The Decline and Fall of the Kingdom of Judah

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Home -> Major Sections of the Bible -> 2 Chronicles 10:1 - 2 Chronicles 36:21

2 Chronicles 10:1 - 2 Chronicles 36:21

2 Chronicles 10

Israelites Rebel against Rehoboam

Rehoboam went to Shechem; for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.

When Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of king Solomon), Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.

They sent and called him; and Jeroboam and all Israel came, and they spoke to Rehoboam, saying,

"Your father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make the grievous service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you."

He said to them, "Come again to me after three days."So the people departed.

King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, "What counsel do you give me about how to answer these people?"

They spoke to him, saying, "If you are kind to these people, please them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever."

But he abandoned the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.

He said to them, "What counsel do you give, that we may give an answer to these people, who have spoken to me, saying, 'Make the yoke that your father put on us lighter?'"

The young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, "Thus you shall tell the people who spoke to you, saying, 'Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it lighter on us;' thus you shall say to them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist.

Now whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.'"

So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king asked, saying, "Come to me again the third day."

The king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam abandoned the counsel of the old men,

and spoke to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions."

So the king didn't listen to the people; for it was brought about by God, that the LORD might establish his word, which he spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

When all Israel saw that the king didn't listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, "What portion have we in David? We don't have an inheritance in the son of Jesse! Every man to your tents, Israel! Now see to your own house, David." So all Israel departed to their tents.

But as for the children of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over the men subject to forced labor; and the children of Israel stoned him to death with stones. King Rehoboam hurried to get himself up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.

So Israel rebelled against David's house to this day.

2 Chronicles 11

Rehoboam's Reign over Judah; Rehoboam's Family

When Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, one hundred eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.

But The LORD's word came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

"Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,

'The LORD says, "You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers! Every man return to his house; for this thing is of me."'" So they listened to The LORD's words, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.

He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

Beth Zur, Soco, Adullam,

Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,

Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,

Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, which are fortified cities in Judah and in Benjamin.

He fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and stores of food, oil and wine.

He put shields and spears in every city, and made them exceedingly strong. Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.

The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel stood with him out of all their territory.

For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem; for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest's office to The LORD.

He himself appointed priests for the high places, for the male goats, and for the calves which he had made.

After them, out of all the tribes of Israel, those who set their hearts to seek The LORD, the God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to The LORD, the God of their fathers.

So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong for three years; for they walked three years in the way of David and Solomon.

Rehoboam took a wife for himself, Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse.

She bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.

After her, he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines; for he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and became the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah to be chief, the prince among his brothers; for he intended to make him king.

He dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city. He gave them food in abundance and he sought many wives for them.

2 Chronicles 12

Rehoboam Punished, Shishak Plunders Judah

When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned The LORD's law, and all Israel with him.

In the fifth year of king Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had trespassed against The LORD,

with twelve hundred chariots, and sixty thousand horsemen. The people were without number who came with him out of Egypt: the Lubim, the Sukkiim, and the Ethiopians.

He took the fortified cities which belonged to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.

Now Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, who were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, "The LORD says, 'You have forsaken me, therefore I have also left you in the hand of Shishak.'"

Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, "The LORD is righteous."

When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, The LORD's word came to Shemaiah, saying, "They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them; but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath won't be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.

Nevertheless they will be his servants, that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries."

So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem and took away the treasures of The LORD's house and the treasures of the king's house. He took it all away. He also took away the shields of gold which Solomon had made.

King Rehoboam made shields of brass in their place, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who kept the door of the king's house.

As often as the king entered into The LORD's house, the guard came and bore them, then brought them back into the guard room.

When he humbled himself, The LORD's wrath turned from him, so as not to destroy him altogether. Moreover, there were good things found in Judah.

So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem and reigned; for Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there. His mother's name was Naamah the Ammonitess.

He did that which was evil, because he didn't set his heart to seek The LORD.

Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, aren't they written in the histories of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer, in the genealogies? There were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.

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

2 Chronicles 13

Abijah succeeds Rehoboam; Civil War against Jeroboam

In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam, Abijah began to reign over Judah.

He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.

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.

Abijah stood up on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, "Hear me, Jeroboam and all Israel:

Ought you not to know that The LORD, the God of Israel, gave the kingdom over Israel to David forever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?

Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up, and rebelled against his lord.

Worthless men were gathered to him, base fellows who strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tender hearted, and could not withstand them.

"Now you intend to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David. You are a great multitude, and the golden calves which Jeroboam made you for gods are with you.

Haven't you driven out the priests of The LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made priests for yourselves according to the ways of the peoples of other lands? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams may be a priest of those who are no gods.

"But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him. We have priests serving The LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites in their work;

and they burn to the LORD every morning and every evening burnt offerings and sweet incense. They also set the show bread in order on the pure table; and the lamp stand of gold with its lamps, to burn every evening; for we keep the instruction of the LORD our God, but you have forsaken him.

Behold, God is with us at our head, and his priests with the trumpets of alarm to sound an alarm against you. Children of Israel, don't fight against The LORD, the God of your fathers; for you will not prosper."

But Jeroboam caused an ambush to come about behind them; so they were before Judah, and the ambush was behind them.

When Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind them; and they cried to The LORD, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.

Then the men of Judah gave a shout. As the men of Judah shouted, God struck Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.

The children of Israel fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hand.

Abijah and his people killed them with a great slaughter, so five hundred thousand chosen men of Israel fell down slain.

Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied on The LORD, the God of their fathers.

Abijah pursued Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with its villages, Jeshanah with its villages, and Ephron with its villages.

Jeroboam didn't recover strength again in the days of Abijah. the LORD struck him, and he died.

But Abijah grew mighty, and took for himself fourteen wives, and became the father of twenty-two sons, and sixteen daughters.

The rest of the acts of Abijah, his ways, and his sayings are written in the commentary of the prophet Iddo.

2 Chronicles 14

Asa Becomes King of Judah, Destroys Idolatry

So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in David's city; and Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days, the land was quiet ten years.

Asa did that which was good and right in the LORD his God's eyes;

for he took away the foreign altars and the high places, broke down the pillars, cut down the Asherah poles,

and commanded Judah to seek The LORD, the God of their fathers, and to obey his law and command.

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.

He built fortified cities in Judah; for the land was quiet, and he had no war in those years, because the LORD had given him rest.

For he said to Judah, "Let us build these cities, and make walls around them, with towers, gates, and bars. The land is yet before us, because we have sought the LORD our God. We have sought him, and he has given us rest on every side." So they built and prospered.

Asa had an army of three hundred thousand out of Judah who bore bucklers and spears, and two hundred eighty thousand out of Benjamin who bore shields and drew bows. All these were mighty men of valor.

Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million troops and three hundred chariots, and he came to Mareshah.

Then Asa went out to meet him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

Asa cried to the LORD his God, and said, "The LORD, there is no one besides you to help, between the mighty and him who has no strength. Help us, the LORD our God; for we rely on you, and in your name are we come against this multitude. The LORD, you are our God. Don't let man prevail against you."

So the LORD struck the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.

Asa and the people who were with him pursued them to Gerar: and so many of the Ethiopians fell that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD and before his army; and they carried away very much booty.

They struck all the cities around Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came on them, and they plundered all the cities; for there was much plunder in them.

They also struck the tents of livestock, and carried away sheep in abundance, and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 15

Azariah Warns Asa; Asa's Reforms

The Spirit of God came on Azariah the son of Oded:

and he went out to meet Asa, and said to him, "Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin! the LORD is with you, while you are with him; and if you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.

Now for a long time Israel was without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without law.

But when in their distress they turned to The LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them.

In those times there was no peace to him who went out, nor to him who came in; but great troubles were on all the inhabitants of the lands.

They were broken in pieces, nation against nation, and city against city; for God troubled them with all adversity.

But you be strong, and don't let your hands be slack; for your work will be rewarded."

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 LORD's altar that was before The LORD's porch.

He gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those who lived with them out of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon; for they came to him out of Israel in abundance when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.

So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of Asa's reign.

They sacrificed to the LORD in that day, of the plunder which they had brought, seven hundred head of cattle and seven thousand sheep.

They entered into the covenant to seek The LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul;

and that whoever would not seek The LORD, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.

They swore to the LORD with a loud voice, with shouting, with trumpets, and with cornets.

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 by them. Then the LORD gave them rest all around.

Also Maacah, the mother of Asa the king, he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; so Asa cut down her image, ground it into dust, and burned it at the brook Kidron.

But the high places were not taken away out of Israel; nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.

He brought the things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver, gold, and vessels into God's house.

There was no more war to the thirty-fifth year of Asa's reign.

2 Chronicles 16

Asa diverts Baasha from Building Ramah, Imprisons Hanani the Prophet

In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not allow anyone to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of The LORD's house and of the king's house, and sent to Ben Hadad king of Syria, who lived at Damascus, saying,

"Let there be a treaty between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent you silver and gold. Go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me."

Ben Hadad listened to king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they struck Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali.

When Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah, and let his work cease.

Then Asa the king took all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Rama, and its timber, with which Baasha had built; and he built Geba and Mizpah with them.

At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him, "Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped out of your hand.

Weren't the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge army, with chariots and horsemen exceeding many? Yet, because you relied on The LORD, he delivered them into your hand.

For The LORD's eyes run back and forth throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. You have done foolishly in this; for from now on you will have wars."

Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in the prison; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time.

Behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa was diseased in his feet. His disease was exceedingly great: yet in his disease he didn't seek The LORD, but just the physicians.

Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the forty-first year of his reign.

They buried him in his own tomb, which he had dug out for himself in David's city, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odors and various kinds of spices prepared by the perfumers' art; and they made a very great fire for him.

2 Chronicles 17

Jehoshaphat Succeeds Asa, Reigns Well and Prospers

Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against Israel.

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.

The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and didn't seek the Baals,

but sought to the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not in the ways of Israel.

Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand. All Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance.

His heart was lifted up in the ways of The LORD. Furthermore, he took away the high places and the Asherah poles out of Judah.

Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, even Ben Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;

and with them the Levites, even Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests.

They taught in Judah, having the book of The LORD's law with them. They went about throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.

The fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.

Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute. The Arabians also brought him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams, and seven thousand seven hundred male goats.

Jehoshaphat grew great exceedingly; and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah.

He had many works in the cities of Judah; and men of war, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem.

This was the numbering of them according to their fathers' houses: From Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him three hundred thousand mighty men of valor;

and next to him Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred eighty thousand;

and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to The LORD, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor.

From Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield;

and next to him Jehozabad, and with him one hundred eighty thousand ready and prepared for war.

These were those who waited on the king, besides those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.

2 Chronicles 18

Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab; Micaiah Prophesies against Ahab; Ahab Defeated

Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he allied himself with Ahab.

After some years, he went down to Ahab to Samaria. Ahab killed sheep and cattle for him in abundance, and for the people who were with him, and moved him to go up with him to Ramoth Gilead.

Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, "Will you go with me to Ramoth Gilead?"He answered him, "I am as you are, and my people as your people. We will be with you in the war."

Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Please inquire first for The LORD's word."

Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?"They said, "Go up; for God will deliver it into the hand of the king."

But Jehoshaphat said, "Isn't there here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we may inquire of him?"

The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of The LORD; but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. He is Micaiah the son of Imla."Jehoshaphat said, "Don't let the king say so."

Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, "Get Micaiah the son of Imla quickly."

Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah each sat 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.

Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made himself horns of iron and said, "The LORD says, 'With these you shall push the Syrians, until they are consumed.'"

All the prophets prophesied so, saying, "Go up to Ramoth Gilead, and prosper; for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king."

The messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, "Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth. Let your word therefore, please be like one of theirs, and speak good."

Micaiah said, "As the LORD lives, what my God says, that will I speak."

When he had come to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?"He said, "Go up, and prosper. They shall be delivered into your hand."

The king said to him, "How many times shall I adjure you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in The LORD's name?"

He said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. the LORD said, 'These have no master. Let them each return to his house in peace.'"

The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Didn't I tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?"

Micaiah said, "Therefore hear The LORD's word: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the army of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.

The LORD said, 'Who will entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?' One spoke saying in this way, and another saying in that way.

A spirit came out, stood before The LORD, and said, 'I will entice him.'"The LORD said to him, 'How?'

"He said, 'I will go, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.'"He said, 'You will entice him, and will prevail also. Go and do so.'

"Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets; and the LORD has spoken evil concerning you."

Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, "Which way did The LORD's Spirit go from me to speak to you?"

Micaiah said, "Behold, you shall see on that day, when you go into an inner room to hide yourself."

The king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;

and say, 'Thus says the king, "Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace."'"

Micaiah said, "If you return at all in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me." He said, "Listen, you people, all of you!"

So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.

The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but you put on your robes." So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went into the battle.

Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, "Don't fight with small nor great, except only with the king of Israel."

When the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, "It is the king of Israel!" Therefore they turned around to fight against him. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.

When the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

A certain man drew his bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of the armor. Therefore he said to the driver of the chariot, "Turn your hand, and carry me out of the army; for I am severely wounded."

The battle increased that day. However the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the evening; and at about sunset, he died.

2 Chronicles 19

Jehu Rebukes Jehoshaphat; Jehoshaphat Appoints Judges

Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.

Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, "Should you help the wicked, and love those who hate The LORD? Because of this, wrath is on you from before The LORD.

Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that you have put away the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God."

Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem; and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to The LORD, the God of their fathers.

He set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,

and said to the judges, "Consider what you do, for you don't judge for man, but for The LORD; and he is with you in the judgment.

Now therefore let the fear of the LORD be on you. Take heed and do it; for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes."

Moreover in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed Levites and priests, and of the heads of the fathers' households of Israel, for the judgment of The LORD, and for controversies. They returned to Jerusalem.

He commanded them, saying, "You shall do this in the fear of The LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.

Whenever any controversy comes to you from your brothers who dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, you must warn them, that they not be guilty towards The LORD, and so wrath come on you and on your brothers. Do this, and you will not be guilty.

Behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of The LORD; 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 may the LORD be with the good."

2 Chronicles 20

Jehoshaphat Defeats Moab and Ammon; His Prayer and Return to Jerusalem

After this, the children of Moab, the children of Ammon, and with them some of the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.

Then some came who told Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea from Syria. Behold, they are in Hazazon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi).

Jehoshaphat was alarmed, and set himself to seek to The LORD. He proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

Judah gathered themselves together to seek help from The LORD. They came out of all the cities of Judah to seek The LORD.

Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in The LORD's house, before the new court;

and he said, "The LORD, the God of our fathers, aren't you God in heaven? Aren't you ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in your hand, so that no one is able to withstand you.

Didn't you, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it to the offspring of Abraham your friend forever?

They lived in it, and have built you a sanctuary in it for your name, saying,

'If evil comes on us-the sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine-we will stand before this house, and before you (for your name is in this house), and cry to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.'

Now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned aside from them, and didn't destroy them;

behold, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit.

Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that comes against us. We don't know what to do, but our eyes are on you."

All Judah stood before The LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

Then The LORD's Spirit came on Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite, of the sons of Asaph, in the middle of the assembly;

and he said, "Listen, all Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, king Jehoshaphat. the LORD says to you, 'Don't be afraid, and don't be dismayed because of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.

Tomorrow, go down against them. Behold, they are coming up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel.

You will not need to fight this battle. Set yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Don't be afraid, nor be dismayed. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you.'"

Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before The LORD, worshiping The LORD.

The Levites, of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites, stood up to praise The LORD, the God of Israel, with an exceeding loud voice.

They rose early in the morning, and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. As they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, so you will be established! Believe his prophets, so you will prosper."

When he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to The LORD, and give praise in holy array, as they go out before the army, and say, "Give thanks to The LORD; for his loving kindness endures forever."

When they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushers against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were struck.

For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them: and when they had finished the inhabitants of Seir, everyone helped to destroy another.

When Judah came to the place overlooking the wilderness, they looked at the multitude; and behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and there were none who escaped.

When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their plunder, 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. They took plunder for three days, it was so much.

On the fourth day, they assembled themselves in Beracah Valley, for there they blessed The LORD. Therefore the name of that place was called "Beracah Valley" to this day.

Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat in front of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies.

They came to Jerusalem with stringed instruments, harps, and trumpets to The LORD's house.

The fear of God was on all the kingdoms of the countries, when they heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel.

So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.

Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.

He walked in the way of Asa his father, and didn't turn aside from it, doing that which was right in The LORD's eyes.

However the high places were not taken away, and the people had still not set their hearts on the God of their fathers.

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 included in the book of the kings of Israel.

After this, Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined himself with Ahaziah king of Israel. The same did very wickedly.

He joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish. They made the ships in Ezion Geber.

Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because you have joined yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your works." The ships were wrecked, so that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

2 Chronicles 21

Jehoshaphat's Death; Jehoram's Wicked Reign in Judah; Edom Rebels

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

He had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah. All these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.

Their father gave them great gifts of silver, of gold, and of precious things, with fortified cities in Judah; but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn.

Now when Jehoram had risen up over the kingdom of his father, and had strengthened himself, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and also some of the princes of Israel.

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

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

However the LORD would not destroy David's house, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a lamp to him and to his children always.

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

Then Jehoram went there with his captains and all his chariots with him. He rose up by night and struck the Edomites who surrounded him, along with the captains of the chariots.

So Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah to this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time from under his hand, because he had forsaken The LORD, the God of his fathers.

Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and made the inhabitants of Jerusalem play the prostitute, and led Judah astray.

A letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, "The LORD, the God of David your father, says, 'Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,

but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the prostitute like Ahab's house did, and also have slain your brothers of your father's house, who were better than yourself,

behold, the LORD will strike your people with a great plague, including your children, your wives, and all your posessions;

and you will have great sickness with a disease of your bowels, until your bowels fall out by reason of the sickness, day by day.'"

The LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians who are beside the Ethiopians;

and they came up against Judah, broke into it, and carried away all the posessions that were found in the king's house, including his sons and his wives; so that there was no son left him, except Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.

After all this the LORD struck him in his bowels with an incurable disease.

In process of time, at the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness, and he died of severe diseases. His people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.

He was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He departed without being missed; and they buried him in David's city, but not in the tombs of the kings.

2 Chronicles 22

Ahaziah Succeeds Jehoram in Judah, Reigns Wickedly; Athaliah and Joash

The inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his place, because the band of men who came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the oldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.

Ahaziah was forty-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.

He also walked in the ways of Ahab's house, because his mother was his counselor in acting wickedly.

He did that which was evil in The LORD's sight, as did Ahab's house, for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction.

He also followed 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.

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

Now the destruction of Ahaziah was of God, in that he went to Joram; for when he had come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off Ahab's house.

When Jehu was executing judgment on Ahab's house, he found the princes of Judah and the sons of the brothers of Ahaziah, serving Ahaziah, and killed them.

He sought Ahaziah, and they caught him (now he was hiding in Samaria), and they brought him to Jehu, and killed him; and they buried him, for they said, "He is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart." The house of Ahaziah had no power to hold the kingdom.

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

But Jehoshabeath, the king's daughter, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stealthily rescued him from among the king's sons who were slain, and put him and his nurse in the bedroom. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah, so that she didn't kill him.

He was with them hidden in God's house six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.

2 Chronicles 23

Jehoiada Makes Joash King; Athaliah Slain; Worship of God Restored

In the seventh year, Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into a covenant with him.

They went around in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the heads of fathers' households of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.

All the assembly made a covenant with the king in God's house. He said to them, "Behold, the king's son must reign, as the LORD has spoken concerning the sons of David.

This is the thing that you must do. A third part of you, who come in on the Sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be gatekeepers of the thresholds.

A third part shall be at the king's house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation. All the people will be in the courts of The LORD's house.

But let no one come into The LORD's house, except the priests and those who minister of the Levites. They shall come in, for they are holy, but all the people shall follow The LORD's instructions.

The Levites shall surround the king, every man with his weapons in his hand. Whoever comes into the house, let him be slain. Be with the king when he comes in, and when he goes out."

So the Levites and all Judah 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; for Jehoiada the priest didn't dismiss the shift.

Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds the spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David's, which were in God's house.

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, near the altar and the house, around the king.

Then they brought out the king's son, and put the crown on him, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and they said, "Long live the king!"

When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into The LORD's house.

Then she looked, and, behold, the king stood by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the trumpets by the king. All the people of the land rejoiced, and blew trumpets. The singers also played musical instruments, and led the singing of praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes, and said, "Treason! treason!"

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

So they made way for her. She went to the entrance of the horse gate to the king's house; and they killed her there.

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

All the people went to the house of Baal, broke it down, broke his altars and his images in pieces, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.

Jehoiada appointed the officers of The LORD's house under the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in The LORD's house, to offer the burnt offerings of The LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as David had ordered.

He set the gatekeepers at the gates of The LORD's house, that no one who was unclean in anything should enter in.

He took the captains of hundreds, the nobles, the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from The LORD's house. They came through the upper gate to the king's house, and set the king on the throne of the kingdom.

So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. They had slain Athaliah with the sword.

2 Chronicles 24

Joash Repairs the Temple; Idolatrous Reign of Joash; Aram Defeats Judah

Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah, of Beersheba.

Joash did that which was right in The LORD's eyes all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

Jehoiada took for him two wives, and he became the father of sons and daughters.

After this, Joash intended to restore The LORD's house.

He gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, "Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather money to repair the house of your God from all Israel from year to year. See that you expedite this matter." However the Levites didn't do it right away.

The king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said to him, "Why haven't you required of the Levites to bring in the tax of Moses the servant of The LORD, and of the assembly of Israel, out of Judah and out of Jerusalem, for the Tent of the Testimony?"

For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up God's house; and they also gave all the dedicated things of The LORD's house to the Baals.

So the king commanded, and they made a chest, and set it outside at the gate of The LORD's house.

They made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in for the LORD the tax that Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness.

All the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had filled it.

Whenever the chest was brought to the king's officers by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king's scribe and the chief priest's officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to its place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.

The king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of The LORD's house. They hired masons and carpenters to restore The LORD's house, and also those who worked iron and brass to repair The LORD's house.

So the workmen worked, and the work of repairing went forward in their hands. They set up God's house as it was designed, and strengthened it.

When they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, from which were made vessels for The LORD's house, even vessels with which to minister and to offer, including spoons and vessels of gold and silver. They offered burnt offerings in The LORD's house continually all the days of Jehoiada.

But Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and he died. He was one hundred thirty years old when he died.

They buried him in David's city among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, and toward God and his house.

Now after the death of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah came, and bowed down to the king. Then the king listened to them.

They abandoned the house of The LORD, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherah poles and the idols, so wrath came on Judah and Jerusalem for this their guiltiness.

Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again to The LORD, and they testified against them; but they would not listen.

The Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people, and said to them, "Thus says God, 'Why do you disobey The LORD's commandments, so that you can't prosper? Because you have forsaken The LORD, he has also forsaken you.'"

They conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of The LORD's house.

Thus Joash the king didn't remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son. When he died, he said, "May the LORD look at it, and repay it."

At the end of the year, 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 their plunder to the king of Damascus.

For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men; and the LORD delivered a very great army into their hand, because they had forsaken The LORD, the God of their fathers. So they executed judgment on Joash.

When they had departed from him (for they left him very sick), his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed, and he died. They buried him in David's city, but they didn't bury him in the tombs of the kings.

These are those who conspired against him: Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess.

Now concerning his sons, the greatness of the burdens laid on him, and the rebuilding of God's house, behold, they are written in the commentary of the book of the kings. Amaziah his son reigned in his place.

2 Chronicles 25

Amaziah Succeeds Joash in Judah, Defeated by Jehoash King of Israel

Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddan, of Jerusalem.

He did that which was right in The LORD's eyes, but not with a perfect heart.

Now when the kingdom was established to him, he killed his servants who had killed his father the king.

But he didn't put their children to death, but did according to that which is written in the law in the book of Moses, as the LORD 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."

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. He counted them from twenty years old and upward, and found that there were three hundred thousand chosen men, able to go out to war, who could handle spear and shield.

He also hired one hundred thousand mighty men of valor out of Israel for one hundred talents of silver.

A man of God came to him, saying, "O king, don't let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel, with all the children of Ephraim.

But if you will go, take action, and be strong for the battle. God will overthrow you before the enemy; for God has power to help, and to overthrow."

Amaziah said to the man of God, "But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel?"The man of God answered, "The LORD is able to give you much more than this."

Then Amaziah separated them, the army that had come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again. Therefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in fierce anger.

Amaziah took courage, and led his people out, and went to the Valley of Salt, and struck ten thousand of the children of Seir.

The children of Judah carried away ten thousand alive, and brought them to the top of the rock, and threw them down from the top of the rock, so that they all were broken in pieces.

But the men of the army whom Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell on the cities of Judah, from Samaria even to Beth Horon, and struck of them three thousand, and took much plunder.

Now after Amaziah had come from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense to them.

Therefore The LORD's anger burned against Amaziah, and he sent to him a prophet, who said to him, "Why have you sought after the gods of the people, which have not delivered their own people out of your hand?"

As he talked with him, the king said to him, "Have we made you one of the king's counselors? Stop! Why should you be struck down?"Then the prophet stopped, and said, "I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this, and have not listened to my counsel."

Then Amaziah king of Judah consulted his advisers, 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."

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

You say to yourself that you have struck Edom; and your heart lifts you up to boast. Now stay at home. Why should you meddle with trouble, that you should fall, even you, and Judah with you?'"

But Amaziah would not listen; 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.

So Joash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah.

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

Joash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth Shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.

He took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in God's house with Obed-Edom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.

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

Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, aren't they written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?

Now from the time that Amaziah turned away from following The LORD, they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem. He fled to Lachish, but they sent after him to Lachish, and killed him there.

They brought him on horses, and buried him with his fathers in the City of Judah.

2 Chronicles 26

Uzziah Follows in Judah, Prospers, Undone by Pride

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

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

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

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

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 The LORD, God made him prosper.

He went out and fought against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath, the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities in the country of Ashdod, and among the Philistines.

God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gur Baal, and the Meunim.

The Ammonites gave tribute to Uzziah. His name spread abroad even to the entrance of Egypt; for he grew exceedingly strong.

Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them.

He built towers in the wilderness, and dug out many cisterns, for he had much livestock; in the lowland also, and in the plain. He had farmers and vineyard keepers in the mountains and in the fruitful fields, for he loved farming.

Moreover Uzziah had an army of fighting men, who went out to war by bands, according to the number of their reckoning made by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.

The whole number of the heads of fathers' households, even the mighty men of valor, was two thousand six hundred.

Under their hand was an army, three hundred seven thousand five hundred, who made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.

Uzziah prepared for them, even for all the army, shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and stones for slinging.

In Jerusalem, he made devices, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and on the battlements, with which to shoot arrows and great stones. His name spread far abroad, because he was marvelously helped until he was strong.

But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly, and he trespassed against the LORD his God; for he went into The LORD's temple to burn incense on the altar of incense.

Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him eighty priests of The LORD, who were valiant men.

They resisted Uzziah the king, and said to him, "It isn't for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to The LORD, but for the priests the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed. It will not be for your honor from the LORD God."

Then Uzziah was angry. He had a censer in his hand to burn incense, and while he was angry with the priests, the leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in The LORD's house, beside the altar of incense.

Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked at him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out quickly from there. Yes, he himself also hurried to go out, because the LORD had struck him.

Uzziah the king was a leper to the day of his death, and lived in a separate house, being a leper; for he was cut off from The LORD's house. Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land.

Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, wrote.

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." Jotham his son reigned in his place.

2 Chronicles 27

Jotham Succeeds Uzziah in Judah

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

He did that which was right in The LORD's eyes, according to all that his father Uzziah had done. However he didn't enter into The LORD's temple. The people still acted corruptly.

He built the upper gate of The LORD's house, and he built much on the wall of Ophel.

Moreover he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and in the forests he built fortresses and towers.

He also fought with the king of the children of Ammon, and prevailed against them. The children of Ammon gave him the same year one hundred talents of silver, ten thousand cors of wheat, and ten thousand cors of barley. The children of Ammon also gave that much to him in the second year, and in the third.

So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God.

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.

He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.

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

2 Chronicles 28

Ahaz Follows Jotham in Judah, Compromises with Assyria

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's eyes, like David his father,

but he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and also made molten images for the Baals.

Moreover he burned incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burned his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.

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

Therefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria. They struck him, and carried away from him a great multitude of captives, and brought them to Damascus. He was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with a great slaughter.

For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed in Judah one hundred twenty thousand in one day, all of them valiant men, because they had forsaken The LORD, the God of their fathers.

Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king's son, Azrikam the ruler of the house, and Elkanah who was next to the king.

The children of Israel carried away captive of their brothers two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much plunder from them, and brought the plunder to Samaria.

But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded; and he went out to meet the army that came to Samaria, and said to them, "Behold, because The LORD, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, he has delivered them into your hand, and you have slain them in a rage which has reached up to heaven.

Now you intend to degrade the children of Judah and Jerusalem as male and female slaves for yourselves. Aren't there even with you trespasses of your own against the LORD your God?

Now hear me therefore, and send back the captives that you have taken captive from your brothers, for the fierce wrath of the LORD is on you."

Then some of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who came from the war,

and said to them, "You must not bring in the captives here, for you intend that which will bring on us a trespass against The LORD, to add to our sins and to our guilt; for our gulit is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel."

So the armed men left the captives and the plunder before the princes and all the assembly.

The men who have been mentioned by name rose up and took the captives, and with the plunder clothed all who were naked among them, dressed them, gave them sandals, and gave them something to eat and to drink, anointed them, carried all the feeble of them on donkeys, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers. Then they returned to Samaria.

At that time king Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to help him.

For again the Edomites had come and struck Judah, and carried away captives.

The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the lowland, and of the South of Judah, and had taken Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and also Gimzo and its villages; and they lived there.

For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel, because he acted without restraint in Judah and trespassed severely against The LORD.

Tilgath Pilneser king of Assyria came to him, and gave him trouble, but didn't strengthen him.

For Ahaz took away a portion out of The LORD's house, and out of the house of the king and of the princes, and gave it to the king of Assyria; but it didn't help him.

In the time of his distress, he trespassed yet more against The LORD, this same king Ahaz.

For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, which struck him. He said, "Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, so I will sacrifice to them, that they may help me." But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.

Ahaz gathered together the vessels of God's house, and cut the vessels of God's house in pieces, and shut up the doors of The LORD's house; and he made himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem.

In every city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked The LORD, the God of his fathers, to anger.

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.

Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem, because they didn't bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel; and Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.

2 Chronicles 29

Hezekiah's Good Reign; Temple Worship Restored

Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.

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

In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of The LORD's house, and repaired them.

He brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the wide place on the east,

and said to them, "Listen to me, you Levites! Now sanctify yourselves, and sanctify The LORD, the God of your fathers' house, and carry the filthiness out of the holy place.

For our fathers were unfaithful, and have done that which was evil in the LORD our God's sight, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of The LORD, and turned their backs.

Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel.

Therefore The LORD's wrath was on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has delivered them to be tossed back and forth, to be an astonishment, and a hissing, as you see with your eyes.

For, behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.

Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with The LORD, the God of Israel, that his fierce anger may turn away from us.

My sons, don't be negligent now; for the LORD has chosen you to stand before him, to minister to him, and that you should be his ministers, and burn incense."

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;

and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel; and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah;

and of the sons of Heman, Jehuel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel.

They gathered their brothers, sanctified themselves, and went in, according to the commandment of the king by The LORD's words, to cleanse The LORD's house.

The priests went into the inner part of The LORD's house to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in The LORD's temple into the court of The LORD's house. The Levites took it from there to carry it out to the brook Kidron.

Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month they came to The LORD's porch. They sanctified The LORD's house in eight days, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished.

Then they went in to Hezekiah the king within the palace, and said, "We have cleansed all The LORD's house, including the altar of burnt offering with all its vessels, and the table of show bread with all its vessels.

Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign threw away when he was unfaithful, have we prepared and sanctified. Behold, they are before The LORD's altar."

Then Hezekiah the king arose early, gathered the princes of the city, and went up to The LORD's house.

They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, and for Judah. He commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on The LORD's altar.

So they killed the bulls, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar. They killed the rams, and sprinkled the blood on the altar. They also killed the lambs, and sprinkled the blood on the altar.

They brought near the male goats for the sin offering before the king and the assembly; and they laid their hands on them.

Then the priests killed them, and they made a sin offering with their blood on the altar, to make atonement for all Israel; for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.

He set the Levites in The LORD's house with cymbals, with stringed instruments, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet; for the commandment was from the LORD by his prophets.

The Levites stood with David's instruments, and the priests with the trumpets.

Hezekiah commanded them to offer the burnt offering on the altar. When the burnt offering began, The LORD's song also began, along with the trumpets and David king of Israel's instruments.

All the assembly worshiped, the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded. All this continued until the burnt offering was finished.

When they had finished offering, the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped.

Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praises to the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. They sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshiped.

Then Hezekiah answered, "Now you have consecrated yourselves to The LORD. Come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into The LORD's house." The assembly brought in sacrifices and thank offerings, and as many as were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings.

The number of the burnt offerings which the assembly brought was seventy bulls, one hundred rams, and two hundred lambs. All these were for a burnt offering to The LORD.

The consecrated things were six hundred head of cattle and three thousand sheep.

But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings. Therefore their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was ended, and until the priests had sanctified themselves; for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.

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 LORD's house was set in order.

Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced, because of that which God had prepared for the people; for the thing was done suddenly.

2 Chronicles 30

Hezekiah Invites All Israel to the Passover

Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to The LORD's house at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to The LORD, the God of Israel.

For the king had taken counsel with his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem to keep the Passover in the second month.

For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves in sufficient number, and the people had not gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.

The thing was right in the eyes of the king and of all the assembly.

So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover to The LORD, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem, for they had not kept it in great numbers in the way it is written.

So the couriers went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, "You children of Israel, turn again to The LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may return to the remnant of you that have escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.

Don't be like your fathers and like your brothers, who trespassed against The LORD, the God of their fathers, so that he gave them up to desolation, as you see.

Now don't be stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to The LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he has sanctified forever, and serve the LORD your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you.

For if you turn again to The LORD, your brothers and your children will find compassion before those who led them captive, and will come again into this land, because the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him."

So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, even to Zebulun, but people ridiculed them and mocked them.

Nevertheless some men of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.

Also the hand of God came on Judah to give them one heart, to do the commandment of the king and of the princes by The LORD's word.

Many people assembled at Jerusalem to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great assembly.

They arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and they took away all the altars for incense and threw them into the brook Kidron.

Then they killed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought burnt offerings into The LORD's house.

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.

For there were many in the assembly who had not sanctified themselves: therefore the Levites were in charge of killing the Passovers for everyone who was not clean, to sanctify them to The LORD.

For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover other than the way it is written. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, "May the good the LORD pardon everyone

who sets his heart to seek God, The LORD, the God of his fathers, even if they aren't clean according to the purification of the sanctuary."

The LORD listened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.

The children of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness. The Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, singing with loud instruments to The LORD.

Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who had good understanding in the service of The LORD. So they ate throughout the feast for the seven days, offering sacrifices of peace offerings, and making confession to The LORD, the God of their fathers.

The whole assembly took counsel to keep another seven days, and they kept another seven days with gladness.

For Hezekiah king of Judah gave to the assembly for offerings one thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the assembly a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.

All the assembly of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the assembly who came out of Israel, and the foreigners who came out of the land of Israel, and who lived in Judah, rejoiced.

So there was great joy in Jerusalem; for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was nothing like this in Jerusalem.

Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people. Their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy habitation, even to heaven.

2 Chronicles 31

Idolatry Destroyed; Contributions for Worship

Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, and broke the pillars in pieces, cut down the Asherah poles, and broke down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, also in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.

Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites after their divisions, every man according to his service, both the priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of The LORD's camp.

He also appointed the king's portion of his posessions for the burnt offerings, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in The LORD's law.

Moreover he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to The LORD's law.

As soon as the commandment went out, the children of Israel gave in abundance the first fruits of grain, new wine, oil, honey, and of all the increase of the field; and they brought in the tithe of all things abundantly.

The children of Israel and Judah, who lived in the cities of Judah, also brought in the tithe of cattle and sheep, and the tithe of dedicated things which were consecrated to the LORD their God, and laid them in heaps.

In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.

When Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD and his people Israel.

Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites about the heaps.

Azariah the chief priest, of the house of Zadok, answered him and said, "Since people began to bring the offerings into The LORD's house, we have eaten and had enough, and have plenty left over, for the LORD has blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store."

Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare rooms in The LORD's house, and they prepared them.

They brought in the offerings, the tithes, and the dedicated things faithfully. Conaniah the Levite was ruler over them, and Shimei his brother was second.

Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, 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 God's house.

Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the gatekeeper at the east gate, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute The LORD's offerings and the most holy things.

Under him were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their office of trust, to give to their brothers by divisions, to the great as well as to the small;

besides those who were listed by genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even everyone who entered into The LORD's house, as the duty of every day required, for their service in their offices according to their divisions;

and those who were listed by genealogy of the priests by their fathers' houses, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their offices by their divisions;

and those who were listed by genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation; for in their office of trust they sanctified themselves in holiness.

Also for the sons of Aaron the priests, who were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every city, there were men who were mentioned by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all who were listed by genealogy among the Levites.

Hezekiah did so throughout all Judah; and he did that which was good, right, and faithful before the LORD his God.

In every work that he began in the service of God's house, in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.

2 Chronicles 32

Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem; Hezekiah's Prayer Answered

After these things and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, entered into Judah, and encamped against the fortified cities, and intended to win them for himself.

When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come, and that he was planning to fight against Jerusalem,

he took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the springs which were outside of the city, and they helped him.

So, many people gathered together and they stopped all the springs and the brook that flowed through the middle of the land, saying, "Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find abundant water?"

He took courage, built up all the wall that was broken down, and raised it up to the towers, with the other wall outside, and strengthened Millo in David's city, and made weapons and shields in abundance.

He set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the wide place at the gate of the city, and spoke encouragingly to them, saying,

"Be strong and courageous. Don't be afraid or dismayed because of the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude who is with him; for there is a greater one with us than with him.

An arm of flesh is with him, but the LORD our God is with us to help us and to fight our battles." The people rested themselves on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

After this, Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem, (now he was before Lachish, and all his power with him), to Hezekiah king of Judah, and to all Judah who were at Jerusalem, saying,

Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, "In whom do you trust, that you remain under siege in Jerusalem?

Doesn't Hezekiah persuade you, to give you over to die by famine and by thirst, saying, 'The LORD our God will deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?'

Hasn't the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, 'You shall worship before one altar, and you shall burn incense on it?'

Don't you know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands? Were the gods of the nations of the lands in any way able to deliver their land out of my hand?

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?

Now therefore don't let Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you in this way. Don't believe 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 will your God deliver you out of my hand?"

His servants spoke yet more against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah.

He also wrote letters insulting The LORD, the God of Israel, and speaking against him, saying, "As the gods of the nations of the lands, which have not delivered their people out of my hand, so shall the God of Hezekiah not deliver his people out of my hand."

They called out with a loud voice in the Jews' language to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.

They spoke of the God of Jerusalem as of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men's hands.

Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, prayed because of this, and cried to heaven.

The LORD sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and captains, in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. When he had come into the house of his god, those who came out of his own bowels killed him there with the sword.

Thus the LORD 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.

Many brought gifts to the LORD to Jerusalem, and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah; so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from then on.

In those days Hezekiah was terminally ill, and he prayed to The LORD; and he spoke to him, and gave him a sign.

But Hezekiah didn't reciprocate appropriate to the benefit done for him, because his heart was lifted up. Therefore there was wrath on him, and on Judah and Jerusalem.

Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that The LORD's wrath didn't come on them in the days of Hezekiah.

Hezekiah had exceedingly much riches and honor. He provided himself with treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of valuable vessels;

also storehouses for the increase of grain, new wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of animals, and flocks in folds.

Moreover he provided for himself cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him abundant posessions.

This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper spring of the waters of Gihon, and brought them straight down on the west side of David's city. Hezekiah prospered in all his works.

However concerning the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.

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.

Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the ascent of the tombs of the sons of David. All Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. Manasseh his son reigned in his place.

2 Chronicles 33

Manasseh's Wicked Reign in Judah; Ammon follows

Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.

He did that which was evil in The LORD's sight, after the abominations of the nations whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.

For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he raised up altars for the Baals, made Asheroth, and worshiped all the army of the sky, and served them.

He built altars in The LORD's house, of which the LORD said, "My name shall be in Jerusalem forever."

He built altars for all the army of the sky in the two courts of The LORD's house.

He also made his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits, and with wizards. He did much evil in The LORD's sight, to provoke him to anger.

He set the engraved image of the idol, which he had made, in God's house, of which God said to David and to Solomon his son, "In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name forever.

I will not 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, the statutes, and the ordinances given by Moses."

Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that they did more evil than the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel did.

The LORD spoke to Manasseh, and to his people; but they didn't listen.

Therefore the LORD brought on them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh in chains, bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.

When he was in distress, he begged the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.

He prayed to him; and he was entreated by him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.

Now after this, he built an outer wall to David's city, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entrance at the fish gate. He encircled Ophel with it, and raised it up to a very great height; and he put valiant captains in all the fortified cities of Judah.

He took away the foreign gods, and the idol out of The LORD's house, and all the altars that he had built in the mountain of The LORD's house, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.

He built up The LORD's altar, and offered sacrifices of peace offerings and of thanksgiving on it, and commanded Judah to serve The LORD, the God of Israel.

Nevertheless the people sacrificed still in the high places, but only to the LORD their God.

Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of The LORD, the God of Israel, behold, they are written among the acts of the kings of Israel.

His prayer also, and how God was entreated of him, and all his sin and his trespass, and the places in which he built high places, and set up the Asherah poles and the engraved images, before he humbled himself: behold, they are written in the history of Hozai.

So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house; and Amon his son reigned in his place.

Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned two years in Jerusalem.

He did that which was evil in The LORD's sight, as did Manasseh his father; and Amon sacrificed to all the engraved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them.

He didn't humble himself before The LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but this same Amon trespassed more and more.

His servants conspired against him, and put him to death in his own house.

But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place.

2 Chronicles 34

Josiah's Good Reign; Temple Repairs; Hilkiah recovers the Book of the Law

Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.

He did that which was right in The LORD's eyes, and walked in the ways of David his father, and didn't turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

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, the Asherah poles, the engraved images, and the molten images.

They broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence; and he cut down the incense altars that were on high above them. He broke the Asherah poles, the engraved images, and the molten images in pieces, made dust of them, and scattered it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.

He burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and purged Judah and Jerusalem.

He did this in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, even to Naphtali, around in their ruins.

He broke down the altars, and beat the Asherah poles and the engraved images into powder, and cut down all the incense altars throughout all the land of Israel, then returned to Jerusalem.

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 LORD his God's house.

They came to Hilkiah the high priest, and delivered the money that was brought into God's house, which the Levites, the keepers of the threshold, had gathered from the hands of Manasseh, Ephraim, of all the remnant of Israel, of all Judah and Benjamin, and of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

They delivered it into the hands of the workmen who had the oversight of The LORD's house; and the workmen who labored in The LORD's house gave it to mend and repair the house.

They gave it to the carpenters and to the builders, to buy cut stone and timber for couplings, and to make beams for the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.

The men did the work faithfully. Their overseers were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to give direction; and others of the Levites, who were all skillful with musical instruments.

Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and directed all who did the work in every kind of service. Of the Levites, there were scribes, officials, and gatekeepers.

When they brought out the money that was brought into The LORD's house, Hilkiah the priest found the book of The LORD's law given by Moses.

Hilkiah answered Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in The LORD's house." So Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan.

Shaphan carried the book to the king, and moreover brought back word to the king, saying, "All that was committed to your servants, they are doing.

They have emptied out the money that was found in The LORD's house, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and into the hand of the workmen."

Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, "Hilkiah the priest has delivered me a book." Shaphan read from it to the king.

When the king had heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes.

The king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying,

"Go inquire of the LORD for me, and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found; for great is The LORD's wrath that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept The LORD's word, to do according to all that is written in this book."

So Hilkiah, and they whom the king had commanded, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the second quarter), and they spoke to her to that effect.

She said to them, "The LORD, the God of Israel says: 'Tell the man who sent you to me,

"The LORD says, 'Behold, I will bring evil on this place, and on its inhabitants, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah.

Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath is poured out on this place, and it will not be quenched.'"'

But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of The LORD, you shall tell him this, 'The LORD, the God of Israel says: "About the words which you have heard,

because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God, when you heard his words against this place, and against its inhabitants, and have humbled yourself before me, and have torn your clothes, and wept before me, I also have heard you," says The LORD.

"Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes won't see all the evil that I will bring on this place and on its inhabitants."'"They brought back word to the king.

Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.

The king went up to The LORD's house, with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests, the Levites, and all the people, both great and small; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in The LORD's house.

The king stood in his place, and made a covenant before The LORD, to walk after The LORD, 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.

He caused all who were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand. The inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.

Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that belonged to the children of Israel, and made all who were found in Israel to serve, even to serve the LORD their God. All his days they didn't depart from following The LORD, the God of their fathers.

2 Chronicles 35

Josiah Observes the Passover, Later Dies in Battle

Josiah kept a Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem. They killed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.

He set the priests in their offices, and encouraged them in the service of The LORD's house.

He said to the Levites who taught all Israel, who were holy to The LORD, "Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel built. It will no longer be a burden on your shoulders. Now serve the LORD your God, and his people Israel.

Prepare yourselves after your fathers' houses by your divisions, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon his son.

Stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the fathers' houses of your brothers the children of the people, and let there be for each a portion of a fathers' house of the Levites.

Kill the Passover, sanctify yourselves, and prepare for your brothers, to do according to The LORD's word by Moses."

Josiah gave to the children of the people, of the flock, lambs and young goats, all of them for the Passover offerings, to all who were present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand bulls. These were of the king's substance.

His princes gave for a freewill offering to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the rulers of God's house, gave to the priests for the Passover offerings two thousand six hundred small livestock, and three hundred head of cattle.

Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethanel, his brothers, and Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad, the chiefs of the Levites, gave to the Levites for the Passover offerings five thousand small livestock and five hundred head of cattle.

So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites by their divisions, according to the king's commandment.

They killed the Passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood which they received of their hand, and the Levites flayed them.

They removed the burnt offerings, that they might give them according to the divisions of the fathers' houses of the children of the people, to offer to The LORD, as it is written in the book of Moses. They did the same with the cattle.

They roasted the Passover with fire according to the ordinance. The boiled the holy offerings in pots, in cauldrons, and in pans, and carried them quickly to all the children of the people.

Afterward they prepared for themselves and for the priests, because the priests the sons of Aaron were busy with offering the burnt offerings and the fat until night. Therefore the Levites prepared for themselves and for the priests the sons of Aaron.

The singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the commandment of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king's seer; and the gatekeepers were at every gate. They didn't need to depart from their service, because their brothers the Levites prepared for them.

So all the service of the LORD was prepared the same day, to keep the Passover, and to offer burnt offerings on The LORD's altar, according to the commandment of king Josiah.

The children of Israel who were present kept the Passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days.

There was no Passover like that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet, nor did any of the kings of Israel keep such a Passover as Josiah kept, with the priests, the Levites, and all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

This passover was kept in the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah.

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.

But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, "What have I to do with you, you king of Judah? I come not against you today, but against the house with which I have war. God has commanded me to make haste. Beware that it is God who is with me, that he not destroy you."

Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and didn't listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.

The archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, "Take me away, because I am seriously wounded!"

So his servants took him out of the chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had, and brought him to Jerusalem; and he died, and was buried in the tombs of his fathers. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.

Jeremiah lamented for Josiah, and all the singing men and singing women spoke of Josiah in their lamentations to this day; and they made them an ordinance in Israel. Behold, they are written in the lamentations.

Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his good deeds, according to that which is written in The LORD's law,

and his acts, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

2 Chronicles 36

Jehoahaz; Jehoiakim; Jehoiachin; Zedekiah; Captivity in Babylon; Cyrus Permits Return

Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father's place in Jerusalem.

Joahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.

The king of Egypt removed him from office at Jerusalem, and fined the land one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.

The king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. Neco took Joahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt.

Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did that which was evil in the LORD his God's sight.

Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him, and bound him in fetters to carry him to Babylon.

Nebuchadnezzar also carried some of the vessels of The LORD's house to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon.

Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah; and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.

Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did that which was evil in The LORD's sight.

At the return of the year, king Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylon, with the valuable vessels of The LORD's house, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.

He did that which was evil in the LORD his God's sight. He didn't humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from The LORD's mouth.

He also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God; but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart against turning to The LORD, the God of Israel.

Moreover all the chiefs of the priests, and the people, trespassed very greatly after all the abominations of the nations; and they polluted The LORD's house which he had made holy in Jerusalem.

The LORD, 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;

but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until The LORD's wrath arose against his people, until there was no remedy.

Therefore he brought on them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or gray-headed. He gave them all into his hand.

All the vessels of God's house, great and small, and the treasures of The LORD's house, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes, all these he brought to Babylon.

They burned God's house, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all of its valuable vessels.

He carried those who had escaped from the sword away to Babylon, and they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia,

to fulfill The LORD's word by Jeremiah's mouth, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. As long as it lay desolate, it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.