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1. For the next two years there was peace between Israel and Aram.
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1. And they continued H3427 three H7969 years H8141 without H369 war H4421 between H996 Syria H758 and Israel H3478 .
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2. Then during the third year, King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to visit King Ahab of Israel.
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2. And it came to pass H1961 in the third H7992 year H8141 , that Jehoshaphat H3092 the king H4428 of Judah H3063 came down H3381 to H413 the king H4428 of Israel H3478 .
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3. Ahab asked his officials, "Remember when the king of Aram took Ramoth Gilead from us? That city is ours, so why have we done nothing to get it back?"
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3. And the king H4428 of Israel H3478 said H559 unto H413 his servants H5650 , Know H3045 ye that H3588 Ramoth in Gilead H7433 is ours , and we H587 be still H2814 , and take H4480 H3947 it not out of the hand H4480 H3027 of the king H4428 of Syria H758 ?
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4. So Ahab asked King Jehoshaphat, "Will you join with us to go fight the Arameans at Ramoth Gilead?" Jehoshaphat answered, "Yes, you and I will be as one�my men and my horses will be as yours.
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4. And he said H559 unto H413 Jehoshaphat H3092 , Wilt thou go H1980 with H854 me to battle H4421 to Ramoth H7433 -gilead? And Jehoshaphat H3092 said H559 to H413 the king H4428 of Israel H3478 , I am as thou art , my people H5971 as thy people H5971 , my horses H5483 as thy horses H5483 .
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5. But first let's ask the Lord for advice."
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5. And Jehoshaphat H3092 said H559 unto H413 the king H4428 of Israel H3478 , Inquire H1875 , I pray thee H4994 , at H853 the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 today H3117 .
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6. So Ahab called a meeting of the prophets. There were about 400 prophets at that time. Ahab asked the prophets, "Should I go and attack the Arameans at Ramoth Gilead or not?" The prophets answered Ahab, "Yes, because the Lord will let you defeat Ramoth Gilead."
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6. Then the king H4428 of Israel H3478 gathered the prophets together H6908 H853 H5030 , about four H702 hundred H3967 men H376 , and said H559 unto H413 them , Shall I go H1980 against H5921 Ramoth H7433 -gilead to battle H4421 , or H518 shall I forbear H2308 ? And they said H559 , Go up H5927 ; for the Lord H136 shall deliver H5414 it into the hand H3027 of the king H4428 .
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7. But Jehoshaphat said, "Doesn't the Lord have another prophet here? Let's ask him what God says."
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7. And Jehoshaphat H3092 said H559 , Is there not H369 here H6311 a prophet H5030 of the LORD H3068 besides H5750 , that we might inquire H1875 of H4480 H854 him?
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8. King Ahab answered, "Yes, there is another prophet. His name is Micaiah son of Imlah. But I hate him because he will not say anything good about me when he speaks for the Lord. He always says things that I don't like." Jehoshaphat said, "The king should not say that!"
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8. And the king H4428 of Israel H3478 said H559 unto H413 Jehoshaphat H3092 , There is yet H5750 one H259 man H376 , Micaiah H4321 the son H1121 of Imlah H3229 , by H4480 H854 whom we may inquire H1875 of H853 the LORD H3068 : but I H589 hate H8130 him; for H3588 he doth not H3808 prophesy H5012 good H2896 concerning H5921 me, but H3588 H518 evil H7451 . And Jehoshaphat H3092 said H559 , Let not H408 the king H4428 say H559 so H3651 .
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9. So King Ahab told one of his officers to go and find Micaiah.
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9. Then the king H4428 of Israel H3478 called H7121 H413 an H259 officer H5631 , and said H559 , Hasten H4116 hither Micaiah H4321 the son H1121 of Imlah H3229 .
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10. At that time the two kings were sitting on their thrones, with their royal robes on, at the judgment place near the gates of Samaria. All the prophets were standing before them, prophesying.
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10. And the king H4428 of Israel H3478 and Jehoshaphat H3092 the king H4428 of Judah H3063 sat H3427 each H376 on H5921 his throne H3678 , having put on H3847 their robes H899 , in a void place H1637 in the entrance H6607 of the gate H8179 of Samaria H8111 ; and all H3605 the prophets H5030 prophesied H5012 before H6440 them.
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11. One of the prophets was named Zedekiah son of Kenaanah. Zedekiah made some iron horns and said to Ahab, "The Lord says, 'You will use these iron horns to fight against the army of Aram. You will defeat them and destroy them.'"
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11. And Zedekiah H6667 the son H1121 of Chenaanah H3668 made H6213 him horns H7161 of iron H1270 : and he said H559 , Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 , With these H428 shalt thou push H5055 H853 the Syrians H758 , until H5704 thou have consumed H3615 them.
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12. All the other prophets agreed with Zedekiah and said, "Your army should march now to go fight against the Arameans at Ramoth Gilead. You will win the battle. The Lord will let you defeat them."
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12. And all H3605 the prophets H5030 prophesied H5012 so H3651 , saying H559 , Go up H5927 to Ramoth H7433 -gilead , and prosper H6743 : for the LORD H3068 shall deliver H5414 it into the king H4428 's hand H3027 .
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13. While this was happening, the officer went to find Micaiah. When he found him, the officer told him, "All the other prophets have said that the king will succeed, so you should say the same thing."
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13. And the messenger H4397 that H834 was gone H1980 to call H7121 Micaiah H4321 spoke H1696 unto H413 him, saying H559 , Behold H2009 now H4994 , the words H1697 of the prophets H5030 declare good H2896 unto H413 the king H4428 with one H259 mouth H6310 : let thy word H1697 , I pray thee H4994 , be H1961 like the word H1697 of one H259 of them H4480 , and speak H1696 that which is good H2896 .
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14. But Micaiah answered, "As surely as the Lord lives, I can say only what the Lord says."
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14. And Micaiah H4321 said H559 , As the LORD H3068 liveth H2416 , what H834 the LORD H3068 saith H559 unto H413 me , that will I speak H1696 .
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15. Micaiah went and stood before King Ahab. The king asked him, "Micaiah, should we go and attack the Arameans at Ramoth Gilead or not?" Micaiah answered, "Yes, go and be successful! The Lord will let you take the city."
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15. So he came H935 to H413 the king H4428 . And the king H4428 said H559 unto H413 him, Micaiah H4321 , shall we go H1980 against H413 Ramoth H7433 -gilead to battle H4421 , or H518 shall we forbear H2308 ? And he answered H559 H413 him, Go H5927 , and prosper H6743 : for the LORD H3068 shall deliver H5414 it into the hand H3027 of the king H4428 .
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16. But Ahab answered, "How many times do I have to tell you? Tell me the truth. What does the Lord say!"
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16. And the king H4428 said H559 unto H413 him, How H5704 many H4100 times H6471 shall I H589 adjure H7650 thee that H834 thou tell H1696 H413 me nothing H3808 but H7535 that which is true H571 in the name H8034 of the LORD H3068 ?
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17. So Micaiah answered, "I can see the army of Israel scattered all over the hills, like sheep with no one to lead them. This is what the Lord says, 'These men have no leaders. Let them go home in peace.'"
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17. And he said H559 , I saw H7200 H853 all H3605 Israel H3478 scattered H6327 upon H413 the hills H2022 , as sheep H6629 that H834 have not H369 a shepherd H7462 : and the LORD H3068 said H559 , These H428 have no H3808 master H113 : let them return H7725 every man H376 to his house H1004 in peace H7965 .
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18. Then Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "See, I told you! This prophet never says anything good about me. He always says something bad."
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18. And the king H4428 of Israel H3478 said H559 unto H413 Jehoshaphat H3092 , Did I not H3808 tell H559 H413 thee that he would prophesy H5012 no H3808 good H2896 concerning H5921 me, but H3588 H518 evil H7451 ?
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19. But Micaiah said, "Listen to this message from the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne. All of heaven's army was standing around him, some on his left side and some on his right side.
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19. And he said H559 , Hear H8085 thou therefore H3651 the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 : I saw H7200 H853 the LORD H3068 sitting H3427 on H5921 his throne H3678 , and all H3605 the host H6635 of heaven H8064 standing H5975 by H5921 him on his right hand H4480 H3225 and on his left H4480 H8040 .
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20. The Lord said, 'Which of you will go fool Ahab into attacking the Arameans at Ramoth Gilead so that he will be killed?' The angels discussed many different plans.
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20. And the LORD H3068 said H559 , Who H4310 shall persuade H6601 H853 Ahab H256 , that he may go up H5927 and fall H5307 at Ramoth H7433 -gilead? And one H2088 said H559 on this manner H3541 , and another H2088 said H559 on that manner H3541 .
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21. Then a spirit went and stood before the Lord and said, 'I will fool him!' The Lord asked, 'How will you do it?'
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21. And there came forth H3318 a spirit H7307 , and stood H5975 before H6440 the LORD H3068 , and said H559 , I H589 will persuade H6601 him.
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22. The angel answered, 'I will go out and become a spirit of lies in the mouths of Ahab's prophets�they will all speak lies.' So the Lord said, 'Yes, that will fool Ahab. Go out and do that.'"
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22. And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto H413 him, Wherewith H4100 ? And he said H559 , I will go forth H3318 , and I will be H1961 a lying H8267 spirit H7307 in the mouth H6310 of all H3605 his prophets H5030 . And he said H559 , Thou shalt persuade H6601 him , and prevail H3201 also H1571 : go forth H3318 , and do H6213 so H3651 .
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23. "So that is what has happened here. The Lord made your prophets lie to you. The Lord himself decided to bring this disaster to you."
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23. Now H6258 therefore, behold H2009 , the LORD H3068 hath put H5414 a lying H8267 spirit H7307 in the mouth H6310 of all H3605 these H428 thy prophets H5030 , and the LORD H3068 hath spoken H1696 evil H7451 concerning H5921 thee.
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24. Then the prophet Zedekiah went to Micaiah and hit him on the face. Zedekiah said, "How is it that the Spirit of the Lord left me to speak through you?"
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24. But Zedekiah H6667 the son H1121 of Chenaanah H3668 went near H5066 , and smote H5221 H853 Micaiah H4321 on H5921 the cheek H3895 , and said H559 , Which H335 way H2088 went H5674 the Spirit H7307 of the LORD H3068 from H4480 H854 me to speak H1696 unto H854 thee?
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25. Micaiah answered, "Look, what I said will happen! And when you see it, you will go into the deepest part of your house to hide."
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25. And Micaiah H4321 said H559 , Behold H2009 , thou shalt see H7200 in that H1931 day H3117 , when H834 thou shalt go into H935 an inner H2315 chamber H2315 to hide thyself H2247 .
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26. Then King Ahab ordered one of his officers to arrest Micaiah. Ahab said, "Arrest him and take him to Amon the governor of the city and prince Joash.
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26. And the king H4428 of Israel H3478 said H559 , Take H3947 H853 Micaiah H4321 , and carry him back H7725 unto H413 Amon H526 the governor H8269 of the city H5892 , and to H413 Joash H3101 the king H4428 's son H1121 ;
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27. Tell them to put Micaiah in prison. Give him nothing but bread and water to eat. Keep him there until I come home from the battle."
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27. And say H559 , Thus H3541 saith H559 the king H4428 , Put H7760 H853 this H2088 fellow in the prison H1004 H3608 , and feed H398 him with bread H3899 of affliction H3906 and with water H4325 of affliction H3906 , until H5704 I come H935 in peace H7965 .
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28. Micaiah said, "Listen to me, everyone! Ahab, if you come back alive from the battle, the Lord has not spoken through me."
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28. And Micaiah H4321 said H559 , If H518 thou return at all H7725 H7725 in peace H7965 , the LORD H3068 hath not H3808 spoken H1696 by me . And he said H559 , Hearken H8085 , O people H5971 , every H3605 one of you.
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29. King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to fight the Arameans at Ramoth Gilead.
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29. So the king H4428 of Israel H3478 and Jehoshaphat H3092 the king H4428 of Judah H3063 went up H5927 to Ramoth H7433 -gilead.
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30. Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "Disguise yourself when you go into battle, but wear your own clothes. And I will disguise myself." The king of Israel went into battle dressed like an ordinary soldier.
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30. And the king H4428 of Israel H3478 said H559 unto H413 Jehoshaphat H3092 , I will disguise myself H2664 , and enter H935 into the battle H4421 ; but put H3847 thou H859 on thy robes H899 . And the king H4428 of Israel H3478 disguised himself H2664 , and went H935 into the battle H4421 .
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31. The king of Aram had 32 chariot commanders. He gave them this command, "Don't go after anyone except the king of Israel, no matter how important they are."
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31. But the king H4428 of Syria H758 commanded H6680 H853 his H834 thirty H7970 and two H8147 captains that had rule over H8269 his H834 chariots H7393 , saying H559 , Fight H3898 neither H3808 with H854 small H6996 nor great H1419 , save H3588 H518 only H905 with H854 the king H4428 of Israel H3478 .
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32. When the commanders saw King Jehoshaphat, they thought he was the king of Israel, and so they went to kill him. Jehoshaphat started shouting.
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32. And it came to pass H1961 , when the captains H8269 of the chariots H7393 saw H7200 H853 Jehoshaphat H3092 , that they H1992 said H559 , Surely H389 it H1931 is the king H4428 of Israel H3478 . And they turned aside H5493 to fight H3898 against H5921 him : and Jehoshaphat H3092 cried out H2199 .
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33. When the commanders saw that he was not King Ahab, they stopped chasing him.
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33. And it came to pass H1961 , when the captains H8269 of the chariots H7393 perceived H7200 that H3588 it H1931 was not H3808 the king H4428 of Israel H3478 , that they turned back H7725 from pursuing H4480 H310 him.
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34. Then a soldier in the distance pulled back as far as he could on his bow and shot an arrow into the air. The arrow happened to hit the king of Israel in a small hole where his armor was fastened together. King Ahab said to his chariot driver, "I've been hit! Turn the chariot around and take me off the battlefield!"
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34. And a certain man H376 drew H4900 a bow H7198 at a venture H8537 , and smote H5221 H853 the king H4428 of Israel H3478 between H996 the joints H1694 of the harness H8302 : wherefore he said H559 unto the driver of his chariot H7395 , Turn H2015 thine hand H3027 , and carry me out H3318 of H4480 the host H4264 ; for H3588 I am wounded H2470 .
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35. The armies continued to fight while King Ahab was propped up in his chariot. He was leaning against the sides of the chariot, looking out toward the Arameans. His blood ran down onto the floor of the chariot. Later in the evening, he died.
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35. And the battle H4421 increased H5927 that H1931 day H3117 : and the king H4428 was H1961 stayed up H5975 in his chariot H4818 against H5227 the Syrians H758 , and died H4191 at even H6153 : and the blood H1818 ran out H3332 of the wound H4347 into H413 the midst H2436 of the chariot H7393 .
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36. At sunset all the Israelites cheered when they were told to go home. So they all went back to their hometowns.
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36. And there went H5674 a proclamation H7440 throughout the host H4264 about the going down H935 of the sun H8121 , saying H559 , Every man H376 to H413 his city H5892 , and every man H376 to H413 his own country H776 .
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37. And that is how King Ahab died. Some men carried his body to Samaria and buried him there.
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37. So the king H4428 died H4191 , and was brought H935 to Samaria H8111 ; and they buried H6912 H853 the king H4428 in Samaria H8111 .
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38. They took his chariot to the large pool in Samaria to clean it. The dogs licked up Ahab's blood while the prostitutes washed the chariot. This happened just as the Lord said it would.
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38. And one washed H7857 H853 the chariot H7393 in H5921 the pool H1295 of Samaria H8111 ; and the dogs H3611 licked up H3952 H853 his blood H1818 ; and they washed H7364 his armor H2185 ; according unto the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 which H834 he spoke H1696 .
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39. The rest of what King Ahab did during the time he ruled is written in the book, The History of the Kings of Israel. That book tells about all the cities he built and about all the ivory that he used to decorate his palace.
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39. Now the rest H3499 of the acts H1697 of Ahab H256 , and all H3605 that H834 he did H6213 , and the ivory H8127 house H1004 which H834 he made H1129 , and all H3605 the cities H5892 that H834 he built H1129 , are they H1992 not H3808 written H3789 in H5921 the book H5612 of the chronicles H1697 H3117 of the kings H4428 of Israel H3478 ?
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40. Ahab died and was buried with his ancestors. His son Ahaziah became the next king after him.
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40. So Ahab H256 slept H7901 with H5973 his fathers H1 ; and Ahaziah H274 his son H1121 reigned H4427 in his stead H8478 .
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41. Jehoshaphat son of Asa became the king of Judah in Ahab's fourth year as king of Israel.
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41. And Jehoshaphat H3092 the son H1121 of Asa H609 began to reign H4427 over H5921 Judah H3063 in the fourth H702 year H8141 of Ahab H256 king H4428 of Israel H3478 .
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42. Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for 25 years. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.
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42. Jehoshaphat H3092 was thirty H7970 and five H2568 years H8141 old H1121 when he began to reign H4427 ; and he reigned H4427 twenty H6242 and five H2568 years H8141 in Jerusalem H3389 . And his mother H517 's name H8034 was Azubah H5806 the daughter H1323 of Shilhi H7977 .
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43. Like his father Asa, Jehoshaphat was good and did everything that the Lord wanted, but he did not destroy the high places. The people continued offering sacrifices and burning incense there.
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43. And he walked H1980 in all H3605 the ways H1870 of Asa H609 his father H1 ; he turned not aside H3808 H5493 from H4480 it, doing H6213 that which was right H3477 in the eyes H5869 of the LORD H3068 : nevertheless H389 the high places H1116 were not H3808 taken away H5493 ; for the people H5971 offered H2076 and burnt incense H6999 yet H5750 in the high places H1116 .
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44. Jehoshaphat made a peace agreement with the king of Israel.
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44. And Jehoshaphat H3092 made peace H7999 with H5973 the king H4428 of Israel H3478 .
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45. Jehoshaphat was very brave and fought many wars. The rest of what he did is written in the book, The History of the Kings of Judah.
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45. Now the rest H3499 of the acts H1697 of Jehoshaphat H3092 , and his might H1369 that H834 he showed H6213 , and how H834 he warred H3898 , are they H1992 not H3808 written H3789 in H5921 the book H5612 of the chronicles H1697 H3117 of the kings H4428 of Judah H3063 ?
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46. Jehoshaphat forced all the men and women who sold their bodies for sex to leave the places of worship. They had served in these places of worship while his father Asa was king.
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46. And the remnant H3499 of the sodomites H6945 , which H834 remained H7604 in the days H3117 of his father H1 Asa H609 , he took H1197 out of H4480 the land H776 .
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47. In those days Edom did not have a king; it was ruled by a governor who was chosen by the king of Judah.
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47. There was then no H369 king H4428 in Edom H123 : a deputy H5324 was king H4428 .
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48. King Jehoshaphat built some cargo ships. He wanted the ships to sail to Ophir for gold, but they never went there�they were destroyed in their home port at Ezion Geber.
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48. Jehoshaphat H3092 made H6213 ships H591 of Tharshish H8659 to go H1980 to Ophir H211 for gold H2091 : but they went H1980 not H3808 ; for H3588 the ships H591 were broken H7665 at Ezion H6100 -geber.
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49. Then King Ahaziah of Israel offered to put some of his own sailors with Jehoshaphat's men on the ships, but Jehoshaphat refused to accept his help.
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49. Then H227 said H559 Ahaziah H274 the son H1121 of Ahab H256 unto H413 Jehoshaphat H3092 , Let my servants H5650 go H1980 with H5973 thy servants H5650 in the ships H591 . But Jehoshaphat H3092 would H14 not H3808 .
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50. Jehoshaphat died and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. Then his son Jehoram became the next king.
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50. And Jehoshaphat H3092 slept H7901 with H5973 his fathers H1 , and was buried H6912 with H5973 his fathers H1 in the city H5892 of David H1732 his father H1 : and Jehoram H3088 his son H1121 reigned H4427 in his stead H8478 .
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51. Ahaziah was the son of Ahab. He became king of Israel during the 17 year that King Jehoshaphat ruled Judah. Ahaziah ruled in Samaria for two years.
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51. Ahaziah H274 the son H1121 of Ahab H256 began to reign H4427 over H5921 Israel H3478 in Samaria H8111 the seventeenth H7651 H6240 year H8141 of Jehoshaphat H3092 king H4428 of Judah H3063 , and reigned H4427 two years H8141 over H5921 Israel H3478 .
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52. He sinned against the Lord just as his parents, Ahab and Jezebel, did. He caused Israel to sin just as Jeroboam son of Nabat did.
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52. And he did H6213 evil H7451 in the sight H5869 of the LORD H3068 , and walked H1980 in the way H1870 of his father H1 , and in the way H1870 of his mother H517 , and in the way H1870 of Jeroboam H3379 the son H1121 of Nebat H5028 , who H834 made Israel to sin H2398 H853 H3478 :
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53. Ahaziah served the false god Baal and worshiped him, just as his father did before him. He did all the things that his father did to make the Lord, the God of Israel, angry.
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53. For he served H5647 H853 Baal H1168 , and worshiped H7812 him , and provoked to anger H3707 H853 the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 , according to all H3605 that H834 his father H1 had done H6213 .
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