2 Chronicles 17; 2 Chronicles 18; John 13:1-20

1 Jehoshaphat, Asa's son, became king of Judah in his place. Jehosha- phat made Judah strong so they could fight against Israel.

2 He put troops in all the strong, walled cities of Judah, in the land of Judah, and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.

3 The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he lived as his ancestor David had lived when he first became king. Jehoshaphat did not ask for help from the Baal idols,

4 but from the God of his father. He obeyed God's commands and did not live as the people of Israel lived.

5 The Lord made Jehoshaphat a strong king over Judah. All the people of Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so he had much wealth and honor.

6 He wanted very much to obey the Lord. He also removed the places for worshiping gods and the Asherah idols from Judah.

7 During the third year of his rule, Jehoshaphat sent his officers to teach in the towns of Judah. These officers were Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah.

8 Jehoshaphat sent with them these Levites: Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-Adonijah. He also sent the priests Elishama and Jehoram.

9 These leaders, Levites, and priests taught the people in Judah. They took the Book of the Teachings of the Lord and went through all the towns of Judah and taught the people.

10 The nations near Judah were afraid of the Lord, so they did not start a war against Jehoshaphat.

11 Some of the Philistines brought gifts and silver to Jehoshaphat as he demanded. Some Arabs brought him flocks: seventy-seven hundred sheep and seventy-seven hundred goats.

12 Jehoshaphat grew more and more powerful. He built strong, walled cities and towns for storing supplies in Judah.

13 He kept many supplies in the towns of Judah, and he kept trained soldiers in Jerusalem.

14 These soldiers were listed by families. From the families of Judah, these were the commanders of groups of a thousand men: Adnah was the commander of three hundred thousand soldiers;

15 Jehohanan was the commander of two hundred eighty thousand soldiers;

16 Amasiah was the commander of two hundred thousand soldiers. Amasiah son of Zicri had volunteered to serve the Lord.

17 These were the commanders from the families of Benjamin: Eliada, a brave soldier, had two hundred thousand soldiers who used bows and shields.

18 And Jehozabad had one hundred eighty thousand men armed for war.

19 All these soldiers served King Jehoshaphat. The king also put other men in the strong, walled cities through all of Judah.

1 Jehoshaphat had much wealth and honor, and he made an agree- ment with King Ahab through marriage.

2 A few years later Jehoshaphat went to visit Ahab in Samaria. Ahab sacrificed many sheep and cattle as a great feast to honor Jehoshaphat and the people with him. He encouraged Jehoshaphat to attack Ramoth in Gilead.

3 Ahab king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah, "Will you go with me to attack Ramoth in Gilead?" Jehoshaphat answered, "I will go with you, and my soldiers are yours. We will join you in the battle."

4 Jehoshaphat also said to Ahab, "But first we should ask if this is the Lord's will."

5 So King Ahab called four hundred prophets together and asked them, "Should we go to war against Ramoth in Gilead or not?" They answered, "Go, because God will hand them over to you."

6 But Jehoshaphat asked, "Isn't there a prophet of the Lord here? Let's ask him what we should do."

7 Then King Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "There is one other prophet. We could ask the Lord through him, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything good about me, but always something bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah." Jehoshaphat said, "King Ahab, you shouldn't say that!"

8 So Ahab king of Israel told one of his officers to bring Micaiah to him at once.

9 Ahab king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah had on their royal robes and were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor, near the entrance to the gate of Samaria. All the prophets were standing before them speaking their messages.

10 Zedekiah son of Kenaanah had made some iron horns. He said to Ahab, "This is what the Lord says: 'You will use these horns to fight the Arameans until they are destroyed.'"

11 All the other prophets said the same thing, "Attack Ramoth in Gilead and win, because the Lord will hand the Arameans over to you."

12 The messenger who had gone to get Micaiah said to him, "All the other prophets are saying King Ahab will win. You should agree with them and give the king a good answer."

13 But Micaiah answered, "As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what my God says."

14 When Micaiah came to Ahab, the king asked him, "Micaiah, should we attack Ramoth in Gilead or not?" Micaiah answered, "Attack and win! They will be handed over to you."

15 But Ahab said to Micaiah, "How many times do I have to tell you to speak only the truth to me in the name of the Lord?"

16 So Micaiah answered, "I saw the army of Israel scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd. The Lord said, 'They have no leaders. They should go home and not fight.'"

17 Then Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I told you! He never prophesies anything good about me, but only bad."

18 But Micaiah said, "Hear the message from the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with his heavenly army standing on his right and on his left.

19 The Lord said, 'Who will trick King Ahab of Israel into attacking Ramoth in Gilead where he will be killed?' "Some said one thing; some said another.

20 Then one spirit came and stood before the Lord and said, 'I will trick him.' "The Lord asked, 'How will you do it?'

21 "The spirit answered, 'I will go to Ahab's prophets and make them tell lies.' "So the Lord said, 'You will succeed in tricking him. Go and do it.'"

22 Micaiah said, "Ahab, the Lord has made your prophets lie to you, and the Lord has decided that disaster should come to you."

23 Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah went up to Micaiah and slapped him in the face. Zedekiah said, "Has the Lord's Spirit left me to speak through you?"

24 Micaiah answered, "You will find out on the day you go to hide in an inside room."

25 Then Ahab king of Israel ordered, "Take Micaiah and send him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the king's son.

26 Tell them I said to put this man in prison and give him only bread and water until I return safely from the battle."

27 Micaiah said, "Ahab, if you come back safely from the battle, the Lord has not spoken through me. Remember my words, all you people!"

28 So Ahab king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went to Ramoth in Gilead.

29 King Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "I will go into battle, but I will wear other clothes so no one will recognize me. But you wear your royal clothes." So Ahab wore other clothes, and they went into battle.

30 The king of Aram ordered his chariot commanders, "Don't fight with anyone -- important or unimportant -- except the king of Israel."

31 When these commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they thought he was the king of Israel, so they turned to attack him. But Jehoshaphat began shouting, and the Lord helped him. God made the chariot commanders turn away from Jehoshaphat.

32 When they saw he was not King Ahab, they stopped chasing him.

33 By chance, a soldier shot an arrow which hit Ahab king of Israel between the pieces of his armor. King Ahab said to his chariot driver, "Turn around and get me out of the battle, because I am hurt!"

34 The battle continued all day. King Ahab held himself up in his chariot and faced the Arameans until evening. Then he died at sunset.

1 It was almost time for the Jewish Passover Feast. Jesus knew that it was time for him to leave this world and go back to the Father. He had always loved those who were his own in the world, and he loved them all the way to the end.

2 Jesus and his followers were at the evening meal. The devil had already persuaded Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to turn against Jesus.

3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him power over everything and that he had come from God and was going back to God.

4 So during the meal Jesus stood up and took off his outer clothing. Taking a towel, he wrapped it around his waist.

5 Then he poured water into a bowl and began to wash the followers' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6 Jesus came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"

7 Jesus answered, "You don't understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later."

8 Peter said, "No, you will never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "If I don't wash your feet, you are not one of my people."

9 Simon Peter answered, "Lord, then wash not only my feet, but wash my hands and my head, too!"

10 Jesus said, "After a person has had a bath, his whole body is clean. He needs only to wash his feet. And you men are clean, but not all of you."

11 Jesus knew who would turn against him, and that is why he said, "Not all of you are clean."

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and sat down again. He asked, "Do you understand what I have just done for you?

13 You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and you are right, because that is what I am.

14 If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash each other's feet.

15 I did this as an example so that you should do as I have done for you.

16 I tell you the truth, a servant is not greater than his master. A messenger is not greater than the one who sent him.

17 If you know these things, you will be happy if you do them.

18 "I am not talking about all of you. I know those I have chosen. But this is to bring about what the Scripture said: 'The man who ate at my table has turned against me.'

19 I am telling you this now before it happens so that when it happens, you will believe that I am he.

20 I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send also accepts me. And whoever accepts me also accepts the One who sent me."