17 Then Yahweh spoke his word to Elijah from Tishbe: 18 "Go, meet King Ahab of Israel, who lives in Samaria. He went to confiscate Naboth's vineyard. 19 Tell him, 'This is what Yahweh asks: Have you murdered someone just to confiscate a vineyard?' Then tell him, 'This is what Yahweh says: At the place where the dogs licked up Naboth's blood, the dogs will lick up your blood.'"

20 Ahab asked Elijah, "So you've found me, my enemy?"

Elijah answered, "I found you. Because you sold yourself to do what Yahweh considers evil. 21 So I am going to bring evil on you. I will destroy your descendants. I will destroy every malea in Ahab's house, whether slave or freeman in Israel. 22 I will make your family like the family of Jeroboam (Nebat's son) and like the house of Baasha, son of Ahijah, because you made me furious. You led Israel to sin."

23 Then Yahweh also spoke through Elijah about Jezebel: "The dogs will eat Jezebel inside the walls of Jezreel. 24 If anyone from Ahab's house dies in the city, dogs will eat him. If anyone dies in the country, birds will eat him."

25 There was no one else like Ahab. At the urging of his wife, he sold himself to do what Yahweh considered evil. 26 He did many disgusting things as a result of worshiping idols as the Amorites had done. (Yahweh confiscated their land for Israel.) 27 When Ahab heard these things, he tore his clothes in distress and dressed in sackcloth. He fasted, lay in sackcloth, and walked around depressed.

28 Then Yahweh spoke his word to Elijah from Tishbe: 29 "Do you see how Ahab is humbling himself in my presence? Because he's humbling himself in my presence, I will not let any evil happen to his family while he is alive. I will bring evil on it during his son's lifetime."

Micaiah Prophesies against King Ahab-2 Chronicles 18:1-34 22 1 For three years there was no war between Aram and Israel. 2 In the third year King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to visit the king of Israel.

3 The king of Israel asked his staff, "Do you know that Ramoth in Gilead belongs to us, and we are doing nothing to take it back from the king of Aram?" 4 Then he asked Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to fight at Ramoth in Gilead?"

Jehoshaphat told the king of Israel, "I will do what you do. My troops will do what your troops do. My horses will do what your horses do." 5 Then Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "But first, find out what the word of Yahweh is in this matter."

6 So the king of Israel called 400 prophets together. He asked them, "Should I go to war against Ramoth in Gilead or not?"

"Go," they said. "Adonay a will hand over Ramoth to you."

7 But Jehoshaphat asked, "Isn't there a prophet of Yahweh whom we could ask?"

8 The king of Israel told Jehoshaphat, "We can ask Yahweh through Micaiah, son of Imlah, but I hate him. He doesn't prophesy anything good about me, only evil."

Jehoshaphat answered, "The king must not say that."

9 The king of Israel called for an officer and said, "Quick! Get Micaiah, son of Imlah!"

10 The king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah were dressed in royal robes and seated on thrones. They were on the threshing floorb at the entrance to the gate of Samaria. All the prophets were prophesying in front of them. 11 Zedekiah, son of Chenaanah, made iron horns and said, "This is what Yahweh says: With these horns you will push the Arameans to their destruction." 12 All the other prophets made the same prophecy. They said, "Attack Ramoth in Gilead, and you will win. Yahweh will hand it over to you."

13 The messenger who went to call Micaiah told him, "The prophets have all told the king the same good message. Make your message agree with their message. Say something good."

14 Micaiah answered, "I solemnly swear, as Yahweh lives, I will tell him whatever Yahweh tells me."

15 When he came to the king, the king asked him, "Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth in Gilead or not?"

Micaiah said to him, "Attack and you will win. Yahweh will hand it over to you."

16 The king asked him, "How many times must I make you take an oath in Yahweh's name to tell me nothing but the truth?"

17 So Micaiah said, "I saw Israel's troops scattered in the hills like sheep without a shepherd. Yahweh said, 'These sheep have no master. Let each one go home in peace.'"

18 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Didn't I tell you he wouldn't prophesy anything good about me, only evil?"

19 Micaiah added, "Then hear the word of Yahweh. I saw Yahweh sitting on his throne, and the entire army of heaven was standing near him on his right and his left. 20 Yahweh asked, 'Who will deceive Ahab so that he will attack and be killed at Ramoth in Gilead?' Some answered one way, while others said something else.

21 "Then Ruach stepped forward, stood in front of Yahweh, and said, 'I will deceive him.'

"'How?' Yahweh asked.

22 "Ruach answered, 'I will go out and be a spirit that tells lies through the mouths of all of Ahab's prophets.'

"Yahweh said, 'You will succeed in deceiving him. Go and do it.'

23 "So, Yahweh has put into the mouths of all these prophets of yours a spirit that makes them tell lies. Yahweh has spoken evil about you."

24 Then Zedekiah, son of Chenaanah, went to Micaiah and struck him on the cheek. "How did Ruach Yahweh leave me to talk to you?" he asked.

25 Micaiah answered, "You will find out on the day you go into an inner room to hide."

26 The king of Israel then said, "Send Micaiah back to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the prince. 27 Say, 'This is what the king says: Put this man in prison, and feed him nothing but bread and water until I come home safely.'"

28 Micaiah said, "If you really do come back safely, then Yahweh wasn't speaking through me. Pay attention to this, everyone!"

29 So the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to Ramoth in Gilead. 30 The king of Israel told Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you should wear your royal robes." So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

31 The king of Aram had given orders to the 32 chariot commanders. He said, "Don't fight anyone except the king of Israel."

32 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, "He must be the king of Israel." So they turned to fight him. But when Jehoshaphat cried out, 33 the chariot commanders realized that he wasn't the king of Israel. They turned away from him.

34 One man aimed his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between his scale armor and his breastplate. Ahab told his chariot driver, "Turn around, and get me away from these troops. I'm badly wounded." 35 But the battle got worse that day, and the king was kept propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. He died that evening. The blood from the wound had flowed into the chariot. 36 At sundown a cry went through the army, "Every man to his own city! Every man to his own property!"

37 When the king was dead, he was brought to Samaria to be buried. 38 His chariot was washed at the pool of Samaria, where the prostitutes bathed. The dogs licked up his blood, as Yahweh had predicted.

39 Isn't everything else about Ahab-everything he did, the ivory palace he built, and all the cities he fortified-written in the official records of the kings of Israel? 40 Ahab lay down in death with his ancestors. His son Ahaziah succeeded him as king.

King Jehoshaphat of Judah-2 Chronicles 20:31-21:1 41 Jehoshaphat, son of Asa, became king of Judah in Ahab's fourth year as king of Israel. 42 Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 25 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah, daughter of Shilhi. 43 Jehoshaphat carefully followed the example his father Asa had set and did what Yahweh considered right. 44 But the illegal worship sites were not torn down. The people continued to sacrifice and burn incense at these worship sites.a Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.

45 Isn't everything else about Jehoshaphat-the heroic acts he did and the wars he fought-written in the official records of the kings of Judah? 46 He rid the land of the male temple prostitutes who were left there from the time of his father Asa. 47 There was no king in Edom; instead, a deputy ruled.

48 Jehoshaphat made Tarshish-style ships to go to Ophir for gold. But they didn't go because the ships were wrecked at Ezion Geber. 49 Then Ahaziah, son of Ahab, said to Jehoshaphat, "Let my servants go with your servants in the ships." But Jehoshaphat refused.

50 Jehoshaphat lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of his ancestor David. His son Jehoram succeeded him as king.

King Ahaziah of Israel 51 Ahaziah, son of Ahab, became king of Israel in Samaria during Jehoshaphat's seventeenth year as king of Judah. Ahaziah ruled Israel for two years. 52 He did what Yahweh considered evil. He followed the example of his father and mother and of Jeroboam (Nebat's son) who led Israel to sin. 53 Ahaziah served Baal, worshiped him, and made Yahweh Elohim of Israel furious, as his father had done.

a 1:5 Adonijah's mother was Haggith; his father was David. He was David's oldest living son.

b 1:5 "very handsome . . . Absalom." These words are the last part of verse 6 (in Hebrew). They have been placed at the beginning of verse 5 to express the complex Hebrew sentence structure more clearly in English.

a 1:50 Holding on to the horns of the altar was an appeal for mercy.

a 3:10 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Greek; other Hebrew manuscripts "Lord."

a 4:19 "There was . . . territory" Masoretic Text; Greek "There was also one governor in the territory of Judah."

b 4:20 1 Kings 4:21-34 in English Bibles is 1 Kings 5:1-14 in the Hebrew Bible.

c 4:26 Or "12,000 cavalry horses."

a 5:1 1 Kings 5:1-18 in English Bibles is 1 Kings 5:15-32 in the Hebrew Bible.

a 6:8 Greek, Targum; Masoretic Text "second story."

b 6:9 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

c 6:23 Or "cherubim."

a 7:3 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

b 7:7 Latin, Syriac; Masoretic Text "floor to floor."

c 7:18 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Greek, Syriac; other Hebrew manuscripts "pomegranates."

a 7:29 Or "cherubim."

a 8:6 Or "cherubim."

b 8:23 Or "covenant."

a 8:41 The first sentence of verse 42 (in Hebrew) has been placed in verse 41 to express the complex Hebrew paragraph structure more clearly in English.

a 8:65 Greek; Masoretic Text adds ". . . and seven [more] days, fourteen days [total]."

a 9:15 The exact place referred to as "the Millo" is unknown.

b 9:20 "because the Israelites. . ." This clause from verse 21 (in Hebrew) has been placed in verse 20 to express the complex Hebrew paragraph structure more clearly in English.

a 10:5 A cupbearer was a trusted royal official who ensured that the king's drink was not poisoned.

a 11:3 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

b 11:11 Or "covenant."

a 11:27 The exact place referred to as "the Millo" is unknown.

a 12:2 2 Chronicles 10:2, Greek, Latin; Masoretic Text "remained in Egypt."

b 12:10 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

a 14:3 Or "cakes."

b 14:10 Hebrew uses a coarse term for "male" here.

c 14:14 Hebrew meaning of these two sentences uncertain.

a 15:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts; other Hebrew manuscripts "Jeroboam."

a 16:11 Hebrew uses a coarse term for "male" here.

a 17:18 Hebrew meaning of this sentence uncertain.

a 19:10 Or "covenant."

b 19:21 A yoke is a wooden bar placed over the necks of work animals so that they can pull plows or carts.

a 20:27 Hebrew meaning of this sentence uncertain.

a 21:21 Hebrew uses a coarse term for "male" here.

a 22:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts; many Hebrew manuscripts, Targum "The LORD."

b 22:10 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

a 22:44 1 Kings 22:44b-53 in English Bibles is 1 Kings 22:45-54 in the Hebrew Bible.

Introduction to 2 KINGS.

Originally a single book, the two books of Kings are two parts of the same tragic story. Why has Israel gone from glory to exile? Because God rewards faithfulness and punishes disobedience. Judgment may not be immediate, but it is certain. Covering a period of about four hundred years, the books begin with Solomon's united kingdom in the tenth century BC. They then trace the history of the monarchy from its division into two kingdoms, Israel and Judah, in 922 BC, through Israel's downfall in 722 BC, to Judah's captivity in 586 BC.

Of the forty kings who succeeded Solomon in the southern and the northern kingdoms, only a handful did what the Lord considered right, and even most of the more-or-less good kings allowed some pagan worship places to remain. Only Hezekiah and Josiah succeeded in thoroughly uprooting idolatry, and their reforms did not last long. During the fifty-five-year reign of Hezekiah's son Manasseh, Israel "did more evil things than the nations that Yahweh had destroyed when the Israelites arrived in the land" (21:9). Likewise, both of Josiah's successors "did what Yahweh considered evil" (23:32, 37).

It comes as no surprise, then, to read that King Shalmaneser of Assyria attacked Samaria (capital of Israel), taking its people captive and replacing them with foreign settlers (17:3-6). Read the summary of Israel's and Judah's offenses, which includes this heartbreaking line: "So Yahweh rejected all of Israel's descendants, made them suffer, handed them over to those who looted their property, and finally turned away from Israel" (17:7-23).

Nor is it surprising to read that Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon besieged Jerusalem (capital of Judah), tore down the city walls, burned Solomon's temple and palace, and took the leading citizens captive to Babylon. Ironically, many remaining Judeans fled to Egypt-right back to the country their distant ancestors escaped in order to worship the God of Israel.

But amidst all the doom and gloom, there is a ray of hope. Though this is a time of bad kings, it is also a time of mighty prophets-men and women who know God's heart and speak God's words. Elijah, who fearlessly confronted Ahab and Jezebel in 1 Kings, bequeaths a double share of his spirit to his apprentice Elisha before riding to heaven in a fiery chariot. Elisha purifies water and food, confuses enemy armies, feeds the hungry, heals the sick, supplies the needy, counsels kings, and even raises the dead. Isaiah advises Hezekiah on matters of state, health, and the coming destruction. Through the prophets, God continually calls his people to repent, return to him, and be blessed.

Key Names of God in 2 Kings Yahweh LORD Elohim God Ruach Yahweh the LORD'S Spirit Yahweh Tsebaoth the LORD Almighty, the LORD of Armies, the LORD of Hosts El Chay Living God Qedosh Yisrael Holy One of Israel Adonay Lord, Master 2 KINGS.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10.

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20.

21 22 23 24 25.

Elijah and King Ahaziah of Israel 1 1 After Ahab died, Moab rebelled against Israel. 2 During the rebellion King Ahaziah fell through a window lattice in his upstairs room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers to Ekron. He had told them, "Go ask Baalzebub, the god of Ekron, if I will recover from this injury."