
The Second Book of the Chronicles

   {1:1} And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom,
and Jehovah his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly. {1:2}
And Solomon spake unto 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 Jehovah had made in
the wilderness. {1:4} But the ark of God had David brought 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 tabernacle of Jehovah: and Solomon and the assembly sought
unto it. {1:6} And Solomon went up thither to the brazen altar before
Jehovah, which was at the tent of meeting, and offered a thousand
burnt-offerings upon it.

   {1:7} In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him,
Ask what I shall give thee. {1:8} And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast
showed great lovingkindness unto David my father, and hast made me king
in his stead. {1:9} Now, O Jehovah God, let thy promise unto David my
father be established; for thou hast made me king over a people like
the dust of the earth in multitude. {1:10} Give me now wisdom and
knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who
can judge this thy people, that is so great? {1:11} And God said to
Solomon, Because this was in thy heart, and thou hast not asked riches,
wealth, or honor, nor the life of them that hate thee, neither yet hast
asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that
thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: {1:12}
wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches,
and wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have
been before thee; neither shall there any after thee have the like.
{1:13} So Solomon came from the high place that was at Gibeon, from
before the tent of meeting, unto Jerusalem; and he reigned over Israel.
{1:14} And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a
thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that
he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. {1:15}
And the king made silver and gold to be in Jerusalem as stones, and
cedars made he to be as the sycomore-trees that are in the lowland, for
abundance. {1:16} And the horses which Solomon had were brought out of
Egypt; the king's merchants received them in droves, each drove at a
price. {1:17} And they fetched up and brought out of Egypt a chariot
for six hundred [shekels] of silver, and a horse for a hundred and
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 Jehovah,
and a house for his kingdom. {2:2} And Solomon counted out threescore
and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand men that
were hewers in the mountains, and three thousand and six hundred to
oversee them. {2:3} And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying,
As thou didst deal with David my father, and didst send him cedars to
build him a house to dwell therein, [even so deal with me]. {2:4}
Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of Jehovah my God, to
dedicate it to him, and to burn before him incense of sweet spices, and
for the continual showbread, and for the burnt-offerings morning and
evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the set feasts
of Jehovah our God. This is [an ordinance] for ever to Israel. {2:5}
And the house which I build is great; for great is our God above all
gods. {2:6} But who is able to build him a house, seeing heaven and the
heaven of heavens cannot 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 skilful to work in gold, and in silver, and in
brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that
knoweth how to grave [all manner of] gravings, [to be] with the skilful
men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father
did provide. {2:8} Send me also cedar-trees, fir-trees, and
algum-trees, out of Lebanon; for I know that thy servants know how to
cut timber in Lebanon: and, behold, my servants shall be with thy
servants, {2:9} even to prepare me timber in abundance; for the house
which I am about to build shall be great and wonderful. {2:10} And,
behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty
thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of
barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of
oil. {2:11} Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he
sent to Solomon, Because Jehovah loveth his people, he hath made thee
king over them. {2:12} Huram said moreover, Blessed be Jehovah, the God
of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king
a wise son, endued with discretion and understanding, that should build
a house for Jehovah, and a house for his kingdom. {2:13} And now I have
sent a skilful man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father's,
{2:14} the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan; and his father was a
man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron,
in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in
crimson, also to grave any manner of graving, and to devise any device;
that there may be [a place] appointed unto him with thy skilful men,
and with the skilful men of my lord David thy father. {2:15} Now
therefore the wheat and the barley, the oil and the wine, which my lord
hath spoken of, let him send unto his servants: {2:16} and we will cut
wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need; and we will bring it
to thee in floats by sea to Joppa; and thou shalt carry it up to
Jerusalem. {2:17} And Solomon numbered all the sojourners that were in
the land of Israel, after the numbering wherewith David his father had
numbered them; and they were found a hundred and fifty thousand and
three thousand and six hundred. {2:18} And he set threescore and ten
thousand of them to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand that were
hewers in the mountains, and three thousand and six hundred overseers
to set the people at work.



   {3:1} Then Solomon began to build the house of Jehovah at Jerusalem
on mount Moriah, where [Jehovah] appeared unto David his father, which
he made ready in the place that David had appointed, in the
threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite. {3:2} And he began to build in
the second [day] of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign.
{3:3} Now these are the foundations which Solomon laid for the building
of the house of God. The length by cubits after the first measure was
threescore cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits. {3:4} And the porch
that was before [the house], the length of it, according to the breadth
of the house, was twenty cubits, and the height a hundred and twenty;
and he overlaid it within with pure gold. {3:5} And the greater house
he ceiled with fir-wood, which he overlaid with fine gold, and wrought
thereon palm-trees and chains. {3:6} And he garnished the house with
precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim. {3:7} He
overlaid also the house, the beams, the thresholds, and the walls
thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubim on the
walls. {3:8} And he made the most holy house: the length thereof,
according to the breadth of the house, was twenty cubits, and the
breadth thereof twenty cubits; and he overlaid it with fine gold,
amounting to six hundred talents. {3:9} And the weight of the nails was
fifty shekels of gold. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold.
{3:10} And in the most holy house he made two cherubim of image work;
and they overlaid them with gold. {3:11} And 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} And 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} And he made the veil of blue, and
purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubim thereon.
{3:15} Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty and five
cubits high, and the capital that was on the top of each of them was
five cubits. {3:16} And he made chains in the oracle, and put [them] on
the tops of the pillars; and he made a hundred pomegranates, and put
them on the chains. {3:17} And 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
thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the
height thereof. {4:2} Also he made the molten sea of ten cubits from
brim to brim, round in compass; and the height thereof was five cubits;
and a line of thirty cubits compassed it round about. {4:3} And 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 upon twelve oxen, three looking toward
the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward
the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set upon
them above, and all their hinder parts were inward. {4:5} And it was a
handbreadth thick; and the brim thereof was wrought 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 lavers, 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} And he made the ten candlesticks 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. And he made a 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} And he set the sea on
the right side [of the house] eastward, toward the south. {4:11} And
Huram made the pots, and the shovels, and the basins. So Huram made an
end of doing the work that he wrought 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 upon the pillars. {4:14} He made also the bases, and the
lavers made he upon 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 thereof, did Huram his father make for king Solomon
for the house of Jehovah 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} And Solomon
made all the vessels that were in the house of God, the golden altar
also, and the tables whereon was the showbread; {4:20} and the
candlesticks 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 firepans, of pure gold: and as
for the entry of the house, the inner doors thereof 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 wrought for the house of
Jehovah was finished. And 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,
unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of Jehovah out of
the city of David, which is Zion. {5:3} nd all the men of Israel
assembled themselves unto the king at the feast, which was [in] the
seventh month. {5:4} And all the elders of Israel came: and the Levites
took up the ark; {5:5} and they brought up the ark, and the tent of
meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the Tent; these did the
priests the Levites bring up. {5:6} And king Solomon and all the
congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were before the
ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be counted nor numbered
for multitude. {5:7} And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant
of Jehovah unto 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 staves thereof above. {5:9} And the
staves were so long that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark
before the oracle; but they were not seen without: and there it is unto
this day. {5:10} There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which
Moses put [there] at Horeb, when Jehovah made a covenant with the
children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt. {5:11} And it came to
pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, (for all the
priests that were present had sanctified themselves, and did not keep
their courses; {5:12} also the Levites who were the singers, all of
them, even Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and their brethren,
arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at
the east end of the altar, and with them a hundred and twenty priests
sounding with trumpets;) {5:13} it came to pass, when the trumpeters
and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and
thanking Jehovah; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets
and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised Jehovah, [saying],
For he is good; for his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever; that then
the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of Jehovah, {5:14} so
that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud:
for the glory of Jehovah filled the house of God.



   {6:1} Then spake Solomon, Jehovah hath said that he would dwell in
the thick darkness. {6:2} But I have built thee a house of habitation,
and a place for thee to dwell in for ever. {6:3} And the king turned
his face, and blessed all the assembly of Israel: and all the assembly
of Israel stood. {6:4} And he said, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of
Israel, who spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath 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 Jehovah, the God of
Israel. {6:8} But Jehovah said unto David my father, Whereas it was in
thy heart to build a house for my name, thou didst well that it was in
thy heart: {6:9} nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy
son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house
for my name. {6:10} And Jehovah hath performed his word that he spake;
for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne
of Israel, as Jehovah promised, and have built the house for the name
of Jehovah, the God of Israel. {6:11} And there have I set the ark,
wherein is the covenant of Jehovah, which he made with the children of
Israel. {6:12} And he stood before the altar of Jehovah 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 upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the
assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven;) {6:14}
and he said, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, there is no God like thee,
in heaven, or on earth; who keepest covenant and lovingkindness with
thy servants, that walk before thee with all their heart; {6:15} who
hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou didst
promise him: yea, thou spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it
with thy hand, as it is this day. {6:16} Now therefore, O Jehovah, the
God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou
hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight
to sit on the throne of Israel, if only thy children take heed to their
way, to walk in my law as thou hast walked before me. {6:17} Now
therefore, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, let thy word be verified,
which thou spakest unto thy servant David. {6:18} But will God in very
deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of
heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have
builded! {6:19} Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant,
and to his supplication, O Jehovah my God, to hearken unto the cry and
to the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee; {6:20} that thine
eyes may be open toward this house day and night, even toward the place
whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to
hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall pray toward this place.
{6:21} And hearken thou to the supplications of thy servant, and of thy
people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: yea, hear thou
from thy dwelling-place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest
forgive. {6:22} If a man sin against his neighbor, and an oath be laid
upon him to cause him to swear, and he come [and] swear before thine
altar in this house; {6:23} then hear thou from heaven, and do, and
judge thy servants, requiting the wicked, to bring his way upon his own
head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his
righteousness. {6:24} And if thy people Israel be smitten down before
the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again
and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee in
this house; {6:25} then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of
thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest
to them and to their fathers. {6:26} When the heavens are shut up, and
there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray
toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when
thou dost afflict them: {6:27} then hear thou in heaven, and forgive
the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou teachest
them the good way wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy
land, which thou hast given to thy 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; whatsoever plague or whatsoever
sickness there be; {6:29} what prayer and supplication soever be made
by any man, or by all thy 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 thou from heaven thy dwelling-place and
forgive, and render unto every man according to all his ways, whose
heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of
the children of men;) {6:31} that they may fear thee, to walk in thy
ways, so long as they live in the land which thou gavest unto our
fathers. {6:32} Moreover concerning the foreigner, that is not of thy
people Israel, when he shall come from a far country for thy great
name's sake, and thy mighty hand, and thine outstretched arm; when they
shall come and pray toward this house: {6:33} then hear thou from
heaven, even from thy dwelling-place, and do according to all that the
foreigner calleth to thee for; that all the peoples of the earth may
know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and that they
may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name.
{6:34} If thy people go out to battle against their enemies, by
whatsoever way thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward
this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for
thy name; {6:35} then hear thou from heaven their prayer and their
supplication, and maintain their cause. {6:36} If they sin against thee
(for there is no man that sinneth not), and thou be angry with them,
and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captive
unto a land far off or near; {6:37} yet if they shall bethink
themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn
again, and make supplication unto thee in the land of their captivity,
saying, We have sinned, we have done perversely, and have dealt
wickedly; {6:38} if they return unto thee with all their heart and with
all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have
carried them captive, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest
unto their fathers, and the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the
house which I have built for thy name: {6:39} then hear thou from
heaven, even from thy dwelling-place, their prayer and their
supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people who
have sinned against thee. {6:40} Now, O my God, let, I beseech thee,
thine eyes be open, and let thine ears be attent, unto the prayer that
is made in this place. {6:41} Now therefore arise, O Jehovah God, into
thy resting-place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests,
O Jehovah God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in
goodness. {6:42} O Jehovah God, turn not away the face of thine
anointed: remember [thy] lovingkindnesses to David thy servant.



   {7:1} Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came
down from heaven, and consumed the burnt-offering and the sacrifices;
and the glory of Jehovah filled the house. {7:2} And the priests could
not enter into the house of Jehovah, because the glory of Jehovah
filled Jehovah's house. {7:3} And all the children of Israel looked on,
when the fire came down, and the glory of Jehovah was upon the house;
and they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the
pavement, and worshipped, and gave thanks unto Jehovah, [saying], For
he is good; for his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever. {7:4} Then the
king and all the people offered sacrifice before Jehovah. {7:5} And
king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and a
hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people
dedicated the house of God. {7:6} And the priests stood, according to
their offices; the Levites also with instruments of music of Jehovah,
which David the king had made to give thanks unto Jehovah, (for his
lovingkindness [endureth] for ever,) when David praised by their
ministry: and the priests sounded trumpets before them; and all Israel
stood. {7:7} Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was
before the house of Jehovah; 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 unto the brook of Egypt. {7:9} And 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} And on the three and
twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away unto their
tents, joyful and glad of heart for the goodness that Jehovah had
showed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people. {7:11}
Thus Solomon finished the house of Jehovah, and the king's house: and
all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of Jehovah, and
in his own house, he prosperously effected. {7:12} And Jehovah appeared
to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and
have chosen this place to myself for a house of sacrifice. {7:13} If I
shut up the heavens 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 mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears
attent, unto the prayer that is made in this place. {7:16} For now have
I chosen and hallowed this house, that my name may be there for ever;
and mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually. {7:17} And as
for thee, if thou wilt walk before me as David thy father walked, and
do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my
statutes and mine ordinances; {7:18} then I will establish the throne
of thy kingdom, according as I covenanted with David thy father,
saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel. {7:19}
But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments which
I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship
them; {7:20} then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land
which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed 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} And this house, which is so high,
every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall say, Why
hath Jehovah done thus unto this land, and to this house? {7:22} And
they shall answer, Because they forsook Jehovah, the God of their
fathers, who brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold
on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he
brought all this evil upon them.



   {8:1} And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein
Solomon had built the house of Jehovah, 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} And Solomon went to
Hamath-zobah, and prevailed against it. {8:4} And he built Tadmor in
the wilderness, and all the store-cities, which he built in Hamath.
{8:5} Also he built Beth-horon the upper, and Beth-horon the nether,
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 that were left of the
Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and
the Jebusites, that were not of Israel; {8:8} of their children that
were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel consumed
not, of them did Solomon raise a levy [of bondservants] unto 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} And these were the
chief officers of king Solomon, even two hundred and fifty, that bare
rule over the people. {8:11} And Solomon brought up the daughter of
Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house that he had built for
her; for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of
Israel, because the places are holy, whereunto the ark of Jehovah hath
come. {8:12} Then Solomon offered burnt-offerings unto Jehovah on the
altar of Jehovah, 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 tabernacles. {8:14} And he
appointed, according to the ordinance of David his father, the courses
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 courses at every gate: for so
had David the man of God commanded. {8:15} And they departed not from
the commandment of the king unto the priests and Levites concerning any
matter, or concerning the treasures. {8:16} Now all the work of Solomon
was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of Jehovah,
and until it was finished. [So] the house of Jehovah was completed.
{8:17} Then went Solomon to Ezion-geber, and to Eloth, on the seashore
in the land of Edom. {8:18} And Huram sent him by the hands of his
servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they
came with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and fetched from thence
four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king
Solomon.



   {9:1} And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she
came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very
great train, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and
precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with
him of all that was in her heart. {9:2} And Solomon told her all her
questions; and there was not anything hid from Solomon which he told
her not. {9:3} And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of
Solomon, and the house that he had built, {9:4} and the food of his
table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his
ministers, and their apparel, his cupbearers also, and their apparel,
and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of Jehovah; there was
no more spirit in her. {9:5} And she said to the king, It was a true
report that I heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom.
{9:6} Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes
had seen it; and, behold, the half of the greatness of thy wisdom was
not told me: thou exceedest the fame that I heard. {9:7} Happy are thy
men, and happy are these thy servants, that stand continually before
thee, and hear thy wisdom. {9:8} Blessed be Jehovah thy God, who
delighted in thee, to set thee on his throne, to be king for Jehovah
thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them for ever,
therefore made he thee king over them, to do justice and righteousness.
{9:9} And she gave the king a 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} And the
servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, that brought gold
from Ophir, brought algum-trees and precious stones. {9:11} And the
king made of the algum-trees terraces for the house of Jehovah, 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} And king
Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she
asked, besides that which she had brought unto 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 threescore
and 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} And king Solomon
made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred [shekels] of
beaten gold went to one buckler. {9:16} And [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} And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the
other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.
{9:20} And all 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} And all the
kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom,
which God had put in his heart. {9:24} And they brought every man his
tribute, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, armor,
and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year. {9:25} And Solomon
had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand
horsemen, that he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at
Jerusalem. {9:26} And he ruled over all the kings from the River even
unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. {9:27}
And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made
he to be as the sycomore-trees that are in the lowland, for abundance.
{9:28} And 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, are
they not 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} And Solomon reigned in
Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. {9:31} And Solomon slept with
his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father: and
Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.



   {10:1} And Rehoboam went to Shechem; for all Israel were come to
Shechem to make him king. {10:2} And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the
son of Nebat heard of it, (for he was in Egypt, whither he had fled
from the presence of king Solomon,) that Jeroboam returned out of
Egypt. {10:3} And they sent and called him; and Jeroboam and all Israel
came, and they spake to Rehoboam, saying, {10:4} Thy father made our
yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy
father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will
serve thee. {10:5} And he said unto them, Come again unto me after
three days. And the people departed. {10:6} And king Rehoboam took
counsel with the old men, that had stood before Solomon his father
while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to
this people? {10:7} And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to
this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, then they
will be thy servants for ever. {10:8} But he forsook the counsel of the
old men which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men
that were grown up with him, that stood before him. {10:9} And he said
unto them, What counsel give ye, that we may return answer to this
people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke that thy father
did put upon us lighter? {10:10} And the young men that were grown up
with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou say unto the people
that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make
thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little
finger is thicker than my father's loins. {10:11} And 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} And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook
the counsel of the old men, {10:14} and spake 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 hearkened not unto the people;
for it was brought about of God, that Jehovah might establish his word,
which he spake by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
{10:16} And when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto 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, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So all Israel
departed unto their tents. {10:17} But as for the children of Israel
that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. {10:18}
Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over the men subject to
taskwork; and the children of Israel stoned him to death with stones.
And 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 unto
this day.



   {11:1} And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled the
house of Judah and Benjamin, a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen
men, that were warriors, to fight against Israel, to bring the kingdom
again to Rehoboam. {11:2} But the word of Jehovah came to Shemaiah the
man of God, saying, {11:3} Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king
of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, {11:4} Thus
saith Jehovah, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren:
return every man to his house; for this thing is of me. So they
hearkened unto the words of Jehovah, and returned from going against
Jeroboam. {11:5} And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for
defence in Judah. {11:6} He built Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
{11:7} And 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} And he fortified the strongholds,
and put captains in them, and stores of victuals, and oil and wine.
{11:12} And in every city [he put] shields and spears, and made them
exceeding strong. And Judah and Benjamin belonged to him. {11:13} And
the priests and the Levites that 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
unto Jehovah; {11:15} and he appointed him priests for the high places,
and for the he-goats, and for the calves which he had made. {11:16} And
after them, out of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts
to seek Jehovah, the God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice unto
Jehovah, 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} And 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 bare him sons: Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham.
{11:20} And after her he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom; and she
bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. {11:21} And
Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and
his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines,
and begat twenty and eight sons and threescore daughters.) {11:22} And
Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah to be chief, [even] the
prince among his brethren; for [he was minded] to make him king.
{11:23} And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his sons throughout
all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fortified city: and he
gave them victuals in abundance. And he sought [for them] many wives.



   {12:1} And it came to pass, when the kingdom of Rehoboam was
established, and he was strong, that he forsook the law of Jehovah, and
all Israel with him. {12:2} And it came to pass in the fifth year of
king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem,
because they had trespassed against Jehovah, {12:3} with twelve hundred
chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen. And the people were without
number that came with him out of Egypt: the Lubim, the Sukkiim, and the
Ethiopians. {12:4} And he took the fortified cities which pertained to
Judah, and came unto Jerusalem. {12:5} Now Shemaiah the prophet came to
Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, that were gathered together to
Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said unto them, Thus saith Jehovah,
Ye 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, Jehovah is righteous. {12:7} And when
Jehovah saw that they humbled themselves, the word of Jehovah 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 upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. {12:8} Nevertheless
they shall be his servants, that they may know my service, and the
service of the kingdoms of the countries. {12:9} So Shishak king of
Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the
house of Jehovah, 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} And king Rehoboam made in their stead shields of brass, and
committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, that kept the
door of the king's house. {12:11} And it was so, that, as oft as the
king entered into the house of Jehovah, the guard came and bare them,
and brought them back into the guard-chamber. {12:12} And when he
humbled himself, the wrath of Jehovah 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 and one years old when he began to
reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which
Jehovah 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} And he
did that which was evil, because he set not his heart to seek Jehovah.
{12:15} Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written
in the histories of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer, after
the manner of genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and
Jeroboam continually. {12:16} And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and
was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his
stead.



   {13:1} 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. And there
was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. {13:3} And 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} And
Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill-country of
Ephraim, and said, Hear me, O Jeroboam and all Israel: {13:5} Ought ye
not to know that Jehovah, the God of Israel, gave the kingdom over
Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of
salt? {13:6} Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the
son of David, rose up, and rebelled against his lord. {13:7} And there
were gathered unto him worthless men, base fellows, that strengthened
themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young
and tender-hearted, and could not withstand them. {13:8} And now ye
think to withstand the kingdom of Jehovah in the hand of the sons of
David; and ye are a great multitude, and there are with you the golden
calves which Jeroboam made you for gods. {13:9} Have ye not driven out
the priests of Jehovah, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made
you priests after the manner of the peoples of [other] lands? so that
whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven
rams, the same may be a priest of [them that are] no gods. {13:10} But
as for us, Jehovah is our God, and we have not forsaken him; and [we
have] priests ministering unto Jehovah, the sons of Aaron, and the
Levites in their work: {13:11} and they burn unto Jehovah every morning
and every evening burnt-offerings and sweet incense: the showbread also
[set they] in order upon the pure table; and the candlestick of gold
with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the charge
of Jehovah our God; but ye have forsaken him. {13:12} And, behold, God
is with us at our head, and his priests with the trumpets of alarm to
sound an alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against
Jehovah, the God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper. {13:13} But
Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them: so they were
before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them. {13:14} And when
Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind them; and
they cried unto Jehovah, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.
{13:15} Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah
shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before
Abijah and Judah. {13:16} And the children of Israel fled before Judah;
and God delivered them into their hand. {13:17} And Abijah and his
people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of
Israel five hundred thousand chosen men. {13:18} Thus the children of
Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah
prevailed, because they relied upon Jehovah, the God of their fathers.
{13:19} And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him,
Beth-el with the towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the towns thereof,
and Ephron with the towns thereof. {13:20} Neither did Jeroboam recover
strength again in the days of Abijah: and Jehovah smote him, and he
died. {13:21} But Abijah waxed mighty, and took unto himself fourteen
wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters. {13:22}
And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are
written in the 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 stead. In his days the
land was quiet ten years. {14:2} And Asa did that which was good and
right in the eyes of Jehovah his God: {14:3} for he took away the
foreign altars, and the high places, and brake down the pillars, and
hewed down the Asherim, {14:4} and commanded Judah to seek Jehovah, 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} And he
built fortified cities in Judah; for the land was quiet, and he had no
war in those years, because Jehovah had given him rest. {14:7} For he
said unto 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 Jehovah our God; we have sought him, and he hath given us rest
on every side. So they built and prospered. {14:8} And Asa had an army
that bare bucklers and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and
out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and
fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valor. {14:9} And
there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a
thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and he came unto
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} And Asa
cried unto Jehovah his God, and said, Jehovah, there is none besides
thee to help, between the mighty and him that hath no strength: help
us, O Jehovah our God; for we rely on thee, and in thy name are we come
against this multitude. O Jehovah, thou art our God; let not man
prevail against thee. {14:12} So Jehovah smote the Ethiopians before
Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled. {14:13} And Asa and the
people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and there fell of
the Ethiopians so many that they could not recover themselves; for they
were destroyed before Jehovah, and before his host; and they carried
away very much booty. {14:14} And they smote all the cities round about
Gerar; for the fear of Jehovah came upon them: and they despoiled all
the cities; for there was much spoil in them. {14:15} They smote also
the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep in abundance, and camels,
and returned to Jerusalem.



   {15:1} And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded:
{15:2} and he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa,
and all Judah and Benjamin: Jehovah is with you, while ye are with him;
and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he
will forsake you. {15:3} Now for a long season Israel was without the
true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law: {15:4} But
when in their distress they turned unto Jehovah, the God of Israel, and
sought him, he was found of them. {15:5} And in those times there was
no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in; but great
vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the lands. {15:6} And they
were broken in pieces, nation against nation, and city against city;
for God did vex them with all adversity. {15:7} But be ye strong, and
let not your hands be slack; for your work shall be rewarded. {15:8}
And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet,
he took courage, and put away the 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 Jehovah, that was
before the porch of Jehovah. {15:9} And he gathered all Judah and
Benjamin, and them that 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 Jehovah his God was with him. {15:10} So
they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in
the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. {15:11} And they sacrificed
unto Jehovah in that day, of the spoil which they had brought, seven
hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep. {15:12} And they entered into
the covenant to seek Jehovah, the God of their fathers, with all their
heart and with all their soul; {15:13} and that whosoever would not
seek Jehovah, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether small
or great, whether man or woman. {15:14} And they sware unto Jehovah
with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with
cornets. {15:15} And all Judah rejoiced at the oath; for they had sworn
with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he
was found of them: and Jehovah gave them rest round about. {15:16} And
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} And he
brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated,
and that he himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels.
{15:19} And there was no more war unto the five and thirtieth year of
the reign of Asa.



   {16:1} In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha
king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might
not suffer any one 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 Jehovah and of the king's house, and sent to Ben-hadad king of
Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, {16:3} [There is] a league
between me and thee, as [there was] between my father and thy father:
behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with
Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me. {16:4} And Ben-hadad
hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against
the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-maim, and
all the store-cities of Naphtali. {16:5} And it came to pass, when
Baasha heard thereof, 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 thereof, wherewith Baasha had
builded; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah. {16:7} And at that
time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him,
Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and hast not relied on
Jehovah thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out
of thy hand. {16:8} Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge host,
with chariots and horsemen exceeding many? yet, because thou didst rely
on Jehovah, he delivered them into thy hand. {16:9} For the eyes of
Jehovah run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself
strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein
thou hast done foolishly; for from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
{16:10} Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in the
prison-house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And
Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time. {16:11} And, behold,
the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of
the kings of Judah and Israel. {16:12} And in the thirty and ninth year
of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet; his disease was exceeding
great: yet in his disease he sought not to Jehovah, but to the
physicians. {16:13} And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one
and fortieth year of his reign. {16:14} And they buried him in his own
sepulchres, which he had hewn out for himself in the city of David, and
laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odors and divers kinds
[of spices] prepared by the perfumers' art: and they made a very great
burning for him.



   {17:1} And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and
strengthened himself against Israel. {17:2} And he placed forces in all
the 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}
And Jehovah was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways
of his father David, and sought not unto the Baalim, {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 Jehovah established the kingdom
in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat tribute; and he had
riches and honor in abundance. {17:6} And his heart was lifted up in
the ways of Jehovah: 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} And they taught in Judah, having the book of the law of
Jehovah with them; and they went about throughout all the cities of
Judah, and taught among the people. {17:10} And the fear of Jehovah
fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so
that they made no war against Jehoshaphat. {17:11} And 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 he-goats. {17:12} And
Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles and
cities of store. {17:13} And he had many works in the cities of Judah;
and men of war, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem. {17:14} And 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 and fourscore thousand; {17:16} and
next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself
unto Jehovah; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor.
{17:17} And 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 a hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared
for war. {17:19} These were they that 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} And after certain years he went down
to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in
abundance, and for the people that were with him, and moved him to go
up [with him] to Ramoth-gilead. {18:3} And Ahab king of Israel said
unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-gilead?
And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and
[we will be] with thee in the war. {18:4} And Jehoshaphat said unto the
king of Israel, Inquire first, I pray thee, for the word of Jehovah.
{18:5} Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four
hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to
battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver
it into the hand of the king. {18:6} But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not
here a prophet of Jehovah besides, that we may inquire of him? {18:7}
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man by
whom we may inquire of Jehovah: but I hate him; for he never
prophesieth good concerning me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah
the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. {18:8}
Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Fetch 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} And
Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron, and said, Thus
saith Jehovah, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until they be
consumed. {18:11} And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to
Ramoth-gilead, and prosper; for Jehovah will deliver it into the hand
of the king. {18:12} And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake
to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets [declare] good to the
king with one mouth: let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one
of theirs, and speak thou good. {18:13} And Micaiah said, As Jehovah
liveth, what my God saith, that will I speak. {18:14} And when he was
come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to
Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and
prosper; and they shall be delivered into your hand. {18:15} And the
king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou speak
unto me nothing but the truth in the name of Jehovah? {18:16} And he
said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have
no shepherd: and Jehovah said, These have no master; let them return
every man to his house in peace. {18:17} And the king of Israel said to
Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good
concerning me, but evil? {18:18} And [Micaiah] said, Therefore hear ye
the word of Jehovah: I saw Jehovah sitting upon his throne, and all the
host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left. {18:19} And
Jehovah said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up
and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and
another saying after that manner. {18:20} And there came forth a
spirit, and stood before Jehovah, and said, I will entice him. And
Jehovah said unto him, Wherewith? {18:21} And he said, I will go forth,
and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he
said, Thou shalt entice him, and shalt prevail also: go forth, and do
so. {18:22} Now therefore, behold, Jehovah hath put a lying spirit in
the mouth of these thy prophets; and Jehovah hath spoken evil
concerning thee. {18:23} Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near,
and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit
of Jehovah from me to speak unto thee? {18:24} And Micaiah said,
Behold, thou shalt see on that day, when thou shalt go into an inner
chamber to hide thyself. {18:25} And the king of Israel said, Take ye
Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to
Joash the king's son; {18:26} and say, Thus saith the king, Put this
fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with
water of affliction, until I return in peace. {18:27} And Micaiah said,
If thou return at all in peace, Jehovah hath not spoken by me. And he
said, Hear, ye peoples, all of you. {18:28} So the king of Israel and
Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. {18:29} And the
king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and go
into the battle; but put thou on thy 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} And it came to pass, 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
Jehovah helped him; and God moved them [to depart] from him. {18:32}
And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was
not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.
{18:33} And a certain man drew his bow at a venture, and smote the king
of Israel between the joints of the armor: wherefore he said to the
driver of the chariot, Turn thy hand, and carry me out of the host; for
I am sore wounded. {18:34} And the battle increased that day: howbeit
the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians
until the even; and about the time of the going down of the sun he died.



   {19:1} And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in
peace to Jerusalem. {19:2} And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out
to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the
wicked, and love them that hate Jehovah? for this thing wrath is upon
thee from before Jehovah. {19:3} Nevertheless there are good things
found in thee, in that thou hast put away the Asheroth out of the land,
and hast set thy heart to seek God. {19:4} And Jehoshaphat dwelt at
Jerusalem: and he went out again among the people from Beer-sheba to
the hill-country of Ephraim, and brought them back unto Jehovah, the
God of their fathers. {19:5} And 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 ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for Jehovah;
and [he is] with you in the judgment. {19:7} Now therefore let the fear
of Jehovah be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity
with Jehovah 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 Jehovah, and for controversies. And they returned to
Jerusalem. {19:9} And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the
fear of Jehovah, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. {19:10} And
whensoever any controversy shall come to you from your brethren that
dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and
commandment, statutes and ordinances, ye shall warn them, that they be
not guilty towards Jehovah, and so wrath come upon you and upon your
brethren: this do, and ye shall not be guilty. {19:11} And, behold,
Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of Jehovah; 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 Jehovah be with the good.



   {20:1} And it came to pass 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 that told
Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from
beyond the sea from Syria; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar (the
same is En-gedi). {20:3} And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to
seek unto Jehovah; and he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
{20:4} And Judah gathered themselves together, to seek [help] of
Jehovah: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek Jehovah.
{20:5} And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in
the house of Jehovah, before the new court; {20:6} and he said, O
Jehovah, the God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and art
not thou ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? and in thy hand is
power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee. {20:7} Didst
not thou, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy
people Israel, and give it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?
{20:8} And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein
for thy name, saying, {20:9} If evil come upon us, the sword, judgment,
or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house, and before
thee, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our
affliction, and thou wilt hear and save. {20:10} And now, behold, the
children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let
Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned
aside from them, and destroyed them not; {20:11} behold, how they
reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast
given us to inherit. {20:12} O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for
we have no might against this great company that cometh against us;
neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. {20:13} And all
Judah stood before Jehovah, with their little ones, their wives, and
their children. {20:14} Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the
son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite, of
the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of Jehovah in the midst of the
assembly; {20:15} and he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye
inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat: Thus saith Jehovah
unto you, Fear not ye, neither be dismayed by reason of this great
multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. {20:16} To-morrow go
ye down against them: behold, they come up by the ascent of Ziz; and ye
shall find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of
Jeruel. {20:17} Ye shall not need to fight in this [battle]: set
yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of Jehovah with you,
O Judah and Jerusalem; fear not, nor be dismayed: to-morrow go out
against them: for Jehovah is with you. {20:18} And Jehoshaphat bowed
his head with his face to the ground; and all Judah and the inhabitants
of Jerusalem fell down before Jehovah, worshipping Jehovah. {20:19} And
the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of
the Korahites, stood up to praise Jehovah, the God of Israel, with an
exceeding loud voice. {20:20} And they rose early in the morning, and
went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth,
Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of
Jerusalem: believe in Jehovah your God, so shall ye be established;
believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. {20:21} And when he had
taken counsel with the people, he appointed them that should sing unto
Jehovah, and give praise in holy array, as they went out before the
army, and say, Give thanks unto Jehovah; for his lovingkindness
[endureth] for ever. {20:22} And when they began to sing and to praise,
Jehovah set liers-in-wait against the children of Ammon, Moab, and
mount Seir, that were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
{20:23} For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the
inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when
they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to
destroy another. {20:24} And when Judah came to the watch-tower of the
wilderness, they looked upon the multitude; and, behold, they were dead
bodies fallen to the earth, and there were none that escaped. {20:25}
And 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} And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the
valley of Beracah; for there they blessed Jehovah: therefore the name
of that place was called The valley of Beracah unto this day. {20:27}
Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat
in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for
Jehovah had made them to rejoice over their enemies. {20:28} And they
came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house
of Jehovah. {20:29} And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of the
countries, when they heard that Jehovah fought against the enemies of
Israel. {20:30} So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet; for his God gave
him rest round about. {20:31} And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he
was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned
twenty and five years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Azubah
the daughter of Shilhi. {20:32} And he walked in the way of Asa his
father, and turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the
eyes of Jehovah. {20:33} Howbeit the high places were not taken away;
neither as yet had the people set their hearts unto the God of their
fathers. {20:34} Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and
last, behold, they are written in the history of Jehu the son of
Hanani, which is inserted in the book of the kings of Israel. {20:35}
And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah
king of Israel; 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 thou hast
joined thyself with Ahaziah, Jehovah hath destroyed thy works. And the
ships were broken, so that they were not able to go to Tarshish.



   {21:1} And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with
his fathers in the city of David: and Jehoram his son reigned in his
stead. {21:2} And he had brethren, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah,
and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah;
all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. {21:3} And their
father gave them great gifts, of silver, and of gold, and of precious
things, with fortified cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to
Jehoram, because he was the first-born. {21:4} Now when Jehoram was
risen up over the kingdom of his father, and had strengthened himself,
he slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes
of Israel. {21:5} Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to
reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. {21:6} And he walked in
the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab; for he had
the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he did that which was evil in the
sight of Jehovah. {21:7} Howbeit Jehovah 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 alway. {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 smote the Edomites
that compassed him about, and the captains of the chariots. {21:10} So
Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day: then did
Libnah revolt at the same time from under his hand, because he had
forsaken Jehovah, 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 harlot, and led Judah astray. {21:12} And there came a
writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, the
God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of
Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah, {21:13}
but hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah
and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot, like as the house
of Ahab did, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father's house,
who were better than thyself: {21:14} behold, Jehovah will smite with a
great plague thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy
substance; {21:15} and thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy
bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness, day by
day. {21:16} And Jehovah stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the
Philistines, and of the Arabians that are beside the Ethiopians:
{21:17} and they came up against Judah, and brake into it, and carried
away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and his sons
also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save
Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons. {21:18} And after all this Jehovah
smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease. {21:19} And it came
to pass, 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. And
his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.
{21:20} Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he
reigned in Jerusalem eight years: and he departed without being
desired; and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the
sepulchres of the kings.



   {22:1} And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest
son king in his stead; for the band of men that came with the Arabians
to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram
king of Judah reigned. {22:2} Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when
he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem: 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 counsellor to
do wickedly. {22:4} And he did that which was evil in the sight of
Jehovah, as did the house of Ahab; for they were his counsellors after
the death of his father, to his destruction. {22:5} He walked also
after their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of
Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead: and the
Syrians wounded Joram. {22:6} And 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. And 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 unto
Joram: for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the
son of Nimshi, whom Jehovah had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.
{22:8} And it came to pass, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the
house of Ahab, that he found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the
brethren of Ahaziah, ministering to Ahaziah, and slew them. {22:9} And
he sought Ahaziah, and they caught him (now he was hiding in Samaria),
and they brought him to Jehu, and slew him; and they buried him, for
they said, He is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought Jehovah with all
his heart. And 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 that 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 slew him
not. {22:12} And he was with them hid in the house of God six years:
and Athaliah reigned over the land.



   {23:1} And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and
took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael
the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son
of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him.
{23:2} And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of
all the cities of Judah, and the heads of fathers' [houses] of Israel,
and they came to Jerusalem. {23:3} And all the assembly made a covenant
with the king in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the
king's son shall reign, as Jehovah hath spoken concerning the sons of
David. {23:4} This is the thing that ye shall do: a third part of you,
that 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 Jehovah. {23:6} But
let none come into the house of Jehovah, save the priests, and they
that minister of the Levites; they shall come in, for they are holy:
but all the people shall keep the charge of Jehovah. {23:7} And the
Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons
in his hand; and whosoever cometh into the house, let him be slain: and
be ye with the king when he cometh in, and when he goeth out. {23:8} So
the Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest
commanded: and they took every man his men, those that were to come in
on the sabbath; with those that were to go out on the sabbath; for
Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses. {23:9} And 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} And 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 upon
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} And
when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the
king, she came to the people into the house of Jehovah: {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 rent
her clothes, and said, Treason! treason! {23:14} And Jehoiada the
priest brought out the captains of hundreds that were set over the
host, and said unto them, Have her forth between the ranks; and whoso
followeth her, let him be slain with the sword: for the priest said,
Slay her not in the house of Jehovah. {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 slew her there. {23:16} And Jehoiada made a covenant between
himself, and all the people, and the king, that they should be
Jehovah's people. {23:17} And all the people went to the house of Baal,
and brake it down, and brake his altars and his images in pieces, and
slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. {23:18} And Jehoiada
appointed the officers of the house of Jehovah under the hand of the
priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of
Jehovah, to offer the burnt-offerings of Jehovah, as it is written in
the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, according to the
order of David. {23:19} And he set the porters at the gates of the
house of Jehovah, that none that was unclean in anything should enter
in. {23:20} And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and
the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and
brought down the king from the house of Jehovah: and they came through
the upper gate unto the king's house, and set the king upon the throne
of the kingdom. {23:21} So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the
city was quiet. And 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
Beer-sheba. {24:2} And Joash did that which was right in the eyes of
Jehovah all the days of Jehoiada the priest. {24:3} And Jehoiada took
for him two wives; and he begat sons and daughters. {24:4} And it came
to pass after this, that Joash was minded to restore the house of
Jehovah. {24:5} And he gathered together the priests and the Levites,
and said to them, Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all
Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year; and see
that ye hasten the matter. Howbeit the Levites hastened it not. {24:6}
And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hast
thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of
Jerusalem the tax of Moses the servant of Jehovah, 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 Jehovah did they bestow upon
the Baalim. {24:8} So the king commanded, and they made a chest, and
set it without at the gate of the house of Jehovah. {24:9} And they
made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in for
Jehovah the tax that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the
wilderness. {24:10} And all the princes and all the people rejoiced,
and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end.
{24:11} And it was so, that, at what time the chest was brought unto
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} And the king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of
the service of the house of Jehovah; and they hired masons and
carpenters to restore the house of Jehovah, and also such as wrought
iron and brass to repair the house of Jehovah. {24:13} So the workmen
wrought, 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}
And when they had made an end, they brought the rest of the money
before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the house
of Jehovah, even vessels wherewith to minister and to offer, and
spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered
burnt-offerings in the house of Jehovah continually all the days of
Jehoiada. {24:15} But Jehoiada waxed old and was full of days, and he
died; a hundred and thirty years old was he when he died. {24:16} And
they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had
done good in Israel, 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 hearkened unto them. {24:18} And they forsook
the house of Jehovah, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim
and the idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their
guiltiness. {24:19} Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again
unto Jehovah; and they testified against them: but they would not give
ear. {24:20} And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of
Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people, and said unto them,
Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of Jehovah, so that
ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken Jehovah, he hath also
forsaken you. {24:21} And they conspired against him, and stoned him
with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of
Jehovah. {24:22} Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which
Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he
died, he said, Jehovah look upon it, and require it. {24:23} And it
came to pass 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 unto the king of Damascus. {24:24} For the army of the Syrians
came with a small company of men; and Jehovah delivered a very great
host into their hand, because they had forsaken Jehovah, the God of
their fathers. So they executed judgment upon Joash. {24:25} And 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 slew him on his bed, and he died; and they buried him
in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the
kings. {24:26} And these are they that conspired against him: Zabad the
son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the
Moabitess. {24:27} Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the
burdens [laid] upon him, and the rebuilding of the house of God,
behold, they are written in the commentary of the book of the kings.
And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.



   {25:1} Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign;
and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother's
name was Jehoaddan, of Jerusalem. {25:2} And he did that which was
right in the eyes of Jehovah, but not with a perfect heart. {25:3} Now
it came to pass, when the kingdom was established unto him, that he
slew his servants that had killed the king his father. {25:4} But he
put not their children to death, but did according to that which is
written in the law in the book of Moses, as Jehovah 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, that could handle spear and shield. {25:6} He
hired also a hundred thousand mighty men of valor out of Israel for a
hundred talents of silver. {25:7} But there came a man of God to him,
saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for Jehovah is
not with Israel, [to wit], with all the children of Ephraim. {25:8} But
if thou wilt go, do [valiantly], be strong for the battle: God will
cast thee down before the enemy; for God hath power to help, and to
cast down. {25:9} And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we
do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel?
And the man of God answered, Jehovah is able to give thee much more
than this. {25:10} Then Amaziah separated them, [to wit], the army that
was come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again: wherefore their anger
was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in fierce
anger. {25:11} And Amaziah took courage, and led forth his people, and
went to the Valley of Salt, and smote of the children of Seir ten
thousand. {25:12} And [other] ten thousand did the children of Judah
carry away alive, and brought them unto 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 upon the cities of Judah,
from Samaria even unto Beth-horon, and smote of them three thousand,
and took much spoil. {25:14} Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah
was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods
of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down
himself before them, and burned incense unto them. {25:15} Wherefore
the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him
a prophet, who said unto him, Why hast thou sought after the gods of
the people, which have not delivered their own people out of thy hand?
{25:16} And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that [the king]
said unto him, Have we made thee of the king's counsel? forbear; why
shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know
that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this,
and hast not hearkened unto my counsel. {25:17} Then Amaziah king of
Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz the son of
Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the
face. {25:18} And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah,
saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in
Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed
by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trod down the thistle. {25:19}
Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten Edom; and thy heart lifteth thee up
to boast: abide now at home; why shouldest thou meddle to [thy] hurt,
that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee? {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 belongeth to Judah. {25:22} And Judah was put to the worse before
Israel; and they fled every man to his tent. {25:23} And Joash 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 brake down
the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate,
four hundred cubits. {25:24} And [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} And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after
the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.
{25:26} Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold,
are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?
{25:27} Now from the time that Amaziah did turn away from following
Jehovah they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to
Lachish: but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there.
{25:28} And they brought him upon horses, and buried him with his
fathers in the city of Judah.



   {26:1} And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen
years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah. {26:2}
He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept
with his fathers. {26:3} Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to
reign; and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem: and his
mother's name was Jechiliah, of Jerusalem. {26:4} And he did that which
was right in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that his father
Amaziah had done. {26:5} And 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 Jehovah, God made him to prosper. {26:6} And he went forth
and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath,
and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities in
[the country of] Ashdod, and among the Philistines. {26:7} And God
helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt
in Gur-baal, and the Meunim. {26:8} And the Ammonites gave tribute to
Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entrance of Egypt; for
he waxed 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} And 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] husbandmen and
vinedressers in the mountains and in the fruitful fields; for he loved
husbandry. {26:11} Moreover Uzziah had an army of fighting men, that
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} And under their hand was an army,
three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, that made
war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy. {26:14} And
Uzziah prepared for them, even for all the host, shields, and spears,
and helmets, and coats of mail, and bows, and stones for slinging.
{26:15} And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by skilful men, to
be on the towers and upon the battlements, wherewith to shoot arrows
and great stones. And his name spread far abroad; for he was
marvellously helped, till he was strong. {26:16} But when he was
strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly, and he
trespassed against Jehovah his God; for he went into the temple of
Jehovah to burn incense upon the altar of incense. {26:17} And Azariah
the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of
Jehovah, that were valiant men: {26:18} and they withstood Uzziah the
king, and said unto him, It pertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn
incense unto Jehovah, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are
consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast
trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honor from Jehovah God.
{26:19} Then Uzziah was wroth; and he had a censer in his hand to burn
incense; and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy brake
forth in his forehead before the priests in the house of Jehovah,
beside the altar of incense. {26:20} And Azariah the chief priest, and
all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his
forehead, and they thrust him out quickly from thence; yea, himself
hasted also to go out, because Jehovah had smitten him. {26:21} And
Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a
separate house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of
Jehovah: 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 stead.



   {27:1} Jotham was twenty and 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} And he did that which was right
in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that his father Uzziah had
done: howbeit he entered not into the temple of Jehovah. And the people
did yet corruptly. {27:3} He built the upper gate of the house of
Jehovah, 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. And the children of Ammon gave
him the same year a hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand
measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. So much did the children
of Ammon render unto him, in the second year also, and in the third.
{27:6} So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before
Jehovah 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} And
Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of
David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.



   {28:1} Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign; and he
reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and he did not that which was right
in the eyes of Jehovah, like David his father; {28:2} but he walked in
the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for the
Baalim. {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 Jehovah cast out before the children
of Israel. {28:4} And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high
places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. {28:5} Wherefore
Jehovah his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and
they smote him, and carried away of his a great multitude of captives,
and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand
of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter. {28:6} For
Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah a hundred and twenty thousand
in one day, all of them valiant men; because they had forsaken Jehovah,
the God of their fathers. {28:7} And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim,
slew Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the ruler of the house, and
Elkanah that was next to the king. {28:8} And the children of Israel
carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women,
sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and
brought the spoil to Samaria. {28:9} But a prophet of Jehovah was
there, whose name was Oded: and he went out to meet the host that came
to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because Jehovah, the God of
your fathers, was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your
hand, and ye have slain them in a rage which hath reached up to heaven.
{28:10} And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and
Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: [but] are there not even
with you trespasses of your own against Jehovah your God? {28:11} Now
hear me therefore, and send back the captives, that ye have taken
captive of your brethren; for the fierce wrath of Jehovah is upon you.
{28:12} Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah
the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah
the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them
that came from the war, {28:13} and said unto them, Ye shall not bring
in the captives hither: for ye purpose that which will bring upon us a
trespass against Jehovah, to add unto 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} And the men that have been
mentioned by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil
clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod
them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried
all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the
city of palm-trees, unto their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.
{28:16} At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to
help him. {28:17} For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah,
and carried away captives. {28:18} The Philistines also had invaded the
cities of the lowland, and of the South of Judah, and had taken
Beth-shemesh, and Aijalon, and Gederoth, and Soco with the towns
thereof, and Timnah with the towns thereof, Gimzo also and the towns
thereof: and they dwelt there. {28:19} For Jehovah brought Judah low
because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he had dealt wantonly in Judah, and
trespassed sore against Jehovah. {28:20} And Tilgath-pilneser king of
Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.
{28:21} For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of Jehovah, and
out of the house of the king and of the princes, and gave it unto the
king of Assyria: but it helped him not. {28:22} And in the time of his
distress did he trespass yet more against Jehovah, this same king Ahaz.
{28:23} For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him;
and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria 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} And Ahaz gathered
together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels
of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of Jehovah; and
he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem. {28:25} And in every
city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and
provoked to anger Jehovah, 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} And Ahaz slept
with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem;
for they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel:
and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.



   {29:1} Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years
old; and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem: and his
mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. {29:2} And he did
that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, 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 Jehovah, and repaired
them. {29:4} And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and
gathered them together into the broad place on the east, {29:5} and
said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites; now sanctify yourselves, and
sanctify the house of Jehovah, 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 Jehovah our
God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the
habitation of Jehovah, and turned their backs. {29:7} Also they have
shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not
burned incense nor offered burnt-offerings in the holy place unto the
God of Israel. {29:8} Wherefore the wrath of Jehovah was upon Judah and
Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to be tossed to and fro, to be an
astonishment, and a hissing, as ye see with your eyes. {29:9} For, lo,
our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters
and our wives are in captivity for this. {29:10} Now it is in my heart
to make a covenant with Jehovah, the God of Israel, that his fierce
anger may turn away from us. {29:11} My sons, be not now negligent; for
Jehovah hath chosen you to stand before him, to minister unto him, and
that ye 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} And
they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and went in,
according to the commandment of the king by the words of Jehovah, to
cleanse the house of Jehovah. {29:16} And the priests went in unto the
inner part of the house of Jehovah, to cleanse it, and brought out all
the uncleanness that they found in the temple of Jehovah into the court
of the house of Jehovah. And 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 Jehovah; and they sanctified the house of Jehovah
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 Jehovah, and the
altar of burnt-offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the table of
showbread, with all the vessels thereof. {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 Jehovah. {29:20} Then Hezekiah the king arose early, and gathered
the princes of the city, and went up to the house of Jehovah. {29:21}
And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and
seven he-goats, for a sin-offering for the kingdom and for the
sanctuary and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron
to offer them on the altar of Jehovah. {29:22} So they killed the
bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the
altar: and they killed the rams, and sprinkled the blood upon the
altar: they killed also the lambs, and sprinkled the blood upon the
altar. {29:23} And they brought near the he-goats for the sin-offering
before the king and the assembly; and they laid their hands upon them:
{29:24} and the priests killed them, and they made a sin-offering with
their blood upon 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} And he set the Levites in the house of
Jehovah 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 Jehovah by his prophets. {29:26}
And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests
with the trumpets. {29:27} And Hezekiah commanded to offer the
burnt-offering upon the altar. And when the burnt-offering began, the
song of Jehovah began also, and the trumpets, together with the
instruments of David king of Israel. {29:28} And all the assembly
worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded; all this
[continued] until the burnt-offering was finished. {29:29} And when
they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present
with him bowed themselves and worshipped. {29:30} Moreover Hezekiah the
king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praises unto Jehovah
with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises
with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped. {29:31} Then
Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto
Jehovah; come near and bring sacrifices and thank-offerings into the
house of Jehovah. And the assembly brought in sacrifices and
thank-offerings; and as many as were of a willing heart [brought]
burnt-offerings. {29:32} And the number of the burnt-offerings which
the assembly brought was threescore and ten bullocks, a hundred rams,
and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt-offering to Jehovah.
{29:33} And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three
thousand sheep. {29:34} But the priests were too few, so that they
could not flay all the burnt-offerings: wherefore their brethren the
Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the priests
had sanctified themselves; for the Levites were more upright in heart
to sanctify themselves than the priests. {29:35} And also the
burnt-offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace-offerings,
and with the drink-offerings for every burnt-offering. So the service
of the house of Jehovah was set in order. {29:36} And Hezekiah
rejoiced, and all the people, because of that which God had prepared
for the people: for the thing was done suddenly.



   {30:1} And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters
also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of
Jehovah at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto Jehovah, 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} And 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
Beer-sheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto
Jehovah, 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, Ye
children of Israel, turn again unto Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac,
and Israel, that he may return to the remnant that are escaped of you
out of the hand of the kings of Assyria. {30:7} And be not ye like your
fathers, and like your brethren, who trespassed against Jehovah, the
God of their fathers, so that he gave them up to desolation, as ye see.
{30:8} Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were; but yield
yourselves unto Jehovah, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath
sanctified for ever, and serve Jehovah your God, that his fierce anger
may turn away from you. {30:9} For if ye turn again unto Jehovah, your
brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that led
them captive, and shall come again into this land: for Jehovah your God
is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if
ye return unto him. {30:10} So the posts passed from city to city
through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, even unto Zebulun: but
they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them. {30:11} Nevertheless
certain men of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves,
and came to Jerusalem. {30:12} Also upon 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 Jehovah. {30:13} And there assembled at
Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the
second month, a very great assembly. {30:14} And they arose and took
away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense
took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron. {30:15} Then they
killed the passover on the fourteenth [day] of the second month: and
the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves,
and brought burnt-offerings into the house of Jehovah. {30:16} And 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
that had not sanctified themselves: therefore the Levites had the
charge of killing the passovers for every one that was not clean, to
sanctify them unto Jehovah. {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 Jehovah pardon every
one {30:19} that setteth his heart to seek God, Jehovah, the God of his
fathers, though [he be] not [cleansed] according to the purification of
the sanctuary. {30:20} And Jehovah hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed
the people. {30:21} And the children of Israel that were present at
Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great
gladness; and the Levites and the priests praised Jehovah day by day,
[singing] with loud instruments unto Jehovah. {30:22} And Hezekiah
spake comfortably unto all the Levites that had good understanding [in
the service] of Jehovah. So they did eat throughout the feast for the
seven days, offering sacrifices of peace-offerings, and making
confession to Jehovah, the God of their fathers. {30:23} And the whole
assembly took counsel to keep other seven days; and they kept [other]
seven days with gladness. {30:24} For Hezekiah king of Judah did give
to the assembly for offerings a thousand bullocks and seven thousand
sheep; and the princes gave to the assembly a thousand bullocks and ten
thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.
{30:25} And all the assembly of Judah, with the priests and the
Levites, and all the assembly that came out of Israel, and the
sojourners that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in
Judah, rejoiced. {30:26} So there was great joy in Jerusalem; for since
the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the
like in Jerusalem. {30:27} Then the priests the Levites arose and
blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up
to his holy habitation, even unto heaven.



   {31:1} Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present
went out to the cities of Judah, and brake in pieces the pillars, and
hewed down the Asherim, and brake 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} And Hezekiah
appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their
courses, 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 Jehovah.
{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 Jehovah. {31:4}
Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the
portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves
to the law of Jehovah. {31:5} And 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}
And the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of
Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe
of dedicated things which were consecrated unto Jehovah their God, and
laid them by heaps. {31:7} In the third month they began to lay the
foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month. {31:8}
And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed
Jehovah, and his people Israel. {31:9} Then Hezekiah questioned the
priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. {31:10} And Azariah the
chief priest, of the house of Zadok, answered him and said, Since [the
people] began to bring the oblations into the house of Jehovah, we have
eaten and had enough, and have left plenty: for Jehovah hath blessed
his people; and that which is left is this great store. {31:11} Then
Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of Jehovah; and
they prepared them. {31:12} And they brought in the oblations and the
tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: and over them Conaniah the
Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was second. {31:13} And
Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad,
and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers under
the hand of Conaniah and Shimei his brother, by the appointment of
Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God. {31:14}
And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter at the east [gate],
was over the freewill-offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of
Jehovah, and the most holy things. {31:15} And 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
brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small: {31:16}
besides them that were reckoned by genealogy of males, from three years
old and upward, even every one that entered into the house of Jehovah,
as the duty of every day required, for their service in their offices
according to their courses; {31:17} and them that 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 courses; {31:18}
and them that 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, that were
in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every city, there were
men that were mentioned by name, to give portions to all the males
among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by genealogy among the
Levites. {31:20} And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah; and he
wrought that which was good and right and faithful before Jehovah his
God. {31:21} And in every work that he began in the service of the
house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God,
he did it with all his heart, and prospered.



   {32:1} After these things, and 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} And when
Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to
fight against Jerusalem, {32:3} he took counsel with his princes and
his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without
the city; and they helped him. {32:4} So there was gathered much people
together, and they stopped all the fountains, 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} And he took courage, and built up all
the wall that was broken down, and raised [it] up to the towers, and
the other wall without, and strengthened Millo [in] the city of David,
and made weapons and shields in abundance. {32:6} And 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 spake comfortably to them, saying,
{32:7} Be strong and of good courage, be not afraid nor dismayed for
the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that 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 Jehovah our God to help us, and to fight our
battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah
king of Judah. {32:9} After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send
his servants to Jerusalem, (now he was before Lachish, and all his
power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that
were at Jerusalem, saying, {32:10} Thus saith Sennacherib king of
Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide the siege in Jerusalem?
{32:11} Doth not Hezekiah persuade you, to give you over to die by
famine and by thirst, saying, Jehovah our God will deliver us out of
the hand of the king of Assyria? {32:12} Hath not the same Hezekiah
taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and
Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and upon it shall
ye burn incense? {32:13} Know ye not what I and my fathers have done
unto 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 let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you after this
manner, neither believe ye 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} And his servants spake yet more against Jehovah God, and
against his servant Hezekiah. {32:17} He wrote also letters, to rail on
Jehovah, 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 not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out
of my hand. {32:18} And they cried with a loud voice in the Jews'
language unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to
affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.
{32:19} And they spake 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} And
Hezekiah the king, and Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, prayed
because of this, and cried to heaven. {32:21} And Jehovah 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. And when he was come into the house of his
god, they that came forth from his own bowels slew him there with the
sword. {32:22} Thus Jehovah 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} And
many brought gifts unto Jehovah 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
unto death: and he prayed unto Jehovah; and he spake unto him, and gave
him a sign. {32:25} But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the
benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was
wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. {32:26} Notwithstanding
Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of Jehovah came not upon
them in the days of Hezekiah. {32:27} And 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
beasts, 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. And Hezekiah prospered in all his
works. {32:31} Howbeit in [the business of] the ambassadors of the
princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to 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} And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the
ascent of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the
inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death. And Manasseh his
son reigned in his stead.



   {33:1} Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he
reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. {33:2} And he did that which
was evil in the sight of Jehovah, after the abominations of the nations
whom Jehovah 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 Baalim, and made Asheroth, and
worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. {33:4} And he built
altars in the house of Jehovah, whereof Jehovah said, In Jerusalem
shall my name be for ever. {33:5} And he built altars for all the host
of heaven in the two courts of the house of Jehovah. {33:6} He also
made his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of
Hinnom; and he practised augury, and used enchantments, and practised
sorcery, and dealt with them that had familiar spirits, and with
wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him
to anger. {33:7} And he set the graven 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 for ever: {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} And Manasseh seduced Judah and the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that they did evil more than did the
nations whom Jehovah destroyed before the children of Israel. {33:10}
And Jehovah spake to Manasseh, and to his people; but they gave no
heed. {33:11} Wherefore Jehovah brought upon them the captains of the
host of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh in chains, and bound him
with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. {33:12} And when he was in
distress, he besought Jehovah his God, and humbled himself greatly
before the God of his fathers. {33:13} And he prayed unto him; and he
was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again
to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that Jehovah 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} And he took away the foreign gods,
and the idol out of the house of Jehovah, and all the altars that he
had built in the mount of the house of Jehovah, and in Jerusalem, and
cast them out of the city. {33:16} And he built up the altar of
Jehovah, and offered thereon sacrifices of peace-offerings and of
thanksgiving, and commanded Judah to serve Jehovah, the God of Israel.
{33:17} Nevertheless the people sacrificed still in the high places,
but only unto Jehovah their God. {33:18} Now the rest of the acts of
Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers that
spake to him in the name of Jehovah, 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 wherein he built high places, and set up the
Asherim and the graven 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 stead. {33:21} Amon was twenty and two years old when he began
to reign; and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. {33:22} And he did
that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, as did Manasseh his
father; and Amon sacrificed unto all the graven images which Manasseh
his father had made, and served them. {33:23} And he humbled not
himself before Jehovah, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but
this same Amon trespassed more and more. {33:24} And his servants
conspired against him, and put him to death in his own house. {33:25}
But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against
king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his
stead.



   {34:1} Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; and he
reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. {34:2} And he did that which
was right in the eyes of Jehovah, and walked in the ways of David his
father, and turned not 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 graven images, and the molten images. {34:4} And they
brake down the altars of the Baalim in his presence; and the sun-images
that were on high above them he hewed down; and the Asherim, and the
graven images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust
of them, and strewed it upon the graves [of them] that had sacrificed
unto them. {34:5} And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their
altars, and purged Judah and Jerusalem. {34:6} And [so did he] in the
cities of Manasseh and Ephraim and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, in their
ruins round about. {34:7} And he brake down the altars, and beat the
Asherim and the graven 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 Jehovah his God. {34:9} And 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} And they delivered it into the hand
of the workmen that had the oversight of the house of Jehovah; and the
workmen that wrought in the house of Jehovah 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} And 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 that were skilful with instruments of
music. {34:13} Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and set
forward all that did the work in every manner of service: and of the
Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters. {34:14} And when
they brought out the money that was brought into the house of Jehovah,
Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of Jehovah [given] by
Moses. {34:15} And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I
have found the book of the law in the house of Jehovah. And Hilkiah
delivered the book to Shaphan. {34:16} And Shaphan carried the book to
the king, and moreover brought back word to the king, saying, All that
was committed to thy servants, they are doing. {34:17} And they have
emptied out the money that was found in the house of Jehovah, and have
delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and into the hand of the
workmen. {34:18} And Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah
the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read therein before
the king. {34:19} And it came to pass, when the king had heard the
words of the law, that he rent his clothes. {34:20} And 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 ye, inquire of Jehovah for me, and for them that are left in
Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found;
for great is the wrath of Jehovah that is poured out upon us, because
our fathers have not kept the word of Jehovah, to do according unto 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 dwelt in Jerusalem in the second quarter;) and they spake to
her to that effect. {34:23} And she said unto them, Thus saith Jehovah,
the God of Israel: Tell ye the man that sent you unto me, {34:24} Thus
saith Jehovah, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the
inhabitants thereof, 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 unto other gods, that they
might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore
is my wrath poured out upon this place, and it shall not be quenched.
{34:26} But unto the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of Jehovah,
thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: As
touching the words which thou hast heard, {34:27} because thy heart was
tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest
his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and
hast humbled thyself before me, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept
before me; I also have heard thee, saith Jehovah. {34:28} Behold, I
will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy
grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will
bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof. And 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} And the king
went up to the house of Jehovah, 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 Jehovah.
{34:31} And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before
Jehovah, to walk after Jehovah, 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} And he caused all that were found in Jerusalem and
Benjamin to stand [to it]. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did
according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. {34:33} And
Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that
pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were found in
Israel to serve, even to serve Jehovah their God. All his days they
departed not from following Jehovah, the God of their fathers.



   {35:1} And Josiah kept a passover unto Jehovah in Jerusalem: and
they killed the passover on the fourteenth [day] of the first month.
{35:2} And he set the priests in their offices, and encouraged them to
the service of the house of Jehovah. {35:3} And he said unto the
Levites that taught all Israel, that were holy unto Jehovah, 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 upon your shoulders: now serve
Jehovah your God, and his people Israel. {35:4} And prepare yourselves
after your fathers' houses by your courses, according to the writing of
David king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon his son.
{35:5} And stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the
fathers' houses of your brethren the children of the people, and [let
there be for each] a portion of a fathers' house of the Levites. {35:6}
And kill the passover, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare for your
brethren, to do according to the word of Jehovah by Moses. {35:7} And
Josiah gave to the children of the people, of the flock, lambs and
kids, all of them for the passover-offerings, unto all that were
present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand bullocks:
these were of the king's substance. {35:8} And his princes gave for a
freewill-offering unto the people, to the priests, and to the Levites.
Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, the rulers of the house of God, gave
unto 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 brethren, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and
Jozabad, the chiefs of the Levites, gave unto 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 courses, according to the king's
commandment. {35:11} And they killed the passover, and the priests
sprinkled [the blood which they received] of their hand, and the
Levites flayed them. {35:12} And 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 unto Jehovah, as it is written
in the book of Moses. And so did they with the oxen. {35:13} And 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} And
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} And 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 needed not to depart
from their service; for their brethren the Levites prepared for them.
{35:16} So all the service of Jehovah was prepared the same day, to
keep the passover, and to offer burnt-offerings upon the altar of
Jehovah, according to the commandment of king Josiah. {35:17} And the
children of Israel that were present kept the passover at that time,
and the feast of unleavened bread seven days. {35:18} And there was no
passover like to 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
that 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 thee, thou king of Judah? [I come] not against thee
this day, but against the house wherewith I have war; and God hath
commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from [meddling with] God, who
is with me, that he destroy thee not. {35:22} Nevertheless Josiah would
not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight
with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Neco from the mouth of
God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo. {35:23} And 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 sepulchres of his
fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. {35:25} And
Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and singing women
spake of Josiah in their lamentations unto 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 Jehovah,
{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 stead in Jerusalem. {36:2} Joahaz was
twenty and three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three
months in Jerusalem. {36:3} And the king of Egypt deposed him at
Jerusalem, and fined the land a hundred talents of silver and a talent
of gold. {36:4} And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king
over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. And Neco
took Joahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt. {36:5} Jehoiakim was
twenty and 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
Jehovah 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 Jehovah 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 stead.
{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 Jehovah. {36:10} And at the return of the year
king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly
vessels of the house of Jehovah, and made Zedekiah his brother king
over Judah and Jerusalem. {36:11} Zedekiah was twenty and 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 Jehovah his God;
he humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet [speaking] from the
mouth of Jehovah. {36:13} And he also rebelled against king
Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his
neck, and hardened his heart against turning unto Jehovah, 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 Jehovah which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.
{36:15} And Jehovah, 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 Jehovah arose against his people, till there was no
remedy. {36:17} Therefore he brought upon them the king of the
Chaldeans, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of
their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or virgin, old
man or hoary-headed: he gave them all into his hand. {36:18} And all
the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of
the house of Jehovah, and the treasures of the king, and of his
princes, all these he brought to Babylon. {36:19} And they burnt the
house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the
palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels
thereof. {36:20} And them that 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 fulfil the word of Jehovah
by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its sabbaths:
[for] as long as it lay desolate it kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore
and ten years. {36:22} Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia,
that the word of Jehovah by the mouth of Jeremiah might be
accomplished, Jehovah 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 saith Cyrus king of Persia, All
the kingdoms of the earth hath Jehovah, the God of heaven, given me;
and he hath charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in
Judah. Whosoever there is among you of all his people, Jehovah his God
be with him, and let him go up.




