Leadership Verses
Servant leadership as modeled by Christ — wisdom for those called to lead.
Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah.
Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, {even} to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?
Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and hath rebelled against his lord.
And now ye think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David; and ye {be} a great multitude, and {there are} with you golden calves, which Jeroboam made you for gods.
Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him. {images: Heb. sun images}
And also {concerning} Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from {being} queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped {it}, and burnt {it} at the brook Kidron. {mother: that is, grandmother} {idol: Heb. horror}
In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent to Benhadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, {Damascus: Heb. Darmesek}
{There is} a league between me and thee, as {there was} between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.
And Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the store cities of Naphtali. {his: Heb. which were his}
Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.
And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.