The righteous Yehoshafat has his son marry Ahab's daughter. They launch a joint military campaign. Now Ahab is the most evil and idolatrous of kings. His wife actively persecutes God's prophets. Ahab's greatest critic is Eliyahu Hanavi.

Jewish unity is nice. But should Yehoshafat be associating with this sinful king, let alone marry his son to his daughter?

The prophet at the start of ch.19 severely reprimands Yehoshafat "Do you assist the sinner, and love those who hate God?" And so, today, in honour of Tisha BAv, we discuss our relationship with non-observant Jews.

Today we begin 4 chapters about King Yehoshafat who teaches Torah and is rewarded with wealth, power and influence.

Up to this point, Assa has a stellar record in biblical terms.

But now, he makes a "covenant" with Syria (rather than God), relies on himself (rather than God) and ignores, even imprisons the prophet , oppresses his people, and when he gets sick consults with doctors (rather than God.)

This is Assa's downturn.

But he gets a very nice funeral!! ;-)

Assa leads the country to rid itself of idolatry.

He then convenes the nation at the Temple to renew their allegiance to God.

Today we discuss some of the typical features that characterize the depictions of kings in Divrei Hayamim.

King Avia (Yehuda) and King Yerovam (North - Israel) go to war.

500,000 dead!

Does Divrei Hayamim side with Avia or Yerovam? Why?

And how about Hazal?

After chapter 11 positive assessment of Rechavam, the ling and people abandon God, and God abandons them.

Today we talk about many features of Divrei Hayamim - the democratic nature of the connection between king and nation; and the theology of action and its consequent reward and punishment as reflected in Divrei Hayamim.

If last chapter, Rechavam makes quite a blunder losing the 10 northern tribes and splitting the kingdom, chapter 11 offers many of Rechavam's achievements.

But his success is only going to last as long as he follows God! In ch.12 he abandons God and it all falls apart!

After Solomon, the kingdom splits into two states - Ephraim and Yehudah.

Today we address the friction between these two factions, going back to Rachel and Leah, and forward to the days of the Messiah.

This chapter discusses the state visits of foreign kings and queens, but more than anything we find it replete with gold (16 mentions) and silver (4 mentions).

Is this good news or bad news?