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.
14:026:020 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.
14:026:021 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.
14:026:022 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah
the prophet, the son of Amoz, write.
14:026:023 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.
14:027:001 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.
14:027:002 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.
14:027:003 He built the high gate of the house of the LORD, and on the
wall of Ophel he built much.
14:027:004 Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the
forests he built castles and towers.
14:027:005 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.
14:027:006 So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before
the LORD his God.
14:027:007 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.
14:027:008 He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and
reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
14:027:009 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the
city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.
14:028:001 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:
14:028:002 For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made
also molten images for Baalim.
14:028:003 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.
14:028:004 He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and
on the hills, and under every green tree.
14:028:005 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.
14:028:006 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.
14:028:007 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.
14:028:008 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.
14:028:009 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.
14:028:010 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?
14:028:011 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.
14:028:012 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 them that came from the war,
14:028:013 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.
14:028:014 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the
princes and all the congregation.
14:028:015 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.
14:028:016 At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to
help him.
14:028:017 For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried
away captives.
14:028:018 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.
14:028:019 For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel;
for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the
LORD.
14:028:020 And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and
distressed him, but strengthened him not.
14:028:021 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.
14:028:022 And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more
against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz.
14:028:023 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.
14:028:024 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.
14:028:025 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.
14:028:026 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.
14:028:027 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.
14:029:001 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.
14:029:002 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD,
according to all that David his father had done.
14:029:003 He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened
the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them.
14:029:004 And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered
them together into the east street,
14:029:005 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.
14:029:006 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.
14:029:007 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 unto the God of Israel.
14:029:008 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.
14:029:009 For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons
and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.
14:029:010 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.
14:029:011 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.
14:029:012 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
Jehalelel: and of the Gershonites; Joah the son of Zimmah, and
Eden the son of Joah:
14:029:013 And of the sons of Elizaphan; Shimri, and Jeiel: and of the
sons of Asaph; Zechariah, and Mattaniah:
14:029:014 And of the sons of Heman; Jehiel, and Shimei: and of the sons
of Jeduthun; Shemaiah, and Uzziel.
14:029:015 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.
14:029:016 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.
14:029:017 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 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.
14:029:018 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.
14:029:019 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.
14:029:020 Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of
the city, and went up to the house of the LORD.
14:029:021 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.
14:029:022 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.
14:029:023 And they brought forth the he goats for the sin offering
before the king and the congregation; and they laid their
hands upon them:
14:029:024 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.
14:029:025 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.
14:029:026 And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the
priests with the trumpets.
14:029:027 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.
14:029:028 And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and
the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt
offering was finished.
14:029:029 And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all
that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped.
14:029:030 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.
14:029:031 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.
14:029:032 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.
14:029:033 And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three
thousand sheep.
14:029:034 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.
14:029:035 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.
14:029:036 And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had
prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly.
14:030:001 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.
14:030:002 For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the
congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second
month.
14:030:003 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.
14:030:004 And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation.
14:030:005 So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout
all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come
to keep the passover 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.
14:030:006 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, 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.
14:030:007 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.
14:030:008 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.
14:030:009 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.
14:030:010 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.
14:030:011 Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun
humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.
14:030:012 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.
14:030:013 And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast
of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great
congregation.
14:030:014 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.
14:030:015 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 in the burnt offerings
into the house of the LORD.
14:030:016 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.
14:030:017 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.
14:030:018 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 was written.
But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon
every one
14:030:019 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.
14:030:020 And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.
14:030:021 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.
14:030:022 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.
14:030:023 And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days:
and they kept other seven days with gladness.
14:030:024 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.
14:030:025 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.
14:030:026 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.
14:030:027 Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and
their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy
dwelling place, even unto heaven.
14:031:001 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.
14:031:002 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.
14:031:003 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 the LORD.
14:031:004 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.
14:031:005 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.
14:031:006 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.
14:031:007 In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the
heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.
14:031:008 And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they
blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.
14:031:009 Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites
concerning the heaps.
14:031:010 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.
14:031:011 Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of
the LORD; and they prepared them,
14:031:012 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.
14:031:013 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.
14:031:014 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.
14:031:015 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:
14:031:016 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;
14:031:017 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;
14:031:018 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:
14:031:019 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.
14:031:020 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that
which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.
14:031:021 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.
14:032:001 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.
14:032:002 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he
was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,
14:032:003 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.
14:032:004 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?