Restored King James Version Book of 2 Chronicles
Based on the Authorised Version (King James) with the words "God" and "LORD"
restored to their original words, and various words
(thee, thine, shouldest, crieth, didst, etc) and
constructions (them that, etc) modernized.
1 And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his
kingdom, and YHWH his Elohim was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.
2 Then Solomon spoke unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of
hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of
the fathers.
3 So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the
high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the
congregation of Elohim, which Moses the servant of YHWH had made in the
wilderness.
4 But the ark of Elohim had David brought up from Kirjathjearim to
the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at
Jerusalem.
5 Moreover the brazen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the
son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of YHWH: and Solomon
and the congregation sought unto it.
6 And Solomon went up there to the
brazen altar before YHWH, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation,
and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.
7 In that night did Elohim
appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give you.
8 And
Solomon said unto Elohim, You have showed great mercy unto David my father, and
have made me to reign in his stead.
9 Now, O YHWH Elohim, let your promise unto
David my father be established: for you have made me king over a people like
the dust of the earth in multitude.
10 Give me now 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?
11 And Elohim said to Solomon, Because this was in
your heart, and you have not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life
of your enemies, 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:
12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto you; and I will give
you riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that
have been before you, neither shall there any after you have the like.
13 Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon
to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and reigned over
Israel.
14 And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had one thousand
four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he placed in
the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.
15 And the king made
silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and cedar trees made he
as the sycamore trees that are in the vale for abundance.
16 And Solomon had
horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the
linen yarn at a price.
17 And they fetched up, and brought forth out of
Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred
and fifty: and so brought they out horses for all the kings of the Hittites,
and for the kings of Syria, by their means.
1 And Solomon determined to
build a house for the name of YHWH, and a house for his kingdom.
2 And
Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and
fourscore thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred
to oversee them.
3 And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As
you did deal with David my father, and did send him cedars to build him
a house to dwell therein, even so deal with me.
4 Behold, I build a house
to the name of YHWH my Elohim, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him
sweet incense, and for the continual showbread, and for the burnt offerings
morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn
feasts of YHWH our Elohim. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.
5 And
the house which I build is great: for great is our Elohim above all elohim.
6 But
who is able to build him a house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens
cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him a house, save only
to burn sacrifice before him?
7 Send me now therefore a man cunning to work
in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson,
and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in
Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide.
8 Send me also
cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon: for I know that your
servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be
with your servants,
9 Even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house
which I am about to build shall be wonderful great.
10 And, behold, I will
give to your servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of
beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand
baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.
11 Then Huram the king of
Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon, Because YHWH has
loved his people, he has made you king over them.
12 Huram said moreover,
Blessed be YHWH Elohim of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who has given
to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that
might build a house for YHWH, and a house for his kingdom.
13 And now
I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father's,
14 The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of
Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and
in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to
grave any manner of graving, and to find out every device which shall be put
to him, with your cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord David your
father.
15 Now therefore the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and the wine,
which my lord has spoken of, let him send unto his servants:
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.
17 And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel,
after the numbering wherewith David his father had numbered them; and they
were found a hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred.
18 And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to be bearers of burdens,
and fourscore thousand to be hewers in the mountain, and three thousand and
six hundred overseers to set the people a work.
1 Then Solomon began to
build the house of YHWH at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the Lord
appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the
threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.
2 And he began to build in the second
day of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign.
3 Now these are
the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of
Elohim. The length by cubits after the first measure was threescore cubits, and
the breadth twenty cubits.
4 And the porch that was in the front of the
house, the length of it was according to the breadth of the house, twenty
cubits, and the height was a hundred and twenty: and he overlaid it within
with pure gold.
5 And the greater house he ceiled with fir tree, which he
overlaid with fine gold, and set thereon palm trees and chains.
6 And he
garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of
Parvaim.
7 He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls
thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubims on the walls.
8 And he made the most holy house, the length whereof was according to the
breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits:
and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents.
9 And
the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. And he overlaid the upper
chambers with gold.
10 And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of
image work, and overlaid them with gold.
11 And the wings of the cherubims
were twenty cubits long: one wing of the one cherub was five cubits, reaching
to the wall of the house: and the other wing was likewise five cubits,
reaching to the wing of the other cherub.
12 And one wing of the other
cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing
was five cubits also, joining to the wing of the other cherub.
13 The wings
of these cherubims spread themselves forth twenty cubits: and they stood on
their feet, and their faces were inward.
14 And he made the veil of blue,
and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon.
15 Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty and five cubits high,
and the chapiter that was on the top of each of them was five cubits.
16 And
he made chains, as in the oracle, and put them on the heads of the pillars;
and made a hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains.
17 And he
reared 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.
1 Moreover he made an altar of brass,
twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and
ten cubits the height thereof.
2 Also he made a molten sea of ten cubits
from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits the height thereof; and a
line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.
3 And under it was the
similitude of oxen, which did compass it round about: ten in a cubit,
compassing the sea round about. Two rows of oxen were cast, when it was cast.
4 It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three
looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking
toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder
parts were inward.
5 And the thickness of it was a handbreadth, and the
brim of it like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies; and it
received and held three thousand baths.
6 He made also ten lavers, and put
five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them: such things as
they offered for the burnt offering they washed in them; but the sea was for
the priests to wash in.
7 And he made ten candlesticks of gold according to
their form, and set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on
the left.
8 He made also ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on
the right side, and five on the left. And he made a hundred basins of gold.
9 Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and
doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass.
10 And he
set the sea on the right side of the east end, over against the south.
11 And Huram made the pots, and the shovels, and the basins. And Huram
finished the work that he was to make for king Solomon for the house of Elohim;
12 To wit, the two pillars, and the pommels, and the chapiters which were on
the top of the two pillars, and the two wreaths to cover the two pommels of
the chapiters which were on the top of the pillars;
13 And four hundred
pomegranates on the two wreaths; two rows of pomegranates on each wreath, to
cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were upon the pillars.
14 He
made also bases, and lavers made he upon the bases;
15 One sea, and twelve
oxen under it.
16 The pots also, and the shovels, and the fleshhooks, and
all their instruments, did Huram his father make to king Solomon for the house
of YHWH of bright brass.
17 In the plain of Jordan did the king cast
them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredathah.
18 Thus Solomon
made all these vessels in great abundance: for the weight of the brass could
not be found out.
19 And Solomon made all the vessels that were for the
house of Elohim, the golden altar also, and the tables whereon the showbread was
set;
20 Moreover the candlesticks with their lamps, that they should burn
after the manner before the oracle, of pure gold;
21 And the flowers, and
the lamps, and the tongs, made he of gold, and that perfect gold;
22 And the
snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the censers, of pure gold: and
the entry of the house, the inner doors thereof for the most holy place, and
the doors of the house of the temple, were of gold.
1 Thus all the work
that Solomon made for the house of YHWH was finished: and Solomon brought
in all the things that David his father had dedicated; and the silver, and the
gold, and all the instruments, put he among the treasures of the house of Elohim.
2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the
tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to
bring up the ark of the covenant of YHWH out of the city of David, which
is Zion.
3 Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the
king in the feast which was in the seventh month.
4 And all the elders of
Israel came; and the Levites took up the ark.
5 And they brought up the ark,
and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in
the tabernacle, these did the priests and the Levites bring up.
6 Also king
Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled unto him
before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, which could not be told nor
numbered for multitude.
7 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant
of YHWH unto his place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy
place, even under the wings of the cherubims:
8 For the cherubims spread
forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark
and the staves thereof above.
9 And they drew out the staves of the ark,
that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they
were not seen without. And there it is unto this day.
10 There was nothing
in the ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb, when YHWH
made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.
11 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place:
(for all the priests who were present were sanctified, and did not then wait
by course:
12 Also the Levites who were the singers, all of them of Asaph,
of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in
white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of
the altar, and with them a hundred and twenty priests sounding with
trumpets:)
13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as
one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking YHWH; and when
they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of
music, and praised YHWH, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endures
for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of YHWH;
14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the
cloud: for the glory of YHWH had filled the house of Elohim.
1 Then said
Solomon, YHWH has said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
2 But
I have built a house of habitation for you, and a place for your dwelling for
ever.
3 And the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of
Israel: and all the congregation of Israel stood.
4 And he said, Blessed be
YHWH Elohim of Israel, who has with his hands fulfilled that which he spoke
with his mouth to my father David, saying,
5 Since the day that I brought
forth my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes
of Israel to build a house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I
any man to be a ruler over my people Israel:
6 But I have chosen Jerusalem,
that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people
Israel.
7 Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for
the name of YHWH Elohim of Israel.
8 But YHWH said to David my father,
Forasmuch as it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did
well in that it was in your heart:
9 Notwithstanding you shall not build
the house; but your son who shall come forth out of your loins, he shall build
the house for my name.
10 YHWH therefore has performed his word that he
has spoken: for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and am set on
the throne of Israel, as YHWH promised, and have built the house for the
name of YHWH Elohim of Israel.
11 And in it have I put the ark, wherein is
the covenant of YHWH, that he made with the children of Israel.
12 And
he stood before the altar of YHWH in the presence of all the congregation
of Israel, and spread forth his hands:
13 For Solomon had made a brazen
scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high,
and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled
down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth
his hands toward heaven,
14 And said, O YHWH Elohim of Israel, there is no Elohim
like you in the heaven, nor in the earth; who keeps covenant, and show
mercy unto your servants, that walk before you with all their hearts:
15 You who have kept with your servant David my father that which you
have promised him; and spoke with your mouth, and have fulfilled it with
your hand, as it is this day.
16 Now therefore, O YHWH Elohim 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 upon the throne of Israel;
yet so that your children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as you
have walked before me.
17 Now then, O YHWH Elohim of Israel, let your word be
verified, which you have spoken unto your servant David.
18 But will Elohim in
very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of
heavens cannot contain you; how much less this house which I have built!
19 Have respect therefore to the prayer of your servant, and to his
supplication, O YHWH my Elohim, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which your
servant prays before you:
20 That your eyes may be open upon this house
day and night, upon the place whereof you have said that you would put
your name there; to hearken unto the prayer which your servant prays toward
this place.
21 Hearken therefore unto the supplications of your servant, and
of your people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear you from
your dwelling place, even from heaven; and when you hear, forgive.
22 If
a man sin against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to make him
swear, and the oath come before your altar in this house;
23 Then hear you
from heaven, and do, and judge your servants, by requiting the wicked, by
recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by
giving him according to his righteousness.
24 And if your people Israel be
put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against you; and
shall return and confess your name, and pray and make supplication before you
in this house;
25 Then hear you from the heavens, and forgive the sin of
your people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which you gave to
them and to their fathers.
26 When the heaven is shut up, and there is no
rain, because they have sinned against you; yet if they pray toward this
place, and confess your name, and turn from their sin, when you do afflict
them;
27 Then hear you from heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants,
and of your people Israel, when you have taught them the good way, wherein
they should walk; and send rain upon your land, which you have given unto your
people for an inheritance.
28 If there be dearth in the land, if there be
pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillars; if
their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or
whatsoever sickness there be:
29 Then what prayer or what supplication
soever shall be made of any man, or of all your people Israel, when every one
shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in
this house:
30 Then hear you from heaven your dwelling place, and forgive,
and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart you
know; (for you only know the hearts of the children of men:)
31 That
they may fear you, to walk in your ways, so long as they live in the land
which you gave unto our fathers.
32 Moreover concerning the stranger,
who is not of your people Israel, but is come from a far country for your
great name's sake, and your mighty hand, and your stretched out arm; if they
come and pray in this house;
33 Then hear you from the heavens, even from
your dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calls to you
for; that all people of the earth may know your name, and fear you, as does
your people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called
by your name.
34 If your people go out to war against their enemies by the way
that you shall send them, and they pray unto you toward this city which you
have chosen, and the house which I have built for your name;
35 Then hear
you from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their
cause.
36 If they sin against you, (for there is no man who sins not,)
and you be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and
they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near;
37 Yet if they
bethink themselves in the land where they are carried captive, and turn and
pray unto you in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have
done amiss, and have dealt wickedly;
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 captives, and pray toward their land, which you gave
unto their fathers, and toward the city which you have chosen, and toward the
house which I have built for your name:
39 Then hear you from the heavens,
even from your dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and
maintain their cause, and forgive your people who have sinned against you.
40 Now, my Elohim, let, I beseech you, your eyes be open, and let your ears
be attentive unto the prayer that is made in this place.
41 Now therefore
arise, O YHWH Elohim, into your resting place, you, and the ark of your strength:
let your priests, O YHWH Elohim, be clothed with salvation, and let your saints
rejoice in goodness.
42 O YHWH Elohim, turn not away the face of your
anointed: remember the mercies of David your servant.
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 YHWH filled the house.
2 And the priests could not enter into the house of YHWH, because the
glory of YHWH had filled YHWH's house.
3 And when all the children
of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of YHWH upon the
house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement,
and worshipped, and praised YHWH, saying, For he is good; for his mercy
endures for ever.
4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices
before YHWH.
5 And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two
thousand oxen, and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all
the people dedicated the house of Elohim.
6 And the priests waited on their
offices: the Levites also with instruments of music of YHWH, which David
the king had made to praise YHWH, because his mercy endures for ever,
when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before
them, and all Israel stood.
7 Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the
court that was before the house of YHWH: for there he offered burnt
offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brazen altar which
Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat
offerings, and the fat.
8 Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven
days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in
of Hamath unto the river of Egypt.
9 And in the eighth day they made a
solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the
feast seven days.
10 And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month
he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the
goodness that YHWH had showed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel
his people.
11 Thus Solomon finished the house of YHWH, and the king's
house: and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of YHWH, and in his own house, he prosperously effected.
12 And YHWH
appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard your prayer, and
have chosen this place to myself for a house of sacrifice.
13 If I shut up
heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land,
or if I send pestilence among my people;
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.
15 Now my eyes shall be open, and my ears
attentive unto the prayer that is made in this place.
16 For now have I chosen
and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and my eyes
and my heart shall be there perpetually.
17 And 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 shall observe my statutes and my judgments;
18 Then
will I stablish the throne of your kingdom, according as I have covenanted with
David your father, saying, There shall not fail you a man to be ruler in
Israel.
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 elohim, and worship
them;
20 Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have
given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast
out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all
nations.
21 And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every
one that passes by it; so that he shall say, Why has YHWH done thus unto
this land, and unto this house?
22 And it shall be answered, Because they
forsook YHWH Elohim of their fathers, who brought them forth out of the
land of Egypt, and laid hold on other elohim, and worshipped them, and served
them: therefore has he brought all this evil upon them.
1 And it came to
pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of YHWH, and his own house,
2 That the cities which Huram had restored to
Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.
3 And Solomon went to Hamathzobah, and prevailed against it.
4 And he
built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities, which he built in
Hamath.
5 Also he built Bethhoron the upper, and Bethhoron the nether,
fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars;
6 And Baalath, and all the store
cities that Solomon had, and all the chariot cities, and the cities of the
horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon,
and throughout all the land of his dominion.
7 As for all the people that
were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the
Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of Israel,
8 But of their
children, who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel
consumed not, them did Solomon make to pay tribute until this day.
9 But of
the children of Israel did Solomon make no servants for his work; but they
were men of war, and chief of his captains, and captains of his chariots and
horsemen.
10 And these were the chief of king Solomon's officers, even two
hundred and fifty, that bore rule over the people.
11 And Solomon brought up
the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house that he had
built for her: for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king
of Israel, because the places are holy, whereunto the ark of YHWH has
come.
12 Then Solomon offered burnt offerings unto YHWH on the altar of
YHWH, which he had built before the porch,
13 Even after a certain rate
every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths,
and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even
in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast
of tabernacles.
14 And he appointed, according to the order of David his
father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their
charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every day
required: the porters also by their courses at every gate: for so had David
the man of Elohim commanded.
15 And they departed not from the commandment of
the king unto the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the
treasures.
16 Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the
foundation of the house of YHWH, and until it was finished. So the house
of YHWH was perfected.
17 Then went Solomon to Eziongeber, and to Eloth,
at the sea side in the land of Edom.
18 And Huram sent him by the hands of
his servants ships, and servants who had knowledge of the sea; and they went
with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took thence four hundred and fifty
talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon.
1 And when the queen of
Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard
questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that bore
spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to
Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.
2 And Solomon
told her all her questions: and there was nothing hid from Solomon which he
told her not.
3 And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon,
and the house that he had built,
4 And the meat of his table, and the
sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their
apparel; his cupbearers also, and their apparel; and his ascent by which he
went up into the house of YHWH; there was no more spirit in her.
5 And
she said to the king, It was a true report which I heard in my own land of
your acts, and of your wisdom:
6 Howbeit I believed not their words, until I
came, and my eyes had seen it: and, behold, the one half of the greatness of
your wisdom was not told me: for you exceed the fame that I heard.
7 Happy are your men, and happy are these your servants, who stand
continually before you, and hear your wisdom.
8 Blessed be YHWH your Elohim,
who delighted in you to set you on his throne, to be king for YHWH your
Elohim: because your Elohim loved Israel, to establish them for ever, therefore made
he you king over them, to do judgment and justice.
9 And she gave the king
a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices great abundance, and
precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave
king Solomon.
10 And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of
Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious
stones.
11 And the king made of the algum trees terraces to the house of YHWH, and to the king's palace, and harps and psalteries for singers: and
there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.
12 And king Solomon
gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that
which she had brought unto the king. So she turned, and went away to her own
land, she and her servants.
13 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon
in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold;
14 Beside that which chapmen and merchants brought. And all the kings of
Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.
15 And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred
shekels of beaten gold went to one target.
16 And three hundred shields made
he 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.
17 Moreover the king
made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold.
18 And there
were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to
the throne, and stays on each side of the sitting place, and two lions
standing by the stays:
19 And twelve lions stood there on the one side and
on the other upon the six steps. There was not the like made in any kingdom.
20 And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon were of gold, and all the
vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold: none were of
silver; it was not any thing accounted of in the days of Solomon.
21 For the
king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years
once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes,
and peacocks.
22 And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in
riches and wisdom.
23 And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of
Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that Elohim had put in his heart.
24 And they
brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and
raiment, harness, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.
25 And
Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand
horsemen; whom he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at
Jerusalem.
26 And he reigned over all the kings from the river even unto the
land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.
27 And the king made
silver in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycamore trees
that are in the low plains in abundance.
28 And they brought unto Solomon
horses out of Egypt, and out of all lands.
29 Now the rest of the acts of
Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the
prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of
Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat?
30 And Solomon reigned in
Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.
31 And Solomon slept with his
fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his
son reigned in his stead.
1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem
were all Israel come to make him king.
2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam
the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of
Solomon the king, heard it, that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.
3 And they
sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam,
saying,
4 Your father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease you
somewhat the grievous servitude of your father, and his heavy yoke that he put
upon us, and we will serve you.
5 And he said unto them, Come again unto me
after three days. And the people departed.
6 And king Rehoboam took counsel
with the old men who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived,
saying, What counsel give you me to return answer to this people?
7 And they
spoke unto him, saying, If you be kind to this people, and please them, and
speak good words to them, they will be your servants for ever.
8 But he
forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the
young men who were brought up with him, that stood before him.
9 And he
said unto them, What advice give you that we may return answer to this people,
who have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that your father did
put upon us?
10 And the young men who were brought up with him spoke unto
him, saying, Thus shall you answer the people who spoke unto you, saying,
Your father made our yoke heavy, but make you it somewhat lighter for us; thus
shall you say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's
loins.
11 For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more
to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with
scorpions.
12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third
day, as the king bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day.
13 And the
king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old
men,
14 And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My
father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you
with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
15 So the king hearkened
not unto the people: for the cause was of Elohim, that YHWH might perform his
word, which he spoke by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son
of Nebat.
16 And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto
them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and
we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O
Israel: and now, David, see to your own house. So all Israel went to their
tents.
17 But as for the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of
Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
18 Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram who
was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that
he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to
Jerusalem.
19 And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.
1 And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of
Judah and Benjamin a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, who were
warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to
Rehoboam.
2 But the word of YHWH came to Shemaiah the man of Elohim,
saying,
3 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all
Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,
4 Thus said YHWH, You shall not go
up, nor fight against your brethren: return every man to his house: for this
thing is done of me. And they obeyed the words of YHWH, and returned from
going against Jeroboam.
5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities
for defence in Judah.
6 He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
7 And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam,
8 And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
9 And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,
10 And Zorah, and Aijalon, and
Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.
11 And he
fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual,
and of oil and wine.
12 And in every several city he put shields and spears,
and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.
13 And the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel resorted to him
out of all their coasts.
14 For the Levites left their suburbs and their
possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had
cast them off from executing the priest's office unto YHWH:
15 And he
ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the
calves which he had made.
16 And after them out of all the tribes of Israel
such as set their hearts to seek YHWH Elohim of Israel came to Jerusalem, to
sacrifice unto YHWH Elohim of their fathers.
17 So they strengthened the
kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years:
for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.
18 And Rehoboam
took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and
Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;
19 who bore him children;
Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.
20 And after her he took Maachah the
daughter of Absalom; who bore him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and
Shelomith.
21 And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all
his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore
concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.)
22 And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among
his brethren: for he thought to make him king.
23 And he dealt wisely, and
dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and
Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he gave them victual in abundance. And
he desired many wives.
1 And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had
established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of
YHWH, and all Israel with him.
2 And it came to pass, that in the fifth
year of king Rehoboam Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because
they had transgressed against YHWH,
3 With twelve hundred chariots, and
threescore thousand horsemen: and the people were without number that came
with him out of Egypt; the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians.
4 And
he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.
5 Then came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah,
that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said unto
them, Thus said YHWH, You have forsaken me, and therefore have I also left
you in the hand of Shishak.
6 Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king
humbled themselves; and they said, YHWH is righteous.
7 And when YHWH saw that they humbled themselves, the word of YHWH came to Shemaiah,
saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I
will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon
Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.
8 Nevertheless they shall be his servants;
that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the
countries.
9 So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took
away the treasures of the house of YHWH, and the treasures of the king's
house; he took all: he carried away also the shields of gold which Solomon had
made.
10 Instead of which king Rehoboam made shields of brass, and committed
them to the hands of the chief of the guard, that kept the entrance of the
king's house.
11 And when the king entered into the house of YHWH, the
guard came and fetched them, and brought them again into the guard chamber.
12 And when he humbled himself, the wrath of YHWH turned from him, that
he would not destroy him altogether: and also in Judah things went well.
13 So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for
Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned
seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which YHWH had chosen out of all
the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah
an Ammonitess.
14 And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek
YHWH.
15 Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written
in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer concerning
genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.
16 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David:
and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.
1 Now in the eighteenth year of
king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah.
2 He reigned three years in
Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of
Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
3 And Abijah set the
battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand
chosen men: Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him with eight
hundred thousand chosen men, being mighty men of valour.
4 And Abijah stood
up upon mount Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, you
Jeroboam, and all Israel;
5 Ought you not to know that YHWH Elohim of Israel
gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by
a covenant of salt?
6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon
the son of David, is risen up, and has rebelled against his lord.
7 And
there are gathered unto him vain men, the children of Belial, and have
strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was
young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them.
8 And now you think to
withstand the kingdom of YHWH in the hand of the sons of David; and you be
a great multitude, and there are with you golden calves, which Jeroboam made
you for elohim.
9 Have you not cast out the priests of YHWH, the sons of
Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after the manner of the
nations of other lands? so that whosoever comes to consecrate himself with a
young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of those who are no
elohim.
10 But as for us, YHWH is our Elohim, and we have not forsaken him;
and the priests, who minister unto YHWH, are the sons of Aaron, and the
Levites wait upon their business:
11 And they burn unto YHWH every
morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense: the showbread
also set they in order upon the pure table; and the candlestick of gold with
the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the charge of YHWH
our Elohim; but you have forsaken him.
12 Andnd also in Judah things went well.
13 So king Rehoboam strengthened hims, behold, Elohim himself is with us
for our captain, and his priests with soundind also in Judah things went well.
13 So king Rehoboam strengthened himsng trumpets to cry alarm against
you. O children of Israel, fight you not against YHWH Elohim of your fathers;
for you shall not prosper.
13 But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about
behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them.
14 And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind: and
they cried unto YHWH, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.
15 Then
the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to
pass, that Elohim smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.
16 And
the children of Israel fled before Judah: and Elohim delivered them into their
hand.
17 And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so
there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.
18 Thus
the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of
Judah prevailed, because they relied upon YHWH Elohim of their fathers.
19 And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with
the towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the towns thereof, and Ephrain with the
towns thereof.
20 Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of
Abijah: and YHWH struck him, and he died.
21 But Abijah waxed mighty,
and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen
daughters.
22 And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his
sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.
1 So Abijah slept
with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son
reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years.
2 And Asa
did that which was good and right in the eyes of YHWH his Elohim:
3 For he
took away the altars of the strange elohim, and the high places, and broke down
the images, and cut down the groves:
4 And commanded Judah to seek YHWH
Elohim of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.
5 Also he took
away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the
kingdom was quiet before him.
6 And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the
land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because YHWH had given
him rest.
7 Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and
make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet
before us; because we have sought YHWH our Elohim, we have sought him, and he
has given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.
8 And Asa had
an army of men who bore targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred
thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bore shields and drew bows, two hundred
and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valour.
9 And there
came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with a host of a thousand thousand,
and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.
10 Then Asa went out
against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at
Mareshah.
11 And Asa cried unto YHWH his Elohim, and said, YHWH, it is
nothing with you to help, whether with many, or with those who have no power:
help us, O YHWH our Elohim; for we rest on you, and in your name we go against
this multitude. O YHWH, you are our Elohim; let not man prevail against you.
12 So YHWH smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the
Ethiopians fled.
13 And Asa and the people who were with him pursued them
unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover
themselves; for they were destroyed before YHWH, and before his host; and
they carried away very much spoil.
14 And they smote all the cities round
about Gerar; for the fear of YHWH came upon them: and they spoiled all the
cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.
15 They smote also the
tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned
to Jerusalem.
1 And the Spirit of Elohim came upon Azariah the son of Oded:
2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear you me, Asa, and all
Judah and Benjamin; YHWH is with you, while you be with him; and if you seek
him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.
3 Now for a long season Israel has been without the true Elohim, and without a
teaching priest, and without law.
4 But when they in their trouble did turn
unto YHWH Elohim of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.
5 And in
those times there was no peace to him who went out, nor to him who came in,
but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries.
6 And
nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for Elohim did vex them with
all adversity.
7 Be you strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for
your work shall be rewarded.
8 And when Asa heard these words, and the
prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable
idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which
he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of YHWH, that was
before the porch of YHWH.
9 And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and
the strangers 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 YHWH his
Elohim was with him.
10 So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in
the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.
11 And they
offered unto YHWH the same time, of the spoil which they had brought,
seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.
12 And they entered into a
covenant to seek YHWH Elohim of their fathers with all their heart and with
all their soul;
13 That whosoever would not seek YHWH Elohim of Israel
should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.
14 And
they swore unto YHWH with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with
trumpets, and with cornets.
15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they
had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he
was found of them: and YHWH gave them rest round about.
16 And also
concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being
queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and
stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.
17 But the high places were
not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all
his days.
18 And he brought into the house of Elohim the things that his father
had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and
vessels.
19 And there was no more war unto the five and thirtieth year of
the reign of Asa.
1 In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa
Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent
that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
2 Then Asa
brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of YHWH and
of the king's house, and sent to Benhadad king of Syria, who dwelt at
Damascus, saying,
3 There is a league between me and you, as there was
between my father and your father: behold, I have sent you silver and gold;
go, break your league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.
4 And Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies
against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and
all the store cities of Naphtali.
5 And it came to pass, when Baasha heard
it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease.
6 Then Asa
the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the
timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and
Mizpah.
7 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and
said unto him, Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and not relied
on YHWH your Elohim, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of
your hand.
8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very
many chariots and horsemen? yet, because you did rely on YHWH, he
delivered them into your hand.
9 For the eyes of YHWH run to and fro
throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose
heart is perfect toward him. Herein you have done foolishly: therefore from
henceforth you shall have wars.
10 Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and
put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this
thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.
11 And, behold,
the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings
of Judah and Israel.
12 And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign
was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his
disease he sought not to YHWH, but to the physicians.
13 And Asa slept
with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.
14 And
they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the
city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and
divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries' are: and they made a very
great burning for him.
1 And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead,
and strengthened himself against Israel.
2 And he placed forces in all the
fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the
cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.
3 And YHWH was with
Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and
sought not unto Baalim;
4 But sought to YHWH Elohim of his father, and
walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.
5 Therefore
YHWH stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to
Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.
6 And his
heart was lifted up in the ways of YHWH: moreover he took away the high
places and groves out of Judah.
7 Also in the third year of his reign he
sent to his princes, even to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to
Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.
8 And with them
he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and
Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah,
Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests.
9 And they taught in
Judah, and had the book of the law of YHWH with them, and went about
throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.
10 And the fear
of YHWH fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about
Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.
11 Also some of the
Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians
brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand
and seven hundred he goats.
12 And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and
he built in Judah castles, and cities of store.
13 And he had much business
in the cities of Judah: and the men of war, mighty men of valour, were in
Jerusalem.
14 And these are the numbers of them according to the house of
their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with
him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand.
15 And next to him was
Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand.
16 And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself
unto YHWH; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour.
17 And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men
with bow and shield two hundred thousand.
18 And next him was Jehozabad, and
with him a hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war.
19 These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in the fenced
cities throughout all Judah.
1 Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in
abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.
2 And after certain years he went
down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance,
and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him
to Ramothgilead.
3 And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of
Judah, Will you go with me to Ramothgilead? And he answered him, I am as you
are, and my people as your people; and we will be with you in the war.
4 And
Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray you, at the word of
YHWH today.
5 Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of
prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramothgilead to
battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for Elohim will deliver it into
the king's hand.
6 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of YHWH besides, that we might inquire of him?
7 And the king of Israel said
unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may inquire of YHWH:
but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the
same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say
so.
8 And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, Fetch
quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.
9 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat
king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and
they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all
the prophets prophesied before them.
10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah
had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus said YHWH, With these you
shall push Syria until they be consumed.
11 And all the prophets prophesied
so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for YHWH shall deliver it
into the hand of the king.
12 And the messenger who went to call Micaiah
spoke to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the
king with one assent; let your word therefore, I pray you, be like one of
theirs, and speak you good.
13 And Micaiah said, As YHWH lives, even
what my Elohim said, that will I speak.
14 And when he was come to the king,
the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or
shall I forbear? And he said, Go you up, and prosper, and they shall be
delivered into your hand.
15 And the king said to him, How many times shall
I adjure you that you say nothing but the truth to me in the name of YHWH?
16 Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as
sheep that have no shepherd: and YHWH said, These have no master; let them
return therefore every man to his house in peace.
17 And the king of Israel
said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good unto
me, but evil?
18 Again he said, Therefore hear the word of YHWH; I saw
YHWH sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his
right hand and on his left.
19 And YHWH said, Who shall entice Ahab king
of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spoke saying
after this manner, and another saying after that manner.
20 Then there came
out a spirit, and stood before YHWH, and said, I will entice him. And YHWH said unto him, Wherewith?
21 And he said, I will go out, and be a lying
spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And YHWH said, You shall entice
him, and you shall also prevail: go out, and do even so.
22 Now therefore,
behold, YHWH has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets,
and YHWH has spoken evil against you.
23 Then Zedekiah the son of
Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way
went the Spirit of YHWH from me to speak unto you?
24 And Micaiah said,
Behold, you shall see on that day when you shall go into an inner chamber to
hide yourself.
25 Then the king of Israel said, Take you Micaiah, and carry
him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;
26 And say, Thus said 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.
27 And Micaiah said, If you certainly return in peace, then has not
YHWH spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all you people.
28 So the king
of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.
29 And
the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will go
to the battle; but put you on your robes. So the king of Israel disguised
himself; and they went to the battle.
30 Now the king of Syria had commanded
the captains of the chariots who were with him, saying, Fight you not with
small or great, save only with the king of Israel.
31 And it came to pass,
when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the
king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat
cried out, and YHWH helped him; and Elohim moved them to depart from him.
32 For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived
that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him.
33 And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel
between the joints of the harness: therefore he said to his chariot man, Turn
your hand, that you may carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.
34 And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed
himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the evening: and about the
time of the sun going down he died.
1 And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah
returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.
2 And Jehu the son of Hanani
the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Should you
help the ungodly, and love those who hate YHWH? therefore is wrath upon
you from before YHWH.
3 Nevertheless there are good things found in
you, in that you have taken away the groves out of the land, and have
prepared your heart to seek Elohim.
4 And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and
he went out again through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and
brought them back unto YHWH Elohim of their fathers.
5 And he set judges in
the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,
6 And said
to the judges, Take heed what you do: for you judge not for man, but for YHWH, who is with you in the judgment.
7 Wherefore now let the fear of YHWH be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with YHWH
our Elohim, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.
8 Moreover in
Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the
chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of YHWH, and for
controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem.
9 And he charged them,
saying, Thus shall you do in the fear of YHWH, faithfully, and with a
perfect heart.
10 And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren
that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and
commandment, statutes and judgments, you shall even warn them, that they
trespass not against YHWH, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your
brethren: this do, and you shall not trespass.
11 And, behold, Amariah the
chief priest is over you in all matters of YHWH; and Zebadiah the son of
Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters: also the
Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and YHWH shall be
with the good.
1 It came to pass after this also, that the children of
Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites,
came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
2 Then there came some who told
Jehoshaphat, saying, There comes a great multitude against you from beyond
the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is
Engedi.
3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek YHWH, and
proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
4 And Judah gathered themselves
together, to ask help of YHWH: even out of all the cities of Judah they
came to seek YHWH.
5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah
and Jerusalem, in the house of YHWH, before the new court,
6 And said, O
YHWH Elohim of our fathers, are not you Elohim in heaven? and rule not you over
all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in your hand is there not power and
might, so that none is able to withstand you?
7 Are not you our Elohim, who
did drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and
gave it to the seed of Abraham your friend for ever?
8 And they dwelt
therein, and have built you a sanctuary therein for your name, saying,
9 If,
when evil comes upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we
stand before this house, and in your presence, (for your name is in this house,)
and cry unto you in our affliction, then you will hear and help.
10 And
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 from them, and destroyed them not;
11 Behold, I say, how they reward
us, to come to cast us out of your possession, which you have given us to
inherit.
12 O our Elohim, 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 upon you.
13 And all Judah stood before YHWH, with
their little ones, their wives, and their children.
14 Then upon Jahaziel
the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of
Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of YHWH in the
midst of the congregation;
15 And he said, Hearken you, all Judah, and you
inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you king Jehoshaphat, Thus said YHWH unto
you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the
battle is not yours, but Elohim's.
16 To morrow go you down against them:
behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and you shall find them at the end of
the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
17 You shall not need to fight in
this battle: set yourselves, stand you still, and see the salvation of YHWH
with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out
against them: for YHWH will be with you.
18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his
head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of
Jerusalem fell before YHWH, worshipping YHWH.
19 And the Levites, of
the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up
to praise YHWH Elohim of Israel with a loud voice on high.
20 And they rose
early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they
went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and you inhabitants
of Jerusalem; Believe in YHWH your Elohim, so shall you be established;
believe his prophets, so shall you prosper.
21 And when he had consulted with
the people, he appointed singers unto YHWH, and that should praise the
beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise YHWH; for his mercy endures for ever.
22 And when they began to sing and to
praise, YHWH set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and
mount Seir, who were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
23 For the
children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir,
utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the
inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.
24 And when Judah
came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude,
and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.
25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them,
they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and
precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could
carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so
much.
26 And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of
Berachah; for there they blessed YHWH: therefore the name of the same
place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day.
27 Then they
returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront
of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for YHWH had made them to
rejoice over their enemies.
28 And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries
and harps and trumpets unto the house of YHWH.
29 And the fear of Elohim
was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that YHWH
fought against the enemies of Israel.
30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was
quiet: for his Elohim gave him rest round about.
31 And Jehoshaphat reigned
over Judah: he was thirty and five years old when he began to reign, and he
reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah
the daughter of Shilhi.
32 And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and
departed not from it, doing that which was right in the sight of YHWH.
33 Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had
not prepared their hearts unto the Elohim of their fathers.
34 Now the rest of
the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the book
of Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of
Israel.
35 And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with
Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly:
36 And he joined himself with
him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Eziongaber.
37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against
Jehoshaphat, saying, Because you have joined yourself with Ahaziah, YHWH
has broken your works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to
go to Tarshish.
1 Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried
with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his
stead.
2 And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel,
and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all these were the
sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.
3 And their father gave them great gifts
of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah:
but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he was the firstborn.
4 Now when
Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself,
and slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of
Israel.
5 Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and
he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
6 And he walked in the way of the kings
of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to
wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of YHWH.
7 Howbeit
YHWH would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he
had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons
for ever.
8 In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of
Judah, and made themselves a king.
9 Then Jehoram went forth with his
princes, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the
Edomites who compassed him in, and the captains of the chariots.
10 So the
Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The same time
also did Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forsaken YHWH
Elohim of his fathers.
11 Moreover he made high places in the mountains of
Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and
compelled Judah thereto.
12 And there came a writing to him from Elijah the
prophet, saying, Thus said YHWH Elohim 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,
13 But have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and
have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the
whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also have slain your brethren of your
father's house, who were better than yourself:
14 Behold, with a great
plague will YHWH smite your people, and your children, and your wives, and
all your goods:
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.
16 Moreover YHWH stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the
Philistines, and of the Arabians, who were near the Ethiopians:
17 And they
came up into 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, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.
18 And
after all this YHWH smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.
19 And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years,
his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so he died of sore diseases.
And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.
20 Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in
Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried
him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.
1 And
the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead:
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.
2 Forty and two
years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in
Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.
3 He
also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his
counsellor to do wickedly.
4 Wherefore he did evil in the sight of YHWH
like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellors after the death of his
father to his destruction.
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 Ramothgilead: and the Syrians smote Joram.
6 And he returned to be
healed in Jezreel because of the wounds which were given him at Ramah, when he
fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah
went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was sick.
7 And the destruction of Ahaziah was of Elohim by coming to Joram: for when he
was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom YHWH had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.
8 And it came to pass, that,
when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes
of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, who ministered to Ahaziah,
he slew them.
9 And he sought Ahaziah: and they caught him, (for he was hid
in Samaria,) and brought him to Jehu: and when they had slain him, they buried
him: Because, said they, he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought YHWH
with all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the
kingdom.
10 But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was
dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.
11 But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of
Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons who were slain, and put him
and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram,
the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him
from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.
12 And he was with them hid in the
house of Elohim six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.
1 And in the
seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds,
Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the
son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri,
into covenant with him.
2 And they went about in Judah, and gathered the
Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of
Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.
3 And all the congregation made a
covenant with the king in the house of Elohim. And he said unto them, Behold, the
king's son shall reign, as YHWH has said of the sons of David.
4 This
is the thing that you shall do; A third part of you entering on the sabbath, of
the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the doors;
5 And a third
part shall be at the king's house; and a third part at the gate of the
foundation: and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of YHWH.
6 But let none come into the house of YHWH, save the priests, and
those who minister of the Levites; they shall go in, for they are holy: but
all the people shall keep the watch of YHWH.
7 And the Levites shall
compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and
whosoever else comes into the house, he shall be put to death: but be you with
the king when he comes in, and when he goes out.
8 So the Levites and all
Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and
took every man his men who were to come in on the sabbath, with those who
were to go out on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the
courses.
9 Moreover Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of
hundreds spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David's, which
were in the house of Elohim.
10 And he set all the people, every man having his
weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the
temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the king round about.
11 Then
they brought out the king's son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the
testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and
said, Elohim save the king.
12 Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people
running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of YHWH:
13 And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the
entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people
of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with
instruments of music, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent
her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason.
14 Then Jehoiada the priest brought
out the captains of hundreds who were set over the host, and said unto them,
Have her forth of the ranges: and whoso follows her, let him be slain with
the sword. For the priest said, Slay her not in the house of YHWH.
15 So
they laid hands on her; and when she was come to the entering of the horse
gate by the king's house, they slew her there.
16 And Jehoiada made a
covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that
they should be YHWH's people.
17 Then all the people went to the house
of Baal, and broke it down, and broke his altars and his images in pieces, and
slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.
18 Also Jehoiada appointed
the offices of the house of YHWH by the hand of the priests the Levites,
whom David had distributed in the house of YHWH, to offer the burnt
offerings of YHWH, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing
and with singing, as it was ordained by David.
19 And he set the porters at
the gates of the house of YHWH, that none who was unclean in any thing
should enter in.
20 And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles,
and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought
down the king from the house of YHWH: and they came through the high gate
into the king's house, and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom.
21 And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, after
that they had slain Athaliah with the sword.
1 Joash was seven years old
when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's
name also was Zibiah of Beersheba.
2 And Joash did that which was right in
the sight of YHWH all the days of Jehoiada the priest.
3 And Jehoiada
took for him two wives; and he begat sons and daughters.
4 And it came to
pass after this, that Joash was minded to repair the house of YHWH.
5 And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go
out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the
house of your Elohim from year to year, and see that you hasten the matter.
Howbeit the Levites hastened it not.
6 And the king called for Jehoiada the
chief, and said unto him, Why have you not required of the Levites to bring
in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, according to the
commandment of Moses the servant of YHWH, and of the congregation of
Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?
7 For the sons of Athaliah, that
wicked woman, had broken up the house of Elohim; and also all the dedicated
things of the house of YHWH did they bestow upon Baalim.
8 And at the
king's commandment they made a chest, and set it without at the gate of the
house of YHWH.
9 And they made a proclamation through Judah and
Jerusalem, to bring in to YHWH the collection that Moses the servant of
Elohim laid upon Israel in the wilderness.
10 And all the princes and all the
people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made
an end.
11 Now it came to pass, that at what time the chest was brought unto
the king's office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was
much money, the king's scribe and the high priest's officer came and emptied
the chest, and took it, and carried it to his place again. Thus they did day
by day, and gathered money in abundance.
12 And the king and Jehoiada gave
it to such as did the work of the service of the house of YHWH, and hired
masons and carpenters to repair the house of YHWH, and also such as
wrought iron and brass to mend the house of YHWH.
13 So the workmen
wrought, and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of Elohim in
his state, and strengthened it.
14 And when they had finished it, they
brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made
vessels for the house of YHWH, even vessels to minister, and to offer
withal, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt
offerings in the house of YHWH continually all the days of Jehoiada.
15 But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; a hundred and
thirty years old was he when he died.
16 And they buried him in the city of
David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward Elohim,
and toward his house.
17 Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of
Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them.
18 And they left the house of YHWH Elohim of their fathers, and served
groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their
trespass.
19 Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto YHWH; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear.
20 And
the Spirit of Elohim came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who
stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus said Elohim, Why transgress you
the commandments of YHWH, that you cannot prosper? because you have forsaken
YHWH, he has also forsaken you.
21 And they conspired against him, and
stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the
house of YHWH.
22 Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which
Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he
said, YHWH look upon it, and require it.
23 And it came to pass at the
end of the year, that the host of Syria came up against him: and they came to
Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among
the people, and sent all the spoil of them unto the king of Damascus.
24 For
the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and YHWH
delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken YHWH Elohim of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash.
25 And
when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his
own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the
priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city
of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings.
26 And
these are those who conspired against him; Zabad the son of Shimeath an
Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith a Moabitess.
27 Now concerning
his sons, and the greatness of the burdens laid upon him, and the repairing of
the house of Elohim, behold, they are written in the story of the book of the
kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.
1 Amaziah was twenty and
five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in
Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
2 And he did
that which was right in the sight of YHWH, but not with a perfect heart.
3 Now it came to pass, when the kingdom was established to him, that he slew
his servants who had killed the king his father.
4 But he slew not their
children, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, where YHWH 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.
5 Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over
thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their
fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty
years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to
go forth to war, who could handle spear and shield.
6 He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valour out of Israel for a hundred talents of
silver.
7 But there came a man of Elohim to him, saying, O king, let not the
army of Israel go with you; for YHWH is not with Israel, to wit, with all
the children of Ephraim.
8 But if you will go, do it, be strong for the
battle: Elohim shall make you fall before the enemy: for Elohim has power to help,
and to cast down.
9 And Amaziah said to the man of Elohim, But what shall we do
for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man
of Elohim answered, YHWH is able to give you much more than this.
10 Then
Amaziah separated them, to wit, the army that was come to him out of Ephraim,
to go home again: wherefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and
they returned home in great anger.
11 And Amaziah strengthened himself, and
led forth his people, and went to the valley of salt, and smote of the
children of Seir ten thousand.
12 And other ten thousand left alive did the
children of Judah carry away captive, and brought them unto the top of the
rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, so that they all were broken
in pieces.
13 But the soldiers of the army which Amaziah sent back, that
they should not go with him to battle, fell upon the cities of Judah, from
Samaria even unto Bethhoron, and smote three thousand of them, and took much
spoil.
14 Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the
slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the elohim of the children of Seir,
and set them up to be his elohim, and bowed down himself before them, and burned
incense unto them.
15 Wherefore the anger of YHWH was kindled against
Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, who said unto him, Why have you
sought after the elohim of the people, which could not deliver their own people
out of your hand?
16 And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the
king said unto him, Are you made of the king's counsel? forbear; why
should you be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that Elohim
has determined to destroy you, because you have done this, and have not
hearkened unto my counsel.
17 Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and
sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying,
Come, let us see one another in the face.
18 And Joash king of Israel sent
to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the
cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give your daughter to my son to wife: and
there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.
19 You say, Lo, you have smitten the Edomites; and your heart lifts
you up to boast: abide now at home; why should you meddle to your hurt,
that you should fall, even you, and Judah with you?
20 But Amaziah
would not hear; for it came of Elohim, that he might deliver them into the hand
of their enemies, because they sought after the elohim of Edom.
21 So Joash
the king of Israel went up; and they saw one another in the face, both he and
Amaziah king of Judah, at Bethshemesh, which belongs to Judah.
22 And
Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to his tent.
23 And Joash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of
Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Bethshemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and
broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate,
four hundred cubits.
24 And he took all the gold and the silver, and all the
vessels that were found in the house of Elohim with Obededom, and the treasures
of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.
25 And
Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Joash son of
Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.
26 Now the rest of the acts of
Amaziah, first and last, behold, are they not written in the book of the kings
of Judah and Israel?
27 Now after the time that Amaziah did turn away from
following YHWH they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he
fled to Lachish: but they sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there.
28 And they brought him upon horses, and buried him with his fathers in the
city of Judah.
1 Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was
sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.
2 He
built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his
fathers.
3 Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he
reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jecoliah
of Jerusalem.
4 And he did that which was right in the sight of YHWH,
according to all that his father Amaziah did.
5 And he sought Elohim in the
days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of Elohim: and as long as
he sought YHWH, Elohim made him to prosper.
6 And 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 built cities about Ashdod, and among the
Philistines.
7 And Elohim helped him against the Philistines, and against the
Arabians that dwelt in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims.
8 And the Ammonites gave
gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt;
for he strengthened himself exceedingly.
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.
10 Also he built towers in the desert, and
dug many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the
plains: husbandmen also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel:
for he loved husbandry.
11 Moreover Uzziah had a host of fighting men, who
went out to war by bands, according to the number of their account by the hand
of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of
the king's captains.
12 The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the
mighty men of valour were two thousand and six hundred.
13 And under their
hand was an army, three hundred and seven thousand and five hundred,
that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.
14 And
Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host shields, and spears, and
helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and slings to cast stones.
15 And he made
in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon
the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far
abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.
16 But when he
was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed
against YHWH his Elohim, and went into the temple of YHWH to burn incense
upon the altar of incense.
17 And Azariah the priest went in after him, and
with him fourscore priests of YHWH, who were valiant men:
18 And they
withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertains not unto you,
Uzziah, to burn incense unto YHWH, but to 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 honour from YHWH Elohim.
19 Then
Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he
was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before
the priests in the house of YHWH, from beside the incense altar.
20 And
Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold,
he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yes,
himself hasted also to go out, because YHWH had smitten him.
21 And
Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several
house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of YHWH: and
Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land.
22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the
prophet, the son of Amoz, write.
23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and
they buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial which belonged to
the kings; for they said, He is a leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his
stead.
1 Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and
he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jerushah,
the daughter of Zadok.
2 And he did that which was right in the sight of YHWH, according to all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into
the temple of YHWH. And the people did yet corruptly.
3 He built the
high gate of the house of YHWH, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.
4 Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he
built castles and towers.
5 He fought also with the king of the Ammonites,
and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year
a hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten
thousand of barley. So much did the children of Ammon pay unto him, both the
second year, and the third.
6 So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared
his ways before YHWH his Elohim.
7 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and
all his wars, and his ways, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of
Israel and Judah.
8 He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign,
and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
9 And Jotham slept with his fathers,
and they buried him in the city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his
stead.
1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned
sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight
of YHWH, like David his father:
2 For he walked in the ways of the kings
of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.
3 Moreover he burnt
incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the
fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom YHWH had cast out before
the children of Israel.
4 He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high
places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
5 Wherefore YHWH
his Elohim delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him,
and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to
Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who
smote him with a great slaughter.
6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in
Judah a hundred and twenty thousand in one day, who were all valiant men;
because they had forsaken YHWH Elohim of their fathers.
7 And Zichri, a
mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor
of the house, and Elkanah who was next to the king.
8 And the children of
Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women,
sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the
spoil to Samaria.
9 But a prophet of YHWH was there, whose name was
Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto
them, Behold, because YHWH Elohim of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he
has delivered them into your hand, and you have slain them in a rage that
reaches up unto heaven.
10 And now you purpose to keep under the children of
Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with
you, even with you, sins against YHWH your Elohim?
11 Now hear me
therefore, and deliver the captives again, whom you have taken captive of your
brethren: for the fierce wrath of YHWH is upon you.
12 Then certain of
the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah
the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son
of Hadlai, stood up against those who came from the war,
13 And said unto
them, You shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended
against YHWH already, you intend to add more to our sins and to our
trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.
14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and
all the congregation.
15 And the men who were expressed by name rose up,
and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all who were naked among
them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and
anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them
to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to
Samaria.
16 At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to
help him.
17 For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried
away captives.
18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low
country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and
Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages
thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.
19 For
YHWH brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah
naked, and transgressed sore against YHWH.
20 And Tilgathpilneser king
of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.
21 For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of YHWH, and out of the
house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria:
but he helped him not.
22 And in the time of his distress did he trespass
yet more against YHWH: this is that king Ahaz.
23 For he sacrificed unto
the elohim of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the elohim of the
kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may
help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.
24 And Ahaz
gathered together the vessels of the house of Elohim, and cut in pieces the
vessels of the house of Elohim, and shut up the doors of the house of YHWH,
and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
25 And in every several
city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other elohim, and
provoked to anger YHWH Elohim of his fathers.
26 Now the rest of his acts
and of all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of
the kings of Judah and Israel.
27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they
buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the
sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.
1 Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he
reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijah,
the daughter of Zechariah.
2 And he did that which was right in the sight of
YHWH, according to all that David his father had done.
3 He in the first
year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of YHWH, and repaired them.
4 And he brought in the priests and the Levites,
and gathered them together into the east street,
5 And said unto them, Hear
me, you Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of YHWH
Elohim of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.
6 For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes
of YHWH our Elohim, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces
from the habitation of YHWH, and turned their backs.
7 Also they have
shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned
incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the Elohim of Israel.
8 Wherefore the wrath of YHWH was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he has
delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as you see with
your eyes.
9 For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and
our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.
10 Now it is in my
heart to make a covenant with YHWH Elohim of Israel, that his fierce wrath
may turn away from us.
11 My sons, be not now negligent: for YHWH has
chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that you should minister unto
him, and burn incense.
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 Jehalelel: and of the
Gershonites; Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah:
13 And of the
sons of Elizaphan; Shimri, and Jeiel: and of the sons of Asaph; Zechariah, and
Mattaniah:
14 And of the sons of Heman; Jehiel, and Shimei: and of the sons
of Jeduthun; Shemaiah, and Uzziel.
15 And they gathered their brethren, and
sanctified themselves, and came, according to the commandment of the king, by
the words of YHWH, to cleanse the house of YHWH.
16 And the priests
went into the inner part of the house of YHWH, to cleanse it, and brought
out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of YHWH into the
court of the house of YHWH. And the Levites took it, to carry it out
abroad into the brook Kidron.
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 YHWH: so they sanctified the house of YHWH in eight days; and
in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.
18 Then they went
in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all the house of YHWH,
and the altar of burnt offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the
showbread table, with all the vessels thereof.
19 Moreover all the vessels,
which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression, have we
prepared and sanctified, and, behold, they are before the altar of YHWH.
20 Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city,
and went up to the house of YHWH.
21 And they brought seven bullocks,
and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for
the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the
priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of YHWH.
22 So they
killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on
the altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood
upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon
the altar.
23 And they brought forth the he goats for the sin offering
before the king and the congregation; and they laid their hands upon them:
24 And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their
blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king
commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all
Israel.
25 And he set the Levites in the house of YHWH with cymbals,
with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of
Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of YHWH by his prophets.
26 And the Levites stood with the instruments of
David, and the priests with the trumpets.
27 And Hezekiah commanded to offer
the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song
of YHWH began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by
David king of Israel.
28 And all the congregation worshipped, and the
singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the
burnt offering was finished.
29 And when they had made an end of offering,
the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped.
30 Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing
praise unto YHWH with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they
sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.
31 Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now you have consecrated yourselves unto
YHWH, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of
YHWH. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and
as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings.
32 And the number of the
burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten
bullocks, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt
offering to YHWH.
33 And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen
and three thousand sheep.
34 But the priests were too few, so that they
could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites
did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had
sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify
themselves than the priests.
35 And also the burnt offerings were in
abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings, and the drink offerings for
every burnt offering. So the service of the house of YHWH was set in
order.
36 And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that Elohim had prepared
the people: for the thing was done suddenly.
1 And Hezekiah sent to all
Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they
should come to the house of YHWH at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto
YHWH Elohim of Israel.
2 For the king had taken counsel, and his princes,
and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second
month.
3 For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had
not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered
themselves together to Jerusalem.
4 And the thing pleased the king and all
the congregation.
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 unto YHWH Elohim of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not
done it of a long time in such sort as it was written.
6 So the posts went
with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and
Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, You children of
Israel, turn again unto YHWH Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he
will return to the remnant of you, who are escaped out of the hand of the
kings of Assyria.
7 And be not you like your fathers, and like your brethren,
who trespassed against YHWH Elohim of their fathers, who therefore gave
them up to desolation, as you see.
8 Now be you not stiffnecked, as your
fathers were, but yield yourselves unto YHWH, and enter into his
sanctuary, which he has sanctified for ever: and serve YHWH your Elohim,
that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.
9 For if you turn
again unto YHWH, your brethren and your children shall find compassion
before those who lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this
land: for YHWH your Elohim is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away
his face from you, if you return unto him.
10 So the posts passed from city
to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but
they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.
11 Nevertheless divers of Asher
and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.
12 Also in Judah the hand of Elohim was to give them one heart to do the
commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of YHWH.
13 And
there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread
in the second month, a very great congregation.
14 And they arose and took
away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took
they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron.
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 in the burnt
offerings into the house of YHWH.
16 And they stood in their place after
their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of Elohim: the priests
sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites.
17 For
there were many in the congregation who were not sanctified: therefore the
Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was
not clean, to sanctify them unto YHWH.
18 For a multitude of the people,
even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed
themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But
Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good YHWH pardon every one
19 That
prepares his heart to seek Elohim, YHWH Elohim of his fathers, though he be not
cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.
20 And YHWH
hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.
21 And 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 YHWH day by
day, singing with loud instruments unto YHWH.
22 And Hezekiah spoke
comfortably unto all the Levites who taught the good knowledge of YHWH:
and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings,
and making confession to YHWH Elohim of their fathers.
23 And the whole
assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they kept other seven days
with gladness.
24 For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation a
thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the
congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of
priests sanctified themselves.
25 And all the congregation of Judah, with
the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel,
and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in
Judah, rejoiced.
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.
27 Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and
their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place,
even unto heaven.
1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were
present went out to the cities of Judah, and broke the images in pieces, and
cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all
Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly
destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his
possession, into their own cities.
2 And Hezekiah appointed the courses of
the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his
service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings,
to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of
YHWH.
3 He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the
burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the
burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set
feasts, as it is written in the law of YHWH.
4 Moreover he commanded the
people who dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the
Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of YHWH.
5 And as soon
as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance
the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of
the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.
6 And
concerning the children of Israel and Judah, who dwelt in the cities of
Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy
things which were consecrated unto YHWH their Elohim, and laid them by heaps.
7 In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and
finished them in the seventh month.
8 And when Hezekiah and the princes came
and saw the heaps, they blessed YHWH, and his people Israel.
9 Then
Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.
10 And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and
said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of YHWH, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for YHWH has
blessed his people; and what is left is this great store.
11 Then
Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of YHWH; and they
prepared them,
12 And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the
dedicated things faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and
Shimei his brother was the next.
13 And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and
Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and
Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at
the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of
Elohim.
14 And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east,
was over the freewill offerings of Elohim, to distribute the oblations of YHWH, and the most holy things.
15 And next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and
Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in
their set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great
as to the small:
16 Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old
and upward, even unto every one who enters into the house of YHWH, his
daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses;
17 Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and
the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their charges by their
courses;
18 And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and
their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their
set office they sanctified themselves in holiness:
19 Also of the sons of
Aaron the priests, who were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in
every several city, the men who were expressed by name, to give portions to
all the males among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by genealogies
among the Levites.
20 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and
wrought that which was good and right and truth before YHWH his Elohim.
21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of Elohim, and
in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his Elohim, he did it with all his
heart, and prospered.
1 After these things, and the establishment
thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and
encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself.
2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed
to fight against Jerusalem,
3 He took counsel with his princes and his
mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city:
and they did help him.
4 So there was gathered much people together, who
stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the
land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?
5 Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken,
and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo
in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.
6 And he set
captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the
street of the gate of the city, and spoke comfortably to them, saying,
7 Be
strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor
for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with
him:
8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is YHWH our Elohim to help
us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words
of Hezekiah king of Judah.
9 After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send
his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all
his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were
at Jerusalem, saying,
10 Thus said Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do
you trust, that you abide in the siege in Jerusalem?
11 Does not Hezekiah
persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying,
YHWH our Elohim shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
12 Has not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and
commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, You shall worship before one altar, and
burn incense upon it?
13 Know you not what I and my fathers have done unto
all the people of other lands? were the elohim of the nations of those lands any
ways able to deliver their lands out of my hand?
14 Who was there among
all the elohim of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could
deliver his people out of my hand, that your Elohim should be able to deliver
you out of my hand?
15 Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor
persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no eloah (``elohim'') of any nation
or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of my hand, and out of the
hand of my fathers: how much less shall your Elohim deliver you out of my hand?
16 And his servants spoke yet more against YHWH Elohim, and against his
servant Hezekiah.
17 He wrote also letters to rail on YHWH Elohim of
Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the elohim of the nations of other
lands have not delivered their people out of my hand, so shall not the Elohim
of Hezekiah deliver his people out of my hand.
18 Then they cried with a
loud voice in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem who were on the
wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.
19 And they spoke against the Elohim of Jerusalem, as against the elohim of the
people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.
20 And for
this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed
and cried to heaven.
21 And YHWH sent an angel, who cut off all the
mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of
Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was
come into the house of his elohim, those who came forth of his own bowels slew
him there with the sword.
22 Thus YHWH saved Hezekiah and the
inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and
from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side.
23 And many
brought gifts unto YHWH to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of
Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.
24 In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto YHWH:
and he spoke unto him, and he gave him a sign.
25 But Hezekiah rendered not
again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up:
therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.
26 Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both
he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of YHWH came not
upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
27 And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches
and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for
precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of
pleasant jewels;
28 Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and
oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks.
29 Moreover
he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for
Elohim had given him substance very much.
30 This same Hezekiah also stopped
the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side
of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
31 Howbeit in
the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him
to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, Elohim left him, to try him,
that he might know all that was in his heart.
32 Now the rest of the acts of
Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah
the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and
Israel.
33 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the
chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the
inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son
reigned in his stead.
1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to
reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:
2 But did that
which was evil in the sight of YHWH, like unto the abominations of the
heathen, whom YHWH had cast out before the children of Israel.
3 For he
built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he
reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of
heaven, and served them.
4 Also he built altars in the house of YHWH,
whereof YHWH had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.
5 And he
built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of YHWH.
6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of
the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used
witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought
much evil in the sight of YHWH, to provoke him to anger.
7 And he set a
carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of Elohim, of which Elohim
had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem,
which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for
ever:
8 Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the
land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to
do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes
and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.
9 So Manasseh made Judah and the
inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom YHWH had destroyed before the children of Israel.
10 And YHWH spoke to
Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.
11 Wherefore YHWH brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, who
took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to
Babylon.
12 And when he was in affliction, he besought YHWH his Elohim, and
humbled himself greatly before the Elohim of his fathers,
13 And prayed unto
him: and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him
again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that YHWH he was
Elohim.
14 Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the
west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate,
and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put
captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah.
15 And he took away the
strange elohim, and the idol out of the house of YHWH, and all the altars
that he had built in the mount of the house of YHWH, and in Jerusalem, and
cast them out of the city.
16 And he repaired the altar of YHWH, and
sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to
serve YHWH Elohim of Israel.
17 Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still
in the high places, yet unto YHWH their Elohim only.
18 Now the rest of the
acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his Elohim, and the words of the seers who
spoke to him in the name of YHWH Elohim of Israel, behold, they are written
in the book of the kings of Israel.
19 His prayer also, and how Elohim was
entreated of him, and all his sins, and his trespass, and the places wherein
he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was
humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers.
20 So
Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and
Amon his son reigned in his stead.
21 Amon was two and twenty years old when
he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem.
22 But he did that
which was evil in the sight of YHWH, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon
sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and
served them;
23 And humbled not himself before YHWH, as Manasseh his
father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.
24 And his
servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house.
25 But the
people of the land slew all those who had conspired against king Amon; and the
people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.
1 Josiah was
eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and
thirty years.
2 And he did that which was right in the sight of YHWH,
and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right
hand, nor to the left.
3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was
yet young, he began to seek after the Elohim of David his father: and in the
twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and
the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.
4 And they broke
down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the images, that were on high
above them, he cut down; and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten
images, he broke in pieces, and made dust of them, and strowed it upon the
graves of those who had sacrificed unto them.
5 And he burnt the bones of
the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.
6 And so
did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali,
with their mattocks round about.
7 And when he had broken down the altars
and the groves, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all
the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.
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 YHWH
his Elohim.
9 And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the
money that was brought into the house of Elohim, which the Levites who kept the
doors had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant
of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin; and they returned to Jerusalem.
10 And they put it in the hand of the workmen who had the oversight of the
house of YHWH, and they gave it to the workmen who wrought in the house
of YHWH, to repair and amend the house:
11 Even to the artificers and
builders gave they it, to buy hewn stone, and timber for couplings, and to
floor the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.
12 And the men did
the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the
Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of
the Kohathites, to set it forward; and other of the Levites, all who could
skill of instruments of music.
13 Also they were over the bearers of
burdens, and were overseers of all that wrought the work in any manner of
service: and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters.
14 And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of
YHWH, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of YHWH given by
Moses.
15 And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found
the book of the law in the house of YHWH. And Hilkiah delivered the book
to Shaphan.
16 And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought the
king word back again, saying, All that was committed to your servants, they do
it.
17 And they have gathered together the money that was found in the house
of YHWH, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and to the
hand of the workmen.
18 Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying,
Hilkiah the priest has given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.
19 And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that
he rent his clothes.
20 And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son
of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a
servant of the king's, saying,
21 Go, inquire of YHWH 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 YHWH that is poured out upon us,
because our fathers have not kept the word of YHWH, to do after all that
is written in this book.
22 And Hilkiah, and those who the king had
appointed, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of
Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in
Jerusalem in the college:) and they spoke to her to that effect.
23 And she
answered them, Thus said YHWH Elohim of Israel, Tell you the man that sent
you to me,
24 Thus said YHWH, Behold, I will bring evil upon this
place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written
in the book which they have read before the king of Judah:
25 Because they
have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other elohim, that they might
provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath
shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched.
26 And as
for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of YHWH, so shall you say
unto him, Thus said YHWH Elohim of Israel concerning the words which you
have heard;
27 Because your heart was tender, and you did humble yourself
before Elohim, when you heard his words against this place, and against the
inhabitants thereof, and humbled yourself before me, and did rend your
clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard you also, said YHWH.
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 upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought
the king word again.
29 Then the king sent and gathered together all the
elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
30 And the king went up into the house of YHWH, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the
priests, and the Levites, and all the people, 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 YHWH.
31 And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant
before YHWH, to walk after YHWH, 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 which are written in this book.
32 And he
caused all who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the
inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of Elohim, the Elohim of
their fathers.
33 And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the
countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all who were
present in Israel to serve, even to serve YHWH their Elohim. And all his days
they departed not from following YHWH, the Elohim of their fathers.
1 Moreover Josiah kept a passover unto YHWH in Jerusalem: and they
killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
2 And he set
the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the house
of YHWH,
3 And said unto the Levites who taught all Israel, who were
holy unto YHWH, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of
David king of Israel did build; it shall not be a burden upon your shoulders:
serve now YHWH your Elohim, and his people Israel,
4 And prepare yourselves
by the houses of your fathers, after your courses, according to the writing of
David king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon his son.
5 And
stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the families of the
fathers of your brethren the people, and after the division of the families of
the Levites.
6 So kill the passover, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare
your brethren, that they may do according to the word of YHWH by the hand
of Moses.
7 And Josiah gave to the people, of the flock, lambs and kids, all
for the passover offerings, for all who were present, to the number of thirty three thousand bullocks: these were of the king's substance.
8 And his princes gave willingly unto the people, to the priests, and to the
Levites: Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, rulers of the house of Elohim, gave
unto the priests for the passover offerings two thousand and six hundred small
cattle, and three hundred oxen.
9 Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethaneel,
his brethren, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, chief of the Levites, gave
unto the Levites for passover offerings five thousand small cattle, and five
hundred oxen.
10 So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their
place, and the Levites in their courses, according to the king's commandment.
11 And they killed the passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood from
their hands, and the Levites flayed them.
12 And they removed the burnt
offerings, that they might give according to the divisions of the families of
the people, to offer unto YHWH, as it is written in the book of Moses. And
so did they with the oxen.
13 And they roasted the passover with fire
according to the ordinance: but the other holy offerings sod they in pots, and
in caldrons, and in pans, and divided them speedily among all the people.
14 And afterward they made ready for themselves, and for the priests:
because the priests the sons of Aaron were busied in offering of burnt
offerings and the fat until night; therefore the Levites prepared for
themselves, and for the priests the sons of Aaron.
15 And the singers the
sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the commandment of David, and
Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the king's seer; and the porters waited at
every gate; they might not depart from their service; for their brethren the
Levites prepared for them.
16 So all the service of YHWH was prepared
the same day, to keep the passover, and to offer burnt offerings upon the
altar of YHWH, according to the commandment of king Josiah.
17 And the
children of Israel who were present kept the passover at that time, and the
feast of unleavened bread seven days.
18 And there was no passover like to
that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; neither did all 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.
19 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this
passover kept.
20 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho
king of Egypt came up to fight against Charchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah
went out against him.
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 wherewith I have war: for Elohim commanded me to make haste:
forbear you from meddling with Elohim, who is with me, that he destroy you not.
22 Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised
himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of
Necho from the mouth of Elohim, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.
23 And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants,
Have me away; for I am sore wounded.
24 His servants therefore took him out
of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they
brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchres
of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.
25 And
Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women
spoke of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance
in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the lamentations.
26 Now the
rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, according to that which was
written in the law of YHWH,
27 And his deeds, first and last, behold,
they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
1 Then the
people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his
father's stead in Jerusalem.
2 Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when
he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.
3 And the king
of Egypt put him down at Jerusalem, and condemned the land in a hundred
talents of silver and a talent of gold.
4 And the king of Egypt made Eliakim
his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and turned his name to Jehoiakim.
And Necho took Jehoahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt.
5 Jehoiakim
was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven
years in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of YHWH
his Elohim.
6 Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him
in fetters, to carry him to Babylon.
7 Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the
vessels of the house of YHWH to Babylon, and put them in his temple at
Babylon.
8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which
he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the book
of the kings of Israel and Judah: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.
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 YHWH.
10 And when the year was expired, king Nebuchadnezzar
sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of YHWH, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.
11 Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned
eleven years in Jerusalem.
12 And he did that which was evil in the sight of
YHWH his Elohim, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking
from the mouth of YHWH.
13 And he also rebelled against king
Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by Elohim: but he stiffened his neck, and
hardened his heart from turning unto YHWH Elohim of Israel.
14 Moreover all
the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the
abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of YHWH which he had
hallowed in Jerusalem.
15 And YHWH Elohim of their fathers sent to them by
his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on
his people, and on his dwelling place:
16 But they mocked the messengers of
Elohim, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of YHWH arose against his people, till there was no remedy.
17 Therefore he
brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the
sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or
maiden, old man, or him who stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand.
18 And all the vessels of the house of Elohim, great and small, and the
treasures of the house of YHWH, and the treasures of the king, and of his
princes; all these he brought to Babylon.
19 And they burnt the house of
Elohim, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof
with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof.
20 And those who
had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were
servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:
21 To
fulfil the word of YHWH by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had
enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to
fulfil threescore and ten years.
22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of
Persia, that the word of YHWH spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be
accomplished, YHWH stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he
made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing,
saying,
23 Thus said Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth
has YHWH Elohim of heaven given me; and he has charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his
people? YHWH his Elohim be with him, and let him go up.
Where this translation came from
Latest update: February 2008
(C) Selwyn Russell 2005
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