Jeroboamsaidin his heart,"Nowthe kingdomwill returnto the houseof David.
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.
Then JeroboambuiltShechemin the hillcountryof Ephraim,and livedthere. And he wentout from thereand builtPenuel.
"Ifthispeoplegoup to offersacrificesin the houseof the LORDat Jerusalem,then the heartof thispeoplewill returnto their lord,[even] to Rehoboamkingof Judah;and they will killme and returnto Rehoboamkingof Judah."
Baashakingof Israelwentup againstJudahand fortifiedRamahin order to prevent[anyone] from goingout or comingin to Asakingof Judah.
He didevilin the sightof the LORD,and followedthe sinsof Jeroboamthe sonof Nebat,with whichhe made Israelsin;he did not turnfrom them.
They roseearlyin the morningand wentout to the wildernessof Tekoa;and when they wentout, Jehoshaphatstoodand said,"Listento me, O Judahand inhabitantsof Jerusalem,putyour trustin the LORDyour Godand you will be established.Putyour trustin His prophetsand succeed."
The foolhas saidin his heart,"Thereis noGod."They are corrupt,they have committedabominabledeeds;Thereis noonewho doesgood.
Thereis a way[which seems] rightto a man,But its endis the wayof death.
and the headof Ephraimis Samariaand the headof Samariais the sonof Remaliah.Ifyou will not believe,you surelyshall not last."'"
Nowwhen the Phariseewho had invitedHim sawthis, he saidto himself,"Ifthis manwere a prophetHe would knowwhoand what sort of personthiswomanis whois touchingHim, that she is a sinner."
Sothe Phariseessaidto one another,"You seethat you are not doinganygood;look,the worldhas goneafterHim."
Then Davidsaidto himself,"NowI will perishonedayby the handof Saul.Thereis nothingbetterfor me thanto escapeinto the landof the Philistines.Saulthen will despairof searchingfor me anymorein allthe territoryof Israel,and I will escapefrom his hand."
