021:003 Their father gave them great gifts, of silver, and of gold,
and of precious things, with fortified cities in Judah:
but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn.
021:004 Now when Jehoram was risen up over the kingdom of his father,
and had strengthened himself, he killed all his brothers
with the sword, and various also of the princes of Israel.
021:005 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he began to reign;
and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
021:006 He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house
of Ahab; for he had the daughter of Ahab as wife:
and he did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh.
021:007 However Yahweh would not destroy the house of David, because of
the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised
to give a lamp to him and to his children always.
021:008 In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah,
and made a king over themselves.
021:009 Then Jehoram passed over with his captains, and all his chariots
with him: and he rose up by night, and struck the Edomites
who surrounded him, along with the captains of the chariots.
021:010 So Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah to this day:
then did Libnah revolt at the same time from under his hand,
because he had forsaken Yahweh, the God of his fathers.
021:011 Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah,
and made the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the prostitute,
and led Judah astray.
021:012 There came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying,
Thus says Yahweh, the God of David your father, Because you
have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father,
nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
021:013 but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made
Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the prostitute,
like as the house of Ahab did, and also have slain your brothers
of your father's house, who were better than yourself:
021:014 behold, Yahweh will strike with a great plague your people,
and your children, and your wives, and all your substance;
021:015 and you shall have great sickness by disease of your bowels,
until your bowels fall out by reason of the sickness,
day by day.
021:016 Yahweh stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines,
and of the Arabians who are beside the Ethiopians:
021:017 and they came up against Judah, and broke 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.
021:018 After all this Yahweh struck him in his bowels with
an incurable disease.
021:019 It happened, in process of time, at the end of two years,
that his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness, and he died
of sore diseases. His people made no burning for him,
like the burning of his fathers.
021:020 Thirty-two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned
in Jerusalem eight years: and he departed without being desired;
and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs
of the kings.
022:001 The inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest
son king in his place; for the band of men who came
with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest.
So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.
022:002 Forty-two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign;
and he reigned one year in Jerusalem: and his mother's name
was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.
022:003 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab; for his mother
was his counselor to do wickedly.
022:004 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as did
the house of Ahab; for they were his counselors after the death
of his father, to his destruction.
022:005 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 Ramoth Gilead: and the Syrians wounded Joram.
022:006 He returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which they had
given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria.
Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see
Jehoram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.
022:007 Now the destruction of Ahaziah was of God, in that he went to Joram:
for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu
the son of Nimshi, whom Yahweh had anointed to cut off
the house of Ahab.
022:008 It happened, when Jehu was executing judgment on the house
of Ahab, that he found the princes of Judah, and the sons
of the brothers of Ahaziah, ministering to Ahaziah,
and killed them.
022:009 He sought Ahaziah, and they caught him (now he was hiding
in Samaria), and they brought him to Jehu, and killed him;
and they buried him, for they said, He is the son
of Jehoshaphat, who sought Yahweh with all his heart.
The house of Ahaziah had no power to hold the kingdom.
022:010 Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead,
she arose and destroyed all the royal seed of the house of Judah.
022:011 But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son
of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king's sons
who were slain, and put him and his nurse in the 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 didn't kill him.
022:012 He was with them hid in the house of God six years:
and Athaliah reigned over the land.
023:001 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.
023:002 They went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out
of all the cities of Judah, and the heads of fathers'
[houses] of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.
023:003 All the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God.
He said to them, Behold, the king's son shall reign,
as Yahweh has spoken concerning the sons of David.
023:004 This is the thing that you shall do: a third part of you,
who come in on the Sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites,
shall be porters of the thresholds;
023:005 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 Yahweh.
023:006 But let none come into the house of Yahweh, save the priests,
and those who minister of the Levites; they shall come in,
for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the
charge of Yahweh.
023:007 The Levites shall compass the king round about, every man
with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes into the house,
let him be slain: and be you with the king when he comes in,
and when he goes out.
023:008 So the Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada
the priest commanded: and they took every man his men,
those who were to come in on the Sabbath; with those who were
to go out on the Sabbath; for Jehoiada the priest didn't
dismiss the shift.
023:009 Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds
the spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David's,
which were in the house of God.
023:010 He set all the people, every man with his weapon in his hand,
from the right side of the house to the left side of the house,
along by the altar and the house, by the king round about.
023:011 Then they brought out the king's son, and put the crown
on him, and [gave him] the testimony, and made him king:
and Jehoiada and his sons anointed him; and they said,
[Long] live the king.
023:012 When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising
the king, she came to the people into the house of Yahweh:
023:013 and she looked, and, behold, the king stood by his pillar at
the entrance, and the captains and the trumpets by the king;
and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew trumpets;
the singers also [played] on instruments of music, and led
the singing of praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes,
and said, Treason! treason!
023:014 Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who were set
over the army, and said to them, Have her forth between the ranks;
and whoever follows her, let him be slain with the sword:
for the priest said, Don't kill her in the house of Yahweh.
023:015 So they made way for her; and she went to the entrance of the horse
gate to the king's house: and they killed her there.
023:016 Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, and all the people,
and the king, that they should be Yahweh's people.
023:017 All the people went to the house of Baal, and broke it down,
and broke his altars and his images in pieces, and killed
Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.
023:018 Jehoiada appointed the officers of the house of Yahweh under
the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed
in the house of Yahweh, to offer the burnt offerings of Yahweh,
as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and
with singing, according to the order of David.
023:019 He set the porters at the gates of the house of Yahweh,
that no one who was unclean in anything should enter in.
023:020 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 Yahweh:
and they came through the upper gate to the king's house,
and set the king on the throne of the kingdom.
023:021 So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet.
Athaliah they had slain with the sword.
024:001 Joash was seven years old when he began to reign;
and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem: and his mother's
name was Zibiah, of Beersheba.
024:002 Joash did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh all the days
of Jehoiada the priest.
024:003 Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he became the father
of sons and daughters.
024:004 It happened after this, that Joash was minded to restore
the house of Yahweh.
024:005 He gathered together the priests and the Levites,
and said to them, Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather
of all Israel money to repair the house of your God
from year to year; and see that you hasten the matter.
However the Levites didn't hurry.
024:006 The king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said to him,
Why haven't you required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah
and out of Jerusalem the tax of Moses the servant of Yahweh,
and of the assembly of Israel, for the tent of the testimony?
024:007 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 Yahweh did they bestow on the Baals.
024:008 So the king commanded, and they made a chest, and set it
outside at the gate of the house of Yahweh.
024:009 They made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem,
to bring in for Yahweh the tax that Moses the servant of God
laid on Israel in the wilderness.
024:010 All the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in,
and cast into the chest, until they had made an end.
024:011 It was so, that whenever the chest was brought to the king's
officers by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw
that there was much money, the king's scribe and the chief
priest's officer came and emptied the chest, and took it,
and carried it to its place again. Thus they did day by day,
and gathered money in abundance.
024:012 The king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of
the service of the house of Yahweh; and they hired masons
and carpenters to restore the house of Yahweh, and also such
as worked iron and brass to repair the house of Yahweh.
024:013 So the workmen worked, and the work of repairing went forward
in their hands, and they set up the house of God in its state,
and strengthened it.
024:014 When they had made an end, they brought the rest of the money
before the king and Jehoiada, of which were made vessels
for the house of Yahweh, even vessels with which to minister
and to offer, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver.
They offered burnt offerings in the house of Yahweh continually
all the days of Jehoiada.
024:015 But Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and he died;
one hundred thirty years old was he when he died.
024:016 They buried him in the city of David among the kings,
because he had done good in Israel, and toward God and his house.
024:017 Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah,
and made obeisance to the king. Then the king listened to them.
024:018 They forsook the house of Yahweh, the God of their fathers,
and served the Asherim and the idols: and wrath came on Judah
and Jerusalem for this their guiltiness.
024:019 Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again to Yahweh;
and they testified against them: but they would not give ear.
024:020 The Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada
the priest; and he stood above the people, and said to them,
Thus says God, Why disobey you the commandments of Yahweh,
so that you can't prosper? because you have forsaken Yahweh,
he has also forsaken you.
024:021 They conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at
the commandment of the king in the court of the house of Yahweh.
024:022 Thus Joash the king didn't remember the kindness which
Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son.
When he died, he said, Yahweh look on it, and require it.
024:023 It happened at the end of the year, that the army of the Syrians
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 to the king of Damascus.
024:024 For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men;
and Yahweh delivered a very great army into their hand,
because they had forsaken Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
So they executed judgment on Joash.
024:025 When they were departed for him (for they left him very sick),
his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons
of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed, and he died;
and they buried him in the city of David, but they didn't
bury him in the tombs of the kings.
024:026 These are those who conspired against him: Zabad the son
of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of
Shimrith the Moabitess.
024:027 Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the burdens
[laid] on him, and the rebuilding of the house of God, behold,
they are written in the commentary of the book of the kings.
Amaziah his son reigned in his place.
025:001 Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign;
and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem:
and his mother's name was Jehoaddan, of Jerusalem.
025:002 He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, but not
with a perfect heart.
025:003 Now it happened, when the kingdom was established to him,
that he killed his servants who had killed the king his father.
025:004 But he didn't put their children to death, but did according
to that which is written in the law in the book of Moses,
as Yahweh 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.
025:005 Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and ordered them
according to their fathers' houses, under captains of thousands
and captains of hundreds, even all Judah and Benjamin:
and he numbered them from twenty years old and upward,
and found them three hundred thousand chosen men, able to go
forth to war, who could handle spear and shield.
025:006 He hired also one hundred thousand mighty men of valor out
of Israel for one hundred talents of silver.
025:007 But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, don't let
the army of Israel go with you; for Yahweh is not with Israel,
[to wit], with all the children of Ephraim.
025:008 But if you will go, do [valiantly], be strong for the battle:
God will cast you down before the enemy; for God has power
to help, and to cast down.
025:009 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? The man
of God answered, Yahweh is able to give you much more than this.
025:010 Then Amaziah separated them, [to wit], the army that
had come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again:
therefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah,
and they returned home in fierce anger.
025:011 Amaziah took courage, and led forth his people, and went
to the Valley of Salt, and struck of the children of
Seir ten thousand.
025:012 [other] ten thousand did the children of Judah carry away alive,
and brought them to the top of the rock, and cast them down from
the top of the rock, so that they all were broken in pieces.
025:013 But the men of the army whom Amaziah sent back, that they
should not go with him to battle, fell on the cities of Judah,
from Samaria even to Beth Horon, and struck of them three thousand,
and took much spoil.
025:014 Now it happened, 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 to them.
025:015 Therefore the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Amaziah,
and he sent to him a prophet, who said to him, Why have you
sought after the gods of the people, which have not delivered
their own people out of your hand?
025:016 It happened, as he talked with him, that [the king] said to him,
Have we made you of the king's counsel? Stop! Why should
you be struck down? Then the prophet stopped, and said,
I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you
have done this, and have not listened to my counsel.
025:017 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 look one another in the face.
025:018 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 your daughter to my son as wife:
and there passed by a wild animal that was in Lebanon,
and trod down the thistle.
025:019 You say, Behold, you have struck Edom; and your heart
lifts you up to boast: abide now at home; why should you
meddle to [your] hurt, that you should fall, even you,
and Judah with you?
025:020 But Amaziah would not hear; for it was of God, that he might
deliver them into the hand [of their enemies], because they
had sought after the gods of Edom.
025:021 So Joash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king
of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth Shemesh,
which belongs to Judah.
025:022 Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every
man to his tent.
025:023 Joash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son
of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth Shemesh, and brought
him to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from
the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.
025:024 [He took] all the gold and silver, and all the vessels
that were found in the house of God with Obed-Edom,
and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also,
and returned to Samaria.
025:025 Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death
of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.
025:026 Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold,
aren't they written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?
025:027 Now from the time that Amaziah did turn away from following
Yahweh they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem;
and he fled to Lachish: but they sent after him to Lachish,
and killed him there.
025:028 They brought him on horses, and buried him with his fathers
in the city of Judah.
026:001 All the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old,
and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.
026:002 He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king
slept with his fathers.
026:003 Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign;
and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem: and his mother's
name was Jechiliah, of Jerusalem.
026:004 He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, according to
all that his father Amaziah had done.
026:005 He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah,
who had understanding in the vision of God: and as long
as he sought Yahweh, God made him to prosper.
026:006 He went forth and warred against the Philistines, and broke
down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall
of Ashdod; and he built cities in [the country of] Ashdod,
and among the Philistines.
026:007 God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians
who lived in Gur Baal, and the Meunim.
026:008 The Ammonites gave tribute to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad
even to the entrance of Egypt; for he grew exceeding strong.
026:009 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.
026:010 He built towers in the wilderness, and hewed out many cisterns,
for he had much livestock; in the lowland also, and in the plain:
[and he had] farmers and vineyard keepers in the mountains
and in the fruitful fields; for he loved farming.
026:011 Moreover Uzziah had an army of fighting men, who went out to war
by bands, according to the number of their reckoning made
by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer, under the hand
of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.
026:012 The whole number of the heads of fathers' [houses], even the mighty
men of valor, was two thousand and six hundred.
026:013 Under their hand was an army, three hundred thousand and seven
thousand and five hundred, who made war with mighty power,
to help the king against the enemy.
026:014 Uzziah prepared for them, even for all the army, shields,
and spears, and helmets, and coats of mail, and bows,
and stones for slinging.
026:015 He made in Jerusalem engines, invented by skillful men,
to be on the towers and on the battlements, with which to
shoot arrows and great stones. His name spread far abroad;
for he was marvelously helped, until he was strong.
026:016 But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that
he did corruptly, and he trespassed against Yahweh his God;
for he went into the temple of Yahweh to burn incense on
the altar of incense.
026:017 Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him eighty
priests of Yahweh, who were valiant men:
026:018 and they withstood Uzziah the king, and said to him, It pertains
not to you, Uzziah, to burn incense to Yahweh, but to the priests
the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense:
go out of the sanctuary; for you have trespassed; neither shall
it be for your honor from Yahweh God.
026:019 Then Uzziah was angry; and he had a censer in his hand
to burn incense; and while he was angry with the priests,
the leprosy broke forth in his forehead before the priests
in the house of Yahweh, beside the altar of incense.
026:020 Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked on him,
and behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him
out quickly from there; yes, himself hurried also to go out,
because Yahweh had struck him.
026:021 Uzziah the king was a leper to the day of his death,
and lived in a separate house, being a leper; for he was cut
off from the house of Yahweh: and Jotham his son was over
the king's house, judging the people of the land.
026:022 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah
the prophet, the son of Amoz, write.
026:023 So Uzziah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his
fathers in the field of burial which belonged to the kings;
for they said, He is a leper: and Jotham his son reigned
in his place.
027:001 Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign;
and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and his mother's
name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok.
027:002 He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh,
according to all that his father Uzziah had done:
however he didn't enter into the temple of Yahweh.
The people did yet corruptly.
027:003 He built the upper gate of the house of Yahweh, and on the wall
of Ophel he built much.
027:004 Moreover he built cities in the hill country of Judah,
and in the forests he built castles and towers.
027:005 He fought also with the king of the children of Ammon,
and prevailed against them. The children of Ammon gave
him the same year one hundred talents of silver, and ten
thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley.
So much did the children of Ammon render to him, in the second
year also, and in the third.
027:006 So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before
Yahweh his God.
027:007 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars,
and his ways, behold, they are written in the book of the kings
of Israel and Judah.
027:008 He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign,
and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
027:009 Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city
of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.
028:001 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign; and he reigned
sixteen years in Jerusalem: and he didn't do that which was
right in the eyes of Yahweh, like David his father;
028:002 but he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made
also molten images for the Baals.
028:003 Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom,
and burnt his children in the fire, according to the abominations
of the nations whom Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel.
028:004 He sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on
the hills, and under every green tree.
028:005 Therefore Yahweh his God delivered him into the hand of the king
of Syria; and they struck him, and carried away of his a
great multitude of captives, and brought them to Damascus.
He was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel,
who struck him with a great slaughter.
028:006 For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed in Judah one hundred
twenty thousand in one day, all of them valiant men;
because they had forsaken Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
028:007 Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king's son,
and Azrikam the ruler of the house, and Elkanah who was
next to the king.
028:008 The children of Israel carried away captive of their brothers
two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took
also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.
028:009 But a prophet of Yahweh was there, whose name was Oded:
and he went out to meet the army that came to Samaria, and said
to them, Behold, because Yahweh, the God of your fathers,
was angry with Judah, he has delivered them into your hand,
and you have slain them in a rage which has reached up to heaven.
028:010 Now you purpose to keep under the children of Judah
and Jerusalem for bondservants and bondmaids to you:
[but] aren't there even with you trespasses of your own
against Yahweh your God?
028:011 Now hear me therefore, and send back the captives, that you
have taken captive of your brothers; for the fierce wrath
of Yahweh is on you.
028:012 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 those who came from the war,
028:013 and said to them, You shall not bring in the captives here:
for you purpose that which will bring on us a trespass
against Yahweh, to add to our sins and to our trespass; for our
trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.
028:014 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before
the princes and all the assembly.
028:015 The men who have been mentioned by name rose up, and took
the captives, and with the spoil clothed all who 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 on donkeys, and brought
them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers:
then they returned to Samaria.
028:016 At that time did king Ahaz send to the kings of Assyria
to help him.
028:017 For again the Edomites had come and struck Judah,
and carried away captives.
028:018 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the lowland,
and of the South of Judah, and had taken Beth Shemesh,
and Aijalon, and Gederoth, and Soco with the towns of it,
and Timnah with the towns of it, Gimzo also and the towns of it:
and they lived there.
028:019 For Yahweh brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel;
for he had dealt wantonly in Judah, and trespassed
severely against Yahweh.
028:020 Tilgath Pilneser king of Assyria came to him, and distressed him,
but didn't strengthen him.
028:021 For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of Yahweh,
and out of the house of the king and of the princes, and gave
it to the king of Assyria: but it didn't help him.
028:022 In the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against Yahweh,
this same king Ahaz.
028:023 For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, which struck him;
and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them,
[therefore] will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me.
But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.
028:024 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 Yahweh; and he made him altars
in every corner of Jerusalem.
028:025 In every city of Judah he made high places to burn incense
to other gods, and provoked to anger Yahweh, the God
of his fathers.
028:026 Now the rest of his acts, and all his ways, first and last, behold,
they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
028:027 Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city,
even in Jerusalem; for they didn't bring him into the tombs
of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned
in his place.
029:001 Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old;
and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem:
and his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.
029:002 He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, according to
all that David his father had done.
029:003 He in the first year of his reign, in the first month,
opened the doors of the house of Yahweh, and repaired them.
029:004 He brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them
together into the broad place on the east,
029:005 and said to them, Hear me, you Levites; now sanctify yourselves,
and sanctify the house of Yahweh, the God of your fathers,
and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.
029:006 For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil
in the sight of Yahweh our God, and have forsaken him,
and have turned away their faces from the habitation of Yahweh,
and turned their backs.
029:007 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 to the God of Israel.
029:008 Therefore the wrath of Yahweh was on Judah and Jerusalem,
and he has delivered them to be tossed back and forth,
to be an astonishment, and a hissing, as you see with your eyes.
029:009 For, behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons
and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.
029:010 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with Yahweh, the God
of Israel, that his fierce anger may turn away from us.
029:011 My sons, don't be negligent now; for Yahweh has chosen you
to stand before him, to minister to him, and that you should
be his ministers, and burn incense.
029:012 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 Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah the son
of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah;
029:013 and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel; and of the sons
of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah;
029:014 and of the sons of Heman, Jehuel and Shimei; and of the sons
of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel.
029:015 They gathered their brothers, and sanctified themselves,
and went in, according to the commandment of the king
by the words of Yahweh, to cleanse the house of Yahweh.
029:016 The priests went in to the inner part of the house of Yahweh,
to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found
in the temple of Yahweh into the court of the house of Yahweh.
The Levites took it, to carry it out abroad to the brook Kidron.
029:017 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 Yahweh;
and they sanctified the house of Yahweh in eight days:
and on the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.
029:018 Then they went in to Hezekiah the king within [the palace],
and said, We have cleansed all the house of Yahweh,
and the altar of burnt offering, with all the vessels of it,
and the table of show bread, with all the vessels of it.
029:019 Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast
away when he trespassed, have we prepared and sanctified;
and behold, they are before the altar of Yahweh.
029:020 Then Hezekiah the king arose early, and gathered the princes
of the city, and went up to the house of Yahweh.
029:021 They brought seven bulls, and seven rams, and seven lambs,
and seven male goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom
and for the sanctuary and for Judah. He commanded the priests
the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of Yahweh.
029:022 So they killed the bulls, and the priests received the blood,
and sprinkled it on the altar: and they killed the rams,
and sprinkled the blood on the altar: they killed also the lambs,
and sprinkled the blood on the altar.
029:023 They brought near the male goats for the sin offering before
the king and the assembly; and they laid their hands on them:
029:024 and the priests killed them, and they made a sin offering with
their blood on the altar, to make atonement for all Israel;
for the king commanded [that] the burnt offering and the sin
offering [should be made] for all Israel.
029:025 He set the Levites in the house of Yahweh with cymbals,
with stringed instruments, and with harps, according to
the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer,
and Nathan the prophet; for the commandment was of Yahweh
by his prophets.
029:026 The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests
with the trumpets.
029:027 Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering on the altar.
When the burnt offering began, the song of Yahweh began also,
and the trumpets, together with the instruments of David
king of Israel.
029:028 All the assembly worshiped, and the singers sang, and the
trumpeters sounded; all this [continued] until the burnt
offering was finished.
029:029 When they had made an end of offering, the king and all who
were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped.
029:030 Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded
the Levites to sing praises to Yahweh with the words of David,
and of Asaph the seer. They sang praises with gladness,
and they bowed their heads and worshiped.
029:031 Then Hezekiah answered, Now you have consecrated yourselves
to Yahweh; come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings
into the house of Yahweh. The assembly brought in sacrifices
and thank offerings; and as many as were of a willing heart
[brought] burnt offerings.
029:032 The number of the burnt offerings which the assembly brought
was seventy bulls, one hundred rams, and two hundred lambs:
all these were for a burnt offering to Yahweh.
029:033 The consecrated things were six hundred oxen and
three thousand sheep.
029:034 But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all
the burnt offerings: therefore their brothers the Levites
helped them, until the work was ended, and until the priests
had sanctified themselves; for the Levites were more upright
in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.
029:035 Also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat
of the peace offerings, and with the drink offerings for every
burnt offering. So the service of the house of Yahweh was
set in order.
029:036 Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, because of that which God
had prepared for the people: for the thing was done suddenly.
030:001 Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also
to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house
of Yahweh at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to Yahweh,
the God of Israel.
030:002 For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the assembly
in Jerusalem, to keep the Passover in the second month.
030:003 For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests
had not sanctified themselves in sufficient number, neither had
the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.
030:004 The thing was right in the eyes of the king and of all the assembly.
030:005 So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout
all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come
to keep the Passover to Yahweh, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem:
for they had not kept it in great numbers in such sort
as it is written.
030:006 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, You children of Israel,
turn again to Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,
that he may return to the remnant that have escaped of you
out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.
030:007 Don't be you like your fathers, and like your brothers,
who trespassed against Yahweh, the God of their fathers,
so that he gave them up to desolation, as you see.
030:008 Now don't you be stiff-necked, as your fathers were;
but yield yourselves to Yahweh, and enter into his sanctuary,
which he has sanctified forever, and serve Yahweh your God,
that his fierce anger may turn away from you.
030:009 For if you turn again to Yahweh, your brothers and your children
shall find compassion before those who led them captive,
and shall come again into this land: for Yahweh your God is
gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you,
if you return to him.
030:010 So the posts passed from city to city through the country of
Ephraim and Manasseh, even to Zebulun: but they ridiculed them,
and mocked them.
030:011 Nevertheless certain men of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun
humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.
030:012 Also on Judah came the hand of God to give them one heart,
to do the commandment of the king and of the princes by
the word of Yahweh.
030:013 There assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast
of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great assembly.
030:014 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.
030:015 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 burnt offerings into
the house of Yahweh.
030:016 They stood in their place after their order, according to the law
of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood
[which they received] of the hand of the Levites.
030:017 For there were many in the assembly who had not
sanctified themselves: therefore the Levites had the charge
of killing the Passovers for everyone who was not clean,
to sanctify them to Yahweh.
030:018 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 is written.
For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, The good
Yahweh pardon everyone
030:019 who sets his heart to seek God, Yahweh, the God of his fathers,
though not [cleansed] according to the purification
of the sanctuary.
030:020 Yahweh listened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.
030:021 The children of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept
the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness;
and the Levites and the priests praised Yahweh day by day,
[singing] with loud instruments to Yahweh.
030:022 Hezekiah spoke comfortably to all the Levites who had good
understanding [in the service] of Yahweh. So they ate
throughout the feast for the seven days, offering sacrifices
of peace offerings, and making confession to Yahweh, the God
of their fathers.
030:023 The whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days;
and they kept [other] seven days with gladness.
030:024 For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the assembly for offerings
one thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep; and the princes
gave to the assembly a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep:
and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.
030:025 All the assembly of Judah, with the priests and the Levites,
and all the assembly who came out of Israel, and the
foreigners who came out of the land of Israel, and who lived
in Judah, rejoiced.
030:026 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.
030:027 Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people:
and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his
holy habitation, even to heaven.
031:001 Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went
out to the cities of Judah, and broke in pieces the pillars,
and hewed down the Asherim, and broke down the high places
and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim
also and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all.
Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to
his possession, into their own cities.
031:002 Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites
after their divisions, every man according to his service,
both the priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings
and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks,
and to praise in the gates of the camp of Yahweh.
031:003 [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 Yahweh.
031:004 Moreover he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give
the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might
give themselves to the law of Yahweh.
031:005 As soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel
gave in abundance the first fruits of grain, new wine,
and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field;
and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.
031:006 The children of Israel and Judah, who lived in the cities
of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep,
and the tithe of dedicated things which were consecrated
to Yahweh their God, and laid them by heaps.
031:007 In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps,
and finished them in the seventh month.
031:008 When Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps,
they blessed Yahweh, and his people Israel.
031:009 Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites
concerning the heaps.
031:010 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 Yahweh, we have eaten and had enough,
and have left plenty: for Yahweh has blessed his people;
and that which is left is this great store.
031:011 Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of Yahweh;
and they prepared them.
031:012 They brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated
things faithfully: and over them Conaniah the Levite was ruler,
and Shimei his brother was second.
031:013 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 Conaniah and Shimei his brother,
by the appointment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler
of the house of God.
031:014 Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter at the east [gate],
was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute
the offerings of Yahweh, and the most holy things.
031:015 Under him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah,
and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their
office of trust, to give to their brothers by divisions,
as well to the great as to the small:
031:016 besides those who were reckoned by genealogy of males,
from three years old and upward, even everyone who entered
into the house of Yahweh, as the duty of every day required,
for their service in their offices according to their divisions;
031:017 and those who were reckoned by genealogy of the priests
by their fathers' houses, and the Levites from twenty years
old and upward, in their offices by their divisions;
031:018 and those who were reckoned by genealogy of all their little ones,
their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all
the congregation: for in their office of trust they sanctified
themselves in holiness.
031:019 Also for the sons of Aaron the priests, who were in the fields
of the suburbs of their cities, in every city, there were men
who were mentioned by name, to give portions to all the males
among the priests, and to all who were reckoned by genealogy
among the Levites.
031:020 Thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah; and he worked that
which was good and right and faithful before Yahweh his God.
031:021 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.
032:001 After these things, and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king
of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against
the fortified cities, and thought to win them for himself.
032:002 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was
purposed to fight against Jerusalem,
032:003 he took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop
the waters of the springs which were outside of the city;
and they helped him.
032:004 So there was gathered much people together, and they stopped
all the springs, and the brook that flowed through the midst
of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come,
and find much water?
032:005 He took courage, and built up all the wall that was broken down,
and raised [it] up to the towers, and the other wall outside,
and strengthened Millo [in] the city of David, and made
weapons and shields in abundance.
032:006 He set captains of war over the people, and gathered them
together to him in the broad place at the gate of the city,
and spoke comfortably to them, saying,
032:007 Be strong and of good courage, don't be afraid nor dismayed for
the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude who is with him;
for there is a greater with us than with him:
032:008 with him is an arm of flesh; but with us is Yahweh our God
to help us, and to fight our battles. The people rested
themselves on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
032:009 After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants
to Jerusalem, (now he was before Lachish, and all his power
with him), to Hezekiah king of Judah, and to all Judah
who were at Jerusalem, saying,
032:010 Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do you trust,
that you abide the siege in Jerusalem?
032:011 Does not Hezekiah persuade you, to give you over to die
by famine and by thirst, saying, Yahweh our God will deliver
us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
032:012 Has not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars,
and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, You shall worship
before one altar, and on it shall you burn incense?
032:013 Don't you know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples
of the lands? Were the gods of the nations of the lands
in any wise able to deliver their land out of my hand?
032:014 Who was there among all the gods of those nations which my fathers
utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of my hand,
that your God should be able to deliver you out of my hand?
032:015 Now therefore don't let Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade
you after this manner, neither believe you him; for no god
of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people
out of my hand, and out of the hand of my fathers:
how much less shall your God deliver you out of my hand?
032:016 His servants spoke yet more against Yahweh God, and against
his servant Hezekiah.
032:017 He wrote also letters, to rail on Yahweh, the God of Israel,
and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations
of the lands, which have not delivered their people out of
my hand, so shall the God of Hezekiah not deliver his people
out of my hand.
032:018 They cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language to the people
of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten them,
and to trouble them; that they might take the city.
032:019 They spoke of the God of Jerusalem, as of the gods of the peoples
of the earth, which are the work of men's hands.
032:020 Hezekiah the king, and Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz,
prayed because of this, and cried to heaven.
032:021 Yahweh sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valor,
and the leaders and captains, in the camp of the king of Assyria.
So he returned with shame of face to his own land.
When he was come into the house of his god, those who came
forth from his own bowels killed him there with the sword.
032:022 Thus Yahweh saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem
from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from
the hand of all [others], and guided them on every side.
032:023 Many brought gifts to Yahweh to Jerusalem, and precious things
to Hezekiah king of Judah; so that he was exalted in the sight
of all nations from thenceforth.
032:024 In those days Hezekiah was sick even to death: and he prayed
to Yahweh; and he spoke to him, and gave him a sign.
032:025 But Hezekiah didn't render again according to the benefit done to him;
for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath on him,
and on Judah and Jerusalem.
032:026 Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart,
both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath
of Yahweh didn't come on them in the days of Hezekiah.
032:027 Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honor:
and he provided him treasuries for silver, and for gold,
and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields,
and for all manner of goodly vessels;
032:028 storehouses also for the increase of grain and new wine and oil;
and stalls for all manner of animals, and flocks in folds.
032:029 Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and
herds in abundance; for God had given him very much substance.
032:030 This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper spring of the waters
of Gihon, and brought them straight down on the west side
of the city of David. Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
032:031 However in [the business of] the ambassadors of the princes
of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire 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.
032:032 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his good deeds,
behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet
the son of Amoz, in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
032:033 Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in
the ascent of the tombs of the sons of David: and all Judah
and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death.
Manasseh his son reigned in his place.
033:001 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign;
and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.
033:002 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh,
after the abominations of the nations whom Yahweh cast out
before the children of Israel.
033:003 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father
had broken down; and he reared up altars for the Baals,
and made Asheroth, and worshiped all the army of the sky,
and served them.
033:004 He built altars in the house of Yahweh, of which Yahweh said,
In Jerusalem shall my name be forever.
033:005 He built altars for all the army of the sky in the two courts
of the house of Yahweh.
033:006 He also made his children to pass through the fire in
the valley of the son of Hinnom; and he practiced sorcery,
and used enchantments, and practiced sorcery, and dealt
with those who had familiar spirits, and with wizards:
he worked much evil in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke
him to anger.
033:007 He set the engraved image of the idol, which he had made,
in the house of God, of which God said to David and to Solomon
his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen
out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name forever:
033:008 neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from off
the land which I have appointed for your fathers, if only they
will observe to do all that I have commanded them, even all
the law and the statutes and the ordinances [given] by Moses.
033:009 Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem,
so that they did evil more than did the nations whom Yahweh
destroyed before the children of Israel.
033:010 Yahweh spoke to Manasseh, and to his people; but they
gave no heed.
033:011 Therefore Yahweh brought on them the captains of the army
of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh in chains,
and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
033:012 When he was in distress, he begged Yahweh his God, and humbled
himself greatly before the God of his fathers.
033:013 He prayed to him; and he was entreated of him, and heard his
supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom.
Then Manasseh knew that Yahweh he was God.
033:014 Now after this he built an outer wall to the city of David,
on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entrance
at the fish gate; and he compassed Ophel about [with it],
and raised it up to a very great height: and he put valiant
captains in all the fortified cities of Judah.
033:015 He took away the foreign gods, and the idol out of the house
of Yahweh, and all the altars that he had built in the mountain
of the house of Yahweh, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out
of the city.
033:016 He built up the altar of Yahweh, and offered thereon sacrifices
of peace offerings and of thanksgiving, and commanded Judah
to serve Yahweh, the God of Israel.
033:017 Nevertheless the people sacrificed still in the high places,
but only to Yahweh their God.
033:018 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his God,
and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of Yahweh,
the God of Israel, behold, they are written among the acts
of the kings of Israel.
033:019 His prayer also, and how [God] was entreated of him, and all
his sin and his trespass, and the places in which he built
high places, and set up the Asherim and the engraved images,
before he humbled himself: behold, they are written in
the history of Hozai.
033:020 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his
own house: and Amon his son reigned in his place.
033:021 Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign;
and he reigned two years in Jerusalem.
033:022 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as did
Manasseh his father; and Amon sacrificed to all the engraved
images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them.
033:023 He didn't humble himself before Yahweh, as Manasseh his
father had humbled himself; but this same Amon trespassed
more and more.
033:024 His servants conspired against him, and put him to death
in his own house.
033:025 But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired
against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah
his son king in his place.
034:001 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign;
and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.
034:002 He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, and walked
in the ways of David his father, and didn't turn aside
to the right hand or to the left.
034:003 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young,
he began to seek after the God of David his father;
and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem
from the high places, and the Asherim, and the engraved images,
and the molten images.
034:004 They broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence;
and the incense altars that were on high above them he hewed down;
and the Asherim, and the engraved images, and the molten images,
he broke in pieces, and made dust of them, and strewed it
on the graves [of those] who had sacrificed to them.
034:005 He burnt the bones of the priests on their altars, and purged
Judah and Jerusalem.
034:006 [So did he] in the cities of Manasseh and Ephraim and Simeon,
even to Naphtali, in their ruins round about.
034:007 He broke down the altars, and beat the Asherim and the engraved
images into powder, and hewed down all the incense altars
throughout all the land of Israel, and returned to Jerusalem.
034:008 Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged
the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah,
and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son
of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of Yahweh his God.
034:009 They came to Hilkiah the high priest, and delivered the money
that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites,
the keepers of the threshold, had gathered of the hand
of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel,
and of all Judah and Benjamin, and of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
034:010 They delivered it into the hand of the workmen who had the
oversight of the house of Yahweh; and the workmen who labored
in the house of Yahweh gave it to mend and repair the house;
034:011 even to the carpenters and to the builders gave they it,
to buy hewn stone, and timber for couplings, and to make beams
for the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.
034:012 The men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them
were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari;
and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites,
to set it forward; and [others of] the Levites, all who were
skillful with instruments of music.
034:013 Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and set
forward all who did the work in every manner of service:
and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters.
034:014 When they brought out the money that was brought into the house
of Yahweh, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law
of Yahweh [given] by Moses.
034:015 Hilkiah answered Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book
of the law in the house of Yahweh. Hilkiah delivered
the book to Shaphan.
034:016 Shaphan carried the book to the king, and moreover brought back
word to the king, saying, All that was committed to your servants,
they are doing.
034:017 They have emptied out the money that was found in the house
of Yahweh, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers,
and into the hand of the workmen.
034:018 Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest has
delivered me a book. Shaphan read therein before the king.
034:019 It happened, when the king had heard the words of the law,
that he tore his clothes.
034:020 The king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan,
and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah
the king's servant, saying,
034:021 Go you, inquire of Yahweh for me, and for those who are left in Israel
and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found;
for great is the wrath of Yahweh that is poured out on us,
because our fathers have not kept the word of Yahweh,
to do according to all that is written in this book.
034:022 So Hilkiah, and they whom the king [had commanded],
went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son
of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe;
(now she lived in Jerusalem in the second quarter;)
and they spoke to her to that effect.
034:023 She said to them, Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: Tell you
the man who sent you to me,
034:024 Thus says Yahweh, Behold, I will bring evil on this place,
and on the inhabitants of it, even all the curses that are written
in the book which they have read before the king of Judah.
034:025 Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods,
that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of
their hands; therefore is my wrath poured out on this place,
and it shall not be quenched.
034:026 But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of Yahweh,
thus shall you tell him, Thus says Yahweh, the God
of Israel: As touching the words which you have heard,
034:027 because your heart was tender, and you did humble yourself
before God, when you heard his words against this place,
and against the inhabitants of it, and have humbled yourself
before me, and have torn your clothes, and wept before me;
I also have heard you, says Yahweh.
034:028 Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered
to your grave in peace, neither shall your eyes see all the evil
that I will bring on this place, and on the inhabitants of it.
They brought back word to the king.
034:029 Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders
of Judah and Jerusalem.
034:030 The king went up to the house of Yahweh, and all the men
of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests,
and the Levites, and all the people, both great and small:
and he read in their ears all the words of the book of
the covenant that was found in the house of Yahweh.
034:031 The king stood in his place, and made a covenant before Yahweh,
to walk after Yahweh, and to keep his commandments,
and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart,
and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant
that were written in this book.
034:032 He caused all who were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin
to stand [to it]. The inhabitants of Jerusalem did according
to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.
034:033 Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries
that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all who were
found in Israel to serve, even to serve Yahweh their God.
All his days they didn't depart from following Yahweh,
the God of their fathers.
035:001 Josiah kept a Passover to Yahweh in Jerusalem: and they killed
the Passover on the fourteenth [day] of the first month.
035:002 He set the priests in their offices, and encouraged them
to the service of the house of Yahweh.
035:003 He said to the Levites who taught all Israel, who were holy
to Yahweh, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son
of David king of Israel did build; there shall no more be
a burden on your shoulders: now serve Yahweh your God,
and his people Israel.
035:004 Prepare yourselves after your fathers' houses by your divisions,
according to the writing of David king of Israel, and according
to the writing of Solomon his son.
035:005 Stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the fathers'
houses of your brothers the children of the people,
and [let there be for each] a portion of a fathers'
house of the Levites.
035:006 Kill the Passover, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare for
your brothers, to do according to the word of Yahweh by Moses.
035:007 Josiah gave to the children of the people, of the flock,
lambs and kids, all of them for the Passover offerings,
to all who were present, to the number of thirty thousand,
and three thousand bulls: these were of the king's substance.
035:008 His princes gave for a freewill offering to the people,
to the priests, and to the Levites. Hilkiah and Zechariah
and Jehiel, the rulers of the house of God, gave to the priests
for the Passover offerings two thousand and six hundred
[small livestock], and three hundred oxen.
035:009 Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethanel, his brothers,
and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, the chiefs of the Levites,
gave to the Levites for the Passover offerings five thousand
[small livestock], and five hundred oxen.
035:010 So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in
their place, and the Levites by their divisions, according to
the king's commandment.
035:011 They killed the Passover, and the priests sprinkled [the blood
which they received] of their hand, and the Levites flayed them.
035:012 They removed the burnt offerings, that they might give them
according to the divisions of the fathers' houses of the children
of the people, to offer to Yahweh, as it is written in the book
of Moses. So did they with the oxen.
035:013 They roasted the Passover with fire according to the ordinance:
and the holy offerings boiled they in pots, and in caldrons,
and in pans, and carried them quickly to all the children
of the people.
035:014 Afterward they prepared for themselves, and for the priests,
because the priests the sons of Aaron [were busied]
in offering the burnt offerings and the fat until night:
therefore the Levites prepared for themselves, and for the priests
the sons of Aaron.
035:015 The singers the sons of Asaph were in their place,
according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman,
and Jeduthun the king's seer; and the porters were at every gate:
they didn't need to depart from their service; for their
brothers the Levites prepared for them.
035:016 So all the service of Yahweh was prepared the same day,
to keep the Passover, and to offer burnt offerings on the altar
of Yahweh, according to the commandment of king Josiah.
035:017 The children of Israel who were present kept the Passover
at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days.
035:018 There was no Passover like that kept in Israel from the days
of Samuel the prophet; neither did any of the kings of Israel
keep such a Passover as Josiah kept, and the priests,
and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel who were present,
and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
035:019 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this Passover kept.
035:020 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king
of Egypt went up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates:
and Josiah went out against him.
035:021 But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with you,
you king of Judah? [I come] not against you this day,
but against the house with which I have war; and God has commanded
me to make haste: forbear you from [meddling with] God,
who is with me, that he not destroy you.
035:022 Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him,
but disguised himself, that he might fight with him,
and didn't listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God,
and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.
035:023 The archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants,
Have me away; for I am sore wounded.
035:024 So his servants took him out of the chariot, and put him in
the second chariot that he had, and brought him to Jerusalem;
and he died, and was buried in the tombs of his fathers.
All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.
035:025 Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men
and singing women spoke of Josiah in their lamentations
to this day; and they made them an ordinance in Israel:
and behold, they are written in the lamentations.
035:026 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his good deeds,
according to that which is written in the law of Yahweh,
035:027 and his acts, first and last, behold, they are written
in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
036:001 Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah,
and made him king in his father's place in Jerusalem.
036:002 Joahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign;
and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.
036:003 The king of Egypt deposed him at Jerusalem, and fined the land
one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.
036:004 The king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah
and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim.
Neco took Joahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt.
036:005 Jehoiakim was Twenty-five years old when he began to reign;
and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did that
which was evil in the sight of Yahweh his God.
036:006 Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound
him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon.
036:007 Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the house of Yahweh
to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon.
036:008 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations
which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are
written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah:
and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.
036:009 Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign;
and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem:
and he did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh.
036:010 At the return of the year king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought
him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of Yahweh,
and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.
036:011 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign;
and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem:
036:012 and he did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh his God;
he didn't humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet [speaking]
from the mouth of Yahweh.
036:013 He also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made
him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened
his heart against turning to Yahweh, the God of Israel.
036:014 Moreover all the chiefs of the priests, and the people,
trespassed very greatly after all the abominations of the nations;
and they polluted the house of Yahweh which he had made
holy in Jerusalem.
036:015 Yahweh, the God of their fathers, sent to them by his messengers,
rising up early and sending, because he had compassion on
his people, and on his dwelling place:
036:016 but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words,
and scoffed at his prophets, until the wrath of Yahweh arose
against his people, until there was no remedy.
036:017 Therefore he brought on them the king of the Chaldeans,
who killed their young men with the sword in the house of
their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin,
old man or gray-headed: he gave them all into his hand.
036:018 All the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the
treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king,
and of his princes, all these he brought to Babylon.
036:019 They burnt the house of God, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem,
and burnt all the palaces of it with fire, and destroyed
all the goodly vessels of it.
036:020 He carried those who had escaped from the sword away to Babylon;
and they were servants to him and his sons until the reign
of the kingdom of Persia:
036:021 to fulfill the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah,
until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths: [for] as long as it
lay desolate it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.
036:022 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word
of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished,
Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia,
so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom,
and [put it] also in writing, saying,
036:023 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth
has Yahweh, the God of heaven, given me; and he has charged
me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
Whoever there is among you of all his people, Yahweh his God
be with him, and let him go up.