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