2 CHRONICLES
New Revised Standard Version
[2 Chronicles 1]
Solomon takes charge, journeys to Gibeon, and prospers
1 Solomon son of David established himself in his kingdom; the LORD his God
was with him and made him exceedingly great.
2 Solomon summoned all Israel, the commanders of the thousands and of the
hundreds, the judges, and all the leaders of all Israel, the heads of
families. 3 Then Solomon, and the whole assembly with him, went to the high
place that was at Gibeon; for God's tent of meeting, which Moses the servant
of the LORD had made in the wilderness, was there. 4 (But David had brought
the ark of God up from Kiriath-jearim to the place that David had prepared for
it; for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.) 5 Moreover the bronze
altar that Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, had made, was there in front of the
tabernacle of the LORD. And Solomon and the assembly inquired at it. 6 Solomon
went up there to the bronze altar before the LORD, which was at the tent of
meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.
7 That night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, "Ask what I should give
you." 8 Solomon said to God, "You have shown great and steadfast love to my
father David, and have made me succeed him as king. 9 O LORD God, let your
promise to my father David now be fulfilled, for you have made me king over a
people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Give me now wisdom and
knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this
great people of yours?" 11 God answered Solomon, "Because this was in your
heart, and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of
those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for
wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may rule my people over whom I have
made you king, 12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give
you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were
before you, and none after you shall have the like." 13 So Solomon came from
the high place at Gibeon, from the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem. And he
reigned over Israel.
14 Solomon gathered together chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred
chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he stationed in the chariot cities
and with the king in Jerusalem. 15 The king made silver and gold as common in
Jerusalem as stone, and he made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the
Shephelah. 16 Solomon's horses were imported from Egypt and Kue; the king's
traders received them from Kue at the prevailing price. 17 They imported from
Egypt, and then exported, a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and a
horse for one hundred fifty; so through them these were exported to all the
kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.
[2 Chronicles 2]
Solomon prepares to build the Temple
1 Solomon decided to build a temple for the name of the LORD, and a royal
palace for himself. 2 Solomon conscripted seventy thousand laborers and eighty
thousand stonecutters in the hill country, with three thousand six hundred to
oversee them.
3 Solomon sent word to King Huram of Tyre: "Once you dealt with my father
David and sent him cedar to build himself a house to live in. 4 I am now about
to build a house for the name of the LORD my God and dedicate it to him for
offering fragrant incense before him, and for the regular offering of the rows
of bread, and for burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths and the
new moons and the appointed festivals of the LORD our God, as ordained forever
for Israel. 5 The house that I am about to build will be great, for our God is
greater than other gods. 6 But who is able to build him a house, since heaven,
even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him,
except as a place to make offerings before him? 7 So now send me an artisan
skilled to work in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and in purple, crimson, and
blue fabrics, trained also in engraving, to join the skilled workers who are
with me in Judah and Jerusalem, whom my father David provided. 8 Send me also
cedar, cypress, and algum timber from Lebanon, for I know that your servants
are skilled in cutting Lebanon timber. My servants will work with your
servants 9 to prepare timber for me in abundance, for the house I am about to
build will be great and wonderful. 10 I will provide for your servants, those
who cut the timber, twenty thousand cors of crushed wheat, twenty thousand
cors of barley, twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of
oil."
11 Then King Huram of Tyre answered in a letter that he sent to Solomon,
"Because the LORD loves his people he has made you king over them." 12 Huram
also said, "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who
has given King David a wise son, endowed with discretion and understanding,
who will build a temple for the LORD, and a royal palace for himself.
13 "I have dispatched Huram-abi, a skilled artisan, endowed with
understanding, 14 the son of one of the Danite women, his father a Tyrian. He
is trained to work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and wood, and in
purple, blue, and crimson fabrics and fine linen, and to do all sorts of
engraving and execute any design that may be assigned him, with your artisans,
the artisans of my lord, your father David. 15 Now, as for the wheat, barley,
oil, and wine, of which my lord has spoken, let him send them to his servants.
16 We will cut whatever timber you need from Lebanon, and bring it to you as
rafts by sea to Joppa; you will take it up to Jerusalem."
17 Then Solomon took a census of all the aliens who were residing in the land
of Israel, after the census that his father David had taken; and there were
found to be one hundred fifty-three thousand six hundred. 18 Seventy thousand
of them he assigned as laborers, eighty thousand as stonecutters in the hill
country, and three thousand six hundred as overseers to make the people work.
[2 Chronicles 3]
Temple construction
1 Solomon began to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah,
where the LORD had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had
designated, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 2 He began to build
on the second day of the second month of the fourth year of his reign. 3 These
are Solomon's measurements for building the house of God: the length, in
cubits of the old standard, was sixty cubits, and the width twenty cubits. 4
The vestibule in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits long, across
the width of the house; and its height was one hundred twenty cubits. He
overlaid it on the inside with pure gold. 5 The nave he lined with cypress,
covered it with fine gold, and made palms and chains on it. 6 He adorned the
house with settings of precious stones. The gold was gold from Parvaim. 7 So
he lined the house with gold – its beams, its thresholds, its walls, and its
doors; and he carved cherubim on the walls.
8 He made the most holy place; its length, corresponding to the width of the
house, was twenty cubits, and its width was twenty cubits; he overlaid it with
six hundred talents of fine gold. 9 The weight of the nails was fifty shekels
of gold. He overlaid the upper chambers with gold.
10 In the most holy place he made two carved cherubim and overlaid them with
gold. 11 The wings of the cherubim together extended twenty cubits: one wing
of the one, five cubits long, touched the wall of the house, and its other
wing, five cubits long, touched the wing of the other cherub; 12 and of this
cherub, one wing, five cubits long, touched the wall of the house, and the
other wing, also five cubits long, was joined to the wing of the first cherub.
13 The wings of these cherubim extended twenty cubits; the cherubim stood on
their feet, facing the nave. 14 And Solomon made the curtain of blue and
purple and crimson fabrics and fine linen, and worked cherubim into it.
15 In front of the house he made two pillars thirty-five cubits high, with a
capital of five cubits on the top of each. 16 He made encircling chains and
put them on the tops of the pillars; and he made one hundred pomegranates, and
put them on the chains. 17 He set up the pillars in front of the temple, one
on the right, the other on the left; the one on the right he called Jachin,
and the one on the left, Boaz.
[2 Chronicles 4]
The Temple furnishings
1 He made an altar of bronze, twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and ten
cubits high. 2 Then he made the molten sea; it was round, ten cubits from rim
to rim, and five cubits high. A line of thirty cubits would encircle it
completely. 3 Under it were panels all around, each of ten cubits, surrounding
the sea; there were two rows of panels, cast when it was cast. 4 It stood on
twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and
three facing east; the sea was set on them. The hindquarters of each were
toward the inside. 5 Its thickness was a handbreadth; its rim was made like
the rim of a cup, like the flower of a lily; it held three thousand baths. 6
He also made ten basins in which to wash, and set five on the right side, and
five on the left. In these they were to rinse what was used for the burnt
offering. The sea was for the priests to wash in.
7 He made ten golden lampstands as prescribed, and set them in the temple,
five on the south side and five on the north. 8 He also made ten tables and
placed them in the temple, five on the right side and five on the left. And he
made one hundred basins of gold. 9 He made the court of the priests, and the
great court, and doors for the court; he overlaid their doors with bronze. 10
He set the sea at the southeast corner of the house.
11 And Huram made the pots, the shovels, and the basins. Thus Huram finished
the work that he did for King Solomon on the house of God: 12 the two pillars,
the bowls, and the two capitals on the top of the pillars; and the two
latticeworks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of
the pillars; 13 the four hundred pomegranates for the two latticeworks, two
rows of pomegranates for each latticework, to cover the two bowls of the
capitals that were on the pillars. 14 He made the stands, the basins on the
stands, 15 the one sea, and the twelve oxen underneath it. 16 The pots, the
shovels, the forks, and all the equipment for these Huram-abi made of
burnished bronze for King Solomon for the house of the LORD. 17 In the plain
of the Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and
Zeredah. 18 Solomon made all these things in great quantities, so that the
weight of the bronze was not determined.
19 So Solomon made all the things that were in the house of God: the golden
altar, the tables for the bread of the Presence, 20 the lampstands and their
lamps of pure gold to burn before the inner sanctuary, as prescribed; 21 the
flowers, the lamps, and the tongs, of purest gold; 22 the snuffers, basins,
ladles, and firepans, of pure gold. As for the entrance to the temple: the
inner doors to the most holy place and the doors of the nave of the temple
were of gold.
[2 Chronicles 5]
The ark and the tent of meeting ascend into the Temple
1 Thus all the work that Solomon did for the house of the LORD was finished.
Solomon brought in the things that his father David had dedicated, and stored
the silver, the gold, and all the vessels in the treasuries of the house of
God.
2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes,
the leaders of the ancestral houses of the people of Israel, in Jerusalem, to
bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which
is Zion. 3 And all the Israelites assembled before the king at the festival
that is in the seventh month. 4 And all the elders of Israel came, and the
Levites carried the ark. 5 So they brought up the ark, the tent of meeting,
and all the holy vessels that were in the tent; the priests and the Levites
brought them up. 6 King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had
assembled before him, were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen
that they could not be numbered or counted. 7 Then the priests brought the ark
of the covenant of the LORD to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house,
in the most holy place, underneath the wings of the cherubim. 8 For the
cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, so that the
cherubim made a covering above the ark and its poles. 9 The poles were so long
that the ends of the poles were seen from the holy place in front of the inner
sanctuary; but they could not be seen from outside; they are there to this
day. 10 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses put
there at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the people of Israel after
they came out of Egypt.
11 Now when the priests came out of the holy place (for all the priests who
were present had sanctified themselves, without regard to their divisions), 12
all the levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, their sons and kindred,
arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, stood east of the altar
with one hundred twenty priests who were trumpeters. 13 It was the duty of the
trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and
thanksgiving to the LORD, and when the song was raised, with trumpets and
cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the LORD,
"For he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever,"
the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the
priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the
LORD filled the house of God.
[2 Chronicles 6]
Solomon's blessing and Temple dedication prayer
1 Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that he would reside in thick
darkness. 2 I have built you an exalted house, a place for you to reside in
forever."
3 Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while
all the assembly of Israel stood. 4 And he said, "Blessed be the LORD, the God
of Israel, who with his hand has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to
my father David, saying, 5 'Since the day that I brought my people out of the
land of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from any of the tribes of Israel in
which to build a house, so that my name might be there, and I chose no one as
ruler over my people Israel; 6 but I have chosen Jerusalem in order that my
name may be there, and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.' 7 My
father David had it in mind to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God
of Israel. 8 But the LORD said to my father David, 'You did well to consider
building a house for my name; 9 nevertheless you shall not build the house,
but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name.' 10
Now the LORD has fulfilled his promise that he made; for I have succeeded my
father David, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have
built the house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 11 There I have
set the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD that he made with the people
of Israel."
12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of the
whole assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands. 13 Solomon had made a
bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and
had set it in the court; and he stood on it. Then he knelt on his knees in the
presence of the whole assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward
heaven. 14 He said, "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in
heaven or on earth, keeping covenant in steadfast love with your servants who
walk before you with all their heart – 15 you who have kept for your servant,
my father David, what you promised to him. Indeed, you promised with your
mouth and this day have fulfilled with your hand. 16 Therefore, O LORD, God of
Israel, keep for your servant, my father David, that which you promised him,
saying, 'There shall never fail you a successor before me to sit on the throne
of Israel, if only your children keep to their way, to walk in my law as you
have walked before me.' 17 Therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, let your word be
confirmed, which you promised to your servant David.
18 "But will God indeed reside with mortals on earth? Even heaven and the
highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built!
19 Regard your servant's prayer and his plea, O LORD my God, heeding the cry
and the prayer that your servant prays to you. 20 May your eyes be open day
and night toward this house, the place where you promised to set your name,
and may you heed the prayer that your servant prays toward this place. 21 And
hear the plea of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward
this place; may you hear from heaven your dwelling place; hear and forgive.
22 "If someone sins against another and is required to take an oath and comes
and swears before your altar in this house, 23 may you hear from heaven, and
act, and judge your servants, repaying the guilty by bringing their conduct on
their own head, and vindicating those who are in the right by rewarding them
in accordance with their righteousness.
24 "When your people Israel, having sinned against you, are defeated before an
enemy but turn again to you, confess your name, pray and plead with you in
this house, 25 may you hear from heaven, and forgive the sin of your people
Israel, and bring them again to the land that you gave to them and to their
ancestors.
26 "When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned
against you, and then they pray toward this place, confess your name, and turn
from their sin, because you punish them, 27 may you hear in heaven, forgive
the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when you teach them the good way
in which they should walk; and send down rain upon your land, which you have
given to your people as an inheritance.
28 "If there is famine in the land, if there is plague, blight, mildew,
locust, or caterpillar; if their enemies besiege them in any of the
settlements of the lands; whatever suffering, whatever sickness there is; 29
whatever prayer, whatever plea from any individual or from all your people
Israel, all knowing their own suffering and their own sorrows so that they
stretch out their hands toward this house; 30 may you hear from heaven, your
dwelling place, forgive, and render to all whose heart you know, according to
all their ways, for only you know the human heart. 31 Thus may they fear you
and walk in your ways all the days that they live in the land that you gave to
our ancestors.
32 "Likewise when foreigners, who are not of your people Israel, come from a
distant land because of your great name, and your mighty hand, and your
outstretched arm, when they come and pray toward this house, 33 may you hear
from heaven your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigners ask of you, in
order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do
your people Israel, and that they may know that your name has been invoked on
this house that I have built.
34 "If your people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way you
shall send them, and they pray to you toward this city that you have chosen
and the house that I have built for your name, 35 then hear from heaven their
prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause.
36 "If they sin against you – for there is no one who does not sin – and you
are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away
captive to a land far or near; 37 then if they come to their senses in the
land to which they have been taken captive, and repent, and plead with you in
the land of their captivity, saying, 'We have sinned, and have done wrong; we
have acted wickedly'; 38 if they repent with all their heart and soul in the
land of their captivity, to which they were taken captive, and pray toward
their land, which you gave to their ancestors, the city that you have chosen,
and the house that I have built for your name, 39 then hear from heaven your
dwelling place their prayer and their pleas, maintain their cause and forgive
your people who have sinned against you. 40 Now, O my God, let your eyes be
open and your ears attentive to prayer from this place.
41 "Now rise up, O LORD God, and go to your resting place,
you and the ark of your might.
Let your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation,
and let your faithful rejoice in your goodness.
42 O LORD God, do not reject your anointed one.
Remember your steadfast love for your servant David."
[2 Chronicles 7]
Divine consecration, national thanksgiving, and a warning
1 When Solomon had ended his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed
the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the
temple. 2 The priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory
of the LORD filled the LORD's house. 3 When all the people of Israel saw the
fire come down and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed down on the
pavement with their faces to the ground, and worshiped and gave thanks to the
LORD, saying,
"For he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever."
4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before the LORD. 5 King
Solomon offered as a sacrifice twenty-two thousand oxen and one hundred twenty
thousand sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. 6
The priests stood at their posts; the Levites also, with the instruments for
music to the LORD that King David had made for giving thanks to the LORD – for
his steadfast love endures forever – whenever David offered praises by their
ministry. Opposite them the priests sounded trumpets; and all Israel stood.
7 Solomon consecrated the middle of the court that was in front of the house
of the LORD; for there he offered the burnt offerings and the fat of the
offerings of well-being because the bronze altar Solomon had made could not
hold the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat parts.
8 At that time Solomon held the festival for seven days, and all Israel with
him, a very great congregation, from Lebo-hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. 9 On
the eighth day they held a solemn assembly; for they had observed the
dedication of the altar seven days and the festival seven days. 10 On the
twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their homes,
joyful and in good spirits because of the goodness that the LORD had shown to
David and to Solomon and to his people Israel.
11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD and the king's house; all that
Solomon had planned to do in the house of the LORD and in his own house he
successfully accomplished.
12 Then the LORD appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him: "I have
heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for myself as a house of
sacrifice. 13 When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command
the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14 if my
people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and
turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive
their sin and heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears
attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. 16 For now I have chosen
and consecrated this house so that my name may be there forever; my eyes and
my heart will be there for all time. 17 As for you, if you walk before me, as
your father David walked, doing according to all that I have commanded you and
keeping my statutes and my ordinances, 18 then I will establish your royal
throne, as I made covenant with your father David saying, 'You shall never
lack a successor to rule over Israel.'
19 "But if you turn aside and forsake my statutes and my commandments that I
have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I
will pluck you up from the land that I have given you; and this house, which I
have consecrated for my name, I will cast out of my sight, and will make it a
proverb and a byword among all peoples. 21 And regarding this house, now
exalted, everyone passing by will be astonished, and say, 'Why has the LORD
done such a thing to this land and to this house?' 22 Then they will say,
'Because they abandoned the LORD the God of their ancestors who brought them
out of the land of Egypt, and they adopted other gods, and worshiped them and
served them; therefore he has brought all this calamity upon them.'"
[2 Chronicles 8]
Solomon the successful king
1 At the end of twenty years, during which Solomon had built the house of the
LORD and his own house, 2 Solomon rebuilt the cities that Huram had given to
him, and settled the people of Israel in them.
3 Solomon went to Hamath-zobah, and captured it. 4 He built Tadmor in the
wilderness and all the storage towns that he built in Hamath. 5 He also built
Upper Beth-horon and Lower Beth-horon, fortified cities, with walls, gates,
and bars, 6 and Baalath, as well as all Solomon's storage towns, and all the
towns for his chariots, the towns for his cavalry, and whatever Solomon
desired to build, in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his
dominion. 7 All the people who were left of the Hittites, the Amorites, the
Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of Israel, 8 from
their descendants who were still left in the land, whom the people of Israel
had not destroyed – these Solomon conscripted for forced labor, as is still
the case today. 9 But of the people of Israel Solomon made no slaves for his
work; they were soldiers, and his officers, the commanders of his chariotry
and cavalry. 10 These were the chief officers of King Solomon, two hundred
fifty of them, who exercised authority over the people.
11 Solomon brought Pharaoh's daughter from the city of David to the house that
he had built for her, for he said, "My wife shall not live in the house of
King David of Israel, for the places to which the ark of the LORD has come are
holy."
12 Then Solomon offered up burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of the
LORD that he had built in front of the vestibule, 13 as the duty of each day
required, offering according to the commandment of Moses for the sabbaths, the
new moons, and the three annual festivals – the festival of unleavened bread,
the festival of weeks, and the festival of booths. 14 According to the
ordinance of his father David, he appointed the divisions of the priests for
their service, and the Levites for their offices of praise and ministry
alongside the priests as the duty of each day required, and the gatekeepers in
their divisions for the several gates; for so David the man of God had
commanded. 15 They did not turn away from what the king had commanded the
priests and Levites regarding anything at all, or regarding the treasuries.
16 Thus all the work of Solomon was accomplished from the day the foundation
of the house of the LORD was laid until the house of the LORD was finished
completely.
17 Then Solomon went to Ezion-geber and Eloth on the shore of the sea, in the
land of Edom. 18 Huram sent him, in the care of his servants, ships and
servants familiar with the sea. They went to Ophir, together with the servants
of Solomon, and imported from there four hundred fifty talents of gold and
brought it to King Solomon.
[2 Chronicles 9]
Solomon in all of his glory
1 When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem
to test him with hard questions, having a very great retinue and camels
bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. When she came to
Solomon, she discussed with him all that was on her mind. 2 Solomon answered
all her questions; there was nothing hidden from Solomon that he could not
explain to her. 3 When the queen of Sheba had observed the wisdom of Solomon,
the house that he had built, 4 the food of his table, the seating of his
officials, and the attendance of his servants, and their clothing, his valets,
and their clothing, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of
the LORD, there was no more spirit left in her.
5 So she said to the king, "The report was true that I heard in my own land of
your accomplishments and of your wisdom, 6 but I did not believe the reports
until I came and my own eyes saw it. Not even half of the greatness of your
wisdom had been told to me; you far surpass the report that I had heard. 7
Happy are your people! Happy are these your servants, who continually attend
you and hear your wisdom! 8 Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in
you and set you on his throne as king for the LORD your God. Because your God
loved Israel and would establish them forever, he has made you king over them,
that you may execute justice and righteousness." 9 Then she gave the king one
hundred twenty talents of gold, a very great quantity of spices, and precious
stones: there were no spices such as those that the queen of Sheba gave to
King Solomon.
10 Moreover the servants of Huram and the servants of Solomon who brought gold
from Ophir brought algum wood and precious stones. 11 From the algum wood, the
king made steps for the house of the LORD and for the king's house, lyres also
and harps for the singers; there never was seen the like of them before in the
land of Judah.
12 Meanwhile King Solomon granted the queen of Sheba every desire that she
expressed, well beyond what she had brought to the king. Then she returned to
her own land, with her servants.
13 The weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred
sixty-six talents of gold, 14 besides that which the traders and merchants
brought; and all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the land brought
gold and silver to Solomon. 15 King Solomon made two hundred large shields of
beaten gold; six hundred shekels of beaten gold went into each large shield.
16 He made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three hundred shekels of gold
went into each shield; and the king put them in the House of the Forest of
Lebanon. 17 The king also made a great ivory throne, and overlaid it with pure
gold. 18 The throne had six steps and a footstool of gold, which were attached
to the throne, and on each side of the seat were arm rests and two lions
standing beside the arm rests, 19 while twelve lions were standing, one on
each end of a step on the six steps. The like of it was never made in any
kingdom. 20 All King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the
vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; silver was
not considered as anything in the days of Solomon. 21 For the king's ships
went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three years the ships
of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.
22 Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in
wisdom. 23 All the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear
his wisdom, which God had put into his mind. 24 Every one of them brought a
present, objects of silver and gold, garments, weaponry, spices, horses, and
mules, so much year by year. 25 Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses
and chariots, and twelve thousand horses, which he stationed in the chariot
cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 26 He ruled over all the kings from the
Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. 27 The
king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stone, and cedar as plentiful as
the sycamore of the Shephelah. 28 Horses were imported for Solomon from Egypt
and from all lands.
29 Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, from first to last, are they not
written in the history of the prophet Nathan, and in the prophecy of Ahijah
the Shilonite, and in the visions of the seer Iddo concerning Jeroboam son of
Nebat? 30 Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. 31 Solomon
slept with his ancestors and was buried in the city of his father David; and
his son Rehoboam succeeded him.
[2 Chronicles 10]
The difficult beginning to Rehoboam's reign (928-911 BCE)
1 Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him
king. 2 When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Egypt, where he
had fled from King Solomon), then Jeroboam returned from Egypt. 3 They sent
and called him; and Jeroboam and all Israel came and said to Rehoboam, 4 "Your
father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your
father and his heavy yoke that he placed on us, and we will serve you." 5 He
said to them, "Come to me again in three days." So the people went away.
6 Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the older men who had attended his
father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, "How do you advise me to
answer this people?" 7 They answered him, "If you will be kind to this people
and please them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants
forever." 8 But he rejected the advice that the older men gave him, and
consulted the young men who had grown up with him and now attended him. 9 He
said to them, "What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to
me, 'Lighten the yoke that your father put on us'?" 10 The young men who had
grown up with him said to him, "Thus should you speak to the people who said
to you, 'Your father made our yoke heavy, but you must lighten it for us';
tell them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's loins. 11 Now,
whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father
disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.'"
12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king
had said, "Come to me again the third day." 13 The king answered them harshly.
King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men; 14 he spoke to them in
accordance with the advice of the young men, "My father made your yoke heavy,
but I will add to it; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will
discipline you with scorpions." 15 So the king did not listen to the people,
because it was a turn of affairs brought about by God so that the LORD might
fulfill his word, which he had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son
of Nebat.
16 When all Israel saw that the king would not listen to them, the people
answered the king,
"What share do we have in David?
We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse.
Each of you to your tents, O Israel!
Look now to your own house, O David."
So all Israel departed to their tents. 17 But Rehoboam reigned over the people
of Israel who were living in the cities of Judah. 18 When King Rehoboam sent
Hadoram, who was taskmaster over the forced labor, the people of Israel stoned
him to death. King Rehoboam hurriedly mounted his chariot to flee to
Jerusalem. 19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to
this day.
[2 Chronicles 11]
Rehoboam's recovery
1 When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled one hundred eighty thousand
chosen troops of the house of Judah and Benjamin to fight against Israel, to
restore the kingdom to Rehoboam. 2 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah
the man of God: 3 Say to King Rehoboam of Judah, son of Solomon, and to all
Israel in Judah and Benjamin, 4 "Thus says the LORD: You shall not go up or
fight against your kindred. Let everyone return home, for this thing is from
me." So they heeded the word of the LORD and turned back from the expedition
against Jeroboam.
5 Rehoboam resided in Jerusalem, and he built cities for defense in Judah. 6
He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, 7 Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, 8 Gath,
Mareshah, Ziph, 9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, 10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron,
fortified cities that are in Judah and in Benjamin. 11 He made the fortresses
strong, and put commanders in them, and stores of food, oil, and wine. 12 He
also put large shields and spears in all the cities, and made them very
strong. So he held Judah and Benjamin.
13 The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel presented themselves to
him from all their territories. 14 The Levites had left their common lands and
their holdings and had come to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his
sons had prevented them from serving as priests of the LORD, 15 and had
appointed his own priests for the high places, and for the goat-demons, and
for the calves that he had made. 16 Those who had set their hearts to seek the
LORD God of Israel came after them from all the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem
to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their ancestors. 17 They strengthened the
kingdom of Judah, and for three years they made Rehoboam son of Solomon
secure, for they walked for three years in the way of David and Solomon.
18 Rehoboam took as his wife Mahalath daughter of Jerimoth son of David, and
of Abihail daughter of Eliab son of Jesse. 19 She bore him sons: Jeush,
Shemariah, and Zaham. 20 After her he took Maacah daughter of Absalom, who
bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. 21 Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter
of Absalom more than all his other wives and concubines (he took eighteen
wives and sixty concubines, and became the father of twenty-eight sons and
sixty daughters). 22 Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as chief prince
among his brothers, for he intended to make him king. 23 He dealt wisely, and
distributed some of his sons through all the districts of Judah and Benjamin,
in all the fortified cities; he gave them abundant provisions, and found many
wives for them.
[2 Chronicles 12]
National decline and a reprieve
1 When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he grew strong, he abandoned
the law of the LORD, he and all Israel with him. 2 In the fifth year of King
Rehoboam, because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, King Shishak of Egypt
came up against Jerusalem 3 with twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand
cavalry. A countless army came with him from Egypt – Libyans, Sukkiim, and
Ethiopians. 4 He took the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as
Jerusalem. 5 Then the prophet Shemaiah came to Rehoboam and to the officers of
Judah, who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them,
"Thus says the LORD: You abandoned me, so I have abandoned you to the hand of
Shishak." 6 Then the officers of Israel and the king humbled themselves and
said, "The LORD is in the right." 7 When the LORD saw that they humbled
themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying: "They have humbled
themselves; I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance,
and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. 8
Nevertheless they shall be his servants, so that they may know the difference
between serving me and serving the kingdoms of other lands."
9 So King Shishak of Egypt came up against Jerusalem; he took away the
treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king's house; he
took everything. He also took away the shields of gold that Solomon had made;
10 but King Rehoboam made in place of them shields of bronze, and committed
them to the hands of the officers of the guard, who kept the door of the
king's house. 11 Whenever the king went into the house of the LORD, the guard
would come along bearing them, and would then bring them back to the
guardroom. 12 Because he humbled himself the wrath of the LORD turned from
him, so as not to destroy them completely; moreover, conditions were good in
Judah.
13 So King Rehoboam established himself in Jerusalem and reigned. Rehoboam was
forty-one years old when he began to reign; he reigned seventeen years in
Jerusalem, the city that the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel
to put his name there. His mother's name was Naamah the Ammonite. 14 He did
evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the LORD.
15 Now the acts of Rehoboam, from first to last, are they not written in the
records of the prophet Shemaiah and of the seer Iddo, recorded by genealogy?
There were continual wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam. 16 Rehoboam slept
with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David; and his son Abijah
succeeded him.
[2 Chronicles 13]
The successful reign of Abijah (911-908 BCE)
1 In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah began to reign over Judah. 2
He reigned for three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Micaiah
daughter of Uriel of Gibeah.
Now there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. 3 Abijah engaged in battle,
having an army of valiant warriors, four hundred thousand picked men; and
Jeroboam drew up his line of battle against him with eight hundred thousand
picked mighty warriors. 4 Then Abijah stood on the slope of Mount Zemaraim
that is in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, "Listen to me, Jeroboam and
all Israel! 5 Do you not know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingship
over Israel forever to David and his sons by a covenant of salt? 6 Yet
Jeroboam son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon son of David, rose up and rebelled
against his lord; 7 and certain worthless scoundrels gathered around him and
defied Rehoboam son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and irresolute and
could not withstand them.
8 "And now you think that you can withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the
hand of the sons of David, because you are a great multitude and have with you
the golden calves that Jeroboam made as gods for you. 9 Have you not driven
out the priests of the LORD, the descendants of Aaron, and the Levites, and
made priests for yourselves like the peoples of other lands? Whoever comes to
be consecrated with a young bull or seven rams becomes a priest of what are no
gods. 10 But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not abandoned him. We
have priests ministering to the LORD who are descendants of Aaron, and Levites
for their service. 11 They offer to the LORD every morning and every evening
burnt offerings and fragrant incense, set out the rows of bread on the table
of pure gold, and care for the golden lampstand so that its lamps may burn
every evening; for we keep the charge of the LORD our God, but you have
abandoned him. 12 See, God is with us at our head, and his priests have their
battle trumpets to sound the call to battle against you. O Israelites, do not
fight against the LORD, the God of your ancestors; for you cannot succeed."
13 Jeroboam had sent an ambush around to come on them from behind; thus his
troops were in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them. 14 When Judah
turned, the battle was in front of them and behind them. They cried out to the
LORD, and the priests blew the trumpets. 15 Then the people of Judah raised
the battle shout. And when the people of Judah shouted, God defeated Jeroboam
and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. 16 The Israelites fled before Judah,
and God gave them into their hands. 17 Abijah and his army defeated them with
great slaughter; five hundred thousand picked men of Israel fell slain. 18
Thus the Israelites were subdued at that time, and the people of Judah
prevailed, because they relied on the LORD, the God of their ancestors. 19
Abijah pursued Jeroboam, and took cities from him: Bethel with its villages
and Jeshanah with its villages and Ephron with its villages. 20 Jeroboam did
not recover his power in the days of Abijah; the LORD struck him down, and he
died. 21 But Abijah grew strong. He took fourteen wives, and became the father
of twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters. 22 The rest of the acts of Abijah,
his behavior and his deeds, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.
[2 Chronicles 14]
Reforms, victory, and expansion: the first period of Asa's reign (908-867 BCE)
1 So Abijah slept with his ancestors, and they buried him in the city of
David. His son Asa succeeded him. In his days the land had rest for ten years.
2 Asa did what was good and right in the sight of the LORD his God. 3 He took
away the foreign altars and the high places, broke down the pillars, hewed
down the sacred poles, 4 and commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of
their ancestors, and to keep the law and the commandment. 5 He also removed
from all the cities of Judah the high places and the incense altars. And the
kingdom had rest under him. 6 He built fortified cities in Judah while the
land had rest. He had no war in those years, for the LORD gave him peace. 7 He
said to Judah, "Let us build these cities, and surround them with walls and
towers, gates and bars; the land is still ours because we have sought the LORD
our God; we have sought him, and he has given us peace on every side." So they
built and prospered. 8 Asa had an army of three hundred thousand from Judah,
armed with large shields and spears, and two hundred eighty thousand troops
from Benjamin who carried shields and drew bows; all these were mighty
warriors.
9 Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and
three hundred chariots, and came as far as Mareshah. 10 Asa went out to meet
him, and they drew up their lines of battle in the valley of Zephathah at
Mareshah. 11 Asa cried to the LORD his God, "O LORD, there is no difference
for you between helping the mighty and the weak. Help us, O LORD our God, for
we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD,
you are our God; let no mortal prevail against you." 12 So the LORD defeated
the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. 13 Asa
and the army with him pursued them as far as Gerar, and the Ethiopians fell
until no one remained alive; for they were broken before the LORD and his
army. The people of Judah carried away a great quantity of booty. 14 They
defeated all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the LORD was on them.
They plundered all the cities; for there was much plunder in them. 15 They
also attacked the tents of those who had livestock, and carried away sheep and
goats in abundance, and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.
[2 Chronicles 15]
1 The spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded. 2 He went out to meet Asa
and said to him, "Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The LORD is with
you, while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if
you abandon him, he will abandon you. 3 For a long time Israel was without the
true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law; 4 but when in their
distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was
found by them. 5 In those times it was not safe for anyone to go or come, for
great disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands. 6 They were
broken in pieces, nation against nation and city against city, for God
troubled them with every sort of distress. 7 But you, take courage! Do not let
your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded."
8 When Asa heard these words, the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded, he took
courage, and put away the abominable idols from all the land of Judah and
Benjamin and from the towns that he had taken in the hill country of Ephraim.
He repaired the altar of the LORD that was in front of the vestibule of the
house of the LORD. 9 He gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those from
Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who were residing as aliens with them, for great
numbers had deserted to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God
was with him. 10 They were gathered at Jerusalem in the third month of the
fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. 11 They sacrificed to the LORD on that
day, from the booty that they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven
thousand sheep. 12 They entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of
their ancestors, with all their heart and with all their soul. 13 Whoever
would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether
young or old, man or woman. 14 They took an oath to the LORD with a loud
voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with horns. 15 All Judah
rejoiced over the oath; for they had sworn with all their heart, and had
sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by them, and the LORD
gave them rest all around.
16 King Asa even removed his mother Maacah from being queen mother because she
had made an abominable image for Asherah. Asa cut down her image, crushed it,
and burned it at the Wadi Kidron. 17 But the high places were not taken out of
Israel. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was true all his days. 18 He brought
into the house of God the votive gifts of his father and his own votive gifts
– silver, gold, and utensils. 19 And there was no more war until the
thirty-fifth year of the reign of Asa.
[2 Chronicles 16]
Asa's decline
1 In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, King Baasha of Israel went up
against Judah, and built Ramah, to prevent anyone from going out or coming
into the territory of King Asa of Judah. 2 Then Asa took silver and gold from
the treasures of the house of the LORD and the king's house, and sent them to
King Ben-hadad of Aram, who resided in Damascus, saying, 3 "Let there be an
alliance between me and you, like that between my father and your father; I am
sending to you silver and gold; go, break your alliance with King Baasha of
Israel, so that he may withdraw from me." 4 Ben-hadad listened to King Asa,
and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel. They
conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the store-cities of Naphtali. 5 When
Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah, and let his work cease. 6 Then
King Asa brought all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its
timber, with which Baasha had been building, and with them he built up Geba
and Mizpah.
7 At that time the seer Hanani came to King Asa of Judah, and said to him,
"Because you relied on the king of Aram, and did not rely on the LORD your
God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped you. 8 Were not the Ethiopians
and the Libyans a huge army with exceedingly many chariots and cavalry? Yet
because you relied on the LORD, he gave them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of
the LORD range throughout the entire earth, to strengthen those whose heart is
true to him. You have done foolishly in this; for from now on you will have
wars." 10 Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in the stocks, in
prison, for he was in a rage with him because of this. And Asa inflicted
cruelties on some of the people at the same time.
11 The acts of Asa, from first to last, are written in the Book of the Kings
of Judah and Israel. 12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased
in his feet, and his disease became severe; yet even in his disease he did not
seek the LORD, but sought help from physicians. 13 Then Asa slept with his
ancestors, dying in the forty-first year of his reign. 14 They buried him in
the tomb that he had hewn out for himself in the city of David. They laid him
on a bier that had been filled with various kinds of spices prepared by the
perfumer's art; and they made a very great fire in his honor.
[2 Chronicles 17]
The promising beginning to the reign of Jehoshaphat (870-846 BCE)
1 His son Jehoshaphat succeeded him, and strengthened himself against Israel.
2 He placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in
the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had taken.
3 The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his
father; he did not seek the Baals, 4 but sought the God of his father and
walked in his commandments, and not according to the ways of Israel. 5
Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand. All Judah brought
tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor. 6 His heart was
courageous in the ways of the LORD; and furthermore he removed the high places
and the sacred poles from Judah.
7 In the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah,
Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah. 8 With them
were the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth,
Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah; and with these Levites, the
priests Elishama and Jehoram. 9 They taught in Judah, having the book of the
law of the LORD with them; they went around through all the cities of Judah
and taught among the people.
10 The fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands around Judah,
and they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Some of the Philistines
brought Jehoshaphat presents, and silver for tribute; and the Arabs also
brought him seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred
male goats. 12 Jehoshaphat grew steadily greater. He built fortresses and
storage cities in Judah. 13 He carried out great works in the cities of Judah.
He had soldiers, mighty warriors, in Jerusalem. 14 This was the muster of them
by ancestral houses: Of Judah, the commanders of the thousands: Adnah the
commander, with three hundred thousand mighty warriors, 15 and next to him
Jehohanan the commander, with two hundred eighty thousand, 16 and next to him
Amasiah son of Zichri, a volunteer for the service of the LORD, with two
hundred thousand mighty warriors. 17 Of Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty warrior,
with two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield, 18 and next to him
Jehozabad with one hundred eighty thousand armed for war. 19 These were in the
service of the king, besides those whom the king had placed in the fortified
cities throughout all Judah.
[2 Chronicles 18]
Jehoshaphat's first misstep
1 Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor; and he made a marriage alliance
with Ahab. 2 After some years he went down to Ahab in Samaria. Ahab
slaughtered an abundance of sheep and oxen for him and for the people who were
with him, and induced him to go up against Ramoth-gilead. 3 King Ahab of
Israel said to King Jehoshaphat of Judah, "Will you go with me to
Ramoth-gilead?" He answered him, "I am with you, my people are your people. We
will be with you in the war."
4 But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, "Inquire first for the word
of the LORD." 5 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four
hundred of them, and said to them, "Shall we go to battle against
Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?" They said, "Go up; for God will give it
into the hand of the king." 6 But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there no other prophet
of the LORD here of whom we may inquire?" 7 The king of Israel said to
Jehoshaphat, "There is still one other by whom we may inquire of the LORD,
Micaiah son of Imlah; but I hate him, for he never prophesies anything
favorable about me, but only disaster." Jehoshaphat said, "Let the king not
say such a thing." 8 Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said,
"Bring quickly Micaiah son of Imlah." 9 Now the king of Israel and King
Jehoshaphat of Judah were sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes;
and they were sitting at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of
Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 10 Zedekiah son of
Chenaanah made for himself horns of iron, and he said, "Thus says the LORD:
With these you shall gore the Arameans until they are destroyed." 11 All the
prophets were prophesying the same and saying, "Go up to Ramoth-gilead and
triumph; the LORD will give it into the hand of the king."
12 The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, "Look, the words
of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king; let your word be
like the word of one of them, and speak favorably." 13 But Micaiah said, "As
the LORD lives, whatever my God says, that I will speak."
14 When he had come to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go
to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?" He answered, "Go up and
triumph; they will be given into your hand." 15 But the king said to him, "How
many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name
of the LORD?" 16 Then Micaiah said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the
mountains, like sheep without a shepherd; and the LORD said, 'These have no
master; let each one go home in peace.'" 17 The king of Israel said to
Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy anything favorable
about me, but only disaster?"
18 Then Micaiah said, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD
sitting on his throne, with all the host of heaven standing to the right and
to the left of him. 19 And the LORD said, 'Who will entice King Ahab of
Israel, so that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' Then one said one
thing, and another said another, 20 until a spirit came forward and stood
before the LORD, saying, 'I will entice him.' The LORD asked him, 'How?' 21 He
replied, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his
prophets.' Then the LORD said, 'You are to entice him, and you shall succeed;
go out and do it.' 22 So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth
of these your prophets; the LORD has decreed disaster for you."
23 Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah came up to Micaiah, slapped him on the
cheek, and said, "Which way did the spirit of the LORD pass from me to speak
to you?" 24 Micaiah replied, "You will find out on that day when you go in to
hide in an inner chamber." 25 The king of Israel then ordered, "Take Micaiah,
and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son;
26 and say, 'Thus says the king: Put this fellow in prison, and feed him on
reduced rations of bread and water until I return in peace.'" 27 Micaiah said,
"If you return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me." And he said, "Hear,
you peoples, all of you!"
28 So the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah went up to
Ramoth-gilead. 29 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise
myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes." So the king of Israel
disguised himself, and they went into battle. 30 Now the king of Aram had
commanded the captains of his chariots, "Fight with no one small or great, but
only with the king of Israel." 31 When the captains of the chariots saw
Jehoshaphat, they said, "It is the king of Israel." So they turned to fight
against him; and Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him. God drew them
away from him, 32 for when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not
the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. 33 But a certain man
drew his bow and unknowingly struck the king of Israel between the scale armor
and the breastplate; so he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around,
and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded." 34 The battle grew hot that
day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the
Arameans until evening; then at sunset he died.
[2 Chronicles 19]
1 King Jehoshaphat of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem. 2
Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat,
"Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this,
wrath has gone out against you from the LORD. 3 Nevertheless, some good is
found in you, for you destroyed the sacred poles out of the land, and have set
your heart to seek God."
Recovery and further reforms
4 Jehoshaphat resided at Jerusalem; then he went out again among the people,
from Beer-sheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the
LORD, the God of their ancestors. 5 He appointed judges in the land in all the
fortified cities of Judah, city by city, 6 and said to the judges, "Consider
what you are doing, for you judge not on behalf of human beings but on the
LORD's behalf; he is with you in giving judgment. 7 Now, let the fear of the
LORD be upon you; take care what you do, for there is no perversion of justice
with the LORD our God, or partiality, or taking of bribes."
8 Moreover in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed certain Levites and priests and
heads of families of Israel, to give judgment for the LORD and to decide
disputed cases. They had their seat at Jerusalem. 9 He charged them: "This is
how you shall act: in the fear of the LORD, in faithfulness, and with your
whole heart; 10 whenever a case comes to you from your kindred who live in
their cities, concerning bloodshed, law or commandment, statutes or
ordinances, then you shall instruct them, so that they may not incur guilt
before the LORD and wrath may not come on you and your kindred. Do so, and you
will not incur guilt. 11 See, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all
matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the governor of the house of
Judah, in all the king's matters; and the Levites will serve you as officers.
Deal courageously, and may the LORD be with the good!"
[2 Chronicles 20]
Dramatic triumph in sacral war
1 After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites,
came against Jehoshaphat for battle. 2 Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat,
"A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea;
already they are at Hazazon-tamar" (that is, En-gedi). 3 Jehoshaphat was
afraid; he set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all
Judah. 4 Judah assembled to seek help from the LORD; from all the towns of
Judah they came to seek the LORD.
5 Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of
the LORD, before the new court, 6 and said, "O LORD, God of our ancestors, are
you not God in heaven? Do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations?
In your hand are power and might, so that no one is able to withstand you. 7
Did you not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your
people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham?
8 They have lived in it, and in it have built you a sanctuary for your name,
saying, 9 'If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or
famine, we will stand before this house, and before you, for your name is in
this house, and cry to you in our distress, and you will hear and save.' 10
See now, the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom you would not let
Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and
did not destroy – 11 they reward us by coming to drive us out of your
possession that you have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will you not
execute judgment upon them? For we are powerless against this great multitude
that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on
you."
13 Meanwhile all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their
wives, and their children. 14 Then the spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel
son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of
the sons of Asaph, in the middle of the assembly. 15 He said, "Listen, all
Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD
to you: 'Do not fear or be dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is
not yours but God's. 16 Tomorrow go down against them; they will come up by
the ascent of Ziz; you will find them at the end of the valley, before the
wilderness of Jeruel. 17 This battle is not for you to fight; take your
position, stand still, and see the victory of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah
and Jerusalem.' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, and
the LORD will be with you."
18 Then Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all Judah and
the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD.
19 And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise
the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
20 They rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa;
and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, O Judah and
inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God and you will be
established; believe his prophets." 21 When he had taken counsel with the
people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy
splendor, as they went before the army, saying,
"Give thanks to the LORD,
for his steadfast love endures forever."
22 As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the
Ammonites, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were
routed. 23 For the Ammonites and Moab attacked the inhabitants of Mount Seir,
destroying them utterly; and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of
Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.
24 When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the
multitude; they were corpses lying on the ground; no one had escaped. 25 When
Jehoshaphat and his people came to take the booty from them, they found
livestock in great numbers, goods, clothing, and precious things, which they
took for themselves until they could carry no more. They spent three days
taking the booty, because of its abundance. 26 On the fourth day they
assembled in the Valley of Beracah, for there they blessed the LORD; therefore
that place has been called the Valley of Beracah to this day. 27 Then all the
people of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat at their head, returned to
Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had enabled them to rejoice over their
enemies. 28 They came to Jerusalem, with harps and lyres and trumpets, to the
house of the LORD. 29 The fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the
countries when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of
Israel. 30 And the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest
all around.
Jehoshaphat's second misstep
31 So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he
began to reign; he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name
was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. 32 He walked in the way of his father Asa and
did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the LORD. 33
Yet the high places were not removed; the people had not yet set their hearts
upon the God of their ancestors.
34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, from first to last, are written in
the Annals of Jehu son of Hanani, which are recorded in the Book of the Kings
of Israel.
35 After this King Jehoshaphat of Judah joined with King Ahaziah of Israel,
who did wickedly. 36 He joined him in building ships to go to Tarshish; they
built the ships in Ezion-geber. 37 Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah
prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because you have joined with Ahaziah,
the LORD will destroy what you have made." And the ships were wrecked and were
not able to go to Tarshish.
[2 Chronicles 21]
Decline under Jehoram (851-843 BCE)
1 Jehoshaphat slept with his ancestors and was buried with his ancestors in
the city of David; his son Jehoram succeeded him. 2 He had brothers, the sons
of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah;
all these were the sons of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. 3 Their father gave them
many gifts, of silver, gold, and valuable possessions, together with fortified
cities in Judah; but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was the
firstborn. 4 When Jehoram had ascended the throne of his father and was
established, he put all his brothers to the sword, and also some of the
officials of Israel. 5 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he began to
reign; he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. 6 He walked in the way of the
kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done; for the daughter of Ahab was
his wife. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. 7 Yet the LORD would
not destroy the house of David because of the covenant that he had made with
David, and since he had promised to give a lamp to him and to his descendants
forever.
8 In his days Edom revolted against the rule of Judah and set up a king of
their own. 9 Then Jehoram crossed over with his commanders and all his
chariots. He set out by night and attacked the Edomites, who had surrounded
him and his chariot commanders. 10 So Edom has been in revolt against the rule
of Judah to this day. At that time Libnah also revolted against his rule,
because he had forsaken the LORD, the God of his ancestors.
11 Moreover he made high places in the hill country of Judah, and led the
inhabitants of Jerusalem into unfaithfulness, and made Judah go astray. 12 A
letter came to him from the prophet Elijah, saying: "Thus says the LORD, the
God of your father David: Because you have not walked in the ways of your
father Jehoshaphat or in the ways of King Asa of Judah, 13 but have walked in
the way of the kings of Israel, and have led Judah and the inhabitants of
Jerusalem into unfaithfulness, as the house of Ahab led Israel into
unfaithfulness, and because you also have killed your brothers, members of
your father's house, who were better than yourself, 14 see, the LORD will
bring a great plague on your people, your children, your wives, and all your
possessions, 15 and you yourself will have a severe sickness with a disease of
your bowels, until your bowels come out, day after day, because of the
disease."
16 The LORD aroused against Jehoram the anger of the Philistines and of the
Arabs who are near the Ethiopians. 17 They came up against Judah, invaded it,
and carried away all the possessions they found that belonged to the king's
house, along with his sons and his wives, so that no son was left to him
except Jehoahaz, his youngest son.
18 After all this the LORD struck him in his bowels with an incurable disease.
19 In course of time, at the end of two years, his bowels came out because of
the disease, and he died in great agony. His people made no fire in his honor,
like the fires made for his ancestors. 20 He was thirty-two years old when he
began to reign; he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. He departed with no one's
regret. They buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the
kings.
[2 Chronicles 22]
The brief and ill-fated reign of Ahaziah (Jehoahaz; 843-842 BCE)
1 The inhabitants of Jerusalem made his youngest son Ahaziah king as his
successor; for the troops who came with the Arabs to the camp had killed all
the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram reigned as king of Judah. 2 Ahaziah
was forty-two years old when he began to reign; he reigned one year in
Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri. 3 He also
walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in
doing wickedly. 4 He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as the house
of Ahab had done; for after the death of his father they were his counselors,
to his ruin. 5 He even followed their advice, and went with Jehoram son of
King Ahab of Israel to make war against King Hazael of Aram at Ramoth-gilead.
The Arameans wounded Joram, 6 and he returned to be healed in Jezreel of the
wounds that he had received at Ramah, when he fought King Hazael of Aram. And
Ahaziah son of King Jehoram of Judah went down to see Joram son of Ahab in
Jezreel, because he was sick.
7 But it was ordained by God that the downfall of Ahaziah should come about
through his going to visit Joram. For when he came there he went out with
Jehoram to meet Jehu son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to destroy the
house of Ahab. 8 When Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, he met
the officials of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah's brothers, who attended
Ahaziah, and he killed them. 9 He searched for Ahaziah, who was captured while
hiding in Samaria and was brought to Jehu, and put to death. They buried him,
for they said, "He is the grandson of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with
all his heart." And the house of Ahaziah had no one able to rule the kingdom.
The tenure and fall of Athaliah (842-836 BCE)
10 Now when Athaliah, Ahaziah's mother, saw that her son was dead, she set
about to destroy all the royal family of the house of Judah. 11 But
Jehoshabeath, the king's daughter, took Joash son of Ahaziah, and stole him
away from among the king's children who were about to be killed; she put him
and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus Jehoshabeath, daughter of King Jehoram and
wife of the priest Jehoiada – because she was a sister of Ahaziah – hid him
from Athaliah, so that she did not kill him; 12 he remained with them six
years, hidden in the house of God, while Athaliah reigned over the land.
[2 Chronicles 23]
1 But in the seventh year Jehoiada took courage, and entered into a compact
with the commanders of the hundreds, Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of
Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of
Zichri. 2 They went around through Judah and gathered the Levites from all the
towns of Judah, and the heads of families of Israel, and they came to
Jerusalem. 3 Then the whole assembly made a covenant with the king in the
house of God. Jehoiada said to them, "Here is the king's son! Let him reign,
as the LORD promised concerning the sons of David. 4 This is what you are to
do: one-third of you, priests and Levites, who come on duty on the sabbath,
shall be gatekeepers, 5 one-third shall be at the king's house, and one-third
at the Gate of the Foundation; and all the people shall be in the courts of
the house of the LORD. 6 Do not let anyone enter the house of the LORD except
the priests and ministering Levites; they may enter, for they are holy, but
all the other people shall observe the instructions of the LORD. 7 The Levites
shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand; and whoever enters
the house shall be killed. Stay with the king in his comings and goings."
8 The Levites and all Judah did according to all that the priest Jehoiada
commanded; each brought his men, who were to come on duty on the sabbath, with
those who were to go off duty on the sabbath; for the priest Jehoiada did not
dismiss the divisions. 9 The priest Jehoiada delivered to the captains the
spears and the large and small shields that had been King David's, which were
in the house of God; 10 and he set all the people as a guard for the king,
everyone with weapon in hand, from the south side of the house to the north
side of the house, around the altar and the house. 11 Then he brought out the
king's son, put the crown on him, and gave him the covenant; they proclaimed
him king, and Jehoiada and his sons anointed him; and they shouted, "Long live
the king!"
12 When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king,
she went into the house of the LORD to the people; 13 and when she looked,
there was the king standing by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains
and the trumpeters beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing
and blowing trumpets, and the singers with their musical instruments leading
in the celebration. Athaliah tore her clothes, and cried, "Treason! Treason!"
14 Then the priest Jehoiada brought out the captains who were set over the
army, saying to them, "Bring her out between the ranks; anyone who follows her
is to be put to the sword." For the priest said, "Do not put her to death in
the house of the LORD." 15 So they laid hands on her; she went into the
entrance of the Horse Gate of the king's house, and there they put her to
death.
The reformation of Jehoiada
16 Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king
that they should be the LORD's people. 17 Then all the people went to the
house of Baal, and tore it down; his altars and his images they broke in
pieces, and they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars. 18
Jehoiada assigned the care of the house of the LORD to the levitical priests
whom David had organized to be in charge of the house of the LORD, to offer
burnt offerings to the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses, with
rejoicing and with singing, according to the order of David. 19 He stationed
the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the LORD so that no one should
enter who was in any way unclean. 20 And he took the captains, the nobles, the
governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and they brought the
king down from the house of the LORD, marching through the upper gate to the
king's house. They set the king on the royal throne. 21 So all the people of
the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been killed with
the sword.
[2 Chronicles 24]
The Temple restoration of Joash (836-798 BCE) and his later regression
1 Joash was seven years old when he began to reign; he reigned forty years in
Jerusalem; his mother's name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba. 2 Joash did what was
right in the sight of the LORD all the days of the priest Jehoiada. 3 Jehoiada
got two wives for him, and he became the father of sons and daughters.
4 Some time afterward Joash decided to restore the house of the LORD. 5 He
assembled the priests and the Levites and said to them, "Go out to the cities
of Judah and gather money from all Israel to repair the house of your God,
year by year; and see that you act quickly." But the Levites did not act
quickly. 6 So the king summoned Jehoiada the chief, and said to him, "Why have
you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and Jerusalem the tax
levied by Moses, the servant of the LORD, on the congregation of Israel for
the tent of the covenant?" 7 For the children of Athaliah, that wicked woman,
had broken into the house of God, and had even used all the dedicated things
of the house of the LORD for the Baals.
8 So the king gave command, and they made a chest, and set it outside the gate
of the house of the LORD. 9 A proclamation was made throughout Judah and
Jerusalem to bring in for the LORD the tax that Moses the servant of God laid
on Israel in the wilderness. 10 All the leaders and all the people rejoiced
and brought their tax and dropped it into the chest until it was full. 11
Whenever the chest was brought to the king's officers by the Levites, when
they saw that there was a large amount of money in it, the king's secretary
and the officer of the chief priest would come and empty the chest and take it
and return it to its place. So they did day after day, and collected money in
abundance. 12 The king and Jehoiada gave it to those who had charge of the
work of the house of the LORD, and they hired masons and carpenters to restore
the house of the LORD, and also workers in iron and bronze to repair the house
of the LORD. 13 So those who were engaged in the work labored, and the
repairing went forward at their hands, and they restored the house of God to
its proper condition and strengthened it. 14 When they had finished, they
brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada, and with it were made
utensils for the house of the LORD, utensils for the service and for the burnt
offerings, and ladles, and vessels of gold and silver. They offered burnt
offerings in the house of the LORD regularly all the days of Jehoiada.
15 But Jehoiada grew old and full of days, and died; he was one hundred thirty
years old at his death. 16 And they buried him in the city of David among the
kings, because he had done good in Israel, and for God and his house.
17 Now after the death of Jehoiada the officials of Judah came and did
obeisance to the king; then the king listened to them. 18 They abandoned the
house of the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and served the sacred poles and
the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs.
19 Yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to the LORD; they
testified against them, but they would not listen.
20 Then the spirit of God took possession of Zechariah son of the priest
Jehoiada; he stood above the people and said to them, "Thus says God: Why do
you transgress the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper?
Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has also forsaken you." 21 But they
conspired against him, and by command of the king they stoned him to death in
the court of the house of the LORD. 22 King Joash did not remember the
kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah's father, had shown him, but killed his son.
As he was dying, he said, "May the LORD see and avenge!"
23 At the end of the year the army of Aram came up against Joash. They came to
Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the officials of the people from among
them, and sent all the booty they took to the king of Damascus. 24 Although
the army of Aram had come with few men, the LORD delivered into their hand a
very great army, because they had abandoned the LORD, the God of their
ancestors. Thus they executed judgment on Joash.
25 When they had withdrawn, leaving him severely wounded, his servants
conspired against him because of the blood of the son of the priest Jehoiada,
and they killed him on his bed. So he died; and they buried him in the city of
David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings. 26 Those who
conspired against him were Zabad son of Shimeath the Ammonite, and Jehozabad
son of Shimrith the Moabite. 27 Accounts of his sons, and of the many oracles
against him, and of the rebuilding of the house of God are written in the
Commentary on the Book of the Kings. And his son Amaziah succeeded him.
[2 Chronicles 25]
The mixed record of Amaziah (789-769 BCE)
1 Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned
twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
2 He did what was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not with a true heart. 3
As soon as the royal power was firmly in his hand he killed his servants who
had murdered his father the king. 4 But he did not put their children to
death, according to what is written in the law, in the book of Moses, where
the LORD commanded, "The parents shall not be put to death for the children,
or the children be put to death for the parents; but all shall be put to death
for their own sins."
5 Amaziah assembled the people of Judah, and set them by ancestral houses
under commanders of the thousands and of the hundreds for all Judah and
Benjamin. He mustered those twenty years old and upward, and found that they
were three hundred thousand picked troops fit for war, able to handle spear
and shield. 6 He also hired one hundred thousand mighty warriors from Israel
for one hundred talents of silver. 7 But a man of God came to him and said, "O
king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with
Israel – all these Ephraimites. 8 Rather, go by yourself and act; be strong in
battle, or God will fling you down before the enemy; for God has power to help
or to overthrow." 9 Amaziah said to the man of God, "But what shall we do
about the hundred talents that I have given to the army of Israel?" The man of
God answered, "The LORD is able to give you much more than this." 10 Then
Amaziah discharged the army that had come to him from Ephraim, letting them go
home again. But they became very angry with Judah, and returned home in fierce
anger.
11 Amaziah took courage, and led out his people; he went to the Valley of
Salt, and struck down ten thousand men of Seir. 12 The people of Judah
captured another ten thousand alive, took them to the top of Sela, and threw
them down from the top of Sela, so that all of them were dashed to pieces. 13
But the men of the army whom Amaziah sent back, not letting them go with him
to battle, fell on the cities of Judah from Samaria to Beth-horon; they killed
three thousand people in them, and took much booty.
14 Now after Amaziah came from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought the
gods of the people of Seir, set them up as his gods, and worshiped them,
making offerings to them. 15 The LORD was angry with Amaziah and sent to him a
prophet, who said to him, "Why have you resorted to a people's gods who could
not deliver their own people from your hand?" 16 But as he was speaking the
king said to him, "Have we made you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be
put to death?" So the prophet stopped, but said, "I know that God has
determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to
my advice."
17 Then King Amaziah of Judah took counsel and sent to King Joash son of
Jehoahaz son of Jehu of Israel, saying, "Come, let us look one another in the
face." 18 King Joash of Israel sent word to King Amaziah of Judah, "A
thornbush on Lebanon sent to a cedar on Lebanon, saying, 'Give your daughter
to my son for a wife'; but a wild animal of Lebanon passed by and trampled
down the thornbush. 19 You say, 'See, I have defeated Edom,' and your heart
has lifted you up in boastfulness. Now stay at home; why should you provoke
trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?"
20 But Amaziah would not listen – it was God's doing, in order to hand them
over, because they had sought the gods of Edom. 21 So King Joash of Israel
went up; he and King Amaziah of Judah faced one another in battle at
Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah. 22 Judah was defeated by Israel;
everyone fled home. 23 King Joash of Israel captured King Amaziah of Judah,
son of Joash, son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh; he brought him to Jerusalem,
and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate,
a distance of four hundred cubits. 24 He seized all the gold and silver, and
all the vessels that were found in the house of God, and Obed-edom with them;
he seized also the treasuries of the king's house, also hostages; then he
returned to Samaria.
25 King Amaziah son of Joash of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of
King Joash son of Jehoahaz of Israel. 26 Now the rest of the deeds of Amaziah,
from first to last, are they not written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and
Israel? 27 From the time that Amaziah turned away from the LORD they made a
conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But they sent
after him to Lachish, and killed him there. 28 They brought him back on
horses; he was buried with his ancestors in the city of David.
[2 Chronicles 26]
The builder and reformer, Uzziah (785-733 BCE)
1 Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and
made him king to succeed his father Amaziah. 2 He rebuilt Eloth and restored
it to Judah, after the king slept with his ancestors. 3 Uzziah was sixteen
years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem.
His mother's name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. 4 He did what was right in the
sight of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done. 5 He set himself to
seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God; and
as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.
6 He went out and made war against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of
Gath and the wall of Jabneh and the wall of Ashdod; he built cities in the
territory of Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines. 7 God helped him
against the Philistines, against the Arabs who lived in Gur-baal, and against
the Meunites. 8 The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread even
to the border of Egypt, for he became very strong. 9 Moreover Uzziah built
towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the Angle,
and fortified them. 10 He built towers in the wilderness and hewed out many
cisterns, for he had large herds, both in the Shephelah and in the plain, and
he had farmers and vinedressers in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he
loved the soil. 11 Moreover Uzziah had an army of soldiers, fit for war, in
divisions according to the numbers in the muster made by the secretary Jeiel
and the officer Maaseiah, under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king's
commanders. 12 The whole number of the heads of ancestral houses of mighty
warriors was two thousand six hundred. 13 Under their command was an army of
three hundred seven thousand five hundred, who could make war with mighty
power, to help the king against the enemy. 14 Uzziah provided for all the army
the shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and stones for slinging. 15
In Jerusalem he set up machines, invented by skilled workers, on the towers
and the corners for shooting arrows and large stones. And his fame spread far,
for he was marvelously helped until he became strong.
Uzziah's hubris
16 But when he had become strong he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was
false to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to make offering
on the altar of incense. 17 But the priest Azariah went in after him, with
eighty priests of the LORD who were men of valor; 18 they withstood King
Uzziah, and said to him, "It is not for you, Uzziah, to make offering to the
LORD, but for the priests the descendants of Aaron, who are consecrated to
make offering. Go out of the sanctuary; for you have done wrong, and it will
bring you no honor from the LORD God." 19 Then Uzziah was angry. Now he had a
censer in his hand to make offering, and when he became angry with the priests
a leprous disease broke out on his forehead, in the presence of the priests in
the house of the LORD, by the altar of incense. 20 When the chief priest
Azariah, and all the priests, looked at him, he was leprous in his forehead.
They hurried him out, and he himself hurried to get out, because the LORD had
struck him. 21 King Uzziah was leprous to the day of his death, and being
leprous lived in a separate house, for he was excluded from the house of the
LORD. His son Jotham was in charge of the palace of the king, governing the
people of the land.
22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, from first to last, the prophet Isaiah
son of Amoz wrote. 23 Uzziah slept with his ancestors; they buried him near
his ancestors in the burial field that belonged to the kings, for they said,
"He is leprous." His son Jotham succeeded him.
[2 Chronicles 27]
The accomplishments of Jotham (759-743 BCE)
1 Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; he reigned sixteen
years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerushah daughter of Zadok. 2 He did
what was right in the sight of the LORD just as his father Uzziah had done –
only he did not invade the temple of the LORD. But the people still followed
corrupt practices. 3 He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD, and did
extensive building on the wall of Ophel. 4 Moreover he built cities in the
hill country of Judah, and forts and towers on the wooded hills. 5 He fought
with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed against them. The Ammonites gave
him that year one hundred talents of silver, ten thousand cors of wheat and
ten thousand of barley. The Ammonites paid him the same amount in the second
and the third years. 6 So Jotham became strong because he ordered his ways
before the LORD his God. 7 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his
wars and his ways, are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. 8
He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; he reigned sixteen years
in Jerusalem. 9 Jotham slept with his ancestors, and they buried him in the
city of David; and his son Ahaz succeeded him.
[2 Chronicles 28]
Unending failure under Ahaz (743/753-727/715 BCE; the data are inconsistent)
1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign; he reigned sixteen years
in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the sight of the LORD, as his
ancestor David had done, 2 but he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel.
He even made cast images for the Baals; 3 and he made offerings in the valley
of the son of Hinnom, and made his sons pass through fire, according to the
abominable practices of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people
of Israel. 4 He sacrificed and made offerings on the high places, on the
hills, and under every green tree.
5 Therefore the LORD his God gave him into the hand of the king of Aram, who
defeated him and took captive a great number of his people and brought them to
Damascus. He was also given into the hand of the king of Israel, who defeated
him with great slaughter. 6 Pekah son of Remaliah killed one hundred twenty
thousand in Judah in one day, all of them valiant warriors, because they had
abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors. 7 And Zichri, a mighty warrior
of Ephraim, killed the king's son Maaseiah, Azrikam the commander of the
palace, and Elkanah the next in authority to the king.
8 The people of Israel took captive two hundred thousand of their kin, women,
sons, and daughters; they also took much booty from them and brought the booty
to Samaria. 9 But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded; he
went out to meet the army that came to Samaria, and said to them, "Because the
LORD, the God of your ancestors, was angry with Judah, he gave them into your
hand, but you have killed them in a rage that has reached up to heaven. 10 Now
you intend to subjugate the people of Judah and Jerusalem, male and female, as
your slaves. But what have you except sins against the LORD your God? 11 Now
hear me, and send back the captives whom you have taken from your kindred, for
the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you." 12 Moreover, certain chiefs of the
Ephraimites, Azariah son of Johanan, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah
son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai, stood up against those who were
coming from the war, 13 and said to them, "You shall not bring the captives in
here, for you propose to bring on us guilt against the LORD in addition to our
present sins and guilt. For our guilt is already great, and there is fierce
wrath against Israel." 14 So the warriors left the captives and the booty
before the officials and all the assembly. 15 Then those who were mentioned by
name got up and took the captives, and with the booty they clothed all that
were naked among them; they clothed them, gave them sandals, provided them
with food and drink, and anointed them; and carrying all the feeble among them
on donkeys, they brought them to their kindred at Jericho, the city of palm
trees. Then they returned to Samaria.
16 At that time King Ahaz sent to the king of Assyria for help. 17 For the
Edomites had again invaded and defeated Judah, and carried away captives. 18
And the Philistines had made raids on the cities in the Shephelah and the
Negeb of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco with its
villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages; and they
settled there. 19 For the LORD brought Judah low because of King Ahaz of
Israel, for he had behaved without restraint in Judah and had been faithless
to the LORD. 20 So King Tilgath-pilneser of Assyria came against him, and
oppressed him instead of strengthening him. 21 For Ahaz plundered the house of
the LORD and the houses of the king and of the officials, and gave tribute to
the king of Assyria; but it did not help him.
22 In the time of his distress he became yet more faithless to the LORD – this
same King Ahaz. 23 For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, which had
defeated him, and said, "Because the gods of the kings of Aram helped them, I
will sacrifice to them so that they may help me." But they were the ruin of
him, and of all Israel. 24 Ahaz gathered together the utensils of the house of
God, and cut in pieces the utensils of the house of God. He shut up the doors
of the house of the LORD and made himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
25 In every city of Judah he made high places to make offerings to other gods,
provoking to anger the LORD, the God of his ancestors. 26 Now the rest of his
acts and all his ways, from first to last, are written in the Book of the
Kings of Judah and Israel. 27 Ahaz slept with his ancestors, and they buried
him in the city, in Jerusalem; but they did not bring him into the tombs of
the kings of Israel. His son Hezekiah succeeded him.
[2 Chronicles 29]
Restoring the Temple: the beginning of Hezekiah's rule
1 Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old; he reigned
twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abijah daughter of
Zechariah. 2 He did what was right in the sight of the LORD, just as his
ancestor David had done.
3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of
the house of the LORD and repaired them. 4 He brought in the priests and the
Levites and assembled them in the square on the east. 5 He said to them,
"Listen to me, Levites! Sanctify yourselves, and sanctify the house of the
LORD, the God of your ancestors, and carry out the filth from the holy place.
6 For our ancestors have been unfaithful and have done what was evil in the
sight of the LORD our God; they have forsaken him, and have turned away their
faces from the dwelling of the LORD, and turned their backs. 7 They also shut
the doors of the vestibule and put out the lamps, and have not offered incense
or made burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel. 8 Therefore
the wrath of the LORD came upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he has made them an
object of horror, of astonishment, and of hissing, as you see with your own
eyes. 9 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 the LORD, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger may turn
away from us. 11 My sons, do not now be negligent, for the LORD has chosen you
to stand in his presence to minister to him, and to be his ministers and make
offerings to him."
12 Then the Levites arose, Mahath son of Amasai, and Joel son of Azariah, of
the sons of the Kohathites; and of the sons of Merari, Kish son of Abdi, and
Azariah son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah son of Zimmah, and
Eden son of Joah; 13 and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel; and of
the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah; 14 and of the sons of Heman,
Jehuel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel. 15 They
gathered their brothers, sanctified themselves, and went in as the king had
commanded, by the words of the LORD, to cleanse the house of the LORD. 16 The
priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD to cleanse it, and
they brought out all the unclean things that they found in the temple of the
LORD into the court of the house of the LORD; and the Levites took them and
carried them out to the Wadi Kidron. 17 They began to sanctify on the first
day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the
vestibule of the LORD; then for eight days they sanctified the house of the
LORD, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished. 18 Then they
went inside to King Hezekiah and said, "We have cleansed all the house of the
LORD, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the table for the
rows of bread and all its utensils. 19 All the utensils that King Ahaz
repudiated during his reign when he was faithless, we have made ready and
sanctified; see, they are in front of the altar of the LORD."
20 Then King Hezekiah rose early, assembled the officials of the city, and
went up to the house of the LORD. 21 They brought seven bulls, seven rams,
seven lambs, and seven male goats for a sin offering for the kingdom and for
the sanctuary and for Judah. He commanded the priests the descendants of Aaron
to offer them on the altar of the LORD. 22 So they slaughtered the bulls, and
the priests received the blood and dashed it against the altar; they
slaughtered the rams and their blood was dashed against the altar; they also
slaughtered the lambs and their blood was dashed against the altar. 23 Then
the male goats for the sin offering were brought to the king and the assembly;
they laid their hands on them, 24 and the priests slaughtered them and made a
sin offering with their blood at the altar, to make atonement for all Israel.
For the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be
made for all Israel.
25 He stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and
lyres, according to the commandment of David and of Gad the king's seer and of
the prophet Nathan, for the commandment was from the LORD through his
prophets. 26 The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests
with the trumpets. 27 Then Hezekiah commanded that the burnt offering be
offered on the altar. When the burnt offering began, the song to the LORD
began also, and the trumpets, accompanied by the instruments of King David of
Israel. 28 The whole assembly worshiped, the singers sang, and the trumpeters
sounded; all this continued until the burnt offering was finished. 29 When the
offering was finished, the king and all who were present with him bowed down
and worshiped. 30 King Hezekiah and the officials commanded the Levites to
sing praises to the LORD with the words of David and of the seer Asaph. They
sang praises with gladness, and they bowed down and worshiped.
31 Then Hezekiah said, "You have now consecrated yourselves to the LORD; come
near, bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the LORD." The
assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings; and all who were of a willing
heart brought burnt offerings. 32 The number of the burnt offerings that the
assembly brought was seventy bulls, one hundred rams, and two hundred lambs;
all these were for a burnt offering to the LORD. 33 The consecrated offerings
were six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep. 34 But the priests were too
few and could not skin all the burnt offerings, so, until other priests had
sanctified themselves, their kindred, the Levites, helped them until the work
was finished – for the Levites were more conscientious than the priests in
sanctifying themselves. 35 Besides the great number of burnt offerings there
was the fat of the offerings of well-being, and there were the drink offerings
for the burnt offerings. Thus the service of the house of the LORD was
restored. 36 And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because of what God had
done for the people; for the thing had come about suddenly.
[2 Chronicles 30]
National Passover and further religious reforms
1 Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to
Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at
Jerusalem, to keep the passover to the LORD the God of Israel. 2 For the king
and his officials and all the assembly in Jerusalem had taken counsel to keep
the passover in the second month 3 (for they could not keep it at its proper
time because the priests had not sanctified themselves in sufficient number,
nor had the people assembled in Jerusalem). 4 The plan seemed right to the
king and all the assembly. 5 So they decreed to make a proclamation throughout
all Israel, from Beer-sheba to Dan, that the people should come and keep the
passover to the LORD the God of Israel, at Jerusalem; for they had not kept it
in great numbers as prescribed. 6 So couriers went throughout all Israel and
Judah with letters from the king and his officials, as the king had commanded,
saying, "O people of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac,
and Israel, so that he may turn again to the remnant of you who have escaped
from the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 Do not be like your ancestors and
your kindred, who were faithless to the LORD God of their ancestors, so that
he made them a desolation, as you see. 8 Do not now be stiff-necked as your
ancestors were, but yield yourselves to the LORD and come to his sanctuary,
which he has sanctified forever, and serve the LORD your God, so that his
fierce anger may turn away from you. 9 For as you return to the LORD, your
kindred and your children will find compassion with their captors, and return
to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not
turn away his face from you, if you return to him."
10 So the couriers went from city to city through the country of Ephraim and
Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun; but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked
them. 11 Only a few from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and
came to Jerusalem. 12 The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart
to do what the king and the officials commanded by the word of the LORD.
13 Many people came together in Jerusalem to keep the festival of unleavened
bread in the second month, a very large assembly. 14 They set to work and
removed the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for offering
incense they took away and threw into the Wadi Kidron. 15 They slaughtered the
passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and the
Levites were ashamed, and they sanctified themselves and brought burnt
offerings into the house of the LORD. 16 They took their accustomed posts
according to the law of Moses the man of God; the priests dashed the blood
that they received from the hands of the Levites. 17 For there were many in
the assembly who had not sanctified themselves; therefore the Levites had to
slaughter the passover lamb for everyone who was not clean, to make it holy to
the LORD. 18 For a multitude of the people, many of them from Ephraim,
Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the
passover otherwise than as prescribed. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying,
"The good LORD pardon all 19 who set their hearts to seek God, the LORD the
God of their ancestors, even though not in accordance with the sanctuary's
rules of cleanness." 20 The LORD heard Hezekiah, and healed the people. 21 The
people of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the festival of unleavened
bread seven days with great gladness; and the Levites and the priests praised
the LORD day by day, accompanied by loud instruments for the LORD. 22 Hezekiah
spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good skill in the service of
the LORD. So the people ate the food of the festival for seven days,
sacrificing offerings of well-being and giving thanks to the LORD the God of
their ancestors.
23 Then the whole assembly agreed together to keep the festival for another
seven days; so they kept it for another seven days with gladness. 24 For King
Hezekiah of Judah gave the assembly a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep
for offerings, and the officials gave the assembly a thousand bulls and ten
thousand sheep. The priests sanctified themselves in great numbers. 25 The
whole assembly of Judah, the priests and the Levites, and the whole assembly
that came out of Israel, and the resident aliens who came out of the land of
Israel, and the resident aliens who lived in Judah, rejoiced. 26 There was
great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon son of King David of
Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem. 27 Then the priests and
the Levites stood up and blessed the people, and their voice was heard; their
prayer came to his holy dwelling in heaven.
[2 Chronicles 31]
The priestly and Levitical courses reestablished
1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the
cities of Judah and broke down the pillars, hewed down the sacred poles, and
pulled down the high places and the altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin,
and in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the
people of Israel returned to their cities, all to their individual properties.
2 Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and of the Levites, division
by division, everyone according to his service, the priests and the Levites,
for burnt offerings and offerings of well-being, to minister in the gates of
the camp of the LORD and to give thanks and praise. 3 The contribution of the
king from his own possessions was for the burnt offerings: the burnt offerings
of morning and evening, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, the new
moons, and the appointed festivals, as it is written in the law of the LORD. 4
He commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion due to the
priests and the Levites, so that they might devote themselves to the law of
the LORD. 5 As soon as the word spread, the people of Israel gave in abundance
the first fruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the
field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything. 6 The people of
Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also brought in the tithe of
cattle and sheep, and the tithe of the dedicated things that had been
consecrated to the LORD their God, and laid them in heaps. 7 In the third
month they began to pile up the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.
8 When Hezekiah and the officials came and saw the heaps, they blessed the
LORD and his people Israel. 9 Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites
about the heaps. 10 The chief priest Azariah, who was of the house of Zadok,
answered him, "Since they began to bring the contributions into the house of
the LORD, we have had enough to eat and have plenty to spare; for the LORD has
blessed his people, so that we have this great supply left over."
11 Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare store-chambers in the house of the
LORD; and they prepared them. 12 Faithfully they brought in the contributions,
the tithes and the dedicated things. The chief officer in charge of them was
Conaniah the Levite, with his brother Shimei as second; 13 while Jehiel,
Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and
Benaiah were overseers assisting Conaniah and his brother Shimei, by the
appointment of King Hezekiah and of Azariah the chief officer of the house of
God. 14 Kore son of Imnah the Levite, keeper of the east gate, was in charge
of the freewill offerings to God, to apportion the contribution reserved for
the LORD and the most holy offerings. 15 Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah,
Amariah, and Shecaniah were faithfully assisting him in the cities of the
priests, to distribute the portions to their kindred, old and young alike, by
divisions, 16 except those enrolled by genealogy, males from three years old
and upwards, all who entered the house of the LORD as the duty of each day
required, for their service according to their offices, by their divisions. 17
The enrollment of the priests was according to their ancestral houses; that of
the Levites from twenty years old and upwards was according to their offices,
by their divisions. 18 The priests were enrolled with all their little
children, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, the whole multitude;
for they were faithful in keeping themselves holy. 19 And for the descendants
of Aaron, the priests, who were in the fields of common land belonging to
their towns, town by town, the people designated by name were to distribute
portions to every male among the priests and to everyone among the Levites who
was enrolled.
20 Hezekiah did this throughout all Judah; he did what was good and right and
faithful before the LORD his God. 21 And every work that he undertook in the
service of the house of God, and in accordance with the law and the
commandments, to seek his God, he did with all his heart; and he prospered.
[2 Chronicles 32]
Sennacherib's invasion of Judah and threat to Jerusalem
1 After these things and these acts of faithfulness, King Sennacherib of
Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities,
thinking to win them for himself. 2 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had
come and intended to fight against Jerusalem, 3 he planned with his officers
and his warriors to stop the flow of the springs that were outside the city;
and they helped him. 4 A great many people were gathered, and they stopped all
the springs and the wadi that flowed through the land, saying, "Why should the
Assyrian kings come and find water in abundance?" 5 Hezekiah set to work
resolutely and built up the entire wall that was broken down, and raised
towers on it, and outside it he built another wall; he also strengthened the
Millo in the city of David, and made weapons and shields in abundance. 6 He
appointed combat commanders over the people, and gathered them together to him
in the square at the gate of the city and spoke encouragingly to them, saying,
7 "Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king
of Assyria and all the horde that is with him; for there is one greater with
us than with him. 8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our
God, to help us and to fight our battles." The people were encouraged by the
words of King Hezekiah of Judah.
9 After this, while King Sennacherib of Assyria was at Lachish with all his
forces, he sent his servants to Jerusalem to King Hezekiah of Judah and to all
the people of Judah that were in Jerusalem, saying, 10 "Thus says King
Sennacherib of Assyria: On what are you relying, that you undergo the siege of
Jerusalem? 11 Is not Hezekiah misleading you, handing you over to die by
famine and by thirst, when he tells you, 'The LORD our God will save us from
the hand of the king of Assyria'? 12 Was it not this same Hezekiah who took
away his high places and his altars and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying,
'Before one altar you shall worship, and upon it you shall make your
offerings'? 13 Do you not know what I and my ancestors have done to all the
peoples of other lands? Were the gods of the nations of those lands at all
able to save their lands out of my hand? 14 Who among all the gods of those
nations that my ancestors utterly destroyed was able to save his people from
my hand, that your God should be able to save you from my hand? 15 Now
therefore do not let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you in this fashion, and
do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to save
his people from my hand or from the hand of my ancestors. How much less will
your God save you out of my hand!"
16 His servants said still more against the Lord GOD and against his servant
Hezekiah. 17 He also wrote letters to throw contempt on the LORD the God of
Israel and to speak against him, saying, "Just as the gods of the nations in
other lands did not rescue their people from my hands, so the God of Hezekiah
will not rescue his people from my hand." 18 They shouted it with a loud voice
in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to
frighten and terrify them, in order that they might take the city. 19 They
spoke of the God of Jerusalem as if he were like the gods of the peoples of
the earth, which are the work of human hands.
20 Then King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz prayed because of
this and cried to heaven. 21 And the LORD sent an angel who cut off all the
mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of
Assyria. So he returned in disgrace to his own land. When he came into the
house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down there with the sword.
22 So the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand
of King Sennacherib of Assyria and from the hand of all his enemies; he gave
them rest on every side. 23 Many brought gifts to the LORD in Jerusalem and
precious things to King Hezekiah of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight
of all nations from that time onward.
Hezekiah's sickness, recovery, and wealth
24 In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. He prayed
to the LORD, and he answered him and gave him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah did not
respond according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud.
Therefore wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem. 26 Then Hezekiah
humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of
Hezekiah.
27 Hezekiah had very great riches and honor; and he made for himself
treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields,
and for all kinds of costly objects; 28 storehouses also for the yield of
grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and sheepfolds. 29
He likewise provided cities for himself, and flocks and herds in abundance;
for God had given him very great possessions. 30 This same Hezekiah closed the
upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them down to the west side of
the city of David. Hezekiah prospered in all his works. 31 So also in the
matter of the envoys of the officials of Babylon, who had been sent to him to
inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to
himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.
32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his good deeds, are written in
the vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz in the Book of the Kings of Judah
and Israel. 33 Hezekiah slept with his ancestors, and they buried him on the
ascent to the tombs of the descendants of David; and all Judah and the
inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death. His son Manasseh
succeeded him.
[2 Chronicles 33]
Manasseh: regression and repentance
1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; he reigned fifty-five
years in Jerusalem. 2 He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according
to the abominable practices of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the
people of Israel. 3 For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah
had pulled down, and erected altars to the Baals, made sacred poles, worshiped
all the host of heaven, and served them. 4 He built altars in the house of the
LORD, of which the LORD had said, "In Jerusalem shall my name be forever." 5
He built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of
the LORD. 6 He made his son pass through fire in the valley of the son of
Hinnom, practiced soothsaying and augury and sorcery, and dealt with mediums
and with wizards. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to
anger. 7 The carved image of the idol that he had made he set in the house of
God, of which God said to David and to his son Solomon, "In this house, and in
Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my
name forever; 8 I will never again remove the feet of Israel from the land
that I appointed for your ancestors, if only they will be careful to do all
that I have commanded them, all the law, the statutes, and the ordinances
given through Moses." 9 Manasseh misled Judah and the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, so that they did more evil than the nations whom the LORD had
destroyed before the people of Israel.
10 The LORD spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they gave no heed. 11
Therefore the LORD brought against them the commanders of the army of the king
of Assyria, who took Manasseh captive in manacles, bound him with fetters, and
brought him to Babylon. 12 While he was in distress he entreated the favor of
the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors.
13 He prayed to him, and God received his entreaty, heard his plea, and
restored him again to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that
the LORD indeed was God.
14 Afterward he built an outer wall for the city of David west of Gihon, in
the valley, reaching the entrance at the Fish Gate; he carried it around
Ophel, and raised it to a very great height. He also put commanders of the
army in all the fortified cities in Judah. 15 He took away the foreign gods
and the idol from the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built
on the mountain of the house of the LORD and in Jerusalem, and he threw them
out of the city. 16 He also restored the altar of the LORD and offered on it
sacrifices of well-being and of thanksgiving; and he commanded Judah to serve
the LORD the God of Israel. 17 The people, however, still sacrificed at the
high places, but only to the LORD their God.
18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, his prayer to his God, and the words
of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, these are
in the Annals of the Kings of Israel. 19 His prayer, and how God received his
entreaty, all his sin and his faithlessness, the sites on which he built high
places and set up the sacred poles and the images, before he humbled himself,
these are written in the records of the seers. 20 So Manasseh slept with his
ancestors, and they buried him in his house. His son Amon succeeded him.
Degeneracy under Amon (641-640 BCE)
21 Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; he reigned two years
in Jerusalem. 22 He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father
Manasseh had done. Amon sacrificed to all the images that his father Manasseh
had made, and served them. 23 He did not humble himself before the LORD, as
his father Manasseh had humbled himself, but this Amon incurred more and more
guilt. 24 His servants conspired against him and killed him in his house. 25
But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King
Amon; and the people of the land made his son Josiah king to succeed him.
[2 Chronicles 34]
Josiah (640-609 BCE): the champion of centralization
1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; he reigned thirty-one
years in Jerusalem. 2 He did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and
walked in the ways of his ancestor David; he did not turn aside to the right
or to the left. 3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was still a
boy, he began to seek the God of his ancestor David, and in the twelfth year
he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the sacred poles,
and the carved and the cast images. 4 In his presence they pulled down the
altars of the Baals; he demolished the incense altars that stood above them.
He broke down the sacred poles and the carved and the cast images; he made
dust of them and scattered it over the graves of those who had sacrificed to
them. 5 He also burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and purged
Judah and Jerusalem. 6 In the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, and as
far as Naphtali, in their ruins all around, 7 he broke down the altars, beat
the sacred poles and the images into powder, and demolished all the incense
altars throughout all the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.
8 In the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the
house, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of the city, and
Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God. 9
They came to the high priest Hilkiah and delivered the money that had been
brought into the house of God, which the Levites, the keepers of the
threshold, had collected from Manasseh and Ephraim and from all the remnant of
Israel and from all Judah and Benjamin and from the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
10 They delivered it to the workers who had the oversight of the house of the
LORD, and the workers who were working in the house of the LORD gave it for
repairing and restoring the house. 11 They gave it to the carpenters and the
builders to buy quarried stone, and timber for binders, and beams for the
buildings that the kings of Judah had let go to ruin. 12 The people did the
work faithfully. Over them were appointed the Levites Jahath and Obadiah, of
the sons of Merari, along with Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the
Kohathites, to have oversight. Other Levites, all skillful with instruments of
music, 13 were over the burden bearers and directed all who did work in every
kind of service; and some of the Levites were scribes, and officials, and
gatekeepers.
14 While they were bringing out the money that had been brought into the house
of the LORD, the priest Hilkiah found the book of the law of the LORD given
through Moses. 15 Hilkiah said to the secretary Shaphan, "I have found the
book of the law in the house of the LORD"; and Hilkiah gave the book to
Shaphan. 16 Shaphan brought the book to the king, and further reported to the
king, "All that was committed to your servants they are doing. 17 They have
emptied out the money that was found in the house of the LORD and have
delivered it into the hand of the overseers and the workers." 18 The secretary
Shaphan informed the king, "The priest Hilkiah has given me a book." Shaphan
then read it aloud to the king.
19 When the king heard the words of the law he tore his clothes. 20 Then the
king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, the
secretary Shaphan, and the king's servant Asaiah: 21 "Go, inquire of the LORD
for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words
of the book that has been found; for the wrath of the LORD that is poured out
on us is great, because our ancestors did not keep the word of the LORD, to
act in accordance with all that is written in this book."
22 So Hilkiah and those whom the king had sent went to the prophet Huldah, the
wife of Shallum son of Tokhath son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe (who
lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter) and spoke to her to that effect. 23
She declared to them, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Tell the man who
sent you to me, 24 Thus says the LORD: I will indeed bring disaster upon this
place and upon its inhabitants, all the curses that are written in the book
that was read before the king of Judah. 25 Because they have forsaken me and
have made offerings to other gods, so that they have provoked me to anger with
all the works of their hands, my wrath will be poured out on this place and
will not be quenched. 26 But as to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire
of the LORD, thus shall you say to him: Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel:
Regarding the words that you have heard, 27 because your heart was penitent
and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this
place and its inhabitants, and you have humbled yourself before me, and have
torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, says the LORD. 28
I will gather you to your ancestors and you shall be gathered to your grave in
peace; your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring on this
place and its inhabitants." They took the message back to the king.
29 Then the king sent word and gathered together all the elders of Judah and
Jerusalem. 30 The king went up to the house of the LORD, with all the people
of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites, all the
people both great and small; he read in their hearing all the words of the
book of the covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD. 31 The king
stood in his place and made a covenant before the LORD, to follow the LORD,
keeping his commandments, his decrees, and his statutes, with all his heart
and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in
this book. 32 Then he made all who were present in Jerusalem and in Benjamin
pledge themselves to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem acted according to
the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors. 33 Josiah took away all the
abominations from all the territory that belonged to the people of Israel, and
made all who were in Israel worship the LORD their God. All his days they did
not turn away from following the LORD the God of their ancestors.
[2 Chronicles 35]
Passover celebration
1 Josiah kept a passover to the LORD in Jerusalem; they slaughtered the
passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the first month. 2 He appointed the
priests to their offices and encouraged them in the service of the house of
the LORD. 3 He said to the Levites who taught all Israel and who were holy to
the LORD, "Put the holy ark in the house that Solomon son of David, king of
Israel, built; you need no longer carry it on your shoulders. Now serve the
LORD your God and his people Israel. 4 Make preparations by your ancestral
houses by your divisions, following the written directions of King David of
Israel and the written directions of his son Solomon. 5 Take position in the
holy place according to the groupings of the ancestral houses of your kindred
the people, and let there be Levites for each division of an ancestral house.
6 Slaughter the passover lamb, sanctify yourselves, and on behalf of your
kindred make preparations, acting according to the word of the LORD by Moses."
7 Then Josiah contributed to the people, as passover offerings for all that
were present, lambs and kids from the flock to the number of thirty thousand,
and three thousand bulls; these were from the king's possessions. 8 His
officials contributed willingly to the people, to the priests, and to the
Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the chief officers of the house of
God, gave to the priests for the passover offerings two thousand six hundred
lambs and kids and three hundred bulls. 9 Conaniah also, and his brothers
Shemaiah and Nethanel, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, the chiefs of the
Levites, gave to the Levites for the passover offerings five thousand lambs
and kids and five hundred bulls.
10 When the service had been prepared for, the priests stood in their place,
and the Levites in their divisions according to the king's command. 11 They
slaughtered the passover lamb, and the priests dashed the blood that they
received from them, while the Levites did the skinning. 12 They set aside the
burnt offerings so that they might distribute them according to the groupings
of the ancestral houses of the people, to offer to the LORD, as it is written
in the book of Moses. And they did the same with the bulls. 13 They roasted
the passover lamb with fire according to the ordinance; and they boiled the
holy offerings in pots, in caldrons, and in pans, and carried them quickly to
all the people. 14 Afterward they made preparations for themselves and for the
priests, because the priests the descendants of Aaron were occupied in
offering the burnt offerings and the fat parts until night; so the Levites
made preparations for themselves and for the priests, the descendants of
Aaron. 15 The singers, the descendants of Asaph, were in their place according
to the command of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and the king's seer Jeduthun.
The gatekeepers were at each gate; they did not need to interrupt their
service, for their kindred the Levites made preparations for them.
16 So all the service of the LORD was prepared that day, to keep the passover
and to offer burnt offerings on the altar of the LORD, according to the
command of King Josiah. 17 The people of Israel who were present kept the
passover at that time, and the festival of unleavened bread seven days. 18 No
passover like it had been kept in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel;
none of the kings of Israel had kept such a passover as was kept by Josiah, by
the priests and the Levites, by all Judah and Israel who were present, and by
the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 19 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah
this passover was kept.
Josiah's defeat and death by Pharaoh Neco
20 After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, King Neco of Egypt
went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out against
him. 21 But Neco sent envoys to him, saying, "What have I to do with you, king
of Judah? I am not coming against you today, but against the house with which
I am at war; and God has commanded me to hurry. Cease opposing God, who is
with me, so that he will not destroy you." 22 But Josiah would not turn away
from him, but disguised himself in order to fight with him. He did not listen
to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, but joined battle in the plain of
Megiddo. 23 The archers shot King Josiah; and the king said to his servants,
"Take me away, for I am badly wounded." 24 So his servants took him out of the
chariot and carried him in his second chariot and brought him to Jerusalem.
There he died, and was buried in the tombs of his ancestors. All Judah and
Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. 25 Jeremiah also uttered a lament for Josiah,
and all the singing men and singing women have spoken of Josiah in their
laments to this day. They made these a custom in Israel; they are recorded in
the Laments. 26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and his faithful deeds in
accordance with what is written in the law of the LORD, 27 and his acts, first
and last, are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.
[2 Chronicles 36]
Judah's last four kings
1 The people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and made him king to
succeed his father in Jerusalem. 2 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he
began to reign; he reigned three months in Jerusalem. 3 Then the king of Egypt
deposed him in Jerusalem and laid on the land a tribute of one hundred talents
of silver and one talent of gold. 4 The king of Egypt made his brother Eliakim
king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim; but Neco
took his brother Jehoahaz and carried him to Egypt.
5 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; he reigned
eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his
God. 6 Against him King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came up, and bound him with
fetters to take him to Babylon. 7 Nebuchadnezzar also carried some of the
vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon and put them in his palace in
Babylon. 8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and the abominations that he
did, and what was found against him, are written in the Book of the Kings of
Israel and Judah; and his son Jehoiachin succeeded him.
9 Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign; he reigned three
months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the
LORD. 10 In the spring of the year King Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to
Babylon, along with the precious vessels of the house of the LORD, and made
his brother Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.
11 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; he reigned eleven
years in Jerusalem. 12 He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God.
He did not humble himself before the prophet Jeremiah who spoke from the mouth
of the LORD. 13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him
swear by God; he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to
the LORD, the God of Israel. 14 All the leading priests and the people also
were exceedingly unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations;
and they polluted the house of the LORD that he had consecrated in Jerusalem.
Exile and call to return
15 The LORD, the God of their ancestors, sent persistently to them by his
messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place;
16 but they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words, and
scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against his people
became so great that there was no remedy.
17 Therefore he brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed
their youths with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no
compassion on young man or young woman, the aged or the feeble; he gave them
all into his hand. 18 All the vessels of the house of God, large and small,
and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king and
of his officials, all these he brought to Babylon. 19 They burned the house of
God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces with fire, and
destroyed all its precious vessels. 20 He took into exile in Babylon those who
had escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and to his sons
until the establishment of the kingdom of Persia, 21 to fulfill the word of
the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had made up for its
sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate it kept sabbath, to fulfill
seventy years.
22 In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in fulfillment of the word of
the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus of
Persia so that he sent a herald throughout all his kingdom and also declared
in a written edict: 23 "Thus says King Cyrus of Persia: The LORD, the God of
heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to
build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all
his people, may the LORD his God be with him! Let him go up."