The Invasions of Syria

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2 Kings 6:8 - 2 Kings 17:4

Now the king of Syria was at war against Israel; and he took counsel with his servants, saying, "My camp will be in such and such a place."

The man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, "Beware that you not pass this place; for the Syrians are coming down there."

The king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of; and he saved himself there, not once or twice.

The king of Syria's heart was very troubled about this. He called his servants, and said to them, "Won't you show me which of us is for the king of Israel?"

One of his servants said, "No, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom."

He said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him."He was told, "Behold, he is in Dothan."

Therefore he sent horses, chariots, and a great army there. They came by night, and surrounded the city.

When the servant of the man of God had risen early, and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was around the city. His servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?"

He answered, "Don't be afraid; for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."

Elisha prayed, and said, "The LORD, please open his eyes, that he may see." the LORD opened the young man's eyes; and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire around Elisha.

When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to The LORD, and said, "Please strike this people with blindness."He struck them with blindness according to Elishah's word.

Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, neither is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." He led them to Samaria.

When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, "The LORD, open these men's eyes, that they may see."The LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and behold, they were in the middle of Samaria.

The king of Israel said to Elisha, when he saw them, "My father, shall I strike them? Shall I strike them?"

He answered, "You shall not strike them. Would you strike those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master."

He prepared great feast for them. When they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria stopped raiding the land of Israel.

After this, Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his army, and went up and besieged Samaria.

There was a great famine in Samaria. Behold, they besieged it, until a donkey's head was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver.

As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried to him, saying, "Help, my lord, O king!"

He said, "If the LORD doesn't help you, where could I get help for you? From of the threshing floor, or from the wine press?"

The king said to her, "What is your problem?"She answered, "This woman said to me, 'Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.'

So we boiled my son, and ate him: and I said to her on the next day, 'Give your son, that we may eat him;' and she has hidden her son."

When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes. Now he was passing by on the wall, and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth underneath on his body.

Then he said, "God do so to me, and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat stays on him today."

But Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. Then the king sent a man from before him; but before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, "Do you see how this son of a murderer has sent to take away my head? Behold, when the messenger comes, shut the door, and hold the door shut against him. Isn't the sound of his master's feet behind him?"

While he was still talking with them, behold, the messenger came down to him. Then he said, "Behold, this evil is from The LORD. Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?"

2 Kings 7

Elisha Promises Plenty in Samaria; Siege Lifted

Elisha said, "Hear The LORD's word. the LORD says, 'Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour will be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.'"

Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, "Behold, if the LORD made windows in heaven, could this thing be?"He said, "Behold, you will see it with your eyes, but will not eat of it."

Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate. They said to one another, "Why do we sit here until we die?

If we say, 'We will enter into the city,' then the famine is in the city, and we will die there. If we sit still here, we also die. Now therefore come, and let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they save us alive, we will live; and if they kill us, we will only die."

They rose up in the twilight, to go to the camp of the Syrians. When they had come to the outermost part of the camp of the Syrians, behold, no man was there.

For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians to hear the sound of chariots, and the sound of horses, even the noise of a great army; and they said to one another, "Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us."

Therefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their donkeys, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.

When these lepers came to the outermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and ate and drink, and carried away silver, gold, and clothing, and went and hid it. Then they came back, and entered into another tent, and carried things from there also, and went and hid them.

Then they said to one another, "We aren't doing right. Today is a day of good news, and we keep silent. If we wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come, let's go and tell the king's household."

So they came and called to the city gatekeepers; and they told them, "We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, not even a man's voice, but the horses tied, and the donkeys tied, and the tents as they were."

He called the gatekeepers; and they told it to the king's household within.

The king arose in the night, and said to his servants, "I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry. Therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, 'When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive, and get into the city.'"

One of his servants answered, "Please let some people take five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city. Behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel who are left in it. Behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel who are consumed. Let us send and see."

Therefore they took two chariots with horses; and the king them sent out to the Syrian army, saying, "Go and see."

They went after them to the Jordan; and behold, all the path was full of garments and equipment which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. The messengers returned, and told the king.

The people went out and plundered the camp of the Syrians. So a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to The LORD's word.

The king appointed the captain on whose hand he leaned to be in charge of the gate; and the people trampled over him in the gate, and he died as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him.

It happened as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, "Two seahs of barley for a shekel, and a seah of fine flour for a shekel, shall be tomorrow about this time in the gate of Samaria";

and that captain answered the man of God, and said, "Now, behold, if the LORD made windows in heaven, might such a thing be?" and he said, "Behold, you will see it with your eyes, but will not eat of it."

It happened like that to him; for the people trampled over him in the gate, and he died.

2 Kings 8

The Shunammite's Land; Hazael Kills Ben-Hadad; Jehoram and Ahaziah Kings of Judah

Now Elisha had spoken to the woman whose son he had restored to life, saying, "Arise, and go, you and your household, and stay for a while wherever you can; for the LORD has called for a famine. It will also come on the land for seven years."

The woman arose, and did according to the man of God's word. She went with her household, and lived in the land of the Philistines for seven years.

At the end of seven years, the woman returned from the land of the Philistines. Then she went out to beg the king for her house and for her land.

Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, "Please tell me all the great things that Elisha has done."

As he was telling the king how he had restored to life him who was dead, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, begged the king for her house and for her land. Gehazi said, "My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life."

When the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed to her a certain officer, saying, "Restore all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now."

Elisha came to Damascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick. He was told, "The man of God has come here."

The king said to Hazael, "Take a present in your hand, and go, meet the man of God, and inquire of the LORD by him, saying, 'Will I recover from this sickness?'"

So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, and came and stood before him, and said, "Your son Benhadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, 'Will I recover from this sickness?'"

Elisha said to him, "Go, tell him, 'You will surely recover;' however the LORD has shown me that he will surely die."

He settled his gaze steadfastly on him, until he was ashamed. Then the man of God wept.

Hazael said, "Why do you weep, my lord?"He answered, "Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel. You will set their strongholds on fire, and you will kill their young men with the sword, and will dash their little ones in pieces, and rip up their pregnant women."

Hazael said, "But what is your servant, who is but a dog, that he could do this great thing?"Elisha answered, "The LORD has shown me that you will be king over Syria."

Then he departed from Elisha, and came to his master, who said to him, "What did Elisha say to you?"He answered, "He told me that you would surely recover."

On the next day, he took a thick cloth, dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died. Then Hazael reigned in his place.

In the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being king of Judah then, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign.

He was thirty-two years old when he began to reign. He reigned eight years in Jerusalem.

He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did Ahab's house; for he married Ahab's daughter. He did that which was evil in The LORD's sight.

However the LORD would not destroy Judah, for David his servant's sake, as he promised him to give to him a lamp for his children always.

In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.

Then Joram passed over to Zair, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and struck the Edomites who surrounded him, and the captains of the chariots; and the people fled to their tents.

So Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah to this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time.

The rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in David's city; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.

In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah began to reign.

Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri king of Israel.

He walked in the way of Ahab's house, and did that which was evil in The LORD's sight, as did Ahab's house; for he was the son-in-law of Ahab's house.

He went with Joram the son of Ahab to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth Gilead, and the Syrians wounded Joram.

King Joram returned to be healed in Jezreel from the wounds which the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.

2 Kings 9

Jehu Reigns in Israel; Murders of Joram, Ahaziah, Jezebel

Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets, and said to him, "Put your belt on your waist, take this vial of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth Gilead.

When you come there, find Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him rise up from among his brothers, and take him to an inner room.

Then take the vial of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, 'The LORD says, "I have anointed you king over Israel."' Then open the door, flee, and don't wait."

So the young man, even the young man, the prophet, went to Ramoth Gilead.

When he came, behold, the captains of the army were sitting. Then he said, "I have a message for you, captain."Jehu said, "To which of us all?"He said, "To you, O captain."

He arose, and went into the house. Then he poured the oil on his head, and said to him, "The LORD, the God of Israel, says, 'I have anointed you king over the people of The LORD, even over Israel.

You must strike your master Ahab's house, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of The LORD, at the hand of Jezebel.

For the whole house of Ahab will perish. I will cut off from Ahab everyone who urinates against a wall, both him who is shut up and him who is left at large in Israel.

I will make Ahab's house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah.

The dogs will eat Jezebel on the plot of ground of Jezreel, and there shall be no one to bury her.'" Then he opened the door and fled.

When Jehu came out to the servants of his lord, and one said to him, "Is all well? Why did this mad fellow come to you?"He said to them, "You know the man and how he talks."

They said, "That is a lie. Tell us now."He said, "He said to me, 'The LORD says, I have anointed you king over Israel.'"

Then they hurried, and each man took his cloak, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew the trumpet, saying, "Jehu is king."

So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram was keeping Ramoth Gilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria;

but king Joram had returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) Jehu said, "If this is your thinking, then let no one escape and go out of the city, to go to tell it in Jezreel."

So Jehu rode in a chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram lay there. Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to see Joram.

Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, "I see a company."Joram said, "Take a horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, 'Is it peace?'"

So one went on horseback to meet him, and said, "Thus says the king, 'Is it peace?'"Jehu said, "What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me!"The watchman said, "The messenger came to them, but he isn't coming back."

Then he sent out a second on horseback, who came to them, and said, "Thus says the king, 'Is it peace?'"Jehu answered, "What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me!"

The watchman said, "He came to them, and isn't coming back. The driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously."

Joram said, "Get ready!"They got his chariot ready. Then Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out to meet Jehu, and found him on Naboth the Jezreelite's land.

When Joram saw Jehu, he said, "Is it peace, Jehu?"He answered, "What peace, so long as the prostitution of your mother Jezebel and her witchcraft abound?"

Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, "This is treason, Ahaziah!"

Jehu drew his bow with his full strength, and struck Joram between his arms; and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot.

Then Jehu said to Bidkar his captain, "Pick him up, and throw him in the plot of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember how, when you and I rode together after Ahab his father, the LORD laid this burden on him:

'Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons,' says The LORD; 'and I will repay you in this plot of ground,' says The LORD. Now therefore take and cast him onto the plot of ground, according to The LORD's word."

But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. Jehu followed after him, and said, "Strike him also in the chariot!" They struck him at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. He fled to Megiddo, and died there.

His servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his tomb with his fathers in David's city.

In the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab, Ahaziah began to reign over Judah.

When Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her eyes, and adorned her head, and looked out at the window.

As Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, "Do you come in peace, Zimri, you murderer of your master?"

He lifted up his face to the window, and said, "Who is on my side? Who?"Two or three eunuchs looked out at him.

He said, "Throw her down!"So they threw her down; and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses. Then he trampled her under foot.

When he had come in, he ate and drank. Then he said, "See now to this cursed woman, and bury her; for she is a king's daughter."

They went to bury her, but they found no more of her than the skull, the feet, and the palms of her hands.

Therefore they came back, and told him.He said, "This is The LORD's word, which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 'The dogs will eat the flesh of Jezebel on the plot of Jezreel,

and the body of Jezebel will be as dung on the face of the field on Jezreel's land, so that they won't say, "This is Jezebel."'"

2 Kings 10

Ahab's Family Killed; Baal Worshipers killed; Jehoahaz succeeds Jehu

Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, even the elders, and to those who brought up Ahab's sons, saying,

"Now as soon as this letter comes to you, since your master's sons are with you, and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city also, and armor,

Select the best and fittest of your master's sons, set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house."

But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, "Behold, the two kings didn't stand before him! How then shall we stand?"

He who was over the household, and he who was over the city, the elders also, and those who raised the children, sent to Jehu, saying, "We are your servants, and will do all that you ask us. We will not make any man king. You do that which is good in your eyes."

Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, "If you are on my side, and if you will listen to my voice, take the heads of the men who are your master's sons, and come to me to Jezreel by tomorrow this time."Now the king's sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who brought them up.

When the letter came to them, they took the king's sons and killed them, even seventy people, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him to Jezreel.

A messenger came and told him, "They have brought the heads of the king's sons."He said, "Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until the morning."

In the morning, he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, "You are righteous. Behold, I conspired against my master and killed him, but who killed all these?

Know now that nothing will fall to the earth of The LORD's word, which the LORD spoke concerning Ahab's house. For the LORD has done that which he spoke by his servant Elijah."

So Jehu struck all that remained of Ahab's house in Jezreel, with all his great men, his familiar friends, and his priests, until he left him no one remaining.

He arose and departed, and went to Samaria. As he was at the shearing house of the shepherds on the way,

Jehu met with the brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, "Who are you?"They answered, "We are the brothers of Ahaziah. We are going down to greet the children of the king and the children of the queen."

He said, "Take them alive!"They took them alive, and killed them at the pit of the shearing house, even forty-two men. He didn't leave any of them.

When he had departed from there, he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him. He greeted him, and said to him, "Is your heart right, as my heart is with your heart?"Jehonadab answered, "It is.""If it is, give me your hand." He gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.

He said, "Come with me, and see my zeal for The LORD." So they made him ride in his chariot.

When he came to Samaria, he struck all who remained to Ahab in Samaria, until he had destroyed him, according to The LORD's word, which he spoke to Elijah.

Jehu gathered all the people together, and said to them, "Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu will serve him much.

Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, all of his worshipers, and all of his priests. Let no one be absent; for I have a great sacrifice to Baal. Whoever is absent, he shall not live." But Jehu did deceptively, intending to destroy the worshipers of Baal.

Jehu said, "Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal!"So they proclaimed it.

Jehu sent through all Israel; and all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that didn't come. They came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was filled from one end to another.

He said to him who kept the wardrobe, "Bring out robes for all the worshipers of Baal!"So he brought robes out to them.

Jehu went with Jehonadab the son of Rechab into the house of Baal. Then he said to the worshipers of Baal, "Search, and see that none of the servants of the LORD are here with you, but only the worshipers of Baal."

So they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had appointed for himself eighty men outside, and said, "If any of the men whom I bring into your hands escape, he who lets him go, his life shall be for the life of him."

As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, "Go in and kill them! Let no one escape." So they struck them with the edge of the sword. The guard and the captains threw the bodies out, and went to the inner shrine of the house of Baal.

They brought out the pillars that were in the house of Baal, and burned them.

They broke down the pillar of Baal, and broke down the house of Baal, and made it a latrine, to this day.

Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.

However, Jehu didn't depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin, the golden calves that were in Bethel and that were in Dan.

The LORD said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in executing that which is right in my eyes, and have done to Ahab's house according to all that was in my heart, your descendants shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation."

But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of The LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He didn't depart from the sins of Jeroboam, with which he made Israel to sin.

In those days the LORD began to cut away parts of Israel; and Hazael struck them in all the borders of Israel;

from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the valley of the Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan.

Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Jehu slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria. Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place.

The time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.

2 Kings 11

Athaliah Queen of Judah

Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal offspring.

But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king's sons who were slain, even him and his nurse, and put them in the bedroom; and they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not slain.

He was with her hidden in The LORD's house six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.

In the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the captains over hundreds of the Carites and of the guard, and brought them to him into The LORD's house; and he made a covenant with them, and made a covenant with them in The LORD's house, and showed them the king's son.

He commanded them, saying, "This is what you must do: a third of you, who come in on the Sabbath, shall be keepers of the watch of the king's house;

a third of you shall be at the gate Sur; and a third of you at the gate behind the guard. So you shall keep the watch of the house, and be a barrier.

The two companies of you, even all who go out on the Sabbath, shall keep the watch of The LORD's house around the king.

You shall surround the king, every man with his weapons in his hand; and he who comes within the ranks, let him be slain. Be with the king when he goes out, and when he comes in."

The captains over hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded; and they each took his men, those who were to come in on the Sabbath, with those who were to go out on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.

The priest delivered to the captains over hundreds the spears and shields that had been king David's, which were in The LORD's house.

The guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, along by the altar and the house, around the king.

Then he brought out the king's son, and put the crown on him, and gave him the covenant; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, "Long live the king!"

When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into The LORD's house:

and she looked, and behold, the king stood by the pillar, as the tradition was, with the captains and the trumpets by the king; and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes, and cried, "Treason! Treason!"

Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds who were set over the army, and said to them, "Bring her out between the ranks. Kill anyone who follows her with the sword." For the priest said, "Don't let her be slain in The LORD's house."

So they made way for her; and she went by the way of the horses' entry to the king's house, and she was slain there.

Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be The LORD's people; also between the king and the people.

All the people of the land went to the house of Baal, and broke it down; his altars and his images broke they in pieces thoroughly, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. The priest appointed officers over The LORD's house.

He took the captains over hundreds, and the Carites, and the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from The LORD's house, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king's house. He sat on the throne of the kings.

So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. They had slain Athaliah with the sword at the king's house.

Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign.

2 Kings 12

Joash Reigns over Judah, Repairs the Temple

Jehoash began to reign in the seventh year of Jehu, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba.

Jehoash did that which was right in The LORD's eyes all his days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him.

However the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places.

Jehoash said to the priests, "All the money of the holy things that is brought into The LORD's house, in current money, the money of the people for whom each man is evaluated, and all the money that it comes into any man's heart to bring into The LORD's house,Exodus 30:12

let the priests take it to them, each man from his donor; and they shall repair the damage to the house, wherever any damage is found."

But it was so, that in the twenty-third year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the damage to the house.

Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and for the other priests, and said to them, "Why don't you repair the damage to the house? Now therefore take no more money from your treasurers, but deliver it for repair of the damage to the house."

The priests consented that they should take no more money from the people, and not repair the damage to the house.

But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into The LORD's house; and the priests who kept the threshold put all the money that was brought into The LORD's house into it.

When they saw that there was much money in the chest, the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and they put it in bags and counted the money that was found in The LORD's house.

They gave the money that was weighed out into the hands of those who did the work, who had the oversight of The LORD's house; and they paid it out to the carpenters and the builders, who worked on The LORD's house,

and to the masons and the stone cutters, and for buying timber and cut stone to repair the damage to The LORD's house, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it.

But there were not made for The LORD's house cups of silver, snuffers, basins, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into The LORD's house;

for they gave that to those who did the work, and repaired The LORD's house with it.

Moreover they didn't demand an accounting from the men into whose hand they delivered the money to give to those who did the work; for they dealt faithfully.

The money for the trespass offerings, and the money for the sin offerings was not brought into The LORD's house. It was the priests'.

Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it; and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.

Jehoash king of Judah took all the holy things that Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own holy things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of The LORD's house, and of the king's house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria; and he went away from Jerusalem.

Now the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

His servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and struck Joash at the house of Millo, on the way that goes down to Silla.

For Jozacar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, struck him, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in David's city; and Amaziah his son reigned in his place.

2 Kings 13

Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Kings of Israel; Elisha Dies

In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria for seventeen years.

He did that which was evil in The LORD's sight, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin. He didn't depart from it.

The LORD's anger burned against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, continually.

Jehoahaz begged The LORD, and the LORD listened to him; for he saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Syria oppressed them.

(The LORD gave Israel a savior, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians; and the children of Israel lived in their tents as before.

Nevertheless they didn't depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, with which he made Israel to sin, but walked in them; and the Asherah also remained in Samaria.)

For he didn't leave to Jehoahaz of the people any more than fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria destroyed them, and made them like the dust in threshing.

Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and his might, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria; and Joash his son reigned in his place.

In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz began to reign over Israel in Samaria for sixteen years.

He did that which was evil in The LORD's sight. He didn't depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin; but he walked in them.

Now the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat on his throne. Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

Now Elisha became sick with the illness of which he died; and Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over him, and said, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!"

Elisha said to him, "Take bow and arrows"; and he took bow and arrows for himself.

He said to the king of Israel, "Put your hand on the bow"; and he put his hand on it. Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands.

He said, "Open the window eastward"; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, "Shoot!" and he shot. He said, "The LORD's arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory over Syria; for you will strike the Syrians in Aphek, until you have consumed them."

He said, "Take the arrows"; and he took them. He said to the king of Israel, "Strike the ground"; and he struck three times, and stopped.

The man of God was angry with him, and said, "You should have struck five or six times. Then you would have struck Syria until you had consumed it; whereas now you will strike Syria just three times."

Elisha died, and they buried him.Now the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.

As they were burying a man, behold, they saw a band of raiders; and they threw the man into Elisha's tomb. As soon as the man touched Elisha's bones, he revived, and stood up on his feet.

Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.

But the LORD was gracious to them, and had compassion on them, and had respect for them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, and he didn't cast them from his presence as yet.

Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his place.

Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael the cities which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Joash struck him three times, and recovered the cities of Israel.

2 Kings 14

Amaziah and Jeroboam II Kings of Judah

In the second year of Joash son of Joahaz king of Israel Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah began to reign.

He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddin of Jerusalem.

He did that which was right in The LORD's eyes, yet not like David his father. He did according to all that Joash his father had done.

However the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places.

As soon as the kingdom was established in his hand, he killed his servants who had slain the king his father,

but the children of the murderers he didn't put to death; according to that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, as the LORD commanded, saying, "The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall die for his own sin."

He killed ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt, and took Sela by war, and called its name Joktheel, to this day.

Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, "Come, let us look one another in the face."

Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son as wife. Then a wild animal that was in Lebanon passed by, and trampled down the thistle.

You have indeed struck Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Enjoy the glory of it, and stay at home; for why should you meddle to your harm, that you fall, even you, and Judah with you?'"

But Amaziah would not listen. So Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah.

Judah was defeated by Israel; and each man fled to his tent.

Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.

He took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in The LORD's house and in the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.

Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his place.

Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.

Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

They made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish, and killed him there.

They brought him on horses, and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in David's city.

All the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah.

He built Elath, and restored it to Judah. After that the king slept with his fathers.

In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria for forty-one years.

He did that which was evil in The LORD's sight. He didn't depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin.

He restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath to the sea of the Arabah, according to The LORD, the God of Israel's word, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath Hepher.

For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter; for all, slave and free, and there was no helper for Israel.

The LORD didn't say that he would blot out the name of Israel from under the sky; but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.

Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he fought, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which had belonged to Judah, for Israel, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zechariah his son reigned in his place.

2 Kings 15

Azariah, Jotham Kings of Judah; Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah Kings of Israel

In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign.

He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.

He did that which was right in The LORD's eyes, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.

However the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places.

The LORD struck the king, so that he was a leper to the day of his death, and lived in a separate house. Jotham, the king's son was over the household, judging the people of the land.

Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in David's city: and Jotham his son reigned in his place.

In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months.

He did that which was evil in The LORD's sight, as his fathers had done. He didn't depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin.

Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and struck him before the people, and killed him, and reigned in his place.

Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

This was The LORD's word which he spoke to Jehu, saying, "Your sons to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel." So it came to pass.

Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah, and he reigned for a month in Samaria.

Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, came to Samaria, struck Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, killed him, and reigned in his place.

Now the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

Then Menahem attacked Tiphsah, and all who were in it, and its border areas, from Tirzah. He attacked it because they didn't open their gates to him, and he ripped up all their women who were with child.

In the thirty ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi began to reign over Israel for ten years in Samaria.

He did that which was evil in The LORD's sight. He didn't depart all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin.

Pul the king of Assyria came against the land, and Menahem gave Pul one thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.

Menahem exacted the money from Israel, even from all the mighty men of wealth, from each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and didn't stay there in the land.

Now the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Menahem slept with his fathers, and Pekahiah his son reigned in his place.

In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria for two years.

He did that which was evil in The LORD's sight. He didn't depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin.

Pekah the son of Remaliah, his captain, conspired against him and attacked him in Samaria, in the fortress of the king's house, with Argob and Arieh; and with him were fifty men of the Gileadites. He killed him, and reigned in his place.

Now the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria for twenty years.

He did that which was evil in The LORD's sight. He didn't depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin.

In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali; and he carried them captive to Assyria.

Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, attacked him, killed him, and reigned in his place, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.

Now the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah began to reign.

He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok.

He did that which was right in The LORD's eyes. He did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.

However the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places. He built the upper gate of The LORD's house.

Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

In those days, the LORD began to send Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah.

Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in his father David's city, and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.

2 Kings 16

Ahaz Ruler over Judah; Damascus Falls; Ahaz Succeeded by Hezekiah

In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.

Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He didn't do that which was right in the LORD his God's eyes, like David his father.

But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yes, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel.

He sacrificed and burned incense in the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war. They besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him.

At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drove the Jews from Elath; and the Syrians came to Elath, and lived there, to this day.

So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria, saying, "I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, who rise up against me."

Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in The LORD's house, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria.

The king of Assyria listened to him; and the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried its people captive to Kir, and killed Rezin.

King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria, and saw the altar that was at Damascus; and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest a drawing of the altar and plans to build it.

Urijah the priest built an altar. According to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus, so Urijah the priest made it for the coming of king Ahaz from Damascus.

When the king had come from Damascus, the king saw the altar; and the king came near to the altar, and offered on it.

He burned his burnt offering and his meal offering, poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings on the altar.

The bronze altar, which was before The LORD, he brought from the front of the house, from between his altar and The LORD's house, and put it on the north side of his altar.

King Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, "On the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, the evening meal offering, the king's burnt offering, his meal offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, their meal offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle on it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice; but the bronze altar will be for me to inquire by."

Urijah the priest did so, according to all that king Ahaz commanded.

King Ahaz cut off the panels of the bases, and removed the basin from off them, and took down the sea from off the bronze oxen that were under it, and put it on a pavement of stone.

He removed the covered way for the Sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry outside to The LORD's house, because of the king of Assyria.

Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in David's city, and Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.

2 Kings 17

Hoshea Last King of Israel; Northern Tribes Led into Captivity

In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah began to reign in Samaria over Israel for nine years.

He did that which was evil in The LORD's sight, yet not as the kings of Israel who were before him.

Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against him, and Hoshea became his servant, and brought him tribute.

The king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea; for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore the king of Assyria seized him, and bound him in prison.