under: because the LORD had said he would increase Israel like to the
stars of the heavens.
27:24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he finished not,
because there fell wrath for it against Israel; neither was the number
put in the account of the chronicles of king David.
27:25 And over the king's treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel: and
over the storehouses in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages,
and in the castles, was Jehonathan the son of Uzziah:
27:26 And over them that did the work of the field for tillage of the
ground was Ezri the son of Chelub:
27:27 And over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite: over the increase
of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite:
27:28 And over the olive trees and the sycomore trees that were in the
low plains was Baalhanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was
Joash:
27:29 And over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite:
and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of
Adlai:
27:30 Over the camels also was Obil the Ishmaelite: and over the asses
was Jehdeiah the Meronothite:
27:31 And over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagerite. All these were the
rulers of the substance which was king David's.
27:32 Also Jonathan David's uncle was a counsellor, a wise man, and a
scribe: and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons:
27:33 And Ahithophel was the king's counsellor: and Hushai the Archite
was the king's companion:
27:34 And after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and
Abiathar: and the general of the king's army was Joab.
28:1 And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the
tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by
course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the
hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the
king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and
with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.
28:2 Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my
brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an
house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the
footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:
28:3 But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name,
because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.
28:4 Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my
father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be
the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among
the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel:
28:5 And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath
chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD
over Israel.
28:6 And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and
my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.
28:7 Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant
to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.
28:8 Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the
LORD, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the
commandments of the LORD your God: that ye may possess this good land,
and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.
28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and
serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD
searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the
thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou
forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
28:10 Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for
the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.
28:11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and
of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper
chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of
the mercy seat,
28:12 And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of
the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the
treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated
things:
28:13 Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all
the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the
vessels of service in the house of the LORD.
28:14 He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments
of all manner of service; silver also for all instruments of silver by
weight, for all instruments of every kind of service:
28:15 Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their lamps
of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps thereof: and
for the candlesticks of silver by weight, both for the candlestick, and
also for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick.
28:16 And by weight he gave gold for the tables of shewbread, for every
table; and likewise silver for the tables of silver:
28:17 Also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the cups:
and for the golden basons he gave gold by weight for every bason; and
likewise silver by weight for every bason of silver:
28:18 And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for
the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their
wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.
28:19 All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by
his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.
28:20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage,
and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God,
will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou
hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.
28:21 And, behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, even they
shall be with thee for all the service of the house of God: and there
shall be with thee for all manner of workmanship every willing skilful
man, for any manner of service: also the princes and all the people will
be wholly at thy commandment.
29:1 Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon
my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the
work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.
29:2 Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the
gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver,
and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood
for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering
stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and
marble stones in abundance.
29:3 Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I
have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to
the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the
holy house.
29:4 Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and
seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the
houses withal:
29:5 The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver,
and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And
who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?
29:6 Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel
and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the
king's work, offered willingly,
29:7 And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand
talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and
of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of
iron.
29:8 And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the
treasure of the house of the LORD, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.
29:9 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because
with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the
king also rejoiced with great joy.
29:10 Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and
David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and
ever.
29:11 Thine, O LORD is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and
the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the
earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as
head above all.
29:12 Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all;
and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make
great, and to give strength unto all.
29:13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious
name.
29:14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to
offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of
thine own have we given thee.
29:15 For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our
fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none
abiding.
29:16 O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee
an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.
29:17 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure
in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have
willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy
people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.
29:18 O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep
this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy
people, and prepare their heart unto thee:
29:19 And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy
commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these
things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.
29:20 And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the LORD your
God. And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and
bowed down their heads, and worshipped the LORD, and the king.
29:21 And they sacrificed sacrifices unto the LORD, and offered burnt
offerings unto the LORD, on the morrow after that day, even a thousand
bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink
offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel:
29:22 And did eat and drink before the LORD on that day with great
gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time,
and anointed him unto the LORD to be the chief governor, and Zadok to be
priest.
29:23 Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of
David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.
29:24 And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise
of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king.
29:25 And the LORD magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all
Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any
king before him in Israel.
29:26 Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.
29:27 And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven
years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in
Jerusalem.
29:28 And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour:
and Solomon his son reigned in his stead.
29:29 Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are
written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the
prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer,
29:30 With all his reign and his might, and the times that went over
him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries.
2 Chronicles
Chapter
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32
33 34 35 36
1:1 And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and
the LORD his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.
1:2 Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and
of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the
chief of the fathers.
1:3 So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high
place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the
congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the
wilderness.
1:4 But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjathjearim to the
place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it
at Jerusalem.
1:5 Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of
Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the LORD: and Solomon and
the congregation sought unto it.
1:6 And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the LORD,
which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand
burnt offerings upon it.
1:7 In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask
what I shall give thee.
1:8 And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David
my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.
1:9 Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be
established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of
the earth in multitude.
1:10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in
before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?
1:11 And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou
hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies,
neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge
for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made
thee king:
1:12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee
riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that
have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.
1:13 Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at
Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and
reigned over Israel.
1:14 And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand
and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he placed
in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.
1:15 And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as
stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the
vale for abundance.
1:16 And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the
king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.
1:17 And they fetched up, and brought forth out of Egypt a chariot for
six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty:
and so brought they out horses for all the kings of the Hittites, and
for the kings of Syria, by their means.
2:1 And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD,
and an house for his kingdom.
2:2 And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to bear
burdens, and fourscore thousand to hew in the mountain, and three
thousand and six hundred to oversee them.
2:3 And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As thou didst
deal with David my father, and didst send him cedars to build him an
house to dwell therein, even so deal with me.
2:4 Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate
it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual
shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the
sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our
God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.
2:5 And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all
gods.
2:6 But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven
of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an
house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?
2:7 Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver,
and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and
that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah
and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide.
2:8 Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of
Lebanon: for I know that thy servants can skill to cut timber in
Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants,
2:9 Even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am
about to build shall be wonderful great.
2:10 And, behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut
timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand
measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty
thousand baths of oil.
2:11 Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to
Solomon, Because the LORD hath loved his people, he hath made thee king
over them.
2:12 Huram said moreover, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, that made
heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued
with prudence and understanding, that might build an house for the LORD,
and an house for his kingdom.
2:13 And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of
Huram my father's,
2:14 The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a
man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron,
in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in
crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and to find out every
device which shall be put to him, with thy cunning men, and with the
cunning men of my lord David thy father.
2:15 Now therefore the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and the wine,
which my lord hath spoken of, let him send unto his servants:
2:16 And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need:
and we will bring it to thee in floats by sea to Joppa; and thou shalt
carry it up to Jerusalem.
2:17 And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of
Israel, after the numbering wherewith David his father had numbered
them; and they were found an hundred and fifty thousand and three
thousand and six hundred.
2:18 And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to be bearers of
burdens, and fourscore thousand to be hewers in the mountain, and three
thousand and six hundred overseers to set the people a work.
3:1 Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in
mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David his father, in the
place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the
Jebusite.
3:2 And he began to build in the second day of the second month, in the
fourth year of his reign.
3:3 Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the
building of the house of God. The length by cubits after the first
measure was threescore cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.
3:4 And the porch that was in the front of the house, the length of it
was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the height
was an hundred and twenty: and he overlaid it within with pure gold.
3:5 And the greater house he cieled with fir tree, which he overlaid
with fine gold, and set thereon palm trees and chains.
3:6 And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the
gold was gold of Parvaim.
3:7 He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls
thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubims on the
walls.
3:8 And he made the most holy house, the length whereof was according to
the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty
cubits: and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred
talents.
3:9 And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. And he
overlaid the upper chambers with gold.
3:10 And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of image work, and
overlaid them with gold.
3:11 And the wings of the cherubims were twenty cubits long: one wing of
the one cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and
the other wing was likewise five cubits, reaching to the wing of the
other cherub.
3:12 And one wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the
wall of the house: and the other wing was five cubits also, joining to
the wing of the other cherub.
3:13 The wings of these cherubims spread themselves forth twenty cubits:
and they stood on their feet, and their faces were inward.
3:14 And he made the vail of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine
linen, and wrought cherubims thereon.
3:15 Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty and five cubits
high, and the chapiter that was on the top of each of them was five
cubits.
3:16 And he made chains, as in the oracle, and put them on the heads of
the pillars; and made an hundred pomegranates, and put them on the
chains.
3:17 And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right
hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the
right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz.
4:1 Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length
thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the
height thereof.
4:2 Also he made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in
compass, and five cubits the height thereof; and a line of thirty cubits
did compass it round about.
4:3 And under it was the similitude of oxen, which did compass it round
about: ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about. Two rows of oxen
were cast, when it was cast.
4:4 It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three
looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three
looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all
their hinder parts were inward.
4:5 And the thickness of it was an handbreadth, and the brim of it like
the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies; and it received
and held three thousand baths.
4:6 He made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, and five on
the left, to wash in them: such things as they offered for the burnt
offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to wash
in.
4:7 And he made ten candlesticks of gold according to their form, and
set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left.
4:8 He made also ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the
right side, and five on the left. And he made an hundred basons of gold.
4:9 Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court,
and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass.
4:10 And he set the sea on the right side of the east end, over against
the south.
4:11 And Huram made the pots, and the shovels, and the basons. And Huram
finished the work that he was to make for king Solomon for the house of
God;
4:12 To wit, the two pillars, and the pommels, and the chapiters which
were on the top of the two pillars, and the two wreaths to cover the two
pommels of the chapiters which were on the top of the pillars;
4:13 And four hundred pomegranates on the two wreaths; two rows of
pomegranates on each wreath, to cover the two pommels of the chapiters
which were upon the pillars.
4:14 He made also bases, and lavers made he upon the bases;
4:15 One sea, and twelve oxen under it.
4:16 The pots also, and the shovels, and the fleshhooks, and all their
instruments, did Huram his father make to king Solomon for the house of
the LORD of bright brass.
4:17 In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground
between Succoth and Zeredathah.
4:18 Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance: for the
weight of the brass could not be found out.
4:19 And Solomon made all the vessels that were for the house of God,
the golden altar also, and the tables whereon the shewbread was set;
4:20 Moreover the candlesticks with their lamps, that they should burn
after the manner before the oracle, of pure gold;
4:21 And the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, made he of gold, and
that perfect gold;
4:22 And the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and the censers,
of pure gold: and the entry of the house, the inner doors thereof for
the most holy place, and the doors of the house of the temple, were of
gold.
5:1 Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was
finished: and Solomon brought in all the things that David his father
had dedicated; and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments,
put he among the treasures of the house of God.
5:2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of
the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto
Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the
city of David, which is Zion.
5:3 Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king
in the feast which was in the seventh month.
5:4 And all the elders of Israel came; and the Levites took up the ark.
5:5 And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation,
and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, these did the
priests and the Levites bring up.
5:6 Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were
assembled unto him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, which
could not be told nor numbered for multitude.
5:7 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto
his place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy place, even
under the wings of the cherubims:
5:8 For the cherubims spread forth their wings over the place of the
ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above.
5:9 And they drew out the staves of the ark, that the ends of the staves
were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen
without. And there it is unto this day.
5:10 There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put
therein at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of
Israel, when they came out of Egypt.
5:11 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy
place: (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did
not then wait by course:
5:12 Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of
Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in
white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east
end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding
with trumpets:)
5:13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to
make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when
they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments
of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy
endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the
house of the LORD;
5:14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the
cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.
6:1 Then said Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the
thick darkness.
6:2 But I have built an house of habitation for thee, and a place for
thy dwelling for ever.
6:3 And the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of
Israel: and all the congregation of Israel stood.
6:4 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who hath with his
hands fulfilled that which he spake with his mouth to my father David,
saying,
6:5 Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of
Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house
in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler
over my people Israel:
6:6 But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have
chosen David to be over my people Israel.
6:7 Now it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the
name of the LORD God of Israel.
6:8 But the LORD said to David my father, Forasmuch as it was in thine
heart to build an house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in
thine heart:
6:9 Notwithstanding thou shalt not build the house; but thy son which
shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house for my name.
6:10 The LORD therefore hath performed his word that he hath spoken: for
I am risen up in the room of David my father, and am set on the throne
of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built the house for the name
of the LORD God of Israel.
6:11 And in it have I put the ark, wherein is the covenant of the LORD,
that he made with the children of Israel.
6:12 And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all
the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands:
6:13 For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold of five cubits long, and
five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of
the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before
all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward
heaven.
6:14 And said, O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the
heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto
thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts:
6:15 Thou which hast kept with thy servant David my father that which
thou hast promised him; and spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled
it with thine hand, as it is this day.
6:16 Now therefore, O LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my
father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail
thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy
children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked
before me.
6:17 Now then, O LORD God of Israel, let thy word be verified, which
thou hast spoken unto thy servant David.
6:18 But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold,
heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this
house which I have built!
6:19 Have respect therefore to the prayer of thy servant, and to his
supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer
which thy servant prayeth before thee:
6:20 That thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the
place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to
hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth toward this place.
6:21 Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy
people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear thou from
thy dwelling place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest, forgive.
6:22 If a man sin against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to
make him swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house;
6:23 Then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, by
requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by
justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness.
6:24 And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy,
because they have sinned against thee; and shall return and confess thy
name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this house;
6:25 Then hear thou from the heavens, and forgive the sin of thy people
Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest to them and
to their fathers.
6:26 When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have
sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy
name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them;
6:27 Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants,
and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught them the good way,
wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast
given unto thy people for an inheritance.
6:28 If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be
blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillers; if their enemies besiege
them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness
there be:
6:29 Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any
man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore
and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house:
6:30 Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and
render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou
knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:)
6:31 That they may fear thee, to walk in thy ways, so long as they live
in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.
6:32 Moreover concerning the stranger, which is not of thy people
Israel, but is come from a far country for thy great name's sake, and
thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out arm; if they come and pray in
this house;
6:33 Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, and
do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for; that all
people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people
Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by thy
name.
6:34 If thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that
thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which
thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name;
6:35 Then hear thou from the heavens their prayer and their
supplication, and maintain their cause.
6:36 If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,)
and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies,
and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near;
6:37 Yet if they bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried
captive, and turn and pray unto thee in the land of their captivity,
saying, We have sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt wickedly;
6:38 If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul
in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives,
and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and
toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I
have built for thy name:
6:39 Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place,
their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and
forgive thy people which have sinned against thee.
6:40 Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, and let thine
ears be attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
6:41 Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into thy resting place, thou, and
the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with
salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.
6:42 O LORD God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember the
mercies of David thy servant.
7:1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from
heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the
glory of the LORD filled the house.
7:2 And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because
the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD's house.
7:3 And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and
the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their
faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the
LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
7:4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.
7:5 And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand
oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the
people dedicated the house of God.
7:6 And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with
instruments of musick of the LORD, which David the king had made to
praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised
by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all
Israel stood.
7:7 Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before
the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat
of the peace offerings, because the brasen altar which Solomon had made
was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and
the fat.
7:8 Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all
Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of
Hamath unto the river of Egypt.
7:9 And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the
dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.
7:10 And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the
people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness
that the LORD had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his
people.
7:11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the king's house:
and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the LORD,
and in his own house, he prosperously effected.
7:12 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I
have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house
of sacrifice.
7:13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the
locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves,
and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I
hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
7:15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer
that is made in this place.
7:16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may
be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there
perpetually.
7:17 And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father
walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt
observe my statutes and my judgments;
7:18 Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have
covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a
man to be ruler in Israel.
7:19 But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments,
which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and
worship them;
7:20 Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have
given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I
cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword
among all nations.
7:21 And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every
one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the LORD done
thus unto this land, and unto this house?
7:22 And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of
their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and
laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore
hath he brought all this evil upon them.
8:1 And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had
built the house of the LORD, and his own house,
8:2 That the cities which Huram had restored to Solomon, Solomon built
them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.
8:3 And Solomon went to Hamathzobah, and prevailed against it.
8:4 And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities,
which he built in Hamath.
8:5 Also he built Bethhoron the upper, and Bethhoron the nether, fenced
cities, with walls, gates, and bars;
8:6 And Baalath, and all the store cities that Solomon had, and all the
chariot cities, and the cities of the horsemen, and all that Solomon
desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and throughout all the
land of his dominion.
8:7 As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the
Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which
were not of Israel,
8:8 But of their children, who were left after them in the land, whom
the children of Israel consumed not, them did Solomon make to pay
tribute until this day.
8:9 But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no servants for his
work; but they were men of war, and chief of his captains, and captains
of his chariots and horsemen.
8:10 And these were the chief of king Solomon's officers, even two
hundred and fifty, that bare rule over the people.
8:11 And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of
David unto the house that he had built for her: for he said, My wife
shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places
are holy, whereunto the ark of the LORD hath come.
8:12 Then Solomon offered burnt offerings unto the LORD on the altar of
the LORD, which he had built before the porch,
8:13 Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the
commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the
solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened
bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.
8:14 And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the
courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their
charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every
day required: the porters also by their courses at every gate: for so
had David the man of God commanded.
8:15 And they departed not from the commandment of the king unto the
priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures.
8:16 Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the
foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. So the
house of the LORD was perfected.
8:17 Then went Solomon to Eziongeber, and to Eloth, at the sea side in
the land of Edom.
8:18 And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants
that had knowledge of the sea; and they went with the servants of
Solomon to Ophir, and took thence four hundred and fifty talents of
gold, and brought them to king Solomon.
9:1 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came
to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great
company, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and
precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him
of all that was in her heart.
9:2 And Solomon told her all her questions: and there was nothing hid
from Solomon which he told her not.
9:3 And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the
house that he had built,
9:4 And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the
attendance of his ministers, and their apparel; his cupbearers also, and
their apparel; and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the
LORD; there was no more spirit in her.
9:5 And she said to the king, It was a true report which I heard in mine
own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom:
9:6 Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes had
seen it: and, behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was
not told me: for thou exceedest the fame that I heard.
9:7 Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, which stand
continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom.
9:8 Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee to set thee on
his throne, to be king for the LORD thy God: because thy God loved
Israel, to establish them for ever, therefore made he thee king over
them, to do judgment and justice.
9:9 And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of
spices great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such
spice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon.
9:10 And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, which
brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones.
9:11 And the king made of the algum trees terraces to the house of the
LORD, and to the king's palace, and harps and psalteries for singers:
and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.
9:12 And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire,
whatsoever she asked, beside that which she had brought unto the king.
So she turned, and went away to her own land, she and her servants.
9:13 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six
hundred and threescore and six talents of gold;
9:14 Beside that which chapmen and merchants brought. And all the kings
of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to
Solomon.
9:15 And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six
hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one target.
9:16 And three hundred shields made he of beaten gold: three hundred
shekels of gold went to one shield. And the king put them in the house
of the forest of Lebanon.
9:17 Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it
with pure gold.
9:18 And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold,
which were fastened to the throne, and stays on each side of the sitting
place, and two lions standing by the stays:
9:19 And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon
the six steps. There was not the like made in any kingdom.
9:20 And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon were of gold, and all
the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold:
none were of silver; it was not any thing accounted of in the days of
Solomon.
9:21 For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram:
every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and
silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.
9:22 And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and
wisdom.
9:23 And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to
hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart.
9:24 And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and
vessels of gold, and raiment, harness, and spices, horses, and mules, a
rate year by year.
9:25 And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and
twelve thousand horsemen; whom he bestowed in the chariot cities, and
with the king at Jerusalem.
9:26 And he reigned over all the kings from the river even unto the land
of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.
9:27 And the king made silver in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar trees
made he as the sycomore trees that are in the low plains in abundance.
9:28 And they brought unto Solomon horses out of Egypt, and out of all
lands.
9:29 Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not
written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah
the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the
son of Nebat?
9:30 And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.
9:31 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city
of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.
10:1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come
to make him king.
10:2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was in
Egypt, whither he fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard it,
that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.
10:3 And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and
spake to Rehoboam, saying,
10:4 Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat
the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put
upon us, and we will serve thee.
10:5 And he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days. And the
people departed.
10:6 And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood
before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give
ye me to return answer to this people?
10:7 And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people,
and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants
for ever.
10:8 But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took
counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood
before him.
10:9 And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return
answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat
the yoke that thy father did put upon us?
10:10 And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him,
saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying,
Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for
us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker
than my father's loins.
10:11 For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more
to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise
you with scorpions.
10:12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day,
as the king bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day.
10:13 And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the
counsel of the old men,
10:14 And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My
father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised
you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
10:15 So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of
God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of
Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
10:16 And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them,
the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and
we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O
Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to
their tents.
10:17 But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of
Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
10:18 Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the tribute; and the
children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. But king
Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
10:19 And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.
11:1 And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house
of Judah and Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men,
which were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the
kingdom again to Rehoboam.
11:2 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
11:3 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all
Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,
11:4 Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your
brethren: return every man to his house: for this thing is done of me.
And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against
Jeroboam.
11:5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in
Judah.
11:6 He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
11:7 And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam,
11:8 And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
11:9 And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,
11:10 And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in
Benjamin fenced cities.
11:11 And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and
store of victual, and of oil and wine.
11:12 And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them
exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.
11:13 And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted
to him out of all their coasts.
11:14 For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came
to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from
executing the priest's office unto the LORD:
11:15 And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the
devils, and for the calves which he had made.
11:16 And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their
hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice
unto the LORD God of their fathers.
11:17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the
son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the
way of David and Solomon.
11:18 And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of
David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;
11:19 Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.
11:20 And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare
him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.
11:21 And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his
wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore
concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.)
11:22 And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler
among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.
11:23 And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout
all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he
gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives.
12:1 And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and
had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel
with him.
12:2 And it came to pass, that in the fifth year of king Rehoboam
Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had
transgressed against the LORD,
12:3 With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen: and
the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt; the
Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians.
12:4 And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and came to
Jerusalem.
12:5 Then came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam, and to the princes of
Judah, that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and
said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Ye have forsaken me, and therefore
have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.
12:6 Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves;
and they said, The LORD is righteous.
12:7 And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the
LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I
will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my
wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.
12:8 Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my
service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.
12:9 So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away
the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's
house; he took all: he carried away also the shields of gold which
Solomon had made.
12:10 Instead of which king Rehoboam made shields of brass, and
committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard, that kept the
entrance of the king's house.
12:11 And when the king entered into the house of the LORD, the guard
came and fetched them, and brought them again into the guard chamber.
12:12 And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from
him, that he would not destroy him altogether: and also in Judah things
went well.
12:13 So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned:
for Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he
reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen
out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's
name was Naamah an Ammonitess.
12:14 And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the
LORD.
12:15 Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in
the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer concerning
genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam
continually.
12:16 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of
David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.
13:1 Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign
over Judah.
13:2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was
Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between
Abijah and Jeroboam.
13:3 And Abijah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of
war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: Jeroboam also set the battle
in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, being
mighty men of valour.
13:4 And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephraim,
and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel;
13:5 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?
13:6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of
David, is risen up, and hath rebelled against his lord.
13:7 And there are gathered unto him vain men, the children of Belial,
and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon,
when Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them.
13:8 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
your golden calves, which Jeroboam made you for gods.
13:9 Have ye not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron,
and the Levites, and have made you priests after the manner of the
nations of other lands? so that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself
with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them
that are no gods.
13:10 But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him;
and the priests, which minister unto the LORD, are the sons of Aaron,
and the Levites wait upon their business:
13:11 And they burn unto the LORD every morning and every evening burnt
sacrifices and sweet incense: the shewbread also set they in order upon
the pure table; and the candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof, to
burn every evening: for we keep the charge of the LORD our God; but ye
have forsaken him.
13:12 And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his
priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of
Israel, fight ye not against the LORD God of your fathers; for ye shall
not prosper.
13:13 But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them: so
they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them.
13:14 And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and
behind: and they cried unto the LORD, and the priests sounded with the
trumpets.
13:15 Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah
shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before
Abijah and Judah.
13:16 And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered
them into their hand.
13:17 And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so
there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.
13:18 Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and
the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the LORD God
of their fathers.
13:19 And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him,
Bethel with the towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the towns thereof, and
Ephraim with the towns thereof.
13:20 Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah:
and the LORD struck him, and he died.
13:21 But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat
twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.
13:22 And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings,
are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.
14:1 So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city
of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was
quiet ten years.
14:2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD
his God:
14:3 For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high
places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:
14:4 And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to
do the law and the commandment.
14:5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places
and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.
14:6 And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he
had no war in those years; because the LORD had given him rest.
14:7 Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make
about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet
before us; because we have sought the LORD our God, we have sought him,
and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.
14:8 And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of
Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and
drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men
of valour.
14:9 And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of
a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.
14:10 Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in
the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
14:11 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing
with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power:
help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go
against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let no man prevail
against thee.
14:12 So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and
the Ethiopians fled.
14:13 And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar:
and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover
themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before his
host; and they carried away very much spoil.
14:14 And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of
the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was
exceeding much spoil in them.
14:15 They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and
camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.
15:1 And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded:
15:2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa,
and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him;
and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he
will forsake you.
15:3 Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and
without a teaching priest, and without law.
15:4 But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of
Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.
15:5 And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to
him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of
the countries.
15:6 And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for God did
vex them with all adversity.
15:7 Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your
work shall be rewarded.
15:8 And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the
prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all
the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken
from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before
the porch of the LORD.
15:9 And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them
out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out
of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God was with
him.
15:10 So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third
month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.
15:11 And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which
they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.
15:12 And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their
fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;
15:13 That whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put
to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.
15:14 And they sware unto the LORD with a loud voice, and with shouting,
and with trumpets, and with cornets.
15:15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all
their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of
them: and the LORD gave them rest round about.
15:16 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.
15:17 But the high places were not taken away out of Israel:
nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
15:18 And he brought into the house of God the things that his father
had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and
vessels.
15:19 And there was no more war unto the five and thirtieth year of the
reign of Asa.
16:1 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.
16:2 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,
16:3 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.
16:4 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.
16:5 And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off
building of Ramah, and let his work cease.
16:6 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.
16:7 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.
16:8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many
chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he
delivered them into thine hand.
16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth,
to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect
toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth
thou shalt have wars.
16:10 Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house;
for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed
some of the people the same time.
16:11 And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written
in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
16:12 And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in
his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he
sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.
16:13 And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth
year of his reign.
16:14 And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for
himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled
with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the
apothecaries' art: and they made a very great burning for him.
17:1 And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened
himself against Israel.
17:2 And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set
garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa
his father had taken.
17:3 And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first
ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;
17:4 But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his
commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.
17:5 Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all
Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in
abundance.
17:6 And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD: moreover he
took away the high places and groves out of Judah.
17:7 Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to
Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to
Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.
17:8 And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and
Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and
Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram,
priests.
17:9 And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the LORD
with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught
the people.
17:10 And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands
that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against
Jehoshaphat.
17:11 Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and
tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and
seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.
17:12 And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah
castles, and cities of store.
17:13 And he had much business in the cities of Judah: and the men of
war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem.
17:14 And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their
fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with
him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand.
17:15 And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two
hundred and fourscore thousand.
17:16 And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered
himself unto the LORD; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of
valour.
17:17 And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed
men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.
17:18 And next him was Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and fourscore
thousand ready prepared for the war.
17:19 These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in the
fenced cities throughout all Judah.
18:1 Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined
affinity with Ahab.
18:2 And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab
killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he
had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramothgilead.
18:3 And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt
thou go with me to Ramothgilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art,
and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.
18:4 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee,
at the word of the LORD to day.
18:5 Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four
hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle,
or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into
the king's hand.
18:6 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD
besides, that we might enquire of him?
18:7 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man,
by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never
prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of
Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
18:8 And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said,
Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.
18:9 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of
them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place
at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets
prophesied before them.
18:10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and
said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until they
be consumed.
18:11 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead,
and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
18:12 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying,
Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one
assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of their's, and
speak thou good.
18:13 And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that
will I speak.
18:14 And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah,
shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said,
Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.
18:15 And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that
thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD?
18:16 Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains,
as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master;
let them return therefore every man to his house in peace.
18:17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee
that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?
18:18 Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD
sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his
right hand and on his left.
18:19 And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he
may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake saying after this
manner, and another saying after that manner.
18:20 Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said,
I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?
18:21 And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of
all his prophets. And the Lord said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou
shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.
18:22 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the
mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.
18:23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah
upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me
to speak unto thee?
18:24 And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou
shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.
18:25 Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back
to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;
18:26 And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and
feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I
return in peace.
18:27 And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not
the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye people.
18:28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to
Ramothgilead.
18:29 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise
myself, and I will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the
king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.
18:30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots
that were with him, saying, Fight ye not with small or great, save only
with the king of Israel.
18:31 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw
Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they
compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD
helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.
18:32 For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots
perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again
from pursuing him.
18:33 And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of
Israel between the joints of the harness: therefore he said to his
chariot man, Turn thine hand, that thou mayest carry me out of the host;
for I am wounded.
18:34 And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel
stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even: and
about the time of the sun going down he died.
19:1 And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to
Jerusalem.
19:2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said
to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that
hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.
19:3 Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast
taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to
seek God.
19:4 And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through
the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto
the LORD God of their fathers.
19:5 And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of
Judah, city by city,
19:6 And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for
man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.
19:7 Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and
do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of
persons, nor taking of gifts.
19:8 Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of
the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment
of the LORD, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem.
19:9 And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the
LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.
19:10 And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that
dwell in your cities, between blood and blood, between law and
commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they
trespass not against the LORD, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your
brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass.
19:11 And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters
of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of
Judah, for all the king's matters: also the Levites shall be officers
before you. Deal courageously, and the LORD shall be with the good.
20:1 It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the
children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came
against Jehoshaphat to battle.
20:2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a
great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria;
and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi.
20:3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and
proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
20:4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD:
even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
20:5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem,
in the house of the LORD, before the new court,
20:6 And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven?
and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine
hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand
thee?
20:7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this
land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy
friend for ever?
20:8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for
thy name, saying,
20:9 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or
pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence,
(for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction,
then thou wilt hear and help.
20:10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir,
whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land
of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;
20:11 Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy
possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.
20:12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against
this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do:
but our eyes are upon thee.
20:13 And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their
wives, and their children.
20:14 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the
son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came
the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation;
20:15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of
Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be
not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the
battle is not yours, but God's.
20:16 To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the
cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the
wilderness of Jeruel.
20:17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand
ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and
Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for
the LORD will be with you.
20:18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and
all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD,
worshipping the LORD.
20:19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the
children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with
a loud voice on high.
20:20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the
wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said,
Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD
your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye
prosper.
20:21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers
unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they
went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy
endureth for ever.
20:22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set
ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which
were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
20:23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the
inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when
they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to
destroy another.
20:24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they
looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to
the earth, and none escaped.
20:25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of
them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead
bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves,
more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering
of the spoil, it was so much.
20:26 And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of
Berachah; for there they blessed the LORD: therefore the name of the
same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day.
20:27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and
Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy;
for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies.
20:28 And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets
unto the house of the LORD.
20:29 And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries,
when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel.
20:30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest
round about.
20:31 And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty and five years
old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and five years in
Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
20:32 And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from
it, doing that which was right in the sight of the LORD.
20:33 Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people
had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers.
20:34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold,
they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned
in the book of the kings of Israel.
20:35 And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with
Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly:
20:36 And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish:
and they made the ships in Eziongaber.
20:37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against
Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the
LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were
not able to go to Tarshish.
21:1 Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his
fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.
21:2 And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel,
and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all these were
the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.
21:3 And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and
of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he
to Jehoram; because he was the firstborn.
21:4 Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he
strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and
divers also of the princes of Israel.
21:5 Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he
reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
21:6 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the
house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought
that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD.
21:7 Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of
the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a
light to him and to his sons for ever.
21:8 In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah,
and made themselves a king.
21:9 Then Jehoram went forth with his princes, and all his chariots with
him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him
in, and the captains of the chariots.
21:10 So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this
day. The same time also did Libnah revolt from under his hand; because
he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers.
21:11 Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah and caused
the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah
thereto.
21:12 And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying,
Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou hast not
walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa
king of Judah,
21:13 But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made
Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the
whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy
father's house, which were better than thyself:
21:14 Behold, with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people, and
thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods:
21:15 And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until
thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day.
21:16 Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the
Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians:
21:17 And they came up into Judah, and brake into it, and carried away
all the substance that was found in the king's house, and his sons also,
and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz,
the youngest of his sons.
21:18 And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an
incurable disease.
21:19 And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two
years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so he died of sore
diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of
his fathers.
21:20 Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he
reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired.
Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres
of the kings.
22:1 And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king
in his stead: for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the
camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of
Judah reigned.
22:2 Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he
reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athaliah the
daughter of Omri.
22:3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was
his counsellor to do wickedly.
22:4 Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of
Ahab: for they were his counsellors after the death of his father to his
destruction.
22:5 He walked also after their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son
of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at
Ramothgilead: and the Syrians smote Joram.
22:6 And he returned to be healed in Jezreel because of the wounds which
were given him at Ramah, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And
Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the
son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was sick.
22:7 And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to Joram: for
when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of
Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.
22:8 And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment upon
the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the
brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them.
22:9 And he sought Ahaziah: and they caught him, (for he was hid in
Samaria,) and brought him to Jehu: and when they had slain him, they
buried him: Because, said they, he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought
the LORD with all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah had no power to
keep still the kingdom.
22:10 But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead,
she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.
22:11 But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of
Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, and
put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of
king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister
of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.
22:12 And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and
Athaliah reigned over the land.
23:1 And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the
captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of
Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah,
and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him.
23:2 And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all
the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they
came to Jerusalem.
23:3 And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house
of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the king's son shall reign, as
the LORD hath said of the sons of David.
23:4 This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you entering on
the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the
doors;
23:5 And a third part shall be at the king's house; and a third part at
the gate of the foundation: and all the people shall be in the courts of
the house of the LORD.
23:6 But let none come into the house of the LORD, save the priests, and
they that minister of the Levites; they shall go in, for they are holy:
but all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD.
23:7 And the Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with
his weapons in his hand; and whosoever else cometh into the house, he
shall be put to death: but be ye with the king when he cometh in, and
when he goeth out.
23:8 So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that
Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were
to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go out on the sabbath:
for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.
23:9 Moreover Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds
spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David's, which
were in the house of God.
23:10 And he set all the people, every man having his weapon in his
hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple,
along by the altar and the temple, by the king round about.
23:11 Then they brought out the king's son, and put upon him the crown,
and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons
anointed him, and said, God save the king.
23:12 Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and
praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the LORD:
23:13 And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the
entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the
people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers
with instruments of musick, and such as taught to sing praise. Then
Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason.
23:14 Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds that
were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth of the
ranges: and whoso followeth her, let him be slain with the sword. For
the priest said, Slay her not in the house of the LORD.
23:15 So they laid hands on her; and when she was come to the entering
of the horse gate by the king's house, they slew her there.
23:16 And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the
people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD's people.
23:17 Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and brake it down,
and brake his altars and his images in pieces, and slew Mattan the
priest of Baal before the altars.
23:18 Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the LORD by
the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the
house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is
written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was
ordained by David.
23:19 And he set the porters at the gates of the house of the LORD, that
none which was unclean in any thing should enter in.
23:20 And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the
governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought
down the king from the house of the LORD: and they came through the high
gate into the king's house, and set the king upon the throne of the
kingdom.
23:21 And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet,
after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword.
24:1 Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned
forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Zibiah of
Beersheba.
24:2 And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the
days of Jehoiada the priest.
24:3 And Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he begat sons and
daughters.
24:4 And it came to pass after this, that Joash was minded to repair the
house of the LORD.
24:5 And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to
them, Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to
repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that ye hasten
the matter. Howbeit the Levites hastened it not.
24:6 And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why
hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out
of Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses the
servant of the LORD, and of the congregation of Israel, for the
tabernacle of witness?
24:7 For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the
house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD
did they bestow upon Baalim.
24:8 And at the king's commandment they made a chest, and set it without
at the gate of the house of the LORD.
24:9 And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring
in to the LORD the collection that Moses the servant of God laid upon
Israel in the wilderness.
24:10 And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in,
and cast into the chest, until they had made an end.
24:11 Now it came to pass, that at what time the chest was brought unto
the king's office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that
there was much money, the king's scribe and the high priest's officer
came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to his place
again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.
24:12 And the king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of the
service of the house of the LORD, and hired masons and carpenters to
repair the house of the LORD, and also such as wrought iron and brass to
mend the house of the LORD.
24:13 So the workmen wrought, and the work was perfected by them, and
they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it.
24:14 And when they had finished it, they brought the rest of the money
before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the house of
the LORD, even vessels to minister, and to offer withal, and spoons, and
vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the
house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.
24:15 But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an
hundred and thirty years old was he when he died.
24:16 And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because
he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house.
24:17 Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and
made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them.
24:18 And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and
served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for
this their trespass.
24:19 Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD;
and they testified against them: but they would not give ear.
24:20 And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the
priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith
God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot
prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.
24:21 And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the
commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD.
24:22 Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his
father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The
LORD look upon it, and require it.
24:23 And it came to pass at the end of the year, that the host of Syria
came up against him: and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed
all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all the
spoil of them unto the king of Damascus.
24:24 For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and
the LORD delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had
forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment
against Joash.
24:25 And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great
diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the
sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and
they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the
sepulchres of the kings.
24:26 And these are they that conspired against him; Zabad the son of
Shimeath an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith a Moabitess.
24:27 Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the burdens laid
upon him, and the repairing of the house of God, behold, they are
written in the story of the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son
reigned in his stead.
25:1 Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and
he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was
Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
25:2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not
with a perfect heart.
25:3 Now it came to pass, when the kingdom was established to him, that
he slew his servants that had killed the king his father.
25:4 But he slew not their children, but did as it is written in the law
in the book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers
shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the
fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin.
25:5 Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains
over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of
their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them
from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand
choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield.
25:6 He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valour out of
Israel for an hundred talents of silver.
25:7 But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the
army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD is not with Israel, to wit,
with all the children of Ephraim.
25:8 But if thou wilt go, do it; be strong for the battle: God shall
make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast
down.
25:9 And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the
hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of
God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this.
25:10 Then Amaziah separated them, to wit, the army that was come to him
out of Ephraim, to go home again: wherefore their anger was greatly
kindled against Judah, and they returned home in great anger.
25:11 And Amaziah strengthened himself, and led forth his people, and
went to the valley of salt, and smote of the children of Seir ten
thousand.
25:12 And other ten thousand left alive did the children of Judah carry
away captive, and brought them unto the top of the rock, and cast them
down from the top of the rock, that they all were broken in pieces.
25:13 But the soldiers of the army which Amaziah sent back, that they
should not go with him to battle, fell upon the cities of Judah, from
Samaria even unto Bethhoron, and smote three thousand of them, and took
much spoil.
25:14 Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the
slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of
Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before
them, and burned incense unto them.
25:15 Wherefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and
he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought
after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people
out of thine hand?
25:16 And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said
unto him, Art thou made of the king's counsel? forbear; why shouldest
thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God
hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast
not hearkened unto my counsel.
25:17 Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son
of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us see
one another in the face.
25:18 And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying,
The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon,
saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild
beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.
25:19 Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites; and thine heart
lifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; why shouldest thou meddle
to thine hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?
25:20 But Amaziah would not hear; for it came of God, that he might
deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after
the gods of Edom.
25:21 So Joash the king of Israel went up; and they saw one another in
the face, both he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Bethshemesh, which
belongeth to Judah.
25:22 And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every
man to his tent.
25:23 And Joash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son
of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Bethshemesh, and brought him to
Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim
to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.
25:24 And he took all the gold and the silver, and all the vessels that
were found in the house of God with Obededom, and the treasures of the
king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.
25:25 And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death
of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.
25:26 Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, are
they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?
25:27 Now after the time that Amaziah did turn away from following the
LORD they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to
Lachish: but they sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there.
25:28 And they brought him upon horses, and buried him with his fathers
in the city of Judah.
26:1 Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years
old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.
26:2 He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept
with his fathers.
26:3 Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned
fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jecoliah of
Jerusalem.
26:4 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according
to all that his father Amaziah did.
26:5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding
in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him
to prosper.
26:6 And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake
down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod,
and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines.
26:7 And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the
Arabians that dwelt in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims.
26:8 And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad
even to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened himself
exceedingly.
26:9 Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and
at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them.
26:10 Also he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells: for he
had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains: husbandmen
also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved
husbandry.
26:11 Moreover Uzziah had an host of fighting men, that went out to war
by bands, according to the number of their account by the hand of Jeiel
the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of
the king's captains.
26:12 The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of
valour were two thousand and six hundred.
26:13 And under their hand was an army, three hundred thousand and seven
thousand and five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the
king against the enemy.
26:14 And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host shields, and
spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and slings to cast
stones.
26:15 And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be
on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones
withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped,
till he was strong.
26:16 But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his
destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into
the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
26:17 And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore
priests of the LORD, that were valiant men:
26:18 And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It
appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but
to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense:
go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be
for thine honour from the LORD God.
26:19 Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn
incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose
up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from
beside the incense altar.
26:20 And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon
him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him
out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD
had smitten him.
26:21 And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and
dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the
house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging
the people of the land.
26:22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the
prophet, the son of Amoz, write.
26:23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his
fathers in the field of the burial which belonged to the kings; for they
said, He is a leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.
27:1 Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he
reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jerushah,
the daughter of Zadok.
27:2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according
to all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the
temple of the LORD. And the people did yet corruptly.
27:3 He built the high gate of the house of the LORD, and on the wall of
Ophel he built much.
27:4 Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the
forests he built castles and towers.
27:5 He fought also with the king of the Ammonites, and prevailed
against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year an
hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten
thousand of barley. So much did the children of Ammon pay unto him, both
the second year, and the third.
27:6 So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the
LORD his God.
27:7 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways,
lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
27:8 He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and
reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
27:9 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city
of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.
28:1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned
sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the
sight of the LORD, like David his father:
28:2 For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also
molten images for Baalim.
28:3 Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and
burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen
whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.
28:4 He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the
hills, and under every green tree.
28:5 Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king
of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them
captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into
the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.
28:6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty
thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had
forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.
28:7 And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son,
and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the
king.
28:8 And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren
two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away
much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.
28:9 But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he
went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them,
Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he
hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage
that reacheth up unto heaven.
28:10 And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and
Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with
you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God?
28:11 Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye
have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the LORD is
upon you.
28:12 Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the
son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son
of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came
from the war,
28:13 And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for
whereas we have offended against the LORD already, ye intend to add more
to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is
fierce wrath against Israel.
28:14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the
princes and all the congregation.
28:15 And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the
captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and
arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and
anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and
brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then
they returned to Samaria.
28:16 At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help
him.
28:17 For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried
away captives.
28:18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country,
and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and
Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the
villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt
there.
28:19 For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for
he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD.
28:20 And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed
him, but strengthened him not.
28:21 For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the LORD, and out
of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king
of Assyria: but he helped him not.
28:22 And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against
the LORD: this is that king Ahaz.
28:23 For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and
he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore
will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin
of him, and of all Israel.
28:24 And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and
cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of
the house of the LORD, and he made him altars in every corner of
Jerusalem.
28:25 And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn
incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his
fathers.
28:26 Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and last,
behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
28:27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city,
even in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the
kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.
29:1 Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and
he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was
Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.
29:2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according
to all that David his father had done.
29:3 He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the
doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them.
29:4 And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them
together into the east street,
29:5 And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves,
and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth
the filthiness out of the holy place.
29:6 For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in
the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned
away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned their
backs.
29:7 Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the
lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the
holy place unto the God of Israel.
29:8 Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and
he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as
ye see with your eyes.
29:9 For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our
daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.
29:10 Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of
Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us.
29:11 My sons, be not now negligent: for the LORD hath chosen you to
stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should minister unto him,
and burn incense.
29:12 Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son
of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites: and of the sons of Merari,
Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehalelel: and of the
Gershonites; Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah:
29:13 And of the sons of Elizaphan; Shimri, and Jeiel: and of the sons
of Asaph; Zechariah, and Mattaniah:
29:14 And of the sons of Heman; Jehiel, and Shimei: and of the sons of
Jeduthun; Shemaiah, and Uzziel.
29:15 And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and
came, according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the
LORD, to cleanse the house of the LORD.
29:16 And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD,
to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in
the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD. And the
Levites took it, to carry it out abroad into the brook Kidron.
29:17 Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify,
and on the eighth day of the month came they to the porch of the LORD:
so they sanctified the house of the LORD in eight days; and in the
sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.
29:18 Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed
all the house of the LORD, and the altar of burnt offering, with all the
vessels thereof, and the shewbread table, with all the vessels thereof.
29:19 Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast
away in his transgression, have we prepared and sanctified, and, behold,
they are before the altar of the LORD.
29:20 Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the
city, and went up to the house of the LORD.
29:21 And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs,
and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the
sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron
to offer them on the altar of the LORD.
29:22 So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood,
and sprinkled it on the altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams,
they sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and
they sprinkled the blood upon the altar.
29:23 And they brought forth the he goats for the sin offering before
the king and the congregation; and they laid their hands upon them:
29:24 And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with
their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the
king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be
made for all Israel.
29:25 And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with
psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and
of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the
commandment of the LORD by his prophets.
29:26 And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the
priests with the trumpets.
29:27 And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar.
And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began also with
the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel.
29:28 And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the
trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was
finished.
29:29 And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that
were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped.
29:30 Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites
to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the
seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads
and worshipped.
29:31 Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated
yourselves unto the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank
offerings into the house of the LORD. And the congregation brought in
sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart
burnt offerings.
29:32 And the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation
brought, was threescore and ten bullocks, an hundred rams, and two
hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt offering to the LORD.
29:33 And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three
thousand sheep.
29:34 But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the
burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them,
till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified
themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify
themselves than the priests.
29:35 And also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of
the peace offerings, and the drink offerings for every burnt offering.
So the service of the house of the LORD was set in order.
29:36 And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared
the people: for the thing was done suddenly.
30:1 And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also
to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD
at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel.
30:2 For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the
congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month.
30:3 For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had
not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered
themselves together to Jerusalem.
30:4 And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation.
30:5 So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all
Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the
passover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done
it of a long time in such sort as it was written.
30:6 So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes
throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the
king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of
Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you,
that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.
30:7 And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which
trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave
them up to desolation, as ye see.
30:8 Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield
yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath
sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of
his wrath may turn away from you.
30:9 For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children
shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they
shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and
merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto
him.
30:10 So the posts passed from city to city through the country of
Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn,
and mocked them.
30:11 Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled
themselves, and came to Jerusalem.
30:12 Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the
commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the LORD.
30:13 And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of
unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation.
30:14 And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem,
and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the
brook Kidron.
30:15 Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second
month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified
themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the
LORD.
30:16 And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the
law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, which they
received of the hand of the Levites.
30:17 For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified:
therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for
every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the LORD.
30:18 For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh,
Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the
passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them,
saying, The good LORD pardon every one
30:19 That prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers,
though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the
sanctuary.
30:20 And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.
30:21 And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the
feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the
Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, singing with loud
instruments unto the LORD.
30:22 And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught
the good knowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feast
seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the LORD
God of their fathers.
30:23 And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and
they kept other seven days with gladness.
30:24 For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation a thousand
bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the
congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great
number of priests sanctified themselves.
30:25 And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the
Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the
strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah,
rejoiced.
30:26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon
the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem.
30:27 Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and
their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling
place, even unto heaven.
31:1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went
out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down
the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all
Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly
destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man
to his possession, into their own cities.
31:2 And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites
after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and
Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to
give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD.
31:3 He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt
offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the
burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set
feasts, as it is written in the law of the LORD.
31:4 Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give
the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be
encouraged in the law of the LORD.
31:5 And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel
brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey,
and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things
brought they in abundantly.
31:6 And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the
cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and
the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God,
and laid them by heaps.
31:7 In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps,
and finished them in the seventh month.
31:8 And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they
blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.
31:9 Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites
concerning the heaps.
31:10 And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him,
and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house
of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the
LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great
store.
31:11 Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the
LORD; and they prepared them,
31:12 And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated
things faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei
his brother was the next.
31:13 And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and
Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were
overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the
commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of
God.
31:14 And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east,
was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of
the LORD, and the most holy things.
31:15 And next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah,
Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set
office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to
the small:
31:16 Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward,
even unto every one that entereth into the house of the LORD, his daily
portion for their service in their charges according to their courses;
31:17 Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their
fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their
charges by their courses;
31:18 And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and
their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in
their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness:
31:19 Also of the sons of Aaron the priests, which were in the fields of
the suburbs of their cities, in every several city, the men that were
expressed by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests,
and to all that were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites.
31:20 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which
was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.
31:21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of
God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it
with all his heart, and prospered.
32:1 After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king
of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced
cities, and thought to win them for himself.
32:2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was
purposed to fight against Jerusalem,
32:3 He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the
waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help
him.
32:4 So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the
fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying,
Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?
32:5 Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was
broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and
repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in
abundance.
32:6 And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them
together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake
comfortably to them, saying,
32:7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king
of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be
more with us than with him:
32:8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to
help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon
the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
32:9 After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to
Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power
with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at
Jerusalem, saying,
32:10 Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that
ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?
32:11 Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by
famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of
the hand of the king of Assyria?
32:12 Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his
altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship
before one altar, and burn incense upon it?
32:13 Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of
other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able
to deliver their lands out of mine hand?
32:14 Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers
utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that
your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?
32:15 Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on
this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or
kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the
hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine
hand?
32:16 And his servants spake yet more against the LORD God, and against
his servant Hezekiah.
32:17 He wrote also letters to rail on the LORD God of Israel, and to
speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands
have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God
of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand.
32:18 Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech unto the
people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to
trouble them; that they might take the city.
32:19 And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods
of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.
32:20 And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the
son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.
32:21 And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of
valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria.
So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come
into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew
him there with the sword.
32:22 Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from
the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all
other, and guided them on every side.
32:23 And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to
Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all
nations from thenceforth.
32:24 In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the
LORD: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign.
32:25 But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto
him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him,
and upon Judah and Jerusalem.
32:26 Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his
heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of
the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
32:27 And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made
himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones,
and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels;
32:28 Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and
stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks.
32:29 Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and
herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much.
32:30 This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon,
and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And
Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
32:31 Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of
Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the
land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his
heart.
32:32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold,
they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz,
and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
32:33 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the
chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the
inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his
son reigned in his stead.
33:1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he
reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:
33:2 But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the
abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the
children of Israel.
33:3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had
broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and
worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
33:4 Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had
said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.
33:5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of
the house of the LORD.