For whenSolomonwas old,his wivesturnedhis heartawayafterothergods;and his heartwas not whollydevotedto the LORDhis God,as the heartof Davidhis father[had been].
from the nationsconcerning whichthe LORDhad saidto the sonsof Israel,"You shall not associatewith them, norshall they associatewith you, [for] they will surelyturnyour heartawayaftertheir gods."Solomonheldfastto thesein love.
becausethey have forsakenMe, and have worshipedAshtoreththe goddessof the Sidonians,Chemoshthe godof Moab,and Milcomthe godof the sonsof Ammon;and they have not walkedin My ways,doingwhatis rightin My sightand [observing] My statutesand My ordinances,as his fatherDavid[did].
Then it will be, that ifyou listento allthat I commandyou and walkin My ways,and dowhatis rightin My sightby observingMy statutesand My commandments,as My servantDaviddid,then I will be with you and buildyou an enduringhouseas I builtfor David,and I will giveIsraelto you.
Thus the timethat Solomonreignedin JerusalemoverallIsraelwas fortyyears.
Solomondidwhatwas evilin the sightof the LORD,and did not followthe LORDfully,as Davidhis father[had done].
Now the LORDwas angrywith Solomonbecausehis heartwas turnedawayfrom the LORD,the Godof Israel,who had appearedto him twice,
Now Rehoboamthe sonof Solomonreignedin Judah.Rehoboamwas forty-oneyearsoldwhen he becameking,and he reignedseventeenyearsin Jerusalem,the citywhichthe LORDhad chosenfrom allthe tribesof Israelto putHis namethere.And his mother'snamewas Naamahthe Ammonitess.
But the highplaceswere not takenaway;neverthelessthe heartof Asawas whollydevotedto the LORDallhis days.
He walkedin allthe sinsof his fatherwhichhe had committedbeforehim; and his heartwas not whollydevotedto the LORDhis God,like the heartof his fatherDavid.
Now Solomonlovedthe LORD,walkingin the statutesof his fatherDavid,excepthe sacrificedand burnedincenseon the highplaces.
Now it cameabout in the fourhundredand eightiethyearafter the sonsof Israelcameout of the landof Egypt,in the fourthyearof Solomon'sreignoverIsrael,in the monthof Zivwhichis the secondmonth,that he began to buildthe houseof the LORD.
"Let your hearttherefore be whollydevotedto the LORDour God,to walkin His statutesand to keepHis commandments,as at thisday."
It cameabout at the endof twentyyearsin whichSolomonhad builtthe twohouses,the houseof the LORDand the king'shouse
"As for you, ifyou will walkbeforeMe as your fatherDavidwalked,in integrityof heartand uprightness,doingaccording to allthat I have commandedyou [and] will keepMy statutesand My ordinances,
"Remembernow,OLORD,I beseechYou, howI have walkedbeforeYou in truthand with a wholeheartand have donewhatis goodin Your sight."And Hezekiahweptbitterly.
"As for you, my sonSolomon,knowthe Godof your father,and serveHim with a wholeheartand a willingmind;for the LORDsearchesallhearts,and understandseveryintentof the thoughts.Ifyou seekHim, He will let you findHim; but ifyou forsakeHim, He will rejectyou forever.
and giveto my sonSolomona perfectheartto keepYour commandments,Your testimoniesand Your statutes,and to do[them] all,and to buildthe temple,for whichI have madeprovision."
The LORDwas with Jehoshaphatbecausehe followedthe exampleof his fatherDavid'searlierdays and did not seekthe Baals,
He didrightin the sightof the LORD,yetnot with a wholeheart.
He didrightin the sightof the LORD,and walkedin the waysof his fatherDavidand did not turnasideto the rightor to the left.
"You shall havenoothergodsbeforeMe.
"He shall not multiplywivesfor himself, orelsehis heartwill turnaway;norshall he greatlyincreasesilverand goldfor himself.
"For they will turnyour sonsawayfrom followingMe to serveothergods;then the angerof the LORDwill be kindledagainst you and He will quicklydestroyyou.
