
The Second Book of Chronicles

   {1:1} Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and
[1>]Yahweh[<1] his [2>]God[<2] was with him, and magnified him
exceedingly. {1:2} Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of
thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every prince in
all Israel, the heads of the fathers' households. {1:3} So Solomon, and
all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon;
for there was the Tent of Meeting of God, which Moses the servant of
Yahweh had made in the wilderness. {1:4} But David had brought the ark
of God up from Kiriath Jearim to the place that David had prepared for
it; for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem. {1:5} Moreover the
bronze altar, that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made,
was there before the tabernacle of Yahweh: and Solomon and the assembly
were seeking counsel there. {1:6} Solomon went up there to the bronze
altar before Yahweh, which was at the Tent of Meeting, and offered one
thousand burnt offerings on it. {1:7} In that night God appeared to
Solomon, and said to him, "Ask what I shall give you." {1:8} Solomon
said to God, "You have shown great loving kindness to David my father,
and have made me king in his place. {1:9} Now, Yahweh God, let your
promise to David my father be established; for you have made me king
over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. {1:10} Now give
me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this
people; for who can judge this your people, that is so great?"

   {1:11} God said to Solomon, "Because this was in your heart, and you
have not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor the life of those who hate
you, neither yet have asked long life; but have asked wisdom and
knowledge for yourself, that you may judge my people, over whom I have
made you king: {1:12} wisdom and knowledge is granted to you. I will
give you riches, wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had
who have been before you; neither shall there any after you have the
like."

   {1:13} So Solomon came from the high place that was at Gibeon, from
before the Tent of Meeting, to Jerusalem; and he reigned over Israel.
{1:14} Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had one thousand
four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that he placed in
the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. {1:15} The king
made silver and gold to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he
to be as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland, for abundance.
{1:16} The horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt and from
Kue; the king's merchants purchased them from Kue. {1:17} They brought
up and brought out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred pieces of silver,
and a horse for one hundred fifty: and so for all the kings of the
Hittites, and the kings of Syria, they brought them out by their means.

   {2:1} Now Solomon purposed to build a house for the name of Yahweh,
and a house for his kingdom. {2:2} Solomon counted out seventy thousand
men to bear burdens, and eighty thousand men who were stone cutters in
the mountains, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.
{2:3} Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, "As you dealt
with David my father, and sent him cedars to build him a house in which
to dwell, so deal with me. {2:4} Behold, I am about to build a house
for the name of Yahweh my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn
before him incense of sweet spices, and for the continual show bread,
and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, and
on the new moons, and on the set feasts of Yahweh our God. This is an
ordinance forever to Israel.

   {2:5} "The house which I build is great; for our God is great above
all gods. {2:6} But who is able to build him a house, since heaven and
the heaven of heavens can't contain him? who am I then, that I should
build him a house, except just to burn incense before him?

   {2:7} "Now therefore send me a man skillful to work in gold, and in
silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and
blue, and who knows how to engrave engravings, to be with the skillful
men who are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father
provided.

   {2:8} "Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of
Lebanon; for I know that your servants know how to cut timber in
Lebanon: and behold, my servants shall be with your servants, {2:9}
even to prepare me timber in abundance; for the house which I am about
to build shall be great and wonderful. {2:10} Behold, I will give to
your servants, the cutters who cut timber, twenty thousand measures of
beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty
thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil."

   {2:11} Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he
sent to Solomon, "Because Yahweh loves his people, he has made you king
over them." {2:12} Huram continued, "Blessed be Yahweh, the God of
Israel, that made heaven and earth, who has given to David the king a
wise son, endowed with discretion and understanding, that should build
a house for Yahweh, and a house for his kingdom. {2:13} Now I have sent
a skillful man, endowed with understanding, of Huram my father's,
{2:14} the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan; and his father was a
man of Tyre, skillful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in
iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen,
and in crimson, also to engrave any kind of engraving, and to devise
any device; that there may be a place appointed to him with your
skillful men, and with the skillful men of my lord David your father.

   {2:15} "Now therefore the wheat and the barley, the oil and the
wine, which my lord has spoken of, let him send to his servants: {2:16}
and we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as you shall need; and we
will bring it to you in floats by sea to Joppa; and you shall carry it
up to Jerusalem." {2:17} Solomon numbered all the foreigners who were
in the land of Israel, after the numbering with which David his father
had numbered them; and they were found one hundred fifty-three thousand
six hundred. {2:18} He set seventy thousand of them to bear burdens,
and eighty thousand who were stone cutters in the mountains, and three
thousand six hundred overseers to set the people at work.

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

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

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

   {6:1} Then Solomon said, "Yahweh has said that he would dwell in the
thick darkness. {6:2} But I have built you a house of habitation, and a
place for you to dwell in forever."

   {6:3} The king turned his face, and blessed all the assembly of
Israel: and all the assembly of Israel stood. {6:4} He said, "Blessed
be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who spoke with his mouth to David my
father, and has with his hands fulfilled it, saying, {6:5} 'Since the
day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no
city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house in, that my name
might be there; neither chose I any man to be prince over my people
Israel: {6:6} but I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there;
and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.' {6:7} Now it was in
the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of Yahweh,
the God of Israel. {6:8} But Yahweh said to David my father, 'Whereas
it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it
was in your heart: {6:9} nevertheless you shall not build the house;
but your son who shall come forth out of your body, he shall build the
house for my name.'

   {6:10} "Yahweh has performed his word that he spoke; for I have
risen up in the place of David my father, and sit on the throne of
Israel, as Yahweh promised, and have built the house for the name of
Yahweh, the God of Israel. {6:11} There I have set the ark, in which is
the covenant of Yahweh, which he made with the children of Israel."

   {6:12} He stood before the altar of Yahweh in the presence of all
the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands {6:13} (for Solomon
had made a bronze scaffold, five cubits long, and five cubits broad,
and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and on
it he stood, and kneeled down on his knees before all the assembly of
Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven;) {6:14} and he said,
"Yahweh, the God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven, or on
earth; you who keep covenant and loving kindness with your servants,
who walk before you with all their heart; {6:15} who have kept with
your servant David my father that which you promised him: yes, you
spoke with your mouth, and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is
this day.

   {6:16} "Now therefore, Yahweh, the God of Israel, keep with your
servant David my father that which you have promised him, saying,
'There shall not fail you a man in my sight to sit on the throne of
Israel, if only your children take heed to their way, to walk in my law
as you have walked before me.' {6:17} Now therefore, Yahweh, the God of
Israel, let your word be verified, which you spoke to your servant
David.

   {6:18} "But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold,
heaven and the heaven of heavens can't contain you; how much less this
house which I have built! {6:19} Yet have respect for the prayer of
your servant, and to his supplication, Yahweh my God, to listen to the
cry and to the prayer which your servant prays before you; {6:20} that
your eyes may be open toward this house day and night, even toward the
place where you have said that you would put your name; to listen to
the prayer which your servant shall pray toward this place. {6:21}
Listen to the petitions of your servant, and of your people Israel,
when they shall pray toward this place: yes, hear from your dwelling
place, even from heaven; and when you hear, forgive.

   {6:22} "If a man sin against his neighbor, and an oath is laid on
him to cause him to swear, and he comes and swears before your altar in
this house; {6:23} then hear from heaven, and do, and judge your
servants, bringing retribution to the wicked, to bring his way on his
own head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his
righteousness.

   {6:24} "If your people Israel be struck down before the enemy,
because they have sinned against you, and shall turn again and confess
your name, and pray and make supplication before you in this house;
{6:25} then hear from heaven, and forgive the sin of your people
Israel, and bring them again to the land which you gave to them and to
their fathers.

   {6:26} "When the sky is shut up, and there is no rain, because they
have sinned against you; if they pray toward this place, and confess
your name, and turn from their sin, when you afflict them: {6:27} then
hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants, and of your
people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should
walk; and send rain on your land, which you have given to your people
for an inheritance.

   {6:28} "If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if
there is blight or mildew, locust or caterpillar; if their enemies
besiege them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever
sickness there is; {6:29} whatever prayer and supplication be made by
any man, or by all your people Israel, who shall know every man his own
plague and his own sorrow, and shall spread forth his hands toward this
house: {6:30} then hear from heaven, your dwelling place and forgive,
and render to every man according to all his ways, whose heart you
know; (for you, even you only, know the hearts of the children of men;)
{6:31} that they may fear you, to walk in your ways, so long as they
live in the land which you gave to our fathers.

   {6:32} "Moreover concerning the foreigner, who is not of your people
Israel, when he shall come from a far country for your great name's
sake, and your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm; when they shall
come and pray toward this house: {6:33} then hear from heaven, even
from your dwelling place, and do according to all that the foreigner
calls to you for; that all the peoples of the earth may know your name,
and fear you, as does your people Israel, and that they may know that
this house which I have built is called by your name.

   {6:34} "If your people go out to battle against their enemies, by
whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to you toward this city
which you have chosen, and the house which I have built for your name;
{6:35} then hear from heaven their prayer and their supplication, and
maintain their cause.

   {6:36} "If they sin against you (for there is no man who doesn't
sin), and you are angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so
that they carry them away captive to a land far off or near; {6:37} yet
if they shall repent themselves in the land where they are carried
captive, and turn again, and make supplication to you in the land of
their captivity, saying, 'We have sinned, we have done perversely, and
have dealt wickedly;' {6:38} if they return to you with all their heart
and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have
carried them captive, and pray toward their land, which you gave to
their fathers, and the city which you have chosen, and toward the house
which I have built for your name: {6:39} then hear from heaven, even
from your dwelling place, their prayer and their petitions, and
maintain their cause, and forgive your people who have sinned against
you.

   {6:40} "Now, my God, let, I beg you, your eyes be open, and let your
ears be attentive, to the prayer that is made in this place.

   {6:41} "Now therefore arise, Yahweh God, into your resting place,
you, and the ark of your strength: let your priests, Yahweh God, be
clothed with salvation, and let your saints rejoice in goodness.

   {6:42} "Yahweh God, don't turn away the face of your anointed.
Remember your loving kindnesses to David your servant."

   {7:1} Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came
down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices;
and the glory of Yahweh filled the house. {7:2} The priests could not
enter into the house of Yahweh, because the glory of Yahweh filled
Yahweh's house. {7:3} All the children of Israel looked on, when the
fire came down, and the glory of Yahweh was on the house; and they
bowed themselves with their faces to the ground on the pavement, and
worshiped, and gave thanks to Yahweh, saying,
"For he is good;
   for his loving kindness endures for ever."
   {7:4} Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before
Yahweh. {7:5} King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand
head of cattle, and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king
and all the people dedicated God's house. {7:6} The priests stood,
according to their positions; the Levites also with instruments of
music of Yahweh, which David the king had made to give thanks to
Yahweh, when David praised by their ministry, saying "For his loving
kindness endures for ever." The priests sounded trumpets before them;
and all Israel stood.

   {7:7} Moreover Solomon made the middle of the court holy that was
before the house of Yahweh; for there he offered the burnt offerings,
and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar which
Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offering, and the
meal offering, and the fat. {7:8} So Solomon held the feast at that
time seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly, from
the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt. {7:9} On the eighth day
they held a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar
seven days, and the feast seven days. {7:10} On the three and twentieth
day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their tents, joyful
and glad of heart for the goodness that Yahweh had shown to David, and
to Solomon, and to Israel his people. {7:11} Thus Solomon finished the
house of Yahweh, and the king's house: and he successfully completed
all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of Yahweh, and
in his own house.

   {7:12} Yahweh appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him, "I have
heard your prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for a house of
sacrifice.

   {7:13} "If I shut up the sky so that there is no rain, or if I
command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my
people; {7:14} if my people, who are called by my name, shall humble
themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked
ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and
will heal their land. {7:15} Now my eyes shall be open, and my ears
attentive, to the prayer that is made in this place. {7:16} For now
have I chosen and made this house holy, that my name may be there
forever; and my eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually.

   {7:17} "As for you, if you will walk before me as David your father
walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and will
keep my statutes and my ordinances; {7:18} then I will establish the
throne of your kingdom, according as I covenanted with David your
father, saying, 'There shall not fail you a man to be ruler in Israel.'
{7:19} But if you turn away, and forsake my statutes and my
commandments which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other
gods, and worship them; {7:20} then I will pluck them up by the roots
out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have
made holy for my name, I will cast out of my sight, and I will make it
a proverb and a byword among all peoples. {7:21} This house, which is
so high, everyone who passes by it shall be astonished, and shall say,
'Why has Yahweh done thus to this land, and to this house?' {7:22} They
shall answer, 'Because they abandoned Yahweh, the God of their fathers,
who brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and took other gods,
worshiped them, and served them. Therefore he has brought all this evil
on them.'"

   {8:1} It happened at the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had
built the house of Yahweh, and his own house, {8:2} that the cities
which Huram had given to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the
children of Israel to dwell there. {8:3} Solomon went to Hamath Zobah,
and prevailed against it. {8:4} He built Tadmor in the wilderness, and
all the storage cities, which he built in Hamath. {8:5} Also he built
Beth Horon the upper, and Beth Horon the lower, fortified cities, with
walls, gates, and bars; {8:6} and Baalath, and all the storage cities
that Solomon had, and all the cities for his chariots, and the cities
for his horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build for his
pleasure in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his
dominion. {8:7} As for all the people who were left of the Hittites,
and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the
Jebusites, who were not of Israel; {8:8} of their children who were
left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel didn't
consume, of them Solomon conscripted forced labor to this day. {8:9}
But of the children of Israel, Solomon made no servants for his work;
but they were men of war, and chief of his captains, and rulers of his
chariots and of his horsemen. {8:10} These were the chief officers of
king Solomon, even two-hundred fifty, who ruled over the people.

   {8:11} Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of
David to the house that he had built for her; for he said, "My wife
shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the
places where the ark of Yahweh has come are holy."

   {8:12} Then Solomon offered burnt offerings to Yahweh on the altar
of Yahweh, which he had built before the porch, {8:13} even as the duty
of every day required, offering according to the commandment of Moses,
on the Sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the set feasts, three
times in the year, in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast
of weeks, and in the feast of tents. {8:14} He appointed, according to
the ordinance of David his father, the divisions of the priests to
their service, and the Levites to their offices, to praise, and to
minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required; the
doorkeepers also by their divisions at every gate: for so had David the
man of God commanded. {8:15} They didn't depart from the commandment of
the king to the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or
concerning the treasures. {8:16} Now all the work of Solomon was
prepared to the day of the foundation of the house of Yahweh, and until
it was finished. So the house of Yahweh was completed. {8:17} Then went
Solomon to Ezion Geber, and to Eloth, on the seashore in the land of
Edom. {8:18} Huram sent him ships and servants who had knowledge of the
sea by the hands of his servants; and they came with the servants of
Solomon to Ophir, and fetched from there four hundred fifty talents of
gold, and brought them to king Solomon.

   {9:1} When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came
to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great
train, and camels that bore spices, and gold in abundance, and precious
stones: and when she had come to Solomon, she talked with him of all
that was in her heart. {9:2} Solomon told her all her questions; and
there was not anything hidden from Solomon which he didn't tell her.
{9:3} When the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the
house that he had built, {9:4} and the food of his table, and the
sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their
clothing, his cup bearers also, and their clothing, and his ascent by
which he went up to the house of Yahweh; there was no more spirit in
her.

   {9:5} She said to the king, "It was a true report that I heard in my
own land of your acts, and of your wisdom. {9:6} However I didn't
believe their words, until I came, and my eyes had seen it; and behold,
the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me: you exceed
the fame that I heard. {9:7} Happy are your men, and happy are these
your servants, who stand continually before you, and hear your wisdom.
{9:8} Blessed be Yahweh your God, who delighted in you, to set you on
his throne, to be king for Yahweh your God: because your God loved
Israel, to establish them forever, therefore made he you king over
them, to do justice and righteousness."

   {9:9} She gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, and
spices in great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any
such spice as the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon. {9:10} The
servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold
from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones. {9:11} The king
made of the algum trees terraces for the house of Yahweh, and for the
king's house, and harps and stringed instruments for the singers: and
there were none like these seen before in the land of Judah. {9:12}
King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she
asked, besides that which she had brought to the king. So she turned,
and went to her own land, she and her servants. {9:13} Now the weight
of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and sixty-six
talents of gold, {9:14} besides that which the traders and merchants
brought: and all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country
brought gold and silver to Solomon. {9:15} King Solomon made two
hundred bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred shekels of beaten gold
went to one buckler. {9:16} He made three hundred shields of beaten
gold; three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield: and the king
put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. {9:17} Moreover the
king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold.
{9:18} And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of
gold, which were fastened to the throne, and stays on either side by
the place of the seat, and two lions standing beside the stays. {9:19}
Twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other on the six
steps: there was nothing like it made in any kingdom. {9:20} All king
Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the
house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold: silver was nothing
accounted of in the days of Solomon. {9:21} For the king had ships that
went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three years
came the ships of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes,
and peacocks. {9:22} So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the
earth in riches and wisdom. {9:23} All the kings of the earth sought
the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his
heart. {9:24} They brought every man his tribute, vessels of silver,
and vessels of gold, and clothing, armor, and spices, horses, and
mules, a rate year by year. {9:25} Solomon had four thousand stalls for
horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that he stationed in
the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. {9:26} He ruled
over all the kings from the River even to the land of the Philistines,
and to the border of Egypt. {9:27} The king made silver to be in
Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars to be as the sycamore trees
that are in the lowland, for abundance. {9:28} They brought horses for
Solomon out of Egypt, and out of all lands. {9:29} Now the rest of the
acts of Solomon, first and last, aren't they written in the history of
Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in
the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat?
{9:30} Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. {9:31}
Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David
his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.

   {10:1} Rehoboam went to Shechem; for all Israel had come to Shechem
to make him king. {10:2} It happened, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat
heard of it, (for he was in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence
of king Solomon), that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt. {10:3} They sent
and called him; and Jeroboam and all Israel came, and they spoke to
Rehoboam, saying, {10:4} "Your father made our yoke grievous: now
therefore make you the grievous service of your father, and his heavy
yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you."

   {10:5} He said to them, "Come again to me after three days."

   The people departed. {10:6} King Rehoboam took counsel with the old
men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived,
saying, "What counsel do you give me to return answer to this people?"

   {10:7} They spoke to him, saying, "If you are kind to this people,
and please them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your
servants forever."

   {10:8} But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had
given him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with
him, who stood before him. {10:9} He said to them, "What counsel do you
give, that we may return answer to this people, who have spoken to me,
saying, 'Make the yoke that your father put on us lighter?'"

   {10:10} 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.
{10:11} 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.'"

   {10:12} So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third
day, as the king asked, saying, "Come to me again the third day."
{10:13} The king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the
counsel of the old men, {10:14} and spoke to them after the counsel of
the young men, saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add
to it. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with
scorpions."

   {10:15} So the king didn't listen to the people; for it was brought
about of God, that Yahweh might establish his word, which he spoke by
Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. {10:16} When all
Israel saw that the king didn't listen to them, the people answered the
king, saying, "What portion have we in David? Neither have we
inheritance in the son of Jesse! Every man to your tents, Israel! Now
see to your own house, David." So all Israel departed to their tents.

   {10:17} But as for the children of Israel who lived in the cities of
Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. {10:18} Then king Rehoboam sent
Hadoram, who was over the men subject to forced labor; and the children
of Israel stoned him to death with stones. King Rehoboam made speed to
get himself up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. {10:19} So Israel
rebelled against the house of David to this day.

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

   {12:1} It happened, when the kingdom of Rehoboam was established,
and he was strong, that he forsook the law of Yahweh, and all Israel
with him. {12:2} It happened in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that
Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had
trespassed against Yahweh, {12:3} with twelve hundred chariots, and
sixty thousand horsemen. The people were without number who came with
him out of Egypt: the Lubim, the Sukkiim, and the Ethiopians. {12:4} He
took the fortified cities which pertained to Judah, and came to
Jerusalem. {12:5} Now Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam, and to the
princes of Judah, who were gathered together to Jerusalem because of
Shishak, and said to them, "Thus says Yahweh, 'You have forsaken me,
therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.'"

   {12:6} Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves;
and they said, "Yahweh is righteous."

   {12:7} When Yahweh saw that they humbled themselves, the word of
Yahweh came to Shemaiah, saying, "They have humbled themselves. I will
not destroy them; but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath
shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. {12:8}
Nevertheless they shall be his servants, that they may know my service,
and the service of the kingdoms of the countries."

   {12:9} So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took
away the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the
king's house. He took it all away. He also took away the shields of
gold which Solomon had made. {12:10} King Rehoboam made in their place
shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the captains of
the guard, who kept the door of the king's house. {12:11} It was so,
that as often as the king entered into the house of Yahweh, the guard
came and bore them, and brought them back into the guard room. {12:12}
When he humbled himself, the wrath of Yahweh turned from him, so as not
to destroy him altogether: and moreover in Judah there were good things
found. {12:13} So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and
reigned: for Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign,
and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which Yahweh had
chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there: and his
mother's name was Naamah the Ammonitess. {12:14} He did that which was
evil, because he didn't set his heart to seek Yahweh. {12:15} Now the
acts of Rehoboam, first and last, aren't they written in the histories
of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer, after the way of
genealogies? There were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.
{12:16} Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of
David: and Abijah his son reigned in his place.

   {13:1} In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign
over Judah. {13:2} He reigned three years in Jerusalem: and his
mother's name was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. There was
war between Abijah and Jeroboam. {13:3} Abijah joined battle with an
army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: and
Jeroboam set the battle in array against him with eight hundred
thousand chosen men, who were mighty men of valor. {13:4} Abijah stood
up on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, and
said, "Hear me, Jeroboam and all Israel: {13:5} Ought you not to know
that Yahweh, the God of Israel, gave the kingdom over Israel to David
forever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt? {13:6} Yet
Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David,
rose up, and rebelled against his lord. {13:7} There were gathered to
him worthless men, base fellows, who strengthened themselves against
Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted,
and could not withstand them.

   {13:8} "Now you think to withstand the kingdom of Yahweh in the hand
of the sons of David; and you are a great multitude, and there are with
you the golden calves which Jeroboam made you for gods. {13:9} Haven't
you driven out the priests of Yahweh, the sons of Aaron, and the
Levites, and made priests for yourselves after the ways of the peoples
of other lands? so that whoever comes to consecrate himself with a
young bull and seven rams, the same may be a priest of those who are no
gods.

   {13:10} "But as for us, Yahweh is our God, and we have not forsaken
him; and we have priests ministering to Yahweh, the sons of Aaron, and
the Levites in their work: {13:11} and they burn to Yahweh every
morning and every evening burnt offerings and sweet incense. They also
set the show bread in order on the pure table; and the lampstand of
gold with its lamps, to burn every evening: for we keep the instruction
of Yahweh our God; but you have forsaken him. {13:12} Behold, God is
with us at our head, and his priests with the trumpets of alarm to
sound an alarm against you. Children of Israel, don't fight against
Yahweh, the God of your fathers; for you shall not prosper."

   {13:13} But Jeroboam caused an ambush to come about behind them: so
they were before Judah, and the ambush was behind them. {13:14} When
Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind them; and
they cried to Yahweh, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.
{13:15} Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah
shouted, it happened, that God struck Jeroboam and all Israel before
Abijah and Judah. {13:16} The children of Israel fled before Judah; and
God delivered them into their hand. {13:17} Abijah and his people
killed them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel
five hundred thousand chosen men. {13:18} Thus the children of Israel
were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed,
because they relied on Yahweh, the God of their fathers. {13:19} Abijah
pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with its
towns, and Jeshanah with its towns, and Ephron with its towns. {13:20}
Jeroboam didn't recover strength again in the days of Abijah. Yahweh
struck him, and he died. {13:21} But Abijah grew mighty, and took to
himself fourteen wives, and became the father of twenty-two sons, and
sixteen daughters. {13:22} The rest of the acts of Abijah, and his
ways, and his sayings, are written in the commentary of the prophet
Iddo.

   {14:1} So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the
city of David; and Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the
land was quiet ten years. {14:2} Asa did that which was good and right
in the eyes of Yahweh his God: {14:3} for he took away the foreign
altars, and the high places, and broke down the pillars, and cut down
the Asherim, {14:4} and commanded Judah to seek Yahweh, the God of
their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. {14:5} Also he
took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the sun
images: and the kingdom was quiet before him. {14:6} He built fortified
cities in Judah; for the land was quiet, and he had no war in those
years, because Yahweh had given him rest. {14:7} For he said to Judah,
"Let us build these cities, and make walls around them, with towers,
gates, and bars. The land is yet before us, because we have sought
Yahweh our God; we have sought him, and he has given us rest on every
side." So they built and prospered. {14:8} Asa had an army that bore
bucklers and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of
Benjamin, that bore shields and drew bows, two hundred eighty thousand:
all these were mighty men of valor. {14:9} There came out against them
Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a million troops, and three hundred
chariots; and he came to Mareshah. {14:10} Then Asa went out to meet
him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at
Mareshah. {14:11} Asa cried to Yahweh his God, and said, "Yahweh, there
is none besides you to help, between the mighty and him who has no
strength. Help us, Yahweh our God; for we rely on you, and in your name
are we come against this multitude. Yahweh, you are our God. Don't let
man prevail against you."

   {14:12} So Yahweh struck the Ethiopians before Asa, and before
Judah; and the Ethiopians fled. {14:13} Asa and the people who were
with him pursued them to Gerar: and there fell of the Ethiopians so
many that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed
before Yahweh, and before his army; and they carried away very much
booty. {14:14} They struck all the cities around Gerar; for the fear of
Yahweh came on them: and they despoiled all the cities; for there was
much spoil in them. {14:15} They struck also the tents of livestock,
and carried away sheep in abundance, and camels, and returned to
Jerusalem.

   {15:1} The Spirit of God came on Azariah the son of Oded: {15:2} and
he went out to meet Asa, and said to him, "Hear me, Asa, and all Judah
and Benjamin! Yahweh is with you, while you are with him; and if you
seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will
forsake you. {15:3} Now for a long time Israel was without the true
God, and without a teaching priest, and without law. {15:4} But when in
their distress they turned to Yahweh, the God of Israel, and sought
him, he was found by them. {15:5} 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. {15:6} They were broken in pieces,
nation against nation, and city against city; for God troubled them
with all adversity. {15:7} But you be strong, and don't let your hands
be slack; for your work shall be rewarded."

   {15:8} When Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the
prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominations out of all the
land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken
from the hill country of Ephraim; and he renewed the altar of Yahweh,
that was before the porch of Yahweh. {15:9} He gathered all Judah and
Benjamin, and those who lived with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh,
and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance,
when they saw that Yahweh his God was with him. {15:10} So they
gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the
fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. {15:11} They sacrificed to Yahweh
in that day, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred head of
cattle and seven thousand sheep. {15:12} They entered into the covenant
to seek Yahweh, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with
all their soul; {15:13} and that whoever would not seek Yahweh, the God
of Israel, should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man
or woman. {15:14} They swore to Yahweh with a loud voice, and with
shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets. {15:15} All Judah
rejoiced at the oath; for they had sworn with all their heart, and
sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and
Yahweh gave them rest all around. {15:16} Also Maacah, the mother of
Asa the king, he removed from being queen, because she had made an
abominable image for an Asherah; and Asa cut down her image, and made
dust of it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron. {15:17} But the high
places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa
was perfect all his days. {15:18} He brought into God's house the
things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had
dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels. {15:19} There was no more war
to the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa.

   {16:1} In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha
king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might
not allow anyone to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. {16:2} Then
Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of
Yahweh and of the king's house, and sent to Ben Hadad king of Syria,
who lived at Damascus, saying, {16:3} "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."

   {16:4} Ben Hadad listened to king Asa, and sent the captains of his
armies against the cities of Israel; and they struck Ijon, and Dan, and
Abel Maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali. {16:5} It happened,
when Baasha heard of it, that he left off building Ramah, and let his
work cease. {16:6} Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried
away the stones of Ramah, and its timber, with which Baasha had built;
and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah. {16:7} At that time Hanani the
seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him, "Because you have
relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on Yahweh your God,
therefore is the army of the king of Syria escaped out of your hand.
{16:8} Weren't the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge army, with chariots
and horsemen exceeding many? Yet, because you relied on Yahweh, he
delivered them into your hand. {16:9} For the eyes of Yahweh run back
and forth throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the
behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein you have done
foolishly; for from henceforth you shall have wars."

   {16:10} Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in the prison;
for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. Asa oppressed some
of the people at the same time. {16:11} Behold, the acts of Asa, first
and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah
and Israel. {16:12} In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was
diseased in his feet; his disease was exceeding great: yet in his
disease he didn't seek Yahweh, but to the physicians. {16:13} Asa slept
with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.
{16:14} They buried him in his own tombs, which he had dug out for
himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled
with sweet odors and various kinds of spices prepared by the perfumers'
art: and they made a very great burning for him.

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

   {18:1} Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he
joined affinity with Ahab. {18:2} After certain years he went down to
Ahab to Samaria. Ahab killed sheep and cattle for him in abundance, and
for the people who were with him, and moved him to go up with him to
Ramoth Gilead. {18:3} Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of
Judah, "Will you go with me to Ramoth Gilead?"

   He answered him, "I am as you are, and my people as your people. We
will be with you in the war." {18:4} Jehoshaphat said to the king of
Israel, "Please inquire first for the word of Yahweh."

   {18:5} Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four
hundred men, and said to them, "Shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle,
or shall I forbear?"

   They said, "Go up; for God will deliver it into the hand of the
king."

   {18:6} But Jehoshaphat said, "Isn't there here a prophet of Yahweh
besides, that we may inquire of him?"

   {18:7} The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man
by whom we may inquire of Yahweh; but I hate him, for he never
prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. He is Micaiah the son
of Imla."

   Jehoshaphat said, "Don't let the king say so."

   {18:8} Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, "Get
Micaiah the son of Imla quickly."

   {18:9} Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat
each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, and they were sitting in an
open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets
were prophesying before them. {18:10} Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah
made him horns of iron, and said, "Thus says Yahweh, 'With these you
shall push the Syrians, until they are consumed.'"

   {18:11} All the prophets prophesied so, saying, "Go up to Ramoth
Gilead, and prosper; for Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the
king."

   {18:12} The messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying,
"Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one
mouth. Let your word therefore, please be like one of theirs, and speak
good."

   {18:13} Micaiah said, "As Yahweh lives, what my God says, that will
I speak."

   {18:14} 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."

   {18:15} The king said to him, "How many times shall I adjure you
that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of Yahweh?"

   {18:16} He said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as
sheep that have no shepherd. Yahweh said, 'These have no master. Let
them return every man to his house in peace.'"

   {18:17} The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Didn't I tell you
that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?"

   {18:18} Micaiah said, "Therefore hear the word of Yahweh: I saw
Yahweh sitting on his throne, and all the army of heaven standing on
his right hand and on his left. {18:19} Yahweh said, 'Who shall entice
Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?' One
spoke saying in this way, and another saying in that way. {18:20} A
spirit came out, stood before Yahweh, and said, 'I will entice him.'

   "Yahweh said to him, 'How?'

   {18:21} "He said, 'I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in
the mouth of all his prophets.'

   "He said, 'You will entice him, and will prevail also. Go forth, and
do so.'

   {18:22} "Now therefore, behold, Yahweh has put a lying spirit in the
mouth of these your prophets; and Yahweh has spoken evil concerning
you."

   {18:23} Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck
Micaiah on the cheek, and said, "Which way did the Spirit of Yahweh go
from me to speak to you?"

   {18:24} Micaiah said, "Behold, you shall see on that day, when you
shall go into an inner room to hide yourself."

   {18:25} The king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah, and carry him back
to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son; {18:26}
and say, 'Thus says the king, "Put this fellow in the prison, and feed
him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I
return in peace."'"

   {18:27} Micaiah said, "If you return at all in peace, Yahweh has not
spoken by me." He said, "Listen, you peoples, all of you!" {18:28} So
the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth
Gilead. {18:29} The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will
disguise myself, and go into the battle; but you put on your robes." So
the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went into the battle.
{18:30} Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his
chariots, saying, "Fight neither with small nor great, except only with
the king of Israel."

   {18:31} It happened, when the captains of the chariots saw
Jehoshaphat, that they said, "It is the king of Israel!" Therefore they
turned around to fight against him. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and
Yahweh helped him; and God moved them to depart from him. {18:32} It
happened, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the
king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him. {18:33} A
certain man drew his bow at 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." {18:34} The battle increased that day. However the
king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot against the Syrians
until the evening; and about the time of the going down of the sun, he
died.

   {19:1} Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace
to Jerusalem. {19:2} Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet
him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, "Should you help the wicked, and
love those who hate Yahweh? Because of this, wrath is on you from
before Yahweh. {19:3} Nevertheless there are good things found in you,
in that you have put away the Asheroth out of the land, and have set
your heart to seek God."

   {19:4} Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem: and he went out again among
the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought
them back to Yahweh, the God of their fathers. {19:5} He set judges in
the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,
{19:6} and said to the judges, "Consider what you do: for you don't
judge for man, but for Yahweh; and he is with you in the judgment.
{19:7} Now therefore let the fear of Yahweh be on you. Take heed and do
it: for there is no iniquity with Yahweh our God, nor respect of
persons, nor taking of bribes."

   {19:8} Moreover in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed Levites and
priests, and of the heads of the fathers' households of Israel, for the
judgment of Yahweh, and for controversies. They returned to Jerusalem.
{19:9} He commanded them, saying, "Thus you shall do in the fear of
Yahweh, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. {19:10} Whenever any
controversy shall come to you from your brothers who dwell in their
cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes
and ordinances, you shall warn them, that they not be guilty towards
Yahweh, and so wrath come on you and on your brothers. Do this, and you
shall not be guilty. {19:11} Behold, Amariah the chief priest is over
you in all matters of Yahweh; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the
ruler of the house of Judah, in all the king's matters: also the
Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and may Yahweh
be with the good."

   {20:1} It happened after this, that the children of Moab, and the
children of Ammon, and with them some of the Ammonites, came against
Jehoshaphat to battle. {20:2} Then 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).
{20:3} Jehoshaphat was alarmed, and set himself to seek to Yahweh. He
proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. {20:4} Judah gathered
themselves together, to seek help from Yahweh. They came out of all the
cities of Judah to seek Yahweh. {20:5} Jehoshaphat stood in the
assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of Yahweh, before the new
court; {20:6} and he said, "Yahweh, the God of our fathers, aren't you
God in heaven? 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. {20:7} Didn't you, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land
before your people Israel, and give it to the seed of Abraham your
friend forever? {20:8} They lived in it, and have built you a sanctuary
in it for your name, saying, {20:9} '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.' {20:10} Now, behold, the
children of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let
Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned
aside from them, and didn't destroy them; {20:11} behold, how they
reward us, to come to cast us out of your possession, which you have
given us to inherit. {20:12} Our God, will you not judge them? For we
have no might against this great company that comes against us; neither
know we what to do, but our eyes are on you."

   {20:13} All Judah stood before Yahweh, with their little ones, their
wives, and their children. {20:14} Then the Spirit of Yahweh 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 midst of
the assembly; {20:15} and he said, "Listen, all Judah, and you
inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you king Jehoshaphat. Thus says Yahweh to
you, 'Don't be afraid, neither be dismayed by reason of this great
multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. {20:16} Tomorrow go
down against them. Behold, they are coming up by the ascent of Ziz. You
shall find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of
Jeruel. {20:17} You will not need to fight this battle. Set yourselves,
stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh with you, O Judah and
Jerusalem. Don't be afraid, nor be dismayed. Go out against them
tomorrow, for Yahweh is with you.'"

   {20:18} Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground; and
all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before Yahweh,
worshipping Yahweh. {20:19} The Levites, of the children of the
Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites, stood up to praise
Yahweh, the God of Israel, with an exceeding loud voice. {20:20} They
rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa:
and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me,
Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in Yahweh your God, so
you shall be established! Believe his prophets, so you shall prosper."

   {20:21} When he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed
those who should sing to Yahweh, and give praise in holy array, as they
went out before the army, and say, Give thanks to Yahweh; for his
loving kindness endures forever. {20:22} When they began to sing and to
praise, Yahweh set ambushers against the children of Ammon, Moab, and
Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were struck. {20:23}
For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of
Mount Seir, utterly to kill and destroy them: and when they had made an
end of the inhabitants of Seir, everyone helped to destroy another.
{20:24} When Judah came to the 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. {20:25} When Jehoshaphat
and his people came to take their spoil, they found among them in
abundance both riches and dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they
stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they
were three days in taking the spoil, it was so much. {20:26} On the
fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Beracah; for
there they blessed Yahweh: therefore the name of that place was called
The valley of Beracah to this day. {20:27} Then they returned, every
man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in their forefront, to go
again to Jerusalem with joy; for Yahweh had made them to rejoice over
their enemies. {20:28} They came to Jerusalem with stringed instruments
and harps and trumpets to the house of Yahweh. {20:29} The fear of God
was on all the kingdoms of the countries, when they heard that Yahweh
fought against the enemies of Israel. {20:30} So the realm of
Jehoshaphat was quiet; for his God gave him rest all around. {20:31}
Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty-five years old when he
began to reign; and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem: and his
mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. {20:32} He walked in
the way of Asa his father, and didn't turn aside from it, doing that
which was right in the eyes of Yahweh. {20:33} However the high places
were not taken away; neither as yet had the people set their hearts to
the God of their fathers. {20:34} Now the rest of the acts of
Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the history of
Jehu the son of Hanani, which is inserted in the book of the kings of
Israel. {20:35} After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined himself
with Ahaziah king of Israel. The same did very wickedly: {20:36} and he
joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish; and they made
the ships in Ezion Geber. {20:37} Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of
Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because you have
joined yourself with Ahaziah, Yahweh has destroyed your works." The
ships were broken, so that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

   {21:1} Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his
fathers in the city of David: and Jehoram his son reigned in his place.
{21:2} He had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, and Jehiel,
and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were
the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. {21:3} Their father gave them
great gifts, of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with
fortified cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram, because
he was the firstborn. {21:4} Now when Jehoram was risen up over the
kingdom of his father, and had strengthened himself, he killed all his
brothers with the sword, and various also of the princes of Israel.
{21:5} Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he began to reign; and he
reigned eight years in Jerusalem. {21:6} He walked in the way of the
kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab; for he had the daughter of
Ahab as wife: and he did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh.
{21:7} However Yahweh would not destroy the house of David, because of
the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a
lamp to him and to his children always. {21:8} In his days Edom
revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.
{21:9} Then Jehoram passed over with his captains, and all his chariots
with him: and he rose up by night, and struck the Edomites who
surrounded him, along with the captains of the chariots. {21:10} So
Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah to this day: then Libnah
revolted at the same time from under his hand, because he had forsaken
Yahweh, the God of his fathers. {21:11} Moreover he made high places in
the mountains of Judah, and made the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play
the prostitute, and led Judah astray. {21:12} A letter came to him from
Elijah the prophet, saying, "Thus says Yahweh, the God of David your
father, 'Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your
father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah, {21:13} but have walked
in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the
inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the prostitute, like the house of Ahab
did, and also have slain your brothers of your father's house, who were
better than yourself: {21:14} behold, Yahweh will strike with a great
plague your people, and your children, and your wives, and all your
substance; {21:15} and you shall have great sickness by disease of your
bowels, until your bowels fall out by reason of the sickness, day by
day.'"

   {21:16} Yahweh stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the
Philistines, and of the Arabians who are beside the Ethiopians: {21:17}
and they came up against Judah, and broke into it, and carried away all
the substance that was found in the king's house, and his sons also,
and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, except Jehoahaz,
the youngest of his sons. {21:18} After all this Yahweh struck him in
his bowels with an incurable disease. {21:19} It happened, in process
of time, at the end of two years, that his bowels fell out by reason of
his sickness, and he died of severe diseases. His people made no
burning for him, like the burning of his fathers. {21:20} Thirty-two
years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem
eight years: and he departed without being desired; and they buried him
in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

   {22:1} The inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son
king in his place; for the band of men who came with the Arabians to
the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king
of Judah reigned. {22:2} Forty-two years old was Ahaziah when he began
to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem: and his mother's name
was Athaliah the daughter of Omri. {22:3} He also walked in the ways of
the house of Ahab; for his mother was his counselor to do wickedly.
{22:4} He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as did the
house of Ahab; for they were his counselors after the death of his
father, to his destruction. {22:5} He walked also after their counsel,
and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against
Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth Gilead: and the Syrians wounded Joram.
{22:6} He returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which they had
given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria.
Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the
son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick. {22:7} Now the destruction
of Ahaziah was of God, in that he went to Joram: for when he had come,
he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom Yahweh
had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab. {22:8} It happened, when
Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, that he found the
princes of Judah, and the sons of the brothers of Ahaziah, ministering
to Ahaziah, and killed them. {22:9} He sought Ahaziah, and they caught
him (now he was hiding in Samaria), and they brought him to Jehu, and
killed him; and they buried him, for they said, "He is the son of
Jehoshaphat, who sought Yahweh with all his heart." The house of
Ahaziah had no power to hold the kingdom. {22:10} Now when Athaliah the
mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed
all the royal seed of the house of Judah. {22:11} But Jehoshabeath, the
daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away
from among the king's sons who were slain, and put him and his nurse in
the 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. {22:12} He was with them hidden
in God's house six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.

   {23:1} In the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took
the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the
son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of
Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him.
{23:2} They went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all
the cities of Judah, and the heads of fathers' households of Israel,
and they came to Jerusalem. {23:3} All the assembly made a covenant
with the king in God's house. He said to them, "Behold, the king's son
shall reign, as Yahweh has spoken concerning the sons of David. {23:4}
This is the thing that you shall do. A third part of you, who come in
on the Sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of
the thresholds. {23:5} A third part shall be at the king's house; and a
third part at the gate of the foundation. All the people shall be in
the courts of Yahweh's house. {23:6} But let no one come into the house
of Yahweh, except the priests, and those who minister of the Levites.
They shall come in, for they are holy, but all the people shall follow
Yahweh's instructions. {23:7} 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."

   {23:8} So the Levites and all Judah did according to all that
Jehoiada the priest commanded: and they took every man his men, those
who were to come in on the Sabbath; with those who were to go out on
the Sabbath; for Jehoiada the priest didn't dismiss the shift. {23:9}
Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds the spears,
and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David's, which were in
God's house. {23:10} He set all the people, every man with his weapon
in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the
house, along by the altar and the house, around the king. {23:11} Then
they brought out the king's son, and put the crown on him, and gave him
the testimony, and made him king: and Jehoiada and his sons anointed
him; and they said, "Long live the king!"

   {23:12} When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and
praising the king, she came to the people into the house of Yahweh:
{23:13} and she looked, and, behold, the king stood by his pillar at
the entrance, and the captains and the trumpets by the king; and all
the people of the land rejoiced, and blew trumpets; the singers also
played musical instruments, and led the singing of praise. Then
Athaliah tore her clothes, and said, "Treason! treason!"

   {23:14} Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who
were set over the army, and said to them, "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 Yahweh's house." {23:15} 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. {23:16} Jehoiada made a
covenant between himself, and all the people, and the king, that they
should be Yahweh's people. {23:17} All the people went to the house of
Baal, and broke it down, and broke his altars and his images in pieces,
and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. {23:18}
Jehoiada appointed the officers of the house of Yahweh under the hand
of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of
Yahweh, to offer the burnt offerings of Yahweh, as it is written in the
law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, according to the order
of David. {23:19} He set the porters at the gates of the house of
Yahweh, that no one who was unclean in anything should enter in.
{23:20} He took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the
governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought
down the king from the house of Yahweh: and they came through the upper
gate to the king's house, and set the king on the throne of the
kingdom. {23:21} So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city
was quiet. Athaliah they had slain with the sword.

   {24:1} Joash was seven years old when he began to reign; and he
reigned forty years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Zibiah, of
Beersheba. {24:2} Joash did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh
all the days of Jehoiada the priest. {24:3} Jehoiada took for him two
wives; and he became the father of sons and daughters. {24:4} It
happened after this, that Joash intended to restore the house of
Yahweh. {24:5} He gathered together the priests and the Levites, and
said to them, "Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather 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. {24:6} 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 Yahweh, and of the assembly of Israel, out of Judah and
out of Jerusalem, for the tent of the testimony?" {24:7} For the sons
of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up God's house; and they
also gave all the dedicated things of the house of Yahweh to the Baals.
{24:8} So the king commanded, and they made a chest, and set it outside
at the gate of the house of Yahweh. {24:9} They made a proclamation
through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in for Yahweh the tax that Moses
the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness. {24:10} All the
princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the
chest, until they had made an end. {24:11} It was so, that whenever the
chest was brought to the king's officers by the hand of the Levites,
and when they saw that there was much money, the king's scribe and the
chief priest's officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and
carried it to its place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered
money in abundance. {24:12} The king and Jehoiada gave it to such as
did the work of the service of the house of Yahweh; and they hired
masons and carpenters to restore the house of Yahweh, and also such as
worked iron and brass to repair the house of Yahweh. {24:13} So the
workmen worked, and the work of repairing went forward in their hands,
and they set up God's house in its state, and strengthened it. {24:14}
When they had made an end, they brought the rest of the money before
the king and Jehoiada, of which were made vessels for the house of
Yahweh, even vessels with which to minister and to offer, and spoons,
and vessels of gold and silver. They offered burnt offerings in the
house of Yahweh continually all the days of Jehoiada. {24:15} But
Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and he died; one hundred thirty
years old was he when he died. {24:16} They buried him in the city of
David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, and toward
God and his house. {24:17} Now after the death of Jehoiada came the
princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king
listened to them. {24:18} They forsook the house of Yahweh, the God of
their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols: and wrath came on
Judah and Jerusalem for this their guiltiness. {24:19} Yet he sent
prophets to them, to bring them again to Yahweh; and they testified
against them: but they would not give ear. {24:20} The Spirit of God
came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above
the people, and said to them, "Thus says God, 'Why do you disobey the
commandments of Yahweh, so that you can't prosper? Because you have
forsaken Yahweh, he has also forsaken you.'"

   {24:21} They conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at
the commandment of the king in the court of the house of Yahweh.
{24:22} Thus Joash the king didn't remember the kindness which Jehoiada
his father had done to him, but killed his son. When he died, he said,
"May Yahweh look at it, and repay it." {24:23} It happened at the end
of the year, that the army of the Syrians came up against him: and they
came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the
people from among the people, and sent all their spoil to the king of
Damascus. {24:24} For the army of the Syrians came with a small company
of men; and Yahweh delivered a very great army into their hand, because
they had forsaken Yahweh, the God of their fathers. So they executed
judgment on Joash. {24:25} When they were departed for him (for they
left him very sick), his own servants conspired against him for the
blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed,
and he died; and they buried him in the city of David, but they didn't
bury him in the tombs of the kings. {24:26} These are those who
conspired against him: Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and
Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess. {24:27} Now concerning his
sons, and the greatness of the burdens laid on him, and the rebuilding
of God's house, behold, they are written in the commentary of the book
of the kings. Amaziah his son reigned in his place.

   {25:1} Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and
he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was
Jehoaddan, of Jerusalem. {25:2} He did that which was right in the eyes
of Yahweh, but not with a perfect heart. {25:3} Now it happened, when
the kingdom was established to him, that he killed his servants who had
killed the king his father. {25:4} But he didn't put their children to
death, but did according to that which is written in the law in the
book of Moses, as Yahweh commanded, saying, "The fathers shall not die
for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers; but
every man shall die for his own sin." {25:5} Moreover Amaziah gathered
Judah together, and ordered them according to their fathers' houses,
under captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, even all Judah
and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and upward,
and found them three hundred thousand chosen men, able to go forth to
war, who could handle spear and shield. {25:6} He hired also one
hundred thousand mighty men of valor out of Israel for one hundred
talents of silver. {25:7} A man of God came to him, saying, "O king,
don't let the army of Israel go with you; for Yahweh is not with
Israel, with all the children of Ephraim. {25:8} But if you will go,
take action, be strong for the battle. God will overthrow you before
the enemy; for God has power to help, and to overthrow."

   {25:9} Amaziah said to the man of God, "But what shall we do for the
hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel?"

   The man of God answered, "Yahweh is able to give you much more than
this."

   {25:10} Then Amaziah separated them, the army that had come to him
out of Ephraim, to go home again: therefore their anger was greatly
kindled against Judah, and they returned home in fierce anger. {25:11}
Amaziah took courage, and led forth his people, and went to the Valley
of Salt, and struck ten thousand of the children of Seir. {25:12} The
children of Judah carry 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. {25:13} But the men of the army
whom Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle,
fell on the cities of Judah, from Samaria even to Beth Horon, and
struck of them three thousand, and took much spoil. {25:14} Now it
happened, after that Amaziah had come from the slaughter of the
Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set
them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned
incense to them. {25:15} Therefore the anger of Yahweh was kindled
against Amaziah, and he sent to him a prophet, who said to him, "Why
have you sought after the gods of the people, which have not delivered
their own people out of your hand?"

   {25:16} It happened, as he talked with him, that the king said to
him, "Have we made you 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."

   {25:17} 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."

   {25:18} Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying,
"The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon,
saying, 'Give your daughter to my son as his wife; then a wild animal
that was in Lebanon passed by, and trampled down the thistle. {25:19}
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?'"

   {25:20} 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. {25:21} So Joash king of Israel went up;
and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth
Shemesh, which belongs to Judah. {25:22} Judah was defeated by Israel;
and they fled every man to his tent. {25:23} Joash king of Israel took
Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth
Shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of
Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred
cubits. {25:24} He took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels
that were found in God's house with Obed-Edom, and the treasures of the
king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria. {25:25}
Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Joash
son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years. {25:26} Now the rest of
the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, aren't they written in the
book of the kings of Judah and Israel? {25:27} Now from the time that
Amaziah turned away from following Yahweh, they made a conspiracy
against him in Jerusalem. He fled to Lachish; but they sent after him
to Lachish, and killed him there. {25:28} They brought him on horses,
and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.

   {26:1} All the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years
old, and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah. {26:2} He
built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with
his fathers. {26:3} Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to
reign; and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem: and his mother's
name was Jechiliah, of Jerusalem. {26:4} He did that which was right in
the eyes of Yahweh, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.
{26:5} He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had
understanding in the vision of God: and as long as he sought Yahweh,
God made him to prosper. {26:6} He went forth and warred against the
Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh,
and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities in the country of Ashdod,
and among the Philistines. {26:7} God helped him against the
Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gur Baal, and the
Meunim. {26:8} The Ammonites gave tribute to Uzziah: and his name
spread abroad even to the entrance of Egypt; for he grew exceeding
strong. {26:9} Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner
gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and
fortified them. {26:10} He built towers in the wilderness, and dug out
many cisterns, for he had much livestock; in the lowland also, and in
the plain: and he had farmers and vineyard keepers in the mountains and
in the fruitful fields; for he loved farming. {26:11} Moreover Uzziah
had an army of fighting men, who went out to war by bands, according to
the number of their reckoning made by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the
officer, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.
{26:12} The whole number of the heads of fathers' households, even the
mighty men of valor, was two thousand and six hundred. {26:13} Under
their hand was an army, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and
five hundred, who made war with mighty power, to help the king against
the enemy. {26:14} Uzziah prepared for them, even for all the army,
shields, and spears, and helmets, and coats of mail, and bows, and
stones for slinging. {26:15} He made in Jerusalem engines, invented by
skillful men, to be on the towers and on the battlements, with which to
shoot arrows and great stones. His name spread far abroad; for he was
marvelously helped, until he was strong. {26:16} But when he was
strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly, and he
trespassed against Yahweh his God; for he went into Yahweh's temple to
burn incense on the altar of incense. {26:17} Azariah the priest went
in after him, and with him eighty priests of Yahweh, who were valiant
men: {26:18} and they resisted Uzziah the king, and said to him, "It
isn't for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to Yahweh, but for the priests
the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the
sanctuary; for you have trespassed; neither shall it be for your honor
from Yahweh God."

   {26:19} Then Uzziah was angry; and he had a censer in his hand to
burn incense; and while he was angry with the priests, the leprosy
broke forth in his forehead before the priests in the house of Yahweh,
beside the altar of incense. {26:20} Azariah the chief priest, and all
the priests, looked on him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead,
and they thrust him out quickly from there; yes, himself hurried also
to go out, because Yahweh had struck him. {26:21} Uzziah the king was a
leper to the day of his death, and lived in a separate house, being a
leper; for he was cut off from the house of Yahweh: and Jotham his son
was over the king's house, judging the people of the land. {26:22} Now
the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, Isaiah the prophet, the
son of Amoz, wrote. {26:23} So Uzziah slept with his fathers; and they
buried him with his fathers in the field of burial which belonged to
the kings; for they said, "He is a leper." Jotham his son reigned in
his place.

   {27:1} Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and
he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was
Jerushah the daughter of Zadok. {27:2} He did that which was right in
the eyes of Yahweh, according to all that his father Uzziah had done:
however he didn't enter into Yahweh's temple. The people still did
corruptly. {27:3} He built the upper gate of the house of Yahweh, and
on the wall of Ophel he built much. {27:4} Moreover he built cities in
the hill country of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and
towers. {27:5} He fought also with the king of the children of Ammon,
and prevailed against them. The children of Ammon gave him the same
year one hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat,
and ten thousand of barley. The children of Ammon gave that much to him
in the second year also, and in the third. {27:6} So Jotham became
mighty, because he ordered his ways before Yahweh his God. {27:7} Now
the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways, behold,
they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. {27:8}
He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned
sixteen years in Jerusalem. {27:9} Jotham slept with his fathers, and
they buried him in the city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his
place.

   {28:1} Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign; and he
reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and he didn't do that which was
right in the eyes of Yahweh, like David his father; {28:2} but he
walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images
for the Baals. {28:3} Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the
son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, according to the
abominations of the nations whom Yahweh cast out before the children of
Israel. {28:4} He sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and
on the hills, and under every green tree. {28:5} Therefore Yahweh his
God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they struck
him, and carried away of his a great multitude of captives, and brought
them to Damascus. He was also delivered into the hand of the king of
Israel, who struck him with a great slaughter. {28:6} For Pekah the son
of Remaliah killed in Judah one hundred twenty thousand in one day, all
of them valiant men; because they had forsaken Yahweh, the God of their
fathers. {28:7} Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the
king's son, and Azrikam the ruler of the house, and Elkanah who was
next to the king. {28:8} The children of Israel carried away captive of
their brothers two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and
took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.
{28:9} But a prophet of Yahweh was there, whose name was Oded: and he
went out to meet the army that came to Samaria, and said to them,
"Behold, because Yahweh, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah,
he has delivered them into your hand, and you have slain them in a rage
which has reached up to heaven. {28:10} Now you purpose to keep under
the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondservants and bondmaids for
yourselves. Aren't there even with you trespasses of your own against
Yahweh your God? {28:11} Now hear me therefore, and send back the
captives, that you have taken captive from your brothers; for the
fierce wrath of Yahweh is on you." {28:12} Then some of the heads of
the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son
of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of
Hadlai, stood up against those who came from the war, {28:13} and said
to them, "You shall not bring in the captives here: for you purpose
that which will bring on us a trespass against Yahweh, to add to our
sins and to our trespass; for our trespass is great, and there is
fierce wrath against Israel."

   {28:14} So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the
princes and all the assembly. {28:15} The men who have been mentioned
by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all
who were naked among them, 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. {28:16}
At that time king Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to help him.
{28:17} For again the Edomites had come and struck Judah, and carried
away captives. {28:18} The Philistines also had invaded the cities of
the lowland, and of the South of Judah, and had taken Beth Shemesh, and
Aijalon, and Gederoth, and Soco with its towns, and Timnah with its
towns, Gimzo also and its towns: and they lived there. {28:19} For
Yahweh brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he had
dealt wantonly in Judah, and trespassed severely against Yahweh.
{28:20} Tilgath Pilneser king of Assyria came to him, and distressed
him, but didn't strengthen him. {28:21} For Ahaz took away a portion
out of the house of Yahweh, and out of the house of the king and of the
princes, and gave it to the king of Assyria: but it didn't help him.
{28:22} In the time of his distress, he trespassed yet more against
Yahweh, this same king Ahaz. {28:23} For he sacrificed to the gods of
Damascus, which struck him; and he said, "Because the gods of the kings
of Syria helped them, so I will sacrifice to them, that they may help
me." But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel. {28:24} Ahaz
gathered together the vessels of God's house, and cut in pieces the
vessels of God's house, and shut up the doors of the house of Yahweh;
and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem. {28:25} In every
city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and
provoked to anger Yahweh, the God of his fathers. {28:26} Now the rest
of his acts, and all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written
in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. {28:27} Ahaz slept with
his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem; for
they didn't bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel: and
Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.

   {29:1} Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old;
and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name
was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. {29:2} He did that which was
right in the eyes of Yahweh, according to all that David his father had
done. {29:3} He in the first year of his reign, in the first month,
opened the doors of the house of Yahweh, and repaired them. {29:4} He
brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into
the broad place on the east, {29:5} and said to them, "Listen to me,
you Levites! Now sanctify yourselves, and sanctify the house of Yahweh,
the God of your fathers, and carry out the filthiness out of the holy
place. {29:6} For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was
evil in the sight of Yahweh our God, and have forsaken him, and have
turned away their faces from the habitation of Yahweh, and turned their
backs. {29:7} Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put
out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings
in the holy place to the God of Israel. {29:8} Therefore the wrath of
Yahweh was on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has delivered them to be
tossed back and forth, to be an astonishment, and a hissing, as you see
with your eyes. {29:9} For, behold, our fathers have fallen by the
sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity
for this. {29:10} Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with Yahweh,
the God of Israel, that his fierce anger may turn away from us. {29:11}
My sons, don't be negligent now; for Yahweh has chosen you to stand
before him, to minister to him, and that you should be his ministers,
and burn incense."

   {29:12} Then the Levites arose, Mahath, the son of Amasai, and Joel
the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; and of the sons of
Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and of
the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah;
{29:13} and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel; and of the sons
of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah; {29:14} and of the sons of Heman,
Jehuel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel.
{29:15} They gathered their brothers, and sanctified themselves, and
went in, according to the commandment of the king by the words of
Yahweh, to cleanse the house of Yahweh. {29:16} The priests went in to
the inner part of the house of Yahweh, to cleanse it, and brought out
all the uncleanness that they found in Yahweh's temple into the court
of the house of Yahweh. The Levites took it, to carry it out abroad to
the brook Kidron. {29:17} Now they began on the first day of the first
month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month came they to the
porch of Yahweh; and they sanctified the house of Yahweh in eight days:
and on the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end. {29:18}
Then they went in to Hezekiah the king within the palace, and said, "We
have cleansed all the house of Yahweh, and the altar of burnt offering,
with all its vessels, and the table of show bread, with all its
vessels. {29:19} Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign
threw away when he trespassed, have we prepared and sanctified; and
behold, they are before the altar of Yahweh."

   {29:20} Then Hezekiah the king arose early, and gathered the princes
of the city, and went up to the house of Yahweh. {29:21} They brought
seven bulls, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven male goats, for
a sin offering for the kingdom and for the sanctuary and for Judah. He
commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of
Yahweh. {29:22} So they killed the bulls, and the priests received the
blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: and they killed the rams, and
sprinkled the blood on the altar: they killed also the lambs, and
sprinkled the blood on the altar. {29:23} They brought near the male
goats for the sin offering before the king and the assembly; and they
laid their hands on them: {29:24} and the priests killed them, and they
made a sin offering with their blood on the altar, to make atonement
for all Israel; for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the
sin offering should be made for all Israel. {29:25} He set the Levites
in the house of Yahweh with cymbals, with stringed instruments, and
with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the
king's seer, and Nathan the prophet; for the commandment was of Yahweh
by his prophets. {29:26} The Levites stood with the instruments of
David, and the priests with the trumpets. {29:27} Hezekiah commanded to
offer the burnt offering on the altar. When the burnt offering began,
the song of Yahweh began also, and the trumpets, together with the
instruments of David king of Israel. {29:28} All the assembly
worshiped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded; all this
continued until the burnt offering was finished. {29:29} When they had
made an end of offering, the king and all who were present with him
bowed themselves and worshiped. {29:30} Moreover Hezekiah the king and
the princes commanded the Levites to sing praises to Yahweh with the
words of David, and of Asaph the seer. They sang praises with gladness,
and they bowed their heads and worshiped. {29:31} Then Hezekiah
answered, "Now you have consecrated yourselves to Yahweh; come near and
bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of Yahweh." The
assembly brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were
of a willing heart brought burnt offerings. {29:32} The number of the
burnt offerings which the assembly brought was seventy bulls, one
hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt
offering to Yahweh. {29:33} The consecrated things were six hundred
head of cattle and three thousand sheep. {29:34} But the priests were
too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: therefore
their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was ended, and
until the priests had sanctified themselves; for the Levites were more
upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests. {29:35} Also
the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace
offerings, and with the drink offerings for every burnt offering. So
the service of the house of Yahweh was set in order. {29:36} Hezekiah
rejoiced, and all the people, because of that which God had prepared
for the people: for the thing was done suddenly.

   {30:1} Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also
to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of Yahweh
at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to Yahweh, the God of Israel. {30:2}
For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the assembly
in Jerusalem, to keep the Passover in the second month. {30:3} For they
could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified
themselves in sufficient number, neither had the people gathered
themselves together to Jerusalem. {30:4} The thing was right in the
eyes of the king and of all the assembly. {30:5} So they established a
decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even
to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover to Yahweh, the God
of Israel, at Jerusalem: for they had not kept it in great numbers in
such sort as it is written. {30:6} So the 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 Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,
that he may return to the remnant that have escaped of you out of the
hand of the kings of Assyria. {30:7} Don't be like your fathers, and
like your brothers, who trespassed against Yahweh, the God of their
fathers, so that he gave them up to desolation, as you see. {30:8} Now
don't be stiff-necked, as your fathers were; but yield yourselves to
Yahweh, and enter into his sanctuary, which he has sanctified forever,
and serve Yahweh your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from
you. {30:9} For if you turn again to Yahweh, your brothers and your
children shall find compassion before those who led them captive, and
shall come again into this land: for Yahweh your God is gracious and
merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to
him."

   {30:10} So the couriers passed from city to city through the country
of Ephraim and Manasseh, even to Zebulun: but they ridiculed them, and
mocked them. {30:11} Nevertheless certain men of Asher and Manasseh and
of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem. {30:12} Also on
Judah came the hand of God to give them one heart, to do the
commandment of the king and of the princes by the word of Yahweh.
{30:13} Many people assembled at Jerusalem to keep the feast of
unleavened bread in the second month, a very great assembly. {30:14}
They arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the
altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron.
{30:15} Then they killed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the
second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and
sanctified themselves, and brought burnt offerings into the house of
Yahweh. {30:16} They stood in their place after their order, according
to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood
which they received of the hand of the Levites. {30:17} For there were
many in the assembly who had not sanctified themselves: therefore the
Levites were in charge of killing the Passovers for everyone who was
not clean, to sanctify them to Yahweh. {30:18} For a multitude of the
people, even many of Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had
not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than it is
written. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, "May the good Yahweh
pardon everyone {30:19} who sets his heart to seek God, Yahweh, the God
of his fathers, even if they aren't clean according to the purification
of the sanctuary."

   {30:20} Yahweh listened to Hezekiah, and healed the people. {30:21}
The children of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of
unleavened bread seven days with great gladness; and the Levites and
the priests praised Yahweh day by day, singing with loud instruments to
Yahweh. {30:22} Hezekiah spoke comfortably to all the Levites who had
good understanding in the service of Yahweh. So they ate throughout the
feast for the seven days, offering sacrifices of peace offerings, and
making confession to Yahweh, the God of their fathers. {30:23} The
whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days; and they kept
another seven days with gladness. {30:24} 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. {30:25} All the assembly of Judah, with the priests and the
Levites, and all the assembly who came out of Israel, and the
foreigners who came out of the land of Israel, and who lived in Judah,
rejoiced. {30:26} So there was great joy in Jerusalem; for since the
time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like
in Jerusalem. {30:27} Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed
the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his
holy habitation, even to heaven.

   {31:1} Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present
went out to the cities of Judah, and broke in pieces the pillars, and
cut down the Asherim, and broke down the high places and the altars out
of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had
destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man
to his possession, into their own cities. {31:2} Hezekiah appointed the
divisions of the priests and the Levites after their divisions, every
man according to his service, both the priests and the Levites, for
burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give
thanks, and to praise in the gates of the camp of Yahweh. {31:3} He
appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt
offerings, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt
offerings for the Sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set
feasts, as it is written in the law of Yahweh. {31:4} Moreover he
commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion of the
priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to the law of
Yahweh. {31:5} As soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of
Israel gave in abundance the first fruits of grain, new wine, and oil,
and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all
things brought they in abundantly. {31:6} The children of Israel and
Judah, who lived in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe
of cattle and sheep, and the tithe of dedicated things which were
consecrated to Yahweh their God, and laid them by heaps. {31:7} In the
third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished
them in the seventh month. {31:8} When Hezekiah and the princes came
and saw the heaps, they blessed Yahweh, and his people Israel. {31:9}
Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the
heaps. {31:10} Azariah the chief priest, of the house of Zadok,
answered him and said, "Since people began to bring the offerings into
the house of Yahweh, we have eaten and had enough, and have left
plenty: for Yahweh has blessed his people; and that which is left is
this great store." {31:11} Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare
rooms in the house of Yahweh; and they prepared them. {31:12} They
brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things
faithfully: and over them Conaniah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his
brother was second. {31:13} Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and
Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and
Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Conaniah and
Shimei his brother, by the appointment of Hezekiah the king, and
Azariah the ruler of God's house. {31:14} Kore the son of Imnah the
Levite, the porter at the east gate, was over the freewill offerings of
God, to distribute the offerings of Yahweh, and the most holy things.
{31:15} Under him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah,
Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their office
of trust, to give to their brothers by divisions, as well to the great
as to the small: {31:16} besides those who were reckoned by genealogy
of males, from three years old and upward, even everyone who entered
into the house of Yahweh, as the duty of every day required, for their
service in their offices according to their divisions; {31:17} and
those who were reckoned by genealogy of the priests by their fathers'
houses, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their
offices by their divisions; {31:18} and those who were reckoned by
genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and
their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their office of
trust they sanctified themselves in holiness. {31:19} Also for the sons
of Aaron the priests, who were in the fields of the suburbs of their
cities, in every city, there were men who were mentioned by name, to
give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all who were
reckoned by genealogy among the Levites. {31:20} Hezekiah did so
throughout all Judah; and he worked that which was good and right and
faithful before Yahweh his God. {31:21} In every work that he began in
the service of God's house, and in the law, and in the commandments, to
seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.

   {32:1} After these things, and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king
of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the
fortified cities, and thought to win them for himself. {32:2} When
Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come, and that he was purposed to
fight against Jerusalem, {32:3} he took counsel with his princes and
his mighty men to stop the waters of the springs which were outside of
the city; and they helped him. {32:4} So many people gathered together,
and they stopped all the springs, and the brook that flowed through the
midst of the land, saying, "Why should the kings of Assyria come, and
find much water?"

   {32:5} He took courage, and built up all the wall that was broken
down, and raised it up to the towers, and the other wall outside, and
strengthened Millo in the city of David, and made weapons and shields
in abundance. {32:6} He set captains of war over the people, and
gathered them together to him in the broad place at the gate of the
city, and spoke comfortably to them, saying, {32:7} "Be strong and
courageous, don't be afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor
for all the multitude who is with him; for there is a greater with us
than with him. {32:8} With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is
Yahweh our God to help us, and to fight our battles." The people rested
themselves on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. {32:9} After this,
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, {32:10} Thus says
Sennacherib king of Assyria, "In whom do you trust, that you remain
under siege in Jerusalem? {32:11} Doesn't Hezekiah persuade you, to
give you over to die by famine and by thirst, saying, 'Yahweh our God
will deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?' {32:12} 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 on it you shall burn incense?' {32:13}  Don't you know what
I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands? Were the
gods of the nations of the lands in any way able to deliver their land
out of my hand? {32:14} Who was there among all the gods of those
nations which my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his
people out of my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out
of my hand? {32:15} Now therefore don't let Hezekiah deceive you, nor
persuade you in this way, neither 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?"

   {32:16} His servants spoke yet more against Yahweh God, and against
his servant Hezekiah. {32:17} He also wrote letters insulting Yahweh,
the God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, "As the gods of
the nations of the lands, which have not delivered their people out of
my hand, so shall the God of Hezekiah not deliver his people out of my
hand." {32:18} They cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language to
the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten them, and to
trouble them; that they might take the city. {32:19} They spoke of the
God of Jerusalem, as of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are
the work of men's hands. {32:20} Hezekiah the king, and Isaiah the
prophet the son of Amoz, prayed because of this, and cried to heaven.
{32:21} Yahweh sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valor,
and the leaders and captains, in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he
returned with shame of face to his own land. When he had come into the
house of his god, those who came forth from his own bowels killed him
there with the sword. {32:22} Thus Yahweh saved Hezekiah and the
inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of
Assyria, and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every
side. {32:23} Many brought gifts to Yahweh to Jerusalem, and precious
things to Hezekiah king of Judah; so that he was exalted in the sight
of all nations from thenceforth. {32:24} In those days Hezekiah was
sick even to death: and he prayed to Yahweh; and he spoke to him, and
gave him a sign. {32:25} But Hezekiah didn't render again according to
the benefit done to him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there
was wrath on him, and on Judah and Jerusalem. {32:26} Notwithstanding
Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of Yahweh didn't come on
them in the days of Hezekiah. {32:27} Hezekiah had exceeding much
riches and honor: and he provided him treasuries for silver, and for
gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for
all kinds of goodly vessels; {32:28} storehouses also for the increase
of grain and new wine and oil; and stalls for all kinds of animals, and
flocks in folds. {32:29} Moreover he provided him cities, and
possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him
very much substance. {32:30} This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper
spring of the waters of Gihon, and brought them straight down on the
west side of the city of David. Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
{32:31} However 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.
{32:32} Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his good deeds,
behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet the son of
Amoz, in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. {32:33} Hezekiah
slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the ascent of the tombs
of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem
did him honor at his death. Manasseh his son reigned in his place.

   {33:1} Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he
reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. {33:2} He did that which was
evil in the sight of Yahweh, after the abominations of the nations whom
Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel. {33:3} For he built
again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he
reared up altars for the Baals, and made Asheroth, and worshiped all
the army of the sky, and served them. {33:4} He built altars in the
house of Yahweh, of which Yahweh said, "My name shall be in Jerusalem
forever." {33:5} He built altars for all the army of the sky in the two
courts of the house of Yahweh. {33:6} He also made his children to pass
through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom; and he practiced
sorcery, and used enchantments, and practiced sorcery, and dealt with
those who had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he worked much evil
in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke him to anger. {33:7} He set the
engraved image of the idol, which he had made, in 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: {33:8} neither will I any more remove the foot of
Israel from off the land which I have appointed for your fathers, if
only they will observe to do all that I have commanded them, even all
the law and the statutes and the ordinances given by Moses." {33:9}
Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that they
did more evil than the nations whom Yahweh destroyed before the
children of Israel did. {33:10} Yahweh spoke to Manasseh, and to his
people; but they gave no heed. {33:11} Therefore Yahweh brought on them
the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh in
chains, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. {33:12}
When he was in distress, he begged Yahweh his God, and humbled himself
greatly before the God of his fathers. {33:13} He prayed to him; and he
was entreated by him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again
to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that Yahweh was God.
{33:14} Now after this he built an outer wall to the city of David, on
the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entrance at the fish
gate; and he 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. {33:15} He took away the foreign gods, and the idol out of the
house of Yahweh, and all the altars that he had built in the mountain
of the house of Yahweh, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the
city. {33:16} He built up the altar of Yahweh, and offered thereon
sacrifices of peace offerings and of thanksgiving, and commanded Judah
to serve Yahweh, the God of Israel. {33:17} Nevertheless the people
sacrificed still in the high places, but only to Yahweh their God.
{33:18} Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his
God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of Yahweh,
the God of Israel, behold, they are written among the acts of the kings
of Israel. {33:19} His prayer also, and how God was entreated of him,
and all his sin and his trespass, and the places in which he built high
places, and set up the Asherim and the engraved images, before he
humbled himself: behold, they are written in the history of Hozai.
{33:20} So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his
own house: and Amon his son reigned in his place. {33:21} Amon was
twenty-two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned two years
in Jerusalem. {33:22} He did that which was evil in the sight of
Yahweh, as did Manasseh his father; and Amon sacrificed to all the
engraved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them.
{33:23} He didn't humble himself before Yahweh, as Manasseh his father
had humbled himself; but this same Amon trespassed more and more.
{33:24} His servants conspired against him, and put him to death in his
own house. {33:25} But the people of the land killed all those who had
conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his
son king in his place.

   {34:1} Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; and he
reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. {34:2} He did that which was
right in the eyes of Yahweh, and walked in the ways of David his
father, and didn't turn aside to the right hand or to the left. {34:3}
For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began
to seek after the God of David his father; and in the twelfth year he
began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the
Asherim, and the engraved images, and the molten images. {34:4} They
broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence; and the incense
altars that were on high above them he cut down; and the Asherim, and
the engraved images, and the molten images, he broke in pieces, and
made dust of them, and strewed it on the graves of those who had
sacrificed to them. {34:5} He burnt the bones of the priests on their
altars, and purged Judah and Jerusalem. {34:6} He did this in the
cities of Manasseh and Ephraim and Simeon, even to Naphtali, around in
their ruins. {34:7} He broke down the altars, and beat the Asherim and
the engraved images into powder, and cut down all the incense altars
throughout all the land of Israel, and returned to Jerusalem. {34:8}
Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land
and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the
governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to
repair the house of Yahweh his God. {34:9} They came to Hilkiah the
high priest, and delivered the money that was brought into God's house,
which the Levites, the keepers of the threshold, had gathered of the
hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of
all Judah and Benjamin, and of the inhabitants of Jerusalem. {34:10}
They delivered it into the hand of the workmen who had the oversight of
the house of Yahweh; and the workmen who labored in the house of Yahweh
gave it to mend and repair the house; {34:11} even to the carpenters
and to the builders gave they it, to buy cut stone, and timber for
couplings, and to make beams for the houses which the kings of Judah
had destroyed. {34:12} The men did the work faithfully: and their
overseers were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari;
and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it
forward; and others of the Levites, all who were skillful with
instruments of music. {34:13} Also they were over the bearers of
burdens, and set forward all who did the work in every kind of service:
and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters.
{34:14} When they brought out the money that was brought into the house
of Yahweh, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of Yahweh given
by Moses. {34:15} Hilkiah answered Shaphan the scribe, "I have found
the book of the law in the house of Yahweh." Hilkiah delivered the book
to Shaphan.

   {34:16} Shaphan carried the book to the king, and moreover brought
back word to the king, saying, "All that was committed to your
servants, they are doing. {34:17} They have emptied out the money that
was found in the house of Yahweh, and have delivered it into the hand
of the overseers, and into the hand of the workmen." {34:18} Shaphan
the scribe told the king, saying, "Hilkiah the priest has delivered me
a book." Shaphan read therein before the king.

   {34:19} It happened, when the king had heard the words of the law,
that he tore his clothes. {34:20} The king commanded Hilkiah, and
Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the
scribe, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying, {34:21} "Go inquire of
Yahweh for me, and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah,
concerning the words of the book that is found; for great is the wrath
of Yahweh that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept
the word of Yahweh, to do according to all that is written in this
book." {34:22} So Hilkiah, and they whom the king had commanded, went
to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the
son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she lived in Jerusalem in
the second quarter;) and they spoke to her to that effect. {34:23} She
said to them, "Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: 'Tell the man who
sent you to me, {34:24} "Thus says Yahweh, '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.
{34:25} Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other
gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their
hands; therefore is my wrath poured out on this place, and it shall not
be quenched.'"' {34:26} But to the king of Judah, who sent you to
inquire of Yahweh, thus you shall tell him, 'Thus says Yahweh, the God
of Israel: "As touching the words which you have heard, {34:27} because
your heart was tender, and you 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 Yahweh. {34:28} "Behold, I will
gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in
peace, neither shall your eyes see all the evil that I will bring on
this place, and on its inhabitants."'"

   They brought back word to the king. {34:29} Then the king sent and
gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. {34:30} The
king went up to the house of Yahweh, and all the men of Judah and the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the
people, both great and small: and he read in their ears all the words
of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of Yahweh.
{34:31} The king stood in his place, and made a covenant before Yahweh,
to walk after Yahweh, and to keep his commandments, and his
testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his
soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this
book. {34:32} He caused all who were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin to
stand. The inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of
God, the God of their fathers. {34:33} Josiah took away all the
abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of
Israel, and made all who were found in Israel to serve, even to serve
Yahweh their God. All his days they didn't depart from following
Yahweh, the God of their fathers.

   {35:1} Josiah kept a Passover to Yahweh in Jerusalem: and they
killed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. {35:2} He
set the priests in their offices, and encouraged them to the service of
the house of Yahweh. {35:3} He said to the Levites who taught all
Israel, who were holy to Yahweh, "Put the holy ark in the house which
Solomon the son of David king of Israel built. There shall no more be a
burden on your shoulders. Now serve Yahweh your God, and his people
Israel. {35:4} Prepare yourselves after your fathers' houses by your
divisions, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and
according to the writing of Solomon his son. {35:5} Stand in the holy
place according to the divisions of the fathers' houses of your
brothers the children of the people, and let there be for each a
portion of a fathers' house of the Levites. {35:6} Kill the Passover,
and sanctify yourselves, and prepare for your brothers, to do according
to the word of Yahweh by Moses."

   {35:7} Josiah gave to the children of the people, of the flock,
lambs and 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. {35:8} His princes gave for
a freewill offering to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites.
Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, the rulers of God's house, gave to
the priests for the Passover offerings two thousand and six hundred
small livestock, and three hundred head of cattle. {35:9} Conaniah
also, and Shemaiah and Nethanel, his brothers, and Hashabiah and Jeiel
and Jozabad, the chiefs of the Levites, gave to the Levites for the
Passover offerings five thousand small livestock, and five hundred head
of cattle. {35:10} So the service was prepared, and the priests stood
in their place, and the Levites by their divisions, according to the
king's commandment. {35:11} They killed the Passover, and the priests
sprinkled the blood which they received of their hand, and the Levites
flayed them. {35:12} They removed the burnt offerings, that they might
give them according to the divisions of the fathers' houses of the
children of the people, to offer to Yahweh, as it is written in the
book of Moses. So they did with the cattle. {35:13} They roasted the
Passover with fire according to the ordinance: and the holy offerings
boiled they in pots, and in caldrons, and in pans, and carried them
quickly to all the children of the people. {35:14} Afterward they
prepared for themselves, and for the priests, because the priests the
sons of Aaron were 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. {35:15} The singers the sons of Asaph were
in their place, according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and
Heman, and Jeduthun the king's seer; and the porters were at every
gate: they didn't need to depart from their service; for their brothers
the Levites prepared for them. {35:16} So all the service of Yahweh was
prepared the same day, to keep the Passover, and to offer burnt
offerings on the altar of Yahweh, according to the commandment of king
Josiah. {35:17} The children of Israel who were present kept the
Passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days.
{35:18} There was no Passover like that kept in Israel from the days of
Samuel the prophet; neither did any of the kings of Israel keep such a
Passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all
Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
{35:19} In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this Passover
kept. {35:20} After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco
king of Egypt went up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates: and
Josiah went out against him. {35:21} But he sent ambassadors to him,
saying, "What have I to do with you, you king of Judah? I come not
against you this day, but against the house with which I have war. God
has commanded me to make haste. Beware that it is God who is with me,
that he not destroy you."

   {35:22} Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but
disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and didn't listen to
the words of Neco from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the
valley of Megiddo. {35:23} The archers shot at king Josiah; and the
king said to his servants, "Take me away, because I am seriously
wounded!"

   {35:24} So his servants took him out of the chariot, and put him in
the second chariot that he had, and brought him to Jerusalem; and he
died, and was buried in the tombs of his fathers. All Judah and
Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. {35:25} Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and
all the singing men and singing women spoke of Josiah in their
lamentations to this day; and they made them an ordinance in Israel:
and behold, they are written in the lamentations. {35:26} Now the rest
of the acts of Josiah, and his good deeds, according to that which is
written in the law of Yahweh, {35:27} and his acts, first and last,
behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

   {36:1} Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah,
and made him king in his father's place in Jerusalem. {36:2} Joahaz was
twenty-three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three
months in Jerusalem. {36:3} The king of Egypt deposed him at Jerusalem,
and fined the land one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.
{36:4} The king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and
Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. Neco took Joahaz his
brother, and carried him to Egypt. {36:5} Jehoiakim was twenty-five
years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in
Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh his
God. {36:6} Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and
bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon. {36:7} Nebuchadnezzar
also carried of the vessels of the house of Yahweh to Babylon, and put
them in his temple at Babylon. {36:8} Now the rest of the acts of
Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found
in him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and
Judah: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place. {36:9} Jehoiachin
was eight years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months
and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight
of Yahweh. {36:10} At the return of the year king Nebuchadnezzar sent,
and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of
Yahweh, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.
{36:11} Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; and
he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: {36:12} and he did that which was
evil in the sight of Yahweh his God; he didn't humble himself before
Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of Yahweh. {36:13} He also
rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God:
but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart against turning to
Yahweh, the God of Israel. {36:14} Moreover all the chiefs of the
priests, and the people, trespassed very greatly after all the
abominations of the nations; and they polluted the house of Yahweh
which he had made holy in Jerusalem. {36:15} Yahweh, the God of their
fathers, sent to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending,
because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:
{36:16} but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words,
and scoffed at his prophets, until the wrath of Yahweh arose against
his people, until there was no remedy. {36:17} Therefore he brought on
them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the
sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young
man or virgin, old man or gray-headed: he gave them all into his hand.
{36:18} All the vessels of God's house, great and small, and the
treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king, and of
his princes, all these he brought to Babylon. {36:19} They burnt God's
house, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all its palaces
with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels of it. {36:20} 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: {36:21} to fulfill the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah,
until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. As long as it lay desolate it
kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years. {36:22} Now in the first year
of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of Yahweh by the mouth of
Jeremiah might be accomplished, Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus
king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his
kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, {36:23} "Thus says Cyrus
king of Persia, 'Yahweh, the God of heaven, has given all the kingdoms
of the earth to me; and he has commanded me to build him a house in
Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all his
people, Yahweh his God be with him, and let him go up.'"





________________________________________________________________________

Footnotes:
[1] {1:1} "Yahweh" is God's proper Name, sometimes rendered "LORD" (all
caps) in other translations.

[2] {1:1} The Hebrew word rendered "God" is "Elohim."

