“Let us build up these towns,” he said to Judah, “and put walls around them, with towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the Lord our God; we sought him and he has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered.

One nation was being crushed by another and one city by another, because God was troubling them with every kind of distress.

All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the Lord gave them rest on every side.

The events of Asa’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians.

next, Amasiah son of Zikri, who volunteered himself for the service of the Lord, with 200,000.

These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout Judah.

Micaiah declared, “If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Mark my words, all you people!”

All day long the battle raged, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. Then at sunset he died.

He gave them these orders: “You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord.

In every case that comes before you from your people who live in the cities—whether bloodshed or other concerns of the law, commands, decrees or regulations—you are to warn them not to sin against the Lord; otherwise his wrath will come on you and your people. Do this, and you will not sin.

“Amariah the chief priest will be over you in any matter concerning the Lord, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the tribe of Judah, will be over you in any matter concerning the king, and the Levites will serve as officials before you. Act with courage, and may the Lord be with those who do well.”

The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.

And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.

The other events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the annals of Jehu son of Hanani, which are recorded in the book of the kings of Israel.

So now the Lord is about to strike your people, your sons, your wives and everything that is yours, with a heavy blow.

Therefore the king summoned Jehoiada the chief priest and said to him, “Why haven’t you required the Levites to bring in from Judah and Jerusalem the tax imposed by Moses the servant of the Lord and by the assembly of Israel for the tent of the covenant law?”

Now the sons of that wicked woman Athaliah had broken into the temple of God and had used even its sacred objects for the Baals.

A proclamation was then issued in Judah and Jerusalem that they should bring to the Lord the tax that Moses the servant of God had required of Israel in the wilderness.

When they had finished, they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada, and with it were made articles for the Lord’s temple: articles for the service and for the burnt offerings, and also dishes and other objects of gold and silver. As long as Jehoiada lived, burnt offerings were presented continually in the temple of the Lord.

Amaziah called the people of Judah together and assigned them according to their families to commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds for all Judah and Benjamin. He then mustered those twenty years old or more and found that there were three hundred thousand men fit for military service, able to handle the spear and shield.

Even if you go and fight courageously in battle, God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to overthrow.”

Judah was routed by Israel, and every man fled to his home.

As for the other events of Amaziah’s reign, from beginning to end, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?

The other events of Uzziah’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.