies.’ “‘You will succeed,’ said the Lord. ‘Go ahead and do it.’


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“So you see, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths of your prophets. For the Lord has pronounced your doom.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Meanwhile, the king of Aram had issued these orders to his chariot commanders: “Attack only the king of Israel! Don’t bother with anyone else.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So when the Aramean chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat in his royal robes, they went after him. “There is the king of Israel!” they shouted. But Jehoshaphat called out, and the Lord saved him. God helped him by turning the attackers away from him.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
An Aramean soldier, however, randomly shot an arrow at the Israelite troops and hit the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. “Turn the horses and get me out of here!” Ahab groaned to the driver of the chariot. “I’m badly wounded!”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The battle raged all that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans. In the evening, just as the sun was setting, he died.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him. “Why should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord?” he asked the king. “Because of what you have done, the Lord is very angry with you.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Even so, there is some good in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles throughout the land, and you have committed yourself to seeking God.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, but he went out among the people, traveling from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, encouraging the people to return to the Lord, the God of their ancestors.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
and he said to them, “Always think carefully before pronouncing judgment. Remember that you do not judge to please people but to please the Lord. He will be with you when you render the verdict in each case.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Fear the Lord and judge with integrity, for the Lord our God does not tolerate perverted justice, partiality, or the taking of bribes.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
In Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites and priests and clan leaders in Israel to serve as judges for cases involving the Lord’s regulations and for civil disputes.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
These were his instructions to them: “You must always act in the fear of the Lord, with faithfulness and an undivided heart.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Whenever a case comes to you from fellow citizens in an outlying town, whether a murder case or some other violation of God’s laws, commands, decrees, or regulations, you must warn them not to sin against the Lord, so that he will not be angry with you and them. Do this and you will not be guilty.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“Amariah the high priest will have final say in all cases involving the Lord. Zebadiah son of Ishmael, a leader from the tribe of Judah, will have final say in all civil cases. The Levites will assist you in making sure that justice is served. Take courage as you fulfill your duties, and may the Lord be with those who do what is right.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
War with Surrounding Nations After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites declared war on Jehoshaphat.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army from Edom is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea. They are already at Hazazon-tamar.” (This was another name for En-gedi.)


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Jehoshaphat stood before the community of Judah and Jerusalem in front of the new courtyard at the Temple of the Lord.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He prayed, “O Lord, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you!


book: 2Chr
contenido:
O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham?


book: 2Chr
contenido:
They said, ‘Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing. You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt, so they went around them and did not destroy them.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Now see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
the Spirit of the Lord came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite who was a descendant of Asaph.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the Lord.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then the Levites from the clans of Kohath and Korah stood to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud shout.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, “Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: “Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
King Jehoshaphat and his men went out to gather the plunder. They found vast amounts of equipment, clothing, and other valuables—more than they could carry. There was so much plunder that it took them three days just to collect it all!


book: 2Chr
contenido:
On the fourth day they gathered in the Valley of Blessing, which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the Lord there. It is still called the Valley of Blessing today.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then all the men returned to Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat leading them, overjoyed that the Lord had given them victory over their enemies.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
They marched into Jerusalem to the music of harps, lyres, and trumpets, and they proceeded to the Temple of the Lord.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
When all the surrounding kingdoms heard that the Lord himself had fought against the enemies of Israel, the fear of God came over them.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Summary of Jehoshaphat’s Reign So Jehoshaphat ruled over the land of Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Jehoshaphat was a good king, following the ways of his father, Asa. He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
During his reign, however, he failed to remove all the pagan shrines, and the people never fully committed themselves to follow the God of their ancestors.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Record of Jehu Son of Hanani, which is included in The Book of the Kings of Israel.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Some time later King Jehoshaphat of Judah made an alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, who was very wicked.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu from Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat. He said, “Because you have allied yourself with King Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy your work.” So the ships met with disaster and never put out to sea.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Jehoram Rules in Judah When Jehoshaphat died, he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. Then his son Jehoram became the next king.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Jehoram’s brothers—the other sons of Jehoshaphat—were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Judah.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Their father had given each of them valuable gifts of silver, gold, and costly items, and also some of Judah’s fortified towns. However, he designated Jehoram as the next king because he was the oldest.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
But when Jehoram had become solidly established as king, he killed all his brothers and some of the other leaders of Judah.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
But the Lord did not want to destroy David’s dynasty, for he had made a covenant with David and promised that his descendants would continue to rule, shining like a lamp forever.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So Jehoram went out with his full army and all his chariots. The Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, but he went out at night and attacked them under cover of darkness.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Even so, Edom has been independent from Judah to this day. The town of Libnah also revolted about that same time. All this happened because Jehoram had abandoned the Lord, the God of his ancestors.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He had built pagan shrines in the hill country of Judah and had led the people of Jerusalem and Judah to give themselves to pagan gods and to go astray.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then Elijah the prophet wrote Jehoram this letter: “This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: You have not followed the good example of your father, Jehoshaphat, or your grandfather King Asa of Judah.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Instead, you have been as evil as the kings of Israel. You have led the people of Jerusalem and Judah to worship idols, just as King Ahab did in Israel. And you have even killed your own brothers, men who were better than you.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So now the Lord is about to strike you, your people, your children, your wives, and all that is yours with a heavy blow.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
You yourself will suffer with a severe intestinal disease that will get worse each day until your bowels come out.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then the Lord stirred up the Philistines and the Arabs, who lived near the Ethiopians, to attack Jehoram.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
They marched against Judah, broke down its defenses, and carried away everything of value in the royal palace, including the king’s sons and his wives. Only his youngest son, Ahaziah, was spared.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The disease grew worse and worse, and at the end of two years it caused his bowels to come out, and he died in agony. His people did not build a great funeral fire to honor him as they had done for his ancestors.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. No one was sorry when he died. They buried him in the City of David, but not in the royal cemetery.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Ahaziah Rules in Judah Then the people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, Jehoram’s youngest son, their next king, since the marauding bands who came with the Arabs had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram reigned as king of Judah.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother was Athaliah, a granddaughter of King Omri.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Ahaziah also followed the evil example of King Ahab’s family, for his mother encouraged him in doing wrong.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, just as Ahab’s family had done. They even became his advisers after the death of his father, and they led him to ruin.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Following their evil advice, Ahaziah joined King Joram, the son of King Ahab of Israel, in his war against King Hazael of Aram at Ramoth-gilead. When the Arameans wounded Joram in the battle,


book: 2Chr
contenido:
But God had decided that this visit would be Ahaziah’s downfall. While he was there, Ahaziah went out with Joram to meet Jehu grandson of Nimshi, whom the Lord had appointed to destroy the dynasty of Ahab.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
While Jehu was executing judgment against the family of Ahab, he happened to meet some of Judah’s officials and Ahaziah’s relatives who were traveling with Ahaziah. So Jehu killed them all.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then Jehu’s men searched for Ahaziah, and they found him hiding in the city of Samaria. They brought him to Jehu, who killed him. Ahaziah was given a decent burial because the people said, “He was the grandson of Jehoshaphat—a man who sought the Lord with all his heart.” But none of the surviving members of Ahaziah’s family was capable of ruling the kingdom.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Queen Athaliah Rules in Judah When Athaliah, the mother of King Ahaziah of Judah, learned that her son was dead, she began to destroy the rest of Judah’s royal family.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
But Ahaziah’s sister Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Ahaziah’s infant son, Joash, and stole him away from among the rest of the king’s children, who were about to be killed. She put Joash and his nurse in a bedroom. In this way, Jehosheba, wife of Jehoiada the priest and sister of Ahaziah, hid the child so that Athaliah could not murder him.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Revolt against Athaliah In the seventh year of Athaliah’s reign, Jehoiada the priest decided to act. He summoned his courage and made a pact with five army commanders: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zicri.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
These men traveled secretly throughout Judah and summoned the Levites and clan leaders in all the towns to come to Jerusalem.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
They all gathered at the Temple of God, where they made a solemn pact with Joash, the young king. Jehoiada said to them, “Here is the king’s son! The time has come for him to reign! The Lord has promised that a descendant of David will be our king.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
This is what you must do. When you priests and Levites come on duty on the Sabbath, a third of you will serve as gatekeepers.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Another third will go over to the royal palace, and the final third will be at the Foundation Gate. Everyone else should stay in the courtyards of the Lord’s Temple.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Remember, only the priests and Levites on duty may enter the Temple of the Lord, for they are set apart as holy. The rest of the people must obey the Lord’s instructions and stay outside.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
You Levites, form a bodyguard around the king and keep your weapons in hand. Kill anyone who tries to enter the Temple. Stay with the king wherever he goes.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So the Levites and all the people of Judah did everything as Jehoiada the priest ordered. The commanders took charge of the men reporting for duty that Sabbath, as well as those who were going off duty. Jehoiada the priest did not let anyone go home after their shift ended.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then Jehoiada supplied the commanders with the spears and the large and small shields that had once belonged to King David and were stored in the Temple of God.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He stationed all the people around the king, with their weapons ready. They formed a line from the south side of the Temple around to the north side and all around the altar.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then Jehoiada and his sons brought out Joash, the king’s son, placed the crown on his head, and presented him with a copy of God’s laws. They anointed him and proclaimed him king, and everyone shouted, “Long live the king!”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The Death of Athaliah When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and the shouts of praise to the king, she hurried to the Lord’s Temple to see what was happening.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
When she arrived, she saw the newly crowned king standing in his place of authority by the pillar at the Temple entrance. The commanders and trumpeters were surrounding him, and people from all over the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Singers with musical instruments were leading the people in a great celebration. When Athaliah saw all this, she tore her clothes in despair and shouted, “Treason! Treason!”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So they seized her and led her out to the entrance of the Horse Gate on the palace grounds, and they killed her there.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Jehoiada’s Religious Reforms Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and the king and the people that they would be the Lord’s people.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
And all the people went over to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They demolished the altars and smashed the idols, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Jehoiada now put the priests and Levites in charge of the Temple of the Lord, following all the directions given by David. He also commanded them to present burnt offerings to the Lord, as prescribed by the Law of Moses, and to sing and rejoice as David had instructed.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He also stationed gatekeepers at the gates of the Lord’s Temple to keep out those who for any reason were ceremonially unclean.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then the commanders, nobles, rulers, and all the people of the land escorted the king from the Temple of the Lord. They went through the upper gate and into the palace, and they seated the king on the royal throne.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Joash Repairs the Temple Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother was Zibiah from Beersheba.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He summoned the priests and Levites and gave them these instructions: “Go to all the towns of Judah and collect the required annual offerings, so that we can repair the Temple of your God. Do not delay!” But the Levites did not act immediately.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So the king called for Jehoiada the high priest and asked him, “Why haven’t you demanded that the Levites go out and collect the Temple taxes from the towns of Judah and from Jerusalem? Moses, the servant of the Lord, levied this tax on the community of Israel in order to maintain the Tabernacle of the Covenant.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Over the years the followers of wicked Athaliah had broken into the Temple of God, and they had used all the dedicated things from the Temple of the Lord to worship the images of Baal.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So now the king ordered a chest to be made and set outside the gate leading to the Temple of the Lord.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then a proclamation was sent throughout Judah and Jerusalem, telling the people to bring to the Lord the tax that Moses, the servant of God, had required of the Israelites in the wilderness.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
This pleased all the leaders and the people, and they gladly brought their money and filled the chest with it.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Whenever the chest became full, the Levites would carry it to the king’s officials. Then the court secretary and an officer of the high priest would come and empty the chest and take it back to the Temple again. This went on day after day, and a large amount of money was collected.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The king and Jehoiada gave the money to the construction supervisors, who hired masons and carpenters to restore the Temple of the Lord. They also hired metalworkers, who made articles of iron and bronze for the Lord’s Temple.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The men in charge of the renovation worked hard and made steady progress. They restored the Temple of God according to its original design and strengthened it.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
When all the repairs were finished, they brought the remaining money to the king and Jehoiada. It was used to make various articles for the Temple of the Lord—articles for worship services and for burnt offerings, including ladles and other articles made of gold and silver. And the burnt offerings were sacrificed continually in the Temple of the Lord during the lifetime of Jehoiada the priest.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He was buried among the kings in the City of David, because he had done so much good in Israel for God and his Temple.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Jehoiada’s Reforms Reversed But after Jehoiada’s death, the leaders of Judah came and bowed before King Joash and persuaded him to listen to their advice.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
They decided to abandon the Temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and they worshiped Asherah poles and idols instead! Because of this sin, divine anger fell on Judah and Jerusalem.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Yet the Lord sent prophets to bring them back to him. The prophets warned them, but still the people would not listen.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, “This is what God says: Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands and keep yourselves from prospering? You have abandoned the Lord, and now he has abandoned you!”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then the leaders plotted to kill Zechariah, and King Joash ordered that they stone him to death in the courtyard of the Lord’s Temple.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
That was how King Joash repaid Jehoiada for his loyalty—by killing his son. Zechariah’s last words as he died were, “May the Lord see what they are doing and avenge my death!”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The End of Joash’s Reign In the spring of the year the Aramean army marched against Joash. They invaded Judah and Jerusalem and killed all the leaders of the nation. Then they sent all the plunder back to their king in Damascus.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Although the Arameans attacked with only a small army, the Lord helped them conquer the much larger army of Judah. The people of Judah had abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, so judgment was carried out against Joash.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The Arameans withdrew, leaving Joash severely wounded. But his own officials plotted to kill him for murdering the son of Jehoiada the priest. They assassinated him as he lay in bed. Then he was buried in the City of David, but not in the royal cemetery.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The assassins were Jozacar, the son of an Ammonite woman named Shimeath, and Jehozabad, the son of a Moabite woman named Shomer.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The account of the sons of Joash, the prophecies about him, and the record of his restoration of the Temple of God are written in The Commentary on the Book of the Kings. His son Amaziah became the next king.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Amaziah Rules in Judah Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Jehoaddin from Jerusalem.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then Amaziah organized the army, assigning generals and captains for all Judah and Benjamin. He took a census and found that he had an army of 300,000 select troops, twenty years old and older, all trained in the use of spear and shield.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
But a man of God came to him and said, “Your Majesty, do not hire troops from Israel, for the Lord is not with Israel. He will not help those people of Ephraim!


book: 2Chr
contenido:
If you let them go with your troops into battle, you will be defeated by the enemy no matter how well you fight. God will overthrow you, for he has the power to help you or to trip you up.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Amaziah asked the man of God, “But what about all that silver I paid to hire the army of Israel?” The man of God replied, “The Lord is able to give you much more than this!”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So Amaziah discharged the hired troops and sent them back to Ephraim. This made them very angry with Judah, and they returned home in a great rage.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then Amaziah summoned his courage and led his army to the Valley of Salt, where they killed 10,000 Edomite troops from Seir.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
They captured another 10,000 and took them to the top of a cliff and threw them off, dashing them to pieces on the rocks below.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Meanwhile, the hired troops that Amaziah had sent home raided several of the towns of Judah between Samaria and Beth-horon. They killed 3,000 people and carried off great quantities of plunder.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
When King Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought with him idols taken from the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down in front of them, and offered sacrifices to them!


book: 2Chr
contenido:
This made the Lord very angry, and he sent a prophet to ask, “Why do you turn to gods who could not even save their own people from you?”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
But the king interrupted him and said, “Since when have I made you the king’s counselor? Be quiet now before I have you killed!” So the prophet stopped with this warning: “I know that God has determined to destroy you because you have done this and have refused to accept my counsel.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
After consulting with his advisers, King Amaziah of Judah sent this challenge to Israel’s king Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu: “Come and meet me in battle!”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“You are saying, ‘I have defeated Edom,’ and you are very proud of it. But my advice is to stay at home. Why stir up trouble that will only bring disaster on you and the people of Judah?”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
But Amaziah refused to listen, for God was determined to destroy him for turning to the gods of Edom.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So King Jehoash of Israel mobilized his army against King Amaziah of Judah. The two armies drew up their battle lines at Beth-shemesh in Judah.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah’s king, Amaziah son of Joash and grandson of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then he brought him to Jerusalem, where he demolished 600 feet of Jerusalem’s wall, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He carried off all the gold and silver and all the articles from the Temple of God that had been in the care of Obed-edom. He also seized the treasures of the royal palace, along with hostages, and then returned to Samaria.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The rest of the events in Amaziah’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
After Amaziah turned away from the Lord, there was a conspiracy against his life in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But his enemies sent assassins after him, and they killed him there.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Uzziah Rules in Judah All the people of Judah had crowned Amaziah’s sixteen-year-old son, Uzziah, as king in place of his father.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother was Jecoliah from Jerusalem.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Uzziah sought God during the days of Zechariah, who taught him to fear God. And as long as the king sought guidance from the Lord, God gave him success.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Uzziah declared war on the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. Then he built new towns in the Ashdod area and in other parts of Philistia.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
God helped him in his wars against the Philistines, his battles with the Arabs of Gur, and his wars with the Meunites.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The Meunites paid annual tribute to him, and his fame spread even to Egypt, for he had become very powerful.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Uzziah built fortified towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the angle in the wall.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He also constructed forts in the wilderness and dug many water cisterns, because he kept great herds of livestock in the foothills of Judah and on the plains. He was also a man who loved the soil. He had many workers who cared for his farms and vineyards, both on the hillsides and in the fertile valleys.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Uzziah had an army of well-trained warriors, ready to march into battle, unit by unit. This army had been mustered and organized by Jeiel, the secretary of the army, and his assistant, Maaseiah. They were under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king’s officials.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The army consisted of 307,500 men, all elite troops. They were prepared to assist the king against any enemy.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Uzziah provided the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and sling stones.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
And he built structures on the walls of Jerusalem, designed by experts to protect those who shot arrows and hurled large stones from the towers and the corners of the wall. His fame spread far and wide, for the Lord gave him marvelous help, and he became very powerful.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Uzziah’s Sin and Punishment But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the Lord his God by entering the sanctuary of the Lord’s Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
They confronted King Uzziah and said, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. That is the work of the priests alone, the descendants of Aaron who are set apart for this work. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have sinned. The Lord God will not honor you for this!”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Uzziah, who was holding an incense burner, became furious. But as he was standing there raging at the priests before the incense altar in the Lord’s Temple, leprosy suddenly broke out on his forehead.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
When Azariah the high priest and all the other priests saw the leprosy, they rushed him out. And the king himself was eager to get out because the Lord had struck him.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in isolation in a separate house, for he was excluded from the Temple of the Lord. His son Jotham was put in charge of the royal palace, and he governed the people of the land.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The rest of the events of Uzziah’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
When Uzziah died, he was buried with his ancestors; his grave was in a nearby burial field belonging to the kings, for the people said, “He had leprosy.” And his son Jotham became the next king.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Jotham Rules in Judah Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Jotham did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. He did everything his father, Uzziah, had done, except that Jotham did not sin by entering the Temple of the Lord. But the people continued in their corrupt ways.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Jotham rebuilt the upper gate of the Temple of the Lord. He also did extensive rebuilding on the wall at the hill of Ophel.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He built towns in the hill country of Judah and constructed fortresses and towers in the wooded areas.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Jotham went to war against the Ammonites and conquered them. Over the next three years he received from them an annual tribute of 7,500 pounds of silver, 50,000 bushels of wheat, and 50,000 bushels of barley.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The rest of the events of Jotham’s reign, including all his wars and other activities, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Ahaz Rules in Judah Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. He did not do what was pleasing in the sight of the Lord, as his ancestor David had done.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Instead, he followed the example of the kings of Israel. He cast metal images for the worship of Baal.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He offered sacrifices in the valley of Ben-Hinnom, even sacrificing his own sons in the fire. In this way, he followed the detestable practices of the pagan nations the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Because of all this, the Lord his God allowed the king of Aram to defeat Ahaz and to exile large numbers of his people to Damascus. The armies of the king of Israel also defeated Ahaz and inflicted many casualties on his army.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
In a single day Pekah son of Remaliah, Israel’s king, killed 120,000 of Judah’s troops, all of them experienced warriors, because they had abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then Zicri, a warrior from Ephraim, killed Maaseiah, the king’s son; Azrikam, the king’s palace commander; and Elkanah, the king’s second-in-command.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The armies of Israel captured 200,000 women and children from Judah and seized tremendous amounts of plunder, which they took back to Samaria.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
But a prophet of the Lord named Oded was there in Samaria when the army of Israel returned home. He went out to meet them and said, “The Lord, the God of your ancestors, was angry with Judah and let you defeat them. But you have gone too far, killing them without mercy, and all heaven is disturbed.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
And now you are planning to make slaves of these people from Judah and Jerusalem. What about your own sins against the Lord your God?


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Listen to me and return these prisoners you have taken, for they are your own relatives. Watch out, because now the Lord’s fierce anger has been turned against you!”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then some of the leaders of Israel—Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berekiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai—agreed with this and confronted the men returning from battle.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“You must not bring the prisoners here!” they declared. “We cannot afford to add to our sins and guilt. Our guilt is already great, and the Lord’s fierce anger is already turned against Israel.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So the warriors released the prisoners and handed over the plunder in the sight of the leaders and all the people.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then the four men just mentioned by name came forward and distributed clothes from the plunder to the prisoners who were naked. They provided clothing and sandals to wear, gave them enough food and drink, and dressed their wounds with olive oil. They put those who were weak on donkeys and took all the prisoners back to their own people in Jericho, the city of palms. Then they returned to Samaria.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
And the Philistines had raided towns located in the foothills of Judah and in the Negev of Judah. They had already captured and occupied Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The Lord was humbling Judah because of King Ahaz of Judah, for he had encouraged his people to sin and had been utterly unfaithful to the Lord.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Ahaz took valuable items from the Lord’s Temple, the royal palace, and from the homes of his officials and gave them to the king of Assyria as tribute. But this did not help him.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus who had defeated him, for he said, “Since these gods helped the kings of Aram, they will help me, too, if I sacrifice to them.” But instead, they led to his ruin and the ruin of all Judah.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The king took the various articles from the Temple of God and broke them into pieces. He shut the doors of the Lord’s Temple so that no one could worship there, and he set up altars to pagan gods in every corner of Jerusalem.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He made pagan shrines in all the towns of Judah for offering sacrifices to other gods. In this way, he aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of his ancestors.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The rest of the events of Ahaz’s reign and everything he did, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
When Ahaz died, he was buried in Jerusalem but not in the royal cemetery of the kings of Judah. Then his son Hezekiah became the next king.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Hezekiah Rules in Judah Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became the king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Hezekiah Reopens the Temple In the very first month of the first year of his reign, Hezekiah reopened the doors of the Temple of the Lord and repaired them.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He said to them, “Listen to me, you Levites! Purify yourselves, and purify the Temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove all the defiled things from the sanctuary.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Our ancestors were unfaithful and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord our God. They abandoned the Lord and his dwelling place; they turned their backs on him.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
They also shut the doors to the Temple’s entry room, and they snuffed out the lamps. They stopped burning incense and presenting burnt offerings at the sanctuary of the God of Israel.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“That is why the Lord’s anger has fallen upon Judah and Jerusalem. He has made them an object of dread, horror, and ridicule, as you can see with your own eyes.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Because of this, our fathers have been killed in battle, and our sons and daughters and wives have been captured.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
But now I will make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
My sons, do not neglect your duties any longer! The Lord has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him, and to lead the people in worship and present offerings to him.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then these Levites got right to work: From the clan of Kohath: Mahath son of Amasai and Joel son of Azariah. From the clan of Merari: Kish son of Abdi and Azariah son of Jehallelel. From the clan of Gershon: Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
These men called together their fellow Levites, and they all purified themselves. Then they began to cleanse the Temple of the Lord, just as the king had commanded. They were careful to follow all the Lord’s instructions in their work.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The priests went into the sanctuary of the Temple of the Lord to cleanse it, and they took out to the Temple courtyard all the defiled things they found. From there the Levites carted it all out to the Kidron Valley.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
They began the work in early spring, on the first day of the new year, and in eight days they had reached the entry room of the Lord’s Temple. Then they purified the Temple of the Lord itself, which took another eight days. So the entire task was completed in sixteen days.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The Temple Rededication Then the Levites went to King Hezekiah and gave him this report: “We have cleansed the entire Temple of the Lord, the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the table of the Bread of the Presence with all its utensils.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
We have also recovered all the items discarded by King Ahaz when he was unfaithful and closed the Temple. They are now in front of the altar of the Lord, purified and ready for use.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Early the next morning King Hezekiah gathered the city officials and went to the Temple of the Lord.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
They brought seven bulls, seven rams, and seven male lambs as a burnt offering, together with seven male goats as a sin offering for the kingdom, for the Temple, and for Judah. The king commanded the priests, who were descendants of Aaron, to sacrifice the animals on the altar of the Lord.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So they killed the bulls, and the priests took the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. Next they killed the rams and sprinkled their blood on the altar. And finally, they did the same with the male lambs.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The male goats for the sin offering were then brought before the king and the assembly of people, who laid their hands on them.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The priests then killed the goats as a sin offering and sprinkled their blood on the altar to make atonement for the sins of all Israel. The king had specifically commanded that this burnt offering and sin offering should be made for all Israel.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
King Hezekiah then stationed the Levites at the Temple of the Lord with cymbals, lyres, and harps. He obeyed all the commands that the Lord had given to King David through Gad, the king’s seer, and the prophet Nathan.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The Levites then took their positions around the Temple with the instruments of David, and the priests took their positions with the trumpets.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then Hezekiah ordered that the burnt offering be placed on the altar. As the burnt offering was presented, songs of praise to the Lord were begun, accompanied by the trumpets and other instruments of David, the former king of Israel.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The entire assembly worshiped the Lord as the singers sang and the trumpets blew, until all the burnt offerings were finished.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to praise the Lord with the psalms written by David and by Asaph the seer. So they offered joyous praise and bowed down in worship.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then Hezekiah declared, “Now that you have consecrated yourselves to the Lord, bring your sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings to the Temple of the Lord.” So the people brought their sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings, and all whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings, too.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
But there were too few priests to prepare all the burnt offerings. So their relatives the Levites helped them until the work was finished and more priests had been purified, for the Levites had been more conscientious about purifying themselves than the priests had been.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
There was an abundance of burnt offerings, along with the usual liquid offerings, and a great deal of fat from the many peace offerings. So the Temple of the Lord was restored to service.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because of what God had done for the people, for everything had been accomplished so quickly.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Preparations for Passover King Hezekiah now sent word to all Israel and Judah, and he wrote letters of invitation to the people of Ephraim and Manasseh. He asked everyone to come to the Temple of the Lord at Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of the Lord, the God of Israel.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The king, his officials, and all the community of Jerusalem decided to celebrate Passover a month later than usual.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
They were unable to celebrate it at the prescribed time because not enough priests could be purified by then, and the people had not yet assembled at Jerusalem.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So they sent a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba in the south to Dan in the north, inviting everyone to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of the Lord, the God of Israel. The people had not been celebrating it in great numbers as required in the Law.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
At the king’s command, runners were sent throughout Israel and Judah. They carried letters that said: “O people of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that he will return to the few of us who have survived the conquest of the Assyrian kings.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Do not be like your ancestors and relatives who abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and became an object of derision, as you yourselves can see.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Do not be stubborn, as they were, but submit yourselves to the Lord. Come to his Temple, which he has set apart as holy forever. Worship the Lord your God so that his fierce anger will turn away from you.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“For if you return to the Lord, your relatives and your children will be treated mercifully by their captors, and they will be able to return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful. If you return to him, he will not continue to turn his face from you.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Celebration of Passover The runners went from town to town throughout Ephraim and Manasseh and as far as the territory of Zebulun. But most of the people just laughed at the runners and made fun of them.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
At the same time, God’s hand was on the people in the land of Judah, giving them all one heart to obey the orders of the king and his officials, who were following the word of the Lord.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
They set to work and removed the pagan altars from Jerusalem. They took away all the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Valley.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
On the fourteenth day of the second month, one month later than usual, the people slaughtered the Passover lamb. This shamed the priests and Levites, so they purified themselves and brought burnt offerings to the Temple of the Lord.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then they took their places at the Temple as prescribed in the Law of Moses, the man of God. The Levites brought the sacrificial blood to the priests, who then sprinkled it on the altar.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Since many of the people had not purified themselves, the Levites had to slaughter their Passover lamb for them, to set them apart for the Lord.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Most of those who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not purified themselves. But King Hezekiah prayed for them, and they were allowed to eat the Passover meal anyway, even though this was contrary to the requirements of the Law. For Hezekiah said, “May the Lord, who is good, pardon those


book: 2Chr
contenido:
who decide to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors, even though they are not properly cleansed for the ceremony.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
So the people of Israel who were present in Jerusalem joyously celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. Each day the Levites and priests sang to the Lord, accompanied by loud instruments.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Hezekiah encouraged all the Levites regarding the skill they displayed as they served the Lord. The celebration continued for seven days. Peace offerings were sacrificed, and the people gave thanks to the Lord, the God of their ancestors.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The entire assembly then decided to continue the festival another seven days, so they celebrated joyfully for another week.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
King Hezekiah gave the people 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep and goats for offerings, and the officials donated 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep and goats. Meanwhile, many more priests purified themselves.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The entire assembly of Judah rejoiced, including the priests, the Levites, all who came from the land of Israel, the foreigners who came to the festival, and all those who lived in Judah.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
There was great joy in the city, for Jerusalem had not seen a celebration like this one since the days of Solomon, King David’s son.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then the priests and Levites stood and blessed the people, and God heard their prayer from his holy dwelling in heaven.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Hezekiah’s Religious Reforms When the festival ended, the Israelites who attended went to all the towns of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh, and they smashed all the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and removed the pagan shrines and altars. After this, the Israelites returned to their own towns and homes.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Hezekiah then organized the priests and Levites into divisions to offer the burnt offerings and peace offerings, and to worship and give thanks and praise to the Lord at the gates of the Temple.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The king also made a personal contribution of animals for the daily morning and evening burnt offerings, the weekly Sabbath festivals, the monthly new moon festivals, and the annual festivals as prescribed in the Law of the Lord.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
In addition, he required the people in Jerusalem to bring a portion of their goods to the priests and Levites, so they could devote themselves fully to the Law of the Lord.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
When the people of Israel heard these requirements, they responded generously by bringing the first share of their grain, new wine, olive oil, honey, and all the produce of their fields. They brought a large quantity—a tithe of all they produced.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The people who had moved to Judah from Israel, and the people of Judah themselves, brought in the tithes of their cattle, sheep, and goats and a tithe of the things that had been dedicated to the Lord their God, and they piled them up in great heaps.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
When Hezekiah and his officials came and saw these huge piles, they thanked the Lord and his people Israel!


book: 2Chr
contenido:
And Azariah the high priest, from the family of Zadok, replied, “Since the people began bringing their gifts to the Lord’s Temple, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare. The Lord has blessed his people, and all this is left over.”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
the people faithfully brought all the tithes and gifts to the Temple. Conaniah the Levite was put in charge, assisted by his brother Shimei.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
The supervisors under them were Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismakiah, Mahath, and Benaiah. These appointments were made by King Hezekiah and Azariah, the chief official in the Temple of God.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Kore son of Imnah the Levite, who was the gatekeeper at the East Gate, was put in charge of distributing the voluntary offerings given to God, the gifts, and the things that had been dedicated to the Lord.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
His faithful assistants were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah. They distributed the gifts among the families of priests in their towns by their divisions, dividing the gifts fairly among old and young alike.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
They distributed the gifts to all males three years old or older, regardless of their place in the genealogical records. The distribution went to all who would come to the Lord’s Temple to perform their daily duties according to their divisions.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
They distributed gifts to the priests who were listed by their families in the genealogical records, and to the Levites twenty years old or older who were listed according to their jobs and their divisions.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Food allotments were also given to the families of all those listed in the genealogical records, including their little babies, wives, sons, and daughters. For they had all been faithful in purifying themselves.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
As for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who were living in the open villages around the towns, men were appointed by name to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to all the Levites listed in the genealogical records.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
In this way, King Hezekiah handled the distribution throughout all Judah, doing what was pleasing and good in the sight of the Lord his God.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
In all that he did in the service of the Temple of God and in his efforts to follow God’s laws and commands, Hezekiah sought his God wholeheartedly. As a result, he was very successful.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Assyria Invades Judah After Hezekiah had faithfully carried out this work, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified towns, giving orders for his army to break through their walls.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
he consulted with his officials and military advisers, and they decided to stop the flow of the springs outside the city.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
They organized a huge work crew to stop the flow of the springs, cutting off the brook that ran through the fields. For they said, “Why should the kings of Assyria come here and find plenty of water?”


book: 2Chr
contenido:
Then Hezekiah worked hard at repairing all the broken sections of the wall, erecting towers, and constructing a second wall outside the first. He also reinforced the supporting terraces in the City of David and manufactured large numbers of weapons and shields.


book: 2Chr
contenido:
He appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in the square at the city gate. Then Hezekiah encouraged them by saying:


book: 2Chr
contenido:
“Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side!


