Category: 2 Chronicles

Jehoram Succeeds Jehoshaphat in Judah

1 Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers [in death] and was buried with them in the City of David; and his son Jehoram became king in his place.

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

3 Their father gave them many gifts of silver, gold, and valuable things, in addition to fortified cities in Judah; but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the firstborn.

4 When Jehoram had ascended over the kingdom of his father and made himself secure, he killed all his brothers with the sword [to eliminate any rivals], and some of the leaders of Israel as well.

5 Jehoram was thirty-two years of age when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.

6 He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done (for he married the daughter of Ahab), and he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.

7 Yet the Lordwould not destroy the house of David because of the covenant which He had made with David, and because He had promised to give alamp to him and to his sons forever.

Revolt against Judah

8 In the days of Jehoram Edom revolted against the rule of Judah and set up a king over themselves.

9 Then Jehoram crossed over [the Jordan River] with his commanders and all his chariots, and rose up by night and struck down the Edomites who were surrounding him and the commanders of the chariots.

10 So Edom revolted against the rule of Judah to this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time against Jehoram’s rule, because he had abandoned (turned away from) the LordGod of his fathers.

11 Moreover, he made [idolatrous] high places in the hill country of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to be unfaithful [to God], and he led Judah astray [compelling the people’s cooperation].

12 Then a letter came to Jehoram from Elijah the prophet, saying, “Thus says the LordGod of David your father (ancestor): ‘Because you have not walked in the ways of your father Jehoshaphat nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,

13 but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and caused Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to be unfaithful [to God] as the house of Ahab was unfaithful, and you have also murdered your brothers, your father’s house (your own family), who were better than you,

14 behold, the Lordis going to strike your people, your sons, your wives, and all your possessions with a great disaster;

15 and you will suffer a severe illness, an intestinal disease, until your intestines come out because of the sickness, day after day.’ ”

16 Then the Lordstirred up against Jehoram the spirit (anger) of the Philistines and of the Arabs who bordered the Ethiopians.

17 They came against Judah and invaded it, and carried away all the possessions found in the king’s house (palace), together with his sons and his wives; so there was not a son left to him except Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.

18 After all this, the Lordstruck Jehoram with an incurable intestinal disease.

19 Now it came about in the course of time, at the end of two years, that his intestines came out because of his disease and he died in excruciating pain. And his people did not make a funeral fireto honorhim, like the fire for his fathers.

20 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years; and he departed with no one’s regret (sorrow). They buried him in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

Ahaziah Succeeds Jehoram in Judah

1 Then the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, his youngest son, king in his place, because the band of men (raiders) who came with the Arabs to the camp had killed all the oldersons. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah began to reign.

2 Ahaziah wastwenty-two years old when he became king and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri.

3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his adviser [and she encouraged him] to act wickedly.

4 So he did evil in the sight of the Lordlike the house of Ahab, for they were his advisers after the death of his father, resulting in his destruction.

Ahaziah Allies with Jehoram of Israel

5 He also walked in accordance with their advice, and he went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to wage war against Hazael king of Aram (Syria) at Ramoth-gilead. And the Arameans woundedJoram (Jehoram).

6 Then he returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds they had inflicted on him at Ramah when he fought against Hazael king of Aram. AndAhaziah, the son of Jehoram king of Judah, went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.

7 But the downfall of Ahaziah was ordained by God, in that he went to Joram (Jehoram). For when he arrived there he went out [as an ally] with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the Lordhad anointed to destroy the house of Ahab.

Jehu Murders Leaders of Judah

8 It came about that when Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, he found the leaders of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah’s [murdered] brothers ministering to Ahaziah, and he killed them.

9 Jehu also searched for Ahaziah, who was hiding in Samaria; he was captured, brought to Jehu, and put to death. They buried him, for they said, “After all, he is the grandson of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lordwith all his heart.” So the house of Ahaziah had no oneleftto retain the power to rule over the kingdom.

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

11 But Jehoshabeath, the king’s daughter, took Joash the [infant] son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being put to death, and she placed him and his nurse in the bedroom. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram [of Judah] and wife of Jehoiada the priest, hid Joash from [his grandmother] Athaliah so that she did not murder him (for Jehoshabeath was the sister of Ahaziah).

12 Joash was hidden with them in the house (temple) of God for six years, and Athaliah reigned over the land.

Jehoiada Sets Joash on the Throne of Judah

1 In the seventh year Jehoiada [the priest] summoned his courage and took the captains of hundreds: Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Johanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri,and they enteredinto a covenant with him.

2 They went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the heads of thehouseholds of thefathers (ancestors) in Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.

3 Then all the assembly made a covenant in the house of God with the king [that is, with the child Joash, to overthrow Athaliah by proclaiming his sovereignty]. And Jehoiada [the priest] said to them, “Behold, the king’s son [Joash] shall reign, as the Lordhas said in regard to the sons of David.

4 This is what you shall do: a third of you, of the priests and Levites who are resuming service on the Sabbath, shall be gatekeepers,

5 a [second] thirdshall beat the king’s house (palace), and a [final] third at the Gate of the Foundation; and all the people shall be in the courtyards of the house of the Lord.

6 But let no one enter the house (temple) of the Lordexcept the priests and the Levites who minister; they may enter, for they are holy. And let all the people carefully observe the law of the Lord.

7 The Levites shall surround the [young] king, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes into the temple [breaking through the ranks of the guard to get near Joash] is to be killed. You are to be with the king when he comes in [from the temple chamber where he is hiding] and when he goes out.”

8 So the Levites and all Judah acted in accordance with everything that Jehoiada the priest had commanded; and every man took his men who were to resume duty on the Sabbath, with those who were to go off duty on the Sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest did not dismiss [any of] the divisions [from their duties].

9 Then Jehoiada the priest gave to the captains of hundreds the spears and the large and small shields which had been King David’s, which were in the house of God.

10 He stationed all the people around the king [as guards for him], every man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side to the left side of the house (temple), by the altar and by the house.

11 Then they brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him, andgave himthe testimony [a copy of the Mosaic Law] and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and said, “Longlive the king!”

Athaliah Killed

12 When Athaliah heard the sound of the people running and praising the king, she went into the house of the Lordto [see what] the people [were doing].

13 She looked, and there was the [young] king, standing by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the trumpeters were beside him. And all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and the singers with their musical instruments were directing the [singing of] praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!”

14 So Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who were appointed over the army and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks [of soldiers]; and whoever follows her shall be put to death with the sword.” For the priest had said, “Do not let her be put to death in the temple of the Lord.”

15 So they seized Athaliah, and when she arrived at the entrance of the Horse Gate of the king’s house (palace), they put her to death there.

Reforms Carried Out

16 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, all the people, and the king, that they would be the Lord’speople.

17 Then all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down, and they smashed its altars and its images to pieces, and killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars.

18 Also Jehoiada placed the officesandofficers of the house of the Lordunder the authority of the Levitical priests, whom David had [previously] assigned over the house of the Lord, to offer the burnt offerings of the Lord, as it is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and singing in accordance with the order of David.

19 Jehoiada stationed the gatekeepers [at the gates] of the house of the Lord, so that no one would enterwho wasin any way unclean.

20 He took the captains of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from the house of the Lord; and they came through the upper gate to the king’s house (palace) and set the king on the throne of the kingdom.

21 So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been put to death with the sword.

Young Joash Influenced by Jehoiada

1 Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah from Beersheba.

2 Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lordall the days of Jehoiada the priest [his uncle].

3 Jehoiada took two wives for him, and he fathered sons and daughters.

Faithless Priests

4 Now it came about after this that Joash decided to restore the house (temple) of the Lord.

5 He gathered the priests and the Levites and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah and collect money from all Israel to repair the house of your God from year to year; and see that you do it quickly.” But the Levites did not act quickly.

6 So the king called for Jehoiada the highpriestand said to him, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and Jerusalem the tax for the tent of the testimony which wasauthorized byMoses, the servant of the Lordandthe servantof the assembly of Israel?”

7 For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken into the house of God and also had used all the holyanddedicated things of the house of the Lordfor the Baals.

Temple Repaired

8 So at the king’s command they made a chest and set it outside by the gate of the house of the Lord.

9 Then they made a proclamation in Judah and Jerusalem to bring in for the Lordthe tax that Moses the servant of God imposed on Israel in the wilderness.

10 All the officers and all the people rejoiced and brought their tax and dropped it into the chest until they had finished [and the chest was full].

11 It came about that whenever the Levites brought the chest to the king’s official, and whenever they saw that there was a large amount of money, the king’s secretary and the chief priest’s representative would come and empty the chest, and take it, and return it to its place. They did this day after day and collected a large amount of money.

12 The king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of the Lord; and they would hire masons and carpenters (craftsmen) and also those who worked in iron and bronze to repairandrestore the house of the Lord.

13 So the workmen labored, and the repair work progressed in their hands; and they restoredandorganized the house of God in accordance with its specifications and strengthened it.

14 When they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada; and it was [melted down and] made into utensils for the house of the Lord, utensils for ministering and for burnt offerings, and bowls and utensils of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the Lordcontinually all the days of Jehoiada.

15 Now when Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, he died. He was a hundred and thirty years old at his death.

16 They buried him in the City of David among the kings, because he had done good [things] in Israel and toward God and His house.

17 Now after the death of Jehoiada [the priest, who had hidden Joash], the officials of Judah came andbowed down to King Joash; then the king listened to them.

18 They abandoned the house of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and served theAsherim and the idols; so [God’s] wrath came on Judah and Jerusalem for their sinandguilt.

19 Yet God sent prophets among them to bring them back to the Lord; these prophets testified against them, but they would not listen.

Joash Murders Son of Jehoiada

20 Then the Spirit of God came over Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood above the people and said to them, “This is what God has said: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lordso that you cannot prosper? Because you have abandoned (turned away from) the Lord, He has also abandoned (turned away from) you.’ ”

21 So they conspired against Zechariah and stoned him [to death] at the command of the king, in the courtyard of the house of the Lord.

22 Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada, Zechariah’s father, had shown him, but he murdered his son. And when Zechariah was dying, he said, “May the Lordsee this and require an accounting!”

Aram Invades and Defeats Judah

23 Now it happened at the end of the year, that the army of Aram (Syria) went up against Joash. They came to Judah and Jerusalem and killed all the leaders among the people and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus.

24 Though the army of the Arameans came with a small company of men, the Lordhanded over a very large army into their hands, because Joash and Judah had abandoned (turned away from) the Lord, the God of their fathers. So the Arameans executed judgment against Joash.

25 When they left Joash (for they left him very ill), his own servants conspired against him because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and they murdered him on his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the City of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.

26 The conspirators against Joash were Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess.

27 Now as to his sons and the many prophecies uttered against him and the rebuilding of the house of God, they are written in the commentary on the Book of Kings. Then his son Amaziah became king in his place.

Amaziah Succeeds Joash in Judah

1 Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.

2 He did right in the sight of the Lord, yet not wholeheartedly.

3 When his kingdom was firmly established, he killed his servants who had struck down his father the king.

4 But he did not kill their children; forhe didas it is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where the Lordcommanded, “The fathers shall not die for the children, nor the children die for the fathers, but each shall be put to death for his own sin.”

Amaziah Defeats Edomites

5 Amaziah assembled [the men of] Judah and appointed them in accordance withtheirfathers’ (ancestors’) households under commanders of thousands and of hundreds throughout Judah and Benjamin. He numbered them from twenty years old and above and found there to be 300,000 choice men fit for war andable tohandle spear and shield.

6 He also hired 100,000 brave warriors from Israel for a hundred talents of silver.

7 But a man of God came to him, saying, “O king, do not let this army of Israel go with you, for the Lordis not with Israelnor withany of the sons ofEphraim.

8 But if you do go [in spite of this warning], be strongandcourageous for battle; yet God will cause you to stumbleandfall before the enemy, for God has power to help and to causepeopleto stumble.”

9 Amaziah said to the man of God, “But whatshall wedo about the hundred talents which I gave to the troops of Israel?” The man of God answered, “The Lordis able to give you much more than this.”

10 So Amaziah dismissed the troops that came to him from Ephraim, to go home. So their anger was kindledandburned greatly against Judah, and they returned home in the heat of anger.

11 Now Amaziah took courage and led his people out to the Valley of Salt, and he struck down 10,000 of the men of Seir (Edom).

12 The sons of Judah also captured 10,000 alive and brought them to the top of the cliff. They threw them down from the top of the cliff and they were all crushed to pieces.

13 But the troops whom Amaziah sent back,thosenot allowed to go with him to battle, attackedandraided the cities of Judah, from Samaria to Beth-horon, and struck down 3,000 men and took a large amount of spoil.

Amaziah Rebuked for Idolatry

14 After Amaziah came back from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought the gods of the sons of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, bowed before them, and burned incense to them.

15 So the anger of the Lordburned against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, “Why have youdesired the gods of the people who did not save their own people from your hand?”

16 As he was talking, the king said to him, “Have we made you the king’s counselor? Stop! Why should you be put to death?” Then the prophet stopped and said, “I know that God has decided to destroy you because you have done this and have ignored my advice.”

Amaziah Defeated by Joash of Israel

17 Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sentwordto Joash the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come [to battle], let us face each other.”

18 Then Joash king of Israel sentwordto Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The [little] thorn bush in Lebanon sentwordto the [great] cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ But a wild beast in Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thorn bush.

19 You say, ‘See, I have struck downanddefeated Edom.’ Your heart lifts you up to boast [about your victory]. Now stay at home; why should you meddleandcourt disaster so that you, even you, will fall and Judah with you?”

20 But Amaziah would not listen, for it was from God, so that He might hand Judah overto Joashbecause they had desired the gods of Edom.

21 So Joash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another at Beth-shemesh, which belonged to Judah.

22 And Judah was defeated by Israel, and they fled, every man to his tent.

23 Then Joash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of Jehoahaz (Ahaziah), at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate, 400cubits.

24 He tookall the gold and silver and all the utensils which were found in the house of God with [the doorkeeper] Obed-edom, and the treasures of the king’s house (palace), and the hostages, and returned to Samaria.

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

26 Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, from the first to the last, are they not written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel?

27 Now from the time that Amaziah turned away from following the Lord, they conspired against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sentmenafter him to Lachish and killed him there.

28 Then they brought him on horses and buried him with his fathers in the City of [David in] Judah.

Uzziah Succeeds Amaziah in Judah

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

2 He built Eloth and restored it to Judah after the king [Amaziah] slept with his fathers [in death].

3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jechiliah of Jerusalem.

4 He did right in the sight of the Lord, in accordance with everything that his father Amaziah had done.

5 He continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understandingthrough the vision of God; and as long as he sought (inquired of, longing for) the Lord, God caused him to prosper.

Uzziah Succeeds in War

6 He went out and made war against the Philistines, and broke through the wall of Gath, the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities near Ashdod and [elsewhere] among the Philistines.

7 God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabs who lived in Gur-baal, and the Meunites.

8 The Ammonites paid tribute (money) to Uzziah, and his fame spread abroad, even as far as the border of Egypt, for he became very strong.

9 Uzziah also built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, the Valley Gate, and at the corner buttress [of the wall], and fortified them.

10 He also built towers in the wilderness and dug many cisterns, for he had a great deal of livestock, both in the lowlands and in the plain.He also hadfarmers and vinedressers in the hill country and in the fertile fields, for he loved the soil.

11 Moreover, Uzziah had an army ready for battle, which went into combat by divisions according to the number of their muster as recorded by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the official, under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king’s commanders.

12 The total number of the heads of the fathers’ households, of valiant men, was 2,600.

13 Under their command was an army of 307,500, who could wage war with great power, to help the king against the enemy.

14 Moreover, Uzziah prepared shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows, and sling stones for the entire army.

15 In Jerusalem he made machines of war invented by skillful men to be put on the towers and on the [corner] battlements for the purpose of shooting arrows and large stones. And his fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped until he was strong.

Pride Is Uzziah’s Undoing

16 But when Uzziah became strong, he became so proud [of himself and his accomplishments] that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithfulandsinned against the Lordhis God, for he wentinto the temple of the Lordto burn incense on the altar of incense.

17 Then Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him eighty priests of the Lord, men of courage.

18 They opposed King Uzziah and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who have been consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful and will have no honor from the LordGod.”

19 Then Uzziah, with a censer in his hand to burn incense, was enraged; and while he was enraged with the priests,leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the incense altar.

20 As Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked toward him, behold, he was leprous on his forehead; and they hurried him out of there, and he also hurried to get out because the Lordhad stricken him.

21 King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death; and, being a leper, he lived in a separate house, for he was excluded from the house of the Lord. And his son Jotham took charge of the king’s household, judgingandgoverning the people of the land.

22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, from the first to the last, Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, has written.

23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers [in death], and they buried him with his fathers in the burial field of the kings [outside the royal tombs], for they said, “He is a leper.” And his son Jotham became king in his place.

Jotham Succeeds Uzziah in Judah

1 Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok.

2 He did right in the sight of the Lord, in accordance with everything that his father Uzziah had done; however, he did not enter the temple of the Lord. But the people continued behaving corruptly.

3 He built the upper gate of the house of the Lord, and did extensive building on the wall of Ophel.

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

5 He also fought with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed over them. As a result the Ammonites gave him during that year a hundred talents of silver and ten thousand measures each of wheat and of barley. The Ammonites also paid him that much in the second year and third year.

6 So Jotham grew powerful, because he directed his ways before the Lordhis God.

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.

8 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem.

9 And Jotham slept with his fathers [in death], and they buried him in the City of David. Ahaz his son became king in his place.

Ahaz Succeeds Jotham in Judah

1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do right in the sight of the Lord, as his father (forefather) Davidhad done.

2 Instead he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and even made cast images for the Baals.

3 And he burned incense in the Valley of Ben-hinnom and burned his sons [as an offering], in accordance with the repulsive acts of the [pagan] nations whom the Lordhad driven out before the sons (descendants) of Israel.

4 He also sacrificed and burned incense on the high places [of pagan worship], on the hills and under every green tree.

Judah Is Invaded

5 Therefore the Lordhis God handed over Ahaz to the king of Aram (Syria), who defeated him and led away a great number [of the people] as captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also handed over to the king of Israel, who struck Judah with a great slaughter.

6 For Pekah son of Remaliah killed 120,000 in Judah in one day, all courageous men, because they had abandoned (turned away from) the LordGod of their fathers.

7 And Zichri, a warrior of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king’s son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah, who was second [in power] to the king.

8 And the sons of Israel led away captive 200,000 of their kinsmen [of Judah]—women, sons, and daughters—and they also took a great quantity of spoil from them and brought it to Samaria.

9 But a prophet of the Lordwas there, whose name was Oded; and he went out to meet the army that was returning to Samaria and said to them, “Behold, because the Lord, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, He handed them over to you; but you have killed them in a rage that has reached as far as heaven.

10 And now you intend to subjugate the people of Judah and Jerusalem as male and female slaves for yourselves. But are you yourselves not guiltyof transgressionsagainst the Lordyour God?

11 Now therefore, hear me and return the captives whom you have captured from your brothers (fellow descendants of Israel, i.e. Jacob), for the burning anger of the Lordis against you.”

12 Then some of the heads of the Ephraimites (Israel)—Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai—took a stand against those who were returning from the battle,

13 and said to them, “You must not bring the captives in here; for we are guilty before the Lordalready, andwhatyou intend todo willadd more to our sins and our guilt. For our guilt is so great that His burning anger is against Israel.”

14 So the armed men [of Israel] left the captives and the spoil [of Judah] before the officers and all the assembly.

15 Then the men who were designated by name rose up and took the captives, and from the spoil they clothed all those who were naked; they clothed them and gave them sandals, and fed them and gave them [something to] drink, anointed them [with oil, as was a host’s duty], and led all the feeble ones on donkeys, and they brought them to Jericho, the City of Palm Trees, to their brothers (fellow descendants of Israel, i.e. Jacob). Then they returned to Samaria.

Compromise with Assyria

16 At that time King Ahaz sentwordto the king of Assyria [to ask him] for help.

17 For the Edomites had come again and attacked Judah and led away captives.

18 The Philistines had also invaded the cities of the low country and of the Negev (the South country) of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, and Soco with their villages, and also Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages, and they settled there.

19 For the Lordhumbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for Ahaz had allowed unrestrainedandundisciplined behavior in Judah and had been very unfaithful to the Lord.

20 So Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came against him and harassed him instead of strengtheningandsupporting him.

21 Although Ahaz took a portion [of treasure] from the house of the Lordand from the house (palace) of the king and from the leaders, and gave it [as tribute] to the king of Assyria, it did not help Ahaz.

22 In the time of his distress, this same King Ahaz became yet more unfaithful to the Lord.

23 For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, which had defeated him, and he said, “Since the gods of the kings of Aram (Syria) helped them, I will sacrifice to them so that they may help me.” But they became the ruinanddownfall of him and all of Israel.

24 Then Ahaz collected the utensils of the house of God and he cut them in pieces; and he shut the doors of the house of the Lordand made altars for himself in every corner of Jerusalem.

25 In every city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, provoking to anger the Lord, the God of his fathers.

26 Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways, from the first to the last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers [in death], and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem, but they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. And his son Hezekiah reigned in his place.

Hezekiah Succeeds Ahaz in Judah

1 Hezekiah became king when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah the daughter of Zechariah.

2 He did right in the sight of the Lord, in accordance with everything that David his father (forefather) had done.

3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord[which his father had closed] and repaired them [and replaced the gold overlay].

4 He brought in the priests and Levites and gathered them into the square on the east.

Reforms Begun

5 Then he said to them, “Levites, listen to me! Now consecrate (dedicate) yourselves and consecrate the house of the Lord, the God of your fathers, and get the filth [of idol worship] out of the Holy Place.

6 For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done evil in the sight of the Lordour God, and they have abandoned Him and have turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the Lord, and have turned their backs [toward Him].

7 They have also closed the doors of the [temple] porch and put out the lamps, and they have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the Holy Place to the God of Israel.

8 Therefore the wrath of the Lordhas been against Judah and Jerusalem, and He has made them an object of terror, of horror, and of hissing, just as you see with your own eyes.

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

10 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant (solemn agreement) with the LordGod of Israel, so that His burning anger will turn away from us.

11 My sons, do not be negligentandcareless now, for the Lordhas chosen you to stand in His presence, to attend to His service, and to be His ministers and burn incense.”

12 Then the Levites arose: Mahath the son of Amasai and Joel the son of Azariah, from the sons of the Kohathites; from the sons of Merari: Kish the son of Abdi, Azariah the son of Jehallelel; from the Gershonites: Joah the son of Zimmah and Eden the son of Joah;

13 from the sons of Elizaphan: Shimri and Jeiel; from the sons of Asaph: Zechariah, and Mattaniah;

14 from the sons of Heman: Jehiel and Shimei; and from the sons of Jeduthun: Shemaiah and Uzziel.

15 They gathered their brothers (fellow Levites) together, consecrated themselves, and went in to cleanse the house of the Lord, as the king had commanded by the words of the Lord.

16 The priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lordto cleanse it, and every unclean thing they found in the temple of the Lordthey brought out to the courtyard of the Lord’shouse. Then the Levites received it to take out to the Kidron Valley [for disposal].

17 Now they began the consecration on the first [day] of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the porch of the Lord. Then for eight days theyconsecrated the house of the Lord, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished.

18 Then they went inside to King Hezekiah and said, “We have cleansed the entire house (temple) of the Lord, the altar of burnt offering with all of its utensils, and the table of showbread with all its utensils.

19 Moreover, we have prepared and consecrated all the utensils which King Ahaz had discarded during his reign in his unfaithfulness; and behold, they are in front of the altar of the Lord.”

Hezekiah Restores Temple Worship

20 Then King Hezekiah arose early and assembled the officials of the city, and went up to the house of the Lord.

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

22 So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests took the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. They also slaughtered the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar; then they slaughtered the lambs and sprinkled the blood on the altar.

23 Then they brought the male goats for the sin offering before the king and the assembly, and they laid their hands on them [to symbolize the transference of their sin].

24 The priests slaughtered them and cleansed the altar from sin with their blood to atone for all Israel, because the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offeringbe madefor all Israel.

25 Hezekiah stationed the Levites in the house of the Lordwith cymbals, with harps, and with lyres, in accordance with the command of David [his ancestor] and of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet; for the command was from the Lordthrough His prophets.

26 The Levites stood with themusicalinstruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.

27 Then Hezekiah gave the order to offer the burnt offering on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song to the Lordalso began with the trumpetsaccompaniedby the instruments of David, king of Israel.

28 The entire congregation worshiped, the singers also sang, and the trumpets sounded; all thiscontinueduntil the burnt offering was finished.

29 When the burnt offerings were completed, the king and all who were present with him bowed down and worshiped [God].

30 Also King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to exclaim praises to the Lordwith the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they exclaimed praises with joy, and bowed down and worshiped.

31 Then Hezekiah said, “Now you have consecrated yourselves to the Lord; approach and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the Lord.” And the assembly brought in sacrifices and thank offerings, and all those who were willingbroughtburnt offerings.

32 The number of the burnt offerings which the assembly brought was 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs. All these were for a burnt offering to the Lord.

33 The consecrated things were 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep.

34 But there were too few priests and they were unable to skin all the burnt offerings; so until theotherpriests had consecrated themselves, their brothers, the Levites, helped them until the work was done. For the Levites were more upright in heartandmore conscientious than the priests in consecrating themselves.

35 There were also many burnt offerings with the fat of the peace offerings and with the drink offerings for the burnt offerings. So the service of the house of the Lordwas established again.

36 Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because of what God had prepared for the people, for the thing came about suddenly.

All Israel Invited to the Passover

1 Hezekiah sentwordto all Israel and to Judah and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh to come to the house of the Lordat Jerusalem to celebrate the PassoverFeastto the LordGod of Israel.

2 For the king and his officials and all the assembly in Jerusalem had decided to celebrate the Passover in thesecond month,

3 since they could not celebrate it at that time because a sufficient number of priests had not consecrated themselves, nor had the people assembled at Jerusalem.

4 Thus the [decision to set a] new time pleased the king and the entire assembly.

5 So they decided to circulate a proclamation throughout Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that the people were to come to celebrate the Passover to the LordGod of Israel, at Jerusalem. For they had not celebrated it in great numbers as it was prescribed [for a long time].

6 So the runners went throughout Israel and Judah with the letters from the hand of the king and his officials, in accordance with the command of the king, saying, “O sons (descendants) of Israel, return to the LordGod of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel (Jacob), so that He will return to those of you who escaped and are left from the hand (power) of the kings of Assyria.

7 Do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were unfaithful to the LordGod of their fathers, so that He made them a horror (lifeless, desolate), just as you see.

8 Now do not stiffen your neck [becoming obstinate] like your fathers, but yield to the Lordand come to His sanctuary which He has sanctifiedandset apart forever, and serve the Lordyour God, so that His burning anger will turn away from you.

9 For if you return to the Lord, your brothers (relatives) and your children will find compassion in the presence of those who led them away captive and will return to this land. For the Lordyour God is gracious and merciful, and He will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.”

10 So the runners (couriers) passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun; but the people laughed at them with scorn and mocked them.

11 Yetsome ofthe men of Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.

12 Also the hand of God was on Judah to give them one heart to do that which the king and the officials had commanded by the word of the Lord.

Passover Reinstituted

13 Now many people were gathered at Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month; it was a very large assembly.

14 They took action and removed the [pagan] altars which were in Jerusalem; they also removed all the incense altars and threw them into the Brook Kidron [the dumping place for the ashes of such repulsive things].

15 Then they slaughtered the Passoverlambson the fourteenth day of the second month. And the priests and the Levites were ashamed of themselves, and consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of the Lord.

16 They stood at their accustomed stations, in accordance with the Law of Moses, the man of God. The priests sprinkled the blood [which they received] from the hand of the Levites [on the altar].

17 For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves [that is, become ceremonially clean and free from all sin]; so the Levites had to slaughter the Passoverlambsfor everyone who was not clean, in order to make them holy for the Lord.

18 For the majority of the people, many from Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not purified themselves, and yet they ate the Passover contrary to what had been prescribed. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, “May the good Lordpardon

19 everyone who sets his heart to seek God—the LordGod of his fathers—even though it is not in accordance with the [ceremonial] purification [rules] of the sanctuary.”

20 So the Lordlistened to Hezekiah and healed the people [of their uncleanness].

21 The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy. The Levites and priests praised the Lordday after day,singingto the Lordwith loud instruments.

22 Hezekiah spokeencouragingly to all the Levites who showed good understandingin the thingsof the Lord. So the people ate for the appointed seven days, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the LordGod of their fathers.

23 Then the whole assembly decided to celebrate [the feast] for another seven days; and they celebrated itanotherseven days with joy.

24 For Hezekiah king of Judah gave to the assembly 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep, and the officials gave the assembly 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep. And a large number of priests consecrated themselves [for service].

25 All the assembly of Judah rejoiced, with the priests and the Levites and all the assembly that came from Israel, both the sojourners (resident aliens, foreigners) who came from the land of Israel and those living in Judah.

26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem, because there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem since the time of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel.

27 Then the priests and Levites stood and blessed the people; and their voice was heard and their prayer came up to His holy dwelling place, to heaven.