
The Second Book of Chronicles

   

   {1:1} Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and
Yahweh his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly. {1:2}
Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of
hundreds, and to the judges, and to every prince in all Israel, the
heads of the fathers' [houses]. {1:3} So Solomon, and all the assembly
with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the
tent of meeting of God, which Moses the servant of Yahweh had made in
the wilderness. {1:4} But David had brought the ark of God up from
Kiriath Jearim to [the place] that David had prepared for it; for he
had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem. {1:5} Moreover the brazen
altar, that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, was there
before the tent of Yahweh: and Solomon and the assembly sought to it.
{1:6} Solomon went up there to the brazen altar before Yahweh, which
was at the tent of meeting, and offered one thousand burnt offerings on
it. {1:7} In that night did God appear to Solomon, and said to him, Ask
what I shall give you. {1:8} Solomon said to God, You have shown great
loving kindness to David my father, and have made me king in his place.
{1:9} Now, Yahweh God, let your promise to David my father be
established; for you have made me king over a people like the dust of
the earth in multitude. {1:10} Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I
may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this your
people, that is so great? {1:11} God said to Solomon, Because this was
in your heart, and you have not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor the
life of those who hate you, neither yet have asked long life; but have
asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge my people,
over whom I have made you king: {1:12} wisdom and knowledge is granted
to you; and I will give you riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none
of the kings have had who have been before you; neither shall there any
after you have the like. {1:13} So Solomon came from the high place
that was at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem; and
he reigned over Israel. {1:14} Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen:
and he had one thousand four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand
horsemen, that he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at
Jerusalem. {1:15} The king made silver and gold to be in Jerusalem as
stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycamore trees that are in the
lowland, for abundance. {1:16} The horses which Solomon had were
brought out of Egypt and from Kue; the king's merchants purchased them
from Kue. {1:17} They brought up and brought out of Egypt a chariot for
six hundred pieces of silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty: and so
for all the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of Syria, did they
bring them out by their means.

   {2:1} Now Solomon purposed to build a house for the name of Yahweh,
and a house for his kingdom. {2:2} Solomon counted out seventy thousand
men to bear burdens, and eighty thousand men who were stone cutters in
the mountains, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.
{2:3} Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As you dealt with
David my father, and sent him cedars to build him a house in which to
dwell, [even so deal with me]. {2:4} Behold, I am about to build a
house for the name of Yahweh my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn
before him incense of sweet spices, and for the continual show bread,
and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, and
on the new moons, and on the set feasts of Yahweh our God. This is [an
ordinance] forever to Israel. {2:5} The house which I build is great;
for great is our God above all gods. {2:6} But who is able to build him
a house, seeing heaven and the heaven of heavens can't contain him? who
am I then, that I should build him a house, save only to burn incense
before him? {2:7} Now therefore send me a man skillful to work in gold,
and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson,
and blue, and who knows how to engrave [all manner of] engravings, [to
be] with the skillful men who are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem,
whom David my father did provide. {2:8} Send me also cedar trees, fir
trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon; for I know that your servants
know how to cut timber in Lebanon: and, behold, my servants shall be
with your servants, {2:9} even to prepare me timber in abundance; for
the house which I am about to build shall be great and wonderful.
{2:10} Behold, I will give to your servants, the cutters who cut
timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand
measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty
thousand baths of oil. {2:11} Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in
writing, which he sent to Solomon, "Because Yahweh loves his people, he
has made you king over them." {2:12} Huram continued, "Blessed be
Yahweh, the God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who has given to
David the king a wise son, endowed with discretion and understanding,
that should build a house for Yahweh, and a house for his kingdom.
{2:13} Now I have sent a skillful man, endowed with understanding, of
Huram my father's, {2:14} the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan;
and his father was a man of Tyre, skillful to work in gold, and in
silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue,
and in fine linen, and in crimson, also to engrave any manner of
engraving, and to devise any device; that there may be a place
appointed to him with your skillful men, and with the skillful men of
my lord David your father. {2:15} Now therefore the wheat and the
barley, the oil and the wine, which my lord has spoken of, let him send
to his servants: {2:16} and we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as
you shall need; and we will bring it to you in floats by sea to Joppa;
and you shall carry it up to Jerusalem." {2:17} Solomon numbered all
the foreigners who were in the land of Israel, after the numbering with
which David his father had numbered them; and they were found one
hundred fifty-three thousand six hundred. {2:18} He set seventy
thousand of them to bear burdens, and eighty thousand who were stone
cutters in the mountains, and three thousand six hundred overseers to
set the people at work.

    {3:1} Then Solomon began to build the house of Yahweh at Jerusalem
on Mount Moriah, where [Yahweh] appeared to David his father, which he
made ready in the place that David had appointed, in the threshing
floor of Ornan the Jebusite. {3:2} He began to build in the second
[day] of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign. {3:3} Now
these are the foundations which Solomon laid for the building of the
house of God. The length by cubits after the first measure was sixty
cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits. {3:4} The porch that was before
[the house], the length of it, according to the breadth of the house,
was twenty cubits, and the height one hundred twenty; and he overlaid
it within with pure gold. {3:5} The greater house he made a ceiling
with fir-wood, which he overlaid with fine gold, and ornamented it with
palm trees and chains. {3:6} He garnished the house with precious
stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim. {3:7} He overlaid
also the house, the beams, the thresholds, and the walls of it, and the
doors of it, with gold; and engraved cherubim on the walls. {3:8} He
made the most holy house: the length of it, according to the breadth of
the house, was twenty cubits, and the breadth of it twenty cubits; and
he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents. {3:9}
The weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. He overlaid the
upper chambers with gold. {3:10} In the most holy house he made two
cherubim of image work; and they overlaid them with gold. {3:11} The
wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits long: the wing of the one
[cherub] was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house; and the
other wing was [likewise] five cubits, reaching to the wing of the
other cherub. {3:12} The wing of the other cherub was five cubits,
reaching to the wall of the house; and the other wing was five cubits
[also], joining to the wing of the other cherub. {3:13} The wings of
these cherubim spread themselves forth twenty cubits: and they stood on
their feet, and their faces were toward the house. {3:14} He made the
veil of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and ornamented
it with cherubim. {3:15} Also he made before the house two pillars of
thirty-five cubits high, and the capital that was on the top of each of
them was five cubits. {3:16} He made chains in the oracle, and put
[them] on the tops of the pillars; and he made one hundred
pomegranates, and put them on the chains. {3:17} He set up the pillars
before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left;
and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of
that on the left Boaz.

    {4:1} Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length
of it, and twenty cubits the breadth of it, and ten cubits the height
of it. {4:2} Also he made the molten sea of ten cubits from brim to
brim, round in compass; and the height of it was five cubits; and a
line of thirty cubits compassed it round about. {4:3} Under it was the
likeness of oxen, which did compass it round about, for ten cubits,
compassing the sea round about. The oxen were in two rows, cast when it
was cast. {4:4} It stood on twelve oxen, three looking toward the
north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the
south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set on them
above, and all their hinder parts were inward. {4:5} It was a
handbreadth thick; and the brim of it was worked like the brim of a
cup, like the flower of a lily: it received and held three thousand
baths. {4:6} He made also ten basins, and put five on the right hand,
and five on the left, to wash in them; such things as belonged to the
burnt-offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to
wash in. {4:7} He made the ten lampstands of gold according to the
ordinance concerning them; and he set them in the temple, five on the
right hand, and five on the left. {4:8} He made also ten tables, and
placed them in the temple, five on the right side, and five on the
left. He made one hundred basins of gold. {4:9} Furthermore he made the
court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and
overlaid the doors of them with brass. {4:10} He set the sea on the
right side [of the house] eastward, toward the south. {4:11} Huram made
the pots, and the shovels, and the basins. So Huram made an end of
doing the work that he did for king Solomon in the house of God: {4:12}
the two pillars, and the bowls, and the two capitals which were on the
top of the pillars, and the two networks to cover the two bowls of the
capitals that were on the top of the pillars, {4:13} and the four
hundred pomegranates for the two networks; two rows of pomegranates for
each network, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the
pillars. {4:14} He made also the bases, and the basins made he on the
bases; {4:15} one sea, and the twelve oxen under it. {4:16} The pots
also, and the shovels, and the flesh-hooks, and all the vessels of it,
did Huram his father make for king Solomon for the house of Yahweh of
bright brass. {4:17} In the plain of the Jordan did the king cast them,
in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah. {4:18} Thus Solomon
made all these vessels in great abundance: for the weight of the brass
could not be found out. {4:19} Solomon made all the vessels that were
in the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables whereon was
the show bread; {4:20} and the lampstands with their lamps, to burn
according to the ordinance before the oracle, of pure gold; {4:21} and
the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, of gold, and that perfect
gold; {4:22} and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the
fire pans, of pure gold: and as for the entry of the house, the inner
doors of it for the most holy place, and the doors of the house, [to
wit], of the temple, were of gold.

    {5:1} Thus all the work that Solomon did for the house of Yahweh
was finished. Solomon brought in the things that David his father had
dedicated, even the silver, and the gold, and all the vessels, and put
them in the treasuries of the house of God. {5:2} Then Solomon
assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the
princes of the fathers' [houses] of the children of Israel, to
Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh out of the
city of David, which is Zion. {5:3} And all the men of Israel assembled
themselves to the king at the feast, which was [in] the seventh month.
{5:4} All the elders of Israel came: and the Levites took up the ark;
{5:5} and they brought up the ark, and the tent of meeting, and all the
holy vessels that were in the Tent; these did the priests the Levites
bring up. {5:6} King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, that
were assembled to him, were before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen,
that could not be counted nor numbered for multitude. {5:7} The priests
brought in the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to its place, into the
oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of
the cherubim. {5:8} For the cherubim spread forth their wings over the
place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and the poles of it
above. {5:9} The poles were so long that the ends of the poles were
seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen outside:
and there it is to this day. {5:10} There was nothing in the ark save
the two tables which Moses put [there] at Horeb, when Yahweh made a
covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.
{5:11} It happened, when the priests were come out of the holy place,
(for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, and
did not keep their divisions; {5:12} also the Levites who were the
singers, all of them, even Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and
their brothers, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals and psalteries and
harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them one hundred
twenty priests sounding with trumpets;) {5:13} it happened, when the
trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in
praising and thanking Yahweh; and when they lifted up their voice with
the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised Yahweh,
[saying], For he is good; for his loving kindness endures forever; that
then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of Yahweh,
{5:14} so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the
cloud: for the glory of Yahweh filled the house of God.

    {6:1} Then spoke Solomon, Yahweh has said that he would dwell in
the thick darkness. {6:2} But I have built you a house of habitation,
and a place for you to dwell in forever. {6:3} The king turned his
face, and blessed all the assembly of Israel: and all the assembly of
Israel stood. {6:4} He said, Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who
spoke with his mouth to David my father, and has with his hands
fulfilled it, saying, {6:5} Since the day that I brought forth my
people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes
of Israel to build a house in, that my name might be there; neither
chose I any man to be prince over my people Israel: {6:6} but I have
chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to
be over my people Israel. {6:7} Now it was in the heart of David my
father to build a house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
{6:8} But Yahweh said to David my father, Whereas it was in your heart
to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart:
{6:9} nevertheless you shall not build the house; but your son who
shall come forth out of your loins, he shall build the house for my
name. {6:10} Yahweh has performed his word that he spoke; for I am
risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of
Israel, as Yahweh promised, and have built the house for the name of
Yahweh, the God of Israel. {6:11} There have I set the ark, in which is
the covenant of Yahweh, which he made with the children of Israel.
{6:12} He stood before the altar of Yahweh in the presence of all the
assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands {6:13} (for Solomon had
made a brazen scaffold, five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and
three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and on it
he stood, and kneeled down on his knees before all the assembly of
Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven;) {6:14} and he said,
Yahweh, the God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven, or on
earth; who keep covenant and loving kindness with your servants, who
walk before you with all their heart; {6:15} who have kept with your
servant David my father that which you did promise him: yes, you spoke
with your mouth, and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is this
day. {6:16} Now therefore, Yahweh, the God of Israel, keep with your
servant David my father that which you have promised him, saying, There
shall not fail you a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if
only your children take heed to their way, to walk in my law as you
have walked before me. {6:17} Now therefore, Yahweh, the God of Israel,
let your word be verified, which you spoke to your servant David.
{6:18} But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold,
heaven and the heaven of heavens can't contain you; how much less this
house which I have built! {6:19} Yet have you respect to the prayer of
your servant, and to his supplication, Yahweh my God, to listen to the
cry and to the prayer which your servant prays before you; {6:20} that
your eyes may be open toward this house day and night, even toward the
place where you have said that you would put your name there; to listen
to the prayer which your servant shall pray toward this place. {6:21}
Listen you to the petitions of your servant, and of your people Israel,
when they shall pray toward this place: yes, hear from your
dwelling-place, even from heaven; and when you hear, forgive. {6:22} If
a man sin against his neighbor, and an oath is laid on him to cause him
to swear, and he comes and swears before your altar in this house;
{6:23} then hear from heaven, and do, and judge your servants,
requiting the wicked, to bring his way on his own head; and justifying
the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness. {6:24} If
your people Israel be struck down before the enemy, because they have
sinned against you, and shall turn again and confess your name, and
pray and make supplication before you in this house; {6:25} then hear
from heaven, and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them
again to the land which you gave to them and to their fathers. {6:26}
When the sky is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned
against you; if they pray toward this place, and confess your name, and
turn from their sin, when you do afflict them: {6:27} then hear in
heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants, and of your people
Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk; and
send rain on your land, which you have given to your people for an
inheritance. {6:28} If there be in the land famine, if there be
pestilence, if there be blasting or mildew, locust or caterpillar; if
their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities; whatever plague
or whatever sickness there be; {6:29} whatever prayer and supplication
be made by any man, or by all your people Israel, who shall know every
man his own plague and his own sorrow, and shall spread forth his hands
toward this house: {6:30} then hear from heaven, your dwelling-place
and forgive, and render to every man according to all his ways, whose
heart you know; (for you, even you only, know the hearts of the
children of men;) {6:31} that they may fear you, to walk in your ways,
so long as they live in the land which you gave to our fathers. {6:32}
Moreover concerning the foreigner, who is not of your people Israel,
when he shall come from a far country for your great name's sake, and
your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm; when they shall come and
pray toward this house: {6:33} then hear from heaven, even from your
dwelling-place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you
for; that all the peoples of the earth may know your name, and fear
you, as does your people Israel, and that they may know that this house
which I have built is called by your name. {6:34} If your people go out
to battle against their enemies, by whatever way you shall send them,
and they pray to you toward this city which you have chosen, and the
house which I have built for your name; {6:35} then hear from heaven
their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause. {6:36}
If they sin against you (for there is no man who doesn't sin), and you
are angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry
them away captive to a land far off or near; {6:37} yet if they shall
repent themselves in the land where they are carried captive, and turn
again, and make supplication to you in the land of their captivity,
saying, We have sinned, we have done perversely, and have dealt
wickedly; {6:38} if they return to you with all their heart and with
all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have carried
them captive, and pray toward their land, which you gave to their
fathers, and the city which you have chosen, and toward the house which
I have built for your name: {6:39} then hear from heaven, even from
your dwelling-place, their prayer and their petitions, and maintain
their cause, and forgive your people who have sinned against you.
{6:40} Now, my God, let, I beg you, your eyes be open, and let your
ears be attentive, to the prayer that is made in this place. {6:41} Now
therefore arise, Yahweh God, into your resting-place, you, and the ark
of your strength: let your priests, Yahweh God, be clothed with
salvation, and let your saints rejoice in goodness. {6:42} Yahweh God,
don't turn away the face of your anointed: remember [your] loving
kindnesses to David your servant.

    {7:1} Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came
down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices;
and the glory of Yahweh filled the house. {7:2} The priests could not
enter into the house of Yahweh, because the glory of Yahweh filled
Yahweh's house. {7:3} All the children of Israel looked on, when the
fire came down, and the glory of Yahweh was on the house; and they
bowed themselves with their faces to the ground on the pavement, and
worshiped, and gave thanks to Yahweh, [saying], For he is good; for his
loving kindness endures for ever. {7:4} Then the king and all the
people offered sacrifice before Yahweh. {7:5} King Solomon offered a
sacrifice of twenty-two thousand oxen, and a hundred and twenty
thousand sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of
God. {7:6} The priests stood, according to their offices; the Levites
also with instruments of music of Yahweh, which David the king had made
to give thanks to Yahweh, (for his loving kindness endures for ever),
when David praised by their ministry: and the priests sounded trumpets
before them; and all Israel stood. {7:7} Moreover Solomon made the
middle of the court holy that was before the house of Yahweh; for there
he offered the burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace-offerings,
because the brazen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive
the burnt offering, and the meal-offering, and the fat. {7:8} So
Solomon held the feast at that time seven days, and all Israel with
him, a very great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of
Egypt. {7:9} On the eighth day they held a solemn assembly: for they
kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.
{7:10} On the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the
people away to their tents, joyful and glad of heart for the goodness
that Yahweh had shown to David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his
people. {7:11} Thus Solomon finished the house of Yahweh, and the
king's house: and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the
house of Yahweh, and in his own house, he prosperously effected. {7:12}
Yahweh appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him, I have heard your
prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for a house of sacrifice.
{7:13} If I shut up the sky so that there is no rain, or if I command
the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
{7:14} if my people, who are called by my name, shall humble
themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked
ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and
will heal their land. {7:15} Now my eyes shall be open, and my ears
attentive, to the prayer that is made in this place. {7:16} For now
have I chosen and made this house holy, that my name may be there
forever; and my eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually. {7:17} As
for you, if you will walk before me as David your father walked, and do
according to all that I have commanded you, and will keep my statutes
and my ordinances; {7:18} then I will establish the throne of your
kingdom, according as I covenanted with David your father, saying,
There shall not fail you a man to be ruler in Israel. {7:19} But if you
turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments which I have set
before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; {7:20}
then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have
given them; and this house, which I have made holy for my name, will I
cast out of my sight, and I will make it a proverb and a byword among
all peoples. {7:21} This house, which is so high, everyone who passes
by it shall be astonished, and shall say, Why has Yahweh done thus to
this land, and to this house? {7:22} They shall answer, Because they
forsook Yahweh, the God of their fathers, who brought them forth out of
the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshiped them, and
served them: therefore has he brought all this evil on them.

    {8:1} It happened at the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had
built the house of Yahweh, and his own house, {8:2} that the cities
which Huram had given to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the
children of Israel to dwell there. {8:3} Solomon went to Hamath-zobah,
and prevailed against it. {8:4} He built Tadmor in the wilderness, and
all the store-cities, which he built in Hamath. {8:5} Also he built
Beth Horon the upper, and Beth Horon the lower, fortified cities, with
walls, gates, and bars; {8:6} and Baalath, and all the store-cities
that Solomon had, and all the cities for his chariots, and the cities
for his horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build for his
pleasure in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his
dominion. {8:7} As for all the people who were left of the Hittites,
and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the
Jebusites, who were not of Israel; {8:8} of their children who were
left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel didn't
consume, of them did Solomon raise a levy [of bondservants] to this
day. {8:9} But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no servants
for his work; but they were men of war, and chief of his captains, and
rulers of his chariots and of his horsemen. {8:10} These were the chief
officers of king Solomon, even two hundred fifty, who ruled over the
people. {8:11} Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the
city of David to the house that he had built for her; for he said, My
wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the
places are holy, whereunto the ark of Yahweh has come. {8:12} Then
Solomon offered burnt-offerings to Yahweh on the altar of Yahweh, which
he had built before the porch, {8:13} even as the duty of every day
required, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the
Sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the set feasts, three times in
the year, [even] in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of
weeks, and in the feast of tents. {8:14} He appointed, according to the
ordinance of David his father, the divisions of the priests to their
service, and the Levites to their offices, to praise, and to minister
before the priests, as the duty of every day required; the doorkeepers
also by their divisions at every gate: for so had David the man of God
commanded. {8:15} They didn't depart from the commandment of the king
to the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the
treasures. {8:16} Now all the work of Solomon was prepared to the day
of the foundation of the house of Yahweh, and until it was finished.
[So] the house of Yahweh was completed. {8:17} Then went Solomon to
Ezion Geber, and to Eloth, on the seashore in the land of Edom. {8:18}
Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants who had
knowledge of the sea; and they came with the servants of Solomon to
Ophir, and fetched from there four hundred fifty talents of gold, and
brought them to king Solomon.

    {9:1} When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she
came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very
great train, and camels that bore spices, and gold in abundance, and
precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she talked with him
of all that was in her heart. {9:2} Solomon told her all her questions;
and there was not anything hid from Solomon which he didn't tell her.
{9:3} When the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the
house that he had built, {9:4} and the food of his table, and the
sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their
clothing, his cup bearers also, and their clothing, and his ascent by
which he went up to the house of Yahweh; there was no more spirit in
her. {9:5} She said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in
my own land of your acts, and of your wisdom. {9:6} However I didn't
believe their words, until I came, and my eyes had seen it; and,
behold, the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me: you
exceed the fame that I heard. {9:7} Happy are your men, and happy are
these your servants, who stand continually before you, and hear your
wisdom. {9:8} Blessed be Yahweh your God, who delighted in you, to set
you on his throne, to be king for Yahweh your God: because your God
loved Israel, to establish them forever, therefore made he you king
over them, to do justice and righteousness. {9:9} She gave the king one
hundred and twenty talents of gold, and spices in great abundance, and
precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba
gave to king Solomon. {9:10} The servants also of Huram, and the
servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees
and precious stones. {9:11} The king made of the algum trees terraces
for the house of Yahweh, and for the king's house, and harps and
psalteries for the singers: and there were none such seen before in the
land of Judah. {9:12} King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her
desire, whatever she asked, besides that which she had brought to the
king. So she turned, and went to her own land, she and her servants.
{9:13} Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six
hundred and sixty-six talents of gold, {9:14} besides that which the
traders and merchants brought: and all the kings of Arabia and the
governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon. {9:15}
King Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred
[shekels] of beaten gold went to one buckler. {9:16} [he made] three
hundred shields of beaten gold; three hundred [shekels] of gold went to
one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of
Lebanon. {9:17} Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and
overlaid it with pure gold. {9:18} nd there were six steps to the
throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne,
and stays on either side by the place of the seat, and two lions
standing beside the stays. {9:19} Twelve lions stood there on the one
side and on the other on the six steps: there was nothing like it made
in any kingdom. {9:20} All king Solomon's drinking vessels were of
gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of
pure gold: silver was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.
{9:21} For the king had ships that went to Tarshish with the servants
of Huram; once every three years came the ships of Tarshish, bringing
gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. {9:22} So king Solomon
exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. {9:23} All
the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his
wisdom, which God had put in his heart. {9:24} They brought every man
his tribute, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and clothing,
armor, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year. {9:25}
Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve
thousand horsemen, that he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the
king at Jerusalem. {9:26} He ruled over all the kings from the River
even to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. {9:27}
The king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he
to be as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland, for abundance.
{9:28} They brought horses for Solomon out of Egypt, and out of all
lands. {9:29} Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last,
aren't they written in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the
prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer
concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat? {9:30} Solomon reigned in
Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. {9:31} Solomon slept with his
fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father: and
Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.

    {10:1} Rehoboam went to Shechem; for all Israel were come to
Shechem to make him king. {10:2} It happened, when Jeroboam the son of
Nebat heard of it, (for he was in Egypt, where he had fled from the
presence of king Solomon), that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt. {10:3}
They sent and called him; and Jeroboam and all Israel came, and they
spoke to Rehoboam, saying, {10:4} Your father made our yoke grievous:
now therefore make you the grievous service of your father, and his
heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you. {10:5}
He said to them, Come again to me after three days. The people
departed. {10:6} King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had
stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What
counsel give you me to return answer to this people? {10:7} They spoke
to him, saying, If you are kind to this people, and please them, and
speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.
{10:8} But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given
him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him, who
stood before him. {10:9} He said to them, What counsel give you, that
we may return answer to this people, who have spoken to me, saying,
Make the yoke that your father did put on us lighter? {10:10} The young
men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, Thus shall you tell
the people who spoke to you, saying, Your father made our yoke heavy,
but make you it lighter to us; thus shall you say to them, My little
finger is thicker than my father's loins. {10:11} Now whereas my father
did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father
chastised you with whips, but I [will chastise you] with scorpions.
{10:12} So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day,
as the king bade, saying, Come to me again the third day. {10:13} The
king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of
the old men, {10:14} and spoke to them after the counsel of the young
men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my
father chastised you with whips, but I [will chastise you] with
scorpions. {10:15} So the king didn't listen to the people; for it was
brought about of God, that Yahweh might establish his word, which he
spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. {10:16}
When all Israel saw that the king didn't listen to them, the people
answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have
we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, Israel:
now see to your own house, David. So all Israel departed to their
tents. {10:17} But as for the children of Israel who lived in the
cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. {10:18} Then king Rehoboam
sent Hadoram, who was over the men subject to forced labor; and the
children of Israel stoned him to death with stones. King Rehoboam made
speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. {10:19} So
Israel rebelled against the house of David to this day.

   

   {11:1} When Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house
of Judah and Benjamin, one hundred eighty thousand chosen men, who were
warriors, to fight against Israel, to bring the kingdom again to
Rehoboam. {11:2} But the word of Yahweh came to Shemaiah the man of
God, saying, {11:3} Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of
Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, {11:4} Thus
says Yahweh, You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers:
return every man to his house; for this thing is of me. So they
listened to the words of Yahweh, and returned from going against
Jeroboam. {11:5} Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and built cities for
defense in Judah. {11:6} He built Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
{11:7} Beth Zur, and Soco, and Adullam, {11:8} and Gath, and Mareshah,
and Ziph, {11:9} and Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah, {11:10} and
Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin,
fortified cities. {11:11} He fortified the strongholds, and put
captains in them, and stores of food, and oil and wine. {11:12} In
every city [he put] shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong.
Judah and Benjamin belonged to him. {11:13} The priests and the Levites
who were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their border. {11:14}
For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to
Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they
should not execute the priest's office to Yahweh; {11:15} and he
appointed him priests for the high places, and for the male goats, and
for the calves which he had made. {11:16} After them, out of all the
tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek Yahweh, the God of
Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Yahweh, the God of their
fathers. {11:17} So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made
Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years; for they walked three
years in the way of David and Solomon. {11:18} Rehoboam took him a
wife, Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, [and of]
Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse; {11:19} and she bore
him sons: Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham. {11:20} After her he took
Maacah the daughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, and Attai, and
Ziza, and Shelomith. {11:21} Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of
Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen
wives, and sixty concubines, and became the father of twenty-eight sons
and sixty daughters.) {11:22} Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of
Maacah to be chief, [even] the prince among his brothers; for [he was
minded] to make him king. {11:23} He dealt wisely, and dispersed of all
his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to every
fortified city: and he gave them food in abundance. He sought [for
them] many wives.

   {12:1} It happened, when the kingdom of Rehoboam was established,
and he was strong, that he forsook the law of Yahweh, and all Israel
with him. {12:2} It happened in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that
Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had
trespassed against Yahweh, {12:3} with twelve hundred chariots, and
sixty thousand horsemen. The people were without number who came with
him out of Egypt: the Lubim, the Sukkiim, and the Ethiopians. {12:4} He
took the fortified cities which pertained to Judah, and came to
Jerusalem. {12:5} Now Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam, and to the
princes of Judah, who were gathered together to Jerusalem because of
Shishak, and said to them, Thus says Yahweh, You have forsaken me,
therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak. {12:6} Then the
princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said,
Yahweh is righteous. {12:7} When Yahweh saw that they humbled
themselves, the word of Yahweh came to Shemaiah, saying, They have
humbled themselves: I will not destroy them; but I will grant them some
deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the
hand of Shishak. {12:8} Nevertheless they shall be his servants, that
they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the
countries. {12:9} So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem,
and took away the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures
of the king's house: he took all away: he took away also the shields of
gold which Solomon had made. {12:10} King Rehoboam made in their place
shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the captains of
the guard, who kept the door of the king's house. {12:11} It was so,
that as often as the king entered into the house of Yahweh, the guard
came and bore them, and brought them back into the guard-chamber.
{12:12} When he humbled himself, the wrath of Yahweh turned from him,
so as not to destroy him altogether: and moreover in Judah there were
good things [found]. {12:13} So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in
Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he
began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city
which Yahweh had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his
name there: and his mother's name was Naamah the Ammonitess. {12:14} He
did that which was evil, because he didn't set his heart to seek
Yahweh. {12:15} Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, aren't they
written in the histories of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer,
after the manner of genealogies? There were wars between Rehoboam and
Jeroboam continually. {12:16} Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was
buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his place.

   {13:1} In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign
over Judah. {13:2} Three years reigned he in Jerusalem: and his
mother's name was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. There was
war between Abijah and Jeroboam. {13:3} Abijah joined battle with an
army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: and
Jeroboam set the battle in array against him with eight hundred
thousand chosen men, who were mighty men of valor. {13:4} Abijah stood
up on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill-country of Ephraim, and
said, Hear me, Jeroboam and all Israel: {13:5} Ought you not to know
that Yahweh, the God of Israel, gave the kingdom over Israel to David
forever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt? {13:6} Yet
Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David,
rose up, and rebelled against his lord. {13:7} There were gathered to
him worthless men, base fellows, who strengthened themselves against
Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and
tender-hearted, and could not withstand them. {13:8} Now you think to
withstand the kingdom of Yahweh in the hand of the sons of David; and
you are a great multitude, and there are with you the golden calves
which Jeroboam made you for gods. {13:9} Haven't you driven out the
priests of Yahweh, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made you
priests after the manner of the peoples of [other] lands? so that
whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams,
the same may be a priest of [those who are] no gods. {13:10} But as for
us, Yahweh is our God, and we have not forsaken him; and [we have]
priests ministering to Yahweh, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites in
their work: {13:11} and they burn to Yahweh every morning and every
evening burnt offerings and sweet incense: the show bread also [set
they] in order on the pure table; and the lampstand of gold with the
lamps of it, to burn every evening: for we keep the charge of Yahweh
our God; but you have forsaken him. {13:12} Behold, God is with us at
our head, and his priests with the trumpets of alarm to sound an alarm
against you. Children of Israel, don't you fight against Yahweh, the
God of your fathers; for you shall not prosper. {13:13} But Jeroboam
caused an ambush to come about behind them: so they were before Judah,
and the ambush was behind them. {13:14} When Judah looked back, behold,
the battle was before and behind them; and they cried to Yahweh, and
the priests sounded with the trumpets. {13:15} Then the men of Judah
gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it happened, that God
struck Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. {13:16} The
children of Israel fled before Judah; and God delivered them into their
hand. {13:17} Abijah and his people killed them with a great slaughter:
so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.
{13:18} Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time,
and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied on Yahweh, the
God of their fathers. {13:19} Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took
cities from him, Bethel with the towns of it, and Jeshanah with the
towns of it, and Ephron with the towns of it. {13:20} Neither did
Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and Yahweh
struck him, and he died. {13:21} But Abijah grew mighty, and took to
himself fourteen wives, and became the father of twenty-two sons, and
sixteen daughters. {13:22} The rest of the acts of Abijah, and his
ways, and his sayings, are written in the commentary of the prophet
Iddo.

   {14:1} So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the
city of David; and Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the
land was quiet ten years. {14:2} Asa did that which was good and right
in the eyes of Yahweh his God: {14:3} for he took away the foreign
altars, and the high places, and broke down the pillars, and hewed down
the Asherim, {14:4} and commanded Judah to seek Yahweh, the God of
their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. {14:5} Also he
took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the
sun-images: and the kingdom was quiet before him. {14:6} He built
fortified cities in Judah; for the land was quiet, and he had no war in
those years, because Yahweh had given him rest. {14:7} For he said to
Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and
towers, gates, and bars; the land is yet before us, because we have
sought Yahweh our God; we have sought him, and he has given us rest on
every side. So they built and prospered. {14:8} Asa had an army that
bore bucklers and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out
of Benjamin, that bore shields and drew bows, two hundred eighty
thousand: all these were mighty men of valor. {14:9} There came out
against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a million troops, and
three hundred chariots; and he came to Mareshah. {14:10} Then Asa went
out to meet him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of
Zephathah at Mareshah. {14:11} Asa cried to Yahweh his God, and said,
Yahweh, there is none besides you to help, between the mighty and him
who has no strength: help us, Yahweh our God; for we rely on you, and
in your name are we come against this multitude. Yahweh, you are our
God; don't let man prevail against you. {14:12} So Yahweh struck the
Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.
{14:13} Asa and the people who were with him pursued them to Gerar: and
there fell of the Ethiopians so many that they could not recover
themselves; for they were destroyed before Yahweh, and before his army;
and they carried away very much booty. {14:14} They struck all the
cities round about Gerar; for the fear of Yahweh came on them: and they
despoiled all the cities; for there was much spoil in them. {14:15}
They struck also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep in
abundance, and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.

   {15:1} The Spirit of God came on Azariah the son of Oded: {15:2} and
he went out to meet Asa, and said to him, Hear you me, Asa, and all
Judah and Benjamin: Yahweh is with you, while you are with him; and if
you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will
forsake you. {15:3} Now for a long season Israel was without the true
God, and without a teaching priest, and without law: {15:4} But when in
their distress they turned to Yahweh, the God of Israel, and sought
him, he was found of them. {15:5} In those times there was no peace to
him who went out, nor to him who came in; but great vexations were on
all the inhabitants of the lands. {15:6} They were broken in pieces,
nation against nation, and city against city; for God did vex them with
all adversity. {15:7} But be you strong, and don't let your hands be
slack; for your work shall be rewarded. {15:8} When Asa heard these
words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put
away the abominations out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and
out of the cities which he had taken from the hill-country of Ephraim;
and he renewed the altar of Yahweh, that was before the porch of
Yahweh. {15:9} He gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those who
sojourned with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for
they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that Yahweh
his God was with him. {15:10} So they gathered themselves together at
Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of
Asa. {15:11} They sacrificed to Yahweh in that day, of the spoil which
they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep. {15:12}
They entered into the covenant to seek Yahweh, the God of their
fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul; {15:13} and that
whoever would not seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, should be put to
death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. {15:14} They swore
to Yahweh with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and
with cornets. {15:15} All Judah rejoiced at the oath; for they had
sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and
he was found of them: and Yahweh gave them rest round about. {15:16}
Also Maacah, the mother of Asa the king, he removed from being queen,
because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; and Asa cut
down her image, and made dust of it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.
{15:17} But the high places were not taken away out of Israel:
nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days. {15:18} He
brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated,
and that he himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels.
{15:19} There was no more war to the five and thirtieth year of the
reign of Asa.

   {16:1} In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha
king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might
not allow anyone to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. {16:2} Then
Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of
Yahweh and of the king's house, and sent to Ben Hadad king of Syria,
who lived at Damascus, saying, {16:3} [There is] a league between me
and you, as [there was] between my father and your father: behold, I
have sent you silver and gold; go, break your league with Baasha king
of Israel, that he may depart from me. {16:4} Ben Hadad listened to
king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of
Israel; and they struck Ijon, and Dan, and Abel Maim, and all the
store-cities of Naphtali. {16:5} It happened, when Baasha heard of it,
that he left off building Ramah, and let his work cease. {16:6} Then
Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah,
and the timber of it, with which Baasha had built; and he built
therewith Geba and Mizpah. {16:7} At that time Hanani the seer came to
Asa king of Judah, and said to him, Because you have relied on the king
of Syria, and have not relied on Yahweh your God, therefore is the army
of the king of Syria escaped out of your hand. {16:8} Weren't the
Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge army, with chariots and horsemen
exceeding many? yet, because you did rely on Yahweh, he delivered them
into your hand. {16:9} For the eyes of Yahweh run back and forth
throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of
them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein you have done foolishly;
for from henceforth you shall have wars. {16:10} Then Asa was angry
with the seer, and put him in the prison-house; for he was in a rage
with him because of this thing. Asa oppressed some of the people at the
same time. {16:11} Behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, behold,
they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. {16:12}
In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet; his
disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he didn't seek Yahweh,
but to the physicians. {16:13} Asa slept with his fathers, and died in
the one and fortieth year of his reign. {16:14} They buried him in his
own tombs, which he had hewn out for himself in the city of David, and
laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odors and various kinds
[of spices] prepared by the perfumers' are: and they made a very great
burning for him.

   {17:1} Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened
himself against Israel. {17:2} He placed forces in all the fortified
cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the
cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken. {17:3} Yahweh was
with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father
David, and didn't seek the Baals, {17:4} but sought to the God of his
father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of
Israel. {17:5} Therefore Yahweh established the kingdom in his hand;
and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat tribute; and he had riches and
honor in abundance. {17:6} His heart was lifted up in the ways of
Yahweh: and furthermore he took away the high places and the Asherim
out of Judah. {17:7} Also in the third year of his reign he sent his
princes, even Ben Hail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethanel, and
Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah; {17:8} and with them the
Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and
Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and
Tob-adonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the
priests. {17:9} They taught in Judah, having the book of the law of
Yahweh with them; and they went about throughout all the cities of
Judah, and taught among the people. {17:10} The fear of Yahweh fell on
all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they
made no war against Jehoshaphat. {17:11} Some of the Philistines
brought Jehoshaphat presents, and silver for tribute; the Arabians also
brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven
thousand and seven hundred male goats. {17:12} Jehoshaphat grew great
exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles and cities of store. {17:13}
He had many works in the cities of Judah; and men of war, mighty men of
valor, in Jerusalem. {17:14} This was the numbering of them according
to their fathers' houses: Of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah
the captain, and with him mighty men of valor three hundred thousand;
{17:15} and next to him Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred
eighty thousand; {17:16} and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who
willingly offered himself to Yahweh; and with him two hundred thousand
mighty men of valor. {17:17} Of Benjamin: Eliada a mighty man of valor,
and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield; {17:18}
and next to him Jehozabad and with him one hundred eighty thousand
ready prepared for war. {17:19} These were those who waited on the
king, besides those whom the king put in the fortified cities
throughout all Judah.

   {18:1} Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he
joined affinity with Ahab. {18:2} After certain years he went down to
Ahab to Samaria. Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and
for the people who were with him, and moved him to go up [with him] to
Ramoth-gilead. {18:3} Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of
Judah, Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead? He answered him, I am as
you are, and my people as your people; and [we will be] with you in the
war. {18:4} Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Please inquire
first for the word of Yahweh. {18:5} Then the king of Israel gathered
the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, Shall we go
to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? They said, Go up; for
God will deliver it into the hand of the king. {18:6} But Jehoshaphat
said, Isn't there here a prophet of Yahweh besides, that we may inquire
of him? {18:7} The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, There is yet one
man by whom we may inquire of Yahweh: but I hate him; for he never
prophesies good concerning me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the
son of Imla. Jehoshaphat said, Don't let the king say so. {18:8} Then
the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Get quickly Micaiah the
son of Imla. {18:9} Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of
Judah sat each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, and they were
sitting in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and
all the prophets were prophesying before them. {18:10} Zedekiah the son
of Chenaanah made him horns of iron, and said, Thus says Yahweh, With
these shall you push the Syrians, until they be consumed. {18:11} All
the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and
prosper; for Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the king. {18:12}
The messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, Behold,
the words of the prophets [declare] good to the king with one mouth:
let your word therefore, Please be like one of theirs, and speak you
good. {18:13} Micaiah said, As Yahweh lives, what my God says, that
will I speak. {18:14} When he was come to the king, the king said to
him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I
forbear? He said, Go up, and prosper; and they shall be delivered into
your hand. {18:15} The king said to him, How many times shall I adjure
you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of Yahweh?
{18:16} He said, I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep
that have no shepherd: and Yahweh said, These have no master; let them
return every man to his house in peace. {18:17} The king of Israel said
to Jehoshaphat, Didn't I tell you that he would not prophesy good
concerning me, but evil? {18:18} [Micaiah] said, Therefore hear you the
word of Yahweh: I saw Yahweh sitting on his throne, and all the army of
heaven standing on his right hand and on his left. {18:19} Yahweh said,
Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at
Ramoth-gilead? One spoke saying after this manner, and another saying
after that manner. {18:20} There came forth a spirit, and stood before
Yahweh, and said, I will entice him. Yahweh said to him, 'How?' {18:21}
He said, 'I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of
all his prophets.' He said, 'You shall entice him, and shall prevail
also: go forth, and do so.' {18:22} Now therefore, behold, Yahweh has
put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets; and Yahweh has
spoken evil concerning you. {18:23} Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah
came near, and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went
the Spirit of Yahweh from me to speak to you? {18:24} Micaiah said,
Behold, you shall see on that day, when you shall go into an inner
chamber to hide yourself. {18:25} The king of Israel said, Take
Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to
Joash the king's son; {18:26} and say, Thus says the king, Put this
fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with
water of affliction, until I return in peace. {18:27} Micaiah said, If
you return at all in peace, Yahweh has not spoken by me. He said, Hear,
you peoples, all of you. {18:28} So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat
the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. {18:29} The king of Israel
said to Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and go into the battle;
but put you on your robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and
they went into the battle. {18:30} Now the king of Syria had commanded
the captains of his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor
great, save only with the king of Israel. {18:31} It happened, when the
captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the
king of Israel. Therefore they turned about to fight against him: but
Jehoshaphat cried out, and Yahweh helped him; and God moved them [to
depart] from him. {18:32} It happened, when the captains of the
chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back
from pursuing him. {18:33} A certain man drew his bow at a venture, and
struck the king of Israel between the joints of the armor. Therefore he
said to the driver of the chariot, Turn your hand, and carry me out of
the army; for I am sore wounded. {18:34} The battle increased that day:
however the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the
Syrians until the even; and about the time of the going down of the sun
he died.

   {19:1} Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace
to Jerusalem. {19:2} Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet
him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Should you help the wicked, and love
those who hate Yahweh? for this thing wrath is on you from before
Yahweh. {19:3} Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that
you have put away the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart
to seek God. {19:4} Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem: and he went out
again among the people from Beersheba to the hill-country of Ephraim,
and brought them back to Yahweh, the God of their fathers. {19:5} He
set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah,
city by city, {19:6} and said to the judges, Consider what you do: for
you don't judge for man, but for Yahweh; and [he is] with you in the
judgment. {19:7} Now therefore let the fear of Yahweh be on you; take
heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with Yahweh our God, nor
respect of persons, nor taking of bribes. {19:8} Moreover in Jerusalem
did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites and the priests, and of the heads of
the fathers' [houses] of Israel, for the judgment of Yahweh, and for
controversies. They returned to Jerusalem. {19:9} He charged them,
saying, Thus shall you do in the fear of Yahweh, faithfully, and with a
perfect heart. {19:10} Whenever any controversy shall come to you from
your brothers who dwell in their cities, between blood and blood,
between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, you shall warn
them, that they not be guilty towards Yahweh, and so wrath come on you
and on your brothers: this do, and you shall not be guilty. {19:11}
Behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of Yahweh;
and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in
all the king's matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you.
Deal courageously, and Yahweh be with the good.

   {20:1} It happened after this, that the children of Moab, and the
children of Ammon, and with them some of the Ammonites, came against
Jehoshaphat to battle. {20:2} Then there came some who told
Jehoshaphat, saying, There comes a great multitude against you from
beyond the sea from Syria; and, behold, they are in Hazazon Tamar (the
same is En Gedi). {20:3} Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek to
Yahweh; and he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. {20:4} Judah
gathered themselves together, to seek [help] of Yahweh: even out of all
the cities of Judah they came to seek Yahweh. {20:5} Jehoshaphat stood
in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of Yahweh, before
the new court; {20:6} and he said, Yahweh, the God of our fathers,
aren't you God in heaven? and aren't you ruler over all the kingdoms of
the nations? and in your hand is power and might, so that none is able
to withstand you. {20:7} Did not you, our God, drive out the
inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it to the
seed of Abraham your friend forever? {20:8} They lived therein, and
have built you a sanctuary therein for your name, saying, {20:9} If
evil come on us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will
stand before this house, and before you, (for your name is in this
house), and cry to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.
{20:10} Now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir,
whom you would not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of
Egypt, but they turned aside from them, and didn't destroy them;
{20:11} behold, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of your
possession, which you have given us to inherit. {20:12} Our God, will
you not judge them? for we have no might against this great company
that comes against us; neither know we what to do: but out eyes are on
you. {20:13} All Judah stood before Yahweh, with their little ones,
their wives, and their children. {20:14} Then on Jahaziel the son of
Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah,
the Levite, of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of Yahweh in the
midst of the assembly; {20:15} and he said, Listen you, all Judah, and
you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you king Jehoshaphat: Thus says
Yahweh to you, Don't be afraid you, neither be dismayed by reason of
this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. {20:16}
Tomorrow go you down against them: behold, they come up by the ascent
of Ziz; and you shall find them at the end of the valley, before the
wilderness of Jeruel. {20:17} You shall not need to fight in this
[battle]: set yourselves, stand you still, and see the salvation of
Yahweh with you, O Judah and Jerusalem; don't be afraid, nor be
dismayed: tomorrow go out against them: for Yahweh is with you. {20:18}
Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground; and all Judah
and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before Yahweh, worshipping
Yahweh. {20:19} The Levites, of the children of the Kohathites and of
the children of the Korahites, stood up to praise Yahweh, the God of
Israel, with an exceeding loud voice. {20:20} They rose early in the
morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went
forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, Judah, and you inhabitants
of Jerusalem: believe in Yahweh your God, so shall you be established;
believe his prophets, so shall you prosper. {20:21} When he had taken
counsel with the people, he appointed those who should sing to Yahweh,
and give praise in holy array, as they went out before the army, and
say, Give thanks to Yahweh; for his loving kindness endures forever.
{20:22} When they began to sing and to praise, Yahweh set liers-in-wait
against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come
against Judah; and they were struck. {20:23} For the children of Ammon
and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, utterly to
kill and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants
of Seir, everyone helped to destroy another. {20:24} When Judah came to
the watch-tower of the wilderness, they looked at the multitude; and,
behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and there were none
who escaped. {20:25} When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take the
spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches and dead
bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves,
more than they could carry away: and they were three days in taking the
spoil, it was so much. {20:26} On the fourth day they assembled
themselves in the valley of Beracah; for there they blessed Yahweh:
therefore the name of that place was called The valley of Beracah to
this day. {20:27} Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem,
and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with
joy; for Yahweh had made them to rejoice over their enemies. {20:28}
They came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets to the
house of Yahweh. {20:29} The fear of God was on all the kingdoms of the
countries, when they heard that Yahweh fought against the enemies of
Israel. {20:30} So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet; for his God gave
him rest round about. {20:31} Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was
thirty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned
twenty-five years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Azubah the
daughter of Shilhi. {20:32} He walked in the way of Asa his father, and
didn't turn aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of
Yahweh. {20:33} However the high places were not taken away; neither as
yet had the people set their hearts to the God of their fathers.
{20:34} Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last,
behold, they are written in the history of Jehu the son of Hanani,
which is inserted in the book of the kings of Israel. {20:35} After
this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of
Israel; the same did very wickedly: {20:36} and he joined himself with
him to make ships to go to Tarshish; and they made the ships in Ezion
Geber. {20:37} Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied
against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because you have joined yourself with
Ahaziah, Yahweh has destroyed your works. The ships were broken, so
that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

   {21:1} Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his
fathers in the city of David: and Jehoram his son reigned in his place.
{21:2} He had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, and Jehiel,
and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were
the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. {21:3} 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. {21:4} 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.
{21:5} Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he began to reign; and he
reigned eight years in Jerusalem. {21:6} 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.
{21:7} 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. {21:8} In his days Edom
revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.
{21:9} 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. {21:10} 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. {21:11} Moreover he made high places in
the mountains of Judah, and made the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play
the prostitute, and led Judah astray. {21:12} 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, {21:13} 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: {21:14} behold, Yahweh will strike with a
great plague your people, and your children, and your wives, and all
your substance; {21:15} and you shall have great sickness by disease of
your bowels, until your bowels fall out by reason of the sickness, day
by day. {21:16} Yahweh stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the
Philistines, and of the Arabians who are beside the Ethiopians: {21:17}
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. {21:18} After all this Yahweh struck him in
his bowels with an incurable disease. {21:19} 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. {21:20} 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.

   {22:1} 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. {22:2} 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. {22:3} He also walked in the ways of
the house of Ahab; for his mother was his counselor to do wickedly.
{22:4} 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. {22:5} He walked also after their counsel,
and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against
Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead: and the Syrians wounded Joram.
{22:6} 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. {22:7} 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. {22:8} 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. {22:9} 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. {22:10} Now when Athaliah the mother
of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the
seed royal of the house of Judah. {22:11} But Jehoshabeath, the
daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him 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. {22:12} He was with them
hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.

   {23:1} In the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took
the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the
son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of
Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him.
{23:2} 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. {23:3} 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. {23:4}
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; {23:5} and a third part shall be at the king's house;
and a third part at the gate of the foundation: and all the people
shall be in the courts of the house of Yahweh. {23:6} 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. {23:7} 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. {23:8} 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. {23:9} 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. {23:10} 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. {23:11} 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. {23:12} When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and
praising the king, she came to the people into the house of Yahweh:
{23:13} 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! {23:14} 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. {23:15} 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. {23:16} Jehoiada made a covenant
between himself, and all the people, and the king, that they should be
Yahweh's people. {23:17} 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. {23:18} 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. {23:19} He set the porters at the gates of the house of Yahweh,
that no one who was unclean in anything should enter in. {23:20} 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. {23:21} So all
the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. Athaliah they
had slain with the sword.

   {24:1} 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. {24:2} Joash did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh
all the days of Jehoiada the priest. {24:3} Jehoiada took for him two
wives; and he became the father of sons and daughters. {24:4} It
happened after this, that Joash was minded to restore the house of
Yahweh. {24:5} 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. {24:6} 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? {24:7} For the sons of Athaliah, that
wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the
dedicated things of the house of Yahweh did they bestow on the Baals.
{24:8} So the king commanded, and they made a chest, and set it outside
at the gate of the house of Yahweh. {24:9} 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. {24:10} All the
princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the
chest, until they had made an end. {24:11} 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. {24:12} 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. {24:13} 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.
{24:14} 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. {24:15} But
Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and he died; one hundred thirty
years old was he when he died. {24:16} They buried him in the city of
David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, and toward
God and his house. {24:17} Now after the death of Jehoiada came the
princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king
listened to them. {24:18} 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. {24:19} Yet he sent
prophets to them, to bring them again to Yahweh; and they testified
against them: but they would not give ear. {24:20} 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. {24:21} They conspired
against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king
in the court of the house of Yahweh. {24:22} 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. {24:23} 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. {24:24} 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. {24:25} 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. {24:26} These are those who conspired against him: Zabad the son
of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the
Moabitess. {24:27} 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.

   {25:1} 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. {25:2} He did that which was right in the eyes
of Yahweh, but not with a perfect heart. {25:3} Now it happened, when
the kingdom was established to him, that he killed his servants who had
killed the king his father. {25:4} 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. {25:5} 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. {25:6} He hired also one
hundred thousand mighty men of valor out of Israel for one hundred
talents of silver. {25:7} 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. {25:8} 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.
{25:9} 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. {25:10}
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. {25:11}
Amaziah took courage, and led forth his people, and went to the Valley
of Salt, and struck of the children of Seir ten thousand. {25:12}
[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. {25:13} 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. {25:14} 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. {25:15} 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? {25:16} 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. {25:17} Then
Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of
Jehoahaz the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one
another in the face. {25:18} 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. {25:19} 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?
{25:20} 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. {25:21} 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. {25:22} Judah was put to the
worse before Israel; and they fled every man to his tent. {25:23} 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. {25:24} [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. {25:25} Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the
death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years. {25:26}
Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, aren't
they written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel? {25:27} 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. {25:28} They
brought him on horses, and buried him with his fathers in the city of
Judah.

   {26:1} All the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years
old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah. {26:2} He
built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with
his fathers. {26:3} Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to
reign; and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem: and his mother's
name was Jechiliah, of Jerusalem. {26:4} He did that which was right in
the eyes of Yahweh, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.
{26:5} 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. {26:6} 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. {26:7} God helped him against the
Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gur Baal, and the
Meunim. {26:8} The Ammonites gave tribute to Uzziah: and his name
spread abroad even to the entrance of Egypt; for he grew exceeding
strong. {26:9} Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner
gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning [of the wall], and
fortified them. {26:10} He built towers in the wilderness, and hewed
out many cisterns, for he had much cattle; 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. {26:11} 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. {26:12} The whole number of the heads of fathers' [houses],
even the mighty men of valor, was two thousand and six hundred. {26:13}
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. {26:14} Uzziah prepared for them, even for all the
army, shields, and spears, and helmets, and coats of mail, and bows,
and stones for slinging. {26:15} 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. {26:16} 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. {26:17} Azariah the
priest went in after him, and with him eighty priests of Yahweh, who
were valiant men: {26:18} 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. {26:19} 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. {26:20} 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. {26:21} 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. {26:22} Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah,
first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, write. {26:23}
So Uzziah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers
in the field of burial which belonged to the kings; for they said, He
is a leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his place.

   {27:1} 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. {27:2} 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. {27:3} He built the upper gate of the house of Yahweh, and
on the wall of Ophel he built much. {27:4} Moreover he built cities in
the hill-country of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and
towers. {27:5} 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. {27:6} So Jotham became
mighty, because he ordered his ways before Yahweh his God. {27:7} 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. {27:8}
He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned
sixteen years in Jerusalem. {27:9} Jotham slept with his fathers, and
they buried him in the city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his
place.

   {28:1} 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; {28:2} but he
walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images
for the Baals. {28:3} 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. {28:4} He sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and
on the hills, and under every green tree. {28:5} 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. {28:6} 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. {28:7} 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. {28:8} 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.
{28:9} 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. {28:10} 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? {28:11} 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. {28:12} Then certain of the heads of the
children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of
Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of
Hadlai, stood up against those who came from the war, {28:13} 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. {28:14} So the armed men left the captives and
the spoil before the princes and all the assembly. {28:15} 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. {28:16} At that time did king Ahaz send to the kings of
Assyria to help him. {28:17} For again the Edomites had come and struck
Judah, and carried away captives. {28:18} 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. {28:19} For Yahweh brought Judah low because of
Ahaz king of Israel; for he had dealt wantonly in Judah, and trespassed
severely against Yahweh. {28:20} Tilgath Pilneser king of Assyria came
to him, and distressed him, but didn't strengthen him. {28:21} 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. {28:22} In the time of his distress did he trespass
yet more against Yahweh, this same king Ahaz. {28:23} 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. {28:24} 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. {28:25} 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. {28:26} 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. {28:27} 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.

   {29:1} 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. {29:2} He did that which was
right in the eyes of Yahweh, according to all that David his father had
done. {29:3} He in the first year of his reign, in the first month,
opened the doors of the house of Yahweh, and repaired them. {29:4} He
brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into
the broad place on the east, {29:5} 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. {29:6} 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. {29:7} Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put
out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings
in the holy place to the God of Israel. {29:8} 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. {29:9} For, behold, our fathers have fallen by the
sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity
for this. {29:10} Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with Yahweh,
the God of Israel, that his fierce anger may turn away from us. {29:11}
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. {29:12} Then the Levites arose, Mahath, the son of
Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; and
of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of
Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden
the son of Joah; {29:13} and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and
Jeuel; and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah; {29:14} and
of the sons of Heman, Jehuel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun,
Shemaiah and Uzziel. {29:15} 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. {29:16}
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. {29:17} Now they
began on the first [day] of the first month to sanctify, and on the
eighth day of the month came they to the porch of Yahweh; and they
sanctified the house of Yahweh in eight days: and on the sixteenth day
of the first month they made an end. {29:18} 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.
{29:19} 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. {29:20} Then Hezekiah the king
arose early, and gathered the princes of the city, and went up to the
house of Yahweh. {29:21} 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. {29:22} 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.
{29:23} They brought near the male goats for the sin-offering before
the king and the assembly; and they laid their hands on them: {29:24}
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. {29:25} He set the Levites in the house of Yahweh
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 the commandment was of Yahweh by his prophets. {29:26} The
Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the
trumpets. {29:27} 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. {29:28} All the assembly worshiped, and the singers sang, and
the trumpeters sounded; all this [continued] until the burnt offering
was finished. {29:29} When they had made an end of offering, the king
and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped.
{29:30} 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. {29:31} 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. {29:32} 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. {29:33}
The consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.
{29:34} But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all
the burnt offerings: 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. {29:35} 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. {29:36} Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the
people, because of that which God had prepared for the people: for the
thing was done suddenly.

   {30:1} 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. {30:2}
For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the assembly
in Jerusalem, to keep the Passover in the second month. {30:3} For they
could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified
themselves in sufficient number, neither had the people gathered
themselves together to Jerusalem. {30:4} The thing was right in the
eyes of the king and of all the assembly. {30:5} So they established a
decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even
to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover to Yahweh, the God
of Israel, at Jerusalem: for they had not kept it in great numbers in
such sort as it is written. {30:6} So the posts went with the letters
from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and
according to the commandment of the king, saying, 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. {30:7} 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. {30:8} 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. {30:9} 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. {30:10} 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. {30:11} Nevertheless certain men of Asher and
Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.
{30:12} 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. {30:13} There assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the
feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great assembly.
{30:14} They arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and
all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook
Kidron. {30:15} Then they killed the Passover on the fourteenth [day]
of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and
sanctified themselves, and brought burnt offerings into the house of
Yahweh. {30:16} 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. {30:17} 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. {30:18} For a multitude of
the people, even many of Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun,
had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the Passover otherwise
than it is written. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, The good
Yahweh pardon everyone {30:19} who sets his heart to seek God, Yahweh,
the God of his fathers, though not [cleansed] according to the
purification of the sanctuary. {30:20} Yahweh listened to Hezekiah, and
healed the people. {30:21} 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. {30:22} 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. {30:23} The whole assembly took
counsel to keep other seven days; and they kept [other] seven days with
gladness. {30:24} For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the 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. {30:25} 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. {30:26} So there was
great joy in Jerusalem; for since the time of Solomon the son of David
king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem. {30:27} Then the
priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was
heard, and their prayer came up to his holy habitation, even to heaven.

   {31:1} 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. {31:2} 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. {31:3} [He
appointed] also the king's portion of his substance for the
burnt-offerings, [to wit], for the morning and evening burnt offerings,
and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, and for the new moons, and
for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of Yahweh. {31:4}
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. {31:5} 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. {31:6} 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. {31:7} In
the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and
finished them in the seventh month. {31:8} When Hezekiah and the
princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed Yahweh, and his people
Israel. {31:9} Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites
concerning the heaps. {31:10} 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. {31:11} Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare
chambers in the house of Yahweh; and they prepared them. {31:12} 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. {31:13} 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. {31:14} 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. {31:15} 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: {31:16} 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; {31:17} 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; {31:18} 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.
{31:19} 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. {31:20}
Thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah; and he worked that which was
good and right and faithful before Yahweh his God. {31:21} In every
work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law,
and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart,
and prospered.

   {32:1} After these things, and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king
of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the
fortified cities, and thought to win them for himself. {32:2} When
Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to
fight against Jerusalem, {32:3} he took counsel with his princes and
his mighty men to stop the waters of the springs which were outside of
the city; and they helped him. {32:4} 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? {32:5} 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. {32:6} 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, {32:7}
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: {32:8} 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. {32:9}
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,
{32:10} Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do you trust,
that you abide the siege in Jerusalem? {32:11} 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?
{32:12} 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? {32:13}  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? {32:14} 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? {32:15} 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? {32:16} His servants spoke yet more against Yahweh
God, and against his servant Hezekiah. {32:17} 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. {32:18} 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.
{32:19} 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. {32:20}
Hezekiah the king, and Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, prayed
because of this, and cried to heaven. {32:21} 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. {32:22}
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. {32:23} 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.
{32:24} In those days Hezekiah was sick even to death: and he prayed to
Yahweh; and he spoke to him, and gave him a sign. {32:25} 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. {32:26} 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.
{32:27} 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;
{32:28} store-houses also for the increase of grain and new wine and
oil; and stalls for all manner of animals, and flocks in folds. {32:29}
Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in
abundance; for God had given him very much substance. {32:30} 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. {32:31} 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. {32:32} 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. {32:33} 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.

   {33:1} Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he
reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. {33:2} 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. {33:3} 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. {33:4} He built altars in the
house of Yahweh, of which Yahweh said, In Jerusalem shall my name be
forever. {33:5} He built altars for all the army of the sky in the two
courts of the house of Yahweh. {33:6} 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. {33:7} 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: {33:8} 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. {33:9}
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. {33:10} Yahweh spoke to Manasseh, and to his
people; but they gave no heed. {33:11} 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. {33:12}
When he was in distress, he begged Yahweh his God, and humbled himself
greatly before the God of his fathers. {33:13} 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. {33:14} 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. {33:15} 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. {33:16} 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. {33:17}
Nevertheless the people sacrificed still in the high places, but only
to Yahweh their God. {33:18} 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. {33:19} 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. {33:20} So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they
buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his place.
{33:21} Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; and he
reigned two years in Jerusalem. {33:22} 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. {33:23} He didn't humble himself before Yahweh, as Manasseh his
father had humbled himself; but this same Amon trespassed more and
more. {33:24} His servants conspired against him, and put him to death
in his own house. {33:25} 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.

   {34:1} Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; and he
reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. {34:2} 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. {34:3}
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. {34:4} They
broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence; and the sun-images
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. {34:5} He burnt the bones of the priests on their
altars, and purged Judah and Jerusalem. {34:6} [So did he] in the
cities of Manasseh and Ephraim and Simeon, even to Naphtali, in their
ruins round about. {34:7} He broke down the altars, and beat the
Asherim and the engraved images into powder, and hewed down all the
sun-images throughout all the land of Israel, and returned to
Jerusalem. {34:8} 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. {34:9} 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. {34:10} 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; {34:11}
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. {34:12} 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. {34:13} 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. {34:14} 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. {34:15} Hilkiah answered Shaphan
the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of Yahweh.
Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan. {34:16} 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. {34:17} 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. {34:18} Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the
priest has delivered me a book. Shaphan read therein before the king.
{34:19} It happened, when the king had heard the words of the law, that
he tore his clothes. {34:20} 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, {34:21} 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. {34:22} 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. {34:23} She said to
them, Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: Tell you the man who sent
you to me, {34:24} 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.
{34:25} 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. {34:26} 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, {34:27} 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. {34:28} 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. {34:29} Then the king sent and gathered together all
the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. {34:30} 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. {34:31} 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. {34:32} 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. {34:33} 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.

   {35:1} Josiah kept a Passover to Yahweh in Jerusalem: and they
killed the Passover on the fourteenth [day] of the first month. {35:2}
He set the priests in their offices, and encouraged them to the service
of the house of Yahweh. {35:3} 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. {35:4} 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. {35:5} 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. {35:6} Kill the Passover,
and sanctify yourselves, and prepare for your brothers, to do according
to the word of Yahweh by Moses. {35:7} 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. {35:8}
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 cattle], and three hundred oxen. {35:9}
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 cattle], and five
hundred oxen. {35:10} So the service was prepared, and the priests
stood in their place, and the Levites by their divisions, according to
the king's commandment. {35:11} They killed the Passover, and the
priests sprinkled [the blood which they received] of their hand, and
the Levites flayed them. {35:12} 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. {35:13} 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. {35:14} 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. {35:15} 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. {35:16} 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. {35:17} The children of Israel who were present kept the
Passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days.
{35:18} 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.
{35:19} In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this Passover
kept. {35:20} 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. {35:21} 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. {35:22} 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. {35:23} The
archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me
away; for I am sore wounded. {35:24} 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. {35:25} 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.
{35:26} Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his good deeds,
according to that which is written in the law of Yahweh, {35:27} and
his acts, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the
kings of Israel and Judah.

   {36:1} Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah,
and made him king in his father's place in Jerusalem. {36:2} Joahaz was
twenty-three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three
months in Jerusalem. {36:3} The king of Egypt deposed him at Jerusalem,
and fined the land one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.
{36:4} 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. {36:5} 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. {36:6} Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and
bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon. {36:7} Nebuchadnezzar
also carried of the vessels of the house of Yahweh to Babylon, and put
them in his temple at Babylon. {36:8} 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. {36:9} 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. {36:10} 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.
{36:11} Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; and
he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: {36:12} 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. {36:13} 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. {36:14} 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. {36:15} 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:
{36:16} 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. {36:17} 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.
{36:18} 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. {36:19} 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.
{36:20} Those who had escaped from the sword carried he away to
Babylon; and they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of
the kingdom of Persia: {36:21} 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.
{36:22} 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,
{36:23} 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.

   

   

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